8th Grade Practice Test 2

Read the following excerpt from a story: "The sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink." What is the main idea of this sentence?

• The sun is setting.

• The sky is blue.

• It is raining.

• The sun is rising.

Which of the following is an example of a simile?

• The stars were diamonds in the sky.

• Her smile was as bright as the sun.

• The wind whispered through the trees.

• The thunder roared like a lion.

In the poem "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost, what is the central theme?

• The beauty of nature.

• The importance of making choices.

• The inevitability of death.

• The joy of friendship.

Analyze how the author uses dialogue in the following passage to reveal a character's personality: "I don't care what you think," she snapped, "I'm going to do it my way."

• The character is shy and reserved.

• The character is indecisive.

• The character is assertive and independent.

• The character is humorous.

Compare the structure of a poem and a short story. How does the structure of each contribute to its meaning and style?

• Poems have chapters, while short stories have stanzas.

• Poems use rhyme and meter, while short stories use paragraphs and dialogue.

• Poems are always longer than short stories.

• Poems and short stories have the same structure.

Evaluate the effect of the word choice in the following sentence: "The ancient castle loomed ominously on the hill."

• The word "ancient" suggests the castle is new.

• The word "loomed" suggests the castle is welcoming.

• The word "ominously" suggests a sense of danger or foreboding.

• The word "hill" suggests the castle is in a valley.

What is the effect of the author's use of allusion in the sentence: "He met his Waterloo when he faced the final exam"?

• It suggests he succeeded easily.

• It suggests he faced a significant challenge.

• It suggests he was confused.

• It suggests he was happy.

Determine the central idea of the following passage: "Despite the challenges, she persevered and eventually achieved her dreams."

• Giving up is the best option.

• Perseverance leads to success.

• Challenges are insurmountable.

• Dreams are unimportant.

Interpret the figurative meaning of the phrase "a blanket of snow" in the context of a winter scene.

• A literal blanket made of snow.

• A thin layer of snow.

• A thick, soft covering of snow.

• A small patch of snow.

Analyze how the author makes connections between characters in a story and the impact of these connections on the narrative.

• The characters never interact, so there is no impact.

• The characters' interactions create tension and drive the plot forward.

• The characters' connections are irrelevant to the story.

• The characters' connections are only mentioned in passing.