2017 STAAR Paired Passages

In "Reinforcing the Past", the author wrote this selection most likely to -

• describe the efforts to prevent the Leaning Tower of Pisa from collapsing

• convince people that the Leaning Tower of Pisa is worth saving

• explain why the earliest attempts to maintain the Leaning Tower of Pisa were unsuccessful

• demonstrate why the Leaning Tower of Pisa is not safe to enter

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.9

CCSS.RI.7.6

CCSS.RI.7.9

CCSS.RI.8.6

CCSS.RL.7.6

In "Reinforcing the Past", which detail from the selection explains why one attempt to fix the lean made the tower lean even more?

• Cables and weights were installed to stabilize the tower's lean.

• The tower continued to lean even after a bell chamber was placed on the tower's north side.

• A concrete leak made the tower's foundation more unstable.

• Soil was removed from beneath the north end of the tower to make the ground more even.

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RL.6.1

CCSS.RL.7.1

CCSS.RL.7.2

Which sentence from the selection, "Reinforcing the Past" is an assertion made by the author?

• In 1990 experts determined that the tower was dangerously close to toppling over, and public entry into the tower was prohibited.

• One commission even suggested attaching helium balloons to the tower to hold it up, but the suggestion was never actually attempted.

• An international commission of historians and experts then began an effort to save the tower.

• If the tower leans significantly more, however, architectural experts and historians will surely once again come to the aid of the magnificent Leaning Tower of Pisa.

In "Reinforcing the Past", which idea does the information in paragraph 2 support?

• The tower was difficult to build without modern technology.

• The problem with the tower was evident early in its construction.

• The addition of the bell tower caused the tower to lean more.

• The construction of the tower was a slower process than expected.

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

In "Reinforcing the Past", the reader can conclude that the tower will most likely -

• need to be monitored and maintained for as long as it continues to stand.

• be completely straightened using technology that will become available in the future.

• become more magnificent as it continues to lean.

• help experts solve structural problems with other buildings.

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.1

CCSS.RI.7.1

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RL.6.1

CCSS.RL.7.1

In "The Cutty Sark", how does the author support the ide that the Cutty Sark was once considered a technologically advanced ship?

• By mentioning the sailing records the ship had set.

• By stating the dimensions of the ship.

• By explaining the ship's role in the tea trade.

• By telling about the ship's later uses.

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RL.6.1

CCSS.RL.7.1

CCSS.RL.7.2

In "The Cutty Sark", how does the author organize the selection?

• By contrasting the design of the Cutty Sark with that of other ships and then providing evidence supporting the idea that the design of the Cutty Sark was superior

• By explaining why the Cutty Sark was an important ship and then describing efforts to preserve it

• By providing examples of how the Cutty Sark had been a useful ship in the past and then discussing how opinions about the Cutty Sark have changed over time

• By summarizing the main problem that the Cutty Sark encountered and then relating how the problem was solved

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.5

CCSS.RI.6.5

CCSS.RI.7.5

CCSS.RI.8.5

CCSS.RI.9-10.5

In "The Cutty Sark", what is the author's main purpose for writing this selection?

• To demonstrate how the Cutty Sark helped a country's economy

• To convince the reader the the Cutty Sark was the fastest vessel of its time

• To explain that the Cutty Sark is an important part of London's history

• To identify why a special exhibit had to be created to display the Cutty Sark

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.9

CCSS.RI.7.6

CCSS.RI.7.9

CCSS.RL.7.6

CCSS.RL.8.6

According to the selections, the Leaning Tower of Pisa is different from the Cutty Sark because

• the Leaning Tower of Pisa has been flawed since the construction, but the Cutty Sark functioned well for many years.

• the Leaning Tower of Pisa has achieved fame in recent years, but the Cutty Sark was famous from the time it was built

• the work on the Leaning Tower of Pisa is finished, but the work on the Cutty Sark is ongoing

• the Leaning Tower of Pisa can no longer be used as a bell tower, but the Cutty Sark can still be used for some of its orginal purposes

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

One difference between the efforts to preserve the Leaning Tower of Pisa and those of the Cutty Sark is that the efforts related to the Cutty Sark included -

• fixing the structure in a way that allowed it to perform its original function

• finding a way to increase the number of people visiting the structure

• changing the way the structure was displayed

• repairing specific parts of the structure

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.7

CCSS.RI.7.7

CCSS.RI.8.7

CCSS.RL.6.9

CCSS.RL.7.7