2021 STAAR: More Than a Whistle

Based on the selection, why is the title “More Than a Whistle” appropriate?

Which inference about Cyro is supported by the information in paragraph 6?

• He is using the language of his ancestors in new ways.

• Islanders see him as a role model for young people.

• He uses the language of his ancestors to entertain tourists

• He thinks preserving his heritage is more important than living in a modern place

Which key idea is best supported by information in paragraphs 4 through 6?

• Tourism is the major industry in La Gomera.

• El Silbo is more difficult to learn than most other languages.

• he people of La Gomera have differing ideas about the value of el Silbo.

• Earning a living is easier now than in the past for the people of La Gomera.

Which phrase from paragraph 2 helps the reader understand the meaning of speculate?

• El Silbo has a history

• for many generations

• No one is certain

• the original inhabitants

Read these sentences from paragraph 4.

"Before long only a few people could still whistle this unique language. To preserve the language, the government took action and required that el Silbo be taught in the schools."

Which central idea do these sentences help the reader understand?

• People can adapt a language to their changing needs.

• People can understand a language without needing to speak it.

• A language can help connect people in different places with different ways of life.

• A language can disappear over time if people no longer use it

The author includes the photograph of the ravine most likely to support which idea?

• The people of La Gomera needed a language that could travel long distances.

• El Silbo is spoken only by the people on the island of La Gomera.

• You can hear the whistles of canaries and other birds on the island of La Gomera

• The landscape of La Gomera is different from the other islands that make up the Canary Islands

Which sentence best supports the idea that more than one language is spoken in La Gomera?

• Whistling allowed islanders to deliver messages across the ravines without having to walk great distances around them. (paragraph 4)

• The whistles were often used to make public announcements or to send invitations to events. (paragraph 4)

• It is far from being the common language that it used to be. (paragraph 5)

• Cyro loves whistling to communicate. (paragraph 6)

The author includes the map most likely to help the reader understand —

• why younger people of La Gomera often move to the mainland

• where the Canary Islands are located and where La Gomera is among them

• which route sailors took to reach the Canary Islands from Spain in the 1500s

• where in northern Africa el Silbo may have originated

What does the teaching of El Silbo in schools signify about the community's values?

• They prioritize modern education over traditional knowledge.

• They value technological advancements as a means of communication.

• They hold a deep respect for their cultural heritage and seek to preserve it.

• They believe that El Silbo is no longer relevant in today's society.

How does the geography of La Gomera influence the use of El Silbo?

• The flat terrain makes it easier for the whistles to be heard over long distances.

• The mountainous and rugged terrain necessitates a unique form of communication like El Silbo.

• The proximity to the sea makes traditional forms of communication less effective.

• The dense forests on the island hinder the transmission of sound, making El Silbo ineffective.