WINTER IA 2013 Assessment – Grade 8
January 2013
Department of Language Arts/Reading
Category 1 - Vocabulary
Benchmark LA.8.1.6.3 - use context clues to determine meanings of unfamiliar words: (7,13,17, 43) (4 questions)
Question
7
NGSSS
Overall
Performance
Passage
Question stem
Explorer of the Extreme
Deep - Informational
Read these sentences.
It’s about time for an upgrade, WHOI researchers say. Alvin has been around for a long time.
What does the word upgrade mean?
Oranges - Poetry
13
LA.8.1.6.3
Read the following line from the poem.
I turned to the candies
Tiered like bleachers,
What does tiered mean?
Jan Vermeer: Artist of
17
LA.8.1.6.3
Read this sentence.
Light and life – Literary Johannes (Jan) Vermeer, a 17th-century artist, observed just such everyday scenes in his home and
Nonfiction
recorded them for posterity in his master paintings.
What does posterity mean?
Sports Talk with a Non- Read this sentence.
43
LA.8.1.6.3
Fan – Literary
―I found out that if I could throw out one little line about sports—anything at all—they’d grab it and
Nonfiction
jabber on.
The word jabber shows that the talk is
Benchmark LA.8.1.6.8 - identify advanced word/phrase relationships and their meanings: (14, 19, 24, 48) (4 questions)
Question
LA.8.1.6.3
NGSSS
Overall
Performance
Passage
Question stem
Read this excerpt from the poem.
When I looked up,
The lady’s eyes met mine,
And held them, knowing
Very well what it was all
About.
Which sentence is the BEST restatement of the underlined part of the excerpt?
Which pair of words from the article is MOST similar in meaning?
14
LA.8.1.6.8
Oranges - Poetry
19
LA.8.1.6.8
24
LA.8.1.6.8
Jan Vermeer: Artist of
Light and life – Literary
Nonfiction
The Nutritious Fruit Informational
Read the sentence below.
So if you desire a snack that is healthy and that makes the taste buds sing, you can still eat an orange.
The phrase makes the taste buds sing is MOST similar in meaning to which word?
Sports Talk with a Non- Read the sentences below.
48
LA.8.1.6.8
Fan – Literary
Thus, I was taken aback some weeks ago when, on a Miami-to-Chicago flight, I found myself sitting next
Nonfiction
to someone who merely grimaced when I revealed my occupation. ―It has always been my bad luck to be
thrown in with sports fans,he said.
Which word is MOST opposite in meaning to grimaced?
Benchmark LA.8.1.6.9 – determine the correct meaning of words with multiple meanings in context: (10, 25, 34) (3 questions)
Question
10
NGSSS
Overall
Performance
LA.8.1.6.9
WINTER IA – Grade 8
Passage
Question stem
Oranges - Poetry
Read this excerpt from the poem.
Page 1
WINTER IA 2013 Assessment – Grade 8
25
LA.8.1.6.9
The Nutritious Fruit Informational
34
LA.8.1.6.9
Polar Bears–Just the
Facts - Informational
January 2013
Department of Language Arts/Reading
I peeled my orange
That was so bright against
The gray of December
That, from some distance,
Someone might have thought
I was making a fire in my hands.
In which sentence does fire have the SAME meaning as used in the excerpt above?
Read this sentence from the article.
A good orange bursts with flavor and makes the tongue dance to a tune that is part sweet, part tart.
In which sentence does the word tune have a SIMILAR meaning to the way it is used in the sentence above?
Read the sentence from the article.
The highest concentration of land dens is on the coast of Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Which meaning of the word concentration is MOST similar to the way it is used in the sentence above?
Category 2 – Reading Applications
Benchmark LA.8.1.7.2 – analyze the author’s purpose and/or perspective in a variety of texts: (1, 2, 28, 42) (4 questions)
Question
NGSSS
1
LA.8.1.7.2
2
LA.8.1.7.2
28
LA.8.1.7.2
42
LA.8.1.7.2
Overall
Performance
Passage
Question stem
Explorer of the
Extreme Deep Informational
Explorer of the
Extreme Deep Informational
The Café – Literary
The author of this article would MOST LIKELY agree that
Sports Talk with a NonFan – Literary
Nonfiction
The information in this article suggests that the author views Anderson with BOTH
Which BEST expresses the author‘s attitude about the new HOV?
The author of this passage would MOST LIKELY agree with which statement?
Benchmark LA.8.1.7.3 - determine the main idea or essential message : (12, 23, 30, 47) (4 questions)
12
LA.8.1.7.3
Oranges - Poetry
What weather condition is described in the poem?
23
LA.8.1.7.3
The Nutritious Fruit Informational
Why is the kiwi a healthy snack?
30
LA.8.1.7.3
The Café – Literary
What is this passage mainly about?
Sports Talk with a Non- At the end of the story, the narrator believes that
Fan – Literary
Nonfiction
Benchmark LA.8.1.7.4 – identify cause-and-effect relationships in text: (20, 32, 36, 37) (4 questions)
47
LA.8.1.7.3
20
LA.8.1.7.4
WINTER IA – Grade 8
Jan Vermeer: Artist of
What led Vermeer‘s work to become famous?
Page 2
WINTER IA 2013 Assessment – Grade 8
Light and life – Literary
Nonfiction
Polar Bears–Just the
Facts - Informational
January 2013
Department of Language Arts/Reading
According to ―Polar Bears—Just the Facts, which of the following conditions could cause polar bears to desert
their dens?
32
LA.8.1.7.4
36
LA.8.1.7.4
Polar Bears–Just the
Facts - Informational
According to ―Bear Beware, which of the following conditions could cause a polar bear‘s heart rate to increase?
37
LA.8.1.7.4
Nicholas Goes Fishing
– Literary Nonfiction
Nicholas does NOT want to go fishing because he
Benchmark LA.8.1.7.5 – analyze a variety of text structures and text features and explain their impact on meaning in text: (4, 26, 41) (3 questions)
4
LA.8.1.7.5
26
LA.8.1.7.5
41
LA.8.1.7.5
Explorer of the
Extreme Deep Informational
The Nutritious Fruit Informational
How does the author organize the information found under the heading ―Newer, better?
Nicholas Goes Fishing
– Literary Nonfiction
The author‘s organizational structure helps the reader understand that the passage
The organization of this article can BEST be described as
Benchmark LA.8.1.7.7 – compare and contrast elements in multiple texts: (6, 18, 29, 45) (4 questions)
6
LA.8.1.7.7
18
LA.8.1.7.7
29
LA.8.1.7.7
45
LA.8.1.7.7
Explorer of the
Extreme Deep Informational
Jan Vermeer: Artist of
Light and life –
Literary Nonfiction
The Café – Literary
Which aspect of the new HOV differs from Alvin?
Sports Talk with a
Non-Fan – Literary
Nonfiction
According to the article, what makes Anderson DIFFERENT from most people the narrator meets?
How did Vermeer‘s View of Delft differ from most of his other works?
According to the passage, how are the narrator and the teacher alike?
Category 3 - Elements of Story Structure/Descriptive Language / Figurative Language
Benchmark LA.8.2.1.2 - analyze and analyze elements of characterization, setting, and plot, including rising action, conflict, resolution, theme, and other literary elements as
appropriate in a variety of fiction : (8, 11, 38, 44) (4 questions)
Question NGSSS
Overall
Passage
Question stem
Performance
Oranges - Poetry
8
LA.8.2.1.2
What is the conflict in the poem?
11
LA.8.2.1.2
Oranges - Poetry
Which of the following BEST describes the boy and girl?
38
LA.8.2.1.2
Nicholas Goes
Fishing – Literary
While fishing, Nicholas realizes that
WINTER IA – Grade 8
Page 3
WINTER IA 2013 Assessment – Grade 8
44
January 2013
Nonfiction
Sports Talk with a
Non-Fan – Literary
Nonfiction
LA.8.2.1.2
Department of Language Arts/Reading
Anderson‘s stories of the sporting events he has attended MOST LIKELY reveal that he
Benchmark LA.8.2.1.7 – locate and analyze an author's use of allusions and descriptive, idiomatic, and figurative language in a variety of texts, identifying how word choice is used to
appeal to the reader’s senses and emotions, providing evidence from text to support the analysis: (9, 15, 39) (3 questions)
Question NGSSS
Overall
Passage
Question stem
Performance
Oranges - Poetry
9
LA.8.2.1.7
The poem‘s peaceful tone suggests that the narrator
15
LA.8.2.1.7
Oranges - Poetry
39
LA.8.2.1.7
Nicholas Goes
Fishing – Literary
Nonfiction
Read these lines from the poem.
I peeled my orange
That was so bright against
The gray of December
That, from some distance,
Someone might have thought
I was making a fire in my hands.
What does the fire symbolize for the speaker?
Read the sentence below.
Uncle William revved up the engine, and the boat slowly backed away, purring as it plodded over a glassy
surface that reflected the moon’s faint light.
Which literary device is used in the sentence above?
Benchmark LA.8.2.2.1 – locate, use, and analyze specific information from organizational text features: (16, 22, 46) (3 question)
Question
NGSSS
Overall
Performance
Passage
Question stem
16
LA.8.2.2.1
Oranges - Poetry
After reading the poem and studying the illustration, which subtitle could BEST be added to accompany the title?
22
LA.8.2.2.1
Jan Vermeer: Artist of
Light and life –
Literary Nonfiction
How does the photograph aid the reader‘s understanding of the article?
46
LA.8.2.2.1
Sports Talk with a
Non-Fan – Literary
Nonfiction
The author MAINLY uses text in parentheses in the article in order to
Category 4 – Informational Text / Research Process
Benchmark LA.8.6.1.1 – explain how text features aid the reader’s understanding: (27, 35) (2 questions)
Question
NGSSS
Overall
Performance
Passage
Question stem
27
LA.8.6.1.1
The Nutritious Fruit Informational
In which part of the article can information about the history of the kiwi be found?
35
LA.8.6.1.1
Polar Bears–Just the
The title ―Polar Bears—Just the Facts is appropriate because the article presents
WINTER IA – Grade 8
Page 4
WINTER IA 2013 Assessment – Grade 8
January 2013
Department of Language Arts/Reading
Facts - Informational
Benchmark LA.8.6.2.2 - organize, synthesize analyze and evaluate the validity and reliability of information from multiple sources (including primary and secondary
sources) to draw conclusions using a variety of techniques, and correctly use standardized citations: (3, 5, 21, 31, 33, 40) (6 questions)
Explorer of the
3
LA.8.6.2.2
Which characteristic is important to have while working as a submersible pilot?
Extreme Deep Informational
Explorer of the
5
LA.8.6.2.2
Which statement BEST supports why researchers will have more time to collect data in the new HOV than they did
Extreme Deep in Alvin?
Informational
Jan Vermeer: Artist of
21
LA.8.6.2.2
Which of the following is the best evidence that Vermeer had a passion for simple living?
Light and life –
Literary Nonfiction
31
LA.8.6.2.2
Polar Bears–Just the
Facts - Informational
Based on the information in ―Polar Bears–Just the Facts, which of these would BEST help the polar bear
population to increase?
33
LA.8.6.2.2
Polar Bears–Just the
Facts - Informational
Which of these details from ―Polar Bears–Just the Facts suggests that polar bears have a memory?
40
LA.8.6.2.2
Nicholas Goes
Fishing – Literary
Nonfiction
Which sentence from the passage BEST supports the idea that Nicholas appreciates physical activities?
WINTER IA – Grade 8
Page 5
WINTER IA 2013 Assessment – Grade 8
January 2013
Department of Language Arts/Reading
Category 1 - Vocabulary
Benchmark LA.8.1.6.3 - use context clues to determine meanings of unfamiliar words: (7,13,17, 43) (4 questions)
Question
7
NGSSS
LA.8.1.6.3
Passage
Explorer of the
Extreme Deep Informational
Question stem
Distractors
A. agreement
Read these sentences.
It’s about time for an upgrade, WHOI researchers
B. improvement
say. Alvin has been around for a long time.
C. investment
What does the word upgrade mean?
D. observatory
A. colored
13
LA.8.1.6.3 Oranges Read the following line from the poem.
Poetry
I turned to the candies
B. stairstepped
Tiered like bleachers,
C. sturdy
What does tiered mean?
D. wooden
A. art historians
17
LA.8.1.6.3 Jan Vermeer:
Read this sentence.
Artist of Light
Johannes (Jan) Vermeer, a 17th-century artist,
B. family members
and life –
observed just such everyday scenes in his home and
C. national museums
Literary
recorded them for posterity in his master paintings.
D. future generations
Nonfiction
What does posterity mean?
A. admirable.
43
LA.8.1.6.3 Sports Talk
Read this sentence.
with a Non-Fan
―I found out that if I could throw out one little line
B. meaningless.
– Literary
about sports—anything at all—they’d grab it and
C. professional.
Nonfiction
jabber on.
D. serious.
The word jabber shows that the talk is
Benchmark LA.8.1.6.8 - identify advanced word/phrase relationships and their meanings: (14, 19, 24, 48) (4 questions)
Analysis
Question
14
NGSSS
LA.8.1.6.8
Passage
Oranges Poetry
Analysis
19
LA.8.1.6.8
24
LA.8.1.6.8
Jan Vermeer:
Artist of Light
and life –
Literary
Nonfiction
The Nutritious
Fruit Informational
48
LA.8.1.6.8
Sports Talk
with a Non-Fan
WINTER IA – Grade 8
Question stem
Read this excerpt from the poem.
When I looked up,
The lady’s eyes met mine,
And held them, knowing
Very well what it was all
About.
Which sentence is the BEST restatement of the
underlined part of the excerpt?
Which pair of words from the article is MOST similar in
meaning?
Read the sentence below.
So if you desire a snack that is healthy and that
makes the taste buds sing, you can still eat an
orange.
The phrase makes the taste buds sing is MOST similar
in meaning to which word?
Read the sentences below.
Thus, I was taken aback some weeks ago when, on a
Distractors
F. She knows the boy wants to please his girlfriend.
G. She knows the chocolate is worth less than it costs.
H. She knows the boy will pay her the other nickel later.
I.
She knows the girl would rather have candy than fruit.
A.
B.
C.
D.
illuminate, highlighted
recorded, researched
detail, importance
quiet, interior
F.
G.
H.
I.
delicious
nourishing
pleasant
unexpected
F.
G.
complained
enjoyed
Page 1
WINTER IA 2013 Assessment – Grade 8
– Literary
Nonfiction
January 2013
Miami-to-Chicago flight, I found myself sitting next to
someone who merely grimaced when I revealed my
occupation. ―It has always been my bad luck to be
thrown in with sports fans, he said.
Which word is MOST opposite in meaning to grimaced?
Department of Language Arts/Reading
H.
I.
ignored
aughed
Benchmark LA.8.1.6.9 – determine the correct meaning of words with multiple meanings in context: (10, 25, 34) (3 questions)
Question
10
NGSSS
LA.8.1.6.9
Passage
Oranges Poetry
25
LA.8.1.6.9
The Nutritious
Fruit Informational
Question stem
Read this excerpt from the poem.
I peeled my orange
That was so bright against
The gray of December
That, from some distance,
Someone might have thought
I was making a fire in my hands.
In which sentence does fire have the SAME meaning as
used in the excerpt above?
Read this sentence from the article.
A good orange bursts with flavor and makes the
tongue dance to a tune that is part sweet, part tart.
In which sentence does the word tune have a SIMILAR
meaning to the way it is used in the sentence above?
Distractors
F. The fire in her speech showed how much she cared
about saving the environment.
G. All day the fire burned in the hearth, warming
everyone who came into the house.
H. The supervisor said he would fire the employee who
came to work late on a regular basis.
I.
In the last second of the game, the quarterback knew
he had to fire the football toward his teammate.
A.
B.
C.
D.
34
LA.8.1.6.9
Polar Bears–
Just the Facts Informational
Read the sentence from the article.
The highest concentration of land dens is on the
coast of Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Which meaning of the word concentration is MOST
similar to the way it is used in the sentence above?
F.
G.
H.
I.
Analysis
The mechanic needed to tune our car engine so that it
would run more efficiently.
Our music teacher was able to teach me how to tune
my guitar in only four simple steps.
In her rocking chair, my grandma moved back and
forth with a steady rhythm while humming a soft
tune.
Mr. Wysler, who was in tune with reality, doubted that
his garden would be productive without a fence to keep
out the deer.
amount
collection
focus
strength
Category 2 – Reading Applications
Benchmark LA.8.1.7.2 – analyze the author’s purpose and/or perspective in a variety of texts: (1, 2, 28, 42) (4 questions)
Question
1
NGSSS
LA.8.1.7.2
Passage
Explorer of the
Extreme Deep Informational
Question stem
The author of this article would MOST LIKELY agree that
2
LA.8.1.7.2
Explorer of the
Extreme Deep Informational
Which BEST expresses the author‘s attitude about the
new HOV?
WINTER IA – Grade 8
Distractors
A. Alvin has been worth the investment.
B. the overwork has been a problem for Alvin.
C. the new HOV will last longer than Alvin did.
D. Alvin needs more maintenance than the new HOV.
F. Alvin can‘t get to the deepest point in the ocean, and
the new vehicle won‘t be able to go there either.
G. To be ready in time to ride the shiny new vehicle, you‘ll
probably want to start studying right away.
Analysis
Page 2
WINTER IA 2013 Assessment – Grade 8
January 2013
Department of Language Arts/Reading
H.
F.
G.
H.
I.
A newer, better version of Alvin is bound to reveal
even more surprises about a world that is still full of
mysteries . . .
Scientists at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
(WHOI) in Massachusetts are building an underwater
vehicle that will carry explorers as deep as 6,500
meters . . .
Few people want to become farmers.
Farming will one day be unnecessary.
Education can be a great help to a farmer.
Farming is harder than most people realize.
F.
G.
H.
I.
caution and trust.
curiosity and respect.
dismay and desperation.
compassion and kindness.
F.
G.
H.
I.
A.
B.
C.
D.
F.
G.
H.
I.
A.
B.
C.
D.
deep snow
wind and rain
dangerous storms
haze and frostiness
It has edible seeds.
It has a sweet taste.
It is a nourishing fruit.
It is served in fruit salad.
Wil offers advice to his audience.
Wil uses a story to prove an argument.
Wil thinks back to a time when he was younger.
Wil remembers a time when he made a discovery.
everyone can have something interesting to say
about sports.
Mr. Anderson should work harder to understand sports.
Mr. Anderson will become a sports writer.
everyone should become a sports fan.
What led Vermeer‘s work to become famous?
F.
G.
H.
I.
He began to paint landscapes.
He joined the Guild of St. Luke.
His paintings were critiqued by a journalist.
His paintings were admired by Hans van Meegeren.
According to ―Polar Bears—Just the Facts, which of the
following conditions could cause polar bears to desert
their dens?
F.
G.
H.
I.
the birth of a cub
a change in seasons
altered conditions on land
poor ice conditions on water
I.
28
LA.8.1.7.2
The Café –
Literary
The author of this passage would MOST LIKELY agree
with which statement?
Sports Talk
The information in this article suggests that the author
with a Non-Fan
views Anderson with BOTH
– Literary
Nonfiction
Benchmark LA.8.1.7.3 - determine the main idea or essential message : (12, 23, 30, 47) (4 questions)
42
LA.8.1.7.2
12
LA.8.1.7.3
Oranges Poetry
What weather condition is described in the poem?
23
LA.8.1.7.3
The Nutritious
Fruit Informational
Why is the kiwi a healthy snack?
30
LA.8.1.7.3
The Café –
Literary
What is this passage mainly about?
47
LA.8.1.7.3
Sports Talk
with a Non-Fan
– Literary
Nonfiction
At the end of the story, the narrator believes that
Benchmark LA.8.1.7.4 – identify cause-and-effect relationships in text: (20, 32, 36, 37) (4 questions)
20
LA.8.1.7.4
32
LA.8.1.7.4
Jan Vermeer:
Artist of Light
and life –
Literary
Nonfiction
Polar Bears–
Just the Facts Informational
WINTER IA – Grade 8
Page 3
WINTER IA 2013 Assessment – Grade 8
January 2013
36
LA.8.1.7.4
Polar Bears–
Just the Facts Informational
According to ―Bear Beware, which of the following
conditions could cause a polar bear‘s heart rate to
increase?
4
LA.8.1.7.5
Explorer of the
Extreme Deep Informational
How does the author organize the information found
under the heading ―Newer, better?
Department of Language Arts/Reading
F. hunting for seals
G. unusually warm weather
H. interruptions while resting
I.
danger to a female and her cubs
A. believes it will be boring.
37
LA.8.1.7.4 Nicholas Goes
Nicholas does NOT want to go fishing because he
Fishing –
B. does not know how to fish.
Literary
C. does not have a fishing pole.
Nonfiction
D. wants to be alone in the wilderness.
Benchmark LA.8.1.7.5 – analyze a variety of text structures and text features and explain their impact on meaning in text: (4, 26, 41) (3 questions)
F.
G.
H.
I.
26
LA.8.1.7.5
The Nutritious
Fruit Informational
The organization of this article can BEST be described
as
Nicholas Goes
The author‘s organizational structure helps the reader
Fishing –
understand that the passage
Literary
Nonfiction
Benchmark LA.8.1.7.7 – compare and contrast elements in multiple texts: (6, 18, 29, 45) (4 questions)
41
LA.8.1.7.5
Question
6
NGSSS
LA.8.1.7.7
Passage
Explorer of the
Extreme Deep Informational
Question stem
Which aspect of the new HOV differs from Alvin?
18
LA.8.1.7.7
Jan Vermeer:
Artist of Light
and life –
Literary
Nonfiction
How did Vermeer‘s View of Delft differ from most of his
other works?
29
LA.8.1.7.7
The Café –
Literary
According to the passage, how are the narrator and the
teacher alike?
45
LA.8.1.7.7
Sports Talk
with a Non-Fan
– Literary
According to the article, what makes Anderson
DIFFERENT from most people the narrator meets?
WINTER IA – Grade 8
F.
G.
H.
I.
A.
B.
C.
D.
The author lists the reasons why the new HOV is
ne ded.
The author describes the p oblems the new HOV will
help solve.
The author compares and contrasts different
aspects of Alvin and the new HOV.
The author asks a question about Alvin and gives an
answer using the new HOV.
listing the reasons why kiwi is tasty.
sequencing the growth and production of kiwis.
comparing and contrasting the kiwi to other fruits.
explaining the reasons for the popularity of kiwi fruit.
suggests that waterskiing is more fun than fishing.
relies on childhood memories rather than facts.
takes place in a day in the life of a child.
compares fishing to swimming.
Distractors
F. size
G. speed
H. number of pilots
I.
number of passengers
F. It was one of the few landscapes that he painted.
G. It was his only painting to be considered a self-portrait.
H. It was the only painting that portrayed family members
in everyday settings.
I.
It was one of the few paintings where he used an open
window for a light source.
A. They both eat at the café.
B. They both are related to farmers.
C. They both watch the news on television.
D. They both have a limited knowledge of farming.
A. He is a faculty member at the University of Minnesota.
B. He is unimpressed by the idea of sports writing.
C. He is both intelligent and good-humored.
Analysis
Page 4
WINTER IA 2013 Assessment – Grade 8
Nonfiction
January 2013
Department of Language Arts/Reading
D.
He is traveling from Miami to Chicago.
Category 3 - Elements of Story Structure/Descriptive Language / Figurative Language
Benchmark LA.8.2.1.2 - analyze and analyze elements of characterization, setting, and plot, including rising action, conflict, resolution, theme, and other literary elements as
appropriate in a variety of fiction : (8, 11, 38, 44) (4 questions)
Question NGSSS
Passage
Question stem
Distractors
Analysis
F. The boy has too little money to buy what the girl
8
LA.8.2.1.2 Oranges What is the conflict in the poem?
Poetry
wants.
G. The girl must choose from candies tiered like bleachers.
H. The girl has a dog that barks at the boy when he
arrives.
I.
The boy is too shy to say anything to the drugstore
clerk.
A. quietly happy
11
LA.8.2.1.2 Oranges Which of the following BEST describes the boy and girl?
Poetry
B. sullen and bored
C. chatty and friendly
D. loudly argumentative
F. his uncle fishes well.
38
LA.8.2.1.2 Nicholas Goes
While fishing, Nicholas realizes that
Fishing –
G. baiting a hook is very easy.
Literary
H. his surroundings are beautiful.
Nonfiction
I.
the metal boat is very comfortable.
Sports Talk
F. is curious about the players.
Anderson‘s stories of the sporting events he has
with a Non-Fan
attended MOST LIKELY reveal that he
G. feels bad for the losing team.
– Literary
H. is distracted by enthusiastic fans.
Nonfiction
I.
focuses on everything but the game.
Benchmark LA.8.2.1.7 – locate and analyze an author's use of allusions and descriptive, idiomatic, and figurative language in a variety of texts, identifying how word choice is used to
appeal to the reader’s senses and emotions, providing evidence from text to support the analysis: (9, 15, 39) (3 questions)
Question NGSSS
Passage
Question stem
Distractors
Analysis
A. is still close with the girl in the poem.
9
LA.8.2.1.7 Oranges The poem‘s peaceful tone suggests that the narrator
Poetry
B. regrets what happened at the drugstore.
C. remembers the evening as a pleasant one.
D. wishes things had gone a little differently.
A. the warm affection he feels for the girl
15
LA.8.2.1.7 Oranges Read these lines from the poem.
Poetry
I peeled my orange
B. the longing he feels for summer weather
That was so bright against
C. the pride he feels for buying the chocolate
The gray of December
D. the fondness he feels for the taste of oranges
That, from some distance,
Someone might have thought
I was making a fire in my hands.
What does the fire symbolize for the speaker?
A. symbolism, suggesting that the trip has a deeper
39
LA.8.2.1.7 Nicholas Goes
Read the sentence below.
Fishing –
Uncle William revved up the engine, and the boat
meaning in the boy‘s life.
Literary
slowly backed away, purring as it plodded over a
B. imagery, appealing to the reader‘s sense of sight
Nonfiction
glassy surface that reflected the moon’s faint light.
and sound.
C. hyperbole, exaggerating the sound of the engine.
Which literary device is used in the sentence above?
44
LA.8.2.1.2
WINTER IA – Grade 8
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WINTER IA 2013 Assessment – Grade 8
January 2013
Department of Language Arts/Reading
D. simile, comparing the boat to the moon.
Benchmark LA.8.2.2.1 – locate, use, and analyze specific information from organizational text features: (16, 22, 46) (3 question)
Question
16
NGSSS
LA.8.2.2.1
Passage
Oranges Poetry
Question stem
After reading the poem and studying the illustration,
which subtitle could BEST be added to accompany the
title?
22
LA.8.2.2.1
How does the photograph aid the reader‘s understanding
of the article?
46
LA.8.2.2.1
Jan Vermeer:
Artist of Light
and life –
Literary
Nonfiction
Sports Talk
with a Non-Fan
– Literary
Nonfiction
The author MAINLY uses text in parentheses in the
article in order to
Distractors
F. Frigid Night
G. Special Destination
H. A Snowy December
I.
A Quiet Neighborhood
F. It reinforces the information about the girl in the portrait.
G. It contrasts his portraits to his landscape works.
H. It shows Vermeer‘s favorite source of light.
I.
It demonstrates Vermeer‘s skill as an artist.
F.
G.
H.
I.
Analysis
clarify confusing ideas.
reveal personal opinions.
include humorous comments.
incorporate additional examples.
Category 4 – Informational Text / Research Process
Benchmark LA.8.6.1.1 – explain how text features aid the reader’s understanding: (27, 35) (2 questions)
Question
27
NGSSS
LA.8.6.1.1
Passage
The Nutritious
Fruit Informational
Distractors
A. in the section ―Uses
B. in the section ―Nutrition
C. in the section ―Description
D. in the introductory paragraph
A. theories to explain the slow birth rate of polar bears.
35
LA.8.6.1.1 Polar Bears–
The title ―Polar Bears—Just the Facts is appropriate
Just the Facts - because the article presents
B. statistics and accurate information about p lar
Informational
bears.
C. evidence to justify he need for an arctic wildlife refuge.
D. reasons for continued research at the arctic wildlif
refuge.
Benchmark LA.8.6.2.2 - organize, synthesize analyze and evaluate the validity and reliability of information from multiple sources (including primary and secondary
sources) to draw conclusions using a variety of techniques, and correctly use standardized citations: (3, 5, 21, 31, 33, 40) (6 questions)
Question NGSSS
Passage
Question stem
Distractors
A. an interest in scuba diving
3
LA.8.6.2.2 Explorer of the
Which characteristic is important to have while working
Extreme Deep - as a submersible pilot?
B. a willingness to learn new things
Informational
C. the desire to work with other scientists
D. the ability to do more than one task at a time
A. It will be about 27 feet long.
5
LA.8.6.2.2 Explorer of the
Which statement BEST supports why researchers will
Extreme Deep - have more time to collect data in the new HOV than they
B. It has spent 27,658 hours submerged.
Informational
did in Alvin?
C. It can carry explorers 6,500 meters deep.
D. It will ascend and descend at 44 meters per second.
A. Vermeer‘s artistic training
21
LA.8.6.2.2 Jan Vermeer:
Which of the following is the best evidence that Vermeer
Artist of Light
had a passion for simple living?
B. Vermeer‘s style of painting
and life –
C. the subjects Vermeer painted
WINTER IA – Grade 8
Question stem
In which part of the article can information about the
history of the kiwi be found?
Analysis
Analysis
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WINTER IA 2013 Assessment – Grade 8
31
LA.8.6.2.2
Literary
Nonfiction
Polar Bears–
Just the Facts Informational
January 2013
Based on the information in ―Polar Bears–Just the
Facts, which of these would BEST help the polar bear
population to increase?
Department of Language Arts/Reading
D.
the paints used for Vermeer‘s paintings
A.
B.
C.
start a breeding prog am for polar bears in captivity
prevent fishing vessels f om sailing in the Beaufort Sea
keep the land along the Alaska coast a wildlife
refuge
create a tracking system to help pregnant females find
dens
Cubs stay with their mother for about 2.5 years.
Females sometimes even return to the dens they
were born in.
In the summer the bears drift with the shifting ice pack .
..
Family groups remain in dens until late March or early
April.
―All you do is sit there with a pole in your hand!
Nicholas had just been informed of the plans for
Saturday morning.
Nicholas sat there in a boat in Willow Cove with a pole
in his hand.
―What about something interesting like
waterskiing or swimming?
D.
33
LA.8.6.2.2
Polar Bears–
Just the Facts Informational
Which of these details from ―Polar Bears–Just the
Facts suggests that polar bears have a memory?
A.
B.
C.
D.
40
LA.8.6.2.2
Nicholas Goes
Fishing –
Literary
Nonfiction
Which sentence from the passage BEST supports the
idea that Nicholas appreciates physical activities?
F.
G.
H.
I.
WINTER IA – Grade 8
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