STAAR Question Example:

Read this passage:
"Maria loved to help her grandmother in the garden. Every Saturday morning, she woke up early to water the plants and pull weeds. Her favorite part was watching the small green tomatoes grow bigger each week. Maria’s grandmother always said that caring for the garden was like caring for family—it needed patience, love, and attention."

Question:
What lesson does Maria learn from helping in the garden? Use details from the passage to support your answer.
Maria learns that caring for the garden is like caring for her family. The passage says, “Her grandmother always said that caring for the garden was like caring for family—it needed patience, love, and attention.” This shows that Maria understands the garden needs care, just like her family does. By helping water plants and pull weeds, she learns responsibility and how love and patience make things grow.

​“Her grandmother always said that caring for the garden was like caring for family—it needed patience, love, and attention.” This shows that Maria understands the garden needs care, just like her family does. By helping water plants and pull weeds, she learns responsibility and how love and patience make things grow.

✅ Breakdown of the strategies used:

1. Restate and answer the question:
   “Maria learns that caring for the garden is like caring for her family.”

2. Use quotation marks for text evidence:
   “The passage says, ‘Her grandmother always said that caring for the garden was like caring for family—it needed patience, love, and attention.’”

3. Explain how evidence connects to response:
   “This shows that Maria understands the garden needs care, just like her family does. By helping water plants and pull weeds, she learns responsibility and how love and patience make things grow.”