STAAR Reading Grade 6 2015 - Past Paper
Quiz by Texas Education Agency
Grade 6
ELAR (2009)
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS)
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48 questions
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- Q1The author included the section “How High Can We Go?” most likely to emphasize that —the need for tall buildings has remained constant over timenew technology and materials have lowered the cost of building tall buildingsthe designs commonly used in today’s tall buildings are complexthe ability to construct tall buildings has increased greatly over time60s6.9: Reading - Comprehension of Informational Text - Culture and History
- Q2The reader can infer that future skyscrapers may surpass 3,000 feet because —there were few tall buildings at the beginning of the 1900sthe Burj Khalifa is the world’s tallest buildingskyscrapers have become a common feature of city skylines around the worldengineering and technological advances have improved the design of skyscrapers60s6.10.D: Reading - Comprehension of Informational Text - Expository Text
- Q3Which of the following is the best summary of the article?People have always tried to construct the tallest buildings possible. Modern skyscrapers are usually constructed with steel and glass and have elevators. Today the tallest building in the world is many times higher than the first skyscraper.Tall buildings have always interested people but have not always been easy to construct. Throughout the years new developments have allowed people to build skyscrapers. Today tall buildings are common in cities around the world.Though people have always shown an interest in constructing tall buildings, the height of such structures was relatively limited for many years. The use of steel and elevators helped make taller buildings possible.Throughout history people have always tried to construct tall buildings. People were eventually able to build skyscrapers as a result of several inventions. There is some debate about which building is the first example of a skyscraper.60s6.10.A: Reading - Comprehension of Informational Text - Expository Text
- Q4Which idea from the article does the photograph of the Burj Khalifa emphasize?Laws designate the areas where skyscrapers are allowed to be built.Modern construction techniques have allowed for more usable space in the bottom floors of skyscrapers.Building a skyscraper is a simple task for engineers.Skyscrapers have created city skylines with distinctive looks.60s6.13.A: Reading - Media Literacy
- Q5Which sentence best supports the idea that the use of skyscrapers was a practical solution to a problem?The need for special equipment and designs meant that building up was costly.These exciting new buildings gave architects and engineers a chance to demonstrate their skills.Some skyscrapers echoed art trends of the past, linking cities to their history.Since most cities had limited amounts of land, sites for new houses and offices were scarce and expensive.60s6.10.D: Reading - Comprehension of Informational Text - Expository Text
- Q6The organization of paragraph 2 focuses on the limitations of buildings in the early nineteenth century to show that —people preferred to have buildings with many windowsthe available technology prevented skyscrapers from being builtthe cost of materials prevented people from building skyscraperspeople were not interested in improving tall buildings60s6.10.C: Reading - Comprehension of Informational Text - Expository Text
- Q7What is the meaning of the word withstand in paragraph 3?To imagineTo endureTo createTo control60s6.2.B: Reading - Vocabulary Development
- Q8Read this summary of paragraph 3 written by a student. Which sentence in the student’s summary is unnecessary?In the late 1800s three developments made building skyscrapers possible.In addition, the invention of the elevator allowed people to go up and down tall buildings more easily.The use of steel in construction and the adoption of new construction designs made buildings stronger.New Yorkers were very pleased with these advances.60s6.10.A: Reading - Comprehension of Informational Text - Expository Text
- Q9Which idea is developed throughout the section “A Growing Need for Height”?Laws help maintain the beauty of an environment.Opportunities to demonstrate skill are rare.Changing conditions can create unexpected demands.Cities provide better living environments than rural areas.60s6.10.D: Reading - Comprehension of Informational Text - Expository Text
- Q10Based on the information in paragraph 4, which generalization can be made?Ordinary people usually know as much as experts do.Skyscrapers are the best attractions to see in a city.It is sometimes difficult to define something that is easily recognized.The usefulness of a building is more important than its size.60s6.10.D: Reading - Comprehension of Informational Text - Expository Text
- Q11The author organizes information from the article into a bar graph most likely to make it easier for the reader to —know where the tallest skyscrapers arefind out which building materials are lightestunderstand how skyscrapers affect a city’s appearancecompare the heights of buildings60s6.12.B: Reading - Comprehension of Informational Text - Procedural Texts
- Q12Which event contributes most to the narrator’s inner conflict in the story?She is slow to return home when her grandmother is waiting on her.She takes a path to the store that is different from her usual route.She is sent to the store by herself and is not used to going there alone.She does not immediately confess to spending money that does not belong to her.60s6.6.A: Reading - Comprehension of Literary Text - Fiction
- Q13Which sentence from the story shows that the narrator takes advantage of her situation at the store?I found Grandma’s purse and put the quarter in my pocket.While Grandma took the hot rolls from the oven, I told her about the candy.I would have a nickel and two pennies back.The longer I gazed at the candy display, the more certain I became that I needed two pennies’ worth as a reward for coming to the store alone.60s6.6.A: Reading - Comprehension of Literary Text - Fiction
- Q14The conversation between Uncle Roy and the narrator leads to the story’s resolution because it —prompts the narrator to ask about the right time to confessreveals to the narrator that her grandmother is aware of the narrator’s deceitcauses the narrator to understand that what she did was wrongmakes the narrator decide to take responsibility for her actions60s6.6.A: Reading - Comprehension of Literary Text - Fiction
- Q15Read the dictionary entry below. Which definition best matches the meaning of bear as it is used in paragraph 19?Definition 4Definition 1Definition 2Definition 360s6.2.E: Reading - Vocabulary Development
