1. 8 th Grade Language Arts Paragraph Content

2. 1The man looked like he came straight out of a mystery novel, playing the part of the determined detective. 2His brown hat sat atop his head, tilted enough to the side to give him a lopsided look. 3Stained and worn in parts, the trench coat he wore looked like it had seen its share of stake outs and meals on the go. 4Finally, his boots were the sturdy type that worked for just about any situation, including chasing a fleeing suspect. 5Considering the outfit he wore, the man would fit quite well into any "who done it" movie. 6This man, however, was no detective; he was my Uncle Bob. Which sentence in the paragraph above begins with a transitional word? A. sentence 1 B. sentence 2 C. sentence 3 D. sentence 4

3. 2. Which sentence is unrelated to the topic sentence below? Books are only a part of what can be found in a modern library. A. Many libraries contain computers which can be used to locate books and connect to the Internet. B. Libraries are usually funded by tax money from the community. C. People often find video tapes of movies at their local libraries. D. Libraries often loan out foreign language audio tapes to help those who wish to learn a second language.

4. . Which of the following would be the BEST concluding sentence for the paragraph below? Champ stretched out on the rug, sound asleep and totally unaware of what was going on around him. Suddenly, he began twitching his paws and thumping his tail on the tile floor. Then he started moving his legs, almost as if he were running while lying down. He emitted a short yelp, then sat up and gazed around the room, looking a bit confused. A. I love watching him while he's asleep and listening to the funny noises he makes. B. I love having Champ as a pet because he is loyal and intelligent. C. He certainly seemed like a dog who had just awakened from a dream. D. He has a very distinctive "voice" that I would recognize anywhere.

5. Valerie anxiously approached the podium. 2The entire eighth grade class, more than 400 students, would be present. 3But, if she wanted to be elected to Student Council, this was something she had to do. 4Arriving at the podium and taking a deep breath, Valerie began her speech. 5Before she even realized it, Valerie had finished her speech and had carried it off flawlessly. Where could the sentence below BEST be placed in the paragraph above? This would be the first time she had ever spoken in front of a large group. A. after sentence 1 B. after sentence 3 C. after sentence 4 D. after sentence 5

6. Which of the following would make the BEST supporting sentence for the topic sentence below? The New Way is by far the best magazine available for teenagers. A. I like it because it has a lot of good stuff in it. B. I always check out the pages and pages of advertisements. C. The New Way has been around for one year now, and teenagers like it. D. The articles are written by the athletes and performers teens admire.

7. What change should be made to the sentence below? Corey gave a full complete account of the newspaper staff's activities at the Young Journalists Convention. A. omit account B. omit full C. omit staff's D. omit Convention

8. 1Trying new foods can bring a sense of adventure into your daily routine. 2.On the other hand, this adventure can be disappointing because you end up trying some foods that just taste weird. 3.Nevertheless, what would it be like to know only vanilla ice cream? 4.Vanilla, however, was looking good to me last night, when my tongue was introduced to a taste I hope never to meet again: clove-flavored ice cream. What is the purpose of the underlined transitions in the paragraph above? A. to show similarity B. to show contrast C. to show consequence D. to show sequence

9. Which words can you take out of the paragraph below in order to eliminate repetition of an idea? Everyone has different activities to start the day. My sister Karla reads the newspaper, while my mom and dad discuss what they expect to do at work. My cat probably thinks about how she's going to sleep on the couch when no one is around. But I like nothing better than to listen to the radio in the morning hours before noon. A. different activities B. what they expect to do C. going to sleep D. hours before noon

10. 1.The German Shepherd is a beautiful dog. 2.It is considered one of the more intelligent dogs. 3.The coat of a German Shepherd is typically black, varying shades of brown, or a mixture of brown and black. 4.The tall height and powerful build give the dog a commanding appearance. Which sentence should be removed from the paragraph above? A. sentence 1 B. sentence 2 C. sentence 3 D. sentence 4

11. 1.Slowly, Ezra made his way up the steep steps. 2.With each stair he climbed, Ezra could feel his confidence swelling. 3.He approached the classroom door feeling determined to do well. 4.He had studied hard, motivated by the knowledge that once he passed this test, summer would begin and his time would be free. In the paragraph above, after which sentence should the following sentence BEST be added? Arriving at the top of the stairwell, Ezra turned left. A. after sentence 1 B. after sentence 2 C. after sentence 3 D. after sentence 4

12. 8th Language Arts Para Content (Answer Key) 1.sentence 4 2.Libraries are usually funded by tax money from the community. 3.He certainly seemed like a dog who had just awakened from a dream. 4.after sentence 1 5.The articles are written by the athletes and performers teens admire. 6.omit full 7.to show contrast 8.hours before noon 9.sentence 2 10.after sentence 2