Revising and Editing STAAR Practice

1. 
   

   1. (2) He had just sat down at his desk to think of topics for his English essay when he heard his mother calling him. 

2. Layla wants to replace the phrase think of in sentence 2. Which word would be MOST effective to use in this sentence?

•  Scrutinize

• Divulge

• Contemplate

• observe

(16) Julian stood over his aunt’s stove, staring at the side of a box and had a struggle to decipher the precise order of operations required to make macaroni and cheese.

What revision, if any, is needed in sentence 16?

• 1. Julian stood over his aunt’s stove, staring at the side of a box and struggling to decipher the precise order of operations required to make macaroni and cheese.

• Julian stood over his aunt’s stove, staring at the side of a box that struggled to decipher the precise order of operations to make macaroni and cheese and the requirements.

• 1. Julian stood over his aunt’s stove, staring and struggling to decipher the precise order of operations that were required to make macaroni and cheese on the side of a box.

• No change is needed.

 (20) Though not fluent in toddler speak, Pedro was detailing for Julian his latest trip with his mom to pick up his older siblings from school.

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

• 1. Though not fluent in toddler speak, Pedro detailed for Julian and described his latest trip with his mom to pick up his older siblings from school.

• Julian could tell that Pedro was detailing his latest trip with his mom while picking up his older siblings from school, though not fluent in toddler speak.

• 1. Though not fluent in toddler speak, Julian could tell that Pedro was detailing his latest trip with his mom to pick up his older siblings from school.

• 1. Pedro was detailing for Julian his latest trip with his mom, which was to pick up his older siblings from school, though not fluent in toddler speak.

(37) An hour later when his mother called, Julian was wiping noodles and wiping cheese sauce off of Pedro, off himself, off the wall, and off the floor.

Layla has included redundant information in sentence 37.  What is the Most effective way to revise this sentence?

• 1. An hour later Julian was wiping off of Pedro, himself, the wall, and the floor the noodles and cheese sauce when his mother called.

• An hour later Julian was wiping noodles and cheese sauce off of Pedro and himself and the wall, and also the floor when his mother called.

• An hour later when his mother called, noodles and cheese sauce were being wiped off by Julian, himself, the wall, and the floor.

• An hour later when his mother called, Julian was wiping noodles and cheese sauce off of Pedro, himself, the wall, and the floor.

(37) An hour later when his mother called, Julian was wiping noodles and wiping cheese sauce off of Pedro, off himself, off the wall, and off the floor.  (38) “Julian, how’s it going with Pedro?” his mother asked.

(39) “Mom, let’s just say that I finally have a topic for my English essay. (40) I’m going to write about overcoming challenges.”

(41) His mother laughed.  (42) “Let me guess. (43) ‘Babysitting Pedro will be your title.

(44) “I think so,” Julian said.

Which sentence should replace sentence 44 to bring this story to a more effective and creative closing?

•  “Most likely,” answered Julian, who was thinking quietly about this aunt and little cousin.

• “Without a doubt!” Julian replied with a smile as he wiped an errant noodle from the ceiling.

• “Maybe not!” countered Julian, but he noticed his mom was looking at him suspiciously.

• “We’ll see,” Julian responded, pondering a host of topic ideas that he could share with his mom.

Sentence 2 contains a spelling error.  Select the response that will correct the error in this sentence.

About 6,500 subway cars combine to make up one of the nation’s most

​ (a)  

• efficent
• effishent
• efficient
• eficient

(5) In the past some were sold to be preserved or reused, however, most subway cars were scrapped for their metal.

What change is needed in sentence 5?

• 1. Change were sold to was sold

• Change comma after reused to a semicolon

• Change however to instead

• Change scrapped to scraped

(9) They form gradually and create a diverse ecosystem providing shelter and food for a vast array of marine life.

What change is needed in sentence 9?

• Change gradually to gradual

• Change create to creates

• Insert a comma after ecosystem

• Change marine to Marine

(21) Coral and barnacles that could never grow on the sandy ocean floor is spread across the car walls of the subway cars.

 What change is needed in sentence 21?

• Change barnacles to Barnacles

• Change could to couldn’t

• Insert a comma after floor

• Change is spread to are spread

(24) Local businesses are benefiting from the fishing opportunities, which in turn helped the overall economy.

What change needs to be made in sentence 24?

•  Change are benefiting to  is benefiting

• Delete the comma after opportunities

• Change helped to helps

• Change economy to Economy