WorksheetsGrade 7 ELAR STAAR Practice Assessment
Total questions: 7
Worksheet time: 46mins
Which word from paragraph 1 best helps the reader understand that the word requirement refers to something that is an obligation?
Record your answer in the space provided.
(a)
Which characteristic of historical fiction is present in the excerpt?
The main character is a real person who lived long ago.
The conflict is based on actual events from long ago.
The dialogue actually occurred between people of the past.
The setting includes details about a culture that existed in the past.
Which sentence from the excerpt best reveals how the conflict will be resolved?
Mayta was the fastest Chasqui in the southeast quarter. (paragraph 4)
Muru stood, looking majestic in his white headdress, his club and sling carefully tucked in the pouch at his side. (paragraph 6)
For three years he had longed for the day when it would be he who raced along this rugged stretch on the road to the Inca capital of Cuzco. (paragraph 12)
“For a few moments we both stood frozen, staring at each other like two llamas eyeing the same patch of grass.” (paragraph 18)
The third-person limited point of view in the excerpt helps the reader understand —
how Natu feels when he listens to Mayta’s story
what Mayta thinks about Natu’s ambition to be a runner
why Muru will spread the story of what happened to Mayta
how all the characters feel when Mayta is hurt
Which detail supports the key idea that Natu must take his brother’s place?
Natu is excited to show Mayta he would be an excellent runner.
Muru no longer possesses the strength to make the journey.
Natu has watched Mayta and Muru exchange messages for years.
The fastest and most reliable boys are chosen to become Chasquis.
Read the question carefully. Then record your answer in the box provided.
Why is it important to the conflict that this excerpt takes place in the distant past? Support your answer with evidence from the excerpt.
Read these sentences from paragraph 18.
“I slid the meat into the sling and pulled it back as slowly as I could. Then, with a shout that echoed over the mountain and back again, I shot that meat right past our friend’s nose and so deep into the brush that I’m sure it took the puma quite some time to find it.”
What can the reader infer from these sentences?
Mayta scares the puma with the meat.
Mayta enjoys watching the puma search for the meat.
Mayta plans to return for the meat after the puma leaves.
Mayta uses the meat to distract the puma.
How does the author’s use of language in paragraph 26 affect the mood of the excerpt?
By expressing a feeling of profound sadness
By conveying a sense of hope for the future
By hinting at feelings of regret and confusion
By creating a sense of suspense and excitement
What does Mayta’s encounter with the puma reveal about him?
He remains calm under pressure.
His recklessness causes his later injury.
He chooses not to deliver the messages himself.
His vanity means that he does not care about others.
What is the most likely reason the author includes the details in paragraph 1 of the excerpt from “Cool Jobs: Sports Science”?
To convey to the reader the pressure of Olympic gymnastic performances
To draw the reader into the topic of sports science using a true story
To highlight the way an error can keep a gymnast from victory
To show how well world-class athletes must be able to perform
The problem-and-solution organizational pattern in paragraphs 7 through 11 of the excerpt from “Cool Jobs: Sports Science” supports the topic by —
highlighting the way gymnasts cannot rely on their coaches for feedback
suggesting that no gymnast can land perfectly every time, even with practice
revealing how hard gymnasts must work to understand the mechanics of their sport
illustrating how science helps gymnasts make adjustments to land successfully
What is the controlling idea of the excerpt from “Cool Jobs: Sports Science”?
Gymnasts must change their body position in order to stick landings.
Science helps gymnasts and other athletes improve performance.
Shannon Miller is an American gymnast who won the Olympic gold medal.
Olympic gymnastics requires effort on the part of both athletes and coaches.
The poet most likely uses a repetitive structure in the poem in order to —
show the height of the jumps
stress a pattern of actions
present the athlete as childlike
reveal a contrast between ideas
What does the meter of the poem “Adventure in the City” convey to the reader?
The brief nature of the performance
The many risks that the athlete is taking
The quick, seamless movements of the athlete
The loud, excited cries of the spectators
What is the most likely reason the poet includes a photograph with the poem “Adventure in the City”?
To show what type of movements are used for parkour
To emphasize the importance of the setting for parkour
To indicate how popular parkour is
To stress the need for a proper landing in the sport of parkour
Read this sentence from line 9 of the poem “Adventure in the City.”
He’s quick as a river.
What is the most likely reason the poet uses a simile in this line?
To suggest the athlete’s strength as he moves
To suggest the onlookers’ excitement
To evoke sudden, choppy movement
To evoke rapid, smooth movement
Which theme about sports is found in BOTH the excerpt from “Cool Jobs: Sports Science” and the poem “Adventure in the City”?
Great skill is required for superb results.
Acquired knowledge can improve performance.
Winning requires determination.
Recognition is the best reward.
Read lines 20 and 21 from the poem “Adventure in the City.”
Half instinct, half art—he was born with the knack for creating a route without trail, without track
What do these lines suggest about a DIFFERENCE between gymnastics in the excerpt from “Cool Jobs: Sports Science” and parkour in the poem “Adventure in the City”?
They imply that parkour requires a greater amount of natural talent than gymnastics does.
They show that unlike gymnasts, parkour athletes have regular routines for practicing.
They communicate that unlike gymnastics, parkour requires a dedicated space to train.
They suggest that parkour athletes do not rely on science the way gymnasts do.
The author of the article “Cool Jobs: Sports Science” and the poet of “Adventure in the City” BOTH suggest that sports —
require experts behind them
require planning for safety
can be done almost anywhere
can be thrilling to everyone involved.
Read the dictionary entry.
retire \ rə-'tī(-ə)r \ v
1. conclude a working career
2. remove from danger
3. retreat from a position
4. withdraw to bed
Which definition best matches the meaning of retired in paragraph 10?
Definition 1
Definition 2
Definition 3
Definition 4
Read this sentence from paragraph 9.
Soldiers reported seeing this camel “swinging along, under a little mountain of carpet-sacks, cooking utensils, blankets, etc.”
The most likely reason the author uses figurative language in this description of the camel is to —
support the purpose for the camels being sold
emphasize the hardships the camels endured
convey the peculiar sight of the camels roaming
describe the type of terrain traveled by the camels
This question has two parts. First, answer Part A. Then, answer Part B.
Part A
The word “politician” has a Greek root that means “affairs of the city.” Based on this information, what does the word politicians mean as it is used in paragraph 7?
People who supervise transportation systems
People in charge of buying and selling goods
People who frequently debate
People engaged in government
Part B
Which phrase from paragraph 7 best supports the answer to Part A?
argued whether their state should also secede
rid his command of the camels
before he received an answer
found themselves in charge of weapons, supplies
Which sentence from the article shows that some people viewed the camels as useful?
Davis hoped that the camels could be used to explore the deserts of west Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California.
He suggested that he could save the U.S. government more than $500 each month by ending the Camel Corps.
They loaned other camels to the postal service to deliver mail around San Antonio, Texas.
When the Civil War ended in 1865, the camels at Camp Verde became the property of the U.S. government.
What is most likely the author’s purpose for organizing paragraphs 9 and 10 using cause-and-effect?
To explain how the camels were able to travel long distances
To indicate that the camels were more helpful in certain locations
To illustrate why the soldiers ignored the camels
To explain how the camels ended up in many places
What is the best summary of paragraphs 6 through 8 of the article?
Despite the ability of camels to carry large loads and go for long periods of time without water, the use of camels did not receive much support from the soldiers. Eventually the camels were used for delivering mail in Texas.
Camels began to gain the respect of some of the army leaders. The camels were admired for traveling long distances in severe environmental conditions. However, one general requested that the camels be released from military duty.
Camels were useful to the army because they could carry food and water without consuming any. However, one general wanted to end the use of camels, suggesting that it would save the government money. While his efforts were not successful, the camels were eventually used for other services.
Even though the camels were praised by the expedition leader, one general wanted to release them on the prairie in order to save the government money. Then Texas seceded from the Northern states, and the camels were put to work carrying supplies and mail.
Which sentence best expresses the controlling idea of the article?
The camels were bound for the newly formed U.S. Camel Corps that belonged to the U.S. War Department.
He believed the camels could carry supplies to remote army outposts and even carry soldiers to watch over pioneer settlements.
The Southern states decided to secede—or break away—from the Northern states and form the Confederate States of America.
He asked permission to sell the camels or let them loose on the prairie.
Based on information presented in the article, the reader can infer that Edward Fitzgerald Beale —
believed that the camels had earned some time to relax
retired from the army after the Civil War
felt that the camels could survive only in a desert environment
left Texas after it seceded from the North
Read the article “Camels Join the Army!” Based on the information in the article, write a response to the following:
Based on information in the article, write an essay in which you argue that the U.S. Army should or should not have attempted to rebuild the Camel Corps following the Civil War.
Write a well-organized argumentative essay that uses specific evidence from the article to support your position.
Remember to —
clearly state your controlling idea
organize your writing
develop your ideas in detail
use evidence from the article in your response
use correct spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and grammar
Manage your time carefully so that you can —
review the article
plan your response
write your response
revise and edit your response
Record your answer in the box provided.
Sentence 9 repeats an idea. In the box provided, rewrite sentence 9 in a clear and effective way.
Which additional detail could BEST follow and support sentence 13?
Jordan built the house on such a magnificent site.
One room in the house features 3,064 windows.
They wanted to come a little closer to the house.
Jordan charged these early visitors 50 cents each.
The word worthy is not the appropriate word to use in sentence 26. Which word should replace worthy in this sentence?
beneficial
entertaining
valuable
effective
Ainsley’s paper ends abruptly. Which sentence can be added after sentence 29 to sum up the information in this paper and bring it to a more effective conclusion?
They visit to be awed and entertained by the seemingly boundless imagination of one man.
They are intrigued by the views and the massive rock on which the house was built.
They usually say in exit surveys that they are simply unable to pick their favorite attraction.
They enjoy distinguishing between the authentic artifacts and the created ones.
Ivy needs to add a sentence to improve the introductory paragraph of her paper. Which sentence can BEST be added after sentence 1?
When I heard about the class, I knew the instructor would let me copy her painting exactly.
I’m talking about the kind where an instructor tells you how to make a painting step by step.
My friend Ella said we should spend time together over break, and I told her we should paint.
When I first tried to paint sunflowers, I was grateful to see I had a bit of natural talent for art.
Ivy needs a better transition between the second paragraph (sentences 3–8) and the third paragraph (sentences 9–14). Which phrase can she add to the beginning of sentence 9 to help with this transition?
In response
For this reason
As the class began
In the same way
What is the MOST effective way to combine sentences 14 and 15?
The jagged white streak that I tried to cover with blue paint to my horror remained visible beneath the blue.
I tried to cover the jagged white streak with blue paint, to my horror it remained visible beneath the blue.
Trying to cover the jagged white streak with blue paint, it remained visible to my horror beneath the blue.
I tried to cover the jagged white streak with blue paint, but to my horror it remained visible beneath the blue.
Ivy has included a sentence that does not belong in the sixth paragraph (sentences 23–28). Which sentence should she remove from this paragraph?
Sentence 23
Sentence 24
Sentence 25
Sentence 26
Ivy needs a better closing sentence for the last paragraph (sentences 33–36). Which sentence should replace sentence 36?
Every time I see it, I think of all the difficulty I experienced while painting it.
To this day, I love to wear the T-shirt I had on that day in the painting class.
As imperfect as it is, that painting makes me feel happy now.
From there people see it as they pass by on the sidewalk below.
Christina has made an error in sentence 2. Select the ONE response that corrects this error.
Delaney, a friend I’ve known since kindergarten, moved with her parents to
(a) .
oak park, a Suburb of Chicago
oak Park, a suburb of Chicago
oak park, a suburb of chicago
What change should be made in sentence 3?
Change careers to career's
Insert a comma after hours
Change meant to mint
Change had to has
What change should be made in sentence 6?
Change the comma after shock to a semicolon
Change allow to allowed
Delete but
Change single to singel
What change, if any, should be made in sentence 8?
Change course to coarse
Change the comma after honest to a period
Change drastically to drastic
No change is needed.
What change should be made in sentence 3?
Change stands to will stand
Change Spanish to spanish
Insert a semicolon after classroom
Change reviewing to reveiwing
What change should be made in sentence 4?
Change sceens to scenes
Change occur to occuring
Change across to cross
Change country to Country
What is the correct way to write sentence 6?
They all reflect a lack of organization, and this has a result it is stressful days and lower grades.
They all reflect a lack of organization. Resulting in stressful days and lower grades.
They all reflect a lack of organization. While this can result in stressful days and lower grades.
They all reflect a lack of organization, which can result in stressful days and lower grades.
What change should be made in sentence 7?
Change recent to resent
Change are to is
Change reason to reason
Change struggle to struggling
