STAAR Review - Comparing Passages Quiz

Read the two passages below and identify the main idea of each. Passage 1: 'Many animals hibernate during the winter. Bears, for example, sleep for months to conserve energy when food is scarce.' Passage 2: 'Some animals migrate to warmer climates during the winter. Birds often fly thousands of miles to find food and better living conditions.' What is the main idea common to both passages?

• Animals have different ways of surviving winter.

• Bears and birds are the only animals that hibernate or migrate.

• Winter is the most challenging season for all animals.

• Animals do not need to eat during the winter.

Answer explanation

The main idea common to both passages is that animals have different strategies to survive winter. Passage 1 discusses hibernation, while Passage 2 focuses on migration, highlighting the variety of adaptations animals use.

Compare and contrast the two passages below. Passage 1: 'Tommy loves playing soccer. He practices every day after school and dreams of becoming a professional player.' Passage 2: 'Sarah enjoys painting. She spends her weekends at art classes and hopes to have her own gallery one day.' What is a similarity between Tommy and Sarah?

• Both want to become teachers.

• Both are dedicated to their hobbies.

• Both dislike school activities.

• Both have no future goals.

Answer explanation

Both Tommy and Sarah are dedicated to their hobbies, as Tommy practices soccer daily and Sarah attends art classes on weekends, showing commitment to their passions.

Read the passages and draw a conclusion. Passage 1: 'During the summer, the park is filled with people having picnics and playing games.' Passage 2: 'In winter, the park is quiet and covered in snow, with only a few people walking their dogs.' What conclusion can you draw about the park?

• The park is only open in the summer.

• The park is more popular in the summer than in the winter.

• The park is not suitable for picnics.

• The park is always crowded.

Answer explanation

The passages indicate that the park is lively and busy in summer with many activities, while in winter it is quiet with few visitors. This suggests that the park is more popular in the summer than in the winter.

Identify the main idea of the following passages. Passage 1: 'Rainforests are home to a vast number of plant and animal species. They provide oxygen and help regulate the Earth's climate.' Passage 2: 'Deserts have extreme temperatures and limited water supply, but they are home to unique plants and animals adapted to harsh conditions.' What is the main idea common to both passages?

• Both rainforests and deserts are uninhabitable.

• Both environments support diverse life forms.

• Both environments are dangerous for humans.

• Both rainforests and deserts are shrinking.

Answer explanation

Both passages highlight the diversity of life forms in different environments. Rainforests are rich in species, while deserts host unique organisms adapted to extreme conditions, emphasizing that both support diverse life.

Compare and contrast the two passages below. Passage 1: 'John enjoys reading mystery novels. He likes to solve the puzzles and figure out the endings before he finishes the book.' Passage 2: 'Emily prefers reading fantasy novels. She loves the magical worlds and the adventures of the characters.' What is a difference between John and Emily's reading preferences?

• John and Emily both dislike reading.

• John prefers realistic stories, while Emily prefers imaginative ones.

• Both John and Emily only read non-fiction.

• John and Emily have no interest in books.

Answer explanation

John enjoys solving puzzles in mystery novels, indicating a preference for realistic stories, while Emily loves the imaginative adventures in fantasy novels. This highlights their differing reading preferences.

Read the passages and draw a conclusion. Passage 1: 'Lisa waters her garden every morning. She enjoys watching her plants grow and bloom.' Passage 2: 'Mark rarely waters his garden. His plants often wilt and do not produce many flowers.' What conclusion can you draw about the importance of watering plants?

• Watering plants is unnecessary for their growth.

• Regular watering helps plants grow and bloom.

• Plants can survive without water.

• Watering plants too much is harmful.

Answer explanation

The passages show that Lisa's regular watering leads to healthy plants, while Mark's lack of watering results in wilting. This indicates that regular watering is essential for plants to grow and bloom.

Identify the main idea of the following passages. Passage 1: 'Electric cars are becoming more popular as people look for ways to reduce pollution and save on fuel costs.' Passage 2: 'Public transportation is a cost-effective and environmentally friendly way to travel, reducing the number of cars on the road.' What is the main idea common to both passages?

• Both electric cars and public transportation are expensive.

• Both options help reduce environmental impact.

• Both electric cars and public transportation are inconvenient.

• Both options are outdated modes of transport.

Answer explanation

Both passages highlight options that contribute to reducing environmental impact, with electric cars lowering pollution and public transportation decreasing the number of cars on the road.

Compare and contrast the two passages below. Passage 1: 'Michael loves playing video games. He spends hours each day improving his skills and competing with friends online.' Passage 2: 'Anna enjoys playing board games. She likes the social interaction and the challenge of strategizing with her family.' What is a similarity between Michael and Anna?

• Both prefer playing games alone.

• Both enjoy the challenge of games.

• Both dislike games that require strategy.

• Both only play games on weekends.

Answer explanation

Both Michael and Anna enjoy the challenge of games, as Michael improves his skills in video games and Anna strategizes in board games. This shared enjoyment highlights their competitive nature, despite the different types of games they play.

Read the passages and draw a conclusion. Passage 1: 'During the school year, students have a structured schedule with classes and homework.' Passage 2: 'In the summer, students have more free time to explore hobbies and relax.' What conclusion can you draw about students' schedules?

• Students have no free time during the school year.

• Students have more structured time during the school year than in the summer.

• Students do not enjoy their free time.

• Students' schedules are the same year-round.

Answer explanation

The passages indicate that during the school year, students have a structured schedule with classes and homework, while in summer, they have more free time. This supports the conclusion that students have more structured time during the school year than in the summer.

Identify the main idea of the following passages. Passage 1: 'Recycling helps reduce waste and conserve natural resources. It is an important practice for protecting the environment.' Passage 2: 'Composting turns organic waste into valuable fertilizer for gardens, reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills.' What is the main idea common to both passages?

• Both recycling and composting are harmful to the environment.

• Both practices help reduce waste and benefit the environment.

• Both recycling and composting are unnecessary.

• Both practices are only useful for large communities.

Answer explanation

Both passages emphasize practices that reduce waste and have positive effects on the environment. Recycling conserves resources, while composting transforms organic waste into fertilizer, highlighting their environmental benefits.