STAAR Practice (paired)

Read the dictionary entry.

Which definition best matches the meaning of vision in paragraph 4 of the article from Powwow Summer?

• Definition 1

• Definition 2

• Definition 3

• Definition 4

Which sentence from the article from Powwow Summer shows that the performers help make their own clothing?

• At powwows, the Downwind women wear the jingle dress or the fancy-shawl-dance outfit. (paragraph 1)

• On her dress are hundreds of metal cones, or jingles.(paragraph2)

• It can take a long time to hand-roll these jingles into the cone

  shape. (paragraph 2)

• The idea for the jingle dress was dreamt by an Ojibwe man many

  years ago. (paragraph 3)

In paragraph 4 of the article from Powwow Summer, what is the most likely reason the author includes the story about the Ojibwe man’s dream?

• To describe the first jingle-dress dance

• To describe what life was like for the Ojibwe tribe long ago

• To explain how the jingle dress is made

• To explain why the jingle dress is special to the Ojibwe tribe

In the article from Powwow Summer, which detail about jingle-dress and fancy-shawl outfits supports the key idea that the outfits require a lot of effort?

• The family packs the outfits to take to the next event.

• The family works on the outfits during the week between events.

• The first man to make a jingle-dress outfit had help from his wife.

• The outfits have several different parts, including a shawl.

The author presents the ideas in paragraphs 3 through 5 of the article “Dancing Dragons” using description most likely so that the reader will better understand —

• what the dancing dragons look like

• why people celebrate with dancing dragons

• how newer dragons are different from older dragons

• where the dragons are most often used

Read the following paragraph.

Which sentence should be included in the paragraph to complete the summary of the article “Dancing Dragons”?

• The bodies of dancing dragons are made from bamboo strips and decorated cloth.

• Chinese communities around the world still celebrate spring with dancing dragons.

• A dancing dragon can be lit from the inside by lamps so it can be seen at night.

• Most dancing dragons are red because that color is a symbol of happiness in China.

Based on information in the article “Dancing Dragons,” which conclusion can the reader make about the dragon dance?

• The purpose of the dragon dance has changed over time.

• Fewer people watch dragon dances today than in ancient times.

• The dragon dance is based on a fairy tale that is well known in China.

• Dragon dancers must know a lot about Chinese history.

Which message is presented in BOTH the article from Powwow Summer and the article “Dancing Dragons”?

• Dancing helps people stay healthy.

• Dancing can bring people together.

• Dancing should be thought of as a sport.

• Dancing is a good way to tell a story.

Based on ideas in BOTH the article from Powwow Summer and the article “Dancing Dragons,” what is one way that the jingle-dress dance and the dragon dance are ALIKE?

• Both dances came from ideas in fairy tales.

• Both dances are done by the same group of people.

• Both dances began as a way to make life better.

• Both dances are easy to perform.

Based on ideas presented throughout BOTH the article from Powwow Summer and the article “Dancing Dragons,” the reader can conclude that dancing —

• is often used to heal people who are sick

• is important to different groups of people

• is a common way for young people to share new ideas

• looks the same in different parts of the world