What an object or a type of character stands for

Grade 8 Reading Worksheet

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   The Metronome (original story)

   [1] Every Thursday, Jun climbed the stairs to Mr. Okafor's music room, where a wooden metronome stood on top of the piano. [2] Jun disliked it, because each tick seemed to point out another rushed note, like a tiny judge in the corner. [3] The spring recital was six weeks away, and Jun still hurried through the hardest section of the piece. [4] “Don't fight the tick,” Mr. Okafor said. “Walk beside it.” [5] Mr. Okafor slid the weight to a slower speed, folded both hands, and let Jun find the beat alone. [6] That evening Jun practiced the hard section again, and the ticks lined up with the notes one by one.

   [7] After a week, Jun began every practice by starting the metronome first and humming along with it. [8] On the night of the recital, Jun reached for the metronome out of habit, but it was sitting on the shelf at home. [9] Mr. Okafor waited at the side of the stage and gave one small nod. [10] Jun walked to the piano, took a slow breath, and tapped a steady beat on one knee. [11] The hard section came out smooth and even in front of the whole audience, and Jun did not rush once. [12] At home that night, Jun set the metronome on the desk and left it silent.

2. 1.

   Ari follows the metronome. Which row shows what it stands for in [2], in [7] and in [10]?

   • [2]: a judge of mistakes. [7]: a judge of mistakes. [10]: a beat Jun carries inside.
   • [2]: a beat Jun carries inside. [7]: a steady partner. [10]: a judge of mistakes.
   • [2]: a judge of mistakes. [7]: a steady partner. [10]: a partner Jun still needs.
   • [2]: a judge of mistakes. [7]: a steady partner. [10]: a beat Jun carries inside.
3. 2.

   Esme names the story's pattern. Which pattern fits, and which sentence shows it best?

   • The test: in [3], the spring recital is six weeks away and Jun still rushes the hard section.
   • The rescue: in [9], Mr. Okafor waits at the side of the stage and gives one small nod.
   • The test: in [11], Jun plays the hard section evenly in front of the whole audience.
   • Journey and return: in [1], Jun climbs the stairs to the music room on Thursdays.

4. The Life Jacket (original story)

   [1] On the first day of summer, Ren stood at the ferry dock with a duffel bag and a ticket to visit Grandma Ines on Gull Island. [2] A heavy chain hung across the gangway, and Ms. Brandt, the dock keeper, waited beside it with a clipboard. [3] Ms. Brandt held out a bulky orange life jacket and told Ren to put it on. [4] The jacket was far too big, and Ren tugged at the sleeves, hoping nobody on the dock would notice. [5] “Nobody boards until it fits,” Ms. Brandt said, tightening every strap and checking the buckle twice before unhooking the chain.

   [6] The crossing began calmly, but halfway across, the waves rose and slapped against the side of the ferry. [7] Ren pulled the straps snug and held the rail, and the orange jacket felt solid against the wind. [8] On the island, Grandma Ines taught Ren to row a small boat, to tie a sailor's knot, and to read the tide chart on the shed door. [9] A week later, Ren rode the ferry home and watched the island shrink behind the wake. [10] At the mainland dock, a younger traveler stood frozen in an oversized jacket. [11] Ren knelt, pulled the straps snug, and showed how to check the buckle twice. [12] Ms. Brandt unhooked the chain for both of them and gave one small nod.

5. 3.

   Kira follows the life jacket. Which row shows what it stands for in [4], in [7] and in [11]?

   • [4]: something to hide. [7]: something to hide. [11]: something to share.
   • [4]: something to hide. [7]: something to trust. [11]: something to share.
   • [4]: something to share. [7]: something to trust. [11]: something to hide.
   • [4]: something to hide. [7]: something to trust. [11]: something Ren still trusts alone.
6. 4.

   Luz wants the strongest proof that Ms. Brandt is a guardian at the threshold. Which sentence proves it best?

   • In [12], Ms. Brandt unhooks the chain for two travelers and gives one small nod.
   • In [2], Ms. Brandt waits beside a heavy chain across the gangway with a clipboard.
   • In [5], Ms. Brandt checks every strap and lets Ren board only when the jacket fits.
   • In [3], Ms. Brandt holds out a bulky orange life jacket and tells Ren to put it on.
7. 5.

   Milo names the story's pattern. Which pattern fits, and which sentence shows it best?

   • Journey and return: in [1], Ren stands at the ferry dock with a duffel bag and a ticket.
   • Journey and return: in [11], Ren, back from the island, helps a younger traveler with a jacket.
   • The rescue: in [6], the waves rise and slap against the side of the ferry.
   • The test: in [5], Ms. Brandt tightens each strap and checks the buckle before unhooking the chain.

8. The Stepladder (original story)

   [1] Behind Tala's house, an old wooden stepladder leaned inside the shed, folded flat and covered with dust. [2] Tala never touched it, because climbing anywhere made Tala's stomach flip. [3] One windy morning, a neighbor named Mr. Hale knocked on the fence and pointed toward the big oak. [4] A baby robin had tumbled from its nest and sat on the lawn, peeping loudly while two parent birds circled above. [5] “I would climb up myself,” Mr. Hale said, “but my knee won't allow it.” [6] “Not me,” Tala said, stepping back. “Ask someone else.”

   [7] But the street was empty, and the peeping grew thinner. [8] Tala sighed, dragged the ladder out after all, and unfolded it beside the oak. [9] Mr. Hale handed over a knitted hat, and Tala tucked the robin inside, looped the hat over one wrist, and climbed one rung at a time. [10] At the top, Tala set the robin in the nest, and the parent birds swooped back at once. [11] Down on the grass, Mr. Hale thanked Tala, but Tala was already carrying the ladder toward the fence. [12] That evening, Tala left the ladder leaning against the fence where any neighbor could borrow it.

9. 6.

   Noah follows the stepladder. Which row shows what it stands for in [2], in [9] and in [12]?

   • [2]: something to avoid. [9]: something to avoid. [12]: help offered to neighbors.
   • [2]: something to avoid. [9]: a way up, one rung at a time. [12]: a way up that just Tala may use.
   • [2]: help offered to neighbors. [9]: a way up, one rung at a time. [12]: something to avoid.
   • [2]: something to avoid. [9]: a way up, one rung at a time. [12]: help offered to neighbors.
10. 7.

    Zee names the story's pattern. Which pattern fits, and which sentence shows it best?

    • The rescue: in [10], Tala puts the fallen robin back in the nest and the parent birds return.
    • Journey and return: in [8], Tala drags the ladder from the shed and unfolds it beside the oak.
    • The rescue: in [4], a baby robin tumbles from its nest and peeps on the lawn.
    • The test: in [2], Tala does not touch the ladder because climbing makes Tala's stomach flip.

11. The Basket of Water (original story)

    [1] At the harvest fair, Mr. Lund, the head judge, held up a wicker basket and called for everyone's attention. [2] “The first-place ribbon goes to whoever carries this basket to the stage full of water without spilling a drop,” Mr. Lund announced. [3] The crowd laughed, because water ran straight through the gaps in the weave. [4] Several contestants lined the basket with towels, but the water soaked through and dripped onto the grass. [5] Pia was known across the fair for jokes and clever schemes, and Pia studied the basket without saying a word. [6] That night, Pia set the basket in a deep pan of water and left both in a corner of the snack hut's freezer.

    [7] The next morning, Pia strolled to the stage carrying the basket, brimming with water that had turned to solid ice. [8] The crowd gasped, and then a ripple of laughter rolled from the front row to the back. [9] “Full of water,” Pia said calmly, “and not a drop spilled.” [10] Mr. Lund studied the basket, tapped the ice, and began to laugh too. [11] The judge pinned the ribbon on Pia and asked how the trick had been planned. [12] By afternoon, the ice had melted into a puddle under the basket, and children were retelling the story to newcomers at the gate.

12. 8.

    Jun follows the basket. Which row shows what it stands for in [3], in [7] and in [12]?

    • [3]: an impossible task. [7]: a clever solution. [12]: a story to retell.
    • [3]: an impossible task. [7]: an impossible task. [12]: a story to retell.
    • [3]: a story to retell. [7]: a clever solution. [12]: an impossible task.
    • [3]: an impossible task. [7]: a clever solution. [12]: a clever solution kept secret.
13. 9.

    Ren wants the strongest proof that Pia is a trickster. Which sentence proves it best?

    • In [7], Pia strolls to the stage with a basket of water that has turned to solid ice.
    • In [3], the crowd laughs because water runs straight through the gaps in the weave.
    • In [8], the crowd gasps, and laughter rolls from the front row to the back.
    • In [5], Pia is known across the fair for jokes and clever schemes.
14. 10.

    Tala names the story's pattern. Which pattern fits, and which sentence shows it best?

    • The rescue: in [4], contestants line the basket with towels to save the water from dripping.
    • The test: in [7], Pia carries water to the stage as ice and meets the challenge.
    • Journey and return: in [6], Pia leaves the basket overnight and comes back for it the next morning.
    • The test: in [2], Mr. Lund offers a ribbon for carrying water to the stage in the basket.