SL4AR MASTER Student Practice Book-Reading,...

SL4AR MASTER" Student Practice Book-Reading, Grade 7

A Ma9k Unseen .. . . ... So, do you recalL

that magic of fiery September?

The first hints of autumn aren't easy to spot, up

in the trees, tucked away behind dense swaths of

5 GREEN, but little by little, the fire burns brighter, and

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15

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the colors get hotter and ignite the fall sky, RED like

the bullfighters waving their capes, ORANGE like

rockets in July, YELLOW like millions

of petite flapping suns sitting so

low in the sky,

and then you

L might see a L

E light speck E

A of BROWN A

v tumble down v E to the ground, E

s down with the s dirt and the

other dead

leaves, piled

there by the

roots. That is autumn too, a magic unseen, the rotting of leaves

feeding the trees in the dirt and the loam and the gloom underground,

food for the branches and the buds in the spring, blooming to fresh, vibrant

25 leaves, which someday will turn luminous colors anew, a magic that some never see.

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Standard 8 (Author's Use of Language) M

1. The poet uses the words "dense swaths of GREEN" to describe the leaves'-·-

A importance

B location

c quantity

D texture

Standard 4 (Graphical Elements) M

2. Why do the line lengths differ in the poem?

A To make reading easy

B To create the image of a tree

C To affect the speed of reading

D To show the time span ofevents

STAAR MASTER" Student Practice Book-Reading. Grade 7

Standard 3 (Influence of Place!Time) M

3. Why is the month of September. important in the poem?

A It is one of the four seasons.

B It marks the end of warm weather.

C It is when leaves fall from the trees.

D It occurs between summer and winter months.


4. Which of the reader's senses is stirred .. by the words "the colors get hotter"?

A Hearing

B Sight

C Smell

D Taste

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STAAR MASTER" Stttdent Practice Book-Reading, Grade 7

7.RC.D (Inferences) H

5. The "magic" mentioned in the last line of the poem refers to the leaves- .

A turning bright colors

B fluttering into the sky

C piling up beneath a tree

D decaying due to natural changes

Standard 2 (Context Clues) M

6. Read the description from lines 24 and 25 of the poem.

. . . blooming to fresh, vibrant leaves, which someday will turn luminous colors anew ....

What does the word luminous mean?

A Brilliant

B Mysterious

c Natural

D Peculiar



7. Which words from the poem describe a natural cycle?

· A- up in thff trees;·' tucked away-~··---·-· - ·

B millions of petite flapping suns sitting

C the rotting of leaves feeding the trees

D the loam and thegloom underground

Standard 4 (Graphical Elements) M

8. The word "LEAVES'' appears in the poem to-

A mimic fluttering, scattered leaves

B illustrate the size of the tree's leaves

C show how the tree's leaves nourish its roots

D demonstrate how the wind carries the leaves far away

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Vote for .. . Who?

REBECCA

JAMEER

OSCAR

MRS. MOORE

PRINCIPAL DARROW

·'

STAAR MASTER• St11dent Practice Book-Reading, Gratk 7

; ' .

1 Scene 1: REBECCA and OSCAR stand just outside a set of gymnasium doors in a school

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hallway with lockers and campaign posters on the wall that read, "Rebecca Mills for President" and "Have No Fear, Vote for ]ameer!!" A crowd of cheering students can be heard through the ·· doors. REBECCA and OSCAR are talking in hushed tones as MRS. MOORE approaches with a camera.

MRS. MOORE: Just one more photograph for the yearbook before your big moment. . Stand together and smile!

(OSCAR stands tall and flashes a dazzling smile, and REBECCA looks hesitant and weary by compari~orZ:) · , ·

OSCAR:. Come on and smile already. Isn't this the day we've been waiting for? Don't you just love that sound? Doesn't all that cheering send chills running up your spine?

REBECCA: It sure does, but not the way you're thinking. I don't know ifl want to go out there.

MRS. MOORE: Don't lose hope, Rebecca. You've talked about being Student Council President all month. What about all of those passionate speeches you made?

CR.§6ecca Mi[{s

for President

7 REBECCA: Oscar wrote most of those, and besides, they were in front of single classes. This is the entire school!

8 MRS. MOORE: What about all those eye-catching posters, your flyers, and those articles in the school newspaper?

9 REBECCA: (sulking even more) Oscar wrote them all, but with my input. I have great ideas, I just don't know how to enact them.

10 OSCAR: (putting his arm around his friend) With me as your campaign manager, you never have to worry about that. Just give me your ideas, and the whole world will be singing your praises!


STAAR MASTER" Student Practice Book-Reading, Grade 7

11 MRS. MOORE: I have to admit, Rebecca, you two make a stellar political team. (She t.akes a picture and begins to walk through the doors.) Remember, you go up to the podium after Principal Darrow makes a brief, speech, and Oscar will give you the signal to come in. Good luc'Kl~"(She exitithroughthe doors:)-~--- ---- -- --·-" .. - -- - - - -- - ~-- ___ _ '" -. ___ . ~

12 OSCAR: (turning to REBECCA) You're going to do just fine, just as long as you stop worrying so much. (He taps the top ~fher head with his finger.) With that brain of yours and all the genius ideas stored up in there, you are going to make some really big changes in this schooL (He opens the door and slips into ihe.' gym as PRINCIPAL DARROW begins to speak inside.) · -

' . ' .

13 REBECCA: (Afterstanding alone for a fewmoments in nervous silence, she begins to speak to herself.) I know I have a iot of good ideas.~. but this doesn't feel like one of them.

14 JAMEER: (from behind REBECCA) That's the smartest thing I've heard all day. GAMEER walks up behind her. The two are alone as PRINCIPAL DARROW speaks inside the gymnasium.) I think everyone in the world is more excited about this debate than I am.

15 REBECCA: Debate? Jameer, I didn't know we were debating! I thought this was just a speech. I'm not ready for a debate!

16 JAMEER: (holding up his hands) Whoa, I didn't mean it like that. It's like Oscar said,. "Two opposing speeches is a debate where nobody talks to each other.'' That guy sure does know his politics;

17 REBECCA: H ave you been talking to my campaign manager about politics?

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18 JAMEER: Your campciign manager? I thought he was my campaign manager;

19 REBECCA: He made all of my posters and he helped me write all of my speeches. I couldn't }:lave made it this far without him! He helped you too?

.. 20 JAMEER: Yeah, he convinced me to run for Student Council President. To tell you a secret,

(lowering his voice) I don't even really want the job: I don't mind the hard work, I just don't know what I would do if I a.ciually won;

21 REBECCA: I don't actually want to win anymore either. I have plenty of ideas, but I'm so tired of trying to make everyone happy all the time; It's overwhelming. (She pauses, then smiles and taps the top of her head like OSCAR did.) You know what? I think I just had my greatest idea, one that could change the entire campaign~

22 JAMEER: (raising an eyebrow) You look like the cat that ate the canary. What's this great idea you're hiding?

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STAAR MASTER• Student Practice Boo~Rtttding, Grade 7

23 (REBECCA whispers into JAMEER's ear, and they nod to each other with eager smiles on their faces.) ·

24 · JAMEER:-You really ate' a genitis. · · · " ·-·-" -- · ·" · ~--- -·- -·~ -- · ---~- ----~ -- --~·--

25 Scene 2: PRINCIPAL DARROW stands at the podium in the middle of the gymnasium and claps along with all the other students as JAMEER imd REBECCA walk up the pod~um steps, with OSCAR standing behind them.

26 PRINCIPAL DARROW: And now it is my pleasuretointroducethe·two opponents who hope to win your votes in the upcoming election. We will now hear two speeches, and then- .

27 JAMEER: (interrupting) Actually, one speech will do just fine~

28 (REBECCA and JAMEER both stand at the microphone.)

29 REBECCA: After giving the situation a lot of thought, both Jameer and I have decided that the best person for the job is not on the ballot. You need someone who understands politics~

30 JAMEER: Someone who can convince people to work hard for a good cause.

31 REBECCA: And someone who knows how to listen to people with good ideas. That is why both Jameer and I are going to step out of this race ... and nominate Oscar Cruz for Student Council President!

32 (OSCAR steps up to the podium, shock and obvious delight written all over his face.)

© ECS Learning Svstems. Inc.

STAAR MASTEW Student Practiu Book-Reading, Grade 7

Standard 3 (Themes) H

1. What is the most important idea expressed in this drama?

A~ Hidden talents- are the best_. ,, surpnses.

B Competing with a good friend usually damages the friendship.

C School elections are not a good · idea because they cause· too much · stress;

D People should be honest with themselves about their strengths and weaknesses.

·." ,.



2. Read line 4 from the drama.

OSCAR; Come on and smile · . alre:idy.lsn'i 'thiS tlie 'day we've been

waiting for? Don't you just love that sound? Doesn't all that cheering send chills rtinning up your. spine? ·

The phrase "send chills running up your spine' shows that Oscar thinks Rebecca should feel- ,

A anxious

B cold

c excited

D proud

Standard 2 (Roots/Affixes) L

3. In which word do the letters ate mean the same as in the word· passionate?

A Activate

B Affectionate

c Climate

D Create

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Standard 5 (Dialogue/Stage Directions) M . . .

4. Read line 10 from the drama.

OSCAR: (putting his arm around his friend) With me as your campaign manager, you never have to worry about that. Just give me your ideas, and the whole world will be singing your praises!

Oscar's words show that he is-

A confident

B dishonest

c proud

D worried

Standard 6 (Plot Development/Characters) M

5. What kind of person is Rebecca?

A Somewhat shy

B · Jealous of others

C Selfish and sneaky

D Extremely outspoken

STMR MASTER" Student Practice Book-Reading, Grade 7

Standard 5 (Dialogue/Stage Directions) M

6. Read the sentences from lines 14 and 15 of the drama.

JAMEER: I think everyone in the world is more excited about this . debate than I am. REBECCA: Debate? Jameer,. 1 didn't know ~e were debating! 1 thought this was just a speech. I'm not ready for a debate!

-which word best describes Rebecca's tone in the lines above?

A Angry

B Energized

C Panicked

D Thrilled

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7. Read line 22 from the drama:

___ JAMEER: (raisirJg__an eyebrow) You · look like the cat that ate the canary. What's ·this great idea you're hiding?

Jameer compares Rebecca to "the cat that ate the canary" because Rebecca looks- '

A _ aggressive

B confused

c -mean

D mischievous



8. Read the sentence from line 31 of the drama.

REBECCA: That is why both Jameer and I are going to step out of this race . . . and nominate Oscar Cruz for Student Council President!

In the sentence above, the word nominate means to-

A acknowledge

B appoint

C elect

D suggest

Standard 5 (Dialogue/Stage Directions) H

9. The purpose of the final stage: direction is to· show that Oscar-

A has tricked . .Rebecca and Jameer

B is confused about what Rebecca said _

G will try to become the Student Council President·

D does not want to be Student Council President

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1 The martial arts are systems of self-defense moves, and they

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began over 4,000 years ago in Asia. People needed a way to overpower armed opponents, so they devised ways to do so using their bodies. They focused on channeling energy, or qi, into the force of a blow. The most popular martial arts are Japanese Karate, Chinese Kung Fu, and Korean Tae Kwon Do.

Karate means "empty hand" in Japanese and uses no weapons. Instead, students defend themselves by kicking and punching their opponents. They also learn how to effectively block blows with their arms and legs. Students concentrate on the part of the body that is making impact; this could be the hand, foot, knee, or elbow. They toughen these body parts by striking them against padded wood. Karate masters can break several inches of wood with a single blow.

Kung Fu means "hard work'' in Chinese. The stances used in Kung Fu are based on the human anatomy, and all muscles and bones are used to maximize power and coordination. There are two Kung Fu forms: solo and sparring. Both require great strength and mental concentration. Most students begin learning solo and then spar with a partner. The sport of Kung Fu is also known as wushu.

ABOVE: Karate student BELOW: Karate class.

4 The various movements in Kung Fu imitate the Hghting styles of animals. The dragon stance relies on floating and sinking move~ents. In this stance, the shoulders are dropped and the elbows are bent. In contrast, the horse stance uses many kicking motions with circling turns. In the white crane system, competitors use four main principles: hurt, evade, penetrate, and intercept the opponent.

5 Kung Fu uses 18 weapons which are replicas of ancient military weapons. Most of the weapons are some form of a sword, saber, spear, or cudgel. Some weapons are used at close range, but others are used at a specific distance, depending on the competition. Some weapons may be visible to the opponent; others may be hidden from view until they are used in combat. Weapons are used to hit, shoot at, and block opponents.

106 © ECS Learning Systems, Inc.


6 Tae Kwon Do means "art of kicking and punching" in Korean and never uses any

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weapons. It is a combination of Chinese, Japanese, and traditional Korean fighting methods. Tae Kwon Do andJudo, a form ofJapanese wrestling, are the only Olympic martial arts competitions.-As .. with"th0 other-martial arts, Tae Kwon· Da-is a combination-of physicat --· strength, combattechnique, and concentration on the sport. .

Tae Kwon Do uses the naturally longer reach of the legs to overpower an opponent, and students learn eight different kicking styles. The front, side, and axe kicks are done from a stationary position. Hook, crescent, turning, spin, and jump kicks involve fast movement. Tae Kwon Do students practice their techniques by memorizing and performing a series of choreographed fighting moves that form akind of dance. These sets of moves, also _known as hyung ("imaginary fighting"), are also performed as part of martial arts competitions.

8 All forms of martial arts designate their ranks by belt colors. All forms of martial arts use a master who teaches students about the ancient form of defense. So, the next time you see a kid with a black belt, watch out!

ABOVE: Kimg F~ stude.it BELOW: Tae Kwon Do students and instructor

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Standard 10 (Evaluation of Summary) L

1. Which of the following best describes martial arts?

A ~~ient -self-defens·e-pracdces·· -- -·

B Early method of splitting wood

G Rite of passage for youths in Asia

D Fighting m oves using only the feet .

l.RC.D (Inferences) M

2. Which action might. be performed by a Kung Fu student?

A Releasing a fast crescent kick to down an opponent

B Breaking a thick, wooden board using only the elbow

C Acting out a series of fighting · moves that mimic dancing

D H iding a sword from an opponent's view until it is needed

STAAR MASTER" St11dent Practice Book-Readin'g, Grade 1

Standard 10 (Evaluation of Summary) L

3. Which order of events is correct for most Kung Fu beginners? .

. , ··- . - -A- Tlie.stti.deiit begins o)f learning

solo and then spars with a partner.

·B The student is first given weapons and then must fight: using only the hands.

C The student tries to avoid the opponent and then tries to intercept the. opponent~

D T he student starts . by using the. dragon stance and then graduates to the horse stance ..


~7 - STAAR MASTER" Student Practice Book-Reading, Grade 7


4. Read the · sentences from paragraph 5 of the passage.

--:--~~[KungPu~weaponslare· replicas of·---ancient military weapons. Most of the _weapons are some form of a sword, saber, spear, or cudgel .

Which word means almost the same as· replicas?

A ·· Carvings .

B Designs

C Imitations

D Molds

Standard 10 (Evaluation of Summary) M

5. The last paragraph of the passage tells the reader about the-

A use of weapons in most martial arts

B animal-like fighting styles of KungFu

C different types of kicks in TaeKwonDo

D characteristics common to all martial arts


Standard 2 (Dictionary/Glossary) M

6. Read the dictionary entry below.

ranks (ranks)

noun 1. series of skill levels 2. degrees of wealth in a society 3. different positions in an organization 4. lines of fighters standing side by side

Which meaning fits the way ranks is used in the following sentences from paragraph 8 of the passage? ·

All forms of martial arts designate their ranks by belt colors .... So, the next time you see a kid with a black belt, watch out!

A Series of skill levels

B Degrees of wealth in a society

C Different positions in an organization .

D Lines of fighters standing side by side

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l.RC.D. (Inferences) M

7. You should "watch out" if you see someone with a bl;;._,-k belt because that person-

A is capable of harming you .

B will start a fight for no reason

C might ask you to join a martial art

D most likely teaches a martial arts class

l.RC.E (Summarize/Paraphrase/Synthesize) M

8. The picture of the Tae Kwon Do students and their instructor shows the reader that-

A beginners quickly receive black belts

B students often fight each other for practice

C weapons are encouraged in this martial art

D students often look to their teacher for direction

STAAR MASTER" Student Practice Book-Reading, Gra:U ~ -\\

Standard 10 (Organizational Patterns) M

9. The ideas in this passage are mainly organized by considering-the---

-A~- kinds of weapons. used-for each -type of defense

B mental. abilities required for each type of defense ~- -

C type of students_ that_ would learn each type of defense -.

D meanings and techniques behind each type of defense


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