ITBS Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS) 8th Grade 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following is an example of a compound sentence?
- After the game, we went home.
- She studied hard, so she passed the test. (Correct answer)
- Running quickly, he caught the bus.
- The tall, dark-haired student won the award.
Correct answer: She studied hard, so she passed the test.
A compound sentence contains two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction like 'so.'
Question 2: The temperature dropped from 12°F to −8°F overnight. By how many degrees did it drop?
- 4°F
- 16°F
- 20°F (Correct answer)
- 8°F
Correct answer: 20°F
The change = 12 − (−8) = 12 + 8 = 20°F.
Question 3: Which of the following best describes how rivers contribute to the water cycle?
- They create precipitation by releasing heat.
- They carry water from land back to oceans, where it evaporates. (Correct answer)
- They store water permanently underground.
- They convert salt water into fresh water.
Correct answer: They carry water from land back to oceans, where it evaporates.
Rivers transport freshwater from land to oceans, where evaporation returns it to the atmosphere as part of the water cycle.
Question 4: A store has 360 items in stock. If 45% are sold, how many items remain?
- 162
- 180
- 198 (Correct answer)
- 216
Correct answer: 198
45% sold means 55% remain; 0.55 × 360 = 198 items.
Question 5: In which type of text would you most likely find footnotes and a bibliography?
- A personal narrative
- A research paper or academic article (Correct answer)
- A short story
- A persuasive speech
Correct answer: A research paper or academic article
Research papers and academic articles use footnotes and bibliographies to cite sources.
Question 6: Which of the following is NOT a renewable energy source?
- Wind power
- Solar power
- Natural gas (Correct answer)
- Hydropower
Correct answer: Natural gas
Natural gas is a fossil fuel — a non-renewable energy source formed from ancient organic matter over millions of years.
Question 7: If a shirt costs $35 and sales tax is 8%, what is the total cost?
- $37.00
- $37.80 (Correct answer)
- $38.50
- $40.60
Correct answer: $37.80
Tax = 0.08 × $35 = $2.80; total = $35 + $2.80 = $37.80.
ITBS Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS) 8th Grade 4
Which of the following is an example of a compound sentence?