8th Grade Semester Test

From the nonfiction narrative “Red Roses,” by Dina McClellan, Lila shares an experience with a middle school student named Derek that she particularly was not fond of. Derek gave Lila gifts every day, and eventually presented her with a dozen roses. How did Lila react to the roses?

• Grateful Derek was kind enough to give her flowers.

• Annoyed with Derek for embarrassing her.

• Angry with Derek for embarrassing her, but trying to save his embarrassment, carried the flowers around.

• Embarrassed that Derek would continuously bring her gifts.

How does this encounter between Lila and Derek relate back to Unit 1’s Essential Question, “What are some milestones on the path of growing up?”

• Lila realized that her actions were hurtful, but understood that what was most important was how she treated Derek.

• Lila didn’t learn anything with this encounter with Derek and continued to laugh with her friends.

• Derek never realized that his gift giving was annoying Lila so he continued to embarrass her.

• Derek realized that he was embarrassing Lila but didn't care how he made her felt.

Reluctantly means:

• eagerly

• unwillingly

• quickly

• happily

Provide a definition for the bolded word: frail.

• strong

• weak

• happy

• tall

Read paragraphs 37 and 38 of the story. What does the dialogue reveal about how Martin’s father and Grandpa feel about each other?

• Dad felt guilty that he did not think about Grandpa’s health and bring him home sooner/Grandpa felt remorse but wasn't ready to leave yet.

• Grandpa didn’t care that his son didn’t bring him into their home, he wanted to stay longer with the reservation.

• Grandpa felt happy and left immediately to go with his son and leave the reservation.

• Dad never wanted Grandpa to leave the reservation to come stay with him due to his health issues.

Explain what the text says explicitly. Reread paragraph 44 of “The Medicine Bag.” Then, select the answer that best supports what this paragraph reveals about Martin's feelings about his great grandfather and himself.

• Martin is ashamed of his grandfather and only cares about himself.

• Martin is worried his friends will laugh at his grandfather, when they would really be laughing at Martin.

• Martin doesn't care what his friends think and introduces his grandfather to his friends.

From “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings” - Mary Angelou This is an excerpt from a memoir, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, written by Mary Angelou in 1969. In this chapter, she talks about her childhood around a store her family owned. An important turning point in young Angelou’s life was a visit with Mrs. Flowers, a local lady who frequented the store. Mrs. Flowers encouraged her to read, asked her to memorize a poem, and gave her excellent life advice. Infer - Why do you think Mrs. Flowers takes an interest in young Marguerite?

• Mrs. Flowers knows Marguerite isn’t close with her family and wants to help her.

• Mrs. Flowers wants to teach Marguerite a life lesson by tackling life’s challenges and encouraging her to face her biggest challenge of reading.

• Marguerite asks Mrs. Flowers to help at her families store.

• Marguerite finds out Mrs. Flowers is actually her family and wants to learn more about her.

What do the first two lines of “Hanging Fire” suggest about the speaker's self image?

• The speaker is nervous about the fact that she is growing up.

• The speaker is realizing that she is evolving along with her age.

• The speaker is self conscious about how her self image is changing the older she gets.

• The speaker is mad that she doesn't look the same as she used to when she was younger.

Explain the figurative language the speaker uses in the title of “Translating Grandfather’s House” What does the speaker mean when he said he has “translated” grandfather’s house?

• The speaker is drawing his grandfather’s house for an art assignment in school.

• The speaker is showing the importance and memory of his grandfather’s house by drawing the house for a project in school.

• The speaker does not find any significance in the house his grandfather lived in.

Why does the speaker use the word “translating” when referring to grandfather’s house?

• The speaker is trying to convey the idea that they have transformed their grandfather's house in a new way.

• The speaker uses translating because he wants to make the title longer.

• The speaker uses the word translating because he had to draw the picture two times because his teacher didn’t like it.

• The speaker wants the audience to know his grandfather spoke a different language and they are translating what it means for the school project.