8th Grade Fiction Checkpoint Corrections

In paragraph 20, what does the word potential mean?

• A specific plan

• An unexpected outcome

• An existing possibility

• A strange situation

Based on Lucy’s interactions with her classmates, which statement best expresses the major theme explored in this selection?

• Achieving academic success requires hard work and commitment.

• Goals are easier to achieve when working with others.

• Adjusting to new situations may take a long period of time.

• Negative experiences can sometimes have positive outcomes.

What is the best summary of this selection?

• Lucy tries to forget the bad start to her first day at a new school by telling herself only a few people saw her fall down the stairs. However, when students begin whispering in Lucy’s cinema class, she fears the worst. Lucy is assigned to a group and is welcomed by one of the members, but the other members of the group do not acknowledge her.

• Lucy is reminded of her mother’s encouraging words after her first day at ARTS Magnet School. Already late to class, Lucy falls down the stairs but is not hurt. In second period students stare at Lucy when she enters the room. Then a member of Lucy’s group tells her that a student has recorded video of her fall and that he thinks she fell gracefully.

• Lucy has trouble finding her first-period class after the office staff takes a long time completing her new-student paperwork, but she meets some girls who sit behind her in class. In her cinema class, Lucy is welcomed into a group working on a 30-second film project and shares some ideas she has with her group.

• Lucy falls down the stairs on the first day at her new school. Her cinema class begins awkwardly, but one member of Lucy’s assigned group welcomes her. He explains that the group will use the video of her fall in its class film project. Lucy becomes more at ease as members of her group encourage her involvement in its class project.

How is Lucy’s behavior in paragraph 23 important to the resolution of her conflict?

• It shows Lucy’s shift in focus from herself to the project.

• It signals a change in the other students’ treatment of Lucy.

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

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

Read paragraph 21.

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 paragraph reveal about Lucy at this point in the selection?

• She is unsure about Rodney’s motivation for speaking to her.

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

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

• She thinks Rodney will introduce her to new people.

Why are the events in paragraphs 1 and 2 important to the plot?

• The events reveal Lucy’s regrets about registering at a new school.

• The events explain Lucy’s reasons for not liking her new school.

• The events hint at Lucy’s confusion as she walks to her first-period class.

• The events set the conditions for Lucy’s attitude as the school day begins

A major turning point occurs in the selection when Lucy —

• wonders if she should have stayed at her old school

• enters her first-period class for the first time

• is greeted by a classmate during second period

• is ignored by a classmate in her group

What does the use of the 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

Choose the sentence with the correct capitalization.

• The pep rally is on Wednesday.

• The Pep rally is on wednesday.

• The Pep Rally is on wednesday.

• The pep rally is on wednesday.

Which sentence is a sentence fragment?

• I finished all of my assignments. 

• Jacob ran down the street.

• The store was closed. 

• Since I already did my homework.