STAAR: Make the Switch & Where the Wild Things Are

The first set of questions are over "Make the Switch"

• What?

• Got it!

Mimi’s essay does not have a strong position statement. Which of the following sentences should replace sentence 6 to serve as an effective position statement?

• A. It’s foolish to buy several bottles of water each day when there’s no good reason for doing this.

• B. These problems can be solved, however, if people choose to drink water from reusable containers instead of plastic bottles.

• C. People need to stop doing this now and protest against bottled-water companies.

• D. The list of problems that people are causing, such as increasing pollution, by buying bottled water is endless.

What is the most effective way to combine sentences 8 and 9?

"(8) Bottled water may be attractively packaged. (9) It is simply processed tap water."

• G. Bottled water is simply processed tap water because it is attractively packaged.

• F. Bottled water may be attractively packaged because it is simply processed tap water.

• H. Bottled water may be attractively packaged, so it is simply processed tap water.

• J. Bottled water may be attractively packaged, but it is simply processed tap water.

Tags

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Mimi wants to improve the transition between the third paragraph (sentences 14–18) and the fourth paragraph (sentences 19–23). Which sentence can be added before sentence 19 to accomplish this goal?

(17) The same amount of bottled water would cost well over $1,000. (18) Most people can probably think of better ways to spend that money.

(19) The unnecessary use of bottles causes environmental damage at several

stages.

• D. Bottled water is a huge monetary expense, but the cost to our planet is even greater.

• C. Money is a concern for many people, so it should be saved whenever possible.

• B. People think bottled water is harmless, and other plastic containers are just as bad.

• A. Because bottled water can cost so much, a reusable water bottle is a wise investment.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

What is the most effective way to revise sentence 21?

20) Consider the resources used to produce and transport bottled water. (21) Also consider that landfills are filled with released chemicals, where they decompose many discarded bottles over hundreds of years. (22) Other bottles may end up in rivers, lakes, and oceans.

• A. Also consider that many bottles are discarded into landfills, where the bottles release chemicals as they decompose over hundreds of years.

• J. Over hundreds of years, landfills are filled with many bottles, and it should also be considered that the bottles decompose and release chemicals.

• H. These bottles, decomposing over hundreds of years, should also be considered to release chemicals where they have been discarded into landfills.

• G. Also consider that landfills are filled with released chemicals, where they decompose many discarded bottles over hundreds of years.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Mimi wants to conclude her essay by motivating her readers to take action. Which of the following statements should she insert after sentence 29 to accomplish this goal?

• B. We should make the decision today to be smart about our finances and responsible with our planet by opting for reusable water bottles.

• D. Choose reusable water bottles, and watch your savings grow.

• A. The future of our planet depends on people like you doing away with a terrible threat—plastic water bottles.

• C. Think of how much you can help the fish in our lakes, rivers, and oceans by avoiding bottled water.

The next set of questions are over the reading "Where The Wild Things Are"

• Got it!

• What?

Tags

CCSS.RI.1.4

CCSS.RI.2.1

CCSS.RI.3.1

CCSS.RL.2.1

CCSS.RL.3.1

What is the author’s purpose for writing this article?

• A. To encourage people to visit national parks

• B. To advocate for the coexistence of humans and wildlife in urban areas

• C. To explain methods for tracking a cougar through Griffith Park

• D. To persuade people to convert urban cities back to natural spaces

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.6

CCSS.RI.8.6

CCSS.RI.8.9

CCSS.RL.11-12.6

CCSS.RL.9-10.6

Which words from paragraph 7 best help the reader understand the meaning of the word resiliency?

• J. Urban interface

• G. cougar kin

• H. Adapt to life

• F. Relish my experiences

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

Why does the author use rhetorical questions in paragraph 6?

5-And then I had a life changing epiphany. This cat has more of an imagination than I do.

6-Why can’t a mountain lion live in a city? Why is the human-built environment seen as off-limits to wildlife? If it’s good enough for a mountain lion, who are we to judge?

• B. To illustrate a shift in her perspective regarding wildlife habitats

• D. To prove that she has experience on the subject of mountain lions

• C. To explain that mountain lions are vastly different from other types of wildlife

• A. To argue that human-built environments are not suitable for wildlife