Common Core: 8th Grade English Language Arts : Common Core: 8th Grade English Language Arts

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Common Core: 8th Grade English Language Arts

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所有常见的核心:Gr 8日ade English Language Arts Resources

1 Diagnostic Test 54 Practice Tests Question of the Day Flashcards Learn by Concept

Example Questions

Example Question #1 :Use Punctuation To Indicate Pauses: Ccss.Ela Literacy.L.8.2.A

Determine which choice best completes the underlined portion of the sentence below. In doing so consider grammar, punctuation, capitalization, and meaning.

Kasey is a star backstroker on the swim __________ brother Kenny is scared of the water.

Possible Answers:

team, her

team. her

team; her

team her

Correct answer:

team; her

Explanation:

用分号分隔两个独立的clauses (independent clauses are two thoughts that could each be their own sentence). You cannot simply use a comma to perform this task, so “team, her” is incorrect. If you use a period you must capitalize the next word, so “team. her” is incorrect. And without any punctuation the reader cannot easily tell where one thought ends and the next begins, so “team her” leads to a run-on sentence and is incorrect.

Example Question #2 :Use Punctuation To Indicate Pauses: Ccss.Ela Literacy.L.8.2.A

Which of the following properly uses commas to structure the sentence?

Possible Answers:

Dev, who had always disliked math has become an expert at algebra thanks to his teacher Mrs. Robinson.

Dev, who had always disliked math, has become an expert at algebra thanks to his teacher, Mrs. Robinson.

Dev who had always disliked math, has become an expert at algebra, thanks to his teacher Mrs. Robinson.

Dev who had always disliked math, has become an expert at algebra thanks to his teacher, Mrs. Robinson.

Dev who had always disliked math has become an expert at algebra thanks to his teacher Mrs. Robinson.

Correct answer:

Dev, who had always disliked math, has become an expert at algebra thanks to his teacher, Mrs. Robinson.

Explanation:

Notice that the main point of this sentence is that “Dev has become an expert at algebra thanks to his teacher.” When properly punctuated, the sentence uses “who had always disliked math” as an extra modifying phrase to tell us more about Dev, and “Mrs. Robinson” as an extra description of his teacher. Modifiers/descriptions are often set apart by commas to tell the reader that that information is additional - the reader doesn’t really need to know that information so they can omit it if they’re reading quickly, but if they do want to read it it will help them even-better understand the sentence.

Example Question #3 :Use Punctuation To Indicate Pauses: Ccss.Ela Literacy.L.8.2.A

Which of the following properly uses commas to structure the sentence?

Possible Answers:

While competing in a triathlon, Ian, had to swim a mile, bike 50 miles, then run 10 miles.

While competing in a triathlon, Ian had to swim a mile and bike 50 miles then run 10 miles.

While competing in a triathlon Ian had to swim, a mile, bike, 50 miles, and then run 10 miles.

While competing in a triathlon, Ian had to swim a mile, bike 50 miles, and then run 10 miles.

While competing in a triathlon, Ian had to swim a mile, bike 50 miles and then run, 10 miles.

Correct answer:

While competing in a triathlon, Ian had to swim a mile, bike 50 miles, and then run 10 miles.

Explanation:

当一个句子有一个列表,项目list should be separated by commas so that the reader can pause between items and so that it is clear which items are in the list. Here there are three items in the list: swim a mile, bike 50 miles, and then run 10 miles. So those items should have commas between them. Note that if you were to use commas around the number of miles, it treats the distance as separate items in the list, and that is not correct. It is also important here to separate the phrase “while competing in a triathlon” as a modifying phrase describing when these actions took place for Ian. The comma after “triathlon” and before “Ian” lets the reader know that the first few words of the sentence are a descriptive phrase.

Example Question #51 :Common Core: 8th Grade English Language Arts

Kaitlyn, a star gymnast, made the national team as a sophomore, but shedecided not to join until the summer so that she could finish the school year with her friends.

Possible Answers:

Kaitlyn: a star gymnast made the national team as a sophomore, but she

Kaitlyn a star gymnast, made the national team as a sophomore but she

Kaitlyn a star gymnast made the national team as a sophomore but she

NO CHANGE

Correct answer:

NO CHANGE

Explanation:

Whenever you see two nouns (or noun phases) directly next to each other, like “Kaitlyn” and “a star gymnast,” there’s a good chance that one of them is being used to describe the other (called an appositive modifier). This type of modifier should be separated by a comma so that the reader can tell the roles of each noun. Here that means that “a star gymnast,” a description to tell us more about Kaitlyn, should be separated by commas. Another important use of commas is to (along with coordinating conjunctions like “but” or “and”) separate independent clauses, which we have here. Two sentences could stand alone: “Kaitlyn made the national team as a sophomore” and “she decided not to join until the summer,” so separating them with a comma plus the coordinating conjunction “but” makes it clear to the reader that there are two separate but related clauses.

Example Question #52 :Common Core: 8th Grade English Language Arts

Which of the following sentences is NOT punctuated properly?

Possible Answers:

杰里米·爱凤尾鱼披萨;他的妹妹however, cannot stand them.

艾尔l are punctuated properly.

Jeremy loves anchovies on pizza, his sister however cannot stand them.

Jeremy loves anchovies on pizza, but his sister cannot stand them.

Correct answer:

Jeremy loves anchovies on pizza, his sister however cannot stand them.

Explanation:

当一个句子有两个独立子句two phrases that could each stand alone as complete sentences with a subject and verb - the two most common and correct ways to separate them are:

  1. With a comma plus a coordinating conjunction (such as “or,” “and,” or “but”)

  2. With a semicolon

You cannot, however, simply put a comma between them without a coordinating conjunction. Therefore, the sentence that includes the comma but not a conjunction is the improperly crafted sentence.

Example Question #53 :Common Core: 8th Grade English Language Arts

Emily’s birthday partyincluded a scavenger hunt, a three-legged race, and a sleepover.

Possible Answers:

included: a scavenger hunt a three-legged race, and a sleepover

included -- a scavenger hunt, a three-legged race, and a sleepover

NO CHANGE

included a scavenger hunt a three-legged race and a sleepover

Correct answer:

NO CHANGE

Explanation:

Answer: NO CHANGE When a sentence features a list, the items should be separated by commas to help the reader keep the items organized. This means that the list should read “a scavenger hunt, a three-legged race, and a sleepover” It is also important to note that with colons and dashes, when they set up a list they need to be used at the end of a complete clause. Here “Emiliy’s birthday party included” is not a complete clause, so you cannot use a colon or dash after “included” to set up the list. You could, however, use a colon or dash after “Emily’s birthday party included three exciting elements,” for example, as that would be a complete clause.

Example Question #51 :Common Core: 8th Grade English Language Arts

Jupiter the largest planet in our solar system weighs所有其他行星两倍以上n our solar system combined.

Possible Answers:

NO CHANGE

Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system, it weighs

Jupiter which is the largest planet in our solar system, weighs

Jupiter, is the largest planet in our solar system, weighs

Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system, weighs

Correct answer:

Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system, weighs

Explanation:

Answer: “Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system, weighs” When two nouns are next to each other, like “Jupiter” and “the largest planet in our solar system” here, there is a good chance that one is being used to describe the other (called an appositive modifier). When that is the case, the modifier needs to be set apart by commas so that the reader can tell that it is a description. Therefore we need “Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system, weighs…” so that we know that “the largest planet…” is a phrase describing Jupiter. Note that “Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system, it weighs” commits a comma splice error: you cannot separate two independent clauses (complete thoughts that could be their own sentences) simply with a comma - you would need to have a coordinating conjunction such as “and” to go along with the comma.

Example Question #1 :Use Elipses: Ccss.Ela Literacy.L.8.2.B

Jennifer applied to jobs all over the country but ultimately decided to accept a job offer from a company that is located in her hometown.

Select the answer that appropriately uses ellipses to quote the statement above

Possible Answers:

“珍妮弗。decided to accept a job offer from a company that is located in her hometown."

"Jennifer applied to jobs all over the country . . . located in her hometown."

“珍妮弗。is located in her hometown."

“珍妮弗。takes a job offer from a company that is located in her hometown."

Correct answer:

“珍妮弗。decided to accept a job offer from a company that is located in her hometown."

Explanation:

An ellipsis(. . .) is a series of three periods with a space before and after each one. It can be used to show where words in a quotation have been omitted.

When using an ellipsis, make sure that the resulting text is grammatically correct and maintains the same meaning as the original.

The correct answer is "Jennifer . . . decided to accept a job offer from a company that is located in her hometown." because it is grammatically correct and maintains the same meaning as the original text.

“珍妮弗。一个公司提供的工作that is located in her hometown." is not grammatically correct because of a shift in verb tense. "Take" is in the present tense, but the original text is in past tense.

“珍妮弗。is located in her hometown." does not maintain the same meaning as the original text.

""Jennifer applied to jobs all over the country . . . located in her hometown."" does not maintain the same meaning as the original text.

Example Question #2 :Use Elipses: Ccss.Ela Literacy.L.8.2.B

Two phytochemicals in ginger,gingerol and shogaol,are seen as helpful for reducing nausea and improving digestion.

Select the answer that appropriately uses ellipses to quote the statement above

Possible Answers:

The use of ellipses is not appropriate for this statement

"Two phytochemicals . . . are seen as helpful for reducing nausea and improving digestion."

"Two phytochemicals in ginger . . .are seen as helpful for reduce nausea and improving digestion."

"Two phytochemicals in ginger . . .are seen as helpful for reducing nausea and improving digestion."

Correct answer:

"Two phytochemicals in ginger . . .are seen as helpful for reducing nausea and improving digestion."

Explanation:

An ellipsis(. . .) is a series of three periods with a space before and after each one. It can be used to show where words in a quotation have been omitted.

When using an ellipsis, make sure that the resulting text is grammatically correct and maintains the same meaning as the original.

The correct answer is "Two phytochemicals in ginger . . .are seen as helpful for reducing nausea and improving digestion." because it is grammatically correct and maintains the same meaning as the original statement.

""Two phytochemicals . . . are seen as helpful for reducing nausea and improving digestion."" is not correct because it doesn't main the same meaning as the original statement.

"Two phytochemicals in ginger . . .are seen as helpful for reduce nausea and improving digestion." is not correct because it is not grammatically correct. There is an incorrect verb tense shift. "Reduce" is in the incorrect verb tense.

Example Question #3 :Use Elipses: Ccss.Ela Literacy.L.8.2.B

The local farmer's market, where individuals sell their own goods and produce, is only open on Fridays and Saturdays.

Select the answer that appropriately uses ellipses to quote the statement above

Possible Answers:

"The local farmer's market . . . open on Fridays and Saturdays."

"The local farmer's market . . . is only open on Fridays and Saturdays."

"The local . . . is only open on Fridays and Saturdays."

"The . . . where individuals sell their own goods and produce, is only open on Fridays and Saturdays."

Correct answer:

"The local farmer's market . . . is only open on Fridays and Saturdays."

Explanation:

An ellipsis(. . .) is a series of three periods with a space before and after each one. It can be used to show where words in a quotation have been omitted.

When using an ellipsis, make sure that the resulting text is grammatically correct and maintains the same meaning as the original.

"The local farmer's market . . . is only open on Fridays and Saturdays." is the correct answer because it is grammatically correct and maintains the same meaning as the original statement.

"The local . . . is only open on Fridays and Saturdays." is not correct because it does not maintain the same meaning as the original statement.

""The local farmer's market . . . open on Fridays and Saturdays."" is not correct because it is not grammatically correct.

""The . . . where individuals sell their own goods and produce, is only open on Fridays and Saturdays."" is not correct because it is not grammatically correct and does not maintain the same meaning as the original text.

所有常见的核心:Gr 8日ade English Language Arts Resources

1 Diagnostic Test 54 Practice Tests Question of the Day Flashcards Learn by Concept
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