5th Grade STAAR Test Preparation

The correct answer is D.

1. Total number of people surveyed: 700
2. Number of people who prefer mushrooms: 28
3. To calculate the percentage, use the formula: Percentage = (Number of people who prefer mushrooms ÷ Total number of people surveyed) × 100
4. Plugging in the numbers: Percentage = (28 ÷ 700) × 100
5. First, divide 28 by 700: 28 ÷ 700 = 0.04
6. Multiply by 100 to convert to a percentage: 0.04 × 100 = 4

Therefore, 4% of the villagers surveyed prefer mushrooms to all other food.

To double-check:

• 4% of 700 = 0.04 × 700 = 28 ✓
• This confirms our calculation is correct

The answer is 4%.

The correct answer is B.

To determine the length of each ribbon, divide the total length of the ribbon by the number of ribbons: 

Use long division. You want to divide 31.76 by 8.

8 ⟌ 31.76

Step 1: Start with the first digit (3):

• Can 8 go into 3? No, because 8 is larger than 3.
• Place a 0 above the 3 in the quotient.

0

8 ⟌ 31.76

3

Since 8 did not go into 3 at all, you must bring the 3 down together with the next digit, 1, and try to divide 8 into 31.

0

8 ⟌ 31.76

31

The number 8 goes into 31 three times, so you must put a 3 above as your next digit in the answer. When 8 went into 31 three times, it only reached 24, so it still had 7 left to reach 31. Therefore, you must bring down that 7 and put it before the next digit, and that forms the next number that 8 needs to divide into: 77.

03

8 ⟌ 31.76

77

The number 8 goes into 77 nine times, reaching 72, with 5 left to reach 77. So put the 9 on top as your next digit and bring the 5 down with the 6, forming the last number you need to divide 8 into: 56. Remember to keep your decimal point in the same place above.

03.9

8 ⟌ 31.76

56

The number 8 goes into 56 exactly 7 times. So put the 7 on top as your final digit in the answer, and there is no remainder to bring down. You are left with your final answer.

03.97

8 ⟌ 31.76

56

Or: 3.97

The correct answer is (D).

A line of symmetry splits a shape into two identical halves. If no such line can be drawn, then there is no line of symmetry.
There are eight lines of symmetry in a regular octagon, as shown in the diagram.



Therefore, the correct answer is (D).

Correct Answer: B) $1200

Explanation:

To figure out how much Sarah pays in taxes each month, we need to add up all the different types of taxes she pays monthly. Let's break it down:

Payroll Taxes: The question tells us that $400 is taken out for payroll taxes each month. So, that's $400.

Income Taxes: Sarah sets aside $600 each month for income taxes. So, that's $600.

Property Taxes: This is the tricky part! Sarah pays $2,400 per year in property taxes. But the question asks for the monthly tax amount. To find the monthly property tax, we need to divide the yearly amount by 12 (since there are 12 months in a year):
$2400 / 12 = $200 per month.

Now, to find the total monthly taxes, we add up all three types of taxes:

$400 (payroll taxes) + $600 (income taxes) + $200 (property taxes) = $1200

Therefore, the correct answer is B) $1200.

Why the Other Answer Choices are Wrong:

A) $1000: This answer is wrong because it only adds payroll taxes and income taxes ($400 + $600 = $1000). It forgets to include the monthly property taxes. A common mistake is to overlook property taxes, especially if someone is not familiar with homeownership costs.

C) $1100: This answer is close, but still incorrect. It might be the result of a small calculation error or slightly underestimating one of the tax amounts. For example, someone might have incorrectly calculated the monthly property tax or made a small addition mistake.

D) $1400: This answer is too high. This mistake could happen if someone added the yearly property tax amount directly instead of the monthly amount ($400 + $600 + $2400 = $3400 - this is far off, but $400 + $600 + $400 (double property tax?) = $1400 is closer). Another possible mistake could be accidentally double-counting the property tax or adding an extra $200 somewhere in the calculation.

The correct answer is A.

The passage describes the city of Genoa and uses many adjectives to create a mental image of the city; it appeals to the senses and describes the sights, smells, and sounds of the city.

Explanation:

Personification is when non-human elements are described with human qualities. The passage uses personification to create vivid imagery, such as "the water waltzing in the light wind" and "the whisper of the waves." These descriptions give human-like qualities to the water and waves, helping readers visualize Genoa's beauty.

• Simile (B) involves comparisons using "like" or "as," which is not present here.
• Irony (C) does not apply as the text lacks any contrasting meaning or sarcasm.
• Alliteration (D) involves repetition of sounds, which is not a key technique in this passage.

Correct Answer: B - The author sounds enthusiastic and full of appreciation for Genoa.

Why B is Correct:

Positive Language: The passage uses many words and phrases that convey positive feelings. Think about words like "uniqueness," "beautiful," "glowing," "warm," and "kind." These are all positive descriptors.

Sensory Details - Positively Presented: The sensory details, like "smell of fresh fish," "water waltzing," "glowing in the evening sun," "whisper of waves," and "musical Italian," are presented in a way that evokes a pleasant and appealing experience. Even the "strong smell of the ocean" and "loud Italian" are not framed negatively, but as part of the city's character.

"Nicknamed 'The Vertical Town'" - Affectionate: The mention of the nickname "The Vertical Town" suggests an endearing or interesting characteristic, rather than a problem.
"Be Prepared to Climb" - Encouraging, not warning: Even the mention of the stairs ("be prepared to climb quite a lot") doesn't sound like a complaint, but more like an adventurous encouragement to experience the city fully.

Overall Impression: The overall impression left by the passage is one of admiration and enjoyment of Genoa. The author is clearly highlighting the positive aspects and unique charm of the city.

Why other options are incorrect:

A. The author sounds critical and points out many problems with Genoa.

Lack of Criticism: The passage doesn't point out any problems with Genoa. There are no negative descriptions, complaints, or criticisms presented. Everything is described in a positive or neutral light, even the challenging stairs are presented as a unique characteristic to be "prepared for," not a flaw.
Positive Focus: The entire passage is focused on the appealing sensory experiences and unique qualities of Genoa, not on any drawbacks.

C. The author sounds neutral and simply lists facts about Genoa.

Emotional Language: The passage goes beyond simply listing facts. The author uses emotionally charged and descriptive language that goes beyond neutrality. Words like "uniqueness," "beautiful," "waltzing," "glowing," "warm," and "kind" are not neutral factual descriptors.

Evocative Descriptions: The descriptions are designed to evoke feelings and create a specific impression, rather than just providing objective information. For example, describing the ocean as "waltzing" and "glowing" is clearly not neutral language.

D. The author sounds confused and unsure about what to think of Genoa.

Clear Positive Stance: The author demonstrates a very clear and positive stance throughout the passage. There is no indication of confusion or uncertainty. The descriptions are confident and assured, painting a clear picture of a charming and interesting city.

Consistent Tone: The tone remains consistently positive and appreciative from the beginning to the end of the passage, showing a clear and decided opinion of Genoa. There are no shifts or contradictory statements that would suggest confusion.

The correct answer is C because the passage focuses on outlining various advantages of students learning to cook, such as promoting independence, encouraging healthier eating, saving money, understanding nutrition, exploring cultures, developing critical thinking, boosting self-confidence, and preparing for adulthood.

• Answer A is incorrect because the passage doesn't provide any specific cooking techniques. It only discusses the importance of learning to cook in general.
• Answer B is incorrect because while the passage suggests that all students should learn to cook, it doesn't explicitly argue for making it a mandatory subject in schools.
• Answer D is incorrect because the passage doesn't compare cooking skills to other life skills. It focuses solely on the benefits of cooking.

Explanation: Why D is Correct:

"Essential" and "invaluable" Mean Important: Both "essential" and "invaluable" are strong words that communicate importance and high value. "Essential" means absolutely necessary, and "invaluable" means priceless or having immense worth.

Author's Purpose: By using these words, the author is emphasizing the significance of learning to cook. They want the reader to understand that this is not just a fun hobby, but a skill that is truly important and beneficial in life.

Context of the Passage: The entire passage argues for the importance of learning to cook, listing benefits like independence, healthier eating, saving money, and building self-confidence. The word choice reinforces this central message.

Why other options are incorrect:

A. To make learning to cook sound like a very easy and simple task.

"Essential" and "invaluable" Don't Mean Easy: Words like "essential" and "invaluable" actually suggest something is important and valuable, not necessarily easy. The passage doesn't focus on how easy cooking is.
Passage Focus is on Importance: The passage emphasizes the benefits and reasons why cooking is important, not on making it seem simple to learn.

B. To make the passage sound funny and entertaining for the reader.

"Essential" and "invaluable" are Serious Words: These words are serious and emphasize importance, not humor. They are not used to create a funny or lighthearted tone.
Passage Tone is Informative and Persuasive: The tone of the passage is informative and persuasive, aimed at convincing the reader of the value of cooking, not entertaining them with jokes.

C. To suggest that cooking is only useful for adults, not for students.

Passage is About Students: The very first sentence states "Learning to cook is an essential life skill that all students should acquire." The passage is specifically directed at why students should learn to cook.
Benefits Apply to Students: The benefits listed, like independence, healthier eating habits, and self-confidence, are all highly relevant to students. The author is arguing for students learning to cook, not against it or suggesting it's only for adults.