Roadmap to 8th Grade English Language Arts, New York Edition

About This Book

If Students Need to Know It, It’s in This Book
This book develops the English skills of eighth graders. It builds skills that will help them succeed in school and on the New York State test.

Why The Princeton Review?
We have more than 20 years of experience helping students master the skills needed to excel on standardized tests. Each year, we help more than 2 million students score higher and earn better grades.

We Know the New York State Testing Program
Our experts at The Princeton Review have analyzed the New York State test, and this book provides the most up-to-date, thoroughly researched practice possible for the Grade 8 English Language Arts test. We break down the test into individual skills to familiarize students with the test’s structure, while increasing their overall skill level.

We Get Results
We know what it takes to succeed in the classroom and on tests. This book includes strategies that are proven to improve student performance. We provide

• content review, detailed lessons, and practice exercises modeled on the skills tested by the New York State Grade 8 English Language Arts test
• proven test-taking skills and techniques, such as Process of Elimination and outlining drafts
• 2 complete practice New York State English Language Arts tests

Table of Contents

CONTENTS
Introduction for Parents and Teachers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Student Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Miles and Map Checks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Mile 1: Identifying Genre and Purpose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Mile 2: Identifying the Main Idea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Mile 3: Finding Supporting Details . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Mile 4: Answering Questions About Specific Information . . . . . .22
Mile 5: Answering Multiple-Choice Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
Map Check 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
Mile 6: Learning Vocabulary in Context . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
Mile 7: Elements of Narrative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
Mile 8: Using Graphic Organizers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
Mile 9: Answering Short-Response Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
Map Check 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52
Mile 10: Making Inferences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58
Mile 11: Getting Inside a Character’s Head . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62
Map Check 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66
Mile 12: Elements of Poetry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72
Mile 13: Literary Techniques . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76
Map Check 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80
Mile 14: Fact or Opinion? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86
Mile 15: Looking Closely at an Argument . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90
Mile 16: Looking Closely at the Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .94
Map Check 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96
Mile 17: Extended Response: Organizing Your Answers . . . . . . .102
Mile 18: Listening and Taking Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106
Mile 19: Extended Response: Writing About Listening Selections 108
Mile 20: Making Connections Between Texts . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110
Mile 21: Extended Response: Writing About Reading Passages . .114
Map Check 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .116
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Practice Tests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .121
Introduction to the Practice Tests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .123
Practice Test 1 Answer Sheet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .125
Practice Test 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .127
Practice Test 2 Answer Sheet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .153
Practice Test 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .155
Answers and Explanations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .181
Answer Key for Miles and Map Checks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .182
Answers and Explanations for Practice Test 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .204
Answers and Explanations for Practice Test 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .212
Listening Passages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .221
Reading List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .229