STAAR

State of Texas
Assessments of
Academic Readiness

GRADE 4

Writing

Administered March 2017

RELEASED

Copyright 2017, 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

Writing
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Writing
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 WRITTEN

COMPOSITION

Writing
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 WRITTEN COMPOSITION: Expository

READ the information in the box below.

When we are young, we often imagine having the chance

to meet someone we admire.

THINK about having the chance to meet anyone in the world. What person would you
choose to meet?

WRITE about the person you would want to meet and explain why you would choose
that person.

Be sure to

clearly state your central idea

organize your writing
develop your writing in detail
choose your words carefully
use correct spelling, capitalization, punctuation, grammar, and sentences

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 USE THIS PREWRITING PAGE TO

PLAN YOUR COMPOSITION.

MAKE SURE THAT YOU WRITE YOUR COMPOSITION ON

THE LINED PAGE IN THE ANSWER DOCUMENT.

Writing
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 USE THIS PREWRITING PAGE TO

PLAN YOUR COMPOSITION.

MAKE SURE THAT YOU WRITE YOUR COMPOSITION ON

THE LINED PAGE IN THE ANSWER DOCUMENT.

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 REVISING

AND

EDITING

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

Mitchell wrote this story in response to a class assignment. Read Mitchells

story and look for the revisions he needs to make. Then answer the
questions that follow.

Laurens New Game

(1) Lauren rips off the plastic wrapping, opens the case, and puts

the new video game in the console. (2) She cant wait to play Zoo

Madness. (3) She skips through the introduction and gets right to the

action. (4) All the zoo animals have escaped and are running wild,

terrifying the townspeople. (5) As a professional hunter and trapper,

Lauren must capture all the animals and return them to the zoo without

being trampled.

Lisa F. Young/Shutterstock

(6) She easily catches and returns a frightened koala bear and a

small zebra. (7) Then suddenly the screen freezes up. (8) Annoyed,

Lauren starts pushing buttons in an attempt to reset the game. (9) As

she pushes button after button, she hears a growl. (10) Wow, she

thinks. (11) The special effects in this game are so realistic! (12) It not

only sounds like an animal is nearby but smells like it!

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 (13) Lauren looks up and realizes that shes not just watching the

gameshes in it! (14) Wearing camouflage clothing, she has a bow

slung over her shoulder and a pack of trapping gear on her back.

(15) What is going on? she asks in confusion.

(16) But this is no time for questions! (17) A tiger has its sights on

her. (18) Its growling and showing its teeth. (19) Laurens heart pounds

in her chest, and cold sweat forms on her brow. (20) She grabs a net

from her pack and wonders aloud, Will this hold the tiger? (21) The

tiger springs. (22) Lauren tosses the net over the animal, tangling its

feet. (23) The beast roars and growls, frantically trying to break free.

(24) She turns sharply and sees a huge rhinoceros charging toward

her. (25) Its head is lowered, and its large horn is aimed directly at her.

(26) As the animal gets closer, Lauren reaches for her pack but then

remembers that she has already used her net.

(27) Lauren! someone screams. (28) Lauren begins to panic.

(29) What will she do? (30) Lauren! the voice yells even more

urgently. (31) Lauren knows that whoever it is will not reach her in time

to save her. (32) The rhino is approaching too fast. (33) Suddenly

Lauren feels a stabbing pain in it. (34) The rhino has rammed her!

(35) Lauren cries out and doubles over.

(36) She waits for another hit from the powerful animal.

(37) Lauren! the familiar voice calls again.

(38) Lincoln? Lauren asks, puzzled. (39) She looks up and sees

her brother.

(40) Yes, its me, Lincoln answers. (41) Ive been calling your

name forever. (42) I even pinched your shoulder to get you to wake up.

(43) Come on. (44) Its time for dinner.

(45) Lauren looks around and realizes that shes safe in her living

room. (46) She stands up slowly, still exhausted from the new

gameand from her much-too-realistic dream.

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 1 What is the BEST way to combine sentences 2 and 3?

A She cant wait to play Zoo Madness, so she skips through the introduction and
gets right to the action.

B She cant wait to play Zoo Madness because she skips through the introduction
and gets right to the action.

C She cant wait to play Zoo Madness, she skips through the introduction and
gets right to the action.

D She cant wait to play Zoo Madness, and she skips through the introduction,
and she gets right to the action.

2 Mitchell would like to add the following sentence to the second paragraph
(sentences 612).

Feeling startled, she shakes her head and

sits up straight.

Where is the BEST place to insert this sentence?

F At the beginning of the paragraph

G After sentence 6

H After sentence 8

J After sentence 9

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 3 Mitchell wants to help readers move from the fourth paragraph
(sentences 1623) to the fifth paragraph (sentences 2426). Which sentence or
sentences should Mitchell insert at the beginning of the fifth paragraph, just
before sentence 24?

A Its a rhinoceros! Oh, no!

B Uh-oh! Another animal is just around the corner.

C Then Lauren hears a stomp and a huff.

D The tiger is trapped and wont be going anywhere.

4 The meaning of sentence 33 is unclear. It can be clarified by changing it to

F her game

G her shoulder

H the voice

J the rhino

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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 the following paper Derrick tells about a fun way to help others. Read
Derricks paper and look for any revisions he should make. When you
finish reading, answer the questions that follow.

Pay It Forward
(1) When someone does something nice for you, you probably want

to pay that person back. (2) But some people choose to do something

different. (3) Theyre paying it forward! (4) In the process they hope to

become part of a chain of good deeds that will grow and grow.

(5) The idea to pay it forward became popular in 2000 after a

movie with the same title came out. (6) But the concept is at least as old

as Ben Franklin. (7) In 1784 he helped a man by giving him some

money. (8) Afterward he wrote the man a letter. (9) He told the man

that he didnt want to be paid back. (10) As a result, he wanted the man

to help someone who needed money in the future.

(11) Everyone can find ways to pay

it forward. (12) Kids might pay for

someones lunch or give up their place in

line. (13) Others could put extra money

in parking meters or simply hold the door

Jaimie Duplass/Fotofolia
open for another person. (14) Many

people enjoy coming up with creative

ways they can pay it forward. (15) They

visit nursing homes, serve on cleaning crews, collect cans for charity, and

start recycling programs.

(16) When going to a drive-through restaurant, some customers

like to tell the cashier that theyll pay for the order of the person in the

car behind them. (17) Usually one or two drivers will do this at a time.

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 (18) Sometimes it might go on for several cars. (19) In 2003, at a

drive-through coffee shop, the customers set a record and in

Connecticut. (20) More than 1,000 drivers in a row paid for the order of

the car behind them!

(21) So if you receive a random act of kindness one day, Im sure

youll know exactly what to do.

Steve Debenport/Getty Images

iStockphoto.com/toddmedia

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 5 Derrick wants to further develop the central idea of this paper by adding a detail
after sentence 3. Which of these sentences could BEST follow and support
sentence 3?

A Pay it forward today if you have an opportunity to do this.

B That means theyre doing something nice by helping another person who may

be in need.

C This is different and not the same as paying someone back.

D I had a friend who helped me when I had to clean out my garage.

6 Derrick has not used the most effective transition at the beginning of
sentence 10. Derrick should change As a result to

F To conclude

G For example

H Instead

J In other words

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 7 What is the most effective revision to make in sentence 19?

A In 2003 the customers set a record in Connecticut, and it was at a

drive-through coffee shop, which was there.

B In 2003 the customers at a drive-through coffee shop in Connecticut set a

record.

C In 2003, at a drive-through coffee shop, the customers set a record it was in

Connecticut.

D In 2003 there were customers at a drive-through coffee shop in Connecticut

that set a record at the shop.

8 Derricks paper ends abruptly. Which sentence can be added to the end of this
paper to close it more effectively?

F Its nice!

G I sure would!

H Say thanks!

J Pay it forward!

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

Last fall Megs teacher asked his students to write about something they
had done over the summer. Meg wrote about a U.S. landmark she had
visited. Read Megs paper and look for any corrections she should make.
Then answer the questions that follow.

MasterLu/Fotolia

The Statue of Liberty:

A Gift from a Friend

(1) Over the summer my family took a vacation to New York city.

(2) I wanted to get my neighbor Callie a present from the Big Apple,

and I found just the right thing! (3) It was a little model of the famous

Statue of Liberty. (4) Callie is my best friend, and the Statue of Liberty is

a symbol of friendship. (5) What could be a more perfect present.

(6) I also gave Callie a little booklet that told about the statue.

(7) It said that the country of France had sent the statue to the

United States in 1886 as a sign of friendship. (8) Lady Liberty was

designed in France she was made out of copper and steel. (9) She

arrived in the United States in 350 different pieces. (10) Then she was

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 put together and placed on a cement pedestal. (11) Today she stands on

that same pedestal on Liberty Island in New York harbor.

(12) Lady Liberty wasnt just a friendship gift. (13) She was also a

birthday present. (14) Meant to celebrate Americas independence from

Great Britain. (15) The French people were very proud of the help they

had given the United States during the revolutionary war.

(16) I bought Callie a model of the statue that is just six inches

tall. (17) The real lady stands more than 151 feet tall from her base to

the tip of her torch. (18) In 1886 she was our countrys most tallest

structure.

(19) The statues many features have special meanings. (20) The

broken chains at her feet are symbols of Americas newly won

independence. (21) Many people beleive that the rays of her crown

represent the seven oceans and seven continents of the world. (22) Her

torch stands for the light of liberty guiding ships into the harbor.

(23) When I gave Callie the mini-statue, I promised that we would

visit the real statue together someday. (24) I plan to keep my promise.

(25) Then Callie will be able to see the awesome lady for herself!

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 9 What change should be made in sentence 1?

A Change took to had took

B Insert a comma after vacation

C Change city to City

D No change should be made.

10 How should sentence 5 be changed?

F Change more perfect to perfecter

G Change the period to a question mark

H Insert quotation marks at the end of the sentence

J Sentence 5 should not be changed.

11 What is the correct way to write sentence 8?

A Lady Liberty was designed in France. Because she was made out of copper and
steel.

B Lady Liberty was designed in France and made out of copper and steel.

C Lady Liberty was designed in France. And made out of copper and steel.

D Sentence 8 is written correctly in the paper.

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 12 What change should be made in sentence 9?

F Change She to They

G Change in 350 to she was in 350

H Change pieces to pieces

J No change should be made in sentence 9.

13 What is the correct way to write sentences 13 and 14?

A She was also a birthday present she was meant to celebrate Americas
independence from Great Britain.

B She was also a birthday present meant to celebrate. Americas independence

from Great Britain.

C She was also a birthday present. Which was meant to celebrate Americas
independence from Great Britain.

D She was also a birthday present meant to celebrate Americas independence

from Great Britain.

14 What change should be made in sentence 15?

F Change French to french

G Change were to was

H Change they to it

J Change revolutionary war to Revolutionary War

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 15 What change needs to be made in sentence 18?

A Change In 1886 to It was in 1886

B Change countrys to countries

C Delete most

D No change needs to be made in this sentence.

16 How does sentence 21 need to be changed?

F Change beleive to believe

G Change rays to rays

H Insert a comma after oceans

J Sentence 21 does not need to be changed.

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

Natalie wrote the following story about a turtle returning home. Read
Natalies story and look for the corrections she should make. Then answer
the questions that follow.

Jeanne Provost/Fotolia
Home
(1) The waves pounded the sandy beach, and the moon shone

down brightly. (2) Zoey the sea turtle lumbered forward, not quiet used

to the heavy weight of her shell out of the water. (3) She knew it was

almost time to lay her eggs, and they needed to be on land so they could

mature and hatch. (4) Something inside Zoey had drawn her to this

beach. (5) Although she didnt yet understand why, she knew this was

where she needed to be.

(6) As Zoey draged herself up the shore and away from the ocean,

she felt the dry and grainy sand on her flippers. (7) The sharp tang of the

sea air and the smell of the grasses on the shore began to bring back

some memories. (8) Suddenly she remembered. (9) Zoey had been to

this very place many years before.

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 (10) Zoey had been much smaller then, only about two inches

long. (11) On a warm night a lot like this one, she had poked her foot out

of an egg and then pushed the rest of her body threw the shell onto the

sand. (12) Looking around, she noticed hundreds of other turtle

hatchlings crowded on the beach. (13) Each had the same goalto get to

the water!

(14) Zoey joined the mass movement toward the waves.

(15) Upon reaching the water, she splashes furiously. (16) The splashing

of all the tiny turtle flippers made the water look like it was bubbling.

(17) It took a very long time, but Zoey, along with many of her fellow

hatchlings, finally made it out to sea.

(18) Zoey spent the next sevaral years far out in the ocean waters.

(19) She grew and grew. (20) Then one day she started swimming in a

new direction, not really knowing why. (21) The journey finally ended on

this fine May evening. (22) And now Zoey understood. (23) She had

been making her way back home.

(24) Zoey found a dry spot on the beach and began her work.

(25) She used her strong flippers to fling sand to the side and make a pit

under her body. (26) Inside the pit she used her back flippers to carve

out a hole. (27) When Zoeys nest was complete, she laid her eggs.

(28) Then she carefully covered the nest with sand and began the slow

crawl back to the sea. (29) Zoey took one last look at the sandy mound,

then the waves carried her away again. (30) It was time for a new

generation to begin.

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 17 What change needs to be made in sentence 2?

A Change lumbered to lumbering

B Change not to she was not

C Change quiet to quite

D No change needs to be made in sentence 2.

18 What change should be made in sentence 6?

F Delete As

G Change draged to dragged

H Change felt to feeled

J Insert a comma after dry

19 How should sentence 11 be changed?

A Change poked to pokked

B Change an egg to a egg

C Change threw to through

D Sentence 11 should not be changed.

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 20 What change needs to be made in sentence 15?

F Change reaching to reeching

G Change splashes to splashed

H Change furiously to furious

J No change needs to be made.

21 What change should be made in sentence 18?

A Change sevaral to several

B Change far to she was far

C Change waters to waters

D Change the period to a comma

22 What change needs to be made in sentence 24?

F Change found to finds

G Change began to begun

H Change her work to their work

J No change needs to be made in this sentence.

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 23 What change needs to be made in sentence 27?

A Delete When

B Change Zoeys to Zoeys

C Change laid to lays

D No change needs to be made in sentence 27.

24 What is the correct way to write sentence 29?

F Zoey taking one last look at the sandy mound. Then the waves carried her
away again.

G Zoey took one last look at the sandy mound. Before the waves carried her
away again.

H Zoey taking one last look at the sandy mound, and then the waves carrying
her away again.

J Zoey took one last look at the sandy mound before the waves carried her
away again.

BE SURE YOU HAVE RECORDED ALL OF YOUR ANSWERS

Writing
ON THE ANSWER DOCUMENT. STOP
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 STAAR
GRADE 4
Writing
March 2017