STAAR practice "Lace Round the Sky" 5th grade

In paragraph 4, why does the author use the figurative phrase “the eyes that peered out into the universe” to describe the telescopes?

• To suggest that telescopes are used to locate and watch over distant objects in space

• To indicate that telescopes are used for watching certain people

• To show that telescopes are delicate objects that need a lot of care and attention

• To explain that telescopes should be used only by professional scientists

Which sentence from the story best describes Catalina’s main conflict?

• While the visitors were there, Papá could not allow her to help. (paragraph 2)

• No one believed she would be a scientist one day. (paragraph 7)

• Catalina balanced on the balls of her feet. (paragraph 16)

• Catalina’s eyes lifted to the clock drive lit by a blinking yellow light. (paragraph 18)

The author includes the imagery in paragraph 1 most likely to highlight Catalina’s —

• loneliness in her mountain home

• desire to spend time outside

• appreciation of the nighttime

• questions about the night sky

The story’s third-person point of view helps the reader —

• identify what the astronomer in the dome feels

• appreciate why the tourists enjoy visiting the observatory

• understand why Catalina wants to spend time at the observatory

• relate to the relationship between Catalina and her father

How does Catalina’s observation of the telescope in paragraph 8 advance the plot of the story?

• It allows Catalina to express her feelings about scientific discovery.

• It leads Catalina to identify a problem that she will resolve.

• It hints that Catalina’s actions will cause the main conflict.

• It suggests that Catalina is unfamiliar with the observatory.

Read these sentences from paragraph 6.

"The sky did not merely consist of white dots of stars against a black background. The sky she saw every night was knotted with patterns, from fuzzy balls of fluff to filaments."

What is the most likely reason the author includes figurative language in these sentences?

• To show that Catalina needs to use the telescope to see the sky clearly

• To emphasize that Catalina knows the best time to study the stars

• To emphasize that Catalina pays careful attention to the details of the stars

• To show that Catalina does not understand what she sees in the night sky

Why is Catalina’s experience with the injured scientist important to the plot?

• The experience helps explain why Catalina is only allowed to help her father at certain times.

• The experience shows that Catalina thinks she knows more about telescopes than the scientists.

• The experience tells details about how Catalina’s father taught her about telescopes.

• The experience reveals a trait of Catalina’s that will help her become a successful scientist.