Making Inferences STAAR

Coral provides shelter, a place to hide, for little fish. That many small fish in one place attracts big fish, which in turn attracts big predators like sharks. Nurse sharks will hide under ledges or in crevices of the reef and come out at night to eat dormant fish that are hiding in the coral. Nurse sharks are slow-moving bottom-dwellers, and, for the most part, harmless to humans although they can grow up to 14 feet in length. Their strong jaws allow them to crush shellfish and even coral if need be, but they prefer to eat shrimp, fish, and squid. The reef also provides a place for algae and sponges to grow. They provide food for a variety of creatures: for example, the sea turtle. The Hawksbill Sea Turtle, like most other kinds of sea turtles, is endangered. Hunted for their meat and for their shells, trapped in commercial fishing nets to drown, and sickened by pollution, their populations are declining. These turtles rely on the food that grows on the coral reef and the reef, in turn, relies on the turtles. It's a partnership that benefits both creatures. The reader can infer that-

*Excerpt from Coral Reef by Readable

• many types of ocean life rely on coral reef to survive

• coral reef are mainly occupied by predators

• sea turtles will not be able to survive without coral

• a variety of ocean life is becoming endangered

Coral provides shelter, a place to hide, for little fish. That many small fish in one place attracts big fish, which in turn attracts big predators like sharks. Nurse sharks will hide under ledges or in crevices of the reef and come out at night to eat dormant fish that are hiding in the coral. Nurse sharks are slow-moving bottom-dwellers, and, for the most part, harmless to humans although they can grow up to 14 feet in length. Their strong jaws allow them to crush shellfish and even coral if need be, but they prefer to eat shrimp, fish, and squid. The reef also provides a place for algae and sponges to grow. They provide food for a variety of creatures: for example, the sea turtle. The Hawksbill Sea Turtle, like most other kinds of sea turtles, is endangered. Hunted for their meat and for their shells, trapped in commercial fishing nets to drown, and sickened by pollution, their populations are declining. These turtles rely on the food that grows on the coral reef and the reef, in turn, relies on the turtles. It's a partnership that benefits both creatures. Which detail from the passage best supports your inference?

*Excerpt from Coral Reef by Readable

• Nurse sharks are slow-moving bottom-dwellers

• The reef also provides a place for algae and sponges to grow.

• hunted for their meat and for their shells

• They provide food for a variety of creatures

I know that depending on global warming trends, rising temperatures will cause difficulties in producing base layers of snow for resort and backcountry skiing. This climate change causes both altered snowfall patterns and rising winter temperatures. Artificial snow creation has become a major snow producer at most major resorts to make up for the lack of snow in recent years. In addition to lack of access to skiing for skiers, the resort industry is also greatly suffering from decreasing snowfall. A 2014 New York Times article discusses the effects of lower snowfall on the skiing industry, making the claim that "between 1999 and 2010 low snowfall years have cost the industry $1 billion and up to 27,000 jobs." The reader can infer that-

*Excerpt from What Will Utah Skiing be like 50 Years form now? by Ed

• skiing will no longer continue to be popular past time

• global warming is negatively impacting the ski industry

• snowfall patterns will improve over the next 10 years

• climate change is not something people think about

I know that depending on global warming trends, rising temperatures will cause difficulties in producing base layers of snow for resort and backcountry skiing. This climate change causes both altered snowfall patterns and rising winter temperatures. Artificial snow creation has become a major snow producer at most major resorts to make up for the lack of snow in recent years. In addition to lack of access to skiing for skiers, the resort industry is also greatly suffering from decreasing snowfall. A 2014 New York Times article discusses the effects of lower snowfall on the skiing industry, making the claim that "between 1999 and 2010 low snowfall years have cost the industry $1 billion and up to 27,000 jobs." Which detail from the passage best supports your inference?

*Excerpt from What Will Utah Skiing be like 50 Years form now? by Ed

• I know that depending on global warming trends, rising temperatures will cause difficulties in producing base layers of snow.

• This climate change causes both altered snowfall patterns and rising winter temperatures.

• Artificial snow creation has become a major snow producer at most major resorts.

• low snowfall years have cost the industry $1 billion and up to 27,000 jobs

The honey badger loves to eat honey! The honeyguide bird loves to eat the bee larvae, but cannot get into the beehive without being stung to death. The bird also cannot break the hive open. So when the honeyguide finds a beehive, it goes in search of a honey badger. The honey badger has a thick skin that is resistant to bee stings. The honeyguide convinces the honey badger to follow it to the beehive. The honey badger is able to use its strong claws and teeth to break open the hive while its thick coat protects it from being stung. After the badger has finished eating the delicious golden honey, the honeyguide can enjoy all the bee larvae. Which of the following is most likely true about a honey badger?

*Excerpt from Honey Badger by Thunderbolt Kids

• They are aggressive and dangerous.

• They do not want to help with honeyguide.

• They are happy with this relationship.

• They do not want to share the larvae.

The honey badger loves to eat honey! The honeyguide bird loves to eat the bee larvae, but cannot get into the beehive without being stung to death. The bird also cannot break the hive open. So when the honeyguide finds a beehive, it goes in search of a honey badger. The honey badger has a thick skin that is resistant to bee stings. The honeyguide convinces the honey badger to follow it to the beehive. The honey badger is able to use its strong claws and teeth to break open the hive while its thick coat protects it from being stung. After the badger has finished eating the delicious golden honey, the honeyguide can enjoy all the bee larvae. What inference can be made about the honeyguide's name?

*Excerpt from Honey Badger by Thunderbolt Kids

• It came from their ability to guide badgers to honey.

• It shows how they evolved to eat mainly bee larvae.

• It was given due to their ability to get honey.

• It tells how they work well with badgers.

Nose bleeding? It's too mainstream to horned lizards, have you ever heard of "Eye bloodshot"? When a horned lizard senses danger or sees a nearby attacker, he shoots a projectile of blood out of its eyes. How do they do it? They have the ability to increase the blood pressure in their sinuses and let it exploded. The bloodshot can reach up to five feet. The blood does not contain poison, but it has a foul taste to canine and feline predators. That sure is a good way to create chaos and confusion to an attacker. The reader can infer that a blood shot it-

*Excerpt from Horned Lizards by J R Plaza

• the best way to stop prey

• not easy to accomplish

• their primary defensive strategy

• a cool way to surprise other animals

Nose bleeding? It's too mainstream to horned lizards, have you ever heard of "Eye bloodshot"? When a horned lizard senses danger or sees a nearby attacker, he shoots a projectile of blood out of its eyes. How do they do it? They have the ability to increase the blood pressure in their sinuses and let it exploded. The bloodshot can reach up to five feet. The blood does not contain poison, but it has a foul taste to canine and feline predators. That sure is a good way to create chaos and confusion to an attacker. Which detail from the passage best supports your inference?

*Excerpt from Horned Lizards by J R Plaza

• They have the ability to increase the blood pressure in their sinuses and let it explode.

• The blood does not contain poison.

• It has a foul taste to canine and feline predators.

• That sure is a good way to create chaos and confusion to an attacker.

Participation in sports encourages many beneficial activities and brings awareness to physical health. All sports involve some kind of exercise, which can help keep kids healthy. Sports also encourage participants to watch what they put into their body. Kids will be more aware of the amount and type of foods they ear, which is a good habit to build. Regular physical activity helps build and maintain healthy bones, muscles, and joints, as well as reduce fat and prevent high blood pressure, according to the Aspen Institute. Sports also make an impact off the field. By joining teams, kids can meet new friends from a wide variety of backgrounds. Also, their decision making and mental health can improve. According to Livestrong, youth athletes are less likely to use illegal drugs or drink alcohol. Also, they are less likely to be depressed or have anxiety. Based on the title, which of the following is most likely true?

*Excerpt from How Would Youth be Different Without Sports? by Andrew

• Sports are a fun past time for the youth of today.

• Youth would miss out on many health benefits if sports were not around.

• Participating in a sport as a child makes you a better person.

• Without sports, children would have high blood pressure and more body fat.

Participation in sports encourages many beneficial activities and brings awareness to physical health. All sports involve some kind of exercise, which can help keep kids healthy. Sports also encourage participants to watch what they put into their body. Kids will be more aware of the amount and type of foods they ear, which is a good habit to build. Regular physical activity helps build and maintain healthy bones, muscles, and joints, as well as reduce fat and prevent high blood pressure, according to the Aspen Institute. Sports also make an impact off the field. By joining teams, kids can meet new friends from a wide variety of backgrounds. Also, their decision making and mental health can improve. According to Livestrong, youth athletes are less likely to use illegal drugs or drink alcohol. Also, they are less likely to be depressed or have anxiety. Why did the author provide information from the Aspen Institute of Livestrong?

*Excerpt from How Would Youth be Different Without Sports? by Andrew

• to explain why parent like sports

• to show why children play sports

• to prove sports have health benefits

• to help connect sports and health