8th Grade ELA MCAP Practice 2026

Section One

Section One Continued...

Section Two

Section Three

Section Four

100

1. What is the meaning of the word prize as it is used in paragraph 4?

A) to avoid breaking

B) to move by force

C) to insert carefully

D) to give a solution

2. Part A - Based on the passage, which statement about the girl on the train is most likely accurate?

A) She is jealous of Mira’s family.

B) She is traveling to the same destination as Mira.

C) She has a strong impact on Mira.

D) She has found an opportunity to talk with Mira.

Part B - Which quotation from the passage best supports the answer to Part A?

A) “. . . it’s as if she’s challenging me not to look away, to really see who she is.” (paragraph 1)

B) “Everyone in the family laughs except the girl my age. . . .” (paragraph 3)

C) “She nods at me as if she’s understood my plan. . . .” (paragraph 4)

D) “‘I knew she wanted it, so I just sort of gave it to her.’ . . .” (paragraph 10)

Question 1: B) to move by force

Question 2:

PART A - C) She has a strong impact on Mira.

PART B - A) “. . . it’s as if she’s challenging me not to look away, to really see who she is.” (paragraph 1)

100

9. What is the meaning of the word rendered as it is used in paragraph 2?

A) provided or given a service

B) delivered a judgment or handed over

C) made or caused to be

D) suggested or explained a meaning

10. Part A - In paragraph 3, what does the phrase skirting the work of decoding mean?

A) grasping the meaning without actually reading the words

B) focusing on the specific meaning of each individual word

C) visualizing words to comprehend their meaning

D) creating a new way to understand word meanings

Part B - Which phrase from paragraph 3 best supports the answer to Part A?

A) “they overlap considerably”

B) “a good workaround”

C) “the translation of print”

D) “words in the mind”

Question 9:

C) made or caused to be

Question 10:

PART A - A) grasping the meaning without actually reading the words

PART B - B) “a good workaround”

100

1. In paragraph 3 of the passage from Banner in the Sky, what is the meaning of the word agilely?

A) with strength

B) with ease

C) with courage

D) with purpose

2. Part A - In the passage from Banner in the Sky, why does Rudi slow his pace as he climbs higher into the mountains?

A) He is tired because he is not accustomed to hiking long distances.

B) He is less worried about being discovered by someone who knows him.

C) He wants to stop and talk with other hikers on the mountain.

D) He needs to focus more carefully as the hike gets steeper.

Part B - Which quotation from the passage best supports the answer to Part A?

A) “. . . others who might have known and questioned him were back in the town or on their farms.” (paragraph 4)

B) “‘Grüss Gott,’ he said—‘God’s Greetings’— in the ancient salutation of the Alps.” (paragraph 5)

C) “His feet, through the soles of his shoes, moulded themselves to each hump and crevice of the path.” (paragraph 6)

D) “Partly, this was because of his slimness, his lightness of muscle and bone. . . .” (paragraph 7)

Question 1:

B) with ease

Question 2:

PART A - B) He is less worried about being discovered by someone who knows him.

PART B - A) “. . . others who might have known and questioned him were back in the town or on their farms.” (paragraph 4)

100

1. Which statement best explains the structure of paragraph 2 in “Testing Thinking”?

A) The author contrasts a computer’s ability with the human experience.

B) The author presents the problem of humans relying on artificial intelligence.

C) The author describes the advantages of using computers to answer math problems.

D) The author draws parallels between technological growth and human development.

2. What is the main purpose of paragraph 3 in “Testing Thinking”?

A) to establish a claim that will be defended

B) to give additional support to an earlier idea

C) to explain the history of a field of study

D) to define a concept to be discussed

3. Read this sentence from paragraph 4 of “Testing Thinking":

- When a computer understands our sentences and responds sensibly, we sometimes believe that it’s a thinking being. -

Which statement best explains the significance of this sentence?

A) It suggests that humans want a computer’s response to be more realistic.

B) It provides a clear definition of the mental processes that computers use for communication.

C) It shows how humans can make inaccurate assumptions about computers based on limited evidence.

D) It explains how a computer’s mental processes rely on external input in order to communicate.

Question 1:

A) The author contrasts a computer’s ability with the human experience.

Question 2:

D) to define a concept to be discussed

Question 3:

C) It shows how humans can make inaccurate assumptions about computers based on limited evidence.

100

1. In paragraph 4 of the passage from “Sally Ride’s Legacy Lives On,” what does the phrase "a heady time" mean?

A) appealing

B) celebrated

C) chaotic

D) exciting

2. According to the passage from “Sally Ride’s Legacy Lives On,” which statement best describes the relationship between the author and Sally Ride?

A) Dunbar and Ride both studied engineering at the University of Washington.

B) Dunbar and Ride both felt that more women should have been in the 1978 astronaut class.

C) Dunbar and Ride were colleagues who shared similar career goals.

D) Dunbar and Ride were friends who grew up playing the same sport.

Question 1:

D) exciting

Question 2:

C) Dunbar and Ride were colleagues who shared similar career goals.

200

3. Part A - What aspect of Mira’s character does paragraph 7 reveal?

A) Mira wants to help the girl have a better life.

B) Mira wishes to become friends with the girl.

C) Mira is concerned about what others think of her.

D) Mira places little value on material objects.

Part B - Which quotation from paragraph 7 best supports the answer to Part A?

A) “. . . the girl reaches toward me and squeezes my hand tightly.”

B) “. . . that it would be cowardly to look away.”

C) “I’m still holding Nana Josie’s charm.”

D) “I wonder if she thinks that my charm can bring her luck.”

Which two statements best describe the effects that Janu’s words and actions have on Mira in paragraphs 9 through 14?

A) Mira feels embarrassed for giving away an important possession.

B) Mira considers the influence that her grandmother had on her actions.

C) Mira insists that her actions will have a positive impact in the end.

D) Mira realizes that her act of generosity may not have the intended result.

E) Mira believes herself incapable of explaining her true motivations.

Question 3:

PART A - A) Mira wants to help the girl have a better life.

PART B - D) “I wonder if she thinks that my charm can bring her luck.”

Question 4:

A) Mira feels embarrassed for giving away an important possession.

D) Mira realizes that her act of generosity may not have the intended result.

200

11. In paragraph 6, how does the phrase “Wherefore art thou Romeo?” from Romeo and Juliet expand upon the information presented in paragraph 5?

A) It reinforces the idea that skilled readers make inferences about prosody that help them with print texts.

B) It clarifies the important similarities between the experience of reading a text and listening to an audio version.

C) It explains why the experiment resulted in a connection between recorded speed and reading speed.

D) It reveals that audio versions can sometimes help readers build comprehension differently from print texts.

12. Part A - In paragraph 8 of the passage, the experiments develop the idea that...

A) spending more time reading the beginning of texts can provide access to information presented later.

B) organizing a written text is made easier through the use of conventions.

C) reading print text takes longer than listening to audiobooks.

D) studying foundational ideas before reading a text has no bearing on understanding of the material.

Part B - Which quotation from the passage best supports the answer to Part A?

A) “Note that the subject matter was difficult, and the goal wasn’t pleasure but learning.” (paragraph 7)

B) “. . . expository essays more likely include unfamiliar content and require more strategic reading.” (paragraph 9)

C) “Print may be best for lingering over words or ideas, but audiobooks add literacy. . . .” (paragraph 12)

D) “You’ll just get different things out of the experience.” (paragraph 13)

Question 11:

D) It reveals that audio versions can sometimes help readers build comprehension differently from print texts.

Question 12:

PART A - A) spending more time reading the beginning of texts can provide access to information presented later.

PART B - B) “. . . expository essays more likely include unfamiliar content and require more strategic reading.” (paragraph 9)

200

3. Which three phrases from paragraph 2 of the passage from Gathering Blue best indicate the complexity of the Singer’s robe?

A) “. . . the art of dye.”

B) “. . . from her stained hands . . .”

C) “. . . rare ornamentation . . .”

D) “. . . richly embroidered.”

E) “. . . intricate scenes . . .”

F) “. . . passed from one to the next.”

C) “. . . rare ornamentation . . .”

D) “. . . richly embroidered.”

E) “. . . intricate scenes . . .”

200

4. Which phrase best helps the reader understand the effect of the word masquerade as is used in paragraph 1 of the passage from “Am I Human?”

A) “. . . envisioned a contest . . .”

B) “. . . tries to trick . . .”

C) “. . . questions about poetry . . .”

D) “. . . making mistakes about arithmetic.”

5. In paragraph 2 of the excerpt from “Am I Human?,” which two phrases best help the reader determine the meaning of feigning?

A) “partly anticipated”

B) “must lie to win”

C) “that odd twist”

D) “not an exception”

E) “is to deceive”

Question 4:

B) “. . . tries to trick . . .”

Question 5:

B) “must lie to win”

E) “is to deceive”

200

3. Part A - What is a central idea of the passage from “Sally Ride’s Legacy Lives On”?

A) Sally Ride’s childhood dreams of becoming an astronaut were eventually fulfilled.

B) Sally Ride’s preparation allowed her to succeed as one of the first female astronauts.

C) In order to be recognized, female astronauts like Sally Ride had to be more creative than men.

D) Although Sally Ride and the author met at NASA, they were accepted into different astronaut classes.

Part B - What evidence best supports the answer to Part A?

A) “A NASA engineer at the Langley Research Center gave me a very early ‘heads up’ in 1973 that they would eventually select women astronauts for the Space Shuttle.” (paragraph 5)

B) “The opportunity to fly into space intrigued her and looked like a challenge and rewarding career she could embrace.” (paragraph 6)

C) “I had already been in the aerospace industry for several years and had made my choice for ‘space’ at the age of 9 on a cattle ranch. . . .” (paragraph 7)

D) “. . . how fortunate we were to have teachers and parents and other mentors who encouraged us to study math and science in school— the enabling subjects for becoming an astronaut.” (paragraph 8)

PART A - B) Sally Ride’s preparation allowed her to succeed as one of the first female astronauts.

PART B - D) “. . . how fortunate we were to have teachers and parents and other mentors who encouraged us to study math and science in school— the enabling subjects for becoming an astronaut.” (paragraph 8)

300

5. How does telling the story from Mira’s point of view create suspense?

A) The reader is unable to experience the shift in Mira’s emotions.

B) The reader is unsure how other characters will react to Mira’s actions.

C) The reader develops different opinions about the family than Mira.

D) The reader feels concerned with what might happen to Mira on the train.

6. Part A - Which theme is revealed through Mira’s actions?

A) Sacrificing a personal item is like sacrificing a piece of one’s past.

B) Making sacrifices for others creates a sense of independence.

C) Trying to help others improves the world for all.

D) Providing guidance can make others dependent.

Part B - Which quotation from the passage best supports the answer to Part A?

A) “‘And it just felt like the right thing to do!’” (paragraph 12)

B) “‘You don’t understand the way things work here.’” (paragraph 13)

C) “How could I have given away Nana Josie’s charm?!” (paragraph 14)

D) “I try to cover up my face as the tears spill over.” (paragraph 15)

Question 5:

B) The reader is unsure how other characters will react to Mira’s actions.

Question 6:

PART A - A) Sacrificing a personal item is like sacrificing a piece of one’s past.

PART B - C) “How could I have given away Nana Josie’s charm?!” (paragraph 14)

300

13. Part A - According to the passage, which of the following is a benefit of print texts?

A) Print texts provide symbols for understanding prosody in dramatic works.

B) Print texts result in higher scores on written quizzes for scientific subjects.

C) Print texts are commonly viewed as the preferred format for book clubs.

D) Print texts allow readers to decide on their own interpretations of a text.

Part B - Which quotation from the passage best supports the answer to Part A?

A) “But today the question I get most often is, ‘Is it cheating if I listen to an audiobook for my book club?’” (paragraph 1)

B) “‘What a great party’ can be a sincere compliment or sarcastic put- down, but they look identical on the page.” (paragraph 5)

C) “. . . the readers scored 81 percent and the listeners 59 percent.” (paragraph 7)

D) “. . . all in the service of hearing what writers are actually trying to tell us.” (paragraph 14)

Question 13:

PART A - B) Print texts result in higher scores on written quizzes for scientific subjects.

PART B - C) “. . . the readers scored 81 percent and the listeners 59 percent.” (paragraph 7)

300

4. Which quotation from the passage from Gathering Blue provides the best evidence that Katrina is trusted by the community leaders?

A) “Once, many years before, Katrina had been asked to replace a few threads that had torn loose.” (paragraph 2)

B) “Each year that followed, they had brought the ancient robe again to her mother for small repairs.” (paragraph 4)

C) “‘One day my daughter will be able to do this,’ Katrina had said one year to the guardian.” (paragraph 5)

D) “Kira always stood at her mother’s side, never touching the fragile ancient cloth. . . .” (paragraph 7)

5. Part A - Based on the passage from Gathering Blue, which words best describe how Katrina wants the community leaders to think of her daughter, Kira?

A) curious and thoughtful

B) talented and gifted

C) considerate and respectful

D) confident and protective

Part B - Which quotation from the passage best supports the answer to Part A?

A) “Kira was only a small tyke then, but she remembered standing in the cott’s shadowed corner when a guardian brought the fabulous robe. . . .” (paragraph 2)

B) “. . . both she and her mother had peered from their seats at the stage, trying to find the repaired place as the Singer moved his arms in gestures during the Song.” (paragraph 3)

C) “‘Look what she has done!’ she said and showed him the scrap that Kira had just completed, the one that had composed itself so magically in her fingers.” (paragraph 5)

D) “Kira had stood silently, embarrassed but proud, as the guardian examined the threading she had done.” (paragraph 6)

Question 4:

B) “Each year that followed, they had brought the ancient robe again to her mother for small repairs.” (paragraph 4)

Question 5:

PART A - B) talented and gifted

PART B - C) “‘Look what she has done!’ she said and showed him the scrap that Kira had just completed, the one that had composed itself so magically in her fingers.” (paragraph 5)

300

6. Part A - According to the author of the excerpt “Am I Human?,” what is the main reason the Turing test is not effective?

A) Programmers have learned how to program computers to fool the test.

B) Computers are now advanced beyond the simple conversations of the test.

C) Computers can impersonate people in order to confuse the test.

D) Programmers have created types of conversation not recognized by the test.

Part B - Which quotation from the excerpt best supports the answer to Part A?

A) “Turing envisioned a contest in which a machine tries to trick an interrogator into believing it is human. . . .” (paragraph 1)

B) “As Turing himself partly anticipated, the trick to winning is mostly not to answer the questions.” (paragraph 2)

C) “‘Eugene Goostman’ supposedly ‘won’ the Turing test by pretending to be a sarcastic 13- year- old boy. . . .” (paragraph 3)

D) “Clearly, Turing’s original test has not withstood the test of time.” (paragraph 4)

PART A - A) Programmers have learned how to program computers to fool the test.

PART B - B) “As Turing himself partly anticipated, the trick to winning is mostly not to answer the questions.” (paragraph 2)

300

4. In paragraphs 4 and 5 of the passage from “To Make It to the Moon, Women Have to Escape Earth’s Gender Bias,” the author’s word choice has the effect of

A) expressing doubt about NASA.

B) conveying sympathy for NASA.

C) presenting a challenge to NASA.

D) inspiring pride in NASA.

5. Part A - What is the author’s main purpose for writing the passage from “To Make It to the Moon, Women Have to Escape Earth’s Gender Bias”?

A) to criticize NASA’s approach to advancing space exploration

B) to discuss NASA’s plans for a return trip to the Moon with male and female astronauts

C) to provide the history of the suits used in NASA’s exploration of space

D) to explain differences in NASA’s treatment of male and female astronauts

Part B - Which two pieces of evidence best support the answer to Part A?

A) “. . . NASA has started Artemis, a program that aims ‘to return astronauts to the lunar surface by 2024, including the first woman and the next man.’” (paragraph 1)

B) “Although both astronauts have enormous challenges ahead, the first woman will face added hurdles simply because everything in space carries the legacy of Apollo.” (paragraph 2)

C) “If we do not acknowledge the gender bias of the early space program, it becomes difficult to move past it.” (paragraph 4)

D) “Only four of the original 18 suits are still rated for spaceflight, and all of those are on the space station.” (paragraph 8)

E) “NASA first planned to have extra- small, small, medium, large and extra- large suits.” (paragraph 9)

Question 4:

C) presenting a challenge to NASA.

Question 5:

PART A -

D) inspiring pride in NASA.

PART B -

B) “Although both astronauts have enormous challenges ahead, the first woman will face added hurdles simply because everything in space carries the legacy of Apollo.” (paragraph 2)

C) “If we do not acknowledge the gender bias of the early space program, it becomes difficult to move past it.” (paragraph 4)

400

8. How do Mira’s and Janu’s actions create irony in the passage?

A) Janu refuses food from the mother on the train, but Mira wonders if they should accept it.

B) Mira unhappily gives away the charm bracelet, and Janu angrily criticizes her decision.

C) Mira tries to understand the emotions of the girl on the train, but she does not realize that Janu is angry.

D) Janu gives the little girl a coin, but he scolds Mira for giving away her charm bracelet.

400

14. Part A - Based on information in the passage, what is one conclusion that can be drawn about audiobooks?

A) Audiobooks teach people to become better readers.

B) The popularity of audiobooks will continue to increase.

C) The format of audiobooks will likely remain the same.

D) Audiobooks are more often preferred by young people.

Part B - Select two quotations from the passage that best support the conclusion in Part A.

A) “. . . sales have doubled in the last five years. . . .” (paragraph 2)

B) “. . . a skill that seems quaint and whose value is open to debate.” (paragraph 2)

C) “. . . different books invite different ways that you want to read them. . . .” (paragraph 13)

D) “. . . authors are writing more works specifically meant to be heard.” (paragraph 13) E “Our richest experiences will come not from treating print and audio interchangeably. . . .” (paragraph 14)

PART A -

B) The popularity of audiobooks will continue to increase.

PART B -

A) “. . . sales have doubled in the last five years. . . .” (paragraph 2)

400

6. Which statement best describes how the author of each passage uses setting to develop the plot?

A) The author of the passage from Banner in the Sky uses the setting to emphasize Rudi’s desire to connect with others, while the author of the passage from Gathering Blue uses the setting to emphasize Kira and Katrina’s desire to isolate from others.

B) The author of the passage from Banner in the Sky uses the setting to describe Rudi’s effort to improve his skills at climbing, while the author of the passage from Gathering Blue uses the setting to describe how Kira and Katrina take their skills for granted.

C) The author of the passage from Banner in the Sky uses the setting to highlight Rudi’s connection to the mountains, while the author of the passage from Gathering Blue uses the setting to highlight the connection between Kira and Katrina.

D) The author of the passage from Banner in the Sky uses the setting to communicate Rudi’s lack of confidence, while the author of the passage from Gathering Blue uses the setting to communicate Kira and Katrina’s abundance of confidence.

400

7. The authors of both “Testing Thinking” and the excerpt from “Am I Human?” establish connections between which two concepts?

A) the desire of humans to develop artificial intelligence

B) the similarities between human and artificial intelligence

C) the development of machines that imitate human behavior

D) the practical advances in intelligence tests for computers

E) the challenges of measuring the actual intelligence of a computer

C) the development of machines that imitate human behavior

E) the challenges of measuring the actual intelligence of a computer

400

6. Read the sentence from paragraph 9 of the passage from “Sally Ride’s Legacy Lives On.”

- In an emergency, there are no special allowances for gender or ethnicity: Everyone had to pull their own weight. -

Which detail from “To Make It to the Moon, Women Have to Escape Earth’s Gender Bias” most contradicts this notion of equality?

A) “Failure is not penalized in its culture; it is valued for the things that it can teach to save lives or resources in the future.” (paragraph 4)

B) “The agency had to restaff the spacewalk because it had only one spacesuit that was the correct size for both women.” (paragraph 6)

C) “The suits, known as extravehicular mobility units, were designed more than 40 years ago. . . .” (paragraph 8)

D) “Cady Coleman, an astronaut who has flown on two space shuttles and traveled to the space station, stands 5 feet 4 inches tall and remains the smallest person to ever qualify. . . .” (paragraph 11)

7. Which statement best describes a difference between the two passages?

A) The passage from “Sally Ride’s Legacy Lives On” recounts developments that happened in the 1970s, while the passage from “To Make It to the Moon . . .” focuses on modern space exploration.

B) The passage from “Sally Ride’s Legacy Lives On” discusses only Sally Ride’s experiences, while the passage from “To Make It to the Moon . . .” includes the perspectives of many women.

C) The passage from “Sally Ride’s Legacy Lives On” expresses opinions about women’s rights, while the passage from “To Make It to the Moon . . .” remains neutral about women’s rights.

D) The passage from “Sally Ride’s Legacy Lives On” is written by an objective author, while the passage from “To Make It to the Moon . . .” is written by an author who has an emotional connection to the topic.

Question 6:

B) “The agency had to restaff the spacewalk because it had only one spacesuit that was the correct size for both women.” (paragraph 6)

Question 7:

500

7. Part A - Based on the passage, which statement about Janu is most accurate?

A) Janu is critical of Mira’s behavior, but he remains sympathetic to the family.

B) Janu is tired of Mira’s complaining, but he accepts it because he cares about her.

C) Janu is confused by Mira’s generosity, but he continues to act as her protector.

D) Janu is frustrated with Mira’s actions, but he is compassionate toward her.

Part B - Which two quotations from the passage, when taken together, support the answer to Part A?

A) “Janu shrugs. ‘Was it valuable?’” (paragraph 9)

B) “His anger gives a hard, cold edge to his voice.” (paragraph 13)

C) “I feel sick. Of course he’s right.” (paragraph 14)

D) “He must think I’m always crying. . . .” (paragraph 15)

E) “. . . takes my wrist gently in his hands. ‘I’m sorry,’ he says.” (paragraph 16)

PART A -

D) Janu is frustrated with Mira’s actions, but he is compassionate toward her.

PART B -

B) “His anger gives a hard, cold edge to his voice.” (paragraph 13)

E) “. . . takes my wrist gently in his hands. ‘I’m sorry,’ he says.” (paragraph 16)

500

15. Part A - What is the author’s main purpose in writing the passage?

A) to argue that print texts and audiobooks both provide unique benefits

B) to explain why audiobooks are likely to change in the future by adopting features from print texts

C) to inform about the many benefits of audiobooks for individuals with dyslexia and other learning disabilities

D) to encourage people to read only print texts when they need to retain information

Part B - Which quotation from the passage best supports the answer to Part A?

A) “Although decoding is serious work for beginning readers, it’s automatic by high school. . . .” (paragraph 3)

B) “Experiments show readers actually take longer to read the first sentence of a paragraph. . . .” (paragraph 8)

C) “. . . although one core process of comprehension serves both listening and reading, difficult texts demand additional mental strategies.” (paragraph 9)

D) “. . . understanding the differences between them and figuring out how to use them to our advantage. . . .” (paragraph 14)

PART A -

A) to argue that print texts and audiobooks both provide unique benefits

PART B -

D) “. . . understanding the differences between them and figuring out how to use them to our advantage. . . .” (paragraph 14)

500

7. You have read the passage from Banner in the Sky and the passage from Gathering Blue. Write a response analyzing how the setting of each passage impacts the development of the characters. Use evidence from both passages to support your response.

Your response should:

• Demonstrate a full and complete understanding of ideas in the texts by providing an accurate analysis supported with effective and convincing textual evidence.

• Examine and conveys complex ideas, concepts, and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content.

• Develop clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.

• Include ideas that are presented clearly and logically from beginning to end; there are strong connections between and among ideas.

• The response demonstrates a full command of conventions of standard English at the appropriate level of complexity.

• Sentence structures are varied, well-formed, and effectively controlled.

• Grammar and usage are strong and effective, enhancing the content of the response.

• Spelling, punctuation, and capitalization are mostly correct.

500

8. After reading both the article “Testing Thinking” and the excerpt from “Am I Human?” write a response to analyze how each author examines the differences in the ways that humans and artificial intelligence process information. Be sure to use evidence from both passages in developing your response.