GRADE 8
Reading Language Arts
Practice Assessment
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READING LANGUAGE ARTS
Grade 8 RLA
Page 3
Read the selection and choose the best answer to each
question.
A Day in the Life aboard the
International Space Station
1
1 Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live and
work in space?
Eating in Space
2 Imagine going camping for more than a week with several
of your close friends. You would make sure you have plenty of
food and the gear to cook and eat it with. The food would have
to be stored properly and be nonperishable to avoid spoilage.
After finishing your meal, or at the end of your camping trip, you
would then stow all your gear and dispose of your trash properly
just before the ride home.
3 Astronauts basically do the same thing when they go to
space. Preparation varies with the food type. Some foods can be
eaten in their natural forms, such as brownies and fruit. Other
foods require adding water, such as macaroni and cheese or
spaghetti. Of course, an oven is provided in the space station to
heat foods to the proper temperature. There are no refrigerators
in space, so space food must be stored and prepared properly to
avoid spoilage, especially on longer missions.
4 Condiments, such as ketchup, mustard, and mayonnaise,
are provided. Salt and pepper are available but only in a liquid
form. This is because astronauts can’t sprinkle salt and pepper
on their food in space. The salt and pepper would simply float
away. There is a danger they could clog air vents, contaminate
equipment, or get stuck in an astronaut’s eyes, mouth, or nose.
5 Astronauts eat three meals a day: breakfast, lunch, and
dinner. Nutritionists ensure the food astronauts eat provides
them with a balanced supply of vitamins and minerals. Calorie
requirements differ for astronauts. For instance, a small woman
would require only about 1,900 calories a day, while a large man
1
The International Space Station is a large spacecraft that orbits Earth. It is a temporary home
to astronauts from several countries, who conduct research on the effects of life in space.
Grade 8 RLA
Page 4
would require about 3,200 calories. An astronaut can choose
from many types of foods such as fruits, nuts, peanut butter,
chicken, beef, seafood, candy, brownies, etc. Available drinks
include coffee, tea, orange juice, fruit punches, and lemonade.
6 As on Earth, space food comes in disposable packages.
Astronauts must throw their packages away when they have
finished eating. Some packaging actually prevents food from
flying away. The food packaging is designed to be flexible and
easier to use, as well as to maximize space when stowing or
disposing of food containers.
Sleeping in Space
7 After a long day at work, nothing is better than a good
night’s sleep! Just like on Earth, in space a worker goes to bed
at a certain time, then wakes up and prepares for work again.
There are a few differences, though. Space has no “up” or
“down,” but it does have microgravity. As a result, astronauts
are weightless and can sleep in any orientation. However, they
have to attach themselves so they don’t float around and bump
into something. Space station crews usually sleep in sleeping
bags located in small crew cabins. Each crew cabin is just big
enough for one person.
8 Generally, astronauts are scheduled for eight hours of sleep
at the end of each mission day. Like on Earth, though, they may
wake up in the middle of their sleep period to use the toilet, or
stay up late and look out the window. Different things such as
excitement or motion sickness can disrupt an astronaut’s sleep
pattern. During their sleep period, astronauts have reported
having dreams and nightmares. Some have even reported
snoring in space.
Free Time in Space
9 Living in space is not just all work and no play. Astronauts
like to have fun, too. If you’re staying on the International Space
Station for a few months, it is certainly okay to look out the
window, play with your food, or tease your crewmates once in a
while. Fun is an essential ingredient to the quality of life.
10 Astronauts need a break from their busy schedules when
they are orbiting Earth. Days or even months of straight work
are certain to cause stress among space workers. That is why
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flight planners on Earth schedule time each day for astronauts
to relax, exercise, and have some fun. Station crew members
even manage to have fun while working. Experiments in space
sometimes involve ordinary toys and how microgravity
affects them.
11 A popular pastime while orbiting Earth is simply looking
out the window. Inside the International Space Station, crew
members have numerous windows they can look out. Astronauts
often comment on their fascination and awe as they look at
Earth spin beneath them with its multiple shades and textures.
Sunsets and sunrises are also very spectacular, occurring every
45 minutes above Earth’s atmosphere.
“A Day in the Life Aboard the International Space Station”—Public Domain/NASA
Grade 8 RLA
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1 Which sentence best belongs in a summary of the section “Eating in
Space”?
A
Discarding all trash is important when leaving a camping area.
B
Food packaging for use on Earth and in space can be recycled.
C
Food packaging made for use in space is flexible.
D
Packing for a trip to space is similar to packing for a camping trip.
2 How does the author organize the section “Free Time in Space” to
develop the thesis of the article?
A
By explaining the ways astronauts can relax while on board the
space station
B
By listing activities available to astronauts outside of work hours
C
By describing how astronauts can make work entertaining
D
By following the activities of an astronaut on an average day
3 The details in paragraphs 7 and 8 support the key idea that —
A
sleeping in space can be much more dangerous than sleeping at
home on Earth
B
astronauts must approach sleep the same way they approach
other scheduled activities
C
sleep patterns often change for astronauts spending extended
periods in space
D
astronauts feel like they are camping outdoors when they sleep
in space
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4 What is the most likely reason the author includes the information
about sunsets and sunrises in paragraph 11?
A
To explain why astronauts choose to live on the space station
B
To describe some circumstances that make life on the space
station enjoyable
C
To show how astronauts keep track of the days and nights
D
To indicate how often the astronauts record their observations
about Earth
5 Based on information in the article, what can the reader conclude
about how the conditions of space affect life aboard the space station?
A
Everything taken into space must be compact in order to keep
from interfering with equipment on the space station.
B
Astronauts must adapt many daily activities because of how
weight is experienced in space.
C
Sleep periods are carefully planned because of the way time is
experienced in space.
D
Astronauts combine work and recreation in order to avoid boredom
from being in the space station each day.
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6 What is the controlling idea of the article?
A
Astronauts need time to eat, sleep, and relax while living on the
space station.
B
To survive living in space, astronauts eat the same food as they do
on Earth and need to store it correctly.
C
Living and working in space is both similar to and different from
living and working on Earth.
D
Living on the space station is both interesting and difficult because
many experiments must be performed.
7 What does the footnote in the article help the reader understand?
A
The International Space Station is used by multiple nations for
scientific studies.
B
The International Space Station is a motionless spacecraft.
C
The International Space Station is used for short- and long-term
living.
D
The International Space Station is the size of a large city.
8 What is the most likely reason the author uses a descriptive
organizational structure for the article?
A
To provide the reader with a schedule of daily life on the
space station
B
To provide the reader with a list of requirements for life on the
space station
C
To help the reader understand different parts of the space station
D
To help the reader experience what life is like on the space station
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9 In paragraph 11, how do the words “fascination,” “awe,” and
“spectacular” contribute to the author’s tone in the article?
A
By revealing the gratitude that astronauts feel about what they
can see from space
B
By demonstrating the satisfaction that astronauts feel about living
on the space station
C
By creating a feeling of wonder about the sights that astronauts
view from space
D
By developing a feeling of mystery about astronauts who live and
work on the space station
Grade 8 RLA
Page 10
Read the selection and choose the best answer to each
question.
Leading Men
1 It’s probably important to explain that Atticus really is
my best friend, although sometimes it can be difficult to tell,
particularly when we are locked in some colossal, overblown
competition.
2 It would be the understatement of the millennium to say
that we are feeling competitive this morning as we arrive at
school. The whole crew strolls in at roughly the same time—
Carson, Atticus, and me, piling into our regular booth in the
cafeteria to wait for classes to start.
3 “Today’s the big day, Saul. Are you ready to see my name
in lights?” Atticus chuckles, patting my shoulder just a bit more
vigorously than necessary. “You remember when Mr. French
said, ‘There are no small parts, only small actors?’ ” I nod and
he continues, “Well, all I can say is I better not get a small part
in this play.” I roll my eyes and Carson laughs, which surprises
me. He’s usually so quiet. Then Carson’s face morphs into a look
of dogged determination. Curious, I think, before turning my
attention back to Atticus.
4 “Sure thing, Atticus,” I say. “We’ll just see whose name is
on the board.”
5 Atticus and I, as well as most of our friends, auditioned
last week for parts in the high school production of the musical
Oliver! Spoiler alert! It’s a play about a boy in England who is
thrown out of a workhouse, experiences misadventures, and
eventually finds a wonderful home.
6 Since the production will be at the high school, Ms. Lopez,
the high school director, came to our middle school to hold
auditions for the kids’ parts. Most of the younger roles are just
parts in the chorus. They sing in group scenes, but they don’t
have many lines. All the adult parts will be played by high school
students.
Grade 8 RLA
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7 There are a few parts with lines for younger kids. One
interesting character, the Artful Dodger, would be fun to play, but
the part that we all have our eyes on is the lead, Oliver.
8 “Come on, man. You know I always get the best parts.
Remember?” Atticus stands up and lifts his arms in front of his
head, chomping down like a giant pair of jaws.
9 “Seriously, The Carnivore Waltz? That was second grade,
Atticus,” I respond, as that day comes flooding back to me.
10 Do I remember? Of course I remember. Atticus and I had
bolted to the cafeteria after recess, excited to audition for our
first-ever class play. Our teacher told us that everyone would
have a part, but we all wanted to be the mightiest dinosaur,
Tyrannosaurus rex. We took turns performing our interpretation
of a T. rex roar and showing off our best dinosaur moves.
Atticus auditioned last, pushing his elbows into his shirt sleeves
so that he had tiny front arms and stomping ferociously in
circles. I wished I had thought of making my arms look shorter.
When our teacher smiled at his interpretation, my heart dropped
to my stomach. Clearly, Atticus was made to be front and center,
playing the lead.
11 I jolt back to the present when I hear others around me
laughing and cheering as Atticus revives his role from The
Carnivore Waltz. He lumbers around the booths, growling at
everyone while performing a ridiculous dance. Yes, yes, he had
been the Tyrannosaurus rex, and I had been some herbivore
whose name I can’t remember and could never pronounce
correctly. That was a long time ago.
12 Atticus and I always seem to be in direct competition.
Whether it was who got to be line leader in our third-grade
class or who earned a solo in a school production, it was
always Atticus and me, struggling to get the biggest part. The
frustrating thing is that he usually gets it. It’s exasperating! Last
year our drama class presented two theater productions, and he
got the lead role in both. I get parts, but Atticus gets leads.
13 Maybe this time will be different. I feel like I was made for
this part. It’s Oliver, the underdog, the kid who wants just a little
bit more and ends up realizing his dreams. I have talent—I can
sing and act as well as any kid, almost as well as Atticus.
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14 Eventually, Atticus quits clowning around and sits down
beside me. “You know I’m joking, right?” he says. “You would
make a perfect Oliver, Saul. I’ll be happy if you get it.”
15 “Thanks, Atticus. You’re right, I would be perfect,” I say
with a smirk. Then I add sincerely, “You would be great too.”
After all the bantering, I am relieved that we can have this
moment. Whatever happens, we will always be friends.
16 The bell rings, and a throng of students moves toward
the door. We are jostling to get ahead, eager to see the page
hanging on the wall outside the auditorium door, the page that
will tell us who got which part.
17 Everyone crowds together, scanning the page. Carson
gasps, and I glance at him and then back at the paper. There it
is, in large print at the top—Oliver: Carson V.
18 Atticus and I finally find our names at the very bottom
of the page with our characters’ names written next to them:
“Boy 3” and “Boy 4.” After a moment of shock, we both start
laughing. Then we turn toward Carson, each of us trying to give
him the first “congratulations!”
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10 In paragraph 17, Carson gasps most likely because he is —
A
nervous from being crowded by so many students in the hall
B
disappointed that his friends received small parts
C
excited that his friends get to be in the chorus together
D
shocked that he was given the lead role
11 Read the question carefully. Then record your answer in the box
provided.
What characteristics of the story help the reader identify it as realistic
fiction? Support your answer with evidence from the story.
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12 Read this sentence from paragraph 15.
After all the bantering, I am relieved that we can have
this moment.
Which text evidence from the story best helps the reader understand
the meaning of the word bantering?
A
Most of the younger roles are just parts in the chorus.
(paragraph 6)
B
“You know I always get the best parts.” (paragraph 8)
C
Atticus and I always seem to be in direct competition.
(paragraph 12)
D
“You know I’m joking, right?” (paragraph 14)
13 How does the use of a ashback help develop the plot of the story?
A
It reveals that Atticus and Saul have been in competition for years.
B
It shows why Saul is unconcerned about getting the lead role.
C
It shows that Atticus and Saul prefer acting as dinosaurs.
D
It reveals why Saul sees himself as similar to the Artful Dodger.
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14 Based on his thoughts throughout the story, how will Saul most likely
feel after congratulating Carson?
A
Relieved that he will not have to learn the role of Oliver, but
troubled that Carson may have difficulty learning his part
B
Proud to have gotten any part in the high school play, but worried
about having to sing in his role of Boy 4
C
Concerned that Atticus did not get the lead, but hopeful that the
play will be a hit
D
Saddened that he will not get to play the role of Oliver, but happy
that it was Carson who got the lead this time
15 How does the author use irony at the end of the story?
A
By having Carson earn the lead role instead of Atticus or Saul
B
By having Saul pretend to be happy when he did not earn the
lead role
C
By having Saul and Atticus compete to see who will be nicest to
their friend
D
By having Carson react casually when he sees his name on the list
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16 Which sentence from the story best supports why Saul thinks of
himself as similar to the character of Oliver?
A
“We’ll just see whose name is on the board.” (paragraph 4)
B
Yes, yes, he had been the Tyrannosaurus rex, and I had been
some herbivore whose name I can’t remember and could never
pronounce correctly. (paragraph 11)
C
Then I add sincerely, “You would be great too.” (paragraph 15)
D
We are jostling to get ahead, eager to see the page hanging on
the wall outside the auditorium door, the page that will tell us who
got which part. (paragraph 16)
17 How does Atticus and Saul’s behavior help resolve the conict of
the story?
A
They both remember competitions between them from the past.
B
They each admit that they will be happy if the other gets the part.
C
They each decide to try out for the parts of the Artful Dodger
and Oliver.
D
They both congratulate Carson before the other students can.
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18 Read paragraph 9.
“Seriously, The Carnivore Waltz? That was second grade,
Atticus,” I respond, as that day comes flooding back to me.
Decide whether each sentence shows how Saul’s comment to Atticus
supports the theme of the story.
Select ONE correct answer in each row.
Sentence
Shows
How Saul’s
Comment
Supports the
Theme
Does Not Show
How Saul’s
Comment
Supports the
Theme
It shows that having an accurate
memory is important in acting.
A B
It indicates that friendships
develop over time.
A B
It illustrates that actors must
reect on previous performances.
A B
It suggests that friendship can
overcome old frustrations.
A B
It demonstrates that teasing
usually damages a friendship.
A B
Grade 8 RLA
Page 18
Read the next two selections. Then choose the best answer
to each question.
Avery’s Gift
1 “Everything looks beautiful,” Avery whispered to Danielle as
they waited for others to arrive. Balloons and flowers festooned
the music room, and above the table lavishly laden with cookies
and punch stretched a banner that read, “Happy retirement,
Mrs. Vadakin! We’ll miss you!”
2 But as perfect as everything looked, Avery couldn’t help
feeling beset by doubts. More students began to arrive, and
teachers and parents, and a mass of cards and gifts began to
grow on the table next to the food. Avery held onto the large
manila envelope she’d brought, a viper in her hand, agitated by
thoughts that she should have gotten Mrs. Vadakin something
else.
3 “What’s in the envelope anyway?” asked Danielle, nibbling
a cookie.
4 Avery, embarrassed, replied, “It’s something I wrote for
Mrs. Vadakin.”
5 “Something you wrote, like an essay?”
6 Avery lowered her voice. “Not an essay, a piece of piano
music.”
7 “A composition?” Danielle asked. “I didn’t know you
composed!”
8 Avery looked at the envelope in her hands, hoping it hadn’t
been a mistake, hoping it wasn’t too ridiculous a gift for an
exceptional teacher. Avery didn’t actually write music, but her
father was a professional composer, creating masterpieces for
both film and theater. He was the one who convinced her to try,
arguing an original arrangement was the perfect gift—something
meaningful.
9 So, her father transcribed the piece for her. Note by note,
chord by chord, Avery played her piece repeatedly while he
wrote out the notes, and when they finished several hours later,
Avery was flushed with accomplishment.
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10 But now the reservations had returned. Reluctantly, Avery
sidled up to the table and began to slip her envelope into the
mound.
11 Danielle snatched it up, and to Avery’s mortification, called
out “Mrs. Vadakin, Avery has a unique gift for you!”
12 Avery froze while Mrs. Vadakin took the envelope and
opened it, her mouth dropping open in surprise.
13 “Avery, you wrote this yourself?”
14 Avery forced herself to nod.
15 “May I play this right now?” Avery closed her eyes and
wished herself a thousand miles away as Mrs. Vadakin moved
to the piano and settled herself at the bench and everyone
gathered.
16 While Mrs. Vadakin played, Avery’s melody, full of light and
shadows, filled the room. When the final haunting chord hung in
the air, everyone burst into applause. Avery blushed but smiled
back at Mrs. Vadakin, whose eyes glistened with tears.
17 Her father was right: this was the perfect gift.
Grade 8 RLA
Page 20
Chicken of the Sea Is So Wacky—Of
Course It Was Created by Ki
by Samantha Balaban
1 When Ellison Nguyen was 4 years old, he got the chance
to meet Thi Bui, the illustrator of one of his favorite books. He
was so inspired by her work that he promptly wrote and drew
his own picture book—“It came to me,” Ellison, now 6, explains
simply.
2 Chicken of the Sea tells the story of three farm chickens:
Every day they wake up, they lay eggs, they go to sleep . . .
and then they start the process all over again. They’re bored
and ready for an adventure, until one day a rat pirate arrives at
the farm ready to enlist the chickens to sail the high seas (“but
they’re too dumb to be pirates,” Ellison says).
3 The project became a multi-generational collaboration.
Ellison’s dad, Viet Nguyen (who is also very good at writing
books), helped him with the story, and got in touch with Thi Bui
to see if she might like to illustrate it. Bui enlisted her son, Hien
Bui-Stafford, 13, for the job.
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4 “My mom . . . helped me with pointers like the background
or like a posture of the character,” Hien says. “We usually would
work like after school or during the weekends when we had our
time together. Really the whole thing looked really bad without
my mom.”
5 Bui thinks her son is just being modest.
6 “I really was intimidated by the idea of illustrating this
story because it’s way more creative and imaginative than what
I normally do, which is nonfiction,” Bui says. “So I needed Hien’s
brain, which was like closer to Ellison’s brain, to give me the raw
material to work with and so he did all the line drawings on his
own.”
7 Bui says if she had been illustrating this book, she would
have probably “overthought” it—doing lots of research about
chickens. Her son was able to be more intuitive.
8 “Hien just thought: chicken,” she says. “And then he drew
this thing straight out of his imagination and it was spot on.”
9 Viet Nguyen says he loved working with his son Ellison on
the book.
10 “It affirmed for me something that I think a lot of artists
and writers know, which is that it’s really crucial for us to try
to tap into the playfulness that’s inside of us—and the child’s
capacity to think beyond the conventions that we’ve absorbed as
adults,” he says.
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11 As for 6-year-old Ellison’s review of working with his dad?
12 “It was great,” he says.
13 When asked what moral he hopes his readers will take
away from Chicken of the Sea, Ellison asks for clarification about
what a “moral” is. Told that it’s an idea people take away after
reading a book, he replies: “Nothing.”
14 So why end the book with a party? Simple: “I like happy
endings,” Ellison says.
©2019 National Public Radio, Inc. News report titled “‘Chicken Of The Sea’ Is So Wacky—Of Course It Was Created By
Kids” by Samantha Balaban as originally published on npr.org on December 29, 2019, and is used with the permission of
NPR. Any unauthorized duplication is strictly prohibited.
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19 Which phrase from paragraph 16 of the story “Avery’s Gift” shows that
Avery’s melody expresses a mixture of emotions?
A
full of light and shadows
B
filled the room
C
final haunting chord
D
hung in the air
20 Read this information about the word agitate.
from Latin agitatus, meaning “to put in constant or
violent motion”
Based on this information, what is a synonym for the word agitated as
it is used in paragraph 2 of the story “Avery’s Gift”?
A
Threatened
B
Handled
C
Bothered
D
Served
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21 Which line of dialogue from the story “Avery’s Gift” supports the theme
that success sometimes comes from being willing to take a risk?
A
“What’s in the envelope anyway?” (paragraph 3)
B
“It’s something I wrote for Mrs. Vadakin.” (paragraph 4)
C
“Something you wrote, like an essay?” (paragraph 5)
D
“May I play this right now?” (paragraph 15)
22 In paragraph 2 of the story “Avery’s Gift,” the most likely reason the
author uses the metaphor “a viper in her hand” is to —
A
emphasize the strength of Avery’s fear
B
suggest that Avery’s concern is legitimate
C
call attention to the unusual nature of Avery’s gift
D
suggest that Avery’s gift may have a shocking result
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23 Read this paragraph about the article “Chicken of the Sea Is So
Wacky—Of Course It Was Created by Kids.”
Inspired by Thi Bui, the illustrator of one of his favorite
books, four-year-old Ellison Nguyen decided to write his
own book titled Chicken of the Sea. The book is about
three chickens who go on an adventure. Ellison’s father
helped him write the story, and Thi Bui helped her son Hien
draw the pictures.
Which idea should be included in this paragraph to create a complete
summary of the article?
A
Hien’s mom gave him advice on how to draw pictures during
the weekends.
B
Viet Nguyen enjoyed working with his son on the book.
C
Ellison said his story idea just came to him after he met Thi Bui.
D
While the book had no particular message for the reader, it
included a happy ending.
24 What is the most likely reason the author includes the details in
paragraph 2 of the article “Chicken of the Sea Is So Wacky—Of Course
It Was Created by Kids”?
A
To provide information about the book the author is discussing
B
To show the reason why many people contributed to the book
C
To support the illustrations that are shown from the book
D
To emphasize that the writer of the book is a young boy
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25 Which conclusion about the creative process in the article “Chicken
of the Sea Is So Wacky—Of Course It Was Created by Kids” is
DIFFERENT from the conclusion about the creative process in the
story “Avery’s Gift”?
A
Children are proud after they finish a project.
B
Adults provide professional help with a project.
C
Children are less likely to overthink ideas than adults are.
D
Adults appreciate the work of children.
26 The story “Avery’s Gift” and the article “Chicken of the Sea Is So
Wacky—Of Course It Was Created by Kids” are SIMILAR because —
A
they both demonstrate the benefits of working together as a team
B
they both show that adult guidance is critical for children to succeed
C
they both explain why artists are sometimes reluctant to share
their work
D
they both reveal that children and adults generally think in
similar ways
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27 Which sentence best describes how the tone in the story “Avery’s
Gift” DIFFERS from the tone in the article “Chicken of the Sea Is So
Wacky—Of Course It Was Created by Kids”?
A
The tone of the story is disapproving, while the tone of the article
is admiring.
B
The tone of the story is comforting, while the tone of the article
is humorous.
C
The tone of the story is curious, while the tone of the article
is thoughtful.
D
The tone of the story is anxious, while the tone of the article
is positive.
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28 Read the story “Avery’s Gift” and the article “Chicken of the Sea Is So
Wacky—Of Course It Was Created by Kids.” Based on the information
in both selections, write a response to the following:
Explain how Avery’s father in the story “Avery’s Gift” is similar to
Ellison’s father in the article “Chicken of the Sea Is So Wacky—Of
Course It Was Created by Kids.”
Write a well-organized essay that uses specific evidence from the
selections to support your answer.
Remember to —
• clearly state your controlling idea
• organize your writing
• develop your ideas in detail
• use evidence from both selections in your response
• use correct spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and grammar
Manage your time carefully so that you can —
• review the selections
• plan your response
• write your response
• revise and edit your response
Record your answer in the box provided.
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Page 31
Read the selection and choose the best answer to each
question.
Akim wrote this paper about a memorable experience he had on
a trip with his family. Read Akim’s paper and look for revisions he
needs to make. Then answer the questions that follow.
The Bears of Kodiak Island
(1) My parents are wildlife photographers, which means that their job
assignments often take us to places where wildlife abounds. (2) We
have been to jungles, forests, mountains, and oceans. (3) Traveling
is not the best way to build relationships with your friends. (4) Still,
I will always remember a trip we took a few years ago because of
the awe-inspiring encounter we had with one of Alaska’s mightiest
creatures—the Kodiak bear.
(5) When my parents told me that I would be going with them to
Kodiak Island, an isolated location in the Gulf of Alaska, I was not
excited. (6) Would we really have to spend two weeks on a remote
island off the coast of Alaska? (7) Did anyone even live there?
(8) Where would we stay? (9) My parents assured me that
the island was lovely and that we would be sleeping in a nice,
comfortable lodge. (10) I felt only slightly better.
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(11) A few months later, we traveled to Alaska and then took a ferry
out to Kodiak, also known as Emerald Isle. (12) The strong currents
caused the little boat to bob and weave on the open ocean, but the
landscape was breathtaking. (13) When the lofty emerald peaks of
the island came into view, I stood in awe.
(14) After we got off the ferry and into a rental car for a good place
to turn off the road and look for wildlife, my mother began looking.
(15) “Mom, can’t we check out the lodge first?” I moaned.
(16) “Akim, we’re here to photograph wildlife. (17) That’s our job.
(18) We’ll see plenty of the lodge later,” she said. (19) “James, turn
here,” she continued. (20) “The sign says there’s a viewing area
just ahead.”
(21) Soon we made a stop. (22) The green-blue water was alive
with leaping salmon. (23) As my parents occupied themselves with
adjusting their camera lenses, I heard a loud sploosh! (24) Soon
the culprit revealed itself. (25) A gigantic Kodiak bear, the largest
creature I had ever seen in my life, was in the river just a few yards
away. (26) I froze in fear.
(27) My parents, on the other hand, raised their cameras
enthusiastically and started snapping pictures. (28) Sensing my
distress, my father stopped filming and assured me that the bear
had only one thing on his mind—to eat as many salmon as he could
fit in his belly.
(29) Trusting my father’s judgment, I began to relax. (30) I
watched as the majestic creature battled his way through the rapids.
(31) He would catch and consume one gleaming salmon after
another. (32) I was mesmerized. (33) The combination of the fresh
Alaska air, the towering emerald mountains, the sparkling river, and
the gigantic brown beast left an impression on me that remains to
this day. (34) In fact, that wild experience is the reason I asked my
parents for a camera for my birthday. (35) It’s also the reason I ask
my parents every year if we can return to Kodiak Island to see its
magical bears.
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29 Which sentence should replace sentence 3 to create a more effective
introduction to this paper?
A
Fortunately, we live close to the coast and are able to make
frequent trips to the beach.
B
Additionally, my favorite family activity is movie night, especially
when the movie is about animals.
C
Truthfully, I have a hard time deciding what to bring with me, and
I typically pack too much.
D
Admittedly, I have at times been less than thrilled to tag along on
these wild excursions.
30 What is the BEST way to revise sentence 14?
A
After we got off the ferry and into a rental car, wildlife is what my
mother began looking for and a good place to turn off the road.
B
After we got off the ferry and into a rental car, my mother began
looking for a good place to turn off the road to look for wildlife.
C
After we got off the ferry to begin looking for wildlife, we were
into a rental car, and my mother was looking for a good place to
turn off.
D
After we got off the ferry and into a rental car and began looking
for wildlife, my mother began looking for a good place.
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31 Akim needs a better transition between the fth paragraph (sentences
16–20) and the sixth paragraph (sentences 21–26). Which sentence
should replace sentence 21 to improve this transition?
A
We quickly pulled into a parking area above a river and exited
the car.
B
My father stopped the car, and he announced that he was
getting hungry.
C
As the car came to a stop, I wondered if we would ever get to
the lodge.
D
Before long we got to a place, and then Dad decided to stop
the car.
32 Akim wants to combine the ideas in sentences 30 and 31. In the box
provided, write a new sentence that combines these ideas in a clear
and effective way.
Grade 8 RLA - REVISING
Page 35
Read the selection and choose the best answer to each
question.
Niko wrote this essay in response to a change of heart he
experienced. Read Niko’s paper and look for revisions he needs to
make. Then answer the questions that follow.
Procrastination and Me
(1) Most people think that procrastination is a negative habit. (2) In
fact, Benjamin Franklin said, “Don’t put off until tomorrow what you
can do today.” (3) But people like me, who routinely put off doing
assignments and chores, are likely to defend our “slower” approach
to getting tasks done. (4) I was in for a surprise when my history
teacher assigned a big project last month. (5) I wasn’t expecting to
learn that too much procrastination really can keep you from doing
your best work.
(6) I’m the only procrastinator in my family. (7) My parents and
sister were all born with the “do it right now” gene. (8) Personally, I
prefer a more relaxed pace.
(9) When my parents expressed concern about my tendencies, I
researched procrastination and found that the behavior is not all
bad. (10) People procrastinate when they need to solve a problem
or commit to a topic or project. (11) In these cases, waiting to
make a decision can be a good thing. (12) This is because our
minds continue to mull over problems even when we are not actively
thinking about them, which can lead to more creative solutions.
(13) My findings made me feel smug. (14) My method for getting
things done was just as good as my sister’s . . . or so I thought.
(15) At school we’d been talking about the colonial days. (16) My
teacher said we would each have a month to build a replica of
a small colony out of any materials we wanted. (17) We were
expected to include things we had learned regarding the lives of
the early colonists. (18) Some worked in the towns, while others
made a living on small farms. (19) The finished projects would be
displayed in the cafeteria.
(20) I thought the assignment sounded really fun. (21) But
November was busy, and I didn’t think about the project much.
(22) Before I knew it, I had only three days left for the project.
(23) In a panic I ransacked our recycle bin, pulling out brown
cardboard boxes, paper towel tubes, and finding paper scraps
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that I hastily glued together. (24) The finished result looked like
something my little cousin might have made.
(25) When I entered the cafeteria and saw everyone else’s models
on display, I felt even more unusual about mine. (26) Several of my
classmates had created amazingly detailed colonies. (27) They had
used materials such as clay, wood, and in one case, sugar cubes.
(28) It was obvious that they had put a lot more time into the
assignment than I had.
(29) That day was a bit of a wake-up call for me. (30) I’m still more
relaxed about deadlines than the rest of my family, but something
has changed. (31) Now I tackle things a lot earlier than I would
have in the past. (32) This means I don’t have quite as much time
for drawing and gaming, but the trade-off is worth it. (33) And I
have to admit that it feels pretty good!
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33 Which sentence could BEST follow sentence 7 to support the ideas
presented in the second paragraph (sentences 6–8)?
A
My dad is an auto mechanic at a large car dealership, so he often
has to work on the weekends.
B
My sister is a few years older than me, and she has always done
quite well in school.
C
My mom plans meals months in advance, and my sister turns in
projects before they are due.
D
My parents enjoy traveling around the state and learning more
about history.
34 Niko has included a sentence that does not belong in the fourth
paragraph (sentences 15–19). Which sentence should he remove from
this paragraph?
A
Sentence 15
B
Sentence 17
C
Sentence 18
D
Sentence 19
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35 What is the MOST effective revision to make in sentence 23?
A
In a panic I ransacked our recycle bin, pulling out brown cardboard
boxes, paper towel tubes, and paper scraps that I hastily glued
together.
B
In a panic I ransacked our recycle bin, pulling out brown cardboard
boxes, paper towel tubes, and there were paper scraps that I
hastily and quickly glued together.
C
In a panic I ransacked our recycle bin, hastily and quickly gluing
together what I pulled out, which was brown cardboard boxes,
paper towel tubes, and paper scraps.
D
In a panic I ransacked our recycle bin, pulling out and removing
brown cardboard boxes, paper towel tubes, and paper scraps for
hastily gluing together.
36 The word unusual is not the MOST appropriate word to use in
sentence 25. Select the ONE correct word that should replace
unusual in this sentence.
When I entered the cafeteria and saw everyone else’s models on
A
indifferent
B
suspicious
display, I felt even more
about mine.
C
irritated
D
embarrassed
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37 Niko forgot to include this sentence in the last paragraph (sentences
29–33).
I have the satisfaction of knowing that I won’t have to
scramble at the last minute.
Where is the BEST place to insert this sentence?
A
After sentence 29
B
After sentence 30
C
After sentence 32
D
After sentence 33
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Read the selection and choose the best answer to each
question.
Natalia is writing a paper to argue that traditional, printed
newspapers still have value. Read this body paragraph from
Natalia’s paper and look for corrections she needs to make. Then
answer the questions that follow.
The Value of the Printed
Newspaper
(1) There is no substitute for the traditional, printed newspaper.
(2) The bolder and larger Headlines allow readers to find articles of
interest quickly. (3) The content is fixed and does not get modified
throughout the day. (4) This makes it easy to access an article for
a second look. (5) Furthermore, printed newspapers include stories
and details that online versions omit. (6) For example, if a big story
dominates the day’s news; online readers may not see articles about
other events in their city or community. (7) And even though both
news platforms contain advertisements, the ads are easier to ignore
in print. (8) Online newspapers use pop-up ads and stories that
play automatically. (9) Many readers complain that these ads were
distracting, annoying, and intrusive.
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38 What change should be made in sentence 2?
A
Change Headlines to headlines
B
Change allow to allows
C
Insert a comma after readers
D
Change quickly to quick
39 What change should be made in sentence 6?
A
Change if to since
B
Change dominates to domanates
C
Change the semicolon after news to a comma
D
Change about to in
40 What change, if any, should be made in sentence 8?
A
Change use to using
B
Change that to they
C
Change automatically to automatic
D
No change is needed.
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41 What change should be made in sentence 9?
A
Change complain to complaining
B
Change were to are
C
Delete the comma after distracting
D
Change annoying to anoying
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Read the selection and choose the best answer to each
question.
Nathan is writing an essay about losing a close election for student
council president. Read this paragraph from Nathan’s essay and look
for corrections he needs to make. Then answer the questions that
follow.
Lost Election
(1) When Mr. Alconeda announced the election results, I glued a smile
on my face. (2) I clapped with everyone else, then I made a point
of shaking Kendra’s hand and saying, “Congratulations.” (3) Some
of my friends gave me sympathetic looks; I pretended not to notice.
(4) The best way to salvage my pride, I thought, was to convince
everyone that I was fine from the outcome. (5) Unfortunately, Mr.
Alconeda expounded on the Bailey Middle School election, looking
right at me and emphasizing that it had been competitive. (6) “It
was close, Nathan” he said in front of the whole class. (7) “Your
vote tally was only slightly less than Kendra’s.” (8) He was obviously
trying to make me feel better, but initially at least, his efforts had the
opposite affect.
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42 What is the correct way to write sentence 2?
A
After clapping with everyone else, I made a point of shaking
Kendra’s hand and saying, “Congratulations.”
B
I clapped with everyone else and then made a point I shook
Kendra’s hand and said, “Congratulations.”
C
I clapped with everyone else and then made a point. Of shaking
Kendra’s hand and saying, “Congratulations.”
D
While clapping with everyone else. I made a point of shaking
Kendra’s hand and saying, “Congratulations.”
43 What change should be made in sentence 4?
A
Change salvage to salvege
B
Change was to convince to were to convince
C
Change that to when
D
Change from to with
44 What change, if any, should be made in sentence 6?
A
Insert a comma after Nathan
B
Change said to says
C
Change whole to hole
D
No change is needed.
Grade 8 RLA - EDITING
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BE SURE YOU HAVE RECORDED ALL OF YOUR
ANSWERS IN THE TEST BOOKLET.
STOP
Grade 8 RLA - EDITING
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45 What change should be made in sentence 8?
A
Change He to It
B
Delete the comma after better
C
Change had to which had
D
Change affect to effect
57416
STAAR
GRADE 8
Reading Language Arts
PRACTICE
