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Grade 8 English Language Arts practice sheet

BC Curriculum · from Gradelings · Name: ______________________

  1. Question 1

    What does the author do in the final paragraph?

    Why We Keep Bees

    When the Hartman family started keeping bees on their roof in the city, their neighbours 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 neighbourhood 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.

    • Presents a limit to the idea and offers a suggestion
    • Tells a personal story
    • Describes how to build a hive
    • Compares two cities
    Show answer

    Presents a limit to the idea and offers a suggestion

    Hint: “Still, … is not a perfect solution” introduces a concern, and the last sentence gives advice.

  2. Question 2

    Which literary device does this excerpt use?

    The fire station burned down on Tuesday.

    • Simile
    • Alliteration
    • Hyperbole
    • Irony
    Show answer

    Irony

    Hint: It is unexpected, and the opposite of what we would expect, that a fire station would burn. That's situational irony.

  3. Question 3

    What does logos mean in a persuasive text?

    • Appealing to the writer's fame
    • Appealing to fear
    • Appealing to logic, reasons and facts
    • Appealing to emotions
    Show answer

    Appealing to logic, reasons and facts

    Hint: Logos uses evidence and clear reasoning.

  4. Question 4

    Rewrite in the active voice: “The cake was eaten by Mei.”

    • The cake ate Mei.
    • Mei ate the cake.
    • Eating was done by Mei.
    • The cake was Mei's.
    Show answer

    Mei ate the cake.

    Hint: Active voice puts the doer first: Mei (doer) ate (action) the cake.

  5. Question 5

    Which word has a more negative connotation than “curious”?

    • eager
    • nosy
    • inquisitive
    • interested
    Show answer

    nosy

    Hint: “Nosy” suggests someone who pries where they shouldn't. “Curious” is neutral or positive.

  6. Question 6

    Which sentence best states the central idea of the passage?

    Why We Keep Bees

    When the Hartman family started keeping bees on their roof in the city, their neighbours 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 neighbourhood 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.

    • Bees should only live in the countryside.
    • Farms are always better than cities for pollinators.
    • City beekeeping can help pollinators, but it works best alongside support for wild bees.
    • Honey bees are native to North America.
    Show answer

    City beekeeping can help pollinators, but it works best alongside support for wild bees.

    Hint: The passage gives benefits first, then a caution, then advice. The central idea combines them.

  7. Question 7

    Which literary device does this excerpt use?

    Whenever Lila saw the white dove, she felt a sense of calm, as if it carried peace itself.

    • Hyperbole
    • Alliteration
    • Irony
    • Symbolism
    Show answer

    Symbolism

    Hint: A dove standing for peace is a symbol: an object that represents a bigger idea.

  8. Question 8

    A headline reads “Scientists SHOCKED by new discovery!” without saying what was found. What technique is this?

    • A fact check
    • A balanced report
    • Clickbait
    • A summary
    Show answer

    Clickbait

    Hint: Clickbait uses emotional, vague wording to make you click.

  9. Question 9

    Which sentence uses “who” or “whom” correctly?

    • Whom is at the door?
    • To who did you give the book?
    • To whom did you give the book?
    • Whom gave you the book?
    Show answer

    To whom did you give the book?

    Hint: After a preposition such as “to,” use “whom.”

  10. Question 10

    Prefix or suffix? Sort each word part.

    Sort into: ⏮️ Prefix · ⏭️ Suffix

    • 🔁re- (again)
    • ✅-able (can be)
    • 🧺-ful (full of)
    • ↔️dis- (opposite of)
    • 🚫un- (not)
    • ❌mis- (wrongly)
    • 0️⃣-less (without)
    • 📦-ment (result of)
    Show answer

    ⏮️ Prefix: re- (again), dis- (opposite of), un- (not), mis- (wrongly) · ⏭️ Suffix: -able (can be), -ful (full of), -less (without), -ment (result of)

    Hint: A prefix goes at the start of a word (re-, un-, pre-). A suffix goes at the end (-less, -ful, -ness).

Answer key

  1. 1. Presents a limit to the idea and offers a suggestion (Close Reading)
  2. 2. Irony (Literary Devices)
  3. 3. Appealing to logic, reasons and facts (Argument & Media)
  4. 4. Mei ate the cake. (Grammar & Style)
  5. 5. nosy (Word Study)
  6. 6. City beekeeping can help pollinators, but it works best alongside support for wild bees. (Close Reading)
  7. 7. Symbolism (Literary Devices)
  8. 8. Clickbait (Argument & Media)
  9. 9. To whom did you give the book? (Grammar & Style)
  10. 10. ⏮️ Prefix: re- (again), dis- (opposite of), un- (not), mis- (wrongly) · ⏭️ Suffix: -able (can be), -ful (full of), -less (without), -ment (result of) (Word Study)

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