8th Grade Reading Practice Test: Practice Test 5

During an 8th-grade research share, Eli presents about school library use. Content: He clearly states his claim: “We should keep the library open 30 minutes after school.” He gives reasons: more time for homework help and a safe place to wait for rides. Evidence: “I interviewed the librarian and she said an average of 25 students ask to stay after school each week, but they can’t because the library closes right away.” He also adds an irrelevant detail: “The library carpet is green, which is calming.” Reasoning: He explains how extra time would meet student needs.

Which evaluation best describes Eli’s content?

Students are discussing the theme of courage in a short story they were assigned to read the night before. Two students respond to the question, “What moment best shows courage?”

Student 1: “I think the main character was brave when things got scary. The story showed that.” Student 2: “In the final scene, when Maya steps onto the stage even though the narration says her hands were ‘shaking so hard she almost dropped the note cards,’ it shows courage because she acts despite fear.”

How do these two responses differ in preparation? A. Student 1 is more prepared because the response is shorter and more confident. B. Student 2 is more prepared because the response includes a specific moment and quoted evidence from the text. C. Both are equally prepared because they both say the character is brave. D. Student 1 is more prepared because it avoids using quotes.

A teacher wants students to learn key vocabulary for a unit. The teacher can provide (1) a printed list with definitions or (2) an audio recording that reads each word and definition aloud. For students who want to study while walking home or doing chores, which medium best fits that need?

Read the excerpt from a sports recap (about 90 words):

“In the final minute, the Wildcats were down by two points. After a timeout, the team ran a new play they had practiced all week. The guard drove to the basket, drew two defenders, and passed to the corner for an open shot. The crowd held its breath. When the ball dropped through the net, the gym erupted—students shouted, stomped the bleachers, and waved posters as the buzzer sounded.”

How does the word erupted affect the tone of the passage?

You are meeting with the principal after school to request approval for a student-led fundraiser. Which statement demonstrates the best command of formal English for this situation?

When an author describes someone as having a 'mercurial temperament,' this characterization most likely suggests the person:

A social media post by a snack brand shows bold text: “Teachers agree: CrunchBites help students concentrate!” The post shows a tiny note at the bottom: “Survey of 20 teachers at a CrunchBites-sponsored event.” Comments are turned off, and the post links to an online store checkout page. Which detail most strongly suggests the message is designed to persuade rather than purely inform?

A group is discussing an article about teen sleep and school start times.

• Ethan: "The article says teens’ brains release melatonin later, so it’s harder to fall asleep early."
• Valeria: "But if school starts later, after-school sports and jobs could end later too."
• Chen: "The article included a study where a district moved start time 45 minutes later and tardiness dropped by 20%."

Which response best addresses Valeria’s concern while using evidence from Ethan and Chen to keep the discussion connected?

From a letter advocating for renewable energy:

"The choice before us is simple: embrace clean energy now, or leave our children a planet choking on fossil fuel emissions. Solar and wind power aren't just alternatives—they're economic opportunities that will create millions of jobs while saving families money on energy bills. Countries like Denmark and Costa Rica have already proven that renewable energy works on a national scale. We can either lead this global transformation or watch helplessly as other nations claim the economic benefits of the clean energy revolution."

The author's use of contrasting options ("embrace...or leave," "lead...or watch helplessly") primarily functions to:

Two students are preparing a presentation about why the cafeteria should reduce food waste. They want multimedia that will strengthen their evidence that “a lot of food is thrown away each day.” Which option would better strengthen their claim?

Read the passage and answer the question.

Grandpa’s workshop smelled of sawdust and old coffee, a scent that used to mean Saturdays. Now it meant silence. The unfinished birdhouse sat on the bench like a promise that had forgotten how to keep itself. I ran my finger along the jagged edge of a plank, and the splinter bit me—sharp, quick, almost offended.

Outside, rain tapped the window with impatient knuckles. “He’ll be back,” my little sister insisted, but her hope sounded rehearsed, like lines from a play she didn’t understand. I stared at Grandpa’s chair. It wasn’t just empty; it looked abandoned, the way a lighthouse must feel when ships stop coming.

My grief was a stone in my chest—cold, heavy, and stubborn. I tried to breathe around it, but every breath scraped.

Question: What effect does the metaphor “My grief was a stone in my chest” have on the meaning of the passage?

The research team had been chasing their tails for months, running experiment after experiment with no meaningful results. Dr. Peterson knew they needed to stop barking up the wrong tree and find a completely new approach before their funding dried up.

Both idioms in this passage ('chasing their tails' and 'barking up the wrong tree') relate to:

Read the informational passage and answer the question.

In the late 1800s, engineer Emily Roebling became closely involved in the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge after her husband, Washington Roebling, developed a serious illness. Letters from the period show that she studied strength-of-materials textbooks and met regularly with the bridge’s chief assistant engineer. One newspaper article described her traveling to the construction site “nearly every day,” carrying messages between Washington and the workers. Although she was not officially named chief engineer, she explained technical details to skeptical officials during meetings about cable tensions and tower alignment. Years later, a commemorative plaque credited her with “faithful and efficient aid” during the bridge’s completion.

Question: Which quote most strongly supports the inference that Emily Roebling earned technical respect because she understood engineering details, not just because she delivered messages?

In a debate unit, two students give short opening statements about whether the school should require reusable water bottles.

Speaker 1: “Our school should require reusable water bottles. First, it reduces trash—most importantly, it cuts the number of plastic bottles thrown away daily. Second, it saves families money over time. For evidence, our custodian reported that the cafeteria throws away about 150 plastic bottles per day. If each student uses a reusable bottle, that daily trash drops, which reduces cleanup time and waste.” Delivery: steady volume, clear pronunciation, frequent eye contact.

Speaker 2: “Reusable bottles are cool. I saw a video about oceans. Also, our mascot should be on a bottle. Anyway, plastic is bad. People should just stop.” Delivery: mumbles, reads from notes, speaks very fast.

Which speaker more effectively presents claims with sound reasoning and relevant evidence?​

Read the passage and answer the question.

Paragraph 1: Space missions rely on careful planning because repairs are difficult once a spacecraft leaves Earth.

Paragraph 2 (target): Engineers test spacecraft parts repeatedly to prevent failures in space. They expose electronics to extreme heat and cold to mimic the temperatures of orbit. They also shake components on vibration tables to imitate the forces of launch. If a part breaks during testing, engineers redesign it and test again until it meets safety standards. This cycle reduces the risk of mission-ending problems.

Which sentence in Paragraph 2 is the concluding statement that ties the details back to the main idea?

Evaluate appropriateness: In English class, you are giving a graded presentation to the class and your teacher about a novel. The teacher expects a formal academic tone. Is the following opening appropriately adapted?

“Okay, so this book is kinda wild. The author is basically trying to say society is messed up, and yeah, that is pretty much it.”

Which choice best evaluates this opening?

The detective's investigation revealed a labyrinthine conspiracy involving multiple government agencies and private corporations. Each lead seemed to spawn three more questions, creating an increasingly complex web of connections that challenged even her experienced analytical skills. She methodically documented every detail, knowing that one seemingly insignificant piece of evidence might be the key to unraveling the entire scheme.

Based on the mythological reference to the Labyrinth (a complex maze) and context clues, what does 'labyrinthine' mean?

During a literature circle on The Giver, Eli says, “I think Jonas’s father is a villain because he helps with ‘release.’” Sam introduces new textual evidence: “In Chapter 19, Jonas’s father truly believes release is peaceful, and earlier chapters show he’s been taught wrong information his whole life. He also shows genuine care for Gabriel.” Which response best shows Eli acknowledging Sam’s evidence and partially qualifying the ‘villain’ claim rather than completely flipping positions?

For a class debate on school start times, students were assigned to research at least one credible source (medical organization, university study, or government report) and bring one statistic. During the debate, a student argues that later start times improve learning. How effectively does the student draw on their preparation?

Student’s statement: “According to the American Academy of Pediatrics’ policy statement on school start times, they recommend middle and high schools start at 8:30 a.m. or later to support teen sleep and health. Using that recommendation, our district could test an 8:30 start for one semester and compare attendance and grades.”

You wrote this message to your teacher about missing an assignment: “Hey, I didn’t do the thing yesterday bc I was busy. Can I turn it in later?” Your task is to revise it to be appropriate for emailing a teacher. Which revision is best?

Presentation context: In a debate unit, Harper argues that the school should create a peer-tutoring program.

Harper says: “We should implement peer tutoring after school twice a week. First, it can improve academic performance because students often understand explanations from other students and tutors learn by teaching. Second, it builds confidence for both tutors and learners. Third, it’s cost-effective compared to hiring outside tutors. Our principal said the school has $0 set aside for paid tutoring this semester, but we already have a teacher available to supervise one classroom. Also, when my friend tutored me once, I got an A on my quiz, so peer tutoring always works.”

Question (Evaluate Presentation Content): Which evaluation is most accurate about Harper’s reasoning and evidence?

Read the excerpt and answer the question.

The science fair sign-up sheet lay on the desk like a dare. Eleni stared at her blank line, hearing her classmates brag about volcanoes, robots, and solar cars. Her own idea—testing water quality in the creek—felt small, like a pebble beside their boulders. Still, she remembered how Odysseus kept rowing even when the sea seemed determined to swallow him. “If he could outlast monsters,” she muttered, “I can outlast a few snickers.” She wrote her name with careful strokes. The hallway noise faded, and her fear shrank to something she could carry.

What does the allusion to Odysseus from The Odyssey suggest about Eleni’s situation?

In a science discussion, Tasha says, “Plastic straws should be banned because they’re one of the biggest causes of ocean pollution.” Diego adds new evidence: “A recent coastal cleanup report from our state showed cigarette butts and fishing line were found far more often than straws. Straws were present, but they were a smaller percentage of items collected.” Which response best shows Tasha acknowledging Diego’s evidence and responding appropriately?

Select the sentence that best exemplifies sophisticated control of pronoun case in complex prepositional structures with multiple embedded clauses.

The following is an excerpt from a speech given by a student council candidate:

"My fellow students, we stand at a crossroads. For too long, our voices have been silenced by outdated policies that treat us like children rather than the young adults we are. The current administration has failed us repeatedly—just look at the crumbling cafeteria, the overcrowded hallways, and the complete lack of student input in decisions that affect our daily lives. But I offer hope. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, our school can be reborn under new leadership. Together, we can tear down the walls of indifference and build bridges to a brighter future. The choice is clear: continue down the path of mediocrity, or join me in creating the change we desperately need."

The candidate uses the phrase "tear down the walls of indifference and build bridges to a brighter future" primarily to advance which type of appeal?