Grade 8 Reading - 2001 VDOE Released Items

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The main idea of the first three paragraphs is that Danny —
1. didn’t know the identity of his helper
2. read a message someone left for him
3. entered his project in the science exhibition
4. painted some greasy spots on his project
Danny was in a hurry to eat so he could —
1. call a friend to ask about the note
2. go to the store to buy brushes and paper towels
3. get back to school to paint his project
4. watch his favorite television program
From paragraph 5, the reader learns all of these except —
1. when Danny would have discovered the loose bolts
2. where Danny’s project was
3. what kind of material Danny used in his project
4. why the bolts were loose on the bridge
Which word best describes how Danny felt toward his “helper?”
1. Concerned
2. Grateful
3. Envious
4. Suspicious
With which words does the author foreshadow the identity of Danny’s “helper?”
1. “Danny decided to look at other projects.”
2. “No clues here yet.”
3. “Tonight he would perform his demonstration.”
4. “He was always working on his bicycle.”
In paragraph 6, the word fortuitous means —
1. special project
2. difficult contest
3. hopeful wish
4. chance happening
The author provides enough information for the reader to conclude that —
1. J.J. Brandon’s project had a good chance of winning
2. Sun Mai Lee once lived in a desert
3. Bob Wyatt’s project should have included a motor
4. Joe Don had looked closely at Danny’s project
Even though Joe Don said “Oh, that was really hard work,” the reader is aware that in reality —
1. the job was an easy one for him
2. Joe Don was resentful of having to help Danny
3. Joe Don’s project was not as good as Danny’s
4. only a good mechanic could have done the job
The title of this selection suggests that it would most likely be found in which of these books?
1. Science Exhibition Projects
2. Writing Good Notes
3. Real Life Mysteries
4. Bridges That Made History
From whose point of view is the story told in this poem?
1. Lightning
2. Slewfoot-Sue
3. Pecos Bill
4. Unknown narrator
Which question does stanza 3 answer?
1. What did Sue want?
2. Was Bill able to lasso a tornado?
3. What did Sue look like?
4. Did Bill get Sue her own horse?
What is the rhyme pattern for each stanza?
1. abac
2. aabc
3. abcb
4. abca
How did Slewfoot-Sue change in the last stanza from stanza 3?
1. She never saw Pecos Bill again.
2. She married Bill.
3. She learned to rope and shoot.
4. She didn’t ride horses anymore.
Bill’s horse was named “Lightning” for its —
1. power
2. size
3. intelligence
4. color
The lack of punctuation at the ends of some lines gives the reader a feeling —
1. that there should be a pause at the end of every line
2. that something is missing
3. of continuing thought or action
4. of doubt
Which phrase from the poem tells something that Sue and Bill did together?
1. . . . roped the storm . . .
2. . . flew around the moon . . .
3. . . . rode upon the wind . . .
4. . . . kept a-bouncin’ up and down . . .
1. Solid
2. Warmth
3. Interlocking
4. Upstroke
If a bird’s bones were thicker and more solid, a bird probably could —
1. not fly at all
2. fly higher
3. fly longer
4. fly faster
Which question does paragraph 5 answer?
1. What quality of vision do birds possess?
2. What is meant by the term “lift”?
3. How high can birds fly?
4. What types of feathers do birds have?
In paragraph 6, the word avian means —
1. in a delicate manner
2. relating to birds
3. tending to be light
4. the process of flying
Which sentence expresses the main idea of the article?
1. Birds have beautiful feathers.
2. Airplane propellers remind an observer of a bird’s wings.
3. The beaks of birds may break easily.
4. Birds are uniquely crafted to fly.
Which is the best summary for this selection?
1. The upward and backward movement of the wing during upstroke helps to push a bird forward as it flies.
2. A bird’s light body and feathers make it well suited for flight, and its wings move in a special way in the air.
3. When a bird’s wings are spread, its wings and feathers form a special shape that helps the bird to maintain flight.
4. The ability of a bird to fly makes it more interesting to read about than any other kind of animal.
The reader can tell from the style and form of this selection that the author’s main purpose is to —
1. tell an entertaining story
2. create powerful images
3. present scientific facts
4. give detailed instructions
1. heap, mound
2. size, weight
3. accumulation, collection
4. company, crowd
Which of the author’s opinions is best supported by the facts in this selection?
1. Birds are the most beautiful of nature’s flying creatures.
2. Birds are well equipped for soaring through the sky.
3. Flight is the most noteworthy trait of birds.
4. Even airplanes can’t match the grace of birds in flight.
Which form of literature is this selection?
1. Poem
2. Biography
3. Short story
4. Science fiction story
Which point of view does the author use in this selection?
1. First person, Isabel
2. Third person, Samuel
3. First person, Carolina
4. Third person, outside observer
What is the initiating event in this selection?
1. The argument between Luisa and Samuel
2. The introduction of Luisa and Isabel
3. The marriage of Carolina and Samuel
4. The marriage of Isabel and Alfonse
Why is it important to the plot of the selection that Luisa lives in an apartment building?
1. She does not have a garden of her own.
2. It is very far away from Isabel’s house.
3. Her family must live in a very small space.
4. She is unable to grow plants in her room.
What does the author mean by the sentence in paragraph 15, “We just don’t seem to have green thumbs”?
1. We are not very good at growing things.
2. We prefer to use dried flower arrangements.
3. We don’t have a very large garden.
4. We have worked very hard to grow vegetables.
What is Luisa’s internal conflict?
1. She must work hard to control her temper.
2. She can never live up to Isabel’s reputation.
3. She is sad because she does not have a garden.
4. She has wished for a sister for many years.
The author’s repeated use of the word “perfect” to describe Isabel helps to communicate Luisa’s feeling of —
1. admiration
2. resentment
3. sadness
4. appreciation
The dialogue in this selection helps to —
1. describe the setting of the story
2. explain why Carolina does not speak
3. make the characters seem more real
4. move the story from scene to scene
How did Luisa change over the course of the selection?
1. She helped convince her mother to marry Samuel.
2. She became more confident in her own strengths and abilities.
3. She realized that she would never become friends with Isabel.
4. She decided to participate in more sports activities.
In paragraph 4 of the letter, the word cater means —
1. make excuses
2. offer work
3. give orders
4. show preference
In paragraph 6 of the letter, the word counterproductive means —
1. surprising, not expected
2. doubtful, not sure
3. cheap, not expensive
4. harmful, not helpful
Information in which paragraph of the letter supports the idea that Wes Woodrow is practical with his own money?
1. 3
2. 6
3. 5
4. 4
One way the writer of this letter tries to convince the reader is by —
1. giving specific examples of the high costs in Brockingham
2. suggesting that many businessmen have the same opinion
3. telling the names of towns near Brockingham
4. explaining that someone has to drive him to Parkersburg
Which statement from the letter best supports the idea that Wes Woodrow’s family has probably lived in Brockingham for a long time?
1. You can get an Emporium Deluxe with lettuce, tomato, cheese, and a pickle for a mere $6.98!
2. The problem is that the people running the government, and nearly everything else in Brockingham, refuse to accept new ideas.
3. These people forget that when they were young, they could go to the South Street Soda Fountain and get an ice-cream soda for 25 cents.
4. Another thing that disturbs me is that we must travel 25 miles to the nearest discount store.
Information in this letter suggests that the residents of Brockingham spend a lot of time —
1. dining with friends at the Emporium
2. working at local restaurants
3. writing letters to the City Council
4. shopping in Parkersburg
Which is an opinion expressed in the letter?
1. When we are in Parkersburg, my dad always fills up the tank of the car.
2. It seems as if you’re walking down a Brockingham High corridor when you walk down South Main Street in Parkersburg.
3. Today you can’t find an ice-cream soda anywhere in Brockingham for less than $2.
4. Most of these places have shifts that accommodate a student’s schedule.
As a result of reading this letter in the newspaper, other people are most likely to —
1. demand that the newspaper investigate the concern
2. write letters of support or opposition
3. purchase goods from local businesses
4. hire high school students to do work after school

Grade 8 Reading - 2001 VDOE Released Items

Multiple-Choice ExerciseContent © 2001 Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Education; Permission to Use Granted by VDOE; Author of Activity: Tami Maloney; All rights reserved. No commercial, for-profit use of this material is allowed. E-mail comments and questions to Tami Maloney.

The main idea of the first three paragraphs is that Danny —

Danny was in a hurry to eat so he could —

From paragraph 5, the reader learns all of these except —

Which word best describes how Danny felt toward his “helper?”

With which words does the author foreshadow the identity of Danny’s “helper?”

In paragraph 6, the word fortuitous means —

The author provides enough information for the reader to conclude that —

Even though Joe Don said “Oh, that was really hard work,” the reader is aware that in reality —

The title of this selection suggests that it would most likely be found in which of these books?

From whose point of view is the story told in this poem?

Which question does stanza 3 answer?

What is the rhyme pattern for each stanza?

How did Slewfoot-Sue change in the last stanza from stanza 3?

Bill’s horse was named “Lightning” for its —

The lack of punctuation at the ends of some lines gives the reader a feeling —

Which phrase from the poem tells something that Sue and Bill did together?

If a bird’s bones were thicker and more solid, a bird probably could —

Which question does paragraph 5 answer?

In paragraph 6, the word avian means —

Which sentence expresses the main idea of the article?

Which is the best summary for this selection?

The reader can tell from the style and form of this selection that the author’s main purpose is to —

Which of the author’s opinions is best supported by the facts in this selection?

Which form of literature is this selection?

Which point of view does the author use in this selection?

What is the initiating event in this selection?

Why is it important to the plot of the selection that Luisa lives in an apartment building?

What does the author mean by the sentence in paragraph 15, “We just don’t seem to have green thumbs”?

What is Luisa’s internal conflict?

The author’s repeated use of the word “perfect” to describe Isabel helps to communicate Luisa’s feeling of —

The dialogue in this selection helps to —

How did Luisa change over the course of the selection?

In paragraph 4 of the letter, the word cater means —

In paragraph 6 of the letter, the word counterproductive means —

Information in which paragraph of the letter supports the idea that Wes Woodrow is practical with his own money?

One way the writer of this letter tries to convince the reader is by —

Which statement from the letter best supports the idea that Wes Woodrow’s family has probably lived in Brockingham for a long time?

Information in this letter suggests that the residents of Brockingham spend a lot of time —

Which is an opinion expressed in the letter?

As a result of reading this letter in the newspaper, other people are most likely to —

Multiple-Choice Exercise
Content © 2001 Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Education; Permission to Use Granted by VDOE; Author of Activity: Tami Maloney; All rights reserved.
No commercial, for-profit use of this material is allowed. E-mail comments and questions to Tami Maloney.

**From paragraph 5, the reader learns all of these except —**

**Which word best describes how Danny felt toward his “helper?”**

**The title of this selection suggests that it would most likely be found in which of these books?**

**If a bird’s bones were thicker and more solid, a bird probably could —**

**Which is the best summary for this selection?**

**Which of the author’s opinions is best supported by the facts in this selection?**

**Which is an opinion expressed in the letter?**

**As a result of reading this letter in the newspaper, other people are most likely to —**