Virginia SOL 8.LU.2

What SOL 8.LU.2 means

Apply mechanics conventions in writing.

Practice Grade 8 English SOL questions

Free Grade 8 English questions from official Virginia Department of Education released SOL tests — good practice while you work on 8.LU.2 and the rest of the course. Pick an answer to check it instantly, or open “Show answer” to review.

1. 1. Which of these is the best summary of this advertisement?

   ANeavest can be contacted at P.O. Box 90210 in Lexinet, Virginia.BQuickeats are easy to prepare and come in both hot and cold varieties.COne Red Hot Quickeats meal is stew with garden vegetables.DPeople with questions or suggestions should call 1-888-293-3151.
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   Answer: B — Quickeats are easy to prepare and come in both hot and cold varieties.

2. 2. “Alone in the Night” can best be described as a — A mystery B tall tale C biography D fantasy Ups and Downs In the dog days of August, the sun beats a slow drum On hours dry as feathers, but we don’t mind. We loll at the beach, tanned and sweaty, Cooled by crystal waters, under skies blue And perfect as childhood. But the river minds. He gives himself up, drop by drop, lower, lower, Sinks into himself, sad and sullen, And scared, I think, of dying: slower, slower. I smell the muddy reeds, see logs we’ve never seen. Rocks appear like nightmares in August noons. September brings thunder, lightning, downpour, Days of torrents, drizzles, sheets, and showers. The end of the dock sinks as the thirsty river Drinks and guzzles, sloshing, slobbering, Rushing. The crooked snake nuzzles the banks, Hugs the bends he’s whittled over long years. He’s giddy — tumbling, somersaulting, rock vaulting! We read books, tie flies, play games, bake pies As the golden leaves are pelted off their branches, And the stiff brown moss turns green and lush again. October’s Indian summer is dry. Crackling leaves, Snapping branches. No campfires allowed. The river Dwindles, shrinks. The bogs dry up to stinky stones Like white bones: where do the frogs go? The river Flattens, thins, fish huddle in its muddy rims. Forest fires in Canada! One day we wake to hazy smoke, Shudder, watch our river choke. We watch the logs And rocks poke their heads again, grinning, Cackling: Come and get us! The weather station Says drought. Drought. The beavers wait. The paper says it’s snowing in the country — what if … If the river freezes low, what will the beavers do? But November brings relief, for just as the last red leaf Drops, the skies open and cry! Autumn deluge, River refuge. We hear it on the roof — all night — All day — We hear the river praising rain! Again, it Drinks its fill, rises, rises, swells, surprises. As we pull out the docks, in our hip waders, The cold river is high and mighty, it rushes round Our thighs and screams: AAHHEEE! Let winter come! 16. The first line of “Ups and Downs” is an example of — F personification G simile H metaphor J onomatopoeia 17. Why does the speaker “see logs we’ve never seen”? A Beavers are busy cutting logs to build dams. B New trees are falling into the river. C The river is drying up and exposing the logs. D People have thrown odd things into the river. 18. What does the description in line 13 mean? F The dock is old and is sinking into the river. G The dock is lower at one end than the other. H The river is rising higher. J The river is eating the dock away. 19. Thesaurus entry: vault (v.) jerk, leap, start, rise If the author wanted to replace the word vaulting, which would be the most precise word to use? A jerking B rising C starting D leaping 20. The poet uses the term “high and mighty” to show that the river is — F very inviting G threatening to leave its banks H more powerful than people J strong again 21. Who is the speaker in this poem? A A person who lives near a river B Different people at different times of the year C The river that needs water D A beaver that lives near the river 22. Which is a simile expressed in this poem? F “We read books …” G “September brings thunder …” H “Rocks appear like nightmares …” J “As we pull out …” 23. Which description best creates a clear, visual image of the weather in September? A “Drinks and guzzles, sloshing, slobbering …” B “Days of torrents, drizzles, sheets, and showers.” C “And the stiff brown moss turns green and lush again.” D “As the golden leaves are pelted off their branches …” The Wreck of the Queen Anne’s Revenge 1. On November 23, 1996, a team of marine archaeologists worked with an air of finality. For the Maritime Research Institute, this was the last day of operations. Their quest was to find the shipwrecked hull of the Queen Anne’s Revenge, one of the most infamous vessels to sail the Atlantic during the 1700s. The ship had gained its bad reputation through the plundering deeds of its last captain, the pirate known as Blackbeard. 2. The search for the wreck began on land about ten years earlier when Phil Masters studied historical records in the London Archives. An eyewitness account of the ship’s loss prompted him to seek a permit to explore a six-mile stretch of coast near Beaufort Inlet in North Carolina, where the ship reportedly ran aground. 3. This area is known as the “Graveyard of the Atlantic” because hundreds of ships are believed to have sunk there. Masters knew that finding the oldest, largest, and most heavily armed ship of its kind would be a significant achievement. 4. Diver Will Kirkman made a routine twenty-foot dive off a sandbar and suddenly found himself among barnacle-covered cannons. Knowing the ship carried forty cannons, he was certain he had found the Queen Anne’s Revenge. 5. The ship, once called the Concord, had been captured, sold, and reused by several nations before Blackbeard seized it in 1717 and renamed it. 6. Blackbeard commanded the ship for seven months, capturing at least eighteen other ships. When the ship was abandoned, he was believed to have taken all valuables. 7. The divers uncovered most of the wooden hull and many artifacts, including the ship’s bell, pewter plates, parts of scientific instruments, and eighteen cannons. 8. By studying the remains, scientists hope to learn about Blackbeard, ship construction, and the African slave trade. 9. The abandoned ship serves as a “time capsule” that may unlock 300-year-old mysteries. 10. In the first paragraph, the word infamous means — F notorious G celebrated H ornate J large 11. Masters felt confident about the ship’s location because — A many artifacts had been found nearby B he had found written evidence C many people talked about it D he was able to get a permit 12. The La Concorde made just one trip to West Africa because — F the English captured it back from the French G it became disabled H the French entered another war J Blackbeard captured it after the first trip 13. Thesaurus entry: apprehend (v.) seize, capture, arrest, understand Which word best replaces apprehended? A arrested B understood C seized D dreaded 14. Which question is answered in paragraph 7? F Where was the ship’s bell made? G What artifacts have been found? H How many pewter plates were found? J When will the search end? 15. Which word contains a root meaning “to build”? A material B activities C studying D construction 16. From the last paragraph, the reader can conclude that Blackbeard — F lost his way G was able to avoid capture H destroyed his ships J buried his treasure 17. Looking for the Queen Anne’s Revenge was significant because — A it would prove many ships were nearby B the ship and its captain played important roles in history C the cannons could be reused D it was the Institute’s project 18. Which is an opinion expressed in the passage? F What archaeologists want most is more important than material objects. G The search began about ten years earlier. H Phil Masters searched the London Archives. J Blackbeard captured at least eighteen ships. 19. Which is the best summary of this passage? A Archaeologists discovered the remains and uncovered artifacts. B Blackbeard captured and renamed the ship. C Phil Masters began the search in 1986. D Will Kirkman discovered the ship near a sandbar. Tony Beaver … Axe-Swinger of Old Virginny 34. It is clear that this selection is a tall tale because — A tall tales were popular in West Virginia B the details become less and less believable C many legends of lumberjacks have been told D the story is set in the nineteenth century 35. What can the reader conclude about Tony Beaver’s accomplishments? A They were not important. B They inspired others. C They never really happened. D They were well known. 36. What does “snap in two like a matchstick” mean? F break easily G shed light H fall apart J crash down 37. What does the author mean when he writes that the oxen could pull anything “into the middle of next month”? A The oxen could carry the load anywhere. B Time was not important to the oxen. C Lumberjacks depended on the oxen. D The work took one month. 38. What does Tony do to solve the problem? F Uses bigger oxen G Turns the river into candy H Uses a double-bladed axe J Stirs the river with a tree 39. Which phrase offers an image of Tony’s abilities? A “The Eel began to rise rapidly …” B “That’s the kind of lumberman big Tony Beaver was.” C “Then Tony blew a cloud right across the sun.” D “Oxen were used to drag the timber …” 40. The author probably meant for this story to be — F humorous G educational H historical J dangerous 41. The author uses exaggeration to make the story more — A frightening B believable C action-packed D entertaining 42. In which literary category does this story belong?

   FNonfictionGBiographyHHistoryJFiction
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   Answer: J — Fiction

3. 3. Obviously defined; unquestionable. In paragraph 1 of the article, distinct comes from a word that means — A. separate B. clear C. unquestionable D. distinguish 2. Based on the article, the reader can determine that hummingbirds — F. compete with bees for nectar G. live primarily in warm climates H. become confused when flying backwards J. rely on bird feeders in order to survive 3. In the poem, the hummingbird’s nest is a symbol of — A. lost opportunities B. former relationships C. distant childhood D. past adventures 4. Both the poem and the article address the theme of —

   Fenjoying natureGstudying the weatherHdeveloping a hobbyJholding on to memories
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   Answer: F — enjoying nature

4. 4. In paragraph 7, Mrs. Ellis wishes Keisha good luck most likely because she thinks Keisha —

   Awill need help finding Mrs. Watson’s roomBis unprepared for visiting Mrs. WatsonCwill be challenged by Mrs. Watson’s attitudeDis worried about reading to Mrs. Watson
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   Answer: C — will be challenged by Mrs. Watson’s attitude

→ Take the full free Grade 8 English SOL practice test

Skills you’ll practice for 8.LU.2

• Constructing complete sentences with appropriate punctuation
• Avoiding comma splices
• Avoiding run-ons
• Using and punctuating dialogue appropriately
• Using and punctuating direct quotations appropriately
• Recognizing and consistently spelling frequently used words accurately
• Consulting reference materials to check and correct spelling

Key concepts covered by 8.LU.2

• complete sentences
• punctuation
• mechanics
• comma splices
• sentence errors
• run-ons
• dialogue
• direct quotations
• spelling
• accuracy
• frequently used words
• reference materials
• spelling check
• spelling correction

How to study and practice SOL 8.LU.2

Start with a quick diagnostic to see whether 8.LU.2 is already solid, then work each skill above with guided notes, flashcards, and SOL-style practice questions. For official released items, see our Virginia SOL practice tests guide and how to study for the SOL test.

→ Take the free Grade 8 English SOL practice test

Related Grade 8 English standards in Language Usage

• 8.LU — Use the conventions of Standard English when speaking and writing, differentiating between formal and informal contexts.
• 8.LU.1 — Apply grammar rules in speaking and writing.

Frequently asked questions about SOL 8.LU.2