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WorksheetsGrade 8: Voices & Viewpoints
Total questions: 60
Worksheet time: 15hrs 0mins
Which word best completes the sentence?
I'm an advocate for the _________ treatment of animals.
opportunity
humane
constant
Which sentence contains a pronoun with an unclear antecedent?
Lisa and Ana made cookies after they got home.
Nate bought his little brother a birthday present.
Several people left their sweatshirts at the beach.
Alicia helped Mia study while she made a snack.
Which word best completes the sentence?
Our family lives by the ______that all people should be treated with love and respect.
animation
simplicity
creed
Read this excerpt from Langston Hughes's "The Negro Speaks of Rivers":
I’ve known rivers:
I’ve known rivers ancient as the world and older than the flow of human blood in human veins.
My soul has grown deep like the rivers.
Which type of poem is this work?
a lyric poem
a free verse poem
a narrative poem
a concrete poem
Read this stanza from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's "The Rainy Day":
The day is cold, and dark, and dreary;
It rains, and the wind is never weary;
The vine still clings to the mouldering wall,
But at every gust the dead leaves fall,
And the day is dark and dreary.
Which type of poem is this work?
a free verse poem
a lyric poem
an abstract poem
a narrative poem
Read this stanza from "Invictus" by William Ernest Henley.
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
Which type of poem is this work?
a concrete poem
a narrative poem
a lyric poem
an abstract poem
Read the stanza from "The Rainy Day":
My life is cold, and dark, and dreary;
It rains, and the wind is never weary;
My thoughts still cling to the mouldering Past,
But the hopes of youth fall thick in the blast,
And the days are dark and dreary.
How does the structure of "The Rainy Day" affect the poem?
The rhyme and meter are both simple and rhythmic, helping the speaker communicate that life can be bleak and dull.
The rhyme and meter are both lighthearted and bouncy, helping the speaker communicate that life shouldn't be taken too seriously.
The rhyme and meter are jazzy and uneven, helping the speaker communicate the unpredictably of life.
The rhyme and meter are harsh and sharp, helping the speaker communicate his severe emotional pain.
Read the stanza from "Invictus."
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate,
I am the captain of my soul.
How does the structure of "Invictus" affect the poem?
The rhyme and meter are somber and military-like, communicating the speaker's determination to reach his goals.
The rhyme and meter are bouncy and light, communicating the speaker's decision to ignore those who criticize him.
The rhyme and meter are halting and uneven, helping the speaker communicate his fear of the future.
The rhyme and meter are harsh and sharp, helping the speaker communicate his severe emotional pain.
Read the lines from "Mending Wall."
The work of hunters is another thing:
I have come after them and made repair
Where they have left not one stone on a stone,
But they would have the rabbit out of hiding,
To please the yelping dogs. The gaps I mean,
No one has seen them made or heard them made,
But at spring mending-time we find them there.
How does the structure of "Mending Wall" affect the poem?
The poem is in multiple rhyming stanzas to break up the conversation between the speaker and his neighbor into different time periods.
The poem is in one rhyming stanza to show how important it is for the speaker to convince his neighbor about his opinion on borders.
The poem is in multiple unrhymed stanzas to show that the conversation between the speaker and his neighbor is fragmented.
The poem is in one unrhymed stanza, which enforces the idea that this is an ongoing conversation between the speaker and his neighbor.
Read these lines from "Invictus."
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.
What does the phrase "the Horror of the shade" mean?
the monstrosity of failure
the misery of death
the evil of defeat
the torment of regret
Read these lines from "The Rainy Day."
Be still, sad heart! and cease repining;
Behind the clouds is the sun still shining;
Thy fate is the common fate of all,
Into each life some rain must fall,
Some days must be dark and dreary.
What does the phrase "Into each life some rain must fall" mean?
It is foolish to be unhappy.
All lives eventually come to an end.
Sometimes it's good to be unhappy.
Everyone faces times of unhappiness.
Read these lines from "Invictus."
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.
What does the phrase "the menace of the years" mean?
the threat of time passing
the years that cause anger
the years that cause frustration
the possibility of life after death
Read the excerpt from Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech.
Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.
What is the allusion in this excerpt?
Dr. King alludes to America as a land of equal opportunity.
Dr. King alludes to the Founding Fathers and America's core values.
Dr. King alludes to Lincoln's freeing of enslaved people.
Dr. King alludes to the recent achievements of the civil rights movement.
Read the excerpt from Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech.
Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.
What is the allusion in this excerpt?
Dr. King alludes to the wording Lincoln used in the Gettysburg Address.
Dr. King alludes to the recent achievements of the civil rights movement.
Dr. King alludes to America as a land of equal opportunity.
Dr. King alludes to the Founding Fathers and America's core values.
Read the excerpt from Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech.
But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. And so we’ve come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.
What is the allusion in this excerpt?
Dr. King alludes to the horrors of bondage and enslavement.
Dr. King alludes to America as a land of equal opportunity.
Dr. King alludes to the Founding Fathers and America's core values.
Dr. King alludes to Lincoln's freeing of enslaved people.
Which viewpoint does Dr. King express in his "I Have a Dream" speech?
The American government must pay for the sins of enslaving people.
America has not yet lived up to its promise of equality for all.
Individual freedoms are less important than societal security.
There will never be justice and freedom for all people in America.
Which viewpoint does Dr. King express in his "I Have a Dream" speech?
African Americans should exact revenge on those who have oppressed them.
African Americans must have the same civil rights as white Americans.
African Americans face worse inequality now than they did before the Civil War.
African Americans should separate themselves from white Americans.
Which viewpoint does Dr. King express in his "I Have a Dream" speech?
African Americans have not achieved the equality they were promised.
There is more inequality now than there was before the Civil War.
African Americans should separate themselves from white Americans.
There will never be justice and freedom for all people in America.
Read the excerpt from Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech.
Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.
What are the "majestic heights" Dr. King is referring to?
peaceful protest
heaven
physical aggression
thoughtful reflection
Read the excerpt from Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech.
In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds.
What are the "wrongful deeds" Dr. King is referring to?
peaceful protest
reasoning on religious grounds
physical aggression
thoughtful reflection
Read the excerpt from Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech.
The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.
What are the "whirlwinds" King refers to?
an unstoppable demand for change
a swirl of dangerous activity
a chaotic force of confusion
a destructive and violent force
Which word best completes the sentence?
His skill in battle makes him a _________ warrior.
legendary
deepest
confusion
Which word best completes the sentence?
A huge, oversized shirt on such a small child only______ her even more.
ignores
diminishes
releases
Which word best completes the sentence?
The __________ water made me hesitate to take my tiny canoe down the river.
serene
calm
turbulent
Read this stanza from "The Rainy Day":
My life is cold, and dark, and dreary;
It rains, and the wind is never weary;
My thoughts still cling to the mouldering Past,
But the hopes of youth fall thick in the blast,
And the days are dark and dreary.
What does the word mouldering mean in this stanza?
growing
decaying
impressive
confusing
Read this stanza from "Invictus":
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
What does the word bludgeonings mean in this stanza?
deceptions
beatings
opportunities
victories
Read this stanza from "Invictus."
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate;
I am the captain of my soul.
What does the word strait mean in this stanza?
upright
formal
narrow
clean
Which word best completes the sentence?
Despite the _______of growing up in poverty, he went on to become a successful concert pianist.
tired
wary
tribulations
Review the scenario.
Jeremy reads, "Lethal injection was supposed to be the humane alternative to firing squads and hangings used for capital punishment." Based on the sentence, Jeremy thinks the word humane means "less painful."
Which strategy is best for Jeremy to use to discover the meaning of humane?
Use a thesaurus to detemine the most common meaning.
Consult a dictionary, review each definition, and determine which definition makes sense in context.
Go to the library and check out a book on humane.
Create an online survey to see how most people use this term.
Read the scenario.
Khianna reads, "Germany under Adolf Hitler, Italy under Mussolini, and Spain under Franco were all fascist states." Based on the sentence, Khianna thinks that fascism means "not democratic."
Which strategy is best for Khianna to use to determine the meaning of fascism?
Consult a dicitonary, review each definition, and determine which definition makes sense in context.
Go to the library and check out a book on fascism.
Create an online survey to see how most people use this term.
Use a thesaurus to detemine the most common meaning.
Read the scenario.
Arjun reads, “Recently, voter apathy has resulted in merely 33 percent of eligible voters casting their ballots on election day.” Based on the sentence, Arjun thinks apathy means "lack of interest."
Which strategy is best for Arjun to use to determine the meaning of apathy?
Consult a dictionary, review each definition, and determine which definition makes sense in context.
Use a thesaurus to determine the most common meaning.
Go to the library and check out a book on apathy.
Create an online survey to see how most people use this word.
Which sentence contains a pronoun with an unclear antecedent?
Martha and Tony did their homework in the library.
Qasim put his library book into his backpack but lost it.
Several of my friends said their books are overdue.
The librarian said he would find the reference book.
Which sentence contains a pronoun with an unclear antecedent?
The movie and the book are about the same two characters, and they are very different.
Everyone bought his or her ticket at the first ticket counter.
Most of us finished our popcorn before the movie began.
Unfortunately, someone forgot to turn off his or her phone.
What is the primary motivation of a media piece about the dangers of drunk driving?
to encourage people to take political action against companies that produce alcohol
to increase awareness of a major social issue that puts people in danger
to promote the commercial interests of car manufacturers
to entertain people with a tense true story about loss
What is the primary motivation of a media piece informing teenagers about the dangers of smoking?
to encourage people to support a law against smoking
to promote the commercial interests of cigarette manufacturers
to increase awareness about a social issue that leads to health problems
to entertain people with a sad true story of addiction
What is the primary motivation of a media piece about the importance of washing one's hands?
to make people fearful of the outside world
to promote good health and sanitation practices
to promote the interests of soap manufacturers
to increase awareness of people's poor hygiene
What is Kennedy’s purpose in including references to the division of families in his speech?
to appeal to his audience’s logic
to boost morale and confidence among his audience
to make an emotional appeal to his audience
to show his audience where communism has succeeded
to boost morale and confidence among his audience
Read the poem.
Song of the Open Road
by Walt Whitman
Afoot and light-hearted, I take to the open road,
Healthy, free, the world before me,
The long brown path before me, leading wherever I choose.
Henceforth I ask not good-fortune—I myself am good-fortune;
Henceforth I whimper no more, postpone no more, need nothing,
Strong and content, I travel the open road. . . .
From this hour, freedom!
From this hour I ordain myself loos’d of limits and imaginary lines,
Going where I list, my own master, total and absolute,
Listening to others, and considering well what they say,
Pausing, searching, receiving, contemplating,
Gently, but with undeniable will, divesting myself of the holds that would hold me.
I inhale great draughts of space;
The east and the west are mine, and the north and the south are mine.
I am larger, better than I thought;
I did not know I held so much goodness.
All seems beautiful to me;
I can repeat over to men and women, You have done such good to me, I would do the same to you.
I will recruit for myself and you as I go;
I will scatter myself among men and women as I go;
I will toss the new gladness and roughness among them;
Whoever denies me, it shall not trouble me;
Whoever accepts me, he or she shall be blessed, and shall bless me.
Read this line from "Song of the Open Road."
Afoot and light-hearted, I take to the open road,
How do the words afoot and light-hearted affect the tone of the poem?
They make the poem more serious.
They give the poem an upbeat tone.
They make the poem more approachable.
They add irony to the poem.
Read this line from "Song of the Open Road.
From this hour I ordain myself loos’d of limits and imaginary lines,
How do the words ordain and loos'd affect the tone of the poem?
They provide a liberated tone. They give the poem a cautious tone. They make the poem sound more reserved. They give the poem a resigned tone.
They give the poem a resigned tone.
They make the poem sound more reserved.
They give the poem a cautious tone.
They provide a liberated tone.
Read this line from "Song of the Open Road."
Strong and content, I travel the open road.
How do the words strong and content affect the tone of the poem?
They give the poem a confident tone.
They make the poem sound sarcastic.
They add a calm tone to the poem.
They give the poem a humble tone.
Read this line from "Song of the Open Road."
Healthy, free, the world before me,
What does the phrase "the world before me" mean in the poem?
The speaker feels the burden of carrying the world.
The speaker feels ready to explore the world.
The speaker has never seen the world's beauty.
The speaker wants to show others the world.
Read this line from "Song of the Open Road."
From this hour I ordain myself loos’d of limits and imaginary lines,
What does the phrase "loos'd of limits and imaginary lines" mean in the poem?
holding on to the things that the world values
letting go of the need for freedom
freed from restrictions and nonexistent boundaries
tied to things that weigh individuals down
Read this line from "Song of the Open Road."
Going where I list, my own master, total and absolute,
What does the phrase "going where I list" mean in the poem?
going the same way the wind moves
making a list of places to go
listing important things in life
following a set of directions
What is a theme of "Song of the Open Road"?
Being rooted in one place doing everyday activities is better than wandering alone on the open road.
Only when people are traveling can they truly prioritize the needs of others over their own needs.
Taking a vacation allows someone to spend meaningful time with friends and family.
Traveling is a freeing experience that allows for independence and self-reflection.
Which quote from the poem best help Whitman develop the theme?
"I will recruit for myself and you as I go; / I will scatter myself among men and women as I go;"
"From this hour, freedom! / From this hour I ordain myself loos’d of limits and imaginary lines,"
"I can repeat over to men and women, You have done such good to me, I would do the same to you."
What is a theme of "Song of the Open Road"?
An excursion to a famous location allows someone to be around others.
A trip can enable people to feel free to examine who they really are.
Traveling to a national landmark connects people to others.
Which quote from the poem best help Whitman develop the theme
"Going where I list, my own master, total and absolute,"
"I will recruit for myself and you as I go; / I will scatter myself among men and women as I go;"
"I can repeat over to men and women, You have done such good to me, I would do the same to you."
What is a theme of "Song of the Open Road"?
Travel demands that one use caution and common sense.
Travels forces one to question oneself and others.
Travel allows one to connect with and feel the fellowship of others.
Travel gives one a chance to realize the beauty and safety of home.
Which quote from the poem best help Whitman develop the theme?
"Whoever accepts me, he or she shall be blessed, and shall bless me."
"Henceforth I ask not good-fortune—I myself am good-fortune; / Henceforth I whimper no more, postpone no more, need nothing,"
"I inhale great draughts of space; / The east and the west are mine, and the north and the south are mine."
Read the speech.
“Ich bin ein Berliner”
by John F. Kennedy
Schöneberger Rathaus, West Berlin, July 1963
Two thousand years ago, two thousand years ago, the proudest boast was "civis Romanus sum." Today, in the world of freedom, the proudest boast is "Ich bin ein Berliner." (I appreciate my interpreter translating my German.)
There are many people in the world who really don't understand, or say they don't, what is the great issue between the free world and the Communist world.
Let them come to Berlin.
There are some who say that communism is the wave of the future.
Let them come to Berlin.
And there are some who say, in Europe and elsewhere, we can work with the Communists.
Let them come to Berlin.
And there are even a few who say that it is true that communism is an evil system, but it permits us to make economic progress.
Lass' sie nach Berlin kommen. Let them come to Berlin.
Freedom has many difficulties and democracy is not perfect. But we have never had to put a wall up to keep our people in—to prevent them from leaving us….While the wall is the most obvious and vivid demonstration of the failures of the Communist system—for all the world to see—we take no satisfaction in it; for it is, as your Mayor has said, an offense not only against history but an offense against humanity, separating families, dividing husbands and wives and brothers and sisters, and dividing a people who wish to be joined together.
What is true of this city is true of Germany: real, lasting peace in Europe can never be assured as long as one German out of four is denied the elementary right of free men, and that is to make a free choice. In 18 years of peace and good faith, this generation of Germans has earned the right to be free, including the right to unite their families and their nation in lasting peace, with good will to all people….
Freedom is indivisible, and when one man is enslaved, all are not free. When all are free, then we can look forward to that day when this city will be joined as one and this country and this great Continent of Europe in a peaceful and hopeful globe. When that day finally comes, as it will, the people of West Berlin can take sober satisfaction in the fact that they were in the front lines for almost two decades.
All free men, wherever they may live, are citizens of Berlin.
And, therefore, as a free man, I take pride in the words "Ich bin ein Berliner."
What is Kennedy’s purpose in giving his “Ich bin ein Berliner” speech?
to resolve differences between the people of America and the citizens of West Berlin
to boost morale and confidence among West Berliners
to show the people of West Berlin that they have nothing to fear
to convince West Berliners that advocates of democracy and communists can find common ground
What is Kennedy’s purpose in describing the wall in his “Ich bin ein Berliner” speech?
to contrast democracy with communism
to provoke anger in his listeners
to show the failures of communism
to convince his listeners that they should feel fortunate
What argument does Kennedy make in his “Ich bin ein Berliner” speech?
Democracies and communist nations can coexist peacefully.
Democracies must be willing to help communist nations.
Democracy is morally superior to communism.
Democracies must unite to overthrow communist regimes.
Which answer choice presents the most logical reasoning in support of the argument?
"... we have never had to put a wall up to keep our people in."
"There are some who say that communism is the wave of the future."
"...communism is an evil system, but it permits us to make economic progress."
"Freedom is indivisible, and when one man is enslaved, all are not free."
What argument does Kennedy make in his “Ich bin ein Berliner” speech?
Communism arose in Germany due to the failures of democracy.
Only those who do not understand communism are forced to live under it.
The oppression that exists under communism is a threat to everyone.
Communism has many weaknesses that are also present in democracy.
Which answer choice presents the most logical reasoning in support of the argument?
"...the people of West Berlin can take sober satisfaction in the fact that they were in the front lines for almost two decades."
"There are some who say that communism is the wave of the future.
Let them come to Berlin."
"...real, lasting peace in Europe can never be assured as long as one German out of four is denied the elementary right of free men..."
"Freedom has many difficulties and democracy is not perfect. But we have never had to put a wall up to keep our people in..."
What argument does Kennedy make in his “Ich bin ein Berliner” speech?
Many Germans have suffered under communism.
Democracy is the only system that guarantees prosperity to all Germans.
Communism must be altered to allow more individual freedom for Germans.
Democracy can exist alongside communism in Germany because it is an accepting system
Which answer choice presents the most logical reasoning in support of the argument?
"There are some who say that communism is the wave of the future.
Let them come to Berlin."
"... one German out of four is denied the elementary right of free men, and that is to make a free choice."
"There are many people in the world who really don't understand, or say they don't, what is the great issue between the free world and the Communist world."
"All free men, wherever they may live, are citizens of Berlin."
How does Kennedy respond to the idea that democracy and communism can coexist?
He equates freedom with progress in West Berlin.
He demonstrates how communism has separated families.
He declares the city of West Berlin a place where democracy flourishes.
He says that freedom cannot exist unless all are free.
How does Kennedy respond to the idea that there is little difference between democracy and communism?
He states that freedom cannot exist unless all are free.
He equates freedom with progress in West Berlin.
He declares the city of West Berlin a place where democracy flourishes.
He points out how communism has separated families.
How does Kennedy respond to the idea that there is little difference between democracy and communism?
He declares the city of West Berlin a place where democracy flourishes.
He points out that democracies do not wall in their citizens.
He demonstrates how communism slows economic development.
He acknowledges that democracies are not perfect.
