English/Language Arts General Knowledge Pre-Test 20108th Grade English Language ArtsMr. Correia

September 2010Dr. Kevin M. Hurley Middle School

Why are we taking this Pre-test?• Ahhh! We just got back from vacation! Why are

we taking this test already? • CHILL OUT! The reason for this test, if you’re

wondering, is to simply gauge how much knowledge you already have of reading, writing, literature, spelling and grammar.

• I know what you’re thinking... How can all this be tested in ONE test??? Actually, it CAN’T!

• This is why the grade/score you achieve on this test WILL NOT hurt your grade!

• But... The results will give me a much better idea of where our strengths/weaknesses are as a class, and what skills we should spend more time on to start the year

How to Set Up Your Answer Sheet•Write your First & Last Name on the TOP

LEFT•Write Today’s Date on the TOP RIGHT•Write English Pre-Test UNDER Your Name•Write your Class Nickname UNDER the Date

•SKIP A SPACE

•NUMBER from 1-50 (you may use the back of your paper if necessary, or make two columns)

How the Pre-Test Will Look•You will be asked a variety of different

questions (30 total) about Language Arts and Literature:▫Multiple Choice▫Definitions▫Critical Thinking/Short Answer

•Each question will appear on a slide in this PowerPoint presentation

•Make sure you read the directions/questionscarefully as you hear me read them aloud.•Please, try your best! Good Luck!

Question #1 Multiple Choice

•Language Arts consist of reading, writing and ________.▫A. speaking ▫B. listening ▫C. using technology▫D. communicating with those around you ▫E. none of the above▫F. all of the above

Question #2 Multiple Choice

•Which of these responses includes ONLY genres of literature?▫A. poetry, rhythm, alliteration, imagery,

rhyme▫B. poetry, fiction, nonfiction, drama, myth▫C. main idea, theme, tone, mood, legend▫D. climax, resolution, short story,

antagonist, plot▫E. none of the above▫F. all of the above

Question #3 Multiple Choice

•Which of these words is a SYNONYM of the word serene?▫A. green ▫B. peaceful▫C. violent▫D. siren▫E. none of the above▫F. all of the above

Question #4 Multiple Choice

•Which of these words is an ANTONYM of the word delicious?▫A. nauseating▫B. suspicious ▫C. tasty▫D. delicate▫E. none of the above▫F. all of the above

Question #5 Multiple Choice

•Which of these words is a HOMONYM of the word war?▫A. peace▫B. battle ▫C. scar▫D. wore▫E. none of the above▫F. all of the above

Question #6 Multiple Choice

•Which of these English words is derived from another language? ▫A. cliché▫B. adobe ▫C. fiasco▫D. spiel▫E. none of the above▫F. all of the above

Question #7 Multiple Choice

•Which of these English words is a superlative?▫A. good▫B. greatest ▫C. better▫D. awesome▫E. none of the above▫F. all of the above

Question #8 Multiple Choice

•Which of these should NOT be capitalized within a sentence in English?▫A. Winter▫B. Midwest ▫C. September▫D. Jacksonville ▫E. none of the above▫F. all of the above

Question #9 Multiple Choice

•Which of these sentences is an example of proper punctuation?▫A. “His name is: Clifford?”▫B. “What is his name, Clifford?” ▫C. “Clifford; what is his name?”▫D. “Clifford is! His name.” ▫E. none of the above▫F. all of the above

Question #10 Multiple Choice •Which of these words is spelled correctly,

making it a true exception to the “I before E except after C” rule? ▫A. ancient ▫B. reciept ▫C. cieling▫D. decieve ▫E. none of the above▫F. all of the above

Question #11 Multiple Choice •Which of these tricky words correctly

completes the sentence below? “______ the new members of the White Team!”

▫A. There ▫B. Their ▫C. They’re▫D. Thayer ▫E. none of the above▫F. all of the above

Question #12 Multiple Choice •Which of these tricky words correctly

completes the sentence below? “Have your cake, and eat it ___.”

▫A. too ▫B. two ▫C. to▫D. tue ▫E. none of the above▫F. all of the above

Question #13 Multiple Choice •Which of these words is NOT an

adjective?▫A. Vietnamese ▫B. never ▫C. friendly▫D. blue ▫E. none of the above▫F. all of the above

Question #14 Multiple Choice •Which of these words is a gerund?

▫A. leaping ▫B. working ▫C. skiing▫D. murmuring ▫E. none of the above▫F. all of the above

Question #15 Multiple Choice •Which of these verbs is in the past

tense?▫A. met ▫B. get ▫C. net▫D. regret ▫E. none of the above▫F. all of the above

Question #16 Multiple Choice •Which of these verbs can be

written/spelled the same way in the present AND past tenses?▫A. to play ▫B. to find ▫C. to write▫D. to read ▫E. none of the above▫F. all of the above

Question #17 Multiple Choice •Which of these words has a prefix AND a

suffix?▫A. bicycle▫B. endless▫C. uniform▫D. discrimination▫E. none of the above▫F. all of the above

Question #18 Multiple Choice •Which of the following is an example of

alliteration?▫A. Snap! Crackle! Pop! ▫B. Boston Bruins▫C. The Cat in the Hat ▫D. Cold as Ice ▫E. none of the above▫F. all of the above

Question #19 Multiple Choice •Which of the following is an example of

personification?▫A. The puppy begged us for attention.▫B. The sun smiled at the beach-goers. ▫C. A tree whispered to the boy in the night. ▫D. Music sang at high volume from his

iPod. ▫E. none of the above▫F. all of the above

Question #20 Multiple Choice •Which of the following includes a simile?

▫A. The taxi driver is as stubborn as a mule. ▫B. Fresh food was fuel for the fire in my

stomach. ▫C. He has a heart of stone towards his

enemies. ▫D. Life is a box of candy—sweet and

enjoyable. ▫E. none of the above▫F. all of the above

Question #21 Definitions•Write a short definition of the following

term on your answer sheet:

•DIALOGUE

Hint! Start your answer with: “Dialogue is...”

Question #22 Definitions

•Write a short definition of the following term on your answer sheet:

•IMAGERY

Hint! Start your answer with: “Imagery is...”

Question #23 Definitions•Write a short definition of the following

term on your answer sheet:

•COMMUNICATION

Hint! Start your answer with: “Communication is...”

Question #24 Definitions•Write a short definition of the following

term on your answer sheet:

•PEER-EDITING

Hint! Start your answer with: “Peer-editing is...”

Question #25 Definitions•Write a short definition of the following

term on your answer sheet:

•PLAGIARISM

Hint! Start your answer with: “Plagiarism is...”

Question #26 Critical Thinking•Write a SYNONYM for the word “junk.”

Question #27 Critical Thinking•Write an ANTONYM for the word “dangerous.”

Question #28 Critical Thinking•Write an example of a contraction.

Question #29 Critical Thinking•How does the word “compare” differ from the word “contrast?”

•No, this is NOT meant to be a trick question!

Question #30 Critical Thinking•Write a word with 5 or more syllables.

• Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious does NOT count as an answer!

• Please use good judgment when choosing your word.

CONGRATULATIONS!•You made it through your FIRST test of the

year in 8th Grade English class! (Phew...)•Now, we will swap papers with someone in

a different row.•This person will score/grade your test

results as we discuss them out loud as a class.

•Each question is worth 10 points•30 questions x 10 pts each = 300

possible pts.•TOP scores will be posted on our Bulletin

Board and will receive a prize!