2021 STAAR English I Rationales
Item# Rationale
1 Option B is correct Adding a comma after the first sentence and changing “I said” to “saying” is the most effective way to
combine sentences
2 and 3.
Option A is incorrect Combining sentences in this way introduces an error in the sequence of events. Veronica offers to pay
her parents
back before her father tells her no.
Option C is incorrect By combining the sentences in this way, Veronica creates a run-on sentence, which is an error in
which two
or more clauses are joined incorrectly.
Option D is incorrect Making this change makes the sentence unnecessarily wordy and introduces a grammar error.
Texas Education Agency
Student Assessment Division
August 2021
2021 STAAR English I Rationales
Item# Rationale
2 Option F is correct Replacing “use” with “waste” creates a more effective sentence because it emphasizes the importance
of not
spending money impulsively.
Option G is incorrect People do not “designate” the money in their savings accounts on impulsive purchases, so the word
“designate” is
not the most effective word to use in this sentence.
Option H is incorrect The word “need” is not an effective word to use in this sentence. The purpose of a savings account is
for a
person to have money when one needs it, but one would not be less likely to “need” it on an
impulsive purchase.
Option J is incorrect Although the word “employ” can be used to mean to “use,” people do not “employ” money on an
impulsive
purchase.
Texas Education Agency
Student Assessment Division
August 2021
2021 STAAR English I Rationales
Item# Rationale
3 Option D is correct A transition is a word, phrase, or sentence that connects topics or ideas. Adding the word
“Unfortunately”
to the beginning of sentence 12 creates an appropriate transition because it
establishes a contrast.
Option A is incorrect Adding the phrase “In either case” would not provide an appropriate transition because it suggests
that
two situations are being discussed, but only one situation is being discussed.
Option B is incorrect The word “Correspondingly” can be used to mean “in a similar way.” However, Veronica is not
discussing
a similarity between the ideas in the two sentences.
Option C is incorrect Adding the phrase “To put it differently” does not provide a logical transition because Veronica is not
expressing
the same idea in a different way.
Texas Education Agency
Student Assessment Division
August 2021
2021 STAAR English I Rationales
Item# Rationale
4 Option F is correct Sentence 20 is confusing because a gerund phrase, which is a phrase that functions as a noun, is the
subject and
is followed by another gerund phrase. This option corrects the confusion by creating a
predicate for the gerund phrase.
Option G is incorrect This sentence is confusing and awkwardly written. One reason for the confusion is that the pronoun
“it” has
an unclear referent.
Option H is incorrect This revision results in an awkward sentence that does not improve the clarity.
Option J is incorrect The use of the phrase “with it” makes the meaning of the sentence unclear. Revising the sentence in
this
way results in a confusing sentence with an awkward structure.
Texas Education Agency
Student Assessment Division
August 2021
2021 STAAR English I Rationales
Item# Rationale
5 Option C is correct A call to action is a statement that encourages the reader to consider an idea or change a behavior.
Inserting this
sentence after sentence 25 provides an effective call to action because it tells teens
exactly what Veronica recommends.
Option A is incorrect Inserting this sentence does not provide a call to action. Instead it provides Veronica’s opinion about
something parents
should do.
Option B is incorrect This sentence is a general statement about teen behavior, not a call to action for teenagers.
Option D is incorrect This sentence is a statement; it does not encourage the reader to consider an idea or change a
beha
vior.
Texas Education Agency
Student Assessment Division
August 2021
2021 STAAR English I Rationales
Item# Rationale
6 Option F is correct A thesis statement is a statement that summarizes the main point or claim of a piece of writing.
Adding this
sentence after sentence 4 creates an effective thesis statement because the focus of the
essay is how the orchid garden became a popular attraction.
Option G is incorrect This sentence is not an appropriate thesis statement because it is a detail rather than a sentence that
states the
main point of the essay.
Option H is incorrect This sentence is not an appropriate thesis statement because it suggests that the focus of this paper
will be
an expository article about orchids.
Option J is incorrect Although this sentence restates the main point of the first paragraph, it does not fully convey the
ov
erall focus of the essay.
Texas Education Agency
Student Assessment Division
August 2021
2021 STAAR English I Rationales
Item# Rationale
7 Option C is correct A transition is a word, phrase, or sentence that connects topics or ideas. Replacing sentence 7 with
this sentence
strengthens the transition between the second and third paragraph because it more
appropriately signals a negative event involving the garden.
Option A is incorrect Using “Additionally” would suggest that the garden’s destruction supports the ideas in paragraph 2,
instead of
providing a sharp contrast.
Option B is incorrect Although using this question could suggest that some event will happen, it does not convey the idea
that the
event will be unfortunate.
Option D is incorrect This sentence relates only to the positive events described in paragraph 2, and no connection to the
contrasting
information in sentences 7 and 8 is provided.
Texas Education Agency
Student Assessment Division
August 2021
2021 STAAR English I Rationales
Item# Rationale
8 Option G is correct Revising sentence 13 in this way corrects a misplaced modifier, which is a word, phrase, or clause
that is
improperly separated from the word it modifies or describes. The phrase “Confronted with the
loss of his beloved orchids,” modifies the subject, James, so “James” should immediately follow the
phrase.
Option F is incorrect Making this revision does not correct the misplaced modifier in the sentence.
Option H is incorrect This revision results in an awkward sentence that does not improve the clarity.
Option J is incorrect Revising the sentence in this way results in a confusing sentence with an awkward structure.
Texas Education Agency
Student Assessment Division
August 2021
2021 STAAR English I Rationales
Item# Rationale
9 Option A is correct The most effective place to insert this sentence is after sentence 21 because it explains the
challenges the
children faced in maintaining the sculpture garden, which is an idea introduced in
sentence 21.
Option B is incorrect Inserting this sentence after sentence 22 puts the ideas out of logical order by presenting the effect
(the garden
falling into disrepair) before the cause (not enough money to maintain it).
Option C is incorrect Adding this sentence after sentence 23 is not the most effective place for the sentence because the
ideas in
the two sentences are not closely connected.
Option D is incorrect Placing this sentence after sentence 24 is not effective because the information does not logically flow
from one
sentence to the other.
Texas Education Agency
Student Assessment Division
August 2021
2021 STAAR English I Rationales
Item# Rationale
10 Option G is correct Changing “florished” to “flourished” corrects the spelling error in this sentence.
Option F is incorrect Changing “have” to “has” is incorrect because the subject of this phrase, “people,” is plural, not
singular. The subject and verb must agree in number.
Option H is incorrect Inserting a comma after “islands” would create an error by adding unnecessary punctuation between
two words.
Option J is incorrect Adding an apostrophe would create an error because “thousands” is plural, not possessive.
Texas Education Agency
Student Assessment Division
August 2021
2021 STAAR English I Rationales
Item# Rationale
11 Option A is correct Capitalizing “University” corrects the error in sentence 14 since the University of Iowa is a proper
noun, which
is a noun that refers to a specific person, place, idea, or event.
Option B is incorrect Changing “maintaining” to “having maintained” would introduce an error in verb tense.
Option C is incorrect Changing “has” to “have” introduces a problem with the subject-verb agreement because the subject
of this phrase is singular, not plural.
Option D is incorrect The word “historically” is used to describe the verb “played,” so it should remain an adverb. The word
“historical” is
an adjective, which would modify a noun.
Texas Education Agency
Student Assessment Division
August 2021
2021 STAAR English I Rationales
Item# Rationale
12 Option H is correct Changing “were” to “are” corrects the error in verb tense by changing sentence 16 to the present
tense.
Option F is incorrect Changing “isolated” to “isollated” introduces a spelling error in the sentence.
Option G is incorrect Deleting the comma after “people” creates a punctuation error because the comma is needed.
Option J is incorrect The word “their” is a plural possessive pronoun used to indicate possession, so it is the correct form
to use in this sentence.
Texas Education Agency
Student Assessment Division
August 2021
2021 STAAR English I Rationales
Item# Rationale
13 Option C is correct Making this revision improves clarity because it accurately states the cause-and-effect relationship.
Option A is incorrect This revision creates a sentence fragment, which is a group of words that do not form a complete
sentence.
Option B is incorrect Revising the sentence in this way results in a comma-splice error, which occurs when two main
clauses are
connected with only a comma.
Option D is incorrect Changing the sentence in this way suggests an incorrect cause-and-effect relationship.
Texas Education Agency
Student Assessment Division
August 2021
2021 STAAR English I Rationales
Item# Rationale
14 Option G is correct Subject-verb agreement is when the subject and the verb of a sentence agree in number. Changing
“is using”
to “are using” corrects the error in subject-verb agreement because the subject, “kids," is
plural.
Option F is incorrect This comma is needed to separate the parenthetical element (“including me”) from the rest of the
sentence.
Option H is incorrect Making this change creates an error in homophones, which are words that have the same
pronunciation but different meanings and/or spelling.
Option J is incorrect Leaving the sentence as it is does not correct the error in subject-verb agreement.
Texas Education Agency
Student Assessment Division
August 2021
2021 STAAR English I Rationales
Item# Rationale
15 Option A is correct Adding the conjunction “but” corrects the comma-splice error, which occurs when two main clauses
are connected
with only a comma.
Option B is incorrect This change would result in the improper use of a colon since a colon is used to introduce a list or to
further explain
or illustrate an idea.
Option C is incorrect Changing the comma to a period results in a sentence fragment, which is a group of words that do
not form
a complete sentence.
Option D is incorrect Inserting a period results in a sentence fragment.
Texas Education Agency
Student Assessment Division
August 2021
2021 STAAR English I Rationales
Item# Rationale
16 Option J is correct Changing “they” to “it” corrects the pronoun error in sentence 14. The singular pronoun “it” should be
used to
refer to the singular noun in this sentence.
Option F is incorrect Changing the pronoun “My” to “Our” introduces a grammar error.
Option G is incorrect Making this change creates an error in verb tense.
Option H is incorrect Deleting the comma results in a run-on sentence, an error in which two or more clauses are joined
incorrectly.
Texas Education Agency
Student Assessment Division
August 2021
2021 STAAR English I Rationales
Item# Rationale
17 Option D is correct Changing “correspondense” to “correspondence” corrects the spelling error in sentence 24.
Option A is incorrect Making this change would result in a punctuation error.
Option B is incorrect Changing the word “different” to “diffrent” would introduce a spelling error.
Option C is incorrect Inserting a comma after “conversation” would introduce a punctuation error.
Texas Education Agency
Student Assessment Division
August 2021
2021 STAAR English I Rationales
Item# Rationale
18 Option F is correct Inserting a comma after “important” corrects the run-on sentence, an error in which two or more
clauses are
joined incorrectly.
Option G is incorrect Changing “is hurting” to “are hurting” would create a subject-verb agreement error because the
subject, “
the use,” is singular, not plural.
Option H is incorrect Changing “our” to “their” would incorrectly refer to the wrong subject.
Option J is incorrect Leaving the sentence intact fails to eliminate the run-on sentence.
19 Option B is correct The author reveals that Addie admires Miss Chevalier. She describes Miss Chevalier’s genuine interest
in what
the girls are reading and her encouragement of Addie, along with her sensitive perception of
Addie’s embarrassment.
Option A is incorrect There is no evidence that Miss Chevalier’s behavior surprises Addie.
Option C is incorrect Although Miss Chevalier encourages Addie to think, there is no instance when she criticizes Addie.
Option D is incorrect Addie does not recognize any flaws in Miss Chevalier. In fact, she is determined to defend Miss
Chevalier
from others.
20 Option J is correct In paragraph 7, Addie’s wish to “sink through the floor” is used to tell the reader that Addie is
embarrassed
by her lack of knowledge. She mispronounced the word impetuous and did not know its
meaning.
Option F is incorrect Addie reacts this way because she does not know what a word in the poem means, but she still
wishes to
recite the poem.
Option G is incorrect This is the only paragraph in which the author mentions Addie mispronouncing a word, so it is not
likely
something she always worries about.
Option H is incorrect Addie admits that Miss Chevalier was nice about it, so Addie does not have a reason to be upset, only
embarrassed.
Texas Education Agency
Student Assessment Division
August 2021
2021 STAAR English I Rationales
Item# Rationale
21 Option D is correct In paragraph 6, the description of Miss Chevalier is used to emphasize the contrast between her
unusual appear
ance and her congenial personality. Miss Chevalier is small and short, with a “moon
face and chubby fingers and coppery hair” like a poodle, but she is very nice.
Option A is incorrect There is no mention of Miss Chevalier’s demands in this paragraph.
Option B is incorrect Addie explains that Miss Chevalier is a few inches shorter than Addie, but the contrast between them
is not emphasized in the paragraph.
Option C is incorrect Addie explains that Miss Chevalier’s smile “makes you feel like you just did something right,” but this
is not
just toward Addie.
22 Option J is correct Addie compares the settlement home to a lantern in paragraph 1 to symbolize the house as a
comforting place
in a poverty-stricken neighborhood. The house is a bright, warm haven for the
residents of the neighborhood.
Option F is incorrect The building lights up the dark street, which suggests the warm and welcoming aspect of a lantern,
not judgment.
Option G is incorrect There is nothing about the house’s comparison to a bright, welcoming lantern that suggests that its
services are taken for granted.
Option H is incorrect There is nothing about the house’s comparison to a bright, welcoming lantern that suggests that its
architecture is
particularly beautiful.
23 Option C is correct A theme, or central message, of the selection is the importance of the power of encouragement.
Throughout the
selection Addie describes how Miss Chevalier’s encouragement influences her.
Option A is incorrect Addie does not have to defend her rights in this selection.
Option B is incorrect Other people’s struggle for survival is mentioned in paragraph 2, but Addie’s experience in this
selection is not a matter of survival.
Option D is incorrect Addie works hard to learn the poem, but there is no indication that she is trying to get ahead by
doing so
.
Texas Education Agency
Student Assessment Division
August 2021
2021 STAAR English I Rationales
Item# Rationale
24 Option H is correct This quotation is used to emphasize Miss Chevalier’s compassionate nature. In paragraph 7, Addie
gets embarr
assed, and in paragraph 8, her face turns bright red. Miss Chevalier doesn’t want to make
Addie feel bad about being embarrassed, so she pretends not to notice.
Option F is incorrect Asking Addie to recite a poem does not show that Miss Chevalier is compassionate, only that she
thinks Addie
is a good reader.
Option G is incorrect Asking Addie to define a word does not show Miss Chevalier’s compassion, only her interest in Addie’s
education.
Option J is incorrect This quotation is used to emphasize a detail about Addie’s life (she has never been asked for her
opinion),
not Miss Chevalier’s compassion.
25 Option D is correct Imagery is the use of vivid language to represent objects, actions, or ideas. The imagery in lines 1
through 4
appeals to the reader’s sense of hearing through the poet’s use of “sound,” “clatter,”
“knock,” “stuck,” and “pounding.”
Option A is incorrect In lines 1 through 4, there is no mention of how any of the described objects felt.
Option B is incorrect Although the reader can picture these events, sounds, rather than sights, are depicted by the diction
and imagery.
Option C is incorrect No tastes or flavors are described in these lines.
Texas Education Agency
Student Assessment Division
August 2021
2021 STAAR English I Rationales
Item# Rationale
26 Option F is correct In lines 57 through 62, the poet implies that future generations will remember Sybil’s deed by stating
that the
ride is “a glorious legend of history,” “each trail she rode” would be marked, and that songs
and stories would be told about her.
Option G is incorrect In lines 57 through 62, there is no text evidence to support the idea that Sybil expects to be
rewarded.
Sybil does not foresee the legend her ride will become, as the poet states in lines 57 and
58 (“With never a dream. . .”).
Option H is incorrect Although Sybil “rode through the inky dark” (line 60), there is nothing in these lines that implies that
she is
scared while riding at night.
Option J is incorrect The poet is clear in these lines that Sybil acts in support of her father and her country, and that such
action will
bring her glory, not suspicion. In lines 57 through 62, there is no suggestion that historians
question Sybil’s motives.
27 Option C is correct In line 15, the word
spent
is closest in meaning to “exhausted.” The horseman who delivered the
message is exhausted from his journey and the Colonel tells him he “cannot ride.”
Option A is incorrect A
rider is “needed,” but the Colonel does not expect this rider to continue as he tells him that “you
cannot ride.”
Option B is incorrect The word
spent
is used to describe the horseman’s strength. There is no reference to payment for the
act of riding in line 15.
Option D is incorrect There
is no text evidence to support the idea that the rider is choosing to give up or abandoning the
task.
Texas Education Agency
Student Assessment Division
August 2021
2021 STAAR English I Rationales
Item# Rationale
28 Option F is correct The phrases “Clatter of hoofs,” “fist struck wood,” and “mighty pounding” all contribute to the idea
that
something momentous is happening. The poet emphasizes the urgency with which the message
was delivered with his description of Danbury burning and the rider falling “exhausted in slumber.”
Option G is incorrect The punctuation is straightforward and does not enhance the setting in any way.
Option H is incorrect The main characters are not introduced in these lines.
Option J is incorrect There is no metaphor used in these lines.
29 Option C is correct A theme, or central message, of the poem is that confronting danger requires courage and fortitude.
In lines 22 through 30, Sybil confidently offers to spread the message. She rides “swiftly without a
stop” (line 39), and even when she is tired and sore (lines 47 and 48), she rides on until the task is
done.
Option A is incorrect Sybil spreads the message because her father needs someone to do it, which suggests that family is
important
to her. There is no indication in the poem that “personal sacrifice is more important than
family.”
Option B is incorrect There is no indication that the Colonel’s trust in Sybil leads to new realizations. He knows Sybil is
capable.
Option D is incorrect Sybil is not accepting fate. She eagerly volunteered to make the ride.
Texas Education Agency
Student Assessment Division
August 2021
2021 STAAR English I Rationales
Item# Rationale
30 Option G is correct Lines 15 through 20 are used to establish the reasons Sybil must ride. In these lines, the Colonel
explains
that the current messenger is too tired to ride and does not know the area well enough. The
Colonel can’t go himself because he must be there when his troops arrive, so Sybil is the only other
option.
Option F is incorrect Tone is the way the author expresses his or her attitude through writing. The reader cannot
determine
from lines 15 through 20 that the author feels that this particular instance is sinister in any
way.
Option H is incorrect The Colonel is explaining the predicament that Sybil offers to solve, not expressing anger at the
messenger
, who is too exhausted to ride.
Option J is incorrect The Colonel is not describing danger in these lines. He is explaining the situation that Sybil then
v
olunteers to help resolve.
31 Option C is correct In lines 23 and 24, the Colonel is skeptical, saying “‘You! My daughter, you’re just a child,’” but in
lines
25 through 30, Sybil explains why she is the right person for the job, and in lines 31 through 34,
the Colonel’s perspective has changed. He thinks Sybil is right.
Option A is incorrect The idea that there are any dangers involved in making the ride is not supported by the information
in
lines 25 through 34.
Option B is incorrect Sybil is being confident and courageous, not arrogant, in lines 25 through 34.
Option D is incorrect Sybil is not rebelling against her father. She is offering to help him.
Texas Education Agency
Student Assessment Division
August 2021
2021 STAAR English I Rationales
Item# Rationale
32 Option J is correct Sybil’s main motivation in lines 47 through 52 is to prove to her father that she is dependable. She is
tired
and sore but continues on her journey until every soldier has received the message. She wants
to show her father “That he could depend on a Ludington” (line 52).
Option F is incorrect Sybil is tired in line 47, but she rides on, expressing no desire to return home and rest.
Option G is incorrect Sybil claims she can ride as well as a man (lines 28 and 29) only so that her father will trust her to
ride; she is not concerned with proving anything about females in general.
Option H is incorrect In lines 47 through 52, the poet describes Sybil’s determination but does not mention her “feelings
about
the war effort.”
33 Option C is correct The conflict of the poem is best identified in this quote. To make the ride a success, Sybil had to be
impetuous
in both senses of the word. She had to rush with force and determination to push through
her exhaustion, and she also had to act suddenly because her message was urgent.
Option A is incorrect Although Sybil’s feet do not touch the ground when she’s riding home, a happy feeling rather than a
conflict
is identified in this quote.
Option B is incorrect In lines 25 through 30, Sybil convinces her father she can do the job, and he agrees immediately.
There
is no conflict.
Option D is incorrect Although there is evidence in the poem that the Colonel is concerned about the welfare of Sybil, his
concern
does not create a conflict between the two of them.
Texas Education Agency
Student Assessment Division
August 2021
2021 STAAR English I Rationales
Item# Rationale
34 Option F is correct Addie differs from Sybil in that Addie has doubts about her abilities (she feels nervous about
pr
acticing the poem and she becomes embarrassed when she doesn’t know the meaning of
impetuous) while Sybil is certain about her abilities (she convinces her father that she is the right
person to deliver the message).
Option G is incorrect Addie does get embarrassed in paragraph 8 of The Boston Girl, but she is proud of being chosen to
recite.
Sybil shows confidence, not pride.
Option H is incorrect Addie is encouraged by Miss Chevalier, but Sybil also has encouragement from her father.
Option J is incorrect There is no indication in the selection that Addie asks for help, and there is no indication in the poem
that Sybil refuses help from anyone.
35 Option B is correct Both Addie and Sybil respond to another character’s belief and trust. Miss Chevalier believes in
Addie’s
abilities, encouraging her to take on the challenge of reciting a poem, and Sybil’s father
believes in Sybil’s abilities to deliver an important message.
Option A is incorrect Addie is going to recite her poem in the presence of a famous professor (paragraph 4 of The Boston
Girl
) but does not expect fame and glory. Sybil is unaware that her deed will bring her fame.
Option C is incorrect Although Sybil strives to meet her father’s expectations, there is no indication that Addie’s mother
expects
her to recite the poem.
Option D is incorrect There is no indication that either Addie or Sybil desire to influence others as they both just want to do
the
best that they can.
Texas Education Agency
Student Assessment Division
August 2021
2021 STAAR English I Rationales
Item# Rationale
36 Option H is correct In both the selection and the poem, the potential of young women should be recognized. In the
selection the
indication of recognition is shown in Miss Chevalier’s exchange with Addie about
gumption, and in the poem the indication of recognition is shown in the last lines comparing Sybil to
Paul Revere.
Option F is incorrect Sybil shows courage in a dangerous situation, but Addie is not in any danger.
Option G is incorrect There is no indication in either the selection or the poem that either Addie or Sybil wish to improve
their communities.
Option J is incorrect Although both Addie in the selection and Sybil in the poem show signs of enthusiasm, there is no
indication that
anyone is overwhelmed by either girl’s enthusiasm.
37 Option D is correct In “Sybil Ludington’s Ride,” the poet focuses on a young woman whose confidence inspires others.
Sybil’s
father is in distress when there is no one to make the ride, but Sybil’s confidence changes his
distress to enthusiasm. The poet also says that Sybil’s ride would “figure in song and story” as an
inspirational deed.
Option A is incorrect There is no indication in the poem that Sybil serves as a mentor to anyone.
Option B is incorrect There is no text evidence that supports the idea that Sybil seeks a mentor but is unable to find one.
Option C is incorrect Sybil’s confidence is not in others, but in herself, allowing her to make a successful ride. She is never
betra
yed.
38 Option G is correct In paragraph 4, the author contrasts a “compelling” or “memorable” speech with a “mediocre” one.
Based
on this contrast, the word “mediocre” means average or uninspired.
Option F is incorrect In paragraph 3, the word “jumbled” describes a speech that is disorganized and confusing.
Option H is incorrect “Bleary-eyed” describes a confused audience reaction that does not directly relate to the concept of
hearing
an
average or uninspired presentation.
Option J is incorrect “Pervasive” means “widespread.”
Average or uninspired would not make sense in place of “pervasive”
in paragraph 9.
Texas Education Agency
Student Assessment Division
August 2021
2021 STAAR English I Rationales
Item# Rationale
39 Option A is correct The author’s advice is to focus on one big idea, which is a practical way to approach writing and
speaking.
Option B is incorrect Although the author mentions writing in high school in the first paragraph, she does not relate
personal stories about her high-school experiences.
Option C is incorrect The author mentions two people who have written speeches, but she uses them as examples to
support
the article’s main purpose.
Option D is incorrect Focusing on one big idea is the only approach the author suggests, so there is no comparison of
approaches.
40 Option H is correct In paragraphs 9 through 11, the author discusses the process of focusing on one big idea and
provides an example of how Arianna Huffington presents her big idea in one compelling sentence.
Option F is incorrect There is no support for the idea that experienced businesspeople write better speeches.
Option G is incorrect Although the author tries to illustrate her point with two hypothetical topics, the author does not
propose any ideas for speeches in paragraphs 9 through 11.
Option J is incorrect Convincing others to get more sleep is the topic of Huffington’s speech. It is not the author’s purpose
in
these paragraphs.
41 Option D is correct The author first explains the necessity of focusing on one topic, then explains how to decide on a
specific
idea about that topic, and then describes the benefits of distilling the idea into a sentence.
Option A is incorrect Chronological order is not used by the author. The author provides advice and examples to support
her
advice that are not sequenced by time.
Option B is incorrect The author focuses on only one strategy, not on comparing different strategies.
Option C is incorrect There is no discussion of the disadvantages of different speech writing approaches.
Texas Education Agency
Student Assessment Division
August 2021
2021 STAAR English I Rationales
Item# Rationale
42 Option F is correct In paragraph 8, the author advises readers to focus on “expertise” or “passion” and then “what
inspires
you” or “drives you insane” about this topic.
Option G is incorrect This option is incorrect. The author believes that an idea must be worth sharing, as supported by the
quotation
in paragraph 5: “The only thing that truly matters in public speaking is . . . having
something worth saying.”
Option H is incorrect There is no support for this idea in the selection. The author does not mention the frequency of topics
chosen
but instead advises the reader to focus on an area of expertise or passion.
Option J is incorrect The author emphasizes that the topic should be something the reader cares about but does not state
that
others must share that concern.
43 Option C is correct The author’s message is repeated by Humes, who asserts that having a “key message” is important
in
several professional situations.
Option A is incorrect In paragraph 14, there is a mention of past historical speakers in Hume’s book title. There is no
support
for the idea that “great speakers in the past” have used the author’s advice.
Option B is incorrect Although a “sales talk” is mentioned, the point is that the strategy would help the salesperson, not
that
being a salesperson would be necessary.
Option D is incorrect In paragraph 14, the author focuses on a speechwriter’s opinion, but there is no support for the idea
that
most world leaders rely on professional writers.
44 Option G is correct The idea that “anyone” can give a “powerful talk” is encouraging to readers who want to be effective
speak
ers.
Option F is incorrect The author cites Chris Anderson to illustrate her views, not justify them.
Option H is incorrect The opinion expressed by Anderson is not in conflict with the author’s opinion.
Option J is incorrect In the quotation, Chris Anderson explicitly states that the key to effective communication is not talent
but
having an idea worth sharing.
Texas Education Agency
Student Assessment Division
August 2021
2021 STAAR English I Rationales
Item# Rationale
45 Option C is correct The author indicates that the initial hard work of organizing and distilling your thoughts into one big
idea will
make the rest of the task easier.
Option A is incorrect Although the author indicates that advance preparation may lead to compelling drafts, she does not
suggest that
speeches must have profound effects.
Option B is incorrect There is no assertion that extensive research is required before speech writing can begin.
Option D is incorrect The exercise is mental, not physical, as indicated by the intentional use of the word “mental.”
46 Option F is correct In paragraph 6, the author describes challenges that Jackson faced. Based on context,
thwarted
most
nearly means “defeated,” as Jackson was successful on his trek by avoiding the Nevada sands.
Option G is incorrect Since Jackson was the first person to successfully cross the continent, “allowed” cannot be the
meaning
of thwarted.
Option H is incorrect “Consumed” can mean “used up,” or “ate,” but these meanings are not accurate or logical
descriptions of the sands in the context of the selection.
Option J is incorrect The Winton’s driver took a detour specifically to avoid the sands, so “released,” which means “let go,”
does not
make sense in this context.
Texas Education Agency
Student Assessment Division
August 2021
2021 STAAR English I Rationales
Item# Rationale
47 Option D is correct The notion that the automobile could travel at such speeds indicates that many people were
unfamiliar
with automobiles of that time. In paragraph 8, one newspaper mistakenly reported that
the vehicle might fly by “at 90 miles per hour” even though the reality was closer to 20 miles per
hour.
Option A is incorrect This quotation supports the idea that automobiles were not easily purchased but does not necessarily
show
how familiar people were with automobiles.
Option B is incorrect The purchase of a used automobile for a high price indicates only that automobiles were highly valued
because
they were difficult to obtain. Whether many people were familiar with them is not addressed
in this quotation.
Option C is incorrect The necessity for goggles only supports the conditions of the roads on dry days. There is no evidence
relating
to the public’s familiarity with automobiles.
48 Option F is correct The author’s main purpose for writing this article is to inform the reader about a unique journey at
the
beginning of the automobile era. The author provides a chronological account of Jackson’s trip,
highlighting the challenges and successes of the trip.
Option G is incorrect Although the author mentions Jackson’s expenses for the trip and that he made a bet, the author
does
not criticize Jackson.
Option H is incorrect Although the author writes that Jackson avoids Nevada and the Rocky Mountains, the author does not
state
that Jackson’s route was the best.
Option J is incorrect In paragraph 9, the author states that Packard completed the trip faster than Jackson did.
Texas Education Agency
Student Assessment Division
August 2021
2021 STAAR English I Rationales
Item# Rationale
49 Option C is correct The best summary of the article is presented in this sentence. Dr. Horatio Nelson Jackson’s goal, the
obstacles
he faced, and the success he had in overcoming those obstacles and accomplishing his goal
are presented.
Option A is incorrect In this sentence, some inaccurate information is provided as Winton did not sponsor Jackson’s trip,
and
the other companies did not sponsor their drivers specifically to promote sales.
Option B is incorrect The author never mentions how Jackson felt about the expenses of his trip. Jackson does not dwell on
the
cost of the trip. He does it to prove it can be done, despite what it might cost him.
Option D is incorrect Jackson did attract media attention, but this is a detail, not a summary of the main events of the
article.
50 Option F is correct The author mainly organizes this article by recounting the various problems Jackson and Crocker
encountered. There were problems from start to finish, including acquiring a car (paragraph 3),
finding roadside gas stations (paragraph 4), facing bad weather (paragraph 5), and having no
produced directions (paragraph 6 and 7).
Option G is incorrect There are no opinions from the public included in the article.
Option H is incorrect The reasons Jackson accepted the wager are only given in paragraph 1, but the author does not focus
the rest of the article on this detail.
Option J is incorrect Although the author describes some features of the Winton, Jackson rather than the Winton is the
focus
of the article.
Texas Education Agency
Student Assessment Division
August 2021
2021 STAAR English I Rationales
Item# Rationale
51 Option B is correct Based on the article, the reader can conclude that Jackson welcomed the challenge of making a
never
-before-completed trip. Jackson wanted to disprove a belief about automobiles and was
“enthusiastic about new vehicles” (paragraph 1).
Option A is incorrect Jackson tried hard to complete the trip within the agreed-upon time, but there is nothing to suggest it
was
a source of worry for him.
Option C is incorrect Jackson’s effort was hindered by wrong directions, but there is nothing to suggest he was annoyed by
them.
Option D is incorrect Jackson made an effort to make the vehicle safe (paragraphs 4 and 5), but there is no evidence to
suggest that he was concerned about the spectators’ safety.
52 Option F is correct In paragraph 5, in order to complete their journey, Jackson and Crocker “used wheels wrapped with
rope.” This
shows Jackson and Crocker’s inventiveness as they do not let punctured tires keep them
from continuing their journey.
Option G is incorrect Buying a used Winton as opposed to a new one is practical, but it is not inventive.
Option H is incorrect Moving boulders out of the way in the Sierra Nevadas allows Jackson and Crocker to continue their
trip, but there is no mention of how they moved the boulders.
Option J is incorrect Bud’s eyes needed to be protected from the road dust, but placing goggles on the dog shows that
Jackson and
Crocker were prepared not that they were inventive.
Texas Education Agency
Student Assessment Division
August 2021
