STAAR (Texas) Practice Pack — Grade 5

Answer Key — STAAR (Texas) Grade 5

1. 1. A — The digit in the ones place of 4,732 is 2, so there are two ones. 💡 Strategy tip: Look at the far‑right digit; that is the ones place.
2. 2. A — 1 meter = 100 centimeters, so 5 meters × 100 = 500 centimeters. 💡 Strategy tip: Remember the conversion factor between meters and centimeters.
3. 3. A — Volume = length × width × height = 5 cm × 3 cm × 2 cm = 30 cm³. 💡 Strategy tip: Multiply the three dimensions together.
4. 4. D — The correct use of commas is shown in the second option, where a comma is used after each item in the list, including before 'and'. 💡 Tip: Use commas to separate items in a list of three or more things.
5. 5. A — The passage suggests that Emma and her mother have a loving and close relationship because Emma is excited to celebrate her mother's birthday and has ordered a special cake. The fact that Emma's mother is also preparing for the party and the house is filled with laughter and music implies a warm and loving family environment. 💡 Tip: Pay attention to the emotions and actions of the characters to make inferences about their relationships.
6. 6. A — The passage talks about the natural beauty of Willow Creek, its parks and lakes, and the festival that showcases this beauty. This suggests that the main idea is about the city's beautiful parks and lakes. 💡 Tip: To find the main idea, look for the topic that is discussed throughout the passage.
7. 7. A — The passage mentions that The Sunshine Play 'has three acts', which directly tells us the structure of the play. 💡 Tip: When reading about a play, look for keywords like 'act' to understand its structure.
8. 8. A — The passage states that the town of Willow Creek is famous for its beautiful parks and gardens. 💡 Tip: When answering a question about a main idea, look for the first sentence of the passage.
9. 9. A — The passage states that Maria 'dreamed of one day discovering a hidden treasure', which indicates that finding treasure was her goal. 💡 Tip: Pay attention to the character's motivations and desires.
10. 10. C — This option uses 'and' to connect the two sentences, making it clear that both events happened. It is a simple and effective way to combine the sentences. 💡 Tip: When combining sentences, look for words like 'and,' 'but,' or 'so' to connect the ideas.
11. 11. A — The author describes the animals working together to keep their home clean and beautiful, and states that the author wants to convince readers that taking care of the environment is important. This suggests that the main purpose of the author is to persuade readers to take care of the environment. 💡 Tip: Look for keywords like 'convince' or 'inspire' to help you determine the author's purpose
12. 12. B — Adding the prefix 'un-' to a word often means 'not' or 'opposite of', so 'unnoise' would mean 'no noise' or 'to make less noise'. 💡 Tip: Remember, prefixes can change the meaning of a word. Think about what 'un-' means in other words like 'unhappy' or 'unfriendly'.
13. 13. A — Evaporation occurs when the sun's energy heats up water in the ocean, lakes, or rivers, and it turns into water vapor. This process is an important part of the water cycle. 💡 Tip: Remember, evaporation is the process that occurs when liquid turns into gas.
14. 14. D — The engineering design process starts with defining the problem, which involves identifying the issue that needs to be solved. This step is crucial in determining the direction of the solution. 💡 Tip: Always identify the problem before trying to solve it.
15. 15. C — The roots of a plant are responsible for absorbing water and nutrients from the soil, which are then used by the plant to grow and thrive. 💡 Tip: Think about what plants need to survive and how they get those things.
16. 16. D — Solids keep their shape and volume, while liquids take the shape of their container and have a fixed volume. 💡 Tip: Think about the shape of a ball versus the shape of water in a bucket.
17. 17. A — Conducting an experiment allows scientists to test their hypotheses and find answers to questions or solutions to problems in a controlled and systematic way. 💡 Tip: Remember, experiments are about testing ideas and finding evidence.
18. 18. A — The Constitution is the supreme law of the land and outlines the framework of the US government, including the powers of each branch and the rights of citizens. 💡 Tip: Remember that the Constitution is like a blueprint for the country's government.
19. 19. B — A need is something essential for survival, such as food, water, and shelter. A want is something that is not necessary for survival, but is desired, such as a toy or a game. 💡 Tip: Think about what you must have to live, and what you would like to have but can live without.
20. 20. B — A map legend is a key that explains the symbols, colors, and abbreviations used on a map, helping users understand the map's content. 💡 Tip: Always look for the legend when reading a map to understand its symbols and markings.