HMH Test 8th grade Unit 1 REVIEW

What was unique about the school mentioned in the passage?

• It had no students.

• It was located in a factory.

• It was for robots.

• It was very large.

Answer explanation

The school was unique because it was specifically designed for robots, distinguishing it from traditional schools that cater to human students.

What did the principal boast about the robots?

• They were very intelligent.

• They were perfect and never missed an opportunity to show how easy it was to make them work.

• They were very fast.

• They were very colorful.

Answer explanation

The principal highlighted that the robots were perfect and demonstrated their ease of use, indicating their reliability and efficiency. This choice emphasizes the principal's pride in their functionality.

What was written on the metal plate next to the buttons on the robots?

• Made in the USA.

• Manufactured in accordance with existing laws.

• Property of the school.

• Handle with care.

Answer explanation

The correct answer, 'Manufactured in accordance with existing laws,' indicates compliance with regulations, which is a common requirement for products like robots. The other options do not accurately reflect typical labeling.

What did the robots do at 9:35?

• Recite history.

• Do arithmetic.

• Eat lunch.

• Go to the bathroom.

Answer explanation

At 9:35, the robots recited history, showcasing their programmed ability to provide information on historical events, which aligns with their educational functions.

What surprised the teacher during the history lesson?

• The robot recited a different line.

• The robot malfunctioned.

• The robot was late.

• The robot sang a song.

Answer explanation

The teacher was surprised when the robot recited a different line, indicating an unexpected deviation from the lesson plan. This highlights the robot's unpredictability during the history lesson.

Which excerpt from the passage best identifies the main conflict?

• You can understand why, in a school devoted to perfect order and regularity, these little programmed robots would be far more convenient than real students. One teacher was enough for everybody. (paragraph 3)

• The teacher was so dumbfounded that she went to examine the robot’s buttons at once, to see whether she might have pressed them incorrectly. Indeed not. All the buttons were in place. (paragraph 14)

• Then the teacher telephoned frantically to the factory to send a repairman at once. She was even willing to pay from her own pocket. (paragraph 18)

• So the repairman quickly took his screwdriver and began to loosen all the little screws on the outside. When he had unfastened everything and was able to take off the cover, he just stood there, with his eyes wide open. (paragraph 28)

Answer explanation

The correct choice highlights the main conflict by contrasting the convenience of programmed robots in a school focused on order with the implications for real students, indicating a tension between efficiency and genuine education.

Which detail from the selection suggests that this is science fiction?

• The school strictly follows a regular schedule.

• The students are robots programmed to be perfect.

• The robots are programmed to do their work efficiently.

• The students already know most of what is being taught.

Answer explanation

The detail that the students are robots programmed to be perfect clearly indicates a science fiction setting, as it introduces advanced technology and artificial beings, which are common elements in the genre.

Fill in the circle before the highlighted phrase that provides a clue for the meaning of the word 'regularity' in paragraph 11.

• repeated what had been studied previously

• in place of one rule of grammar

• was possible to switch subjects around somewhat

• take arithmetic before history

• changed the schedule frequently

Answer explanation

The phrase 'repeated what had been studied previously' suggests a consistent pattern, aligning with 'regularity' as it implies a stable and predictable occurrence, reinforcing the meaning of the word.

This question has two parts. First, answer Part A. Then, answer Part B. Part A In paragraph 11, what can the reader infer?

• The principal is afraid of change.

• The teacher is the best educator at the school.

• The principal values the consistency of the robot students.

• The teacher teaches the subjects in the correct order each day.

Answer explanation

In paragraph 11, the principal's focus on the robot students' consistency suggests that he values stability and predictability in the school environment, making "The principal values the consistency of the robot students" the correct inference.

Part B: Which two excerpts best support the answer to Part A?

• There was once a school without a single living student; the principal got his pupils from a robot factory instead. (paragraph 1)

• So these little robots were indeed marvels of mechanical and electronic efficiency, and everyone who saw them working was stunned by their performance. (paragraph 4)

• Of course, it was possible to switch subjects around somewhat to take arithmetic before history, or, in place of one rule of grammar, to take another. (paragraph 11)

• Indeed, the principal was so content with this state of affairs that he not only praised the teacher highly, but even gave her a promotion. (paragraph 11)

• The teacher couldn’t imagine such a disrespectful version of history being recited in school. She went back to her desk, full of anxiety, hoping that the principal would not find out. (paragraph 14)

Answer explanation

The correct excerpts highlight the flexibility in the school's curriculum and the principal's satisfaction with the teacher's performance, indicating a positive environment that supports the answer to Part A.