NEW YORK ® 8TH GRADE READING COMPREHENSION AND WRITING SKILLS 8th_GRD_FM_i_xii.qxd:Layout 1 8/11/09 3:35 PM Page iii Copyright © 2009 LearningExpress, LLC. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. Published in the United States by LearningExpress, LLC, New York. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data 8th grade reading comprehension and writing skills. — 1st ed. p. cm. ISBN-13: 978-1-57685-711-3 (pbk. : alk. paper) ISBN-10: 1-57685-711-5 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Language arts (Middle school) I. LearningExpress (Organization) II. Title: Eighth grade reading comprehension and writing skills. LB1631.A16 2009 428.0071'2—dc22 2009016509 Printed in the United States of America 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 First Edition ISBN 978-1-57685-711-3 For information on LearningExpress, other LearningExpress products, or bulk sales, please write to us at: 2 Rector Street 26th Floor New York, NY 10006 Or visit us at: www.learnatest.com 8th_GRD_FM_i_xii.qxd:Layout 1 8/11/09 3:35 PM Page iv v Contents HOW TO USE THIS BOOK ix PRETEST 1 SECTION 1 BUILDING A STRONG FOUNDATION 17 LESSON 1 Becoming an Active Reader 19 LESSON 2 Finding the Main Idea 25 LESSON 3 Defining Vocabulary 31 LESSON 4 Distinguishing between Fact and Opinion 39 LESSON 5 Putting It All Together 47 SECTION 2 STRUCTURE 53 LESSON 6 The Parts of a Plot 55 LESSON 7 Organizing Principles 63 LESSON 8 Similarities and Differences: Comparison and Contrast 71 8th_GRD_FM_i_xii.qxd:Layout 1 8/11/09 3:35 PM Page v LESSON 9 Cause and Effect 79 LESSON 10 Summaries and Outlines 87 LESSON 11 Putting It All Together 95 SECTION 3 LANGUAGE AND STYLE 103 LESSON 12 Point of View 105 LESSON 13 Word Choice 113 LESSON 14 Style 119 LESSON 15 Literary Devices 127 LESSON 16 Putting It All Together 135 SECTION 4 READING BETWEEN THE LINES 143 LESSON 17 Finding an Implied Main Idea 145 LESSON 18 Identifying an Author’s Purpose 153 LESSON 19 Assuming Causes and Predicting Effects 159 LESSON 20 Analyzing Characters 165 LESSON 21 Putting It All Together 173 SECTION 5 INTERPRETING NON-LITERARY SOURCES 181 LESSON 22 Instructions 183 LESSON 23 Advertisements 191 LESSON 24 Graphs 199 LESSON 25 Visual Aids 207 LESSON 26 Putting It All Together 215 SECTION 6 WRITING SKILLS 225 LESSON 27 Prewriting 227 LESSON 28 Organizing Ideas 235 – CONTENTS– vi 8th_GRD_FM_i_xii.qxd:Layout 1 8/11/09 3:35 PM Page vi LESSON 29 Writing with Focus and Clarity 243 LESSON 30 Reviewing and Revising 251 LESSON 31 Putting It All Together 259 POSTTEST 267 APPENDIX Suggested Reading for 8th Graders 285 – CONTENTS– vii 8th_GRD_FM_i_xii.qxd:Layout 1 8/11/09 3:35 PM Page vii 8th_GRD_FM_i_xii.qxd:Layout 1 8/11/09 3:35 PM Page viii ix How to Use This Book E ighth grade is an exciting year that is full of changes and challenges. It’s also an important year aca- demically. As an eighth grader, you’ll be required to take tests that measure your reading, writing, and math skills. This year is also your last chance to brush up on your academic skills before you enter high school. And because you’ll need to read for almost all your classes, reading comprehension is perhaps the most important set of skills you’ll need for success. In high school, you will also be required to write more than you have before, and this book will help you develop your writing skills to excel at the next level. In eighth grade and beyond, you’ll be asked to read, understand, and interpret a variety of texts, including stories and poems, reports, essays, and scientific and technical information. While a lot of your learning will still take place in the classroom, you’ll be expected to read more and more information on your own, outside of class. You’ll need not only to understand what you read but also to respond to and assess what you read. And as the texts you read become more complex, you’ll spend a lot more time “reading between the lines” and drawing your own conclusions from the text. As your reading skills improve, so will your writing. You’ll learn to recog- nize and implement the techniques good writers use to communicate ideas to their readers. As you work through the lessons in this book you will build your critical reading, thinking, and writing skills. Each of the 31 short lessons should take about a half hour to complete. You’ll start with the basics and move on to more complex reading and writing strategies. While each chapter can be an effective skill builder on its own, it is important that you proceed through this book in order, from Lesson 1 through Lesson 31. Each les- son builds on skills and ideas discussed in the previous chapters, and as you move through this book and your skills improve, the practice passages will become longer and more difficult. 8th_GRD_FM_i_xii.qxd:Layout 1 8/11/09 3:35 PM Page ix The lessons are divided into six sections. Each section focuses on a different group of related reading com- prehension strategies and skills. These strategies are outlined at the beginning of each section and reviewed at the end of the section in a special lesson, Putting It All Together. Each lesson includes several exercises that allow you to practice the skills you have learned. To be sure you’re on the right track, at the end of each lesson you’ll find answers and explanations for the practice ques- tions. You’ll also find a section called Skill Building until Next Time after each practice session. These are help- ful suggestions for practicing your new skills. This book also includes a pretest and posttest. To help you measure your progress, take the pretest before you begin Lesson 1. The pretest will give you a sense of your strengths and weaknesses so you can focus on spe- cific chapters. After you finish the lessons, take the posttest. You’ll be able to see how much your reading com- prehension skills have improved. You’ll also be able to find out whether there are areas in which you may still need practice. – HOW TO USE THIS BOOK– x 8th_GRD_FM_i_xii.qxd:Layout 1 8/11/09 3:35 PM Page x 8TH GRADE READING COMPREHENSION AND WRITING SKILLS 8th_GRD_FM_i_xii.qxd:Layout 1 8/11/09 3:35 PM Page xi 8th_GRD_FM_i_xii.qxd:Layout 1 8/11/09 3:35 PM Page xii [...]... 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 3 8th_ GRD_1_38.qxd:Layout 1 8/11/09 3:21 PM Page 4 8th_ GRD_1_38.qxd:Layout 1 8/11/09 3:21 PM Page 5 –PRETEST– Reading Directions: Read each passage below carefully and actively Answer the questions that follow each passage Ecosystems An ecosystem is a group of animals and plants living in a specific region and interacting with one another and with their physical environment... finish reading, jump back Review the summaries, headings, and highlighted information (This includes both what you and the author highlighted.) Jumping back helps you remember the information you just read You can see how each idea fits into the whole and how ideas and information are connected Exercise 1 Just to test yourself, skim ahead through Lesson 2 Look at the summaries, headings, and other reading. .. autumn, and soccer is my favorite sport I play forward, and last year my team was really good I enjoy the competition and teamwork that I get in soccer I have fun in all the different seasons, but autumn is definitely my favorite 16 S E C T I O N 8th_ GRD_1_38.qxd:Layout 1 8/11/09 3:22 PM 1 Page 17 BUILDING A STRONG FOUNDATION 17 8th_ GRD_1_38.qxd:Layout 1 8/11/09 3:22 PM Page 18 L E S S O N 8th_ GRD_1_38.qxd:Layout... your reading skills is to become an active reader This lesson shows you how to read carefully and actively so that you can better understand and remember what you read I f you want to earn a high score on a video game, you need to concentrate all of your attention on the game You need to watch the whole screen carefully and look out for what’s coming up ahead You need to look for certain clues and be.. .8th_ GRD_1_38.qxd:Layout 1 8/11/09 3:21 PM Page 1 Pretest B efore you begin, find out how much you already know about reading comprehension and how much you need to learn Take this pretest These 40 multiple-choice questions and one writing assignment cover all the topics in this book If your score is high, you might... you’ve learned in this lesson Practice them today and for the rest of the week: 1 Write a quick note or e-mail to a friend and explain what “active reading means Describe the strategies that active readers use to better understand and remember what they read 2 Develop a detective’s eye Notice the things around you Look at the details on people’s faces and clothing Notice the names of the stores you... houses on the street where you live 3 Try your active reading strategies when you read your favorite magazine Active reading is the key to reading success Active readers use the following strategies: ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ skimming ahead and jumping back highlighting or underlining key words and ideas looking up unfamiliar vocabulary words recording their questions and comments looking for clues not just in what the... monthly or annual pass Stop by Midland Adventure Gym today! 40 How much does a monthly adult pass cost? a $28 b $12 c $32 d $36 13 8th_ GRD_1_38.qxd:Layout 1 8/11/09 3:21 PM Page 14 –PRETEST– Composition The four seasons of the year are characterized by different kinds of weather and activities Which season is your favorite and why? Write a focused paragraph with a clear thesis and several supporting statements... travelers to stay in his house for the rest of the night The next morning, Booth and his friend, using false names, paid the bill and departed 5 8th_ GRD_1_38.qxd:Layout 1 8/11/09 3:21 PM Page 6 –PRETEST– Because of this merciful act, Dr Mudd was arrested, taken to Washington, and tried on the charge that he was a friend of Booth’s and therefore helped plan the assassination Dr Mudd insisted that he knew nothing... year-round school is better c both year-round and regular school schedules have different advantages and disadvantages d the regular school schedule is better 11 The main organizing principle of this passage is a chronology b order of importance c comparison and contrast d cause and effect A Sibling Rivalry You will need to know the following words as you read the story: tandem: working together maneuver: make . YORK ® 8TH GRADE READING COMPREHENSION AND WRITING SKILLS 8th_ GRD_FM_i_xii.qxd:Layout 1 8/11/09 3:35 PM Page iii Copyright © 2009 LearningExpress, LLC. All rights reserved under International and. BOOK– x 8th_ GRD_FM_i_xii.qxd:Layout 1 8/11/09 3:35 PM Page x 8TH GRADE READING COMPREHENSION AND WRITING SKILLS 8th_ GRD_FM_i_xii.qxd:Layout 1 8/11/09 3:35 PM Page xi 8th_ GRD_FM_i_xii.qxd:Layout 1 8/11/09 3:35. critical reading, thinking, and writing skills. Each of the 31 short lessons should take about a half hour to complete. You’ll start with the basics and move on to more complex reading and writing