MSTAR Practice Worksheet

Lesson 5-1: Determine the Area of Parallelograms and Rhombuses

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 parallelogram with base 10 cm and height 7 cm?

A17 sq cm
B34 sq cm
C70 sq cm
D70 cm

Question 2Selected response · 1 point

A parallelogram patio on the firm's blueprint has an area of 54 sq ft and a base of 9 ft. What is the height?

A6 ft
B27 ft
C45 ft
D63 ft

Question 3Selected response · 1 point

What is the area of a parallelogram with base 9 cm and height 5 cm?

A14 sq cm
B22.5 sq cm
C45 sq cm
D90 sq cm

Question 4Selected response · 1 point

Which measurement is the height of a parallelogram?

AThe length of the slanted side
BThe perimeter divided by 4
CThe perpendicular distance between the base and the opposite side
DThe longest side

Question 5Selected response · 1 point

Cut the slanted end off a parallelogram and slide it to the other side. What shape forms, and why does that show A = base × height?

AA bigger parallelogram, so the area gets larger
BA triangle, so the area is cut in half
CA square, so all four sides must be equal
DA rectangle with the same base and height, so its area equals base x height

Question 6Selected response · 1 point

A blueprint parallelogram has a base of 8 ft, a height of 5 ft, and a slanted side of 7 ft. What is its area?

A26 sq ft
B35 sq ft
C40 sq ft
D56 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 parallelogram-shaped patio has a base of 16 feet and a perpendicular height of 9 feet. What is its area?

Fill in the bubble next to the one best answer.

A25 square feet
B50 square feet
C72 square feet
D144 square feet

Part B

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

The slanted side of that patio measures 11 feet. Why is 11 feet NOT used in the area calculation?

ABecause 11 is an odd number.
BBecause the slanted side is always longer than the height.
CBecause only the base matters in a parallelogram.
DBecause the height must be perpendicular to the base, and the slanted side is not.

Question 8Select all that apply

Select ALL statements that are true about finding the area of a parallelogram:

Mark the box next to EVERY answer that is true. More than one is correct.

AAny side can be chosen as the base, as long as the height is perpendicular to that side.
BThe height is the distance straight across between the two parallel bases.
CThe slanted side can be used as the height.
DA rectangle is a parallelogram, so A = b · h works for it too.
EDoubling only the base doubles the area.

Part C — Show Your Thinking

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

Question 9Written response · 2 points

A parallelogram has a base of 12 cm. If you double the height, the area doubles too. Explain why this happens using the formula, and give a specific example with numbers.

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