ACADEMIC
PENTATHLON
2015
Eighth Grade Scrimmage Test
Language and Literature
This test is an official competition instrument of the Academic Pentathlon to
be used for competition purposes only. All test materials must be returned
to the test proctor at the end of each testing session. All copies of this test
must be destroyed following the competition. Copies of the test may not be
released to teachers, students, or the public.
Orange County Department of Education
School and Community Services Division
Academic Events
© 2015 Orange County Department of Education. All rights reserved. No part of
this material may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means
without prior written permission from the Orange County Department of
Education. The Academic Pentathlon logo is a service mark of OCDE.
Use the poem below to answer the multiple-choice items (1-8) that
follow. On the answer sheet, blacken the lettered space (A, B, C, or D)
that BEST answers each item.
A Valentine
1
For her this rhyme is penned, whose luminous eyes,
2
Brightly expressive as the twins of Leda,
3
Shall find her own sweet name, that nestling lies
4
Upon the page, enwrapped from every reader.
5
Search narrowly the lines! - they hold a treasure
6
Divine - a talisman - an amulet
7
That must be worn at heart. Search well the measure-
8
The words—the syllables! Do not forget
9
The trivialest point, or you may lose your labor
10
And yet there is in this no Gordian knot
11
Which one might not undo without a sabre,
12
If one could merely comprehend the plot.
13
Enwritten upon the leaf where now are peering
14
Eyes scintillating soul, there lie perdus
15
Three eloquent words oft uttered in the hearing
16
Of poets, by poets - as the name is a poet's, too.
17
Its letters, although naturally lying
18
Like the knight Pinto - Mendez Ferdinando-
19
Still form a synonym for Truth - Cease trying!
20
You will not read the riddle, though you do the best you can do.
-Edgar Allan Poe
1.
Which best describes the poem?
A.
B.
C.
D.
fairytale
map
riddle
song
2
2.
“A Valentine” is which type of poem?
A.
B.
C.
D.
3.
Which is the rhyme scheme of lines 1-8 of the poem?
A.
B.
C.
D.
4.
epic
lyric
narrative
sonnet
abababab
ababcdcd
abbacddc
cdcdabab
Read line 5 from the poem below. Which literary device is used?
Search narrowly the lines! - they hold a treasure
A.
B.
C.
D.
5.
hyperbole
metaphor
repetition
simile
Read line 16 from the poem below. Which literary device is used?
Of poets, by poets - as the name is a poet’s, too.
6.
A.
B.
C.
alliteration
hyperbole
metaphor
D.
repetition
Which best describes the tone of the poem?
A.
B.
C.
D.
7.
hopeless
ominous
resentful
romantic
Read line 11 from the poem below. Which word is a synonym for the word sabre?
Which one might not undo without a sabre
A.
B.
C.
D.
book
map
sword
tiger
3
8.
Read line 4 from the poem below. Which is the literary device used?
Upon the page, enwrapped from every reader
A.
B.
C.
D.
alliteration
onomatopoeia
personification
repetition
The following multiple-choice items (9-16) cover grammar, punctuation,
and vocabulary. On the answer sheet, blacken the lettered space
(A, B, C, or D) that BEST answers each item.
9.
Read the sentence below. Which word is a synonym for the word materialistic?
I’m sure no one expects me to donate anything since they’re always saying how
materialistic I am.
A.
B.
C.
D.
10.
energetic
greedy
popular
scientific
Read the quote below. Which word is a synonym for the word ruthless?
“Sorry, but we’ve gotta be ruthless here.”
A.
B.
C.
D.
11.
brutal
careless
concerned
guilty
Read the passage below. Which word is a synonym for the word unfathomable?
He paces back and forth, pulling at his hair. He used to do that in class, too,
whenever someone (often me) gave an answer that was unfathomable to him.
A.
B.
C.
D.
distance
horrified
incomprehensible
uninhibited
4
12.
What does entomology study?
A.
B.
C.
D.
13.
bugs
eclipses
fossils
stars
Read the sentence below. Which part of speech is the word quickly?
The rain has quickly become a steady downpour.
A.
B.
C.
D.
14.
Which sentence does not have subject and verb agreement?
A.
B.
C.
D.
15.
adjective
adverb
noun
verb
Melanie was happy about the move while Bree was not.
All of the campers swarmed around the labyrinth and walks carefully through.
Stella acted like a schoolgirl around Ryan’s grandpa and ate her pancakes in
small bites.
Pete was a little scared of thunder, so his dad told him it was really a celestial
bowling game.
Read the sentence below. What type of phrase are the underlined words?
Jack was breathing hard as he kept jogging after Ryan.
A.
B.
C.
D.
16.
appositive
gerund
infinitive
verb
Read the sentence below. Which best describes the type of sentence?
Many people do not enjoy reading science fiction novels; however, Jack does.
A.
B.
C.
D.
complex
compound
compound-complex
simple
5
The following multiple-choice items (17-50) are based on the novel Every Soul A
Star by Wendy Mass. On the answer sheet, blacken the lettered space (A, B, C, or
D) that BEST answers each item.
17.
Which is the brightest star in any constellation according to the book Every Soul a
Star?
A.
B.
C.
D.
18.
Jack says that his teacher once told him he had “two left feet.” Which literary device
is used in this description?
A.
B.
C.
D.
19.
where
where
where
where
name
people
people
people
people
gather together to stargaze where it is dark
do art work featuring stars and things from the sky
try to communicate with life outside of the universe
get together to celebrate finding a new star and deciding on its
Why is the pouch around Ally’s neck important to her?
A.
B.
C.
D.
21.
allegory
idiom
onomatopoeia
personification
What is a “star party” in the book Every Soul a Star?
A.
B.
C.
D.
20.
Alpha
Dipper
Eclipse
Lumens
It is
She
It is
She
from her grandfather.
has had it her whole life.
worth a large sum of money.
has never shown it to anyone.
With what does Ally consider it to be a treat to get alone time?
A.
B.
C.
D.
logbook
radio
television
telescopes
6
22.
Read the passage below. Which literary device is used?
While she fishes around in her bag, probably for a tissue, I become aware of a
clacking sound.
A.
B.
C.
D.
23.
What do they call a solar eclipse in the novel Every Soul a Star?
A.
B.
C.
D.
24.
alliteration
idiom
onomatopoeia
personification
Aurora Borealis
The Moon Shadow
The Best Show on Earth
Nature’s Greatest Coincidence
Read the sentence below. Which literary device is used?
I’m a pretty patient person, but as the seconds tick by I’m starting to get agitated.
A.
B.
C.
D.
25.
alliteration
hyperbole
imagery
personification
Read the quote below. Which character said the words?
“I’m immune to mosquitoes for some reason. Always have been.”
A.
B.
C.
D.
26.
Who saved Pete when he was having an allergic reaction?
A.
B.
C.
D.
27.
Ally
Jack
Kenny
Ryan
Bree
Jack
Ryan
Mr. Silver
How many constellations are in the sky according to Every Soul a Star?
A.
B.
C.
D.
72
88
96
100
7
28.
Which household item does Ally explain can help see stars clearly?
A.
B.
C.
D.
29.
plastic wrap
an oatmeal box
a toilet paper roll
a stainless steel bowl
Read the sentence below. Which literary device is used?
A constellation looks like a ladle.
A.
B.
C.
D.
30.
How many minutes does it take for light leaving the sun to reach Earth according to
Every Soul a Star?
A.
B.
C.
D.
31.
the name the kids give themselves
the name given to the debris floating in space
interesting things to do at Camp Moonshadow
the groups of campers who come year after year to star gaze
Which point of view is used in Every Soul a Star?
A.
B.
C.
D.
33.
4 minutes
6 minutes
8 minutes
10 minutes
What are the Unusuals?
A.
B.
C.
D.
32.
hyperbole
metaphor
personification
simile
first person
second person
third person
universal
Read the quote below. Which character is described in the quote?
“That guy, the one I’ve seen you talking to a few times. Spikey blond hair? Preppy?”
A.
B.
C.
D.
Jack
Kenny
Ryan
Mr. Silver
8
34.
What does Jack learn after he looks at Saturn through the telescope?
A.
B.
C.
D.
35.
The
The
The
The
rings
rings
rings
rings
are made of gas.
are chunks of ice.
can only be seen sometimes.
glow brighter than the planet itself.
Read the sentence below. Which literary device is used?
I’m huffing and puffing and letting out the occasional wheeze.
A.
B.
C.
D.
36.
How did the kids pass time while they wait out the storm?
A.
B.
C.
D.
37.
alliteration
metaphor
onomatopoeia
simile
play charades
play scrabble
sing and dance
tell ghost stories
Read the sentence below. Which literary device is used?
They tried to stay awake, but one by one they succumbed to sleep.
A.
B.
C.
D.
38.
alliteration
metaphor
onomatopoeia
simile
Read the sentence below. Which character’s point of view is the sentence?
It was like I was looking at the clothes of a dead person.
A.
B.
C.
D.
39.
Allly
Bree
Claire
Jack
Read the quote below. Which literary device is used?
“Out here Kenny and I have grown up in this wonderful little bubble...”
A.
B.
C.
D.
metaphor
onomatopoeia
personification
simile
9
40.
Read the quote below. Which character said the words?
“I can come awake in my dreams. I can fly.”
A.
B.
C.
D.
41.
Ally
Bree
Jack
Ryan
Read the sentence below. Which literary device is used?
The pockmarked face of the moon stares back at me.
A.
B.
C.
D.
42.
alliteration
metaphor
personification
simile
Read the sentence below. Which literary device is used?
I’m struck by the perfect way the universe fits together, like a big elaborate watch
that keeps perfect time.
A.
B.
C.
D.
43.
alliteration
metaphor
personification
simile
Read the sentence below. Which character’s point of view is the sentence?
My inner geek has been released.
A.
B.
C.
D.
44.
Ally
Bree
Jack
Ryan
Which camper leaves a painting in the Art House?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Ally
Bree
Jack
Kenny
10
45.
Why does Ally tell Jack he is “kind of famous”?
A.
B.
C.
D.
46.
What does Kenny share the ancient Chinese thought during an eclipse?
A.
B.
C.
D.
47.
a dragon was eating the sun
God was punishing humans
noble ancestors were rearranging the heavens
the spirits of the animals were returning to earth
From where is Bellana, the woman who will keep her eyes to the ground during the
eclipse?
A.
B.
C.
D.
48.
Jack pulled a prank at school.
Jack found a problem with the bus.
Jack saved Pete from his allergic reaction.
Jack was in Pampers commercials as a baby.
China
Egypt
India
Italy
Read the sentence below describing the eclipse. Which literary device is used?
It’s like a big eye beaming down on those of us lucky enough to stand beneath it.
A.
B.
C.
D.
49.
Who gives Bree the red scarf?
A.
B.
C.
D.
50.
metaphor
onomatopoeia
personification
simile
Ally
Claire
Melanie
Stella
Read the sentence below. Which character’s point of view is the sentence?
I bet my treehouse is going to feel small now.
A.
B.
C.
D.
Ally
Jack
Kenny
Ryan
11