1. Read this passage from “The Latehomecomer” by Kao Kalia Yang and underline the words and phrases that have the biggest impact on the tone. Words/phrases with impact: stayed up all night spread out our books and papers slow keys being clicked find the rhythm mechanical whir long time to think it through calmed cooled my head page filled with typed letters 2. What impact do the specific word choices have on the tone of this passage? The words in this paragraph show that writing is something that takes time to process. Space and time are needed in order to get the ideas. 3. Read the introduction to “Abuela Invents the Zero,” by Judith Ortiz Cofer and answer the question that follows. “You make me feel like a zero, like a nothing,” she says in Spanish, ​
un cero, nada​
. She is trembling, an angry little old woman lost in a heavy winter coat that belongs to my mother. And I end up being sent to my room, like I was a child, to think about my grandmother’s idea of math. 4. What does the sprinkling of Spanish words contribute to the introduction? a. The Spanish emphasizes her emotional distress. b. They add an authentic feel to the setting. c. They help stress how different she feels. d. All of the above Consider the story ​
The Great Rat Hunt​
on pages 124­132 of the Literature book 5. Yep believes that he is “...doomed to be positively un­American, a weakling, a perpetual spectator, an outsider. Worse, I felt as if Eddy were Father’s only true son.” What does Yep mean by “a perpetual spectator”? He feels left out all the time since he cannot participate. 6. Which answer provides the most accurate comparison of Laurence’s perspective with his father’s? (RI8.3) a. Laurence’s father dislikes Laurence because he has asthma and can’t play sports while Laurence has great respect for his father. b. Laurence feels inadequate and useless since he can’t play sports while Laurence’s father sees Laurence as having other talents c. Laurence hates sports and Laurence’s father loves sports d. Laurence and his father have similar perspectives. 7. Which difference between Laurence and his father most clearly reflects the different reasons for their actions? (RI8.3) a. Laurence’s father had to grow up tough so he had to play sports to survive while Laurence lives in a world where he is already accepted. b. Laurence’s father is Chinese but born in America, so his life was easy compared to Laurence’s. c. Laurence’s father hated sports and refused to play them unlike Laurence. d. Laurence’s father wanted Laurence to play sports but Laurence would rather read comic books. 8. Explain how Laurence and his brother differ from one another. (RI8.3) Laurence isn’t able to participate in sports due to his health and feels that he lacks a connection with his dad. Eddy on the other hand participates in sports and has more in common with his dad. 9. What details from the text support that Yep and his father have grown up differently. (RI8.3) Laurence’s father had to be forced off the boat into America. He had to use sports as a way to try and fit in among peers in new country. Laurence was born here and doesn’t have to join a group to fit in. 10. Compare Yep’s feelings about his role in the family in the beginning of the selection with his feelings at the end. How are they different? (RI8.3) In the beginning of the text, Yep felt like an outsider within his own family. As the story progresses and the rat hunt ensues, Yep begins to feel like he belongs with his father. Use this poem to answer questions 11­13. 11. What is the theme of this passage (RL.8.2)? ​
(People have hidden talents) _________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ 12. Provide an example from the text to support your answer. (RL8.1) ​
(The students do not know that Consuela is a gifted artist.) __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ 13. In looking back at ​
The Great Rat Hunt ​
and the above passage, what is the common theme of both passages? (RL 8.2) ​
(Everyone has a talent/something that they are good at) 14. Which sentence best demonstrates the theme of the passage? (RL8.2/RL8.1) a. It does not take very long to become good at something. b. The more someone practices, the better he or she will be. c. Taking risks helps people to learn from experiences. d. Do not judge something before you experience it. 15. Using the above passage, write an objective summary. (RL 8.2) Jackson saved his money for a skateboard. He learned that skateboarding was difficult but with practice he was able to succeed in riding the skateboard. ________________________________________________________________________ 16. How does the last paragraph contribute to the development of the theme? (RL 8.2) a. Jackson tries to be safe with his skateboard. b. Jackson does not expect riding a skateboard to be hard. c. Jackson ends up showing off his prize possession. d. Jackson keeps trying to ride his skateboard. 17. An Archaeologist working at a site in Arizona found pottery shards, ​
corn cobs​
and ​
squash seeds​
, and lengths of rough wooden poles in the structures. The archaeologist reported at a news conference that the ancient people were farmers. What evidence did the scientist use to support this report? (RL8.1) ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ 18. You are walking outside and go past the cafeteria door and have to step over a face down slice of pizza. What can you infer happened?(RL.8.1) a. There was a food fight b. Someone was mad about the taste of the pizza c​
. Someone had trouble carrying the pizza outside d. The custodian didn’t come to work because he was sick. 19. For your answer in question, cite evidence from the sentence to support your choice. ______________________________________________________________________ 20. Using data from ice cores, Antarctic scientists shared “In the last 2,000 years there was another period around about the 1500s where we also saw a temperature warming similar to the rate of today, but the temperature cooled again. And then at about 400 A.D., we also saw not quite as great a warming, but the temperature cooled again.” At a new conference the scientist stated that the sharp warming trend we’re seeing today is quite unusual but not entirely unique. What evidence did the scientist use to support this report? (RL.8.1) The scientist used the evidence that the warming trend had happened in the past but is rare (only twice in history)