What is the main idea of the section “Return to the Wild”?

The objective of the ETH is for elephants to live together in their natural habitats.

The ETH needs donations to feed and care for the young elephants.

Foster parents may help release baby elephants when they are able to survive without human help.

Baby elephants are at the ETH for many years before they can be released.

Which is the best summary of this article?

The Elephant Transit Home helps orphaned baby elephants until they can return to the wild.

Elephants in Asia and Africa are being threatened by people moving into their territories.

Elephants at the ETH receive food, shelter, and medical care.

Elephant refuges offer foster parent programs to support elephants.

Which sentence best shows the author’s attitude toward elephants?

Not only are the elephants cared for, they are treated with respect and dignity.

In 1900 there were 12,000 wild elephants living in Sri Lanka’s tropical environment.

Every year about 30 baby elephants in Sri Lanka need refuge.

Then the elephants are released to roam on the preserve’s land.

Grade 8 English · Reading Literary Text

Virginia SOL 8.RL.1

Virginia SOL 8.RL.1 is part of the Reading Literary Text strand in Grade 8 English (English). Under this Standards of Learning objective, students analyze key ideas and plot details, including theme, plot patterns, and character development. Below is what 8.RL.1 covers in plain language, the specific skills it is assessed on, the key concepts to review, and how to practice 8.RL.1 for the Virginia SOL test.

Practice 8.RL.1 All Grade 8 English standards

What SOL 8.RL.1 means

Analyze key ideas and plot details, including theme, plot patterns, and character development.

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.RL.1 and the rest of the course. Pick an answer to check it instantly, or open “Show answer” to review.

1. What is the main idea of the section “Return to the Wild”?
Show answer
Answer: D — The objective of the ETH is for elephants to live together in their natural habitats.
2. What tone is created by the author’s word choice in this article?
Show answer
Answer: G — Concerned
3. Which is the best summary of this article?
Show answer
Answer: B — The Elephant Transit Home helps orphaned baby elephants until they can return to the wild.
4. Which sentence best shows the author’s attitude toward elephants?
Show answer
Answer: J — Not only are the elephants cared for, they are treated with respect and dignity.

→ Take the full free Grade 8 English SOL practice test

Skills you’ll practice for 8.RL.1

Analyzing and explaining development of theme(s) over course of texts
Understanding relationship of themes to characters, settings, plots, and overall messages
Explaining how different plot patterns create meaning
Examining influence of plot patterns on characters, theme, pacing, and point of view
Explaining how subplots create meaning
Justifying decisions and actions of dynamic versus static characters
Using dialogue or specific events from text

Key concepts covered by 8.RL.1

theme development
analysis
literary text
theme
characters
settings
plots
messages
plot patterns
meaning
literary analysis
pacing
point of view
subplots
dynamic characters
static characters
character analysis
justification
dialogue
textual events

How to study and practice SOL 8.RL.1

Start with a quick diagnostic to see whether 8.RL.1 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

8.RL — Use textual evidence to comprehend and build knowledge from diverse complex literary texts.
8.RL.2 — Analyze author's craft and style, including poetic elements, stylistic choices, point of view, and literary devices.
8.RL.3 — Integrate and compare concepts across literary texts.

Frequently asked questions about SOL 8.RL.1

What is Virginia SOL 8.RL.1?

SOL 8.RL.1 is a Grade 8 English Standard of Learning in the Reading Literary Text strand. It expects students to analyze key ideas and plot details, including theme, plot patterns, and character development.

What skills does SOL 8.RL.1 cover?

SOL 8.RL.1 is assessed on 7 skills: analyzing and explaining development of theme(s) over course of texts; understanding relationship of themes to characters, settings, plots, and overall messages; explaining how different plot patterns create meaning; examining influence of plot patterns on characters, theme, pacing, and point of view; explaining how subplots create meaning; justifying decisions and actions of dynamic versus static characters; using dialogue or specific events from text.

What strand of Grade 8 English is SOL 8.RL.1 in?

SOL 8.RL.1 belongs to the Reading Literary Text reporting strand of the Grade 8 English Virginia Standards of Learning.

How do I study and practice for SOL 8.RL.1?

Start with a diagnostic to see whether 8.RL.1 is already solid, then work the 7 skills above with guided notes, flashcards, and SOL-style practice questions. For official released items, see the Virginia SOL practice tests guide.