ELA Pretest

Stride 8th grade ELA Review

by ELA Teachers

Multiple Choice

Read the sentence. Identify if the sentence has a positive, negative, neutral connotation?

You need to be assertive when you are looking for a job.

• Positive

• Neutral

• Negative

Multiple Choice

Read the sentence. Identify if the sentence has a positive, negative, neutral connotation?

The student squandered his time playing video games and is now behind in completing coursework.

• Positive

• Neutral

• Negative

Multiple Choice

Read the sentence. Identify if the sentence has a positive, negative, neutral connotation?

On my flight to Los Angeles, I sat next to this geezer. He was very old.

• Positive

• Neutral

• Negative

Multiple Choice

Read the sentence. Identify if the sentence has a positive, negative, neutral connotation?

Bob is bullheaded sometimes, but he always gets the job done.

• Positive

• Neutral

• Negative

Multiple Choice

Read the sentence. Determine the tone of the sentence?

The sun was bright and the sky was clear. Joan jogged down the path with Rex at her side and smiled about last night's victory. The tone of this excerpt can be best described as _____.

• cheerful

• mundane

• wistful

• gloomy

Multiple Choice

Read the sentence. Identify if the sentence has a positive, negative, neutral connotation?

I can tell you put a lot of work into your book report. It is extraordinary.

• Positive

• Neutral

• Negative

Multiple Choice

Read the sentence. Identify if the sentence has a positive, negative, neutral connotation?

Jessica presented a bold plan to help get the company out of debt.

• Positive

• Neutral

• Negative

Multiple Choice

Read the sentence. Determine the tone of the sentence?

The sun was bright and the sky was clear. Joan jogged down the path with Rex at her side and smiled about last night's victory. The tone of this excerpt can be best described as _____.

• cheerful

• mundane

• wistful

• gloomy

Multiple Choice

Read the sentence. Determine the which word creates a positive tone in the sentence?

I realize that you're feeling ______, but I'd rather not discuss the matter.

• nosy

• talkative

• inquisitive

• prying

Multiple Choice

Read the sentence. Determine the which word creates a positive tone in the sentence?

I am (confident, arrogant, egotistical) that I will be selected for a role in the school play

• confident

• arrogant

• egotistical

• boastful

Multiple Choice

Read the sentence. Determine the which word creates a positive tone in the sentence?

The shirt Rose wore to the dance was so ____. Everyone was talking about it.

• atrocious

• horrid

• elegant

• awful

Multiple Choice

Read the sentence. Identify a synonym for the underlined word.

Trina could not believe how barbaric Jay behaved on their date. He slurped his drink and farted at the table.

• civilized

• uncouth

• sophisticated

• cultured

Multiple Choice

Read the sentence. Identify an antonym for the underlined word.

Trina could not believe how barbaric Jay behaved on their date. He slurped his drink and farted at the table.

• uncivilized

• uncouth

• boorish

• refined

Multiple Choice

Read the sentence. Identify a synonym for the underlined word.

The smell of the garbage was horrible.

• pleasurable

• disgusting

• lovely

• enchanting

Multiple Choice

Read the sentence. Identify an antonym for the underlined word.

The smell of the garbage was horrible.

• appa

• horrendous

• dreadful

• enchanting

Multiple Choice

During a baseball game, Tanner tried to tag a player leaving first base. When the umpire called the player out, Tanner immediately informed the umpire that he in fact did not tag the runner. Two weeks later, the very same umpire was at another one of Tanner’s baseball games. Tanner was playing short stop and tagged a runner as they approached third base. When the umpire called the player safe, Tanner didn’t say a word, but the umpire noticed the surprised look on Tanner’s face. “Did you tag the runner?” she asked Tanner. When Tanner told her that he did tag the runner, the umpire changed her decision and called the player out. The coaches and parents were furious, but the umpire stood by her decision. What is the theme?

• You should cheat to win.

• Always work hard.

• It pays to be honest.

• Teamwork is best.

Multiple Choice

If you are feeling sad, you can make yourself feel better by doing a few simple things. You can take a walk (or get another form of exercise), you can talk to a friend, or you can write down your feelings. Writing down the good things in your life will help too. Doing something good for someone else will also help you feel better. If you still feel a little sad, act happy. It works like magic to make you feel better! What is the central idea?

• Sometimes people feel sad.

•  You should do good things for others

• We're not always happy.

• There are many ways to make yourself feel better.

Multiple Choice

School uniforms are far cheaper than the currently popular fashions. Many students work long hours at a paying job instead of doing homework because they feel they have to "keep up appearances." If students wore uniforms, there would be no need for most of them to have jobs that take away from their study time. What is the central idea?

• Popular fashions being expensive

•  School uniforms are a good idea

• Students should get a job to pay for school clothes.

• Teens enjoy wearing uniforms.

Multiple Choice

 In his sophomore year of high school, Michael Jordan tried In his sophomore year of high school, Michael Jordan tried out for the varsity basketball team at Laney High School in Wilmington, North Carolina.  But at five feet and eleven inches tall, the coach believed that Jordan was too short to play at that level, so Jordan was cut from the team.  Jordan didn't let this obstacle defeat him.  In fact, it pushed him to work even harder.  He trained vigorously and grew another four inches the following summer.  When he finally made the varsity squad, Jordan averaged 25 points a game and went on to become one of the greatest basketball players in history.  What is the theme?

• Growing four inches helps you become a better basketball player. 

• Coaches can be unfair to short basketball players.

• Never give up. Persistence pays off.

Poll

What type of figurative language is used in the following sentence?

This coffee shop is an icebox!

• simile

• personification

• metaphor

• hyperbole

Multiple Choice

What type of figurative language is used in the following sentence?

The sea lashed out in anger at the ships, unwilling to tolerate another battle.

• simile

• personification

• metaphor

• hyperbole

Multiple Choice

What type of figurative language is used in the following sentence?

I've told you a million times to clean your room!

• simile

• personification

• metaphor

• hyperbole

Multiple Choice

What type of figurative language is used in the following sentence?

The sky misses the sun at night.

• simile

• personification

• metaphor

• hyperbole

Multiple Choice

What type of figurative language is used in the following sentence?

You snore louder than a freight train!

• simile

• personification

• metaphor

• hyperbole

Multiple Choice

What type of figurative language is used in the following sentence?

Watching that movie was like watching grass grow.

• simile

• personification

• metaphor

• hyperbole

Multiple Choice

What type of figurative language is used in the following sentence?

Opportunity knocked at his door.

• simile

• personification

• metaphor

• hyperbole

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is an example of indirect characterization?

• Mrs. Loveday was happy Kentucky won the football game.

• Mrs. Loveday leaped up and shrieked with joy when Kentucky won the football game.

• Mrs. Loveday watched the football game.

• Mrs. Loveday ate nachos while watching the football game.

Multiple Choice

It was Tanner's first day at his new school. When his teacher introduced him to the class, he tried hard to make eye contact, but he ended up looking down at the floor.

• lazy

• shy

• rude

• stubborn

Multiple Choice

Daniel likes to help others. He often volunteers at the homeless shelter and he frequently brings an extra lunch to school to give to a friend. If anyone ever needs help, Daniel is one of the first people to volunteer. He would rather give a present than to get one. The character trait that best describes Daniel is...

• obedient

• generous

• loyal

• charming

Multiple Choice

The king glared at the scroungy, boy before him. "How dare you steal from the king's court!" he gruffly exclaimed. The trembling boy begged for forgiveness. He explained how he had no home, no food, and no where to turn. "Send him to the dungeons!" the king shouted angrily. The character trait that best describes the king is...

• greedy

• nagging

• cruel

• loud

Multiple Choice

What type of sentence contains an independent clause and at least one dependent clause?

• simple

• compound

• complex

• compound-complex

Multiple Choice

Determine the structure of the sentence:

Jayda organized the festival, and she called all the bands.

• simple

• compound

• complex

• compound-complex

Multiple Choice

Determine the structure of the sentence:

After Darion ran the marathon, his muscles locked, and he was unable to walk for three days.

• simple

• compound

• complex

• compound-complex

Multiple Choice

Determine the structure of the sentence:

Learning a new language is often frustrating.

• simple

• compound

• complex

• compound-complex

Multiple Choice

Determine the structure of the sentence:

Diversity has become a strategic imperative for corporations, and the term has already entered the corporate vocabulary

• simple

• compound

• complex

• compound-complex

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is in active voice?

• The guests left the party by 8pm.

• Complaints were made about the music.

• The meal was eaten quickly.

• The host was thanked for the dinner.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is in active voice?

• The boy was brought to the nurse's office.

• The boy was told to wait for the nurse.

• The principal saw the boy pulling on his loose tooth.

• The loose tooth was pulled out.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is in passive voice?

• Sandy made the coffee.

• The coffee was made by Sandy.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is in passive voice?

• The principal read the honor roll list of students during the assembly.

• The honor roll list of students was read by the principal.

​Thank you for participating! If you have any question about what was covered, email your teacher with your questions!