Free Printable CTP Practice Test for Grade 8

Scholar Tests · Set 3

CTP practice test, Grade 8

Name ______________________ Date ____________

Verbal Reasoning

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

1.
Although the medicine tasted ______, it quickly made her feel better.
Which word best completes the sentence?
1. Abitter
2. Bpleasant
3. Cmild
4. Ddelicious
2.
Glacier is to ice as dune is to
1. Astone
2. Bwind
3. Cdesert
4. Dsand
3.
Fragile is to glass as elastic is to
1. Abrick
2. Bpaper clip
3. Crubber band
4. Dstring
4.
The committee ______ the proposal, voting against it by a wide margin.
Which word best completes the sentence?
1. Arejected
2. Bcopied
3. Cadopted
4. Dapproved
5.
Timid is to bold as frugal is to
1. Apoor
2. Bextravagant
3. Cwealthy
4. Dthrifty
6.
Deciduous is to leaves as molting is to
1. Afeathers
2. Beggs
3. Cflight
4. Dnest
7.
Famished is to eat as parched is to
1. Adry
2. Bwater
3. Csleep
4. Ddrink
8.
Mason is to brick as tailor is to
1. Ashop
2. Bcloth
3. Cneedle
4. Dsuit
9.
Generous is to stingy as humble is to
1. Akind
2. Bshy
3. Carrogant
4. Dproud
10.
Carnivore is to meat as herbivore is to
1. Ainsects
2. Bteeth
3. Cplants
4. Dgrazes

Vocabulary

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

1.
You don't have to decide now, so sleep on it and tell me tomorrow.
What does the phrase in bold mean?
1. Aforget about it
2. Bdecide right away
3. Clie on top of it
4. Dtake time to think before deciding
2.
The guide words on a dictionary page are ratify and reassure.
Which word would you find on that page?
1. Aresilient
2. Brapid
3. Cracket
4. Dration
3.
What does the word endless mean?
1. Afull of ends
2. Bending again
3. Cwithout an end
4. Dan end
4.
In 1860, South Carolina became the first state to secede from the Union.
This sentence is from a history book. What does secede mean?
1. Awin an election
2. Bpay a tax
3. Cformally leave a nation or group
4. Djoin a group
5.
Leo's denial was vehement: he shouted, pounded the table, and insisted he had never touched the cookies.
What does the word vehement mean in this sentence?
1. Aweak and half-hearted
2. Bpolite and quiet
3. Ckind and caring
4. Dexpressed with great force and strong feeling
6.
Nine of the thirteen states had to ratify the Constitution before it could take effect.
This sentence is from a history book. What does ratify mean?
1. Aread aloud
2. Bformally approve, such as a treaty or constitution
3. Crefuse to sign
4. Dwrite a first draft of
7.
Aunt Nina plays squash at the gym every Tuesday.
Which meaning of squash is used in this sentence?
1. Aa game played with rackets in a walled room
2. Ba vegetable such as a pumpkin or zucchini
3. Ccrush something flat
4. Da loud trumpet
8.
Which word is a stronger way to say delight?
1. Aeuphoria
2. Bterror
3. Cpleasure
4. Ddisappointment
9.
Which word means the opposite of embellish?
1. Adecorate
2. Bestablish
3. Csimplify
4. Dpublish
10.
e·ven
1. adj. flat and smooth
2. adj. able to be divided by two with nothing left over
3. adj. equal, with neither side ahead
4. adv. used to show that something is surprising

Six is an even number, but seven is not.
Which meaning of even is used in the sentence?
1. AMeaning 1
2. BMeaning 2
3. CMeaning 3
4. DMeaning 4

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.
Which theme does the poem express?
1. AHard work always leads to great wealth.
2. BA life's story can be read in the marks that work and time leave behind.
3. CYoung people should avoid difficult jobs.
4. DOld scars are best kept hidden from children.
2.
What does the final stanza add to the poem?
1. AIt shifts the poem to a description of her garden.
2. BIt shows that the speaker is upset about being young.
3. CIt carries the map metaphor into the speaker's future, with roads still to come.
4. DIt reveals that Lola never wanted to leave Manila and still dreams of going back.
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.
3.
Which statement best expresses the central idea of the article?
1. AHenson preferred working as a clerk to exploring the Arctic.
2. BHenson proved beyond any doubt that he was the first person to reach the North Pole.
3. CHenson was vital to Peary's expeditions, but credit for his work came late.
4. DPeary learned the Inuit language so that he could lead his own team.
4.
How does the author handle the claim that the team reached the North Pole?
1. AThe author accepts the claim as a proven fact.
2. BThe author calls the claim a hoax invented by Henson.
3. CThe author says only the Inuit men believed it.
4. DThe author states plainly that the claim is disputed and explains why.
5.
According to the article, how did Henson learn the skills he needed to survive in the Arctic?
1. AHe learned them while working at the customs office.
2. BHe learned them from the captain of his first ship.
3. CHe learned them from Inuit teachers.
4. DHe learned them on the surveying trip to Nicaragua.
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.
6.
How does the narrator's understanding differ from the reader's?
1. AThe narrator thinks Jonah is angry, but the clues show Jonah is hurt and on his side.
2. BThe narrator understands Jonah's text, but the reader finds it confusing.
3. CThe narrator suspects Coach, but the reader suspects that Jonah's parents are involved.
4. DThe narrator knows that Jonah is hurt, but the reader believes Jonah is angry.
7.
What does Jonah most likely mean by his text, "Tell Coach you're ready"?
1. AHe wants the narrator to take his place in the lineup.
2. BHe is mocking the narrator for missing the free throws.
3. CHe wants the narrator to apologize to Coach.
4. DHe is asking the narrator for a ride to the doctor.
8.
Which detail best shows that Jonah was not avoiding the narrator on purpose?
1. AJonah skipped their usual lunch table on Monday.
2. BCoach glanced at the narrator and nodded.
3. CJonah has been the narrator's best friend since second grade.
4. DCoach says Jonah's wrist will be in a cast for six weeks.
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
9.
Which reason in the letter is irrelevant to the writer's claim?
1. AMore than 300 students cross Elm Street each morning.
2. BA delivery van sped through the crossing without slowing down.
3. CMany drivers treat Elm Street like a highway.
4. DLincoln's marching band won first place at the county fair.
10.
Which detail best supports the writer's point that drivers do not stop at the crossing?
1. AThe speed limit on Elm Street near the school is 20 miles per hour.
2. BShe counted 14 cars that drove through the crosswalk in one hour.
3. CElm Street is wide and straight.
4. DMore than 300 students cross there each morning.

Writing

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

1.
Which sentence is written correctly?
1. ADistracted by a video game, the cookies in the oven were forgotten by Malik.
2. BThe astronomer pointed out a comet to the students with a long, glowing tail.
3. CAs Zoe climbed the tall oak tree, her sneaker slipped off her foot.
4. DThe coach put the trophy in the glass case that our team won at the state finals.
2.
Which sentence uses commas correctly?
1. AThe Appalachian Trail which runs from Georgia to Maine, is, more than two thousand miles long.
2. BThe Appalachian Trail which runs from Georgia to Maine, is more than two thousand miles long.
3. CThe Appalachian Trail, which runs from Georgia to Maine, is more than two thousand miles long.
4. DThe Appalachian Trail, which runs from Georgia to Maine, is more than, two thousand miles long.
3.
The bridge was covered in ice. For that reason, the buses took the long way to school.
Which sentence best combines the two sentences without changing what they mean?
1. AAlthough the bridge was covered in ice, the buses took the long way to school.
2. BThe bridge was covered in ice the buses took the long way to school.
3. CBecause the bridge was covered in ice, the buses took the long way to school.
4. DThe bridge was covered in ice, the buses took the long way to school.
4.
A ______ has thick gray skin and one or two horns on its nose.
Which word is spelled correctly and completes the sentence?
1. Arhinoseros
2. Brhinocerous
3. Crinoceros
4. Drhinoceros
5.
In which sentence should the words in bold NOT be set off with commas?
1. AThe Brooklyn Bridge which opened in 1883 crosses the East River in New York City.
2. BThe Hudson River which flows past New York City begins in the Adirondack Mountains.
3. CLake Michigan the only Great Lake entirely inside the United States borders four states.
4. DAnyone who wants to join the chess club should talk to Mr. Hayes after school.
6.
Glaciers are slow-moving masses of ice that can reshape the land over thousands of years. According to the National Park Service, glaciers helped carve the steep granite walls of Yosemite Valley in California. As they creep forward, glaciers can carve deep valleys and scoop out huge basins in the land. ______, the Great Lakes formed in basins that glaciers dug out during the last ice age. When glaciers melt, they leave behind long ridges of rock, gravel, and sand. Through their slow but steady movement, glaciers have shaped many of the landscapes we see today.
Which word or phrase best fills the blank?
1. AFinally
2. BFor example
3. CNevertheless
4. DHowever
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. 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. ______
Which sentence would be the best concluding sentence for this paragraph?
1. AA required personal finance class would prepare all students to make wise decisions about money for the rest of their lives.
2. BThe Everglades in southern Florida are home to both alligators and crocodiles.
3. CLearning to create a budget and save regularly helps young people avoid serious debt as adults.
4. DMy grandfather restored an antique sailboat and named it after his first dog.
8.
Our neighbors said that ______ and their dog would walk with us to the parade.
Which word best completes the sentence?
1. Athem
2. Bthey
3. Cthemselves
4. Dtheir
9.
Either a sandwich or two slices of pizza ______ included with each lunch ticket.
Which word or words best complete the sentence?
1. Ais
2. Bare
3. Cwas
4. Dhas been
10.
Members of the school board, our district should install solar panels on the roofs of its schools. According to the US Department of Energy, the cost of installing solar panels has fallen sharply since 2010. Electricity from the sun would lower the district's energy bills and free up money for teachers, books, and equipment. Some board members argue that the panels would cost too much to install in the first place. However, the savings on monthly electric bills would gradually pay back the cost of the panels. Solar panels would be a smart, money-saving investment for our district, and I urge the board to approve them.
Which sentence in the paragraph states a counterclaim, an argument for the other side?
1. AAccording to the US Department of Energy, the cost of installing solar panels has fallen sharply since 2010.
2. BSolar panels would be a smart, money-saving investment for our district, and I urge the board to approve them.
3. CSome board members argue that the panels would cost too much to install in the first place.
4. DMembers of the school board, our district should install solar panels on the roofs of its schools.

Quantitative Reasoning

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

1.
Zara is now 3 times as old as Mia. In 4 years' time Zara will be 2 times as old as Mia. How old is Zara now?
1. A4
2. B8
3. C12
4. D13
2.
Lucas and Tom share $105 in the ratio 5 : 2. How much does Tom get?
1. A$15
2. B$30
3. C$35
4. D$42
3.
4 markers and 4 rulers cost $52. 1 marker and 4 rulers cost $31. What does one ruler cost?
1. A$4
2. B$6
3. C$7
4. D$9
4.
A laptop with a list price of $700 was sold for $420 after two successive discounts. The first discount was 20%. What was the second discount?
1. A20%
2. B25%
3. C27%
4. D45%
5.
In a bag, the ratio of blue to red marbles is 3 : 2, and the ratio of red to white marbles is 4 : 3. What is the ratio of blue to white in simplest form?
1. A6 : 3
2. B3 : 3
3. C2 : 1
4. D9 : 8
6.
A shop sells a clock for $275. This is a profit of 10% on what the shop paid. How much did the shop pay for the clock?
1. A$247.50
2. B$250.00
3. C$275.00
4. D$302.50
7.
A bag of flour weighs 5 pounds. How many ounces is that? (1 pound = 16 ounces)
1. A60
2. B78
3. C80
4. D81
8.
Column A: 5/6
Column B: 10/15
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.
9.
Column A: 39 × 9
Column B: 24 × 8
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.
One painter would paint the fence on its own in 20 hours. A second painter would paint it on its own in 5 hours. If both work at the same time, how long do they take together?
1. A4
2. B13
3. C15
4. D25

Mathematics