G OB I E RN O DE P UE RT O RI C O

DE P AR T AME N T O DE E D U CA CI ÓN
Su b s ec re tar í a p ara A su n to s Acad é m i co s

English Pre - Post Test

http://www.cliparthut.com
 TEACHER’S EDITION 8th Grade - English

TEACHER’S EDITION

Expectation: 8.L.1 - Listen and collaborate with peers during social interactions,
readaloud (of fictional or informational texts); oral presentations; and class, group and
partner discussions.

Instructions: Read the passage, the questions and answer choices twice. Have students
choose the correct answer and mark it on their answer sheet.

Black Friday

The day after Thanksgiving is the start of the holiday shopping season. Thanksgiving is
always on a Thursday, so the day after is a Friday. This day has come to be known as
Black Friday. It has been the busiest shopping day of the year since 2005.

Most stores offer great deals on Black Friday. They open their doors in the wee hours of
the morning. They try to attract shoppers with big discounts. Some items like TVs are
much cheaper than usual. Stores may even lose money on these items. They hope that
shoppers will buy gifts for other people while they are in the store.

Black Friday is a great time to get good deals. The problem is that there are not enough
low-priced items to go around. Each store may only have a few. These items are in high
demand. People stand in long lines to get such great deals. They may line up hours
before a store opens. They may be hoping to get a low price on a TV or laptop, but not
everyone who wants one will get one. Some people leave disappointed.

The situation can be tense. Some Black Friday events have been violent. Large, eager
crowds have trampled workers. Fights have broken out over toys or people cutting in line.
People have shot one another over parking spots. But most Black Friday events are safe
and fun. Still, if you plan on going, expect large crowds and a bit of shoving.

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 TEACHER’S EDITION 8th Grade - English

So where does the name "Black Friday" come from? It was first used in Philadelphia in
the 1950s. The police called this day Black Friday because of the heavy traffic it drew.
In the 1960s, stores tried to rename the day "Big Friday." It did not stick. The name
"Black Friday" continued to spread across the country. It seems that it is here to stay.
continue reading

Now people all over the country take part in the event known as Black Friday. It is even
spreading to other parts of the world. Stores have held Black Friday events in the U.K.,
Australia, and Brazil since 2012. In Costa Rica Black Friday is known as "Viernes Negro,"
and in Mexico, stores offer an annual weekend of discounts. They call it "El Buen Fin,"
which means "the good weekend" in Spanish. I guess the language of savings is
universal.
www.ereadingworksheets.com

1. According to the text, why do stores set prices so low on some items knowing
they will lose money?

A. They want people to enjoy the holidays.

B. They hope people will buy other gifts while they are in the store.
C. They are in a giving mood because the holiday season is just beginning.
D. They are trying to get rid of items from last year to make room for new items.

2. Which is NOT true about Black Friday?

A. Black Friday is always the day after Thanksgiving.

B. Black Friday is the busiest shopping day of the year.
C. Black Friday is a national holiday.
D. Black Friday is the start of the holiday shopping season.

3. Where does the name Black Friday come from?

A. The police called this day Black Friday because there is a lot of traffic.
B. The stores called this day Black Friday because it is a serious shopping day.
C. The police called this day Black Friday to remember the victims of violence.
D. The stores called this day Black Friday because they make a lot of money.

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 TEACHER’S EDITION 8th Grade - English

4. Which sentence states the main idea in paragraph number three?

A. People stand in long lines on Black Friday.

B. Black Friday is the best time of the year to get good deals.
C. Black Friday is a really disappointing time of the year.
D. Black Friday deals are limited and not everyone will get one.

5. Which country does NOT participate in Black Friday?

A. France
B. Costa Rica
C. Brazil
D. United Kingdom

6. Which happened FIRST?

A. Stores tried to rename the day after Thanksgiving "Big Friday."

B. Black Friday events began happening in Australia.
C. Police began calling the day after Thanksgiving "Black Friday."
D. Black Friday became the busiest shopping day of the year.

7. Which sentence best explains the reason why Costa Ricans call Black Friday
"Viernes Negro"?

A. Costa Rican stores don't want the shopping day associated with American
violence.
B. Viernes Negro sounds more exotic and exciting than Black Friday.
C. Costa Ricans want to establish their own shopping tradition.
D. This is how you say "Black Friday" in Spanish, the language of Costa
Rica.

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 TEACHER’S EDITION 8th Grade - English

Expectation: 8.S.2 - Respond orally to closed and open-ended questions.

8. S.2a - Memorize, analyze, and follow increasingly complex instructions and
directions.
8.S.2b - Describe, explain, support, discuss, and synthesize information to
express self.

Instructions: On this section you will meet individually with each student to evaluate oral
production. Ask students to read the following quotes on learning. Have them choose
two of the quotes and express themselves orally to answer the following question: “Why
is it important to learn a second language?

“If you talk to a man in a
language he
understands, that goes
to his head. If you talk to
him in his own language,
that goes to his heart”.
Nelson Mandela
“Learn everything you
can, anytime you can,
from anyone you can;
there will always come a
time when you will be
grateful you did”.
Sara Caldwell
“Language is the road
map of a culture. It tells
you where its people
come from and where
they are going”.
Roger Bacon

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 TEACHER’S EDITION 8th Grade - English

Expectation: 8.R.10 - Read and comprehend a variety of literature, including stories,

dramas, and poetry, and informational texts (e.g., history/social studies, science, and
technical text) of appropriate complexity.

Instructions: Have students read selection #1 – The Road Not Taken; and selection #2
– The First Lady of the World. Provide students enough time to read both selections and
answer the questions. Have students choose the correct answer and mark it on their
answer sheet.

Selection #1: (Poem)

The Road Not Taken

by: Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

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 TEACHER’S EDITION 8th Grade - English

1. The word diverged in the first stanza means:

A. to separate
B. to converge
C. to be direct
D. to take a turn

2. The point of view in this poem is:

A. omniscient
B. second person point of view
C. third person limited point of view D. first person point of view

Selection #2:

The First Lady of the World

by: Doris Faber

Anna Eleanor Roosevelt, the wife of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, became the
First Lady of the United States in 1932. The country was going through a difficult time.
Many people did not have jobs. There was not enough food to eat. Unlike most
presidents’ wives before her, Eleanor was not afraid to say what she thought. She wanted
all people to be treated fairly. She cared about civil rights for women, children, and the
poor. Traveling throughout the country gave her a chance to encourage the people she
met.
Where did this energetic, enthusiastic woman come from? Eleanor was born in
New York City and was raised by a very strict grandmother who sent her to school in
England. As a child, she was solemn and shy and made to feel unattractive. She did not
enjoy many of the activities popular at her age. Instead, she did volunteer work helping
the poor. Gradually, she overcame her low self-esteem. She met and married a
handsome, young man named Franklin. They had six children during their first fourteen
years of marriage.

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 TEACHER’S EDITION 8th Grade - English

Eleanor worked at a canteen during the war serving soup and snacks to soldiers.
In 1920, she joined the League of Women Voters. This group encouraged women to
become involved in government. In 1927, Eleanor later worked as the vice principal and
teacher in a New York school. She also wrote articles for newspapers and magazines.
Franklin Roosevelt was interested in politics. He became a state senator. Later
he was assistant secretary of the Navy. Suddenly, Franklin was struck with polio, a
crippling illness. He was concerned that his career in politics was over. However,
Eleanor became her husband’s helper and assistant. Since he could no longer walk, she
became his legs. In 1928, Franklin was elected governor of New York. She often took
his place on official visits. When he ran for President, she went on the campaign trail,
shaking hands with voters. This was something no other wife had done.
Franklin was elected president in 1932. Eleanor vowed to be “useful.” She worked
in the slums and visited workers in mines and factories. She traveled throughout the
country. She became her husband’s ears to understand what was happening. She held
weekly press conferences and invited women reporters. Including women was another
“first” for the First Lady. During World War II, she visited troops in the United States and
other countries. Eleanor continued working for equal rights. Her husband was finally
persuaded to appoint a woman as Secretary of Labor.
When she was no longer the official First Lady, Eleanor continued to work for her
country. She became one of the delegates to the new United Nations. She served as a
leader of the UN Commission on Human Rights. She served on many committees
designed to gain equal rights in all countries. Her life was devoted to helping others
throughout the world. Eleanor was a woman of courage and intelligence, daring to do
what no one had done before. She was the best First Lady in the history of the United
States of America.

http://www.baschools.org/pages/uploaded_files/7thGraderead.pdf

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 TEACHER’S EDITION 8th Grade - English

3. Based on Eleanor’s character traits, all are true EXCEPT:

A. Eleanor was influenced by her grandmother.

B. Eleanor enjoyed meeting new people.
C. Eleanor stayed home with her six children.
D. Eleanor was eager to help others in need.

4. How does the author try to convince the reader that Eleanor was the BEST First
Lady in the history of USA?

A. The author explains the concern Eleanor had for others.

B. The author describes Eleanor’s character traits and many contributions
to the USA.
C. The author describes Eleanor’s childhood interests and how they translated into
her future personality.
D. The author tells how Eleanor overcame her low self-esteem and married a
future president of the USA.

5. The following sentence is an example of which literary device?

“Since he could no longer walk, she became his legs.”

A. an idiom
B. an analogy
C. a metaphor
D. a simile

6. What is the main idea of this selection?

A. Anna Eleanor Roosevelt was born in New York City and worked on her
selfesteem.
B. Anna Eleanor Roosevelt’s courage and determination made her the best
First Lady.
C. Anna Eleanor Roosevelt was the wife of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
D. Anna Eleanor Roosevelt studied in England and helped the poor.

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 TEACHER’S EDITION 8th Grade - English

7. Read carefully the following sentence from paragraph 6..

“Her life was devoted to helping others throughout the world”.

A. Why do you think Eleanor Roosevelt lived to help others?

B. Support your answer with details from the story.

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 TEACHER’S EDITION 8th Grade - English

Expectation: 8.W.2 - Write informational texts to examine a topic and convey ideas,
concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant
content.
Instructions: Have students read the following text as a guide to writing. Ask them to
write a persuasive essay of at least three paragraphs. Remind students to use the writing
space provided on their answer sheet.

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 TEACHER’S EDITION 8th Grade - English

Puerto Rico is an island that receives a lot of tourism

due to its welcoming society and beautiful ecosystem. Being an island, Puerto Rico has
more than 300 miles of beaches. There is a perfect beach for everyone! It all depends on
your notion of a flawless beach. Luckily, almost all the beaches in Puerto Rico are
unrestricted to the general public.
Having practically the majority of the beaches opened to everyone causes people
to trash and destroy our beaches. This has been a problem for years .Pollution causes
many beaches to close due to trash and contamination in the water. It is a pity that many
beautiful beaches have to close due to careless people.

Image retrieved from: lifestyle.howstuffworks.com

1. Write a persuasive essay of at least three paragraphs on how to prevent

pollution and contamination of our beaches in Puerto Rico?

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 TEACHER’S EDITION 8th Grade - English

Expectation: 8.W.3 - Write literary texts using transitional words and other cohesive
devices to better organize writing that develop real or imagined experiences or events
using effective technique, relevant descriptive details, and well-structured event
sequences.

Instructions: For items #1 through #6, have students choose the correct answer for each
of the following items and mark the correct letter on their answer sheet.

1. Choose the sentence with the correct punctuation.

A. You questioned for forgiveness, she granted it to you.

B. You questioned for forgiveness; she granted it to you.
C. You questioned for forgiveness: she granted it to you.
D. You questioned for forgiveness she granted it to you.

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 TEACHER’S EDITION 8th Grade - English

2. Choose the sentence with the correct punctuation.

A. We ask; therefore, that you keep this matter personal.

B. We ask, therefore; that you keep this matter personal.
C. We ask, therefore, that you keep this matter personal.
D. We ask: therefore, that you keep this matter personal.

3. Choose the sentence with the correct transition word.

A. I would like to see you tomorrow, so let’s have dinner together.

B. I would like to see you tomorrow, however let’s have dinner together.
C. I would like to see you tomorrow, again let’s have dinner together.
D. I would like to see you tomorrow, moreover let’s have dinner together.

4. Choose the sentence with the correct transition word.

A. My sister loves cake; finally don’t care much about sweets.

B. My sister loves cake, but I don’t care much about sweets.
C. My sister loves cake; moreover I don’t care much about sweets. D.
My sister loves cake; again I don’t care much about sweets.

5. Choose the sentence with the correct transition word.

A. That restaurant is dreadful. Yesterday and I found a bug in my soup.

B. That restaurant is dreadful. Yesterday, for example, I found a bug in my
soup.
C. That restaurant is dreadful. Yesterday, however, I found a bug in my soup.
D. That restaurant is dreadful. Yesterday, therefore, I found a bug in my soup.

6. Choose the sentence with the correct transition word.

A. She felt tired; whereas, she took a nap.

B. She felt tired; therefore, she took a nap.
C. A. She felt tired; nevertheless, she took a nap.
D. A. She felt tired; for example, she took a nap.

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 TEACHER’S EDITION 8th Grade - English

http://www.sinclair.edu/centers/tlc/pub/handouts_worksheets/english/transitions.pdf
http://www.grammarbook.com/grammar_quiz/quiz_results.asp
Expectations: 8.LA.3 - Use knowledge of language and its conventions when writing,
speaking, reading, or listening.
8.LA.2 - Demonstrate command of the conventions of English
capitalization, punctuation, and spelling.
8.LA.4 - Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and
multiplemeaning words or phrases based on appropriate reading and
content, choosing flexibly from a variety of strategies.

Instructions: For items #7 through #10, have students read the following text carefully
and circle the correct answer.

Julia’s New Running Sneakers

(1) Julia needs to buy a new pair of running sneakers four a marathon. (2) She
desired a really expensive pair of sneakers. (3) However, she did not have the sufficient
money because her allowance was not enough. (4) Julia decided to speak with her dad
about giving her some extra chores. (5) Her dad told her that she could wash the cars and
walk the dog for at least a week. (6) Julia, without any complaint, willingly did all the tasks.

7. In sentence 1, the author needs to change —

A. “four” to for
B. “of” to off
C. “pair” to pare
D. “by” to buy.

8. Which of the following words best replaces the word “sufficient” in sentence
3?

A. insufficient
B. lacking
C. absent
D. enough
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 TEACHER’S EDITION 8th Grade - English

9. What does the word “allowance” mean in sentence 4?

A. a small sum of money paid regularly by parent’s to a child

B. the amount of something that is allowed, according to regulations
C. an addition or deduction based on an extenuating or qualifying circumstance:
D. an amount of something given out at regular intervals or for a specific purpose

10. Which editing mark would show that a word must be inserted before the word
“Julia” in sentence #7?

A. ض
B. /
C. ^

D. ɤ
Expectation: 8.LA.4 - Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiplemeaning
words or phrases based on appropriate reading and content, choosing flexibly from a
variety of strategies.

Instructions: Have students read items #11 through #13, choose the correct answer and
mark the letter on their answer sheet.

11. Brenda went to _________ soccer game last night. She had so much fun! A.
their
B. they’re
C. there

12. Which figure of speech is the following sentence?

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 TEACHER’S EDITION 8th Grade - English

It is raining cats and dogs outside!

A. hyperbole
B. metaphor
C. idiom
D. personification

13. Which choice correctly punctuates and capitalizes the words in the following
sentence?
A. new years day comes once a year
B. New Year day comes once a year.
C. New Year's Day comes once a year.
D. new Year Day comes once a year.

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