FCAT Reading 2.0 Grades 6-8 Practice Tests and PDFs

(1)She walks in beauty, like the night Of cloudless climes and starry skies; And all that’s best of dark and bright Meet in her aspect and her eyes: Thus mellow’d to that tender light Which heaven to gaudy day denies. (2)One shade the more, one ray the less, Had half impair’d the nameless grace Which waves in every raven tress, Or softly lightens o’er her face; Where thought serenely sweet express How pure, how dear their dwelling-place. (3)And on that cheek, and o’er that brow, So soft, so calm, yet eloquent, The smiles that win, the tints that glow, But tell of days in goodness spent, A mind at peace with all below, A heart whose love is innocent! Which of the following best describes the tone of the poet's writing?

(1) Towards the close of the last century the Baron de Beaurepaire lived in the chateau of that name in Brittany. (2) His family was of prodigious antiquity; seven successive barons had already flourished on this spot when a younger son of the house accompanied his neighbor the Duke of Normandy in his descent on England, and was rewarded by a grant of English land, on which he dug a moat and built a chateau, and called it Beaurepaire (the worthy Saxons turned this into Borreper without delay). (3)Since that day more than twenty gentlemen of the same lineage had held in turn the original chateau and lands, and handed them down to their present lord. (4)Thus rooted in his native Brittany, Henri Lionel Marie St. Quentin de Beaurepaire was as fortunate as any man can be pronounced before he dies. (5) He had health, rank, a good income, a fair domain, a goodly house, a loving wife, and two lovely young daughters, all veneration and affection. (6) Two months every year he visited the Faubourg St. Germain and the Court. (7) At both every gentleman and every lackey knew his name, and his face: his return to Brittany after this short absence was celebrated by a rustic fete. How many successive Barons had flourished before the Baron de Beaurepaire?

(1) Towards the close of the last century the Baron de Beaurepaire lived in the chateau of that name in Brittany. (2) His family was of prodigious antiquity; seven successive barons had already flourished on this spot when a younger son of the house accompanied his neighbor the Duke of Normandy in his descent on England, and was rewarded by a grant of English land, on which he dug a moat and built a chateau, and called it Beaurepaire (the worthy Saxons turned this into Borreper without delay). (3)Since that day more than twenty gentlemen of the same lineage had held in turn the original chateau and lands, and handed them down to their present lord. (4)Thus rooted in his native Brittany, Henri Lionel Marie St. Quentin de Beaurepaire was as fortunate as any man can be pronounced before he dies. (5) He had health, rank, a good income, a fair domain, a goodly house, a loving wife, and two lovely young daughters, all veneration and affection. (6) Two months every year he visited the Faubourg St. Germain and the Court. (7) At both every gentleman and every lackey knew his name, and his face: his return to Brittany after this short absence was celebrated by a rustic fete. From the second sentence, choose a word to replace the word "descent" that will retain the meaning of sentence.

(1) Towards the close of the last century the Baron de Beaurepaire lived in the chateau of that name in Brittany. (2) His family was of prodigious antiquity; seven successive barons had already flourished on this spot when a younger son of the house accompanied his neighbor the Duke of Normandy in his descent on England, and was rewarded by a grant of English land, on which he dug a moat and built a chateau, and called it Beaurepaire (the worthy Saxons turned this into Borreper without delay). (3)Since that day more than twenty gentlemen of the same lineage had held in turn the original chateau and lands, and handed them down to their present lord. (4)Thus rooted in his native Brittany, Henri Lionel Marie St. Quentin de Beaurepaire was as fortunate as any man can be pronounced before he dies. (5) He had health, rank, a good income, a fair domain, a goodly house, a loving wife, and two lovely young daughters, all veneration and affection. (6) Two months every year he visited the Faubourg St. Germain and the Court. (7) At both every gentleman and every lackey knew his name, and his face: his return to Brittany after this short absence was celebrated by a rustic fete. Choose from the following list the word closest in meaning to the word "fete" in the last sentence.

The following excerpt is taken from “The Veteran” by Stephen Crane. (1)“Could you see the whites of their eyes?" said the man who was seated on a soapbox. (2)“Nothing of the kind,” replied old Henry warmly. (3) “Just a lot of flitting figures, and I let go at where they ‘peared to be the thickest. (4) Bang!" (5)“Mr. Fleming,” said the grocer – his deferential voice expressed somehow the old man’s exact social weight – “Mr.Fleming, you never was frightened much in them battles, was you?" (6)The veteran looked down and grinned. (7) Observing his manner, the entire group tittered. (8) “Well, I guess I was,” he answered finally. (9) “Pretty well scared, sometimes. (10) Why, in my first battle I thought the sky was falling down. (11) I thought the world was coming to an end. (12) You bet I was scared." (3)Everyone laughed. (14) Perhaps it seemed strange and rather wonderful to them that a man should admit the thing, and in the tone of their laughter was probably more admiration than if old Fleming had declared that he had always been a lion. (15) Moreover, they knew that he had ranked as an orderly sergeant, and so their opinion of his heroism was fixed. (16) None, to be sure, knew how an orderly sergeant ranked, but then it was understood to be somewhere just shy of a major general’s stars. (17) So when old Henry admitted that he had been frightened, there was a laugh. (18)“The trouble was,” said the old man, “I thought they were all shooting at me. (19) Yes, sir, I thought every man in the other army was aiming at me in particular, and only me. (20) And it seemed so darned unreasonable, you know. (21) I wanted to explain to ‘em what an almighty good fellow I was, because I thought then they might quit all trying to hit me. (22) But I couldn’t explain, and they kept on being unreasonable – blim-blam! (23)-bang! (24) So I run!" (25) Two little triangles of wrinkles appeared at the corners of his eyes. (26) Evidently he appreciated some comedy in this recital. (27) Down near his feet, however, little Jim, his grandson, was visibly horror-stricken. (28) His hands were clasped nervously, and his eyes were wide with astonishment at this terrible scandal, his most magnificent grandfather telling such a thing. (29)When little Jim walked with his grandfather he was in the habit of skipping along on the stone pavement in front of the three stores and the hotel of the town and betting that he could avoid the cracks. (30) But upon this day he walked soberly, with his hand gripping two of his grandfather’s fingers. (31)Then he finally ventured: “Grandpa – now –was that true what you was telling those men?" (32)“What?" (33) asked the grandfather. (34) “What was I telling them?" (35)“Oh, about your running." (36)“Why, yes, that was true enough, Jimmie. (37) It was my first fight, and there was an awful lot of noise, you know." (38)Jimmie seemed dazed that his idol, of its own will, should so totter. (39) His stout boyish idealism was injured. Of what does Henry seem to be unaware?

The following excerpt is taken from “The Veteran” by Stephen Crane. (1)“Could you see the whites of their eyes?" said the man who was seated on a soapbox. (2)“Nothing of the kind,” replied old Henry warmly. (3) “Just a lot of flitting figures, and I let go at where they ‘peared to be the thickest. (4) Bang!" (5)“Mr. Fleming,” said the grocer – his deferential voice expressed somehow the old man’s exact social weight – “Mr.Fleming, you never was frightened much in them battles, was you?" (6)The veteran looked down and grinned. (7) Observing his manner, the entire group tittered. (8) “Well, I guess I was,” he answered finally. (9) “Pretty well scared, sometimes. (10) Why, in my first battle I thought the sky was falling down. (11) I thought the world was coming to an end. (12) You bet I was scared." (3)Everyone laughed. (14) Perhaps it seemed strange and rather wonderful to them that a man should admit the thing, and in the tone of their laughter was probably more admiration than if old Fleming had declared that he had always been a lion. (15) Moreover, they knew that he had ranked as an orderly sergeant, and so their opinion of his heroism was fixed. (16) None, to be sure, knew how an orderly sergeant ranked, but then it was understood to be somewhere just shy of a major general’s stars. (17) So when old Henry admitted that he had been frightened, there was a laugh. (18)“The trouble was,” said the old man, “I thought they were all shooting at me. (19) Yes, sir, I thought every man in the other army was aiming at me in particular, and only me. (20) And it seemed so darned unreasonable, you know. (21) I wanted to explain to ‘em what an almighty good fellow I was, because I thought then they might quit all trying to hit me. (22) But I couldn’t explain, and they kept on being unreasonable – blim-blam! (23)-bang! (24) So I run!" (25) Two little triangles of wrinkles appeared at the corners of his eyes. (26) Evidently he appreciated some comedy in this recital. (27) Down near his feet, however, little Jim, his grandson, was visibly horror-stricken. (28) His hands were clasped nervously, and his eyes were wide with astonishment at this terrible scandal, his most magnificent grandfather telling such a thing. (29)When little Jim walked with his grandfather he was in the habit of skipping along on the stone pavement in front of the three stores and the hotel of the town and betting that he could avoid the cracks. (30) But upon this day he walked soberly, with his hand gripping two of his grandfather’s fingers. (31)Then he finally ventured: “Grandpa – now –was that true what you was telling those men?" (32)“What?" (33) asked the grandfather. (34) “What was I telling them?" (35)“Oh, about your running." (36)“Why, yes, that was true enough, Jimmie. (37) It was my first fight, and there was an awful lot of noise, you know." (38)Jimmie seemed dazed that his idol, of its own will, should so totter. (39) His stout boyish idealism was injured. Which of the following is the main purpose of the passage?

The following excerpt is taken from “The Veteran” by Stephen Crane. (1)“Could you see the whites of their eyes?" said the man who was seated on a soapbox. (2)“Nothing of the kind,” replied old Henry warmly. (3) “Just a lot of flitting figures, and I let go at where they ‘peared to be the thickest. (4) Bang!" (5)“Mr. Fleming,” said the grocer – his deferential voice expressed somehow the old man’s exact social weight – “Mr.Fleming, you never was frightened much in them battles, was you?" (6)The veteran looked down and grinned. (7) Observing his manner, the entire group tittered. (8) “Well, I guess I was,” he answered finally. (9) “Pretty well scared, sometimes. (10) Why, in my first battle I thought the sky was falling down. (11) I thought the world was coming to an end. (12) You bet I was scared." (3)Everyone laughed. (14) Perhaps it seemed strange and rather wonderful to them that a man should admit the thing, and in the tone of their laughter was probably more admiration than if old Fleming had declared that he had always been a lion. (15) Moreover, they knew that he had ranked as an orderly sergeant, and so their opinion of his heroism was fixed. (16) None, to be sure, knew how an orderly sergeant ranked, but then it was understood to be somewhere just shy of a major general’s stars. (17) So when old Henry admitted that he had been frightened, there was a laugh. (18)“The trouble was,” said the old man, “I thought they were all shooting at me. (19) Yes, sir, I thought every man in the other army was aiming at me in particular, and only me. (20) And it seemed so darned unreasonable, you know. (21) I wanted to explain to ‘em what an almighty good fellow I was, because I thought then they might quit all trying to hit me. (22) But I couldn’t explain, and they kept on being unreasonable – blim-blam! (23)-bang! (24) So I run!" (25) Two little triangles of wrinkles appeared at the corners of his eyes. (26) Evidently he appreciated some comedy in this recital. (27) Down near his feet, however, little Jim, his grandson, was visibly horror-stricken. (28) His hands were clasped nervously, and his eyes were wide with astonishment at this terrible scandal, his most magnificent grandfather telling such a thing. (29)When little Jim walked with his grandfather he was in the habit of skipping along on the stone pavement in front of the three stores and the hotel of the town and betting that he could avoid the cracks. (30) But upon this day he walked soberly, with his hand gripping two of his grandfather’s fingers. (31)Then he finally ventured: “Grandpa – now –was that true what you was telling those men?" (32)“What?" (33) asked the grandfather. (34) “What was I telling them?" (35)“Oh, about your running." (36)“Why, yes, that was true enough, Jimmie. (37) It was my first fight, and there was an awful lot of noise, you know." (38)Jimmie seemed dazed that his idol, of its own will, should so totter. (39) His stout boyish idealism was injured. Based on the reactions from Henry's audience, what can we assume about them?

“She Walks In Beauty” by Gordon Lord Byron (1)She walks in beauty, like the night Of cloudless climes and starry skies; And all that’s best of dark and bright Meet in her aspect and her eyes: Thus mellow’d to that tender light Which heaven to gaudy day denies. (2)One shade the more, one ray the less, Had half impair’d the nameless grace Which waves in every raven tress, Or softly lightens o’er her face; Where thought serenely sweet express How pure, how dear their dwelling-place. (3)And on that cheek, and o’er that brow, So soft, so calm, yet eloquent, The smiles that win, the tints that glow, But tell of days in goodness spent, A mind at peace with all below, A heart whose love is innocent! In the last stanza, which of the following "tell of days in goodness spent"?

“She Walks In Beauty” by Gordon Lord Byron (1)She walks in beauty, like the night Of cloudless climes and starry skies; And all that’s best of dark and bright Meet in her aspect and her eyes: Thus mellow’d to that tender light Which heaven to gaudy day denies. (2)One shade the more, one ray the less, Had half impair’d the nameless grace Which waves in every raven tress, Or softly lightens o’er her face; Where thought serenely sweet express How pure, how dear their dwelling-place. (3)And on that cheek, and o’er that brow, So soft, so calm, yet eloquent, The smiles that win, the tints that glow, But tell of days in goodness spent, A mind at peace with all below, A heart whose love is innocent! In the first stanza, which of the following is being personified by the writer?

(1) Towards the close of the last century the Baron de Beaurepaire lived in the chateau of that name in Brittany. (2) His family was of prodigious antiquity; seven successive barons had already flourished on this spot when a younger son of the house accompanied his neighbor the Duke of Normandy in his descent on England, and was rewarded by a grant of English land, on which he dug a moat and built a chateau, and called it Beaurepaire (the worthy Saxons turned this into Borreper without delay). (3)Since that day more than twenty gentlemen of the same lineage had held in turn the original chateau and lands, and handed them down to their present lord. (4)Thus rooted in his native Brittany, Henri Lionel Marie St. Quentin de Beaurepaire was as fortunate as any man can be pronounced before he dies. (5) He had health, rank, a good income, a fair domain, a goodly house, a loving wife, and two lovely young daughters, all veneration and affection. (6) Two months every year he visited the Faubourg St. Germain and the Court. (7) At both every gentleman and every lackey knew his name, and his face: his return to Brittany after this short absence was celebrated by a rustic fete. The passage states that Henri Lionel Marie St. Quentin de Beaurepaire was as fortunate a man can be pronounced before he dies. What, of the following, was not on the list of things that made him fortunate?