From "Silk Umbrellas" 7th Grade Reading STAAR 2021

What is the most likely reason the author includes the interaction between Noi and Ting in paragraphs 13 and 14?

• To show that the sisters are becoming bored with their individual tasks

• To emphasize that Kun Ya made a mistake when painting the elephant

• To reveal the playful bond that the sisters share with each other

• To suggest that Ting wants to paint an elephant on an umbrella

How does the setting influence the plot of the excerpt?

• It provides Noi a private place in which to practice painting umbrellas.

• It gives Noi an opportunity to learn about how elephants live in the wild.

• It makes it difficult for Noi to stay calm while she paints the umbrella.

• It allows Noi to see butterflies in nature before she paints an image of one.

Which sentence best shows the relationship between the characters?

• “Your elephant looks so alive, Kun Ya,” Noi said, leaning close. (paragraph 1)

• Usually, Kun Ya asked Noi and Ting to mix the paints. (paragraph 6)

• She glanced at the butterflies dancing close by, then began to paint yellow wings above Kun Ya’s jungle flower. (paragraph 22)

• Kun Ya stroked their hair and sang, “The yellow bird flies away,” while Noi gazed at the flowers and creatures that Kun Ya had created. (paragraph 28)

Which sentence best identifies Noi’s central conflict?

• Even though she was eleven years old, she liked to pretend that Kun Ya’s creatures were real. (paragraph 8)

• All morning, Noi and Ting had opened the umbrellas, getting them ready for Kun Ya’s brush. (paragraph 10)

• “But, Kun Ya, I don’t know how.” (paragraph 20)

• “Your trembling is good, Noi,” said Kun Ya. (paragraph 23)

Read this sentence from paragraph 24.

The flit of the butterflies moved into her, then out into the brush, so the paint seemed to lay itself down.

Why does the author use figurative language in this sentence?

• To show the way Noi captures the motions of a butterfly in her painting

• To explain why Noi is able to paint a butterfly without looking at her brush

• To suggest that Noi allows a butterfly to land on her as she paints its image

• To emphasize how Noi uses simple strokes to paint an image of a butterfly

Read this information about the roots of the word translucent.

from Latin trans, meaning “through” + lucere, meaning “to shine”

Based on this information, what does the word translucent mean in paragraph 10?

• Providing shade from the light

• Supplying a steady source of light

• Becoming fragile in the light

• Allowing light to enter

What is the best summary of the excerpt?

• Kun Ya, Noi, and Ting work together in the jungle to create painted silk umbrellas. Kun Ya paints plants and animals on the umbrellas, and Noi and Ting help mix the paints. At the end of the day, Kun Ya asks Noi to paint a butterfly, and though Noi is anxious about the task, she does it successfully.

• Kun Ya paints designs on silk umbrellas in the jungle, and her granddaughters, Noi and Ting, assist her. Kun Ya has painted an elephant on an umbrella, and Noi pretends the elephant is alive. After the umbrellas are dry, Noi and Ting close them up.

• Kun Ya, Noi, and Ting spend all day painting silk umbrellas in a jungle clearing. Both girls usually mix the paints, and Noi sometimes paints leaves. Ting takes an umbrella featuring an elephant to hang it up to dry but then she starts to play with it, causing Noi to laugh.

• Ting and her sister, Noi, often help their grandmother, Kun Ya, paint silk umbrellas. Noi watches Kun Ya paint the umbrellas and sometimes helps by painting leaves on them, and she enjoys the feeling of slick paint between her fingers. At the end of the day, Noi looks at the umbrellas in a basket and admires them.

In paragraph 23, how do Kun Ya’s comments influence Noi?

• Kun Ya’s comments cause Noi to lose focus and start to daydream.

• Kun Ya’s comments give Noi confidence and guidance as she paints.

• Kun Ya’s comments make Noi think about how Kun Ya paints butterflies.

• Kun Ya’s comments urge Noi to use a technique that she finds uncomfortable.