STAAR Reading Review

In 2012, a group of scientists were exploring a rain forest in South America when, all of the sudden, they heard a familiar noise. It was the sound of frogs! When they shined their flashlights in the direction of the noise and found a tiny frog, the frog had large eyes and bright-green colored skin. However, it had one very interesting feature. The skin on its belly was so clear that the scientists could see its organs! Because it had transparent skin, the scientists knew it was a type of glass frog. They had never observed a frog like this in their previous research. “It was amazing,” said Charles Austin, one of the researchers who discovered the frog. “We had a feeling this was a species new to science.”

The author’s purpose in writing the paragraph above is to--

• explain why glass frogs have certain features.

• describe how scientists discovered a new species of frog.

• convince readers to help protect the glass frog’s environment.

• entertain the reader with fun facts about glass frogs.

Head lice can happen to anyone. It is not a sign of poor hygiene. Head lice are tiny insects that live in human hair. They hatch from small eggs, called nits, which are attached to the base of a person’s hair. The nit is small and white and attaches about ¼ inch from the scalp on the hair. The eggs hatch in seven to ten days, with new louse reaching adulthood in about two weeks. The female louse can live 20 to 30 days and lay 6 to 10 eggs per day.

Prevention is the key word in the control of head lice in school, and the schools need parents’ help. They ask that parents check their child’s head over the ears and at the base of the neck each week. Parents and children should watch for nonstop itching, because it is a good sign that something is wrong. Head lice are transmitted in a number of ways, not only by physical contact. Parents should teach their children not to borrow combs, brushes, ribbons or head covers. If spending the night away from home, kids should take their own sleeping bag and pillow.

The author’s purpose in writing the second paragraph in the selection above is to--

• explain to the reader how to get rid of head lice if a child has them.

• inform the reader about head lice and how they spread within human hair.

• provide the reader with ways to prevent the spreading of head lice.

• describe to the reader how head lice can impact a child’s health.

In 2012, a group of scientists were exploring a rainforest in South America when, all of the sudden, they heard a familiar noise. It was the sound of frogs! When they shined their flashlights in the direction of the noise and found a tiny frog, the frog had large eyes and bright-green colored skin. However, it had one very interesting feature. The skin on its belly was so clear that the scientists could see its organs! Because it had transparent skin, the scientists knew it was a type of glass frog. They had never observed a frog like this in their previous research. “It was amazing,” said Charles Austin, one of the researchers who discovered the frog. “We had a feeling this was a species new to science.”

In the paragraph above, the word transparent means --

• fragile

• green

• slippery

• clear

Mario had been feeding him all the things he liked himself, but now it occurred to him that what was good for a boy might not be right for a cricket. So he made up his mind to take the matter to an expert. Late one afternoon, Mario cleaned up the cricket cage and took Chester the cricket to Mr. Fong's pet shop.

Read the dictionary definition for the word matter.

Which definition best fits the way the word matter is used in paragraph 1?

• Definition 1

• Definition 2

• Definition 3

• Definition 4

Although orangutans live a solitary life, an orangutan couple with their young can sometimes been seen together feeding on fruit, especially wild figs. Every evening, the orangutan makes a nest out of leaves. The nest looks like a soft platform and is often placed in a tall tree. To protect itself from rain and sun, the orangutan puts large leaves on its head. Sometimes it winds leaves completely around its head and neck. Orangutans make some of the most interesting noises of all apes. They grunt and smack their lips together. Occasionally, an orangutan will make a sound similar to a lion’s roar.

Which idea from the paragraph above expresses an opinion?

• Orangutans make nests out of leaves to protect themselves from the sun.

• Orangutans make some of the most interesting noises of all apes.

• Orangutans make a sound similar to a lion’s roar.

• Orangutans live a solitary life.

Adriana fell onto the bed exhausted. Her first day in the new neighborhood had been stressful. There was the work of unpacking all her stuff. There were the stares from the neighbors. Now she just needed to get some sleep, but the next day was going to be even worse. It was the first day of school! She turned out the light, punched the pillow a handful of times, and looked up at the ceiling. She stared. “Oh, no--not again,” she thought to herself. When her clock showed midnight, she turned over on her back. The next time she looked, it was 1 a.m., then 2 a.m. “Perfect. I'll definitely make an impression on the kids in the cafeteria tomorrow, especially if I fall asleep face down in my soup! I'll bet they haven't seen that before.”

Adriana is most likely worried about --

• falling asleep face down in her soup.

• making friends in her new neighborhood and school.

• getting enough sleep.

• whether or not she will finish unpacking before it’s time to go to bed.

Have you ever wondered how we know about people who

lived in a long time ago? If people didn't leave behind any

written records, how do we know which languages they spoke, the type of food they ate, or what they wore for clothing? One of the methods we have for learning about the people who lived long ago is through archaeology. Archaeology is the study of past life through things that have been left behind. An archaeologist might discover jewelry, tools, or the bones of a human body! Each finding is like the piece to a puzzle. The archaeologist works to put these pieces together and create an idea of what life was like in ancient times.

The author may have included this picture in order to--

• provide an example of an the types of artifacts found by archaeologists.

• prove how talented people were in ancient times at creating and designing pottery.

• to show the type of clothing ancient people wore many years ago.

• to show how archaeologists rebuild artifacts by putting together pieces back together.

"We need limits," said one parent in Dallas, Texas. He believes some books do not belong in school libraries. Many people say that books which have violence or bad words shouldn't be in schools. Some parents want the Hunger Games books removed because they include violence and adult themes. Some people say that parents know what is best for their kids and that they should have the right to decide which books should or should not be allowed in school libraries. Books should meet certain requirements before they are put in schools. If a book is not good for all kids, it should not be in a school library. Most parents don't have time to find out everything their kids are reading. They should be able to trust schools to do that for them.

What is the main idea of the selection above?

• Parents trust schools to use books that are good for kids.

• Books available in school libraries should contain material that is kid-friendly.

• Hunger Games books should be removed from schools because they contain violence.

• Parents should be able to decide which books are available in school libraries.

Do you know where the hamburger originated? In 2007, a heated argument began among three states over the history of the hamburger. In Texas, lawmaker Betty Brown proposed a bill declaring that Athens, Texas was home of the hamburger. Then Wisconsin jumped in. State Representative Tom Wilson argued that Seymour, Wisconsin, was the place where the famous sandwich was vert cooked up. The owners of Louis' Lunch in New Haven, Connecticut, joined the debate as well. Established in 1895, the restaurant maintained its claim as the burger birthplace. “It's a well-known and established fact that New Haven is the home of the hamburger,” said New Haven Mayor John DeStefano Jr.

After reading the selection above, the reader can conclude that--

• the hamburger originated in New Haven, Connecticut.

• the hamburger was first created in Texas

• Tom Wilson created the first hamburger in Wisconsin.

• It is unclear where the hamburger was first invented.

Mountains and plains,

Allare captured by the snow--

Nothing remains.

Winter solitude--

In a world of one color

The sound of wind.

No sky at all;

No earth at all--and still

The snowflakes fall…

The snow is melting

And the village is flooded

With children.

Why does the author say the village is “flooded with children” in the final stanza of this poem?

• To show that the snow is melting into water and flooding the streets.

• to show that the snow is finally melting and children are coming outside to play.

• to show that children are coming out into the streets to play in the snow.