Grade 8: Writing (2003 VDOE Released Items)

Betsy doesn't know what to write about. Which of these would best help her?
1. Brainstorming for ideas
2. Reading her best friend's story
3. Going to the library to do research
4. Making an outline
Based on Betsy's notes, which of these would be the best title for her story?
1. Why I Like Basketball
2. What It's Like Being a Twin
3. The Moons of Saturn
4. Astronomy's Not So Boring After All
How can sentences 1 and 2 best be
joined?
1. Shivering in the cool night air, Betsy waited impatiently, she was waiting as her twin sister Maya adjusted the telescope lens.
2. Betsy, shivering in the cool night air, waited impatiently, waiting as her twin sister Maya adjusted the telescope lens.
3. Waiting impatiently, Betsy shivered in the cool night air, Betsy was waiting as her twin sister Maya adjusted the telescope lens.
4. Shivering in the cool night air, Betsy waited impatiently as her twin sister Maya adjusted the telescope lens.
How is sentence 5 best written?
1. But ever since two months ago Maya had gotten the telescope for her birthday, not interested in anything else.
2. But Maya had gotten the telescope for her birthday two months ago, she wasn't interested in anything else ever since.
3. But ever since Maya had gotten the telescope for her birthday two months ago, she wasn't interested in anything else.
4. But Maya had gotten the telescope ever since her birthday two months ago and wasn't interested in anything else.
Which of these does not belong in
Betsy's draft?
1. Sentence 6
2. Sentence 8
3. Sentence 13
4. Sentence 16
In sentence 21, how is the amazingest
thing correctly written?
1. the most amazing thing
2. the most amazingest thing
3. the more amazing thing
4. As it is
In sentence 23, how is can hardly keep
it in site correctly written?
1. can't hardly keep it in site
2. can't not hardly keep it in sight
3. can hardly keep it in sight
4. As it is
In sentence 24, how is both Saturn and
Earth is spinning correctly written?
1. both Saturn and Earth are spinning
2. both Saturn, and Earth are spinning
3. both Saturn, and Earth is spinning
4. As it is
In sentence 27, how is increasing
interest correctly written?
1. increasing intrest
2. increaseing intrest
3. increaseing interest
4. As it is
In sentence 29, how is I hope you and
me can correctly written?
1. I had hoped you and me can
2. I hope you and I can
3. I hope me and you can
4. As it is
Leslie decides to write about what it was like to be the daughter of a lighthouse keeper. Which of these would best help her gather information to write her story.
1. Rereading essays she has written recently for her English class
2. Thinking of a title for her story
3. Looking up the word "lighthouse" in the dictionary
4. Searching the Internet or online catalog at her school library
While writing her story, Leslie would want to include all of these EXCEPT --
1. details about the tasks of a lighthouse keeper
2. facts about the world's largest lighthouses
3. what it was like to live in a lighthouse
4. how the lighthouse keeper made sure that the lighthouse lamp stayed lit
What is the main difference between
paragraph 2 of Draft A and
paragraph 2 of Draft B?
1. The ideas in paragraph 2 of Draft A are expressed more concisely.
2. Paragraph 2 of Draft A does not focus on a central idea.
3. Paragraph 2 of Draft B has much more sentence variety.
4. Paragraph 2 of Draft A has a more personal approach.
In Draft B, which of these is not a complete sentence?
1. The moving process has taken up much of my time lately, but now we are settled.
2. Every morning the lighthouse keeper must climb the stairs to the lantern room.
3. Making it possible for faraway ships to see the light from miles away.
4. When evening falls, he goes up the stairs once again to light the lamps.
Which of these could best be added to the end of paragraph 1 in Draft B?
1. Otherwise, I am sure I would miss our old house very much.
2. Do you remember the fun we had together las summer?
3. I think I would like to travel by ship someday.
4. Papa will be well paid for performing the lighthouse keeper's duties.
How is Jacob, Daniel, and I best written?
1. me, Jacob, and Daniel
2. Jacob and me and Daniel
3. Jacob, Daniel, and myself
4. As it is
How is The Adventures of Robinhood
and His Merry Men best written?
1. The adventures of Robin Hood and his merry men
2. The Adventures Of Robin Hood And His Merry Men
3. The adventures of Robin Hood and his Merry Men
4. As it is
How ispass slow overhead best
written?
1. passes slowly over head
2. pass slowly overhead
3. passes slow overhead
4. As it is
How is shine in the distance best written?
1. shown in the distance
2. shined in the distance
3. shone in the distance
4. As it is
How is Yours Truly, best written?
1. Yours truly;
2. yours truly,
3. Yours truly,
4. As it is

Grade 8: Writing (2003 VDOE Released Items)

Multiple-Choice ExerciseContent © 2003 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.

Multiple-Choice Exercise
Content © 2003 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.