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8th grade ELA Benchmark 1

Last updated about 6 years ago
12 questions
Note from the author:
for WRSD
Read the passages. Then answer the questions that follow.
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(1) Representing a change to more traditional farming methods, organic farming is becoming more and more popular. (2) To be certified as organic, a farm must follow strict guidelines on the use of chemicals on its produce or on its soil. (3) To certify livestock as organic, farmers work to provide them only organically grown feed. (4) Using natural methods to control pests is another practice of organic farming.

Which group of words functions as a noun?

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(1) In the years before the American Revolution, a system to spread information about problems in the colonies was devised by Samuel Adams. (2) Designated colonists would gather to write letters about their situations and encounters with the British. (3) Then riders would carry the letters to meeting houses in each colony, where colonists added more news. (4) Colonists were then better prepared to respond to British actions. Which revision best improves the voice of a verb phrase in the paragraph?

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(1) The common loon is the official bird of the state of Minnesota. (2) This bird is both beautiful and interesting, and its haunting call is famous in America’s north woods. (3) Its tendency to spend winters in the ocean makes it one of the few organisms that are at home in freshwater and saltwater. (4) As a result of a curious adaptation, loons drink ocean water and release the salt through their tear ducts. Which sentence contains an error in subject-verb agreement?

Joe’s Reward by Horatio Alger Jr.

Joe certainly presented a neat appearance when he rowed over to the hotel dock. Before going he purchased a new collar and a dark blue tie, and these, with his new suit and new cap, set him off very well.      The boat had been cleaned in the morning, and when the ladies appeared they inspected the craft with satisfaction.      “What a nice clean boat,” said Mabel Mallison, the niece of the proprietor of the hotel.      The ladies to go out were four in number, and two sat in the bow and two in the stern. It made quite a heavy load, but as they were not out for speed our hero did not mind it.      “We wish to go up to Fern Rock,” said Mabel Mallison. “They tell me there are some beautiful ferns to be gathered there.”      “There are,” answered Joe. “I saw them last week.”      “And I wish to get some nice birch bark if I can,” said another of the ladies.      “I can get you plenty of it.”      Joe rowed along in his best style, and while doing so the ladies of the party asked him numerous questions concerning the lake and vicinity. When Fern Rock was reached, all went ashore, and our hero pointed out the ferns he had seen, and dug up such as the others wished to take along. An hour was spent over the ferns and in getting some birch bark, and then they started on the return for the hotel.      “I’d like to row,” cried one of the ladies.      “Oh, Jennie, I don’t think you can!” cried another.      “Of course I can,” answered Jennie, and sprang up from her seat to take the oars.      “Be careful!” came in a warning from Joe, as the boat began to rock.      “Oh, I’m not afraid!” said the young lady, and leaned forward to catch hold of one oar. Just then her foot slipped and she fell on the gunwale1, causing the boat to tip more than ever. As she did this, Mabel Mallison, who was leaning over the side, gazing down into the clear waters of the lake, gave a shriek.      “Oh, save me!” came from her, and then she went over, with a loud splash.      Joe was startled, and the ladies left in the boat set up a wail of terror.      “She will be drowned!”      “Oh, save her! Save her, somebody!”      “It is my fault!” shrieked the young lady. “I tipped the boat over!”      Joe said nothing, but looked over the side of the boat. He saw the body of Mabel Mallison not far away. But it was at the lake bottom and did not offer to rise.      Then he gave a second look and saw that the dress of the unfortunate one was caught in some sharp rocks. Without hesitation he dived overboard, straight for the bottom.      It was no easy matter to unfasten the garment, which was caught in a crack between two heavy stones. But at the second tug it came free, and a moment later both our hero and Mabel Mallison came to the surface.      “Oh!” cried two of the ladies in the row-boat. “Is she drowned?”      “I trust not,” answered Joe. “Sit still, please, or the boat will surely go over.”      As best he could Joe hoisted Mabel into the craft and then clambered in himself. As he did so the unfortunate girl gave a gasp and opened her eyes.      “Oh!” she murmured.      “You are safe now, Mabel!” said one of her companions.      “And to think it was my fault!” murmured the young lady. “I shall never forgive myself as long as I live!”      Mabel Mallison had swallowed some water, but otherwise she was unhurt. But her pretty blue dress was about ruined, and Joe’s new suit did not look near as well as it had when he had donned it.      “Let us row for the hotel,” said one of the young ladies.      “Are you all right?” she asked of Joe.      “Yes, ma’am, barring the wetting.”      “It was brave of you to go down after Mabel.”      “Indeed it was!” cried that young lady. “If it hadn’t been for you I might have been drowned.” And she gave a deep shudder.      “I saw she was caught and that’s why I went over after her,” answered our hero simply. “It wasn’t so much to do.”      All dripping as he was, Joe caught up the oars of the boat and sent the craft in the direction of the hotel at a good speed. That she might not take cold, a shawl was thrown over Mabel’s wet shoulders.      The arrival of the party at the hotel caused a mild sensation. Mabel hurried to her room to put on dry clothing, and Joe was directed to go around to the kitchen. But when the proprietor of the place had heard what Joe had done for his niece he sent the lad to a private apartment and provided him with dry clothing belonging to another who was of our hero’s size.      “That was a fine thing to do, young man,” said the hotel proprietor, when Joe appeared, dressed in the dry garments, and his own clothing had been sent to the laundry to be dried and pressed.      “I’m glad I was there to do it, Mr. Mallison.”      “Let me see, aren’t you Hiram Bodley’s boy?”      “I lived with Mr. Bodley, yes.”      “That is what I mean. Are you still living at the tumbled-down cabin?”      “No, sir. I’ve just sold off things, and I am going to settle in town.”      “Where?”      “I haven’t decided that yet. I was going to hunt up a place when Ike Fairfield gave me the job of rowing out the young ladies.”      “I see. You own the boat, eh?”      “Yes, sir.”      “You ought to be able to make a fair living, taking out summer boarders.”      “I suppose so, but that won’t give me anything to do this winter.”      “Well, perhaps something else will turn up by that time.” Andrew Mallison drew out a fat wallet. “I want to reward you for saving Mabel.”      He drew out two ten-dollar bills and held them towards our hero. But Joe shook his head and drew back.      “Thank you very much, Mr. Mallison, but I don’t want any reward.”      “But you have earned it fairly, my lad.”      “I won’t touch it. If you want to help me you can throw some odd rowing jobs from the hotel in my way.”      “Then you won’t really touch the money?”      “No, sir.”      “How would you like to work for the hotel regularly?”      “I’d like it first-rate if it paid.”      “I can guarantee you regular work so long as the summer season lasts.”      “And what would it pay?”      “At least a dollar a day, and your board.”      “Then I’ll accept and with thanks for your kindness.”      “When can you come?”      “I’m here already.”      “That means that you can stay from now on?”      “Yes, sir.”      “I don’t suppose you want the job of hauling somebody from the lake every day,” said Andrew Mallison, with a smile.      “Not unless I was dressed for it, Mr. Mallison. Still, it has been the means of getting me a good position.”      “I shall feel safe in sending out parties with you for I know you will do your best to keep them from harm.”      “I’ll certainly do that, I can promise you.”
________________________________________ 1 gunwale—the top edge of the side of a boat
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“The arrival of the party at the hotel caused a mild sensation.”

How does the author use the word “sensation”?

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“ ‘Well, perhaps something else will turn up by that time.’ Andrew Mallison drew out a fat wallet. ‘I want to reward you for saving Mabel.’ ”

What does the phrase “fat wallet” suggest to the reader?

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Which sentence best supports the idea that Joe is honest?

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Part One
How does Jennie most likely feel after Mabel falls into the water?

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Part Two
Which sentence from the passage supports the answer in Part One? Choose one answer.

The Flight of Phaethon retold by Josephine Preston Peabody

Once upon a time, the reckless whim of a lad came near to destroying the Earth and robbing the spheres of their wits.      There were two playmates, said to be of heavenly parentage. One was Epaphus, who claimed Zeus as a father; and one was Phaethon, the earthly child of Phoebus Apollo (or Helios, as some name the sun god). One day they were boasting together, each of his own father, and Epaphus, angry at the other’s fine story, dared him to go prove his kinship with the Sun.      Full of rage and humiliation, Phaethon went to his mother, Clymene, where she sat with his young sisters, the Heliades.      “It is true, my child,” she said, “I swear it in the light of yonder Sun. If you have any doubt, go to the land whence he rises at morning and ask of him any gift you will; he is your father, and he cannot refuse you.”      As soon as might be, Phaethon set out for the country of sunrise. He journeyed by day and by night far into the east, till he came to the palace of the Sun. It towered high as the clouds, glorious with gold and all manner of gems that looked like frozen fire, if that might be. The mighty walls were wrought with images of earth and sea and sky. Vulcan, the smith of the gods, had made them in his workshop (for Mount Aetna is one of his forges, and he has the central fires of the earth to help him fashion gold and iron, as men do glass). On the doors blazed the twelve signs of the Zodiac, in silver that shone like snow in the sunlight. Phaethon was dazzled with the sight, but when he entered the palace hall he could hardly bear the radiance.      In one glimpse through his half-shut eyes, he beheld a glorious being, none other than Phoebus himself, seated upon a throne. He was clothed in purple raiment, and round his head there shone a blinding light, that enveloped even his courtiers upon the right and upon the left—the Seasons with their emblems, Day, Month, Year, and the beautiful young Hours in a row. In one glance of those all-seeing eyes, the sun god knew his child; but in order to try him he asked the boy his errand.      “O my father,” stammered Phaethon, “if you are my father indeed,” and then he took courage; for the god came down from his throne, put off the glorious halo that hurt mortal eyes, and embraced him tenderly.      “Indeed, thou art my son,” said he. “Ask any gift of me and it shall be thine; I call the Styx to witness.”      “Ah!” cried Phaethon rapturously. “Let me drive thy chariot for one day!”      For an instant the Sun’s looks clouded. “Choose again, my child,” said he. “Thou art only a mortal, and this task is mine alone of all the gods. Not Zeus himself dares drive the chariot of the Sun. The way is full of terrors, both for the horses and for all the stars along the roadside and for the Earth, who has all blessings from me. Listen, and choose again.” And therewith he warned Phaethon of all the dangers that beset the way—the great steep that the steeds must climb, the numbing dizziness of the height, the fierce constellations that breathe out fire, and that descent in the west where the Sun seems to go headlong.      But these counsels only made the reckless boy more eager to win honor of such a high enterprise.      “I will take care; only let me go,” he begged.      Now Phoebus had sworn by the black river Styx, an oath that none of the gods dare break, and he was forced to keep his promise.      Already Aurora, goddess of dawn, had thrown open the gates of the east and the stars were beginning to wane. The Hours came forth to harness the four horses, and Phaethon looked with exultation at the splendid creatures, whose lord he was for a day. Wild, immortal steeds they were, fed with ambrosia, untamed as the winds; their very pet names signified flame, and all that flame can do—Pyrois, Eoüs, Aethon, Phlegon.      As the lad stood by, watching, Phoebus anointed his face with a philter1 that should make him strong to endure the terrible heat and light, then set the halo upon his head, with a last word of counsel.      “Follow the road,” said he, “and never turn aside. Go not too high or too low, for the sake of heavens and earth; else men and gods will suffer. The Fates alone know whether evil is to come of this. Yet if your heart fails you, as I hope, abide here and I will make the journey, as I am wont to do.”      But Phaethon held to his choice and bade his father farewell. He took his place in the chariot, gathered up the reins, and the horses sprang away, eager for the road.      As they went, they bent their splendid necks to see the meaning of the strange hand upon the reins—the slender weight in the chariot. They turned their wild eyes upon Phaethon, to his secret foreboding, and neighed one to another. This was no master-charioteer, but a mere lad, a feather riding the wind. It was holiday for the horses of the Sun, and away they went.      Grasping the reins that dragged him after, like an enemy, Phaethon looked down from the fearful ascent and saw the Earth far beneath him, dim and fair. He was blind with dizziness and bewilderment. His hold slackened and the horses redoubled their speed, wild with new liberty. They left the old tracks. Before he knew where he was, they had startled the constellations and well-nigh grazed the Serpent, so that it woke from its torpor and hissed.      The steeds took fright. This way and that they went, terrified by the monsters they had never encountered before, shaking out of their silver quiet the cool stars towards the north, then fleeing as far to the south among new wonders. The heavens were full of terror.      Up, far above the clouds, they went, and down again towards the defenseless Earth, that could not flee from the chariot of the Sun. Great rivers hid themselves in the ground, and mountains were consumed. Harvests perished like a moth that is singed in a candle flame.      In vain did Phaethon call to the horses and pull upon the reins. As in a hideous dream, he saw his own Earth, his beautiful home and the home of all men, his kindred, parched by the fires of this mad chariot, and blackening beneath him. The ground cracked open and the sea shrank. Heedless water-nymphs, who had lingered in the shallows, were left gasping like bright fishes. The dryads2 shrank, and tried to cover themselves from the scorching heat. The poor Earth lifted her withered face in a last prayer to Zeus to save them if he might.      Then Zeus, calling all the gods to witness that there was no other means of safety, hurled his thunderbolt; and Phaethon knew no more.
____________________________ 1 philter—a magical potion 2 dryads—wood nymphs

Phaethon            by Morris Bishop
Apollo through the heavens rode In glinting gold attire; His car was bright with chrysolite, His horses snorted fire. His darling son was Phaethon, Who begged to have a try. “The chargers are ambrosia-fed They barely brook control; On high beware the Crab, the Bear, The Serpent ’round the Pole; Against the Archer and the Bull Thy form is all unsteeled!” But Phaethon could lay it on; Apollo had to yield. Out of the purple doors of dawn Phaethon drove the horses; They felt his hand could not command. They left their wonted courses. And from the chariot Phaethon Plunged like a falling star— And so, my boy, no, no, my boy You cannot take the car.
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Which word has a similar connotation to “whim” as it is used in the first paragraph of “The Flight of Phaethon”?

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Read the sentence from “The Flight of Phaethon.”
“Wild, immortal steeds they were, fed with ambrosia, untamed as the winds . . .”

What does the phrase “untamed as the winds” most strongly convey about the horses?

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Part One
In “The Flight of Phaethon,” what most motivates Phaethon?

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Part Two
Which sentences from “The Flight of Phaethon” best support the answer in Part One? Choose two answers.