MSTAR Practice Worksheet

Lesson 5-3: Determine the Area of Trapezoids

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 trapezoid with bases 6 cm and 10 cm, and height 4 cm?

A24 sq cm
B32 sq cm
C40 sq cm
D64 sq cm

Question 2Selected response · 1 point

A trapezoid has an area of 45 sq ft, bases of 7 ft and 11 ft. What is the height?

A3 ft
B5 ft
C9 ft
D10 ft

Question 3Selected response · 1 point

What is the first step when finding the area of a trapezoid?

AMultiply the two bases
BSubtract the shorter base from the longer base
CAdd the two bases together
DDivide the height by 2

Question 4Selected response · 1 point

A trapezoid has bases of 5 in and 9 in, and a height of 6 in. What is its area?

A27 sq in
B30 sq in
C42 sq in
D84 sq in

Question 5Selected response · 1 point

Blueprint 1: A trapezoidal lobby window has bases of 6 ft and 10 ft and a height of 4 ft. What is its area for the glass order?

A16 sq ft
B32 sq ft
C40 sq ft
D60 sq ft

Question 6Selected response · 1 point

Blueprint 2: A trapezoidal skylight has bases of 9 ft and 7 ft and a height of 6 ft. What is its area?

A44 sq ft
B48 sq ft
C63 sq ft
D96 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 trapezoidal window has parallel edges of 4 feet and 8 feet and a height of 5 feet. What is its area?

Fill in the bubble next to the one best answer.

A17 square feet
B20 square feet
C30 square feet
D60 square feet

Part B

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

What does the quantity (b₁ + b₂) ÷ 2 represent in the trapezoid area formula?

AThe average length of the two parallel bases.
BThe perimeter of the trapezoid.
CThe length of the slanted side.
DThe height of the trapezoid.

Question 8Select all that apply

Select ALL statements that are true about trapezoids and their area:

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

AA trapezoid has exactly one pair of parallel sides called bases.
BThe height is measured perpendicular to both parallel bases.
CThe two bases must be equal in length.
DA trapezoid can be split into two triangles to find its area.
EArea = ½ × (b₁ + b₂) × h.

Part C — Show Your Thinking

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

Question 9Written response · 2 points

A trapezoid and a parallelogram both have a height of 8 ft. The trapezoid has bases of 5 ft and 11 ft. The parallelogram has a base of 7 ft. Which shape has the greater area? Explain your reasoning using the formulas.

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