Study Island - Ms. Simms' 8th grade English Language Arts ...



Study IslandGeneration Date: 12/09/2014 Generated By: Raquel Simms Title: EOTT Unit 2 Practice TestBurning the Old Yearby Naomi Shihab Nye Letters swallow themselves in seconds. Notes friends tied to the doorknob, transparent scarlet paper, sizzle like moth wings, marry the air. So much of any year is flammable,lists of vegetables, partial poems. Orange swirling flame of days, so little is a stone. Where there was something and suddenly isn’t, an absence shouts, celebrates, leaves a space. I begin again with the smallest numbers. Quick dance, shuffle of losses and leaves, only the things I didn’t do crackle after the blazing dies. 1. What is the best way to describe the theme in this passage? A.People are as steady as the seasons.B.Everyone needs to extinguish the fire within himself or herself.C.Memories are often easily mistaken for facts.D.There is always a chance for a new beginning.Hearts BloomI am a rose when he smiles.I blush, and bloom, and sway—a sunflower, when he looks at me,my eyes are locked in his glance.This heart trembles like an earthquake,when he passes by me the hallway.I am a glowworm on a starry night,when he asks me where's the gym.My feet are soft like marshmallowswhen he says my name.I do not smile, I stand straight.He cannot know; I am smitten so.2. Which is a simile expressed in this poem? A.My feet are soft like marshmallows,B.He cannot know; I am smitten so.C.a sunflower, when he looks at me,D.I am a glowworm on a starry night,Miss America: Not Just Another Pretty Face ?????Many people are against the very idea of a beauty pageant. Most probably have no idea that the Miss America Scholarship Program provides more scholarships to young women than any other organization in the world. It started as just a beauty contest in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in 1921. However, Miss America has been giving away scholarships since 1945. Bess Myerson became the first person to receive a cash award. Between the national, state, and local organizations, Miss America reports that it gave away more than $45 million in cash and scholarships last year. ?????One of the biggest objections to the pageant has been the swimsuit competition. In 1996, the pageant conducted a poll. Almost 90 percent of voters wanted to keep the swimsuit portion. It is still used today to judge physical fitness. However, several other parts of the competition are scored more heavily. The personal interview that contestants have with the judges is worth 25 percent. The talent competition is worth 35 percent. Evening wear counts for 20 percent. The swimsuit competition counts for 15 percent, and the onstage question is worth 5 percent of the final score. ?????The young women who compete in pageants like this aren’t just pretty faces. Each contestant is required to select a “platform” issue. They are asked to choose something they feel strongly about and that is relevant to the United States. The winners help bring attention to their issues by speaking to organizations, businesses, and the media. HIV/AIDS prevention, domestic violence, school bullying, literacy, and homelessness have all been highlighted by past Miss America winners. ?????Miss America has changed from a simple beauty pageant to its current role as a scholarship program. Since 1945, women have received money to pay for graduate school and to pay off student loans. Miss America is much needed. The thousands of young women who have benefited from it have also gone on to have careers in television, film, and business. 3. Which of the following would most likely agree with the author of this passage? A.students who have met Miss America after she visited their schoolB.a person who believes that beauty pageants are a waste of timeC.someone who competed in the local Miss America pageant and lostD.someone who would be interested in entering a scholarship pageant4. Which sentence from the passage best supports the idea that Miss America is more than a beauty pageant? A.The thousands of young women who have benefited from it have also gone on to have careers in television, film, and business.B.Issues like HIV/AIDS prevention, domestic violence, school bullying, literacy, and homelessness have all been highlighted by past Miss America winners.C.One of the biggest objections to the pageant has been the swimsuit competition.D.The swimsuit competition counts for 15 percent, and the onstage question portion is 5 percent of the score.????? Because severe storms are fairly common in the United States during the springtime and because most people are not affected too greatly by them, people often ignore important warnings and instructions during severe storms. Some people hear the tornado siren screaming and think of the other times it sounded without any serious danger. Naturally, after a few “false” alarms, they just begin ignoring the siren altogether. ?????Unfortunately, that is the exact wrong thing to do. Sure, most of the time the worst of the severe weather will affect someone else. This might not always be true. If tornadoes affect your area, you need to have supplies and a plan to ensure your safety. All you need to remember are a few important things. ?????You and your family should know the safest place in your house to be during a tornado. Unless you have a basement or a cellar, the safest place will usually be an inner room, closet, or hallway without any windows. Take some blankets, a couple gallons of water, a flashlight, a battery-operated radio for weather updates, and a first-aid kit with you. It’s also handy if your cell phone is fully charged. ?????If you live in a trailer or a mobile home, get out and find a more secure place to ride out the storm. Do not try to outrun a tornado in your car. Seek shelter in a stable building. Oftentimes, there will be a community center or school nearby that has been appointed for just such emergencies. If you are caught outdoors, try to get inside quickly. If it is impossible to get inside, try to find a low-lying place, such as a ditch, lie face-down, and cover your head. ?????It may seem like a lot of trouble for a storm that seems never to hit you, but getting caught in a severe storm is one of those times that the old saying rings especially true: You are better off safe than sorry. 5. What is the main idea of the first paragraph? A.It is important to ignore warnings and instructions during storms.B."False alarms" show people that tornado sirens are not important.C.Most people do not pay attention when serious storms are near.D.Tornado sirens will give important information during severe storms.?????The physical appearance of the sloth is unique. Its thick fur coat is usually brown but may look green because of green algae and bacteria living on it. The algae and bacteria help camouflage the sloth, and because the sloth likes to lick its fur, they also provide the sloth nourishment. Sloths are medium-sized creatures with bodies between 45 and 60 cm long. Their heads are flat and short, and they have big eyes, a short snout and tail, long legs, and tiny ears. Long, strong, and curved claws help sloths hang from trees and defend themselves from enemies. 6. Which sentence would be the BEST concluding sentence for the paragraph above? A.Remembering this information will help you identify these creatures in a tropical rainforest.B.Sloths sleep while hanging upside down for about fifteen to eighteen hours in the daytime.C.Sloths spend almost their entire lives in trees; they like to eat leaves, young branches, and fruit.D.The sloths' slow movements make it hard for enemies, such as jaguars and eagles, to detect them.7. Technology Enhanced Questions are not available in Word format. 8. ?????The beaches are clean and uncrowded. The surrounding countryside is lush and soothing to winter-weary eyes. Furthermore, being able to take sailing and scuba diving lessons, while friends back home shovel snow, makes the outdoor activities extra-enjoyable. On the other hand, several features of Club Tropic are substandard. Security could also be better, as thefts from several guests' rooms indicated. So for some vacationers, nice scenery and fun activities may not be enough to offset the possibility of poor service and lax security.What would be a good topic sentence to add to this passage? A.A midwinter vacation at Club Tropic has its good points and bad points.B.The food is poor, and, because the club is isolated, eating elsewhere is impossible.C.The morning mist from the far off mountain is a beautiful sight to weary eyes.D.The lock on the door is a joke because it can be opened using a credit card.9. ?????I loved to look at the old photographs, especially the ones with me in them. I suppose that was bad of me, and proved I was stuck on myself or something, but I couldn't help it, the pictures with me in them were just more interesting. Every stage of my life was there, snapped by the camera and stamped on a glossy piece of paper, and it made me feel safe to see myself at three, standing with Donald in front of the house in our matching cowboy and cowgirl outfits, or standing on a chair in front of the kitchen counter, mixing a birthday cake for Mother. The pictures reminded me that I was real, that I always had been real and always would be real, and that I wasn't just some girl someone had made up. What does the story reveal about human character? A.People need to look at pictures of themselves to feel good.B.In some way we all want self assurance.C.Most people are very self-centered.D.Most people do not like to see their own picture.10. Jason wrote a report about comedy. Which of the following correctly cites a book that he used for his report? A.Jenkins, Angie. Punch Lines. Pencil Pusher Publishing: New York, 2010. Print.B.Podge, Audge. American Humor. Los Angeles: Wymer Books, 2010. Print.C.Giggles and Grins by Dan Peterson. Write Way Publishing: Toronto, 2008. Print.D.Sam Smith. Funny Bones. (London: Pemberly Publishing, 2008). Print.11. Which one of the following citations should come first on a Works Cited page? A.Gregory, Walter. Brussels, Chicago: Houghton-Mifflin, 2002. Print.B.Williams, Savannah. Understanding Earth. The University of Chicago Press. 2000. Print.C.Alexander, Adam. "Faster Cars," The Chicago Tribune, April 8,1999. Print.D.Boyd, Frank. Movie Guide 2000. New York: Vintage Press, 2000. Print.12. What is the best way to change this voice from passive to active?Life on the road is considered romantic by adventure seekers.A.The romantic life is considered to be on the road by adventure seekers.B.To seek adventure, one must consider life on the road to be romantic.C.Adventure seekers consider life on the road romantic.D.Road life is considered to be romantic by seekers of adventure.13. My dad always made inflating bicycle tires look like a piece of cake.What is the gerund phrase in the sentence? A.My dadB.always madeC.inflating bicycle tiresD.like a piece of cake14. What is the best way to change this sentence from passive voice to active voice?Predictions were made on who would win the coveted prize sought by all.A.On who would win the coveted prize sought by all, predictions were made.B.Experts made predictions on who would win the coveted prize sought by all.C.Made were predictions by the experts on who would win the coveted prize sought by all.D.Predictions were made by experts on who would win the coveted prize sought by all.15. In the middle of the charcoal grill, there was a charred steak.What is the participle in the sentence? A.middleB.steakC.wasD.charred16. ?????We're worried when Johnny can't read or add. Shouldn't we also worry when Johnny does and says things that hurt other cultures? In this country, we have assigned our schools with the shaping and reshaping of a democratic policy. That is why the schooling in America has always been a matter of political opinion. But in America, our schools have a very special task.?????The society we have made won't survive without the values of tolerance. Cultural tolerance is nothing without cultural understanding. The challenge facing America in the next century will be the shaping of a truly common public culture. It must be one that responds to the long-silenced cultures of color.adapted from Loose Canons: Notes on the Culture Wars by Henry Louis Gates, Jr.What is the main idea of this article? A.Johnny is not good at reading or math in school.B.It is important for America to have good schools.C.American schools need to create a common culture.D.Cultural differences are not important in America.17. Technology Enhanced Questions are not available in Word format. 18. Which of the following sentences contains a gerund? A.To harvest cranberries, farmers have to fill the bogs with water.B.For her report, Grace wrote about the harvesting of cranberries.C.Grace learned how to harvest cranberries when she researched.D.Cranberries, harvested at their peak, are a good addition to meals.19. Which of the following sentences contains an infinitive? A.My neighbor's dog barks at every person that comes to the door.B.Marina asked her parents to help her get a job as a babysitter.C.Corey took his little brother Ryan to the fair for the big game.D.Kaitlyn's cousin invited her to the beach for the entire summer.20. What is the best way to change this sentence from passive voice to active voice?The Titan Atlas was tricked by Heracles into taking the sky back onto his shoulders.A.By Heracles the Titan, Atlas was tricked into taking the sky back onto his shoulders.B.The Titan Atlas was tricked into taking the sky back onto his shoulders by Heracles.C.Atlas, the Titan, was tricked by Heracles into taking the sky back onto his shoulders.D.Heracles tricked the Titan Atlas into taking the sky back onto his shoulders.21. What is the best way to change this sentence from passive voice to active voice?The hobgoblin was kept hidden in the basement by the old gentleman with unusual eyes.A.Hidden in the basement, the hobgoblin was kept by the old gentleman with unusual eyes.B.In the basement, the hobgoblin was kept hidden by the old gentleman with unusual eyes.C.The old gentleman with unusual eyes kept the hobgoblin hidden in the basement.D.The hobgoblin in the basement was kept hidden by the old gentleman with unusual eyes.?????Cherry’s piano teacher, Mrs. Roberts, was insistent about daily practice. “You’ll never get better by just coming to lessons once or twice a week,” she said. But Cherry resisted because there were so many other things to do that were more fun to her. Besides, she had practiced on several occasions, and she couldn’t see any improvement at all. “Practice accumulates, and you haven’t practiced enough times,” Mrs. Roberts said. “Think of your practice as a chain, and every day you practice you put another link in your chain. If you will put 24 links in your chain over the next month, I promise you, you will see an improvement in your piano playing.” 22. What is Mrs. Roberts doing when she compares practice to a chain? A.showing how a little effort accumulatesB.saying links in a chain are like piano keysC.suggesting Cherry chain herself to her pianoD.challenging Cherry to practice on time?????(1) I'm quite certain that it's just a matter of time before hand-held cell phones are a thing of the past. (2) They are simply too impractical. (3) Sure, today nearly one in two people on the street has one held to the ear, but that won't last. (4) The main problem with cell phones is obvious: they require the use of one hand. (5) This makes anything else you do—shop, ride your bike, walk to school—that much more awkward. (6) Also, they're too easy to lose or have stolen. (7) How many times have you put down a cell phone, even for a minute, and forgotten where you put it? (8) No, hand-held cell phones will soon be a distant memory, like 8-track tapes and LPs. (9) Before long, we'll all have tiny phone receivers in our ears, the size of computer chips, and the only place you'll see cell phones is in museums. 23. Which sentence could be added to the passage to support the main idea? A.Hearing other people's cell phone conversations is particularly irritating.B.Hands-free headsets aren't much better because they make people look like creatures on Star Trek.C.At least some schools are beginning to get smart and are instituting rules against cell phone use.D.The wave of the future is to make everything smaller and more convenient to use.?????I'm pleased to see that many states outlawed text messaging while driving. That doesn't solve the problem of those who text while biking. Texting and riding is a hazardous combination. No matter how "good" someone thinks he or she is at texting, it still means both hands are likely off the handlebars. That means the person's response time will be greatly slowed if the cyclist needs to brake or swerve. Slower response times can only mean one thing: a greater number of bike accidents. Cyclists who text are also dangerous to drivers and pedestrians. They careen through stop signs and go blindly through intersections, all the while focusing on the keypad instead of the road. I have even seen bikers who are plugged into iPods and texting at the same time! States would be well-advised to put a stop to such behavior. 24. Which statement in this paragraph should be supported with facts or statistics? A."I'm pleased to see that many states outlawed text messaging while driving."B."I have even seen bikers who are plugged into iPods and texting at the same time!"C."Texting and riding is a hazardous combination."D."States would be well-advised to put a stop to this behavior." ................
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