8th Grade Reading Basic Practice Test 5

Name:

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

Read the non-fiction passage.
One difference between insects and all other animals is the number of legs they have. Only insects have six legs in the entire animal kingdom. Adult insects have four wings and two antennae on their heads.
If this is true, you can conclude that:

a.	Spiders have wings; therefore, they are insects.	c.	Insects are only found in North America
b.	All animals are insects.	d.	A grasshopper is an insect.

Literary Response and Analysis—Literary--RIT 201 – 210
Read the passage.
Billy has all the weapons and versatility to become a Grand Slam Champion. He can out-slug his opponents from the baseline or suffocate them at the net. But, the deciding factor could be his deceptively powerful serve!
You can tell the competitive nature of the above passage from the writer’s use of:

a.	word choice	c.	exaggeration
b.	humor	d.	seriousness

Read the passage.
The ball flew into the air with the force of a lightening bolt. The crowd sat riveted by the tension in the air. If the home team caught the ball and returned it, they would have a chance at winning the championship game! You could almost hear the hopefulness as the ball began to descend to the icy field in slow motion. What did the future hold for the Bobcats—glorious victory or unbearable defeat?
The passage is made more vivid by the author’s use of:

a.	humor	c.	comparison
b.	descriptors	d.	syntax

Read the passage.
It is always possible to find fish and shellfish along the waters edge in the early morning, and we walked with heightened awareness to find our quota for the morning, so we could return to more important things, like playing in the trees and building our fort. Ron walked behind me, and he was very distracted, “What do you think will happen to the dolphins if they forget to come up for air?” he asked as he meandered along in my footprints, not really helping with the task at hand. “They don’t forget, now get back to work and help me,” I said in an irritated tone. Ron was only six years old, so I could hardly blame him for his distraction, but I really was getting tired of being the older sister in charge all the time. “Anna, he said, are you mad at me?” This made me feel guilty for snapping at him, and I replied, “No I am not upset with you, I just want to get back to the camp and help father and Tina with the rest of the daily chores, so I have some time for myself later.” Just then I saw Brandon walking toward us with a basket full of shellfish.
Who is telling this story?

a.	Anna	c.	Narrator
b.	Ron	d.	father

Read the passage.
Why did I raise my hand? He asked himself, but in his heart, he knew exactly why he had bolted his hand in the air so fast. He longed for the spotlight and the attention. What would I do in the talent show, John thought. I could sing, but Jake was a much better singer. I could play the piano, but Carla would surely play her masterpiece and amaze everyone. I have no idea what I am even thinking!
What can you infer about John?

a.	He is not a very good singer.	c.	He needs to think before raising his hand so quickly.
b.	He is not a very good piano player.	d.	He doesn’t have very much self-confidence.

Read the list.
Setting
Characters
Problem
Plot
Resolution
What literary device do these elements describe?

a.	story descriptions	c.	genres
b.	story structure	d.	fiction

Select the best option.
What is the purpose of using dialogue in a story?

a.	to make a story longer	c.	to demonstrate how to properly punctuation dialogue
b.	to add vivid details and descriptions	d.	to bring characters to life and communicate emotions

Read the passage.
Rangers in Yellowstone National Park might be getting more protection this winter from snowmobile noise and pollution. Respirators were handed out last winter to some rangers who experienced headaches, sore throats, burning eyes and other symptoms from exposure to snowmobile exhaust. “Safety is a top priority,” park spokesperson said. “Everyone’s pitching in to find something better.”Copyright Info: Poster Register Newspaper, November 8, 2002. Page C4.
Which of the following best describes the above passage?

a.	Newspaper Writing	c.	personal note
b.	short story	d.	Newspaper Ad

Read the passage.
It was the middle of World War II, and we all sat around the fire in fear for what would come next. Our uncle, Sam, had been fighting in the war, and we knew exactly what it meant when the officers came knocking at the door. We had experienced this before with our father. War was a truly awful thing.
Select the appropriate genre for this passage.

a.	fiction	c.	historical fiction
b.	non fiction	d.	fable

10.

Read the passage.
Abraham Lincoln wasn’t the sort of man who could lose himself in a crowd. After all, he stood six feet four inches tall, and to top it off, he wore a high silk hat. His height was mostly in his long, bony legs. When he sat in a chair, he seemed no taller than anyone else. It was only when he stood up that he towered above other men. At first glance most people thought he was homely. Lincoln thought so too, referring once to his, “poor, lean, lank face.” As a young man he was sensitive about his gawky looks, but in time, he learned to laugh at himself. When a
rival called him “two-faced” during a political debate, Lincoln replied: “I leave it to my audience. If I had another face, do you think I’d wear this one?” According to those who knew him, Lincoln was a man of many faces. In repose he often seemed sad and gloomy. But when he began to speak, his expression changed.
Copyright Info: Freedman, Russell. “The Mysterious Mr. Lincoln,” Elements of Literature, Introductory Course. Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1997.
Select the appropriate genre for this passage.

a.	non fiction	c.	personal note
b.	fiction	d.	journal

11.

Read the passage.
The fires were burning in the New York streets, as people from all over the city ran around in complete chaos, rioting and fighting among one another. Stores were being broken into and the police seemed to have no control over the huge crowd of people. Everyone was in fear for their life, and I saw a small girl sitting in the middle of the street, crying. She couldn’t have been more than six years old, and she appeared to be all alone. Someone should help that poor child, I thought to myself. I looked around at the dark, smoky night and realized, that someone should be me.
Select the appropriate genre for this passage.

a.	non fiction	c.	poetry
b.	realistic fiction	d.	tall tale

12.

Read the passage.
On a warm, summer day, the tall green giant of the hills looked down upon the village below and cried. He wanted more than anything to become friends with them, but he knew from past experiences that they would were too afraid of him because of his horrible appearance. The people of the village were small in stature and plain looking. The giant was a horrible sight, with orange warts covering his face, yellow eyes, blue hair and standing almost 50 feet tall and
weights several tons. The earth seemed to shake when he walked, and he knew that the people of the village thought he was a monster. They had run him out of the village years ago with fire torches, chanting and waiving him out forever. His thoughts were interrupted by the sobbing sounds coming from nearby. He went to investigate and found a small child, lost in the hills. She was blind and could not find her way back home. The giant spoke to her in a soft voice, and because she couldn’t see his appearance, she was not afraid. He invited her in to his house for cookies and milk, and then he led her back to the gates of the village. They both promised to keep in touch and be great friends. The little girl skipped away happily and the giant’s heart felt lighter.
What is the pupose of this passage?

a.	to warn people away from giants	c.	to keep people away from monsters
b.	to describe what giants are supposed to look like	d.	to show that you can’t always judge people based on their appearance

13.

Read the poem.
It falls down,
Like sheets of ice.
Blanketing the ground,
With a freezing slice.
Melting to water,
As it touches the ground,
WET!
What is the author referring to in this poem?

a.	snow	c.	wind
b.	rain	d.	clouds

14.

Read the passage.
There was once a very wise man. He lived on a high mountain and was called Pundabi. With him lived a young boy. The boy’s name was Ali. Each morning Ali would come down the mountain. He would sit in the shade of a fig tree. Many people would come to him. They brought him loaves of bread. In the bread were pieces of fine linen. There would be questions on the linen for the wise Pundabi to answer. They would be questions of life and death, or about the search for happiness. Each evening Ali would climb the mountain and give the loaves
of bread to Pundabi. Pundabi would answer all the questions. Then they would eat the bread.Copyright Info: Myers, Walter Dean. “The Golden Serpent.” Elements of Literature, Introductory Course. Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Harcourt Brace and Company, 1997.
This passage is an example of what genre?

a.	non-fiction	c.	fable
b.	fairy tale	d.	poetry

15.

Read the passage.
He could hear the deafening clomp of the footsteps behind him as he ran through the trees in utter darkness. His heart was beating out of his chest, and he fumbled in his pockets for something, anything to defend himself. It was getting closer, and he could feel its hot breath on the back of his neck. Trying to scream, John opened his mouth, but no sound would come out. He decided he must take action. So, summoning all of his courage, he darted behind a tree and
turned to face the creature.
The author’s use of _____________________ makes this passage more interesting to the reader.

a.	rhyme	c.	dialogue
b.	suspense	d.	character development

16.

Read the passage.
None of the other children on the playground wanted to play with Jan, because she was hitting
them when they would tag her. Jan’s teacher walked over to Jan and asked her what was
wrong. Jan said that none of the other students liked her and she had no friends, because they
all though she was mean. Her teacher smiled and said, “You can always catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.”
What did Jan’s teacher mean by this?

a.	f you give the other children honey, they will like you.	c.	The students would like to eat honey on a picnic.
b.	Flies like to eat honey, but they don’t like to eat vinegar.	d.	You will make more friends by being sweet than being sour.

17.

Read the poem.
The Storm
In fury and terror
The tempest broke,
It tore up the pine
And shattered the oak,
Yet the hummingbird hovered
Within the hour
Sipping clear rain
From a trumpet flower.
Copyright Info: Coatsworth, Elizabeth. “The Storm.” Elements of Literature, Introductory Course. Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Harcourt Brace and Company, 1997.
The author’s use of _________________ appeals to the senses of the reader.

a.	imagery	c.	irony
b.	figure of speech	d.	metaphor

18.

Read the poem.
Fame is a bee.
It has a song—
It has a sting—
Ah, too, it has a wing.
Copyright Info: Dickinson, Emily. Elements of Literature, Introductory Course. Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Harcourt Brace and Company, 1997.
This is an example of:

a.	mood	c.	metaphor
b.	similie	d.	irony

19.

Read the passage.
It was her first day at her new school, and Jenny was terrified. She didn’t know anyone there, and this was a much bigger school than she was used to. Jenny wasn’t even sure she could find her locker, let alone her classes! She walked slowly down the hall with her chin tucked to her chest, so as not to make eye contact with anyone. She rubbed the old penny in her pocket with her left hand and remembered the night her grandmother had given it to her, saying that it
was a penny she loved as a child and Jenny should always keep it with her to remind herself that she is always loved too. As she finally found her locker and put all her books away, Jenny rubbed the penny again and thought to herself, I can do this, and she walked with her head up to find her first class for the day.
What does the penny symbolize to Jenny?

a.	peace	c.	friends
b.	love	d.	money

20.

Read the passage.
Now, the Star-Belly Sneetches
Had bellies with stars.
The Plain-Belly Sneetches
Had non upon thars.

Those stars weren’t so big. They were really so small
You might think such a thing wouldn’t matter at all.

But because they had stars, all the Star-Belly Sneetches
Would brag. “We’re the best kind of Sneetch on the beaches.”
With their snoots in the air, they would sniff and they’d snort.
“We’ll have nothing to do with the Plain-Belly sort!”
And whenever they met some, when they were out walking,
They’d hike right on past them without even talking.

When the Star-Belly children went out to play ball,
Could a Plain Belly get in the game . . .? Not at all.
You only could play if your bellies had stars
And the Plain-Belly children had none upon thars.
What is the problem and possible resolution for this passage?
Copyright Info: Geisel, Theodor (Dr. Seuss). “The Sneetches.” Elements of Literature, Introductory Course. Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Harcourt Brace and Company, 1997.

a.	The Star-Belly Sneetches don’t like the Plain Belly Sneetches because they are shorter, and they should move to another part of the country to avoid them.	c.	The Star-Belly Sneetches and the Plain Belly Sneetches are good friends, and they should make plans together.
b.	The Plain Belly Sneetches don’t like the Star-Belly Sneetches because they act funny, and they should tell them to leave them alone.	d.	The Star-Belly Sneetches don’t like the Plain Belly Sneetches because they look different, and they should learn to accept them and not judge them.