Grade 8 ELA Practice Test: How Dialogue and Incidents Reveal Character
- How Dialogue and Incidents Reveal Character
- 10 questions
- 12 minutes
These 10 questions use short original scenes to show how what characters say and do reveals who they are. Tip: compare a character's words with his or her actions; when they do not match, the gap usually tells you something.
Tap an option to mark your answer. You can change your mind, or tap the same option again to leave the question blank. The correct answers and explanations appear when you finish the test.Tap an option to answer; tap it again to leave the question blank.
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Question 1
"You can have the window seat," Eli said, sliding his bag over before his little cousin could ask. When the flight attendant offered snacks, he passed his pretzels to her too. "I'm not hungry," he said, though his stomach growled loudly a moment later.
What do Eli's words and actions reveal about him?
Correct answer: A
Eli gives up both the window seat and his snack for his cousin. Nothing in the scene shows fear of flying or a wish to impress anyone.
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Question 2
"You can have the window seat," Eli said, sliding his bag over before his little cousin could ask. When the flight attendant offered snacks, he passed his pretzels to her too. "I'm not hungry," he said, though his stomach growled loudly a moment later.
What does the detail "his stomach growled loudly a moment later" show?
Correct answer: C
Eli said he was not hungry, but his stomach shows he was. The contrast suggests he gave away his snack on purpose.
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Question 3
"I finished my part of the project," Dana said. "Did you finish yours?"
Marco shrugged. "Basically. I mean, I started it. Mostly."
"The presentation is tomorrow morning," Dana said slowly.What does Marco's dialogue suggest?
Correct answer: D
Marco hedges with "Basically," "I started it" and "Mostly," which shows he has done little. He did start it, so he did not completely forget about the project.
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Question 4
"I finished my part of the project," Dana said. "Did you finish yours?"
Marco shrugged. "Basically. I mean, I started it. Mostly."
"The presentation is tomorrow morning," Dana said slowly.What does Dana's last line, said slowly, reveal about her feelings?
Correct answer: B
By slowly reminding Marco of the deadline, Dana signals concern and irritation. She clearly remembers the date, so she has not forgotten it.
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Question 5
Which incident would best show that a character is honest?
Correct answer: A
Returning money she could have kept shows honesty. Winning a contest or being on time shows other qualities, such as skill or reliability.
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Question 6
Why might an author reveal a character mainly through dialogue instead of the narrator's description?
Correct answer: C
Dialogue shows rather than tells, so readers work out traits from a character's words and tone. It does not remove characters or hide the setting.
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Question 7
When the coach announced that Tyler would sit out the championship because of his injury, Tyler said nothing. That evening he showed up at practice anyway, carrying water bottles and cheering for every pass.
What does this incident reveal about Tyler?
Correct answer: B
Tyler supports the team even though he is injured and cannot play. His cheering rules out anger at his teammates.
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Question 8
Which line of dialogue best shows that a character is impatient?
Correct answer: D
Complaining that the trip is taking forever shows impatience. "Take your time" shows the opposite trait, patience.
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Question 9
Which choice best explains how dialogue can move the action of a story forward?
Correct answer: C
When a character says something important, such as revealing a secret, other characters react and the plot moves. Dialogue does not remove the conflict.
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Question 10
"I finished my part of the project," Dana said. "Did you finish yours?"
Marco shrugged. "Basically. I mean, I started it. Mostly."
"The presentation is tomorrow morning," Dana said slowly.Which phrase best describes the way Dana delivers her last line?
Correct answer: A
Dana speaks slowly and states the deadline plainly, so her words are deliberate and aimed at Marco. She is not joking or confused.
Questions you leave blank are not counted as wrong.
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