STAAR 2026 Review Eng. 2

"Read Between the Lines"
Context Clues

"Fix It Up"
— Revision

"Error Patrol"
Editing

Wild

What's the Author Saying?"
Reading

100

"The wealthy philanthropist was known throughout the city for her benevolent acts — donating to hospitals, feeding the homeless, and funding schools for underprivileged children." What does benevolent mean?

Kind and generous

100

Which answer best combines these two sentences without losing any information? "The storm knocked out the power. The students had to cancel their presentation."

A) The storm knocked out the power, the students had to cancel their presentation.
B) The storm knocked out the power but the students had to cancel their presentation.
C) Because the storm knocked out the power, the students had to cancel their presentation.
D) The storm knocked out the power, so students canceled and had no presentation.

C) Because the storm knocked out the power, the students had to cancel their presentation.

100

Which version correctly uses a comma after an introductory clause?

A) After the rain stopped we went outside to play.
B) After the rain stopped, we went outside to play.
C) After, the rain stopped we went outside to play.
D) After the rain, stopped we went outside to play.

B) After the rain stopped, we went outside to play.

100

Which answer best combines these three sentences into one? "Carlos is a talented musician. He plays the guitar. He also plays the piano."

A) Carlos is a talented musician and he plays the guitar and he also plays the piano.
B) Carlos is talented and plays guitar, Carlos also plays piano.
C) Carlos is a talented musician who plays both guitar and piano.
D) Carlos plays guitar and piano, he is also a talented musician.

C) Carlos is a talented musician who plays both guitar and piano.

100

A selfish king loses his kingdom after refusing to help his struggling people. What is the theme?

A) Kings should always listen to their advisors.
B) Hard work always pays off.
C) Power is the most important thing in life.
D)Greed and selfishness lead to downfall.

D: Greed and selfishness lead to downfall.

200

After the arduous hike, the group was exhausted and sore for days. What does arduous mean?

Very difficult and tiring

200

Which sentence should be removed from a paragraph about solar energy?

(1) Solar energy is clean and renewable. (2) Solar panels reduce electricity bills. (3) My neighbor recently painted his house yellow. (4) Scientists improve solar panel efficiency.

Sentence 3 — it's off-topic.

200

Which sentence has a subject-verb agreement error?

A) The students in the class are working on their essays.
B) Each of the players brings her own water bottle.
C) Neither of the answers are correct.
D) The coach and the players were on the field.

C — It should be "Neither of the answers is correct."

200

When writing a summary for a narrative text, what most be included.

a. Beginning, Middle, End

b. Exposition, Initial Conflict, Climax, Resolution

c. Characters, Setting, Resolution

d. Intro, Rising Action, Falling Action

Exposition, Initial Conflict, Climax, Resolution

200

A passage ends with "We must act now by reducing plastic use and holding corporations accountable." What is the author's purpose?

A) To entertain readers with a story about the ocean.
B) To inform readers about how plastic is made.
C) To persuade readers to take action against plastic pollution.
D) To describe the history of plastic manufacturing.

C) To persuade readers to take action against plastic pollution.

300

Read the following passage and dictionary entry. Then answer the question.

Jordan had always been reserved around new people, rarely speaking unless spoken to. But the moment someone brought up astronomy, her whole demeanor changed — she talked for hours, her eyes bright with excitement.

reserved (adj.)

set aside for a specific purpose or person
slow to reveal emotions or opinions; quiet and withdrawn
formally booked in advance, as in a seat or table
kept back for future use

2. slow to reveal emotions or opinions; quiet and withdrawn

300

Which transition best fills the blank? "Maya studied for hours each night. _______, she earned the highest grade in the class."

A: As a result,

B: Because,

C: Despite this,

D: However,

A: As a result,

300

Which sentence uses an apostrophe correctly?

A) The dog wagged it's tail happily.
B) Its raining outside today.
C) The students' projects were displayed in the hallway.
D) The teacher graded all the student's tests in one night.

300

What two major things go in your introductory paragraph?

Hook and Thesis

300

Every light is off, dishes sit in the sink from last night, and dust covers the counters. What can you infer?

A) The house has three bedrooms.
B) No one has been home for several days.
C) The owners went to a restaurant for dinner.
D) The house is for sale.

B) No one has been home for several days.

400

The scientist hoped her research would dispel the myth, proving it completely false. What does dispel mean?

A: support and confirm

B: Spread widely

C: Get rid of or dispel

D: Colorful and exciting

C: Get rid of or dispel

400

How do you fix the tense shift?

"The team practiced every morning, and then they win the championship."

Change win to won

400

Which sentence is punctuated correctly when using however?

A) Marcus wanted to go to the party however, he had too much homework.
B) Marcus wanted to go to the party; however, he had too much homework.
C) Marcus wanted to go to the party, however he had too much homework.
D) Marcus wanted to go to the party however he had too much homework.

B) Marcus wanted to go to the party; however, he had too much homework.

400

The prefix pre- means before. Which sentence uses predict correctly?

A) She predicted the answer after the test was over.
B) She predicted the storm would arrive the next day.
C) She predicted who caused the accident after the investigation.
D) She predicted the movie after it came out on DVD.

B) She predicted the storm would arrive the next day.

400

"After weeks of bad news, the day her acceptance letter arrived was a ray of sunshine." What does this figurative language mean?

A) The good news brought happiness after a difficult time
B) The letter arrived in the morning.
C) It was a very sunny day outside.
D) She had been waiting for warm weather.

A: The good news brought happiness after a difficult time.

500

Read the following passage and dictionary entry. Then answer the question.

The coach's conduct during the championship game shocked everyone in the stands. He argued with every referee call, threw his clipboard, and was eventually removed from the sideline.

conduct (n./v.)

(v.) to lead or direct an orchestra or choir
(v.) to carry or transmit heat, electricity, or sound
(n.) the way a person behaves in a particular situation
(v.) to organize and carry out a task or activity

Which definition of conduct is used in the passage?

Definition 3 — the way a person behaves in a particular situation. The passage describes how the coach acted during the game — arguing, throwing his clipboard, and being removed — all describing his behavior.

500

hich is a stronger, more specific thesis?

A: "Social media affects teenagers."

B: Excessive social media use negatively affects teenagers' mental health and academic performance.

500

Which revision corrects the dangling modifier? "Running down the street, the backpack fell off her shoulder."

A) Running down the street, her backpack fell off her shoulder.
B) Her shoulder, running down the street, the backpack fell.
C) The backpack running down the street fell off her shoulder.
D) No correction is needed.

A) Running down the street, her backpack fell off her shoulder.

500

Q5: Which answer best combines these two sentences using a dependent clause? "She finished all her homework. She was allowed to go to the movies."

A) She finished all her homework, she was allowed to go to the movies.
B) She finished all her homework but she was allowed to go to the movies.
C) She finished all her homework, and she was allowed to go to the movies.
D) After she finished all her homework, she was allowed to go to the movies.

D) After she finished all her homework, she was allowed to go to the movies.

500

A passage uses the words both, however, and while to discuss solar panels and wind turbines. What text structure is this?

A) Chronological order
B) Problem and solution
C) Compare and contrast
D) Cause and effect

C) Compare and contrast