Released STAAR 2021

How does the author organize paragraphs 2 through 5 of the selection "A Massive Mission"?

• By detailing the order of events that brought Endeavour to its final destination

• By listing the steps that had to be taken before Endeavour could fly to California

• By describing the features of Endeavour that made it useful for NASA missions

• By comparing the differences between Endeavour and a Boeing 747 airplane

Based on paragraph 2 of the selection "A Massive Mission," what is the most likely reason Endeavour flew to different places in California before landing at the Los Angeles International Airport?

• To allow planners time to prepare the streets for the shuttle

• To test whether the shuttle was still working well

• To give more people the opportunity to view the shuttle

• To remind people how the shuttle was previously used

Read this sentence from paragraph 1 of the selection "A Massive Mission." "As one observer said, the move was a 'once-in-forever moment in history.'" Which statement from the selection best supports the idea in this sentence?

• Strapped to the back of a specially adapted Boeing 747 airplane, it was flown across the country to Edwards Air Force Base in California.

• After soaring past the famous Hollywood sign, Endeavour landed at the Los Angeles International Airport.

• Huge steel plates were placed atop streets along the route.

• Dozens of photographers and filmmakers were on hand to capture every minute.

What is the most likely reason the author wrote the selection "A Massive Mission"?

• To emphasize the importance of Endeavour's space-travel missions

• To highlight the efforts taken to transport Endeavour to a museum

• To explain the economic effect of Endeavour's tour through Los Angeles

• To argue that Endeavour is the most important space shuttle used to this day

Which sentence from the selection "A Massive Mission" best shows that people were enthusiastic about Endeavour's journey?

• On October 13, 2012, the space shuttle Endeavour, one of four retired NASA shuttles, began its last mission.

• On a celebratory flight around its new home state, Endeavour circled over the Capitol in Sacramento.

• Several police officers were needed to redirect traffic as the shuttle passed.

• This historic move, which cost approximately 10 million dollars to complete, also became a huge social event.

In the selection "DO Look Down!," the author includes the photographs and their captions most likely to highlight which idea?

• It took several years to construct the Grand Canyon Skywalk.

• The Grand Canyon Skywalk is attached to the entrance building.

• The Grand Canyon Skywalk brings visitors to Grand Canyon West.

• Building the Grand Canyon Skywalk required the agreement of tribal elders.

Why does the author use questions in paragraph 3 of the selection "DO Look Down!"?

• To suggest that Hualapai tribe members lacked engineering experience

• To highlight that the skywalk would allow people to see a more rugged area of the canyon

• To emphasize that creating the skywalk was complicated because nothing like it had ever been built

• To show that Hualapai tribe members hoped the project would bring many tourists

The word protrudes has a Latin root, trudere, meaning "to thrust." What does protrudes mean in paragraph 1 of the selection "DO Look Down!"?

• Works differently than intended

• Appears separate from a main part

• Has a variety of uses

• Sticks out from an area

What can the reader conclude about the tribal elders based on paragraph 4 of the selection "DO Look Down!"?

• They carefully considered how the skywalk would impact their community.

• They requested that the skywalk be built at a slow pace.

• They wanted the skywalk to include several interesting features.

• They wondered how the number of visitors on the skywalk would be managed.

Which sentence from the selection "DO Look Down!" best explains why the Hualapai wanted to create the Grand Canyon Skywalk?

• Nature lovers from around the world come to see the Grand Canyon. (paragraph 1)

• They needed an extreme attraction to bring new economic life to their home.

• Then one day David Jin, a businessman from Las Vegas, suggested this unique project to the Hualapai tribe members. (paragraph 3)

• After much discussion tribal elders supported the idea to build the skywalk. (paragraph 4)