Staar Reading Practice - 3rd Grade

The Rescue

A mother squirrel squeaks in distress.

A gust of wind blew down her nest.

With pulsing tail and twitching nose,

Into the fallen nest she goes.

Out she scoots and in her jaws

She hold a furry ball with paws -

A baby squirrel just half her size

With fluffy tail and shiny eyes.

With babe in mouth, she climbs the tree

Up to a second nursery.

She gently tucks her baby in

And scurries down the trunk again.

She move six babies, one by one,

And never stops until she's done.

With babies moves, it's time to sleep,

All snuggled in a furry heap.

What is the most likely reason the poet includes lines 9 through 14?

• To show that the mother squirrel looks like her babies.

• To describe why the mother squirrel often changes her mind.

• To show that the mother squirrel likes to run.

• To emphasize that the mother squirrel values all of her babies.

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.4

CCSS.RL.3.4

CCSS.RL.3.5

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.4.5

Which line from the poem best shows that the mother squirrel is kind?

• A gust of wind blew down her nest. (Line 2)

• With pulsing tail and twitching nose, (Line 3)

• A baby squirrel just half her size (Line 7)

• She gently tucks her baby in (Line 11)

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.4

CCSS.RL.3.4

CCSS.RL.3.5

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.4.5

How does the windy setting contribute to the poem?

• The windy setting causes the mother squirrel to become afraid of storms.

• The windy setting makes a squirrel family leave the woods.

• The windy setting adds a feeling of mystery to the plot.

• The windy setting causes a problem the mother squirrel must solve.

Tags

CCSS.RL.1.3

CCSS.RL.2.1

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.K.3

"With babies moved it's time to sleep,

All snuggled in a furry heap."

What is the most likely reason the poet includes lines 15 and 16?

• To show that the baby squirrels are safe at last.

• To show that the baby squirrels need a larger home.

• To show that the baby squirrels are tired of climbing.

• To show that the baby squirrels like one another.

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.4

CCSS.RL.3.4

CCSS.RL.3.5

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.4.5

"She holds a furry ball with paws -

A baby squirrel just half her size."

What is the most likely reason the poet includes this imagery?

• To show that the baby squirrel will grow to look like its mother.

• To suggest that the baby squirrel is sick.

• To suggest that the baby squirrel is small and helpless.

• To show that the baby squirrel likes to play games.

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.4

CCSS.RL.3.4

CCSS.RL.3.5

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.4.5

Book Clubs Are for Everyone!

You may have heard about book clubs. They have been around for many years. In the past most book clubs were for adults. Today more young people are forming together their own book clubs. You may have even joined one in your classroom. The rules are simple. Members read the same book. Then they meet and talk about the book. Sharing ideas about a book with friends is fun. There are may other good reasons for kids to join a book club.

Belonging to a book club improves reading skills. The more time you spend reading, the more your reading skills will develop. According to the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) website, by reading books to prepare for a book-club meeting, the students improve their ability to read smoothly and with expression. This is because practicing leads to faster and more correct reading. Reading helps you learn to say new words. It also helps you understand their meanings. This is an important skill that is helpful in school and throughout life.

Do you even struggle to finish the books you start? Joining a book club might help you with this problem. Book-club members are more likely to finish reading an entire book. If you do not read the whole book, you will not be able to talk about the book at the meeting. Plus, the other members expect you too finish the book. The desire to be prepared will encourage you to finish reading what you started.

After all the reading you do in school, you may think you don't want to join a book cub.. But book clubs are different. They give members a fun way to experience different kinds of books. In many book clubs, each member takes a turn selecting the book for the group to read. This could mean that you will read a book that you my not have picked for yourself. Reading about new or unknown topics less to learning. Reading books that others have selected helps you to discover new authors. In many ways, book clubs allow their members to think about new ideas.

Book-club meetings are a great place to practice listening and speaking in a respectful way. At book-club meetings members talk about the books they read. Sometimes members disagree. One person might share what he or she liked about the main character in a story. Another person might make the point that he or she was annoyed by that same character. This can lead to interesting discussions. Being in a book club allows members to share their thoughts and consider the views of others.

A book club is great place to make friends. you might already know some members in your book club. This is especially true if some of the book-blue members go to your school. By spending time with them at book-club meetings, you will get to know all the members better.

Would you like to be in a book club? It is easy to start one. All you need are some other members and a plan to meet. Library meeting rooms and parks are good locations. Being a member of a book club is good for you. It is also a lot of fun. Why not join or start a book club today?

Which audience is the author addressing in this selection?

• Students

• Teachers

• Parents

• Librarians

Tags

CCSS.RI.2.6

CCSS.RI.3.6

CCSS.RL.3.6

CCSS.RL.4.6

CCSS.RL.5.6

Which sentence best explains why members of a book club are likely to read a whole book?

• Reading helps you learn to say new words. (P2)

• The desire to be prepared will encourage you to finish reading what you started. (P3)

• You might already know some members in you book club. (P6)

• All you need are some other members and a place to meet. (P7)

Tags

CCSS.RI.2.2

CCSS.RI.3.2

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RL.3.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

What opinion does the author include to explain why some students avoid book clubs?

• Members read the same book. (P1)

• It also helps you understand their meanings. (P2)

• After all the reading you do in school, you may think you don't want to join a book club. (P4)

• Being in a book club allows members to share their thoughts and consider he views of others. (P5)

Tags

CCSS.RI.2.6

CCSS.RI.3.6

CCSS.RL.3.6

CCSS.RL.4.6

CCSS.RL.5.6

What sentence supports the idea that joining a book club could help someone make friends?

• Today more young people are forming their own book clubs. (P1)

• In many book clubs, each member takes a turn selecting the book for the group to read. (P4)

• In many ways, book clubs allow their members to think about new ideas. (P4)

• By spending time with them at book-club meetings, you will get to know all the members better. (P6)

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.2

CCSS.RL.2.1

CCSS.RL.2.2

CCSS.RL.3.1

CCSS.RL.3.2

What is the most likely reason the author includes these photographs in the selection?

• To show that book-club members have good reading skills.

• To show that book clubs can meet at different places.

• To show that books clubs help members choose popular books

• To show that book clubs are mainly for adults.

Tags

CCSS.RI.1.5

CCSS.RI.2.5

CCSS.RI.K.5