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8th grade reading practice questions, with answers

Written by Dr. Evan J. Hasson, DC — a dad of three who built this curriculum for his own kids.

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Reading — Grade 8

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The Power Grid

Think of the electric grid as the circulatory system of a country. Power plants are the heart, pumping out electricity day and night. High-voltage transmission lines are the arteries, carrying that energy across long distances. Near towns and cities, devices called transformers lower the voltage, much as smaller blood vessels branch off to reach every part of the body. Voltage is the measure of the force that pushes electric current through a wire. If it were not reduced, the current entering a home would be strong enough to destroy appliances and start fires.

  1. 1. Like a body, the grid must stay in balance. Operators match the amount of electricity produced to the amount used every second. A heat wave that sends millions of air conditioners humming at once is a kind of cardiac stress test, and the system must respond within moments to avoid a blackout. What does the author compare the electric grid to?
    1. A. A network of city roads
    2. B. The water pipes inside a house
    3. C. A team of workers on a night shift
    4. D. The circulatory system of a body ← Answer
  2. 2. Like a body, the grid must stay in balance. Operators match the amount of electricity produced to the amount used every second. A heat wave that sends millions of air conditioners humming at once is a kind of cardiac stress test, and the system must respond within moments to avoid a blackout. In the analogy, what do the power plants represent?
    1. A. The arteries
    2. B. The smaller blood vessels
    3. C. The heart ← Answer
    4. D. The skin
  3. 3. Like a body, the grid must stay in balance. Operators match the amount of electricity produced to the amount used every second. A heat wave that sends millions of air conditioners humming at once is a kind of cardiac stress test, and the system must respond within moments to avoid a blackout. In the analogy, what do the high-voltage transmission lines represent?
    1. A. The heart
    2. B. The smaller blood vessels
    3. C. The arteries ← Answer
  4. 4. Like a body, the grid must stay in balance. Operators match the amount of electricity produced to the amount used every second. A heat wave that sends millions of air conditioners humming at once is a kind of cardiac stress test, and the system must respond within moments to avoid a blackout. According to the passage, what is voltage?
    1. A. The speed at which a blackout spreads
    2. B. The total number of appliances that are running at once in a home
    3. C. The length of the wires between two towns
    4. D. The measure of the force that pushes current through a wire ← Answer
  5. 5. Like a body, the grid must stay in balance. Operators match the amount of electricity produced to the amount used every second. A heat wave that sends millions of air conditioners humming at once is a kind of cardiac stress test, and the system must respond within moments to avoid a blackout. What do transformers do?
    1. A. Store extra power for heat waves
    2. B. Warn operators of a coming blackout
    3. C. Produce electricity at the plants day and night
    4. D. Lower the voltage near towns and cities ← Answer
  6. 6. Like a body, the grid must stay in balance. Operators match the amount of electricity produced to the amount used every second. A heat wave that sends millions of air conditioners humming at once is a kind of cardiac stress test, and the system must respond within moments to avoid a blackout. Why does the author mention smaller blood vessels branching off?
    1. A. To introduce voltage as a technical term
    2. B. To suggest that the grid is easily damaged by extreme summer heat waves
    3. C. To show how lower-voltage lines reach each home from the main lines ← Answer
  7. 7. Like a body, the grid must stay in balance. Operators match the amount of electricity produced to the amount used every second. A heat wave that sends millions of air conditioners humming at once is a kind of cardiac stress test, and the system must respond within moments to avoid a blackout. What is meant by calling a heat wave a 'cardiac stress test'?
    1. A. It is a plan for preventing every blackout
    2. B. It puts heavy demand on the system and tests whether it can cope ← Answer
    3. C. It is a medical exam that grid operators must pass every single year
    4. D. It is a condition that affects only power plants
  8. 8. Like a body, the grid must stay in balance. Operators match the amount of electricity produced to the amount used every second. A heat wave that sends millions of air conditioners humming at once is a kind of cardiac stress test, and the system must respond within moments to avoid a blackout. How does defining voltage inside the passage help readers?
    1. A. It shows the author is writing for engineers
    2. B. It proves that voltage is the most dangerous part of the whole grid
    3. C. It lets them see why transformers matter without outside knowledge ← Answer
    4. D. It replaces the need for the analogy
  9. 9. Like a body, the grid must stay in balance. Operators match the amount of electricity produced to the amount used every second. A heat wave that sends millions of air conditioners humming at once is a kind of cardiac stress test, and the system must respond within moments to avoid a blackout. What is the main purpose of the circulatory-system analogy?
    1. A. To make an unfamiliar system easier to picture by linking it to a familiar one ← Answer
    2. B. To show that electricity is a kind of blood that flows through the pipes of a city
    3. C. To argue that the grid needs more power plants

The Goldilocks Zone

When astronomers search for planets that might support life, they look for the Goldilocks zone, the band of space around a star where it is neither too hot nor too cold. Closer in, a planet's water would boil away into space. Farther out, it would freeze into permanent ice. Only in the middle can liquid water, the solvent that carries chemicals through living cells, remain on the surface. Earth sits comfortably in the zone around the Sun. Venus, scorched by a thick blanket of carbon dioxide, lies near the inner edge, and Mars, frozen and thin-aired, lies near the outer edge.

  1. 10. Finding a planet in the zone does not guarantee life. Scientists describe the zone as a promising neighborhood, not a confirmed address. A planet also needs the right atmosphere, the right size and a steady star. Still, the phrase has caught on because the idea is so easy to picture: not too much, not too little, but just right. What does the Goldilocks zone refer to?
    1. A. The band around a star that is neither too hot nor too cold ← Answer
    2. B. The part of space between two stars
    3. C. The region where planets are first formed
    4. D. The outer edge of the solar system
  2. 11. Finding a planet in the zone does not guarantee life. Scientists describe the zone as a promising neighborhood, not a confirmed address. A planet also needs the right atmosphere, the right size and a steady star. Still, the phrase has caught on because the idea is so easy to picture: not too much, not too little, but just right. What happens to a planet's water if the planet is closer in than the zone?
    1. A. It turns into carbon dioxide
    2. B. It boils away into space ← Answer
    3. C. It sinks below the surface
    4. D. It freezes into permanent ice
  3. 12. Finding a planet in the zone does not guarantee life. Scientists describe the zone as a promising neighborhood, not a confirmed address. A planet also needs the right atmosphere, the right size and a steady star. Still, the phrase has caught on because the idea is so easy to picture: not too much, not too little, but just right. According to the passage, what does liquid water do in living cells?
    1. A. It keeps them frozen so that they can survive
    2. B. It blocks harmful light
    3. C. It carries chemicals through them ← Answer
  4. 13. Finding a planet in the zone does not guarantee life. Scientists describe the zone as a promising neighborhood, not a confirmed address. A planet also needs the right atmosphere, the right size and a steady star. Still, the phrase has caught on because the idea is so easy to picture: not too much, not too little, but just right. Which planet lies near the outer edge of the zone?
    1. A. Venus
    2. B. Mars ← Answer
    3. C. Earth
    4. D. Jupiter
  5. 14. Finding a planet in the zone does not guarantee life. Scientists describe the zone as a promising neighborhood, not a confirmed address. A planet also needs the right atmosphere, the right size and a steady star. Still, the phrase has caught on because the idea is so easy to picture: not too much, not too little, but just right. What does the passage say about a planet found inside the zone?
    1. A. It cannot have an atmosphere
    2. B. It is not guaranteed to have life ← Answer
    3. C. It must be larger than Earth
    4. D. It must have life if it is in the zone
  6. 15. Finding a planet in the zone does not guarantee life. Scientists describe the zone as a promising neighborhood, not a confirmed address. A planet also needs the right atmosphere, the right size and a steady star. Still, the phrase has caught on because the idea is so easy to picture: not too much, not too little, but just right. Why do scientists call the region the 'Goldilocks' zone?
    1. A. The name alludes to a familiar story about things being just right ← Answer
    2. B. It describes planets that are made of gold
    3. C. It is named for the astronomer who first discovered the zone long ago
  7. 16. Finding a planet in the zone does not guarantee life. Scientists describe the zone as a promising neighborhood, not a confirmed address. A planet also needs the right atmosphere, the right size and a steady star. Still, the phrase has caught on because the idea is so easy to picture: not too much, not too little, but just right. What feeling does the word 'scorched' give to the description of Venus?
    1. A. A pleasant glow
    2. B. A neutral measurement
    3. C. Harsh, damaging heat ← Answer
    4. D. Gentle warmth
  8. 17. Finding a planet in the zone does not guarantee life. Scientists describe the zone as a promising neighborhood, not a confirmed address. A planet also needs the right atmosphere, the right size and a steady star. Still, the phrase has caught on because the idea is so easy to picture: not too much, not too little, but just right. What does 'a promising neighborhood, not a confirmed address' mean?
    1. A. A planet in the zone is a good candidate, but life is not proven ← Answer
    2. B. Planets in the zone are close together
    3. C. The zone is a place where people could one day safely live on a planet
    4. D. Scientists have mapped every planet in the zone
  9. 18. Finding a planet in the zone does not guarantee life. Scientists describe the zone as a promising neighborhood, not a confirmed address. A planet also needs the right atmosphere, the right size and a steady star. Still, the phrase has caught on because the idea is so easy to picture: not too much, not too little, but just right. What does 'solvent' most likely mean as it is used here?
    1. A. A kind of solid rock that sits underground
    2. B. A measure of heat
    3. C. A liquid that carries other substances ← Answer

Reefs in Trouble

Coral reefs have been called the rainforests of the sea, and the name fits. Although reefs cover less than one percent of the ocean floor, they shelter about a quarter of all marine species. When ocean water grows too warm, corals expel the tiny algae that live inside their tissues and give them color and food. The result is called bleaching. A bleached reef is a ghostly white, and unless the water cools quickly, the corals starve.

  1. 19. Some scientists describe the damage as a slow-motion catastrophe. Others, more cautious, call it a serious decline that can still be slowed. Both groups agree on the measurements: in many regions, large stretches of reef have lost most of their living coral in a few decades. Protecting reefs, they say, means cutting pollution, limiting fishing near them and, above all, slowing the warming of the oceans. What share of the ocean floor do reefs cover?
    1. A. About a quarter
    2. B. More than ten percent
    3. C. About half
    4. D. Less than one percent ← Answer
  2. 20. Some scientists describe the damage as a slow-motion catastrophe. Others, more cautious, call it a serious decline that can still be slowed. Both groups agree on the measurements: in many regions, large stretches of reef have lost most of their living coral in a few decades. Protecting reefs, they say, means cutting pollution, limiting fishing near them and, above all, slowing the warming of the oceans. What is bleaching?
    1. A. Corals expelling the algae that live in them ← Answer
    2. B. Sand washing over corals
    3. C. Corals growing a new and brighter color after a storm
    4. D. Algae covering a reef
  3. 21. Some scientists describe the damage as a slow-motion catastrophe. Others, more cautious, call it a serious decline that can still be slowed. Both groups agree on the measurements: in many regions, large stretches of reef have lost most of their living coral in a few decades. Protecting reefs, they say, means cutting pollution, limiting fishing near them and, above all, slowing the warming of the oceans. What do reefs and rainforests have in common in the comparison?
    1. A. Both are covered in tall trees and thick, humid air
    2. B. Both shelter a huge variety of life ← Answer
    3. C. Both are made mostly of plants
  4. 22. Some scientists describe the damage as a slow-motion catastrophe. Others, more cautious, call it a serious decline that can still be slowed. Both groups agree on the measurements: in many regions, large stretches of reef have lost most of their living coral in a few decades. Protecting reefs, they say, means cutting pollution, limiting fishing near them and, above all, slowing the warming of the oceans. What color is a bleached reef?
    1. A. A deep brick red
    2. B. A bright green
    3. C. A dull black
    4. D. A ghostly white ← Answer
  5. 23. Some scientists describe the damage as a slow-motion catastrophe. Others, more cautious, call it a serious decline that can still be slowed. Both groups agree on the measurements: in many regions, large stretches of reef have lost most of their living coral in a few decades. Protecting reefs, they say, means cutting pollution, limiting fishing near them and, above all, slowing the warming of the oceans. What causes bleaching?
    1. A. Too much sunlight on land
    2. B. Ocean water growing too warm ← Answer
    3. C. Water growing too salty for the algae to survive
    4. D. Too much fishing
  6. 24. Some scientists describe the damage as a slow-motion catastrophe. Others, more cautious, call it a serious decline that can still be slowed. Both groups agree on the measurements: in many regions, large stretches of reef have lost most of their living coral in a few decades. Protecting reefs, they say, means cutting pollution, limiting fishing near them and, above all, slowing the warming of the oceans. What feeling does the word 'ghostly' add?
    1. A. Scientific neutrality
    2. B. Cheerfulness and delight
    3. C. Loss and something eerie ← Answer
  7. 25. Some scientists describe the damage as a slow-motion catastrophe. Others, more cautious, call it a serious decline that can still be slowed. Both groups agree on the measurements: in many regions, large stretches of reef have lost most of their living coral in a few decades. Protecting reefs, they say, means cutting pollution, limiting fishing near them and, above all, slowing the warming of the oceans. How does 'slow-motion catastrophe' differ from 'serious decline'?
    1. A. The first is a technical term, and the second is slang
    2. B. The first is more alarming, while the second is more measured ← Answer
    3. C. The first is more hopeful and the second is more alarming to readers
    4. D. They mean exactly the same thing
  8. 26. Some scientists describe the damage as a slow-motion catastrophe. Others, more cautious, call it a serious decline that can still be slowed. Both groups agree on the measurements: in many regions, large stretches of reef have lost most of their living coral in a few decades. Protecting reefs, they say, means cutting pollution, limiting fishing near them and, above all, slowing the warming of the oceans. What do the two groups of scientists agree on?
    1. A. Whether the damage to the reefs can ever be reversed
    2. B. Which reefs are most at risk
    3. C. What word should describe the damage
    4. D. The measurements of how much coral has been lost ← Answer
  9. 27. Some scientists describe the damage as a slow-motion catastrophe. Others, more cautious, call it a serious decline that can still be slowed. Both groups agree on the measurements: in many regions, large stretches of reef have lost most of their living coral in a few decades. Protecting reefs, they say, means cutting pollution, limiting fishing near them and, above all, slowing the warming of the oceans. Why does the author present both scientists' descriptions?
    1. A. To argue that one group of scientists is simply wrong
    2. B. To show they differ in tone but not in facts ← Answer
    3. C. To prove that reefs are not in danger

Antibiotics and a Hidden Weakness

For decades, antibiotics seemed like miracle drugs. Infections that once killed thousands became curable in a week. But bacteria reproduce quickly, and each generation brings small random changes. Occasionally a change lets a bacterium survive a drug. When antibiotics are used too often, or when patients stop taking them early, the survivors multiply and pass on their resistance. Doctors now face strains that no common antibiotic can kill.

  1. 28. Researchers call this problem the Achilles' heel of modern medicine. A hospital can have the finest equipment in the world, but surgery, chemotherapy and organ transplants all depend on drugs that fight infection. If those drugs fail, the whole structure becomes vulnerable. Some experts also warn that careless overuse is like opening Pandora's box: once resistant strains appear and spread, they cannot be called back. Yet there is reason for hope. New drugs are in development, and hospitals that track their antibiotic use have cut resistant infections. What happens when bacteria survive a drug?
    1. A. They disappear within a week once the drug is stopped
    2. B. They multiply and pass on their resistance ← Answer
    3. C. They turn into viruses
    4. D. They become harmless
  2. 29. Researchers call this problem the Achilles' heel of modern medicine. A hospital can have the finest equipment in the world, but surgery, chemotherapy and organ transplants all depend on drugs that fight infection. If those drugs fail, the whole structure becomes vulnerable. Some experts also warn that careless overuse is like opening Pandora's box: once resistant strains appear and spread, they cannot be called back. Yet there is reason for hope. New drugs are in development, and hospitals that track their antibiotic use have cut resistant infections. Which habit helps resistance spread?
    1. A. Tracking use in hospitals
    2. B. Taking the full course of a drug
    3. C. Washing hands often
    4. D. Stopping antibiotics early ← Answer
  3. 30. Researchers call this problem the Achilles' heel of modern medicine. A hospital can have the finest equipment in the world, but surgery, chemotherapy and organ transplants all depend on drugs that fight infection. If those drugs fail, the whole structure becomes vulnerable. Some experts also warn that careless overuse is like opening Pandora's box: once resistant strains appear and spread, they cannot be called back. Yet there is reason for hope. New drugs are in development, and hospitals that track their antibiotic use have cut resistant infections. Which treatments depend on drugs that fight infection?
    1. A. Surgery, chemotherapy and organ transplants ← Answer
    2. B. X-rays, vaccines and routine eye exams at the clinic
    3. C. Dental cleaning and physical therapy
  4. 31. Researchers call this problem the Achilles' heel of modern medicine. A hospital can have the finest equipment in the world, but surgery, chemotherapy and organ transplants all depend on drugs that fight infection. If those drugs fail, the whole structure becomes vulnerable. Some experts also warn that careless overuse is like opening Pandora's box: once resistant strains appear and spread, they cannot be called back. Yet there is reason for hope. New drugs are in development, and hospitals that track their antibiotic use have cut resistant infections. What have hospitals that track their antibiotic use achieved?
    1. A. Fewer resistant infections ← Answer
    2. B. Faster bacteria growth
    3. C. Cheaper equipment
    4. D. More surgeries for patients
  5. 32. Researchers call this problem the Achilles' heel of modern medicine. A hospital can have the finest equipment in the world, but surgery, chemotherapy and organ transplants all depend on drugs that fight infection. If those drugs fail, the whole structure becomes vulnerable. Some experts also warn that careless overuse is like opening Pandora's box: once resistant strains appear and spread, they cannot be called back. Yet there is reason for hope. New drugs are in development, and hospitals that track their antibiotic use have cut resistant infections. Which feature of bacteria helps resistance spread quickly?
    1. A. They never change
    2. B. They live only in hospitals
    3. C. They reproduce quickly ← Answer
    4. D. They are very large
  6. 33. Researchers call this problem the Achilles' heel of modern medicine. A hospital can have the finest equipment in the world, but surgery, chemotherapy and organ transplants all depend on drugs that fight infection. If those drugs fail, the whole structure becomes vulnerable. Some experts also warn that careless overuse is like opening Pandora's box: once resistant strains appear and spread, they cannot be called back. Yet there is reason for hope. New drugs are in development, and hospitals that track their antibiotic use have cut resistant infections. What does 'Achilles' heel' mean in this passage?
    1. A. A kind of medical treatment that doctors used long ago
    2. B. A famous hospital
    3. C. A hidden weakness in something otherwise strong ← Answer
  7. 34. Researchers call this problem the Achilles' heel of modern medicine. A hospital can have the finest equipment in the world, but surgery, chemotherapy and organ transplants all depend on drugs that fight infection. If those drugs fail, the whole structure becomes vulnerable. Some experts also warn that careless overuse is like opening Pandora's box: once resistant strains appear and spread, they cannot be called back. Yet there is reason for hope. New drugs are in development, and hospitals that track their antibiotic use have cut resistant infections. What does the allusion to Pandora's box suggest?
    1. A. The drugs are hidden inside a sealed box in the hospital
    2. B. Only ancient medicine can help
    3. C. Once the harm is released, it cannot be taken back ← Answer
    4. D. The problem will solve itself
  8. 35. Researchers call this problem the Achilles' heel of modern medicine. A hospital can have the finest equipment in the world, but surgery, chemotherapy and organ transplants all depend on drugs that fight infection. If those drugs fail, the whole structure becomes vulnerable. Some experts also warn that careless overuse is like opening Pandora's box: once resistant strains appear and spread, they cannot be called back. Yet there is reason for hope. New drugs are in development, and hospitals that track their antibiotic use have cut resistant infections. What feeling does 'miracle' give to the early view of antibiotics?
    1. A. Wonder at an almost unbelievable success ← Answer
    2. B. Boredom with a common drug
    3. C. Anger at their cost
    4. D. Doubt about their usefulness to patients
  9. 36. Researchers call this problem the Achilles' heel of modern medicine. A hospital can have the finest equipment in the world, but surgery, chemotherapy and organ transplants all depend on drugs that fight infection. If those drugs fail, the whole structure becomes vulnerable. Some experts also warn that careless overuse is like opening Pandora's box: once resistant strains appear and spread, they cannot be called back. Yet there is reason for hope. New drugs are in development, and hospitals that track their antibiotic use have cut resistant infections. In 'the whole structure becomes vulnerable,' what is the structure?
    1. A. Modern medicine as a whole ← Answer
    2. B. The hospital building itself
    3. C. A single patient's body

Two Ways to Say It

Words can describe the same fact and leave very different impressions. Imagine two reports about a town council that cut the library's budget by ten percent. One says the council made a frugal decision to control spending. Another says the council slashed funding in a stingy attempt to save pennies. Both sentences report the same cut, yet the first suggests a sensible choice, while the second suggests a mean one.

  1. 37. Linguists call this difference connotation, the feelings and associations that cling to a word beyond its dictionary meaning. A word's denotation is the literal definition. Careful readers pay attention to both. When a writer chooses a loaded word such as slashed, hoarding or scheme, the writer may be trying to move the reader's emotions rather than just inform. That does not always make the choice wrong, since a writer may truly believe the situation is serious. It does mean readers should notice the word and ask whether the facts alone would produce the same reaction. What does denotation mean in the passage?
    1. A. The literal dictionary meaning of a word ← Answer
    2. B. The age of a word
    3. C. The sound of a word
    4. D. The feelings a word brings to a reader's mind
  2. 38. Linguists call this difference connotation, the feelings and associations that cling to a word beyond its dictionary meaning. A word's denotation is the literal definition. Careful readers pay attention to both. When a writer chooses a loaded word such as slashed, hoarding or scheme, the writer may be trying to move the reader's emotions rather than just inform. That does not always make the choice wrong, since a writer may truly believe the situation is serious. It does mean readers should notice the word and ask whether the facts alone would produce the same reaction. What does connotation mean in the passage?
    1. A. A word that is hard to say
    2. B. The feelings and associations a word carries ← Answer
    3. C. A word's literal dictionary definition and its spelling
    4. D. A word's spelling
  3. 39. Linguists call this difference connotation, the feelings and associations that cling to a word beyond its dictionary meaning. A word's denotation is the literal definition. Careful readers pay attention to both. When a writer chooses a loaded word such as slashed, hoarding or scheme, the writer may be trying to move the reader's emotions rather than just inform. That does not always make the choice wrong, since a writer may truly believe the situation is serious. It does mean readers should notice the word and ask whether the facts alone would produce the same reaction. By how much did the council cut the library's budget?
    1. A. Ten percent ← Answer
    2. B. Five percent
    3. C. Twenty percent
  4. 40. Linguists call this difference connotation, the feelings and associations that cling to a word beyond its dictionary meaning. A word's denotation is the literal definition. Careful readers pay attention to both. When a writer chooses a loaded word such as slashed, hoarding or scheme, the writer may be trying to move the reader's emotions rather than just inform. That does not always make the choice wrong, since a writer may truly believe the situation is serious. It does mean readers should notice the word and ask whether the facts alone would produce the same reaction. Which word in the first paragraph suggests a sensible choice?
    1. A. frugal ← Answer
    2. B. stingy
    3. C. slashed
    4. D. pennies
  5. 41. Linguists call this difference connotation, the feelings and associations that cling to a word beyond its dictionary meaning. A word's denotation is the literal definition. Careful readers pay attention to both. When a writer chooses a loaded word such as slashed, hoarding or scheme, the writer may be trying to move the reader's emotions rather than just inform. That does not always make the choice wrong, since a writer may truly believe the situation is serious. It does mean readers should notice the word and ask whether the facts alone would produce the same reaction. Which of these is named as a loaded word?
    1. A. budget
    2. B. scheme ← Answer
    3. C. library
    4. D. council
  6. 42. Linguists call this difference connotation, the feelings and associations that cling to a word beyond its dictionary meaning. A word's denotation is the literal definition. Careful readers pay attention to both. When a writer chooses a loaded word such as slashed, hoarding or scheme, the writer may be trying to move the reader's emotions rather than just inform. That does not always make the choice wrong, since a writer may truly believe the situation is serious. It does mean readers should notice the word and ask whether the facts alone would produce the same reaction. Why does the author give two reports of the same cut?
    1. A. To prove that libraries need more money
    2. B. To argue that the council was clearly wrong to cut the budget
    3. C. To show the same fact can leave different impressions ← Answer
  7. 43. Linguists call this difference connotation, the feelings and associations that cling to a word beyond its dictionary meaning. A word's denotation is the literal definition. Careful readers pay attention to both. When a writer chooses a loaded word such as slashed, hoarding or scheme, the writer may be trying to move the reader's emotions rather than just inform. That does not always make the choice wrong, since a writer may truly believe the situation is serious. It does mean readers should notice the word and ask whether the facts alone would produce the same reaction. How does 'slashed' differ from 'reduced'?
    1. A. They carry the same feeling
    2. B. Slashed means a smaller cut than the word reduced does
    3. C. Slashed is more formal
    4. D. Slashed sounds violent and alarming, while reduced is neutral ← Answer
  8. 44. Linguists call this difference connotation, the feelings and associations that cling to a word beyond its dictionary meaning. A word's denotation is the literal definition. Careful readers pay attention to both. When a writer chooses a loaded word such as slashed, hoarding or scheme, the writer may be trying to move the reader's emotions rather than just inform. That does not always make the choice wrong, since a writer may truly believe the situation is serious. It does mean readers should notice the word and ask whether the facts alone would produce the same reaction. Does the author say loaded words are always wrong to use?
    1. A. Yes, because they confuse the facts
    2. B. Yes, because they are never accurate about any fact at all
    3. C. No, because they are always neutral
    4. D. No, because a writer may truly believe the situation is serious ← Answer
  9. 45. Linguists call this difference connotation, the feelings and associations that cling to a word beyond its dictionary meaning. A word's denotation is the literal definition. Careful readers pay attention to both. When a writer chooses a loaded word such as slashed, hoarding or scheme, the writer may be trying to move the reader's emotions rather than just inform. That does not always make the choice wrong, since a writer may truly believe the situation is serious. It does mean readers should notice the word and ask whether the facts alone would produce the same reaction. What does 'cling to' mean in 'feelings that cling to a word'?
    1. A. Break it apart
    2. B. Stay attached to it ← Answer
    3. C. Slowly drift away from it

More Than Dirt

To a gardener, soil is not just dirt. It is a living mixture of broken rock, water, air and humus, the dark material formed when dead plants and animals decay. Humus holds moisture like a sponge and releases nutrients slowly, which is why gardeners prize it. A soil rich in humus is said to be fertile, meaning it can support strong plant growth.

  1. 46. Soil scientists also describe soil by its texture, the sizes of the particles in it. Sand particles are the largest and let water drain quickly. Clay particles are the smallest and pack tightly, so water moves through them slowly. Loam, a balanced blend of sand, clay and silt, is often considered ideal. Healthy soil also needs aeration, the movement of air through tiny spaces between particles. Earthworms help by tunneling, which is why a gardener who sees plenty of them usually smiles. What is humus?
    1. A. A tool for planting
    2. B. A kind of coarse sand found at the bottom of a river bed
    3. C. A small insect
    4. D. The dark material formed when dead plants and animals decay ← Answer
  2. 47. Soil scientists also describe soil by its texture, the sizes of the particles in it. Sand particles are the largest and let water drain quickly. Clay particles are the smallest and pack tightly, so water moves through them slowly. Loam, a balanced blend of sand, clay and silt, is often considered ideal. Healthy soil also needs aeration, the movement of air through tiny spaces between particles. Earthworms help by tunneling, which is why a gardener who sees plenty of them usually smiles. Which soil particles are the largest?
    1. A. Clay
    2. B. Sand ← Answer
    3. C. Silt
    4. D. Humus
  3. 48. Soil scientists also describe soil by its texture, the sizes of the particles in it. Sand particles are the largest and let water drain quickly. Clay particles are the smallest and pack tightly, so water moves through them slowly. Loam, a balanced blend of sand, clay and silt, is often considered ideal. Healthy soil also needs aeration, the movement of air through tiny spaces between particles. Earthworms help by tunneling, which is why a gardener who sees plenty of them usually smiles. What does 'fertile' mean in the passage?
    1. A. Able to support strong plant growth ← Answer
    2. B. Full of large rocks and loose gravel that hold no water
    3. C. Very dry
  4. 49. Soil scientists also describe soil by its texture, the sizes of the particles in it. Sand particles are the largest and let water drain quickly. Clay particles are the smallest and pack tightly, so water moves through them slowly. Loam, a balanced blend of sand, clay and silt, is often considered ideal. Healthy soil also needs aeration, the movement of air through tiny spaces between particles. Earthworms help by tunneling, which is why a gardener who sees plenty of them usually smiles. What is loam?
    1. A. Soil with no air
    2. B. A type of earthworm found in rich garden soil
    3. C. The darkest part of humus
    4. D. A balanced blend of sand, clay and silt ← Answer
  5. 50. Soil scientists also describe soil by its texture, the sizes of the particles in it. Sand particles are the largest and let water drain quickly. Clay particles are the smallest and pack tightly, so water moves through them slowly. Loam, a balanced blend of sand, clay and silt, is often considered ideal. Healthy soil also needs aeration, the movement of air through tiny spaces between particles. Earthworms help by tunneling, which is why a gardener who sees plenty of them usually smiles. What is aeration?
    1. A. The movement of air through tiny spaces between particles ← Answer
    2. B. The sorting of particles by size
    3. C. The decay of plants
    4. D. The draining of water through the larger sandy particles
UpOnly Learning · uponlylearning.com · free to print and photocopy for your own studentsReading — Grade 8
UpOnly Learning · uponlylearning.com · Reading Grade 8
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A real page of Reading · Grade 8

Analogies, Allusions and Loaded Words

The student will determine the meaning of words and phrases in an informational text, including figurative and connotative meanings, and analyze the impact of word choices, including analogies and allusions, on meaning and tone. · 40 min

Warm-up — say this

“Science writers use comparisons and references to make hard ideas clear. Today we analyze how those word choices work.”

Worked example

Explain the analogy in the first paragraph and its effect.

Answer: The immune system is compared to a security team that patrols, checks ID badges and sounds alarms. It makes a complex biological process easy to picture: the body recognizes its own cells by their markers and responds to cells with unfamiliar markers.

A mistake students make

Analogies are exactly the same as the real thing.

How the book fixes it

An analogy highlights similarities but is not exact. Cells do not literally wear badges. Ask: what part of the comparison is true, and what is just a helpful picture?

Note to the parent

Encourage your student to explain things using analogies at dinner, then ask, 'Where does that comparison break down?' It deepens understanding.

That is one topic of many. The free questions above check a skill; this is the part that teaches it.

Practice checks. Our reading workbooks teach.

These questions check a skill. The workbook teaches it.

  • TeachesA 40-minute lesson per topic that tells you what to say.
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  • PlansEvery topic in teaching order, matched to the standards.
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Further reading

Reads the words but not the meaningYour student can read but doesn't comprehend. Why decoding and comprehension are different skills, how to tell which one is missing, and what to do weekly.

Questions parents ask

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Grade 8. Every other grade from kindergarten to grade 8 has its own page, linked at the foot of this one. If your student finds these hard, try the grade below — that is normal and it is not a problem.

What do the paid workbooks add?

These questions check a skill. The workbook teaches it: a forty-minute lesson that tells you what to say, two worked examples, the two mistakes students actually make on that skill and how to correct each one, and an explanation beside every answer rather than a bare key.