Assessment Book
Ass ess me nt SE
The Step Up to the TEKS Reading Series assessment
component is called the Assessment Book.
Assessment Books contain
two Blueprint Benchmarks
and four Category Tests.
question. Then fill in
the best answer to each
Read the selection and choose
document.
the answer on your answer
What Is Antarctica?
There are two blueprint benchmarks and four twenty question
curriculum-based assessments that cover each of the
categories tested on the STAAR Test.
largest continent and is
Antarctica is the earth's fifth
in ice. Antarctica covers
covered almost completely
Earth's South Pole.
1
What Is Antarctica Like?
on the earth. The
Antarctica is the coldest place
in the winter is
average temperature in Antarctica
30° Fahrenheit).
minus 34.4° Celcius (minus
2
The teacher edition is designed to extend each assessment
into a teaching tool as well. Each item on the assessments
is broken out into individual item analysis with an extension
question. These item analysis can be copied and distributed
to each student for re-teaching and reinforcement of the
missed concepts.
Continent of Antarctica Image
courtesy of NASA
Ass ess me nt SE
of Antarctica is much
The temperature in the center
re ever recorded in
on the coasts. The lowest temperatu
lower than the temperature
temperature ever recorded
(minus 129°F). The highest
Antarctica was minus 89.4°C
and winter.
has just two seasons: summer
Antarctica
(59°F).
15°C
in Antarctica was
six months of darkness in its
daylight in its summer and
3 most likely to –
Antarctica has six months of
10 The author included paragraph
winter.
3
the tilt of the
the United States
The seasons are caused by
Antarctica is different from
F describe ways in which
sun. The direction
has only two seasons
earth's axis in relation to the
explain the reason Antarctica
as the earth orbits G
of the tilt never changes, but
conditions in Antarctica
H show the extreme weather
exposed
are
conditions
planet
the
of
protective clothing in Arctic
the sun, different parts
e the importance of wearing
Antarctica is J emphasiz
to direct sunlight. During summer,
the sun and is
on the side of Earth tilted toward
winter, Antarctica is
in constant sunlight. In the
away from the sun,
in
on the side of the earth tilted
Icebergs form on ice sheets
engendering means –
of NASA
11 In paragraph 4, the word
be dark.
Antarctica Image courtesy
engendering the continent to
snowfall. The
it receives very little rain or
because
desert
a
d
Antarctica is considere
remaining constant
builds up over hundreds andA
does fall does not melt, but
to happen
small amount of snow that
's terrain is made up B causing
large, thick ice sheets. Antarctica
g
thousands of years to form
trees or bushes. The only C preventin
icebergs. Antarctica has no
of glaciers, ice shelves and
delaying the approach
D
algae.
and
extreme cold are lichens, mosses
plants that can survive the
4
5
Antarctica Like?”
of the section titled “What Is
12 What is the best summary
GO ON
Page 8
© 2015 GF Educators, Inc.
Not For Duplication
Eighth Reading
place on the
as the South Pole, is the coldest
Antarctica, which is also known
and scientists. The
mostly inhabited by tourists
for NASA to
earth. Because of this, it is
made it an excellent platform
conditions of the Antarctic landscape
space.
and
Earth
study both
inhabited by humans
ures, Antarctica can only be
only a rotating
G Due to the bitter cold temperat
no permanent population –
is
There
months.
during the summer
life on Antarctica
who leave during winter. Animal
group of tourists and scientists
and whales.
consists of penguins, seals,
very little rain or snow falls
is considered a desert since
H Surprisingly, Antarctica
of glaciers, ice shelves,
frozen desert is composed
the
sand,
of
Instead
there.
and icebergs.
Antarctica has only two
its extremely cold weather.
J Antarctica is known for
its relationship to
its position on the earth and
n to lichens,
seasons which are caused by
and icy terrain limit the vegetatio
the sun. The weather conditions
moss, and algae.
F
Ass ess me nt TE & SE
GO ON
Page 10
© 2015 GF Educators, Inc.
Reteach the
concepts using
item analysis
from the
Benchmarks
and Category
Tests.
Ass ess me nt TE
What Is Antarctica?
fifth largest continent and is
1 Antarctica is the earth's
covered almost completely
in ice. Antarctica covers
Earth's South Pole.
What Is Antarctica
Like?
Continent of Antarctica
courtesy of NASA
2 Antarctica is the coldest Image
place on the earth. The
a in the
average temperature in Antarctic
(minus 30°
winter is minus 34.4° Celcius
Fahrenheit).
of Antarctica is much
3 The temperature in the center
on the coasts. The
lower than the temperature
in Antarctica
lowest temperature ever recorded
129°F). The highest
was minus 89.4°C (minus
in Antarctica was 15°C
temperature ever recorded
two seasons: summer
(59°F). Antarctica has just
six months of daylight in
and winter. Antarctica has
of darkness in its winter.
its summer and six months
by the tilt of the earth's axis
4 The seasons are caused
in relation to the sun. The
direction of the tilt never
changes, but as the earth
orbits the sun, different
parts of the planet are
exposed to direct sunlight
Icebergs form on ice
sheets in Antarctica Image
courtesy of NASA
constant sunlight. In
Question 13
The author chose the title of
this selection to highlight the
idea that –
B few people are familiar
with Antarctica
Notes:
The title would draw people
who wanted to know more
about Antartica.
Question 14
Which sentence from the
selection is a commonplace
assertion?
G Antarctica is the coldest
place on the earth.
Question 10
The author included
–
paragraph 3 most likely to
H show the extreme
weather conditions in
Antarctica
Question 20
The author included the
photographs in this article to
help the reader –
G visualize the barrenness
of the Antarctic landscape
During summer, Antarctica
is on the side of Earth tilted
toward the sun and is in
the winter, Antarctica is on
7
Not For Duplication
Eighth Reading
Eighth Reading
© 2015 GF Educators, Inc.
Ass ess me nt TE
Antarctica Like?”
of the section titled “What Is
12 What is the best summary
right AnsWer:
known as the
in the
F Antarctica, which is also
The main information given
on the
South Pole, is the coldest place
covered.
is
article
mostly
earth. Because of this, it is
. The
inhabited by tourists and scientists
conditions of the Antarctic landscape
for NASA
made it an excellent platform
to study both Earth and space.
Wrong AnsWer:
ures,
G Due to the bitter cold temperat
NASA is not mentioned at all.
by
Antarctica can only be inhabited
months.
humans during the summer
n–
There is no permanent populatio
and
only a rotating group of tourists
winter.
scientists who leave during
of
Animal life on Antarctica consists
penguins, seals, and whales.
Wrong AnsWer:
is considered
d.
H Surprisingly, Antarctica
The scientists are not mentione
or snow
a desert since very little rain
the frozen
falls there. Instead of sand,
ice
desert is composed of glaciers,
shelves, and icebergs.
Wrong AnsWer:
its extremely
are
J Antarctica is known for
The studies by the scientists
only two
cold weather. Antarctica has
d.
its position not mentione
seasons which are caused by
ip to the
on the earth and its relationsh
s and icy
sun. The weather condition
to lichens,
terrain limit the vegetation
moss, and algae.
For questions assessing
the ability to make
complex inferences
(Figure 19), each answer
choice is analyzed and
eliminated using critical
thinking skills.
www.StepUpTEKS.com
© 2015 GF Educators, Inc.
Eighth Reading
10
Step Up to the TEKS by GF Educators, Inc. • Toll Free: 866-425-4155 •
13