The document is a pre-test for an 8th grade English program that covers various topics: - Holiday shopping traditions like Black Friday and why stores offer deals - Comprehension questions about a reading passage on Eleanor Roosevelt - Listening exercises and speaking prompts evaluating oral responses - Reading comprehension questions about two poems The test evaluates students on their English language skills including reading, writing, listening and speaking abilities. It addresses various standards for 8th grade English learning.

1. English Program
Pre and Post Test
8th
Grade
Student’s Edition

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PRE-­‐POST
ENGLISH
TEST
2
1. According to the text, why do stores set prices so low on some items that they
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 old 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.
4. Which best explains the main idea of the third paragraph?
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
LISTENING
Part One
Directions: The teacher will read aloud a short section. Listen carefully to the passage
and answer the following questions.
8.L.1 Listen and collaborate with peers during social interactions, read-aloud (of
fictional or informational texts); oral presentations; and class, group and partner
discussions.

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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 best explains 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.
8.S.2 Respond orally to closed and open-ended questions.
a. Memorize, analyze, and follow increasingly complex instructions and directions.
b. Describe, explain, support, discuss, and synthesize information to express self.
Why is it important to learn a second language? Read the quotes about learning
languages. Choose two of them and comment.
SPEAKING
Part Two
Directions: The teacher will evaluate the student orally using the rubric.
“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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SHORT-ANSWER ORAL OR NON-VERBAL PRODUCTION RUBRIC
Responses can be non-verbal or verbal in English. Spanish responses are not
considered when assigning a score to a short-answer oral or non-verbal production
item measuring.
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.
Score Criteria
2
Full Oral or Non-verbal Production – A thorough oral or non-verbal
production of the concept has been demonstrated. The student’s
response is correct and complete and provides evidence related to the
question/task. Details in the response are clear accurate.
1
Partial Oral or Non-verbal Productions – Partial oral or non-verbal
production of the concept has been demonstrated. The student’s
response provides some information that is accurate. However, the
response is not complete and may not provide clear evidence related to
the questions/task.
0
No Oral or Non-verbal Production – The student’s response
demonstrates no oral or non-verbal production no understanding of the
concept being assessed. The response is inaccurate or unrelated to the
question/task
READING
Part Three
Directions: With these questions, you will show how well you can read and understand
written English. There are two reading selections and some questions about each one.
For each question, mark the letter of the correct answer on your answer sheet.

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The Road Not Taken
By: Robert Frost
Answer:
8. The word diverged in the first
stanza means:
A. to separate
B. to converge
C. to be direct
D. to take a turn
9. The point of view in this poem is:
A. omniscient third person
B. second person
C. third person
D. first person
The First Lady of the World
By: Doris Faber
1 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.
2 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.
3 Eleanor worked at a canteen
during the war serving soup and snacks
to soldiers. In 1920, she joined the
1 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;
2 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,
3 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.
4 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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6
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.
4 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.
5 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.
6 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
10. 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.
11. 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.

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12. “Since he could no longer walk, she became his legs.”
The sentence above is an example of which literary device?
A. an idiom
B. an analogy
C. a metaphor
D. a simile
13. What is the main idea of this selection?
A. Anna Eleanor Roosevelt was born in New York City and worked on her self-esteem.
B. Anna Eleanor Roosevelt 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.
14. Read 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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8. STUDENT’S
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PRE-­‐POST
ENGLISH
TEST
8
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 the same. This has been a problem for years. The pollution causes for many
beaches to close due to trash and contamination in the water. It is a pity that many gorgeous
beaches have to close due to recklessness of people.
15. QUESTION: What propositions do you have in preventing pollution and contamination
at our beaches in Puerto Rico? Please write your ideas in a paragraph.
WRITING
Part Four
Directions: In this part of the test, you will show how well you understand how to write English.
For each question, mark the letter of the correct answer on your answer sheet.
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.

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SCORE RUBRIC FOR WRITING PROMPT
2 Complete Written Production – A thorough written production of
the notion has been demonstrated. The student’s answer is
correct and complete. It also provides evidence associated to
the question. Details in the reaction are clear and precise.
1 Incomplete Written Productions – Unfinished written construction
of the notion has been demonstrated. The student’s response
provides some information that is accurate. Nevertheless, the
response is not complete and may not provide clear evidence
related to the questions/task.
0 No Written Production – The student’s response determines no
written construction or no understanding of the notion being
assessed. The response is erroneous or isolated to the question.
Image retrieved from: lifestyle.howstuffworks.com
16. 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.
17. 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.
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.

10. STUDENT’S
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1
0
18. 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.
19. 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.
20. 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.
21. 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.
http://www.sinclair.edu/centers/tlc/pub/handouts_worksheets/english/transitions.pdf
http://www.grammarbook.com/grammar_quiz/quiz_results.asp

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1
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.
22. In sentence 1, the author needs to change —
A. “four” to for
B. “of” to off
C. “pair” to pare
D. “by” to buy.
23. What is another word that can replace the word “sufficient” in sentence 3?
A. insufficient
B. lacking
C. absent
D. enough
LANGUAGE
Part Five
Directions: Read carefully the text and answer the questions correctly.
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 multiple-meaning words or phrases
based on appropriate reading and content, choosing flexibly from a variety of strategies.

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2
24. 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
25. Which symbol would show that a word is missing before the word Julia in sentence 7?
A. ¶
B. /
C. ^
D. ɤ
26. Brenda went to _________ soccer game last night. She had so much fun!
A. their
B. they’re
C. there
D. where
27. What type of figurative language is the following sentence: It is raining cats and dogs
outside!
A. hyperbole
B. metaphor
C. idiom
D. Personification
28. 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.
8.LA.4 Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words or phrases
based on appropriate reading and content, choosing flexibly from a variety of strategies