2021 STAAR Grade 3 Reading

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1

In paragraph 6, the suffix -less helps the reader know that the word helpless means —

one who helps others

to help again

not able to help oneself

too much help

3.3.C

1

Which text feature helps the reader locate information about why many animals leave porcupines alone?

The labels on the map “Porcupines in North America”

The caption under the photograph next to paragraph 6

The subheading “Super Quills”

3.9.D.ii

1

What is the most likely reason the author wrote this selection?

To tell the reader where to find porcupines in the wild

To describe how a porcupine acts around an attacker

To provide the reader with many different facts about porcupines

To explain why porcupines look different from other animals

3.10.A

1

Which section is most likely to give information about what a porcupine eats?

On the Menu

Little Pricklies

At Home up a Tree

Super Quills

3.9.D.ii

1

Which word is a synonym for nibble in paragraph 4?

Sleep

Hide

Walk

Chew

3.3.D

1

What is the most likely reason the author includes the map in the selection?

To show that porcupines live in Canada and in part of the United States

To show that porcupines can be found only in the United States

To show that porcupines are mostly found in Alaska

To show that porcupines live only near oceans

3.10.C

1

Which words from paragraph 14 best help the reader understand what cradled means?

at her classmates

down the trail

with the tour guide

gently in her hands

3.3.B

1

The details in paragraph 1 are important to the plot of the story because they help the reader understand that Layla —

is easy to please

enjoys being alone

loves and respects nature

has been to a forest on another field trip

ELA 3.8C

1

What is the main message of the story?

People do not always learn from their mistakes.

Spending time outdoors can be rewarding.

Rules are made for the safety of everyone.

Making the right choice can be difficult.

3.10.A

1

Which of these events leads to Layla finding the geode?

She stops to take a photograph.

She listens to what Cooper tells her.

She remembers the tour guide’s words.

She starts to jog toward her classmates.

3.8.C

1

Read this sentence from paragraph 10.
The imagery in this sentence suggests that Layla feels —

angry, because she doesn’t like what she is thinking to herself

uncomfortable, because she knows that she is making a mistake

curious, because she wants to study the rock and learn more about it

proud, because she realizes that she is the one who found an unusual rock

3.10.D

1

Read paragraph 11.
What do these sentences show about Layla?

She wants to take pictures of the geode.

She is good at recalling important ideas.

She is not sure what the tour guide meant.

She is considering what she should do with the geode.

3.6.F

1

What is the most likely reason Layla decides against taking the geode home?

She cannot think of a way to make the rock useful.

She realizes that the rock should stay in its natural surroundings.

She is afraid of what others might say if she keeps it.

She is worried that Cooper will try to take it away from her.

3.6.F

1

What can the reader tell about how Layla feels toward the tour guide?

Layla wishes the tour guide had selected a more interesting path for the group to walk in the park.

Layla thinks the tour guide is boring.

Layla thinks the tour guide saw the geode near the trail and forgot to talk about it.

Layla respects the tour guide’s knowledge.

3.6.F

1

The imagery in the first sentence of the story helps the reader understand that Layla is —

tired from doing schoolwork

excited about being on a field trip

concerned about hiking in a national park

curious about where her class will go next

3.10.D

1

Read this sentence from paragraph 13.
The author uses this description to suggest that —

the geode looks beautiful as it shines

Layla really wants to keep the geode

the forest has many other hidden geodes

Layla is wondering how the geode formed

3.10.D

1

The prefix un- helps the reader understand that unnoticed in paragraph 1 means —

first seen

not seen

seen together

seen from below

3.3.C

1

Which word means the opposite of curved in paragraph 3?

Straight

Thick

Dark

Soft

3.3.D

1

Which section contains information about what sloths eat?

Sloth Style

Slow Movers

Sloth Snacks

Staying Safe

3.9.D.ii

1

What is the most likely reason the author includes the details in paragraph 1?

To suggest that some sloths can move fast if they have to

To show that sloths are a lot like other animals that live in trees

To show that some sloths have become well known to scientists

To suggest that sloths have a special quality that helps them survive

3.10.A

1

Which idea from the selection does the author best support by including the first three photographs?

Sloths spend a lot of time in trees.

Scientists want to know more about sloths.

Some sloths are much bigger than others.

Sloths may not be as lazy as they look.

3.10.C

1

Which sentence from the selection suggests that the author likes sloths?

The sloth is the slowest mammal on Earth. (paragraph 1)

One thing that scientists do know is that sloths are very different from most other animals. (paragraph 2)

With gentle brown eyes and a flat little nose, the sloth might win the award for cutest animal. (paragraph 4)

Sloths grow to be only about 25 inches long—around the size of a human baby. (paragraph 4)

3.7.C

1

What is the most likely reason the author wrote this selection?

To provide the reader with interesting facts about sloths

To encourage the reader to support a place that helps sloths

To explain to the reader the biggest dangers that sloths face

To show the reader what it is like to visit a sloth sanctuary

3.10.A

1

Lines 18 through 21 suggest that the speaker feels —

surprised to find a big pile of leaves

excited to go through the pile of leaves

curious about what is hiding under the leaves

worried about the amount of leaves on the ground

3.6.F

1

Which sentence best describes the stanzas of the poem?

Each stanza contains lines that rhyme.

Each stanza creates an image for the reader.

Each stanza describes a new event for the reader.

Each stanza repeats important lines.

3.9.B

1

Read lines 15 through 17 of the poem.
These lines help the reader picture the way the leaves —

are colored

look along the street

sound as they fall

feel in the darkness

3.10.D

1

In lines 1 through 4 and lines 28 through 31, the placement of the word “Crunch” is meant to emphasize —

that the speaker is talking

the number of leaves there are

how carefully the speaker is moving

each step the speaker is taking

3.6.F

1

Which lines of the poem best show why the speaker likes the leaves?

Lines 7 through 9

Lines 12 and 13

Lines 26 and 27

Lines 32 and 33

3.6.F

1

Throughout the poem, the speaker can best be described as feeling —

confused

curious

upset

pleased

3.6.F

1

Which sentence supports the conclusion that there are differences in the way bark paper looks even before it is painted?

The mulberry bark makes light-colored paper, while the fig bark makes dark-colored paper. (paragraph 7)

The bark is stripped from the trees. (paragraph 8)

Next the bark is boiled in a pot of water and ashes for hours until it breaks apart into strips. (paragraph 8)

The strips of bark are placed on a flat, wooden drying board. (paragraph 9)

3.7.C

1

What is the most likely reason the author included paragraph 1 in the selection?

To show how bark art is different from other art

To interest the reader in learning about bark art

To describe how bark art has changed over time

To tell the reader why villagers made bark art

3.10.A

1

How is the paper in the section titled “Make Your Own Amate Painting” different from the bark paper described in the rest of the selection?

It has been flattened.

It is made from strips.

It has been crumpled.

It is hard to draw on.

3.6.F

1

Which statement best explains why Starr’s discovery was important?

He learned about a different kind of amate.

He found that people were still making amate.

He realized how amate had been used in the past.

He learned that amate was made many years ago.

3.6.F

1

Where should a reader look to find information about what happens after bark is stripped from trees?

The first paragraph

The section titled “Bark Paintings Now and Then”

The section titled “Making Bark Paper”

The boxed section at the end of the selection

3.9.D.ii

2021 STAAR Grade 3 Reading

In paragraph 6, the suffix -less helps the reader know that the word helpless means —

Which text feature helps the reader locate information about why many animals leave porcupines alone?

What is the most likely reason the author wrote this selection?

Which section is most likely to give information about what a porcupine eats?

Which word is a synonym for nibble in paragraph 4?

What is the most likely reason the author includes the map in the selection?

Which words from paragraph 14 best help the reader understand what cradled means?

The details in paragraph 1 are important to the plot of the story because they help the reader understand that Layla —

What is the main message of the story?

Which of these events leads to Layla finding the geode?

Read this sentence from paragraph 10.The imagery in this sentence suggests that Layla feels —

Read paragraph 11.What do these sentences show about Layla?

What is the most likely reason Layla decides against taking the geode home?

What can the reader tell about how Layla feels toward the tour guide?

The imagery in the first sentence of the story helps the reader understand that Layla is —

Read this sentence from paragraph 13.The author uses this description to suggest that —

The prefix un- helps the reader understand that unnoticed in paragraph 1 means —

Which word means the opposite of curved in paragraph 3?

Which section contains information about what sloths eat?

What is the most likely reason the author includes the details in paragraph 1?

Which idea from the selection does the author best support by including the first three photographs?

Which sentence from the selection suggests that the author likes sloths?

What is the most likely reason the author wrote this selection?

Lines 18 through 21 suggest that the speaker feels —

Which sentence best describes the stanzas of the poem?

Read lines 15 through 17 of the poem.These lines help the reader picture the way the leaves —

In lines 1 through 4 and lines 28 through 31, the placement of the word “Crunch” is meant to emphasize —

Which lines of the poem best show why the speaker likes the leaves?

Throughout the poem, the speaker can best be described as feeling —

Which sentence supports the conclusion that there are differences in the way bark paper looks even before it is painted?

What is the most likely reason the author included paragraph 1 in the selection?

How is the paper in the section titled “Make Your Own Amate Painting” different from the bark paper described in the rest of the selection?

Which statement best explains why Starr’s discovery was important?

Where should a reader look to find information about what happens after bark is stripped from trees?

In paragraph 6, the suffix -less helps the reader know that the word helpless means —

Which text feature helps the reader locate information about why many animals leave porcupines alone?

What is the most likely reason the author wrote this selection?

Which section is most likely to give information about what a porcupine eats?

Which word is a synonym for nibble in paragraph 4?

What is the most likely reason the author includes the map in the selection?

Which words from paragraph 14 best help the reader understand what cradled means?

The details in paragraph 1 are important to the plot of the story because they help the reader understand that Layla —

What is the main message of the story?

Which of these events leads to Layla finding the geode?

Read this sentence from paragraph 10.The imagery in this sentence suggests that Layla feels —

Read paragraph 11.What do these sentences show about Layla?

What is the most likely reason Layla decides against taking the geode home?

What can the reader tell about how Layla feels toward the tour guide?

The imagery in the first sentence of the story helps the reader understand that Layla is —

Read this sentence from paragraph 13.The author uses this description to suggest that —

The prefix un- helps the reader understand that unnoticed in paragraph 1 means —

Which word means the opposite of curved in paragraph 3?

Which section contains information about what sloths eat?

What is the most likely reason the author includes the details in paragraph 1?

Which idea from the selection does the author best support by including the first three photographs?

Which sentence from the selection suggests that the author likes sloths?

What is the most likely reason the author wrote this selection?

Lines 18 through 21 suggest that the speaker feels —

Which sentence best describes the stanzas of the poem?

Read lines 15 through 17 of the poem.These lines help the reader picture the way the leaves —

In lines 1 through 4 and lines 28 through 31, the placement of the word “Crunch” is meant to emphasize —

Which lines of the poem best show why the speaker likes the leaves?

Throughout the poem, the speaker can best be described as feeling —

Which sentence supports the conclusion that there are differences in the way bark paper looks even before it is painted?

What is the most likely reason the author included paragraph 1 in the selection?

How is the paper in the section titled “Make Your Own Amate Painting” different from the bark paper described in the rest of the selection?

Which statement best explains why Starr’s discovery was important?

Where should a reader look to find information about what happens after bark is stripped from trees?

Read this sentence from paragraph 10.
The imagery in this sentence suggests that Layla feels —

Read paragraph 11.
What do these sentences show about Layla?

Read this sentence from paragraph 13.
The author uses this description to suggest that —

Read lines 15 through 17 of the poem.
These lines help the reader picture the way the leaves —

Read this sentence from paragraph 10.
The imagery in this sentence suggests that Layla feels —

Read paragraph 11.
What do these sentences show about Layla?

Read this sentence from paragraph 13.
The author uses this description to suggest that —

Read lines 15 through 17 of the poem.
These lines help the reader picture the way the leaves —