SBAC Grade 8 ELA Practice Test 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: 1. What can be inferred from the fact that the men’s faces turned “white” in the underlined sentence?
- The men were afraid that Clara would be seriously hurt or killed by going to help. (Correct answer)
- The men had not wanted Clara to tend to them or order them around when she first arrived.
- The men were terrified of the coming war and wanted Clara to escape with them.
- The men did not want to be moved to the hospital on the other side of the bridge.
Correct answer: The men were afraid that Clara would be seriously hurt or killed by going to help.
The passage states that the men's faces 'grew ashy white as they guessed the nature of the summons, ... and they begged me to send them, but save myself.' This strong physical reaction and their plea for Clara to save herself clearly indicate their profound fear for her safety and life if she were to go to the dangerous location across the river.
Question 2: 2. Which of the following might be a good title for the above selection?
- Clara Barton: "The Angel of the Battlefields" (Correct answer)
- "The Angel of the Civil War"
- Civil War Nurses and the Work of Clara Barton
- “When the Fighting Was Over: Clara Barton, Civil War Hero”
Correct answer: Clara Barton: "The Angel of the Battlefields"
The passage consistently portrays Clara Barton as a courageous and compassionate figure who tirelessly ministers to wounded and dying soldiers directly on the battlefield, often risking her own life. The title 'The Angel of the Battlefields' perfectly encapsulates her heroic and nurturing role amidst the horrors of war, bringing comfort and aid where it was most desperately needed.
Question 3: 3. Why does the author mention the instances when Clara’s life had been in danger on the battlefield?
- To show that Clara was an unwilling participant in the initial war effort.
- To help the reader picture how Clara seemed to not really be a part of the battle.
- To compare how many battles she lived through with how many armed men had not. (Correct answer)
- To illustrate how battles were turned through the care she provided.
Correct answer: To compare how many battles she lived through with how many armed men had not.
The author highlights instances where Clara Barton narrowly escaped death, such as a bullet tearing her sleeve while killing a nearby soldier, and an exploding shell passing between her and an officer. These examples, contrasted with the constant death of armed men around her, emphasize her miraculous survival and underscore the immense danger she faced, implying she lived through more battles than many soldiers.
Question 4: 4. Which of the following best explains why the author referred to one of the soldiers as “the poor lad”?
- She wanted to show that the man had little or no material belongings.
- She wanted to build sympathy for the young man who died. (Correct answer)
- She wanted to show that the soldier had only been a young boy, not a man.
- She wanted to create an image in the mind of the reader about the soldier.
Correct answer: She wanted to build sympathy for the young man who died.
The phrase 'poor lad' is an expression of pity and sorrow. By using it immediately after describing how a bullet 'ended the life of the poor lad,' the author aims to evoke a strong emotional response from the reader, fostering sympathy and compassion for the young soldier who tragically lost his life.
SBAC Grade 8 ELA Practice Test 1
1.
What can be inferred from the fact that the men’s faces turned “white” in the underlined sentence?