2021 4th Grade STAAR The Gift of Rhyme

How does Mom help Bella solve her problem?

• She shows Bella different ways to improve as a speller.

• She reminds Bella that she needs to play with her sister.

• She convinces Bella that her rapping is a special talent.

• She persuades Bella to forgive her classmate Amy.

Which line from the play suggests that Scott disagrees with Amy's opinion of Bella?

• SCOTT: Remember what I told you?

• SCOTT: From what I can see, "shun" words aren't easy for you.

• SCOTT: Besides, you're really good at lots of other stuff.

• SCOTT: You should just keep on rapping.

As it is used in line 28, the word excel means to-

• do many tasks at once

• do better than others

• pretend to know everything

• be afraid of trying new activities

The reader can tell that "The Gift of Rhyme" is a play because it has a-

• common theme

• list of characters

• rhyming pattern

• problem that is resolved

Samantha's rap in Scene 3 is important to the play because it helps Bella-

• realize that her sister admires her raps

• discuss her concerns with her mother

• understand why studying is so important

• determine what has been wrong with her raps

Read this sentence from line 10.

AMY: Look, if you had a piece of food stuck in your teeth, I would let you know.

This line is meant to show that Amy-

• does not like to be told that she's wrong

• wishes that Bella wasn't such a messy eater

• thinks she's being a good friend to Bella

• notices things that other people don't see

The playwright includes the stage directions at the beginning of each scene mainly to-

• identify the time and place

• hint at how a problem will be solved

• describe the main character's problem

• explain the character's feelings and actions