2018 STAAR Revising and Editing

Maggie wants to add another detail to help build the ideas in the second paragraph (sentences 8–12). Which of these could follow sentence 10 and add to the main idea of this paragraph?

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(8) People have been interested in rhinoceros horns for centuries. (9) Ancient Persians thought that these horns could detect poisons. (10) In Yemen the horns have been used to make the handle of special daggers that are given to boys when they become men. (11) All over the world people have found uses for the rhino horn. (12) As a result, the rhinoceros has become one of the world’s most endangered animals.

• I wonder whether there are other things people find to do with rhino horns.

• In parts of Asia, people believe that these horns can cure all kinds of diseases.

• One type of rhinoceros, the black rhino, can live up to five days without water.

• That’s why a lot of people are interested in rhino horns.

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.1

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RI.4.8

CCSS.W.4.2B

What is the BEST transition to add to the beginning of sentence 15?

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(14) But to get a rhino horn, some people ignore this law. (15) The number of rhinos has dropped drastically. (16) In fact, the rhino population has decreased by about 90 percent in the last 40 years.

• In the beginning

• In addition

• As a result

• However

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.5

CCSS.W.4.3C

The word bigger is not the right word for sentence 20. Which word should replace bigger in this sentence?

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(20) Governments are trying to write bigger laws to protect the rhinos.

• larger

• taller

• stricter

• easier

Tags

CCSS.L.4.3A

CCSS.L.4.4A

CCSS.L.4.5C

Maggie wants a better ending for her paper. Which sentence can be added after sentence 22 to bring this paper to a more effective close?

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(19) However, many people care about these animals and want to stop the illegal trade of rhino horns. (20) Governments are trying to write bigger laws to protect the rhinos. (21) Conservation organizations are working to make people aware of the problem. (22) Several zoos are developing breeding programs to increase the number of these animals.

• With the combined efforts of many people, it’s quite possible that the amazing rhinoceros will be saved from extinction.

• If the breeding programs work, there will be more rhinos in zoos soon.

• Finally, the rhinoceros that so many people love will survive, and it will probably be around for years to come.

• And that will be the end of the worries about rhinos.

Tags

CCSS.W.4.2E

Which of these could follow sentence 5 and effectively state the central idea of this paper?

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(1) Sometimes a person has to make a slight turn in life. (2) With effort and some luck, an idea can take the person in a wonderful new direction. (3) That’s what happened to Jeff Kinney. (4) He is the creator of the fiction series Diary of a Wimpy Kid. (5) Millions of kids have read Kinney’s books and seen movies based on them.

• Kinney’s life story is a perfect example of a turn in life leading to great things.

• Kinney wrote the books in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series and some movies have been made.

• Kinney had an interesting childhood and an even more interesting adulthood is what I think.

• Kinney is a person that you should like a lot, and I am going to tell you why in this paper.

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.1

CCSS.RI.4.2

What is the most effective way to combine sentences 8 and 9?

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(8) He had a favorite book. (9) It was Judy Blume’s Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing.

• He had a favorite book, since it was Judy Blume’s Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing.

• He had a favorite book and Judy Blume’s Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing.

• His favorite book was Judy Blume’s Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing.

• He had a favorite book it was Judy Blume’s Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing.

Tags

CCSS.L.4.1F

CCSS.L.4.2C

CCSS.W.4.2C

CCSS.W.4.4

What is the most effective revision to make in sentence 20?

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(20) All the while it was a regular kid he had been thinking of a story about.

• All the while a regular kid had been thinking about a story.

• All the while he had been thinking of a story about a regular kid.

• All the while he had been thinking about a regular kid and a story.

• All the while he had been thinking of a story it was about a regular kid.

Tags

CCSS.L.4.1F

CCSS.L.4.3A

CCSS.W.4.4

Andrew would like to provide a better sentence to introduce the ideas in the fifth paragraph (sentences 27–31). Which of these could replace sentence 27 and provide a more effective topic sentence for this paragraph?

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(27) Readers ask Kinney stuff. (28) He explains that the stories, told from the point of view of the Wimpy Kid named Greg, are “ordinary.” (29) He says that’s why real-life kids like them. (30) People often think that Kinney might have once been a lot like Greg. (31) He admits that Greg does have some of his traits but says that he has exaggerated them “to make them more funny.”

• Readers sometimes ask Kinney why his books are so popular.

• There are readers who like to ask Kinney some stuff.

• Readers want Kinney to tell them more about his choices.

• The people who read the books want to know more.

Tags

CCSS.W.4.2A

CCSS.W.4.4

What change, if any, is needed in sentence 5?

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(5) Today these ancient ruins served as a home for a type of monkey called the toque macaque (pronounced toke ma-KAK).

• Change served to serve

• Change called to they are called

• Change the period to a comma

• No change is needed in sentence 5.

Tags

CCSS.L.4.3A

What change needs to be made in sentence 7?

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(7) Many people come to the temple ruins to see the monkeys and study his habits.

• Change come to coming

• Change and to they

• Change his to their

• No change needs to be made in sentence 7.

Tags

CCSS.L.4.1A