STAAR Reading Test Question Patterns

Figurative language and it’s function in the selection- Also Literary Termsyou need to know simile, metaphor, analogy, irony, symbolism, personification, setting / In lines 7 and 8, the poet uses a simile that has the ironiceffect of making the minnows seem —
Characterization- lots of questions about characters and their motivations / The lines “That is my highest ideal of earthly bliss” and “It will be my lifelong sorrow” suggest that Anne has a tendency to be —
In what way do the stationmaster’s lines in paragraphs 4 and 6 help develop the character of the protagonist?
Vocabulary / Why is the multiple meaning of the word offices in line 14 important to the poem?
Inference / In the last sentence of paragraph 9, the reader can infer that “the experts” the author refers to are —
Tone / The photograph reinforces the poem’s tone of —
Setting and its effect on the piece / The references to a “ladies’ waiting room” and the saying that “children should be seen and not heard” suggest that the selection is set in —
Theme(Also popular for Short Answers, especially the cross over) / In line 5, the sentence “No one ever thanked him” suggests the poem explores the theme of
Point of View and its function in the piece / By telling the story from the point of view of the adopted girl, the author can
Stylistic choices – why an author chose to do something (Short Answer & Multiple Choice) / 25 The author begins and ends the selection with references to successful battles in order to —A remind readers of the human toll caused by warBindicate that the war would have been lost without the Code TalkersCemphasize the Code Talkers’ contribution to the war effortDexamine the strengths and weaknesses of different military strategies
Author’s Purpose / The author’s purpose for writing the selection was most likely to —
Summary- Tip- Read each choice, pick one with a beginning, a middle and an end. (see example) / 5 Which of these is the best summary of the selection?
A Jaime Teevan, who works for Microsoft, has become a leader in the field of personalizing Internet search results. Through her research, she has found that people often repeat the same searches. She has developed ways of using this knowledge to make future searches more productive.

STAAR Revising Question Patterns

Overall Tip: For this section, it makes sense to read the entire essay since the questions deal with overall essay.

Thesis (Also called a “controlling idea” )
Tip: Remember a thesis needs an opinion and it gives a “road map” of what the essay will be about. / 1 Janie does not like the way she expressed her thesis in sentence 4. Which of the following should replace sentence 4 to create a more effective and sophisticated thesis statement?
Sentence combining
Tips: Be careful of the answer that just puts the two sentences together with a comma. Choose the most efficient answer. / 1 What is the correct way to write sentence 4?
A But the new band director who was determined to change things had a name of Mr. Parker. B But the new band director, Mr. Parker, was determined to change things. C But the new band director was determined to change things, named Mr. Parker. D The sentence is written correctly in the paper.
Clarifying sentences
Tip: Make sure you pick the answer that doesn’t have any vague pronouns like “they.” / 4 What is the most effective revision to make in sentence 15? A From the ad alone you’ll never know how good the shoes really are, you can’t be sure. BFrom the ad alone you’ll never know how good the shoes really are. C From the ad alone you’ll never know how good for sure the shoes really are. D No revision is needed in this sentence.
Word Choice / 2 The word pondering does not effectively convey Janie’s meaning in sentence 7. Which of the following would be the best replacement for pondering?
Arrangement/ Deletions
Tip: Make sure you try each answer choice to see which sounds the best and makes the most sense. / Kate thinks there is a sentence in the fourth paragraph (sentences 15–21) that should be deleted. Reread the paragraph. Which sentence, if any, should be deleted from this paragraph?
Transitions
Tip: Make sure you read the sentence before to see which transition makes the most sense.
However= indicates a difference
Furthermore= exmpasizes / The transition from the second paragraph (sentences 3–9) to the third paragraph (sentences 10–15) is weak. Read both paragraphs again. Which sentence could best replace sentence 10 and improve the transition between these two paragraphs?ASuddenly it was obvious that we all had a lot that we needed to talk about.BThis stranger had given us cash, something our family had been without for a very long time.CSoon we began talking about what the note had instructed us to do: pay it forward.DWe wanted to think of some unusual ways to help others.
Adding sentence/ adding details
Tip: Make sure the answer you choose adds detail, but does not simply repeat details already in the essay. / Janie would like to further develop the fourth paragraph (sentences 19–23). Reread the paragraph carefully. Which detail could best be added after sentence 21 to add to the main idea of this paragraph?
Conclusion/ Closing
Tip: It should tie back to the beginning of the essay / Janie would like to add a sentence to the end of her paper to help bring it to an effective closing. Which of the following would be the best sentence for Janie to add?

STAAR Editing Question Patterns

Spelling
Tip: Unless you’re 100% sure none of the other options are correct or that the spelling answer is right, don’t pick the spelling choice. / C Change investigating to investigating
Wrong choice, investigating is spelled right
Commas
Tip: The Opener: At the end of the game, let’s order pizza. The Interrupter: Ms. Rolfe, who is short, is our teacher. The Compound: She is small, yet she is also powerful. The Series: She likes books, movies, and television. / (7) When he heard about the opening for a new band director at our school he couldn’t help investigating.
Answer: Missing a comma after school
Then vs. Than
Tip: Then = Next/ Time
I did my work, then I watched TV.
Than= comparison
Ms. Rolfe is shorter than most people. / 20 What change, if any, needs to be made in sentence 24?F Change then to thanGChange announced to announced H Delete the comma after MomJ No change needs to be made in this sentence.
Subject Verb Agreement
Tip: Subjects and verbs must agree. For example, We are going to the store. She is going to the store. Ms. Rolfe and Jane are going to the story. The team is going to the store. All of the books are on the shelf. / 17 What change, if any, should be made in sentence 9?
A Insert a comma after contacts
B Change saw to seen
C Change me to mine
D Make no change
Verb Tenses Tip: Simple Present: They walk Present Perfect: They have walked Simple Past: They walked Past Perfect: They had walked Future: They will walk Future Perfect: They will have walked / 21 What change should be made in sentence 26?A Change We returned to ReturningB Delete the commaCChange an hour to a hourD Change took to taken
Possessives- show ownership
Tip: They need an apostrophe and an s ‘s, if word is plural ends in “s” then it goes after the s’ the players’ uniforms, children’s clothing, Jane’s books. / 16 What change, if any, should be made in sentence 4?F Delete the comma G Delete andHChange creep’s to creeps J No change should be made in sentence 4.
Their, There, They’re
Their= possessive, There= location, They’re = They are
Their books are over there where they’re going to be later. / 4 What change, if any, should be made in sentence 11?
A Change offer to offering
B Change their to there
C Change childrens’ to children’s
D No change should be made in this sentence.
Sentence combining/ Subordinate
Clauses
Tip: Subordinate clauses need to be set off with commas.
Ms. Rolfe, who is very short, is our teacher. / 18 What is the correct way to write sentences 10 and 11?FFinally, when I had to repair my broken glasses following a particularly rough basketball game is when I agreed. To give contact lenses a try.GFinally, I had to repair my broken glasses following a particularly rough basketball game, then I agreed to give contact lenses a try.HFinally, after having to repair my broken glasses following a particularly rough basketball game, I agreed to give contact lenses a try. J Sentences 10 and 11 are correct in the paper