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Worksheets(RES) Literary and Vocabulary Quiz ELA.8.V.1.3
Total questions: 10
Worksheet time: 5mins
Excerpt 1 – Fiction (from Poe-inspired passage)
"The beating grew louder, insistent, like a drum of guilt pounding in my ears. Though I smiled, my hands trembled with a vehement energy I could not disguise."
What is the meaning of the word vehement as used in the passage?
Gentle and soft
Forceful and intense
Quiet and timid
Weak and uncertain
Excerpt 2 – Nonfiction (adapted from History of the Space Shuttle)
"NASA’s fleet of Space Shuttles carried astronauts into orbit, deployed satellites, and conducted scientific experiments. Each shuttle was designed to be reusable, though many eventually began to disintegrate after years of use."
Which phrase best helps the reader determine the meaning of disintegrate?
carried astronauts into orbit
conducted scientific experiments
began to…after years of use
designed to be reusable
Excerpt 3 – Poetry (original, 6 lines)
"The sky wore an ominous cloak of gray,
Whispers of thunder warned the day.
The trees bent low as winds took flight,
A storm approached with sudden might.
Children hurried, shadows grew,
Fear spread quickly, the village knew."
What is the connotation of the word ominous in line 1?
Neutral, meaning simply “cloudy”
Threatening, suggesting danger ahead
Positive, meaning exciting or adventurous
Scientific, referring to natural weather
Excerpt 4 – Fiction
"She spoke with such sagacity that even the elders paused to listen, her words cutting through confusion like a lantern in the fog."
What does sagacity most likely mean?
Foolishness
Strength
Wisdom
Anger
Excerpt 5 – Nonfiction (adapted Titanic article)
"Passengers admired the ship’s glamorous chandeliers and grand staircases. To many, the Titanic symbolized luxury and progress."
What is the connotative meaning of glamorous in this excerpt?
Practical and useful
Plain and simple
Stylish and elegant
Old and outdated
Excerpt 6 – Poetry (original couplet)
"Hope is a fragile bird that dares to sing,
Even when winter steals the spring."
Which type of figurative language is used in this excerpt?
Metaphor
Hyperbole
Simile
Personification
Excerpt 7 – Fiction
"His audacity shocked the crowd—no one expected him to stand and accuse the mayor in such a bold voice."
Which word is the closest synonym for audacity as used in the sentence?
Bravery
Silence
Fear
Respect
Excerpt 8 – Nonfiction (adapted from Space Shuttle vocabulary)
"A satellite orbits the Earth, collecting data about weather patterns and transmitting information back to scientists on the ground."
What is the denotative meaning of satellite?
A TV system used at home
A natural or artificial object that orbits another
A type of spacecraft with passengers
A signal that bounces between towers
Excerpt 9 – Poetry (original 4 lines)
"Her smile, a thousand suns combined,
Lit the darkest parts of my mind.
Yet shadows lingered, sharp and sly,
Truth was hidden behind her eye."
Which word in the poem carries a negative connotation?
Smile
Suns
Shadows
Lit
Excerpt 10 – Fiction
"The old house had an acute silence, so sharp it seemed every floorboard waited to scream."
Which meaning of acute fits this sentence best?
Clever and intelligent
Severe and intense
Mathematical angle
Illness-related
