STAAR Grade 5 RLA — Practice Test 1

Reading Passage 1: "The Bicycle Repair"

Read the passage. Then answer the questions that follow.

The Bicycle Repair

Mateo had been saving his allowance for almost a year, and at last he had enough money to buy the bicycle in the front window of Carter's Hardware. It was painted a deep, glossy blue, and the chrome handlebars sparkled under the fluorescent lights. The price tag read seventy-five dollars. To Mateo, it might as well have read "freedom."

For three glorious weeks, the bicycle was the center of his world. He rode it to the park, to his cousin's apartment, and once, on a particularly bold afternoon, all the way to the public library across town. Then, on a Saturday morning in September, he made a wrong choice. He left the bicycle on the front lawn instead of bringing it inside, and a sudden thunderstorm soaked it through. By Monday, the chain had developed a thin, ugly coat of rust.

Mateo nearly cried when he saw it. He shoved the bicycle into the garage and refused to look at it for two whole days.

On Wednesday, his grandfather came over for dinner. After the dishes were cleared, Abuelo wandered into the garage, the way he always did, to admire whatever project was sitting there. When he saw the bicycle, he did not scold Mateo. Instead, he simply rolled up the sleeves of his old denim shirt.

"This is fixable," Abuelo said. "Bring me the wire brush and a rag."

For the next two hours, Abuelo showed Mateo how to remove the rust, link by link. He taught him how to apply oil to the chain, how to test the brakes, and how to listen for the soft, satisfied click of gears that have been properly cared for. He worked patiently, without lecturing. Now and then, he stopped to wipe his glasses or to point out something Mateo had missed.

By the time the streetlights blinked on, the bicycle gleamed almost as brightly as it had on the day Mateo bought it. Mateo's hands were black with grease, and his back ached from leaning over the workbench. He had never felt better in his life.

"Now," Abuelo said, packing up the rags, "you do not just own a bicycle. You know one."

Mateo wheeled the bicycle out into the driveway and rode a slow, careful loop down the street. The chain hummed beneath his feet — quieter than before, almost grateful. He thought about how he had nearly given up on something that could be saved with a little patience and a willing teacher. From that night on, he kept the bicycle in the garage every evening, and once a month, he and Abuelo cleaned it together, even when there was no rust to remove.

1. Which sentence BEST states the theme of the passage?

2. Which detail BEST shows that the bicycle is very important to Mateo?

3. Read this sentence from the passage: "The chain hummed beneath his feet — quieter than before, almost grateful." The author's use of the word grateful is an example of —

4. How does Mateo MOST LIKELY feel when he first sees the rust on the chain?

5. Why does the author MOST LIKELY include the detail that Abuelo "did not scold Mateo"?

6. Which sentence BEST describes how Mateo changes from the beginning to the end of the passage?

7. Read this sentence from the passage: "By the time the streetlights blinked on, the bicycle gleamed almost as brightly as it had on the day Mateo bought it." The word gleamed means —

8. What does Abuelo MOST LIKELY mean when he says, "Now, you do not just own a bicycle. You know one"?

9. Which event from the passage happens FIRST?

10. Which detail from the passage BEST supports the idea that the repair experience changes Mateo's habits long-term?

Reading Passage 2: "The Hidden World of Mushrooms"

Read the informational passage. Then answer the questions that follow.

The Hidden World of Mushrooms

When most people see a mushroom growing on the floor of a forest, they assume it is the whole organism. In reality, the mushroom they notice is only a small part — the fruit. The much larger living creature is hidden underground, weaving through the soil in long, threadlike strands called mycelium. A single mycelium network can stretch across an entire forest, sometimes covering an area larger than a hundred football fields.

Mycelium plays a critical role in the health of forests. It connects the roots of many different trees, allowing them to share water, nutrients, and even chemical warning signals. When one tree is attacked by insects, scientists have observed that nearby trees often begin producing defensive chemicals before the insects ever reach them. The trees, it seems, have been warned through the underground network. For this reason, some researchers have nicknamed the mycelium the "wood wide web."

Mushrooms also serve as the forest's recycling crew. As leaves fall and trees die, the mycelium spreads through the dead material and slowly breaks it down. The nutrients locked inside the wood and leaves are released back into the soil, where new plants can use them. Without fungi, dead wood would simply pile up year after year, and forests could not renew themselves.

Not all fungi are friendly to other living things. Some kinds attack growing trees and can damage entire orchards. Others produce mushrooms that are highly poisonous to humans and animals. Because some toxic mushrooms look almost identical to safe ones, scientists strongly warn people never to eat any wild mushroom unless an expert has identified it.

Today, researchers are studying mushrooms in laboratories around the world. Some scientists are testing whether mycelium can be used to grow a strong, leather-like material that does not harm the environment. Others are exploring how certain fungi can clean up oil spills by breaking down the harmful chemicals in polluted soil. The hidden world beneath our feet may turn out to be one of the most useful tools we have for protecting the planet.

Roles of Fungi in a Forest
Role	What it does
Connector	Links tree roots so trees can share water and signals
Recycler	Breaks down dead leaves and wood to release nutrients
Threat	A few species attack trees or are toxic if eaten
Helper for humans	Used in research to clean pollution and create new materials

11. Which sentence BEST states the central idea of the passage?

12. What is the main organizational structure of paragraph 2?

13. Read this sentence: "The mycelium spreads through the dead material and slowly breaks it down." In this passage, the phrase breaks it down means —

14. Look at the table titled "Roles of Fungi in a Forest." According to the table, which role of fungi MOST DIRECTLY supports the idea that fungi help humans?

15. Why does the author MOST LIKELY use the nickname "wood wide web"?

16. Which sentence from the passage BEST supports the idea that fungi can be useful in protecting the environment?

17. What is the author's MAIN purpose in writing this passage?

18. Why does the author warn that people should never eat wild mushrooms unless an expert has identified them?

19. Based on the passage, what would MOST LIKELY happen if all the fungi in a forest disappeared?

20. Which sentence BEST summarizes the final paragraph?

Vocabulary

Choose the best answer.

21. The Latin root spect means "to look" or "to see." Read this sentence: "The detective took a long, careful inspection of the muddy footprints near the door." Based on the root spect, what does inspection mean?

22. The Latin root dict means "to speak" or "to say." Read this sentence: "The principal's dictation was so clear that every student finished the spelling test on time." Based on the root, what does dictation MOST LIKELY mean?

23. The Greek root graph means "to write" or "to draw." Read this sentence: "Maya used a fine pen to add elegant calligraphy to the front of the invitation." Based on the root, what does calligraphy MOST LIKELY mean?

24. Read this sentence: "After the long hike, Theo's legs were weary, and he sat down on the nearest bench." Which word means almost the SAME as weary?

25. Read this sentence: "The new bridge will connect the two halves of the small island for the first time in history." The prefix con- in connect means —

26. Read this sentence: "The crowd was enormous; thousands of people filled every street near the stadium." Which word means the OPPOSITE of enormous?

27. Read this sentence: "The film's ending was so predictable that we guessed it during the first ten minutes." The prefix pre- and the root dict together suggest that predictable means —

Conventions

Choose the best answer.

28. Read this sentence: "The basket of fresh apples were sitting on the kitchen counter." Which is the BEST way to revise the underlined sentence?

29. Read this sentence: "Last summer, we visit the Grand Canyon and hiked along the rim." Which is the BEST way to revise the underlined sentence?

30. Read this sentence: "My uncle who lives in Dallas is visiting next week." Which revision correctly punctuates the appositive-like nonrestrictive clause?

31. Read this sentence: "The team celebrated they're victory at the pizza shop." Which is the BEST way to revise the underlined sentence?

32. Read this sentence: "Although it rained all morning, the picnic was still fun." Which is the BEST way to revise the underlined sentence?

33. Read this sentence: "Mr. patel and his sister opened a small bakery on elm street last spring." Which is the BEST way to revise the underlined sentence?

Composition & Inquiry

Choose the best answer or type the correct word.

34. Read these two sentences: "Lana practiced piano every day. She made huge progress this year." Which sentence BEST combines them using a subordinating conjunction?

35. Read this paragraph:
(1) Recycling helps protect natural resources. (2) When we recycle paper, fewer trees are cut down. (3) ____ recycling glass and metal saves energy that would be needed to make these materials from scratch. Which transition word or phrase BEST fits in the blank in sentence 3?

36. Read this sentence: "It was a really nice day, and we did a lot of fun things at the beach." Which revision BEST replaces the vague language with stronger, more specific words?

37. Sofia is researching the life of Helen Keller. Which of the following is a PRIMARY source?

38. Jamal is writing a research paper on volcanoes. He wants to use information from a reliable source. Which is the MOST credible source?

39. Read this sentence from a draft: "My brother and me built a model rocket together over the weekend." Type the correct pronoun that should replace me.

40. Read this sentence: "The library was crowded all of the students were studying for finals." Which is the BEST revision?