wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

8th Grade S1 25-26

Total questions: 50

Worksheet time: 25mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Which word means to make someone curious or interested; to fascinate?

a)

lethal

b)

intrigue

c)

vindictive

d)

moral

2.

In "Button, Button," which piece of evidence best shows that Norma is curious about Mr. Steward’s offer?

a)

“You think it’s a practical joke?’ she asked as they went into the bedroom.” (Paragraph 56)

b)

“Norma put the button unit beside her on the couch. She reread the typed note, smiling.” (Paragraph 4)

c)

“While she was stacking dishes, she turned abruptly, dried her hands, and took the package from the bottom cabinet.” (Paragraph 146)

d)

“Norma closed her eyes. Fifty thousand dollars, she thought.” (Paragraph 69)

3.

"BUTTON, BUTTON" Why does Norma want to push the button?

a)

She thinks she should have a better life, like a nicer house, a trip to Europe, and better clothes.

b)

She is tired of arguing with Arthur.

c)

She wants to be more adventurous.

d)

She wants to be part of a psychological experiment.

4.

"BUTTON, BUTTON" How does Arthur respond to Norma’s idea about pushing the button?

a)

He suggests that she should talk to a psychiatrist.

b)

He tells her that stealing is wrong.

c)

He tells her that it is wrong to kill someone, even if they are a stranger.

d)

He tries to call the police.

5.

"BUTTON, BUTTON" What does Mr. Steward mean when he asks if Norma really “knew [her] husband”? Explain what he is trying to say in a way that is easy for 8th graders to understand.

a)

Norma’s husband was pretending to be someone else the whole time.

b)

Norma and Arthur argued about the button, which shows Arthur only cares about himself and money.

c)

Norma never wanted to go to Arthur’s family events.

d)

Norma and Arthur argued about the button, which shows they don’t believe in the same things or have the same values.

6.

"RUTHLESS" Which statement best shows the main idea of the story?

a)

There will be consequences if people take justice into their own hands.

b)

It is fair to make sure a person’s punishment fits the crime they committed.

c)

No crime is bad enough to warrant another person’s death.

d)

It’s important to take the opinions of loved ones into consideration.

7.

"RUTHLESS" Which detail from the text best shows what Judson thinks about crime and punishment?

a)

a) “Also, the use of rat poison is quite legal. The only way any rat can get into this closet is to break in.” (Paragraph 17)

b)

b) “We won’t be here till next spring. I can’t bear to think of that deathtrap waiting there all the time.” (Paragraph 22)

c)

c) “‘and don’t worry about your poor, abused little burglar. No one is going to get hurt who hasn’t got it coming to him.’” (Paragraph 25)

d)

d) “He corked his bottled vengeance and set it back on the shelf alongside the little whiskey glass.” (Paragraph 14)

8.

"RUTHLESS" Which of these is an example of situational irony from the story?

a)

a) Marcia goes to warn Alec’s wife about the poison.

b)

b) Judson says his use of rat poison is legal.

c)

c) Judson was ruthless in his business and in getting revenge.

d)

d) Judson drinks the poison that he meant for the burglar.

9.

"RUTHLESS" What is an example of foreshadowing in the story?

a)

a) As she went down the path he started to close the closet door; then paused as he remembered his hunting boots drying outside on the porch. (par. 26)

b)

b) “When it comes to protecting my property I make my own laws.” His deep voice suggested a big dog growling at threatened loss of a bone. (par. 19)

c)

c) He chuckled once more at her words. “We’ll take a chance on that,” he said. “I’ve made my pile by taking chances. If I should die, you can do as you please. The stuff will be yours.” (par. 23)

d)

d) “That’s not the point,” he said. “If a man holds me up and robs me of five dollars it makes me just as sore as if he took a hundred. A thief’s a thief.” (par. 21)

10.

What happens in the story that makes the barber think again about what he wants to do to Captain Torres?

a)

The barber realizes that if he kills Captain Torres, he would be hunted until he was found.

b)

The barber realized that he possessed integrity and was proud of his profession.

c)

The day the barber watched Captain Torres order the townspeople to gather in the schoolyard to see the four rebels hanging there.

d)

The townspeople saw Captain Torres walk into the shop.

11.

Which of these quotes from the story shows the narrator is struggling with his feelings?

a)

"Torres did not know I was his enemy."

b)

"I had never seen him so close before."

c)

"I am a revolutionary, but not a murderer."

d)

"And this indeed was a special customer."

12.

How does the author make the story exciting and keep the reader guessing?

a)

He creates a situation that can have only one logical conclusion.

b)

He tells the outcome of the story in the opening paragraph and then goes back to tell the entire story.

c)

He lets us in on the secret that the barber wants to kill Captain Torres, and at first, we think Captain Torres is unaware of this as he's sitting in the barber's chair.

d)

He describes what Captain Torres is thinking while he is being shaved by a rebel barber.

13.

How does the moment when the barber thinks about killing Captain Torres help show the main idea of the story?

a)

It shows that the barber is too scared to do anything when he has the chance.

b)

It shows that the barber is struggling inside to figure out what the right thing to do is.

c)

It shows that anyone can be capable of doing something very violent.

d)

It shows how bad Captain Torres is and why some people want justice.

14.

In the story "LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER," what was probably the smartest thing Mary did?

a)

Put the leg of the lamb in the oven.

b)

Tidied up her hair and makeup.

c)

Convinced the detectives to eat the leg of lamb.

d)

Created an alibi by going to the store.

15.

"LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER" What is the dramatic irony in this story?

a)

Mrs. Maloney laughs at the end.

b)

Mrs. Maloney loves her husband but kills him.

c)

The detectives are looking for the murder weapon while they are actually eating it.

d)

The detectives believe Mary's alibi.

16.

In the story "Lamb to the Slaughter," why does Mrs. Maloney giggle at the end?

a)

She is happy because she got away with what she did and the police will never find out.

b)

She needs to go to a mental hospital.

c)

She is glad that her husband is gone.

d)

She laughs because the police say the weapon is right under their noses, which is funny because they don't know the truth.

17.

Why do writers use a hook at the beginning of an essay?

a)

To catch a fish

b)

To catch a reader's attention

c)

To make my teacher happy

d)

To earn more points on the SOL

18.

What do you call the paragraphs in an essay where the main ideas are explained and discussed?

a)

Key Paragraphs

b)

Conclusions

c)

Introductions

d)

Body Paragraphs

19.

What is the theme of a story?

a)

Message about life that the author expresses

b)

Main character

c)

Sequence of events

20.

What does the central idea of a story help you understand?

a)

The universal truth, moral, or idea the author wants to share

b)

The main problem in the story

c)

What the story is about

d)

A specific detail from the story

21.

What does the word "claim" mean?

a)

A fact about something important

b)

A statement that can be argued and proven with evidence

c)

A statement that gets the reader interested

d)

An opinion about something important

22.

Why do authors include reasons in their argumentative writing?

a)

Because the teacher told them to.

b)

To make their essay longer.

c)

To explain why they think their claim is true.

d)

To support their claim.

23.

Which of the following pieces of EVIDENCE helps to PROVE this reason: Many students are bullied for the clothes that they wear.

a)

Eighty-two percent of students report that they have been bullied for their clothing choices.

b)

Two out of three students believe that they should be able to wear anything that they want at school.

c)

According to MyMentalHealth.net, "Practicing meditation helps students to better cope with anxiety."

d)

I think that uniforms are the only way to prevent students from being bullied because of their clothes.

24.

TRUE or FALSE: When you use a quotation, should you always say who is speaking, thinking, or narrating the evidence?

a)

TRUE

b)

FALSE

25.

Driving recklessly through the streets of Gotham, Batman chased the Riddler. What type of verbal phrase is underlined?

a)

infinitive

b)

participle

c)

gerund

d)

not a verbal

26.

To fight for truth, justice, and the American way is Superman's motto. What type of verbal phrase is underlined?

a)

infinitive

b)

not a verbal

c)

participle

d)

gerund

27.

Which of the following is an example of a theme in a story?

a)

Don't judge people by outward appearances.

b)

Jack risked his life to save Jane.

c)

Cinderella was thoughtful and kind.

d)

Happiness

28.

In the poem “Sonnet”, what is the speaker most likely feeling?

a)

waiting for the sun to come up.

b)

experiencing adversity in their life.

c)

extremely fearful and has lost all hope.

d)

extremely satisfied with their life.

29.

What does the title "The Tell-Tale Heart" mean?

a)

The narrator blames the old man's heart for giving him away.

b)

The old man is telling a tale.

c)

The old man's eye causes the narrator to tell a tale.

d)

The old man's beating heart gives the narrator away.

30.

The feeling of excitement and worry that happens when you don’t know what will happen next in a story. This makes you want to keep reading or watching to find out more.

a)

SUSPENSE

b)

MOOD

c)

TONE

d)

MYSTERY

31.

Read the poem below and answer the question.

The coolness of the night
Refreshes my skin.
The stars shine so bright,
Causing me to grin.

What is the rhyme scheme of this poem?

a)

AABB

b)

ABAC

c)

ABAB

d)

ABCA

32.

A figure of speech where someone makes a statement that is much bigger or stronger than what is really true.

a)

Enjambment

b)

Hyperbole

c)

Free Verse

d)

Assonance

33.

Which word means a word that sounds like the noise it describes?

a)

Metaphor

b)

Onomatopoeia

c)

Consonance

d)

Verse

34.

What do you call a group of lines in a poem, similar to a paragraph or verse?

a)

Stanza

b)

Lines

c)

Chorus

d)

Refrain

35.

What do we call the pattern of end rhyme in a poem?

a)

Slant Rhyme

b)

Rhythm

c)

Rhyme

d)

Rhyme Scheme

36.

What is the name of the literary technique where two opposite ideas are placed next to each other to show how different they are?

a)

symbolism

b)

juxtaposition

c)

Rhyme

d)

apostrophe

37.

Which of the following would not help make a poem read faster?

a)

Using rhyme and a rhyme scheme in the poem

b)

Using sound devices like alliteration and consonance

c)

Using very little punctuation or leaving out punctuation

d)

Using lots of punctuation like commas or dashes throughout the poem

38.

Your sister would have helped you if she (a)   been so busy.

39.

What does reasoning mean in science?

a)

An opinion you believe in

b)

An explanation that connects your evidence back to your claim

c)

A written response to a claim

d)

A solid and reasonable argument

40.

In the poem, the line "I'll rise and I rise" is repeated to show the speaker's determination and success. What is this an example of?

a)

Repetition

b)

Personification

c)

Alliteration

d)

Hyperbole

41.

What is the best word to describe the tone of the poem "Still I Rise"?

a)

apologetic

b)

soothing

c)

bossy

d)

triumphant

42.

Which of the following is NOT usually found in free verse poetry?

a)

stanzas

b)

rhyme or rhythm

c)

plot or conflict

d)

serious topic

43.

INFERENCES are when you ...

a)

are clearly stated

b)

assume

c)

guess

d)

draw conclusions

44.

What does it mean to use "context clues" to figure out what a word means?

a)

Look at the words and sentences around the word to help you understand its meaning.

b)

Use the title of a story to guess what a word means.

c)

Use a thesaurus to find out what a word means.

d)

Use a dictionary to find out what a word means.

45.

Match the term with the definition: another name for “the accused” person (his job is to defend himself)

a)

Convicted

b)

Impartial jury

c)

Defendant

d)

Prosecution

46.

Match the term with its definition: Who are the people that start a lawsuit in court?

a)

Sentence

b)

Impartial jury

c)

Prosecution

d)

Defendant

47.

Match the term with the definition: If you are ___ of a crime, it means the jury has found you guilty

a)

charged

b)

convicted

c)

deliberated

d)

sentenced

48.

Match the term with the definition: this is one of the protections in our justice system; ___ means that all twelve jurors must agree on whether the person charged is guilty or not guilty. Everyone must come to the same decision.

a)

Charge

b)

Reasonable Doubt

c)

Unanimous verdict

d)

Verdict

49.

Match the term with the definition: On page 6 the judge tells the jurors, “If there is ___ (or “reason to doubt that the evidence proves guilty”), then you must bring me a verdict of ‘not guilty’.”

a)

charge

b)

verdict

c)

reasonable doubt

d)

sentence

50.

The judge told the jurors what to do if they had any reasonable doubt?

a)

Go Home

b)

Vote Guilty

c)

Take a Lunch Break

d)

Vote Not Guilty