8th Grade Gen ENG STAAR

Characterization

100

In "The Dinner Party", the hostess can best be described as-- A) elitist B) talkative C) composed D) generous

C). composed

200

In "The Dinner Party", why does the host assume that the colonel has won the debate? A) because a man was first to move B) because the American was obviously aware of the cobra's presence in the room C) because a woman screamed at the sight of the snake D) Because a woman moved first

B) because the American was obviously aware of the cobra's presence in the room

300

In "The Dinner Party", the American faces the challenge of-- A) making sure the hostess doesn't stay quiet longer than he does B) keeping the guests quiet until the cobra leaves the room C) calming his fear of snakes in order to capture the cobra D) learning Indian social etiquette (manners) so that he will be respected by the other guests

B) keeping the guests quiet until the cobra leaves the room

400

Read this line from paragraph 5: "Amid the ursine humor in all this, let’s not forget that for bears, developing a taste for human food is often one of the worst things that can happen to them—“a fed bear is a dead bear,” as the saying goes." The author’s tone in this line can best be described as — A) cautionary B) angry C) threatening D) pessimistic

A) cautionary

500

In "The Dinner Party", which of the following best describes The American? A) snobbish B) bored C) shy D) intelligent

D) intelligent

Vocabulary & Other Details

100

The information in the graph supports the article by showing — A)the preference black bears have for a certain kind of vehicle B) the bears’ intelligence in determining which vehicles to invade C) exactly how many vehicles were broken into by black bears D) the availability of vehicles parked overnight in certain locations

A)the preference black bears have for a certain kind of vehicle

200

In "The Dinner Party", which words from paragraph 7 best help the reader understand the use of the word "arresting"? A) it sobers everyone B) frighten the cobra C) he knows the commotion D) he speaks quickly

A) it sobers everyone

300

In paragraph 5, the scientific term "ursine" describes something related to — A) jokes B) habitats C) bears D) automobiles

C) bears

400

A) As a result, black bears have shown a strong preference for breaking into minivans overother types of vehicles. B) Bears most often gained access to minivans by popping open a rear side window. C) The researchers noted that they “commonly saw car doors bent open, windows on all sidesof the vehicle broken, and seats ripped out, all of which appeared effortless for bears.” D) A few individual bears could be responsible for all the break-ins, and they are displaying alearned behavior for choosing minivans.

D) A few individual bears could be responsible for all the break-ins, and they are displaying alearned behavior for choosing minivans.

500

In "Sunday Morning Early", which words best help the reader understand the meaning of the word "russet" in line 8? A) blue-black water B) boats, grasses C) gold, sunburnt D) empty blue sky

C) gold, suburnt

Author's Purpose

100

Read the following lines from "Sunday Morning Early": "I say, 'It's Sunday, and here we are in the church of the out-of-doors." By using this analogy, the poet emphasizes-- A) the speaker's authority as a parent B) the importance of spending time with family C) the speaker's emotional vulnerability D) the sacredness of nature

D) The sacredness of nature

200

Name the THREE main purposes for writing. (Remember..it's as easy as PIE)...

Persuade, inform, entertain

300

The author mentions that the minivan has been selected as “Car of the Year” by bears in order to — A) warn campers not to park minivans in Yosemite National Park B) describe the type of work published in the Journal of Mammalogy C) imply that the study lacks credibility D)highlight that the results of the study are somewhat humorous

D)highlight that the results of the study are somewhat humorous

400

In "The Dinner Party", what is the primary purpose of paragraph 1? A) to start the story with an exciting event B) to establish the context for the events that follow C) to reveal that the narrator is unreliable D) To introduce the reader to the story's primary conflict

B) To establish the context for the events that follow

500

(Sunday Morning Early) What is the most likely reason the poet ends the first stanza after line 13? A) to emphasize the poem's central message B) to indicate a change in the poem's setting C) to introduce new details about the poem's speaker D) to highlight a shift in point of view

A) to emphasize the poem's central message

Summarization/ Main Idea

100

Complete at least 3 of the following for "The Dinner Party" Who: What: When: Where: Why:

Who: The American, the hostess, and the guests What: eat dinner and discuss self control; try to keep as quiet as possible When: during dinner Where: at a dinner party in India Why: to avoid provoking the cobra in the room

200

(Sunday Morning Early) "A clap of thunder beyond those hills. How well sound travels over water..." The poet uses these line to emphasize the importance of-- A) truth B) listening C) power D) imagination

B) Listening

300

(Sunday Morning Early) Which line best explains why the speaker begins to speak at the end of the poem but then stops? A) A clap of thunder beyond those hills B) it hits me that my daughter is a young woman C) the russet and gold of late summer's sunburnt grasses D) That's the trick in life--learning to leave well enough alone

D) That's the trick in life--learning to leave well enough alone

400

In Sunday Morning Early, what is the theme (or lesson learned) of the poem? A) That parents should spend more time with their children B) That nature is sacred C) That life is short D) That it is important to take time to stop and listen without trying to do or say anything

D) That it is important to take time to stop and listen without trying to do or say anything

500

Which of the following best summarizes the article "Hungry Bears Prefer Minivans"? A) Black bears at Yosemite National Park have grown used to obtaining food from sources provided by humans, including locked cars. The bears find it relatively easy to break into vehicles, such as minivans. The more bears depend on humans for food, however, the more contact they have with humans, which is ultimately dangerous to both parties. B) Minivans may be the top choice of black bears in Yosemite National Park because they are relatively easy to break into and because minivans tend to emit food odors or contain large amounts of food. Bears seem to have learned from one another which type of vehicle to target and the best way to break in. C) Scientists conducting a study at Yosemite National Park have found that bears are more likely to break into minivans than any other type of vehicle. Several possible explanations for this behavior have been offered, including the structure of the minivan and the increased likelihood that minivans hold food. Researchers stress the danger of bears depending on humans for food. D) In a study conducted for the Journal of Mammalogy, scientists found that black bears break into different types of vehicles with varying frequency. The bears are capable of breaking windows, bending doors open, and ripping out seats, all in search of food. Their favorite vehicle, the minivan, was not necessarily the most available.

C) Scientists conducting a study at Yosemite National Park have found that bears are more likely to break into minivans than any other type of vehicle. Several possible explanations for this behavior have been offered, including the structure of the minivan and the increased likelihood that minivans hold food. Researchers stress the danger of bears depending on humans for food.

Miscellaneous

100

(Sunday Morning Early) What does the poet mean by the lines "suddenly everything is a metaphor for how/short a time we are granted on earth"? A) Nature often serves as a reminder that time does not stand still B) time passes differently for different people C) The future represents uncertainty D) Ordinary occurrences in nature cannot always be described

A) Nature often serves as a reminder that time does not stand still

200

The books recommended on the website all relate to which aspect of "The Dinner Party"? A) Its symbolism B) Its story line C) It's characters D) Its setting

B) Its story line

300

What does the author of "Hungry Bears Prefer Minivans" mean when he writes in paragraph 4 that “vehicles are simply hard shells”? A) Minivan owners should just leave their vehicle doors open if they don’t want bears to damage them. B) If bears can break into a minivan, they must be very strong. C) Bears really don’t know the difference between a minivan and any other type of box containing food. D) If minivans were built to be more sturdy, it wouldn’t be as easy for bears to break into them.

C) Bears really don’t know the difference between a minivan and any other type of box containing food.

400

The author organizes the article by — A) offering statistics from various studies, presenting conflicting opinions about the studies, and ending with his personal view B) presenting the results of a study, offering some ideas about what the study shows, and then stating what researchers hope to achieve in the future C) describing the reasons why Yosemite National Park has such a large number of bears and then explaining how minivans have made the problem worse D) referring to phony research studies that claim bears prefer some kinds of vehicles over others and then dismissing these studies with conclusions from mammalogists

B) presenting the results of a study, offering some ideas about what the study shows, and then stating what researchers hope to achieve in the future

500

In "The Dinner Party", which of these is an example of irony in the story? A) A colonel and a young girl debate whether men and women have different amounts of self control B) Cobras normally hide in the rafters of a room, but the cobra in the story is under the table C) The American is the only person at the party besides the hostess who realizes the danger everyone is in. D) The hostess exhibits extreme self control at the very moment the colonel is saying that women lack it.

D) The hostess exhibits extreme self control at the very moment the colonel is saying that women lack it.