English Language Arts 8 (Grade 8) Midterm — Semester 1, Form B

Part 1: Multiple Choice

1. Read the passage: "Mara had practiced her speech for weeks. When she stepped onto the stage, her hands shook, but her voice came out steady and clear. By the final line, the room was silent, and then the applause rolled in." Which is the best statement of the theme?
   1. A. Preparation can help people push through their fears.
   2. B. Public speaking is only enjoyable for a few people.
   3. C. Applause matters more than the message of a speech.
   4. D. Practice rarely helps people who feel nervous.
2. Which is the best definition of mood?
   1. A. The feeling a text creates in the reader
   2. B. The author's attitude toward the subject
   3. C. The time and place in which a story happens
   4. D. The central message or lesson of a text
3. In a plot, what is the climax?
   1. A. The background information given at the start
   2. B. The events that tie up loose ends at the end
   3. C. The turning point where tension is highest
   4. D. The series of events that slowly build tension
4. Which situation is an example of internal conflict?
   1. A. A town protests against an unfair new law.
   2. B. Two rival teams compete for the league championship.
   3. C. A girl struggles to decide whether to admit she broke a vase.
   4. D. A hiker is trapped on a mountain by a sudden snowstorm.
5. Read the passage: "Before we left, Grandpa tapped the old barometer twice and frowned. 'Take your raincoat,' he said, though the sky was a perfect blue." Which literary device does the author most likely use here?
   1. A. Foreshadowing
   2. B. Hyperbole
   3. C. Onomatopoeia
   4. D. Flashback
6. What is a counterclaim?
   1. A. A quotation from an expert source
   2. B. The writer's strongest piece of evidence
   3. C. A summary of the argument at the end
   4. D. An opposing position that the writer acknowledges
7. Read the sentence: "Imagine a puppy shivering alone in the cold, waiting for someone to give it a home." Which appeal does this sentence mainly use?
   1. A. Logos, an appeal to logic and facts
   2. B. Ethos, an appeal to credibility
   3. C. Bandwagon, an appeal to popularity
   4. D. Pathos, an appeal to emotion
8. In an argument, what is the claim?
   1. A. The facts and data that support a position
   2. B. The explanation of how evidence connects
   3. C. The main position the writer is arguing for
   4. D. An opposing view that the writer mentions
9. Read the sentence: "Either we ban phones in every class, or students will never learn anything." Which faulty reasoning does it show?
   1. A. False dilemma
   2. B. Bandwagon
   3. C. Ad hominem
   4. D. Hasty generalization
10. Read the sentence: "As a nurse for twenty years, I have seen how hand-washing prevents illness." Which appeal does this sentence mainly use?
    1. A. Logos, an appeal to statistics
    2. B. Ethos, an appeal to credibility
    3. C. Bandwagon, an appeal to popularity
    4. D. Pathos, an appeal to emotion
11. Read the sentence: "Unlike his gregarious sister, who loved parties and chatting with strangers, Omar preferred quiet evenings alone." What does gregarious mean?
    1. A. Shy and very quiet
    2. B. Sociable and outgoing
    3. C. Angry and often rude
    4. D. Tired and easily bored
12. Which word has the most negative connotation?
    1. A. slender
    2. B. lean
    3. C. slim
    4. D. scrawny
13. The root dict, as in dictate and predict, means
    1. A. to say or speak
    2. B. to lead
    3. C. to build
    4. D. to throw
14. The root spect, as in spectator and inspect, means
    1. A. to carry
    2. B. to write
    3. C. to break
    4. D. to look or see
15. The prefix bene-, as in benefit and benevolent, means
    1. A. good or well
    2. B. against
    3. C. bad or poorly
    4. D. before

Part 2: Written Response

16. Should middle schools require students to wear uniforms? Write a short argument with a clear claim, two reasons with evidence, and a response to one counterclaim.