Grade 8 SSAT: Reading

Grade 8 visited a ravine near the splash pad. Sofia counted three kinds of trees, including white pine, and spotted a squirrel. Their teacher explained that biodiversity means many different living things sharing a habitat. Liam wrote that if one species disappeared, others might lose food or shelter. The class agreed the ravine was worth protecting.

Grade 8 visited a ravine near the playground. Isaac counted three kinds of trees, including hemlock, and spotted a whale. Their teacher explained that biodiversity means many different living things sharing a habitat. Nora wrote that if one species disappeared, others might lose food or shelter. The class agreed the ravine was worth protecting.

Grade 8 visited a ravine near the garden. Mateo counted three kinds of trees, including elm, and spotted a snake. Their teacher explained that biodiversity means many different living things sharing a habitat. Tara wrote that if one species disappeared, others might lose food or shelter. The class agreed the ravine was worth protecting.

Noah counted forty people on the path. Every bench was full.

Grade 8 visited a ravine near the berry patch. Chloe counted three kinds of trees, including larch, and spotted a rabbit. Their teacher explained that biodiversity means many different living things sharing a habitat. Sana wrote that if one species disappeared, others might lose food or shelter. The class agreed the ravine was worth protecting.

The icy wind stung her cheeks, and the pines clicked like needles.

The Galápagos Islands are a group of islands in the Pacific Ocean near the equator. The group is a province of Ecuador and is classified as both an Ecuadorian national park and a World Heritage Site. Many of its species are unique to the islands.

The town of Millbrook grew beside a river that supplied drinking water, moved a historic mill, and drew tourists for canoeing. After a factory upstream closed, tests showed fewer pollutants, but runoff from new parking lots still carried oil into storm drains. Students argued that a watershed connects everyone: choices on land show up in the water. They proposed rain gardens to slow and filter runoff before it reached the river.