NY Released Test - Grade 8 ELA (2024)(New York Standards)

It creates curiosity by encouraging readers to consider becoming beekeepers.

It creates interest by showing the passion the author has for beekeeping.

It creates seriousness by showing readers how compelling beekeeping can become.

It creates suspense by suggesting how long the process is to become a beekeeper.

explaining the reasons why the author finds beekeeping to be so complicated

detailing a range of things about beekeeping that attracted the author to the hobby

describing the steps the author followed to select the equipment for and build a beehive

summarizing the experience that led the author to become a successful beekeeper

bees prefer the climate of southern states

beekeeping requires learned knowledge and skills

bees need several days to adjust to a new hive

beekeeping is easier in areas that are hot and dry

“I wanted my hives to have a bit more style, and I had a can left over from painting the outside of my house.” (paragraph 3)

“Once I received the bees I proceeded to install them into my freshly painted hive.” (paragraph 6)

“Once I achieved that level of success and tasted the result, the honey, all of the setbacks and lessons were worth it.” (paragraph 9)

I have never been too successful, but I have always harvested enough honey for myself and my friends.” (paragraph 10)

get the bees to colonize his hive

maintain a positive attitude

keep the bees alive all year

harvest any honey

It shifts from excitement about the arrival of the beehive to defeat because of the dead bees.

It varies from confusion about how to proceed to contentment with the new hobby.

It shifts from eagerness to set up the apiary to embarrassment for his failures.

It varies from strong interest in the new project to satisfaction with his accomplishments.

Beekeeping is challenging, yet it yields rewards.

Few farmers are able to become successful beekeepers.

Beekeeping requires the purchase of special, expensive equipment.

Some farmers specialize in growing and selling bee colonies.

a tone of threat and danger

a tone of distrust and sadness

a tone of curiosity and confusion

a tone of reflection and longing

It imitates the disorder of David’s thoughts during the storm.

It shows the persistent force of the storm on David and the Frog.

It emphasizes the repetitive nature of the waters along the Baja coast.

It illustrates the conditions in which the Frog was intended to sail.

“The storm might be days getting to him, might not come at all, and he didn’t have much food and fishing wasn’t going that well.” (paragraph 2)

“. . . he brought her around, up into the wind until she was tacking northwest and making a solid six knots.” (paragraph 4)

“More than once he was knocked off his feet by a wall of water . . . but he never let go of the helm, rose and took it again and again . . .” (paragraph 8)

“It was then that he saw the ship—a small, older ship, coming out of the dusk, aiming almost at him but slightly off his bow, running with the wind and sea.” (paragraph 11)

“He thought of turning and going back into the bay to ride it out but decided against it.” (paragraph 2)

“. . . he worked the helm, let her ease up . . . kept the speed between five and six knots, did not run from the storm but into it, used it, rolled with it, absorbed it.” (paragraph 7)

“. . . at one point he snarled, growled at the wind and sea—the helm in his gut, his arms aching, his legs on fire . . .” (paragraph 9)

“He came about and let the Frog sail closer, came up into the wind and stopped about thirty yards away, rising and settling on the waves and swells.” (paragraph 14)

by revealing that David’s family and friends are people who tend to think negatively

by including the name of David’s hometown to show where his trip began

by emphasizing that David has persevered and survived despite the dangerous storm

by including details about the location of the young man as he spoke to David

“The Serengeti is about the size of Vermont, so the scientists could not study the entire area. Instead, they surveyed three regions . . .” (paragraph 5)

“The scientists looked at four possible causes: lions, parasites, illegal hunters (called poachers), and poor food supply.” (paragraph 6)

“To find out if lions had been killing more giraffes in recent years, the team looked at calf survival rates and long-term records . . .” (paragraph 7)

“When the food supply is short, the environment supports fewer giraffes and the females have fewer calves.” (paragraph 10)

It indicates that Dr. Strauss considers this area a marvel.

It suggests that Dr. Strauss wants to study the ecology of the area.

It shows that Dr. Strauss wants to strengthen the reputation of Tanzania.

It demonstrates that Dr. Strauss considers the giraffe population level critical to the area.

return to a location

recover from a challenge

replace with something new

reveal a problem