Author's Point of View 8TH Grade
1. If someone writes a book that includes many details taken from his or her own
life experience, the book is said to be
A. autobiographical.
B. biographical.
C. historical.
D. fictional.
2.
Imagine that your mom was born in Norway and first came to the United States when she
was 16. She tells you many interesting stories about her childhood—how it snowed so much
in winter and how she used to ski to school. Now let's say you start writing stories yourself,
and you decide to include some of the details from your mother's childhood—the foods she
used to eat back in Norway, her nutty Uncle Lars, and the costumes she used to wear on
holidays.
You can say that your mother's stories
A. influenced your own writing.
B. made your own writing seem boring.
C. embarrassed you.
D. were hard to remember.
3.
Greg looked down at the girl sitting in the driver's seat. He stifled a laugh as he watched
her pathetic attempt to fake tears and get out of the speeding ticket he was about to write
out. He could guess that she would try to come up with some ridiculous excuse to explain her
speed.
"I . . . I had to go to the bathroom," she exclaimed. "Really! See this huge coffee? I drank
all of it to stay awake and I was trying to get to an exit to pee. Wouldn't you rather have me
speeding at the wheel than sleeping?"
Greg just shook his head and handed her a ticket. He couldn't believe how many times he
had heard the "I have to pee" excuse. Couldn't people be more creative?
From Greg's point of view, what is true about this girl?
A. She is faking tears.
B. She probably does not have to actually use the bathroom.
C. She is not very creative.
D. all of these
4.
I tried out for the school musical and did not get the part I wanted. I thought I gave a
strong audition and I've been a part of the program all through high school. I thought that as
a senior, I would have a good chance of a lead role because of all my past experience and
hard work. I never skip practices and I always stay late to put away equipment. I joke around
a lot with the choir teacher and thought we were friends. However, I guess I was wrong. I
think the teacher probably just hates me or something. What other reason could she possibly
have for not casting me?
This student is upset about not receiving her chosen part, and this point of view
affects her assessment of the situation. What statement is probably not true?
A. I stay late to put away equipment.
B. The teacher probably hates me.
C. I've been a part of the program for a long time.
D. I never skip practices.
5. Aaron grew up in an Inuit village and later moved to New York City to become a
writer. Why might Aaron choose to write stories about his Inuit village?
A. People always want to read about Inuit culture.
B. Too many people already write about New York City.
C. Aaron would have insight from Inuit culture to use in his writing.
D. Aaron would probably not choose to write about it because it's foreign.
6.
Mealtimes always found my grandmother in the kitchen, laying out the dinnerware for the
feast my grandfather was cooking—a freshly caught king salmon, or pork and sauerkraut.
She'd reach into the cupboard high above her head to find the plates and glasses. Pat pat
pat, she'd feel for the glasses before bringing them down, two at a time (Was she counting
them, or just reassuring herself that they were there?). Spreading them before her on the
counter, she'd quickly run her hands over them again. Then she'd pull out silverware from the
drawer in front of her and go through the same ritual with the place settings—pat pat pat in
the drawer as she seeks out what she needs, and again on the counter before handing them
to me to set the table.
from "What My Grandmother Could See" by Teresa Herlinger
How did the author most likely come up with the details about food in this
story?
A. She asked her friends what their grandparents served for dinner.
B. She remembered foods her grandparents used to make.
C. She just put her own favorite foods into the story.
D. She spent time in a library, researching what people used to eat.
7.
Biography of a Pioneer Family
In 1860, Salt Spring Island was a wilderness. Cougars, bears, and a few wolves hunted
on the island. Nobody had lived here before the Starks and other farmers began settling the
island. The steep hills and dense forests made it hard to even walk. Louis Stark used what
he had learned in Kentucky to make a farm in the wilderness. He built a cabin, and the first
year on the island, he cut and dried wild meadow grass for the cattle. The next year he
cleared a meadow and planted it.
The nearby Cowichan Indians helped the settlers in many ways. They carried people and
their belongings between the island and the mainland in their canoes. They traded food with
the settlers and taught them about the plants on the island. They showed settlers how to dry
fish, deer, and other animals they had hunted.
from Sylvia Stark: A Pioneer by Victoria Scott and Ernest Jones
Writing the story above probably took a lot of research. Now that they've studied
this subject in depth, the authors might also have enough information to write
about
A. the best places to stay on Salt Spring Island.
B. the native peoples of Salt Spring Island: 1860-1900.
C. great politicians of British Columbia.
D. the first settlers of Greenland and Iceland: 1860-1900.
8.
During my holidays from school, I was allowed to stay in bed until long after my father had
gone to work. . . . I would lie in bed awake, and I could hear all the sounds my parents made
as they prepared for the day ahead. As my mother made my father his breakfast, my father
would shave, using his shaving brush that had an ivory handle and a razor that matched;
then he would step outside to the little shed he had built for us as a bathroom, to quickly
bathe in water that he had instructed my mother to leave outside overnight in the dew. That
way, the water would be very cold, and he believed that cold water strengthened his back. If I
had been a boy, I would have gotten the same treatment, but since I was a girl. . . my mother
would always add some hot water to my bathwater to take off the chill.
from Annie John by Jamaica Kincaid
The author of this passage, Jamaica Kincaid, grew up in Antigua, in the West
Indies, and that's where this story takes place. From this paragraph, what can
the reader tell about the author's experience of growing up as a girl in this
culture?
A. She was taught that girls are not as tough as boys.
B. She was taught that girls like to sleep in on their holidays.
C. She was taught to leave the bathwater outside overnight.
D. She was taught that her father would rather have had a boy.
Your company is really in excellent health despite the short-term earnings hiccup. I feel the same
way about Disney as I like to feel about my family—solid, on the right track, with strong
fundamentals and an enthusiasm for the future.
Certainly, in 1999, our entertainment product was second to none. The Sixth Sense bewitched
audiences around the world. Tarzan is on its way to becoming the second most successful animated
film we've ever released. The Disney Cruise Line added a second ship, Disney Wonder, and posted
some of the highest guest satisfaction rates in our history. The new attractions we added to our
parks were not only cost-effective, but, even more important, they were instant guest favorites.
DisneyQuest and ESPNZone have been well received in the cities in which they have been rolled
out. Our new production of Annie was a huge ratings success on ABC's Wonderful World of Disney.
ESPN continues to offer a blend of wit and comprehensive coverage that is embraced by sports fans
everywhere. Zoog Disney is a landmark program on the Disney Channel that merges the worlds of
television and the Internet. World News Tonight is once again the number one prime-time news
program. One Saturday Morning continues to be a safe and exciting place for children to spend time
with the Disney brand on ABC. Radio Disney is a fresh choice on the dial for kids and their parents.
The History Channel and A&E are qualitatively two of the finest networks in the history of television.
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire has transcended being a mere television show and has entered into
the culture.
Disney 1999 Annual Report Letter to Stockholders
9. Who might have written such an article?
A. a competitor of the company.
B. an employee at Radio Disney.
C. the leader of the company.
D. a visitor to a Disney theme park.
10. How does the author's enthusiastic bias affect the text?
A. The company is compared to the United States.
B. Every product is criticized.
C. Every product is described with lavish praise.
D. The author describes his or her family with lavish praise.
11. How does the speaker feel about Disney?
A. bored
B. enthusiastic
C. never heard of it
D. scared
The Creator of Oz
by Shawn Hoffelt
In 1900, a group of children listened to an unusual tale with characters made of straw, tin, and
fur. L. Frank Baum would often go to great lengths to entertain his sons and their friends with his
creations. This one, about a girl from Kansas who travels to a wonderful enchanted land, was their
favorite.
In the middle of the tale, a child asked, "Mr. Baum, where did the Scarecrow and the Tin
Woodman live?"
Baum looked around the room until he noticed a filing cabinet with the letters A-N on the top
drawer and O-Z on the bottom. Putting the last two letters together, he smiled.
"Well," the clever Baum said, "the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, the Cowardly Lion, and the
Great Wizard all lived in the marvelous land of Oz."
Growing Up
Lyman Frank Baum was born to a wealthy family in Chittenango, New York, in 1856. He spent
most of his childhood living at a beautiful country estate called Rose Lawn. A serious heart condition
made it necessary for him to be tutored at home, and one of his favorite pastimes was reading and
creating stories.
By the time Frank turned eighteen, he knew that he wanted to become an actor. With money from
his father, Frank formed a Shakespearean acting troupe. In 1880, he became the manager of a
string of opera houses owned by his father. In 1881, his first play, The Maid of Arran, in which he
played the lead, became an instant success.
Moving West
At a party in 1881, Frank met a young woman named Maud Gage. The following year the two
were married, and in time had four sons. Frank, a devoted father, spent hours spinning tall tales for
his children. During this time, Frank's businesses experienced many setbacks, and his poor health
continued to plague him.
In 1888, Frank decided to try his luck on the western prairie. He moved his family to the
boomtown of Aberdeen, South Dakota.
An American Fairy Tale
By 1897, Frank had begun writing for children. His first book was Mother Goose in Prose, then
came Father Goose: His Book, which became the best-selling children's book of 1899. Around this
time Frank began creating stories for his children and their friends about Dorothy's adventures in the
magical land of Oz.
When he had finished writing the beautiful manuscript that would become The Wonderful Wizard
of Oz, Frank attached the stub of the pencil he had used to an extra sheet of paper on which he
wrote: "With this pencil I wrote the ms. [manuscript] of The Emerald City."
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was published in 1900 and became the best-selling children's book
of the year. Bookstores demanded more copies, and Frank received thousands of letters from
children begging him to write more about Oz. Encouraged by the success of the book, Frank went
on to write more than a dozen other books about Oz.
Baum's magnificent life seemed to fit the theme that he'd made so famous in his first Oz story.
Frank Baum had struggled through his adult years, searching for the right career, when all along,
just like Dorothy and her friends, he held within himself his greatest gift: the gift of storytelling.
Copyright (c) 2000 by Highlights for Children, Inc., Columbus, Ohio.
12. The author's attitude toward Frank Baum is best described as
A. humorous.
B. objective.
C. admiration.
D. disappointed.
13. What word does the author use to describe Baum that reveals his bias?
A. wealthy
B. clever
C. magical
D. famous
14. How does the author describe Baum that shows the author's bias?
A. He calls Baum's book successful.
B. He calls Baum's book best-selling.
C. He calls Baum's manuscript beautiful.
D. He refers to Baum's family as perfect.
15. The writer Alice Walker was active in the Civil Rights Movement many years ago.
She has written a novel called Meridian in which characters also work in the Civil
Rights Movement. What is one way that Walker's experience as an activist might
have influenced her writing of the novel?
A. The main character will not be like her since she still believes in civil rights for all
people.
B. The characters will all be African American, and they will not agree with civil rights.
C. It is a novel, so the story will be completely made up, without any truth to the
events.
D. The characters might be based on people that she knew during the Civil Rights
Movement.
16.
When we got home, my mother started to prepare our lunch (pumpkin soup with droppers,
banana fritters with salt fish stewed in antroba and tomatoes, fungi with salt fish. . . or pepper
pot, all depending on what my mother had found at the market that day). As my mother went
about from pot to pot, stirring one, adding something to the other, I was ever in her wake. As
she dipped into a pot of boiling something or other to taste for correct seasoning, she would
give me a taste of it also, asking me what I thought. Not that she really wanted to know what I
thought. . . just to include me in everything.
from Annie John by Jamaica Kincaid
Jamaica Kincaid, the author, grew up in the West Indies, in Antigua, and that's
where this story takes place. How did the author most likely choose the foods
she wrote about in the passage above?
A. She probably read about them in a cookbook.
B. She probably ate those foods when she was growing up.
C. She had heard that people in Antigua eat things like that.
D. She made them up because they sounded good in the story.
17.
President Bush won rousing cheers from both parties during his State of the Union
address for the war on terrorism, but faced doubts among many Democrats about his
domestic priorities. Leon Panetta, the former White House Chief of Staff under President
Clinton, questioned whether Bush can bring the same amount of unity to domestic issues he
has brought to the war on terrorism.
After the president's State of the Union address, many people weighed in with
their opinions of the speech. Why did Mr. Panetta most likely make this
comment?
A. He is opposed to the war on terrorism.
B. He is a Democrat.
C. He is a Republican.
D. He belongs to neither party.
A Touch of Genius
by Patricia Millman
Michael Naranjo is a Native American, a Vietnam War
veteran, and a brilliant sculptor who happens to be blind.
Michael grew up in the Tewa Indian pueblo of Santa Clara,
New Mexico. As a boy, he roamed the scenic foothills and
explored the nearby Rio Grande. His wildly imaginative world
was enriched by the beautiful sights and sounds of the desert.
Michael's love of sculpting was born at home. "My mother
was a potter, and I would help her fix her clay," he recalls. "She
gathered her clay in a place in the hills. Every potter has their
own source of clay. When they find it, they are very secretive
about it.
"I would take off my shoes and perform a dance with the
clay. I would sidestep on it. I could feel the moist clay on the
side of my foot and between my toes."
Michael's dance served an important purpose. He was
blending the clay to make it stronger. With strong clay, his
mother could make pots that would last a long time.
"That's probably how I started sculpting, playing with clay," Michael says. "Not long after that, I
wanted to make figures of animals. Even way back then, I knew I wanted to become an artist
someday."
Michael's goal would not be reached easily. While serving in Vietnam, Michael was badly
wounded in battle. He lost his sight and partial use of one hand. For the first time, Michael wondered
if he could ever be a sculptor.
One day, while recovering in the hospital, Michael asked for a small piece of clay. He made an
inchworm.
The next sculpture Michael made was an Indian on a horse. It was so good that it was
photographed by newspapers. When he went to make another sculpture, the hospital was out of
clay. He reshaped the Indian and horse into a bear with a fish in its mouth.
"Once you have the material in your hand that you can mold and shape, then you can carry it
over from your mind to your fingertips," Michael says. "Your mind tells your fingers to make it bigger
until this whole process starts happening."
Today, Michael has a lot of material to use to make his memories come to life. "I was able to see
until I was 23, so I have a good idea of what most things look like," he says. "I sit and I get a picture
in my mind. If you close your eyes and think of a dog or cat, you can picture it. The same process
happens with me."
Michael inspires others by leading sculpture workshops for children and adults, veterans and
seniors, sighted and visually impaired.
In 1999, Michael was named the Outstanding Disabled Veteran of the Year and received the
LIFE Presidential Unsung Hero Award. His sculptures can be seen in museums and public buildings
across the United States, including the White House.
Copyright (c) 2000 by Highlights for Children, Inc., Columbus, Ohio.
18. Why does the author include the paragraph that discusses Michael's childhood
days near the Rio Grande?
A. to show how bored Michael is with sculpting the same animal figures
B. to show how the nature Michael saw as a child still influences his art today
C. to show that Michael misses the days when he was able to see things
D. to show the way Michael uses his feet to sculpt the animals from clay
19. There is enough information in this passage to show that the author believes that
Michael Naranjo
A. is an inspiration.
B. cannot reach his goals.
C. is bitter about losing his eyesight.
D. is held back by being blind.
20. Why does the author include the paragraph that discusses how Michael used to
dance with the clay?
A. to show that Michael is a competitive artist who considers clay a challenge
B. to show that Michael has always had a relationship with the touch and feel of clay
C. to show that, as a child, Michael never got along well with his mother
D. to show that Michael can only use his feet to feel the texture of clay