ITBS Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS) 8th Grade 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following best describes a theme in a story?
- The sequence of events in the plot
- The central message or insight about life (Correct answer)
- The setting where the story takes place
- The narrator's point of view
Correct answer: The central message or insight about life
A theme is the underlying message or insight about human experience that the story conveys.
Question 2: What is the least common multiple (LCM) of 8 and 12?
- 16
- 24 (Correct answer)
- 36
- 48
Correct answer: 24
The smallest number divisible by both 8 and 12 is 24.
Question 3: Which branch of the U.S. government has the power to declare laws unconstitutional?
- Executive
- Legislative
- Judicial (Correct answer)
- Federal
Correct answer: Judicial
The Judicial Branch, specifically the Supreme Court, can declare laws unconstitutional through judicial review.
Question 4: A data set contains the values: 5, 8, 8, 9, 12, 14. What is the mode?
- 8 (Correct answer)
- 9
- 8.5
- 12
Correct answer: 8
The mode is the value that appears most often; 8 appears twice while all others appear once.
Question 5: Which of the following changes would most directly help reduce air pollution in a city?
- Building more highways to reduce traffic jams
- Expanding public transportation options (Correct answer)
- Increasing the number of parking garages downtown
- Raising the speed limit on major roads
Correct answer: Expanding public transportation options
Expanding public transportation reduces the number of individual vehicles on the road, directly lowering vehicle emissions.
Question 6: A passage uses the words 'however,' 'nevertheless,' and 'on the other hand.' These signal words indicate the author is doing what?
- Adding supporting evidence
- Presenting a contrast or counterargument (Correct answer)
- Providing a chronological sequence
- Drawing a final conclusion
Correct answer: Presenting a contrast or counterargument
These transitional words signal a contrast or shift to an opposing idea or counterargument.
Question 7: Which of the following correctly represents the scientific notation for 0.00047?
- 4.7 × 10³
- 4.7 × 10⁻⁴ (Correct answer)
- 47 × 10⁻⁵
- 0.47 × 10⁻³
Correct answer: 4.7 × 10⁻⁴
Move the decimal 4 places right to get 4.7, so the exponent is −4: 4.7 × 10⁻⁴.
ITBS Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS) 8th Grade 5
Which of the following best describes a theme in a story?