STAAR Context Clues

1 The other day I was making a speech somewhere about being a writer. Afterward, an old gent in a slouch hat came up. He’d brought his grandson, who he said was a faithful reader of my books.

Which of the following words means "faithful"?

• Precise

• Believers

• Devoted

• Exact

Tags

CCSS.L.8.4A

CCSS.L.8.5C

CCSS.RL.8.4

“Do you have time for a story?” the grandfather asked. Of course I had time for a story. I’m a writer. His gaze grew filmy, and his grandson looked like he was about to hear a tale he’d heard before.

Which of the following means "grew"?

• Sprouted

• Became

• Cultivated

• Enlarged

Tags

CCSS.L.8.4A

CCSS.L.8.4B

CCSS.RL.8.4

“At around fourteen I was a handful,” the old gent said. “So you know how busy I was around Halloween.

The word handful means someone who is —

• difficult to manage

• extremely generous

• useful around the house

• reluctant to help others

Tags

CCSS.L.8.4A

CCSS.RL.8.4

“My dad drove a 1942 Buick Eight.” I stirred. I too was from a world where a man was known by what he drove. “At the other end of our street, a beat-up old 1928 Packard coupe was always parked at the curb, big as a Tiger tank.”

Which of the following words best defines the word "stirred" in the second sentence?

• To mix together

• To rouse or inspire

• To agitate

• To quiver or tremble

Tags

CCSS.L.8.4A

CCSS.RL.8.4

“I ought to have known better,” he said, “but I dearly loved pinning horns.” Pinning car horns was a sacred Halloween ritual. If you could get into a car, you jammed one end of a stick into the horn and wedged the other end against the back of the driver’s seat.

Which of the following most closely means "jammed"?

• To become stuck

• To listen to music

• To be in a predicament

• To cause a backup of traffic

Tags

CCSS.L.8.4A

CCSS.L.8.4B

CCSS.RL.8.4

Then you ran like the devil, and the owner had to come out and unstick the horn before the battery ran down. Horns went off all over town on Halloween, like car alarms do every night now.

Which definition most effectively explains the phrase "ran like the devil"?

• To run backward

• To do something bad and escape

• To be immoral while running

• To sprint away quickly

Tags

CCSS.L.8.4A

CCSS.L.8.5A

CCSS.RL.8.4

“I skulked up the dark street,” the old gent said, “and like a miracle the front window of the Packard was down. Why didn’t this look too good to be true? I guess because I was fourteen.”

Which of the following defines "skulked" best?

• To keep out of sight or lurk

• To yell very loudly

• To exercise one's rights

• To expose oneself

Tags

CCSS.L.8.4A

CCSS.RL.8.4

Read the following passage.When I observe my sister, I can’t help but notice how savvy she is. Shrewd and clever, she always makes good decisions. I find her inspirational and when I am around her, I strive to be as knowing as she is. Which phrase from the passage provides context clues for the meaning of the word "savvy"?

• "When I observe my sister"

• "I find her"

• "Shrewd and clever"

• "as she is"

Tags

CCSS.L.8.4A

CCSS.RL.8.4

The mayor’s speech was bombastic. It was full of big words but had very little meaning. The town’s citizens left the meeting more confused than ever. Which word or phrase from the passage helps you figure out the meaning of the word "bombastic"?

• "Full of big words but had very little meaning"

• "The mayor's"

• "more confused than ever"

• None of these help

Tags

CCSS.L.8.4A

CCSS.RL.8.4

 What is the meaning of the word “cordial” as it is used in the sentence below? She gave a cordial greeting—so different from the cold, unfriendly words she’d said before.

• quiet and proud

• angry

• friendly and warm

• happy and joyful

Tags

CCSS.L.8.4A

CCSS.RL.8.4