Free Printable CTP Practice Test for Grade 8

Scholar Tests · Set 1

CTP practice test, Grade 8

Name ______________________ Date ____________

Verbal Reasoning

Circle the letter of the best answer. About 9 minutes.

1.
Seed is to tree as caterpillar is to
1. Aleaf
2. Bbutterfly
3. Ccocoon
4. Dinsect
2.
Pedal is to bicycle as oar is to
1. Arowboat
2. Bwater
3. Cfish
4. Dpaddle
3.
Because the evidence was ______, the jury could not reach a decision.
Which word best completes the sentence?
1. Acomplete
2. Bdecisive
3. Cobvious
4. Dinconclusive
4.
Pilot is to cockpit as chef is to
1. Akitchen
2. Bwaiter
3. Crecipe
4. Doven mitt
5.
Candid is to honest as meticulous is to
1. Aslow
2. Bproud
3. Ccareful
4. Dneat
6.
The volunteer's ______ work at the shelter earned her an award from the city.
Which word best completes the sentence?
1. Abrief
2. Bcareless
3. Ctireless
4. Dlazy
7.
Spectator is to game as audience is to
1. Aactor
2. Bperformance
3. Cticket
4. Dapplause
8.
Compass is to direction as clock is to
1. Atime
2. Bwatch
3. Calarm
4. Dhands
9.
Ecstatic is to pleased as furious is to
1. Aannoyed
2. Bworried
3. Ccalm
4. Dcheerful
10.
Vaccine is to disease as raincoat is to
1. Abutton
2. Bpuddle
3. Ccloset
4. Drain

Vocabulary

Circle the letter of the best answer. About 7 minutes.

1.
The guide words on a dictionary page are symmetry and tangible.
Which word would you find on that page?
1. Atactful
2. Bexclaim
3. Cfrivolous
4. Ddetermined
2.
The root mal means "bad or badly." What does the word malicious mean?
1. Afull of jokes
2. Bmeaning to cause harm
3. Ccareful and slow
4. Dmeaning to help
3.
The car's acceleration pushed us back into our seats as it sped up.
This sentence is from a science book. What does acceleration mean?
1. Athe rate at which speed changes
2. Bthe heat inside an object
3. Cthe amount of matter in an object
4. Dthe force that pulls objects down
4.
Neither Sam nor Priya could finish the puzzle alone. When they sat down together, they finished it in ten minutes.
Which saying best fits this story?
1. ATwo heads are better than one
2. BActions speak louder than words
3. CHonesty is the best policy
4. DWhere there's a will, there's a way
5.
Grandpa did not know how to use the new coffee maker.
Which word could take the place of new to make the coffee maker sound worse, without changing what the sentence means?
1. Acheap
2. Bcutting-edge
3. Cblunt
4. Dnewfangled
6.
Before the Civil War, sectionalism split the North and the South over slavery and trade.
This sentence is from a history book. What does sectionalism mean?
1. Athe study of maps
2. Bloyalty to one's own region more than to the whole country
3. Cloyalty to a king
4. Dtrade with other nations
7.
With a haughty sniff, the judge said my cookies were "barely edible."
Which word could take the place of haughty without changing what the sentence means?
1. Anaughty
2. Bhumble
3. Cmighty
4. Darrogant
8.
The guide words on a dictionary page are arduous and arrive.
Which word would you find on that page?
1. Asuffrage
2. Bfacilitate
3. Crepudiate
4. Dargue
9.
Ana had to decline the party invitation because of her piano recital.
Which meaning of decline is used in this sentence?
1. Aa slow drop or loss
2. Bslowly become worse or less
3. Cpolitely say no to
4. Da tall stack of papers
10.
Leaving the gate open was an egregious mistake that let all the goats escape.
What does the word egregious mean in this sentence?
1. Aclever and helpful
2. Bshockingly bad and easy to notice
3. Ckind and generous
4. Dtiny and easy to forgive

Reading Comprehension

Circle the letter of the best answer. About 13 minutes.

Lola's Hands
My grandmother's hands are maps, and I am still learning to read them. Blue veins branch across their backs like rivers searching for the sea. Her knuckles rise in a ridge of small brown hills, worn soft by seventy-eight years of weather. Here, along her left thumb, runs the pale road of a scar from the summer she was seventeen, cleaning salmon in a cannery in Alaska, an ocean away from Manila. Here, on her wrist, is a shiny island where a pot of rice boiled over in a kitchen in Stockton, California, the first winter she had a kitchen of her own. Her palms are crossed with paths I cannot follow yet: night shifts at a sewing machine, three children carried on one hip and then the other, a garden of bitter melon and tomatoes coaxed out of hard ground. When I hold my hand beside hers, mine looks like a blank page, a country no one has explored. "Don't hurry," Lola says, folding my fingers into my palm the way you fold a map to keep it safe. "Go places. Do things. Your roads will come."
1.
How does the poet develop the metaphor in the first line, "My grandmother's hands are maps"?
1. AThe poet shows that Lola draws maps as her job.
2. BThe poet drops the comparison after the first stanza.
3. CEach stanza turns marks on her hands into map features, such as rivers, roads and an island.
4. DThe poet uses it only to show how large her hands are.
2.
The poet says the garden was "coaxed out of hard ground." What does the word "coaxed" suggest about Lola?
1. AShe forced the plants to grow overnight.
2. BShe paid someone else to plant it.
3. CShe grew it through patient, gentle effort.
4. DShe found the garden already growing when she moved in.
A Safer Crossing on Elm Street
To the Editor:
Every school morning, more than 300 students cross Elm Street at Fifth Avenue to reach Lincoln Middle School, and the only thing protecting us is a set of faded white stripes painted on the pavement. I am asking the city to add flashing warning lights and a crossing guard at that corner before someone gets hurt.
The most serious problem is that drivers do not stop. Elm Street is wide and straight, and many drivers treat it like a highway, even though the speed limit near the school is 20 miles per hour. Last Tuesday, my dad and I stood at the corner from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. and counted the cars that drove through the crosswalk while someone was waiting at it or crossing, and in that single hour there were 14. Last spring, a sixth grader had to jump back onto the curb when a delivery van sped through the crosswalk without slowing down.
Lincoln is also the oldest middle school in the county, and our marching band won first place at the county fair this summer. A school like ours deserves a street that looks as good as we do.
Some people will say that warning lights and a crossing guard cost too much. But a flashing light costs far less than a trip to the emergency room, and no one can put a price on a student's safety.
Please do not wait for a serious accident before making this dangerous corner safe.
Sincerely,
Hana Sato, seventh grade, Lincoln Middle School
3.
Which reason in the letter is irrelevant to the writer's claim?
1. ALincoln's marching band won first place at the county fair.
2. BMore than 300 students cross Elm Street each morning.
3. CMany drivers treat Elm Street like a highway.
4. DFourteen cars drove through the crosswalk in one hour.
4.
Which detail best supports the writer's point that drivers do not stop at the crossing?
1. AShe counted 14 cars that drove through the crosswalk in one hour.
2. BLincoln is the oldest middle school in the county.
3. CThe speed limit on Elm Street near the school is 20 miles per hour.
4. DMore than 300 students cross there each morning.
Matthew Henson's Long Road North
On April 6, 1909, a small team of men and dogs stood on the frozen Arctic Ocean. Their leader, the American naval officer Robert Peary, declared that they had reached the North Pole. With him were Matthew Henson, the African American explorer who had worked beside Peary for nearly two decades, and four Inuit men: Ootah, Seegloo, Egingwah, and Ooqueah.
Henson was born in Charles County, Maryland, in 1866. After losing both parents, he went to sea at about age twelve as a cabin boy on a merchant ship. The ship's captain taught him to read and to navigate, and by early adulthood Henson had sailed to ports in Asia, Africa, and Europe.
In 1887 he met Peary, who hired him as an assistant for a surveying trip to Nicaragua. Henson soon joined Peary's expeditions to the Arctic and became the most capable member of the team. He learned to speak the Inuit language, and from Inuit teachers he learned to drive dog sleds, build igloos, and hunt and dress for survival in extreme cold.
Whether the team truly reached the Pole is still disputed. Peary's navigation records were incomplete, and experts have questioned whether the team could have covered so much distance so quickly. The claim has never been proved, and it has never been completely disproved.
What is not disputed is how long Henson waited for credit. Peary received medals and fame, while Henson spent more than twenty years as a clerk in a federal customs office in New York. Honors came late, including a medal from Congress in 1944. Henson died in 1955, and in 1988 his remains were moved to Arlington National Cemetery and buried near Peary's.
5.
Which statement best expresses the central idea of the article?
1. APeary learned the Inuit language so that he could lead his own team.
2. BHenson was vital to Peary's expeditions, but credit for his work came late.
3. CThe North Pole had been reached many times before 1909.
4. DHenson preferred working as a clerk to exploring the Arctic.
6.
How does the author handle the claim that the team reached the North Pole?
1. AThe author states plainly that the claim is disputed and explains why.
2. BThe author says only the Inuit men believed it.
3. CThe author accepts the claim as a proven fact.
4. DThe author avoids mentioning the claim at all.
7.
According to the article, how did Henson learn the skills he needed to survive in the Arctic?
1. AHe learned them on the surveying trip to Nicaragua.
2. BHe learned them from Peary's naval training.
3. CHe learned them from Inuit teachers.
4. DHe learned them from the captain of his first ship.
Jonah Is Avoiding Me
Jonah Pike is avoiding me, and I know exactly why.
On Saturday we lost the semifinal by a single point. With four seconds remaining, I stood at the free-throw line with two chances to win the game, and I missed them both. Jonah, who has been my best friend since second grade, didn't say a word on the bus ride home; he just sat with his wrist in a bag of ice and stared out the window, probably replaying my misses in his head.
On Monday the situation got worse. He skipped our usual lunch table, and somebody mentioned that he'd spent lunch in the nurse's office, which is the oldest trick there is for avoiding people. At practice he sat on the bench in his regular clothes and never touched a basketball. Twice I caught him whispering to Coach Delgado, and both times Coach glanced in my direction and nodded, as if they were agreeing on something important. I'm fairly certain I know what it was: how to break the news that I'm being removed from the starting lineup.
That night Jonah texted me: "Can't talk. At the doctor again. Tell Coach you're ready."
Ready for what? Ready to sit on the bench for the rest of the season? Classic Jonah, sarcastic even when he's furious.
Today after practice, Coach called me over. "Jonah's wrist will be in a cast for six weeks," he explained. "He tells me you've been his most dependable passer since second grade, and he thinks you should start at guard on Friday. I happen to agree with him."
I thanked him politely, but I could see what was really going on. Jonah felt sorry for me after those free throws, and Coach was going along with it to be nice. I'll start on Friday, I suppose. But I recognize pity when I see it.
8.
How does the narrator's understanding differ from the reader's?
1. AThe narrator understands Jonah's text, but the reader finds it confusing.
2. BThe narrator and the reader both believe that Coach is planning to cut the narrator.
3. CThe narrator thinks Jonah is angry, but the clues show Jonah is hurt and on his side.
4. DThe narrator suspects Coach, but the reader suspects that Jonah's parents are involved.
9.
What does Jonah most likely mean by his text, "Tell Coach you're ready"?
1. AHe thinks the narrator should quit the team.
2. BHe wants the narrator to apologize to Coach.
3. CHe is asking the narrator for a ride to the doctor.
4. DHe wants the narrator to take his place in the lineup.
10.
Which detail best shows that Jonah was not avoiding the narrator on purpose?
1. AJonah has been the narrator's best friend since second grade.
2. BCoach says Jonah's wrist will be in a cast for six weeks.
3. CCoach glanced at the narrator and nodded.
4. DJonah skipped their usual lunch table on Monday.

Writing

Circle the letter of the best answer. About 9 minutes.

1.
Which sentence uses commas correctly?
1. AMesa Verde National Park, which is in Colorado, protects cliff homes built by, the Ancestral Puebloans.
2. BMesa Verde National Park, which is in Colorado protects, cliff homes built by the Ancestral Puebloans.
3. CMesa Verde National Park which is in Colorado, protects cliff homes built by the Ancestral Puebloans.
4. DMesa Verde National Park, which is in Colorado, protects cliff homes built by the Ancestral Puebloans.
2.
Ms. Diaz reminded Ms. Grant that her report was due on Friday.
The writer means that Ms. Grant's report was due on Friday. Which revision says this clearly?
1. AOn Friday, Ms. Diaz reminded Ms. Grant that her report was due.
2. BMs. Diaz reminded Ms. Grant that her own report was due on Friday.
3. CMs. Diaz reminded Ms. Grant that Ms. Diaz's report was due on Friday.
4. DMs. Diaz reminded Ms. Grant that Ms. Grant's report was due on Friday.
3.
Which sentence uses parentheses correctly?
1. AThe Chicago River (which flows through downtown Chicago is usually dyed green in March.
2. BThe Chicago River (which flows through downtown Chicago) is usually dyed green in March.
3. CThe Chicago River (which flows through downtown Chicago is usually dyed) green in March.
4. DThe Chicago River, (which flows through downtown Chicago) is usually dyed green in March.
4.
Which sentence is a simple sentence?
1. ABecause the school bus broke down on the highway, the students arrived at the science museum an hour late.
2. BThe hiking trail to the waterfall was steep and rocky, but the view from the top was worth every step.
3. CAfter the hikers reached the summit, they ate lunch on a flat rock, and then they took photos of the valley below.
4. DCarrying a heavy backpack full of library books, Priya climbed the steep stairs to the third floor of the middle school.
5.
A student is quoting this sentence from a letter from a summer camp:
"Camp Pine Ridge, which sits on the shore of Lake George, does not allow phones in the cabins at night."
Which shortened quotation uses an ellipsis correctly to show that words were left out?
1. ACamp Pine Ridge does not allow phones in the cabins at night.
2. BCamp Pine Ridge, which sits on the shore of Lake George, does ... allow phones in the cabins at night.
3. CCamp Pine Ridge ... does not allow phones in the cabins at night.
4. DCamp Pine Ridge, which sits on the shore of Lake George, does not allow phones ... in the cabins at night.
6.
The bones of the human skeleton do several important jobs that keep the body working. My neighbor plays the saxophone on his front porch on summer evenings. According to the National Institutes of Health, the skeleton supports the body and stores minerals such as calcium. Bones protect soft organs, such as the brain inside the skull and the heart behind the ribs. Furthermore, many bones make new blood cells in the soft marrow at their centers. Muscles pull on bones, which act like levers that let the body walk, run, and lift. In all of these ways, bones do far more than simply hold the body up.
Which sentence does NOT belong in this paragraph?
1. AMy neighbor plays the saxophone on his front porch on summer evenings.
2. BBones protect soft organs, such as the brain inside the skull and the heart behind the ribs.
3. CFurthermore, many bones make new blood cells in the soft marrow at their centers.
4. DMuscles pull on bones, which act like levers that let the body walk, run, and lift.
7.
Every eighth grader should be required to take a semester-long class on managing personal finances. A survey by our school's math department found that fewer than one in four eighth graders could explain how interest on a loan works. Learning to create a budget and save regularly helps young people avoid serious debt as adults. Critics argue that families, not schools, should be responsible for teaching children about money. However, many parents never learned these skills themselves, so a class would give every student the same strong foundation. A required personal finance class would prepare all students to make wise decisions about money for the rest of their lives.
Which sentence in the paragraph states a counterclaim, an argument for the other side?
1. AA required personal finance class would prepare all students to make wise decisions about money for the rest of their lives.
2. BEvery eighth grader should be required to take a semester-long class on managing personal finances.
3. CCritics argue that families, not schools, should be responsible for teaching children about money.
4. DLearning to create a budget and save regularly helps young people avoid serious debt as adults.
8.
The eighth graders visited the Lincoln Memorial. The memorial honors the sixteenth president.
Which sentence best combines the two sentences without changing what they mean?
1. AThe eighth graders visited the Lincoln Memorial, who honors the sixteenth president.
2. BThe eighth graders visited the Lincoln Memorial, which honor the sixteenth president.
3. CThe eighth graders visited the Lincoln Memorial, it honors the sixteenth president.
4. DThe eighth graders visited the Lincoln Memorial, which honors the sixteenth president.
9.
Members of the city council, I urge you to restore the old train station on Front Street rather than tear it down. Built in 1910, the brick station is one of the last buildings left from the years when our town grew up around the railroad. Some residents argue that the land would be more useful as a modern parking garage. However, a restored station could house shops and a small museum that would draw people downtown, which a garage could never do. ______
Which sentence would be the best concluding sentence for this paragraph?
1. AMy aunt spent the summer counting humpback whales off the coast of Alaska.
2. BSaving the old train station would protect our history and strengthen our downtown, so please vote to restore it.
3. CA study by the county historical society found that restored historic buildings in nearby towns attract thousands of visitors each year.
4. DOur science teacher showed us how to grow crystals from salt and water.
10.
Carved from a single block of marble, visitors admired the statue for hours.
This sentence has a dangling modifier. Which revision corrects it?
1. AThe statue, carved from a single block of marble and admired by visitors for hours.
2. BCarved from a single block of marble, visitors spent hours admiring the statue.
3. CCarved from a single block of granite, the statue was admired by visitors for hours.
4. DCarved from a single block of marble, the statue was admired by visitors for hours.

Quantitative Reasoning

Circle the letter of the best answer. About 10 minutes.

1.
A guitar with a list price of $1200 was sold for $720 after two successive discounts. The first discount was 20%. What was the second discount?
1. A20%
2. B25%
3. C27%
4. D40%
2.
7 markers and 3 notebooks cost $72. 2 markers and 3 notebooks cost $27. What does one marker cost?
1. A$3
2. B$5
3. C$9
4. D$45
3.
Aaron is now 3 times as old as Chloe. In 4 years' time Aaron will be 2 times as old as Chloe. How old is Aaron now?
1. A8
2. B12
3. C13
4. D16
4.
A stall owner sold 11 keyrings at $6 each. In total this was a profit of $22. How much did one of the keyrings cost the owner?
1. A$2
2. B$4
3. C$6
4. D$8
5.
In a bag, the ratio of yellow to red counters is 3 : 1, and the ratio of red to blue counters is 5 : 1. What is the ratio of yellow to blue in simplest form?
1. A15 : 1
2. B3 : 5
3. C5 : 1
4. D3 : 1
6.
A ribbon is 3 yards long. How many feet is that? (1 yard = 3 feet)
1. A3
2. B7
3. C9
4. D10
7.
One painter would paint the fence on its own in 18 hours. A second painter would paint it on its own in 9 hours. If both work at the same time, how long do they take together?
1. A6
2. B9
3. C14
4. D27
8.
Ethan and Zara share $300 in the ratio 1 : 2. How much does Ethan get?
1. A$100
2. B$105
3. C$150
4. D$200
9.
Column A: 10% of 200
Column B: 25% of 40
Compare the quantity in Column A with the quantity in Column B.
1. AColumn A is greater.
2. BColumn B is greater.
3. CThe two quantities are equal.
4. DIt cannot be decided from the information given.
10.
A square has sides 5 inches long. A rectangle is 4 inches long and 3 inches wide.
Column A: The area of the square, in square inches
Column B: The area of the rectangle, in square inches
Compare the quantity in Column A with the quantity in Column B.
1. AColumn A is greater.
2. BColumn B is greater.
3. CThe two quantities are equal.
4. DIt cannot be decided from the information given.

Mathematics