8th Grade STAAR Practice Test

The correct answer is B.

• The mean is the average of a data set (exam scores in this case). To find it, you add up all the data set items and divide the sum by the number of items.
• In this question, you are given most of the data set and its mean, so you can find the missing value by creating an equation and marking David's score with a variable (x):

• Using the formed equation, you could discover the missing item of the data set, David's score on the exam (70), and therefore (B) is the correct answer.
  
  
• Another way of solving is by using the mean's property- the sum of the distances from the mean must be zero. If you then add the differences of all scores, including David's, from 75, it should be equal to zero.
  

   

• You can create an equation of the distances of all scores from 75 and mark David's score difference from 75 as x:

88 is 13 points higher than 75 (+13), 62 is 13 points lower than 75 (-13), 100 is 25 points higher than 75 (+25), 49 is 26 points lower than 75 (-26), and 81 is 6 points higher than 75 (+6).
Now you can create the equation to find David's difference and discover his score:

• David's score should be 5 points lower than 75 (-5): 75 - 5 = 70 → David's score in the exam is 70 and (B) is the correct answer.

The correct answer is A.

To find the relationship between x and y in the form y = x + c, follow these steps:

1. Identify the relationship between x and y:

Calculate the difference between y and x for each pair in the table.

2. Calculate the difference for each pair:

For x = 3: y = 8 -> y – x = 8 – 3 = 5

For x = 7: y = 12 -> y – x = 12 – 7 = 5

For x = 12: y = 17 -> y – x = 17 – 12 = 5

For x = 18: y = 23 -> y – x = 23 – 18 = 5

For x = 21: y = 26 -> y – x = 26 – 21 = 5

3. Determine the constant c:

From the calculations above, the constant c is 5 because y – x = 5 for all pairs.

4. Form the equation:

Substitute c in y = x + c:

Therefore: y = x + 5.

Notice—while there is no time limit for the STAAR test, in these types of questions, many prefer to place the given data in the distractors until finding one that fits perfectly. If you find it easier to do so, or when you find yourself stuck in the 'classic' answering procedure, it may be quicker and easier to do so.

Correct answer is A

Explanation of Answer Choices:

A (13): Correct answer — The square root of 176 is approximately 13.27, which rounds to 13.

B (15): Incorrect — This value is too high; the square root of 176 is less than 15.

C (16): Incorrect — This value is significantly higher than the actual square root.

D (17): Incorrect — This is far too high to match the calculated value.

The correct answer is A

Correct Answer: A. Imagery 

Explanation: 

Imagery involves vivid descriptions that appeal to the senses, helping readers visualize scenes, smells, or tastes. The detailed description of hunting for turtle eggs, their appearance, and the feast engages the reader’s senses of sight and taste. 

• Hyperbole refers to exaggeration, which is not present here. 

• Metaphor involves a comparison without "like" or "as," which isn’t used in the passage. 

• Allegory is a broader narrative technique, not applicable to this excerpt. 

The text discusses various literary devices in the context of a passage about eggs. The key points are:

1. Imagery: Described as a technique used to help readers visualize details through descriptive language. In this passage, the eggs are described as "perfectly round white things" and "a trifle smaller than an English walnut."
2. Hyperbole: The text explains that this is an exaggeration used for emphasis. The passage does not use hyperbole, even when mentioning "fifty or sixty eggs out of one hole," as this seems to be an actual estimate rather than an exaggeration.
3. Metaphor: The comparison of egg size to English walnuts is not a metaphor. A true metaphor would state that one thing is another (like "that man is a tank").
4. Allegory: The passage is not an allegory, which would involve deeper symbolic meanings where characters or events represent broader ideas.
5. Alliteration: The only literary device actually present in the passage is alliteration, seen in the phrase "famous fried-egg feast" (words starting with the same sound).

The text appears to be an explanation of literary devices, using a passage about eggs as an example to distinguish between different stylistic techniques.

The correct answer is B.

A. The tone is sorrowful, symbolizing Mary's deep sense of loss and mourning: The passage indicates that Mary did not miss her mother and was not particularly affected by her absence. This option does not align with the text's description of Mary's feelings, making A incorrect.

B. The tone is indifferent, symbolizing Mary's self-centered nature and lack of emotional connection to others: The passage describes Mary as self-absorbed and unconcerned about her mother's absence, focusing entirely on herself and her comfort. This indifference highlights her self-centered nature, making B the correct answer.

C. The tone is joyful, symbolizing Mary's excitement about her new life and experiences: The passage does not convey a sense of joy or excitement. Instead, it portrays Mary's indifference and lack of emotional connection, making C incorrect.

D. The tone is anxious, symbolizing Mary's fear of the unknown and worry about her future: While Mary might have been expected to feel anxious about her future, the passage explicitly states that she assumed she would always be taken care of, reflecting a lack of anxiety. Therefore, D is incorrect.

Correct Answer: B

Explanation: Option B directly states that the colonists welcomed Whalley and Goffe because they shared religious beliefs with them. This clearly shows the colonists' sympathy toward the regicides. 

Option A is incorrect because it merely defines what regicides are and provides historical context about King Charles I's execution. It doesn't provide any information about how colonists felt toward these men.
Option C is incorrect because it only states when John Dixwell arrived in America. This factual detail doesn't indicate anything about colonial attitudes or sympathies toward the regicides.
Option D is incorrect because while it mentions a local legend about Goffe, it doesn't directly address colonial sympathy. The legend shows Goffe helping colonists during war, but doesn't specifically indicate how colonists felt about the regicides.

Correct Answer: C

Option C is correct because in the context "As former officers in Oliver Cromwell's army and devout Puritans," the word "devout" describes their relationship to their Puritan faith. "Devout" means deeply religious or committed to one's faith. The passage also mentions their religious beliefs were shared with the colonists, further supporting that the word refers to their religious commitment.

Option A is incorrect because nothing in the passage connects "devout" to wealth or power. While the regicides held military positions, the word "devout" specifically modifies "Puritans," indicating a religious context rather than a description of their social or economic status.

Option B is incorrect because although the passage mentions they were military officers, "devout" is used to describe them as Puritans, not their battle skills. Their military background is mentioned separately from their religious identity.

Option D is incorrect because while the regicides were certainly involved in politics (having signed the king's death warrant), the word "devout" in this context clearly refers to their religious conviction as Puritans, not their political ambitions. The passage separates their roles as "officers" from their identity as "devout Puritans."