8th Grade Milestones Practice Test
No More Cafeterias!
by Julie Heller
Some students often say that lunch is one of their favorite parts of the school day because it
provides them the opportunity to socialize with their friends while giving their brains a much-needed
break. Many students, however, find the time they must spend in the cafeteria to be stressful and
unpleasant, even on a good day. Cafeterias are loud, messy arenas that are often overcrowded and
not adequately supervised. There are food fights, increased bullying, and a harried wolfing down of
substandard meals. These problems combine with the noise and confusion to create what amounts to
an unhealthy and unproductive part of every school day.
Still, students need to eat, and they need time to socialize. So what's the solution? Maybe we
should change our lunch system to reflect the system that's used in Japan. The Japanese recognize
that students cannot remain sedentary or inactive all day. They also realize that students need a
nutritious meal that will provide them with the carbohydrates and proteins necessary for thinking and
learning. Here's how they do it.
First, all students eat lunch in a classroom. At the elementary level, that classroom is their primary
classroom. At the intermediate and secondary levels, the classroom is whichever room they are
scheduled to be in just before lunch. The noise level is dramatically reduced from that of the typical
cafeteria because there are no more than thirty students dining at one time.
Second, the students are responsible for the dining space. That includes transforming the room
into an acceptable dining space, cleaning that space after they finish eating, and turning the room
back into a learning environment once lunch is finished. If all the students were responsible for
cleaning up the mess, would they start a food fight? If there were a good chance they would get
caught and be punished for misbehaving, wouldn't they be less tempted to engage in such
behaviors?
Third, students no longer have to spend half their time waiting in line to purchase foods that aren't
healthy. The cooks bring lunch around on carts to each classroom. Students can opt to either bring
their lunch from home or purchase a meal off the cart. Besides being brought to each classroom, this
option is different because there is only one meal choice offered, and that meal is healthy. The lunch I
ate while visiting a school in Japan consisted of rice with jacko (tiny whole fish), seaweed, a piece of
grilled salmon, and milk.
With this system in place instead of the crowded, noisy cafeterias, imagine how much more
peaceful and relaxing lunch would be. Students would be able to eat their lunch at a pace that
encourages good digestion, and they would have plenty of time to talk with friends, read, or just relax
before their afternoon classes begin. No more chaos! Serving only one meal choice a day—and a
healthy choice, at that—would make this a feasible approach to lunch that every school in America
could easily create.
1. The author would most likely agree with which statement?
A. Japanese schools should have their students eat in the cafeterias.
B. Food fights and bullying are just a normal part of growing up.
C. Eating in a classroom is a better system than eating in cafeterias.
D. The lunch period should be quiet so the students can eat in peace.
2. The author of this article supports her perspective or opinion most effectively with
A. quotes from authorities who have studied cafeterias.
B. stories from eating lunch in an American cafeteria.
C. personal experiences from visiting Japanese schools.
D. interviews with students who favor the Japanese system.
3. According to the author, cafeterias can be stressful environments for some students because
A. there are too many different foods to choose from.
B. there are usually not enough seats for all the students.
C. they feel isolated from their friends and vulnerable.
D. they would rather have another class instead of lunch.
4. The word sedentary in paragraph two means
A. energetic.
B. inactive.
C. curious.
D. anxious.
5. There is no evidence offered in the article to support the idea that American school lunch
A. is a meal that many students would rather skip.
B. should not be served in a traditional cafeteria.
C. can become part of a needed rest for students.
D. consists of junk food and other unhealthy choices.
SHARK!
by Julie Heller
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
Introduction
Curiosity
Increase in Water Recreation
Hunger
Changes in the Environment
Conclusion
Terrifying, isn't it? Just the very thought that you could be kicking and splashing in the waves, the
salty ocean air blowing through your hair, the sand pushing up between your toes, and—WHAM!—
something hits you. But it's not just a friend bumping into you. It's a shark. You've just been attacked
in water no deeper than your waist as you swim and play with scores of other people who are
swimming just like you. Scientists know a lot more about sharks than they used to, and they believe
that the image of the mindless killer isn't right. So, why did that shark attack you? There are several
reasons why sharks attack people and why those attacks are increasing, but those reasons may not
be what you think.
Curiosity
By nature, sharks are extremely curious creatures. If there is a foreign object or presence in their
territory, they naturally want to check it out. Without hands or feet, the only way sharks can do this is
to mouth the objects they encounter. Unfortunately, human beings have thin skin with a lot of small
blood vessels close to the surface, so this type of interaction can cause severe damage.
Increase in Water Recreation
Swimming did not become a favorite pastime until the 1930s, and the amount of time that people
spend in the water as a means of recreation has steadily increased ever since. It only makes sense
that an increase in contact between sharks and humans means the frequency of attacks will also
increase.
Hunger
Sharks, like any other animal, have dietary needs that must be met if they are going to survive. An
overall decrease in their normal food supply, due in part to an increase in fishing hauls, leaves many
sharks hungry all the time. Hungry sharks will go for any food source that seems reasonable, and
sometimes that includes humans who have wandered into their territory.
Changes in the Environment
Global warming is taking its toll on humans and animals alike. Sharks are no exception. Waters
that were once cold—and therefore preferred by many sharks—have gotten significantly warmer. This
change has forced sharks to look for food closer to shore, and that's the best place to run into people.
Additionally, agricultural chemicals have drained from the soil and trickled down into the oceans. This
chemical change has created "dead zones" in places like the Gulf of Mexico. Dead zones kill aquatic
life, leaving sharks with a diminished food supply.
Conclusion
So what does all this mean for people who love to swim in the ocean? It means that we will all
need to educate ourselves more about sharks and their habits if we are going to swim safely. It
means that we are going to have to be more conscious and considerate of the shark's territory. Most
importantly, it means that we have another reason to understand how our actions are impacting the
environment and all the other creatures in the world.
6. How is this piece structured?
A. compare and contrast
B. chronological
C. effect and cause
D. question and answer
7. This passage is best summarized by which of the following statements?
A. Hunger, water sports, and global warming all contribute to shark attacks.
B. Dumping chemicals in the ocean has led to an increase in shark attacks on humans.
C. People often instigate shark attacks by increasing the noise they make in the water.
D. Sharks are just curious animals that do not intend to harm humans when they bite.
8. Which sentence supports the conclusion that humans have contributed to the increased number of shark
attacks?
A. People are spending more time in the shark's territory.
B. Blood is in the water, encouraging a feeding frenzy.
C. The splashing and kicking of swimmers attracts sharks.
D. People are trying to feed sharks as if they were pets.
9. Read the following dictionary entry for the word conscious.
conscious adj. 1. aware of one's own existence. 2. fully aware of or sensitive to something. 3.
aware of what one is doing. 4. deliberate or intentional. 5. having the mental faculties fully active.
Which meaning of the word conscious is being used in the passage?
A. definition 3
B. definition 4
C. definition 1
D. definition 2
10. After reading the story, it is clear that the author
A. believes people are more important than sharks.
B. hopes steps are taken to give sharks food.
C. thinks all sharks should be killed.
D. wants people to understand sharks more.
Blue Racer
by Julie Heller
Walking stick in hand,
my father rustles the brush,
stirs up life
beneath the dead leaves
then pauses
to poke at the underbelly
of a snake,
its skin stretched tight,
body limp.
"Blue Racer," he says.
He grabs the tail as it pulses and twists to life.
It slips from my father's hand
like water
and streaks off through the woods,
under leaves
over stumps
a blue whip of a tail
glinting in the sunlight
Suddenly,
it turns over and lies again,
motionless.
My father pulls my hand and leads me
past the white scar of a snake carved into rotting growth.
"If you can't go as
fast as a Blue Racer," he says, "the
next best thing is playing dead."
The thick blue veins in my father's hands
pulse and twist. My hand
slips from his, and I run
faster, faster, faster
his voice calling to me,
echoing in the trees.
11. In the context of this poem, the word brush means
A. an instrument for untangling hair.
B. grass, sticks, and fallen leaves.
C. a brief encounter or a meeting.
D. to touch something very lightly.
12. The speaker of the poem runs through the woods to
A. get far away from the snake because she is afraid of it.
B. show her father she can move as fast as a blue racer.
C. get home a little more quickly because she is very tired.
D. catch the snake so she can bring it home to keep for a pet.
13. The poet uses repetition of the words "pulse and twist" to draw a comparison between
A. the dead leaves and the snake playing dead.
B. the snake's movement and the movement of water.
C. the glint of the sunlight and the snake's tail.
D. the father's hand and the snake's movement.
14. What does the metaphor "the white scar of a snake carved into rotting growth" mean?
A. The snake has scars on its body from an injury.
B. The snake's white belly looks like a scar.
C. The snake is actually dead and is decomposing.
D. They found a carving someone made on a tree.
How English Class Saved My Life
by Julie Heller
I know what you're thinking. No way, right? English class is the most boring class of the day, right?
I mean, why do I need to take English class when I already speak English? Right? Yeah, well I felt
that way, too, until last summer when English class literally saved my life.
Let me explain.
My foster family, the Jamesons, decided to take a vacation. Sounds great, huh? Maybe
Disneyland or a week on the beach? No way. They wanted to go to the desert. Long story short, we
drove half way across the country to camp out in the Great Basin Desert.
"Josh, be sure to pack your warmest clothing," Mrs. Jameson yelled up the stairs. "The desert is
cold at night, but don't worry. It won't leave you cold. Just wait until you see the stars."
We finally arrived at the Great Basin National Park, and I have to admit it was different than I
imagined.
"Amazing, isn't it?" Mr. Jameson asked me as we looked out over the desert's vast, silent valleys. I
just grunted back at him and put my earphones back in. No matter what changed in my life, no matter
how many times I failed, my music was always there.
Later that night, I sat inside my tent and listened to the Jamesons telling stories around the fire
they made. They thought it was so easy. Telling stories. Reading stories. I couldn't even pass English
class. I couldn't understand those stupid stories. Suddenly angry, I left the tent. They didn't even
notice.
The air was colder, but the stars were amazing. I had to admit it. I turned off my music as I walked
and listened to the desert. Coyotes howling. Owls hooting. Clawing. Scurrying. Something wet hit my
face. I looked up and realized it was snowing! In the desert in July! And I was lost.
I wandered for hours but couldn't find our camp. The temperature continued to drop. I found a tree
with deep crevices in the trunk and took shelter. My hands were getting numb, and I knew I was in
trouble. Then I remembered Jack London and his story that we read in English class, "To Build a
Fire." I knew I needed to keep warm, so I gathered up the branches around the base of the tree, piled
up some dry grasses for kindling, and used the matches in my pocket to get the fire going. Just like in
Jack's story. It worked!
I spent the night keeping that fire going and listening to the sounds of the desert. In the morning,
the Jamesons found me. I was only about a half-mile away.
"Look at you," Mrs. Jameson said, when I told her how I'd remembered that story from English
class, "making use of those 'stupid' stories from English class. Now all you have to do is write your
own because your friends aren't going to believe how English class saved your life!"
15. When Mrs. Jameson says "It (the desert) won't leave you cold," what does she mean?
A. The desert is not inspiring.
B. Mrs. Jameson likes heat.
C. The desert will not bore him.
D. Josh should wear a jacket.
16. The narrator asks a lot of questions in order to
A. make it feel like he is speaking directly to the reader.
B. make it seem like he does not know what he is talking about.
C. make the reader anticipate what Josh's next experience will be.
D. make the reader ask some questions about Josh and his stories.
17. How is Josh's story similar to Jack London's story?
A. They are both afraid of being across the country and in a strange place.
B. They are both happy to be able to sleep beneath the beautiful stars.
C. They must both light a fire in order to survive in the wilderness.
D. They both finally overcome loneliness and connect with nature.
18. Josh gains confidence in his reading and writing skills because
A. he tells stories around the fire with the rest of the family.
B. he spends his vacation time reading stories and writing.
C. his foster father reminds him that he needs to pass English.
D. he remembers a story he read and uses it to save himself.
19. One main theme of this story is that
A. people sometimes underestimate their abilities.
B. English is the best class to take in high school.
C. anger is the only way to react to frustrations.
D. coyotes are dangerous if encountered in the wild.
(1) Elephants are the largest living land mammals today. (2) Elephants are distinguished by their
high level of intelligence, interesting behavior, methods of communication, and complex social
structure. (3) African elephants in particular are the largest among all living land mammals. (4) The
elephant’s trunk is its most distinguishing feature. (5) It not only serves as a nose but also as a hand
extra foot signaling device and tool for gathering food siphoning water dusting and digging. (6)
Elephants are found in the African and Asian continents. (7) They weigh over six tons, and in order to
survive, these large creatures need plenty of food and water. (8) They devour several hundred
pounds of plant matter in a single day. (9) Because elephants place such huge demands on their own
environment that in order to survive, they often come into conflict with humans, who are competing for
the same resources.
20. If the main idea of the paragraph is a brief description about elephants in the wild, which of the following
would be inappropriate as a supporting sentence?
A. Adult males leave the herd at fourteen years of age.
B. The mother receives help from aunts, sisters, and cousins.
C. An adult male elephant weighs about twelve thousand pounds.
D. Asian and African wild animals have distinct features.
21. What is the best way to combine sentence 1 and sentence 2?
A.
Largest living land mammals today are elephants because they are distinguished by their high level of
intelligence, interesting behavior, methods of communication. And complex social structures.
B.
Methods of communication and complex social structures, along with high level of intelligence make
elephants the largest living mammals.
C.
Elephants are the largest living land mammals today, and they are distinguished by their high level of
intelligence, interesting behavior, methods of communication, and complex social structure.
D.
Largest living mammals today are elephants. With their complex social structures, high level of
intelligence, methods of communication and interesting behavior.
22. Which of the following is the topic sentence?
A. sentence 2
B. sentence 4
C. sentence 1
D. sentence 8
23. What is the best way to rewrite sentence 9?
A.
Therefore, elephants place such huge demands on their own environment that in order to survive, they
often come into conflict with humans, who are competing for the same resources.
B.
After all, elephants place such huge demands on their own environment that in order to survive, they
often come into conflict with humans, who are competing for the same resources.
C.
In fact, elephants place such huge demands on their own environment that in order to survive, they often
come into conflict with humans, who are competing for the same resources.
D.
Due to, elephants place such huge demands on their own environment that in order to survive, they often
come into conflict with humans, who are competing for the same resources.
24. Which of the following sources would be most helpful when writing a report on the life of Susan B.
Anthony?
A. advertisements
B. her biography
C. pamphlets
D. news articles
25. What is the best way to change this sentence from passive voice to active voice?
Trina was awarded first place in the tennis tournament last weekend.
A. Correct as is.
B. In the tennis tournament last weekend, Trina was awarded first place.
C. Last weekend, first place in the tennis tournament was won by Trina.
D. Trina won first place in the tennis tournament last weekend.
26.
The committee made five recommendations however only two were approved.
Which is the correct way to write the sentence above?
A. The committee made five recommendations, however, only two were approved.
B. The committee made five recommendations—however—only two were approved.
C. The committee, made five recommendations. However only two were approved.
D. The committee made five recommendations; however, only two were approved.
27. Which of the following reference sources would be best to use to find the meaning of a word?
A. manual
B. dictionary
C. almanac
D. atlas
28.
Luis might bring his parents to the recital if they do not have to work.
Which word in the sentence above indicates that it is conditional in mood?
A. not
B. recital
C. might
D. work
29.
The father ___________ his son on his use of good manners.
Choose the word that best fits on the blank.
A. complemented
B. compliminted
C. complimented
D. complainted
30. How should this be rewritten to avoid a confusing reference?
Hiking in the jungle, the frogs croaked loudly.
A. Hiking in the jungle, Matt and Mark heard the frogs croak loudly.
B. Matt and Mark hiked in the jungle with the croaking frogs.
C. The frogs were hiking with Mark and Matt while croaking.
D. The frogs croaked loudly hiking in the jungle.
Answers
1. C
2. C
3. C
4. B
5. D
6. C
7. A
8. A
9. D
10. D
11. B
12. B
13. D
14. B
15. C
16. A
17. C
18. D
19. A
20. D
21. C
22. C
23. C
24. B
25. D
26. D
27. B
28. C
29. C
30. A