8th Grade English Quiz

8th Grade English Test

1 / 21

Category: 8-Reading Informational Text

Based on evidence from the article, which claim is most accurate? The First Public Park

Olmsted and Vaux were hired based on their reputations.

The scale and design of the project made Central Park remarkable for its time.

Americans had a greater appreciation of nature than did Europeans.

Central Park today hosts a greater array of activities than it did in the past.

2 / 21

Category: 8-Reading Informational Text

Which phrase from the article helps readers understand the meaning of “pastoral” (line 20)? The First Public Park

“grand public park” (line 2)

“formal locations” (line 22)

“rural feeling” (line 25)

“world-famous site” (line 73)

3 / 21

Category: 8-Reading Informational Text

Read these sentences from lines 37 through 40 of the article.

Olmsted and Vaux had created their design for the recreation of all people, not just the wealthy. The park was to be a place where all New Yorkers could enjoy nature. Its ultimate design would retain this feeling.

Lines 37 through 40 relate to lines 68 through 72 by showing that the The First Public Park

role of the park has changed over time

park is now used throughout the year

park designers achieved their goal

size of the park is increasing

4 / 21

Category: 8-Reading Informational Text

Read this sentence from line 68 of the article.

Today, Central Park stands as one of Olmsted’s greatest legacies.

The author uses the word “legacies” in this sentence to mean The First Public Park

accomplishments benefiting future users

financial investments with the goal of benefiting everyone

complicated models to copy and build

old projects worthy of recognition

5 / 21

Category: 8-Reading Informational Text

Which evidence supports the idea that Olmsted and Vaux wanted their park to appeal to all New Yorkers? The First Public Park

They excluded some designs common to European parks.

They decided to put the park in the middle of Manhattan.

They hired thousands of local residents to build the park.

They included lights so the park could be used at night.

6 / 21

Category: 8-Reading Informational Text

How does the information regarding the competition contribute to the reader’s understanding of Vaux and Olmsted? The First Public Park

Vaux had different ideas from Olmsted regarding the appearance of the park.

Vaux and Olmsted carefully considered suggestions made by the committee.

Vaux and Olmsted’s collaboration benefited from their distinct abilities.

Vaux was more concerned about details than Olmsted.

7 / 21

Category: 8-Reading Informational Text

Which evidence supports the claim that Americans “appreciated natural landscapes” (line 4)? The First Public Park

“The area was considered to lack any real estate value—it included swamps, bluffs, and rock outcroppings as well as two reservoirs that supplied city water.” (lines 6 through 8)

“Vaux designed more than 40 bridges so that these various paths would never have to cross on the same level.” (lines 27 and 28)

“The construction of Central Park was one of the most massive public works projects to take place in 19th-century New York.” (lines 41 and 42)

“There are also quiet places to walk, sit and read a book, or watch birds.” (lines 71 and 72)

8 / 21

Category: 8-Reading Literature

The author develops a theme of the passage mostly by describing The Diving Horse

how he was different from other children in his class

the types of stories he wrote when he was younger

the books he liked to read when he was younger

how people and events inspired him to write

9 / 21

Category: 8-Reading Literature

What do lines 61 through 71 reveal about the narrator? The Diving Horse

He currently writes books for children.

He is reminded of his childhood when he reads.

He imitates the style of the authors he admires.

He continues to have many of the same literary influences.

10 / 21

Category: 8-Reading Literature

Read lines 50 and 51. S

So two months later, when Sister Mary gave us the essay assignment, it was easy . . . as easy as falling into a pool.

These lines mean that the narrator The Diving Horse

has a vivid memory of the previous summer’s events

is comparing his achievement with that of the horse

is fondly remembering the horse’s splash

has a strong feeling of excitement

11 / 21

Category: 8-Reading Literature

Read lines 48 and 49.

Wow! And then both horse and rider surfaced, though for the life of me, I can’t recall how they got out of the pool.

The purpose of these lines is most likely to The Diving Horse

emphasize the narrator’s amazement with the outcome

imply that the narrator has an imperfect memory

highlight the anxiety that the narrator experienced

show the seriousness of the situation

12 / 21

Category: 8-Reading Literature

The details in lines 38 through 49 develop a theme of the passage by showing The Diving Horse

how experiences can be more exciting than stories

that memories can be both powerful and detailed

that the past can feel more intense than the present

how spending time with family is important

13 / 21

Category: 8-Reading Literature

Which lines reveal a detail about a tradition of the narrator’s family? The Diving Horse

lines 30 through 32

lines 36 and 37

lines 39 and 40

lines 43 through 45

14 / 21

Category: 8-Reading Literature

Read this sentence from lines 4 through 6.

In Garwood, New Jersey, a child picked up his favorite Golden Books and stood outside of his parents’ apartment building, waiting for the school bus.

Which line or lines best explain the reason for the narrator’s action in this sentence? The Diving Horse

lines 6 through 8

line 10

lines 12 through 14

line 23

15 / 21

Category: 8-Reading Informational Text

Lines 58 through 69 suggest that the author believes What Do Flies Think About

the study of moths will reveal changes in insect brains

the study of moths can provide ways to enhance technology

moth research will teach scientists more about the human brain

scientists should develop more advanced methods of moth research

16 / 21

Category: 8-Reading Informational Text

What is the most likely reason for including information about the Smithsonian laboratory in Panama? What Do Flies Think About

to emphasize the results of a major study about bees

to illustrate why biologists should conduct bee research

to point out that biologists still know very little about locust brains

to provide evidence that other countries are performing studies of locust brains

17 / 21

Category: 8-Reading Informational Text

Which evidence from the article best supports the claim in lines 41 and 42? What Do Flies Think About

“Larger brains usually utilize the same circuits over and over again.” (line 31)

“The idea of life in a group is firmly rooted in their brains—which is what makes bees so interesting to brain researchers.” (lines 35 and 36)

“We, too, are social creatures, after all, and scientists suspect that certain neuronal circuits have changed very little over the course of evolution.” (lines 36 through 38)

“It’s likely they need to possess greater thinking capacity in order to compete with rivals in the swarm.” (lines 49 and 50)

18 / 21

Category: 8-Reading Informational Text

Which central idea of the article is most supported by lines 34 through 40? What Do Flies Think About

Social insects develop larger brains.

Brain structures have changed little over time.

Bee colonies can help us understand social systems.

Insect brains can help us understand the human brain.

19 / 21

Category: 8-Reading Informational Text

What information best develops the view that bees are “the ‘Einsteins’ of the insect world” (line 23)? What Do Flies Think About

the discussion about the larger brain sizes of bees

the list of intellectual feats that bees can accomplish

the reasons that researchers are interested in studying bees

the information about the complex colonies that bees live in

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Category: 8-Reading Informational Text

The sentences in lines 18 through 21 develop a key concept of the article by What Do Flies Think About

demonstrating how carefully a fly must target its landing place

revealing the difficulty of conducting research on how a fly lands

illustrating the complexity of the process a fly’s brain must control

explaining how rapidly the fly’s landing occurs after it makes a loop

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Category: 8-Reading Informational Text

The author compares flies to fighter pilots in lines 10 and 11 to show that flies are What Do Flies Think About

complicated

forceful

skillful

mysterious

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