STAAR Reading Grade 8 2013 - Past Paper
Quiz by Texas Education Agency
Grade 8
ELAR (2009)
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS)
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52 questions
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- Q1The reader can conclude that when Ella arrives at Lola’s house, Ella is —timid about confronting Lola for pretending to be sickgrateful to Lola for helping her become more confidentenvious of Lola for getting a role in the school playfurious with Lola over her decision to quit60s8.6.B: Reading - Comprehension of Literary Text - Fiction
- Q2Which statement best expresses the main theme of the excerpt?It is important for people to accept their friends’ decisions.People should be true to their own goals.It is best to avoid problems rather than try to solve them.Friends who have overcome obstacles give useful advice.60s8.3.A: Reading - Comprehension of Literary Text - Theme and Genre
- Q3Read these sentences from paragraph 34. These sentences show that Lola —has agreed to let Carla have the lead role in the playhopes her mother does not realize she is angryplans to continue to cry with Ellahas decided to perform in the play60s8.6.B: Reading - Comprehension of Literary Text - Fiction
- Q4The author included paragraph 15 in order to —show the reader that Lola is no longer interested in being in the playdemonstrate that Ella is upset with Lola for not following her earlier advice about being in the playlet the reader know that at one time Ella did not want Lola to act in the playexplain why Lola has decided she does not want to perform in the play60s8.6.A: Reading - Comprehension of Literary Text - Fiction
- Q5What effect does Ella’s uncharacteristic behavior have on the resolution of the excerpt?It helps Lola accept the fact that she is not as talented as Carla.It reminds Lola of what is most important to her.It makes Lola question her friendship with Ella.It forces Lola to think about revising her motto.60s8.6.B: Reading - Comprehension of Literary Text - Fiction
- Q6Which sentence best explains why Lola is surprised by Ella’s actions?She hadn’t been able to bring me my homework the afternoon before because she had to do something with her mother at the last minute, but I’d figured she’d wait till the weekend to come.Ella’s face was red and blotchy from crying.Ella gazed at me in silence for several seconds.I had the thought to jump up and lock the door, but before I could, it opened and Ella Marjorie Gerard, the girl once destined to be picked as Most Shy in our high-school yearbook, marched in.60s8.6.B: Reading - Comprehension of Literary Text - Fiction
- Q7The author included paragraph 28 to —reveal how unhappy Lola is about living in the suburbsillustrate how sad Lola feels about the way her classmates are treating herdemonstrate how upset Lola is about quitting the playconvey how hurt Lola is by Ella’s words60s8.8: - Comprehension of Literary Text - Sensory Language
- Q8Which event triggers the main problem in the excerpt?Lola arguing with Ella about her decisionLola getting the role Carla Santini wanted in the playLola pretending to be sick on the day of the playLola moving to a new school in the suburbs60s8.6.A: Reading - Comprehension of Literary Text - Fiction
- Q9Which of these best expresses Ella’s admiration for Lola?“What happened to the person who never gives up?”“This isn’t like you at all.”“Everybody’s depending on you.”“You taught me that you can make life what you want.”60s8.6.B: Reading - Comprehension of Literary Text - Fiction
- Q10Which statement best expresses the main conflict in the excerpt?Ella respects Lola and wants her to talk to Carla Santini and her classmates.Carla Santini, the most popular girl in school, wants the lead role in the school play.Lola tries to avoid performing in a play because of the negative reaction she has received at school.Lola is upset that her best friend Ella has come to her house so early in the morning.60s8.6.A: Reading - Comprehension of Literary Text - Fiction
- Q11How are the train and the speaker similar?Like the train that stays on a straight course, the speaker avoids change.Like the train that brays and boasts, the speaker acts in an overly proud manner.Like the train that travels at midnight, the speaker prefers to work during the night.Like the train that has a schedule to keep, the speaker has an approaching responsibility.60s8.4: Reading - Comprehension of Literary Text - Poetry
- Q12Which line from the poem best expresses the speaker’s sense of dread?Line 2: and it’s midnight,Line 8: When I lie in waitLine 15: from so many miles away . . .Line 7: and needed rest.60s8.4: Reading - Comprehension of Literary Text - Poetry
- Q13The metaphor in the first stanza is used to emphasize that the —speaker’s time is wasted during the weekendspeaker’s weekend of fun and relaxation is overspeaker behaves like a small child on the weekendspeaker uses the weekend to organize things60s8.8: - Comprehension of Literary Text - Sensory Language
- Q14The poet uses a simile in lines 23 and 24 to reveal that the speaker —might be having a dreamdoes not like fishingcannot get comfortablewants to be outside60s8.8: - Comprehension of Literary Text - Sensory Language
- Q15Dividing the poem into two stanzas allows the poet to —ask questions to keep the reader guessing about what will happencompare the speaker’s schedule with the train’s schedulecontrast the speaker’s feelings about weekends and Mondaysincorporate reminders for the reader about where the action takes place60s8.4: Reading - Comprehension of Literary Text - Poetry
