Analyzing Poetry

Poetry is a type of literary writing that uses a particular style and rhythm to
express the speaker's feelings, ideas, or observations.

The STAAR test uses three approaches when asking about poetry.

o Asking why the poet made certain choices

The poet uses personification in line 9 to --

o Asking what the speaker is feeling or thinking

Which of these best describes how the speaker feels about winter?
o Asking why a line or stanza is important

Why is the first stanza important to the poem?

Read the question below. Then underline the way the question tests the skill.

Why does the poet include the words "and so it goes" in line 5?

why that choice speaker's thoughts/feelings why important

Practice A Read questions 1—2 first. Then read the selection and answer the
questions.

Hoar-Frost Something cold

by Amy Lowell
1 In the cloud-grey mornings
2 I heard the herons flying; Morning
3 And when I came into my
garden,
4 My silken outer-garment
5 Trailed over withered leaves.
leaves are in the ground falling
6 A dried leaf crumbles at a
touch,
7 But I have seen many Autumns
8 With herons blowing like smoke leaves are flying
9 Across the sky.

1 Lines 5 and 6 are important to the poem because they help —

A describe the setting
STAAR Tip
B introduce the speaker Underline words or phrases that
describe someone or something.

2 In lines 8 and 9, the herons are described mainl as —

F cautious and proud
STAAR Tip
G swift and fleeting
Think about the phrase "blowing
like smoke. " What is smoke like?
2
Grade 7 Reading Zingers Answering the Most Common STAAR Test Items
 Practice B Read questions 3—4 first. Then read the selection and answer the
questions.

By the Stream in the stream

by Paul Laurence Dunbar
1 By the stream I dream in calm delight, and watch as in a glass,
2
How the clouds like crowds of snowy-hued and white-robed maidens pass,
3
And the water into ripples breaks and sparkles as it spreads,
4
Like a host of armored knights with silver helmets on their heads.

5 And I the stream an emblem fit of human life may go,

deem
6 For I mind may sparkle much and yet but shallows show,
find a
7 And a soul may glow with myriad lights and wondrous mysteries,
8 When it only lies a dormant thing and mirrors what it sees.
1
An emblem is something that represents, or symbolizes, something else.

3 Which of these best describes how the speaker feels

about the stream in stanza 1? STAAR Tip
Underline words
A He is eager to cross it.
in stanza 7 that

B He finds it shallow and deceptive. describe the stream

and how the speaker
C He is in awe of its beauty. is looking at it.

4 By comparing the stream to human life in stanza 2,

the speaker emphasizes — STAAR Tip
F how people are often not what they seem Circle words in
stanza 2 that
G how beautiful streams merely reflect the sky above explain how
them human life is like
the stream.
H why he finds lying by the stream so delightful

STAAR Think! Danielle chose answer A for question 3. Explain to Danielle why her answer is
correct or not.
o

Zinger 2 Analyzing Poetry 3

 Practice C Read questions 5—6 first. Then read the selection and answer the
questions.

from The Kitten and Falling Leaves

by William Wordsworth

See the kitten on the wall, sporting with the leaves that fall,
Withered leaves—one—two—and three, from the lofty elder-tree!
Through the calm and frosty
air, of this morning bright and fair . . .

—But the kitten, how she starts; Crouches, stretches, paws, and darts!
5 First at one, and then its fellow, just as light and just as yellow;
There are many now—now one—now they stop and there are none;
What intenseness of desire, in her upward eye of fire!
With a tiger-leap half way, now she meets the coming prey,
Lets it go as fast, and then, has it in her power again:
10 Now she works with three or four, like an Indian Conjuror,.1
Quick as he in feats of art, far beyond in joy of heart.
1
A conjuror is someone who practices magic.

5 Why does the poet include the words "What intenseness

of desire, in her upward eye of fire!" in line 7? STAAR Tip
Underline words
A To illustrate how destructive the kitten is to nature
or phrases
B To emphasize how passionate the kitten is in her play that help you
understand the
C To suggest that the kitten is actually attacking real meaning of this
line.
prey

D To create a contrast between the frosty air and the

kitten's "eye of fire"

6 The poet uses a metaphor in lines 10 and 11 to show —

F that the kitten will soon move on to another activity STAAR Tip
G how the kitten sees herself as more powerful than Underline words
she is
or phrases that
explain how
H that the kitten wants to be seen as a fearsome the kitten is
likean "Indian
predator
Conjuror. "
J how skillful and nimble the kitten is with the leave

STAAR Think! Xavier chose answer B for question 5. Explain to Xavier why his answer is o
correct or not.

4 Grade 7 Reading Zingers Answering the Most Common STAAR Test Items
 ZINGER 2
Language and Imagery
Authors use figurative language and imagery to help readers imagine what is
happening in the story or poem, to appeal to our senses, and to create a mood.
Questions about figurative language and imagery on the STAAR test focus on the
author's purpose for using figurative language.

The STAAR test uses three approaches when asking about figurative language
and imagery.
• Referencing the setting

The poet uses figurative language in these lines to show that the winds
o Asking about a speaker/characters
The sensory language in line 4 highlights the speaker's —
o Referencing the mood
The imagery in lines 5 and 6 contributes to a sense of —

Read the question below. Then underline the way the question tests the skill.

The author's use of similes in paragraph 4 creates a feeling of —

setting speaker/characters mood

Practice A Read questions 1—2 first. Then read the selection and answer the
questions.

The Eagle
by Alfred Lord Tennyson

He clasps the crag with crooked hands;

Close to the sun in lonely lands,
Ringed with the azure world, he stands.

The wrinkled sea beneath him crawls;

5 He watches from his mountain walls,
And like a thunderbolt he falls.

I The imagery in lines 1 through 4 helps the reader imagine —

A the vibrant colors of the setting sun STAAR Tip
Underline the imagery
B the grand, empty landscape
in lines 1 through 4.

2 The poet's use of simile in line 6 contributes to a feeling of —

F respect
STAAR Tip
Circle the
G worry simile in line 6.

Zinger 2 Analyzing Figurative Language and Imagery 5

Practice B Read questions 3-4 first. Then read the selection and answer the
questions.

from Twenty Thousand Leagues

Under the Sea
by Jules Verne

We gasped. More stunned than afraid, we stood mute and motionless. The
animal caught up with us, played with us. It made a full circle around the ship

and wrapped us in sheets of electricity that were like luminous dust. Then it

retreated two or three miles, leaving a phosphorescent trail comparable to

those swirls of steam that shoot behind an express train. Suddenly, all the way
from the dark horizon where it had gone to gather momentum, the monster
abruptly dashed toward us with frightening speed.

3 The imagery in this paragraph highlights the STAAR Tip

narrator's — Underline the imagery
in the selection that
A awe describes what the
B confusion animal was like.

C sadness

4 Read these sentences.

It madea full circle around the ship and wrapped

us sheets of electricity that were like luminous
in
dust. Then it retreated two or three miles, leaving
a phosphorescent trail comparable to those swirls
of steam that shoot behind an express train.

The figurative language in these sentences helps

the reader understand — STAAR Tip
Underline
the figurative
F why the sea monster is attacking the ship
language in these
o
G what the characters think about the sea monster two sentences.

H some of the physical qualities of the sea monster

STAAR Think! Amy chose answer H for question 4. Explain to Amy why her answer is correct o
or not.

6 Grade 7 Reading Zingers Answering the Most Common STAAR Test Items
 Practice C Read questions 5—6 first. Then read the selection and answer the
questions.

from Across Texas

by Edward Sylvester Ellis

1 At the moment of emerging from the and reaching the lower level,
hills,

the sun dipped below the horizon and twilight began. Far to the westward
stretched the broad prairie, with the faint blue line of a distant chain of
mountains, resting like a cloud against the clear sky beyond.

2 The sweep of the field grass failed to reveal any living creature. It seemed
to the youths as if they were entering upon a vast solitude, where they
were the only intruders. They pushed along the path in silence. The sounds
of their animals' hoofs were all that broke the solemn stillness. Nick turned

hishead now and then, and, looking over the backs of the pack horses,
saw that Herbert was more thoughtful than usual. His face wore a grave
expression, which proved that the situation oppressed him.

5 Why does the author include the imagery in paragraph 1?

A To tell the reader that Nick and Herbert are heading west

B To help the reader better visualize the size and emptiness of the setting

C To allow the reader to understand why Herbert feels uncomfortable

D To show the reader that the characters are walking in a hilly region

6 The imagery in paragraph 2 contributes to a sense of —

F mystery STAAR Tip
Underline
G excitement the imagery
and figurative
H optimism language in

J bleakness the selection.

o
STAAR Think! Octavio chose answer G for question 6. Explain to Octavio why his answer is
correct or not.

Zinger 2 Analyzing Figurative Language and Imagery 7

Mixed Practice
Zingers 1-2
Read the selection and choose the best answer to each question.

Remember to...
Ü Read the questions first.

Ü Use a dictionary.
Ü Annotate the selection based on the questions.

My Shadow
by Robert Louis Stevenson

Ihave a little shadow that goes in and out with me,

And what can be the use of him is more than I can see.
He is very, very like me from the heels up to the head;
And I see him jump before me, when I jump into my bed.

5 The funniest thing about him is the way he likes to grow—

Not at all like proper children, which is always very slow;
1
For he sometimes shoots up taller like an India-rubber ball,
And he sometimes gets so little that there's none of him at all.

He hasn't got a notion of how children ought to play,

10 And can only make a fool of me in every sort of way.
He stays so close beside me, he's a coward you can see;
I'd think shame to stick to nursie as that shadow sticks to me!

One morning, very early, before the sun was up,

I rose and found the shining dew on every buttercup;
15 But my lazy little shadow, like an arrant sleepy-head,
Had stayed at home behind me and was fast asleep in bed.

1
An "India-rubber ball" is a bouncing ball.

8 Grade 7 Reading Zingers Answering the Most Common STAAR Test Items
 1 The point of view of the poem helps the reader understand the
the —-

A aspects of the shadow's behavior that the speaker finds threatening

B reasons why the speaker is

is annoyed by his shadow
C ways the shadow is telling the reader about the speaker

D speaker's sense of wonder and curiosity toward his shadow

2 The imagery in line 14 helps the reader imagine the —

F warmth of the sun

G organization of the garden

H freshness of the morning

J colors of the sunrise

3 The poet uses figurative language in line

line 7
7 most likely
likely to
to —
A show how quickly the shadow can grow from different
different angles
angles

B explain how the speaker likes to play with

with his shadow

C tell why the speaker is fascinated by his shadow

D illustrate how the shadow stretches like a rubber ball

ball

4 Read these lines from the poem.

But my lazy little shadow, like

like an arrant sleepy-head,
Had stayed at home behind me and was fast
fast asleep in
in bed.
bed.

From these lines, the reader can infer that the speaker
infer that —
F his shadow had come out to
wishes his with him
to play with

G does not understand what causes him to

to have aa shadow

H feels
feels resentment toward his shadow for staying in
for in bed
STAAR Tip
J is happy to finally be alone, free
free from his
his shadow Think about why the
Think about the
speaker is not
speaker is not seeing
seeing
the shadow.
the shadow.

Mixed Practice
Practice Zingers
Zingers 1-2
1-2
99
Mixed Practice Zingers 1-2
Read the selection and choose the best answer to each question.

Remember to...
Ü Read the questions first.

Ü Use a dictionary.
Cl Annotate the selection based on the questions.

Should I Compare You to a

Summer Day? I

by William Shakespeare, adapted

Should I compare you to a summer day?

2
You are more lovely and more temperate..

Rough winds do shake the delicate blossoms of May,

And summer lasts for all too short a date.
5 Sometimes too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And often his golden glow is dimmed by clouds.
And every thing of beauty eventually declines,
Either by chance, or by nature's changing course.

But your eternal summer will not fade,

10 Nor will you lose possession of your beauty,
Nor shall death brag that you wander in his shade,
When in these eternal lines you grow.

For as long as men can breathe, or eyes can see,

So long this poem lives—and gives life to you.
1
This poem is a modern-English translation of William Shakespeare's "Shall I compare
thee to a summer's day?" (Sonnet 18).
2
moderate, mild, not excessive or extreme

10 Grade 7 Reading Zingers Answering the Most Common STAAR Test Items
 5 The speaker suggests that one way his beloved ("you") is different from a
summer day is that —
A the day will bring him more happiness
B her beauty will last forever

C the day is calmer and rarely angry

D over time, she will be forgotten

6 The speaker uses the figurative language in lines 5 and 6 to help the reader
understand why —
F a summer day is not as lovely as his beloved

G he is comparing his beloved to weather

H all sunny days must give way to rain

J his beloved is lucky and will always love him

7 Why is stanza 2 important to the poem?

A It explains the faults the speaker has with his love by comparing her to
summer.

B It explains some of the unpleasant parts about summer in order to praise the
speaker's love.

C It shows the contrast between summer and other seasons.

D It shows the comparisons between unpleasant summer days and the

speaker's past relationships.

8 The imagery in line 11 emphasizes that the speaker thinks his beloved will —

F never stop loving him

G always be innocent
STAAR Tip
H go to heaven
Think about what

J never grow old or sick it might mean

to wander in the
shade of death.
11

Analyzing Drama
Playwrights write drama in the form of prose or verse for actors to perform.
Dialogue consists of the spoken lines of multiple characters. Stage directions,
explain to performers how to present the play.

The STAAR test uses two approaches when asking about drama.

• Asking what is important about stage directions or dialogue

Which of the following lines shows that Mr. Clapper is

is clever?

• Asking for an inference or summary based on events in the play

What can the reader infer based on how the play ends?

Read the question below. Then underline the way the question tests
tests the skill.
skill.

The stage in paragraph 35 indicate

directions in indicate that Rosales is
is —
significance of directions/dialogue inference about the play

Practice A Read questions 1—2 first. Then read the selection and answer the
questions.

The Dilemma — Scene 1

11 [The curtain
curtain rises.
rises. Jenny is in a school lunchroom
sitting in
is sitting with,
with, a notebook
and a large
large textbook. She is
is wide-eyed and
and incredulous.]
incredulous.]

2 JENNY: But
JENNY: But .. .. no!
. no! II
. thought .. .. . How can possibly be right?
that possibly
that right? II did
did all
all

the
the steps!
steps! II followed
followed all
all rules. Ugh! [She furiously
the rules. erases something.]
furiously erases

3 [Amber enters.
enters. She is typing on a
is typing ce// phone as she
a cell walks.]
walks.]

44 AMBER: Ugh, you are

Ugh, you going to
are not going BELIEVE what
to BELIEVE what Spencer
Spencer posted.
posted.

55 JENNY: Amber,
Amber, II have time
don't have
don't time right
right now to
now about your
to worry about boy drama.
your boy drama.

11 Why does
does the
the playwright stage directions?
include stage
playwright include directions?

A To what time
establish what
To establish time of day the
of day the action
action is
is set
set
STAAR Tip
Tip
Circle the
Circle paragraph
the paragraph
BB To
To establish information
establish about
information about one of
one the
of the numbers with
numbers stage
with stage
characters
characters directions.
directions.

o
22 What can
What can the reader infer
the reader Jenny based
about Jenny
infer about based on
on paragraphs
paragraphs 11 through 5?
through 5?
FF Jenny
Jenny is
is envious Amber's relaxed
of Amber's
envious of relaxed attitude.
attitude.
STAAR Tip
STAAR Tip
G Jenny
G Jenny is about something
apprehensive about
is apprehensive something that
that
the
Circle the
Circle words or
words phrases
or phrases
will
will happen
happen soon.
soon. describe Jenny.
that describe
that Jenny.

12
12
Grade 77 Reading
Grade Reading Zingers
Zingers Answering the Most
Answering the Common STAAR
Most Common STAAR Test Items
Test Items
 Practice B
questions.

The Dilemma — Scene 1 (continued)

6 AMBER: [In an English accent.] Oh, a thousand pardons, m'lady. Sorry to

have troubled you with the tedious affairs of us filthy peasants.

7 JENNY: Sorry. I'm just freaking out about the math test in sixth period. I've
been studying for days, and I cannot make heads or tails of this statistics
stuff.

8 AMBER: "Heads or tails"? At least you haven't lost your sense of humor.
[Ina mocking voice.] If a coin is flipped ten times, what is the probability
anyone will care?

9 JENNY: Amber, I'm being absolutely serious. If I don't get an A on this test,
I'll have a C+ for the semester. Me! Jenny Torres! C+! Say goodbye until

we're spinsters.

10 AMBER: [Rolls her eyes while continuing to swipe on her phone.] Now who's
being dramatic?

3 Jenny's dialogue in paragraphs 6 through 10 suggests that —

A she and Amber are close friends
STAAR Tip
B she rarely worries about her life Circle the sentence parts
that show Jenny's topic
C she usually struggles academically of discussion.

4 Amber's responses in this excerpt are important because they show —

F that she handles criticism poorly
STAAR Tip
G how she reacts to difficult circumstances Underline
Amber's
H that she is not sympathetic to Jenny's concerns reactions.

STAAR Think! Ernesto chose answer C for question 3. Explain to Ernesto why his answer is
correct or not correct.
o

Zinger 3 Analyzing Drama 13

Practice C
questions.

The Dilemma — Scene 1 (continued)

11 JENNY: Maybe for you. If I1 get a C, my parents will install prison bars on
my windows and throw my phone in a lake. Not to mention volleyball. I'll be
benched— Coach Seong says she has a zero-tolerance policy for mediocrity.

12 AMBER: (Puts
[Puts down phone and moves What if
closer to Jenny.] Hey. Look.
if

I
i could guarantee an A? 1 mean, what friends are for! [Amber looks
that's
around, reaches into her backpack, pulls out a paper, and unfolds it.]

13 JENNY: [Loudly.]
[Loudly.) Amber! Is this what I think it is?

14 AMBER: Shh! It's just a "study guide." Coach Seong also says, "Failure to
press an advantage is weakness."

[Curtains close.]

5 The playwright uses stage directions in paragraphs 11 through 14 to

highlight that Amber —

A understands that what she is doing is wrong STAAR Tip

Underline the
B feels justified because the test is unfair directions that
show Amber's
C cares little about Jenny's well-being motives.
motives.
D is more concerned with herself than others

6 What is the best summary of Scene 1?

F Jenny and Amber have a math test in sixth period. Jenny has been
for the test, but Amber has not. Amber
studying for is
is confident that Jenny

willdo well.
well.
G Jenny is studying for a test when Amber approaches. Amber is is more

interested in at her phone than studying. Jenny thinks Amber

looking at
in looking

might get in trouble.

in trouble.

H Jenny decides to study for a test during lunch. While she studies, Amber
arrives to
arrives to give is upset that Amber is
give her a note. Jenny is is bothering her.
her.

JJ Jenny is
is worried she will in sixth period. Amber arrives
will not pass her test in
offers Jenny answers to
and offers to the test.
test. Jenny is
is shocked by Amber's offer.
offer.

STAAR Think!
Think! Beth
Beth chose answer A for
chose answer question 5.
for question Explain to
5. Explain to Beth her answer
Beth why her is
is correct
correct

or not correct.
or not correct.

14
14 Grade 77 Reading
Grade Reading Zingers
Zingers Answering the
the Most Common STAAR Test Items
Test Items
 ZINGER 4) ) Characters, anå Conflict
Plot is the sequence of events in a story. Every story needs a conflict, or some
sort of struggle between characters or circumstances that must be overcome.
In fiction, internal conflict refers to a character's mental or emotional struggle.
External conflict refers to the conflict between a character and outside forces
or other characters. By analyzing a character's dialogue and actions, readers can
better understand the character's motivations.

The STAAR test uses two approaches when asking about character and conflict.

• Asking about important or significant details from the passage

Based on paragraph 6, the reader can infer that Michael thinks he —
• Asking you to make an inference about motivations or conflicts

What is the narrator's primary motivation for visiting Jane?

Read the question below. Then underline the way the question tests the skill.

Which sentence shows that the narrator is not concerned with others'
feelings?

identify significance of details infer motivations or conflicts

Practice A Read questions 1—2 first. Then read the selection and answer the
questions.

As I swung the metal detector haphazardly over the grainy beach, it suddenly

beeped. I yelled for Dad. It was probably nothing. Usually, we'd find someone's
old garbage, which made me a little sad. Still, maybe we'd dig up a more
interesting artifact on our latest treasure hunt. Occasionally, I would find
something other than a jagged old bottle cap or the skeleton of a broken chair,
and Dad would light up. More than anything, he loved discovery. His excitement
could distract me from the sand in my shoes and the sunburn on my shoulders.

o 1
I What is the narrator's primary motivation for using STAAR Tip
Underline descriptions
o the metal detector?
of the character's
A She wants to help clean up the beach. thoughts, feelings,
and actions. These
B She enjoys her father's enthusiasm. show motivation.

2 Which sentence shows that the narrator's attitude differs from her father's?

F Still, maybe we'd dig up a more interesting STAAR Tip

artifact on our latest treasure hunt. Circle the sentence
that shows the
G His excitement could distract me from the sand narrator's reason for
in my shoes and the sunburn on my shoulders. using a metal detector.

Zinger 4 Analyzing Plot, Characters, and Conflict 15

Practice B
questions.

from Japanese Fairy Tales

by Yei Theodora Ozaki

One soft summer twilight, Urashima Taro was going home at the end of a
day's fishing when he came upon a group of children. They were all
all screaming

and talking at the tops of their voices, and seemed to be in a state of great
excitement about something. On his going up to them to see what was the
matter, he was appalled to discover them toying with a tortoise. First one boy
pulled it this way, then another boy pulled it that way, while a third child jabbed
it with a stick, and the fourth struck its shell with a stone. Urashima waited
a moment, turning over in his mind what to do. Such a mob would surely
laugh at an angry fisherman. A clever plan came to mind. He smiled and said,
"What good, kind boys! Would you give me this tortoise, in exchange for some
money?"

3 Read this sentence.

First one boy pulled it this way, then another boy

pulled it
it that way, while a third child jabbed it
it with a
stick, and the fourth struck its shell with a stone.

Urashima's observations are important to the story because they —

A imply that the boys are behaving appropriately

B convey why Urashima would want to confront the boys

C suggest the narrator respects Urashima

4 Which sentence foreshadows that Urashima will

successfully save the tortoise?

STAAR Tip
F On his going up to them to see what was the matter, Circle the

he was appalled to discover them toying with a tortoise. sentence that

is a
is a clue to
to
G Urashima waited a moment, turning over in his mind Urashima's
what to do. actions toward
actions toward
the
the boys.
boys.
H A clever plan came to mind.
o

STAAR Think! Abdul chose answer H for question 4.

4. Explain to Abdu/ why his
his answer is
is

correct or incorrect.

16 the Most Common STAAR Test

Grade 7 Reading Zingers Answering the Test Items
Items

Grade 7
 Practice C
questions.

from The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

by Mark Twain

1 The fifth night below St. Louis we had a big storm after midnight, with a
power of thunder and lightning, and the poured down in a solid sheet.
rain
We stayed in thewigwam and let the raft take care of itself. When the
lightning glared out we could see a big straight river ahead, and high, rocky
bluffs on both sides . ..

2 By and by says I, "Hel-lo, Jim, looky yonder!" It was a steamboat that had
killed herself on a rock. We was drifting straight down for her. The lightning
showed her very distinct.

3 Well, it being away in the night and stormy, and all so mysterious-like, I felt

just the way any other boy woulda felt when I see that wreck lying there so
mournful and lonesome in the middle of the river. I wanted to get aboard of
her and slink around a little, and see what there was there. So I says: "Let's
land on her, Jim." But Jim was dead against it at first.

5 The narrator's thoughts in paragraph 3 reveal that he — STAAR Tip

Circle the
A is driven by curiosity
sentence that
B understands how dangerous a shipwreck could be show the
narrator's
C desires Jim's approval before making a decision intentions.

D is reminded of other times that he explored unusual places

6 Which sentence best shows that the narrator might behave recklessly?
F When the lightning glared out we could see a big straight river ahead,
and high, rocky bluffs on both sides.
STAAR Tip
G By and by says I, "He/-/o, Jim, looky yonder!" Underline
H It was a steamboat that had killed herself on a the words or
o rock.
phrases that
J So I says: "Let's land on her, Jim." hint at danger.

STAAR Think! Bettina chose answer C for question 5. Explain to Bettina why her answer is
correct or incorrect

Zinger 4 Analyzing Plot, Characters, and Conflict 17

 Mixed Practice Zingers 3-4
Read the selection and choose the best answer to each question.

Remember to...
Ü Read the questions Use a dictionary.
first.

Ü Annotate the selection based on the questions.

The Dilemma - Scene 2

Characters
Jenny Torres, a 13-year-old girl

Amber Hayes, a 13-year-old girl

Ms. Lindsey, a math teacher

An unidentified student voice on the intercom

15 [Before the curtains open, a student voice is broadcast through the

intercom.]

16 STUDENT VOICE: Jenny Torres and Amber Hayes, please report to Ms.
Lindsey's room immediately after school.

17 [The curtain opens. Jenny and Amber are seated in desks in an otherwise
empty classroom. Ms. Lindsey is sitting behind a teacher's desk.]

18 MS. LINDSEY: I suppose you ladies suspect why I requested this

appointment.
19 AMBER: To talk about our test grades? I swear, Ms. Lindsey, I couldn't
make heads or tails of this probability stuff without Jenny's help. She's
almost as good a teacher as you are!

20 JENNY: [Puts her face in her hands.] Amber, don't make it worse.

21 AMBER: Don't make what worse? [Amber looks at Ms. Lindsey, then
back at Jenny, and becomes animated.] You I can't believe you! You
. . .

backstabber! You Benedict Arnold! You snake! Ms. Lindsey, there's been a
misunderstanding . . .

22 MS. LINDSEY: Spare the oxygen, Ms. Hayes. I received an anonymous

note after class that said the test answers were circulating. I realized
the master key on the copier yesterday, so I checked the office
I left

camera. I'm also rather adept at identifying idiosyncrasies of student

handwriting. [Ms. Lindsey places the note on Amber's desk.] o

23 AMBER: Huh. Good eye, Ms. L. I'd recognize these loopy e's anywhere.

24 JENNY: [Jenny snatches the note. She sinks into her desk, seeming to
become smaller, and her voice wavers.] Amber, I swear, I would've stayed
quiet, but academic dishonesty gets you benched for good.

25 MS. LINDSEY: Ms. Torres, you did the right thing. You were also the only
student in class who failed the examination.

18 Grade 7 Reading Zingers Answering the Most Common STAAR Test Items
 26 JENNY: What?! No!

27 MS. LINDSEY: Jenny, the fact that you failed tells me two things. First,
you're the only student in sixth period I'm certain didn't cheat. Second, if

a student as hardworking as you still finds these concepts obtuse, odds

are it's premature to issue a test.

28 AMBER: Sounds like a happy ending, where everybody learns a lesson.

Or will get a chance to re-learn it. [Amber reaches for her backpack to

29 MS. LINDSEY: Not so fast, Ms. Hayes. You get a phone callhome and a
zero on the test. I'll average it together with whatever you make on the
new test. Don't worry— you'll have plenty of time to study during lunch
detention, say, for the next month.

30 [Amber drops back into her desk and puts her head down.]

31 JENNY: What about me?

32 MS. LINDSEY: You can receive full credit, but you'll still have to earn
the grade. If you'd like extra help with statistics, it looks like I'll be here
during lunch, and I'm certain Amber would enjoy the company.

33 AMBER: [Dejectedly.] I mean, that's what friends are for.

[Curtain closes.]

Mixed Practice Zingers 3-4 19

 I Why does the playwright include stage directions in paragraphs 15 and 17 at the
beginning of Scene 2?

A To provide information about Ms. Lindsey's relationship to her students

B To establish that time has passed since the previous scene

C To foreshadow characters' actions later in the scene

D To show how the setting creates a conflict for the characters

2 Why does Jenny write the note to Ms. Lindsey?

F Jenny believes that lying is

is acceptable only under certain circumstances.

G Jenny decides that her friend needs to learn an important lesson.

H Jenny worries that she could lose the opportunity to play sports.

J Jenny knows she did poorly on the test and wants another chance.

3 Ms. Lindsey's dialogue in paragraph 27 is

is important because it
it shows she —

A believes that student dishonesty was justifiable

B is unable to issue punishments fairly

C prefers her other classes over sixth period

D appreciates knowing when her students are struggling

4 What can the reader infer about Jenny and Amber based on how the play ends?

F Jenny and Amber will serious consequences from their

face serious
face their parents.

G Amber will
will not forgive Jenny for her disloyalty.
not forgive disloyalty.

H Jenny and Amber will friends despite what has happened.

to be friends
continue to

J Jenny and Amber will

will both struggle on the next test.
test.

20 the Most Common STAAR Test

Grade 7 Reading Zingers Answering the Test Items
Items
 5 Why is the master's treatment of Dick important to the excerpt?

A It shows that the narrator thinks that most people are cruel.

B It allows the narrator to relate an anecdote that is meaningful to him.

C It encourages the narrator to develop his own theory about humanity.

D It gives the narrator an opportunity to assist the master.

6 Which sentence shows that the narrator is aware of the feelings of others?

F There were six young colts in the meadow besides me; they were older than
I was;some were nearly as large as grown-up horses.
G I knew she was a wise old horse, and our master thought a great deal of her.

H There was a plowboy, Dick, who sometimes came into our field to pluck
blackberries from the hedge.

J As soon as we saw the master we trotted up nearer to see what went on.

7 What is the significance of the horses trotting up to watch the master's

treatment of Dick?

A It emphasizes that the master's actions are important to the horses.

B It suggests the master craves attention.

C It emphasizes that most of the horses are used to Dick's abuse.

D It suggests that most of the horses expect Dick to give up easily.

8 Read this excerpt from the story.

In the daytime I ran by her side,and at night I lay down

o close by her. Whenwas hot we used to stand by the pond
it

in the shade of the trees, and when it was cold we had a

nice warm shed near the grove.
o

The narrator's thoughts in this excerpt reveal that he —

F has learned difficult lessons from his mother

G is recalling specific memories involving life with his mother

H understands that farm life is challenging

J still needs his mother's encouragement

Mixed Practice Zingers 23

 Understanding Vocabulary
ZINGER 5 in Context
While reading, you may encounter unfamiliar vocabulary. To figure out the
meaning of a word, look for context clues to a word's connotation and consult a
dictionary for the denotation, or literal meaning.

The STAAR test uses two approaches when asking about a word's meaning.

o Asking about the word's denotation, its literal meaning

What does deviated mean in paragraph 13?

• Asking about the context clues that help reveal the word's meaning

What words from paragraph 3 help the reader understand the meaning of
the word daunting?

Read the question below. Then underline the way the question tests the skill.

In paragraph 20, the word waver means to —

literal meaning context clues

Practice A Read questions 1—2 first. Then read the selection and answer the
questions.

1 Volunteers from the National Search Dogs Foundation look in animal

shelters for a certain kind of dog. The volunteers want to adopt and train
dogs as first responders. First responders are those helpers who look
for missing people and animals after a major disaster, such as Hurricane
Harvey. In such emergencies, dogs and their trainers are dispatched to the
scene to find survivors.

2 In the animal shelters, volunteers look for dogs that have lively personalities
and high energy levels. The animals should be quick-witted, persistent, and
unafraid. They should never want to give up. Certain breeds of dogs, such
as Labradors, golden retrievers, border collies, and mixed breeds, seem to
O
be the best picks.

1 What does the word dispatched mean in

paragraph 1? STAAR Tip

Use a dictionary to find a word's
A Disposed of
meaning. Choose the meaning
B Sent quickly that seems most appropriate.

2 What words from paragraph 2 help the reader understand the meaning of
the word persistent?
STAAR Tip
F never want to give up
Circlewords that provide context clues,
G seem to be the best picks such as other descriptive words, a contrast,
cause and effect, or a restatement.

24 Grade 7 Reading Zingers Answering the Most Common STAAR Test Items
 Practice B 3-4 first. Then read the
Read questions 3—4 selection and answer the
questions.

1 In 1968,two amateur fossil hunters looking for arrowheads near Bosque

Creek found a large bone in a ravine. After carefully removing it, they took
it to Baylor University's Strecker Museum. The staff identified the bone as a

leg bone from a Columbian mammoth, a species that became extinct in the
long-ago Ice Age. From 1978 to 1990, teams of volunteers and professionals
excavated the fossilized remains of sixteen other Columbian mammoths.
The mammoths evidently died together in an unexplained event.

2 After years of research, scientists finally concluded that between 65,000

and 72,000 years ago, the herd of Columbian mammoths became trapped
in the Bosque River floodwaters. Covered again and again by siltsilt from

subsequent floods, the animals remained hidden until the twentieth century.
Because of such discoveries, President Barack Obama, by executive order in
2015, named the site the Waco Mammoth National Monument.

3 What does the word excavated mean in paragraph 1?

STAAR Tip
A dug out and removed
Underline the
B discovered inside caves sentence in which
the word appears.
C published information about

4 Which words from paragraph 2 help

help the reader STAAR Tip
understand the meaning of the word subsequent? Look up the word in
Use
the dictionary. Use
the
F Bosque River floodwaters he/p
the definition to help
identify context clues
G again and again word's
related to the word's

H remained hidden meaning.

meaning.

STAAR Think! Jun chose answer B for

chose answer question 3.
for question 3. Jun
to Jun
Explain to
Explain why her
her answer is correct or
is correct

not.
not.

c
oO
o

oo

Understanding Vocabulary
Understanding Vocabulary in
in Context 25
25
Zinger 55
Zinger
 Practice C
questions.

1 In the attempts to have the Olympic Games be relevant, some Olympic

sports come and go. For example, the Olympics no longer include the tug
of war, bicycle polo, or the plunge. From 1900 to 1920, the tug of war was
greatly enjoyed by audiences. Teams were often made up of policemen, and
in 1904, the American team from Milwaukee won the event.

2 Bicycle polo was invented in Ireland. Seven players on a team mounted old-
fashioned bicycles, chased each other around a soccer field, and hit a ball

as hard as they could. The contest was demonstrated in 1908, with Ireland
as the winner, but the sport was discontinued, considered a "one and done"
event.

3 The plunge was a diving long jump, included as part of the first diving event
in Olympic sport. The competition appeared only in 1908 and then never

again. Divers dove into the water from a standing position. They had to
remain immersed and motionless in the water for 60 seconds or until their
heads broke the surface. Five Americans competed, and the contest was
won by William Paul Dickey, who took home his only gold medal.

5 In paragraph 1, the word relevant means — STAAR Tip

A famous A may define
dictionary
a word in more than one
B on topic
way. Replace the word
C professional with your answer to see if
it makes sense in context

D significant

6 What does the word immersed mean in paragraph 3?

F Facing downward
STAAR Tip
G Fully underwater Circle context

H Totally immobile
clues that help you
understand the
J Stretched out word's meaning.

STAAR Think! Celia chose answer F for question 6. Explain to Celia why her answer is correct

26
Grade 7 Reading Zingers Answering the Most Common STAAR Test Items
 ZINGER 6 Texts
Argumentative writing is writing that seeks to make an argument, call people
to action, or change someone's opinion about a topic. An effective argument
contains a claim that expresses the writer's thinking or opinion, and supporting
evidence to support the claim. The writer will also organize ideas and use
rhetorical devices such as repetition to help make the argument more effective.

The STAAR test uses three approaches when asking you to analyze argumentative
writing.

o Asking about the author's claim

What is the central claim being made in the selection?

o Asking about the author's supporting evidence

The example in paragraph 4 supports the claim because —

o Asking about rhetorical devices or logical fallacies

Which sentence from the selection is an example of stereotyping?

Read the question below. Then underline the way the question tests the skill.

The author supports his claim in paragraph 2 by —

asking about the claim asking about supporting evidence
asking about rhetorical devices

Practice A Read questions 1—2 first. Then read the selection and answer the
questions.

More Trees, Please

Given the size and scale of the climate change problem, it is easy to feel

helpless or likebeyond your control. However, there is something

the issue is

that almost anyone can do. And it fairly inexpensive and easy. Plant trees!
o
Trees are a natural carbon sink, meaning they take carbon dioxide out of the
atmosphere. A forest acts as a kind of carbon "sink" that can help reduce C02
in the air. With enough trees planted, a lot of carbon can be removed from the
air.

So, come on! Everyone is getting in on the tree-planting craze!

1 The author's central claim is that — STAAR Tip

A climate change is too big of a problem to solve Pick the idea
that has more
B planting trees is an easy way to help fight supporting
climate change evidence.

Zinger 6 Analyzing Argumentative Text 27