5th Grade Reading Stems (from 2013, 2014 STAAR)
PLAYS
Which of these helps _______ solve_______ problem?
This play is divided into two scenes because _______.
Which of these is the best summary of Scene ____?
Read this excerpt from Scene ____. What can the reader infer about ______ from this excerpt?
In paragraph ___, the word ______ means ______.
The playwright included ______ in Scene ____ most likely to ______.
How is ______ (different) from ______?
Which of the props used in this play is needed for the resolution of the conflict?
POEMS
Read the lines from the poem. “…………………” The poet uses the figurative expression “………..” to
emphasize that the speaker _______.
The poet uses line _______ to signal that the speaker changes from ______.
In line ____, why does the poet repeat and italicize the words from line ______?
The poem is mostly about a speaker who ______.
The poet uses figurative language in line ____ to highlight the speaker’s _______.
Which of these lines from the poem helps the reader know what the word _____ means in line ____?
Read these lines from the poem. “…………………………” The imagery used in these lines allows the reader to
know that _______.
What does the poet convey through the description of ________ in lines _____ through _____?
Read this line from the stanza. “……….” The repetition in this line emphasizes the idea that _______.
The organization of the poem helps show that ______’s actions ________.
Read these lines from the poem. “………” What is the poet most likely suggesting in these lines?
FICTION
The main purpose of paragraphs ___ and _____ is to ________.
The author wrote this selection most likely to tell the reader that _______.
In what way does ____ stay aware of ____’s (activities) ?
Which sentence expresses the main idea of paragraph _____?
In paragraph ____, the word _______ means someone who is ________.
What does the information presented in this selection suggest about how people view _______?
The reader can infer that ____ is concerned about _____ because she _______.
Which of these best summarize the selection?
The reader can infer that the author’s attitude toward _____ is one of _______.
Based on the photograph, the reader can tell that _______.
The narrator’s actions in paragraphs ____ through ______ of the story show that he ______.
What is the meaning of the word ____ in paragraph ___?
According to the story, the reason the narrator doesn’t initially have enough money to buy the pencils is that __.
Read the following sentence from paragraph ____. “………………” What can the reader conclude about the narrator
from this sentence?
Based on their actions described in the story, the narrator’s parents most likely think it is important to ______.
The narrator’s actions in paragraph ___ imply that he will _______.
Which sentences best help to create suspense in the story?
Read these sentences from paragraph ___. “……….” The author uses the description of the _____ to show _____.
____ contributes to solving the narrator’s problem mostly by ----How is ____ able to solve his problem?
From events in the story, what can the reader conclude about ______?
Why does it make sense that ______ is (disappointed) when she isn’t chosen as ________ ?
Which words from paragraph ____ help the reader know what the word ____ means?
Which sentence from the story best shows that ____ realizes ______?
Before the (team) can succeed on _______, it is necessary for them to ______.
Read this sentence from paragraph _____. “…………..…..” This sentence shows that ____ is _______.
NONFICTION
The author wrote this selection most likely to explain _____.
In paragraph ___, the word ____ means ______.
What can the reader conclude about _____ from learning _______?
Which of these ideas is supported by information in paragraphs ___ and ____?
The diagram of the _______ helps the reader understand ______.
The reader can infer that the _____ is mainly a result of _____.
Which words from paragraph ___ help the reader understand the meaning of ____?
What is the main idea about _____ presented in the selection?
The information in paragraph _____ helps explain why _____.
The bar graph included with the selection helps the reader better understand _____.
Having access to _____ made ___ realize that she ______.
Which words in paragraph ____ help the reader understand what ____ means?
______’s actions in paragraphs ___ and _____ support the message that ______.
Which is the best summary of the section titled “………..…”?
What does the first photograph in this selection show?
Read this sentence from the selection. “………….” The author included this quotation to show the reader
that _____.
The author says that _____ and _____ (fell in love with the open sky, the colorful sunsets, and the starfilled nights) to emphasize ______’s belief that _______.
By the end of the selection, what can the reader conclude about ______?
What is paragraph ____ mainly about ______?
In which section of the selection could the reader find information about adults using _____?
Which of the following words from paragraph ______ help the reader understand the meaning of ____?
Read this sentence from the selection. “………” What can the reader conclude about ____ from this
sentence?
By organizing paragraph ____ sequentially, the author is able to ______.
Which of these is the best summary of the selection?
Which statement best explains the _______?
What information can the reader learn about _______ from the chart below paragraph ____?
Which of these best expresses the main idea of paragraph _____?
The author speaks directly to the reader in paragraphs ____ and ____ in order to _______.
Read this dictionary entry. “ WORD. /werd/ noun 1. Definition 2. Definition. 3. Definition. 4. Definition
Which definition best matches the word _______ as it is used in paragraph ______?
The author’s opinion that ______ is ______ is best supported by ______.
In paragraph ___, what does the word _____ mean?
What do _____ and _____ have in common?
The author wrote this article most likely to _____.
Which part of the article best helps the readers visualize _______?
The article is mainly about ______.
In paragraph ____, the word ______ means to ______.
Which of these is the best summary of the article?
Why is the boxed information at the end of the article included?
PAIRED PASSAGE QUESTIONS
One difference between a _____ and the _______is that ________.
In which magazine would a reader most likely find articles about both _____ and _____?
________ benefit from _____ in the same way that _____ benefit from __________.
Both selections discuss _____ that demonstrate _______.
Both selections suggest that ______.
What is one difference between the selections?
Based on information provided in both selections, the reader can conclude that ______(stage fright) is
the result of ______.
With which statement would the poet and the author most likely agree?