8th Grade MCAS Review

Context Clues

100

Everyone in the world is afraid of something. Instead of having just one phobia, or fear, at a time, most people have many fears simultaneously. People may be scared of bugs or spiders, water or flying. Sometimes, people have reasons for their fears. An assault may make someone scared of strangers on the street, even years after the attack. Other times, there is no reason for the fear. A person with a strong fear of bugs may spend large amounts of money to exterminate every insect in the house, even though all of them are less dangerous than the poison! In the passage above, what is the meaning of assault? A. an animal B. a storm C. an attack D. a test

C. an attack

200

Everyone in the world is afraid of something. Instead of having just one phobia, or fear, at a time, most people have many fears simultaneously. People may be scared of bugs or spiders, water or flying. Sometimes, people have reasons for their fears. An assault may make someone scared of strangers on the street, even years after the attack. Other times, there is no reason for the fear. A person with a strong fear of bugs may spend large amounts of money to exterminate every insect in the house, even though all of them are less dangerous than the poison! In the passage above, what is the meaning of simultaneously? A. a group of people B. at the same time C. one at a time D. large or important

B. at the same time

300

Everyone in the world is afraid of something. Instead of having just one phobia, or fear, at a time, most people have many fears simultaneously. People may be scared of bugs or spiders, water or flying. Sometimes, people have reasons for their fears. An assault may make someone scared of strangers on the street, even years after the attack. Other times, there is no reason for the fear. A person with a strong fear of bugs may spend large amounts of money to exterminate every insect in the house, even though all of them are less dangerous than the poison! In the passage above, what is the meaning of phobia? A. poisonous spider or bug B. strong fear or anxiety C. job or responsibility D. dream or desire

B. strong fear or anxiety

400

Everyone in the world is afraid of something. Instead of having just one phobia, or fear, at a time, most people have many fears simultaneously. People may be scared of bugs or spiders, water or flying. Sometimes, people have reasons for their fears. An assault may make someone scared of strangers on the street, even years after the attack. Other times, there is no reason for the fear. A person with a strong fear of bugs may spend large amounts of money to exterminate every insect in the house, even though all of them are less dangerous than the poison! In the passage above, what is the meaning of exterminate? A. escape B. kill C. enjoy D. help

B. kill

500

Alfred Nobel invented dynamite. He was, however, a pacifist who felt bad about the destructive power that he created. He established the Nobel Prize as an award for outstanding achievement in physics, chemistry, medicine, peace, literature, and economics. Looking at the context, what is the definition of pacifist? A. a cruel, violent person B. an inventor of explosives C. a very famous scientist D. a person against violence

D. a person against violence

Root Words

100

This prefix means "before"

Pre

200

This root word means the OPPOSITE of BENE (like benevolent, benficial and benefit) - hint bene means "good"

mal

300

This prefix means "after"

post

400

What is the root word in the word "postmodernism"?

modern

500

This suffix usually indicates that the part of speech of a word is an adverb (adverbs describe verbs) (verbs are action words)

-ly

Drawing Conclusions

100

Malik finished multiplying the fractions and turned in his worksheet. Ms. Watson was making the class sit quietly until the end of class. Twenty more minutes were left. Malik watched the clock as the hands moved slowly toward three o’clock. He groaned as he put his head on his desk but jerked back up when Ms. Watson's voice suddenly broke the silence. “Okay, class! I have your tests graded. Overall, I’m very pleased with how you all did. Some of you, however, need to study a bit harder,” Ms. Watson said as she passed out the papers. Malik had studied every night for a whole week. He was positive that he had made an A. Ms. Watson came and placed his test facedown on his desk. Malik turned it over excitedly, but his grin quickly turned to a frown. As he stared at his grade, a huge knot formed in his stomach. Why does Malik groan and put his head on his desk? A. He is upset about his bad grade. B. He feels sick after taking a test. C. He is bored after finishing his work. D. He does not want to talk to his teacher.

A. He is upset about his bad grade.

200

"You always want to do what I do, Polly thought. She sighed and leaned over to talk to her sister eye-to-eye. 'You're too little to run a business like me. You just have to sit quietly and watch.' " What does the paragraph above suggest? A. Polly wants to help her little sister. B. Polly needs to learn to run a business. C. Polly thinks her sister is annoying. D. Polly likes to play with her sister.

C. Polly thinks her sister is annoying.

300

Mr. Killian's class could be heard from the lobby of the school. His students laughed at his jokes and funny voices. A couple students were walking by his door and stopped to see what was happening. Mr. Killian wanted his students to like reading great novels. To make them interesting, he would sometimes act out the books using funny props and voices. The students paid attention in his class and even made good grades on his tests. He also gave each student individual attention and made each feel special. When he walked down the hall, Mr. Killian was greeted with smiles and high fives. Even the other teachers had nothing but nice things to say about Mr. Killian. Based on the passage, which generalization can the reader make? A. Many students like Mr. Killian's teaching style. B. Most teachers like to make funny jokes in class. C. English is the most exciting class in all schools. D. No one likes to read long novels in English class.

A. Many students like Mr. Killian's teaching style.

400

Last night, someone broke all the windows of the empty Kizer building. This is the fourth building in Farrell Square to be damaged at night. The old neighborhood has seen better times. In the past, it was the center of activity in the city. People could go to the park, go shopping, or catch a movie. Now, the screen of the old theater is covered in graffiti. Many of the old shops are now abandoned. The park is overgrown with weeds. What conclusion can the reader make from the reading? A. Many people used to work in the Kizer building. B. Most people want to live near the park. C. Many people have moved to other parts of the city. D. Kids don't respect their neighborhoods.

C. Many people have moved to other parts of the city.

500

What is Sleep Talking? Sleep talking is a common activity people do while sleeping. People make sounds or speak during sleep without being aware of it. Sleep talking can happen at any stage of sleep. People with anxiety disorders or fever are known to talk in their sleep. Sometimes, people with other sleep disorders like sleep walking or shortness of breath while sleeping also talk in their sleep. More children are known to sleep talk compared to adults. Usually, sleep talking goes away in children when they hit puberty. Children who sleep walk may continue to sleep talk as well. While some sleep talkers carry on conversations, others only moan or make sounds. Lack of sleep is known to increase sleep talking. Other factors that increase sleep talking are stress and anxiety. People with irregular sleep habits might talk in their sleep. Researchers say eating a heavy meal before bedtime creates discomfort that might cause sleep talking. What can the reader tell about people who sleep talk? A. They will remember everything they said while sleeping. B. They are most talkative when they are in deep sleep. C. They feel least stressed or anxious while sleep talking. D. They do not know that they are talking in their sleep.

D. They do not know that they are talking in their sleep.

Main Idea

100

Killer whales are sometimes called the "wolves of the sea." They are predators; they need to eat other animals to live. Like wolves, they work together in groups. If you're a porpoise or a big fish, a killer whale looks mean because it wants to eat you. If you're a killer whale, then you hope that the porpoise or big fish doesn't get away. If it does, then you have to go hungry. What is the main idea of the paragraph? A. Killer whales chase big fish. B. Killer whales are harmless. C. Killer whales are predators. D. Killer whales live in groups.

C. Killer whales are predators.

200

Do you know where to find Italy on a map? Italy juts out from the European continent. It sticks out into the Mediterranean Sea. It is shaped like a high-heeled boot. The toe is pointed to the island of Sicily. Other important islands to its west are Sardinia, Corsica, and Elba. To the north are France, Switzerland, Austria, and Germany. Some countries lie to the east. They are across the Adriatic Sea. Croatia, Bosnia, and Herzegovina are found across the water. Which sentence from the passage supports the idea that Italy is surrounded by water? A. It is shaped like a high-heeled boot. B. The toe is pointed to the island of Sicily. C. Do you know where to find Italy on a map? D. It sticks out into the Mediterranean Sea.

D. It sticks out into the Mediterranean Sea.

300

The ring you sometimes see around the sun or moon is called a halo. It is believed to be caused by the scattering of sunlight by tiny ice crystals very high in the sky. High clouds of ice crystals in the sky are called cirrus clouds or cirrostratus if they form a layer. These often form in front of warm fronts that bring rain. That means a halo around the sun or moon is often a warning that rain may come. The passage is mainly about A. the reasons the sun rises. B. how halos are formed. C. a warning that rain may come. D. warm fronts that bring rain.

B. how halos are formed.

400

The solar system is made of our Sun and everything that travels around it. Our solar system is elliptical. This means it is shaped like an egg. The Sun is in the center of the solar system. Our solar system is always moving. Eight planets and their moons orbit the Sun. Comets, asteroids, and other space objects also move around the Sun. The Sun is the biggest object in our solar system. It has more than 99% of the solar system's mass. Astronomers think the solar system is over 4 billion years old. Which would be the best title of the passage? A. Comets and Moons B. Eight Planets C. The Solar System D. The Sun's Mass

C. The Solar System

500

Come hear Granger Smith at Wildcats Stadium on April 8 from 5-7 p.m. Granger is a Lake Highlands High School graduate who is a rising country music star. Smith is best known for his top ten single "Don't Listen to the Radio." Bring a blanket and a picnic, and enjoy the show. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children. Proceeds go to benefit the cheerleading squad and drill team. What is this passage mainly about? A. a benefit concert at the high school B. a rally against listening to the radio C. a drill team contest at the school D. a graduation concert at the stadium

A. a benefit concert at the high school

Mixed Bag

100

Skiing vs. Snowboarding Unlike the sport of skiing, snowboarding does not involve the use of poles. In skiing, the skier’s feet are strapped to separate skis, and he or she can change direction using the poles. In snowboarding, on the other hand, the feet are strapped to a single board of fiberglass or wood. The snowboarder must steer by leaning in the direction he or she wants to go, as a skateboarder does. Whereas most skiers compete by racing against each other on different courses, most snowboarders compete with freestyle tricks or great feats of acrobatics. How is this passage organized? A. sequence B. cause and effect C. compare and contrast D. question and answer

C. compare and contrast

200

Before writing a quotation in an Open Response, you must always write...

context and an attachment

300

The use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning.

Irony

400

What is the rhyme scheme of the following poem: Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting; The soul that rises with us, our life's star, Hath had elsewhere its setting, And cometh from afar; Not in entire forgetfulness, And not in utter nakedness, But trailing clouds of glory do we come From God, who is our home.

A,B,A,B,C,C,D,D

500

A repeated subject or idea in literature that is often symbolic.

Motif