2021 STAAR Grade 5 Reading

To suggest that telescopes are used to locate and watch over distant objects in space

To indicate that telescopes are used for watching certain people

To show that telescopes are delicate objects that need a lot of care and attention

To explain that telescopes should be used only by professional scientists

While the visitors were there, Papá could not allow her to help. (paragraph 2)

No one believed she would be a scientist one day. (paragraph 7)

Catalina balanced on the balls of her feet. (paragraph 16)

Catalina’s eyes lifted to the clock drive lit by a blinking yellow light. (paragraph 18)

loneliness in her mountain home

desire to spend time outside

appreciation of the nighttime

questions about the night sky

identify what the astronomer in the dome feels

appreciate why the tourists enjoy visiting the observatory

understand why Catalina wants to spend time at the observatory

relate to the relationship between Catalina and her father

It allows Catalina to express her feelings about scientific discovery.

It leads Catalina to identify a problem that she will resolve.

It hints that Catalina’s actions will cause the main conflict.

It suggests that Catalina is unfamiliar with the observatory

To show that Catalina needs to use the telescope to see the sky clearly

To emphasize that Catalina knows the best time to study the stars

To emphasize that Catalina pays careful attention to the details of the stars

To show that Catalina does not understand what she sees in the night sky

The experience helps explain why Catalina is only allowed to help her father at certain times.

The experience shows that Catalina thinks she knows more about telescopes than the scientists.

The experience tells details about how Catalina’s father taught her about telescopes.

The experience reveals a trait of Catalina’s that will help her become a successful scientist.

The Taino made the hammocks by weaving together cotton, plant fibers, and tree bark. (paragraph 2)

Columbus admired how the hanging beds kept sleepers safe from the soggy ground and pesky forest animals. (paragraph 3)

Gonzalo Fernández de Oviedo y Valdés was another explorer who was fascinated by hammocks. (paragraph 4)

Today hammocks are not just for relaxing. (paragraph 7)

Hammocks were soon exposed to the rest of the world. (paragraph 6)

He was interested in creating cool beds for his riverboat. (paragraph 6)

He created hammocks out of cotton rope. (paragraph 6)

His company still makes hammocks using the same materials. (paragraph 6)

Definition 1

Definition 2

Definition 3

Definition 4

To show the reader how to find creative ways to spend time

To provide the reader with a reason that hammocks need to be strong

To inform the reader of a different way that hammocks are used

To tell the reader about the equipment needed for one sport

likes going on adventures

does not speak to other athletes on the journey

has not experienced any challenges on his journeys

has only been on one adventure

People have been using hammocks for many years. (paragraph 2)

They were small enough when folded that they could fit in small spaces on ships. (paragraph 3)

He drew a picture of the knitted cotton rugs that natives hung between trees using twine strings. (paragraph 4)

In 1889 a South Carolina riverboat captain named Joshua John Ward crafted a different type of hammock. (paragraph 6)

When Eliza looks at Desha’s journal

When James finds Desha sitting on a rock

When James talks to Desha about how family members support one another

When Desha learns that James used to play the guitar

She is annoyed that James found her.

She is ashamed to admit that she is glad James found her.

She is impressed that James knew where to find her

She is surprised that anyone was interested in finding her

looking through my journal

watching the game

went to my room

to be alone for a change

Desha thinks no one wants to hear her practice the guitar.

Desha thinks that there are too many people sharing a space.

Desha feels a close bond with her sisters because they share a room.

Desha is uncomfortable with others knowing about her personal life.

His knowledge reminds him of a place he can go when he needs help from a family member.

His knowledge helps him recognize how quickly his sister is growing up.

His knowledge makes it possible for him to find Desha and talk to her.

His knowledge leads him to a place that reminds him of Daniel.

Desha is a member of a large family. There is nowhere for her to be alone in the house, so she goes to her hiding place in the woods. While there she plays her guitar and her brother tells her that he used to play the guitar before he began learning to play the drums.

Desha is upset because her family decides to watch a basketball game instead of the movie she wants to watch. She leaves the house and goes to an area in the woods. Her brother explains that he used to visit the same spot.

Desha goes to a secret spot in the woods. Her brother finds her there and helps her learn to play chords on her guitar. They discuss some of the memories and experiences they share with their brothers and sisters.

Desha, a member of a large family, leaves the house when she cannot find anywhere to have time to herself. She goes to a quiet place in the woods to play her guitar. While there she has a conversation with her brother that changes her attitude toward her family.

To suggest the age of the tree that the speaker climbs

To highlight what objects the speaker enjoys sketching

To reveal the location of the tree in the speaker’s neighborhood

To emphasize the height from which the speaker observes the neighborhood

uncertain about taking the chocolate Jamie Hamlin shares

surprised to learn the street is named for Jamie Hamlin’s tree

thankful to have Jamie Hamlin as a neighbor

jealous of the store Jamie Hamlin’s family owns

like I said,

there’s his tree. (lines 12–13)

With my sketchbook

and colored pencils, (lines 14–15)

I can see

the whole neighborhood. (lines 30–31)

hidden by these

green and paper leaves, (lines 33–34)

the maple tree is the most noticeable object on the street

streets should be named after features found near them

the street originally had a different name

people disagree about the meaning of the street’s name

Desha and the speaker both find a place to work on something they enjoy.

Desha and the speaker both are bothered by other people.

Desha and the speaker both spend time secretly observing others.

Desha and the speaker both take advice from someone.

The importance of having somewhere to be alone

The impact that sharing something can have on another person

The desire to practice a hobby

The frustration of living with many people

A song

A movie

A rock

A guitar

In the story, Desha shares thoughts about people who live in her house. In the poem, the speaker expresses thoughts about people who live in the neighborhood.

In the story, Desha has found a secret location that her brother told her about. In the poem, the speaker is worried about not having a place to spend time alone.

In the story, Desha visits a place for the first time. In the poem, the speaker goes to a place that is very familiar.

In the story, Desha is concerned about an event that is planned for the future. In the poem, the speaker is concerned about an event that happened in the past.

ways in which scientists learn about the platypus

ways in which the platypus takes care of its young compared to other animals

ways in which the male and female platypuses defend themselves

ways in which the platypus is different from other mammals

The introductory paragraph

The Female Platypus

The Male Platypus

A Special Way to Find Food

To inform the reader about an animal that has fascinated people since it was discovered

To explain to the reader how to tell mammals from other groups of animals

To encourage the reader to appreciate animals that are unfamiliar

To tell the reader how scientists observe and study a wild animal

Spends time

Finds comfort

Likes one thing more than another

Tries to find a better way

To show that the platypus is related to the otter and the beaver

To explain that the platypus is a recent scientific discovery

To emphasize that the platypus has an unusual appearance

To suggest that the platypus can survive only in Australia

They found soccer difficult to learn when they started playing.

They lacked the equipment they needed to become successful soccer players.

They asked their coach if they could include boys on their team.

They were eager to play soccer no matter what the conditions were.

Definition 1

Definition 2

Definition 3

Definition 4

To describe how an American soccer team helped a soccer team in Katutura become successful

To explain why playing soccer is not common for girls in Katutura

To inform the reader of the accomplishments of the first girls’ soccer team in Katutura

To tell about the different teams that competed in a girls’ soccer tournament in Katutura

When the bright orange uniforms arrived, the Nordkamp girls danced with delight. (paragraph 4)

With their new name—the Pumpkins—and uniforms, the experienced team was ready to enter tournament play. (paragraph 7)

On December 1, 2006, the Pumpkins gathered and marched in a big orange line to a field near the Nordkamp Center. (paragraph 9)

Sitting on the grass and eating peanut-butter sandwiches, the Pumpkins waited impatiently for the team to show up. (paragraph 12)

the process the Pumpkins repeated during each of their games

how the Pumpkins viewed themselves before and after playing in the tournament

that the Pumpkins experienced success and failure while competing in a tournament

the reasons the other teams did not believe the Pumpkins would win

dreamed of having a successful career as a girls’ soccer coach

wanted playing soccer to be a positive experience for girls

knew the team of girls would perform better than a team of boys

believed the girls were too young to participate in any other type of sport