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2024 8th Grade Semester 1 Midterm Review Part 1

Total questions: 73

Worksheet time: 4hrs 39mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
A Dog, to whom the butcher had thrown a bone, was hurrying home with his prize as fast as he could go. As he crossed a narrow bridge, he looked down and saw his reflection in the quiet water as if in a mirror. But the greedy Dog thought he saw a real Dog carrying a bone much bigger than his own. If he had stopped to think he would have known better. But instead of thinking, he dropped his bone and sprang at the Dog in the river, only to find himself swimming for dear life to reach the shore. At last he managed to scramble out, and as he stood sadly thinking about the good bone he had lost, he realized what a foolish Dog he had been.
What is the theme?
a)
Be honest.
b)
Don't be greedy.
c)
Always share your things with others.
d)
Be respectful to others.
2.
During a baseball game, Tanner tried to tag a player leaving first base. When the umpire called the player out, Tanner immediately informed the umpire that he in fact did not tag the runner. Two weeks later, the very same umpire was at another one of Tanner’s baseball games. Tanner was playing short stop and tagged a runner as they approached third base. When the umpire called the player safe, Tanner didn’t say a word, but the umpire noticed the surprised look on Tanner’s face. “Did you tag the runner?” she asked Tanner. When Tanner told her that he did tag the runner, the umpire changed her decision and called the player out. The coaches and parents were furious, but the umpire stood by her decision.
What is the theme?
a)
You should cheat to win.
b)
Always work hard.
c)
It pays to be honest.
d)
Teamwork is best.
3.

The turning point in a story, the most exciting part of the story, or the most intense part of the story is the _______

a)

rising action

b)

resolution

c)

falling action

d)

climax

4.

The _______ is the sequence of events in a story.

a)

problem

b)

plot

c)

theme

d)

solution

5.

Which element of plot introduces the characters and the settings of a story?

a)

exposition

b)

climax

c)

resolution

d)

rising action

6.

The end of the story is called the __________.

a)

falling action

b)

resolution

c)

rising action

d)

climax

7.

A ________ is a struggle that a character has to work through or solve.

a)

conflict

b)

climax

c)

sequence

d)

solution

8.

What happens right after the climax?

a)

resolution

b)

transition

c)

rising action

d)

falling action

9.

What best describes the time and place of a story?

a)

rising action

b)

conflict

c)

plot

d)

setting

10.

What drives the plot?

a)

conflict

b)

exposition

c)

resolution

d)

rising action

11.

What are the events leading up the the climax called?

a)

falling action

b)

resolution

c)

rising action

d)

exposition

12.
Which tone is represented in the following passage?
"Wow! With a top speed of one hundred fifty miles per hour, that car can almost fly!"
a)
Annoying
b)
Excited
c)
Calm
d)
Scary
13.
A story's atmosphere or the feeling it evokes in the reader
a)
humorous
b)
matter of fact
c)
sympathetic
d)
mood
14.

If a passage's tone is playful, the author's attitude is...

a)
full of amusement, lighthearted.
b)
serious, non humorous.
c)
haunting, spooky.
d)
uncaring.
15.
What is MOOD?
a)
How a reader feels when reading a story
b)
An action word
c)
A person, place or thing
d)
The same thing as tone
16.

What is the relationship between the mood of a piece of writing, and the reader of that piece?

a)

Mood is the feeling the reader gets from a piece of writing.

b)

Mood is the knowledge the reader gains from a piece of writing.

c)

Mood is the relationship the reader develops with the author of a piece of writing.

d)

Mood is the amount of sympathy the reader feels for the characters within a piece of writing.

17.

What might be the setting of a story with a lighthearted, relaxed mood?

a)

A drafty old castle

b)

The beach on a sunny day

c)

A junior high school math class

d)

An isolated cottage deep in the dark woods

18.

What is the tone of the following sentence? "'Here we go again,' he moaned, as he watched the other team score yet another goal."

a)

Joy

b)

Fury

c)

Excitement

d)

Frustration

19.

How does the author create a suspenseful mood in a story?

a)

By using short, choppy sentences and intense language.

b)

By using long, descriptive sentences and calm language.

c)

By using humor and light-hearted language.

d)

By using complex vocabulary and formal language.

20.

What is the tone of the following sentence? "'I can't believe you did that,' she said with a smirk."

a)

Angry

b)

Happy

c)

Sad

d)

Sarcastic

21.

Which passage below has the most critical tone?

a)

On the train, the man slowly clipped his fingernails. He focused on the task, beginning with his pinky finger and finishing with his thumb.

b)

On the train, the tired, old man began clipping his fingernails. He was trying to distract himself from his loneliness by focusing on this one small task, moving from pinky to thumb.

c)

The man—right in the middle of the crowded train—began to clip his long, yellow fingernails. He did it slowly, as if he didn't even care that a dozen other people could see and hear him.

d)

The man on the train clipped his fingernails. It took him 2 minutes and 8 seconds. He started on his pinky and finished with his thumb. When he was finished, he put the clippers back into his jacket pocket.

22.

Which words and phrases best show the sentimental tone in the passage below?


I got out of the old car and took a few halting steps up the driveway. A cloud of warmth drifted out of the window and embraced me like a comforting hug. I knew that smell: fresh bread that Papa had just taken from the oven. I heard the familiar pitch of his whistle as he slowly stirred tomato soup on the stovetop. I ran to open the screen door because, now, I knew where I was. I was home.

a)

"warmth," "comforting hug" and "home"

b)

"car," "tomato soup" and "door"

c)

"old," "halting" and "out the window"

d)

"driveway," "screen door" and "slowly stirred"

23.

“The best things in life are free,” they say, which is true for things like libraries. However, it is not true for many museums. The Philadelphia Museum of Art, for example, costs $20 to get in.
Traveling exhibits, such as the work of a certain artist that is touring the country, almost always cost even more. People must pay to get into the museum and also pay for the special showing. That means people who don’t have much money cannot enjoy the art.
Most museums have “free days,” but these are usually only one or two days a month. If you’ve ever attended one of these, you know they are jam packed with people. It is hard to even see the exhibits when crammed into a room like sardines in a can!
The thing is, people already pay enough for the privilege of living in a city. In addition, museums are supported by arts organizations and individual donors. They do not need to charge the public a hefty sum as well. They should be free for everyone, all the time.
Which of the following evidence would support the author’s claim that “people already pay enough for the privilege of living in a city”?

a)
A comparison showing which cities are the most expensive
b)
Examples of the fees people who live in cities must pay
c)
Testimony from someone who cannot afford museum admission
d)
An interview with someone who thinks museums should be free
24.
What are you looking for when a question asks you to provide textual evidence?
a)
a piece of writing like an article, poem, or story
b)
proof
c)
clues (proof) within the text 
25.
Select the supporting detail that doesn't fit.
Topic Sentence: My cat is afraid of everything.
a)
He hides under the couch when you turn the microwave on.
b)
He sleeps all day long.
c)
He runs away when you sweep the floor.
d)
He jumps every time the doorbell rings.
26.
Which supporting detail best supports this topic sentence?
Dora the Explorer is an educational show for kids.
a)
She has a really cute monkey named Boots.
b)
Dora's purple backpack holds all of her tools.
c)
Dora helps teach kids Spanish words.
d)
She usually stops Swiper from swiping. 
27.
Which supporting detail best supports this topic sentence?
It takes a lot of hard work to become a professional athlete. 
a)
The pros live the good life.
b)
People like professional football players make a lot of money.
c)
Professional athletes spend countless hours practicing their sports.
d)
All of us can be professional athletes. 
28.
Many breeds of dogs are used for work. In many cultures dogs are used to herd sheep. Sheepdogs are used to keep the flock of sheep from being attacked by animals such as wolves. They also keep sheep from wandering off.  Based on your reading of the text, you can INFER that:
a)
Sheepdogs are not very smart dogs.
b)
Sheepdogs are gentle and loyal.
c)
There are many breeds of dogs.
d)
Wolves are afraid of sheepdogs.
29.

Plato’s story of Atlantis is less about a “lost” civilization than it is about the virtue of the Athenians, and scholars believe that Atlantis never in fact existed, but was a literary creation on the part of Plato. Atlantis has never been mentioned in any other Greek literature that has ever been found. In fact, for most of history people have believed that Atlantis was a fictional place, until the late 1800s when a writer named Ignatius Donnelly proposed that significant achievements of the ancient world, like metallurgy, agriculture, religion and language — must have originated in Atlantis.

What evidence best supports the claim that Plato most likely made up the story of Atlantis?

a)

Atlantis has never been mentioned in any other Greek literature that has ever been found.

b)

The story of Atlantis is less about a “lost” civilization than it is about the virtue of the Athenians.

c)

A writer named Ignatius Donnelly proposed that significant achievements of the ancient world . . . must have originated in Atlantis.

30.

Where does the comma go in this sentence: Erica where did you put the new rug I bought?

a)

Erica, where did you put the new rug I bought?

b)

Erica where, did you put the new rug I bought?

c)

Erica where did you put the new rug I, bought?

d)

Erica where did you, put the new rug I bought?

31.

Where does the comma go: Swimming through the water Eric felt that he was winning the race.

a)

Swimming through the water Eric, felt that he was winning the race.

b)

Swimming through the water, Eric felt that he was winning the race.

c)

Swimming through the water Eric felt that he was, winning the race.

d)

Swimming through the water Eric felt that, he was winning the race.

32.

Where do the commas go: John seeing Sarah waved his arms.

a)

John, seeing Sarah waved his, arms.

b)

John seeing Sarah, waved his, arms.

c)

John, seeing Sarah, waved his arms.

d)

John seeing, Sarah waved, his arms.

33.

What is the reason for the commas in this sentence?

John's friend, who had already eaten dinner, joined him for dessert.

a)

to set of a parenthetical phrase

b)

they are after an introductory phrase

c)

to separate adjectives

d)

to separate items in a list

34.

A(n) _____ is a series of 3 dots ( . . .) that is used when omitting a word, phrase, or line, from a quoted passage OR to show a pause or hesitation when speaking.

a)
period
b)
comma
c)
dash
d)
ellipsis
35.
An ellipsis is used to ___.
a)
shorten a quoted passage by omitting  words or phrases
b)
pause or hesitate in the middle of a sentence
c)
indicate an incomplete thought
d)
all answers are correct
36.

"These emotions can transform, . . . and consequently they have been understood as keys to the dynamics of emotional illness." What do the ellipses indicate?

a)

quotation

b)

an unfinished thought

c)

omitted text from a quotation

37.

Which quotation used ellipses in a correct way?

a)

I should not have said that...I’m sorry.

b)

I should not have said that . . . I'm sorry.

38.

"I can't do this," James sobbed. "I just . . . no."


Why is the ellipsis used in this sentence?

a)

passage of time

b)

an unfinished thought

c)

missing words from a quotation

39.

Giving inanimate objects human characteristics

a)

hyperbole

b)

symbol

c)

mood

d)

personification

40.

What is the best definition for imagery

a)

Saying something you don't mean

b)

Using descriptive words that appeal to the senses

c)

Explaining what something is to a person

d)

Taking a picture of a picture

41.

A literary device where the speaker refers to something that the reader needs prior knowledge of or experience with in order to understand.

a)

apostrophe

b)

allusion

c)

allegory

d)

antonym

42.

A concrete object that stands in for an abstract idea.

a)

symbol

b)

simile

c)

mood

d)

theme

43.

An exaggeration for dramatic effect.

a)

metaphor

b)

simile

c)

allusion

d)

hyperbole

44.

America is a melting pot.

a)

hyperbole

b)

metaphor

c)

simile

d)

personification

45.

I can smell pizza from a mile away.

a)

metaphor

b)

simile

c)

onomatopoeia

d)

hyperbole

46.

The lightning danced across the sky during the storm.

a)

Metaphor

b)

Simile

c)

Personification

d)

Hyperbole

47.

"The cold night air smelled of smoke and wood as the nearby houses let of a faint glow" is an example of

a)

hyperbole

b)

tone

c)

personifcation

d)

imagery

48.

What is a simile?

a)

Comparing two unlike things using as, like, or than

b)

An exaggerated statement not meant to be taken literally

c)

Words that sound like their meaning

d)

A comparison between two things not using like or as

49.

What is a metaphor?

a)

A comparison that does not use like, as, or than

b)

the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words

c)

A comparison that does use like, as, or than

d)

words that sound like their meaning

50.
The firework exploded in the air, making a big BOOM! in the air, is an example of 
a)
Personification
b)
Onomatopoeia
c)
The 4th of July
d)
All of the above
51.
Onomatopoeia is...
a)
An exaggerated statement
b)
A sound effect
c)
A comparison of two things using like or as
d)
The use of a word associated with a sound.
52.

"He was a car speeding through the streets" is an example of...

a)
Simile
b)
Metaphor
c)
Hyperbole
d)
Alliteration
53.

What type of figurative language is shown in the image?

a)

A.) Hyperbole

b)

B.) Simile

c)

C.) Pun

d)

D.) Alliteration

54.

Imagery

a)

Uses sensory language to describe

b)

Copying and pasting pictures into stories

c)

Using symbols to represent ideas or qualities

d)

The rate at which a story moves

55.

Pacing

a)

Doing something at a steady speedy to not tire oneself out

b)

Conversation between characters

c)

Unique voice for each writer

d)

Speed/rhythm of writing

56.

Slow pacing gives the feel of:

a)

Suspense

b)

Excitement

c)

Fighting

d)

Fear

57.

Fast pace gives the feel of:

a)

Suspense

b)

Boredom

c)

Excitement

d)

Normalcy

58.

Connotation

a)

Dictionary Definition

b)

The feelings a word evokes

c)

A ceremony or school assembly

d)

Time spent at home due to illness

59.

Denotation

a)

The dictionary definition

b)

The feeling the word evokes

c)

The definition I give to it because I don't know what it is

d)

None of the above

60.

Dialogue

a)

Conversation between characters

b)

Word choice

c)

Speed at which story moves

d)

When only one person talks for a long time in a scene

61.

Select the tips for creating the best dialogue:

a)

Always state the obvious

b)

Have the characters meet and greet one another

c)

Use dialogue to reveal characters' personalities

d)

Use dialogue in place of action

62.

How does the setting of a story typically affect the mood?

a)

It has no impact on the mood.

b)

It can create a specific atmosphere that influences how the reader feels.

c)

It only affects the characters, not the mood.

d)

It determines the plot structure.

63.

Which of the following is an example of foreshadowing in a narrative?

a)

A character remembering a past event.

b)

A storm approaching as characters plan a picnic.

c)

A detailed description of a character's appearance.

d)

A dialogue between two characters.

64.

How does a character's actions contribute to their development in a story?

a)

Actions do not affect character development.

b)

Actions reveal traits and motivations, helping the reader understand the character better.

c)

Actions only affect the plot, not the character.

d)

Actions are only important in the climax.

65.

How can the setting of a story influence the plot?

a)

The setting has no influence on the plot.

b)

The setting can create obstacles or opportunities for characters, affecting the plot's direction.

c)

The setting only affects the mood, not the plot.

d)

The setting determines the story's genre.

66.

Which narrative technique involves giving hints about what will happen later in the story?

a)

Flashback

b)

Foreshadowing

c)

Dialogue

d)

Exposition

67.

What role does dialogue play in character development?

a)

Dialogue is only used to advance the plot.

b)

Dialogue reveals character traits, relationships, and emotions.

c)

Dialogue is not important for character development.

d)

Dialogue only provides background information.

68.

Sensory details are

a)

Conversation between characters (there is also internal dialogue which is when a character is talking to his or her self)

b)

When you describe something using the 5 senses: touch, taste, smell, sound, and sight

c)

words and phrases used to connect and link ideas

69.

What is the comma rule used in the sentence below?

We are having peas, carrots, roast beef, and cake for dinner.

a)

use a comma between items in a list

b)

use a comma to set off direct quotations

c)

use a comma to set off a noun or noun phrase

70.

What is the comma rule used in the sentence below?

One famous basketball player, Michael Jordan, won five MVP awards.

a)

use a comma between items in a list

b)

use a comma to set off direct quotations

c)

use a comma to set off a noun or noun phrase

71.

What is the comma rule used in the sentence below?

“Don’t go there,” said Flora.

a)

use a comma between items in a list

b)

use a comma to set off direct quotations

c)

use a comma to set off a noun or noun phrase

72.

Direct characterization is...

a)

the author telling you a character's traits

b)

the author showing you a character's traits

73.

What does STEAL stand for when thinking about characterization?

a)

Taking things that don't belong to you

b)

Silly Teal Eels Ate Lasagna

c)

Direct characterization

d)

Speech, Thoughts, Effect on Others, Actions, Looks