BROWNSVILLE ISD

Curriculum Department

English Language Arts

Reading
G08 Reading 1-6W Mid 1718

8th Grade
District 6 Weeks 1st
Regular English Version

Student ID Student Name Score(S)

Academic Readiness Assessment

Copyright 2017, Liberty Source LP All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of all or portions of this work is prohibited.
 Read the selection and choose the best answer to each question. Then fill in
the answer on your answer document.

A New Baby
1 Jeremy was dreading going home after school. The bus ride was excruciatingly
long, but he wished it was longer. He would do almost anything to keep from
having to walk through the doors of his own house. Maybe he would ask his mom
if he could go over to Zachs house once he got home. He rolled his eyes just
thinking about her reaction. Who was he kidding? He knew as soon as he walked
in the door she would be asking him to do something.

2 Soon the bus was arriving at his neighborhood stop. Well, this is it, he
thought to himself as he sluggishly scooted his feet down the center aisle, filing
behind the other kids who lived in his neighborhood. His house was the first one
on the corner with the red brick. Just a few feet from where the bus stopped,
Jeremy knew that his mom was lounging on the couch with the baby, watching
him step off the bus and into their overgrown yard that she would most likely ask
him to mow today.

3 Jeremy shuffled his feet walking across the yard. He knew that when he
opened the door, the relentless requests for assistance would start. It was Friday,
and the activities that he was interested in most certainly did not involve cleaning,
cooking, laundry, or baby items.

4 As Jeremy opened the door, it squeaked and his newborn baby brother started
crying. Great, thought Jeremy. "Now Mom's going to be angry and unyielding."

5 Hi, Mom! he said in his quietest, loud voice. He'd already learned how to
master being quiet but loud.

6 Jeremy, did you check the mail on your way in? Im expecting an important
document from the hospital about Jacob. His mothers voice began to trail off as
he stomped up the stairs to his room where he collapsed onto his bed and swung
the door shut behind him.

7 A few minutes later, his mother abruptly opened the door, without knocking.
I asked you a question, she said.

8 Without taking his eyes off the ceiling, Jeremy answered, "Didnt check it.

9 Well, can you go check it for me? his mother asked.

10 Jeremy felt like his head might explode. Since his baby brother had been born
a few weeks ago, his mom seemed like a different person. I can in a little while. I
just got home. Its Friday. What have you done today? Why didn't you check the
mail?"

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 11 Jeremy watched as her eyes welled up with tears. Carrying baby Jacob,
Jeremy's mom turned around, walked out of Jeremys room, and closed the door
behind her without saying a word. Great, thought Jeremy. Ill hear about this
later. Whatever. Not my problem. He got out his game controller and turned on
his TV. Captivated by his video game, he must have lost track of time, because
the next thing he knew his dad was knocking on his bedroom door. That meant it
had to be about 8:00.

12 Can I come in, Jeremy? Id like to talk to you. His dad sounded stern, but
not angry, so Jeremy turned off his game, and pried the door open. Hey there."
His dad gave a half grin. "Can we talk for a minute?

13 Sure, Jeremy replied. He knew his dad wanted to talk about being
disrespectful to his mother. Jeremy tried to brace himself because usually these
kinds of situations resulted in Jeremy being grounded.

14 His dad plopped down in one of the beanbag chairs on the floor in front of
Jeremys TV and yawned. Listen, Jeremy. I know that you know why Im up here
talking to you. Your mom told me what you said to her this afternoon. Whats
going on?

15 Jeremy took a deep breath. Im just tired of her asking me to do things as

soon as I get home every day. Its the first thing she says to me when I get
home. She doesnt even ask how my day was before shes asking me to help with
the laundry, wash the dishes, check the mailbox, or some other meaningless
household chore. Yesterday when I got home, she was snoring with baby Jacob on
the couch. She doesnt do anything all day long, then expects me to do everything
when I get home, and it's frustrating.

16 Jeremys dad nodded his head as Jeremy was talking. I hear you. I
understand that things have changed drastically since baby Jacob's arrival last
week, but you are wrong about your mom not doing anything all day. She takes
care of Jacob. Right now, he needs her more than we do, and she needs us to
help her. When she asks us to do something, we need to help her. Shes not
getting much sleep right now, so when Jacob sleeps, she sleeps. Taking care of
Jacob is hard work. Your mom is exhausted. You really hurt her feelings this
afternoon. Things will be back to normal before you know it. When Jacob is a little
older, he wont take up as much of your moms time. Can you agree to help her
out, especially when Im not home yet in the afternoon?

17 Jeremy thought about it and realized that he had been selfish. Sure, Dad. I
can help out. I just didnt realize that things were going to be so different with
Jacob here.

18 Thats alright, his dad said smiling. Come downstairs. I picked up pizza on
my way home from work. It might still be hot.

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 1 Read this dictionary entry.

trail \'trl\ verb

1. to drag something heavily
2. to follow behind someone's footsteps
3. to fade or dwindle away
4. to mark out a track

Which definition best matches the way the word trail is used in paragraph 6?

A Definition 1

B Definition 2

C Definition 3

D Definition 4

2 Which sentence from the story best illustrates Jeremy's conflict?

F Jeremy felt like his head might explode.

G His dad sounded stern, but not angry, so Jeremy turned off his game, and pried the
door open.

H A few minutes later, his mother abruptly opened the door, without knocking, to find
Jeremy laying on his bed staring at the ceiling.

J He'd already learned how to master being quiet but loud.

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 3 The author builds tension at the beginning of the story by

A suggesting that Jeremy's mother always asks for his help

B hinting that the afternoon bus ride home isn't long enough

C indicating that Jeremy is deeply dreading going home

D implying that Jeremy does not enjoy mowing the yard

4 Jeremys response to his mothers request for him to check the mail adds to the conflict
by

F increasing the tension Jeremy feels towards his mother

G forcing his mother to check the mail while trying to care for baby Jacob

H leading Jeremy to feel remorseful for the things he said to his mother

J causing Jeremy to have a talk with his dad about respecting and helping his mother

5 What does Jeremys explanation in paragraph 15 reveal to the reader?

A Jeremy and his mother have different ideas about how much he should help out.

B Jeremy misunderstands the reasons for his mother's new behavior.

C Jeremy thinks that his dad does not understand Jeremy's frustrations.

D Jeremy does not care about his mother's feelings.

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 6 Read these sentences from paragraph 16.

I hear you. I understand that things have changed

drastically since baby Jacob's arrival last week, but
you are wrong about your mom not doing anything all day.

The actions of Jeremy's dad in these sentences best demonstrates his

F determination to make Jeremy feel like his feelings are invalid

G understanding of Jeremy's frustration while also helping him understand current

circumstances

H ability to help Jeremy understand why his mom is constantly asking for help

J shared exhaustion with Jeremy's mother due to caring for baby Jacob

7 Based on Jeremys actions and conversation with his mother in paragraphs 3 through 10,
the reader can conclude that

A Jeremy feels resentful about his mother's new expectations

B his mother knows that she has been asking Jeremy for more help lately

C Jeremy thinks that his dad will not understand his frustration

D his mother believes that baby Jacob is more important than Jeremy

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 8 When Jeremy lets his dad come into his room, his dad's actions show that he

F believes that Jeremy has been selfish in refusing to help his mother

G wants to give a harsh punishment to Jeremy for being disrespectful

H realizes that Jeremy is justified in how he responded to his mother

J is feeling exhausted from work and helping care for the new baby

9 The final sentence of the excerpt suggests that Jeremy most likely feels

A peaceful

B angry

C compassion

D drained

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 10 What is the best summary of the story?

F Jeremy's mother recently had a baby. Since the baby was born, she has asked him
to do more and more things when he arrives home from school each day. Jeremy
expresses his feelings about this in a conversation with his dad. His dad tells him
that his mom is exhausted and is counting on them to help her take care of the baby
and things around the house.

G Jeremy says some rude things to his mother who has been staying at home taking
care of a new baby. Jeremy refuses to check the mail for her and accuses her of
being lazy. When she leaves his bedroom upset, Jeremy feels bad but only because
he thinks he's going to be in trouble when his dad gets home. Later, he has a
conversation with his dad.

H Jeremy is feeling frustrated by his mother's endless requests for help when he
arrives home from school. He does not realize that she is likely exhausted and
overwhelmed by taking care of Jeremy's new baby brother, Jacob. Jeremy says some
hurtful things to his mother after she asks him to check the mail. Later, when
Jeremy's dad gets home, they talk about Jeremy's frustrations. His dad explains that
everyone needs to pitch in around the house while Jacob is little. Jeremy agrees to
help his mom out more.

J Jeremy is traveling home from school on the bus one Friday afternoon. He is
dreading going home so much that he considers trying to get off the bus at a
friend's house. He doesn't want to go home, because he knows that his mom is
going to ask him to help her with things. Jeremy says disrespectful things to her
when she asks about the mail. He knows that he has hurt her feelings, but he
doesn't seem to care until his dad comes home from work.

BE SURE TO HAVE RECORDED ALL OF YOUR ANSWERS ON THE

Page 7 ANSWER DOCUMENT.
G08 Reading 1-6W Mid 1718 - English 9/10/2017 5:02 PM Copyright 2017 Liberty Source L.P.