English Language Arts 8 (Grade 8) Midterm — Units 3–4

← Midterm Library / ELA / English Language Arts 8

ELA Grade 8 20 multiple choice + 1 written

Free printable English Language Arts 8 midterm (Grade 8): 20 multiple-choice questions plus 1 written response covering Vocabulary & Word Origins, Grammar: Verbals, Voice & Mood. Answer key included — customize it in the Midterm Maker.

Customize in Midterm Maker

Name: Date: Period:

Directions: Read each question carefully and choose the best answer. Answer the written response in complete sentences.

Covers: Vocabulary & Word Origins · Grammar: Verbals, Voice & Mood

Part 1: Multiple Choice

The suffix -ology, as in biology and geology, means
1. A. the state of being
2. B. one who does
3. C. full of
4. D. the study of
The prefix mal-, as in malfunction and malnourished, means
1. A. large
2. B. many
3. C. bad or badly
4. D. again
The Greek root graph, as in autograph and paragraph, means
1. A. to hear
2. B. earth
3. C. light
4. D. to write
The word telephone comes from two Greek roots. What do they mean?
1. A. far + sound
2. B. write + light
3. C. near + voice
4. D. time + speak
The root chron, as in chronological and chronicle, means
1. A. time
2. B. sound
3. C. life
4. D. color
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
Which word has the most negative connotation?
1. A. slender
2. B. lean
3. C. slim
4. D. scrawny
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
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
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
Which sentence is written in the passive voice?
1. A. The letter was mailed by Jordan.
2. B. Jordan is mailing the letter.
3. C. Jordan will mail the letter.
4. D. Jordan mailed the letter.
Which sentence uses the subjunctive mood correctly?
1. A. If she is the coach last year, she would change the lineup.
2. B. If she be the coach, she changes the lineup.
3. C. If she were being the coach, she changes the lineup.
4. D. If she were the coach, she would change the lineup.
In the sentence "Swimming is my favorite sport," the word Swimming is a
1. A. infinitive
2. B. gerund
3. C. participle
4. D. linking verb
Which sentence is written in the active voice?
1. A. The windows were cleaned yesterday.
2. B. The meal was prepared by the chef.
3. C. The chef prepared the meal.
4. D. The game was won by our team.
In the sentence "She wants to learn Spanish," the phrase to learn is a
1. A. gerund
2. B. infinitive
3. C. participle
4. D. prepositional phrase
Which sentence contains a dangling modifier?
1. A. While I walked to school, rain soaked my backpack.
2. B. Walking to school, I got my backpack soaked.
3. C. The rain soaked my backpack as I walked to school.
4. D. Walking to school, the rain soaked my backpack.
In the sentence "The barking dog woke the neighbors," the word barking is a
1. A. infinitive
2. B. gerund
3. C. participle
4. D. adverb
The sentence "Close the door quietly" is in which mood?
1. A. Indicative
2. B. Interrogative
3. C. Subjunctive
4. D. Imperative
In the sentence "If I were taller, I would try out for basketball," the verb were shows which mood?
1. A. Indicative
2. B. Imperative
3. C. Subjunctive
4. D. Interrogative
Which sentence has an unnecessary shift in voice?
1. A. Maya painted both the fence and the gate.
2. B. Maya painted the fence, and then the gate was painted by her.
3. C. After Maya painted the fence, she painted the gate.
4. D. Maya painted the fence, and then she painted the gate.

Part 2: Written Response

Write a short paragraph about a school event that includes a gerund, a participle, and an infinitive. Underline and label each one. Then rewrite one sentence from active to passive voice.

Answer Key — English Language Arts 8 (Grade 8) Midterm — Units 3–4

D — the study of -ology comes from Greek logia, meaning the study of.
C — bad or badly Mal- comes from Latin meaning bad or badly.
D — to write Graph comes from Greek graphein, to write.
A — far + sound Tele means far and phone means sound.
A — time Chron comes from Greek chronos, meaning time.
B — Sociable and outgoing The contrast clue 'unlike' and 'loved parties' point to sociable.
D — scrawny All mean thin, but scrawny suggests weak or unhealthy.
A — to say or speak Dict comes from Latin dicere, to say.
D — to look or see Spect comes from Latin meaning to look.
A — good or well Bene- comes from Latin meaning good or well.
A — The letter was mailed by Jordan. In passive voice, the subject receives the action.
D — If she were the coach, she would change the lineup. Contrary-to-fact conditions use were plus would.
B — gerund An -ing verb acting as a noun (here the subject) is a gerund.
C — The chef prepared the meal. In active voice, the subject performs the action.
B — infinitive To plus the base form of a verb is an infinitive.
D — Walking to school, the rain soaked my backpack. The rain was not walking to school, so the modifier dangles.
C — participle Barking describes the dog, so it is a participle acting as an adjective.
D — Imperative Commands and requests use the imperative mood.
C — Subjunctive Were in an if-clause expresses a condition contrary to fact: subjunctive.
B — Maya painted the fence, and then the gate was painted by her. It shifts from active voice to passive voice without reason.

Written Response — Look-Fors

Correct gerund, participle, and infinitive, each labeled; accurate active-to-passive conversion with meaning preserved.

English Language Arts 8 (Grade 8) Midterm — Units 3–4

Part 1: Multiple Choice

Part 2: Written Response

Written Response — Look-Fors

More English Language Arts 8 midterms