Grade 8 - English: Reading/Literature & Research (2002 VDOE Released Items)

Which question is answered in the introduction to the assembly instructions?
1. Is a clear finish included in the kit?
2. Are tools needed to assemble the table?
3. How many pieces are included in the kit?
4. What are the dimensions of the finished table?
In Step 4 of the instructions, the word Stability means --
1. steadiness
2. height
3. durability
4. attractiveness
Where should the rubber strips be glued to the table top?
1. Crosswise under the center
2. Lengthwise under the center
3. Under both long sides
4. Under both short ends
From the assembly instructions, the reader could conclude that --
1. the table is not intended to be taken apart and reconstructed
2. a painted finish will last longer than a clear finish
3. the table can not be assembled by one person
4. a warranty is provided in the package
Which statement best summarizes this passage?
1. The Backyard Pride Plastic Picnic Table provides a roomy place to have an outdoor lunch on a hot summer day.
2. The material used in the Backyard Pride Plastic Picnic Table has been molded and hardened to retain its shape under varying weather conditions.
3. The design for the Backyard Pride Plastic Picnic Table was based on several prize-winning designs submitted as part of a drafting contest.
4. The Backyard Pride Plastic Picnic Table can be built by following simple instructions that involve gluing and assembling pre-cut pieces.
What is meant by "It's as easy as 1, 2, 3" in the introduction?
1. There are three major pieces: table top, legs, and benches.
2. The last four steps are as simple as the first three.
3. The instructions have numbered steps.
4. Assembling the table is as simple as counting to three.
Which statement below expresses an opinion found in the introduction to the assembly instructions?
1. The table design is very clever.
2. Assembly requires no additional tools.
3. Waterproof glue is provided in the kit.
4. The table can be put together with a series of grooves.
Which words from Guest's poem show his attitude toward the phrase "it couldn't be done"?
1. Chuckle, grin, sing
2. Scoffed, couldn't, cannot
3. Doubting, failure, dangers
4. Replied, worried, started
The simple, straightforward style of "It Couldn't Be Done" is probably meant to reflect the --
1. values of an earlier historical period
2. author's natural speaking voice
3. ease of a task once it is attempted
4. skill needed to write a poem
The last two lines in each stanza of "It Couldn't Be Done" give the reader a sense of --
1. failure
2. happiness
3. confusion
4. accomplishment
What is one way the author of "Be the Best of Whatever You Are" emphasizes the theme in his poem?
1. The use of actions words throughout the poem
2. Employment of an abab rhyme scheme
3. Repitition of the phrase "If you can't"
4. Punctuating with dashes and semicolons
The rhythm in both of these poems contributes to a mood that is --
1. shocking
2. upbeat
3. gloomy
4. foolish
The speakers in both poems would probably disagree with which of the following statements?
1. Work hard at whatever task you take on and be proud of it.
2. You'll never know what you can accomplish until you give it your best effort.
3. You shouldn't accept the role you are given -- keep waiting for something better.
4. If you don't succeed at something, keep trying until you do.
How does the author's style in "It Couldn't Be Done" compare to the author's style in "Be the Best of Whatever You Are"?
1. Both authors enthusiastically offer advice to the reader.
2. The atuhor of "Be the Best of Whatever You Are" speaks directly to the reader.
3. Both authors use a four-line stanza.
4. The author of "It Couldn't Be Done" is more optimistic.
In which collection might these poems be found?
1. Rousing Poems for Every Day
2. Poetry for Quiet Moments
3. Travel Poems from Many Lands
4. Fishing Poems for the Angler
Which is a primary theme in this selection?
1. Know your place and keep it.
2. Don't believe everything you hear.
3. Think twice before you decide.
4. You can't please everybody.
Which organizational pattern is used in the passage?
1. Compare/contrast
2. Cause/effect
3. Time order
4. Order of importance
Which question is not answered in the selection?
1. Why doesn't Vasco want to be a lighthouse keeper?
2. How old is Vasco?
3. What was the former use of the lighthouse?
4. What is the name of the country where Vasco lives?
Whose point of view does the author use in this selection?
1. Carlos's
2. Alfonso's
3. Vasco's
4. Paulo's
Vasco's father tells him that he was named after Vasco de Gama in order to --
1. teach him a lesson in the history of Portugal
2. help him feel more important than Alfonso
3. persuade him to explore his own future
4. tease him about his first name
Which sentence from the selection expresses an idea that helped Vasco make his decision?
1. "They'd been at sea for a week because of rough weather."
2. "Many people who live here make their living from fishing."
3. "He spends much of his time alone."
4. " 'You can always return to fishing.' "
Which of these is the main conflict in this story?
1. Good versus evil
2. Old versus young
3. Man versus nature
4. Familiar versus unfamiliar
After Vasco finds the compass, he decides --
1. that being a fisherman is what he really wants
2. to learn more about the world before making a final choice
3. that he will seek a teaching career
4. to forget about fishing and be an explorer instead
Which is most likely to happen in the future?
1. Carlos will warn Vasco about the dangers of the sea.
2. Alfonso will quit fishing and become a lighthouse keeper.
3. Vasco's family will leave Portugal.
4. Vasco will go to the university.
Which is the best summary of this article?
1. Popeye, Olive Oyl, and other characters were based on real people.
2. Rocky Feigle was a tough fighter and a funny guy.
3. Segar started drawing Thimble Theater in 1920.
4. Thimble Theater was a cartoon about the Oyl family.
The author of this article wants readers to know about --
1. what happened in Popeye cartoons
2. how cartoons are drawn
3. how a cartoonist created his characters
4. the members of the Oyl family
Which question is answered in the first three paragraphs?
1. Was there a real Popeye?
2. What happened in Popeye's first comic appearance?
3. Who was Rocky Feigle?
4. Who was the model for J. Wellington Wimpy?
The word "Ja" at the beginning of paragraph 3 means --
1. Yes
2. Ha
3. Do you
4. Did he
Which of these is not a fact stated in the article?
1. Rocky worked at Gozney's Saloon.
2. Bill Schuchert was fond of hamburgers.
3. Segar's hometown was Chester, Illinois.
4. Rocky was modest and shy.
The reader can conclude that Rocky Feigle --
1. was well educated
2. had sailed all over the world
3. enjoyed the attention he got
4. was a memorable character
1. Sweetpea
2. Castor Oil
3. Ham Gravy
4. Mrs. Pascal
In paragraph 10, flailing means --
1. covering
2. swinging
3. crossing
4. hanging
You would probably find the most information about Segar in a book about --
1. town histories
2. cartoonists
3. sailors
4. cartoon techniques
In paragraph 5, the word entranced means --
1. proud
2. bored
3. frightened
4. fascinated
When Mr. Banvard says, "Come along with me, my friends, on a voyage down the Missouri and the Mississippi," what kind of language is he using?
1. Formal
2. Technical
3. Literal
4. Figurative
In paragraph 10, Julianna says, "During the tale, a little girl next to me actually gripped my arm anxiously." The purpose of this detail is to --
1. show how realistic Mr. Banvard's panarama was
2. create sympathy for the little girl
3. illustrate the theme of Mr. Banvard's story
4. set the tone for the conclusion of her letter
To find out more about Mr. Banvard's panorama, which source would be most helpful?
1. Sightseeing: A Space Panorama
2. American Landscape Artists of the 1800s
3. Sights and Sounds of teh Present-Day Missouri River
4. Entertainment in the American Colonies
The main idea of Julianna's letter is to express that --
1. her cousin, Owen, should save his money
2. Mr. Banvard's panorama depicts a once-in-a-lifetime experience
3. her father is very knowledgeable about New Orleans
4. Boston is a cultural and entertainment center
Julianna's father is in the story to provide --
1. a less serious tone
2. an opposing point of view
3. detailed technical information
4. the clever commentary
The author relates Julianna's sense of awe toward what she sees through --
1. dialogue
2. description
3. character
4. setting
1. attack
2. time
3. fascination
4. signify
1. 1
2. 2
3. 4
4. 5

Grade 8 - English: Reading/Literature & Research (2002 VDOE Released Items)

Multiple-Choice ExerciseContent © 2002 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.

Which question is answered in the introduction to the assembly instructions?

In Step 4 of the instructions, the word Stability means --

Where should the rubber strips be glued to the table top?

From the assembly instructions, the reader could conclude that --

Which statement best summarizes this passage?

What is meant by "It's as easy as 1, 2, 3" in the introduction?

Which statement below expresses an opinion found in the introduction to the assembly instructions?

Which words from Guest's poem show his attitude toward the phrase "it couldn't be done"?

The simple, straightforward style of "It Couldn't Be Done" is probably meant to reflect the --

The last two lines in each stanza of "It Couldn't Be Done" give the reader a sense of --

What is one way the author of "Be the Best of Whatever You Are" emphasizes the theme in his poem?

The rhythm in both of these poems contributes to a mood that is --

The speakers in both poems would probably disagree with which of the following statements?

How does the author's style in "It Couldn't Be Done" compare to the author's style in "Be the Best of Whatever You Are"?

In which collection might these poems be found?

Which is a primary theme in this selection?

Which organizational pattern is used in the passage?

Which question is not answered in the selection?

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

Vasco's father tells him that he was named after Vasco de Gama in order to --

Which sentence from the selection expresses an idea that helped Vasco make his decision?

Which of these is the main conflict in this story?

After Vasco finds the compass, he decides --

Which is most likely to happen in the future?

Which is the best summary of this article?

The author of this article wants readers to know about --

Which question is answered in the first three paragraphs?

The word "Ja" at the beginning of paragraph 3 means --

Which of these is not a fact stated in the article?

The reader can conclude that Rocky Feigle --

In paragraph 10, flailing means --

You would probably find the most information about Segar in a book about --

In paragraph 5, the word entranced means --

When Mr. Banvard says, "Come along with me, my friends, on a voyage down the Missouri and the Mississippi," what kind of language is he using?

In paragraph 10, Julianna says, "During the tale, a little girl next to me actually gripped my arm anxiously." The purpose of this detail is to --

To find out more about Mr. Banvard's panorama, which source would be most helpful?

The main idea of Julianna's letter is to express that --

Julianna's father is in the story to provide --

The author relates Julianna's sense of awe toward what she sees through --

Multiple-Choice Exercise
Content © 2002 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.

**Which statement best summarizes this passage?**

**The simple, straightforward style of "It Couldn't Be Done" is probably meant to reflect the --**

**The speakers in both poems would probably disagree with which of the following statements?**

**Which question is not answered in the selection?**

**Which is most likely to happen in the future?**

**Which is the best summary of this article?**

**Which of these is not a fact stated in the article?**

**You would probably find the most information about Segar in a book about --**

**To find out more about Mr. Banvard's panorama, which source would be most helpful?**