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Sample BookletGrade 7Writing

Student Practice Book

Lori MammenEditorial Director

All New! Research-Based Series for TexasFor more than two decades, we have helped you achieve student success on Texas tests by providing the highest quality test-prep materials. With STAAR MASTER®, we continue our commitment to create research-based content that engages students and makes teaching easier.• Based on eligible TEKS and STAAR test blueprints • All new content with increased rigor • Emphasis on readiness standards • Assessment of process skills within context (mathematics, science, and social studies) • More open-ended (griddable) items (mathematics and science)

You know ECS from TAAS MASTER™ and TAKS MASTER®. Rest assured. The content in the STAAR MASTER® series is 100% new and developed according to the TEA test blueprints for STAAR™.

© ECS Learning Systems, Inc.

STAAR MASTER® Sample Booklet

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3© ECS Learning Systems, Inc.

STAAR MASTER® Sample BookletT

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CredibleSame ECS quality and rigor

• based on eligible TEKS and STAAR™ test blueprints

• practice items marked with complexity level (L, M, or H)

• questions labeled with “skill tags” • targeted practice in a variety of contexts

AuthenticReflects key characteristics

of STAAR™• increased rigor• emphasis on readiness standards• more open-ended (griddable) items (mathematics and science)

• assessment of process skills within context (mathematics, science, and social studies)

FreshIncludes brand-new materials • all new content • range of topics to interest students• clear and consistent page layout• complete answer keys for teachers

We make teaching easier!SM

ECS Learning Systems, Inc.P.O. Box 440 • Bulverde, TX 78163-0440

1.800.688.3224

You have used our TAAS and TAKS MASTER® books—now expect the same ECS quality and rigor with…

Reading • Mathematics • Writing • Social Studies • ScienceEnglish and Spanish versions

ecslearningsystems.com

All Content!New



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ISBN: 978-1-60539-XXX-XCopyright infringement is a violation of Federal Law.©2012 by ECS Learning Systems, Inc., Bulverde, Texas. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,

translated, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any way or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording,

or otherwise) without prior written permission from ECS Learning Systems, Inc.

Reproduction of any part of this publication for an entire school or for a school system, by for-profit institutions and tutoring centers,

or for commercial sale is strictly prohibited. Printed in the United States of America. STAAR MASTER is a Registered Trademark of ECS Learning Systems, Inc.Disclaimer Statement

ECS Learning Systems, Inc. recommends that the purchaser/user of this publication preview and use his/her own judgment when

selecting lessons and activities. Please assess the appropriateness of the content and activities according to grade level and maturity of

your students. The responsibility to adhere to safety standards and best professional practices is the duty of the teachers, students,

and/or others who use the content of this publication. ECS Learning Systems is not responsible for any damage, to property or

person, that results from the performance of the activities in this publication.

STAAR is a Trademark of Texas Education Agency. STAAR MASTER and ECS Learning Systems, Inc. are not affiliated with or

sponsored by the Texas Education Agency or the State of Texas.

Math, Grade 5Form ASpanish Version

Practice Test

Date

Name

Since 1982

ISBN: 978-1-60539-XXX-XCopyright infringement is a violation of Federal Law.©2012 by ECS Learning Systems, Inc., Bulverde, Texas. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,


or otherwise) without prior written permission from ECS Learning Systems, Inc.Reproduction of any part of this publication for an entire school or for a school system, by for-profit institutions and tutoring centers,

or for commercial sale is strictly prohibited. Printed in the United States of America. STAAR MASTER is a Registered Trademark of ECS Learning Systems, Inc.Disclaimer Statement





person, that results from the performance of the activities in this publication.STAAR is a Trademark of Texas Education Agency. STAAR MASTER and ECS Learning Systems, Inc. are not affiliated with or


ReadingGrade 3

Form ASpanish Version

Practice Test

Date

Name

Since 1982

STAAR MASTER is a registered trademark of ECS Learning Systems, Inc. STAAR is a trademark of the Texas Education Agency. STAAR MASTER and ECS Learning Systems, Inc., are not affiliated with or sponsored by the Texas Education Agency or the State of Texas. Rev. 01/12 SMIFC

STAAR MASTER® Student Practice Books

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Student Practice Books • Practice TestsReading • Mathematics • Writing • Social Studies • Science

English • Spanish Grades 3–8

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STAAR MASTER® Practice Tests

EnglishReading, Grade 3Reading, Grade 4Reading, Grade 5Reading, Grade 6Reading, Grade 7Reading, Grade 8

Math, Grade 3Math, Grade 4Math, Grade 5Math, Grade 6Math, Grade 7Math, Grade 8

Writing, Grade 4Writing, Grade 7

Science, Grade 5Science, Grade 8

Social Studies, Grade 8

SpanishReading, Grade 3Reading, Grade 4Reading, Grade 5

Math, Grade 3Math, Grade 4Math, Grade 5

Science, Grade 5

EnglishReading, Grade 3Reading, Grade 4Reading, Grade 5Reading, Grade 6Reading, Grade 7Reading, Grade 8

Math, Grade 3Math, Grade 4Math, Grade 5Math, Grade 6Math, Grade 7Math, Grade 8

Writing, Grade 4Writing, Grade 7

SpanishReading, Grade 3Reading, Grade 4Reading, Grade 5

Math, Grade 3Math, Grade 4Math, Grade 5

Reading and Math Grades 3–5 available now. Reading and MathGrades 6–8, Writing, and Spanish Versions for Reading and Mathavailable soon. Form B available 2012–2013 school year. STAAR MASTER® Practice Tests are non-returnable.

FREE Teacher Guide included with each pack. Consumable practice tests—may not be reproduced.

Rese

arch BasedISBN: 978-1-60539-786-3

Copyright infringement is a violation of Federal Law.

©2012 by ECS Learning Systems, Inc., Bulverde, Texas. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,translated, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any way or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording,or otherwise) without prior written permission from ECS Learning Systems, Inc.

Reproduction of any part of this publication for an entire school or for a school system, by for-profit institutions and tutoring centers,or for commercial sale is strictly prohibited.

Printed in the United States of America. STAAR MASTER is a Registered Trademark of ECS Learning Systems, Inc.

Disclaimer Statement

ECS Learning Systems, Inc. recommends that the purchaser/user of this publication preview and use his/her own judgment whenselecting lessons and activities. Please assess the appropriateness of the content and activities according to grade level and maturity ofyour students. The responsibility to adhere to safety standards and best professional practices is the duty of the teachers, students,and/or others who use the content of this publication. ECS Learning Systems is not responsible for any damage, to property orperson, that results from the performance of the activities in this publication.

STAAR is a Trademark of Texas Education Agency. STAAR MASTER and ECS Learning Systems, Inc. are not affiliated with orsponsored by the Texas Education Agency or the State of Texas.

MathematicsGrade 5

Form A

Practice Test

DateName

Since 1982

ISBN: 978-1-60539-XXX-X


©2012 by ECS Learning Systems, Inc., Bulverde, Texas. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,




or for commercial sale is strictly prohibited.










WritingGrade 4

Form A

Practice Test

Date

Name

Since 1982

ISBN: 978-1-60539-778-8


©2012 by ECS Learning Systems, Inc., Bulverde, Texas. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,




or for commercial sale is strictly prohibited.










Reading

Grade 3Form A

Practice Test

Date

Name

Since 1982

An assessment tool—works well withSTAAR MASTER® Student Practice Books

®

® ®

®

®

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Selected pages from

STAAR MASTER®

Student Practice BookWriting, Grade 7

for the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness

Teacher Guide


ISBN: 978-1-60539-749-8Copyright infringement is a violation of Federal Law.© 2011 by ECS Learning Systems, Inc., Bulverde, Texas. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,translated, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any way or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording,or otherwise) without prior written permission from ECS Learning Systems, Inc.Photocopying of graphic organizers by a classroom teacher at a non-profit school who has purchased this publication for his/her ownclass is permissible. Reproduction of any part of this publication for an entire school or for a school system, by for-profit institutionsand tutoring centers, or for commercial sale is strictly prohibited. Printed in the United States of America. STAAR MASTER is a registered trademark of ECS Learning Systems, Inc.

Disclaimer StatementECS Learning Systems, Inc., recommends that the purchaser/user of this publication preview and use his/her own judgment whenselecting lessons and activities. Please assess the appropriateness of the content and activities according to grade level and maturity ofyour students. The responsibility to adhere to safety standards and best professional practices is the duty of the teachers, students,and/or others who use the content of this publication. ECS Learning Systems is not responsible for any damage, to property orperson, that results from the performance of the activities in this publication.STAAR is a trademark of Texas Education Agency. STAAR MASTER and ECS Learning Systems, Inc., are not affiliated with orsponsored by the Texas Education Agency or the State of Texas.




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STAAR MASTER® Student Practice Book, Teacher Guide—Writing, Grade 7

ECS Learning Systems, Inc. • P. O. Box 440 • Bulverde, TX 78163-0440ecslearningsystems.com

1.800.688.3224 (t) • 1.877.688.3226 (f ) • [email protected]

Table of Contents

What’s Inside the Student Practice Book? ...................................3

Descriptions of STAAR MASTER® Complexity Levels ................5

How to Use This Book ................................................................6

Other Suggestions for Instruction...............................................6

Writing Vocabulary .....................................................................7

Vocabulary Strategies ..................................................................9

Instructional Strategies .............................................................10

Achieving Success in Written Composition ...............................14

Ten Tips for Success in Written Composition............................17

Master Skills List.......................................................................18

Answer Key ...............................................................................20

References .................................................................................23

Dear Texas Educator,

Since 1982, ECS Learning Systems has created quality K–12 teaching materials, training,and media. As a Texas-based publisher of the highest quality test-prep materials, we havealways shared your commitment to lead your students to success on Texas tests—TEAMS, TAAS, TAKS, and now the STAAR™. With STAAR MASTER ®, we continue our commitment to create research-based content that engages students and makesteaching easier.

Xe STAAR MASTER series includes new, challenging content to prepare students for the rigor of the 2012STAAR. It’s what you have come to expect from the most trusted source in Texas testing. Check our Web siteoften for the latest information at ecslearningsystems.com/staarmaster.

As you use STAAR MASTER in your classroom, we hope to hear from you! Send us your story and let usknow:

• Why you need our product(s)

• How you use them in your classroom

• What outcomes and results you are experiencing

At ECS, we strive to provide educators like you with easy-to-use and eVective materials that make teachingeasier. We count it as a privilege to have you as a customer, and we hope that our products continuouslyexceed your expectations.

Please let us know how well the STAAR MASTER products worked in your classroom. Also, please spread theword—many of our new customers are referred by teachers like you.

Sincerely,

Your ECS Team

p.s. It’s easy to share your story! Visit our Re:Xink blog at ecslearningsystems.com/blog and click the Re:Tell button.



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The STAAR MASTER ® Student Practice Book providespractice and review material for the Grade 7 Writingportion of the State of Texas Assessments of AcademicReadiness (STAAR™ assessment).

• The writing selections reflect the kinds ofpassages students might encounter on the actualSTAAR assessment. These include the followingtypes of selections: fiction, literary nonfiction,expository, and persuasive.

• The writing selections cover a broad range oftopics and ideas of interest to seventh-gradestudents.

• The writing selections mimic authentic student writing, containing multiple errors.

• The questions that follow a selection focus onthe 2010 STAAR-eligible ELA-R Texas EssentialKnowledge and Skills writing standards (TexasEducation Agency, 2010c).

• Several questions throughout the book addressthe same standard/expectation, providingrepeated practice for students in a variety ofcontexts.

Items in the STAAR MASTER Student Practice Bookaddress the following writing concepts:

• audience• purpose• point of view• organization of ideas• idea development• sentence construction• standard English usage• word choice• mechanics

Open-ended writing prompts in the Student PracticeBook provide an opportunity for student practice inthe following types of writing:

• personal narrative• expository

Labels of Practice-Item Reporting CategoryEach column of practice items is clearly labeled withthe appropriate reporting category (see Figure 1, below)for easy identification of the TEKS-based content areaaddressed in the question.

This Teacher Guide includes—

• Overview of the Student Practice Book and keycharacteristics of the STAAR program

• Explanation of increased rigor in the STAARprogram

• Descriptions of STAAR MASTER complexitylevels

• Strategies for test preparation and writinginstruction (revision, editing, and composition)

• Master list of STAAR-eligible ELA-R TEKSwriting standards

• Complete Answer Key (with correspondingcomplexity levels for the items for eachselection)

What’s Inside the Student Practice Book?

Figure 1: Labels of Practice-Item Reporting Category

STAAR MASTER® Student Practice Book—Writing, Grade 7

Reporting Category 2: Revision

1. Patty wants to add a sentence to theend of the first paragraph (sentences1–5). Which sentence could she addto clearly state the controlling idea ofher paper?

A I feel that I am a good hockeyplayer.

B I feel that middle school isdisappointing.

C I feel that hockey is just aschallenging as other sports.

D I feel that the reasons why I’m notallowed to play hockey are unfair.

2. What sentence in the fourth 2) should

Reporting Category 3: Editing

3. What change, if any, should be madein sentence 3?

A Change younger to more youngB Delete the commaC Change boys to boys’D Make no change


A Change Even though to SinceB Insert a comma after shotC Change lack to lackingD Make no change

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Readiness vs. Supporting StandardsThe eligible, or tested, TEKS are divided into“readiness standards” and “supporting standards,” withgreater emphasis on the former. Readiness standardsaddress broader, deeper ideas and are deemed morecritical for students to know. Supporting standardsaddress more narrowly defined ideas and will still beassessed, although not emphasized. The STAARMASTER ® Student Practice Book mirrors this balance of readiness and supporting standards to providemeaningful, authentic student practice for the STAAR™assessment.

Increased RigorThe STAAR program is described as “significantlymore rigorous” (Texas Education Agency, 2010a) thanthe Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS).But what does rigor mean in assessment? For theSTAAR program, it means the cognitive complexity ofitems will increase to assess skills at a greater depth. TheSTAAR MASTER Student Practice Book provides itemswritten at varying levels of complexity to accommodatethis increase in rigor. (Refer to the “Depth ofKnowledge” section on this page and Box 1 on page 5for more information about the complexity levels ofpractice items.)

Changes to the Writing AssessmentIn addition to changes that affect rigor of assessment,some changes will affect the administration of thewriting assessment. First, the “Revision” and “Editing”portions will be assessed separately. The STAARMASTER Student Practice Book clearly presents thepractice items by reporting category to help teachersand students conduct targeted practice in each area.Second, in the “Composition” portion of the writingassessment, students will respond to two writingprompts rather than one. The two types of writingassessed each year are personal narrative and expository.A variety of open-ended writing prompts are includedin the Student Practice Book for student practice in skills required for the “Composition” portion. Third,the assessment will be administered over the course oftwo days instead of one.

AlignmentAccording to the mandate of No Child Left Behind(2001), states are required to develop assessments thattightly align to their content standards. To ensure thatthis requirement is met, states and districts oftenconduct alignment studies. In such a study, anassessment is compared to the state’s content standards.If an assessment is rigorous, the study will not yieldlarge disparities between the cognitive demands of the expectations and those of the assessment.

Depth of KnowledgeNorman Webb’s (2002a) “depth-of-knowledge” modelis currently one of the most influential alignmentmodels in the field of education. “Depth of knowledge”describes the degree of complexity of knowledge acurricular item requires. Webb identifies four levels ofdepth of knowledge: recall (Level 1), skill or concept(Level 2), strategic thinking (Level 3), and extendedthinking (Level 4). Distinct cognitive demands occurduring each activity, or thinking process, level.

The items in the STAAR MASTER Student PracticeBook were aligned to the TEKS using a modifiedversion of the “depth-of-knowledge” model (see Box 1,“Descriptions of STAAR MASTER ® ComplexityLevels,” page 5). During the alignment process, thecomplexity level of each item (designated “Low,”“Moderate,” or “High”) was determined. The level ofeach practice item can be found in the Answer Key.

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Descriptions of STAAR MASTER®Complexity Levels

The following descriptions provide an overview of the three complexity levels used to align the STAARMASTER ® Student Practice Book items to the eligibleELA-R TEKS writing standards. Each explanation detailsthe kinds of activities that occur within each level.However, they do not represent all of the possible thoughtprocesses for each level.

Low Complexity (L)Low-complexity items align with the TEKS at Level 1 ofthe Webb (2002a) model. Items of low complexity mayinvolve writing or recalling—but not analyzing—simplefacts or ideas. An item may ask students to apply basicrules or formats. Items of this complexity may requireidentifying misspelled words in a written passage. Somemajor writing performances represented at this levelinclude brainstorming ideas, selecting appropriatevocabulary, and writing simple sentences. A low-complexityitem may ask students to recite, identify, list, locate, ordefine information and concepts.

Moderate Complexity (M)Moderate-complexity items align with the TEKS at Level 2 of the Webb model. Items of moderate complexityrequire some mental processing. Students begin toconnect ideas using a simple organizational structure for a limited number of purposes and audiences. At thiscognitive level, students move beyond writing simplesentences to constructing a variety of sentence types. Items of this complexity may involve editing final drafts of compositions for grammar, punctuation, andcapitalization. A moderate-complexity item may askstudents to predict, organize, classify, compare, interpret,distinguish, relate, or summarize. Some items also requirestudents to apply low-complexity skills and concepts.

High Complexity (H)High-complexity items align with the TEKS at Level 3and/or Level 4 of the Webb model*. Items of highcomplexity require students to use strategic, multi-stepthinking. At this cognitive level, students should show an understanding of audience and purpose. Students are asked to organize their ideas into multi-paragraphcompositions and incorporate supporting details. Items may require students to revise to improve thequality, organization, and overall effectiveness of thecomposition. For example, students may need to improvefluency by combining related sentences or improve wordchoice by substituting a more precise or vivid word.Student writing should reflect flexible thinking and ananalysis of complex ideas and themes. A high-complexityitem may ask students to plan, reason, explain,hypothesize, compare, differentiate, draw conclusions, citeevidence, synthesize, apply, or prove. Some items alsorequire students to apply low- and/or moderate-complexity skills and concepts.

*Note: Although state standards may include expectationsthat require extended thinking, many large-scaleassessment activities are not classified as Level 4.Performance and open-ended assessment may requireactivities at Level 4.

Box 1: Descriptions of STAAR MASTER® Complexity Levels


A Change today’s to todaysB Change expectasions to

expectationsC Change us to weD Make no change


A Insert a comma after flightB Change are given to is givenC Change them to theirselvesD Make no change

1. What is the BEST way to combinesentences 12 and 13?

A The Renaissance was the time ofShakespeare and many scientificbreakthroughs, as it was a periodof great advances in culture.

B The Renaissance was the time ofShakespeare and many scientificbreakthroughs; it was a period ofgreat advances in culture.

C The Renaissance, a period of greatadvances in culture, was the timeof Shakespeare and manyscientific breakthroughs.

D One of the periods of greatadvances in culture called theRenaissance was the time ofShakespeare and many scientificbreakthroughs.

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How to Use This Book

Effective Test PreparationWhat is the most effective way to prepare students forany writing competency test? Experienced educatorsknow that the best test preparation includes threecritical components—

• a strong curriculum that is aligned with thecontent and skills to be assessed

• effective, relevant, and varied instructionalmethods that allow students to learn contentand skills in many different ways

• targeted practice that familiarizes students withthe specific content and format of the test

Obviously, a strong curriculum and effective, relevant,and varied instructional methods provide thefoundation for all appropriate test preparation.Contrary to what some might believe, merely “teachingthe test” performs a great disservice to students.Students must acquire knowledge, practice skills, andhave specific educational experiences that can never beincluded on tests limited by time and in scope. For thisreason, resources like the STAAR MASTER ® StudentPractice Book should never become the heart of thecurriculum or replace strong instructional methods.

Targeted PracticeThe STAAR MASTER Student Practice Book does,however, address the final element of effective testpreparation (targeted test practice). This bookfamiliarizes students with—

• the specific content of Texas’ competency test• the general format of competency tests

When students become familiar with both the contentand the format of a test, they know what to expect onthe actual test. This, in turn, improves their chances for success.

Using STAAR MASTER® ProductsUsed as part of the regular curriculum, the STAARMASTER Student Practice Book allows teachers to—

• pretest skills students need for the actual test • determine students’ areas of strength and/or

weakness• provide meaningful test-taking practice

for students• ease students’ test anxiety• communicate test expectations and content to

parents

Other Suggestions for Instruction

The STAAR MASTER Student Practice Book can serveas a springboard for other effective instructionalactivities that help with test preparation.

Group WorkTeachers and students work through selected practiceexercises together, noting the kinds of questions andthe range of answer choices. They discuss commonerrors for each kind of question and strategies foravoiding these errors.

Predicting AnswersStudents predict the correct answer before reading thegiven answer choices. This encourages students to thinkthrough the question rather than focus on finding theright answer. Students then read the given answerchoices and determine which one, if any, matches theanswer they have given.

Developing Test QuestionsOnce students become familiar with the format of testquestions, they develop “test-type” questions for otherassigned reading (e.g., science, social studies).

Vocabulary DevelopmentTeachers and students foster vocabulary developmentin all subject areas through the use of word walls, word webs, word games, synonym/antonym charts,analogies, word categories, “word-of-the-day” activities, etc. A fluent writer can select appropriate and diverse vocabulary to convey an intended meaning.General vocabulary development will improve students’precision of language.

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Selected pages from

STAAR MASTER®

Student Practice BookWriting, Grade 7for the State of Texas Assessments

of Academic Readiness


ISBN: 978-1-60539-727-6Copyright infringement is a violation of Federal Law.© 2011 by ECS Learning Systems, Inc., Bulverde, Texas. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,translated, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any way or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording,or otherwise) without prior written permission from ECS Learning Systems, Inc.

Reproduction of any part of this publication for an entire school or for a school system, by for-profit institutions and tutoring centers,or for commercial sale is strictly prohibited.

Printed in the United States of America. STAAR MASTER is a registered trademark of ECS Learning Systems, Inc.

Disclaimer StatementECS Learning Systems, Inc., recommends that the purchaser/user of this publication preview and use his/her own judgment whenselecting lessons and activities. Please assess the appropriateness of the content and activities according to grade level and maturity ofyour students. The responsibility to adhere to safety standards and best professional practices is the duty of the teachers, students,and/or others who use the content of this publication. ECS Learning Systems is not responsible for any damage, to property orperson, that results from the performance of the activities in this publication.STAAR is a trademark of Texas Education Agency. STAAR MASTER and ECS Learning Systems, Inc., are not affiliated with orsponsored by the Texas Education Agency or the State of Texas.



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Table of Contents

ECS Learning Systems, Inc.P. O. Box 440

Bulverde, TX 78163-0440ecslearningsystems.com

1.800.688.3224 (t)1.877.688.3226 (f )

[email protected]

“Girl” Sports, “Boy” Sports...........................4A Crab That Climbs Trees ............................6A Fair Share..................................................8A Key to Ancient Egypt..............................10A Winning Combination ...........................12Black Days in Europe .................................14Blue Garden ...............................................16Borrowed Wings ........................................18Building Up to a Point ...............................20Cute, But Not Cuddly................................22Extinct No More ........................................24Fighting for Fiction ....................................26Fossil Finder ...............................................28Go Organic ................................................30Long Live the Dinosaur Tree ......................32Native Past .................................................34Not Just Reporting the Weather .................36Peel Appeal.................................................38Pick Not Thy Teeth ....................................40Rescuing Our Reefs ....................................42Sit Down for Family Dinner.......................44The Forgotten Colony................................46The Invasion ..............................................48The Mighty Hunter ...................................50Treetop Adventure......................................52

Un-identical Twins .....................................54The Key Ingredients ...................................56Feathers Not Required................................59The Top of the World.................................62The Friendliest Rivalry ...............................65Master of Fun.............................................68Magical Beans ............................................71Freedom Celebration..................................73Dental Detectives .......................................76An Up-and-Down History .........................79Writing Prompt 1.......................................84Writing Prompt 2.......................................86Writing Prompt 3.......................................88Writing Prompt 4.......................................90Writing Prompt 5.......................................92Writing Prompt 6.......................................94Writing Prompt 7.......................................96Writing Prompt 8.......................................98Writing Prompt 9.....................................100Writing Prompt 10...................................102Writing Prompt 11...................................104Writing Prompt 12...................................106Writing Prompt 13...................................108Writing Prompt 14...................................110



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Read the selection and choose the best answer to each question.

Brandon read about the rediscovery of the Bornean Bay Cat, which was thought to have beenextinct. He wrote this report to share what he had learned. Read Brandon’s report carefully andlook for any corrections and improvements that he should make. When you finish reading, answerthe questions that follow.

Extinct No More

(1) Every year, thousands of species take a step toward extinction. (2) Many species

actually do become extinct; many more were discovered for the first time. (3) Some are even

rediscovered. (4) As it happens, “extinct” doesn’t always mean extinct.

(5) One of the most recently rediscovered animals is the Bornean Bay Cat, a small reddish

or gray wildcat. (6) It was considered extinct in 2003 but was photographed seven years later

in the wild. (7) In fact, two or three Bornean Bay Cats were photographed at once. (8) Now,

people which help protect nature, called conservationists, even have hope that the species can

thrive again.

(9) Another species mistakenly labeled as extinct is the pygmy tarsier. (10) This animal

weighs less than half an apple and looks like a tiny lemur with very big eyes. (11) For over

80 years, scientists thought that the pygmy tarsier was extinct. (12) Then, a pygmy tarsier

was accidentally trapped and killed by scientists who were catching rats in Indonesia.

(13) That news prompted two Texas scientists to travel to Indonesia. (14) There, the

scientists found two males and two females. (15) Three of the pygmy tarsiers were fitted

with tracking collars, which are helping scientists learn more about these creatures.

(16) An Asian food market is probably the last place a person would expect to see an

extinct animal. (17) Yet, that is exactly where the Arakan forest turtle was rediscovered in

1994. (18) Most Asian turtles are used for home remedies and food. (19) The Arakan forest

turtle is no exception. (20) Consequently, this little creature might soon become extinct.

(21) Rediscoveries of “extinct” animals are not rare. (22) In fact more than one-third of

the species ever classified as extinct have been found again.



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This page may not be reproduced.

Reporting Category 2: Revision

1. Brandon would like to add thefollowing sentence to the thirdparagraph (sentences 9–15).

Where is the BEST place to insertthis sentence?

A At the beginning of the paragraphB After sentence 11C At the end of the paragraphD This sentence should not be

added to the paragraph.

2. Brandon wants to add a conclusionto his report. Which of the followingcould BEST follow sentence 22 andclose this report?

A You never know; you might makea discovery of your own one day!

B The review process for declaringan animal extinct follows highstandards.

C Animals become extinct for manyreasons, including habitatdestruction, disease, and hunting.

D Therefore, many scientists believeit is worth making an effort torediscover animals that are fearedto be extinct.

Reporting Category 3: Editing

3. What change should be made insentence 2?

A Change actually to actualB Change the semicolon to a

commaC Insert while after the semicolon D Change were discovered to are

discovered


A Delete the comma after NowB Change which to whoC Change thrive to thrivingD Make no change


A Insert a comma after factB Change than to thenC Change one-third to one thirdD Make no change

Gathering data from tracking collars,scientists have learned about the behaviorsof many endangered species, such as polarbears.



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Prompt 1Personal Narrative

Look at the picture below.

Sometimes, our days do not go as planned.

Write a personal narrative about a day when you had to change your plans. Be sure to writein detail about why you had to change your plans and describe what happened as a result ofyour change in plans.



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Prompt 8Expository Writing

READ the following quotation.

THINK carefully about the following statement.

Sometimes, we are better able to reach our goals or understand new things when we useothers’ experience as a resource.

WRITE an essay explaining how another person’s knowledge or experience can be a valuableresource.

Be sure to—• clearly state your controlling idea • organize and develop your explanation e�ectively• choose your words carefully• use correct spelling, capitalization, punctuation, grammar, and sentences

“If I have seen farther, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.”~Isaac Newton (1642–1727)



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Prompt 9Expository Writing

READ the information in the box below.

THINK carefully about the following statement.

Sometimes, people have to adapt to their environments to survive.

WRITE an essay explaining why a person might need to adapt to his or her environment tosurvive.

Be sure to—• clearly state your controlling idea • organize and develop your explanation e�ectively• choose your words carefully• use correct spelling, capitalization, punctuation, grammar, and sentences

An adaptation is a special characteristic that a plant or animal develops tohelp it survive in a particular environment. Sometimes, adaptations helpa plant or animal to endure a temporary condition. Other adaptationsallow a plant or animal to meet its needs despite a permanent condition.



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It’s On The TestFrom TestSMART ® Student Practice Books to elementary-level skills practice,

ECS has all the test preparation materials you need.

www.ecslearningsystems.com800.688.3224 • [email protected]

TestSMART® books are used by thousands of teachers nationwide.TestSMART® practice items are correlated to skills tested on major state-mandated tests for states such as

CA, FL, GA, IL, NJ, NY, NC, OH, PA, SC, TX, VA, etc.

Rev. 03/11 SMIBC

Math ECS2401 TestSMART® Math Concepts Gr. 3 ECS241X TestSMART® Math Operations &

Problem Solving Gr. 3ECS2428 TestSMART® Math Concepts Gr. 4 ECS2436 TestSMART® Math Operations &


Problem Solving Gr. 5 ECS2460 TestSMART® Math Concepts Gr. 6 ECS2479 TestSMART® Math Operations &

Problem Solving Gr. 6 ECS2487 TestSMART® Math Concepts Gr. 7 ECS2495 TestSMART® Math Operations &


Problem Solving Gr. 8ECS1030 Math Whiz Kids™ at the Amusement

Park Gr. 3–5ECS1057 Math Whiz Kids™ at Home Gr. 3–5ECS1065 Math Whiz Kids™ at the Mall Gr. 3–5ECS1049 Math Whiz Kids™ at the Zoo Gr. 3–5BH88931 Dot-to-Dot 1–100+ Gr. 2–4BH88932 Math Art Gr. 1–2BH88933 Math Art Gr. 2–3BH88934 Multiplication Dot-to-Dot Gr. 3–4BH88941 Math Drill, Practice & Apply Gr. 1–2BH88942 Math Drill, Practice & Apply Gr. 2–3BH88943 Math Drill, Practice & Apply Gr. 3–4BH88944 Math Drill, Practice & Apply Gr. 4–5BH88951 First Number Skills Gr. K–1BH88952 Time & Money Skills Gr. 1–2BH88953 Number Facts to 10 Gr. 1–2BH88954 Basic Facts to 18 Gr. 2–3BH88955 Regrouping Skills Gr. 2–3BH88956 Multiplication Facts Gr. 3–4BH88957 Multiplication Skills Gr. 3–5BH88958 Place Value Gr. 1–2BH88959 Fraction Basics Gr. 2–3

Reading ECS2363 TestSMART® Reading Gr. 2ECS1987 TestSMART® Reading Gr. 3ECS1995 TestSMART® Reading Gr. 4ECS2002 TestSMART® Reading Gr. 5ECS2010 TestSMART® Reading Gr. 6ECS2029 TestSMART® Reading Gr. 7ECS2037 TestSMART® Reading Gr. 8ECS91373 An Introduction to POWer Words™ Gr. 4ECS8414 POWer Words™ Gr. 5–6

ECS5214 POWer Words™ Gr. 7–8ECS5494 POWer Words™ Gr. 9–12BH88891 Plurals & Possessives Gr. 2–3BH88892 Pre�xes, Su�xes, Root Words Gr. 2–3BH88893 Synonyms, Antonyms, and Homonyms

Gr. 2–3BH88894 Analogies & Multiple Meanings Gr. 2–3BH88901 Alphabet Skills Gr. K–1BH88902 Consonant Sounds Gr. K–1BH88903 Vowel Sounds Gr. 1–2BH88904 Rhyming Words Gr. 1–2BH88905 Sight Words Gr. 1–2BH88911 Sight Word Stories Gr. K–2BH88912 Sight Word Rhymes Gr. K–2BH88913 Sight Words Word Search Gr. K–2BH88914 Wall Words Word Search Gr. 1–2BH88915 My First Crosswords Gr. 1–2BH88918 Sight Words in Context Gr. K–2BH88919 Rhyming Words in Context Gr. K–2BH88920 Word Endings in Context Gr. K–2BH88961 Poems & Rhymes Gr. 1–2BH88962 Fairy Tales Gr. 2–3BH88963 Fables & Tall Tales Gr. 3–4BH88972 Animals Gr. 1–2BH88973 Space, Stars, & Planets Gr. 3–4BH88981 �e 5 W’s: Who? What? Where? When?

Why? Gr. 1–3BH88982 Getting the Sequence Gr. 1–3BH88983 Main Idea and Details Gr. 1–3BH88984 Fact and Opinion Gr. 1–3BH88985 Drawing Conclusions and Inferences Gr. 1–3BH88986 Context Clues Gr. 1–3BH88991 My First Sight Words Gr. K–1BH88992 Mastering Sight Words Gr. 1–2BH88994 Consonants Gr. K–1BH88995 Blends & Digraphs Gr. 1–2BH88996 Short Vowels Gr. 1–2BH88997 Long Vowels Gr. 1–2BH88998 Rhyming Words Gr. 1–2BH88999 Compounds & Contractions Gr. 1–2NU783XRH Graphic Organizer CollectionNU8437RH Reacting to Literature: Writing

Activities for Every Book Gr. 6–8NU5524RH Reacting to Literature: Writing

Activities for Every Book Gr. 9–12NU5958RH Tackling Literary Terms Gr. 9–12ECS6564 POWer Strategies™ for Reading

Comprehension Gr. 3–5ECS6571 POWer Strategies™ for Reading

Comprehension Gr. 6–8

WritingECS3645 TestSMART® Language Arts Gr. 2ECS3580 TestSMART® Language Arts Gr. 3ECS3599 TestSMART® Language Arts Gr. 4ECS3602 TestSMART® Language Arts Gr. 5ECS3610 TestSMART® Language Arts Gr. 6ECS3629 TestSMART® Language Arts Gr. 7ECS3637 TestSMART® Language Arts Gr. 8ECS9072 Writing Warm-Ups™ Gr. K–6ECS9455 Writing Warm-Ups Two™ Gr. K–6ECS9463 Writing Warm-Ups Two™ Gr. 7–12ECS0484 Not More Writing?! Gr. 9–12ECS9900 Foundations for Writing Bk. I Gr. K–2ECS0476 Foundations for Writing Bk. II Gr. 3–8BH88925 Scrambled Sentences Gr. 1–2BH88926 Writing Sentences Gr. 2–3BH88927 Writing Paragraphs Gr. 3–4ECS2371 Grammar Notebook Book 1 Gr. 9–12ECS238X Grammar Notebook Book 2 Gr. 9–12ESC2398 Grammar Notebook Book 3 Gr. 9–12

Spanish-Reading BH1450 �e 5 W’s: Who? What? Where?

When? Why? Gr. 1–3BH1469 Getting the Sequence Gr. 1–3BH1477 Main Idea and Details Gr. 1–3BH1493 Fact and Opinion Gr. 1–3BH1485 Drawing Conclusions and Inferences Gr. 1–3BH140X �e 5 W’s & H Gr. 4–5BH1418 Getting the Sequence Gr. 4–5BH1426 Main Idea & Details Gr. 4–5BH1442 Fact & Opinion Gr. 4–5BH1434 Drawing Conclusions & Inferences Gr. 4–5

Spanish-Math BH1639 Dot-to-Dot 1–100+ Gr. 2–4BH1646 Math Art Gr. 1–2BH1653 Math Art Gr. 2–3BH1660 Multiplication Dot-to-Dot Gr. 3–4BH1592 Math Drill, Practice & Apply Gr. 1–2BH1608 Math Drill, Practice & Apply Gr. 2–3BH1615 Math Drill, Practice & Apply Gr. 3–4BH1622 Math Drill, Practice & Apply Gr. 4–5BH1507 First Number Skills Gr. K–1BH1515 Time & Money Skills Gr. 1–2BH1523 Number Facts to 10 Gr. 1–2BH1530 Basic Facts to 18 Gr. 2–3BH1547 Regrouping Skills Gr. 2–3BH1554 Multiplication Facts Gr. 3–4BH1578 Place Value Gr. 1–2BH1585 Fraction Basics Gr. 2–3BH1561 Multiplication Skills Gr. 3–5

Get Reading!!™ kits use the best of young people’s literature to emphasize common elements among three literature selections. Ideal for RTI and leveled assessment, Get Reading!!™ helps you reinforce important skills in reading and literature at the same time.

Need leveled, thematic kits?Elementary • Middle • High School Fiction • Nonfiction

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