STAAR Reading Review Passage 2

1. Read this quotation from paragraph 1. "I'd seen the lines of dirt in the black shoe-creases, the worn-down heels, the shine on the jacket sleeves, the glint of desperation in his eyes." This description of the salesperson shows that the narrator feels -

• F. appreciation for the salesperson

• G. pity for the salesperson

• H. frustration toward the salesperson

• J. suspicious of the salesperson

2. The point of view used by the author gives the reader insight into the -

• A. narrator's thoughts

• B. salesperson's feelings

• C. salesperson's behaviors

• D. narrator's feelings

3. The author establishes conflict in paragraph 1 by describing the -

• F. weight of the salesperson's case

• G. narrator's observations of the neighborhood

• H. narrator's thoughts as he allows the salesperson into the house

• J. salesperson's movements as he brings out his product

4. Which sentence shows that the narrator has been affected by the encounter with the salesperson?

• A. I understood that I was having these thoughts only because of the stranger with the bony fingers and the worn-down heels, and as I went down to the hutch I felt a burst of irritation as I heard him say: "This is your lucky day."

• B. Then he clicked his case shut and hurried out the door as if afraid I'd change my mind.

• C. When he tried to sell me a second bottle, he understood from my look that it was time to go.

• D. Two things struck me: the case must be very heavy, and he must not have sold anything in a long time.

5. Read this sentence from paragraph 5. "Now I was standing before a man who resembled my old reflection almost exactly but who had been changed in some manner, the way a lawn under a cloudy sky changes wen the sun comes out." In this sentence, the author uses a metaphor to describe the -

• F. improvements to the mirror

• G. confusion felt by the narrator

• H. transformation of the narrator

• J. weather outside

6. Which phrase best describes the shift in tone from the beginning to the end of the excerpt?

• A. From defiant to sympathetic

• B. From distrustful to optimistic

• C. From fatigued to energetic

• D. From uncooperative to concerned

7. The narrator's polishing of the mirror suggests a theme of -

• F. the opportunity for renewal

• G. the importance of self-care

• H. the inaccuracies found in images

• J. the rewards of honest work