8th Grade Reading Benchmark 1 fiction

As Alicia and Rodney talked excitedly, Lucy's embarrassment began to dissipate. She listened for a few moments, watching Alicia's film clip transform her stairway disaster into drama; then, she pulled up a chair and joined in as the group brainstormed ideas for "Lucy Falls."

• This shows Lucy's shift in focus from herself to the project.

• This signals a change in the other students' treatment of Lucy.

• This suggests that Lucy will become close friends with members of her group.

• This shows that the other students have more experience than Lucy in creating a film.

Rodney continued. "Hey, I hope you don't think I'm making fun of you! Actually, I think you're going to save our 30-second film project! Your name has perfect POTENTIAL for the star character - Lucy Falls!"

• "potential" means a specific plan

• "potential" means an unexpected outcome

• "potential" means an existing possibility

• "potential" means a strange situation

Lucy allowed herself a small smile. It hadn't been a good start, but Rodney was definitely making her first day less terrible. ------------------------------------------- What does this reveal about Lucy at this point?

• Lucy is unsure about Rodney's motivation for speaking to her.

• Lucy knows she is more critical of herself than anyone else is.

• Lucy is beginning to feel accepted at her new school.

• Lucy thinks Rodney will introduce her to new people.

The first day jitters were impossible to ignore as Lucy Falls walked through the tall glass doors of her new school. Though she was excited for the opportunity to study cinema at the School of the ARTS, she now wondered if she had made a terrible mistake by transferring in the middle of the year. Trying to shake off the early morning's frustration, she wiped her clammy hands on her navy sundress and focused her attention on finding her first-period class. Finishing her paperwork had taken forever. The office aide had instructed her to go back through the foyer and take the staircase on the right down to the basement. Just as Lucy started walking, the bell for first period rang, sounding to her like a signal of doom.

• These events reveal Lucy's regrets about registering at a new school.

• These events explain Lucy's reasons for not liking her new school.

• These events hint at Lucy's confusion as he walks to her first-period class.

• These events set the conditions for Lucy's attitude as the school day begins.

What does the use of third-person limited point of view allow the author to emphasize?

• Lucy's feelings about what takes place when she transfers to a new school.

• The other students' reactions when Lucy falls down the stairs.

• Rodney's initial impression of Lucy when he watches the video of her fall.

• The cinema teacher's thoughts about Lucy's midyear transfer.

At least we're finally on our way to the farm where there will be more animals than people, and I won't have to struggle to understand old folks.

• The speaker feels irritated that she does not have better communication skills for the experiences she has

• The speaker feels concerned that she must continue to talk with people who speak different languages

• The speaker feels confident that she will not feel separated from those in her family who speak a different language

• The speaker feels relieved that she is going to a familiar place where there will be less conflict

Living in between two ways of speaking and hearing makes me feel as divided as the gaps between languages.

• The simile shows the speaker wants to learn different languages in order to communicate with others

• The simile shows the speaker feels torn between two different worlds that have little in common

• The simile shows the speaker wants to go home again and not have to speak or listen to anyone

• The simile shows the speaker feels annoyed by having to spend so much time listening to others

Which one shows a speaker's conflict?

• Living in between two ways of speaking and hearing

• At least we're finally on our way to the farm

• Horses of so many shades that the colors can't be counted

• Everything looks just as wild and free as I've half-remembered

What is the effect of the two-word sentences: "Red soil. Green hills. White cows."

• The sentences emphasize the distinct contrasts found on the farm.

• The sentences highlight the speaker's memories of the farm from previous visits.

• The sentences detail how spacious the farm actually is.

• The sentences reveal the types of animals the speaker sees on the farm.

It's as if my other self has been here all along -- the invisible twin who never left this island and never will.------------------------------------------------------------------- What does the speaker's "invisible twin" referring to?

• The speaker has a sister living on the island whom she is looking forward to seeing.

• The speaker feels a bond with the land, and she believes it will always be her homeland.

• The speaker feels lonely on the island, and she wishes her family were there to share the experience with her.

• The speaker looks forward to spending time with close friends while she visits her homeland.