Common Core: 8th Grade English Language Arts : Use Active and Passive Voice: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.8.1.B
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Common Core: 8th Grade English Language Arts
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Example Questions
Example Question #11 : Use Active And Passive Voice: Ccss.Ela Literacy.L.8.1.B
Which answer choice is in the passive voice?
In August 2015 in Ashville, Ohio, John Morgan and his girlfriend robbed the Savings Bank. They took photos of themselves posing with the money and posted them to social media.
John Morgan and his girlfriend robbed the Savings Bank in August 2015 in Ashville, Ohio. They posted pictures of themselves to social media with the money.
John Morgan and his girlfriend Ashley Dubhoe robbed the Savings Bank in Ashville, Ohio in August 2015. The two crooks then took photos of themselves posing with the money and posted them to social media.
The Savings Bank in Ashville, Ohio was robbed in August 2015 by John Morgan and his girlfriend. Photos of the crooks and the money were taken and posted to social media.
The Savings Bank in Ashville, Ohio was robbed in August 2015 by John Morgan and his girlfriend. Photos of the crooks and the money were taken and posted to social media.
The Savings Bank in Ashville, Ohio was robbed in August 2015 by John Morgan and his girlfriend. Photos of the crooks and the money were taken and posted to social media. This answer choice is in the passive voice, “was robbed” and “were taken and posted” are both passive and the subject is being acted upon. The other choices use active voice word choices, “robbed”, “took photos”, “posted photos” are all showing the subject(s) performing the action.
Example Question #12 : Use Active And Passive Voice: Ccss.Ela Literacy.L.8.1.B
Which of the following sentences is written exclusively in the active voice?
100,000 people were killed in 1815 when Mount Tambora erupted on Sumbawa, an island of modern-day Indonesia.
In 1815, Mount Tambora erupted on Sumbawa, an island of modern-day Indonesia, and 100,000 people were killed.
100,000 people on a modern-day island in Sumbawa were killed when Mount Tambora erupted in 1815.
In 1815, Mount Tambora erupted on Sumbawa, an island of modern-day Indonesia, and killed 100,000 people.
In 1815, Mount Tambora erupted on Sumbawa, an island of modern-day Indonesia, and killed 100,000 people.
In 1815, Mount Tambora erupted on Sumbawa, an island of modern-day Indonesia, and killed 100,000 people. If a sentence is in an active voice, the subject performs the action. In the correct answer choice, the phrases “Mount Tambora erupted” and “killed” are in an active voice and the subject (Mount Tambora) is performing the action. The other choices are in a passive voice and the subject is receiving the action.
Example Question #11 : Use Active And Passive Voice: Ccss.Ela Literacy.L.8.1.B
The Grand Canyon, in Arizona, is visited by thousands of tourists every day.
Which answer choice below changes the passive voice sentence above into the active voice?
The Grand Canyon, in Arizona, will be visited by thousands of tourists every day.
Thousands of tourists visit the Grand Canyon, in Arizona, every day.
Every day, the Grand Canyon in Arizona is visited by thousands of tourists.
In Arizona, the Grand Canyon was visited by thousands of tourists every day.
Thousands of tourists visit the Grand Canyon, in Arizona, every day.
In the passive voice sentence the phrase “is visited” shows the subject being acted upon. To change the sentence to active voice the subject must perform the action. In the correct sentence choice the phrase “tourists visit” is in active voice and the subject (tourists) is performing the action.
All Common Core: 8th Grade English Language Arts Resources
