Copy of Grade 8 ELA Unit 1 Post Test (Teacher Edition) Assessment ID: ib.146075 Directions: Read the passage below and answer the question(s) that follow.

Section 1 The All American Girls Team/ Alta Weiss The following is an article from a magazine about little–known sports facts. The All American Girls Baseball League During World War II, so many young men were serving in the army that several professional baseball teams were forced to disband. owner Philip K. Wrigley was afraid that parks were in danger of going bankrupt. So, in 1943, he created the All American Girls Baseball League. Wrigley hoped that, if nothing else, the teams would attract a few fans interested in the unusual experience of watching women play professional sports. It turned out that the women's games were very exciting. In fact, at the league's peak in 1948, there were ten teams and more than a million fans.

But, by 1950, the league was in trouble. A new invention called television was entering more and more American households. It provided families with stay–at–home entertainment. Men's major league baseball games began to be televised and attendance at the women's games dropped. After very low attendance in 1954, the league disbanded.

Even though the league only lasted eleven years, it still holds people's interest today. Several popular books have been written about the history of the women's league. In 1988, a permanent display was installed at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum called "." Then, in 1992, actress starred in the movie . It told the story of how the league started and reminded viewers of that amazing era.

Alta Weiss: The Belle of the Ball Game People who have seen the movie A League of Their Own know about the All American Girls Baseball League. However, few know that there were women playing baseball in men's leagues long before women took to the field in the 1940s. One of the first and best female baseball players was Alta Weiss of Ohio.

Alta was the daughter of a doctor who taught her how to hunt and gave her a love for music. Most importantly, he also encouraged her to play sports, especially baseball. Her talent for the game was evident from the age of two, when she threw corncobs at a pesky tomcat that was bothering her. She had "the wrist–snap and follow–through of a major leaguer," according to Barbara Gregorich, a leading authority on women in baseball.

By the age of fourteen, Alta was playing first base for the "second team." This was a group of young prospects and second–tier players. The games were played at Weiss Ball Park, which her father had founded. However, her career in baseball began in earnest when her family was on vacation in

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Vermilion, Ohio. Alta saw some young men playing catch and joined them. The mayor of Vermilion, H.P. Williams, happened to be watching.

Mayor Williams suggested to Charles Heidloff, the manager of the men's semi–professional Vermilion Independents, that he sign Alta to play for the team. Heidloff refused. So instead, Williams arranged a doubleheader between two local teams, with Alta pitching for one team. She struck out fifteen men in the first game and nine in the second. Heidloff immediately changed his mind and asked her to join his team.

Women at the time were not allowed to wear pants, but Weiss found out that she could not play in skirts. "I tried," she said, "I wore a skirt over my bloomers and nearly broke my neck. Finally, I was forced to wear bloomers, but made wide enough that the fullness gave a skirt–like effect." No matter what Alta wore, she was a great pitcher who could throw a sinking fastball, a knuckle ball, and even a spitball. She knew how to change speeds so that even the best male hitters had a hard time hitting the ball.

In Alta's debut with the Independents in 1907, 1200 fans showed up to watch her pitch. The Independents won that first game in eleven innings with a score of 4–3. Alta became so popular with fans that special trains ran from Cleveland to Vermilion whenever she was scheduled to play. She routinely drew 3000 fans to each game.

Alta made enough money as a baseball player to put herself through medical school as the only woman in her class. While she was in school, the Olympic committee asked her to participate in the Olympics, but her father would not allow it. During medical school, and even as a practicing physician, Alta continued to pitch occasionally in men's baseball leagues into the 1920s.

Illuminate Itembank™ Continue: Turn to the next page. Generated On August 12, 2014, 1:17 PM PDT Page 2 Copy of Grade 8 ELA Unit 1 Post Test (Teacher Edition) Assessment ID: ib.146075 Directions: Answer the following question(s) relating to the passage titled "The All American Girls Baseball Team/ Alta Weiss". 1 TEACHER READS: Master ID: 169766 Revision: 1 Correct: B Read the question to yourself and select the Rationale: best answer. A. Student(s) may have understood that the Which sentence from the text best reveals girls team was popular because some the popularity of the league? people like to watch womens sports. A. Wrigley hoped that, if nothing else, the Student(s) may not have realized that teams would attract a few fans interested in this sentence does not reveal its the unusual experience of watching women overwhelming popularity, it only reveals play professional sports. why some people would watch the team. B. Correct answer B. In fact, at the league's peak in 1948, there C. Student(s) may have understood that were ten teams and more than a million baseball is often televised. Student(s) fans. may not have realized that it was mens C. A new invention called television was baseball that was put on television, not entering more and more American the womens team. households. D. Student(s) may have understood that this D. Then, in 1992, actress Geena Davis starred Geena Davis movie was very popular. in the movie A League of Their Own. Student(s) may not have realized that the movie's popularity is not the same as the league's popularity. Student(s) may not have realized that this sentence does not reveal the league's popularity. Standards: CCSS.LA.8.RI.CCR.1 CCSS.LA.8.RI.8.1

Illuminate Itembank™ Continue: Turn to the next page. Generated On August 12, 2014, 1:17 PM PDT Page 3 Copy of Grade 8 ELA Unit 1 Post Test (Teacher Edition) Assessment ID: ib.146075 Directions: Answer the following question(s) relating to the passage titled "The All American Girls Baseball Team/ Alta Weiss". 2 TEACHER READS: 3 TEACHER READS: Read the question to yourself and select the Read the question to yourself and select the best answer. best answer. Which summary of "The All American Which summary of the text, "Alta Weiss: Girls Baseball League" is the most The Belle of the Ball Game," is the most accurate? accurate? A. The invention of television changed the way A. Alta Weiss started playing baseball as a American households entertained fourteen–year–old teenager. themselves. B. Alta Weiss put herself through medical B. So many men went to war that the Major school as the only woman in her class. League Baseball parks were in danger of C. Alta Weiss was a strong–willed woman who closing. was a pioneer in both baseball and medicine. C. The All American Girls Baseball League D. Alta Weiss was one of the first women to still holds people's interest today through wear bloomers instead of a skirt to play books and movies. baseball. D. For a brief time, the All American Girls Baseball League was a popular form of entertainment. Master ID: 42006 Revision: 1 Correct: C Rationale: Master ID: 42008 Revision: 1 A. Student(s) may have recognized this fact Correct: D from the passage, but may not have Rationale: realized that this passage is about Alta's A. Student(s) may have realized that this is adult life as well. true but it is only one statement from the B. Student(s) may have recognized this as a story, not a summary of the entire true fact from the passage, but the article. passage also discusses her baseball B. Student(s) may have realized that this is career. true, but it is not a summary of the entire C. Correct answer article. D. Student(s) may have recognized this as a C. Student(s) may have realized that this is true fact from the passage, but student(s) true, but this is not a summary of what may not have realized that this option the article is about. references a detail in the passage instead D. Correct answer of a summary. Standards: Standards: CCSS.LA.8.RI.CCR.2 CCSS.LA.8.RI.CCR.2 CCSS.LA.8.RI.8.2 CCSS.LA.8.RI.8.2

Illuminate Itembank™ Continue: Turn to the next page. Generated On August 12, 2014, 1:17 PM PDT Page 4 Copy of Grade 8 ELA Unit 1 Post Test (Teacher Edition) Assessment ID: ib.146075 Directions: Answer the following question(s) relating to the passage titled "The All American Girls Baseball Team/ Alta Weiss". 4 TEACHER READS: 5 Write a summary paragraph that informs and explains the ideas expressed in the article Read the question to yourself and select the "The All-American Girls Baseball Team/Alta best answer. Weiss." Include a topic sentence Which evidence from "Alta Weiss: The that describes the overall main idea of the Belle of the Ball Game" best supports the passage. Then summarize relevant well- idea that she was a determined, fearless chosen facts and details that support the main woman? idea. A. By the age of fourteen, Alta was playing first base for the "second team." This was a group of young prospects and second–tier Master ID: 425653 Revision: 1 players. Standards: CCSS.LA.8.W.8.2.a B. Women at the time were not allowed to wear pants, but Weiss found out that she could not play in skirts. C. No matter what Alta wore, she was a great pitcher who could throw a sinking fastball, a knuckle ball, and even a spitball. D. Alta made enough money as a baseball player to put herself through medical school as the only woman in her class.

Master ID: 2211 Revision: 1 Correct: D Rationale: A. Student(s) may have thought that her young age means she was determined, but this does not refer to a character trait. B. Student(s) may have thought that her refusal to wear a skirt means she was fearless, but this was for practical reasons not a character trait. C. Student(s) may have confused Alta's talents with her personality traits. D. Correct answer Standards: CCSS.LA.8.RI.CCR.1 CCSS.LA.8.RI.8.1

Illuminate Itembank™ Continue: Turn to the next page. Generated On August 12, 2014, 1:17 PM PDT Page 5 Copy of Grade 8 ELA Unit 1 Post Test (Teacher Edition) Assessment ID: ib.146075 Directions: Answer the following question(s).

6 Based on the article "The All American Girls Baseball Team/Alta Weiss," what can you infer about how society viewed women's roles during the time period of the women's baseball league? Use two relevant details from the text to support your inference.

Master ID: 435479 Revision: 1 Standards: CCSS.LA.8.RI.CCR.1 CCSS.LA.8.RI.8.1

7 TEACHER READS: Read and complete the task that follows. Read the following paragraph on crocodiles and alligators.

First, alligators are often blackish in color while crocodiles are grayish green. Their jaws are also different, as the alligator's jaw is rounded while the crocodile's is more pointed. Inside their jaws, the way the two animals' teeth show is different as well. While alligators show only a few teeth while their mouths are closed, crocodiles have a more toothy appearance, perhaps showcasing how crocodiles tend to be more aggressive than alligators. Finally, alligators can only survive in fresh water, but crocodiles can live in freshwater and salt water. Write a topic sentence for this paragraph that reflects the main idea of its content and indicates the organization of its details.

Master ID: 209181 Revision: 1 Standards: CCSS.LA.8.W.8.2.a

Illuminate Itembank™ Continue: Turn to the next page. Generated On August 12, 2014, 1:17 PM PDT Page 6 Copy of Grade 8 ELA Unit 1 Post Test (Teacher Edition) Assessment ID: ib.146075 Directions: Read the passage below and answer the question(s) that follow.

Gift-Giving This passage may contain errors. 1) There is definitely a correct manner in which to give gifts. 2) Sure, you might be thinking that all you have to do is go to a store, buy the perfect present, and wrap it. 3) If that's all you do, then you are forgetting the real importance of gift–giving.

4) The first thing you should do is to consider the person who is getting the thing. 5) Is this a person to whom you'd like to share an important message? 6) If so, consider giving something from the heart. 7) Giving gifts is really fun and people all over the world engage in this activity. 8) It doesn't have to be something really expensive. 9) It could be something as simple as a framed photograph of something that will stay in the person's heart. 10) You may want to find something that would touch the person emotionally. 11) Just keep in mind that it's not the cost of the gift that counts, it's the emotional value that will be remembered forever.

Illuminate Itembank™ Continue: Turn to the next page. Generated On August 12, 2014, 1:17 PM PDT Page 7 Copy of Grade 8 ELA Unit 1 Post Test (Teacher Edition) Assessment ID: ib.146075 Directions: Read the passage below and answer the question(s) that follow.

8 TEACHER READS: Read the question to yourself and select the best answer. Which sentence does NOT support the main idea of the passage? A. Sentence 3 B. Sentence 4 C. Sentence 7 D. Sentence 9

Master ID: 5415 Revision: 1 Correct: C Rationale: A. Student(s) may not have realized that this sentence directly relates to the main idea of the passage because it prompts the next paragraph. B. Student(s) may not have realized that this sentence directly relates to the main idea of the passage because it explains how you should give gifts. C. Correct answer D. Student(s) may not have realized that this sentence gives an example of what kind of gift would be good to give, so it directly relates to the main idea of the passage. Standards: CCSS.LA.8.W.8.2.b

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