NYS ELA State Test Practice Quiz — Grades 7 & 8

A student reads a passage about a girl who moves to a new school and feels lonely. The author describes her sitting alone at lunch while other students laugh nearby. What is the theme of this passage most likely about?

• Making friends requires playing sports

• School lunch programs need improvement

• Moving to a new city is always exciting

• Feeling like an outsider can be painful and isolating

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Read this sentence: "The ancient oak tree stood like a sentinel at the edge of the yard." What does the word sentinel most likely mean?

• a very old piece of wood

• a broken fence post

• a type of flowering plant

• a guard or watchful figure

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.4

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

An author writes a nonfiction article arguing that students should have longer recess periods. Which of the following would be the strongest evidence to support this claim?

• Many kids say they enjoy playing outside.

• Studies show that physical activity improves focus and academic performance.

• Some teachers also enjoy going outside during the day.

• Recess is a fun part of the school day for most students.

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.1

CCSS.RL.7.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RI.7.8

CCSS.RI.8.8

A character in a story starts out selfish and ends up giving away his savings to help a stranger. This change in the character is called:

• foreshadowing

• point of view

• character development

• imagery

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

Read this excerpt: "Marcus had told himself a thousand times he wasn't scared. But standing at the edge of the diving board, his knees said otherwise." What literary device is used in the last sentence?

• Alliteration

• Hyperbole

• Metaphor

• Personification

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.5.5

Which of the following is an example of textual evidence?

• The story probably takes place in winter.

• I think the character felt sad.

• According to the passage, 'her hands trembled as she read the letter.'

• Most people would be upset in that situation.

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.1

CCSS.RL.7.1

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RI.7.8

In an informational text, the author uses bold headings throughout the article. What is the most likely purpose of these headings?

• To replace the need for a conclusion

• To help readers navigate and identify key sections

• To make the article look longer

• To confuse the reader about the main idea

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.5

CCSS.RI.6.5

CCSS.RI.7.5

CCSS.RI.8.5

CCSS.RI.9-10.5

What is the central idea of a passage?

• A detail that supports a minor argument

• The author's name and publication date

• The first sentence of the first paragraph

• The most important point the author wants to make

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

A student wants to revise this sentence to make it more precise: "The weather was bad, so people stayed inside." Which revision is best?

• It was not good outside and everyone went in.

• The weather was really, really bad and so people decided to stay inside.

• People stayed inside because the weather happened to be bad that day.

• A severe snowstorm kept residents indoors for most of the day.

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.5

CCSS.RI.6.5

CCSS.RI.7.5

CCSS.RI.8.5

CCSS.RI.9-10.5

Which point of view uses the pronouns I, me, my, and we?

• Third-person omniscient

• First-person

• Second-person

• Third-person limited

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.6.9

CCSS.RL.5.7