English Language Arts 8 (Grade 8) Midterm — Units 1–2

Part 1: Multiple Choice

1. What is dramatic irony?
   1. A. When an event turns out the opposite of what was expected
   2. B. When the reader knows something that a character does not
   3. C. When two characters argue about what happened earlier
   4. D. When a character says the opposite of what he or she means
2. A character who changes in an important way during a story is called a
   1. A. minor character
   2. B. dynamic character
   3. C. flat character
   4. D. static character
3. A story is told by a narrator who is a character in it and uses the words "I" and "me." What point of view is this?
   1. A. Second person
   2. B. Third-person limited
   3. C. First person
   4. D. Third-person omniscient
4. Read the sentence: "Leo slammed his locker, shoved his books into his bag, and stomped down the hall without a word to anyone." What do Leo's actions suggest about him?
   1. A. He is excited and cheerful.
   2. B. He is calm and relaxed.
   3. C. He is curious and talkative.
   4. D. He is angry or frustrated.
5. Which belongs in an objective summary of a story?
   1. A. The main events, stated without personal opinions
   2. B. The reader's opinions about each character
   3. C. A rating of how enjoyable the story was
   4. D. Every small detail from the story, in order
6. 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.
7. 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
8. 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
9. 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.
10. 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
11. Read the sentence: "Everyone at school already has the new phone, so you should get one too." Which faulty reasoning does it show?
    1. A. Personal attack
    2. B. Bandwagon
    3. C. Slippery slope
    4. D. Straw man
12. A writer claims, "Schools should start later because teens need more sleep." Which evidence is most relevant to this claim?
    1. A. A list of popular after-school clubs at local schools
    2. B. A story about a teacher who likes waking up early
    3. C. A study finding that teens at later-starting schools sleep more
    4. D. A survey showing that most teens enjoy pizza for lunch
13. Read the sentence: "Our school's recycling program cut cafeteria waste by 40 percent in one year." Which appeal does this sentence mainly use?
    1. A. Pathos, an appeal to emotion
    2. B. Bandwagon, an appeal to popularity
    3. C. Logos, an appeal to logic and facts
    4. D. Ethos, an appeal to credibility
14. In an argument, what is a rebuttal?
    1. A. The first time the writer states the claim
    2. B. The writer's response explaining why a counterclaim is weak
    3. C. The opening sentence that grabs the reader's attention
    4. D. A list of sources used in the argument
15. Read the sentence: "You can't trust Sam's idea for the garden. He can't even keep his room clean." Which faulty reasoning does it show?
    1. A. Bandwagon, following the crowd
    2. B. False dilemma, offering only two options
    3. C. Circular reasoning, repeating the claim
    4. D. Ad hominem, attacking the person
16. 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
17. 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
18. 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
19. 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
20. 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

Part 2: Written Response

21. 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.