8th grade English Language Arts practice sheet

Why We Keep Bees

When the Hartman family started keeping bees on their roof in the city, their neighbors were nervous. Bees, they said, belonged in the countryside, not beside the laundromat.

But researchers have found that cities can be surprisingly good homes for pollinators. A city garden, balcony pot or park offers flowers from early spring to late autumn, while farms often have only one crop that blooms for a few weeks. Many cities also use fewer pesticides than large farms.

Still, urban beekeeping is not a perfect solution. Honey bees are not native to North America, and when too many hives crowd a neighborhood they can compete with wild bees for food. Experts suggest that city dwellers who want to help should also plant native flowers and leave small patches of bare soil, where many wild bees nest.

Kenji checked the clock again. He wished the bell would ring. He did not notice that his teacher was smiling at him.

Notice from Town Hall

ATTENTION CITIZENS: To reduce crowding on sidewalks, the Department of Walking now requires all pedestrians to apply for a Walking Permit. Applications take six to eight weeks to process. Until your permit arrives, residents are asked to stay where they are.

A spokesperson called the system “simple and efficient.” The permit office is open on alternate Tuesdays from 2:00 to 2:15 p.m., on the fifth floor of a building with no elevator.

Outside the Doors

Amara stood outside the hospital doors, her backpack heavy on her shoulder. She wondered whether her grandmother would remember her today. Nurses hurried past, and she could not tell what any of them were thinking; their faces gave nothing away.

A Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor,

Every morning, dozens of students cross Maple Road to reach our school, but there is no crosswalk. Last month, a driver nearly hit a boy who was running late. A painted crosswalk with a flashing light would cost the town little and could save a life. I urge the council to approve one before someone is hurt.

Sincerely, R. Ahmed

Why Your Feed Looks Like That

Video apps keep track of what you watch, like and skip. Then they use that information to choose what to show you next. If you watch three skateboarding videos, you will probably see more.

This can be helpful, because you find topics you enjoy. But it also means each person sees a different, curated version of the app, and you may rarely see views that differ from your own.