STAAR Practice: Non Fiction

What key idea does the author convey throughout the passage?

• Water scarcity is an issue primarily caused by humans that needs to be addressed by humans.

• Water scarcity is not something that humans have any control over, as it is caused solely by natural events.

• Widespread water scarcity threatens the right that all humans should have access to clean drinking water, as it is essential to live.

Which sentence from the selection best supports the main idea?

• Droughts are a natural process that have occurred throughout history. (Paragraph 4)

• Water is more important for survival than food, and global access to water is a fundamental human issue. (Paragraph 9)

• Chernobyl, Ukraine, the infamous site of nuclear meltdown, still has contaminated water because of that meltdown. (paragraph 8)

• In Ranipet, India, leather tanning wastes contaminate groundwater with chemical hexavalent chromium, leading to water that residents say stings like insects. (paragraph 6)

Who is the most likely the intended audience for this selection?

• Readers who believe that driving near bodies of water can create pollution.

• Readers who think waterborne diseases can harm humans and crops.

• Readers who are not aware of how much water scarcity impacts survival.

• Readers who have not traveled to other countries due to water scarcity.

Based on the information in paragraph 9, which inference can the reader make about waterborne diseases?

• Airborne diseases are likely responsible for contaminated water around the world.

• Without access to clean water humans may find it hard to avoid detrimental diseases.

• Access to food is more significant than clean water since diseases can thrive in water.

What is the most likely reason the author includes the photograph?

• To demonstrate that the water scarcity is only happening with children.

• To show that the children enjoy galivanting outside near water

• To emphasize that access to water resources aren’t easily accessible.

In what way does the organizational pattern used in paragraph 7 through 9 help to develop the thesis?

• By explaining different obstacles and consequences that people encounter globally due to water scarcity.

• By describing how people survive in Afghanistan and South Sudan deserts during deadly summers without clean water.

• By entertaining the reader about the impact of water contamination caused by earthquakes around the globe.