8th Grade Reading Basic Practice Test 2

Name:

Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.

Read the following paragraph.
It’s been a cold fall. Every morning the grass is covered with frost. Ice hangs off the bottom of cars. As we walk to school, our fingers freeze inside our gloves and our cheeks are bright red when we enter our classrooms. I can’t wait until spring!
Which of the following cannot be proven by the paragraph?

a.	The weather was freezing.	c.	Even with gloves, the cold reached their hands.
b.	Winter would be warmer than it was last year.	d.	The students’ cheeks are red from the cold.

Students must have exceptional qualities in able to join the student council?
Which of the reasons below is the least valued reason for being invited to join the students council?

a.	High grades	c.	Participation in school activities
b.	Good citizenship	d.	Being 10 years old

Evaluative Reading Comprehension—Fact and Opinion--RIT 201 – 210
Which sentence is not a fact, but an opinion?

a.	There is no school next Monday.	c.	We’re going to see an adventure film.
b.	I’m going to a movie with my best friend.	d.	Adventure films are much better than love stories.

Read the paragraph.
My parents have been married for 15 years. Last summer we threw them a big surprise party with a cake, presents, and about 20 years. We had games like volleyball and croquet. The best game of all was darts, though. I beat everyone – even my dad! We told them the party would be twice as big on their 20th anniversary.
Which sentence is not a fact, but an opinion?

a.	My parents have been married for 15 years.	c.	We had games like volleyball and croquet.
b.	Last summer we threw them a big surprise party.	d.	The best game of all was darts.

Read the ad.
FOR SALE: Beautiful, red sailboat. 2 years old, like new. Has been used only 3 times.
Which words in the ad are an opinion?

a.	beautiful sailboat	c.	2 years old
b.	red sailboat	d.	has been used only 3 times

Read the passage.
Golf is a great sport. The goal is to hit a ball into eighteen small holes in with least amount of shots as possible. Talented golfers can usually complete each shot with three to five hits, but amateurs like me take nine or ten shots per hole. It’s best to play on a warm, sunny day, but many golfers go out as soon as the snow melts in the spring. It’s unsafe to play golf during a rainstorm because there have been instances where lightning has struck a golfer’s club.
Which of the following is a provable fact based on the preceding paragraph?

a.	Good golfers never hit more than three shots per hole.	c.	It’s safe to play in the rain if you don’t see lightning.
b.	There are eighteen holes in a game of golf.	d.	Golfers get their best scores on warm, sunny days.

Read the paragraph.
Television shows are great. Some people complain about violence and bad language, but they just don’t understand what makes good entertainment. My friends and I love the sitcoms about teenagers. Those movie stars are just like us and understand how we feel. Television improves our understanding of the real world and makes us better people.
Which statement is true about the paragraph?

a.	The paragraph is mostly fact.	c.	The whole paragraph expresses opinions.
b.	There are no opinions in the paragraph.	d.	The paragraph expresses facts and opinions equally.

Evaluative Reading Comprehension—Inference--RIT 201 – 210
Read the passage.
“Each [leaf] was shaped like an inverted umbrella spiked on a massive trunk…” from “the Pit of Wings” by Ramsey Campbell
Copyright Info: Not enough information. Campbell, Ramsey. The Pit of Wings, page 60.
(Teacher authors: Phillips, Blackman, Felts).
What can be inferred from this line?

a.	The leaves are cup-shaped with thick stems.	c.	The leaves are large and round.
b.	The leaves protect against the rain.	d.	The leaves are deciduous.

Read the passage.
“Best of all, perhaps, [Buck] loved to lie near the fire, hind legs crouched under him, forelegs stretched out front, head raised, and eyes blinking dreamily at the flames. Sometimes he thought of Judge Miller’s big house in the sun-kissed Santa Clara Valley, and of the cement swimming tank.” – from “Against Odds”
Copyright Info: Not enough informationL Against Odds, page 392 (Phillips, Blackman, Felts).
What is important to Buck?

a.	the family home	c.	food
b.	safety	d.	protecting himself

10.

Evaluative Reading Comprehension—Persuasive Elements--RIT 201 – 210

This add makes you want to buy the garbage bags because:

a.	They are cheap.	c.	They are black.
b.	They are thick.	d.	They are made of plastic.

11.

To Whom would this ad appeal?

a.	truck drivers	c.	football fans
b.	cat lovers	d.	bankers

12.

How does this ad catch your attention?

a.	appeal to save money	c.	free computer time
b.	offers great craft ideas	d.	gardening ideas

13.

The girls are excited because:

a.	Education opens doors.	c.	They like their graduation gowns.
b.	They don’t have homework.	d.	Their families are proud.

14.

What does this ad want you to do?

a.	Use your telephone more often.	c.	Buy their medication.
b.	Read to your children.	d.	Buy their magazine.

15.

Interpretive Reading Comprehension—Drawing Conclusions--RIT 201 - 210
Read the passage and answer the question.
Mary and her mother wanted to bake a cake. They mixed eggs, flour, sugar, and baking powder in a bowl. Mary helped pour the cake mix into the pan. The preheated the oven.
What will Mary and her mother do next?

a.	eat the cake	c.	cut the cake into pieces
b.	put the cake in the oven	d.	put frosting on the cake

16.

Interpretive Reading Comprehension—Inference--RIT 201 - 210
Read the passage and answer the question.

How long is the yard sale open?

a.	9 hours	c.	12 hours
b.	8 hours	d.	24 hours

17.

Read the following label and answer the question.

What can happen if you do not take the vitamin with a full glass of water?

a.	You may get sleepy.	c.	The vitamin will not work.
b.	You may get an upset stomach.	d.	Children under 10 will get tired.

18.

Read the passage and answer the question.
He was not the same. The plane passing by without rescuing him had changed him completely. He was not the same and would never be like he had been before. The old Brian was weak, now he was new, stronger and would not give up so he could survive.
How do you think Brian has changed?

a.	Brian was stronger, more aware and careful.	c.	Brian is angry because he’s made mistakes.
b.	Brian felt sorry for himself and wanted to give up.	d.	Brian has not changed at all.

19.

Read the passage and answer the question.
Jan Brett, an author of many children’s books, uses many of the stories told to her by her Swedish grandmother. She illustrates her books with the cheerful colors and patterns often used in Northern European countries.
Based on this passage, which statement best describes Jan Brett?

a.	She plans to move to Sweden.	c.	Her work is not important.
b.	She believes children should read.	d.	Her stories tell about her family’s history.

20.

Interpretive Reading Comprehension—Main Idea--RIT 201 - 210
Read the selection from Island of the Blue Dolphins and answer the question.
I do not remember much of this time, except that many suns rose and set. I though about what I was going to do now that I was alone. I did not leave the village. Not until I had eaten all of the abalones did I leave and then only to gather more. Yet, I do remember the day that I decided I would never live in the village again.Copyright Info: Not enough information. Island of the Blue Dolphins. (Teacher author: Bev
Holtom)
What is the main idea from this passage?

a.	She is alone and must survive.	c.	She likes to eat abalones.
b.	She lives in the village with her brother.	d.	She is leaving the village.