Session 1: Writing Directions

For the writing session, you will write a composition that uses information from a
reading passage to respond to the Writing Topic. As you read, you may underline
the information in the passage that will help you write your composition.

Before you begin the writing session, your teacher will

• pass out dictionaries and thesauruses to all students (this session only),

• read aloud the Writer’s Checklist (see page 6),

• read aloud the directions above the passage, and

• read aloud the Writing Topic and the other information under the Writing
Topic (all of page 5).

When you are finished, you may check your work in this session, but do not work
on any other part of the test.

Notes to Teacher:

• The passage under the directions must NOT be read aloud, except to
students with the accommodation Tests Read Aloud.

• Though the actual test is not timed, the suggested time to complete this
session is 90 minutes.

ELA Grade 8 Page 3

 Session 1: Writing

Read the passage about civilian space travel. As you read the passage, think about the
advantages and disadvantages of civilian space travel. Then use the passage to help you write
a well-organized multiparagraph composition.

Civilians in Space
Many people have looked to the stars and wondered what it would be like to take a trip
into outer space. Ever since the space program began, traveling beyond Earth has been a
privilege for a select few, namely, astronauts. The rest of us have had to imagine what it would
be like, but that may soon change.
Those who favor expanding space exploration feel that it is time to go beyond the
government-funded National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) program and to
create opportunities for individuals and businesses to explore outer space. Imagine privately
financed research outposts in space, missions to Mars, and mining operations on the Moon. The
space frontier could indeed be the next gold rush!
Imagine what it would be like to travel in space. Those who have been lucky enough to
visit space have all called it an amazing experience. The view of Earth and the stars must be
spectacular, and the experience of living in “zero gravity” would be fascinating. The first
American woman to visit space, Sally Ride, said that it was the greatest fun of her life. Imagine
the thrill of booking a flight for a weekend stay (or longer) at a space hotel. It turns out that a
space hotel would be much easier to design and build than the International Space Station; early
estimates of the cost to build the hotels indicate that they would be less expensive if the orbiting
hotels were built to accommodate large numbers of space travelers.
The space hotel and the other projects businesses might think up would allow people to
see what is happening in space with their own eyes. That may lead to more support of NASA
and its space research and greater appreciation of the funding that the space program now
receives.
Those who oppose expanding space exploration argue that the costs are overwhelming
and unrealistic. They point to the billions of dollars that would have to be raised through
consumers or corporate sponsorship. In addition, civilian space travel is potentially dangerous,
and there are many unknown risks involved. Who would determine the safety of commercial
orbiting vehicles, and how would they be insured? Issues like this require time for discussion
among groups from many different businesses. Companies that specialize in manufacturing,
travel, marketing, insurance, law, and finance would all have to be involved.
Others believe there are simply too many unanswered questions to put civilians in space
any time soon. There are also those who question investing in space exploration when there are
widespread problems like poverty and disease that need to be addressed on Earth. For these
people, commercial space travel will remain science fiction, at least for many years to come.

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 Session 1: Writing

Writing Topic
Write a multiparagraph composition for your teacher that states your opinion about
whether you are for or against civilian space travel and why. Clearly present your
position and use details from the passage to help you persuade your teacher of your
opinion.

As you write, follow the suggestions below.

• Be sure your composition has a beginning, a middle, and an end.
• Use details from the passage and include enough information so your teacher will
understand your response.
• Be sure to write clearly and to check your composition for correct spelling, punctuation, and
grammar.

Use page 7 for notes, brainstorming, and/or writing an outline. Write a rough draft on pages 8
and 9. Write your final draft on pages 44 and 45.
Remember: The prewriting activities on page 7 and the rough draft on pages 8
and 9 will not be scored. Only your final draft on pages 44 and 45 will be scored.

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 GRADES 4−8

Use the space provided for planning your

composition and writing your rough draft.

− Write your final draft neatly on the

final draft page(s).

ELA Grade 8 Page 6

 Session 1: Writing

Use for notes, brainstorming, and/or an outline.

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 Session 1: Writing

Rough Draft

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 Session 1: Writing

Rough Draft (continued)

STOP
ELA Grade 8 Page 9
 Session 2: Reading and Responding Directions

In this session, you will read several passages and respond to questions about those
passages to show your understanding.

• Read each passage carefully and then answer the questions.

• Write your answers for questions 1 through 30 in the spaces provided on the
answer sheets.

• When you are finished, you may check your work in this session but do not
work on any other part of the test.

Notes to Teacher:

• The passages, introductions, items/questions, and answer options must NOT

be read aloud. Only the directions may be read aloud or signed to students
whose accommodation is Tests Read Aloud or Communication Assistance.

• Though the actual test is not timed, the suggested time to complete this session
is 90 minutes.

ELA Grade 8 Page 10

 Session 2: Reading and Responding

Read the passage, and then answer questions 1 through 7.

Dave Mirra: BMX1 Superstar

by Aaron Rosenberg

1 Some athletes have fought uphill battles, trying to get their athletic activities recognized as
legitimate sports. Others have had less difficulty, quickly grabbing attention around the nation.
Bicyclists have had, perhaps, the easiest time of it. People have been riding bikes for almost
two centuries. Baron Karl de Drais de Sauerbrun of Germany is credited with creating the first
bike, a draisienne, back in 1817. However, the idea of a bike with pedals did not occur until the
velocipede in the 1860s. Most people rode their bikes on level surfaces and paved roads, but
some bikers had the idea of playing around a little.
In the early 1970s, a group of bike enthusiasts, known as the Klunkers, began modifying
“clunky” old bikes for off-road use. This soon caught on, and ever since, people have been
doing tricks and stunts on their bikes, riding them over challenging terrain, and generally
competing to be the fastest, the most daring, and the best. It’s not surprising, then, that most
people had no problem recognizing this style of biking as a sport and off-road biking, or BMX,
as an extreme sport. It’s no surprise, either, that, since biking is one of the two most widely
recognized and respected extreme sports (the other being skateboarding), its champions are
also well known and very popular. And one of the biggest stars in the world of BMX is Dave
Mirra.
3 Dave has been biking professionally for almost a decade now and is still one of the most
successful athletes in the sport—he holds more X Games2 gold medals than any other X
Games competitor. His success can also be attributed to his approach both to the sport and to
its fans. In many ways, Dave has demonstrated that he has what it takes to be a real star.
His success comes not just from his biking ability but also from his personality. Dave has
consistently fostered his relationship with his fans and continues to inspire future generations
of BMX stars. His popularity has translated into endorsements, video games, and other areas
that have turned Dave into a superstar in his sport. Much like BMX and extreme sports in
general, there seems to be no limit to Dave Mirra’s popularity.
1. BMX: an abbreviation for bicycle motocross
2. X Games: an extreme-sports competition, originally called the Extreme Games

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 Session 2: Reading and Responding

1. Which statement best presents the central idea of the passage and the way in which it is
developed?

A. The place of BMX among other sports is developed by recounting the history of the sport.
B. The thrill of stunt riding on bicycles is developed through details about early riders and a
contemporary BMX star.
C. The changes in bicycle features is developed through comparisons of early bicycles to the
bicycles used for BMX.
D. The importance of BMX as a recognized sport is developed through details about its most
famous rider.

2. Read the sentence from the passage.

Some athletes have fought uphill battles, trying to get their athletic activities recognized
as legitimate sports.

What is the meaning of the word legitimate as it is used in the sentence?

A. challenging
B. authentic
C. organized
D. profitable

3. Read the last sentence from paragraph 1.

Most people rode their bikes on level surfaces and paved roads, but some bikers had the
idea of playing around a little.

How does this sentence function in the passage?

A. It serves as a transition into paragraph 2.

B. It acts as a summary statement for paragraph 1.
C. It contrasts with the claim developed in paragraph 2.
D. It restates an important point from paragraph 1.

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 Session 2: Reading and Responding

4. According to the passage, Dave Mirra will continue to build his reputation as a BMX
superstar by

A. beginning to design his own line of bikes.

B. winning competitions against younger riders.
C. coaching BMX athletes for the X Games in the future.
D. remaining loyal to his fans and receiving more endorsements.

5. Why does the author include information about the Klunkers in the passage?

A. to illustrate the difficulty of BMX competition

B. to contrast early contests with modern BMX
C. to explain the origins of BMX competition
D. to describe the skills needed for success at BMX

6. How does the passage make a connection between Dave Mirra’s career as a rider and his
personality?

A. by comparing the development of his career to the development of his personality

B. by explaining how his career decisions have led to positive changes in his personality
C. by describing aspects of his career and his personality that have led to his success
D. by analyzing parts of his personality that caused him to seek out a career as a rider

Write your answer to question 7 on the lines provided on page 51.

7. Explain how the author develops the claim that bicyclists have had the easiest time capturing
attention for their sport. Use at least two specific details from the passage to support your
answer.

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 Session 2: Reading and Responding

Read the folktale, and then answer questions 8 through 15.

The Blind Man and the Hunter

A Folktale from West Africa
Retold by Hugh Lupton

ONCE UPON A TIME there was a blind man who lived with his sister
in a hut in a village on the edge of the forest.
Now, this blind man was very clever. Even though his eyes saw
nothing, he seemed to know more about the world than people whose
eyes were as sharp as needles. He would sit outside his hut and talk to
passersby. If they had problems, they would ask him what they should do,
and he would always give good advice.
If there were things they wanted to know, he would tell them, and his
answers were always the right ones.
People would shake their heads with amazement and say, “Blind man,
how is it that you are so wise?”
5 The blind man would smile and say, “Because I see with my ears.”
Well, one time the blind man’s sister fell in love with a hunter from
another village. And soon enough there was a wedding: the hunter was
married to the blind man’s sister.
And when the great wedding feast was finished, the hunter came to
live in the hut with his new wife.
But the hunter had no time for his wife’s brother. He had no time at all
for the blind man.
“What use,” he would say, “is a man with no eyes?”
10 And his wife would reply, “But, Husband, he knows more about the
world than people who can see.”
The hunter would laugh then and say, “Ha, ha, ha! What could a blind
man who lives in darkness know? Ha, ha, ha. . . .”
Every day the hunter would go into the forest with his traps and spears
and arrows. And every evening, when the hunter returned to the village,
the blind man would say, “Please, let me come hunting in the forest with
you tomorrow.”
But the hunter would shake his head. “What use is a man with no
eyes?”
And the days and the weeks and the months passed, and every
evening the blind man asked, “Please, let me come hunting tomorrow.”
15 And every evening the hunter shook his head.

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 Session 2: Reading and Responding

But then, one evening, the hunter was in a good mood. He had
returned home with a fine catch—a fat gazelle. His wife had prepared and
cooked the meat, and when they’d finished eating, the hunter turned to the
blind man and said, “Very well, tomorrow you will come hunting.”
So the next morning they set off into the forest together, the hunter
with his traps, spears, and arrows, leading the blind man by the hand
along the track between the trees. For hours and hours they walked.
Then, suddenly, the blind man stopped; he tugged the hunter’s hand,
saying, “Sh, there is a lion!”
The hunter looked about, but he could see nothing at all.
20 “There is a lion,” said the blind man, “but it’s all right. . . . He’s eaten
and he’s fast asleep. He won’t hurt us.”
They carried on along the track and there, sure enough, was a great
lion stretched out fast asleep under a tree.
As soon as they had passed it, the hunter asked, “How did you know
about the lion?”
“Because I see with my ears.” . . .
And they continued deep, deep into the forest until they came to a
clearing.
25 The hunter said, “We’ll leave our traps here.”
The hunter set one of his traps, and he told the blind man how to set
another one. When both traps were ready, the hunter said, “We’ll come
back tomorrow and see what we’ve caught.”
And together they made their way home to the village.
The next morning they were up early. Once again they set off along
the track into the forest. The hunter offered to hold the blind man’s hand,
but the blind man said, “No, I know the way now.”
The blind man walked ahead this time, and he didn’t catch his foot on
a root or a tree stump; he didn’t miss a single turn.
30 They walked and they walked until they came to the clearing deep in
the forest where the traps had been set.
The hunter saw straightaway that there was a bird caught in each trap.
And he saw straightaway that the bird caught in his trap was a little gray
one, and the bird caught in the blind man’s trap was a beauty, with
feathers of green, crimson, and gold.
“Sit down there,” he said. “We’ve each caught a bird. I’ll fetch them out
of the traps.”
So the blind man sat down, and the hunter went across to the traps,
and as he went across he was thinking to himself, “A man with no eyes will
never know the difference.”
And what did he do?

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 Session 2: Reading and Responding

35 He gave the blind man the little gray bird and he kept the beautiful bird
with the green, crimson, and gold feathers for himself.
And the blind man took the little gray bird in his hand, and he got to his
feet, and they set off for home.
They walked and they walked, and as they were walking the hunter
said, “If you’re so clever and you see with your ears, then answer me this:
Why is there so much anger and hatred and warfare in this world?”
And the blind man answered, “Because the world is full of so many
people like you—who take what is not theirs.”
And suddenly the hunter was filled with bitter shame. He took the little
gray bird out of the blind man’s hand and gave him the beautiful green,
crimson, and gold one instead.
40 “I’m sorry,” the hunter said.
And they walked and they walked, and then the hunter said, “If you’re
so clever and you see with your ears, then answer me this: Why is there
so much love and kindness and gentleness in this world?”
And the blind man answered, “Because the world is full of so many
people like you—who learn from their mistakes.”
And they walked and they walked until they came home to the village.
And from that day onward, if the hunter heard anyone ask, “Blind
man, how is it that you are so wise?” he would put his arm around the
blind man’s shoulders and say, “Because he sees with his ears . . . and
hears with his heart.”

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 Session 2: Reading and Responding

8. Which of these is the best theme for this folktale?

A. People’s lives are enriched when they help others.

B. Greed can lead a person to make rash decisions.
C. Each person’s unique strengths should be valued.
D. Foolish people often create their own problems.

9. Read the sentence from paragraph 3.

If there were things they wanted to know, he would tell them, and his answers were
always the right ones.

What is the most likely reason the folktale includes this information?

A. to suggest that the blind man is talkative

B. to explain why the blind man is confident
C. to indicate that the blind man is intelligent
D. to establish why the blind man is content

10. How does the point of view affect the reader’s understanding of the folktale?

A. It creates humor because the reader is aware of jokes that the characters do not
understand until the end of the folktale.
B. It creates suspense as the reader tries to determine why the characters behave the way
they do.
C. It creates humor as the reader recognizes motives for the wife’s actions that the blind man
does not recognize.
D. It creates irony as the reader perceives characteristics of the blind man that the hunter
does not perceive.

11. Which event first reveals the blind man’s abilities to the hunter?

A. the discovery of the lion under a tree

B. the setting of the traps in the forest
C. the second journey down the track
D. the exchange of the trapped birds

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 Session 2: Reading and Responding

12. Read the sentence from paragraph 42.

And the blind man answered, “Because the world is full of so many people like you—who
learn from their mistakes.”

What motive do the blind man’s words reveal?

A. He wants to remind the hunter of his recent misbehavior.

B. He wants to thank the hunter for taking him hunting.
C. He wants to teach the hunter to recognize his own value.
D. He wants to forgive the hunter for his unkind behavior.

13. What relationship is signaled by the dialogue in the final paragraph of the folktale?

A. The hunter has begun to feel protective of the blind man.

B. The hunter has begun to envy the popularity of the blind man.
C. The hunter has come to appreciate the blind man’s compassion.
D. The hunter has come to resent the blind man’s indirect way of speaking.

Write your answer to question 14 on the lines provided on page 52.

14. The author often uses repeated images and dialogue in the folktale. Identify one example of
repetition and explain how the author uses this repetition to develop the folktale. Use specific
details from the passage to support your response.

Write your answer to question 15 on the lines provided on page 53.

15. Explain two key events in the folktale that affect the hunter’s feelings about the blind man. Be
sure to use relevant information from the folktale to support your response.

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 Session 2: Reading and Responding

The Loch Ness monster, known as “Nessie,” has been a subject of interest and curiosity for
hundreds of years. Read this passage about the search for Nessie and then answer
questions 16 through 22.

The Quest for Nessie

This photograph is probably the most published image of the Loch Ness monster. It
was first released in 1934. Recently, however, the photograph was exposed as a hoax.
The photo was actually created using a small model as Nessie.

Nestled deep in the Scottish Highlands, surrounded by rugged

mountains and forests and fields, Loch Ness is one of Europe’s great
lakes. Its length is a modest twenty-four miles, and its width rarely exceeds
one mile, but the fantastic depth—more than 700 feet in places—makes
Loch Ness by volume the third-largest body of freshwater in Europe. And it

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 Session 2: Reading and Responding

is by all odds the most mysterious. In those frigid waters, rendered dark
and virtually opaque by peat leached from the land, a huge creature is
said to reside.
Among the countless believers is Hugh Ayton, a farmer who in 1963
was tilling land that bordered the lake near the village of Dores. Ayton, his
son Jim, and three other men were still working at 7:30 one serene August
evening when the son saw something moving across the lake. The men
stared where the youth was excitedly pointing. “It was big and black,” said
Ayton later. “The loch was calm and everything was quiet; there wasn’t a
noise anywhere. Just this thing moving steadily forward.”
3 Suddenly, the men realized that they were watching “the monster” of
Loch Ness lore, and in an instant, curiosity overwhelmed caution. Racing
down to a nearby jetty, four of them jumped into a small rowboat equipped
with an outboard motor and took off after it. “The thing was still coming
down the loch,” recalled Ayton, “and as we got closer, we could see more
details of it. There was a long neck coming about six feet out of the water,
and a head which reminded me rather of a horse, though bigger and
flatter. The body was made up of three low humps—about 30 to 40 feet
long in all and about four feet high. The color was dark and the skin looked
rough.”
The men were within about fifty yards of the creature, related Ayton,
when it “rose up a little out of the water and dived and put up an enormous
disturbance which swirled the boat around.” A few seconds later, the head
resurfaced, and then it disappeared for good. “The one feature of it that I’ll
always remember,” said Ayton, “was the eye—an oval-shaped eye near
the top of its head. I’ll always remember that eye looking at us.”
History does not record when the first of the lake creatures was
sighted or who encountered it. Water spirits and other such beings have
been a part of Highland legend for many centuries. . . .
6 The early Scots called these creatures water kelpies, water horses,
water bulls, or simply spirits, and mothers sternly warned their children not
to play too close to the shores of lakes or rivers; the beast, or whatever it
was, could take the form of a horse, galloping onto the land, enticing a
child on top of its back, and then plunging with its helpless little rider back
into the depths.
One of the first of the modern-day sightings is said to have occurred
in 1880, when a seasoned Loch Ness waterman named Duncan
McDonald was examining a boat that had sunk in the lake. McDonald was
examining the wreck when he signaled frantically to be pulled to the
surface. Ashen-faced, trembling uncontrollably, and incoherent with fear,
he was finally able to blurt out that he had seen a monster in the murky
water. He had gotten a good look at one of the creature’s eyes, he
reported, and described it as “small, gray and baleful.” According to some
accounts, McDonald never entered the lake again.
Since then, there have been something like 3,000 reported
sightings—from shore and from boats, in every daylight hour, some

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 Session 2: Reading and Responding

vague and some powerfully detailed—by every imaginable sort of person,

singly and in groups of a score or more: farmers and priests, fishermen
and lawyers, policemen and politicians, and even a Nobel prize-winning
chemist, the Englishman Richard L. M. Synge, who saw the creature in
1938. Million-dollar expeditions have descended on Loch Ness.
Investigators have spent months at a time scanning the lake with
binoculars, have launched mini-submarines into its depths, and have
probed its gloomy reaches with strobe-light cameras and sonar
equipment. One investigator estimated that, for every observation, there
have been 350 hours of concerted search, leading to scores of books,
some scornfully debunking, others stoutly championing “Nessie,” as
she—for some reason, the monster seems to have been deemed
female—has come to be called.
9 Nevertheless, the lake has yet to yield an ancient bone, a bit of tissue,
or any other definitive testimony to the monster’s presence. Aside from the
volumes of eyewitness reports, the evidence consists of only a handful of
fuzzy and ambiguous photographs and films and some debatable sonar
readings. For all the ardent attention, the puzzles of Loch Ness and its
elusive creature are no closer to solution now than they were that day in
1880 when Duncan McDonald was scared half to death by the ominous
form he supposedly spotted in the dim, peat-stained waters.

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 Session 2: Reading and Responding

16. Which sentence expresses a central idea of the passage?

A. Most of the people who claim to have seen Nessie have been proven wrong.
B. Nessie is most likely some kind of large, common fish or turtle.
C. In spite of many reports, the existence of Nessie has never been proved.
D. The stories of Nessie are told mostly to attract people to Scotland.

17. How is the first paragraph of "The Quest for Nessie" important for developing the ideas in the
passage?

A. It argues that Loch Ness is a healthy environment for a creature like Nessie.
B. It explains practical reasons that research on Nessie is difficult to conduct.
C. It offers instructions on how people interested in Nessie can reach Loch Ness.
D. It establishes the atmosphere in which Nessie is reported to live.

18. In paragraph 3, what is the author's purpose for putting quotation marks around “the monster”?

A. to imply that Nessie is only a mythical creature

B. to acknowledge that the words are a direct quotation
C. to indicate that the phrase is used in an unusual way
D. to signal that people commonly refer to Nessie like this

19. How does the passage make connections between Hugh Ayton and Duncan McDonald?

A. by pointing out the consistency in two sightings of the creature from different time periods
B. by commenting on their similar reactions to seeing the creature in the water
C. by describing the ways in which their lives changed as a result of seeing the creature
D. by analyzing the believability of the two accounts of the creature

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 Session 2: Reading and Responding

20. What is the meaning of the word enticing as it is used in paragraph 6 of the passage?

A. sensing
B. allowing
C. tempting
D. providing

21. According to the passage, what is the source of most evidence about the Loch Ness monster?

A. historic myths
B. reports of individuals
C. scientific investigations
D. photographs and sonar

Write your answer to question 22 on the lines provided on page 54.

22. Explain whether the passage is more convincing in supporting Nessie’s existence or more
convincing in casting doubt on Nessie’s existence. Use specific details from the passage to
support your response.

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 Session 2: Reading and Responding

Read the poems and then answer questions 23 through 30.

Dream Horses Nightmares

by Nancy Willard by Siv Cedering Fox

When I was thirteen I found two horses. Some say the nightmare is
The shining one calls itself, Keeper of a horse
Lights. that starts to gallop in a dream
The wild one calls itself, Never Tame Me. and scares the sleeping one awake.

5 Keeper of Lights comes when I call her 5 Some say the nightmare is
from the stable at the end of the world a sea
hung with bridles and bits so soft where storms have made the waves
a rose might wear them and love so big that they frighten me.
the journey.
I do not know
10 Never Tame Me shies at the sight of 10 what nightmares are,
a saddle, I only know
bare as a wave with her rocking gait they are.
when we gallop on the dark meadows.
The rim of the sea is her fence. But though the nightmares come
at times,
15 One carries me home, the other 15 they do not come as often as
shadows her the pretty horse, as often as
on the slippery trail shifting and the calmer sea, that bring
shaking all other dreams to me.
where even a river could lose its way

20 between sleeping and waking.

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 Session 2: Reading and Responding

23. Which statement best explains the structure of each poem?

A. “Dream Horses” presents comparisons of three horses to three types of dreams in the
second, third, and fourth stanzas, whereas “Nightmares” presents a general comparison of
one horse to a dream in the first stanza and then extends the comparison in the stanzas
that follow.
B. “Dream Horses” uses the first and last stanzas to represent a wakeful state and the middle
three stanzas to represent a sleeping state, whereas “Nightmares” represents a wakeful
state throughout the poem.
C. “Dream Horses” alternates between comparisons of different horses to different types of
dreams throughout, whereas “Nightmares” presents contrasting images of horses in the
first and last stanzas.
D. “Dream Horses” uses horses to contrast pleasant dreams in the first two stanzas with
unpleasant dreams in the last three stanzas, whereas “Nightmares” uses only negative
comparisons of horses to dreams throughout.

24. Part 1

What central idea about nightmares is emphasized in the poem “Nightmares”?

A. Nightmares often bring to mind unsettling images from nature.
B. Nightmares occur less frequently than pleasant dreams.
C. Nightmares are uncommon for the speaker.
D. Nightmares are most frightening when they include animals.

Part 2

Which lines from the poem best support this central idea?
A. “Some say the nightmare is / a horse”
B. “a sea / where storms have made the waves / so big”
C. “I do not know / what nightmares are”
D. “they do not come as often as / the pretty horse”

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 Session 2: Reading and Responding

25. Which aspect of nightmares is most emphasized by the repetition of the phrase “Some say
the nightmare is” in the first two stanzas of “Nightmares”?

A. the difficulty of explaining the experience of a nightmare

B. the fact that having nightmares is a frequent occurrence
C. the similarities in how people describe their nightmares
D. the sudden wakefulness that comes when a nightmare ends

26. Which statement best describes the change of tone in the final stanza of “Nightmares”?

A. It changes from reflective to reassured.

B. It changes from doubting to knowing.
C. It changes from frustrated to content.
D. It changes from frightened to amused.

27. What is the central idea presented in the poem “Dream Horses”?

A. Dreams are most vivid when the dreamer is an adolescent.

B. Dreams can reveal different parts of a dreamer’s personality.
C. Dreams help a person make sense of real-life experiences.
D. Dream environments can be more appealing than actual places.

28. Read line 14 from “Dream Horses.”

The rim of the sea is her fence.

Which characteristic of Never Tame Me is emphasized by this figurative language?

A. her ability to hide

B. her graceful movement
C. her love of nature
D. her adventurous spirit

Write your answer to question 29 on the lines provided on page 55.

29. Explain how the last line of “Dream Horses” is related to the overall meaning of the poem. Use
at least two specific details from the poem to support your response.

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 Session 2: Reading and Responding

Plan your answer to question 30 in the space provided below. Then write your completed
response on the lines provided on page 56. Use page 57 if you need more space.

30. Look back at the poems “Dream Horses” and “Nightmares” and the passage “The Quest for
Nessie.” They all explore the idea of mystery. Explain how this idea is developed in the poems
and the passage on Nessie. Be sure your response
• explains how all three texts explore the idea of mystery

and
• uses specific details from the texts to support your response.

Use for notes, brainstorming, and/or an outline.

STOP
ELA Grade 8 Page 27
 Session 3: Research to Build Knowledge Directions

In this session, you will read a set of resources about a given topic and answer
questions to show your understanding of the resources.

• Write your answers for questions 31 through 39 in the spaces provided on the
answer sheets.

• When you are finished, you may check your work in this session but do not
work on any other part of the test.

Notes to Teacher:

• Though the actual test is not timed, the suggested time to complete this
session is 40 minutes.

ELA Grade 8 Page 28

 Session 3: Research to Build Knowledge

Directions: In this session, carefully read the resources provided and use them to answer
the questions on page 37 through 39.

Research Topic: “Pistol” Pete Maravich

Suppose you want to write a report about “Pistol” Pete Maravich, who is widely
considered to be one of the greatest basketball players ever. Four different sources
of information about “Pistol” Pete Maravich are contained in this session of the
test. The information sources and the page numbers where you can find them are
listed below.

1. Article from the Magazine National Sports and Recreation

Book Review (pages 30 and 31)

2. Excerpt from the Book Brief Biographies of Great Athletes

“Maravich, Peter Press” (page 32)

3. Web Page
Hoops (page 33)

4. Web Page from LegendaryHoopsters.com

Nicknames (page 34)

Note: Model parenthetical citations for different types of documents are on page 36.

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 Session 3: Research to Build Knowledge

1. Article from the Magazine National Sports and Recreation

Book Review
National Sports and Recreation June 18, 2006
BOOK REVIEW
Pete: The Man Behind the Legend
by Gene Chenier

Reviewed by Dale Harrison the more fantastic stories about

his feats, such as dribbling a
Gene Chenier’s new book, Pete:
basketball out the window while
The Man Behind the Legend,
riding in the passenger seat of
should be high on everyone’s
his dad’s car, may or may not be
summer reading list. Basketball
based on fact.
fans who were alive during the
1970s and 1980s all knew the 3 Regardless, no one can deny that
public “Pistol” Pete Maravich. young Pete was fanatical about
They remember his quirky basketball. As a boy, he regularly
personal style, his mop of long dribbled a ball from his home in
hair, and his phenomenal ability Clemson, South Carolina, to an
to put the ball in the basket. outdoor basketball court more than
However, there was another side two miles away. After playing, he
to the story of Pete Maravich, bounced the ball all the way home.
a personal side that included Neighbors recall watching him
great highs and depressing lows. dribble while riding his bicycle. His
There was a search for personal teachers even tell stories of young
fulfillment that led the young Pete carrying his ball to class.
man to seek many different roads,
some spiritual and others worldly. When Maravich was twelve years
At the end, Pete came to terms old, a newspaper reporter asked
with himself and found peace, him about his goals for his life.
and then he suddenly passed Pete reportedly replied, “I want
away. Gene Chenier captures to play pro basketball, get a big
all this brilliantly in his new diamond ring, and make a million
biography. dollars.” Interestingly, when the
young man accomplished these
The biography begins with several goals and more, he found that they
rumors about “Pistol” Pete’s did not bring him the pleasure he
abilities as a young boy. Some of expected. Maravich retired from
Page 48

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 Session 3: Research to Build Knowledge

National Sports and Recreation June 18, 2006

professional basketball in 1980 as a mythical figure, he came to

after a series of injuries and other accept himself, with all his flaws.
problems. Although his 10-year He made a series of instructional
career and 24-point-per-game videos to teach the skills of the
scoring average would meet most game. He traveled and spoke to
people’s definition of success, teams, youth groups, and anyone
Maravich felt largely unfulfilled. else who wanted to learn from
him. He had a purpose.
Chenier provides great examples
to describe Maravich’s desire On January 5, 1988, during a
for something more meaningful. pickup basketball game,1 Pete
Maravich explored a variety Maravich suffered a heart attack
of ways to grow and learn. and died shortly afterward. He
These included practicing yoga, was only 40 years old.
studying karate, and becoming a
This is only the outline of the
vegetarian. Yet, none brought him
facts. For people who want the
the peace he sought.
details of Pete’s life, I strongly
6 However, eventually Pete found recommend reading Mr. Chenier’s
contentment by reaching out biography of this American icon.
to young people through youth You do not have to be a sports
basketball leagues and other fan to appreciate the story. It is a
activities. It seemed that Pete classic American tale of ambition,
Maravich, the man, had come hard work, success, emptiness,
to terms with himself and his and ultimate redemption. And this
world. While others still saw him story is true.

Dale Harrison is the author of six books

about sports legends, and he writes a regular
column about high school basketball for
National Sports and Recreation. He is an
avid basketball player.

1. pickup basketball game: an informal game that lasts for a short amount of time

Page 49

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 Session 3: Research to Build Knowledge

2. Excerpt from the Book Brief Biographies of Great Athletes

“Maravich, Peter Press”

Maravich, Peter Press (1947–1988)

“Pistol” Pete Maravich was a college wonder at Louisiana State University (LSU), became
a National Basketball Association (NBA) All-Star, and was named one of the 50 Greatest
Players in NBA History. In 1987, he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

2 The Greatest Player in LSU History

At LSU, Pete set numerous records, many of which still
stand. He totaled 3,667 points, averaging 44.2 points
per game. In a game against Alabama, Pete scored 69
points. In those days, freshmen were not allowed to play
on varsity teams, so Maravich accomplished these feats
in only three years.

A Professional All-Star
Pistol Pete is remembered as a showman who brought
flash and dazzle to the professional game. During his ten
NBA seasons, Maravich was usually among the league
leaders in scoring. He won the scoring title for the
1976–77 season, averaging 31.1 points per game.

4 Pete was drafted1 by the Atlanta Hawks in 1970. In 1974,

he was traded to the newly formed New Orleans Jazz
and played on that team until January 1980. After the
Jazz moved from New Orleans to Utah, for the 1979–80 Pete Maravich takes a free throw in
season, Pete was released from his contract. He was a professional basketball game.
soon signed as a free agent by the Boston Celtics. In
Boston, Maravich accepted a reduced role as a backup player. However, he still showed
flashes of his old flair. After that season, age and injuries forced Pete to retire.

A footnote to Pete’s story is that the NBA did not introduce the 3-point field goal until his
last season. Pete was famous for taking long outside shots, but they were worth only two
points until his last season, during which he saw limited playing time. Still, he made ten of
fifteen attempts that year. How many more records would he have set if there had been
3-point field goals throughout his career?

1. drafted: selected to be a player for a professional basketball team

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 Session 3: Research to Build Knowledge

3. Web Page
Hoops

Address http://www.pearson.com/maravich Go Links

HOOPS
Peter (“Pistol Pete”) Maravich
National Basketball Association Career Statistics
College: Louisiana State University
Height: 6 feet, 5 inches
Weight: 200 pounds
Seasons: 10

Team(s): Atlanta Hawks;

New Orleans/Utah Jazz;
Boston Celtics
Honors/Awards: All-Rookie Team (1971)
All-Star Team (5 times)
Scoring Title (1976–1977)
Basketball Hall of Fame (1987)
50 Greatest Players in NBA History (1996)

Total Games Played 658

Total Points 15,948
Points per Game 24.2
Field Goal Percentage .441
3-Point Field Goals Attempted 15*
3-Point Field Goals Made 10*
3-Point Field Goal Percentage .667*
Free-throw Percentage .820
Total Assists 3,563
Assists per Game 5.41
Total Rebounds 2,747
Rebounds per Game 4.17
Total Steals 587
Steals per Game .892

*During Maravich’s 10-year NBA career, the

3-point field goal was in effect only during the
1979–1980 season.
TM & © 2006–2007 Pearson, Inc. All rights reserved. Read our Privacy Policy Statement | Terms of Use

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 Session 3: Research to Build Knowledge

4. Web Page from

LegendaryHoopsters.com
Nicknames

Nicknames

Address www.legendaryhoopsters.com/nicknames Go

Many great basketball players had clever nicknames, usually describing the player’s overall
style on the court. In 1996, the NBA celebrated its 50th anniversary by naming the 50 Greatest
Players in NBA History. Below is a sampling of some of the colorful nicknames among these
legendary players.
“Tiny”
Nate Archibald, at six feet one inch tall, was small for a basketball player.
Still, “Tiny” Archibald used speed and resourcefulness to dominate the court
in the 14 seasons that he played in the NBA. When he retired in 1984, he
was the only player who had ever led the league in both scoring and assists
in the same season. Interestingly, Archibald’s nickname originated off the
court: he was named after his father, “Big Tiny.”
Links “Magic”
Johnson Earvin Johnson was christened “Magic” by a sportswriter who saw
Early History him score 36 points, 16 rebounds, and 16 assists in one high school game.
“Magic” was a brilliant player, often doing the unexpected, to the chagrin of
his opponents and the delight of the spectators. A point guard, Johnson
Legendary Teams played 13 seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, winning five NBA
championships. He also won a gold medal as part of the U.S. “Dream
Team” in the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.
The Basketball
“Pistol Pete”
“Pistol Pete” Maravich had a way of shooting the ball starting from his hip,
Hall of Fame as if pulling a pistol from a holster. The back of his jersey even said “Pistol”
instead of “Maravich.” Spectators loved watching Maravich’s flashy playing.
One of the greatest players of college basketball, he set records in the late
Legendary Coaches 1960s at Louisiana State University that still stand. During his decade in the
NBA, mainly with the Atlanta Hawks and the New Orleans Jazz, Maravich
averaged 24.2 points per game.
Records
“The Mailman”
Karl Malone earned his nickname because on the court he delivered
Nicknames consistently. He was even featured on a sports poster dressed as a postal
worker, stuffing a basketball into a mailbox. Malone spent the bulk of his
career with the Utah Jazz, gaining a reputation as one of the best power
Unusual Mascots forwards of all time. He also won two Olympic gold medals, as part of

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 Session 3: Research to Build Knowledge

the U.S. “Dream Team” in the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain,
and in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia.
“The Iceman”
George Gervin made the most difficult shots look easy. “The Iceman” was
also famous for keeping his cool in every game, playing with a relaxed
grace under pressure. Gervin, who played most of his 14 years in the NBA
with the San Antonio Spurs, was unequalled in many ways as a shooting
guard. At one point in his career, he scored in the double figures in 407
consecutive games.

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 Session 3: Research to Build Knowledge

Model Parenthetical Citations

The following samples are based on formats from the MLA (Modern Language Association)
Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. They show acceptable formats for parenthetical
citations of both quoted and paraphrased information.

Parenthetical Citations for Paraphrased Information

A Work by a Single Author
The point of the argument is that quality is more important than quantity (Keller 65–67).

A Work with Two or More Authors

The point of the argument is that quality is more important than quantity (Keller and Leer 65–67).

Two or More Works by the Same Author with Author’s Name in Text
The point of Keller’s argument is that quality is more important than quantity (Business Facts
65–67).

A Work by an Author Whose Name Is Referenced in the Sentence

Keller draws the conclusion that quantity is less important than quality (65–67).

A Work from a Web Site with a Known Author

The point of the argument is that quality is more important than quantity (Doe, screen 1).

Parenthetical Citations for Directly Quoted Information

A Work by a Single Author
“Quality is more important than quantity” (Keller 65–67).

A Work with Two or More Authors

“Quality is more important than quantity” (Keller and Leer 65–67).

A Work by an Author Whose Name Is Referenced in the Sentence

According to Keller, “Quality is more important than quantity” (65–67).

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 Session 3: Research to Build Knowledge

31. Which sentence best expresses the central idea of the book review?

A. “At the end, Pete came to terms with himself and found peace, and then he suddenly
passed away.”
B. “Chenier provides great examples to describe Maravich’s desire for something more
meaningful.”
C. “While others still saw him as a mythical figure, he came to accept himself, with all his flaws.”
D. “It is a classic American tale of ambition, hard work, success, emptiness, and ultimate
redemption.”

32. Which example shows the correct parenthetical citation of a paraphrase from paragraph 3 of
the book review?

A. According to Gene Chenier, Maravich had an extreme commitment to basketball during his
youth, when he carried or dribbled a ball with him in unusual circumstances (Harrison,
review of Pete: The Man Behind the Legend).
B. One book review claims that Maravich had an extreme commitment to basketball during
his youth, when he carried or dribbled a ball with him in unusual circumstances (48).
C. Chenier points out examples of Maravich’s extreme commitment to basketball during his
youth, when he carried or dribbled a ball with him in unusual circumstances (Harrison 48).
D. The book describes “examples of Maravich’s extreme commitment to basketball during his
youth, when he carried or dribbled a ball with him in unusual circumstances” (Harrison 48).

33. In the excerpt from the book Brief Biographies of Great Athletes, how does paragraph 4
develop the ideas in paragraph 3?

A. by describing activities that resulted from the information in paragraph 3

B. by providing a detailed sequence of events to support the information in paragraph 3
C. by comparing additional information to the facts presented in paragraph 3
D. by explaining the causes of the events discussed in paragraph 3

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 Session 3: Research to Build Knowledge

34. In the table from the Web page Hoops, what is the author’s purpose for including the asterisks
(*) and the information that accompanies them below the table?

A. to highlight Maravich’s uneven performance as a shooter

B. to explain the response of the NBA to Maravich’s skill as a player
C. to explain the reason for Maravich’s low numbers in this area
D. to highlight a possible reason for Maravich’s retirement from the NBA

35. Read the sentence from the Web page Nicknames.

“Magic” was a brilliant player, often doing the unexpected, to the chagrin of his opponents
and the delight of the spectators.

What is the meaning of the word chagrin as it is used in the sentence?

A. embarrassment
B. amazement
C. impatience
D. enthusiasm

36. Which legendary player featured in the Web page Nicknames has a nickname that best
supports the idea that nicknames usually describe a player’s overall style of play on the court?

A. Nate Archibald
B. Earvin Johnson
C. Pete Maravich
D. George Gervin

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 Session 3: Research to Build Knowledge

37. How does the information about Maravich in the biography entry differ from the information
about Maravich in the book review?

A. The biography entry explores his personal struggles, but the book review deals with his
awards.
B. The biography entry focuses on his career, but the book review includes personal details.
C. The book review does not include charts and graphs, but the biography entry does include
them.
D. The book review uses many statistics, but the biography entry does not include them.

38. Which two resources would provide the most relevant information for a research project
focused on Pete Maravich's athletic accomplishments?

A. the book review and the biography excerpt

B. the book review and the Web page Hoops
C. the biography excerpt and the Web page Hoops
D. the two Web pages, Hoops and Nicknames

Write your answer to question 39 on the lines provided on page 58.

39. The author of the Web page Nicknames describes five legendary players and the qualities that
seem essential to be a basketball legend. Explain two qualities discussed in the Web page
Nicknames that apply to Maravich. Be sure to use specific information from the Web page and
at least one other resource to support your response.

STOP
ELA Grade 8 Page 39
 Session 4: Language Directions

In this session, you will read a passage and decide how to revise portions of
the passage.

• Read the passage carefully and then choose the best way to revise each
underlined part.

• Write your answers for questions 40 through 47 in the spaces provided

on the answer sheet.

Note to Teacher:

• Though the actual test is not timed, the suggested time to complete this
session is 20 minutes.

ELA Grade 8 Page 40

 Session 4: Language

Below is an essay written by a student. Read it carefully, and choose the best way to
revise each underlined part. Mark your answer to questions 40 through 47 on page 71. If
the underlined part is correct the way it is written, choose D, “There is no error.”

The Character I Admire Most

1
The character I admire most in The Secret Garden is Mary because she is strong
and open-minded. 2 She gets along well with everyone, including Colin, even though he
acts like a spoiled brat at first. 3 Mary doesn't think of Colin's illness as something that
will hold him back from enjoying everyday life. 4 Instead, she advacates for him to go
outside. 5 Colin is invited into the newly discovered garden by Mary. 6 His time in the
garden changes Colin's life forever.
7
Together, Mary and Colin work on tending the garden, but Mary is the main person
whose efforts restores it to its former beauty. 8 Colin is busy using his time for physical
therapy, eventually he learns to walk again. 9 Mary's strength of character is the force
that gives Colin his physical strength. 10 Colin and Mary form a strong friendship, and
their compatibility and the garden are enough to make them happy. 11 In the end, their
bond and their individual strengths cheer up Colin's father who is Mary's uncle.
12
Mary's influence on others shows the value of determination and a good attitude
important keys to a better life. 13 Mary remains open to new and different people, helps
Colin and her uncle open up to others, and stays strong throughout everything that
happens. 14 Because of Mary's actions, I was able to see the goodness in these two
characters. 15 A strong role model, I admire Mary for her influence on Colin and her
uncle.

40. How should you correct the error in sentence 4?

A. change advacates to advocates

B. change advacates to advecates
C. change advacates to advucates
D. There is no error.

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 Session 4: Language

41. How should sentence 5 be written so that the verb is in the active rather than the passive
voice?

A. The newly discovered garden is revealed to Colin at Mary’s invitation.

B. Mary eventually invites Colin into the newly discovered garden.
C. An invitation into the newly discovered garden is offered to Colin by Mary.
D. Colin has been invited by Mary into the newly discovered garden.

42. How should you correct the error in sentence 7?

A. change restores to restored

B. change restores to will restores
C. change restores to restore
D. There is no error.

43. How should you correct the error in sentence 8?

A. change therapy, eventually to therapy; and eventually

B. change therapy, eventually to therapy, and eventually
C. change therapy, eventually to therapy: and eventually
D. There is no error.

44. How should you correct the error in sentence 11?

A. change Colin’s father who is Mary’s uncle to Colin’s father, who is Mary’s uncle
B. change Colin’s father who is Mary’s uncle to Colin’s father: who is Mary’s uncle
C. change Colin’s father who is Mary’s uncle to Colin’s father. Who is Mary’s uncle
D. There is no error.

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 Session 4: Language

45. How should you correct the error in sentence 12?

A. change a good attitude important keys to a good attitude. Important keys

B. change a good attitude important keys to a good attitude; important keys
C. change a good attitude important keys to a good attitude—important keys
D. There is no error.

46. How should you correct the error in sentence 13?

A. change different people, helps Colin to different people helps Colin

B. change different people, helps Colin to different people, and helps Colin
C. change different people, helps Colin to different people: helps Colin
D. There is no error.

47. How should sentence 15 be written to correct the misplaced phrase?

A. I, a strong role model, admire Mary for her influence on Colin and her uncle.
B. I admire Mary for her influence, a strong role model, on Colin and her uncle.
C. I admire Mary for her influence on Colin and her uncle, a strong role model.
D. I admire Mary, a strong role model, for her influence on Colin and her uncle.

STOP
ELA Grade 8 Page 43