Ohio 8th Grade English Language Arts (ELA) OST Practice Test

These questions are part of the practice quiz. Start practicing

• How can you identify the theme of a short story without relying on a single incident?
• Which statement best defines denotation?
• Which term is a figure of speech that makes a reference to a place, person, or something that happened; can be real or imaginary?
• Which term identifies the time and place where the story occurs?
• In nonfiction, which of the following best describes the role of a topic sentence in a paragraph?
• When analyzing a character’s development, what signals a turning point in a story?
• The main idea or message the author wants to convey is called the:
• Which term is the use of words to convey the opposite of their literal meaning; a statement or situation where the meaning is contradicted by the appearance or presentation of the idea?
• How does an author establish point of view, and what effect does it have on reliability?
• Which term means an expression whose meaning is different from the literal words?
• Which of the following best supports a claim with credible evidence?
• Which are the three categories used to persuade an audience?
• In an informational text, how can you tell if a statement is a fact or an opinion?
• Which specific term describes a narrative told from the narrator's own perspective using 'I'?
• What is the purpose of context clues when analyzing vocabulary in a non-fiction excerpt?
• How can headings and subheadings help you locate key ideas quickly in nonfiction text?
• Which term is when the intended meaning of a statement differs from what the words appear or express?
• How does an author’s choice of diction influence tone and reader perception?
• Identify a common misplaced modifier and explain how to correct it.
• Which term is a figure of speech that makes a reference to a place, person, or something that happened; can be real or imaginary?
• Which type of imagery would you expect in a line like 'the rough thread snagged my skin'?
• Which term describes the author's attitude toward the subject, as conveyed through diction and details?
• Which term refers to the central character, usually the hero or heroine?
• Which term describes characters that have big, key roles in the story, such as protagonists and antagonists?
• When integrating a quotation into your analysis, which practice best supports your argument?
• Which term describes imagery that emphasizes texture and the feel of materials in writing?
• Longer works of fiction that often include multiple subplots are called what?
• What role does tone play in shaping a reader interpretation of the author's argument?
• Which term refers to the repetition of initial consonant sounds in a group of words?
• Why is paraphrasing often preferred to quoting in some writing, and when is quotation best?
• Which device involves repeating the first word or words at the start of successive phrases or clauses?
• Which term describes the literal dictionary meaning of a word?
• Two consecutive lines of poetry that rhyme are called a:
• Which term describes comparing unlike things by saying one thing is another?
• In a novel, the author uses descriptions of fabric to characterize a character's personality or mood. This is an example of which imagery?
• Which option best describes how a metaphor differs from a simile?
• When a writer mentions the weave, weight, and drape of fabric to convey mood, what imagery are they using?
• What term best describes characters who fill an empty spot and provide someone to bounce information off of?
• Which trio should you focus on when performing a close reading to interpret meaning?
• Which type of imagery relies on touch or texture to convey meaning?
• How do you write a concise summary of a passage without minor details?
• What role does foreshadowing play in shaping anticipation or suspense?
• Which term refers to smearing or damages an opponent; a propaganda method also called namecalling?
• What are the two main purposes of the writing process you should demonstrate on a constructed-response essay?
• Which term describes the repetition of initial consonant sounds?
• Which statement correctly distinguishes denotation from connotation?
• Which term describes a thing that represents or stands for something else, especially a material object representing something abstract?
• Which term describes the overall arc of events that make up the main story?
• What is the difference between a metaphor and a simile, and how do they affect meaning?
• Which term describes the character who opposes the protagonist and creates conflict?
• Which term describes the type of literature; e.g., mystery, drama, or romance?
• Which type of imagery would most likely describe the feel of a character's clothing in a narrative?
• When comparing two passages, what is a key difference you should identify besides their stance?
• Which characterization requires readers to infer traits from actions and dialogue?
• Which term describes a character who experiences growth or learning by the end?
• Which term describes sound words?
• Which term describes what the author uses to set the mood?
• The type of conflict that includes struggles between a character and another character, society, or nature is:
• Which term describes imagery that conveys how something feels when touched?
• Which point of view uses pronouns like you, your, and yours when addressing the reader?
• What is the function of a caption in an informational graphic, and how does it relate to the main text?
• Which statement best explains how a narrator's perspective can shape evidence used to support claims?
• Which term involves the reader (or audience) knowing something about what's happening in the plot, about which the character(s) have no idea?
• Which term refers to the interruption in a narrative to show past events?
• Which term describes a pair of rhyming lines in a poem?
• Which term describes characters that change, grow, or learn something by the end of the story?
• Which term describes the interruption in the narrative to recount a past event?
• Which term best fits a reference to something outside the text, such as a place, person, or event?
• How can you identify foils or contrasts between characters, and why is that useful?
• Which term describes a narrative told by a narrator outside the story?
• In poetry, what is the effect of a regular rhyme scheme or rhythm, if present?
• Which term refers to the overall atmosphere created by a text?
• Which statement best captures the structural difference between a narrative poem and a free verse poem?
• Besides data and expert testimony, what else strengthens an argument?
• How does a theme differ from a plot, and how is theme supported through character and events?
• A line describes the texture of satin against the skin to evoke luxury. This is an example of which imagery?
• What term refers to the voice telling the story?
• Which statement best describes the central idea of a text and its key details?
• What is pronoun-antecedent agreement, and why is it important in formal writing?
• Which term describes a brief work of fiction with plot, characters, setting, point of view, and theme?
• The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses is called:
• Which punctuation marks correctly join two independent clauses, and what is required for their use?
• Which term names the people or animals who take part in the stories?
• What is the primary purpose of using foils or contrasts between characters?
• Which element best helps convey precise meaning in an informational text?
• How do you determine the sequence of events in a narrative?
• Which term refers to language that paints a mental picture through sensory details?
• Which element in a narrative most clearly signals a turning point in a character's development?
• In a multi-source task, how should you handle conflicting evidence from different sources?
• Which statement about denotation is true?
• In poetry analysis, what is an example of a line that enhances tone through imagery?
• Which term would you use to describe the narrator outside the story who recounts events from a general viewpoint?
• In poetry analysis, a line that describes how a fabric feels to the touch is an example of what imagery?
• Literature that draws on real people and events to tell invented stories is known as what?
• What is the author’s purpose and tone in a persuasive essay, and how do word choices reveal tone?
• Which term describes a two- or three-word phrase that contains opposite ideas?
• Which term is sometimes called the irony of events, defined as a situation where the outcome is incongruous with what was expected?
• In literary analysis, imagery based on texture and touch is most often called what?
• When a writer uses an ellipsis in dialogue, what does it usually indicate?
• Which term means giving human characteristics to non-human things?
• Which statement best indicates that a pronoun has a clear antecedent?
• How can you evaluate the credibility of online sources for a research task?
• Which term is the sequence of events that make up a story?
• A writer describes a silk scarf, focusing on its weave, weight, and sheen as it moves across the character's hands. Which type of imagery is primarily being used?
• Which term best names the central character usually the hero?
• A problem or struggle between two opposing forces in a story is called:
• Which term describes a character with many sides and complexity?
• Which option best describes imagery that appeals to the sense of touch or the feel of fabric in writing?
• Which term describes ideas or statements that are often false or exaggerated; spread to help a cause?
• Ethos, Pathos, and Logos are examples of:
• Which third-person point of view narrates looking in on the story and can reveal emotions and motives of all characters?
• Which form of irony involves stating the opposite of what is meant, often for humorous or emphatic effect?
• What is a claim in a persuasive text, and what makes it strong?
• Descriptions that help readers experience something through hearing are called:
• How can connotations shift a reader’s interpretation of a text?
• Which term refers to the main idea or point that the paragraph is making about a topic?
• Which term refers to the collection of related events and the people involved within a single narrative?
• Which term describes characters that have small roles in the story and provide someone to bounce information off of?
• Which term refers to independent, related stories and conflicts alongside the main plot?
• In a constructed-response essay, which statement best describes how the claim or thesis should be handled?
• Which term refers to the feelings attached to a word?
• Which term means hinting at something that will happen in the future?
• How can you synthesize information from text and a graphic to support a claim?
• Which point of view describes the narrator outside the story and seeing events through one character, using he or she?
• Which term means giving human attributes to a non-human object?
• Which term refers to words that imitate natural sounds?
• When selecting quotes for a literary analysis, which best describes how to choose them?
• What is the most accurate description of the purpose of analyzing character development in a story?
• How do dialogue and actions reveal a character’s internal conflict?
• Which option best describes how imagery in poetry can influence a reader's perception?
• What is a good first step to figure out the meaning of an unfamiliar word in a passage?
• Which term is used to discuss imagery that emphasizes the texture or fabric quality in a scene?
• Which term refers to the conclusion or solution to the story?
• When evaluating an author’s claim, which two types of evidence should you consider most carefully?
• Protagonists and antagonists are examples of what type of characters?
• How does technical language function in informational texts, and when is it appropriate to define terms?
• Which term describes characters that experience no major changes in the story?
• When determining the sequence of events in a narrative, what should you note to reflect chronology accurately?
• Which term refers to a narrator inside the story who tells from the perspective of a single character?
• Which term best completes the definition 'imagery based on texture and touch'?
• How do captions and graphs function in informational texts?
• Which term refers to the opponent, usually the villain?
• Which term is used for the big idea or lesson that the author wants readers to take away?
• What is imagery, and how does it affect the reader’s understanding of a scene?
• What is the difference between connotation and denotation, and why does it matter in analysis?
• Name a figurative language device and explain its effect on meaning or tone.
• Which term describes a character that has many sides?
• When performing a close reading of a passage, what three aspects should you analyze to interpret meaning?
• What is textual evidence, and why is it essential in analyzing a text?
• What signals a turning point in a story?
• What term describes an exaggeration used for emphasis?
• In a multi-paragraph essay, how should you organize your paragraphs to maintain coherence?
• Which term describes imagery that evokes the feel of fabrics like velvet, wool, or silk?
• Which term refers to the perspective from which the story is told?
• Which point of view describes a narrator outside the story and can reveal the thoughts of all characters?
• In a multi-source research task, how do you determine which source is most credible?
• Which term is described as an author painting a picture with words?
• Which term describes ideas or statements that are often false or exaggerated; spread to help a cause?
• Which term represents the central idea or message about life that the story conveys to readers?
• Which term refers to descriptive language that appeals to the sense of smell?
• Which term is defined as the dictionary definition of the word?
• Which description best captures what makes a quotation effective when citing textual evidence?
• How should you arrange paragraphs in a well-organized multi-paragraph essay?
• The most important idea that tells what a paragraph or larger section is about is called the:
• What text structure signals a problem/solution in a passage, and what clues help you identify it?
• The type of conflict where a character fights against themselves is:
• In a narrative excerpt, what can you infer about a character's motive from their actions and dialogue?
• Which strategy best helps infer the meaning of an unfamiliar word when reading non-fiction?
• What is the purpose of headings, captions, and graphs in an informational text?
• Which term describes comparing unlike things using like or as?
• In third-person narration, which point of view grants access to the inner thoughts and feelings of every character?
• How does setting influence a story's mood and events?
• What is the difference between a fact and an inference in reading comprehension?
• Which term means the author tells about the character directly, without inference?
• Which term describes a character that has only one side and no emotion?
• Which term describes the narrator who is outside the story and can reveal the thoughts and motives of all characters?
• The lesson or moral of a story is known as a: