8th Grade my Perspectives ELA End-of-Year Test (Online)

Read the following line from the poem. Laying her spotted, face to die. The type of figurative language h this line best illustrates is Choose... - personification. - simile. - metaphor. - comparison.

- personification.

Identify the choice that best answers the question. Select the pronoun that correctly completes this sentence. Each of Mrs. Ainsworth's basset hounds ate ..... meals at the table Choose... -its -his and her - them - their

- its

Click the sentence in "Let's Ban Private Cars Downtown" that uses a verb in the passive voice. (1) Privately owned cars should be banned from the downtown sections of major cities. (2) Cars create air pollution that especially harms young children and seniors. (3) Banning cars would force people to use buses and trains that create less pollution. (4) Cities would be less congested and safer. (5) Such a ban would cause inconvenience for some people, but this is a small price to pay for the many public benefits.

(1) Privately owned cars should be banned from the downtown sections of major cities.

Identify the choice that best answers the question. Read the sentence, and then answer the question. Caroline—she had been awake half the night worrying about the test—came to the table but had no appetite. What do the dashes indicate? A. a sudden break in thought B. that these are someone's exact words C. that more information can be found in a footnote D. that some text has been omitted

A. a sudden break in thought

In the third paragraph, which phrase provides the strongest context clue to the meaning of the word winced? A. like a man stung B. hoarse breathing C. sadly, mystically D. astonished and awed

A. like a man stung

Identify the choice that best answers the question. Which sentence is punctuated correctly? A. Although I respect John Henry, I think he set an impossible task for himself. B. John Henry, who predicted his own death seemed comfortable with his fate. C. John Henry was quite strong, the machine was even stronger. D. The story of John Henry has been told in prose poetry, and song.

A. Although I respect John Henry, I think he set an impossible task for himself.

Identify the choice that best answers the question. In which answer choice is a subordinating conjunction used to combine these two short sentences? Luke knows the subject well. Tests make him nervous. A. Although Luke knows the subject well, tests make him nervous. B. Luke knows the subject well, but tests make him nervous. C. Luke either knows the subject well or needs to study more. D. Luke knows the subject well; however, tests make him nervous.

A. Although Luke knows the subject well, tests make him nervous.

Think about the advice the priest gives to Nora. Which statement best explains his motive for doing so? A. He wants to spare a grieving woman from further suffering if it proves unnecessary. B. He does not believe that Nora is old enough to handle the truth. C. He feels that Nora is not old enough to convey a message accurately. D. He wants Nora to think that the clothing found in Donegal is not Michael's.

A. He wants to spare a grieving woman from further suffering if it proves unnecessary.

Identify the choice that best answers the question. Which sentence contains a metaphor? A. Helen has a heart of gold. B. Jasmine's hair is like silk. C. The cool waters beckoned the children to jump in and cool off. D. We told the bell-ringer, and the bell-ringer tolled the bell.

A. Helen has a heart of gold.

Identify the choice that best answers the question. Which sentence uses correct capitalization? A. Paul and Portia have visited several magnificent places in the American Southwest. B. Grand Canyon National park is located in the State of Arizona. C. The Canyon, more than 200 miles long, is actually a deep gorge of the Colorado river. D. My neighbor, mrs. Montale, once rode down to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and camped there overnight.

A. Paul and Portia have visited several magnificent places in the American Southwest.

Which sentence from "Let's Ban Private Cars Downtown" states the author's perspective on the topic? A. sentence 1 B. sentence 2 C. sentence 3 D. sentence 4

A. sentence 1

Identify the choice that best answers the question. In a work of fiction, what does a first-person narrator generally do? A. tells a story and participates in its action B. tells what one character who is not the narrator knows, thinks, and feels C. tells what several characters know, think, and feel D. tells information that none of the characters know

A. tells a story and participates in its action

What part of the plot does this passage illustrate? A. the exposition, which often describes the setting B. the climax, the turning point of the story C. the falling action, in which the story winds down D. the resolution, the conclusion of the story

A. the exposition, which often describes the setting

What does the dialogue reveal about the situation the characters are facing? A. A younger and older sister are quarreling. B. A close relative named Michael may have drowned. C. An elderly guest at the inn has taken ill. D. Someone is dying, and a priest has come to perform the last rites.

B. A close relative named Michael may have drowned.

Identify the choice that best answers the question. Which sentence contains a participle or a participial phrase? A. Mom and Dad are taking a class in ballroom dancing. B. Carmen imagines herself as an explorer hunting for buried treasure. C. My cousins enjoyed an afternoon of rowing on the Schuylkill River. D. Developing skill in gymnastics requires years of practice.

B. Carmen imagines herself as an explorer hunting for buried treasure.

What is the most likely reason John Muir hiked to the Gulf of Mexico? A. He wanted to see the natural beauty of the Gulf of Mexico. B. He wanted to experience the natural beauty along the way. C. He was trying to get to a boat to take him to San Francisco. D. He was trying to use his hike to raise awareness of nature.

B. He wanted to experience the natural beauty along the way.

Which statement best expresses the theme of the passage? A. Sharing is vital to survival on the battlefield. B. In wartime, catastrophes become common human experiences. C. Shared experiences in wartime create lasting friendships. D. War makes people unselfish.

B. In wartime, catastrophes become common human experiences.

Which of the following best describes the structure of "Let's Ban Private Cars Downtown"? A. Sentence 1 states a cause, and sentences 2, 3, and 4 state effects. B. Sentence 1 states a cause, and sentences 3, 4, and 5 state effects. C. Sentence 1 states a problem, and sentences 2, 3, and 4 state solutions. D. Sentence 1 states a problem, and sentences 3, 4, and 5 state solutions.

B. Sentence 1 states a cause, and sentences 3, 4, and 5 state effects.

From the details in the passage, what do you predict is most likely to happen later? A. The volcano will become quiet again. B. The volcano will fully erupt. C. Tovah will die trying to save her family. D. Tovah will come to the United States.

B. The volcano will fully erupt.

Which revision of the third sentence in "Let's Ban Private Cars Downtown" is written in the interrogative mood? A. Ban cars and force people to use buses and trains that create less pollution. B. Would banning cars force people to use buses and trains that create less pollution? C. If we ban cars, we would force people to use buses and trains that create less pollution. D. We should ban cars; that way, people would be forced to use buses and trains that create less pollution.

B. Would banning cars force people to use buses and trains that create less pollution?

Identify the choice that best answers the question. Which setting would be least likely to create a disturbing mood? A. a crowded immigrant ship during a flu epidemic B. a park in which a father and son are playing catch on a sunny day C. a harvested field filled with exhausted farm workers stumbling about D. a subway train trapped in a tunnel during a blackout

B. a park in which a father and son are playing catch on a sunny day

Identify the choice that best answers the question. Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet is set in Italy during the Renaissance. West Side Story is a musical that resets Shakespeare's story in modern times in New York City. Which term best applies to West Side Story? A. myth B. adaptation C. script D. historical fiction

B. adaptation

What tone does the poet create? A. an annoyed tone B. an admiring tone C. an envious tone D. a shocked tone

B. an admiring tone

Which meaning of the word rank applies to its use in sentence 7? A. an orderly arrangement B. to hold a certain position C. a relative position D. having an offensive smell

B. to hold a certain position

Identify the choice that best answers the question. What is the meaning of the underlined figure of speech in this sentence? I know my opponent so well that, to me, his mind is an open book. A. He is highly educated. B. He is full of words. C. He is easy to understand. D. He is a mystery.

C. He is easy to understand.

Identify the choice that best answers the question. Which statement is true concerning one of the differences between a short story and a script for a play? A. A short story is always told by an outside observer, and a script tells the story through the words of the characters. B. It is easier for the reader to understand the setting in a script because the scenery is always described in detail. C. In a short story, characters' actions are described by the narrator; in a script, characters' actions are described in stage directions. D. Short stories usually have more characters than scripts for a play.

C. In a short story, characters' actions are described by the narrator; in a script, characters' actions are described in stage directions.

Which phrase from the first stanza is an example of alliteration? A. Blazing in gold B. quenching in purple C. Leaping like leopards D. the old horizon

C. Leaping like leopards

Based on this passage, what is a theme or central idea of the play? A. Kitchens are often the busiest places in a home. B. Women used to spend most of their time baking and spinning. C. Life in an Irish fishing village can be harsh and full of sorrow. D. Priests are often the bearers of bad news.

C. Life in an Irish fishing village can be harsh and full of sorrow.

Identify the choice that best answers the question. Which sentence uses correct subject-verb agreement? A. Anne, the younger daughter in her family, keep a diary while in hiding. B. There is also a dentist and some others hiding with the Franks. C. Mr. and Mrs. Van Daan, with their son Peter, are also in the attic. D. Under the Nazis, the citizens of Amsterdam has many problems.

C. Mr. and Mrs. Van Daan, with their son Peter, are also in the attic.

Identify the choice that best answers the question. Choose the sentence in which the underlined word has the most negative connotation. A. I told Marla her apology was unnecessary because she did not do anything wrong. B. We bought a box of 16 shirts for 12 kids, so in the end there were four surplus shirts. C. Out in the wilderness with no electricity, my uncharged cell phone was completely useless. D. Sally thought the movie scene was superfluous because it did not add much to the plot.

C. Out in the wilderness with no electricity, my uncharged cell phone was completely useless.

Identify the choice that best answers the question. Read the following sentence. Then, answer the question. One way a student can supplement his or her studies is to take a course or do additional reading over the summer Based on the context of the sentence, what is the most likely meaning of supplement? A. take over B. connect to C. add to D. give up

C. add to

Which sentence from the passage contains both an opinion and a fact? A. sentence 2 B. sentence 4 C. sentence 7 D. sentence 8

C. sentence 7

Identify the choice that best answers the question. What is the main purpose of an etymological dictionary? A. to provide definitions of technical terms B. to provide synonyms C. to provide word origins D. to provide pronunciations of words

C. to provide word origins

Identify the choice that best answers the question. Which sentence uses a verb in the active voice? A. Cinderella was treated very badly by her stepmother and stepsisters. B. Cinderella was helped by her fairy godmother. C. She was taken to the castle in a fancy coach. D. At the ball, she danced with the prince until midnight.

D. At the ball, she danced with the prince until midnight.

Identify the choice that best answers the question. The Latin suffix -ous means "characterized by" or "full of." In which sentence does the boldface word not contain this root? A. Dana's twelfth birthday was a joyous occasion for his family. B. Janet was nervous as she waited backstage for her cue. C. It was a glorious spring day when Amy tried out for softball. D. Ed could not use his computer because the mouse was not working.

D. Ed could not use his computer because the mouse was not working.

Identify the choice that best answers the question. Which sentence uses the correct form of the adjective brave? A. Of all of those heroes, who seemed most bravest to you? B. Which of the first two heroes in this story was bravest? C. Who was more braver: Robin Hood or Ivanhoe? D. I think Maid Marian was braver than Robin Hood.

D. I think Maid Marian was braver than Robin Hood.

Which statement best expresses the main idea of the passage? A. John Muir was much more interested in exploring nature than in going to college or working in a factory. B. John Muir hiked to Mexico and later to the Yosemite Valley. C. John Muir wrote books about nature and helped found the Sierra Club. D. John Muir loved exploring nature and worked to help Americans appreciate and preserve it.

D. John Muir loved exploring nature and worked to help Americans appreciate and preserve it.

Identify the choice that best answers the question. How might a diary entry about a sporting event be different from a newspaper account of the same event? A. The diary entry would describe each play in detail. B. The diary entry would use quotations from all the players. C. The diary entry would include stats about all the players. D. The diary entry would describe the writer's experience at the game.

D. The diary entry would describe the writer's experience at the game.

Identify the choice that best answers the question. Which description correctly identifies the underlined words in this sentence? Sarah and Peter went on a honeymoon after they were married. A. prepositional phrase acting as an adverb B. prepositional phrase acting as an adjective C. relative clause D. adverb clause

D. adverb clause

Identify the choice that best answers the question. What is the basic structure of the following sentence? After her husband died, Sarah mourned deeply, but she also continued their work. A. simple sentence B. complex sentence C. compound sentence D. compound-complex sentence

D. compound-complex sentence

Identify the choice that best answers the question. What punctuation should be used to indicate that a quotation has been shortened? A. dash B. comma C. period D. ellipsis

D. ellipsis

Identify the choice that best answers the question. In what way is the author a biography of a famous person most likely to organize information about the person's life? A. in cause-and-effect order B. from most important to least important events C. from least important to most important events D. in chronological order

D. in chronological order

Identify the choice that best answers the question. An author describes several important opportunities in her life as "a series of open doors." What type of literary device is the author using? A. allusion B. hyperbole C. idiom D. metaphor

D. metaphor

Which two words from the passage are synonyms? A. hiking and camping (sentence 6) B. wilderness and rambles (sentence 7) C. establish and encourages (sentence 8) D. wild and undeveloped (sentence 8)

D. wild and undeveloped (sentence 8)

Which two sentences from "Keep Our Streets Open" respond to arguments presented in "Let's Ban Private Cars Downtown"? A. sentence 6 B. sentence 7 C. sentence 8 D. sentence 9 E. sentence 10 F. sentence 11

E. sentence 10 F. sentence 11

The following question has two parts. Answer Part A first, and then Part B. Part A Think about the lieutenant's actions involving the coffee. What character trait or traits does the lieutenant display most clearly? A. honesty and fairness B. mathematical genius C. incompetence as a leader D. courage and self-sacrifice Part B Click the highlighted phrase from the text that best supports the answer to Part A. -frowing and serious -drew with his sword -astoundingly equal in size -triumph in mathematics

Part A A. honesty and fairness Part B -astoundingly equal in size

The following question has two parts. Answer Part A first, and then Part B. Part A Which choice best describes how the author of "Keep Our Streets Open" views the proposal presented in "Let's Ban Private Cars Downtown"? A. The author does not believe that the proposal would have the effects described. B. The author does not believe the arguments are strong enough to justify the proposal. C. The author does not believe the proposal takes into account alternative solutions. D. The author does not believe the arguments consider the effects on the public health. Part B Which sentence from "Keep Our Streets Open" best supports the answer to Part A? A. sentence 6 B. sentence 7 C. sentence 8 D. sentence 9

Part A B. The author does not believe the arguments are strong enough to justify the proposal. Part B B. sentence 7

The following question has two parts. Answer Part A first, and then Part B. Part A According to the passage, what causes Tovah to turn around? A. She wants to watch the sparkling waters of the bay. B. She needs to change direction to avoid being late for school. C. She wants to see what the other villagers are looking at. D. The other villagers tell her to look behind her. Part B Which excerpt from the text best supports the answer to Part A? A. ... a sudden quietness had fallen upon the village. B. The villagers had stopped working ... C. ...worried expressions on their faces. D. Tovah turned to follow their gaze.

Part A C. She wants to see what the other villagers are looking at. Part B D. Tovah turned to follow their gaze.

Identify the choice that best answers the question. The following question has two parts. Answer Part A first, then Part B. (1) If you want to really absorb the information in a textbook, don't just read it. (2) Start by scanning it to get a good idea of what it's about. (3) Students can then ask questions to consider what they would like to learn, before reading it carefully. (4) Recite back what you have learned, and then review the page to make sure you have understood it correctly. Part A Which sentence from the paragraph is written in an improper mood? A. sentence 1 B. sentence 2 C. sentence 3 D. sentence 4 Part B Which mood should be used in the incorrect sentence? A. interrogative B. indicative C. imperative D. conditional

Part A C. sentence 3 Part B C. imperative

The following question has two parts. Answer Part A first, and then Part B. Part A What is the authors' main purpose for writing these passages? A. to inform B. to entertain C. to persuade D. to describe Part B Which word from the passage gives the best clue to the purpose of the passages? A. should (sentence 1) B. especially (sentence 2) C. pollution (sentence 3) D. freedom (sentence 7)

Part A C. to persuade Part B A. should (sentence 1)