MSTAR Practice Worksheet

Lesson 5-2: Determine the Area of Triangles

Grade 6 Mathematics · Standard 6.GR.1

Name: Date:

These are MSTAR-style questions written for this curriculum to rehearse the format. They are not official Maryland assessment items. MSTAR — Maryland's new state test, first given in spring 2027 — uses the same kinds of questions you see here: selected response, select-all, two-part evidence questions, and written responses.

Part A — Skills Check

Warm up with the lesson's core skills — one best answer each.

Question 1Selected response · 1 point

What is the area of a triangle with base 10 cm and height 6 cm?

A16 sq cm
B30 sq cm
C30 cm
D60 sq cm

Question 2Selected response · 1 point

A triangular garden bed in the firm's park design has an area of 24 sq ft and a base of 8 ft. What is the height?

A3 ft
B6 ft
C12 ft
D16 ft

Question 3Selected response · 1 point

Why do we divide by 2 when finding the area of a triangle?

AA triangle is exactly half of a rectangle with the same base and height
BTriangles have 2 equal sides
CThe base is always twice the height
DWe always divide area formulas by 2

Question 4Selected response · 1 point

What is the area of a triangle with base 14 ft and height 6 ft?

A20 sq ft
B42 sq ft
C42 ft
D84 sq ft

Question 5Selected response · 1 point

A triangular window in the firm's lobby has a base of 10 ft and a height of 6 ft. What is its area?

A16 sq ft
B30 sq ft
C32 sq ft
D60 sq ft

Question 6Selected response · 1 point

A triangular roof panel on the blueprint has a base of 7 ft and a height of 4 ft. What is its area?

A11 sq ft
B14 sq ft
C22 sq ft
D28 sq ft

Part B — Test-Format Questions

These match the state test's formats: two-part questions, select-all, and written responses.

Question 7Two-part question

Part A

A triangular garden bed has a base of 14 meters and a perpendicular height of 6 meters. What is its area?

Fill in the bubble next to the one best answer.

A10 square meters
B20 square meters
C42 square meters
D84 square meters

Part B

Answer Part A before Part B — Part B asks about your reasoning.

Which statement explains why the area formula for a triangle includes the factor ½?

AA triangle is exactly half of a parallelogram with the same base and height.
BTriangles always have three sides, so you divide by three and round.
CThe height of a triangle is always half of its base.
DHalf of any shape's area is its perimeter.

Question 8Written response · 2 points

Type II Reasoning: The Missing One-Half

Dev found the area of a triangle with a base of 10 cm and a height of 7 cm. He wrote: 'Area = 10 × 7 = 70 square centimeters.'

Explain Dev's misconception and give the correct area.

Write your answer in complete sentences. Show or explain your mathematical thinking.

Part C — Show Your Thinking

Answer in writing, the way the state test's constructed responses work.

Question 9Written response · 2 points

A rectangle is 12 ft by 8 ft. A diagonal line cuts it into two triangles. What is the area of each triangle? Explain how the triangle area formula relates to the rectangle area formula.

Write your answer in complete sentences. Show or explain your mathematical thinking.