8th Grade RLA STAAR Review

Non-Fiction

Fiction

Poetry

Point Of View
In Order 100-600

Figurative Language

100

Vesta Asteroid

Vesta is one of the most interesting of the asteroids. It orbits the Sun, and its relatively high reflectivity of almost 30% makes it the brightest asteroid, so bright that it is actually visible to the unaided eye if you know just where to look. But its real claim to fame is that its surface is covered with basalt, indicating that Vesta must once have been volcanically active, in spite of its small size (about 500 kilometers in diameter). Meteorites from Vesta’s surface (Figure 3), identified by comparing their spectra with that of Vesta itself, have landed on Earth and are available for direct study in the laboratory. We thus know a great deal about this asteroid.

1. What idea in the passage does the photograph support?

A. Vesta is reflective.

B. Vesta is small.

C. Vesta has volcanos.

D. Vesta is an asteroid

1. What idea in the passage does the photograph support?

A. Vesta is reflective.

100

Frog Prince

(A) An ill queen sent each of her daughters to a well for healing water. (B) They each met a frog who asked her to marry him for a drink. (C) The first two refused him as an ugly creature and were unable to get water. (D) The youngest agreed to marry him for the water. She took the water home and healed her mother. The frog came to the door and told her to remember her pledge. First, she put him behind the door, then under a bucket, then in a little bed by the fireplace, then a bed beside her own bed, but nothing stopped him. Finally, they married, and he became a handsome young prince.

1. Which of the following best describes the youngest princess’s main problem in the story?

A. She did not get along with her sisters.

B. She needed to save her mother.

C. She must marry a frog.

D. She needed to hide the frog.

1. Which of the following best describes the youngest princess’s main problem in the story?

C. She must marry a frog.

100

Just Because

^{Just because I’m a complex maze without a center or}^exit

^{Doesn’t mean I don’t cooperate,}

^{Doesn’t mean I can’t accept others,}

^{Doesn’t mean I only care for myself.}

^{Just because I’m empathetic}

^{Doesn’t mean you can play me like a game of Sorry,}

^{Doesn’t mean you can run through me like the finish line}

^{in a track race,}

^{Doesn’t mean you can hurt me.}

^{Just because I look indifferent about others}

^{Doesn’t mean I am not hurt by your judgment,}

^{Doesn’t mean I don’t know the pain of longing for warmth,}

^{Doesn’t mean I can’t help someone when they’re down.}

^{I’m a complex maze without a center or exit…}

1. Read the line from the poem.

_{Just because I’m a complex}

_{maze without a center or exit}

The poet includes this metaphor most likely to -

A) help the reader visualize the complexity

B) suggest there is more to the poet on the inside

C) identify the poet’s main feelings

1. The poet includes this metaphor most likely to -

B) suggest there is more to the poet on the inside

100

Teens and Distracted Driving

Teens are the group most likely to drive distracted and to suffer its consequences. Amongst drivers of all ages involved in fatal crashes, those ages 15–19 had the highest proportion of drivers judged as distracted at the time of the crash. For children, youth, and young adults age 8–24,motor vehicle crashes are the primary cause of death, with teens having the highest proportion of distraction-related fatalities. To a large extent, today's teens live connected via computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices. Remaining engaged with others in various locations andsituations is, for many, an ingrained habit that has becomethe societal norm. According to a Centers for DiseaseControl and Prevention (CDC) survey, reports of teentexting vary from 30 to 100 texts a day, and over 40% of teens report texting and driving in the last 30 days. In addition to using their phones, teens are more likely to engage in other types of secondary tasks, which are distracting, and to have longer periods of off-road glances. Distracted driving is risky for drivers of all ages, but research shows that these types of behaviors are riskier for novice drivers.

1. Which of the following would the author agree with?

A Teens should not be allowed to drive.

B. Teens are relatively good drivers.

C. Teens are more likely to get distracted while driving.

D. Teens are responsible for most car accidents.

1. Which of the following would the author agree with?

C. Teens are more likely to get distracted while driving.

100

What type of figurative language is used?

The giant’s steps were thunder as he ran toward Jack.

What is a metaphor?

200

Vesta Asteroid

2. The word unaided means

(A)with a telescope (B) well trained, (C) with no help, (D)less powerful

2. The word unaided means

200

Frog Prince

2. Part A: Which word best describes the older sisters?

(A) unkind (B) selfish (C) generous (D) cruel

3. Part B: Which detail from the story best

supports your answer in Part A.

2. Part A: Which word best describes the older sisters? (B) selfish

3. Part B: Which detail from the story best

supports your answer in Part A.

200

Just Because

^{Just because I’m a complex maze without a center or}^exit

^{Doesn’t mean I don’t cooperate,}

^{Doesn’t mean I can’t accept others,}

^{Doesn’t mean I only care for myself.}

^{Just because I’m empathetic}

^{Doesn’t mean you can play me like a game of Sorry,}

^{Doesn’t mean you can run through me like the finish line}

^{in a track race,}

^{Doesn’t mean you can hurt me.}

^{Just because I look indifferent about others}

^{Doesn’t mean I am not hurt by your judgment,}

^{Doesn’t mean I don’t know the pain of longing for warmth,}

^{Doesn’t mean I can’t help someone when they’re down.}

^{I’m a complex maze without a center or exit…}

2. Which theme is explored in the poem?

A) Beauty is only skin deep.

B) People will surprise you.

C) Don’t judge a book by its

cover.

2. Which theme is explored in the poem?

C) Don’t judge a book by its

cover.

200

Teens and Distracted Driving

2. What evidence does the author use to support his point of view? (A) research surveys (B)scientific studies (C) personal observations (D) current event articles

2. What evidence does the author use to support his point of view?

(A) research surveys

200

What type of figurative language is used?

The daffodils nodded their yellow heads at the walkers.

What is Personification?

300

The Joker is the Best Character

With the final character being announced to Super Smash Brothers Ultimate (SSBU), there is a lot of debate on the competitively best character in the game. (A) But let me explain why Joker is the best character. (B) The Joker's frame data shows his amazing recovery and high damage output. (C) The Joker has everything that a player could want and more. (D) There are qualities that you can want with every character, and each character offers a different playstyle with different strengths and weaknesses. With the Joker, he has all of the good that you could ever need and not many weaknesses that other characters have. He is fast on the ground and in the air, along with an advanced move set. He can send out multiple attacks within a short period of time.

3. Select the phrase that best explains why the author chose to include the photograph.

A. to show how to play the game

B. to show the article is about a video game

C. to show why the Joker is the best

D. to show which is the best system to use

3. Select the phrase that best explains why the author chose to include the photograph.

B. to show the article is about a video game

300

Alice

Once upon a time, there was a little girl called Alice: and she had a very curious dream. A White Rabbit came running by, in a great hurry, and, just as it passed Alice, it stopped and took its watch out of its pocket. It had pretty pink eyes, and pink ears; and a nice brown coat; and you can see its red pocket-handkerchief peeping out of its coat pocket: and, what with its blue neck-tie and its yellow waistcoat. “Oh dear, oh dear!” said the Rabbit. “I shall be too late!” He was late for a visit with the Duchess. She was a very cross old lady. And so, when the White Rabbit ran away, Alice wanted to see what would happen to it, so she ran after it, and she ran, and she ran, till she tumbled right down the rabbit-hole. And then she had a very long fall indeed. Down, and down, and down, till she began to wonder if she was going right through the World, coming out on the other side! This terrible fall came to an end at last, and down came Alice on a heap of sticks and dry leaves. But she wasn’t a bit hurt, and up she jumped and ran after the Rabbit again.

3. Which plot element best matches the excerpt?

(A) Exposition (B) Rising action (C) Climax

(D) Falling action

3. Which plot element best matches the excerpt?

(A) Exposition

300

The Brook by Alfred Tennyson

I chatter, chatter, as I flow

To join the brimming river;

For men may come and men may go,

But I go on forever.

I wind about, and in and out,

With here a blossom sailing,

And here and there a lusty trout,

And here and there a grayling.

I slip, I slide, I gloom, I glance,

Among my skimming swallows;

I make the netted sunbeams dance

Against my sandy shallows.

And out again I curve and flow

To join the brimming river;

For men may come and

men may go,

But I go on forever.

3. The poet uses personification throughout

the poem to help the reader -

A) feel sorry for the brook

B) see what life could be like

C) understand the brook’s experiences

D) recognize the importance of nature

3. The poet uses personification throughout

the poem to help the reader -

C) understand the brook’s experiences

300

Old Granny Fox

Snow covered the Green Meadows and the Green Forest. Reddy and Granny Fox were hungry most of the time. It was not easy to find enough to eat these days, and so they spent nearly every minute they were awake on hunting. Sometimes they hunted together, but usually, one went one way, and the other went another way to have a greater chance of finding something. They had had very little indeed to eat for several days, and they were so hungry that they were willing to take almost any chance to get a good meal. For two nights, they had visited Farmer Brown's henhouse, hoping that they would be able to find a way inside. But the chickens had been securely locked up. "It's of no use," said Granny, as they started back home after the second try, "to hope to get one of those hens at night. If we get any at all, we will have to do it in broad daylight. It can be done, for I have done it before, but I'm not too fond of the idea. We are likely to be seen, and that means that Bowser the Hound will be set to hunting us." "Pooh!" exclaimed Reddy. "What of it? It's easy enough to fool him." "You think so, do you?" snapped Granny. "I never yet saw a young Fox who didn't think he knew all there is to know, and you're just like the rest. When you've lived as long as I have, you will have learned not to be quite so sure of your own opinions.

3. Part A: From what point of view is the story told?

A) first -person

B) third-person limited

C) third-person omniscient

3. Part A: From what point of view is the story told?

C) third-person omniscient

300

What type of figurative language is used?

He was so tired that he could have slept for a month.

What is Hyperbole?

400

The Joker is the Best Character

4. Which sentence from the essay provides evidence to support the claim that the Joker is the best character?

(B) The Joker's frame data shows his amazing recovery and high damage output.

400

Alice

4. How does the story’s setting influence the plot?

A) The bottomless rabbit hole makes Alice feel isolated.

B) The detail makes the rabbit hole seem scary.

C) The impossible happenings make the

place seem strange.

4. How does the story’s setting influence the plot?

C) The impossible happenings make the

place seem strange.

400

The Brook by Alfred Tennyson

I chatter, chatter, as I flow

To join the brimming river;

For men may come and men may go,

But I go on forever.

I wind about, and in and out,

With here a blossom sailing,

And here and there a lusty trout,

And here and there a grayling.

I slip, I slide, I gloom, I glance,

Among my skimming swallows;

I make the netted sunbeams dance

Against my sandy shallows.

And out again I curve and flow

To join the brimming river;

For men may come and

men may go,

But I go on forever.

4. In the poem, the brook is also a symbol

for (A) man, (B) life, (C) childhood, (D) water.

4. In the poem, the brook is also a symbol

for (B) life

400

Old Granny Fox

4. Part B: By telling the story from this point of view, the author helps the reader -(A)understand what both foxes are going through (B) gain insight into Granny’s thoughts (C) learn how Reddy feels about hounds

4. Part B: By telling the story from this point of view, the author helps the reader -

(A)understand what both foxes are going through

400

What type of figurative language is used?

Nothing Gold Can Stay

BY ROBERT FROST

Nature’s first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf’s a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.

What is Symbolism?

500

Tigers

Deforestation is the primary cause behind the Sumatran tiger’s dwindling numbers. Since 1993, Sumatra has lost 48% of its forest cover. Not only is deforestation harmful to tigers, but it also accounts for 20% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. Similarly, 71% of tiger habitat in Asia is currently undergoing deforestation. Rainforests are being cut down to create land for agriculture, and the trees are used for fuelwood and timber-use products. In Sumatra, most of the logging is occurring in the lower elevation forests, which support high densities of Indonesian wildlife, including the Sumatran tiger.

5. How does the diagram help the author make his point?

A. by showing the overall picture of how greatly tigers have been impacted

B. by showing the percentage of forest lost since 1993

C. by showing the numbers that prove deforestation is the main issue

D. by showing a way that people can help support tigers

5. How does the diagram help the author make his point?

C. by showing the numbers that prove deforestation is the main issue

500

Sherlock Holmes

Holmes: You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear Watson.

Watson: I was afraid that you were engaged.

Holmes: So I am. Very much so.

Watson: Then I can wait in the next room.

Holmes: Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also. Try the settee. I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own little adventures.

Watson: Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me.

Holmes: You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary combinations, we must go to life itself, which is always far more daring than any effort of the imagination.

5. Which word best describes Holmes?

A) curious B) excited C) challenging D) imaginative

5. Which word best describes Holmes? A) curious

500

The Brook by Alfred Tennyson

I chatter, chatter, as I flow

To join the brimming river;

For men may come and men may go,

But I go on forever.

I wind about, and in and out,

With here a blossom sailing,

And here and there a lusty trout,

And here and there a grayling.

I slip, I slide, I gloom, I glance,

Among my skimming swallows;

I make the netted sunbeams dance

Against my sandy shallows.

And out again I curve and flow

To join the brimming river;

For men may come and

men may go,

But I go on forever.

5. The word brimming means -

A) a way to be more successful

B) being able to go on forever

C) to be full of kindness

D) so full it is almost overflowing

5. The word brimming means -

D) so full it is almost overflowing

500

School Social Media Free Speech Case

In the article “School Social Media Free Speech Case,” I learned that a fourteen-year-old student Brandi Levy didn’t make the varsity cheerleading team and then posted a mean comment on social media while off school grounds. (A) That resulted in her getting suspended from school. (B) Levy’s parents then filed a federal lawsuit against the school district and won. (C) The reason they won was that Levy’s suspension violated her first amendment rights, which was freedom of speech. (D) I see with this result that there is no way to stop or punish people who bully or threaten other son line. I believe this will lead to more students being mean on social media and getting away with it. It also will make schools look bad because they will not be able to do anything about it. There should be a significant consequence for those putting out mean comments on social media about their school and its students.

5. Part A: How is the author’s point of view different from that of the court?

(A) The author believes that Levy was right to win. (B) The author thinks that Levy should have been punished. (C) The author wishes his school were able to punish Levy. (D) The author acknowledges that some people should have free speech.

5. Part A: How is the author’s point of view different from that of the court?

(B) The author thinks that Levy should have been punished.

500

What type of figurative language is used?

“The very mystery of him excited her curiosity like a door that had neither lock nor key.”

What is Simile?

600

Tigers

6. What is the author’s main purpose for writing the passage?

A. to argue Sumatran tigers need help

B. to explain why Sumatran tigers are dwindling

C. to describe Sumatran tigers

6. What is the author’s main

purpose for writing the passage?

B. to explain why Sumatran tigers are dwindling

600

Sherlock Holmes

Holmes: You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear Watson.

Watson: I was afraid that you were engaged.

Holmes: So I am. Very much so.

Watson: Then I can wait in the next room.

Watson: Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me.

6. Based on details in the passage, the mood of the story can best be described as

(A) humorous, (B) mysterious, (C) hopeful (D)peaceful.

6. Based on details in the passage, the mood of the story can best be described as ((B) mysterious

600

What is the acronym strategy you should use to analyze poetry? Say the acronym, and label each part.

What is TPCASTT?

T-Title, P-Paraphrase, C-Connotation, A-Attitude, S-Shift, T-Title, T-Theme

600

School Social Media Free Speech Case

In the article “School Social Media Free Speech Case,” I learned that a fourteen-year-old student Brandi Levy didn’t make the varsity cheerleading team and then posted a mean comment on social media while off school grounds. (A) That resulted in her getting suspended from school. (B) Levy’s parents then filed a federal lawsuit against the school district and won. (C) The reason they won was that Levy’s suspension violated her first amendment rights, which was freedom of speech. (D) I see with this result that there is no way to stop or punish people who bully or threaten others online. I believe this will lead to more students being mean on social media and getting away with it. It also will make schools look bad because they will not be able to do anything about it. There should be a significant consequence for those putting out mean comments on social media about their school and its students.

6. Part B: Which detail from the essay supports your answer in Part A?

(D) I see with this result that there is no way to stop or punish people who bully or threaten others online.

600

What type of figurative language is used?

The teacher tried to break the ice in chaotic classroom.

What is Idiom?