Reading STAAR New Item Types

STAAR QUESTION: How does the setting advance the plot?
What is this question asking you to do?

• To choose the answer choice that explains how the conflict is causing the plot of the story to move forward. 
• To choose the answer that shows how the character's actions are causing the plot of the story to move forward.
• To choose the answer choice that shows how the mood is causing the plot of the story to move forward. 
• To choose the answer choice that explains how the setting of the story is causing the plot to move forward.

STAAR Question: How does the setting influence the plot of a story?
How is influence being used in this sentence?

• beginning
• effect
• determine
• apply

STAAR Question: What is the significance of the crowd returning at lunchtime to watch Maniac?
How is the word "significance" being used in this sentence?

• problem
• synonym
• order
• importance

STAAR Question: What is the most likely reason the poet used capitalization in line 6?
What skill are you being asked to use in this question?

• correct use of writing conventions
• graphical elements
• theme
• Conflict

STAAR Question: Paragraph 7 mainly focuses on - 
What skill are you being asked to use for this question?

• summary
• main idea
• context clues
• conflict

STAAR Question: The author organizes this selection by - 
What skill are you being asked to use in this question?

• main idea
• conflict
• supporting details
• text structure

STAAR Question: Which sentence from the selection states an opinion?
Which one of the following strategies will help you determine the answer to this question?

• Reread the entire selection and separate all the facts from opinion. 
• Read the answer choices and look for opinion words (such as: definitely, obviously, clearly, unfair). 
• Write a summary of the selection. 

STAAR Question: What does the break between stanzas 2 and 3 help the poet convey?
What skill are you being asked to use in this question?

• figurative language
• theme
• graphical elements
• tonw

STAAR Question: The abrupt dialogue in the poem helps convey the idea that the characters are - 
How is the word abrupt being used in this sentence?

• short or choppy dialogue
• long or expanded dialogue 

STAAR Question: The playwright uses the sounds of rain and thunder throughout selection mainly to - 
What is a playwright?

• author of a poem
• author of nonfiction text
• author of dramas