Common Core: 8th Grade English Language Arts : Reading

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Common Core: 8th Grade English Language Arts

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

All Common Core: 8th Grade English Language Arts Resources

1 Diagnostic Test 54 Practice Tests Question of the Day Flashcards Learn by Concept

Example Questions

Example Question #5 : Reading To Analyze Elements Of A Text

Adapted from “Introduced Species That Have Become Pests” in Our Vanishing Wild Life, Its Extermination and Protection by William Temple Hornaday (1913)

The man who successfully introduces into a new habitat any species of living thing assumes a very grave responsibility. Every introduced species is doubtful gravel until panned out. The enormous losses that have been inflicted upon the world through the perpetuation of follies with wild animals and plants would, if added together, be enough to purchase a principality. The most aggravating feature of these follies in transplantation is that never yet have they been made severely punishable. We are just as careless and easygoing on this point as we were about the government of Yellowstone Park in the days when Howell and other poachers destroyed our first national bison herd. Even though Howell was caught red-handed, skinning seven Park bison cows, he could not be punished for it, because there was no penalty prescribed by any law. Today, there is a way in which any revengeful person could inflict enormous damage on the entire South, at no cost to himself, involve those states in enormous losses and the expenditure of vast sums of money, yet go absolutely unpunished!

The gypsy moth is a case in point. This winged calamity was imported near Boston by a French entomologist, Mr. Leopold Trouvelot, in 1868 or 69. The scientist did not purposely set the pest free. He was endeavoring with live specimens to find a moth that would produce a cocoon of commercial value to America, and a sudden gust of wind blew his living and breeding specimens of the gypsy moth out of his study through an open window. The moth itself is not bad to look at, but its larvae is a great, overgrown brute with an appetite like a hog. Immediately Mr. Trouvelot sought to recover his specimens. When he failed to find them all, he notified the State authorities of the accident. Every effort was made to recover all the specimens, but enough escaped to produce progeny that soon became a scourge to the trees of Massachusetts. The method of the big, nasty-looking mottled-brown caterpillar was very simple. It devoured the entire foliage of every tree that grew in its sphere of influence.

The gypsy moth spread with alarming rapidity and persistence. In time, the state of Massachusetts was forced to begin a relentless war upon it, by poisonous sprays and by fire. It was awful! Up to this date (1912) the New England states and the United States Government service have expended in fighting this pest about $7,680,000!

The spread of this pest has been slowed, but the gypsy moth never will be wholly stamped out. Today it exists in Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New Hampshire, and it is due to reach New York at an early date. It is steadily spreading in three directions from Boston, its original point of departure, and when it strikes the State of New York, we, too, will begin to pay dearly for the Trouvelot experiment.

Howell’s story is different from that of Mr. Trouvelot’s in that __________.

Possible Answers:

Howell could be punished by law, while Trouvelot could not

Howell worked for a park while Trouvelot was a scientist

Howell acted purposely while Trouvelot introduced the moths by accident

Howell sought to capture insects while Trouvelot sought to release them

Howell acted alone while Trouvelot worked with a group

Correct answer:

Howell acted purposely while Trouvelot introduced the moths by accident

Explanation:

According to the passage, what did Howell do? He was caught skinning bison in Yellowstone National Park and there was no way to punish him, a point about which the author is frustrated. What did Mr. Trouvelot do? He accidentally released gypsy moths into the United States, where they’ve caused a lot of trouble since. Nothing in the passage says that Mr. Trouvelot worked in a group, so we can eliminate the answer “Howell acted alone while Mr. Trouvelot worked with a group.” Similarly, while the passage says that Mr. Trouvelot was a scientist (an entomologist), it only says that Howell's acts took place in Yellowstone Park, not that he worked there, so “Howell worked for a park while Trouvelot was a scientist” can’t be correct. The author brings up Howell’s story as an example of someone who couldn’t be punished by law for what the author considers an egregiously bad act, so “Howell could be punished by law, while Mr. Trouvelot could not” can’t be correct either. Howell’s story has nothing to do with insects and Mr. Trouvelot released his gypsy moths on accident, so “Howell sought to capture insects while Trouvelot sought to release them” cannot be the correct answer. This leaves us with one answer choice, the correct one: “Howell acted purposely while Trouvelot introduced the moths by accident.”

Example Question #6 : Reading To Analyze Elements Of A Text

Until recently, there were two schools of thought on establishing "flagship" endangered species chosen for campaigns to make people aware of the need for action to protect animals from extinction. These flagship species are used in marketing and advertising not only to raise awareness but also to encourage people to take action - such as fundraising, voting, and recruiting others to join in - for fauna conservation as a whole.

The first concerns how recognizable the general public, the audience of most large-scale funding campaigns, finds a particular species. This concept is commonly termed its “public awareness.” This school of thought was built on the foundation that if an individual recognizes a species from prior knowledge, cultural context, or previous conservational and educational encounters (in a zoo environment or classroom setting, for instance) that individual would be more likely to note and respond to the severity of its endangered status. For instance, the panda bear, a known and beloved animal of both historical and pop-culture significance, has long been used as a flagship species for many conservation groups. However, recently emerging flagship species such as the pangolin have shown us that this cannot be the only factor. 

Alongside public awareness, conservation experts have long considered a factor they refer to as a “keystone species” designation in the flagstone selection process. Keystone species are those species that play an especially important role in their respective habitats or ecosystems. The otter, for example, plays a key role in balancing the kelp ecosystems in which it hunts. While this metric is important to the environmentalists in charge of distributing funds received, recent data has expressed the more minor role a keystone species designation seems to play in the motivations of the public. 

Recent studies by conservationists have questioned both the singularity and the extent to which the above classifications impact the decision making of the general public. Though more complicated to measure, a third designation, known as a species’ “charisma,” is now the yardstick by which most flagship species are classified. Addressing the charisma of a species involves establishing and collecting data concerning its ecological (interactions with humans/the environments of humans), aesthetic (appealing to human emotions through physical appearance and immediately related behaviors), and corporeal (affection and socialization with humans over the short- and long-terms) characteristics. This process has been understandably criticized by some for its costs and failure to incorporate the severity of an endangered species’ status into designation, but its impact on the public has been unquestionable. While keystone and public awareness designations are still often applied in the field because of their practicality and comparative simplicity, charisma is now commonly accepted as the most accurate metric with which to judge a species’ flagship potential.

 

The author cites the example species of the pangolin in paragraph two primarily in order to:

Possible Answers:

suggest that factors other than public awareness are worthy of consideration when choosing a flagship species

question the decision of environmentalists to include the pangolin as a flagship species

familiarize readers with the term “flagship”

provide an example of a species with a keystone designation

provide an example of a species with a high level of public awareness

Correct answer:

suggest that factors other than public awareness are worthy of consideration when choosing a flagship species

Explanation:

 On this question, we want to pay close attention to why the author chose to include the example by looking at the context. The term “however” indicates a transition or contrast. Here, the example highlights that the public awareness a species possesses is likely not the “singular” factor driving concern among the general public - thus, "suggest that factors other than public awareness are worthy of consideration when choosing a flagship species". We’re expected to infer that the pangolin does *not* follow the assumed pattern of high public awareness, and the passage fails to address the keystone designation of the species. At this point, the passage has already made the meaning of the term flagship clear, and is not questioning whether the pangolin is deserving of the title “flagship.” Instead, the author uses the example to show that public awareness cannot be the only impacting factor on a species’ success as a flagship endangered species. 

 

 

Example Question #7 : Reading To Analyze Elements Of A Text

Until recently, there were two schools of thought on establishing "flagship" endangered species chosen for campaigns to make people aware of the need for action to protect animals from extinction. These flagship species are used in marketing and advertising not only to raise awareness but also to encourage people to take action - such as fundraising, voting, and recruiting others to join in - for fauna conservation as a whole.

The first concerns how recognizable the general public, the audience of most large-scale funding campaigns, finds a particular species. This concept is commonly termed its “public awareness.” This school of thought was built on the foundation that if an individual recognizes a species from prior knowledge, cultural context, or previous conservational and educational encounters (in a zoo environment or classroom setting, for instance) that individual would be more likely to note and respond to the severity of its endangered status. For instance, the panda bear, a known and beloved animal of both historical and pop-culture significance, has long been used as a flagship species for many conservation groups. However, recently emerging flagship species such as the pangolin have shown us that this cannot be the only factor. 

Alongside public awareness, conservation experts have long considered a factor they refer to as a “keystone species” designation in the flagstone selection process. Keystone species are those species that play an especially important role in their respective habitats or ecosystems. The otter, for example, plays a key role in balancing the kelp ecosystems in which it hunts. While this metric is important to the environmentalists in charge of distributing funds received, recent data has expressed the more minor role a keystone species designation seems to play in the motivations of the public. 

Recent studies by conservationists have questioned both the singularity and the extent to which the above classifications impact the decision making of the general public. Though more complicated to measure, a third designation, known as a species’ “charisma,” is now the yardstick by which most flagship species are classified. Addressing the charisma of a species involves establishing and collecting data concerning its ecological (interactions with humans/the environments of humans), aesthetic (appealing to human emotions through physical appearance and immediately related behaviors), and corporeal (affection and socialization with humans over the short- and long-terms) characteristics. This process has been understandably criticized by some for its costs and failure to incorporate the severity of an endangered species’ status into designation, but its impact on the public has been unquestionable. While keystone and public awareness designations are still often applied in the field because of their practicality and comparative simplicity, charisma is now commonly accepted as the most accurate metric with which to judge a species’ flagship potential.

 

 

The author uses three sets of parentheses in the fourth paragraph in order to

Possible Answers:

anticipate that the term “charisma” will be difficult for the reader to understand.

criticize the use of “charisma” as a factor in choosing flagship species for conservation campaigns.

demonstrate that the listed items of ecological, aesthetic, and corporeal are the exceptions to a general rule.

add additional items to the sentence’s three-part list of ecological, aesthetic, and corporeal.

provide the reader with definitions of the listed items of ecological, aesthetic, and corporeal.

Correct answer:

provide the reader with definitions of the listed items of ecological, aesthetic, and corporeal.

Explanation:

Provide the reader with definitions of the listed items of ecological, aesthetic, and corporeal.  Notice that within each set of parentheses is a description of what the word immediately prior to the parenthetical means. For example: aesthetic (appealing to human emotions through physical appearance and immediately related behaviors) tells the reader that when the author says “aesthetic” she means that part of an animal’s charisma is how it appeals to human emotions. Recognize, also, that this usage fits with what the author is doing in this paragraph: in the previous sentence she mentions that charisma is difficult to measure, and in this sentence she is talking about the factors that need to be considered in measuring charisma. That makes it quite logical that she would use this sentence to further explain what those characteristics mean.

Notice, too, how this fits with our understanding of how to use parentheses, as a way to signal to a reader that the information isn’t essential to the meaning/understanding of a sentence, but could be helpful - that information is optional to read.

 

 

Example Question #8 : Reading To Analyze Elements Of A Text

Until recently, there were two schools of thought on establishing "flagship" endangered species chosen for campaigns to make people aware of the need for action to protect animals from extinction. These flagship species are used in marketing and advertising not only to raise awareness but also to encourage people to take action - such as fundraising, voting, and recruiting others to join in - for fauna conservation as a whole.

The first concerns how recognizable the general public, the audience of most large-scale funding campaigns, finds a particular species. This concept is commonly termed its “public awareness.” This school of thought was built on the foundation that if an individual recognizes a species from prior knowledge, cultural context, or previous conservational and educational encounters (in a zoo environment or classroom setting, for instance) that individual would be more likely to note and respond to the severity of its endangered status. For instance, the panda bear, a known and beloved animal of both historical and pop-culture significance, has long been used as a flagship species for many conservation groups. However, recently emerging flagship species such as the pangolin have shown us that this cannot be the only factor. 

Alongside public awareness, conservation experts have long considered a factor they refer to as a “keystone species” designation in the flagstone selection process. Keystone species are those species that play an especially important role in their respective habitats or ecosystems. The otter, for example, plays a key role in balancing the kelp ecosystems in which it hunts. While this metric is important to the environmentalists in charge of distributing funds received, recent data has expressed the more minor role a keystone species designation seems to play in the motivations of the public. 

Recent studies by conservationists have questioned both the singularity and the extent to which the above classifications impact the decision making of the general public. Though more complicated to measure, a third designation, known as a species’ “charisma,” is now the yardstick by which most flagship species are classified. Addressing the charisma of a species involves establishing and collecting data concerning its ecological (interactions with humans/the environments of humans), aesthetic (appealing to human emotions through physical appearance and immediately related behaviors), and corporeal (affection and socialization with humans over the short- and long-terms) characteristics. This process has been understandably criticized by some for its costs and failure to incorporate the severity of an endangered species’ status into designation, but its impact on the public has been unquestionable. While keystone and public awareness designations are still often applied in the field because of their practicality and comparative simplicity, charisma is now commonly accepted as the most accurate metric with which to judge a species’ flagship potential.

 

 

Which of the following is an accurate description of why certain animals are referenced in the passage?

Possible Answers:

The pangolin and panda are each references as examples of keystone species.

The panda and the otter are each referenced as species with high public awareness.

The otter is given as an example of a species with high public awareness, while the pangolin is referenced as an example of a keystone species.

The otter is referenced as an example of a keystone species while the panda is referenced as an example of a species with high public awareness.

The panda is given as an example of a species with high charisma, while the pangolin is referenced as an animal with a high level of public awareness.

Correct answer:

The otter is referenced as an example of a keystone species while the panda is referenced as an example of a species with high public awareness.

Explanation:

The otter is referenced as an example of a keystone species while the panda is referenced as an example of a species with high public awareness. If you return to the passage to find where each animal is mentioned, you’ll see that:

 

  1. The panda is mentioned in the second paragraph, which is all about public awareness.

  2. The pangolin is mentioned right after the panda...and after the word “however” which signals that the author is changing directions.  In that particular sentence, the author is making the point that the pangolin - which isn’t particularly well known - is also a flagship species, so public awareness cannot be the only factor that is considered when selecting flagship species.

  3. The otter is mentioned in the paragraph that discusses keystone species. Its sentence leads with “the otter, for example” meaning that it’s an example of the item discussed in the previous sentence, which is “Keystone species are those species that play an especially important role in their respective habitats or ecosystems.” Therefore, the author means for the otter to be an example of a keystone species.

 

Example Question #9 : Reading To Analyze Elements Of A Text

As technology continues to advance, relics of much earlier innovations remain in the terms we use to describe today’s tech. These terms, often referred to as “technological fossil words,” have outlived their meaning, but are still used in conversation today. 

Perhaps the most well-known example of a technological fossil word is the term “DJ” or “Disc Jockey.” The term originated in a time when a DJ actually “jockeyed,” the machine playing a disc or record. Nowadays, a Disc Jockey is almost never seen with an actual disc, but the name lives on!

Technological fossil words have also found their way into the language we use to describe phone use. When operators of the original phone that coined most of the terms we use today made a call, they would “dial” by turning an actual dial of rotating numbers. When they would “hang up,” they would physically hang the phone up on the wall, at which point the phone's pressure on the latch it hung on would end the call. Even the terms phone line and cell phone refer to aspects of telephone use that no longer apply today.

One of the most interesting and lesser-known of these technological fossil words is the term “soap opera.” Today, this term refers broadly to dramatic television programs. However, the history of the term comes from the radio dramas once sponsored by soap companies to entice housewives listening in during the day to purchase their products. 

From typing messages to “pen pals,” to “filming” a video, technological fossil words give us a glimpse into the history behind the tech we use today!

A fossil is most often defined as “the remains of a prehistoric organism preserved in petrified form or as a mold or cast in rock.” The word fossil is used in the term “technological fossil word” probably in order to

 

Possible Answers:

define the word fossil for readers

explain to readers that these words generally refer to petrified organisms in a rock

draw the metaphor between physical fossils and words that are “preserved” despite their dated roots

show that technological fossil words came from prehistoric times

show the importance of prehistoric times on the words we use today

Correct answer:

draw the metaphor between physical fossils and words that are “preserved” despite their dated roots

Explanation:

Here, the idea is not that fossil words are talking about actual fossils! We’re talking about terms for dated technology here, not prehistoric organisms! The reason these terms use the word “fossil” is most likely to draw a metaphor between the preservation of fossils and the preservation of these dated words.

Example Question #10 : Reading To Analyze Elements Of A Text

As technology continues to advance, relics of much earlier innovations remain in the terms we use to describe today’s tech. These terms, often referred to as “technological fossil words,” have outlived their meaning, but are still used in conversation today. 

Perhaps the most well-known example of a technological fossil word is the term “DJ” or “Disc Jockey.” The term originated in a time when a DJ actually “jockeyed,” the machine playing a disc or record. Nowadays, a Disc Jockey is almost never seen with an actual disc, but the name lives on!

Technological fossil words have also found their way into the language we use to describe phone use. When operators of the original phone that coined most of the terms we use today made a call, they would “dial” by turning an actual dial of rotating numbers. When they would “hang up,” they would physically hang the phone up on the wall, at which point the phone's pressure on the latch it hung on would end the call. Even the terms phone line and cell phone refer to aspects of telephone use that no longer apply today.

One of the most interesting and lesser-known of these technological fossil words is the term “soap opera.” Today, this term refers broadly to dramatic television programs. However, the history of the term comes from the radio dramas once sponsored by soap companies to entice housewives listening in during the day to purchase their products. 

From typing messages to “pen pals,” to “filming” a video, technological fossil words give us a glimpse into the history behind the tech we use today!

Which of the following provides the best explanation for why the author has chosen to put the word “typing” in italics in paragraph five of the passage? 

Possible Answers:

To claim that pen pals aren’t really typing 

To express to readers that the word typing is a dated term with no use in current technology

To emphasize the contrast between the action and the term “pen pal”

To define the term later in the sentence

To show the importance of the word compared to the rest of the words in the passage

Correct answer:

To emphasize the contrast between the action and the term “pen pal”

Explanation:

The author places emphasis on the word typing in paragraph five of the passage to introduce the contrast that the technological fossil term “pen pals” often refers to individuals who do not use pens today, and instead type messages to one another. The author is in no way trying to indicate to use that today’s pen pals aren’t really typing - quite the opposite actually! Nor does the author think this is the most important word in the passage. The author uses the contrast described to show the dated nature of the term “pen pal,” not typing itself! Finally, no definition of the term typing appears later in the text, so the author is assuming readers are comfortable with this word. 

 

Example Question #21 : Reading

As technology continues to advance, relics of much earlier innovations remain in the terms we use to describe today’s tech. These terms, often referred to as “technological fossil words,” have outlived their meaning, but are still used in conversation today. 

Perhaps the most well-known example of a technological fossil word is the term “DJ” or “Disc Jockey.” The term originated in a time when a DJ actually “jockeyed,” the machine playing a disc or record. Nowadays, a Disc Jockey is almost never seen with an actual disc, but the name lives on!

Technological fossil words have also found their way into the language we use to describe phone use. When operators of the original phone that coined most of the terms we use today made a call, they would “dial” by turning an actual dial of rotating numbers. When they would “hang up,” they would physically hang the phone up on the wall, at which point the phone's pressure on the latch it hung on would end the call. Even the terms phone line and cell phone refer to aspects of telephone use that no longer apply today.

One of the most interesting and lesser-known of these technological fossil words is the term “soap opera.” Today, this term refers broadly to dramatic television programs. However, the history of the term comes from the radio dramas once sponsored by soap companies to entice housewives listening in during the day to purchase their products. 

From typing messages to “pen pals,” to “filming” a video, technological fossil words give us a glimpse into the history behind the tech we use today!

Which of the following is NOT referenced in the passage as an example of a technological fossil term?

Possible Answers:

Operators

Filming

Dial

Pen pal

DJ

Correct answer:

Operators

Explanation:

Here, we can use process of elimination to see that dial, pen pal, filming, and DJ were all used in the passage as examples of technological fossil words. In fact - the author has left a helpful hint to make that process easier! All the technological fossil words in the passage are written with quotations around them! So, the only term that doesn’t follow that pattern is the term “operators” - our answer to this question! We can also use some critical thinking to see that while people were physically operating a phone in the context of the passage, we no longer truly “dial a phone,” “pen” letters to a  pen pal, “film a video” or “jockey a disc.”

 

Example Question #22 : Reading

As technology continues to advance, relics of much earlier innovations remain in the terms we use to describe today’s tech. These terms, often referred to as “technological fossil words,” have outlived their meaning, but are still used in conversation today. 

Perhaps the most well-known example of a technological fossil word is the term “DJ” or “Disc Jockey.” The term originated in a time when a DJ actually “jockeyed,” the machine playing a disc or record. Nowadays, a Disc Jockey is almost never seen with an actual disc, but the name lives on!

Technological fossil words have also found their way into the language we use to describe phone use. When operators of the original phone that coined most of the terms we use today made a call, they would “dial” by turning an actual dial of rotating numbers. When they would “hang up,” they would physically hang the phone up on the wall, at which point the phone's pressure on the latch it hung on would end the call. Even the terms phone line and cell phone refer to aspects of telephone use that no longer apply today.

One of the most interesting and lesser-known of these technological fossil words is the term “soap opera.” Today, this term refers broadly to dramatic television programs. However, the history of the term comes from the radio dramas once sponsored by soap companies to entice housewives listening in during the day to purchase their products. 

From typing messages to “pen pals,” to “filming” a video, technological fossil words give us a glimpse into the history behind the tech we use today!

Which of the following best describes the function of the sentence below?

“When they would “hang up,” they would physically hang the phone up on the wall, at which point the phone's pressure on the latch it hung on would end the call.”

Possible Answers:

To prove why it is important to update the names we give to actions when we update technology

To help readers understand why phone calls were more complicated and less frequently used in the past

To encourage readers to be patient with older relatives who may not be “with the times” as technology advances

To provide the historical context behind the phrase “hang up,” a term used today to mean “end the call.”  

To show how inconvenient original models of the telephone were

Correct answer:

To provide the historical context behind the phrase “hang up,” a term used today to mean “end the call.”  

Explanation:

Here, the author cites an example of a technological fossil term - a term that is still in use despite the fact that its contextual meaning no longer applies. The author describes how users of older models of the telephone would literally hang the phone up on a device on the wall when a call was ready to be ended to allow the reader to understand why we use the phrase “hang up” the phone today. 

 

Example Question #23 : Reading

As technology continues to advance, relics of much earlier innovations remain in the terms we use to describe today’s tech. These terms, often referred to as “technological fossil words,” have outlived their meaning, but are still used in conversation today. 

Perhaps the most well-known example of a technological fossil word is the term “DJ” or “Disc Jockey.” The term originated in a time when a DJ actually “jockeyed,” the machine playing a disc or record. Nowadays, a Disc Jockey is almost never seen with an actual disc, but the name lives on!

Technological fossil words have also found their way into the language we use to describe phone use. When operators of the original phone that coined most of the terms we use today made a call, they would “dial” by turning an actual dial of rotating numbers. When they would “hang up,” they would physically hang the phone up on the wall, at which point the phone's pressure on the latch it hung on would end the call. Even the terms phone line and cell phone refer to aspects of telephone use that no longer apply today.

One of the most interesting and lesser-known of these technological fossil words is the term “soap opera.” Today, this term refers broadly to dramatic television programs. However, the history of the term comes from the radio dramas once sponsored by soap companies to entice housewives listening in during the day to purchase their products. 

From typing messages to “pen pals,” to “filming” a video, technological fossil words give us a glimpse into the history behind the tech we use today!

According to the meaning of the term “technological fossil word” as described in the passage, which of the following provides an additional example of a technological fossil word, and why?

Possible Answers:

“Rewind the video,” because video cassettes used to need to have their film wound in reverse in order to replay the video

“Groovy,” because it is a dated term exclusively used by older people in an attempt to sound “hip”

“Ado,” because it is only used in phrases and sayings such as “much ado about nothing”

“Motion picture,” because it is used to refer to movies, or “moving pictures”

“Hark,” because it is primarily seen in historical literature from earlier centuries

Correct answer:

“Rewind the video,” because video cassettes used to need to have their film wound in reverse in order to replay the video

Explanation:

In this case, we want another example of a term that has lost its literal interpretation, but has remained the common term for a particular element of technology despite this fact. We still say that we need to “rewind” the video, despite the fact that we are no longer winding an actual reel of film. Our other answers make up different types of words that are either no longer in use, or only come into play in sayings, but none of them express terminology that is no longer relevant to the action or term at hand. (Motion picture is a tricky one! It *sounds* dated and old-fashioned, but it technically refers to something that is still the case - a moving picture!) 

Example Question #24 : Reading

When you hear the phrase “man’s best friend,” you probably think of one animal, and one animal alone: the dog. But why is that? How did dogs come to earn the name “man’s best friend,” and why has the name stuck around since?

Many historians trace the relationship between man and dog back more than 30,000 years, to when wolves used to scavenge alongside humans. Other historians cite the point when dogs and people began living together, around 15,000 years ago, as the start to this friendship. 

Literature from long ago also references the friendship between man and dog, most famously in Homer’s The Odyssey. However, it wasn’t until the 1700s when King Frederick of Prussia coined the term that dogs were formally given the position “best friend to man.” Frederick referred to his friendship with his dogs in a way that was unusual at the time. While pet dogs were common for those of his rank and stature, they were normally used for hunting and protecting, and it would be considered strange to speak of them as “friends.” Frederick, however, was so fond of his dogs that he had portraits of them painted, spoke often of their loyalty, and even requested that he be buried next to them when he was laid to rest. 

It is this strange but enduring relationship with “man’s best friend” that has stood the test of time. Today, dogs are often thought of for their loyalty and companionship. Studies even suggest that a canine companion can increase one’s lifespan, lower cardiovascular disease, and improve mental health. Even if you don’t share Frederick’s opinion that companionship with a dog is the only way to be truly “free of cares,” there’s no arguing that dogs have earned the title “man’s best friend” over the thousands of years they have stood by man’s side.

 

The author of the passage most likely italicized “The Odyssey” because it

Possible Answers:

needed to be clarified from other works entitled “The Odyssey”

is the main subject of the passage

requires additional emphasis

is a title

is the most important example used in the passage

Correct answer:

is a title

Explanation:

While the appearance of a friendship between man and dog is one of several important examples provided by the author, the italics were used in this context to identify the phrase as a title. This example is far too narrow, and one of too many examples to be considered the “most important” example, or the “main subject” of the passage. The title was put into italics because, well… it’s a title!

 

All Common Core: 8th Grade English Language Arts Resources

1 Diagnostic Test 54 Practice Tests Question of the Day Flashcards Learn by Concept
Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors