Writing Grade 8 - 2011 Released Test

Which will Jarius most want to do in his editorial? (You do not need to refer to a reading passage to answer this question)
1. Examine the different types of fundraisers held at school
2. Provide a detailed comparison of all the school activities
3. Explain all of the different activities offered at the school
4. Convince students to participate in student activities
Which sentence could Jarius best add after sentence 2 to clearly communicate his purpose?
1. Staying after school means having to make other transportation plans.
2. Even if you cannot play basketball, it does not require any skill to go to the game and support the team.
3. Some of the food that is sold at bake sales is actually quite tasty, so this is a great fundraiser.
4. Many students do not realize what they are missing by not participating in school activities.
How is sentence 6 best revised for appropriate tone?
1. Like some students may have tried their hand at basketball, but they do not know if they are good enough for the team.
2. So some kids may have shot a few hoops, but maybe they are not totally sure if they have the skills to be on the team.
3. Some students may have tried basketball, but they are not really sure if they have the talent to play on a team.
4. Some kids may have tried shooting hoops, but like they may not really know if they are as good as the other kids.
How would the word things in sentence 12 best be revised to clarify the meaning?
1. actions
2. doings
3. stuff
4. materials
In sentence 16, how is earth day event correctly written?
1. Earth day event
2. Earth Day event
3. Earth day Event
4. As it is
In sentence 19, how is good correctly written?
1. well
2. more good
3. most well
4. As it is
In sentence 21, how is improve correctly written?
1. improves
2. improved
3. improving
4. As it is
In sentence 25, how is considerable correctly written?
1. considarable
2. considerible
3. considarible
4. As it is
In sentence 29, how is school newspaper, or tried correctly written?
1. school, newspaper or tried
2. school newspaper, or, tried
3. school newspaper or, tried
4. As it is
In sentence 32, how is ceremonys correctly written?
1. ceremoneys
2. ceramonys
3. ceremonies
4. As it is
In sentence 35, how is become correctly written?
1. is becoming
2. becomes
3. had become
4. As it is
Ashley makes the following notes for her report. Use them to answer question 12.

These notes will best help Ashley —
1. organize the information from most to least important
2. maintain focus on her topic and include important facts
3. decide which kinds of lizards to include in her report
4. keep the attention of readers by telling exciting facts
Which is the best way for Ashley to write sentence 2 so it has an appropriate tone?
1. People can be freaked out by a lizard that can leap.
2. People seem to think that a lizard that can leap is peculiar.
3. People think sometimes that a lizard that leaps is really wacky.
4. People seem to think that a lizard that flies around like a superhero is not cool.
How can sentences 4 and 5 best be combined?
1. Malaysia, Thailand, and parts of China are countries where gliding lizards live in tropical jungles.
2. In tropical jungles, in countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, and parts of China, gliding lizards live.
3. Gliding lizards live in tropical jungles, but they live in countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, and parts of China.
4. Gliding lizards live in tropical jungles in countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, and parts of China.
What is the best way for Ashley to add more specific details to sentence 7?
1. Their skin is a leathery mixture of greens, browns, and blacks that allows these creatures to blend with their surroundings.
2. Their unusual skin is green and brown, and this colorful mixture allows these creatures to blend with their surroundings.
3. Their skin is so dark that it allows these creatures to blend with their surroundings.
4. Their colorful skin allows these creatures to blend with their surroundings.
Ashley decides to add an additional detail after sentence 9. Which of these would be best?
1. Lizards can be seen catching insects in jungles.
2. The ribs are soft and flexible so they can move.
3. Studies show that the ribs on the lizard are small.
4. The color of the flap matches the skin of the lizard.
In sentence 14, how is spent correctly written?
1. spending
2. spends
3. spend
4. As it is
In sentence 18, how is creature’s correctly written?
1. creatures’s
2. creatures’
3. creatures
4. As it is
In sentence 20, how is climb flat smooth tree trunks correctly written?
1. climb flat smooth, tree trunks
2. climb flat, smooth, tree trunks
3. climb flat, smooth tree trunks
4. As it is
In sentence 22, how is a more safer place correctly written?
1. a safer place
2. a most safest place
3. a safest place
4. As it is
In sentence 26, how is grows correctly written?
1. growing
2. grow
3. grown
4. As it is
You do not need to read a passage to answer the following questions.

How is the word big best revised for appropriate tone?
1. massive
2. humongous
3. jumbo
4. king-size
Read this sentence.

In this sentence, how is descent correctly written?
1. desent
2. decent
3. dissent
4. As it is
Read this sentence.

How is a picnic not a dance correctly written?
1. a picnic, not a dance,
2. a picnic, not a dance
3. a picnic not a dance,
4. As it is

Writing Grade 8 - 2011 Released Test

READING PASSAGES