8th Grade ELA (OAS) Quiz - Language - Group 1

(18) You are probably wondering how all of the rules and their exceptions will be remembered by you. Which revision of sentence eighteen involves a change from passive voice to active voice? A) "You are probably wondering how you will remember all of the rules and their exceptions." B) "One may wonder how all of the rules and their exceptions will be remembered." C) "All of the rules and their exceptions will be remembered by you." D) Sentence eighteen already employs active voice throughout.

A) "You are probably wondering how you will remember all of the rules and their exceptions."

Clayton enjoyed surfing the internet so much that he soon lost track of time and missed his favorite television show. Which BEST identifies and explains the function of the word "surfing" as it is used in this sentence? A) It is called a gerund and it functions as a noun in this sentence. B) It is called a gerund and it functions as an adjective in this sentence. C) It is called a participle and it functions as a verb in this sentence. D) It is called an infinitive and it functions as a noun in this sentence.

A) It is called a gerund and it functions as a noun in this sentence.

Yesterday we ________ a rainbow after the big storm. Choose the word or phrase that best completes the sentence. A) saw B) seen C) had saw D) will see

A) saw

Which sentence is written correctly? A) The decorator recommended that the wallpaper is changed immediately. B) The decorator recommended that the wallpaper be changed immediately. C) The decorator recommended that the wallpapers are changed immediately. D) The decorator recommended that the wallpaper to be changed immediately.

B) The decorator recommended that the wallpaper be changed immediately.

Which sentence demonstrates correct use of the semicolon? A) There have been many accidents during airshows for example; last year the wind toppled a tent and equipment on top of bystanders. B) There have been many accidents during airshows; for example, last year the wind toppled a tent and equipment on top of bystanders. C) There have been many accidents during airshows for example, last year; the wind toppled a tent and equipment on top of bystanders. D) There have been many accidents; during airshows for example, last year the wind toppled a tent and equipment on top of bystanders.

B) There have been many accidents during airshows; for example, last year the wind toppled a tent and equipment on top of bystanders.

Which sentence demonstrates correct use of the semicolon? A) We were entirely exhausted from the flight nevertheless; we wanted to see the Statue of Liberty before nightfall. B) We were entirely exhausted from the flight; nevertheless, we wanted to see the Statue of Liberty before nightfall. C) We were entirely exhausted; from the flight, nevertheless we wanted to see the Statue of Liberty before nightfall. D) We were entirely exhausted from the flight nevertheless, we wanted; to see the Statue of Liberty before nightfall.

B) We were entirely exhausted from the flight; nevertheless, we wanted to see the Statue of Liberty before nightfall.

Wanda, my friend from camp, ________ me to play the cello last year. Choose the form of the verb that best completes the sentence. A) learned B) taught C) teach D) teached

B) taught

Which sentence is written in the active voice? A) My new car was washed by Sam. B) The sweet apple pie was prepared by the chef. C) My grandmother makes the best fried pies in the state. D) The jelly and preserves were made by my Aunt Betty for my birthday.

C) My grandmother makes the best fried pies in the state.

Choose the sentence that shows correct verb usage. A) We go to the store and bought bread yesterday. B) We went to the store and buyed bread yesterday. C) We went to the store and bought bread yesterday. D) We gone to the store and bought bread yesterday.

C) We went to the store and bought bread yesterday.

(18) You are probably wondering how all of the rules and their exceptions will be remembered by you. What is the BEST way to revise sentence (18)? A) All of the rules and their exceptions need to be remembered by you. B) You will probably need to remember all of the rules and their exceptions. C) You are probably wondering how you will remember all of the rules and their exceptions. D) How all of the rules and their exceptions will be remembered you are probably wondering.

C) You are probably wondering how you will remember all of the rules and their exceptions.

Jonathon and his friends ________ the party. Choose the verb phrase that correctly completes the sentence. A) has left B) was left C) have left D) been left

C) have left

The President read a prepared speech but _________ to answer questions from the press. Choose the form of the verb that best completes the sentence. A) refuse B) refuses C) refused D) had refuse

C) refused

During this morning's presentation, Henry ________ for over an hour. Choose the form of the verb that BEST completes the sentence. A) speaking B) speaks C) spoke D) spoken

C) spoke

Which sentence is written correctly? A) My friend and I is close! B) Neither of the boys are playing football this year. C) The group of students are waiting for the bus to the game. D) Either my brother or my sister is going on the trip with my father.

D) Either my brother or my sister is going on the trip with my father.

Which sentence is punctuated correctly? A) Robert wanted a new car however, he couldn't afford to buy one. B) Robert wanted a new car however; he couldn't afford to buy one. C) Robert wanted a new car; however he couldn't afford to buy one. D) Robert wanted a new car; however, he couldn't afford to buy one.

D) Robert wanted a new car; however, he couldn't afford to buy one.

Which sentence demonstrates correct use of the semicolon? A) Everyone needs; food, water, and shelter. B) We needed to pick up; Tommy, Addison, and Henri. C) My favorite British playwright; is William Shakespeare. D) Sara suddenly became very ill; therefore, she went to see her doctor.

D) Sara suddenly became very ill; therefore, she went to see her doctor.

(1) Once over dinner while I stared at the white ribbon running across the table, the captain leaned into his first mate and whispered, 'What are you afraid of?' (2) The captain then bit down and blood gushed all over the first mate's shoulder. (3) His shirt became deep red and stuck to his body as the captain began to walk away. (4) I wonder if the first mate had to fight the blackness that begins at the back of your eyes and threatens to swallow you. Read the paragraph and identify the sentence which shows incorrect shift in verb tense. A) Sentence 1 B) Sentence 2 C) Sentence 3 D) Sentence 4

D) Sentence 4

Which sentence is written in the passive voice? A) The bike fell off its stand. B) During the movie, we ate buttered popcorn. C) After the alarm sounded, the children calmly exited the building. D) The game was won by the Atlanta Braves after nine laborious innings.

D) The game was won by the Atlanta Braves after nine laborious innings.

Which sentence shows INCORRECT use of subject-verb agreement? A) The committee arrives at the meeting one at a time. B) The audience claps its approval at the political rally. C) The entire Congress voted unanimously to repeal the law. D) The team members yells at one another to keep their momentum going during half-time.

D) The team members yells at one another to keep their momentum going during half-time.

(18) You are probably wondering how all of the rules and their exceptions will be remembered by you. What is the BEST way, if any, to rewrite sentence (18)? A) Leave as is. B) You are probably wondering how all of the rules and their exceptions you will ever learn. C) How you will ever learn and remember all of the rules and their exceptions you are probably wondering. D) You are probably wondering how you will ever learn and remember all of the rules and their exceptions.

D) You are probably wondering how you will ever learn and remember all of the rules and their exceptions.

Rather than exchanging gifts this year, my family is ________ a donation to Christmas charities. Choose the form of the verb that best completes the sentence. A) gave B) give C) given D) giving

D) giving

After staying up all night to see the comet, I needed to ________ down for a nap. Choose the correct verb form to fill in the blank. A) laid B) lay C) layed D) lie

D) lie

Although Terry liked to run in the rain she wasn't so sure she about jogging in a monsoon. Read the sentence and determine which of the answers correctly punctuates the sentence. A) rain. She B) rain; she C) rain: she D) rain, she

D) rain, she

The applicant indicated that her stregnths included copy-editing reports, designing presentations, and ________. Which phrase would preserve the parallel structure in the sentence? A) what a lot of others B) the ability to speak Chinese C) a knowledge of computer programming D) troubleshooting computer network problems

D) troubleshooting computer network problems

The members of the state championship team _________ honored at a pep rally last Friday. Which verb correctly completes the sentence: A) are B) is C) was D) were

D) were

Twenty dollars ________ not a fair price for that old tape player. Choose the verb that correctly completes the sentence.

is