STAAR

State of Texas
Assessments of
Academic Readiness

English II

Administered April 2014

RELEASED

Copyright © 2014, Texas Education Agency. All rights reserved. Reproduction of all or portions of this work is prohibited without express
written permission from the Texas Education Agency.
 WRITING

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 Read the selection and choose the best answer to each question. Then fill
in the answer on your answer document.

Xavier recently read an interesting article about a famous cow. He has written this
paper to share the story. Read Xavier’s paper and think about the revisions he
should make. When you finish reading, answer the questions that follow.

Grady the Famous Cow

(1) In the 1940s it wasn’t unusual for a small-town newspaper to feature a

story about a cow. (2) People were interested in reading about cows that grew a

third horn, gave birth to triplets, or won a blue ribbon for producing especially

creamy milk. (3) But it wasn’t often that a news story about a cow was so

remarkable that it made national headlines for a week and the problem-solving

skills of people all over the country were engaged. (4) Ladies and gentlemen, meet

Grady.

(5) Grady the cow started out as a dependable, ordinary cow owned by a

farmer in Yukon, Oklahoma, named Bill Mach. (6) The six-year-old Hereford had

lived a peaceful life on Mach’s farm until one day in 1949 when Mach called in a

local veterinarian to assist Grady during a difficult birth. (7) Afterward Grady

became upset and ran toward the nearest source of light. (8) She probably

thought it was an exit from the barn. (9) Unfortunately, it wasn’t. (10) It was the

opening to a grain silo. (11) Remarkably, the 1,200-pound cow squeezed through

the tiny opening, which was as wide and tall as a newspaper page. (12) When they

peered inside the silo, they saw Grady calmly looking out at them. (13) Sadly, they

had no idea how to get her out.

(14) A local newspaper reporter,

concerned for the cow, wrote of

Grady’s plight and asked readers to

suggest ideas for freeing her.

© Steve Pepple/Bigstock.com

(15) Surprisingly, hundreds of

suggestions came in from all over the

United States and Canada. (16) Some

people said that Mach should tunnel

A Grain Silo

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 into the silo. (17) Others thought he should tear down the silo or use a helicopter

to airlift Grady out.

(18) Three days into Grady’s ordeal, a Denver Post editor who specialized in

articles on farming phoned Mach. (19) The editor, Ralph Partridge, announced that

he was coming to Yukon to free Grady. (20) What was Partridge’s foolproof plan?

(21) He would smear Grady with grease and push her out the way she had come in.

(22) First Partridge built a ramp inside the silo from the floor to the door. (23) Then

he and an assistant climbed inside the silo and attached a thick leather strap, or

halter, to Grady. (24) They covered the halter, Grady, and the opening to the silo

with a thick coating of axle grease and attached ropes to the halter. (25) With a

push from behind and a pull from the front, Grady popped right out. (26) Aside

from some minor scrapes, she was just fine.

(27) Grady’s hometown just happened to be on Route 66, a highway famous

for its unusual tourist attractions. (28) Bill Mach decided to post a sign on the

highway, declaring Yukon Grady’s home. (29) In time Grady became a bit of a

celebrity. (30) She was the subject of two children’s books and was featured in

Time magazine. (31) For many years people told the story of Grady the cow.

(32) She was quite a cow, so people enjoyed telling her story.

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 1 What is the most effective revision to make in sentence 3?

A But it wasn’t often that a news story about a cow was so remarkable that it made
national headlines for a week, so the problem-solving skills of people all over the
country were engaged.

B But it wasn’t often that a news story about a cow was so remarkable that when
engaged, it made national headlines for a week with the problem-solving skills of
people all over the country.

C But it wasn’t often that a news story about a cow was so remarkable that it made
national headlines for a week and engaged the problem-solving skills of people all over
the country.

D No revision is needed in sentence 3.

2 What is the most effective way to combine sentences 7 and 8?

F Afterward Grady became upset and ran toward the nearest source of light, probably
thinking it was an exit from the barn.

G Afterward Grady, who became upset and ran toward the nearest source of light,
probably thought it was an exit from the barn.

H Afterward Grady became upset because she probably thought it was an exit from the
barn and ran toward the nearest source of light.

J Afterward Grady became upset and ran toward the nearest source of light, she
probably thought it was an exit from the barn.

3 Sentence 12 lacks clarity. What is the best way to improve this sentence?

A Change When they to When Mach and the veterinarian

B Change peered to glanced

C Change they saw to he saw

D Change looking out to staring

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 4 Xavier would like to add some sentences to help transition from the third paragraph
(sentences 14–17) to the fourth paragraph (sentences 18–26). Which of the following could
Xavier add after sentence 17?

F A helicopter could be dangerous. Obviously, it would be costly.

G Should they tear it down? Should they use a helicopter?

H People from all around the country had ideas that they wanted to share. Some were
good; others not so much.

J Each suggestion had its own problems. And in the meantime Grady remained stuck.

5 Xavier realizes that he should have added the following sentence to the fourth paragraph
(sentences 18–26).

One newspaper highlighted Partridge’s

arrival, claiming that he was coming
with “secret cow-freeing equipment.”

Where is the most effective place to insert this sentence?

A After sentence 18

B After sentence 19

C After sentence 22

D After sentence 24

6 Xavier would like to improve the closing paragraph (sentences 27–32) by replacing
sentence 32. Which of the following could best replace sentence 32 and help strengthen
this paper’s closing?

F Grady the cow had been such an unassuming animal.

G In fact, as you can tell, I’m telling the story of this magnificent and unusual cow even
now!

H For the rest of her life, Grady lived on Mach’s farm.

J It was the unique tale of a cow’s rescue, but it was also an inspiring story of American
ingenuity and determination.

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 Read the selection and choose the best answer to each question. Then fill
in the answer on your answer document.

Brianna read about an increase of skin cancer among young people. She wrote the
following paper to persuade readers to protect their skin. Read Brianna’s paper and
look for any revisions she should make. Then answer the questions that follow.

The Skin You’re In

(1) Throughout childhood, kids are encouraged to take good care of their

bodies by getting adequate rest, exercising regularly, eating healthful foods, and

drinking plenty of water. (2) But recently a new directive has been added to that

list. (3) Children and teenagers are now warned to protect their skin.

(4) Melanoma, an invasive cancer of the skin, is the second most common

form of cancer for people ages 15 to 29. (5) Unfortunately, the risk of developing

it has increased in recent years. (6) One of the most significant contributors to

melanoma is ultraviolet (UV) radiation damage. (7) Scientists think that some of

this damage is directly linked to the use of tanning beds. (8) Proponents of

tanning beds claim that they are safe because the lightbulbs these beds use

produce more UVA radiation than UVB radiation. (9) Early studies suggested that

UVA rays weren’t as harmful to the skin since they weren’t as likely to produce

sunburns. (10) Instead, scientists now know that both forms of radiation are

dangerous. (11) According to the World Health Organization’s International Agency

for Research on Cancer (IARC), the use of tanning beds before age 30 is associated

with a 75-percent increase in melanoma risk. (12) The IARC has recently moved

UV tanning beds to the highest cancer risk category, labeling them as “carcinogenic

to humans.” (13) They simply are not, as some enthusiasts suggest, a safe way to

tan.

(14) Clearly, avoiding tanning beds is one way teens can protect their skin, but

they must do more. (15) They need to protect themselves from too much sun

exposure as well. (16) Doctors say that to avoid overexposure to the harmful rays

of the sun, young people should stay indoors between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., when the

rays are the strongest. (17) This is especially true for those who live in the South

or Southwest, since areas nearer to the equator are closer to the sun. (18) When

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 teens have to be outdoors during these peak hours, they should use a broad-

spectrum sunscreen, one that provides maximum protection from both UVA and

UVB rays.

© Stephen Coburn/Bigstock.com
(19) Prevention is the most effective weapon in the battle against melanoma,

but paying close attention to the skin is also vital. (20) Melanoma often begins as

a mole or a bump on the skin. (21) If it’s caught before it spreads below the skin’s

surface, it’s highly curable. (22) That’s why teens should watch for new moles and

note any unusual characteristics of or changes to existing moles. (23) If they see

anything that looks suspicious, they should make an appointment with a

dermatologist right away. (24) Although few moles actually develop into

melanoma, by carefully examining cells from the suspicious mole, only an expert

can determine under a microscope whether a person is at risk.

(25) Teens who continue to bake in the sun to achieve that perfect tan should

realize the potential consequences of their behavior. (26) Is a sun-kissed look

really worth the risk of melanoma? (27) It’s not too late to change your habits and

reduce your exposure to harmful UV rays. (28) Do something now.

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 7 Brianna realizes that she did not include a position statement in this paper. Which sentence
could follow sentence 3 and serve as the position statement for her paper?

A Teenagers must stop lying in the sun, or they will be sure to experience grave
consequences.

B Overexposure to tanning beds and natural sunlight has caused huge problems for men
and women.

C There are many ways that people can begin to learn more about protecting their skin.

D Skin cancer is on the rise among young people, and teens should make some basic
lifestyle changes to help slow this trend.

8 Brianna has not used the most effective transition in sentence 10. Read the second paragraph
(sentences 4–13) again. Which transition should replace the word Instead in sentence 10?

F Incidentally

G However

H Finally

J Additionally

9 Which sentence below would best follow and support sentence 15?

A Adequate protection is vital because just one blistering sunburn in childhood or

adolescence greatly increases a person’s risk of developing melanoma later in life.

B So teens must learn to avoid tanning beds, but they must also learn to stay out of the
sun during the summer.

C Sun exposure can be life threatening to people who have lighter skin, but everyone
should learn to be cautious in the sun.

D There are many ways to achieve this goal that teens will surely want to investigate.

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 10 What is the most effective revision to make in sentence 24?

F Although few moles actually develop into melanoma, only an expert can determine
whether a person is at risk and is carefully examining cells from the suspicious mole
under a microscope.

G Although few moles actually develop into melanoma, only an expert can determine
whether a person is at risk by carefully examining cells from the suspicious mole under
a microscope.

H Although few moles actually develop into melanoma, only an expert under a
microscope can determine whether a person is at risk by carefully examining cells from
the suspicious mole.

J No revision is needed in sentence 24.

11 Brianna is not pleased with the way she has closed her paper. Which of the following could
replace sentence 28 and more effectively close this paper?

A It’s time to reduce your exposure, even if you don’t want to.

B In closing, it’s important that you make changes so that you won’t get melanoma.

C Everyone is doing it now, so join the crowd and protect yourself.

D Take action now to protect your skin and avoid this life-threatening disease later.

Page 11
 Read the selection and choose the best answer to each question. Then fill
in the answer on your answer document.

Natalia wrote the following essay in response to a history assignment. Read

Natalia’s paper and look for the corrections she should make. Then answer the
questions that follow.

© Library of Congress

Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show

(1) With his flowing hair, thick mustache, and long goatee, the rider was an

impressive man. (2) Sitting high in the saddle on a white stallion, he made a grand

entrance. (3) The horse reared, and the man waved his Stetson hat to the

audience. (4) What a sight he was in his tall, polished boots, beaded gloves, and

fringed jacket! (5) As he dismounted and bowed, the crowd roared its approval.

(6) The spectators were cheering for “Buffalo Bill” Cody the ultimate showman and

the host of the renowned Wild West Show.

(7) An adventurous life led William Frederick Cody to the stage. (8) Born in

the Iowa Territory in 1846, he grew up on the prairie. (9) At age 14 he noticed an

ad for a pony express rider. (10) The ad stated that the rider must be willing to

risk death daily. (11) Cody landed the job and joined a team of brave young men

who carried packages and mail across dangerous western terrain. (12) When the

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 Civil War broke out, he rode as a Union scout and later in the cavalry. (13) At age

21 he hunted buffalo to provide meat for the Kansas Pacific Railroad construction

crews. (14) In time, Cody was declared the most proficient buffalo hunter on the

plains, eventually earning the nickname Buffalo Bill. (15) An author who wrote

under the pen name Ned Buntline then made the character Buffalo Bill the hero of

their novels.

(16) In 1883, Cody took his larger-than-life personality to the stage by putting

together a spectacular show. (17) Part history lesson and part circus, the outdoor

pageant reenacted scenes from Americas’ frontier. (18) There were dramatizations

of stagecoach robberies, frontier battles, and buffalo hunts. (19) Cody cast some

of the West’s most well-known figures. (20) For example, Sitting Bull, the famous

Lakota Sioux chief, joined the show for a season. (21) Popular Texan cowboys Bill

Pickett and Buck Taylor were also part of the troupe.

(22) Cody created some new stars, too. (23) In 1885 his extravaganza

introduced a petite, young Ohio woman who was an expert sharpshooter.

(24) Phoebe Ann Moses took the stage name Annie Oakley and soon became an

audience favorite. (25) Oakley, who was nicknamed “Little Sure Shot,” toured the

world with the cast. (26) An advocate for women’s rights, Buffalo Bill made sure

that Oakley and the cast’s other cowgirls earned wages comparable to those of the

cowboys.
© Smithsonian Institution/CORBIS

Program Cover for One of Buffalo Bill’s Shows

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 (27) Buffalo Bill became a symbol of the West, and his spectacular show

became world famous. (28) It was a hit in Europe, in Canada, and across the

United States. (29) In Texas alone, the show played in Abilene, Austin, Dallas,

El Paso, Houston, San Antonio, Waco, and 40 other cities and towns.

(30) When the Wild West Show disbanded just before World War I. (31) It was

declared the most successful traveling show of all time. (32) Unfortunately,

however, Cody had been a far better showman than businessman. (33) Before his

death in 1917, he had lost almost all his money. (34) Although his fortune was

gone, he continued to take great pride in his accomplishments. (35) It was

reported that Buffalo Bill’s final words were “Let my show go on!”

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 12 What change should be made in sentence 6?

F Insert he was after Cody

G Insert a comma after Cody

H Change renowned to renownned

J No change should be made.

13 How should sentence 9 be changed?

A Change noticed to notices

B Change for to it was for

C Change pony express to Pony Express

D Sentence 9 does not need to be changed.

14 What change should be made in sentence 15?

F Insert a comma after Buntline

G Change made to making

H Change their to his

J No change should be made.

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 15 What change should be made in sentence 17?

A Change Part to It was part

B Delete the comma

C Change pageant to pagent

D Change Americas’ to America’s

16 What is the correct way to write sentences 30 and 31?

F When the Wild West Show disbanded just before World War I, it was declared the most
successful traveling show of all time.

G The Wild West Show disbanded just before World War I. Having been declared the most
successful traveling show of all time.

H The Wild West Show disbanded just before World War I, at that time it was declared
the most successful traveling show of all time.

J The sentences are written correctly in the paper.

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 Read the selection and choose the best answer to each question. Then fill
in the answer on your answer document.

In response to a class assignment, Alisha has written the following literary essay.
Read Alisha’s paper and look for any corrections she should make. When you finish
reading, answer the questions that follow.

From Disappointment to Purpose

(1) I’m known for my determination. (2) If I want something, I go for it; I

refuse to give up until I succeed. (3) Over the years this attitude has worked good

for me and helped me achieve my goals. (4) For example, when I wanted to be on

the dance team at school, I learned all the dances and practiced until I could

barely move. (5) When I wanted to play an instrument, I borrowed my dad’s

guitar and sat for hours teaching myself the basic chords. (6) And when I wanted

money for a new computer, I washed cars, babysat, and walked dogs for all my

neighbors. (7) But this year everything changed, I had set my sights on a summer

job that I was determined to get. (8) I could already see myself depositing my

weekly checks and building up my savings. (9) Unfortunately, I wasn’t offered the

job. (10) But from that disappointment I learned a very valuable lesson.

(11) My friends and I had all planned to work at the Water Zone. (12) We had

visited this park every summer for the past several years and had dreamed about

working there together once we were old enough. (13) Park employees could go

on the water rides after their shift and get free food at the snack bar. (14) It was

the perfect job to have on hot summer days. (15) So just as I had attacked every

goal in the past, I set out to land a job at the Water Zone. (16) I completed the

application in my neatest handwriting, carefully prepared for my interview, and

gathered a stack of recomendation letters. (17) I was certain that no obstacle

could keep me from my dream job.

(18) Three days after my interview, the manager of the Water Zone calls.

(19) He told me that there had been so many applicants that he could hire only

those with experience in water safety. (20) I was devastated. (21) Apparently,

while I had been busy washing cars, babysitting, and walking dogs, my friends had

been earning their lifeguard certification and working at neighborhood pools.

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 (22) I would be the only one of us not working at the Water Zone. (23) I felt like a

failure.

(24) With no dream job secured, I let my neighbors know that I would again

be available for summer babysitting and other chores. (25) On the last weekend

before school ended for the summer, my piano teacher, Mrs. Keller, called me.

(26) She wondered whether I would be interested in an opening at her daughter’s

summer day camp. (27) I decided that I had nothing to loose, so I called the

manager and scheduled an interview. (28) She was impressed by my babysitting

experience and references and offered me a job on the spot. (29) In less than a

week, I had completely forgotten about wanting to work at the water park.

(30) Each time I comforted a little boy who missed his mother or a little girl who

needed help tying her shoes, I felt I was doing something significant. (31) I

realized that I had discovered my life’s purpose: to work with children. (32) I now

have a new goal. (33) I’m going to study to become an elementary school teacher.

© Kablonk Micro/Fotolia

(34) Sometimes in life we don’t get exactly what we want. (35) Our dream

guy or girl may not be interested in us. (36) The coach may not select us for the

team. (37) A certain employer may not choose to hire us. (38) When something

like this happens, it’s natural to feel disappointed; I sure did. (39) But I also

learned an important lesson. (40) Occasionaly, when we don’t get what we want,

something even better is waiting for us around the corner!

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 17 What change should be made in sentence 3?

A Change years to year’s

B Change good to well

C Change achieve to acheive

D No change should be made in sentence 3.

18 What change should be made in sentence 7?

F Change the comma to a period

G Change set to setted

H Change determined to determinned

J No change should be made in sentence 7.

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 19 How should sentence 16 be changed?

A Change completed to completted

B Delete the comma after handwriting

C Change carefully prepared to I carefully prepared

D Change recomendation to recommendation

20 What change should be made in sentence 18?

F Change days to day’s

G Change the comma to a semicolon

H Change calls to called

J No change should be made.

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 21 What change needs to be made in sentence 27?

A Change I decided to Deciding

B Change had to hadn’t

C Change loose to lose

D Change an to a

22 What change needs to be made in sentence 40?

F Change Occasionaly to Occasionally

G Delete the comma after want

H Change even better to even more better

J No change needs to be made.

BE SURE YOU HAVE RECORDED ALL OF YOUR ANSWERS

ON THE ANSWER DOCUMENT.
Page 21
 WRITTEN COMPOSITION: Persuasive

Read the following quotation.

The more that you read, the more things you will know.
The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.
—from I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!
by Dr. Seuss

Think carefully about the following statement.

According to Dr. Seuss, knowledge leads to new opportunities.

Write an essay stating your position on whether learning always has a positive effect on a
person’s life.

Be sure to —

• state your position clearly

• use appropriate organization
• provide specific support for your argument
• choose your words carefully
• edit your writing for grammar, mechanics, and spelling

Page 22
 USE THIS PREWRITING PAGE TO
PLAN YOUR COMPOSITION.

MAKE SURE THAT YOU WRITE YOUR COMPOSITION

ON THE LINED PAGE IN THE ANSWER DOCUMENT.
Page 23
 USE THIS PREWRITING PAGE TO
PLAN YOUR COMPOSITION.

MAKE SURE THAT YOU WRITE YOUR COMPOSITION

ON THE LINED PAGE IN THE ANSWER DOCUMENT.
Page 24
 READING

Page 25
 Read the next two selections and answer the questions that follow.

Tehuelche
by Gustavo Bondoni

1 “What’s wrong with her?”

2 “We don’t know.”

3 Dr. Alejandro Benetti shook his head in frustration. Every time an

economic opportunity convinced him to leave the capital, it was the same
story. Small-town nurses were always extremely willing and helpful, but their
training left a lot to be desired. The further one got from Buenos Aires, the
worse it became, and when one reached small resort towns in Patagonia, it
was necessary to keep a close eye on the staff, for the patients’ sake.

4 “Is she showing any symptoms?”

5 “No, the people at the home brought her in because they say she wasn’t
looking well. I looked her over, and she seems to be healthy—but very, very
old.” Carlos Ramírez was one of the better nurses the doctor had
encountered, but perhaps it was just his turn to show the gaps in his
preparation.

6 “Did you ask her what was wrong?”

7 “Of course, but . . . She doesn’t speak any Spanish.”

8 “A foreigner?” It wouldn’t have surprised Alejandro at all. During the

winter months, Esquel filled up with Brazilians and Europeans, though why
an old lady would come to ski or practice extreme sports was beyond him.

9 “No. She was born ten kilometers away. She’s Tehuelche.”

10 “Tehuelche?”

11 He shrugged. “The natives that used to live here. They’re all gone now.”

12 “Let me see her.”

13 The old woman was just as advertised. Her dark face was lined with
chasms and crevasses which deepened as she smiled. There seemed to be
nothing outwardly amiss, yet the director of the nursing home had been
adamant that there was something wrong with her.

14 Alejandro’s examination brought no obvious problems to light, and his

questions, asked out of habit, received incomprehensible replies or sad

Page 26
 smiles. Out in the corridor again, he cornered Carlos and the director of the
nursing home. “Is there anyone who speaks Tehuelche?”

15 The director, a fiftyish woman with platinum hair, replied. “No. We’ve
never needed it before, since she was speaking Spanish perfectly until
yesterday. We don’t even know if what she’s speaking is actually even
Tehuelche or just gibberish.”

16 Well, at least now Alejandro knew what had been disturbing the director
so badly. When one of your patients suddenly forgets how to communicate
with you, you look for an expert opinion.

17 “Well, does she have any family? Someone who might know how to talk
to her?”

18 “She has one adult granddaughter who lives in Buenos Aires. We’ve
gotten in touch with her and she’s flying in tomorrow.” The director
hesitated. “We’d prefer it if she stayed in the clinic tonight.”

19 Alejandro sighed. The nursing home was covering its bases—if the old
woman died, they’d have nothing to do with it. Worse, there was no point in
arguing, because the director probably knew someone on the city council
who had a cousin on the hospital’s board . . .

20 He just hoped the granddaughter could be of some use.

***

21 Designer clothes? Blue eyes? “You don’t look much like your
grandmother.”

22 Jimena smiled. “A Welsh grandfather and an Italian mother will do that

to you.”

23 “Have they told you the situation?”

24 She nodded. “I don’t think I can help much, but I want to be there for
her.”

25 “Do you speak Tehuelche?”

26 Jimena laughed, a tinkling, pleasant sound that cut through her concern
and brightened her features. “You don’t know much about the Tehuelche
people, do you?”

27 “Well, I know what kills them, and how to keep that from happening.
Everyone is pretty much the same on the inside, you know.”

28 Her face spoke her disbelief, and she went on. “Tehuelche is a dying
language. A few years ago, there were four native speakers, all very old. I

Page 27
 haven’t seen any new statistics lately, but it might be safe to assume that
my grandmother is the last one alive. She’s ninety-three, you know.”

29 “I didn’t know. The home said she was in her late eighties.”

30 “Can I see her?”

31 “She’s right there,” Alejandro said, pointing towards the door to the only
private room in the clinic. They hadn’t wanted to put her in a ward, and
there were hardly any other patients in residence. “She didn’t touch her
breakfast this morning.” And she looks a lot worse than she did yesterday,
he didn’t say.

32 The woman nodded silently, the veil of concern down again. Impulsively,
Alejandro followed her into the room and stood silently just inside the door
as the woman spoke softly to the wrinkled woman on the bed. Jimena’s
words were in Spanish, but the replies were impossible to understand.

33 No recognition shone in the grandmother’s eyes, and the smile was the
same as the one she’d given the doctor. There was little time left to her, and
nothing outwardly wrong that he could detect. Perhaps the bloodwork would
show something, but it would be two days before that came back from
Bariloche.

34 Then it hit him. The scratchy sounds the woman was making might
represent the last time the Tehuelche language was spoken on the face of
the Earth. How long had it lasted? A thousand years? Two thousand?

35 He wanted to take Jimena by the shoulders, shake her and tell her to
appreciate the importance of the moment, to drink in every sound, to keep
the woman talking as long as she could. But that would be inhuman: Jimena
was losing her grandmother.

36 But what the world was losing was priceless. He was inured to death
and illness, but had never been present at anything of this magnitude.

37 So Dr. Alejandro Benetti stood just inside the door in a tiny clinic, a
thousand miles from Buenos Aires, and listened harder than he’d ever
listened to anything in his life.

“Tehuelche” by Gustavo Bondoni, first published in EveryDayFiction.com, June 10, 2010. Copyright © 2010 by
Gustavo Bondoni. Used by permission of author.

Page 28
 Linguist on Mission to Save Inuit “Fossil Language”
Disappearing with the Ice
by Mark Brown
The Guardian
August 12, 2010

1 Stephen Pax Leonard will soon swap the lawns, libraries and high tables of
Cambridge University for three months of darkness, temperatures as low as
–40°C and hunting seals for food with a spear.

2 But the academic researcher, who leaves Britain this weekend, has a
mission: to take the last chance to document the language and traditions of
an entire culture.

3 “I’m extremely excited but, yes, also apprehensive,” Leonard said as he

made the final preparations for what is, by anyone’s standards, the trip of a
lifetime.

4 Leonard, an anthropological linguist, is to spend a year living with the

Inughuit people of northwest Greenland, a tiny community whose members
manage to live a similar hunting and gathering life to their ancestors. They
speak a language—the dialect is called Inuktun—that has never fully been
written down, and they pass down their stories and traditions orally.

5 “Climate change means they have around 10 or 15 years left,” said Leonard.
“Then they’ll have to move south and in all probability move in to modern
flats.” If that happens, an entire language and culture is likely to disappear.

6 There is no Inughuit written literature but a very strong and “distinctive,

intangible cultural heritage,” according to Leonard. “If their language dies,
their heritage and identity will die with it. The aim of this project is to record
and describe it and then give it back to the communities themselves in a
form that future generations can use and understand.”

7 The Inughuits thought they were the world’s only inhabitants until an
expedition led by the Scottish explorer John Ross came across them in 1818.

8 Unlike other Inuit communities they were not significantly influenced by the
arrival of Christianity in Greenland—so they retain elements of a much older,
shamanic culture—and their life is not very different now to how it always
has been. Many of the men spend weeks away from home hunting seals,
narwhal, walruses, whales and other mammals. And while they have tents,
they still build igloos when conditions get really bad.

9 Their language is regarded as something of a linguistic “fossil” and one of

the oldest and most “pure” Inuit dialects.

Page 29


Did You Know?

Language defines a culture. The rate of
language disappearance has accelerated
dramatically in recent years.

© AP Photo/John McConnico
• A language dies every 14 days.

• There are more than 7,000 languages

spoken on Earth, many of which are not
recorded.

• By 2100, more than half of all existing

languages may disappear.

• A language often disappears because a more

powerful group’s language renders it
obsolete.

• Some geographic areas—in particular Siberia

and Northern Australia—are under a severe
threat of language disappearance.

• Studying language helps us understand how

people communicate and store information.
A lost language means a lost opportunity to
learn how our brains work.

Page 30
 until March 8. It is this time of year that elders talk and pass on their stories
and poetry.

15 Nevertheless, Leonard admitted: “I don’t really know how I’m going to deal
with it, to be honest.”

16 There appears to be a certain inevitability to the Inughuits being soon forced

from their ancient homeland to southern Greenland, making Leonard’s
mission all the more pressing. Climate change is already leading to a
noticeable reduction in seal numbers and the ice will soon become so thin
that it will be impossible to use dog sleds.

17 Leonard intends to record the Inughuits and, rather than writing a grammar
or dictionary, produce an “ethnography of speaking” to show how their
language and culture are interconnected. The recordings will be digitized and
archived and returned to the community in their own language.

18 “These communities, which could be just years from fragmentation, want

their cultural plight to be known to the rest of the world,” he said.

19 Although the climate change catastrophe facing the Arctic is well

documented and the Inughuits are visited frequently, Leonard hopes his visit
will be more meaningful than others.

20 “One thing I have been told is that they are tired of journalists popping in
and reporting how awful it is that the icebergs are melting and then that’s it,
so they are keen that someone comes and lives with them and reports
back.”

Copyright © 2012 Guardian News and Media Limited 2010.

Page 31
 Use “Tehuelche” (pp. 26–28) to answer questions 23–28. Then fill in
the answers on your answer document.

23 In paragraph 36, the word inured means —

A frightened

B accustomed

C sensitive

D reminded

24 Why does Alejandro allow the old woman to stay in the clinic?

F He wants to be present when the old woman’s granddaughter arrives.

G He doesn’t want to release her until the results of her blood test arrive.

H He assumes that the nursing home director has political connections.

J He doesn’t trust the nursing home staff to know how to care for her.

Page 32
 25 Which line suggests that Alejandro is sensitive to the feelings of others?

A And she looks a lot worse than she did yesterday, he didn’t say.

B Why an old lady would come to ski or practice extreme sports was beyond him.

C Dr. Alejandro Benetti shook his head in frustration.

D “Well, I know what kills them, and how to keep that from happening.”

26 Read paragraph 33.

No recognition shone in the grandmother’s

eyes, and the smile was the same as the one
she’d given the doctor. There was little time left
to her, and nothing outwardly wrong that he
could detect. Perhaps the bloodwork would
show something, but it would be two days
before that came back from Bariloche.

The tone of this paragraph can best be described as —

F outraged

G admiring

H resigned

J hopeful

Page 33
 27 In paragraph 26, the description of Jimena’s laugh suggests that she is —

A horrified that a doctor could ask such a ridiculous question

B pretending to enjoy the doctor’s attempt to be witty

C scornfully mocking the doctor for his stupidity

D genuinely amused by a question she finds a bit naive

28 In paragraph 32, the author uses a metaphor to convey —

F Jimena’s emotions

G the grandmother’s confusion

H Alejandro’s professionalism

J the feeling in the room

Page 34
 Use “Linguist on Mission to Save Inuit ‘Fossil Language’ Disappearing
with the Ice” (pp. 29–31) to answer questions 29–33. Then fill in the
answers on your answer document.

29 Read paragraph 7.

The Inughuits thought they were the world’s

only inhabitants until an expedition led by the
Scottish explorer John Ross came across them
in 1818.

The author’s purpose for including this information in the selection is most likely to —

A describe the history of Europeans traveling to Greenland in order to study the Inughuits

B suggest that Ross’s expedition indirectly caused the destruction of Inughuit culture

C support the claim that the Inughuits have a strong cultural heritage

D emphasize how geographically and culturally isolated the Inughuits once were

30 Which sentence supports the idea that the life of the Inughuits now is not very different from
how it has always been?

F Leonard, an anthropological linguist, is to spend a year living with the Inughuit people
of northwest Greenland. . . .

G Many of the men spend weeks away from home hunting seals, narwhal, walruses,
whales and other mammals.

H “One thing I have been told is that they are tired of journalists popping in and
reporting how awful it is. . . .”

J “Then they’ll have to move south and in all probability move in to modern flats.”

Page 35
 31 What does Leonard predict will cause the Inughuits to move south?

A The end of their distinctive cultural heritage

B The desire to move into modern housing

C The loss of their traditional language

D The effects of climate change on their environment

32 Which of these best describes the author’s purpose for writing this article?

F To criticize the failure of linguists to document a language before it was nearly extinct

G To analyze the linguistic elements of one of the oldest and most pure Inuit dialects

H To inform the public of a researcher’s effort to document a disappearing language

J To argue that the Inuktun dialect will inevitably be lost in the next 10 to 15 years

33 Which of the following statements best characterizes the objective of the boxed information
titled “Did You Know?”

A To provide multiple theories for why languages disappear

B To highlight the effects of climate change described in the article

C To provide facts about languages that are disappearing

D To suggest that it is possible to prevent languages from disappearing

Page 36
 Use “Tehuelche” and “Linguist on Mission to Save Inuit ‘Fossil
Language’ Disappearing with the Ice” to answer questions 34–37.
Then fill in the answers on your answer document.

34 Like the Tehuelche in “Tehuelche,” the Inughuit in “Linguist on Mission to Save Inuit ‘Fossil
Language’ Disappearing with the Ice” are native people —

F in South America, with a small, aging population

G whose traditional land has become a popular tourist spot

H facing the end of their linguistic and cultural heritage

J whose way of life is threatened by climate change

35 Unlike Stephen Leonard in “Linguist on Mission to Save Inuit ‘Fossil Language’ Disappearing
with the Ice,” Alejandro in “Tehuelche” is at first concerned with a little-known language only
because he —

A doesn’t want an ancient culture to be lost

B is trying to gain a deeper understanding of a culture

C is committed to doing his job properly

D has trouble communicating with a patient

Page 37
 36 Unlike Alejandro in “Tehuelche,” Stephen Leonard in “Linguist on Mission to Save Inuit ‘Fossil
Language’ Disappearing with the Ice” travels to a remote region primarily to —

F conduct original research

G earn money

H pursue a professional opportunity

J save lives

37 In these selections, the Tehuelche people and the Inughuits are portrayed as —

A jaded

B isolated

C dangerous

D depressed

BE SURE YOU HAVE RECORDED ALL OF YOUR ANSWERS

ON THE ANSWER DOCUMENT.
Page 38
 SHORT ANSWER #1

DIRECTIONS

Answer the following question in the box labeled “Short Answer #1” on page 5 of
your answer document.

How is the loss of language important in “Tehuelche” and “Linguist on Mission to Save Inuit
‘Fossil Language’ Disappearing with the Ice”? Support your answer with evidence from both
selections.

BE SURE YOU HAVE WRIT TEN YOUR ANSWER

ON PAGE 5 OF THE ANSWER DOCUMENT.
Page 39
 Read the selection and choose the best answer to each question. Then fill
in the answer on your answer document.

Trust
by Susan Kinsolving

Trust that there is a tiger, muscular

Tasmanian,1 and sly, which has never been
seen and never will be seen by any human
eye. Trust that thirty thousand sword-
5 fish will never near a ship, that far
from cameras or cars elephant herds live
long elephant lives. Believe that bees
by the billions find unidentified flowers
on unmapped marshes and mountains. Safe
10 in caves of contentment, bears sleep.
Through vast canyons, horses run while slowly
snakes stretch beyond their skins in the sun.
I must trust all this to be true, though
the few birds at my feeder watch the window
15 with small flutters of fear, so like my own.

“Trust” from The White Eyelash, copyright © 2003 by Susan Kinsolving. Used by permission of
Grove/Atlantic, Inc.

1
The Tasmanian tiger was the largest carnivorous marsupial of modern times. The last known
member of the species died in captivity in 1936. In the 1960s, naturalists searching northwestern
Tasmania found footprints and scat that may have belonged to a Tasmanian tiger, but no
conclusive evidence has been found of the animal’s continued existence in the wild.

Page 40
 38 Read the following dictionary entry.

ı
trust \ trəst\ v
1. to believe 2. to place in the care of
another 3. to permit to do something
without fear of consequences 4. to extend
financial credit to

Which definition best matches the use of the word trust in line 1?

F Definition 1

G Definition 2

H Definition 3

J Definition 4

39 Which quotation can best be described as conveying the idea of freedom?

A thirty thousand sword-/fish will never near a ship,

B elephant herds live/long elephant lives.

C Through vast canyons, horses run

D the few birds at my feeder watch the window

40 In the first 12 lines, the poet uses imagery to describe —

F a world apart from human culture

G a hostile environment of predators and prey

H an ancient pre-human landscape

J a community of anthropomorphic animals

Page 41
 41 In line 14, it is significant to the theme of the poem that the birds are at the feeder because
this shows that they are —

A migratory animals

B dependent on humans

C symbols of freedom

D resistant to change

42 In lines 1 through 4, the tiger is a symbol for the speaker’s —

F love of wildlife in its natural habitat

G fear of facing mortality

H belief in realities beyond the reach of experience or proof

J desire to escape the confines and complexities of modern urban life

Page 42
 43 Read this sentence from lines 7 through 9.

Believe that bees

by the billions find unidentified flowers
on unmapped marshes and mountains.

The reader can conclude that the speaker is —

A awestruck by nature

B fearful of nature

C confused by nature

D intimidated by nature

44 In the last three lines, the tone of the poem shifts from —

F strident to optimistic

G bleak to playful

H objective to moralistic

J hopeful to apprehensive

Page 43
 Read the selection and choose the best answer to each question. Then fill
in the answer on your answer document.

Is Criticism a Four-Letter Word?

by Steven Frank

1 The movie was E.T. The moment we stepped out of the theater, my older
brother asked the dreaded question: “What did you think of the film?”

2 Whatever opinion I held of the “film” was about to be shredded.

3 “I’ll tell you as soon as I go to the bathroom.”

4 He followed me in.

5 Turning away for maximum privacy, I confessed that I had liked the movie.
It had moved me.

6 “Well,” my brother said, “I found it maudlin and manipulative. ‘E.T. phone

home.’ Honestly, Steve.”

7 I spent the rest of my childhood keeping my opinions of books and movies to

myself.

8 Since then, I’ve spent a lot of time wondering whether criticism is a four-
letter word. Of course, I can count nine letters there, but is the spirit of the
word offensive? I decided to ask my students what they thought, so I wrote
criticism on the board, and we played the first-word-that-comes-to-mind
game.

9 Judgmental, mean, nasty, and hurtful were the top four responses.

10 “Is all criticism negative?” I asked.

11 The consensus was yes.

12 I tried a different word: review.

13 Opinion, evaluation, advice, and guide, they responded.

14 It may be a question of semantics. People don’t like the word criticize

because it’s what they think their parents always do: Your room could
double for the city dump.

15 Is it any wonder that parents often hear their anguished teens shouting,
“Why do you always criticize me?”

16 Suppose we swapped words—and attitudes. “Mom, I’d like you to review my

room, please.”
Page 44


Page 45
 Try writing a restaurant review (it’s a great excuse to go out to dinner).
Review a video game, a blog, or a new album. Review a building that just
went up downtown or a date you went on. And if your parents are being
hypercritical, ask them if they wouldn’t mind a little constructive evaluation
in the form of a parent review.

How to Offer Constructive Criticism

Whether in our personal or professional lives, we sometimes find the need to

address problems or conflicts with friends, family members, or colleagues.
Here are some suggestions to keep in mind when delivering constructive
criticism.
• Focus on facts, not feelings. Just state the problem and keep emotion out
of it.

Illustration courtesy of © iStockphoto.com/Colin Cramm

• Be specific. Explain what your criticism relates to, in detail.
• Be timely. Discuss a situation as soon as your emotions cool.
• Be direct but tactful. Make sure that you use the words that you actually
mean, instead of searching for a softer word that doesn’t really make
your point.
• Give feedback in private. You don’t need to embarrass someone in front
of an audience. Take the person aside and speak with him or her
one-on-one.
• Know what you want to say. You may even want to write down key points
so that you don’t forget anything or get sidetracked.
• Listen to what the other person has to say. After you speak your mind,
listen to the other side of the story. You may not be aware of some
circumstances. Keep an open mind, listen, and be sure to communicate
regularly.

Page 46


Page 47
 45 What is the primary purpose of the selection?

A To encourage readers to write reviews rather than criticism

B To offer readers a new perspective on criticism

C To document the harm suffered by the author because of criticism

D To suggest that good parenting requires criticism

46 The author mentions the movie E.T. in order to —

F support his opinion that good movies provoke good debates

G explain his inability to view movies with a critical eye

H provide context for his early experience handling criticism

J indicate that the events in his article took place long ago

Page 48
 47 Read the following sentence from paragraph 14.

Your room could double for the city dump.

The author’s purpose in including this statement is to —

A provide an example of unconstructive criticism

B indicate how harsh parents can be

C show that his mother was as critical as his brother

D demonstrate the importance of clear, direct statements

48 What does the boxed information on constructive criticism have in common with the reading
selection?

F It emphasizes the importance of defending yourself when you have been criticized.

G It reminds readers that different kinds of people respond differently to criticism.

H It offers specific pieces of advice for the reader to use.

J It employs the viewpoint of a sympathetic first-person narrator.

Page 49
 49 The author refers to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in order to —

A clarify the difference between reviewing and criticizing

B call attention to his favorite book

C offer a suggestion on how the book could have been improved

D provide an example of a good plot

50 Why does the author directly address the reader in paragraphs 21 through 27?

F He is offering praise for well-written books.

G He is scolding the reader for thinking too critically.

H He wants to engage and instruct the reader.

J He has changed his opinion about the purpose of criticism.

BE SURE YOU HAVE RECORDED ALL OF YOUR ANSWERS

ON THE ANSWER DOCUMENT.
Page 50
 SHORT ANSWER #2

DIRECTIONS

Answer the following question in the box labeled “Short Answer #2” on page 5 of
your answer document.

In “Is Criticism a Four-Letter Word?,” how does the author feel about criticism? Support your
answer with evidence from the selection.

BE SURE YOU HAVE WRIT TEN YOUR ANSWER

ON PAGE 5 OF THE ANSWER DOCUMENT. STOP
Page 51
 STAAR
English II
April 2014

TX866215 1 2 3 4 5 A B C D E Printed in the USA DPSS/ISD7194