8th Grade ELA
What is the difference between explicit and implicit meaning?
Explicit = directly stated; Implicit = implied/inferred
words that mean the same as another are called
What is synonym?
What is tone?
The author’s attitude toward the subject
When our debate team went to states and won, it brought a lot of prestige to our school. The enrollment in the debate program increased substantially, and several businesses made donations to the school.
1. What does the word prestige mean as used in the paragraph above?
A. notability
B. disinterest
C. hate
D. loyalty
A. notability
I rue the day I decided to start smoking. It is a very expensive habit, and I never have money to do fun things with my friends. Some of my friends have dropped me because they disagree with my decision to start smoking. Unfortunately I am now hooked and can’t seem to stop.
1. Which of the words is OPPOSITE from the meaning of the word rue?
A. consent to B. proud of C. regret D. detest
B. proud
When a narrator uses "he, she, they, their," the story is written in _____ person.
Third (3rd) Person Point of View
Words that mean the opposite of another are called
Antonyms
What is mood?
The feeling the reader gets
What is a claim?
A statement or position the author is trying to prove
The candidate for student body president spoke to the audience about many of the issues faced by the school. She seemed to motivate teachers and students alike with her plans for the next year. Her speech was extremely eloquent.
1.What does the word eloquent mean as used in the paragraph above?
A. negative and condescending
B. persuasive and powerful
C. offensive to many
D. long and boring
B. persuasive and powerful
When a narrator uses the words "you, yourself, your," the story is written in _____ person.
Second (2nd) Person Point of View
What is figurative language? Give one example.
Language not meant literally (simile, metaphor, etc.)
Answers may vary
Read the poem excerpt:
The wind whispers through the trees,
Telling tales on every breeze.
The moon looks down with silver eyes,
Watching stars that dot the skies.
What is the theme of the poem?
A. The danger of the night
B. Nature as a storyteller
C. The loneliness of the wind
D. The fear of the unknown
B. Nature as a storyteller
The wind and moon are personified as telling stories and watching the night sky, suggesting nature has a voice and presence.
What is the difference between tone and mood?
Excerpt from: Eclair Recipe
FILLING —Put half a pint of milk into a double-boiler, and place on the stove. Beat together until very light one level tablespoonful of flour, half a cupful of sugar, and one egg. When the milk boils, stir in this mixture. Add one-eighth of a teaspoonful of salt, and cook for fifteen minutes, stirring often. When cold, flavor with one teaspoonful of vanilla.
The main purpose of this selection is
A) to explain the procedures for preparing chocolate éclairs.
B) to explain the nutrition information for chocolate éclairs.
C) to explain how to insert different fillings into chocolate éclairs.
D) to describe the taste of ingredients used to make chocolate éclairs.
A) to explain the procedures for preparing chocolate éclairs.
What is the difference between theme and main idea?
Theme = life lesson/message; Main idea = what the text is mostly about
** DAILY DOUBLE **
What is connotation?
The emotional or cultural meaning of a word
Which literary device is used in the line, "The wind whispers through the trees"?
D. Personification
The wind is given the human action of "whispering."
***** DAILY DOUBLE*****
Excerpt from: A Screamingly Good Science Lesson
Without warning, the energy-loaded cart begins to descend the first hill. As the cart careens down the hill, like a snake chasing its prey, it demonstrates kinetic energy.
Part A: A synonym for the word careens in the paragraph above is
A) drifts. B) creeps. C) speeds. D) splashes.
C) speeds.
The Eagle - by Alfred Lord Tennyson
He clasps the crag with crooked hands;
Close to the sun in lonely lands,
Ringed with the azure world he stands.
The wrinkled sea beneath him crawls;
He watches from his mountain walls,
And like a thunderbolt he falls.
Given the tone of the poem, and noting especially the last line, what is the eagle most likely doing in the poem?
a. dying of old age
b. hunting prey
c. learning joyfully to fly
d. keeping watch over a nest of young eagles
b. hunting prey
What is point of view?
The perspective from which a story is told
What is denotation?
The dictionary definition of a word
The frozen lake is like an endless sheet of glass,
held tight beneath our freezing feet.
A chorus of laughter on the wind
tumbles across the peaks and dales.
The first frozen winter’s night
spent under the moon, the stars, the dark.
Hands clasped,
we circle around, around,
bumping, shouting, laughing,
Spinning,
a town together
one night of the year
in the most unspoiled place
on Earth.
Choose the best theme for this passage.
a. Working hard will lead to valuable rewards.
b. It is people’s differences that make them special.
c. Exercise is an important part of being healthy.
d. People should experience nature’s beauty.
d. People should experience nature’s beauty.
What is a paragraph in a poem called?
Stanza
Explain what the following figurative language is trying to convey and what type of figurative language is being used?
His fist was like an iron cannon ball smashing into the castle wall as it landed on my cheek with a THUD!
He hit really hard! It was powerful- Answers may vary
Simile
What does the word guilliable mean in the following sentence?
There are any number of miracle cures for various illnesses for people gullible enough to buy them.
easily deceived or tricked; too trusting
What does the word tenacious mean in the following sentence:
Even though Jackson was smaller than his other teammates, his tenacious attitude allowed him to accomplish as much as they did.
extremely persistent; never giving up or letting anyone get in his way
Which line contains an example of alliteration?
A. "Telling tales on every breeze"
B. "The moon looks down with silver eyes"
C. "Watching stars that dot the skies"
D. "The wind whispers through the trees"
A. "Telling tales on every breeze"
The repetition of the "t" sound in "telling tales" is alliteration.
Excerpt from: Thermometer Pills
Over the past ten years more than two dozen athletes have died from the medical condition known as heatstroke. Heatstroke occurs when the body’s internal temperature becomes so elevated that its cooling system begins shutting down. Who is most at risk? Surprisingly, it is younger athletes. They often either do not recognize or they ignore the warning signs until it’s too late. To make matters worse, children’s bodies are much less efficient than adults at cooling themselves. A promising new product hopes to end the, all too common, heatstroke trend. It is called a thermometer pill.
From the context of the this paragraph, which two words are antonyms (opposites)?
A) condition/heatstroke
B) efficient/promising
C) internal/elevated
D) recognize/ignore
D) recognize/ignore
The Story of Anita’s Day
Anita raced down the stairs, frightening the cat along the way. She threw on her jacket and grabbed her backpack before running out the door. Anita's alarm had not gone off that morning, making her very late. When she turned the corner, Anita saw the bus just as it pulled away from the curb. She waved her hands frantically, hoping that the driver would see her. Luckily, he spotted her just in time to stop the bus. Anita jumped on board, and the bus driver gave her an understanding smile as she took a seat.
What is the climax of the story?
A) The bus driver smiles at Anita.
B) Anita races down the stairs.
C) The bus driver spots Anita.
D) Anita runs out the door.
C) The bus driver spots Anita.