winter ia 2013 assessment grade 8 january 2013...

WINTER IA 2013 Assessment – Grade 8 January 2013 Department of Language Arts/Reading

WINTER IA – Grade 8

Category 1 - Vocabulary Benchmark LA.8.1.6.3 - use context clues to determine meanings of unfamiliar words: (7,13,17, 43) (4 questions)

Question NGSSS Overall Performance

Passage Question stem

7 LA.8.1.6.3 Explorer of the Extreme Deep - Informational

Read these sentences. It’s about time for an upgrade, WHOI researchers say. Alvin has been around for a long time. What does the word upgrade mean?

13 LA.8.1.6.3 Oranges - Poetry

Read the following line from the poem. I turned to the candies Tiered like bleachers,

What does tiered mean?

17 LA.8.1.6.3 Jan Vermeer: Artist of Light and life – Literary Nonfiction

Read this sentence. Johannes (Jan) Vermeer, a 17th-century artist, observed just such everyday scenes in his home and recorded them for posterity in his master paintings. What does posterity mean?

43 LA.8.1.6.3 Sports Talk with a Non-Fan – Literary Nonfiction

Read this sentence. ―I found out that if I could throw out one little line about sports—anything at all—they’d grab it and jabber on. The word jabber shows that the talk is

Benchmark LA.8.1.6.8 - identify advanced word/phrase relationships and their meanings: (14, 19, 24, 48) (4 questions)



14 LA.8.1.6.8

Oranges - Poetry

Read this excerpt from the poem. When I looked up, The lady’s eyes met mine, And held them, knowing Very well what it was all About.

Which sentence is the BEST restatement of the underlined part of the excerpt?


Which pair of words from the article is MOST similar in meaning?

24 LA.8.1.6.8 The Nutritious Fruit - Informational

Read the sentence below. So if you desire a snack that is healthy and that makes the taste buds sing, you can still eat an orange. The phrase makes the taste buds sing is MOST similar in meaning to which word?


Read the sentences below. Thus, I was taken aback some weeks ago when, on a Miami-to-Chicago flight, I found myself sitting next to someone who merely grimaced when I revealed my occupation. ―It has always been my bad luck to be thrown in with sports fans,he said. Which word is MOST opposite in meaning to grimaced?

Benchmark LA.8.1.6.9 – determine the correct meaning of words with multiple meanings in context: (10, 25, 34) (3 questions)



10 LA.8.1.6.9 Oranges - Poetry Read this excerpt from the poem.



I peeled my orange That was so bright against The gray of December That, from some distance, Someone might have thought I was making a fire in my hands. In which sentence does fire have the SAME meaning as used in the excerpt above?


Read this sentence from the article. A good orange bursts with flavor and makes the tongue dance to a tune that is part sweet, part tart. In which sentence does the word tune have a SIMILAR meaning to the way it is used in the sentence above?

34 LA.8.1.6.9 Polar Bears–Just the Facts - Informational

Read the sentence from the article. The highest concentration of land dens is on the coast of Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Which meaning of the word concentration is MOST similar to the way it is used in the sentence above?

Category 2 – Reading Applications Benchmark LA.8.1.7.2 – analyze the author’s purpose and/or perspective in a variety of texts: (1, 2, 28, 42) (4 questions)




The author of this article would MOST LIKELY agree that


Which BEST expresses the author‘s attitude about the new HOV?

28 LA.8.1.7.2 The Café – Literary

The author of this passage would MOST LIKELY agree with which statement?


The information in this article suggests that the author views Anderson with BOTH

Benchmark LA.8.1.7.3 - determine the main idea or essential message : (12, 23, 30, 47) (4 questions)


What weather condition is described in the poem?


Why is the kiwi a healthy snack?


What is this passage mainly about?


At the end of the story, the narrator believes that

Benchmark LA.8.1.7.4 – identify cause-and-effect relationships in text: (20, 32, 36, 37) (4 questions)

20 LA.8.1.7.4 Jan Vermeer: Artist of What led Vermeer‘s work to become famous?



Light and life – Literary Nonfiction


According to ―Polar Bears—Just the Facts, which of the following conditions could cause polar bears to desert their dens?


According to ―Bear Beware, which of the following conditions could cause a polar bear‘s heart rate to increase?

37 LA.8.1.7.4 Nicholas Goes Fishing – Literary Nonfiction

Nicholas does NOT want to go fishing because he

Benchmark LA.8.1.7.5 – analyze a variety of text structures and text features and explain their impact on meaning in text: (4, 26, 41) (3 questions)


How does the author organize the information found under the heading ―Newer, better?


The organization of this article can BEST be described as


The author‘s organizational structure helps the reader understand that the passage

Benchmark LA.8.1.7.7 – compare and contrast elements in multiple texts: (6, 18, 29, 45) (4 questions)


Which aspect of the new HOV differs from Alvin?


How did Vermeer‘s View of Delft differ from most of his other works?


According to the passage, how are the narrator and the teacher alike?


According to the article, what makes Anderson DIFFERENT from most people the narrator meets?

Category 3 - Elements of Story Structure/Descriptive Language / Figurative Language Benchmark LA.8.2.1.2 - analyze and analyze elements of characterization, setting, and plot, including rising action, conflict, resolution, theme, and other literary elements as appropriate in a variety of fiction : (8, 11, 38, 44) (4 questions)




What is the conflict in the poem?


Which of the following BEST describes the boy and girl?

38 LA.8.2.1.2 Nicholas Goes Fishing – Literary

While fishing, Nicholas realizes that



Nonfiction


Anderson‘s stories of the sporting events he has attended MOST LIKELY reveal that he

Benchmark LA.8.2.1.7 – locate and analyze an author's use of allusions and descriptive, idiomatic, and figurative language in a variety of texts, identifying how word choice is used to appeal to the reader’s senses and emotions, providing evidence from text to support the analysis: (9, 15, 39) (3 questions)




The poem‘s peaceful tone suggests that the narrator


Read these lines from the poem. I peeled my orange That was so bright against The gray of December That, from some distance, Someone might have thought I was making a fire in my hands.

What does the fire symbolize for the speaker?


Read the sentence below. Uncle William revved up the engine, and the boat slowly backed away, purring as it plodded over a glassy surface that reflected the moon’s faint light.

Which literary device is used in the sentence above?

Benchmark LA.8.2.2.1 – locate, use, and analyze specific information from organizational text features: (16, 22, 46) (3 question)




After reading the poem and studying the illustration, which subtitle could BEST be added to accompany the title?


How does the photograph aid the reader‘s understanding of the article?


The author MAINLY uses text in parentheses in the article in order to

Category 4 – Informational Text / Research Process Benchmark LA.8.6.1.1 – explain how text features aid the reader’s understanding: (27, 35) (2 questions)




In which part of the article can information about the history of the kiwi be found?

35 LA.8.6.1.1 Polar Bears–Just the The title ―Polar Bears—Just the Facts is appropriate because the article presents



Facts - Informational

Benchmark LA.8.6.2.2 - organize, synthesize analyze and evaluate the validity and reliability of information from multiple sources (including primary and secondary sources) to draw conclusions using a variety of techniques, and correctly use standardized citations: (3, 5, 21, 31, 33, 40) (6 questions)

3 LA.8.6.2.2

Explorer of the Extreme Deep - Informational

Which characteristic is important to have while working as a submersible pilot?


Which statement BEST supports why researchers will have more time to collect data in the new HOV than they did in Alvin?


Which of the following is the best evidence that Vermeer had a passion for simple living?


Based on the information in ―Polar Bears–Just the Facts, which of these would BEST help the polar bear population to increase?


Which of these details from ―Polar Bears–Just the Facts suggests that polar bears have a memory?


Which sentence from the passage BEST supports the idea that Nicholas appreciates physical activities?


WINTER IA – Grade 8 Page 1

Category 1 - Vocabulary Benchmark LA.8.1.6.3 - use context clues to determine meanings of unfamiliar words: (7,13,17, 43) (4 questions)

Question NGSSS Passage Question stem Distractors Analysis


Read these sentences. It’s about time for an upgrade, WHOI researchers say. Alvin has been around for a long time. What does the word upgrade mean?

A. agreement

B. improvement

C. investment

D. observatory


Read the following line from the poem. I turned to the candies Tiered like bleachers, What does tiered mean?

A. colored

B. stairstepped

C. sturdy

D. wooden


Read this sentence. Johannes (Jan) Vermeer, a 17th-century artist, observed just such everyday scenes in his home and recorded them for posterity in his master paintings.

What does posterity mean?

A. art historians

B. family members

C. national museums

D. future generations


Read this sentence. ―I found out that if I could throw out one little line about sports—anything at all—they’d grab it and jabber on. The word jabber shows that the talk is

A. admirable.

B. meaningless.

C. professional.

D. serious.

Benchmark LA.8.1.6.8 - identify advanced word/phrase relationships and their meanings: (14, 19, 24, 48) (4 questions)



Read this excerpt from the poem. When I looked up, The lady’s eyes met mine, And held them, knowing Very well what it was all About.

Which sentence is the BEST restatement of the underlined part of the excerpt?

F. She knows the boy wants to please his girlfriend.

G. She knows the chocolate is worth less than it costs.

H. She knows the boy will pay her the other nickel later.

I. She knows the girl would rather have candy than fruit.


Which pair of words from the article is MOST similar in meaning?

A. illuminate, highlighted

B. recorded, researched

C. detail, importance

D. quiet, interior


Read the sentence below. So if you desire a snack that is healthy and that makes the taste buds sing, you can still eat an orange. The phrase makes the taste buds sing is MOST similar in meaning to which word?

F. delicious

G. nourishing

H. pleasant I. unexpected

48 LA.8.1.6.8 Sports Talk with a Non-Fan

Read the sentences below. Thus, I was taken aback some weeks ago when, on a

F. complained

G. enjoyed



– Literary Nonfiction

Miami-to-Chicago flight, I found myself sitting next to someone who merely grimaced when I revealed my occupation. ―It has always been my bad luck to be thrown in with sports fans, he said.

Which word is MOST opposite in meaning to grimaced?

H. ignored

I. aughed

Benchmark LA.8.1.6.9 – determine the correct meaning of words with multiple meanings in context: (10, 25, 34) (3 questions)



Read this excerpt from the poem. I peeled my orange That was so bright against The gray of December That, from some distance, Someone might have thought I was making a fire in my hands. In which sentence does fire have the SAME meaning as used in the excerpt above?

F. The fire in her speech showed how much she cared about saving the environment.

G. All day the fire burned in the hearth, warming everyone who came into the house.

H. The supervisor said he would fire the employee who came to work late on a regular basis.

I. In the last second of the game, the quarterback knew he had to fire the football toward his teammate.


Read this sentence from the article. A good orange bursts with flavor and makes the tongue dance to a tune that is part sweet, part tart. In which sentence does the word tune have a SIMILAR

meaning to the way it is used in the sentence above?

A. The mechanic needed to tune our car engine so that it would run more efficiently.

B. Our music teacher was able to teach me how to tune my guitar in only four simple steps.

C. In her rocking chair, my grandma moved back and forth with a steady rhythm while humming a soft tune.

D. Mr. Wysler, who was in tune with reality, doubted that his garden would be productive without a fence to keep out the deer.


Read the sentence from the article. The highest concentration of land dens is on the coast of Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Which meaning of the word concentration is MOST similar to the way it is used in the sentence above?

F. amount

G. collection

H. focus

I. strength

Category 2 – Reading Applications Benchmark LA.8.1.7.2 – analyze the author’s purpose and/or perspective in a variety of texts: (1, 2, 28, 42) (4 questions)



The author of this article would MOST LIKELY agree that A. Alvin has been worth the investment.

B. the overwork has been a problem for Alvin.

C. the new HOV will last longer than Alvin did.

D. Alvin needs more maintenance than the new HOV.


Which BEST expresses the author‘s attitude about the new HOV?

F. Alvin can‘t get to the deepest point in the ocean, and

the new vehicle won‘t be able to go there either. G. To be ready in time to ride the shiny new vehicle, you‘ll

probably want to start studying right away.



H. A newer, better version of Alvin is bound to reveal even more surprises about a world that is still full of mysteries . . .

I. Scientists at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) in Massachusetts are building an underwater vehicle that will carry explorers as deep as 6,500 meters . . .


The author of this passage would MOST LIKELY agree with which statement?

F. Few people want to become farmers.

G. Farming will one day be unnecessary.

H. Education can be a great help to a farmer.

I. Farming is harder than most people realize.


The information in this article suggests that the author views Anderson with BOTH

F. caution and trust.

G. curiosity and respect.

H. dismay and desperation.

I. compassion and kindness.

Benchmark LA.8.1.7.3 - determine the main idea or essential message : (12, 23, 30, 47) (4 questions)


What weather condition is described in the poem? F. deep snow

G. wind and rain

H. dangerous storms

I. haze and frostiness


Why is the kiwi a healthy snack? A. It has edible seeds.

B. It has a sweet taste.

C. It is a nourishing fruit.

D. It is served in fruit salad.


What is this passage mainly about? F. Wil offers advice to his audience.

G. Wil uses a story to prove an argument.

H. Wil thinks back to a time when he was younger.

I. Wil remembers a time when he made a discovery.


At the end of the story, the narrator believes that A. everyone can have something interesting to say about sports.

B. Mr. Anderson should work harder to understand sports.

C. Mr. Anderson will become a sports writer.

D. everyone should become a sports fan.

Benchmark LA.8.1.7.4 – identify cause-and-effect relationships in text: (20, 32, 36, 37) (4 questions)


What led Vermeer‘s work to become famous? F. He began to paint landscapes.

G. He joined the Guild of St. Luke.

H. His paintings were critiqued by a journalist.

I. His paintings were admired by Hans van Meegeren.


According to ―Polar Bears—Just the Facts, which of the following conditions could cause polar bears to desert their dens?

F. the birth of a cub

G. a change in seasons

H. altered conditions on land

I. poor ice conditions on water




According to ―Bear Beware, which of the following conditions could cause a polar bear‘s heart rate to increase?

F. hunting for seals

G. unusually warm weather

H. interruptions while resting

I. danger to a female and her cubs


Nicholas does NOT want to go fishing because he A. believes it will be boring.

B. does not know how to fish.

C. does not have a fishing pole.

D. wants to be alone in the wilderness.

Benchmark LA.8.1.7.5 – analyze a variety of text structures and text features and explain their impact on meaning in text: (4, 26, 41) (3 questions)


How does the author organize the information found under the heading ―Newer, better?

F. The author lists the reasons why the new HOV is ne ded.

G. The author describes the p oblems the new HOV will help solve.

H. The author compares and contrasts different aspects of Alvin and the new HOV.

I. The author asks a question about Alvin and gives an answer using the new HOV.


The organization of this article can BEST be described as

F. listing the reasons why kiwi is tasty.

G. sequencing the growth and production of kiwis.

H. comparing and contrasting the kiwi to other fruits.

I. explaining the reasons for the popularity of kiwi fruit.


The author‘s organizational structure helps the reader understand that the passage

A. suggests that waterskiing is more fun than fishing.

B. relies on childhood memories rather than facts.

C. takes place in a day in the life of a child.

D. compares fishing to swimming.

Benchmark LA.8.1.7.7 – compare and contrast elements in multiple texts: (6, 18, 29, 45) (4 questions)



Which aspect of the new HOV differs from Alvin? F. size

G. speed

H. number of pilots

I. number of passengers


How did Vermeer‘s View of Delft differ from most of his other works?

F. It was one of the few landscapes that he painted.

G. It was his only painting to be considered a self-portrait.

H. It was the only painting that portrayed family members in everyday settings.

I. It was one of the few paintings where he used an open window for a light source.


According to the passage, how are the narrator and the teacher alike?

A. They both eat at the café.

B. They both are related to farmers.

C. They both watch the news on television.

D. They both have a limited knowledge of farming.

45 LA.8.1.7.7 Sports Talk with a Non-Fan – Literary

According to the article, what makes Anderson DIFFERENT from most people the narrator meets?

A. He is a faculty member at the University of Minnesota.

B. He is unimpressed by the idea of sports writing.

C. He is both intelligent and good-humored.



Nonfiction

D. He is traveling from Miami to Chicago.

Category 3 - Elements of Story Structure/Descriptive Language / Figurative Language Benchmark LA.8.2.1.2 - analyze and analyze elements of characterization, setting, and plot, including rising action, conflict, resolution, theme, and other literary elements as appropriate in a variety of fiction : (8, 11, 38, 44) (4 questions)



What is the conflict in the poem? F. The boy has too little money to buy what the girl wants.

G. The girl must choose from candies tiered like bleachers.

H. The girl has a dog that barks at the boy when he arrives.

I. The boy is too shy to say anything to the drugstore clerk.


Which of the following BEST describes the boy and girl? A. quietly happy

B. sullen and bored

C. chatty and friendly

D. loudly argumentative


While fishing, Nicholas realizes that F. his uncle fishes well.

G. baiting a hook is very easy.

H. his surroundings are beautiful.

I. the metal boat is very comfortable.


Anderson‘s stories of the sporting events he has attended MOST LIKELY reveal that he

F. is curious about the players.

G. feels bad for the losing team.

H. is distracted by enthusiastic fans.

I. focuses on everything but the game.

Benchmark LA.8.2.1.7 – locate and analyze an author's use of allusions and descriptive, idiomatic, and figurative language in a variety of texts, identifying how word choice is used to appeal to the reader’s senses and emotions, providing evidence from text to support the analysis: (9, 15, 39) (3 questions)



The poem‘s peaceful tone suggests that the narrator A. is still close with the girl in the poem.

B. regrets what happened at the drugstore.

C. remembers the evening as a pleasant one.

D. wishes things had gone a little differently.


Read these lines from the poem. I peeled my orange That was so bright against The gray of December That, from some distance, Someone might have thought I was making a fire in my hands.

What does the fire symbolize for the speaker?

A. the warm affection he feels for the girl

B. the longing he feels for summer weather

C. the pride he feels for buying the chocolate

D. the fondness he feels for the taste of oranges


Read the sentence below. Uncle William revved up the engine, and the boat slowly backed away, purring as it plodded over a glassy surface that reflected the moon’s faint light.

Which literary device is used in the sentence above?

A. symbolism, suggesting that the trip has a deeper meaning in the boy‘s life.

B. imagery, appealing to the reader‘s sense of sight and sound.

C. hyperbole, exaggerating the sound of the engine.



D. simile, comparing the boat to the moon.

Benchmark LA.8.2.2.1 – locate, use, and analyze specific information from organizational text features: (16, 22, 46) (3 question)



After reading the poem and studying the illustration, which subtitle could BEST be added to accompany the title?

F. Frigid Night

G. Special Destination

H. A Snowy December

I. A Quiet Neighborhood


How does the photograph aid the reader‘s understanding of the article?

F. It reinforces the information about the girl in the portrait.

G. It contrasts his portraits to his landscape works.

H. It shows Vermeer‘s favorite source of light.

I. It demonstrates Vermeer‘s skill as an artist.


The author MAINLY uses text in parentheses in the article in order to

F. clarify confusing ideas.

G. reveal personal opinions.

H. include humorous comments.

I. incorporate additional examples.

Category 4 – Informational Text / Research Process Benchmark LA.8.6.1.1 – explain how text features aid the reader’s understanding: (27, 35) (2 questions)



In which part of the article can information about the history of the kiwi be found?

A. in the section ―Uses

B. in the section ―Nutrition

C. in the section ―Description

D. in the introductory paragraph


The title ―Polar Bears—Just the Facts is appropriate because the article presents

A. theories to explain the slow birth rate of polar bears.

B. statistics and accurate information about p lar bears.

C. evidence to justify he need for an arctic wildlife refuge.

D. reasons for continued research at the arctic wildlif refuge.

Benchmark LA.8.6.2.2 - organize, synthesize analyze and evaluate the validity and reliability of information from multiple sources (including primary and secondary sources) to draw conclusions using a variety of techniques, and correctly use standardized citations: (3, 5, 21, 31, 33, 40) (6 questions)



Which characteristic is important to have while working as a submersible pilot?

A. an interest in scuba diving

B. a willingness to learn new things

C. the desire to work with other scientists

D. the ability to do more than one task at a time


Which statement BEST supports why researchers will have more time to collect data in the new HOV than they did in Alvin?

A. It will be about 27 feet long.

B. It has spent 27,658 hours submerged.

C. It can carry explorers 6,500 meters deep.

D. It will ascend and descend at 44 meters per second.

21 LA.8.6.2.2 Jan Vermeer: Artist of Light and life –

Which of the following is the best evidence that Vermeer had a passion for simple living?

A. Vermeer‘s artistic training

B. Vermeer‘s style of painting

C. the subjects Vermeer painted



Literary Nonfiction

D. the paints used for Vermeer‘s paintings


Based on the information in ―Polar Bears–Just the Facts, which of these would BEST help the polar bear population to increase?

A. start a breeding prog am for polar bears in captivity

B. prevent fishing vessels f om sailing in the Beaufort Sea

C. keep the land along the Alaska coast a wildlife refuge

D. create a tracking system to help pregnant females find dens


Which of these details from ―Polar Bears–Just the Facts suggests that polar bears have a memory?

A. Cubs stay with their mother for about 2.5 years.

B. Females sometimes even return to the dens they were born in.

C. In the summer the bears drift with the shifting ice pack . . .

D. Family groups remain in dens until late March or early April.


Which sentence from the passage BEST supports the idea that Nicholas appreciates physical activities?

F. ―All you do is sit there with a pole in your hand!

G. Nicholas had just been informed of the plans for Saturday morning.

H. Nicholas sat there in a boat in Willow Cove with a pole in his hand.

I. ―What about something interesting like waterskiing or swimming?

winter ia 2013 assessment grade 8 january 2013...

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