8th Grade English Review of Key Concepts

Tim looked out the window. The house looked so lonely. Tim's father put the last suitcase in the trunk and started up the car. Thor, his dog, put his head on Tim's lap, like he understood how Tim was feeling. "It's okay Thor," he said, "Dad says we will like California." What is happening?

• Tim is sad because his dog doesn't have a house to live in.

• Tim is taking a trip to visit peolpe he doesn't know.

• Tim is taking Thor to live with his grandmother.

• Tim is moving to California with his family.

The group of women walked out of the dark room. A few of them were carrying tissues. As they exited into the bright sunlight, two of them had to put on their sunglasses.

What can you infer about where the women are?

• Leaving a movie theater

• Leaving school

• Leaving a concert

Katherine held the wash cloth tightly, pressing it into her hand. She told the children not to walk barefoot through the kitchen.

What had just happened?

• She cut her hand.

• She was baking cookies.

• She broke something made of glass.

The man came into the house and went straight to the kitchen sink, where he got a large glass of water for himself. His t-shirt had large dark stains on it. He took off his earbuds after he finished the drink of water.

What was the man (most likely) doing?

• The man had been jogging.

• The man had been watching TV.

• The man had been shopping.

Macey's mom noticed that she was squinting as she read her book, which was only a few inches away from her face. She scheduled a doctor's appointment for the next week, and when the doctor said Macey needed glasses, she tried on every single pair in the office. After spending an hour looking at glasses, mom suggested that perhaps she should sleep on it and come back and decide in the morning. Macey agreed, but she kept talking about the pros and cons of each pair all night long.

What can you infer about Macey?

• Macey is mad at her mother.

• Macey does not want glasses.

• Macey is very excited about getting glasses.

• Macey has trouble making decisions.

The part of the story that ties up all the loose ends and takes care of the conflict

• the climax

• the theme

• the resolution

• the introduction

The person who tells the story is the

• character

• setting

• point of view

• narrator

The main idea, or message, in a literary work is the

• setting

• plot

• tone

• theme

In this element of plot the author introduces the characters and setting...

• Resolution

• Climax

• Exposition

• Rising Action

In this element of plot the problem is introduced...

• Climax

• Rising Action

• Resolution

• Exposition