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Table of Contents

Dear Parent Letter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Terrific Tips for Using This Book . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Week 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Week 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

Week 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Week 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Week 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

Week 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69

Week 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

Week 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

Week 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105

Week 10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117

Answer Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129

Certificate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Dear Parent:

Congratulations! You hold in your hands an exceptional educational tool that


will give your child a head start into the coming school year.

Inside this book, you will find one hundred practice pages that will help your
middle schooler review and learn math, reading, writing, grammar, vocabulary,
and so much more! Summer Express is divided into ten weeks, with two
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

practice pages for each day of the week, Monday to Friday. However, feel
free to use the pages in any order that your child likes. Here are a few
features you will find inside:

s Suggestions for fun, creative learning activities you can do with your
child each week.
s A weekly journal entry sheet so that your middle schooler can record
his or her goals for the week as well as respond to the journal entries.
s A recommended reading list of age-appropriate books that you and
your middle schooler can read throughout the summer.
s A certificate of completion to celebrate your middle schoolers
accomplishments.

We hope you and your middle schooler will have fun as you work together to
complete Summer Express!

Enjoy!
The Editors
Terrific Tips for Using This Book

1 Decide on a
good time of
day for your child
5 Encourage
your middle
schooler to
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mid-morning or want to ensure


2 i clud
e s eak
er ?

early afternoon when he or she is not that your child


Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

too tired. succeeds, it is also important


to maintain a positive and relaxed attitude
toward school and learning.

2 Make sure your middle


schooler has all the
supplies he or she needs,
such as a ruler, pencils,
erasers, and markers. Set
6 After you have given
your middle schooler
a few minutes to look over
aside a special place for your the practice pages, ask
child to work. what his or her plan is
for completing the pages.
Hearing the explanation aloud can provide
insight into his or her thinking processes.

3 At the beginning of
each week, discuss how
many minutes a day your
At this point, you can decide if your child
can complete the work independently
or needs guidance. If he or she needs
child plans to read. We support, present choices about which
recommend that a student family member he or she might work
entering the eighth grade with. Providing choices can help boost
read 45 minutes to 1 hour a condence and encourage your child to
day, including any time spent on required take more ownership of the work to be
summer reading and projects. done.

4 Reward your middle


schoolers efforts with free
time for video games, texting,
7 When your child
has nished the
workbook, why not
or his or her favorite pastime. present the certicate
Set a goal for the week and a of completion on
reasonable reward for achieving page 141 at a family
the goal. gathering or dinner
at his or her favorite
restaurant?

5
Skill-Building Activities for Any Time

The following activities are designed to


complement the ten weeks of practice
pages in this book. These activities do not
take more than a few minutes to complete.
Use them to turn otherwise idle time into
productive timefor example, standing in
a line at a store or waiting at the bus stop.
Its a great way to practice key skills and
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

have fun together at the same time.

Finding Real-Life Connections An Eye for Patterns


One of the reasons for schooling is to A red-brick sidewalk, a beaded necklace, a
help children function in the real world, Sunday newspaperall show evidence of
to empower them with the abilities they structure and organization. You can help
truly need. Help your child develop these your child recognize a variety of structure
real-life skills by enlisting his or her help or types of organization by observing and
with reading a map, following a recipe, talking about patterns they see. The ability
checking grocery to identify patterns is a skill shared by
receipts, calculating effective readers, writers, scientists, and
a restaurant tip, and mathematicians.
so on. By applying
reading, writing,
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science, and math
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skills in relevant
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and practical ways,
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he or she will better 0@3/2
understand the 4:=C@
importance of these
skills.

6
Journals as Learning Tools
Journal writing reinforces reading
Promote Reading
comprehension, but it also helps your
middle schooler develop skills in many
at Home
academic areas as well. A journal can Practice what you
preach! You and your
simply be a spiral notebook, a composition
middle schooler should
notebook, or sheets of paper stapled
both read for pleasure,
together. Your middle schooler will be
whether you like reading science-
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

writing and/or drawing in the journal to


ction novels or do-it-yourself
complement the practice pages completed magazines. Reading should not
each week. The journal provides another always be work. Sometimes we
tool for monitoring the progress of newly should read just for fun! Keeping
learned skills and practicing those that reading materials around the house
need improvement. Before moving on to encourages you to read in front of
another set of practice pages, take a few your child and demonstrates that
minutes to read and discuss that weeks reading is an activity you enjoy.
ild.
journal entries with your child.
Set aside a family reading time. By
designating a reading time each
week, your family is assured an
opportunity to discuss what everyone
is reading. For example, you might
share a funny quote from an article,
or your middle schooler can tell you
his or her favorite part of a story. The
key is to make a family tradition of
readingand sharing what youve
read.

Make a family collection of reading


materials easily accessible by
everyone. Designate a specic place
for library books and post the return
date. This idea will help prevent library
nes. Keep reading materials fresh
and interesting by buying used books,
swapping books and magazines
with friends and neighbors, as well as
checking out books from the library.

7
Skills Review and Practice
Educators have established learning standards for math and language arts. Listed below are some
of the important skills covered in Summer Express that will help your middle schooler review and
prepare for the coming school year so that he or she is ready to meet these learning standards.

Math
7th Grade Skills to Review Skills to Practice for 8th Grade

U reviewing basic operations with whole numbers, U devising a plan to solve any type of problem
fractions, and decimals U interpreting different forms of data
U applying formulas to find measurements of plane figures U studying Pythagoras and his theorem
U understanding the location of points on a coordinate grid U performing basic operations on algebraic expressions
on any of the four quadrants
U identifying rays, lines, end points, line segments,
U applying a variety of strategies to solve problems requiring vertices, and angles
algebraic formulas
U understanding and applying the procedures for
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

U evaluating expressions and formulas simplifying single variable expressions


U devising a plan to solve a problem
U applying a variety of strategies to solve two-step equations
with one variable
U using estimation to determine the reasonableness of
answers
U applying concepts and procedures from probability and
statistics
U reviewing order of operations

Language Arts
7th Grade Skills to Review Skills to Practice for 8th Grade

U identifying the correct use of parts of speech U knowing and using the different types of sentences
U improving use of punctuation, capitalization, and spelling U demonstrating knowledge of correct sentence structure
U recognizing and differentiating different types of sentences U using correct capitalization and punctuation
U demonstrating proof of reading comprehension U distinguishing between clauses, phrases, and sentences
U understanding and applying knowledge of text U differentiating between independent and dependent
components to comprehend text clauses
U reading new information or following directions U differentiating between simple, compound, complex,
U using clauses, phrases, gerunds, and infinitives correctly and compound-complex sentences
U understanding root words, synonyms, antonyms, and U recognizing English words derived from Greek roots
homophones U identifying common phrases and terms from other
U identifying commonly used foreign words and phrases languages used in English
U gathering information from a variety of sources U identifying a topic and gathering information from
a variety of sources
U reading information for a variety of purposes
U identifying and using different styles of writing:
persuasive, expository, or narrative
U determining best word choice based on context

8
Helping Your Middle Schooler Get Ready: Week 1

Here are some activities you and your middle schooler


might enjoy.
These are the skills your middle
schooler will be working on Creating a Teen Retreat Your middle schooler is about
this week. to enter eighth grade and the real teen years. A great
summer activity that will make him or her feel more grown-
Math up is a bedroom update. Have your child make a list of
. basic operations what changes he or she would like to make in the room.
. coordinate points Spend some time together clipping photos from magazines
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

. money word problems and catalogs, gathering fabric and paint samples, and
anything else that seems interesting. Collect and edit until
Reading
. reading for information
the dream room and the family budget are a match. Before
starting, have your teen make a floor plan, and then do
Writing some preliminary online pricing for paint or other supplies.
. creating an outline Encourage him or her to rearrange the furniture and decide
. descriptive writing together what should be stored away.

Vocabulary
. context clues
Set a Summers End Goal Suggest that your child set
some goals for the end of the summerperhaps becoming a
Grammar better cook or tackling a new sport. Help your child come up
. nouns with a plan for success.
. clauses: dependent and
independent
Your middle schooler might enjoy reading one of the
following books:
The Incredible Journey
by Sheila Burnford

James and the Giant Peach


by Roald Dahl
Summ
Light, Sound & Electricity 1. Com er Goa
ple ls:
by Kirsteen Rogers et. al. summ te requir
e r rea ed
and p
rojec ding
2. Ex ts.
plor
genre e a new
.
3. Le
arn a
4. Ex new s
pand port.
cookin b a king a
g skil nd
ls.

9

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Imagine and describe a perfect summer day. What would you do? Who would
you do it with? Where would you go?
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

Imagine you could be a character in your favorite video game. Who would you
choose to be? What would be special about the new you?

Mark Twain once said, To get the full value of a joy, you must have somebody
to divide it with. What do you think he meant by that? Do you agree or disagree? Why?

Basic Operations

Lost at Camp
Trace a path from the Parking Lot to the Campfire Circle by following eight correctly written
equations. Avoid ones with mistakes.

Parking Lot

Maintenance
Building
START
Arts and Crafts

18 9 = 2
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

(21 x 13) 7 = 39
42 + 16 + 53
11 10 = 10
Administration
Building
Kayaking
Area Beach
Area
16 x 50 = 800
3 + (8) = 5

Counselors
Fields Bunkhouse
Lake
LaBelle 6 (4) x (5) =
Sailing 120
Area
303 29 = 284
5 (13) = 8
5 13 = 18

Canoeing
Area

Dining Hall Bath House

1 5 + 5 = 10
x (3,772 + 528)
10 = 430 Campfire
Circle
5 + 5 = 0
Bunkhouse 3
Bunkhouse 1
Bunkhouse 2 18 9 = 2
97 (1) = 98
20 (12) = 8

11

Nouns

Its Only Proper!


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Common Nouns Proper Nouns


city Atlanta
river Mississippi River
poet Maya Angelou
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

street Main Street


organization Boy Scouts of America

Read the following sentences. Underline the common nouns and circle the proper nouns.

1. Monaco is the second smallest country in Europe.

2. Brittany and her two best friends live on Washington Street.

3. The American Red Cross brings aid to people during disasters.

4. The United States is a democratic country.

5. William Butler Yeats wrote beautiful poetry!

6. He wrote the poem, The Lake Isle of Innisfree.

7. This Irish land must be quite special to the poet.

8. The place of which Yeats wrote is near Sligo, Ireland.

9. The sights beyond the lake include views of the Lough Gill Mountains.

10. The Hazelwood Sculpture Trail is close to the lake.

11. The United Nations is in New York City.

12. Nathan is an excellent guitarist.

13. Australia is the smallest continent.

14. Lincoln Avenue is our towns busiest street.

15. Josh and Molly are cousins.

12

Reading for Information

Hatshepsut
Throughout the long history of Ancient Egypt, its rulers, or pharaohs, were almost always men. But
one woman did succeed in becoming pharaoh. Hatshepsut was a princess married to a pharaoh. When her
husband died, her 10-year-old stepson should have become the pharaoh. But Hatshepsut saw a chance to
seize power. She claimed the boy was too young to rule and demanded to be named his co-ruler.
To be sure people saw her as pharaoh, Hatshepsut had to dress the part. She adopted all of the
accoutrements of a pharaoh: the headdress, clothes, and even the fake beard worn by all of Egypts pharaohs.
Hatshepsut not only looked the part of a powerful leader, she acted it. Historians characterize her reign as
a time of peace and prosperity for Egypt. She oversaw the creation of many great works of art,
restored religious temples, and, most important, organized trade networks. She ruled Egypt
for 20 years.
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

After her death, Hatshepsuts stepson, Thuthmose III, came to power. Unfortunately, he
attempted to erase Hatshepsut from history. He began destroying everything he could find
with her image or name on it. Despite Thuthmose IIIs efforts, some artifacts remained for
researchers to unearth. Archaeologists found evidence of Hatshepsuts rule, and today we
know many things about this successful female pharaoh.

Answer the following questions.

1. Hatshepsut was 5. Accoutrements refer to


A. an archaeologist. A. great works of art.
B. a pharaoh. B. a successor to the throne.
C. an Egyptian model. C. clothing and accessories.
D. a historian. D. acts of royal vandalism.

2. A pharaoh is 6. When Thuthmose III claimed the throne


A. always male. A. an age of peace and prosperity began.
B. an archaeologist. B. he tried to erase any sign of Hatshepsut.
C. the name for a ruler of Ancient Egypt. C. she became the first female pharaoh.
D. a princess. D. he decided not to wear a false beard.

3. What happened first? 7. Hatshepsuts story was discovered by


A. Hatshepsut restored temples. A. researchers.
B. Thuthmose III came to power. B. a pharaoh.
C. Researchers uncovered her story. C. Thuthmose III.
D. Hatshepsut became pharaoh. D. her husband.

4. Hatshepsuts reign is characterized by 8. To look like a pharaoh, Hatshepsut


A. peace and prosperity. A. learned a sacred dance.
B. uprisings against the throne. B. studied in Greece under philosophers.
C. destruction of Thuthmose IIIs image. C. decided to retire after 20 years.
D. unrelenting drought and famine. D. wore special clothes and a fake beard.

13

Context Clues

Vocabulary Building: Context Clues


You can sometimes find the meaning of an unfamiliar word by using context clues, or the
words or phrases around the word.

Using context clues, underline the correct word to complete each sentence.

1. The sad news made Malik feel very (somber, elated).

2. During a hectic day, reading a book is a welcome (interlude, intermediate) for Carmen.
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

3. Because of her (persistence, resistance), Leticia finally learned to drive a car.

4. Janie loves vegetables more than anything, so she (avoids, prefers) cheeseburgers.

5. Mario improved his (endurance, resistance) during swim meets by practicing every day.

6. Jonathans track team drank gallons of lemonade after their track meet because they
were so (dehydrated, depopulated).

Complete each sentence below by choosing a word from the word box that makes sense in
the blank. Be sure to use the context clues in the sentence to help you.

erode aerospace hydrant manipulate participate

1. In case of fire at your house, would you be able to direct the fire department to the nearest

2. An airplane pilot has to the controls in order to fly the plane.

3. Wind and running water continually , or wear away, soil and rocks.

4. Eliot cannot in sports after school because he must go home to take


care of his brother.

5. Because Yoko is planning an career, she is studying about the


earths atmosphere.

14

Coordinate Points

A Graph Puzzle
Use the graph on the next page. Follow the directions to complete this puzzle.

1. Plot each ordered pair below, and then connect all the points with a straight line segment.
1
(4, 1) (10, 7) (7 2 , 3)

1 1
(8, 0) (9 , 8 ) (6, 1)
2 2

(14, 3) (14, 6) (4, 1)


Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

1
(20, 10) (15, 4 2 ) (6, 7)

1 1
(9, 4) (16, 12 ) (12 2 , 11)

(6, 4) (15, 0) (11, 11)

1
(2, 7) (13 2 , 2) (5, 9)

(2, 8) (8, 1) (1, 3)

(6, 7) (7, 1) (4, 1)

1
(10, 4) (8 2, 3) Plot this ordered pair.
Do not connect.
(13, 6) (7, 4) (14, 4)

15

Coordinate Points

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(-
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Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

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16

Clauses

Dependent and Independent Clauses


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<oXdgc\1N_\en\Z_\Zb\[k_\Zffb`\j`ek_\fm\e%

Read each clause. Write I for an independent clause. Write D for a dependent clause.
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

1. Because you enjoy pizza so much.

2. After you have finished the yard work.

3. The library book that you want is on the third shelf.

4. Although she enjoys playing the piano.

5. There must be a way to solve this problem.

6. I am too busy to go to the movies tonight.

7. Since they left here to go to San Francisco.

8. Eduardo waved to his friends.

Read each sentence. Circle each independent clause and underline each dependent clause.

9. As the population increases, the world faces a shortage of fresh water.

10. We ordered spaghetti, which everyone in the family likes.

11. While my brothers were working during the summer, I went to summer school.

12. Please show me the book that you read this summer.

17

Word Problems

Money Saving Coupons


Read each coupon. Then, solve the word problems.

1. The dance team is having a sleepover Friday


evening before the teams car washing fundraiser.
Dizzy Donuts
Meredith found a donut special at Dizzy Donuts for Special
$4.60 per dozen. She purchased six dozen donuts. $4.60 for a Dozen Donuts
Her total bill for the donuts was
Good AnytimeLimit 6 Dozen

$
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

2. Best Ever chocolate chip cookies are $3.79 per bag


at the Super Special Market. Super Special doubles HVkZ,*
the value of coupons on Tuesdays. Sue is shopping dc'EVX`V\Zh
on Tuesday and buys two packages of cookies. d[7Zhi:kZg
What is the cost of cookies, not including taxes? 8]dXdaViZ8]^e8dd`^Zh
Cd:me^gVi^dc9ViZ

3. Hotter Than Hot costs $1.79 per bottle. On a Hotter Than Hot
triple-value coupon day, what would be the Pepper Sauce
cost before taxes per bottle?
Save 25 per Bottle
Good until September 1!
$

4. The Testa family had lunch at Osvaldos. Each of


the four family members had three tacos at a cost DhkVaYdhDjigV\ZdjhIVXdh
of $2.50 each. Mr. and Mrs. Testa each had iced
tea for $1.95, and the girls each had a soft drink for
the same price. What was their check before taxes
and tip, but after the discount? Read the coupon EgZhZcii]^hXdjedc
carefully! [dg'%D;;
Zci^gZ[ddYejgX]VhZ
<ddYi]gj6j\jhi(&
$

5. Johns Car Care Center normally charges $39.95 for


the special oil change. According to the coupon,
what will the discounted price be? (Round to the
nearest penny.) Af_ej:Xi:Xi\:\ek\i
(,;`jZflekfeF`c:_Xe^\
n`k_k_`jZflgfe
$ <og`i\jFZkfY\i*(

18

Descriptive Writing

Descriptive Writing Prompt


Think about the last time you attended a special event, such as a baseball game, a concert,
a trip to an amusement park, or a field trip. Follow the steps below to write a descriptive
paragraph about the event.

1. Select a topic for your special event:

2. Use this graphic organizer to brainstorm ways to describe the event using your five senses.

<M<EK
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

j\\ jd\cc _\Xi kflZ_ kXjk\


3. Make an outline, using your ideas from above. Include descriptions related to at least three
senses and two supporting details for each point.

Title

A.

B.

C.

II

A.

B.

C.

III

A.

B.

19

Descriptive Writing

Descriptive Writing
Next, write a draft on a separate sheet of paper based on the outline that you created.
Edit the first draft and recopy your final paragraph on the lines below. Be sure to share your
paragraph with your family.

Title
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

20
Helping Your Middle Schooler Get Ready: Week 2

Here are some activities you and your middle schooler


might enjoy.
These are the skills your middle
schooler will be working on A Daily Life Skill Challenge your son or daughter to
this week. create an aerial view drawing of his or her shoe. The shoe
is to be drawn to actual size. First, have your teenager
Math draw what he or she sees looking down on the shoe. After
. mixed fractions the sketch is completed, discuss where, why, and when an
. order of operations aerial view of something might be useful in daily life.
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

. geometry: tangrams

Reading How Is Your Balance? Research points to the fact that


. reading for information most serious falls are related to loss of balance. While the
. reading for details problem is usually discussed as it relates to older adults,
it is never too early to begin strengthening every family
Writing members balance. The whole family begins by standing
. combining sentences on one foot, without moving, for one minute. Repeat with
. expository writing the opposite foot. When someone can stand absolutely
still on one foot for three
Vocabulary
. word work: degree of
minutes, increase the level
of difficulty by doing the
meaning
same exercise with your
Grammar eyes closed. Repeating this
. capitalization and simple exercise daily will
punctuation help everyone in the family
see an improvement in his
or her balance.

Your middle schooler might enjoy reading one of the


following books:
The Giver
by Lois Lowry

My Brother Sam Is Dead


by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier

Across Five Aprils


by Irene Hunt

21

Lj\k_`jgX^\kfj\k^fXcjXe[dXb\aflieXc\eki`\j%

Pretend that you can travel back in time. Where and to what time period would
you go? Who would you want to meet? What would you ask this person?
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

You have been given a choice of being either a writer or an artist. Which would
you choose? Why? What would you create?

Charlie Brown, Dennis the Menace, Peter Pan, and other characters live in
situations where time stands still, and they never grow up. Describe what you think it would
be like to never age.

Combining Sentences

What a Combination!
J_fikj\ek\eZ\jZXejfd\k`d\jdXb\ni`k`e^jfle[Z_fggp%9pZfdY`e`e^j\ek\eZ\j#
pflZXe_\cgdXb\pflini`k`e^i\X[dfi\jdffk_cp%
<oXdgc\1DpY\jk]i`\e[cfm\jkf^f_fij\YXZbi`[`e^%@cfm\kf^f_fij\YXZbi`[`e^%
DpY\jk]i`\e[Xe[@cfm\kf^f_fij\YXZbi`[`e^%

Read each pair of sentences below. Then combine the sentences


into one sentence. Write the new sentence on the lines.

1. My mom made my favorite dessert. She made pecan pie.


Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

2. On vacation we went swimming every day. We collected shells on the beach every day.

3. Beethoven was a brilliant composer. He eventually lost his hearing.

4. Charles Dickens wrote A Tale of Two Cities. Charles Dickens is my favorite writer.

5. Ants are tiny creatures of great strength. Ants can lift ten times their own weight.

6. Carmen can jump higher than anyone else on the track team. She can also jump farther
than anyone on the team.

7. One of my best friends is Matt Johnson. He is a great baseball player.

8. My familys pet is an all-white cat. She is named Snowball.

9. The car wash was closed yesterday. The bank was closed, too.

10. The parade will have marching bands. The parade will have colorful floats.

23

Mixed Fractions

Fraction Action
Solve the problems. Be sure you check the signs. Give your answers in the lowest terms.

1. 4 5. 6 9. 7 13. 3
3 2
7 9 9 4
6 7 4 4
+ 11 + 1 18 + 49 + 35
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

4 2 1 1
2. 6. 10. 4 14. 4
5 5 3 4
3 1 2 5
5 3 15 16

3. 2 s 1 = 7. 2 s 2 = 11. 3 3 s 2 = 15. 3 1 s 1 3 =
4 3 3 4 7 4

4. 3 1 = 8. 1 4 = 12. 6 3 2 = 16. 1 1 2 1 =
4 2 5 3 5 6

24

Punctuation

Capitalization & Punctuation


Read each group of sentences. Circle the one sentence that shows correct capitalization
and punctuation.

1. A. Jessica called, and wants to know if 6. A. Stop thief! she screamed


you saw life as we know it. B. Stop thief! she screamed
B. The movie was good, but the ticket C. Stop thief! she screamed.
price was too high. D. Stop thief, she screamed!
C. My friends and I, go to the Movies
about once a week. 7. A. My friend Marcus, who is an artist
D. We pay for our movie tickets, by displays his works at the small corner
working on Saturday.
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

gallery downtown.
B. Before the movie began, we had to sit
2. A. Ronda wondered, where does the foil through many boring commercials?
come from to make the experiment? C. My mothers job is quite demanding;
B. The foil is always here when we start however, she is on time every day.
the experiment said Tommy. D. Do you know where we are, Thomas?
C. Before we arrive, Emily added, Mr. inquired Toshiko.
Daily sets up the lab.
D. I think you are right, said Audrey 8. A. Our plane will arrive in Boston by
11 oclock because the pilot took a
3. A. A computer and monitor will cost about shortcut.
one thousand dollars. B. Besides Elvis Presley, who has had the
B. The desk that you ordered, will arrive most influence on rock music?
next Monday. C. My sister always asks, When will I get
C. When the desk and computer are my drivers license?
delivered, my brother, and I will help. D. All the above sentences are correct.
D. How much should I pay for delivery.
9. A. Peter can speak English Chinese,
4. A. Rachel was born on October 10 1997 French and Japanese.
B. Rachel was born on October 10, 1997 B. Juan enjoys playing soccer but Oscar
C. Rachel was born on October 10. 1997. prefers playing field hockey
D. Rachel was born on October 10, 1997. C. Have you read John steinbecks book
Travels with Charley?
5. A. Marcia asked, Will you be going to the D. All the above sentences are incorrect.
party with us tomorrow, Julie?
B. Marcia asked, Will you be going to the 10. A. We visited Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming.
party with us tomorrow Julie? B. We visited Utah Idaho, and Wyoming.
C. Marcia asked, Will you be going to the C. We visited Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming
party with us tomorrow, Julie. D. We visited Utah Idaho and Wyoming.
D. Marcia asked; Will you be going to the
party with us tomorrow, Julie?

25

Word Work

Order, Please!
Read each set of words below. Place the words in order as directed. Then compare your
choices with a friend or family member to see if they agree.

1. trot creep dash amble jog

(slow fast)

2. tiny bulky infinitesimal gargantuan intermediate


Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

(small large)

3. hideous stunning unsightly attractive pleasant

(ugly beautiful)

4. state whisper bark bellow shout

(soft loud)

5. bland interesting motivating exhilarating mind-numbing

(boring exciting)

6. delicate sturdy robust omnipotent sound

(weak strong)

7. dazzling gloomy jet-black shady luminous

(dark bright)

8. blissful despondent content downcast ecstatic

(sad happy)

26

Order of Operations

Order of Operations Review


K_\de\dfe`Z#Pc\Xj\EoZlj\MpD\XiAlekSXccp#`jX^i\XknXpkfi\d\dY\ik_\fi[\if]
fg\iXk`fej`eXdXk_gifYc\d%?\i\j_fn`knfibj1
Gc\Xj\`j]figXi\ek_\j\j% =`ijk#ZXcZlcXk\`ej`[\k_\gXi\ek_\j\j%
<oZlj\`j]fi\ogfe\ekj% J\Zfe[#]`e[k_\mXcl\f]k\idjn`k_\ogfe\ekj%
Dp;\Xi`j]fidlck`gc`ZXk`fefi[`m`j`fe% K_`i[#dlck`gcpfi[`m`[\%
8lekJXccp`j]fiX[[`k`fefijlYkiXZk`fe% CXjk#X[[fijlYkiXZk%
<oXdgc\1*)o+"* "-* *)o+"* "-*
 ( Nfib`ej`[\gXi\ek_\j\j]`ijk% *)o."-*
 ) E\ok#j`dgc`]pXepk\idjn`k_\ogfe\ekj%
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

0o."-*
 * Dlck`gcpXe[[`m`[\]ifdc\]kkfi`^_k% -*")
 + 8[[Xe[jlYkiXZk]ifdc\]kkfi`^_k% -,

Evaluate each of the following expressions.

1. 11.

2. 12.

3. 13.

4. (9 + 6) 3 = 14.

5. 15. (62 3) + 5 =

6. 16. 6 [(9 + 5) 2 (3)] =

7. (17 10) 7 = 17.

8. 9 + 42 2 = 18. 4 + (22 3) + 5 =

9. 19. 2 [6 (9 +5) 2 (3)] =

10. 20.

Challenge: What combination of operations would make the following statement true?

(15 3) 17 1 = 205

27

Reading for Information

An Albatross Around Your Neck


Have you ever heard someone say, Its like an albatross around my
neck? People sometimes use this phrase to describe a burden they want to
overcome. The expression comes from a ballad, or poem, written by Samuel
Taylor Coleridge in 1798, called The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.
In the poem, a curse forces an old mariner to stop everyone he meets
so he can tell his tale. The tale he tells is about how he and his fellow sailors
became lost at sea during a terrifying storm. Their ship has been blown off
course and then freezes in the icy water. Then, the sailors see an albatross, or
sea bird. Soon after seeing it, the ice melts and the albatross flies with them
to more peaceful waters. The sailors praise the bird as a good luck charm.
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

However, as soon as they begin to celebrate, the mariner shoots the albatross.
Afterward, the crew experiences much hardship and misfortune. They blame their bad luck on the
mariners action. As punishment for his crime, the sailors hang the albatross around the mariners neck.
And for the rest of his life, he was forced to tell his tale to everyone he met.

Answer the following questions.

1. An albatross is 5. Why did the mariner shoot the bird?


A. a ship. A. jealousy.
B. a sea bird. B. hunger.
C. a sailor. C. fear.
D. a poem. D. the answer is not given.

2. According to the description of the poem, 6. A ballad is a


what happens first? A. sea bird.
A. The mariner shoots the albatross. B. type of sailor.
B. Sailors face a storm at sea. C. punishment.
C. The mariner is forced to wear the bird. D. type of poem.
D. The ship is caught in the ice.
7. In 1798,
3. Another word for mariner is A. Coleridges poem was written.
A. bird. B. a mariner shot an albatross.
B. sea. C. the albatross was discovered.
C. poet. D. albatross-inspired clothes were popular.
D. sailor.
8. What was the mariners crime?
4. Sailors saw the albatross as A. He encountered an albatross.
because B. He got the crew lost.
A. bad luck; they got lost. C. He shot the albatross.
B. good luck; their ship was freed. D. He wrote a bad poem.
C. dangerous; it damaged the ship.
D. punishment; it smelled bad.

28

Expository Writing

Expository or Informational Essays


Many standardized tests ask students to write an essay in response to a prompt. Students are
often given a few prompts to choose from. Write some notes about each prompt below.
Then use your notes to choose a prompt for an essay. Write your essay on a separate sheet
of paper.

Prompt 1
Write some notes explaining why someone you care about is important to you.
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

Prompt 2
Write some notes explaining how you have changed since you entered middle school.

Prompt 3
Write some notes explaining the importance of honesty in a friendship.

29

Big Wind
When several thunderstorms spiral together and grow into one giant storm, it is
no longer a thunderstormits a hurricane. Officially, scientists consider a storm a
hurricane once its winds reach 74 mph (miles per hour). The word hurricane comes
from the Taino Indian word urican, meaning big wind. In the Atlantic Ocean,
hurricanes only start in the tropicsthe area five degrees north or south of the equator.
ator. If
a large area of water in this part of the ocean is at least 80 F, and wind is blowing westward
from Africa, conditions are just right for a hurricane. The warm, moist air of the ocean rises. As
it rises, it cools, causing the water vapor to condense and form cumulonimbus clouds. As the cloud column
grows larger and higher, it creates a circular pattern of wind. As the winds circle faster and faster, they twist
around a calm center, called the eye. Once hurricanes hit land, they weaken because warm ocean water is no
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

longer available to help them grow. But before they weaken, these fierce storms can cause severe damage.

Read each of the following questions and write the letter for the best answer on the line provided.

1. For a hurricane to form in the Atlantic Ocean, the water temperature must be
A. less than 80 F. C. at least 80 F.
B. 74 mph. D. 5 degrees.

2. At what wind speed do scientists classify thunderstorms as hurricanes?


A. 30 mph C. 80 mph
B. 74 mph D. 50 mph

3. The calm center of a hurricane is called the


A. vapor. C. eye.
B. tropics. D. urican.

4. Hurricanes weaken when


A. they hit land. C. wind blows from Africa.
B. they form cumulonimbus clouds. D. warm, moist air rises.

Decide if the following statements are True (T) or False (F).


Write your choice on the line provided.

1. Hurricane comes from the Taino Indian word urican.

2. The tropics is an area five degrees north and five degrees south of the equator.

3. Cumulonimbus clouds cause hurricanes.

4. The eye of the hurricane has the strongest winds.

30

Geometry

Tangrams, The Broken Squares


8kXe^iXdZfej`jkjf]XjhlXi\[`m`[\[`ekfj\m\e^\fd\ki`Zj_Xg\j1knfcXi^\ki`Xe^c\j#
fe\d\[`ldki`Xe^c\#knfjdXccki`Xe^c\j#fe\jhlXi\#Xe[fe\gXiXcc\cf^iXd%K_\j\g`\Z\j
ZXeY\XiiXe^\[`ekfdXep^\fd\ki`Zj_Xg\jXe[g`Zkli\j%KXe^iXdjXi\fe\f]k_\fc[\jk
^\fd\ki`Zglqqc\j`ek_\nfic[%

Heres a story often told about how tangrams came to be. About 4,000 years ago in China, a
man named Tan was on his way to show the emperor his treasured tile. But the tile fell to the
floor and broke into seven pieces. For the rest of his life, Tan entertained himself and his friends
with his pictures created from these seven pieces. He first used the tile pieces to make a
picture of his cat and the pagoda where he often meditated. Tans puzzle has been passed
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

from generation to generation and country to country. It is said that more than three hundred
designs hide within the broken square.

Directions for folding and cutting a tangram.


Step 1Cut a four-inch by four-inch square out of heavy paper;
the front of a cereal box works well.
Jk\g)

Step 2Draw a diagonal that divides the square into two congruent triangles.
Cut along the line to separate.

Jk\g*
Step 3Fold one of the two congruent triangles into two smaller congruent triangles.
Cut along the fold to separate.
:

Step 4Take the other large triangle and fold the top point (vertice A) Jk\g+
to the midpoint of line segment BC. Then cut along the fold
to create the middle-sized triangle and a trapezoid.
9 8
:
Step 5Fold the trapezoid in half as shown in the diagram so that endpoints
B and C meet. Cut in half at the fold to create two trapezoids. Jk\g,

Step 6Cut one trapezoid into a triangle and quadrilateral. 9

Jk\g- Jk\g.
Step 7Cut the other trapezoid into a square and a triangle.

Step 8Now you should have 2 large triangles,1 medium triangle,


2 small triangles, 1 square, and 1 parallelogram.
Jk\g/

31

Geometry

Solving Tangram Problems


Now that you have created your tangram, use the pieces to solve the following puzzles.
The number in the center of the design represents the number of tangram pieces in the puzzle.
B. C.
A.

2 3
3
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

D.
E.

G.

F.

H.

32
Helping Your Middle Schooler Get Ready: Week 3

Here are some activities you and your middle schooler


might enjoy:
Here are the skills your middle
schooler will be working on Create a Scrapbook Help your son or daughter create a
this week. scrapbook of your family. If possible, collect pictures and
copies of documents, such as birth certificates, wedding
Math
. converting numbers:
announcements, and so on from grandparents or other
relatives. Be sure to have him or her label each entry with
decimals and percents
. a caption.
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

decimal review
. word problems
Leave Notes Have a place in your house to leave notes
Reading either on sticky notes posted daily or on a write-on/wipe-off
. fact vs. opinion board. Write a positive note to a family member each day in
. reading for information text message style. Share them each evening and discuss
the correct spellings of those abbreviated or shortened
Writing
. narrative writing
words.

Vocabulary
. figurative language
Your middle schooler might enjoy reading one of the
. word work: homophones
following books:
. word work: synonyms The Land I Lost
by Quang Nhuong Huynh
Grammar
. gerunds Secret, Lies, and Algebra
by Wendy Lichtman

The Battle of the Labyrinth


by Rick Riordan

33

Lj\k_`jgX^\kfj\k^fXcjXe[dXb\aflieXc\eki`\j%

Imagine you can read other peoples minds. How would this talent be useful?
What problems do you think might arise for others and yourself?
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

What things in your life give you joy? Describe what a joyful day looks and
feels like.

If you had been with Dorothy when she finally met the Wizard, what would you
have asked for? Why?

Fact vs. Opinion

Distinguishing Fact From Opinion


Understanding the difference between facts and opinions is
essential for good readers. Statements that are facts can be
proved. Opinions express a persons thoughts, beliefs, or judgments.

Read the following sentences. Circle F if the sentence states a fact,


and O if it expresses an opinion.

1. F O The longest and strongest bone in the human body is


the femur, or thigh bone.
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

2. F O A good athlete has broken at least one bone.

3. F O Bones contain calcium.

4. F O Worms have no skeletons at all.

5. F O Animals that are invertebrates make better pets


than vertebrates.

6. F O The cranium, which protects our brain, is made up of eight bones.

7. F O Most of our vital organs are protected by bones.

8. F O Skeletons are very scary.

9. F O Antlers are made entirely of bone.

10. F O Human skeletons are more interesting than animal skeletons.

Write two more facts about bones and two more opinions.

Fact 1:

Fact 2:

Opinion 1:

Opinion 2:

35

Gerunds

Juggling Gerunds
8^\ile[`jXm\iYk_Xk\e[j`e`e^Xe[XZkjXjXefle`eXj\ek\eZ\%8^\ile[ZXeXZkXjX
jlYa\Zk#[`i\ZkfYa\Zk#jlYa\ZkZfdgc\d\ekgi\[`ZXk\efd`eXk`m\ #fifYa\Zkf]Xgi\gfj`k`fe%
@ek_\]fccfn`e^j\ek\eZ\j#k_\^\ile[`jle[\ic`e\[#Xe[k_\^\ile[j]leZk`fe`j^`m\e`ek_\
gXi\ek_\j\j%
<oXdgc\j1
 Jn`dd`e^`ek_`jcXb\`jdp]Xmfi`k\gXjk`d\%jlYa\Zk
A\jj`ZX\eafpjjn`dd`e^%[`i\ZkfYa\Zk
9i`Xejdfjki\Z\ek\o\iZ`j\gif^iXd`jjn`dd`e^%jlYa\ZkZfdgc\d\ekfi
gi\[`ZXk\efd`eXk`m\
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

K_\`ejkilZkfikXl^_kljk_\jb`ccjf]jn`dd`e^%fYa\Zkf]gi\gfj`k`fe
8^\ile[g_iXj\`eZcl[\jk_\^\ile[#`kjdf[`]`\ij#Xe[k_\nfi[jk_XkZfdgc\k\k_\`[\X
Y\^leYpk_\^\ile[%@ek_\]fccfn`e^j\ek\eZ\#k_\j`dgc\^\ile[`j`eYfc[2k_\^\ile[g_iXj\
`jle[\ic`e\[%
 Jn`dd`e^feflimXZXk`fenXjjfdlZ_]le]fik_\\ek`i\]Xd`cp%

Underline each gerund phrase once. Underline the gerund twice. Then identify whether the
gerund in each sentence functions as a subject (S), predicate nominative (PN), direct object
(DO), or object of a preposition (OP).

1. Studying art also taught Gerald about art history.

2. Today was my first attempt at playing kickball.

3. Entering the contest was my mothers idea.

4. Avas next class is dancing.

5. Reporting the news is Jessicas dream job.

6. Mrs. Palmer was given an award for volunteering her time.

7. Being the secretary of the art club is such a big responsibility.

8. Pressing the wrong button on this computer can be quite dangerous.

9. Alberto prefers taking photos of landscapes.

36

Converting Numbers

Decimals & Percents


8ep[\Z`dXcZXeY\Zfem\ik\[kfXg\iZ\ekYpj`dgcpdfm`e^k_\[\Z`dXcknfgcXZ\jkfk_\
i`^_kXe[X[[`e^Xg\iZ\ekj`^e%N_\eX[\Z`dXcZfekX`ejk_fljXe[k_jfijdXcc\ig\iZ\ekj#
jk`ccdfm\k_\[\Z`dXcknfgcXZ\jkfk_\i`^_k%K_\g\iZ\ekn`ccZfekX`eX[\Z`dXcgf`ek%
<oXdgc\j1
:fem\ik %)*kf :fem\ik %0+*kf
 %)*4)*  %0+*40+%*
KfZfem\ikg\iZ\ekjkf[\Z`dXcj#dfm\k_\[\Z`dXcgf`ekknfgcXZ\jkfk_\c\]k#
Xe[i\dfm\k_\g\iZ\ekX^\j`^e%
<oXdgc\j1
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

:fem\ik +, :fem\ik (')


+,%  (')%

Convert the decimals to percents, and the percents to decimals.

1. .6 11. 119% 21. .008

2. .43 12. 105% 22. 2.321

3. 91.6% 13. .5 23. 98.2%

4. .05 14. 1.05 24. .15

5. 3.11 15. 101.75 25. 33.5%

6. 6% 16. .695 26. 223.23

7. 8.955 17. 1.943 27. 3.4

8. .731 18. 2% 28. .997

9. .82 19. .013 29. .14

10. 56.85% 20. 41.46 30. 9.775

37

Figurative Language

Figurative Language
Review the following definitions of various kinds of figurative language.

J`d`c\j:fdgXi`jfejlj`e^Zfee\Zk`e^nfi[j#jlZ_Xjc`b\#Xj#fij\\dj%
<oXdgc\1 8jd`c\c`b\XjleY\XdYi`^_k\e\[_\i]XZ\%
D\kXg_fijXi\ZfdgXi`jfejk_Xklj\efZfee\Zk`e^nfi[j%
<oXdgc\1 K_\Zcfl[jXi\]cl]]pg`ccfnj%
G\ijfe`]`ZXk`feXgg\Xij]i\hl\ekcp`egf\kipXjn\ccXjgifj\%
G\ijfe`]`ZXk`fe`j^`m`e^_ldXeZ_XiXZk\i`jk`Zjkfk_`e^jk_XkXi\efk_ldXe%
<oXdgc\1K_\jkfidbefZb\[feflin`e[fnj%
?pg\iYfc\`jXefYm`flj\oX^^\iXk`felj\[kf\dg_Xj`q\Xgf`ekfiX[[\oZ`k\d\ek
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

Xe[&fi_ldfikfXjkfip%
<oXdgc\1K_\nXcb]ifdk_\ZXikfk_\[fZkfijf]]`Z\kffb]fi\m\in`k_dpYifb\ekf\%

Read each of the following statements. Identify which of the four figurative language terms it
represents. Write the answer in the blank provided.

1. The leaves danced across the yard.

2. The old, silent house remembered the happy days when laughing
children filled its rooms.

3. I am so hungry I could eat a horse.

4. The pet dog is another child in the family.

5. Jordan can be as quiet as a mouse sometimes.

6. Madisons bedroom was a pigs sty before she cleaned it.

7. Vincent is as sharp as a tack.

8. Yvonne bent close to Margis ear and whispered, Be careful,


the walls have ears.

9. If Ive told you once, Ive told you a million times to close the door.

10. The students felt that the essay assignment was a piece of cake.

38

Word Problems

. . . And the Beat Goes On


In an adult human, the heart is only about the size of an average fist and weighs about nine
ounces. This amazing muscle beats, without stopping, from before birth until death. Humans, on
average, can expect more than 75 years of service from this four-chambered miracle. During
its life, the heart will pump millions of quarts of blood through the body. An
average rate for a typical 13-year-old is about 80 or 85 beats per minute.
During exercise, the number of beats per minute can double.

Your task now is to estimate how hard your heart is working for you
every minute, hour, and day of your life. Use a calculator and find out.
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

1. If a normal heart beats around 80 beats per minute,

A. how many beats occur in an hour?

B. how many beats in a 24-hour day?

C. how many beats in a year?

2. If the heart continues to beat at 80 beats per minute for 75 years,


what is the total number of beats?

3. If the average person has a normal heart beat of 80 beats per minute and the heart pumps
5 quarts per minute,

A. how much blood would the heart pump in a 24-hour day?

B. how much in a year?

4. A marathon runners heart can pump 30 quarts of blood per minute. Based on this statistic,
how much blood would be pumped in a race that lasted 2 hours, 15 minutes, and
30 seconds?

5. Find a partner and a watch with a second hand. Take turns recording each others pulse
for 30 seconds. Measure pulse by placing your fore and middle fingers together on the
underside of your partners wrist; make sure you can feel the pulse beat. Count the beats
in 30 seconds; then multiply by 2. Once you each have your pulse rate or heart beat,
calculate the following:

A. How many times does your heart beat in an hour?

B. How many times in a year?

39

Narrative Writing

Narrative Writing
Respond to one of the essay prompts below. Limit yourself to 60 minutes for completing the
essay. Use the space provided to make notes, record single words, phrases, clauses, or even
entire sentences for each prompt. Then decide which prompt to use to write your essay. Write
your essay on another sheet of paper.

1. Eleanor Roosevelt once said, You must do the thing you think you cannot do. Write a
narrative about a time you did something you thought you could not do. Be sure to include
specific details so that a reader can follow your essay.
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

2. Think of your very best day ever at school. What happened that made this day stand out in
your memory? Write an essay that tells about what happened.

40

Word Work

Spell Check!
Spell check on a computer is a great tool for checking your spelling, but it doesnt mean
you dont have to read your writing carefully! It can sometimes miss mistakes. Some words
in English sound the same, but are spelled differently and mean different things. These are
called homophones. Spell check wont catch these kinds of errors. Read the sentences below
carefully. Each one has a word that is wrong. Circle the word, and then write the correct
word that should replace it on the blank line.

1. Their are lots of excellent teachers in my school.

2. Allison lost control of the horse when she dropped the reigns.
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

3. The principle spoke at the assembly.

4. Alonzo is known for telling wild tails.

5. I wander if I will be able to go swimming today.

6. Theirs never enough time in the day to have fun.

7. Jose likes vanilla ice cream more then chocolate.

8. Miranda thought Alex had eaten far to many hot dogs.

9. Nathan spent hours pouring over his new comic books.

10. The picnic had to be cancelled because of bad whether.

11. Its supposed to be sunny for the rest of the week.

12. Everyone in my swim class past the water safety test.

13. Amanda one the summer reading challenge at the library.

14. The weight for the train was longer than we expected.

15. Joshs favorite food is stake.

16. Audrey ran down the stares when she heard the doorbell ring.

41

Decimal Review

Decimal Operations
KfX[[fijlYkiXZkn`k_[\Z`dXcj#i\d\dY\ikfc`e\lgk_\[\Z`dXcgf`ekj%Lj\q\ifjXjgcXZ\
_fc[\ijjfk_Xkk_\eldY\if][`^`kjkfk_\i`^_kf]k_\[\Z`dXcgf`eki\dX`eZfej`jk\ek%
8[[`e^q\ifjkfk_\i`^_kf]k_\]`eXc[`^`k`eX[\Z`dXc[f\jefkX]]\Zk`kjmXcl\%

Line up the decimal points properly; add zeros if necessary and solve.

1. 237.895 + 30.25 = 3. 7.4036 .1437 = 5. 897.0352 46.0231 =


Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

2. 7.4036 + 13.765 + .1437 = 4. .3862 + 1.45 + 5.097 = 6. 2.431 + 9.56 + 4.675 =

Kfdlck`gcpn`k_[\Z`dXcj#]`ijkdlck`gcpXjljlXc#k_\eZflekk_\eldY\if]gcXZ\jkfk_\
i`^_kf]k_\[\Z`dXcgf`ek`e\XZ_f]k_\]XZkfij%:flekk_XkeldY\if]gcXZ\j#jkXik`e^Xkk_\
i`^_k$dfjk[`^`k`ek_\gif[lZk#Xe[gcXZ\k_\[\Z`dXcgf`ekk_\i\%@]k_\i\Xi\efk\efl^_
[`^`kj#X[[q\ifjfek_\c\]kf]k_\gif[lZkY\]fi\gcXZ`e^k_\[\Z`dXcgf`ek%
Kf[`m`[\n`k_[\Z`dXcj#gcXZ\X[\Z`dXcgf`ek`ek_\hlfk`\ek[`i\ZkcpXYfm\k_\fe\`ek_\
[`m`[\e[%Lj\q\ifXjXgcXZ\_fc[\iXje\\[\[%N_\e[`m`[`e^X[\Z`dXcYpX[\Z`dXc#]`ijkZflek
k_\eldY\if][`^`kjkfk_\i`^_kf]k_\[\Z`dXcgf`ek`ek_\[`m`jfi%Dfm\k_\gf`ek`eYfk_k_\
[`m`[\e[Xe[k_\[`m`jfik_XkeldY\if]gcXZ\jkfk_\i`^_k#X[[`e^q\ifjXjgcXZ\_fc[\ij%

Solve the following.

7. 1.80 9. 0.02 11. 3.7 13. .03


x 3.29 x 0.03 x 4.5 x .2

8. 19 ) 64.6 10. 4 )26.88 12. 0.16 ) 24. 14. 0.4 ) 972.5

42

Word Work

Out and Over


Play the game of Out and Overand boost your vocabulary! Find a word in Box 1 that is not
a synonym of the other three words. Move that word to Box 2 (where it will be a synonym) by
writing it on the blank line. Continue until you reach Box 12. Then complete the sentence in
that box.

1. 2. 3.

rebuke scold
4.
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

open swear

honest assert restate

candid tell off declare


reiterate

repeat
7. 6. 5.
8.
scrumptious speak

furious say
puny
livid angry utter

diminutive delectable delicious


minuscule

stunning

saunter
You deserve
amble stroll euphoric
9. a round of
striking rapturous

ecstatic applause for finishing


gorgeous
this puzzle!

10. 11. 12.

43

Reading for Information

Japans Latest Literary Craze:


Novels Written on Cell Phones
When was the last time you wrote a novel? If you are a teenager in Japan, you might be writing one now
on your cell phone! Cell phone novels started relatively recently. The practice began in the year 2000 but
only became popular in 2005. Most cell phone novelists are young women going to school or working part-
time. Whenever they have a free moment before class or work, they type out a line of the story and send it
out as a text message. Readers receive the new lines directly on their phones. Some writers also post their
stories on Web sites.
For most of these aspiring novelists, there is no reward but the joy of self-
expression. However, some of the most popular cell phone novels have been
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

published as actual books. A few of these authors have become famous and made
a great deal of money from their work. Cell phone novels have become such a
lucrative, or profitable, endeavor that some traditional novelists have started
writing them, too.
Although cell phone novels were initially dismissed by critics as trivial, they are slowly gaining more
support. They are a very popular genre for young people, many of whom do not normally read traditional
novels. Because of their growing popularity, they are beginning to get more respect and may one day be
considered a genre, or category, of literature in their own right.

Answer the following questions.

1. Cell phone novels are 4. A genre is


A. stories about cell phones. A. a type of cell phone novel.
B. stories sent as text messages. B. an author.
C. an example of traditional literary genre. C. a Japanese fad.
D. not very popular in Japan. D. a category.

2. What happened first? 5. If an endeavor is lucrative, it means


A. Established authors text stories. that it
B. Cell phone novels become popular. A. will make lots of money.
C. Cell phone novels are published as B. may not succeed.
books. C. will not be published.
D. Teenagers tell stories through texts. D. will become popular in Japan.

3. Cell phone novels are usually written by 6. Cell phone novels are popular because
A. people who read traditional novels. they
B. publishing companies. A. are easy to read and relate to.
C. very old men. B. make money.
D. young women. C. have always had a following in Japan.
D. are an established genre.

44
Helping Your Middle Schooler Get Ready: Week 4

Here is an activity you and your middle schooler


might enjoy:
Here are the skills your middle
schooler will be working on Virtual Field Trip Everyone loves a field trip, and now
this week. with the help of the web, you and your child can explore
many exciting places both on earth and beyond. NASA
Math offers an interactive visit to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory
. fraction word problems Museum, Mission Control, the Robot Lab, and Sun Zone
. geometry (http://virtualfieldtrip.jpl.nasa.gov). National Geographic
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

. probability: tree diagrams offers a number of interactive games and animations that
. problem solving take place in six rooms of the Expedition Hall. Find the
adventure at www.nationalgeographic.com/resources.
Reading
. reading comprehension
The British Museum has an exciting, interactive site to

. summarizing
learn about the secrets of ancient
Egypt. The site explores the science
Writing of mummification, crafts, and
. persuasive writing hieroglyphics. Their site is located at
www.ancientegypt.co.uk. Should you
Vocabulary
. spelling
wish to explore closer to home, try

. Greek roots
www.history.org/visit/tourthetown to
find a comprehensive tour of Colonial
Williamsburg, Virginia. Many other
Grammar
. infinitives
museums, cities, and historical sites
also offer virtual field trips. Note: Be
sure to preview each Web site before
your child visits it to verify that the
site is still active and at an appropriate level.

Your middle schooler might enjoy reading one of the


following books:
The Headless Cupid
by Zilpha Keatley Snyder

The Pushcart War


by Jean Merrill

The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle


by Hugh Lofting

45

Lj\k_`jgX^\kfj\k^fXcjXe[dXb\aflieXc\eki`\j%

The winning prize in a local raffle is the chance to have a sky writer write one
sentence in the sky. You win! What will you have written? Why?
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

What is your personal definition of success?

Think about and then explain what you consider to be the difference between
courage and recklessness.

Spelling

Spelling
Read the directions carefully. Be sure to know if you are looking for the correctly or incorrectly
spelled word. When you are not sure of an answer, look at each choice and say the word to
yourself. Then write in the answer that seems the best.

Find the word that is spelled correctly and best completes the sentence.

1. The will be held next month on Tuesday.


A. alection B. election C. eletion D. elektion

2. Did I we will have a birthday party this Sunday?


Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

A. menstion B. mention C. mension D. menshun

3. Be on your drive home tonight.


A. caustious B. caucious C. cautus D. cautious

4. The sun is a source of extremely cheap .


A. inergy B. energy C. enirgy D. energie

5. I have never visited a country.


A. foreign B. forein C. forin D. foriegn

Choose the phrase in which the underlined word is not spelled correctly.

6. A. an encredible sight 10. A. very relaible automobile


B. a predictable conclusion B. a difficult obstacle
C. long delay at the airport C. incorrect test answer
D. very useful conference D. much enjoyment tonight

7. A. a nutritious lunch 11. A. notise something


B. blinking warning sign B. rarely visit the museum
C. to remain fearless C. an important discovery
D. earned a free tickit D. such an easy solution

8. A. gather together tonight 12. A. arrest a criminal


B. become too crowded B. always a polite person
C. a very late departure C. cannot locate the lock
D. narrow hazerdous road D. work hard all weak

9. A. worthless pile of junk


B. smooth, colorful serface
C. tuned musical instruments
D. accelerate around the curve

47

Word Problems

Functional Fractions
Solve the following problems. Show your work.

2 1
1. Crystal has 20 pets: 5 are rabbits, 2 are 5. In the warehouse there is a stack of 7
1
fish and 10 are dogs. How many of each crates. Each crate is 10 23 inches high.
animal does she have? How many inches high is the stack of
crates?
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

1
2. Colin has 36 polished rocks. Of the rocks, 6. Samantha has 3 4 bags of peanuts. Each
1 1
4
will be used in a science experiment bag holds 4 2 pounds. How many pounds
4
and 9 will be given to his friend Tony. of peanuts does Samantha have?
How many rocks will he still have?

1
3. June has $40.00 in her bank account. 7. Corey spent 6 2 hours at the park on
1 3
4
of the money must remain in the bank Saturday and 7 4 hours on Sunday.
and 12 of the remaining amount will How many hours did Corey spend in all?
be donated to her favorite charity.
How much will June donate?

1
4. Tim caught a fish that weighed 4 6 8. When the bakery closed, Marcia noted
1 1
pounds. Then he caught another that that she had 2 4 peach pies and 1 2
5
weighed 6 8 pounds. How much more apple pies left. How much more peach
did the second fish weigh? pie than apple pie was left?

48

Greek Roots

Greek Roots
Many English words have Greek roots. Some examples are given in the chart below.

Greek Root Meaning Example


aerate: expose to air or allow circulating air
to reach or penetrate
aero air
aerobics: system of exercises designed to
increase respiration and heart rate
rebellion: uprising
belli war
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

belligerent: aggressive or warlike


panorama: unlimited view
pan all
panacea: a cure for all problems
chronic: lasting a long time
chronos time
synchronize: to happen at the same time

Use the chart to play Tic-Tac-Toe. Read each word. Then draw a line through three words in
the box that are synonyms for that word. Your line can be vertical, horizontal, or diagonal.

panacea synchronize

cure-all answer solution outdated harmonious disorderly

happiness anger ocean heavy coincide nonstop

physics mix air wildly coordinate ancient

belligerent aerate

pugnacious loud melodious listen angry expose

autonomy aggressive kind yell ventilate forces

coincide chaos combative freshen mix rebellion

49

Geometry

Geometry Jumble

Where is the worlds oldest castle found?


To find out, unscramble each geometry word. Write
the correctly spelled word in the spaces provided.
The boxed letters from top to bottom reveal
the location.
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

1. NESTMEG

2. NECO

3. ELMOVU

4. CRINAPPLERUDE

5. AYR

6. GLEAN

7. YAMDRIP

8. PESHER

9. MIRPS

10. REXVET

11. PINTO

50

Persuasive Writing

Persuasive Prompt
Writing Situation:
Girls and boys often enjoy playing the same sports and play with equal
skill. Some people believe that girls and boys should be able to play on
the same team. What is your opinion on this issue?

Directions for Writing:


Write a letter to the school board stating your opinion and supporting it with convincing reasons.

(Date)
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

(Salutation)

(Complimentary Close)

(Signature)

51

Probability

Clothes Combos
How many combinations can you make with your favorite clothes? A tree diagram can show
you. For example, Doug has one baseball cap, three shirts, and two pairs of pants. If he chooses
one hat, one shirt and one pair of pants for each outfit, how many outfits can he make?
 _Xk j_`ik gXekj flkZfd\
a\XejA :NA
n_`k\j_`ikN jn\XkgXekjJ :NJ

ZXg a\XejA :9A


YcXZbj_`ik9
Z jn\XkgXekjJ :9J
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

gfcbX$[fkj_`ikG a\XejA :GA


jn\XkgXekjJ :GJ

1. How many of Dougs outfits include a baseball cap?

2. How many outfits include a white shirt?

3. How many outfits include jeans?

Fill in this tree diagram to find out which different outfits Stella can make with her clothes.
She can pick one shirt, one skirt, and one pair of shoes for each outfit. Heres what shes got:
polka-dot shirt, striped shirt, long skirt, short skirt, sneakers, and sandals.
 j_`ik jb`ik j_f\j flkZfd\

cfe^jb`ikC
jXe[XcjJX GCJX
gfcbX$[fk
j_`ikG je\Xb\ijJe

jki`g\[
j_`ikJk
je\Xb\ijJ_ JkJ_Je
j_fikjb`ikJ_

4. How many of Stellas outfits include a striped shirt?

5. How many outfits include a long skirt?

6. How many outfits include sneakers?

52

Reading Comprehension

Tsunami Warning
A tsunami is an unusually massive wave. These huge waves can be
caused by an earthquake, a volcanic eruption, a landslide, or a meteorite
impact. Tsunamis occur most frequently in the Pacific Ocean, but they can
appear in any body of water, even in lakes.
The most common cause of a tsunami is an undersea earthquake. During an undersea earthquake,
tectonic plates shift and the sea floor rapidly changes shape. These changes can cause water to be shifted up
quickly, resulting in a tsunami.
The word tsunami comes from Japanese, and it means harbor wave. Japanese fishermen called tsunamis
harbor waves because they often have little effect on the open ocean, but devastate coastal villages and
harbors. So, a fisherman might have had a peaceful day at sea and come home to discover his village has
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

been destroyed by a tsunami.


Tsunamis used to be known as tidal waves but this is a misnomer. Geologists and oceanographers consider
tidal wave an inappropriate name for a tsunami because tidal waves are caused by the gravitational pull of
the moon. In contrast, tsunamis are normally caused by seismic activity such as undersea earthquakes. For this
reason, scientists prefer the term seismic sea waves. Although, at high tide, when the moons gravitational pull
on the ocean is the strongest and the ocean level is the highest, tsunamis are much more destructive.

Answer the following questions.

1. Tsunami is a Japanese word meaning 5. A misnomer is


A. tidal wave. A. a female gnome.
B. harbor wave. B. a type of tsunami.
C. gravitational pull. C. a type of tidal wave.
D. misnomer. D. an inappropriate name.

2. During an undersea earthquake, first 6. The moons gravitational pull causes


A. tectonic plates shift. A. tsunamis.
B. the tsunami strikes the shore. B. tidal waves.
C. water rapidly rises. C. undersea earthquakes.
D. the sea floor is pushed up. D. seismic sea waves.

3. Tsunamis are most dangerous 7. Why is a tsunami more harmful at high tide?
A. on peaceful days. A. The water level is already high.
B. at low tide. B. The fishermen are at sea.
C. at high tide. C. Oceanographers have lunch then.
D. during a drought. D. Everyone is at the beach.

4. Seismic sea waves are also known as 8. Tsunamis only occur


A. tornadoes. A. near coastal villages.
B. tsunamis. B. near bodies of water, excluding lakes.
C. misnomers. C. in the Pacific ocean.
D. hurricanes. D. in bodies of water, including lakes.

53

Infinitives

Identifying Infinitives and Infinitive Phrases


8e`e]`e`k`m\`jXm\iY]fidZfej`jk`e^f]k_\nfi[kfgcljXm\iY#]fi\oXdgc\1kfi\X[#
kfbefn#Xe[kfgi\k\e[%8e`e]`e`k`m\ZXe]leZk`feXjXefle#X[a\Zk`m\#fiX[m\iY%K_\
j`dgc\`e]`e`k`m\`jk_\nfi[kfgcljk_\m\iY%K_\`e]`e`k`m\g_iXj\`jk_\
`e]`e`k`m\#`kjdf[`]`\ij#gclj`kjZfdgc\d\ekj%
K`g1Kf[\Z`[\n_\k_\iXg_iXj\`jXe`e]`e`k`m\g_iXj\fiXgi\gfj`k`feXcg_iXj\#cffbXkk_\
nfi[X]k\ikf%@]k_\nfi[`jXm\iY#k_\g_iXj\`jXe`e]`e`k`m\%@]k_\nfi[`jXefle#gifefle#
fidf[`]`\i#k_\g_iXj\`jXgi\gfj`k`feXcg_iXj\%
 ;f\jDXiZ`XnXekkfni`k\k_\gi\j`[\ek`Xci\gfik6`e]`e`k`m\g_iXj\ 
K_\gi\j`[\ekjgfb\kfk_\i\gfik\ijX]k\ik_\Xjj\dYcpgif^iXd%gi\gfj`k`feXcg_iXj\
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

Underline the infinitive phrase in each sentence.

1. Our class is planning to exhibit our artwork in the cafeteria.

2. Do you want to paint the background wall on Saturday?

3. Our family went to see the Fourth of July parade.

4. We left the train station early to see all the floats in the parade.

5. Please pay the admission fee to enter the amusement park.

6. Who wants to run to the grocery store for cheese and crackers?

7. Jonah was pleased to hear the news this morning.

8. My mother was quite happy to read my essay.

9. The only way to have a friend is to be one.

10. To cook breakfast for our family, you will need a much larger skillet.

11. To reach the Italian restaurant, turn right at the next street.

12. Mothers suggestion was to leave by 4:00 P.M.

13. It was Tonys idea to take a taxi instead of the train.

14. To score the most points is the object of the game.

54

Problem Solving

Car forr Rent


Heres your chance to see the U.S.A.
without leaving your home!

The following car rental plans are from


Take Off Rent-a-Car.

GcXe8 GcXe9 GcXe:


$32.95 per day $27.95 per day $45 per day
500 free miles no free miles 1,500 free miles
then $0.20 a mile $0.25 a mile then $0.30 a mile
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

1. Choose a North American destination youd like to visit. How about the Statue of Liberty,
Big Bend National Park, Monument Valley, or the Everglades? Plot a route to the spot you
pick. Map out and record the route and estimate the driving distance.

2. Figure out how long the entire round-trip would take. Remember: You cant drive all day
long, and you need to sleep, eat, get gas, and spend some time at the place youre
visiting. And dont forget those speed limits!

3. Using each plan, determine the cost of the car rental for your entire round-trip. Which plan
makes the most sense for you? Why?

55

Summarizing

Pedal Power
On Monday mornings, city streets are jammed with cars and buses filled with commuters. Take a closer
look, and you might see plenty of people pedaling their way to work or school. The number of bike commuters
has more than tripled over the past two decades. Worldwide, three times more bikes are built than cars.
Why do so many Americans like to ride bikes? Biking is a fun way to get outdoors and to exercise. More
people are discovering that on a bike, they can get in shape and get where they need to go at the same time.
In fact, nearly five million Americans commute to work on bicycles.
hese areas,
Two major bike-to-work cities are Tucson, Arizona, and San Diego, California. In these
warm weather makes year-round biking possible. Surprisingly, rainy Seattle, Washington,, and
chilly Minneapolis, Minnesota, both have high rates of bicycle commuters.
Cities are racing to make the ride easier. More bike commuters mean fewer cars.
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

Fewer cars mean less of a need for new roads. Creating bike paths or Bikes Only
lanes on streets is far less expensive than building roads.
Officials in Portland, Oregon, came up with a unique idea. They wanted to
encourage people to bike around town instead of driving. So the city rounded up used bikesones that
people would have just thrown away. They repaired them and painted them yellow. Then they put the yellow
bikes around the city and spread the word that they were free for anyone to use. When borrowers reach their
destination, they just leave the bike for someone else. People are pedaling the yellow bikes all over Portland.
The public bike fleet is growing as more people donate old bikes. Will your town be next? About 50 cities
have asked Portland how to start their own public pedal-power program!
All of these healthy bikers help create a healthier environment. When it comes to planet-friendly modes
of transportation, you cant beat a bike. Unlike cars, bikes burn no fossil fuels and create no air pollution. In
addition, computer-aided design and new technologies have helped create a new breed of bicycles that make
riding safer, easier, and a lot more fun.

Write one paragraph summarizing what you read in Pedal Power.

56
Helping Your Middle Schooler Get Ready: Week 5

Here are some activities that you and your middle


schooler might enjoy:
Here are the skills your middle
schooler will be working on Drop by a Community Service Center Ask your middle
this week. schooler to join some friends in making cool posters, cards,
or even a snack for the employees of a fire station or other
Math service station. When you deliver the items or food with the
. variables children, you might arrange a tour to see first-hand what
. estimation the employees jobs involve.
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

. basic operations review


. algebra
Dance! Dance! Dance! Have your child try this activity
Reading alone (with no one watching!) or with a friend or two. Find
. following directions a television channel or go to the library to check out an
. reading comprehension instructional video on salsa or ballroom dancing, hip hop,
or whatever dance style your child wants to try. Then
Writing encourage him or her to start learning each step. Soon, your
. descriptive writing child will be bustin out some amazing moves!

Vocabulary
. portmanteau
Your middle schooler might enjoy reading one of the
Grammar following books:
. parts of speech Catherine, Called Birdy
by Karen Cushman

Johnny Tremain
by Esther Forbes

Zen and the Art of Faking It


by Jordan Sonnenblick

57

Lj\k_`jgX^\kfj\k^fXcjXe[dXb\aflieXc\eki`\j%

By now you have studied many explorers from history. With whom would you
have chosen to travel? Why?
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

You are probably familiar with poems called haiku. The poem has three lines:
the first line has five syllables; the second has seven; the third has five. Use this pattern to
create a haiku about yourself.

Flying cars have long been a dream concept of inventors. What might be
some advantages and disadvantages of such a vehicle?

Variables

Evaluating Variable Expressions


@edXk_#XmXi`XYc\`jXc\kk\ilj\[kfi\gi\j\ekfe\fidfi\eldY\ij`eX
dXk_\dXk`ZXc\ogi\jj`fe%
))
<oXdgc\1<mXclXk\n_\ep4)
p ))
   4((
)

Evaluate each expression when y = 2.


1. 8y

2. 10
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

3. y + 3

4. 14 y

Evaluate each expression when y = 5.

5. 2y 3

6. y + y + 8

7. 19 y + 4

8. 9 y + 3 1

The perimeter of a square is equal to 4s where s equals the length of one side.

9. What is the perimeter of a square where s is equal to 7 feet?

10. Find the perimeter of a square where s = 123 feet.

11. James knows the perimeter of a square is 1,023 feet. He stated that one side of the
square is an even whole number. Is this answer correct? Why or why not?

59

Following Directions

Comparing Family Recipes


These one-dish meals are easy to prepare. Add a salad, bread, beverage, and dessert, and
dinner is served! With permission, you can be chef for a day and prepare dinner for the family
at least twice this summer. After each meal, have each family member evaluate the hot dish.
Allow the members of your family to vote to decide if the dish should be added to the familys
favorites. Things to consider are as follows: taste, cost per serving, ease of preparation, and
possible leftovers.

Read the recipe below. Then answer the questions.

(TWS(MNU(FXXJWTQJ
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

1
2 15 2 oz cans chili with beans 3 cups enchilada sauce
2 15 12 oz cans chili without beans 2 tablespoons onion, chopped
1
1 13 oz pkg. corn chips 1 4 2 oz can olives (optional), chopped
3 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded 1 4 oz can green chilies, chopped
2 cups tomato sauce 2 cups sour cream

Preheat oven to 350.

Reserve 1 cup corn chips, 1 cup grated cheese, and all the sour cream. Place remaining
ingredients in a 4-quart casserole. Mix well and bake 30 minutes. Spread sour cream
on top and garnish with remaining corn chips and grated cheese. Bake for 5 minutes
longer. Serves 12.

1. What is the total baking time for this recipe?

2. What item is optional?

3. What is the total amount of chili needed for the recipe?

4. Elenas family of five has invited four neighbors over to share this casserole.

Will they have enough to serve everyone?

5. What ingredients are used as garnish for the casserole?

6. What size dish is required for this recipe?

60

Descriptive Writing

Show, Dont Tell


N_\epflj_fn#iXk_\ik_Xek\cc#`epflini`k`e^#pfl_\cgi\X[\ijZi\Xk\g`Zkli\j`ek_\`i
d`e[j%I\m`\nk_\\oXdgc\jkfj\\k_\[`]]\i\eZ\%
<oXdgc\j1
K\cc`e^   J_fn`e^
A`ccnXj_Xggp%  A`ccjb`gg\[[fnek_\_Xcc#ZcXgg`e^_\i_Xe[jXe[jd`c`e^
Xk\m\ipfe\%
K_\glggpnXjjZXi\[% J_`m\i`e^Xe[n_`dg\i`e^#k_\glggpZfn\i\[Y\_`e[k_\
ZflZ_[li`e^k_\jkfid%

Rewrite the following sentences so that you are showing, rather than telling.
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

1. My room was a mess.

2. Summer camp was fun.

3. Making cupcakes left a big mess in the kitchen.

4. The soccer game was bad.

5. The dinner was good.

61

Estimation

Estimation: Using Rounding


Solve the problems below, using only estimation. Using a calculator, pencil, or paper is not
allowed. Round your answers to the nearest dollar.

8MTUFY2FHX2FWPIT\S
where all prices include sales tax!

8MTJX
/JFSX
Sneakers $66.78 9TUX
UX
Boots $99.99 'JQYX
' T-shirt $13.59
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

Boot Cut $39.99


ip Flops
Flip $24.79 Brown $12.50 Sweater $38.79
Flares $48.62
Black $12.50 Hoodie $19.95
Skinny $72.95

1. You have earned $150 by doing small chores around the neighborhood. Mom takes you to
Macs to shop. Use estimation to find if you have enough money to purchase a pair of boots
and two pairs of flip flops. What is your estimate of the cost of the three pairs of shoes?

2. Mom gives you permission to buy one complete outfit (a pair of jeans, a top, a belt, and
shoes). Your budget is $175. Find at least two different outfits within the budget.

3. Mom discovers she has only $150 in her wallet. Which items would you return or change to
stay within her budget?

4. How much money would you need to buy two hoodies, three t-shirts, and one sweater?

5. Everyone in your group decides to buy the same belt. There are 6 people interested in
buying belts. Will $78 be enough money to buy all 6 belts?

6. When estimating costs, one can round up or down. If you round more items down than up,
will the total cost be less than or greater than your estimate? Why do you think so?

62

Portmanteau

Blends
N_\egXikjf]knfnfi[jXi\ZfdY`e\[#k_\e\nnfi[k_Xk`j]fid\[`jZXcc\[XYc\e[#
fiXgfikdXek\Xl%<oXdgc\jf]jfd\Yc\e[jXi\^`m\e`ek_\Z_XikY\cfn%

Word One Word Two Blend


smoke fog smog
emotion icon emoticon
breakfast lunch brunch
chuckle snort chortle
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

flout vaunt flaunt

Write the blend formed from each pair of words below.

1. motor and hotel

2. situation and comedy

3. information and commercial

4. walk and marathon

5. splash and spatter

Write the best blend from the chart above to complete each sentence.

6. Alden ended his text message with a funny .

7. On weekends, is served in the restaurant after 11am.

8. Alissa likes to her diving skills.

9. The fire added to the layer of over the city.

10. The audience began to when the comedian told the joke.

63

Parts of Speech

Identifying Parts of Speech


Identify the parts of speech in italics by labeling it n. (noun), pro. (pronoun), v. (verb), adj.
(adjective), adv. (adverb), prep. (preposition), conj. (conjunction), and interj. (interjection).

1. Oh, I left my purse and cell phone on the seat in my aunts car.

2. During the party, our dog had to stay outside the house.

3. Old Faithful geyser erupts almost hourly.


Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

4. The race car drove extremely fast.

5. Neither Sonja nor Isabelle wants to go swimming.

6. Joe and Maria usually play softball with Terry and Thomas.

7. Who told you about our trip to Spain?

8. Molly vacuumed the carpets, and I cleaned the windows.

9. Ouch! I did not know the edge of the board was so sharp.

10. Yesterday we walked through the park on the way home.

11. You must make a decision before six oclock.

12. They mow lawns during the summer to earn extra money.

13. Which of the two movies did you like better?

14. The oldest clock in the world is in England.

15. My little brother went to play softball in the park.

16. The red brick house on the corner is ours.

64

Basic Operations

Practice Makes Perfect


Solve the problems. Pay attention to the signs. You can use a calculator.

1. 126 6. 7785 45 = 11. 11,925 225 =


x 6

7. 39,995 12. 507


2. 2,972 + 12,699 x 109
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

984

8. 926 13. 52,009


3. 92,475 x 27 21,950
76,097

9. 5280 120 = 14. 108,462 2 =

4. 22,048
+ 31,456

10. 19,191 15. 2011


+ 91,999 x 66

5. 242
x 33

To find the answer to this riddle, solve the math problem using
your calculator. Then turn the calculator so you can read the
answer upside down.

What flies but is not a plane, floats but is not a ship,


and honks but is not a truck?

Solve:
50 x 7 x 100 + 9 =

65

Algebra

Evaluating Algebraic Expressions


N_\e\mXclXk`e^XeXc^\YiX`Z\ogi\jj`fe1
=`ijk#jlYjk`klk\k_\eldY\ij]fik_\mXi`XYc\j%
K_\ejfcm\k_\i\jlck`e^\hlXk`fe%

<oXdgc\1d4+k4* .d*k4
    .+ **
    )/0
    (0
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

Evaluate the algebraic expressions below using the following values:


p = 15, t = 3, r = 2, m = 4.

1. 10 m (p + 9) r = 5. 6t
r

2. p (11m + 7t) 975 = 6. 2tm

3. 2p + 6t + 7r = 7. (pt) (rm)

4. 4p 8. pr 3
m1

66
Use with page 68.

Reading Comprehension

The Disappearing Bees


Around the world, bees are vanishing. Beekeepers open their hives
to discover that all the adult bees have vanished, and only the very
young bees and the queen remain. While some might argue that the
world would be a better place with fewer bees, they would be wrong.

Bees Are Necessary Creatures


First of all, the world needs bees to make honey. Honey is a tasty treat that some people use to sweeten
their oatmeal or their tea and sometimes spread on toast. It is known as a perfect food because it will
never go bad, no matter how long it is left on the shelf. Bees make honey from nectar that they harvest from
flowers. Once honey is made, bees store it in honeycombs to save as a food source. Beekeepers collect honey
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

from these honeycombs to sell to human consumers.


Secondly, bees produce wax. Worker bees make beeswax with certain glands in their abdomens. Then,
they mold the wax to make the walls of their honeycombs. Beekeepers also gather beeswax. Sometimes the
gathered beeswax is used to make candles. These beeswax candles burn much longer than other candles and
emit the scent of honey.
The third and most important reason we need bees is for pollination. As bees fly from flower to flower
gathering nectar to make honey, they also brush up against pollen, a powdery substance that sticks to
their legs. When the bee brushes up against a flower, it leaves some of another plants pollen on the flower
and collects some of the new plants pollen. This process of moving pollen from plant to plant is called
pollination. Without pollination, there would be no new flowers. Some of the plants that bees pollinate are
fruits and vegetables, which would not be able to reproduce if there were no bees to pollinate them.

Why Are Bees Disappearing?


Many people are concerned about the disappearance of the bees, but there are few clear reasons. Some of
the more outlandish theories suggest that electromagnetic radiation from wireless communication devices is
the cause. The theory is that as bees find their way back to the hive using an internal compass that is affected
by the earths magnetic field, they become confused by all of the wireless waves in the air and become lost.
Most scientists do not give this theory much credence. One of the reasons they do not believe the theory is
that there is evidence that some bees disappear in rural areas without cell phone towers, and some bees stay
in hives on roofs in busy urban centers full of cell phone towers.
Another theory is that a poor diet and stress is causing the bees harm. Ever since the 1950s, some
beekeepers have started moving their beehives across the country to search for farmers who need their
orchards pollinated. This is called migratory beekeeping. These roving beekeepers feed their bees food that
would be the equivalent of an energy drink or bar for a person. Some people are concerned that this food
is not nutritious enough to keep the bees healthy. Additionally, traveling around in vans is not something
that bees are accustomed to in the wild, and so some people suggest that it causes them undue stress. This
combination of poor diet and stress might be causing the disappearance.
The most popular theory involves a combination of factors that may include pesticides, infection by tiny
mites that carry bacteria, and/or a virus. Scientists are repopulating abandoned colonies with healthy bees to
discover if traces of what killed the previous bee population remain. If so, the healthy bees will become sick,
too. Then, scientists can study the new bees and possibly determine the causes. Once scientists
discover the causes, beekeepers can learn how to counter the threats.
67
Use with page 67.

Reading Comprehension

The Disappearing Bees


Answer the following questions that relate to the preceding passage.

1. Pollination is the way plants 7. Migratory beekeepers


A. attract bees. A. send their beehives around the
B. reproduce. country.
C. repel predators. B. use their bees to pollinate orchards.
D. make propolis. C. sometimes feed their bees something
like an energy drink or bar.
2. First, bees D. all of the above
A. convert nectar into honey.
B. pollinate plants on their journey. 8. Most scientists believe bees are
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

C. search for nectar from flowers. disappearing because of


D. store honey in honeycombs. A. radiation from cell phones.
B. growing cities.
3. Honey is known as a perfect food C. global warming.
because D. none of the above
A. it is so delicious.
B. people put it on toast. 9. The most important reason that people
C. bees store it for later. need bees is
D. it never spoils. A. for pollination.
B. wax.
4. Beeswax can be made into ___, which ___ C. honey.
A. abdomens; swell up with pus. D. no reason, people do not need bees.
B. candles; smell like honey when they
burn. 10. If there were no more bees
C. dolls; frighten little children. A. many plants could not be pollinated.
D. hairbrushes; tangle any hair it touches. B. there might be starvation because
of a lack of bee-pollinated crops.
5. The theory that bees are disappearing C. some people could no longer get
because of cell phones is medicine that is made from bee-
A. accepted by most scientists. pollinated plants.
B. not accepted by most scientists. D. all of the above
C. true because bees only disappear
near cell phone towers. 11. One way that scientists are trying to
D. true because bees never disappear discover what has happened to the
in places without cell phone towers. bees is by

6. When someone gives an idea credence,


they consider that idea
A. worthy of belief.
B. likely to vanish.
C. a lie.
D. capable of producing honey.

68
Helping Your Middle Schooler Get Ready: Week 6

Here is an activity you and your middle schooler


might enjoy.
Here are the skills your middle
schooler will be working on Sign Language Use the manual alphabet chart with your
this week. middle schooler to practice spelling out words with your
hands. Then gure out the answer to the question at the
Math bottom. Be sure to use the manual alphabet to answer the
. reading a chart question.
. using formulas
.
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

geometry: identifying angles


. geometry: measuring angles

Reading
. reading comprehension
. context clues

Writing
. expository writing

Vocabulary
. tricky words

Grammar
. capitalization
. types of sentences

Your middle schooler might enjoy reading one of the


following books:
Summer Ball
by Mike Lupica

Zlatas Diary
by Zlata Filipovic

Oh My Gods! A Look-It-Up Guide to the Gods of Mythology


by Megan E. Bryant

69

Lj\k_`jgX^\kfj\k^fXcjXe[dXb\aflieXc\eki`\j%

Think about a book you have read that you wish had ended differently.
Describe the ending you wish the book had.
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

Imagine you could rename your town. What name would you choose.
Explain your choice.

Describe what you think the world will be like one hundred years from now.

Capitalization

Capitals Arent Just for States


Read each sentence. Draw three lines under each letter that should be capitalized.

1. The pen name of william sidney porter is o. henry.

2. The declaration of independence was written by thomas jefferson.

3. Many early explorers were spanish, dutch, and english.

4. The golden gate park is located in san francisco, california.


Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

5. mark twain remarked, when in doubt, tell the truth.

6. dr. elizabeth blackwell was the first woman doctor in america.

7. In crystal city, texas, there is a six-foot-high monument of popeye.

8. Some countries in asia are thailand, india, china, and japan.

9. The store manager, mr. thomas, announced, we will be closing in five minutes.

10. We went on vacation to florida in july to enjoy disney world.

Read the passage. Draw three lines under each letter that should be capitalized.

Whats in a name? An interesting story when it comes to the 50 states in the united states of america!
many state names come from indian words. For example, illinois is an algonquin word that means land
of superior men. kansas comes from a sioux word meaning people of the south wind. several states
were named for people. For example, louisiana was named for a king of france, louis xiv. both north
carolina and south carolina were named for charles 1, a king of england. washington was named for our
first president, george washington. Some states were named for other places. new york was named after
york, england, and new jersey takes its name from the isle of jersey off the coast of england. And some
states come from spanish. nevada is from a spanish word meaning snowcapped, and colorado means
ruddy or red. How oregon got its name is a bit of a mystery. There are lots of theories, but no one
knows for sure.

71

Reading a Chart

Counting Calories
A calorie is a unit of energy that humans receive from the food they eat. Do you know how
many calories are in some of your favorite foods? The calorie chart below gives average
calorie counts for some common foods.

(FQTWNJ(MFWY
Calories Calories
1 medium apple 70 1 cup ice cream 270
1 medium banana 100 1 cup skim milk 120
2 slices white bread 140 1 cup whole milk 150
1 regular cheeseburger 518 1 medium orange 65
Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

1
4 cup dry, unsweetened cereal 70 1 cup orange juice 120
4 ounces baked chicken 205 1 slice cheese pizza 145
1 cup cola (soda) 145 3 pancakes 180
4 plain sugar cookies 200 1 cup unbuttered popcorn 25
10 French fries 135 15 potato chips 150
1 fried egg 115 1 cup spaghetti and sauce 260
3
1 hot dog 291 4 cup tuna fish salad 210

Find Justins calorie intake for two days. Add each days calories and then answer the questions.
Day 1 Calories Day 2 Calories
1
Breakfast: 3 pancakes Breakfast: 4
cup dry cereal
1 cup orange juice 1 cup skim milk
1 cup orange juice
Lunch: 20 French fries
3
1 cheeseburger Lunch: 4 cup tuna salad
1 cup whole milk 2 slices white bread
4 cookies 1 cup skim milk

Dinner: 3 slices of pizza 1 medium apple


2 cups soda Dinner: 1 cup spaghetti
1 cup ice cream 1 cup skim milk
1 medium orange
Snack: 30 potato chips
Snack: 1 cup popcorn

TOTAL CALORIES TOTAL CALORIES

On which day did Justin consume fewer calories?

What was the difference in calorie intake between days 1 and 2?

72

Types of Sentences

Identifying Types of Sentences


8j`dgc\j\ek\eZ\_Xjfe\`e[\g\e[\ekZcXlj\Xe[ef[\g\e[\ekZcXlj\j%@k_XjXjlYa\ZkXe[
Xgi\[`ZXk\#Ylkk_\j\dXpY\Zfdgfle[%
<oXdgc\1K_\ifcc\iZfXjk\iXe[k_\k\iifikfn\iXi\k_\dfjkgfglcXii`[\j`ek_\gXib%
8Zfdgfle[j\ek\eZ\_Xjknffidfi\`e[\g\e[\ekZcXlj\jaf`e\[kf^\k_\i#Ylkef
[\g\e[\ekZcXlj\j%K_\ZcXlj\jdXpY\af`e\[YpXZfddXXe[XZffi[`eXk`e^ZfealeZk`fefi
YpXj\d`Zfcfe%<oXdgc\jf]Zffi[`eXk`e^ZfealeZk`fejXi\Xe[#Ylk#fi#efi#fi]fi%
<oXdgc\1=iXeb`\nXek\[kfi`[\k_\=\ii`jn_\\c#Ylk8eeXnXjX]iX`[%
8Zfdgc\oj\ek\eZ\_Xjfe\`e[\g\e[\ekZcXlj\Xe[fe\fidfi\[\g\e[\ekZcXlj\j%DXep
[\g\e[\ekZcXlj\jXi\`ekif[lZ\[YpjlYfi[`eXk`e^ZfealeZk`fej%<oXdgc\jf]jlYfi[`eXk`e^
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

ZfealeZk`fejXi\X]k\i#Xck_fl^_#Xj#XjjffeXj#Y\ZXlj\#Y\]fi\#\m\ek_fl^_#`]#j`eZ\#
n_\e#Xe[lek`c%

After studying the definitions and examples of the types of sentences, identify each sentence
below with S for simple, CD for compound, and CX for complex.

1. Deja opened her book and raised her hand.

2. The rain stopped suddenly, and the cold air rushed in from the mountains.

3. A severe thunderstorm struck the downtown area and interrupted power for hours.

4. As darkness closed in around the campfire, the campers began to shiver.

5. When I saw the word in the book, I had to look it up in the dictionary.

6. Jessica asked the store manager for directions to the new mall.

7. Mario took the flag down, and Angela folded it.

8. No one ever entered the old house because people thought it was haunted.

9. After the baseball game ends, we will eat dinner at a nearby restaurant.

10. Aldo heard strange noises, but they did not frighten him.

73

Expository Writing

How To Prompt
Often the most difficult thing about teaching someone how-to do something is being precise
and concise with the explanation and step-by-step instructions. Think about your favorite
pastime. It may be playing a sport, participating in a hobby, or creating something.

Write a composition that explains to someone else the background of your interest in the
activity and how to accomplish it. Be sure that you include all of the details needed to do
the activity. When you feel the directions are complete, reread them and make corrections
and adjustments. Finally, have someone else read and, if possible, follow your directions. How
successful a teacher were you?
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

How to

74

Using Formulas

Bone Up on Formulas
To a forensic scientist, a skeleton isnt just a pile of old bones. Its a clue! Sometimes, a scientist
may have only one bone to study. But thanks to formulas, even that can be enough to find
out information such as how tall the person was when he or she was alive.

Take a look at the real-life forensic formulas below.


Then use them to answer the questions.

Forensic Formulas for Height


In these formulas, r = radius,
?ld\ilj
Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

h = humerus, and t = tibia.


All measurements are in
centimeters (cm).

Male: 80.4 + 3.7r = height


73.6 + 3.0h = height
81.7 + 2.4t = height

Female: 73.5 + 3.9r = height


65.0 + 3.1h = height
72.6 + 2.5t = height IX[`lj

1. A forensic scientist is given the tibia of a


woman who lived hundreds of years ago,
found at an archaeological dig. What
formula should the scientist use to find out
how tall the woman was?

2. If the tibia from question 1 was 37 cm long,


K`Y`X
how tall was the woman?

3. Suppose police find a mans tibia that is


46 cm long. How tall was he?

4. Say a womans humerus, 28 cm long, is discovered. How tall was she?

5. A forensic scientist finds a mans radius, 31 cm long. How tall was he?

75

Tricky Words

Confusing Word Choices


Some words are often confused because they sound similar, even though they are not
pronounced exactly the same way and have different spellings and meanings. Look
closely at the context of each sentence to determine the correct word choice. If needed,
use a dictionary.

Underline the word that best completes each sentence.

1. Once the program started, everyone became (quiet, quite).

2. Jennifer cannot decide (wither, whether) to practice her piano lessons or to play soccer.
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

3. My mother drove (pest, past) Mr. Choo on her way home from work.

4. Dessert is the sweet (course, cores) usually served at the end of a meal.

5. The valedictorian deserved all of the (prize, praise) and adoration she received.

6. Kelly ate the last (peas, piece) of chocolate cake.

7. Everyone on the swim team was able to practice (accept, except) Corey, who was sick.

8. Last summer, we chose to visit Boston, the (capital, capitol) of Massachusetts.

9. Dont forget to bring your camera to take (pitchers, pictures) on our vacation.

10. Of all the people who live on our street, Mrs. Martinez is the loudest (singer, zinger).

11. Isabella saw many (ilk, elk) in Yellowstone National Park this summer.

12. It was interesting to hear about my brothers


(signs, science) experiment.

76

Reading Comprehension

The Mona Lisas Hardships


The Mona Lisa is one of the most famous paintings in the world. Leonardo da Vinci painted this portrait
of a Renaissance woman in oil on a panel of poplar wood. Although most people are familiar with the ladys
smile, they may be surprised at what this painting has survived in its 500 years.
The Mona Lisa has seen a great deal in its lifetime. Originally, the portrait hung in the chateau of the King
of France, where noblemen and dignitaries could admire it. Later, it graced the wall of Napoleon Bonapartes
bedroom. After the French Revolution, the painting moved to the Louvre, an art museum in Paris, France.
At the museum, millions of people could come to enjoy the Mona Lisas artistry.
During the Second World War, the Mona Lisa was spirited away to safety. It finally landed in Montauben,
a city in southern France. Unfortunately, while it was displayed there in 1956, someone splashed acid on
it. Later that same year, a man threw a rock at the painting. Both of these acts of vandalism led to costly,
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

careful repairs to the painting. The painting now rests at the Louvre behind bulletproof glass to prevent
further damage.
By far the most dramatic attack on the Mona Lisa occurred when it was stolen in 1911. The police
tracked down many leads and investigated everyone from visitors to cleaning staff and security guards. Still,
for two long years, they found nothing but dead ends. In 1913, the thief, Vincenzo Peruggia, was caught
trying to sell the treasured painting to an antique dealer in Florence, Italy. Finally, the lost lady was found!
The painting toured several major cities before being returned to the Louvre, where it remains to this day.

Answer the following questions.

1. The Mona Lisa 4. If you made a timeline of the Mona


A. rests in the Louvre, in Paris, France. Lisas hardships, which of the following
B. is a painting by Leonardo da Vinci. happened first?
C. is a national treasure for the French. A. the Mona Lisa had a rock thrown at it.
D. all of the above. B. the Mona Lisa had acid splashed on it.
C. the Mona Lisa survived World War II.
2. Da Vincis Mona Lisa is painted D. the Mona Lisa was stolen by Peruggia.
A. on canvas.
B. on poplar wood. 5. The Louvre is
C. with pastels. A. the bedroom of Napoleon Bonaparte.
D. with a moustache. B. an art museum in Paris, France.
C. the home of the Mona Lisa.
3. When the Mona Lisa was hung in the King D. both B and C
of Frances chateau, it was viewed by
A. millions of people everyday. 6. The definition of vandalism is probably
B. Vincenzo Peruggia everyday. A. careful repairs to paintings.
C. the King only. B. stealing paintings.
D. noblemen and dignitaries only. C. cleaning up property.
D. willful destruction of property.

77

Geometry

Identifying Angles
Angle Definition Example

An angle measuring
Acute
between 0 and 90

An angle between
Obtuse
90 and 180

An angle measuring
Right
exactly 90
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

Straight An angle of 180

Use the chart to help you identify the angles below.

1. 3. 5.

2. 4. 6.

7. An angle measuring between 0 and 90 is .

8. An angle measuring exactly 90 is .

9. An angle between 90 and 180 is .

10. Another name for an angle of 180 is .

78

Context Clues

Heres to Your Health!


Everybody wants to be healthy and enjoy all aspects of life. To achieve that goal, there are several factors
to be considered.
A healthy diet is essential for a healthy lifestyle. No one food has all the nutrients the body needs to
function well, so we need to eat a variety of foods in the proper amounts. Drinking plenty of water is
extremely important as it helps maintain a steady body temperature and helps remove wastes from the body.
Besides being fun, regular exercise strengthens muscles and keeps them flexible. Getting enough sleep is
vital to your health. In most cases, enough means between 8 and 12 hours each night. Keeping safe should
also always be a top priority. It is foolish to take unnecessary risks. Common sense tells us to avoid tobacco,
alcohol, and other drugs. Having a good attitude, being friendly, courteous, and pleasant can also be a sign of
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

good health.
The choices are yours. Will you opt for a healthy lifestyle?

Use words from the passage to solve the puzzle.

1 2

3 4 5

7 8

10

Across Down
3. dangerous chance 1. first in importance
4. having soundness of 2. necessary
mind and body 5. feeling toward a
7. very important person or thing
9. substances body cells 6. food eaten
use to do their work 8. to keep away from
10. easily bent

79

Geometry

Whats Your Angle?


@efi[\ikf`[\ek`]pXe[cXY\cXe^c\jXe[Xe^c\k\idj#i\d\dY\ik_\]fccfn`e^1
( K_\m\ik\of]k_\Xe^c\`jk_\gf`ekn_\i\knfiXpj`ek\ij\Zk%
) K_\knfj`[\jf]XeXe^c\Xi\ZXcc\[iXpj% <oXdgc\1
* IXpjXi\`[\ek`]`\[YpeXd`e^k_\m\ik\ogf`ekXe[k_\\e[gf`ek 9
f]XiXp%N_\epflc`jkk_\knfgf`ekj#Y\jli\kfgcXZ\Xc`e\
XYfm\k_\c\kk\ij%98`jXiXp`ek_\\oXdgc\% 8
+ 8eXe^c\`j]fid\[n_\eknfiXpjj_Xi\k_\jXd\\e[gf`ek% : ;
, 8eXe^c\dXpY\jg\Z`]`\[fieXd\[Yplj`e^k_\m\ik\oXe[X
gf`ekfe\XZ_iXp%
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

- K_\m\ik\ogf`ek`jXcnXpjk_\d`[[c\c\kk\if]k_\Xe^c\eXd\%
@ek_\\oXdgc\#gf`ek9`jk_\m\ik\o%
. Lj`e^k_\\oXdgc\#k_\Xe^c\eXd\jZXeY\ni`kk\e 89:# :9;# 89;#
;98# ;9:#fi :98%PflZXeXcjflj\k_\nfi[Xe^c\iXk_\ik_Xek_\
jpdYfc%

First, answer questions 13. Then name all the angles shown in 4 and 5.

1. In this figure, which point 2. Name the rays in this 3. Which group of letters do
names the vertex? figure? not name an angle in the
figure?
T F WZY YZX XZW XYZ
S C Z
D
Y
R Q B X
W

G
4.

H M
J K

5. A N

C B

80
Helping Your Middle Schooler Get Ready: Week 7

Here is an activity you and your middle schooler


might enjoy.
These are the skills your middle
schooler will be working on Game Maker On a rainy summer day when everyone is
this week. complaining that there is nothing to do, you may want to
challenge your middle schooler to the ancient strategy game
Math of Wari. For 2 players, you will need an empty egg carton
. geometry: (dozen) and 48 playing pieces. Dry beans, paper clips, or
Pythagoras theorem
. any other small, identical pieces all work well. Differentiate
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

distributive property
. word problems
the 2 players pieces (by type or color) so that you have two

. measurement
distinguishable sets of 24 pieces each.
To Play: 1) Each player begins with 24 markers and
chooses one side of the carton. Then, each player places 4
Reading
. reading a chart
markers in each of the 6 cups on his/her side of the board.
The object of the game is to be the first player to capture
Writing the majority of the pieces. 2) Play moves counter clockwise.
. descriptive writing Player #1 takes all of the pieces from any hole on his/her
side of the board and places 1 piece in each of the next 4
Vocabulary
. word origins
holes. 3) During a turn, if the last piece of a move is placed

. spelling
in an opponents hole containing 2 or 3 pieces, the player

. dictionary skills
capturers all of the pieces. Additionally, the player wins the
pieces in the adjacent holes if they contain 2 or 3 pieces.
Captured pieces are removed from play. 4) When a hole
Grammar
. run-on sentences
contains 12 or more pieces, the player must sow them to
different holes, always skipping the hole from which they
were taken. 5) When a player has 6 empty holes and the
opponent cannot fill them, the player wins all the pieces left
on the board. To Win the Game: Empty all of your holes
first and capture the most pieces.

GcXp\i9
Your middle schooler might enjoy reading one of the
following books:
Year of Impossible Goodbyes
by Sook Nyul Choi
GcXp\i8
Jacob Have I Loved
by Katherine Paterson

Napoleon: Emperor and Conqueror


by Kimberley Heuston

81

Lj\k_`jgX^\kfj\k^fXcjXe[dXb\aflieXc\eki`\j%

Imagine that you are able to swap places with one of your parents for a day.
What rules would you make for him or her? How would you act differently than he or she
typically does?
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

The post office creates postage stamps to commemorate people and events.
Imagine you are commissioned to choose a person to be honored. Whom would you
choose and why?

While walking along a beach, you find and uncork an old bottle.
What happens next?

Run-on Sentences

Going On and On . . .
@eXile$fej\ek\eZ\#knffidfi\ j\ek\eZ\jXi\ni`kk\eXjk_fl^_k_\pn\i\fe\j\ek\eZ\#
Xe[XZfddX`jgcXZ\[n_\i\Xg\i`f[j_flc[Y\%K_\i\Xi\k_i\\nXpjkfZfii\ZkXile$fe
j\ek\eZ\1PflZXeni`k\knfj`dgc\j\ek\eZ\j2pflZXeni`k\fe\Zfdgfle[j\ek\eZ\2fipfl
ZXeni`k\fe\Zfdgc\oj\ek\eZ\%
<oXdgc\18c\ogcXpjk_\^l`kXi#C`jXgcXpjk_\m`fc`e%
KnfJ\ek\eZ\j18c\ogcXpjk_\^l`kXi%C`jXgcXpjk_\m`fc`e%
:fdgfle[J\ek\eZ\18c\ogcXpjk_\^l`kXi#Xe[C`jXgcXpjk_\m`fc`e%
:fdgc\oJ\ek\eZ\18c\ogcXpjk_\^l`kXi#n_`c\C`jXgcXpjk_\m`fc`e%
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

Correct each run-on sentence by writing two simple sentences, or one compound sentence,
or a complex sentence.

1. We have been practicing our soccer plays every day we really enjoy doing this.

2. Joshua dribbled the basketball he took a jump shot.

3. My sisters new watch is waterproof our mother wears it when she goes for a swim.

4. Here is your birthday present do not open it until your birthday.

5. Theresa is planning a surprise party Samantha does not suspect a thing.

6. Aunt Martha wrote a letter to her brother Dad mailed the letter today for her.

7. Leandra is walking to the park Dianne is riding her bike.

83

Geometry

Pythagoras Theorem
_pgfk\elj\
K_\Gpk_X^fi\XeK_\fi\d`jXj`dgc\ilc\XYflkk_\gifgfik`fe
f]j`[\jf]i`^_kXe^c\ki`Xe^c\j%@eXi`^_kki`Xe^c\#k_\jhlXi\f]k_\
_pgfk\elj\\hlXcjk_\jldf]k_\jhlXi\f]k_\fk_\ij`[\j%Dfi\ Z
ZfddfecpjkXk\[XjX"Y4Z% X
0'
K_\Gpk_X^fi\XeK_\fi\dZXeY\lj\[Xepk`d\pflbefnk_\c\e^k_
f]knfj`[\jf]Xi`^_kki`Xe^c\kf]`e[k_\c\e^k_f]k_\k_`i[j`[\%
<oXdgc\1 Y
, X  "Y 4Z 
  *    *"+4, I\d\dY\ikfZXcZlcXk\k_\jhlXi\
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

0"(-4), iffkkf[\k\id`e\k_\XZklXcc\e^k_
),4), f]k_\k_`i[j`[\1),4,
+

Use the Pythagorean Theorem to determine the hypotenuse of the following right triangles.
Show your work. Use a calculator to help you figure out the square root.

1. One side of a right triangle is 9 feet. The 3. A large city park is triangular in shape.
other side is 12 feet. What is the length The north-south and east-west streets
of the hypotenuse? meet in a right or 90 angle, given that
the north-south side is 5 blocks long and
the east-west side is 12 blocks long and
that all blocks surrounding the park are
of equal lengths. What is the approximate
2. If one side of a triangle is 20 feet and
number of blocks forming the diagonal
the other side is 21 feet, what is the
street?
hypotenuse?
a + b = c
5 + 12 = c
Solve for the value of c.

Answer: c =

The Pythagorean Theorem can also be used to tell whether a right triangle can be formed from
three given line segments.

4. Can a right triangle be formed with sides 5. What if the sides were 6, 8, and 10 meters?
of 6 feet, 8 feet, and 12 feet?
a + b = c Answer:
6 + 8 = 12

Answer:

84

Word Origins

Words From Other Languages


Many words in English come from other languages. Some examples are given in the
chart below.

Other Language Word Definition


aloof unfriendly, detached
Dutch
bicker argue, squabble
clique group, gang
French
niche place, position
tariff tax, duty
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

Arabic
zenith top, pinnacle
torso upper part of the human body
Italian
regatta series of boat races
loot rob, ransack
Hindi
bungalow small house, cottage

Read each question. Choose the best answer from the words in the chart above.

1. Which of these would you not want to do with a friend?


bicker niche regatta

2. Which of these would be fun to watch?


tariff regatta bungalow

3. Which of these might you live in?


loot bungalow clique

4. Which of these words describes what winning the World Series is for a baseball team?
zenith torso clique

5. Which of the following has a torso?


guidebook spider human being

Read each set of words below. Cross out the one word in each group that is not a synonym.

6. gang group sound clique

7. pinnacle top zenith loss

8. instrument loot rob ransack

9. argue bicker slot fight

10. tariff tax delay duty


85

Distributive Property

Have No Fear
Dont worryalgebra is nothing to fear!
But some people do fear specific things,
like heights, snakes, or fire. These strong
fears are called phobias.

To find out what each phobia below means,


use the distributive property to simplify each
expression. Draw a line to match the
expression to its simplest form.
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

1. Zoophobia 4n + 2n 6n + 36 Fear of Water

2. Nyctophobia x + 3x 6n + 3 Fear of Snakes

3. Astraphobia p + 8 + 7p 8x + 28 Fear of Light

4. Ophidiophobia 8n + 3 2n 6n Fear of Animals

5. Pyrophobia 4(x + 3) 9n + 12 Fear of Dirt

6. Acrophobia 6p + 17 8 2p 12p + 30 Fear of Infinity

7. Hydrophobia 3(n + 6) + 3(n + 6) 4p + 9 Fear of Heights

8. Photophobia 7(2x + 4) 6x 4x + 12 Fear of Fire

9. Apeirophobia 5(2p + 6) + 2p 4x Fear of Darkness

10. Mysophobia n(6 + 3) + 12 8p + 8 Fear of Lightning

86

Descriptive Writing

Writing to a Prompt
Do you dream of the beach or the mountains when you think of a perfect vacation?
Perhaps you cannot decide between the two but can think of a perfect spot where the two
come together. Even if you have never visited your dream location, you have seen pictures
and/or videos that make you long to go there.
Choose a location. Describe the scenery. How does it look? What feelings does the place
evoke? What are the smells and sounds that are unique to your special place?
Describe this special place in as much detail as possible so that the reader can be
transported there in their minds eye.

A Dream Vacation
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

87

Spelling

Selecting Correctly Spelled Nouns


First, read the sentence. Then circle the correctly spelled noun (names a person, place,
or thing) to complete the sentence.

1. We live in an . A. apartment B. apartmint C. apartmant

2. Jose plays the . A. banjoe B. bannjo C. banjo

3. Mark is scared of his own . A. shaddow B. shadow C. shadowe

4. In which did she go? A. dirktion B. direcshun C. direction


Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

5. Do you know their ? A. sloggan B. slogan C. slogen

6. Mom cannot find her . A. almanak B. almanac C. allmanac

7. Did you bring your ? A. pajamas B. pagamas C. pajammas

8. An is very important. A. education B. edjucation C. edducation

9. The doctor checked my . A. vizion B. vishun C. vision

10. At the zoo I want to see the . A. rinocerhos B. rhinoceros C. rinoceros

11. The was sold today. A. merchandise B. mershendise C. merchandize

12. Jill is a for the group. A. volunteer B. voluntear C. volunteir

13. The is quite valuable. A. diamend B. dimond C. diamond

14. The house is ringing. A. tellephone B. telephone C. telaphone

15. The was a forgery. A. documint B. documant C. document

16. My parents is Monday. A. anniversary B. aniversary C. anniversery

17. Our starts tomorrow. A. vakation B. vacation C. vacatiun

18. Please seal the . A. envelope B. invelop C. envelop

19. The frightened Judith. A. thundar B. thunder C. thundir

20. May I borrow your ? A. handkerchief B. hankerchief C. hankerchef

88

Word Problems

Major League Baseball Word Problems


So you think you know about baseball. Take a look back at some facts and figures related to
major league baseball in the late 1990s. When you have solved these problems, you may want
to research present-day major league facts and figures and compare these statistics.

1. In the late 1990s, there were 30 teams 4. Not all teams enjoyed the same levels of
in the major league. The average team attendance. In 1998, the team with the
had 33 players. How many players could lowest daily average saw only 11,295
potentially be in the league? tickets on average sold per day. As a
result of lower attendance figures, the cost
per ticket was under $10, only $9.81 per
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

ticket. How much less did that team take


in per day than the team in problem 3?
Round to the nearest dollar.

2. In 1998, the average team revenue was 5. The team with the highest revenue also
$84,383,533. In 1997, the revenues were had the highest salaries. The teams
7% less. What was the 1977 revenue, revenue was $170,236,000 and paid
rounded to the nearest dollar? $88,236,708 in salaries. Once payroll was
met, what revenue did the team have?

3. Daily attendance at games varies 6. One rookie made $325,000 in 1998 and
according to the day of the week and played 162 games. What was his average
whether the game is played during the per game income? Round to the nearest
day or at night. One team reported their dollar.
average daily attendance was 46,783
fans. During that time, the average ticket
price for a game was $14.55. What would
have been the average daily income
from ticket sales that year rounded to the
nearest dollar?

89

Dictionary Skills

Decisions, Decisions
Write true or false for each statement below. Then, on another sheet of paper, rewrite
each false sentence so it becomes a true sentence. Use a dictionary to look up the
underlined word if necessary.

1. It is reasonable to accelerate as you approach a stop sign.

2. You need stamina to run in a marathon.

3. Perishable food will last for a long time.


Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

4. You expect to win the prize if you do mediocre work.

5. An umpire is a good utensil.

6. A bag of potato chips is a wholesome breakfast.

7. You should stack cans for a display in a haphazard manner.

8. It would be frivolous to buy a new pair of shoes because


the soles are worn through.

9. Going to the mall in a horse and buggy is obsolete.

10. You are being punctual when you arrive at the doctors office
at 2:25 P.M. for your 2:30 P.M. appointment.

11. You could expect to see boisterous behavior at a carnival.

12. You are being helpful when you defy your mother.

13. You would expect a gymnast to be nimble.

14. Going to Grandmothers house for Thanksgiving is a predicament.

15. You are persistent because you tried to solve the crossword
puzzle for only five minutes.

90

Reading a Chart

Burning Calories
EldY\if]D`elk\jE\\[\[kf9lieJg\Z`]`Z:Xcfi`\j
G\iJ\im`e^
=FF; :Xcfi`\j Ilee`e^ Jn`dd`e^ 9`b`e^ NXcb`e^ 8\ifY`Zj

8ggc\ .' , 0 (( (/ ((
:\i\Xc .' , 0 (( (/ ((
:_\\j\Yli^\i ,(/ *0 -+ /) (*- ./
:fcX (+, (( (/ )* */ ))
=i\eZ_=i`\j (*, (' (. )( *- )'
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

@Z\:i\Xd ).' )' ** +* .( +(


FiXe^\Al`Z\ ()' 0 (, (0 *) (/
G`qqX (+, (( (/ )* */ ))
GfgZfie ), ) * + . +
GfkXkf:_`gj (,' (( (0 )+ *0 )*

Based on the chart, answer the following questions.

1. If Corey drinks a glass of orange juice, how many minutes must he swim to burn it off?

2. It will take Tonio minutes of swimming to burn off a package of potato chips.

3. Amarani can walk off a slice of pizza in minutes.

4. Kody needs to burn off the calories in a cheeseburger and French fries. He can run for
minutes or bike for minutes.

5. Pauline can choose either to do aerobics for minutes or to bike for


minutes to burn off the calories in a dish of ice cream.

6. How many minutes will it take Jordan to run off the calories in two slices of pizza?

7. David chose an apple and popcorn for his snack. How many calories were in his two
snacks?

8. Carlos wants to do whatever exercise will burn his extra calories the fastest.
Which exercise should he do?
91

Measurement

Measurement Review
Complete each sentence below to review what you know about units of customary measure.

1. Another name for 1,000 years is a .

2. A small car might weigh about 1 .

3. A fortnight has 14 .

4. The abbreviation is used for the unit that has 12 inches.


Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

1
5. 24 of a day is called an .

1
6. The abbreviation for the unit that is 8 of a cup is .

1
7. 36 of a yard is called an .

8. A contains 8 fluid ounces.

9. The distance 10,560 feet is equal to 2 .

10. Another way to say 12:00 P.M. is .

11. Four pints is equal to a .

12. There are years in a decade.

1
13. 4 of a gallon is called a .

1
14. 128 of a gallon is called an .

15. A mile has 1,760 .

16. There are 3,600 seconds in 1 .

17. There are units in 2 dozen.

1
18. The abbreviation for the weight equivalent to 1000 of a ton is .

92
Helping Your Middle Schooler Get Ready: Week 8

Here are some activities you and your middle schooler


might enjoy.
These are the skills your middle
schooler will be working on Make a Coupon Book Have your child make a book of
this week. coupons that entitle the bearer to goods or services he or
she is willing to provide. Remind your child to include any
Math
. algebra: inequalities
restrictions or expiration dates. Read actual coupons for

. algebra: patterns
examples of terms and conditions to include.

.
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

problem solving
Thinking Beyond the Page Your middle schooler has
Reading probably been reading several books over the summer.
. reading comprehension Consider asking, What do you think about the book so
. reading for details far? What do you think will happen next in the book?
Encourage your child to discuss interests and observations
Writing
. research skills
about the books he or she is reading.

. business letter
Your middle schooler might enjoy reading one of the
Vocabulary
. analogies
following books:
The Trumpeter of Krakow
Grammar by Eric P. Kelly
. punctuation: semicolons
. subject-verb agreement To Kill a Mockingbird
by Harper Lee

Zachs Lie
by Roland Smith

on
Coup night
of
e f r e e
on
s holder to
Entitle

31
s May
Expire
SL
8NYYN

93

Lj\k_`jgX^\kfj\k^fXcjXe[dXb\aflieXc\eki`\j%

Smells have the ability to delight or repel us. Make a list of several different smells;
then describe your reactions to each of them.
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

A local recycling company is sponsoring a repurposing contest. The person who


develops the most creative uses for a shoe box wins the contest. Think of several uses for
an empty shoe box and describe your winning entry.

An old saying advises that those who live in glass houses should never throw
stones. What would life be like living in a glass house?

Algebra

Amazing Animal Inequalities


Below youll find some incredible facts about animals. But only some of them are true!
To find out which statements are just hogwash, look at each inequality. If the inequality is true,
so is the fact. Circle True. If the inequality is false, the statement is, too. Circle False.

1. Some types of bats measure 5. Koalas are the laziest animals in the
just one inch long. world. They snooze 22 hours per day.
2x 14 8, x = 11 4y + 6 + 3y < 50, y = 6

True False True False


Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

2. The amazing cheetah can run 6. Some clams live up to 200 years.
120 miles per hour. 15 18 3z, z = 1
3p 12 > 0, p = 4
True False
True False

7. One of the top ten names for pet


3. A giant South American species of goldfish in the U.S. is Fluffy.
rabbit can weigh up to 275 pounds. u 12 3, u = 24
r + 14 2r 12, r = 1
True False
True False

8. There are at least 1,000,000 insects


4. Blue whales weigh as much as for every human being on Earth!
260,000 pounds. 16 < 3t + 8, t = 3
20 > 7 + 4j, j = 2
True False
True False

95

Punctuation

Semicolons
C\kji\m`\n_fnkflj\j\d`Zfcfej%
Lj\Xj\d`Zfcfe%%%
Y\kn\\ek_\ZcXlj\jf]Zfdgfle[j\ek\eZ\j`]k_\pXi\efkaf`e\[YpXZfealeZk`fe%
<oXdgc\19Xj\YXcc`jXjgfik2`kZXeY\XefZZlgXk`fe%
Y\kn\\eZcXlj\jk_XkXi\af`e\[YpZ\ikX`ekiXej`k`feXcnfi[jXe[g_iXj\j`eXZfdgfle[
j\ek\eZ\XZZfi[`e^cp#Zfej\hl\ekcp#]fi\oXdgc\#]fi`ejkXeZ\#]lik_\idfi\#_fn\m\i#
dfi\fm\i#e\m\ik_\c\jj#fk_\in`j\#Xe[k_\i\]fi\% 
<oXdgc\1N\n`cc_Xm\k_\gXk`f[ffi`ejkXcc\[k_`j=i`[XpX]k\ieffe2
fk_\in`j\#n\n`cc_Xm\kfnX`klek`ce\okn\\b%
Y\kn\\ek_\`k\dj`eXj\i`\j`]k_\`k\djXci\X[pZfekX`eZfddXj%EXkliXccp#k_`jn`cc
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

Xmf`[XZfe]lj`e^eldY\if]ZfddXj%
<oXdgc\1K_\gi\j`[\ek`XcZXe[`[Xk\kfli\[EXj_m`cc\#K\ee\jj\\28kcXekX#>\fi^`X2
DfY`c\#8cXYXdX2Xe[D`Xd`#=cfi`[X%

Insert semicolons in the following sentences.

1. My brother Mark will attend college this fall however, he has to earn money this summer.

2. When my uncle was on tour, he visited the following cities: Chicago, Illinois St. Louis,
Missouri Billings, Montana and San Francisco, California.

3. The player scored a goal the fans screamed enthusiastically.

4. It snowed all day therefore, we stayed inside the house.

5. My brother loved the latest action film I found it boring.

6. Ill ask Dad to drive us to the mall otherwise, we will have to walk.

7. Jana is bringing cups, soda, and ice to the party Walter is bringing music
and Sammy is bringing fruit and popcorn.

8. Band practice was postponed until Saturday however, I have soccer practice that day.

96

Research Skills

Common Knowledge Quiz


How many of the following trivia questions can you answer? If necessary, use an encyclopedia,
atlas, almanac, or the Internet.

1. What six U.S. states were named for English kings and queens?
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

2. True or false: Giraffes sleep standing up?

3. How many vertebrae do most mammals have in their necks?

4. What is the wettest spot in the United States?

5. What is the driest spot in the United States?

6. How many carats are in pure gold?

7. The longest snake is the .

8. True or false: The chemical composition of the Sun is mostly gas?

9. Which human bone is the longest in the body?

10. Are gorillas carnivorous?

11. Which American presidents were born in Texas?

12. What do the initials in R.S.V.P. stand for?

13. How many legs does a spider have? How many eyes?

14. Who was the first American president to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize?

15. Which river is the longest in the world?


97

Analogies

Word Relationships
8eXcf^`\jj_fni\cXk`fej_`gjY\kn\\enfi[j%
8eXcf^`\jXi\i\X[#ZfddX`jkfgXlj\Xjg\i`f[`jkfjkfg%
K_\pXi\ni`kk\elj`e^jpdYfcj#Xj]fccfnj1ZfddX1gXlj\11g\i`f[1jkfg

Read the first pair of words; then add the word that best completes the second pair of words.

1. basketball : hands :: soccer :

2. sociable : extrovert :: retiring :


Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

3. prohibit : allow :: strenuous :

4. sterile : clean :: muddy :

5. cafeteria : school :: kitchen :

6. green : color :: carrot :

7. diver : descend :: climber :

8. jaguar : cat :: duck :

9. Nile : river :: Egypt :

10. jazz : music :: ballet :

11. summer : season :: week :

12. commence : begin :: cease :

13. teeth : chew :: eyes :

14. money : buy :: advertisement :

15. eat : ate :: find :

16. towel : dry :: scissors :

98

Subject-Verb Agreement

Do They Agree?
8m\iYdljkX^i\\n`k_`kjjlYa\Zk`eeldY\i%EldY\ii\]\ijkfn_\k_\iXnfi[`jj`e^lcXi
eXd`e^fe\ figcliXceXd`e^dfi\k_Xefe\ %

In each sentence, underline the subject. Then underline the correct verb form in the
parentheses.

1. Most stories in a newspaper (begin, begins) with a lead paragraph.

2. The lead of most stories (answer, answers) the questions who, what, when, where, and why.
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

3. What (cause, causes) a volcano to erupt?

4. A volcano (dont, doesnt) usually erupt without warning.

5. The word volcano (come, comes) from the Latin word vulcan.

6. Occasionally, a volcano (has, have) blown a mountain apart.

7. Everyone (want, wants) to know about the Loch Ness monster.

8. Many (look, looks) for it in the waters of the lake in Scotland.

9. Some (think, thinks) the monster is a prehistoric beast.

10. Bar magnets (am, is, are) used as the needles in compasses.

11. The needle in a bar magnet (am, is, are) attracted to the North Pole.

12. Square dancing (grew, grown) out of other forms of folk dancing.

13. Directions to the dancers are (sang, sung) by a square dance caller.

14. Even if you (knew, known) nothing about dancing, you could learn the steps.

15. Will your friend (join, joins) you for the square dance?

99

Algebra

Missing Museums
Meet Anne DeSplay. She just loves museums! Anne was planning a trip to see some of her
favorite museums in the U.S., but she got them all mixed up. Now, Anne needs your help!

To find out where each real museum is located, figure out what number completes each
number pattern. Find your answer in the Museum Locations box and write it following the
pattern. Then, explain the relationship within each pattern.

Museum Names
Museum Locations
1. Tupperware Historic Food Container Museum
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

27 Lincoln, Nebraska
224, 112, 56, 28,... 63 Boston, Massachusetts

14 Orlando, Florida

34 Dallas, Texas
2. Museum of Bad Art
125 Wichita, Kansas
11, 24, 37, 50,... 129 Phoenix, Arizona

3. Hall of Flame (Fire Fighting Museum)

5, 9, 17, 33, 65,...

4. Leroys Motorcycle Museum

1, 5, 13, 29, 61,...

5. National Museum of Roller Skating

48, 47, 45, 42, 38, 33,...

6. Tolberts Chili Parlor and Museum of Chili

1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21,...

100

Business Letter

Its All Business


K_\i\Xi\dXepi\Xjfej]fini`k`e^XYlj`e\jjc\kk\i%Pfld`^_ki\hl\jk`e]fidXk`fe#\ogi\jj
Xefg`e`fekfXglYc`Zf]]`Z`Xc#fi\ogcX`eXgifYc\dn`k_jfd\k_`e^pfl_Xm\Yfl^_k%
8Ylj`e\jjc\kk\i_Xjj`ogXikj%
PfliX[[i\jjXe[k_\[Xk\^f`ek_\_\X[`e^%K_\eXd\Xe[X[[i\jjf]k_\g\ijfe
fiZfdgXepi\Z\`m`e^k_\c\kk\i^f`ek_\`ej`[\X[[i\jj%
8]fidXc^i\\k`e^Zfd\je\ok%K_`j`eZcl[\jXk`kc\f]i\jg\Zk#jlZ_Xj;\XiDi%#
;\XiDij%#;\XiDj%#;\XiJ`i#\kZ%
K_\Yf[pjkXk\jk_\gligfj\f]pflic\kk\i%
8]fidXcZcfj`e^#jlZ_XjJ`eZ\i\cppflij#]fccfnjk_\Yf[p%Pflij`^eXkli\`jcXjk%
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

Imagine that you ordered the Thingamabob, a popular new toy from the Razzle-Dazzle Toy
Company, for $29.99. It was a gift for your younger brother. Unfortunately, the toy broke the
first time he played with it! How would you feel? Would you want your money back? Would
you want another Thingamabob? Write a letter to Mr. Dewey Cheatem, the president of the
company at 123 Any Street, Anytown, Anystate, 00001. Explain why you are writing. Tell what
happened and how. Then suggest a solution to the problem.

_\X[`e^

`ej`[\X[[i\jj

Yf[p
: ]fidXc^i\\k`e^

]fidXcZcfj`e^
j`^eXkli\

101

Reading Comprehension

Strange New World


Amira opened her eyes. It wasnt a dream. A moment ago she was in her bland living room with her
friend Cesar, playing an old video game. Now that bland room was gone.
She and Cesar stood in a crudely rendered world of primary colors. Everything looked blocky, like it was
made of large colored bricks. There were green blocks underfoot, blue and white blocks in the sky. A blocky
turtle waddled past them. Suddenly, she realized, they are all made of pixels! Cesar laughed.
He took off, sprinting down the blocky green path. Amira had to dash to keep up with him. He stopped
so suddenly that she almost ran into him. Before she could catch her breath, he pointed up at what had
caught his eye.
It was a big yellow block, as tall as either of them, inexplicably suspended in the air about ten feet above
them. They could see no wires.
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

Before she could stop him, Cesar leapt up into the air. This new world had granted them new abilities,
too, because he flew up three times the height he normally could and head-butted the floating block.
CLINK! A giant coin shot out of the top of the block. Amira tried to move out of the way, but the coin
was plummeting toward her. She cringed. As soon as it touched her, the coin faded harmlessly. She exhaled
softly.
Cesar pointed down the path where more yellow blocks waited in a row. He held out his hand. Amira
looked from his outstretched hand to the blocky path ahead, then back at his beaming face. She took a deep
breath. She smiled, reached out, and took his hand.

Answer the following questions.

1. This story takes place 4. Suspended is used in this story to mean


A. on Mars. A. to hang in midair.
B. at a barbecue. B. to sprint down the path.
C. in a living room. C. to be temporarily forced to leave
D. in a video game. school.
D. to spur to action.
2. First, Amira
A. opens her eyes. 5. When Cesar sees the , he
B. takes Cesars hand. A. blocky turtle; catches it.
C. smiled. B. giant coin; runs away.
D. plays a video game. C. big yellow block; head-butts it.
D. green blocky path; collapses.
3. CLINK! is an example of the
literary term 6. The blocks making up the world are
A. onomatopoeia. A. coins.
B. alliteration. B. pixels.
C. allusion. C. atoms.
D. foreshadowing. D. friends.

102

Problem Solving

What, No Numbers?
The problems below have no numbers. Decide how you would solve
each one. Tell what you would add, subtract, multiply, or divide to
find the answer. If it helps you, fill in reasonable numbers.

1. Max saved some money by buying a book of 10 movie passes rather than
individual tickets. How can he figure out how much money he saved?
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

2. Inez knows the number of miles she ran last week. She knows how many hours she ran.
How can she figure out her rate of speed in miles per hour?

3. Ed knows his cars odometer readings (in miles) before and after a trip. He knows the
number of gallons of gasoline he used. How can he figure out the number of miles-per-
gallon his car got on the trip?

4. Pat knows the weight and price of two different-size boxes of dry cat food. How can he
figure out which of the two is the better buy?

5. Li has a paper route. She delivers a certain number of papers every day. For each
paper she delivers, she makes the same amount of money. How can she figure out
her hourly wage?

103

Reading for Details

Forests on Fire
There are some places where you can expect
wildfires. In California, fires burn 50,000 to 500,000
acres of land every year. Some of the plants that live
there have oily sap. They can survive the dry, hot
summers, but if they catch fire they explode into flame.
Grasses grow thick during the spring rains and then
die. They dry into a thick layer of straw that burns fast,
making a very hot fire.
Fires can start wherever theres fuel to burn.
Southern California has plenty of fuel and a hot, dry
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

wind that blows every year between mid-September


and late October. This wind, called the Santa Ana, N`e[jYcfnfm\ik_\[ipDfaXm\;\j\ikXe[kiXm\ckfnXi[
k_\GXZ`]`ZFZ\Xe%
passes over the inland desert, losing moisture and
gaining heat, and rushes toward the ocean to the west. The Santa Ana wind fans the flames and makes
fighting the fires nearly impossible.
Forests are a natural storehouse of fuel for a fire. During a dry summer, dead trees and low brush in a
forest can burst into flame wherever lightning strikes. Rain usually puts out these fires. But sometimes the
combination of dry fuel, hot dry air, and strong winds is just right for a major forest fire.
In 1988, Wyomings Yellowstone National Park was burned by several such fires at once. Lightning
struck in two places. A worker dropped a lit cigarette in another place. On the worst day of the fire, more
than 600 square kilometers (about 230 square miles) of forest burned. Clouds of smoke that looked like
storm clouds rose into the atmosphere. Smoke blocked the sun and drifted far beyond the park.
Firefighters work hard to control fires like those in Yellowstone and California, many of which are caused
by people. But long before humans learned how to start or put out a fire, prairies and forests burned every
year. Both kinds of land recovered, as they have in Yellowstone and in California.

1. What mountains are between Los Angeles and the Mojave Desert?

2. What path do the Santa Ana winds follow?

3. Why might a rainy spring increase the risk of forest fires?

4. In 1988, what caused the fires in Yellowstone National Park?

5. True or false: Yellowstone is located in California:

104
Helping Your Middle Schooler Get Ready: Week 9

Here is an activity you and your middle schooler


might enjoy.
These are the skills your middle
schooler will be working on Container Gardening You do not have to be a farmer
this week. or even have an outdoor space to grow beautiful flowers
or delicious vegetables. You and your child can create a
Math container garden regardless of where you live. To start, you
. logic and problem solving will need to gather the following: a large container, such as a
. real-world math flower or window box, a planter, wooden box, or even several
.
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

finding averages large coffee cans; potting soil; small stones or pebbles; some
. metric system type of under tray, and water. Choose a sunny place, such
as a windowsill. You will also need a few seedlings (small
Reading
. reading comprehension
plants) or seeds.
Follow these simple steps: First, select what you want to
Writing grow. Herbs, such as parsley and chives, a cherry tomato
. narrative writing plant, radishes, chilies, and/or flowers, such as impatiens
and geraniums, all do well indoors. Next, punch a few
Vocabulary
. idioms
drainage holes in the bottom of your container. Line the
bottom with an even layer of pebbles or small stones. Fill
the container with potting soil. When planting seedlings,
Grammar
. prepositions
plant them so that the roots have plenty of room to spread.
. types of sentences
Plant seeds according to package directions (not too deep,
though). Set the container on the tray and place in the sun.
Be sure to water the plants so that the soil is moist, not
soggy. Finally, keep the soil moist and turn the container to
keep the plants or flowers growing strong.

Your middle schooler might enjoy reading one of the


following books:
The Hero and the Crown
by Robin McKinley

Night of the Twisters


by Ivy Ruckman

Harriet Tubman: Secret Agent


by Thomas B. Allen

105

Lj\k_`jgX^\kfj\k^fXcjXe[dXb\aflieXc\eki`\j%

A winning lottery ticket is sure to change a persons life. What would you do with
a major lottery win? How would you spend the money?
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

You have been chosen to create a new museum. What kind of exhibits would
you include? Who would be your intended audience?

Do animals have thoughts and feelings? Support your position, either pro or con.

Logic

Lets Be Reasonable
Just exactly where is the middle of nowhere? To find out, first circle the best answer for
each statement. Then write the letter of the correct answer in the code at the bottom.

1. California is the state with the largest population, about .


V. 3,900 W. 39 million X. 390 million

2. On the other hand, Wyoming has a population of about .


T. 540,000 U. 54,000 V. 5,400
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

3. The border between Canada and the United States is miles long.
L. 550,000 M. 55,000 N. 5,500

4. The lowest point in the nation, Death Valley, is feet below sea level.
N. 0.282 O. 282 P. 2,820

5. The height of Mt. McKinley, the highest in the country, is feet.


D. 2,320 E. 20,320 F. 200,320

6. Yellowstone, the first national park, was founded in .


A. 1872 B. 1802 C. 1772

7. The smallest state, Rhode Island, has an area of square miles.


S. 1,545 T. 41,545 U. 241,545

8. Texas, the second largest, has an area of square miles.


G. 86,861 H. 268,601 I. 6,168,601

9. Crater Lake, the deepest lake in the nation, is feet deep.


L. 32 M. 932 N. 1,943

10. Oklahoma has the largest Native American population, about .


Q. 2,500 R. 250,000 S. 25 million

11. The number of Americans under age 18 is about .


H. 1 million I. 65 million J. 200 million

,
6 11 3 7 1 4 10 2 8 9 5

107

Prepositions

Preposition Crossword Puzzle


Find the preposition in each sentence. Then place the preposition where it belongs in the puzzle.

Across
1. Jennifer went with her best friend. 1
3. The dog ran after the cat.
4. Pirates hid the gold below the deck.
6. Kathy and Bobby went to the store. 2
8. The tan colt walked behind his mother.
9. Practice the piano until 4:00.
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

11.
11 The balloon flew above the trees.

6 7

10

11
Down
1. Do not go swimming without a buddy.
2. Your turn to bat is before Jose.
3. Carl went around the corner.
4. The child may not go beyond the gate.
5. The ladder leaned against the wall.
7. Mr. Parkers farm is over the next hill.
9. Look for the ball under the fence.
10. Please put the puzzle upon the table.

108

Real-World Math

Shop
p Til You Drop
p
How much do shoppers who buy in bulk really save? Do
some research to find out. Visit a store or look at newspaper
ed below. Add some items of
ads to find some of the items listed
mplete the table to find out if
your own to the table. Then complete
youre shopping smart.
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

EldY\i
:fjkf] :fjkf]
@k\d f]@k\dj`e JXm`e^j
J`e^c\@k\d Dlck`gXZb Dlck`gXZb

GXg\iKfn\cj

:Xee\[;f^=ff[

9Xijf]JfXg

9Xccgf`ekG\ej

:Xee\[Jf[X

109

Types of Sentences

Identifying Sentence Types


8j`dgc\j\ek\eZ\_XjXjlYa\ZkXe[Xm\iY#Xe[\ogi\jj\jXZfdgc\k\k_fl^_k%@k[f\jefk
`eZcl[\Xep[\g\e[\ekZcXlj\j#Ylk`kdXp_Xm\Zfdgfle[gXikj`%\%#jlYa\ZkjXe[m\iYj %
<oXdgc\j1Af_eepi\X[_`ji\j\XiZ_gXg\i%Af_eepXe[DXiZ`Xi\X[Xe[ZfdgXi\[k_\`i
i\j\XiZ_gXg\ij%
8Zfdgfle[j\ek\eZ\_Xjknffidfi\`e[\g\e[\ekZcXlj\jYlkef[\g\e[\ekZcXlj\j%
K_\ZcXlj\jdXpY\af`e\[YpXZfddXXe[XZffi[`eXk`e^ZfealeZk`fe#fiYpXj\d`Zfcfe%
<oXdgc\jf]Zffi[`eXk`e^ZfealeZk`fejXi\]fi#Xe[#efi#Ylk#fi%
<oXdgc\1JX[`\Xe[8d`XnX`k\[]fik_\kiX`e#Ylkk_\kiX`enXjm\ipcXk\%
8Zfdgc\oj\ek\eZ\_Xjfe\`e[\g\e[\ekZcXlj\Xe[fe\fidfi\[\g\e[\ekZcXlj\j%
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

DXep[\g\e[\ekZcXlj\jXi\`ekif[lZ\[YpXjlYfi[`eXk`e^ZfealeZk`fe%<oXdgc\jf]
jlYfi[`eXk`e^ZfealeZk`fejXi\X]k\i#Xck_fl^_#Xj#XjjffeXj#Y\ZXlj\#Y\]fi\#\m\e
k_fl^_#`]#j`eZ\#k_Xe#k_fl^_#lec\jj#lek`c#n_\e#n_\e\m\i#n_\i\m\i#n_`Z_#n_`c\%
<oXdgc\1N_`c\JX[`\Xe[8d`XnX`k\[Xkk_\kiX`ejkXk`fe#k_\pi\Xc`q\[k_\kiX`enXjcXk\%
[\g\e[\ekZcXlj\    `e[\g\e[\ekZcXlj\
8j\ek\eZ\ZXeXcjfY\Yfk_Zfdgfle[Xe[Zfdgc\o%

Identify each sentence below by writing S for simple, CD for compound, CX for complex,
and CD-CX for compound-complex.

1. My grandmother, who is 84 years old, owns a condo near Myrtle Beach.

2. The magazine article was both timely and interesting.

3. My father must have lost the tickets, for they are not on the car seat.

4. Although we just purchased it, the cake is stale.

5. CDs and clothes were scattered all over Jakes room.

6. The ice skater performed a back flip, and the crowd rose to its feet.

7. Because the switch does not work, you need to buy a new flashlight.

8. Although I like to swim, I have neither had the time to


go lately, nor have I found anyone to go with me.

110

Logic

Math Puzzles and Tricks


Solve the following math puzzles and tricks.

1. On June 9 of this year, Walt Disney Studio created Donald Duck. To find the year:
The tens and unit digits are consecutive integers whose sum is 7 and product is 12.
The tens digit is 13 of the hundreds digit.
The sum of all the digits is 17.
Donald Duck was created in (year).

2. To do this trick, you will need a calculator.


First, enter the number 37037.
Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

Next, multiply your favorite digit from 1 to 9 by 3 (Do this step in your head.)
Then, multiply the number in the calculator by the above answer (the number in your head).

What is it?

3. Astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first person to step on the moon. His famous quote is
Thats one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind. To find the year:
The tens digit is a perfect number.
The hundreds and units digits are the same square number.
The sum of all the digits is 25.
Neil Armstrong walked on the moon in .

4. A two-hundred pound man and his two sons, each of whom weigh one hundred pounds,
want to cross a river. They have only one boat that can only carry two hundred pounds.

How will they all cross the river?

5. Write your house number, double it, add 5, multiply by 50, add your age, add 365, subtract
615. The answer will contain both your house number and your age.

6. You are the pilot of an airplane that flies from New York to Chicago, a distance of 1,000
miles. The planes air speed averages 200 miles per hour and makes one 30 minute stop.

What is the pilots name?

111

Reading Comprehension

Alberto Santos Dumont:


Brazils Favorite Aviator
Most people have heard of the Wright Brothers, the two Americans generally considered the inventors of
the first practical airplane. Few people other than Brazilians (and certain aviation enthusiasts) have heard of
Alberto Santos Dumont, another visionary in early aviation.
Santos Dumont was born in 1873 in Minas Gerais, Brazil. When he turned 18, he was sent to Paris to
study chemistry, astronomy, physics, and mechanics. He became interested in dirigibles, or airships held up
by a lighter-than-air gas often contained in a balloon.
Santos Dumonts balloons won many races and prizes, including one in 1901 for circling the Eiffel Tower
in less than 30 minutes. Reportedly, Santos Dumont took the 100,000 franc prize and split it among his
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

workers and Pariss beggars.


After conquering the skies in lighter-than-air vehicles, Santos Dumont became interested in heavier-than-
air vehicles. His 14-BIS plane left the ground on November 12, 1906, to fly at a speed of approximately
37 km/h and a height of 6 meters to reach a total distance of 220 meters. This flight won him the
Archdeacon Prize and demonstrated that a heavier-than-air vehicle could take off by its own means.
The Wright Brothers had flown their Flyer I in 1903 with the help of a catapults launch. The Wright
Flyer, once airborne, flew for longer distances at a higher altitude than the 14-BIS. Therefore, most people
consider the Wright Flyer the first practical airplane. Undaunted by this classification, Brazilians still
celebrate Santos Dumont as a national hero.

Answer the following questions.

1. Alberto Santos Dumont was 4. What happened first?


A. a Wright brother. A. the Wright Brothers flew Flyer I.
B. the developer of the Flyer I. B. Santos Dumont flew the 14-BIS.
C. an aviator and inventor. C. Santos Dumont won 100,000 francs.
D. never celebrated in his birth country. D. Santos Dumont won the Archdeacon.

2. Aviations Latin root is avis, which 5. The difference between a dirigible and
probably means an airplane is
A. brick. A. one is lighter-than-air and one is
B. bird. heavier-than-air.
C. Brazilian. B. dirigibles are more popular today.
D. winner. C. airplanes were invented first.
D. there is no difference.
3. A synonym for aviator is most likely
A. enthusiast. 6. Because Santos Dumont won the race
B. beggar. A. he received the 100,000 franc prize.
C. winner. B. he gave his proceeds to charity.
D. pilot. C. he built the 14-BIS.
D. he is a Brazilian national hero.

112

Finding Averages

Mean, Mode, Median & Range


D\Xe#d\[`Xe#Xe[df[\Xi\k_i\\b`e[jf]Xm\iX^\j%IXe^\`jk_\[`]]\i\eZ\Y\kn\\ek_\
cXi^\jkXe[jdXcc\jkmXcl\`ek_\^iflgf]eldY\ij%
( Kf]`e[k_\d\Xef]Xj\kf]eldY\ij#X[[Xcck_\eldY\ijXe[k_\e
[`m`[\k_\`ijldYpk_\eldY\if]X[[\e[j%
) K_\d`[[c\eldY\i`eXj\kf]eldY\ij`jk_\d\[`Xe%Kf]`e[k_\d\[`Xe#k_\eldY\ij
dljk]`ijkY\XiiXe^\[`efi[\i%@]k_\i\Xi\knfd`[[c\eldY\ijn_`Z_n`ccfZZli`]k_\i\`j
Xe\m\eeldY\if]X[[\e[j #k_\d\[`Xe`jk_\Xm\iX^\f]k_\knfd`[[c\eldY\ij%
* Df[\i\]\ijkfk_\eldY\ik_XkfZZlijdfjk]i\hl\ekcp`eXj\kf]eldY\ij%
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

Find the mean, mode, median, and range for each data set.

1. Erik planted ten apple trees. He kept track of how many apples he picked from each tree.
His results are shown in the table:

Ki\\ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

f]8ggc\j 137 120 140 141 137 124 119 129 137 136

Mean: Median: Mode: Range:

2. Over the summer, Tamara read four mystery novels. The table shows how many pages
each book had:

An Eye for The Treehouse


9ffbK`kc\ Unbelievable! Treading Lightly
Mystery Nextdoor

f]GX^\j 512 272 368 512

Mean: Median: Mode: Range:

3. Seven friends have a contest to see how long they can balance their left foot.
Their results are shown in the table:

EXd\ Adeela Henry Wendy Kenny Thea Winston Cyrus

K`d\j\Zfe[j 56 35 88 65 91.6 35 63.4

Mean: Median: Mode: Range:


113

Idioms

Warm-Up With Idioms


@[`fdjXi\k_\dfjk[`]]`ZlckgXikf]c\Xie`e^XepcXe^lX^\%@[`fdjXi\Zfddfecplj\[
\ogi\jj`fejk_Xkd\Xejfd\k_`e^[`]]\i\ek]ifdk_\XZklXcnfi[j%=fi\oXdgc\#:c\XiXj
XY\cc_Xjefk_`e^kf[fn`k_Y\ccji`e^`e^%K_\`[`fdd\XejkfY\le[\ijkff[Zc\Xicp%

Underline the idiom in each sentence.

1. Jake and Maria almost missed their flight because it was down to the wire.

2. My sister was on top of the world when her team won the game.
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

3. It is time to face the music on your chocolate addiction.

4. If you choose to live high on the hog, you will spend all of your savings.

5. Break a leg in our school play today.

Match the idioms with their meanings.

6. blowing smoke A. to talk about unimportant things

7. cold turkey B. ability to grow flowers and plants

8. spill the beans C. boasting without being able to back it up

9. chew the fat D. give away a secret

10. green thumb E. to quit something abruptly

Write sentences using each of the following idioms.

11. in the doghouse

12. put your best foot forward

13. jump to conclusions

14. cut from the same cloth

114

Narrative Writing

Planning a Story
8eXiiXk`m\k\ccjXjkfip%8ejn\ik_\]fccfn`e^hl\jk`fejkf_\cggcXepflijkfip%

What is the title?

Where will the story take place?

When will the story take place?

Who is the main character?


Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

What is the main character like?

What problem or problems will your main character face?

What other characters will you include?

What will be the most exciting moment or turning point?

What events or actions will lead up to this moment?

What events or actions will follow this moment and show how the problem is resolved?

What is the resolution?

Will you tell your story in the first-person or third-person point of view?

Now, review your plan. Make any revisions. Then write a draft of your story on another sheet
of paper. Begin by writing a topic sentence that will grab the attention of your reader.

115

Metric System

Hidden Meters
Find three boxes horizontally, vertically, or diagonally whose sum is 1 meter. Pay close attention
to whether the numbers are listed as mm, cm, dm, or m. There are 16 such trios. Ring each trio
you see. You may use a calculator. One is done for you.

0'dd ((Zd '%/d ,''dd +'Zd ),Zd '%,d '%),d


Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

)''dd ,'[d -'Zd ([d *'Zd 0dd (Zd '%/d

+'Zd (Zd .''dd /Zd ,Zd +[d ,,'dd ,'Zd

+''dd '%*d *''dd *[d +'Zd '%*d '%+Zd *''Zd

)[d *[d +'dd (,dd (%(d *''dd 0d '%,d

'%*Zd (d *'Zd -''dd ([d /[d )'Zd *,'dd

,'Zd '%+,d ([d +,Zd )%,Zd '%(d 0[d (,Zd

)''dd *[d ,'Zd '%0,d +Zd *Zd '%/'d +'[d

('dd ),'dd -''[d +%,[d '%'.d -''dd .'Zd *''dd

116
Helping Your Middle Schooler Get Ready: Week 10

Here is an activity you and your middle schooler


might enjoy.
These are the skills your middle
schoolers will be working on Fun With Numbers Teach your middle schooler this
this week. number trick, and then he or she can amaze friends and
family members. Tell your child you have a magic number.
Math Write 61.74 on a slip of paper and fold it in half so your
. decimals child cant see it. Then post the following steps, giving your
. algebra word problems child time to calculate each time. An example is given after
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

each step.
Reading
. reading for information
1) Pick any four different numbers between 0 and 9. (1, 5, 9, 6)
2) Arrange them to make the greatest number possible. (9651)
Writing 3) Place a decimal between the two middle numbers. (96.51)
. sequencing 4) Then arrange them to make the least number possible. (1569)
. personal narrative 5) Place a decimal between the two middle numbers. (15.69)
6) Subtract the second decimal number from the first.
Vocabulary
. word work: synonyms,
(96.51 15.69 = 80.82)
7) Use the four numbers in the difference.
antonyms, and idioms
. tricky words
Repeat steps 2 through 6. (88.20 02.88 = 85.32)
8) Repeat the steps until arriving at the magic number.
Grammar (85.32 23.58 = 61.74)
. adverbs
. future tense verbs
Give the slip of paper to your child and ask him or her to open
it. The number 61.74 will always appear sooner or later. It
doesnt matter what numbers your child chooses.

Your middle schooler might enjoy


reading one of the following books:
American Born Chinese
by Gene Luen Yang

Before Columbus: The Americas 1491

  by Charles C. Mann

Heroes of the Environment: True Stories of People


Who Are Helping to Protect Our Planet
by Harriet Rohmer

117

Lj\k_`jgX^\kfj\k^fXcjXe[dXb\aflieXc\eki`\j%

Would you rather have a week in the desert with temperatures over 100 degrees
or a week on an iceberg? Explain.
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

Would you rather live in a big city or a small town? Why?

A is for Angola; B is for Brazil. For how many letters of the alphabet can you
name a country?

Decimals

Stumpers
Write your answers in both number and word form; for example, 14.37 (number form),
fourteen and thirty-seven hundredths (word form).

1. Who Am I? 4. Who Am I?
A. I have 4 digits, and they all are different. A. I have 4 digits.
B. All of my digits are odd. B. Each digit is either a 2 or a 4.
C. I have a 1 in the hundredths place. C. The numbers in the ones place and tenths
D. I have a 7 in the ones place. place are the same.
E. The number in the tens place is less than the D. The numbers in the tens place and hundredths
number in the tenths place. place are the same.
Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

F. None of my digits is 9. E. I have a 4 in the hundredths place.

Answer: Answer:

2. Who Am I? 5. Who Am I?
A. I have 4 digits, and they are all odd. A. I have 3 even digits.
B. The number in the tenths place is greater than B. The number in the tenths place when
3. It is a factor of 36. subtracted from 3 equals 1.
C. The number in the hundredths place is less C. The number in the ones place is 8.
than 4 and greater than 1. D. Divide the number in the ones place by 2 and
D. The numbers in the ones and tens places are you will have the number in the hundredths
the same and are also factors of 25. place.

Answer: Answer:

3. Who Am I? 6. Who Am I?
A. I have 4 digits, and they are all different and A. I have 4 digits, and they are all odd.
even. B. The 2-digit whole number is greater than 10
B. The number in the hundredths place is half of and less than 20. When this number is divided
the number in the tenths place. into 121, the quotient is also that number.
C. The number in the hundredths place is greater C. The digit in the tenths place is 3.
than 3. D. Add 4 to the number in the tenths place and
D. The number in the ones place is 6. you will have the number in the hundredths
E. The number in the tens place is 2. place.

Answer: Answer:

119

Adverbs

Adverbs That Compare


8[m\iYjZXeY\lj\[kfZfdgXi\XZk`fej%8ZfdgXiXk`m\X[m\iY#n_`Z_ZfdgXi\jknfXZk`fej#
\e[j`e$\ifiY\^`ejn`k_dfi\fic\jj%8jlg\icXk`m\X[m\iY#n_`Z_ZfdgXi\jdfi\k_Xeknf
XZk`fej#\e[j`e$\jkfiY\^`ejn`k_dfjkfic\Xjk%8[m\iYjk_Xk_Xm\dfi\k_Xefe\jpccXYc\fi
k_Xk\e[`ecplj\k_\nfi[dfi\kf]fidk_\ZfdgXiXk`m\#Xe[k_\nfi[dfjkkf]fidk_\
jlg\icXk`m\%
:fdgXiXk`m\1K_\jle`jZcfj\ikf<Xik_k_XeXepfk_\ijkXi%
N\gcXpjfZZ\idfi\]i\hl\ekcpk_XeYXj\YXcc%
Jlg\icXk`m\1K_\jle`jk_\Zcfj\jkjkXikf<Xik_%
F]Xcck_\jgfikjkfgcXp#n\gcXpjfZZ\idfjk]i\hl\ekcp%
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

Write in the blank the missing form of the adverb.

Adverb Comparative Superlative


1. fast faster
2. high highest
3. sooner soonest
4. carefully
5. long longest
6. more regularly
7. far farther

Underline the correct form of the adverb in parentheses.

8. Jonathan always eats (faster, fastest) than his brother does.

9. We go swimming (more often, oftener) now that the weather is warmer.

10. Carlos wins (more frequently, most frequently) than his brother Eduardo.

11. The owl can screech the (louder, loudest) of all the birds that I know.

12. Samantha will arrive (sooner, soonest) of the 12 guests.

13. Lauren sat (closer, closest) to the exit door than Debbie did.

14. Jennifer is studying (more long, longer) than usual because she has a test tomorrow.

15. Senator Roberts speaks the (intelligentliest, most intelligently) of all the candidates.

120

Sequencing

Pictures Are Worth a Thousand Words


Comic strips tell a story in a short sequence of sketches and possibly a few short captions or
conversation bubbles. Think of the most exciting experience in your life so far. Write the story.
Then break the story into sequential steps. You have six cells to tell your story. Remember: cell
one sets the story, and cell six is the conclusion; therefore, you are left with four cells to give the
highlights of the event. The artistic merit of the drawings is not as important as the clarity of the
story you tell.
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

121

Word Work

Vocabulary Review
K_`jgX^\i\m`\nj1
jpefepdj#nfi[jk_Xk_Xm\j`d`cXid\Xe`e^j%
Xekfepdj#nfi[jk_Xk_Xm\fggfj`k\d\Xe`e^j%
`[`fdj#\ogi\jj`fejk_Xk_Xm\X]`^liXk`m\d\Xe`e^k_Xk`j[`]]\i\ek]ifdn_Xk\XZ_
`e[`m`[lXcnfi[d\Xej%

Underline the synonym for each boldface word in each row.

1. flourish thrive provide feed


Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

2. conspicuous hidden obvious angry

3. rescue stretch jump save

4. drawback behind disadvantage artwork

5. glisten sparkle speak hear

Underline the antonym of the boldface word in each row.

6. advance retreat forward horizontal

7. vertical straight horizontal advance

8. placid feeble calm turbulent

9. import export empty send

10. inflate rise import deflate

Circle the letter of the correct meaning of each idiom.

11. come to grips with 13. on the dot


A. accept or deal with firmly A. on the black spot
B. shake hands firmly B. exactly at the time agreed on; promptly

12. a far cry 14. showing your true colors


A. calling to someone in a distance A. revealing your true nature
B. quite different; far removed B. exhibiting your paintings

122

Word Problems

Algebra Word Problems


Read these word problems carefully. Then, solve them using algebra. Show your work.

1. Right now, Jamals mother is 3 times older 5. A pen and a pencil together cost $5.10.
than Jamal. But in 12 years, her age will The pen costs $5 more than the pencil.
be exactly 2 times greater than Jamals. How much does each cost?
How old are Jamal and his mother today?
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

2. Uncle Rupert asked Rachel to visit his farm 6. In the basketball league Ivy belongs to, 2
to help count all the llamas and ostriches. points are awarded for every shot made
The animals are running around really fast, and 3 points are deducted for every shot
but shes still sure she counted 35 heads missed. In one game, Ivy took 40 shots
and 94 feet. How many llamas are there? but scored 0 points. How many shots did
How many ostriches are there? she make? How many did she miss?

3. Larissa has a bag full of gumdrops. She 7. Luisa noticed that in 7 years shell be half
knows there are fewer than 75 pieces of her mothers age. If 3 years ago Luisa was
1
candy in all. When she divides them into 3
her mothers age, how old is her mother
groups of 3, 4, 5, or 6, there is always 1 now?
gumdrop left over. How many gumdrops
does Larissa have?

4. The sum of the ages of the three Perez 8. Kevin can do a job in 4 hours. It takes
sisters is 50. Rosa is the youngest, Elena Kendra 2 hours to do the same job. If they
is the middle sister, and Felicia is the do the job together, how long will it take
oldest10 years older than Rosa. them?
Five years ago, their ages were prime
numbers. How old was each then?

123

Tricky Words

Troublesome Verbs
K_\i\Xi\]flim\iYjk_Xkf]k\eZi\Xk\gifYc\dj]fidXepni`k\ij1cXpXe[c`\#j\kXe[j`k%
K_\m\iYcXpd\XejkfgcXZ\%
<oXdgc\j1>\fi^\#gc\Xj\cXpk_\kfn\cjfek_\YXk_iffdj_\cm\j%gi\j\ek 
Af\pcX`[k_\k`c\]cfficXjkn\\b%gXjk 
K_fdXj_XjcX`[k_\knfc`YiXipYffbjfek_\Zflek\i%gXjkgXik`Z`gc\
K_\m\iYc`\d\Xejkfi\Zc`e\%
<oXdgc\j1DpYXYpj`jk\ic`\j`e_\iZi`Ylek`cj_\XnXb\j%gi\j\ek 
8jXZ_`c[#@cXp[fne]fiXeXg\m\ipX]k\ieffe%gXjk 
K_\^`]kj_Xm\cX`efek_\b`kZ_\ekXYc\j`eZ\p\jk\i[Xp%gXjkgXik`Z`gc\
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

Circle the best answer in the parentheses.

1. The cat likes to (lay, lie) near the warm stove.

2. The tile installers have (laid, lain) the floor to the patio.

3. Please (lay, lie) your essay on the desk when you have finished.

4. (Lay, Lie) the plastic cups and plates on the picnic table.

K_\m\iYj`kd\XejkfY\`eXj\Xkfikfi\jk%
<oXdgc\j1B\eepj`kj`ek_\k_`i[ifnXkk_\YXcc^Xd\%gi\j\ek 
B\eepjXk`ek_\k_`i[ifnY\]fi\gXjk 
B\eep_XjjXkk_\i\`ek_\k_`i[ifnf]k\e%gXjkgXik`Z`gc\
K_\m\iYj\kd\XejkfglkfigcXZ\jfd\k_`e^%
<oXdgc\j1CXli\ej\kjk_\gcXk\jfek_\kXYc\\m\ip[Xp%gi\j\ek 
CXli\ej\kk_\gcXk\jfek_\kXYc\p\jk\i[Xp%gXjk 
CXli\e_Xjj\kk_\gcXk\jfek_\kXYc\j`eZ\j_\nXjXpfle^^`ic%gXjkgXik`Z`gc\

Circle the best answer in the parentheses.

5. No one may (sit, set) on the patio while it is raining.

6. Please carefully (sit, set) the expensive vase on the dining room table.

7. Janie had (sat, set) the vase there many times.

8. Our next door neighbors (sit, sat) with us during the concert.

124
Use with page 126.

Reading for Information

The Art of Deception


A beautiful but poisonous lion fish glides past. Wait, or is it a sea snake?
Or a flat sole fish slipping down across the sand? There is an animal that can
look like all of these creatures, and more.
The mimic octopus was discovered in 1998 in a river in Indonesia. It
grows to about two feet in length and normally is striped white and brown.
However, as its common name suggests, the mimic octopus changes its shape,
color, and behavior to mimic, or appear like, other animals. This adaptation
has developed over time to help the animal protect itself from predators.
While some other octopuses camouflage themselves, changing their color to blend into their
environment, the mimic octopus changes its color and behavior to resemble dangerous animals. This
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

represents a risky strategy for the octopus; instead of remaining safely hidden it must actively swim out and
hope that its performance is good enough to fool predators. This form of mimicry, where a harmless species
mimics a dangerous species, is called Batesian mimicry.

What Makes the Mimic Octopus Special?


Although many animals use mimicry to survive, the mimic octopus is the first known species to mimic
several different animals.
This talented octopus has three confirmed impersonations: the lion fish, the sea snake, and the sole fish.
To impersonate a poisonous lion fish, it floats above the sea floor, spreading its arms wide to resemble the
lion fishs fins. For a sea snake impersonation, the octopus color shifts to the red and black bands associated
with the venomous snake and wriggles two arms in different directions. To create the illusion of a toxic sole
fish, it pulls its arms together into a heart shape, uses jet propulsion to build up speed, and undulates across
the sea floor. The mimic octopus is also believed to take on the form of sand anemones, mantis shrimp,
stingrays, and jellyfish.
Another remarkable attribute of the mimic octopus is that it seems to know which creature to
impersonate to scare off its current predator. This demonstrates the octopuss high intelligence. For instance,
when a mimic octopus is attacked by a damselfish, it imitates a banded sea snake, one of the damselfishs
known predators. By taking on the appearance of a known predator of its attacker, the octopus is more likely
to scare off its attacker.

A Recent Discovery
Researchers had not previously discovered the mimic octopus because its habitat is not a very popular
place for divers to explore. The muddy river bottom lacks the vibrant diversity of life available in areas like
the coral reefs. However, the stark nature of the landscape may have prompted the mimic octopus unusual
adaptation. Since there is nowhere to hide, the octopus must either retreat into the ground or pretend to be
something else. Scientists speculate that there may be even more species of mimic octopuses left to discover
in more murky river bottoms.

125
Use with page 125.


Reading for Information

Answer the following questions that relate to the preceding passage.

1. Someone that mimics 7. When a damselfish appears, a mimic


A. eats something that looks like itself. octopus will usually
B. looks, acts, or sounds like someone or A. imitate a flat sole fish.
something else. B. imitate a banded sea snake.
C. cannot blend in to their environment. C. camouflage itself among the sand.
D. is afraid of mimes. D. run and hide.

2. The mimic octopus lives 8. The mimic octopuss behavior in Question


A. in forests near orb weaver spiders. 7 demonstrates
B. in the coral reefs in Australia. A. the octopuss high level of intelligence.
C. in murky river bottoms in Indonesia. B. a form of Batesian mimicry.
D. at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. C. both A and B.
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

D. none of the above.


3. The antonym of camouflage is
A. reveal. 9. Three animals the mimic octopus
B. hide. imitates are
C. army. A. the lion fish, sea snake, and sole fish.
D. civilian. B. the lion fish, dormouse, and sole fish.
C. are the lion fish, damsel fish, and orb
4. When not mimicking, the mimic octopus weaver spider.
A. hisses like a snake. D. are the lion fish, jellyfish, and Monarch.
B. turns completely black.
C. has white and brown stripes. 10. The mimic octopuss habitat is
D. undulates like a sole fish. A. filled with verdant colors.
B. the coral reefs.
5. Batesian mimicry is demonstrated when C. popular with scuba divers.
A. a harmless species mimics a harmful D. murky river bottoms.
one.
B. two harmful species mimic each other. 11. The mimic octopus was only discovered
C. a creature hides itself in the sand. in 1998 because
D. someone named Bates mimics you. A. the coral reefs are heavily protected.
B. it lives in a popular area for divers.
6. Another title for this story could be C. it lives in an unpopular area for divers.
A. Orb Weaver Spiders and Other Mimics. D. it is so good at mimicry.
B. New Octopus Discovered in 1998.
C. The Mimic Octopus: Natures Best 12. Extending the previous answer, the most
Performer. likely place to discover new creatures is
D. A Damselfish Attacks: A Sea Floor A. in coral reefs.
Survival Guide. B. in popular areas.
C. in unpopular areas.
D. in areas with much mimicry.

126

Future Tense Verbs

For the Future


=lkli\k\ej\m\iYjk\ccXYflkXZk`fek_Xk_Xjek_Xgg\e\[p\k%Lj\n`ccn`k_Xm\iYkfj_fn
]lkli\k\ej\%

Complete this poster for the Totally Terrific Talent Show. Use a different verb to tell what
talent each performer will share.
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

9TYFQQ^9JWWNKNH9FQJSY8MT\
1. Mister Greene your host for the evening.

2. To open the show, the Tempo Trio the


Star-Spangled Banner.

3. Next on the bill, Kiyoko Sato her


experimental blend of ballet and hip-hop.

4. Gilbert Lopez a classical guitar interlude.

5 Scoot up to the edge of your seat! The Amazing Sabarisi


jaw-dropping magic tricks.

6. College roommates Bronwyn and Jessica


original poetry.

7. So everyone leaves in a good mood, Freddy Funniman


the most hilarious jokes in his repertoire!

8. You the best time


in your life!

127

Personal Narrative

Gr.8 Expectations
As the summer winds down and the new school year approaches, it is an excellent time
to think about eighth grade expectations. Write a letter to yourself about what you hope to
accomplish during the upcoming school year.
Be sure to think about social, athletic, maturational, and life goals as well as strictly
academic ones.

,
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

128
Bas c Operations Nouns

Lost at Camp Its Only Proper!


Trace a path f om the Park ng Lot to the Campf re C rcle by o lowing eight correct y written 8 Zfddfe efle eXd\j Xep g\ijfe gcXZ\ k_`e^ fi `[\X 8 gifg\i efle eXd\j X gXik`ZlcXi
equations Avo d ones with m stakes g\ijfe gcXZ\ k_`e^ fi `[\X ?\i\ Xi\ jfd\ \oXdgc\j f] Zfddfe Xe[ gifg\i eflej :fddfe
eflej Xi\ efk ZXg kXc`q\[ Ylk gifg\i eflej Xi\
Parking Lot
Common Nouns Proper Nouns
Maintenance
Building
city At anta
START
Arts and Crafts
r ver M ss ss ppi River
18 9 = 2 poet Maya Ange ou
(21 x 13) 7 = 39
42 + 16 + 53 street Main St eet
11 10 = 10
Administration
Building
organizat on Boy Scouts of America
Kayaking
Area Beach
Area
16 x 50 = 800
Read the following sentences Underl ne the common nouns and c rcle the proper nouns
3 + ( 8) = 5
1 Monaco s the second smal est country in Europe
Counselors
Fields Bunkhouse
2 Br ttany and her two best friends live on Washington Street
Lake
LaBelle 6 ( 4) x ( 5) = 3 The American Red Cross brings aid to peop e during disas ers
Sai ing 120
Area
4 The United States s a democra ic country
303 29 = 284
5 ( 13) = 8
5 W lliam Butler Yeats wrote beau iful poetry!
5 13 = 18
6 He wrote the poem The Lake Isle of Innisfree
Canoeing
Area 7 This Irish land must be qu te special to the poet

8 The place of which Yeats wrote is near Sligo Ireland

Dining Hall Bath House 9 The sights beyond the lake include views of the Lough Gill Mountains
1 5 + 5 = 10 10 The Haze wood Sculpture Trail s close to the lake
x (3 772 + 528)

S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 7 & 8

S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 7 & 8


10 = 430 Campfire
11 The United Nations is in New York City
Circle
5+5=0 12 Nathan is an exce lent guitar st
Bunkhouse 3
Bunkhouse 1
13 Australia is the smallest cont nent
Bunkhouse 2 18 9 = 2 14 Lincoln Avenue is our towns busiest street
97 ( 1) = 98
Scho a t c nc

Scho a t c nc
20 ( 12) = 8 15 Josh and Molly are cousins

11 12

page 11 page 12
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

Reading for Information Context Clues Coord nate Po nts

Hatshepsut Vocabulary Building: Context Clues A Graph Puzzle


Throughout the long history of Ancient Egypt, its rulers, or pharaohs, were almost always men But You can somet mes find the mean ng of an unfami iar word by using context c ues or the
words or phrases around the word Use the graph on the next page Follow the directions to complete th s puzzle
one woman did succeed n becoming pharaoh Hatshepsut was a princess married to a pharaoh When her
husband died, her 10 year old stepson should have become he pharaoh But Hatshepsut saw a chance to
seize power She claimed the boy was too young to rule and demanded to be named h s co ruler Us ng context clues underline the correct word to complete each sentence 1 P ot each ordered pair below and then connect all the po nts with a straight line segment
1
To be sure people saw her as pharaoh, Hatshepsut had to dress the part She adopted all of the (4 1) ( 10 7) ( 72 3)
accoutrements of a pharaoh the headdress, clothes, and even the fake beard worn by all of Egypts pharaohs 1 The sad news made Malik eel very (somber elated)
Hatshepsut not only looked the part of a powerful leader, she acted it H storians characterize her reign as (8 0) ( 9
1 1
8 ) ( 6 1)
a time of peace and prosperity for Egypt She oversaw the creation of many great works of art, 2 2
2 During a hectic day reading a book s a welcome (inter ude intermediate) or Carmen
restored religious temples, and, most important, organ zed trade networks She ruled Egypt
(14 3) ( 14 6) ( 4 1)
for 20 years 3 Because of her (pers stence res stance) Leticia final y learned to drive a car
After her death, Hatshepsuts stepson, Thuthmose III, came to power Unfortunately, he 1
(20 10) ( 15 4 2 ) ( 6 7)
attempted to erase Hatshepsut from history He began destroying everything he could find
4 Jan e loves vegetables more than anything so she (avoids prefers) cheeseburgers
with her image or name on t Despite Thuthmose IIIs efforts, some art facts remained for 1 1
researchers to unearth Archaeologists found evidence of Hatshepsuts rule, and today we (9 4) ( 16 12 ) ( 12 2 11)
5 Mario improved his (endurance resistance) during swim meets by prac icing every day
know many things about this successful female pharaoh
(6 4) ( 15 0) ( 11 11)
6 Jonathans rack team drank gallons of emonade after their track meet because they
Answer the fo low ng questions
were so (dehydrated depopulated) (2 7) ( 13 2 2)
1
( 5 9)
1 Hatshepsut was 5 Accoutrements refer o Complete each sentence below by choosing a word from the word box that makes sense n
A an archaeologist A great works of art ( 2 8) ( 8 1) (1 3)
the b ank Be su e to use the context clues n the sentence to help you
B a pharaoh B a successor to the throne
C an Egypt an model C clothing and accessories ( 6 7) ( 7 1) (4 1)
D a histor an D acts of royal vandal sm erode aerospace hydrant man pulate partic pate
1
2 A pharaoh is 6 When Thuthmose III cla med the throne ( 10 4) ( 82 3) P ot this ordered pair
A always male A an age of peace and prospe ity began Do not connect
B an archaeologist B he tried to erase any sign of Hatshepsut ( 13 6) ( 7 4) ( 14 4)
1 In case of fire at your house would you be able to d rect the fire department to the nearest
C the name for a ru er of Ancient Egypt C she became the f rst female pharaoh
D a princess D he decided not to wear a false beard
hydrant ?
3 What happened f rst? 7 Hatshepsuts story was discovered by
A Hatshepsut restored temples A researchers 2 An airplane pi ot has o manipulate the contro s n order to fly the plane
S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 7 & 8

S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 7 & 8

S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 7 & 8

B Thuthmose III came to power B a pharaoh


C Researchers uncovered her story C Thuthmose II 3 Wind and running water continua ly erode or wear away soil and rocks
D Hatshepsut became pharaoh D her husband

4 Hatshepsuts reign s character zed by 8 To look like a pharaoh Hatshepsut 4 El ot cannot participate in sports after school because he must go home to take
A peace and p osper ty A learned a sac ed dance care of his brother
B upris ngs against the throne B stud ed in Greece under philosophers
C destruction of Thuthmose I I s image C dec ded to retire after 20 years 5 Because Yoko is plann ng an aerospace career she s studying about the
Scho a t c nc

Scho a t c nc

Scho a t c nc

D unre enting drought and famine D wore special c othes and a fake bea d earths atmosphere

13 14 15

page 13 page 14 page 15

Coordinate Po nts Clauses Word Problems

Dependent and Independent Clauses Money Saving Coupons


Read each coupon Then so ve the word problems
)' 8 ZcXlj\ `j X ^iflg f] i\cXk\[ nfi[j 8 ZcXlj\ _Xj Yfk_ X jlYa\Zk Xe[ X gi\[`ZXk\
(0 K_\i\ Xi\ knf kpg\j f] ZcXlj\j `e[\g\e[\ek Xe[ [\g\e[\ek 1 The dance team is having a sleepover Friday
(/
e[\g\e[\ek :cXlj\ 8e e[\g\e[\ek ZcXlj\ ZXe jkXe[ Xcfe\ Xj X j\ek\eZ\ evening be ore the teams car washing fundraiser
Dizzy Donuts
(.
<oXdgc\1 N\ nXcb\[ kf k_\ gXib cXjk e`^_k Meredith found a donut special at Dizzy Donuts or Special
(-
(, ;\g\e[\ek :cXlj\ 8 [\g\e[\ek ZcXlj\ ZXeefk jkXe[ Xcfe\ Xj X j\ek\eZ\ $4 60 per dozen She purchased six dozen donuts $4 60 for a Dozen Donuts
(+ <oXdgc\1 N_\e n\ Z_\Zb\[ k_\ Zffb`\j `e k_\ fm\e Her total bill for the donuts was
Good Anytime L m t 6 Dozen
(*
()
(( Read each clause Wr te I for an independent clause Wr te D for a dependent c ause $ 27.60
('
0
D 1 Because you enjoy pizza so much 2 Best Ever chocolate chip cook es are $3 79 per bag
HVkZ ,*
/ at the Super Special Market Super Special doubles
dc ' EVX`V\Zh
.
- D 2 After you have fin shed the yard work
the value of coupons on Tuesdays Sue is shopp ng
on Tuesday and buys two packages of cookies d[ 7Zhi :kZg
,
What is the cost of cook es not includ ng taxes? 8]dXdaViZ 8]^e 8dd`^Zh
+
*
I 3 The library book that you want is on the hird shelf Cd :me^gVi dc 9ViZ

6.08
D
)
$
( 4 Although she enjoys playing the piano
3 Hotter Than Hot costs $1 79 per bott e On a
)' $(0 $ / (. $ - (, $(+ $ * $() $ ( (' $/ . $- $, $+ $* $) $(
$(
$)
( ) * + , - . / 0 (' (( () (* (+ (, - (. / (0 )'
I 5 There must be a way to so ve this problem triple value coupon day what would be the
Hotter Than Hot
Pepper Sauce
cost before taxes per bo tle?
I
$
Save 25 per Bottle
+ 6 I am too busy to go o the movies tonight
$,
$ 1.04 Good until September 1!
$-
$.
D 7 S nce they eft here to go to San Franc sco
4 The Testa fami y had lunch at Osvaldos Each of
I
$/
$0 8 Eduardo waved to h s fr ends the four fam ly members had three tacos at a cost DhkVaYd h DjigV\Zdjh IVXdh
$' of $2 50 each Mr and Mrs Testa each had iced
$( tea for $1 95 and the g rls each had a so t drink for
$)
Read each sentence C rcle each ndependent c ause and underline each dependent c ause the same price What was heir check before taxes
$*
and tip but after the discount? Read the coupon EgZhZci i]^h Xdjedc
$+
carefully! [dg '% D;;
$, 9 As the populat on increases he world faces a shortage of fresh water
$-
Zci^gZ [ddY ejgX]VhZ
30.24
Summ r Exp ess Be ween Gr des 7 & 8

Summ r Exp ess Be ween Gr des 7 & 8

Summ r Exp ess Be ween Gr des 7 & 8

$. <ddY i]gj 6j\jhi (&


10 We ordered spaghetti which everyone n the fam ly l kes $
$/
$0
5 John s Car Care Center norma ly charges $39 95 for
$ ' 11 While my brothers were working during he summer I went to summer school
the special oil change According to the coupon
what will the discounted price be? (Round to the
12 Please show me the book that you read this summer nearest penny ) Af_e j :Xi :Xi\ :\ek\i
(, ; jZflek fe F`c :_Xe^\
c

33.96
Scho a t c

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n`k_ k_ j Zflgfe
$ <og i\j FZkfY\i *(

16 17 18

page 16 page 17 page 18


Descriptive Writ ng Descript ve Writ ng

Descriptive Writing Prompt Descriptive Writing


Th nk about the last time you attended a special event such as a baseba l game a concert Next write a draft on a separate sheet of paper based on the outline that you created
a tr p to an amusement park or a fie d trip Follow the steps be ow to wr te a descr pt ve Ed t the first draft and recopy your f nal paragraph on the l nes be ow Be su e to share your
paragraph about the event paragraph with your fami y
1 Select a topic for your special event:

2 Use his graphic organizer to brainstorm ways to describe the event using your ive senses T tle

<M<EK

j\\ jd\cc _\Xi kflZ_ kXjk\


3 Make an out ine using your ideas from above Inc ude descr ptions related to at least three
senses and two support ng details for each point

y.
var
T tle
ill
I
er sw
A A nsw
B

y.
I
var
will
A
S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 7 & 8

S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 7 & 8


w ers
Ans
B

II

A
Scho a t c nc

Scho a t c nc
B

19 20

page 19 page 20
Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

Comb n ng Sentences Mixed Fractions Punctuation

What a Combination! Fraction Action Capitalization & Punctuation


J_fik j\ek\eZ\j ZXe jfd\k`d\j dXb\ ni`k`e^ jfle[ Z_fggp 9p ZfdY e`e^ j\ek\eZ\j Solve the problems Be sure you check the signs G ve your answers n the lowest te ms Read each group of sentences Ci cle the one sentence that shows correct capital zat on
pfl ZXe _\cg dXb\ pfli ni`k`e^ i\X[ dfi\ jdffk_cp and punctuation
<oXdgc\1 Dp Y\jk ]i`\e[ cfm\j kf ^f _fij\YXZb i`[ e^ @ cfm\ kf ^f _fij\YXZb i`[`e^ 4 6 7 3
1 5 9 3 13 2 1 A Jessica cal ed and wants to know if 6 A Stop thief! she screamed
Dp Y\jk ]i`\e[ Xe[ @ cfm\ kf ^f _fij\YXZb i`[`e^ 7 9 9 4 you saw life as we know t B Stop thief! she screamed
6 7 4 4 B The movie was good but the ticket C Stop thief! she screamed
+ 11 + 1 18 + 49 + 35
Read each pair of sentences below Then combine the sentences price was too high D Stop thief she screamed!

1 779 2 181 2 11
nto one sentence Write the new sentence on the l nes C My riends and I go to the Movies
Answers wi l vary but should resemble these examples. 8 9 6 20 about once a week 7 A My fr end Marcus who s an art st
1 My mom made my favorite dessert She made pecan pie D We pay or our movie tickets by displays his works at the small corner
working on Saturday
My mom made my favorite dessert, pecan pie. gallery downtown
B Before the movie began we had to s t
2 On vacat on we went swimming every day We collected she ls on the beach every day 2 A Ronda wondered where does the foil through many bor ng commercials?
4 2 1 1 come from to make the experiment? C My mother s job s qu te demanding;
On vacation, we went swimming and collected shells on the beach 2
5
6
5
10 4
3
14 4
4 B The oil is always here when we start however she is on time every day
every day. 3 1 2 5 the exper ment said Tommy D Do you know where we are Thomas?
3 Beethoven was a br lliant composer He eventually lost his hearing 1 1
5 3 5 6 C Before we arr ve Emi y added Mr inquired Toshiko
Beethoven was a brilliant composer who eventua ly lost his hearing. 1 1
5 15 2 14
15 2 125 Daily sets up the lab
D I think you are right said Audrey 8 A Our plane wi l arrive n Boston by
4 Charles Dickens wrote A Tale of Two C ties Char es Dickens s my favorite writer
11 oc ock because the pilot took a
Charles Dickens, who wrote A Tale of Two Cities, is my favorite 3 A A computer and mon tor wi l cost about shortcut
writer. one thousand dollars B Besides Elv s Presley who has had the
5 Ants are tiny creatures of great strength Ants can lift ten times their own weight B The desk that you ordered will arrive most influence on rock music?
Ants are tiny creatures of great strength that can ift ten times their 3 2 s 1 =
1
7 2 s 2 =
4 11 3 3 s 2 =
1 15 3 1 s 1 3 =
1 next Monday C My sister always asks When w ll I get
own weight. 4 2 3 3 9 4 7 2 7 4 5 2 C When the desk and computer are my driver s icense?
6 Carmen can jump higher than anyone else on the track team She can also jump farther delivered my brother and I wi l help D A l the above sentences are correct
than anyone on he team D How much should I pay for de ivery
Carmen can jump higher and farther than anyone else on the track 9 A Peter can speak Eng ish Ch nese
team. 4 A Rachel was born on October 10 1997 French and Japanese
7 One of my best fr ends s Matt Johnson He is a great baseball player B Rachel was born on October 10 1997 B Juan enjoys playing soccer but Oscar
C Rachel was born on October 10 1997 prefers playing f eld hockey
Matt Johnson is a great baseball player and one of my best friends. D Rachel was born on October 10 1997 C Have you read John steinbecks book
8 My fami ys pet is an all wh te cat She is named Snowball Travels with Charley?
S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 7 & 8

S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 7 & 8

S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 7 & 8

5 D A l the above sentences are incorrect


1 117 36 5 A Marcia asked Wi l you be going o the
My familys pet is an all-white cat named Snowball. 4 3 1 = 12 8 1 4 = 12 6 3 2 = 16 1 1 2 1 =
party with us tomorrow Julie?
4 2 5 8 3 5 6 65
9 The car wash was closed yes erday The bank was closed too B Marcia asked Will you be going to the 10 A We visited Utah Idaho and Wyoming
party with us tomorrow Ju ie? B We visited Utah Idaho and Wyom ng
The car wash and bank were closed yesterday. C Marcia asked Wi l you be going o the C We visited Utah Idaho and Wyoming
party with us tomorrow Julie D We visited Utah Idaho and Wyom ng
10 The parade will have marching bands The parade w ll have colorful f oats D Marcia asked; Wi l you be going o the
Scho a t c nc

Scho a t c nc

Scho a t c nc

The parade will have marching bands and colorful floats. party with us tomorrow Julie?

23 24 25

page 23 page 24 page 25

Word Work Order of Operat ons Reading for Information

Order, Please! Order of Operations Review An Albatross Around Your Neck


Read each set of words below Place the words n order as directed Then compare your K_\ de\dfe`Z Pc\Xj\ EoZlj\ Mp D\Xi Alek SXccp `j X ^i\Xk nXp kf i\d\dY\i k_\ fi[\i f] Have you ever heard someone say, Its l ke an albatross around my
cho ces with a fr end or fami y member to see if they agree fg\iXk`fej `e X dXk_ gifYc\d ?\i\ j _fn `k nfibj1 neck? People sometimes use this phrase to describe a burden they want to
Gc\Xj\ j ]fi gXi\ek_\j\j =`ijk ZXcZlcXk\ `ej`[\ k_\ gXi\ek_\j\j overcome The expression comes from a ballad, or poem, written by Samuel
1 trot creep dash amble jog
<oZlj\ `j ]fi \ogfe\ekj J\Zfe[ ]`e[ k_\ mXcl\ f] k\idj n`k_ \ogfe\ekj Taylor Coler dge in 1798, called The R me of the Ancient Mariner
creep amble trot jog dash Dp ;\Xi `j ]fi dlck`gc`ZXk`fe fi [`m`j`fe K_`i[ dlck`gcp fi [`m`[\ In the poem, a curse forces an old mariner to stop everyone he meets
(slow fast)
8lek JXccp `j ]fi X[[`k`fe fi jlYkiXZk`fe CXjk X[[ fi jlYkiXZk so he can tell his tale The tale he tells is about how he and his fellow sailors
became lost at sea during a terrify ng storm Their ship has been blown o f
2 tiny bulky inf nitesimal gargan uan intermediate <oXdgc\1 *) o + " * " - * *) o + " * " - * course and then freezes in he cy water Then, the sailors see an albatross, or
infinitesimal tiny intermediate bulky gargantuan ( Nfib `ej`[\ gXi\ek_\j\j ] ijk *) o . " - * sea bird Soon after see ng t, the ice melts and the albatross fl es with them
(sma l large) ) E\ok j`dgc`]p Xep k\idj n`k_ \ogfe\ekj 0o."-* to more peaceful waters The sailors praise the bird as a good luck charm
* Dlck`gcp Xe[ [ m`[\ ]ifd c\]k kf i`^_k -* " ) However, as soon as they begin to celebrate, the mar ner shoots the albatross
3 hideous stunning unsightly attractive pleasant + 8[[ Xe[ jlYkiXZk ]ifd c\]k kf i`^_k Afterward, the crew experiences much hardship and misfortune They blame their bad luck on the
-,
hideous unsightly pleasant attractive stunning mariners action As punishment for his cr me, the sailors hang the albatross around the mar ners neck
And for the rest of his life, he was forced to tell his tale to everyone he met
(ugly beaut ful) Evaluate each of the fo low ng expressions

4 state whisper bark bellow shout Answer the fol owing quest ons
whisper state bark shout bellow 1
24 11 49
1 An albatross is 5 Why did the mar ner shoot the bird?
(soft loud)
2 -76 12 -78 A a ship A jealousy
B a sea b rd B hunger
5 bland nteresting mot vating exhilarat ng mind numbing
mind-numbing bland interesting motivating exhilarating 3 5.9 13 9 C a sa lor
D a poem
C fear
D the answer is not given
(bor ng excit ng)
4 (9 + 6) 3 = 5 14 -42 2 Accord ng to the description of the poem 6 A ballad s a
6 delicate sturdy robust omnipotent sound what happens f rst? A sea bi d

delicate sound sturdy robust omnipotent 5 31 15 (62 3) + 5 = 64 A The mariner shoots the albatross
B Sa lors face a storm at sea
B type of sa lor
C punishment
C The mariner s forced to wear the bird D type of poem
(weak st ong)
6 47 16 6 [(9 + 5) 2 (3)] = 48 D The ship is caught in the ice
7 In 1798
7 dazzl ng g oomy jet black shady lum nous
jet-black gloomy shady dazzling luminous 7 (17 10) 7= 0 17 31 3 Another word for mariner is
A bird
A
B
Coler dge s poem was written
a mar ner shot an albatross

49 28 B sea C the a batross was d scovered


Summ r Exp ess Be ween Gr des 7 & 8

Summ r Exp ess Be ween Gr des 7 & 8

Summ r Exp ess Be ween Gr des 7 & 8

(dark br ght)
8 9 + 42 2= 18 4 + (22 3) + 5 =
C poet D a bat oss insp red c othes were popular
8 bliss ul despondent content downcast ecstatic D sailor
despondent downcast content blissful ecstatic 9 -34 19 2 [6 (9 +5) 2 (3)] = 156 8 What was the mariner s cr me?
4 Sai ors saw the a batross as A He encountered an a bat oss
(sad happy)
10 58 20 9.4 because
A bad luck; they got lost
B He got the crew lost
C He shot the a batross
B good luck; their ship was freed D He wrote a bad poem
Possible answers. Accept reasonable choices. Challenge: What combination of operat ons would make the following statement true?
c

C dangerous; it damaged the sh p


Scho a t c

Scho a t c

Scho a t c

(15 3) x 17 + 1 = 205
D punishment; t smelled bad

26 27 28

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Expository Wr ting Reading for Details

Expository or Informational Essays Big Wind Tangrams, The Broken Squares


Many standardized tests ask students to write an essay in response to a prompt Students are When several thunderstorms spiral together and grow into one giant storm, it is 8 kXe^iXd Zfej`jkj f] X jhlXi\ [`m`[\[ `ekf j\m\e ^\fd\ki`Z j_Xg\j1 knf cXi^\ ki`Xe^c\j
often g ven a few prompts to choose from Write some notes about each prompt below no longer a thunderstorm its a hurricane Off cially, sc ent sts consider a storm a fe\ d\[`ld ki`Xe^c\ knf jdXcc ki`Xe^c\j fe\ jhlXi\ Xe[ fe\ gXiX c\cf^iXd K_\j\ g`\Z\j
Then use your notes to choose a prompt for an essay Write your essay on a separate sheet hurricane once ts winds reach 74 mph (miles per hour) The word hurricane comes ZXe Y\ XiiXe^\[ `ekf dXep ^\fd\ki`Z j_Xg\j Xe[ g`Zkli\j KXe^iXdj Xi\ fe\ f] k_\ fc[\jk
of paper from the Ta no Indian word ur can, mean ng big wind In the Atlantic Ocean, ^\fd\ki`Z glqqc\j `e k_\ nfic[
hurricanes only start in he tropics the area five degrees north or south of the equator If
Prompt 1 a large area of water in th s part of the ocean is at least 80 F, and wind is blowingg westward
Here s a story often to d about how tangrams came to be About 4 000 years ago n Ch na a
Wr te some notes explain ng why someone you care about is important to you from Africa, conditions are just right for a hurricane The warm, moist air of the ocean rises As man named Tan was on his way to show the emperor h s treasured ti e But the t le fell to the
it rises, it cools, causing the water vapor to condense and form cumulonimbus clouds As the cloud column floor and broke nto seven pieces For the rest of his l fe Tan enterta ned himse f and his friends
grows larger and higher, it creates a circular pattern of wind As the winds circle faster and faster, they twist w th his p ctures created from these seven pieces He first used the ti e pieces to make a
y. around a calm center, called the eye Once hurricanes h t land, they weaken because warm ocean water is no picture of h s cat and the pagoda where he often med tated Tan s puzz e has been passed

ill var longer ava lable to help them grow But before they weaken, these fierce storms can cause severe damage from generation to generation and count y to country It is said that more than three hundred
sw des gns hide w thin the broken square
wer
Ans
Read each of the fol owing questions and write the letter for the best answer on the l ne prov ded
Directions for fold ng and cutting a tangram
C 1 For a hurricane to form in the Atlantic Ocean the water temperature must be Step 1 Cut a four nch by four nch squa e out of heavy paper
A less than 80 F C at east 80 F he front of a cereal box wo ks well
Prompt 2
B 74 mph D 5 deg ees Jk\g )
Wr te some notes explain ng how you have changed since you entered middle school
B 2 At what wind speed do scientists classify thunderstorms as hurricanes? Step 2 D aw a diagonal that divides the squa e nto two cong uent riangles
A 30 mph C 80 mph Cut along the l ne to separa e
B 74 mph D 50 mph
y.
var C Jk\g *

ill 3 The ca m center of a hurricane is called the Step 3 Fo d one of the wo congruent riang es nto two smaller congruent t iang es

we rs w A vapor C eye Cut along the fold to separa e

Ans
B tropics D u ican :

A 4 Hurricanes weaken when Step 4 Take the other large t iangle and fo d the op point (vertice A) Jk\g +
A they h t land C wind b ows from Africa o the midpoint of line segment BC Then cut along the fold
Prompt 3 B they form cumulonimbus c ouds D warm moist air rises o create the middle sized tr angle and a trapezoid
9 8
Wr te some notes explain ng the importance of honesty n a friendsh p
:
Step 5 Fo d he trapezoid n half as shown in the diagram so hat endpo nts
Decide if the fo low ng statements are True (T) or False (F)
B and C meet Cut in ha f at the old to crea e wo t apezoids Jk\g ,
Write your choice on the ine prov ded
S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 7 & 8

S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 7 & 8

S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 7 & 8


y.
var T Step 6 Cut one trapezoid into a tr angle and quadri a eral
will
1 Hurricane comes from the Taino Indian word urican 9

ers
Jk\g - Jk\g .
w T
Ans
2 The tropics s an area f ve degrees north and five degrees south of he equator Step 7 Cut he o her trapezoid in o a square and a riangle

F 3 Cumu onimbus clouds cause hurricanes Step 8 Now you should have 2 large tr angles 1 medium t iangle
Scho a t c nc

Scho a t c nc

Scho a t c nc
2 sma l t iang es 1 square and 1 parallelogram
F 4 The eye of the hurricane has he strongest winds Jk\g /

29 30 31

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Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

Geometry Fact vs. Opinion

Solving Tangram Problems Distinguishing Fact From Opinion


Now that you have created your tangram use the p eces to solve the following puzzles Understand ng the difference between facts and opinions is
The number n the center of the design represents the number of tangram pieces in the puzzle essential for good readers Statements that are facts can be
proved Op nions express a person s thoughts be iefs or judgments
B C
A
Read the fol owing sentences Circ e F if the sentence states a fact
and O f it exp esses an opin on

1 F O The ongest and strongest bone in the human body s


the femur or thigh bone

2 F O A good ath ete has broken at least one bone


D
E
3 F O Bones contain calc um

4 F O Worms have no skeletons at all

5 F O An mals that are inver ebrates make bet er pets


than vertebrates

6 F O The cranium which protects our brain is made up of eight bones

G 7 F O Most of our vital organs are protected by bones

F 8 F O Skeletons are very scary

9 F O Ant ers are made entirely of bone

10 F O Human skeletons are more interesting than animal skeletons

Write two more facts about bones and two more op nions
S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 7 & 8

S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 7 & 8

Fact 1:
H

y.
var
Fact 2:

will
Op nion 1:
w ers
Ans
Scho a t c nc

Scho a t c nc

Op nion 2:

32 35

page 32 page 35

Gerunds Convert ng Numbers Figurative Language

Juggling Gerunds Decimals & Percents Figurative Language


8 ^\ile[ `j X m\iY k_Xk \e[j `e `e^ Xe[ XZkj Xj X efle `e X j\ek\eZ\ 8 ^\ile[ ZXe XZk Xj X 8ep [\Z dXc ZXe Y\ Zfem\ik\[ kf X g\iZ\ek Yp j`dgcp dfm`e^ k_\ [\Z`dXc knf gcXZ\j kf k_\ Rev ew the fo low ng defin t ons of various kinds of figurat ve language
jlYa\Zk [`i\Zk fYa\Zk jlYa\Zk Zfdgc\d\ek gi\[`ZXk\ efd`eXk`m\ fi fYa\Zk f] X gi\gfj k`fe i`^_k Xe[ X[[`e^ X g\iZ\ek j`^e N_\e X [\Z`dXc ZfekX ej k_fljXe[k_j fi jdXcc\i g\iZ\ekj
@e k_\ ]fccfn`e^ j\ek\eZ\j k_\ ^\ile[ `j le[\ic`e\[ Xe[ k_\ ^\ile[ j ]leZk`fe `j ^`m\e `e k_\ jk`cc dfm\ k_\ [\Z`dXc knf gcXZ\j kf k_\ i`^_k K_\ g\iZ\ek n`cc ZfekX e X [\Z`dXc gf`ek J`d`c\j :fdgXi`jfej lj`e^ Zfee\Zk`e^ nfi[j jlZ_ Xj `b\ Xj fi j\\dj
gXi\ek_\j\j <oXdgc\1 8 jd`c\ c`b\ X jleY\Xd Yi ^_k\e\[ _\i ]XZ\
<oXdgc\j1
<oXdgc\j1 D\kXg_fij Xi\ ZfdgXi`jfej k_Xk lj\ ef Zfee\Zk`e^ nfi[j
:fem\ik )* kf  :fem\ik 0+* kf 
<oXdgc\1 K_\ Zcfl[j Xi\ ]cl]]p g`ccfnj
Jn`dd`e^ `e k_`j cXb\ `j dp ]Xmfi`k\ gXjk d\ jlYa\Zk )* )* 0+* 0+ *
G\ijfe`]`ZXk`fe Xgg\Xij ]i\hl\ekcp `e gf\kip Xj n\cc Xj gifj\
A\jj`ZX \eafpj jn`dd`e^ [ i\Zk fYa\Zk G\ijfe ]`ZXk fe `j ^`m`e^ _ldXe Z_XiXZk\i`jk`Zj kf k_`e^j k_Xk Xi\ efk _ldXe
Kf Zfem\ik g\iZ\ekj kf [\Z`dX j dfm\ k_\ [\Z`dXc gf`ek knf gcXZ\j kf k_\ c\]k
9i`Xe j dfjk i\Z\ek \o\iZ j\ gif^iXd `j jn`dd`e^ jlYa\Zk Zfdgc\d\ek fi Xe[ i\dfm\ k_\ g\iZ\ekX^\ j`^e <oXdgc\1 K_\ jkfid befZb\[ fe fli n e[fnj
gi\[`ZXk\ efd`eXk`m\ ?pg\iYfc\ j Xe fYm`flj \oX^^\iXk`fe lj\[ kf \dg_Xj`q\ X gf`ek fi X[[ \oZ`k\d\ek
<oXdgc\j1
K_\ `ejkilZkfi kXl^_k lj k_\ jb`ccj f] jn`dd`e^ fYa\Zk f] gi\gfj`k`fe Xe[&fi _ldfi kf X jkfip
:fem\ik +, :fem\ik (')
<oXdgc\1 K_\ nXcb ]ifd k_\ ZXi kf k_\ [fZkfi j f]]`Z\ kffb ]fi\m\i n`k_ dp Yifb\e kf\
8 ^\ile[ g_iXj\ `eZcl[\j k_\ ^\ile[ `kj df[`]`\ij Xe[ k_\ nfi[j k_Xk Zfdgc\k\ k_\ `[\X +, (')
Y\^le Yp k_\ ^\ile[ @e k_\ ]fccfn`e^ j\ek\eZ\ k_\ j`dgc\ ^\ile[ `j e Yfc[2 k_\ ^\ile[ g_iXj\
`j le[\ic`e\[ Read each of the fol owing statements Ident fy which of the four f gurative anguage te ms t
Jn`dd`e^ fe fli mXZXk`fe nXj jf dlZ_ ]le ]fi k_\ \ek`i\ ]Xd`cp Convert the decimals to percents and the percents to decimals represents Write the answer in the blank provided

Under ine each gerund phrase once Underl ne the gerund tw ce Then identify whether the 1 6 60% 11 119% .19 21 008 .8% personification 1 The leaves danced across the yard
gerund n each sentence functions as a subject (S) predicate nom native (PN) direct object
(DO) or object of a preposit on (OP) 2 43 43% 12 105% 1.05 22 2 321 232.1% personification 2 The old silent house remembered the happy days when laughing
children fi led its rooms
S 1 Study ng art also taught Gerald about art history 3 91 6% .916 13 5 50% 23 98 2% .982
hyperbole 3 I am so hungry I could eat a horse
OP 2 Today was my first attempt at playing kickball 4 05 5% 14 1 05 105% 24 15 15%
metaphor 4 The pet dog is another ch ld in the family
S 3 Enter ng the contest was my mothers idea 5 3 11 311% 15 101 75 10,175% 25 33 5% .335 simile 5 Jordan can be as qu et as a mouse sometimes
PN 4 Avas next class s danc ng 6 6% .06 16 695 69.5% 26 223 23 22,323%
metaphor 6 Madisons bedroom was a pigs sty before she cleaned t
S 5 Reporting the news is Jessicas dream job 7 8 955
895.5% 17 1 943
194.3% 27 3 4
340%
simile 7 Vincent is as sharp as a tack
OP 73.1% .02 99.7%
Summ r Exp ess Be ween Gr des 7 & 8

Summ r Exp ess Be ween Gr des 7 & 8

Summ r Exp ess Be ween Gr des 7 & 8

6 Mrs Palmer was g ven an award for volunteering her time 8 731 18 2% 28 997
personification 8 Yvonne bent close to Margis ear and whispered Be care ul
S 7 Being the secretary of the art club s such a big responsibil ty 9 82 82% 19 013 1.3% 29 14 14% the walls have ears

S .5685 4146% 977.5% hyperbole 9 If Ive told you once Ive told you a mi lion t mes o close the door
8 Press ng the wrong button on th s computer can be quite dangerous 10 56 85% 20 41 46 30 9 775

DO metaphor 10 The students felt that the essay assignment was a piece of cake
c

9 A berto prefers taking photos of landscapes


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Word Problems Narrative Wr ting Word Work

. . . And the Beat Goes On Narrative Writing Spell Check!


n an adult human the hea t is only about the s ze of an average f st and weighs about nine Respond to one of the essay prompts be ow Lim t yourself to 60 minutes for comp eting the Spell check on a computer s a great tool for checking your spell ng but it doesn t mean
ounces Th s amazing musc e beats without stopping from before b rth until death Humans on essay Use the space provided to make notes record sing e words phrases clauses or even you don t have to read your writ ng carefully! It can sometimes m ss m stakes Some words
average can expect more than 75 years of service from th s four chambered miracle Dur ng ent re sentences for each prompt Then decide which prompt to use to w ite your essay Wr te in Eng ish sound the same but are spelled different y and mean diffe ent things These are
ts life the heart wi l pump m ll ons of quarts of b ood through the body An your essay on another sheet of paper ca led homophones Spell check won t catch these k nds of errors Read the sentences be ow
average ate for a typical 13 year old s about 80 or 85 beats per minute carefully Each one has a word that s wrong Circle the word and then wr te the correct
Dur ng exerc se the number of beats per m nute can double 1 Eleanor Rooseve t once said You must do the thing you think you cannot do Write a word that should replace t on the blank ine
narrative about a t me you did something you thought you could not do Be sure to include
Your task now s to est mate how hard your hea t is working for you specific details so that a reader can fol ow your essay There 1 Their are lo s of excellent teachers in my school
every m nute hour and day of your l fe Use a ca culator and find out
reins 2 All son ost con rol of the horse when she dropped the reigns
1 If a normal heart beats around 80 beats per minute

A how many beats occur in an hour? 4,800 principal 3 The princ p e spoke at the assembly

y.
B how many beats n a 24 hour day? 115,200 var tales
will
4 Alonzo is known for tell ng w ld tails
C how many beats n a year? 42,048,000 ers
nsw wonder I wander if I will be able to go swimming today
2 If the heart continues to beat at 80 beats per m nute for 75 years
A 5

what s the total number of beats? Theres 6 Theirs never enough time in the day to have un
3,153,600,000
than 7 Jose ikes vanilla ice cream more then chocolate
3 If the average person has a normal heart beat of 80 beats per minute and the heart pumps
2 Th nk of your very best day ever at school What happened that made th s day stand out n
5 quarts per minute
your memory? Write an essay that tells about what happened
too 8 M randa thought Alex had eaten far to many hot dogs
A how much blood wou d the heart pump in a 24 hour day? 7,200 quarts
2,628,000 quarts poring 9 Nathan spent hours pouring over his new comic books
B how much in a year?
weather 10 The picnic had to be cancelled because of bad whether
4 A mara hon runners heart can pump 30 quarts of blood per minute Based on this statistic
how much blood would be pumped in a race that las ed 2 hours 15 minutes and
30 seconds?
Its 11 Its supposed to be sunny for the rest of the week

4,065 passed
y. 12 Everyone in my swim class past he water safety test
var
S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 7 & 8

S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 7 & 8

S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 7 & 8


5 F nd a partner and a watch with a second hand Take urns record ng each others pulse
will won
for 30 seconds Measure pulse by plac ng your fore and middle fingers together on the
w ers 13 Amanda one the summer reading challenge at the library
underside of your partners wrist; make sure you can eel the pu se beat Count the beats
in 30 seconds; then multip y by 2 Once you each have your pu se rate or heart beat
Ans wait 14 The weight for the tra n was longer than we expected
calculate he following:
y.
var steak
will
A How many times does your heart beat in an hour? 15 Joshs favor te food is stake
s
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B How many times in a year?
wer stairs
Ans
16 Audrey ran down the stares when she heard the doorbe l ring

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Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

Decimal Review Word Work Reading for Information

Decimal Operations Out and Over Japans Latest Literary Craze:


Kf X[[ fi jlYkiXZk n`k_ [\Z`dX j# i\d\dY\i kf c`e\ lg k_\ [\Z dXc gf`ekj Lj\ q\ifj Xj gcXZ\ P ay the game of Out and Over and boost your vocabulary! Find a word in Box 1 that is not
Novels Written on Cell Phones
_fc[\ij jf k_Xk k_\ eldY\i f] [`^`kj kf k_\ i`^_k f] k_\ [\Z`dXc gf`ek i\dX`e Zfej`jk\ek a synonym of the other three words Move that word to Box 2 (where t w ll be a synonym) by
8[[ e^ q\ifj kf k_\ i`^_k f] k_\ ]`eXc [`^`k `e X [\Z`dXc [f\j efk X]]\Zk kj mXcl\ w iting t on the blank line Continue until you reach Box 12 Then comp ete the sentence in When was the last time you wrote a novel? If you are a teenager in Japan, you might be writing one now
that box on your cell phone! Cell phone novels started relatively recently The practice began n the year 2000 but
only became popular n 2005 Most cell phone novelists are young women going to school or working part
Line up the decimal po nts proper y; add zeros f necessary and so ve
time Whenever they have a free moment before class or work, hey type out a line of the story and send t
out as a text message Readers receive the new l nes directly on their phones Some wr ters also post he r
1 237 895 + 30 25 = 3 7 4036 1437 = 5 897 0352 46 0231 = 1 2 3
stories on Web sites

268.145 7.2599 851.0121 rebuke scold assert For most of these aspiring novelists, there is no reward but the joy of se f
express on However, some of the most popular ce l phone novels have been
open rebuke swear
4 published as actual books A few of hese authors have become famous and made
a great deal of money from their work Cell phone novels have become such a
honest assert restate lucrative, or profitable, endeavor that some tradit onal novelists have started
2 7 4036 + 13 765 + 1437 = 4 3862 + 1 45 + 5 097 = 6 2 431 + 9 56 + 4 675 =
candid tell off declare writing them, too
21.3123 6.9332 16.666 reiterate Although cell phone novels were init ally d smissed by critics as trivial, they are slowly gaining more
support They are a very popular genre for young people, many of whom do not normally read traditional
repeat
novels Because of their growing popular ty, they are beg nning to get more respect and may one day be
7 6 5 restate considered a genre, or category, of literature in the r own right
8
Kf dlck`gcp n`k_ [\Z`dXcj# ]`ijk dlck`gcp Xj ljlXc k_\e Zflek k_\ eldY\i f] gcXZ\j kf k_\ angry scrumptious speak speak
Answer the fo low ng quest ons
i`^_k f] k_\ [\Z`dXc gf ek `e \XZ_ f] k_\ ]XZkfij :flek k_Xk eldY\i f] gcXZ\j jkXik`e^ Xk k_\
i`^_k dfjk [`^`k `e k_\ gif[lZk Xe[ gcXZ\ k_\ [\Z`dXc gf`ek k_\i\ ] k_\i\ Xi\ efk \efl^_ urious delicious say
puny
[`^`kj X[[ q\ifj fe k_\ c\]k f] k_\ gif[lZk Y\]fi\ gcXZ`e^ k_\ [\Z`dXc gf`ek 1 Ce l phone nove s are 4 A genre s
Kf [`m`[\ n k_ [\Z`dXcj# gcXZ\ X [\Z`dXc gf ek `e k_\ hlfk`\ek [ i\Zkcp XYfm\ k_\ fe\ `e k_\
diminutive ivid angry ut er
A stories about cell phones A a type of cell phone novel
d minut ve delectab e delicious B stories sent as text messages B an author
[`m`[\e[ Lj\ q\if Xj X gcXZ\ _fc[\i Xj e\\[\[ N_\e [ m`[`e^ X [\Z`dXc Yp X [\Z dXc ]`ijk Zflek minuscu e C an examp e of tradit onal iterary genre C a Japanese fad
k_\ eldY\i f] [`^`kj kf k_\ i`^_k f] k_\ [\Z`dXc gf`ek e k_\ [`m`jfi Dfm\ k_\ gf ek `e Yfk_ k_\ D not very popu ar in Japan D a category
[`m`[\e[ Xe[ k_\ [`m jfi k_Xk eldY\i f] gcXZ\j kf k_\ i`^_k X[[`e^ q\ifj Xj gcXZ\ _fc[\ij stunning
2 What happened f rst? 5 f an endeavor is lucrative it means
Solve the following stunning saunter ecstatic A Established authors text stor es
B Ce l phone nove s become popu ar
hat it
A wi l make lots of money
You deserve C Ce l phone nove s are published as B may not succeed
7 1 80 9 0 02 11 37 13 03 amble stro l euphoric
9 a round of books C wi l not be publ shed
x 3 29 x 0 03 x 45 x 2
s riking amble rapturous applause D Teenagers te l stories through texts D wi l become popular n Japan
S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 7 & 8

S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 7 & 8

S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 7 & 8


5.922 .0006 16.65 .006 gorgeous ecstatic applause for f nishing
3 Ce l phone nove s are usual y wr tten by 6 Cell phone nove s are popular because
th s puzz e!
A people who ead tradit onal nove s hey
B publish ng companies A are easy to read and re ate to
10 11 12 C very old men B make money
3.4 6.72 150 2,431.25 D young women C have always had a fo lowing in Japan
8 19 ) 64 6 10 4 )26 88 12 0 16 ) 24 14 0 4 ) 972 5 D are an establ shed genre
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Spe ling Wo d Problems

Spelling Functional Fractions


Read the directions carefu ly Be sure to know if you are ook ng for the correctly or incorrectly So ve the fo low ng problems Show your work
spe led word When you are not sure of an answer look at each cho ce and say the word to
yourself Then write n the answer that seems the best 2 1
1 Crystal has 20 pets: 5 are rabb ts 2 are 5 In the warehouse there is a stack of 7
1
ish and 10 are dogs How many of each crates Each crate s 10 23 inches high
F nd the word that is spel ed correct y and best completes the sentence animal does she have? How many inches high s the stack of
crates?
1 The election will be held next month on Tuesday 8 rabbits; 10 fish; 2 dogs 2
A alection B e ection C e et on D e ekt on 74 3 inches
2 Did I mention we will have a birthday party this Sunday?
A menstion B ment on C mension D menshun

3 Be cautious on your drive home tonight


2 Col n has 36 polished rocks Of the rocks
1
6 Samantha has 3 4 bags of peanuts Each
A caustious B cauc ous C cautus D caut ous 1 1
wi l be used in a science exper ment bag holds 4 2 pounds How many pounds
4 The sun is a source of extremely cheap energy 4 4
and 9 wi l be given to his friend Tony of peanuts does Samantha have?
A inergy B energy C en rgy D ene g e How many rocks will he st ll have? 5
5 I have never v sited a foreign country
14 8 pounds
A foreign B fore n C for n D for egn
11 rocks

Choose the phrase in which the unde lined word is not spelled correct y
1
3 June has $40 00 n her bank account 7 Corey spent 6 2 hours at the park on
1 3
6 A an encredible sight 10 A very relaib e automobile 4
of the money must rema n in the bank Saturday and 7 4 hours on Sunday
B a predictable conclusion B a d fficult obstacle and 12 of the remaining amount will How many hours did Corey spend n all?
C long delay at the airport C ncorrect test answer be dona ed to her favorite charity 1
D very useful conference D much enjoyment tonight How much will June donate? 14 4 hours
7 A
B
a nutritious unch
blink ng warn ng sign
11 A
B
notise someth ng
rare y visit the museum
$15
C to remain fearless C an important discovery
D earned a free tick t D such an easy solut on
1
4 Tim caught a fish that weighed 4 6 8 When he bakery closed Marcia noted
8 A ga her together tonight 12 A arrest a crim nal
Summ r Exp ess Be ween Gr des 7 & 8

1 1
Summer Exp ess Be ween G ades 7 & 8

pounds Then he caught another that that she had 2 4 peach pies and 1 2
B become too crowded B a ways a polite person 5
weighed 6 8 pounds How much more apple pies left How much more peach
C a very late departure C cannot locate the ock
did the second fish weigh? pie than app e pie was left?
D narrow hazerdous road D work hard all weak
11 3
9 A worth ess pile of junk 2 24 pounds 4
B smooth colorful serface
C tuned musical instruments
c

D accelerate around the curve


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Greek Roots Geometry Pe suasive Writ ng

Greek Roots Geometry Jumble Persuasive Prompt


Many Engl sh words have Greek roots Some examples are given n the chart below Writ ng Si uation:
Where is he world s oldest castle found? G rls and boys often enjoy p aying the same sports and play with equal
sk ll Some people bel eve that gir s and boys shou d be ab e to p ay on
Greek Root Meaning Example To find out unscramb e each geometry word W ite the same team What is your op nion on th s issue?
the correct y spelled word in the spaces provided
aerate expose to air or allow c rcula ing a r
The boxed etters from top to bottom reveal
o reach or pene rate Directions for Writing:
aero air the ocat on
aerobics system of exercises designed o Write a letter to the school board stat ng your op nion and support ng it with convinc ng reasons
ncrease esp ra ion and heart rate
ebe lion upr s ng (Date)
belli war
bellige ent aggressive or wa like
(Sa utat on)
panorama unlimi ed v ew
pan all
panacea a cure or all problems

chronos time
chronic last ng a ong t me
1 NESTMEG s e g m e n t
synchron ze to happen at the same ime

2 NECO c o n e
Use the chart to play T c Tac Toe Read each word Then draw a ine through three words in
the box that are synonyms for that word Your l ne can be vertical horizontal or d agonal
3 ELMOVU v o l u m e

panacea synchron ze 4 CRINAPPLERUDE p e r p e n d i c u l a r


y.
r a y ill var
rs w
cure a l answer solut on outdated harmonious d sorder y 5 AYR

we
happiness anger ocean heavy co ncide nonstop 6 GLEAN a n g l e Ans
phys cs mix ar wi d y coordinate ancient
7 YAMDRIP p y r a m i d
be ligerent aerate 8 PESHER s p h e r e
S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 7 & 8

S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 7 & 8

S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 7 & 8


pugnac ous oud me odious l sten angry expose
9 M RPS p r i s m
autonomy aggress ve kind yell ventilate forces
10 REXVET v e r t e x (Comp imentary Close)
co ncide chaos combative freshen mx rebell on
p o i n t
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11 PINTO (S gnature)

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Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

Probability Reading Comprehension Infin tives

Clothes Combos Tsunami Warning Identifying Infinitives and Infinitive Phrases


How many combinat ons can you make with your favorite clothes? A tree diagram can show A tsunami is an unusually massive wave These huge waves can be 8e `e]`e`k`m\ `j X m\iY ]fid Zfej`jk`e^ f] k_\ nfi[ kf gclj X m\iY ]fi \oXdgc\1 kf i\X[
you For example Doug has one baseball cap three shi ts and two pairs of pants f he chooses caused by an earthquake, a volcanic eruption, a landslide, or a meteorite kf befn Xe[ kf gi\k\e[ 8e `e]`e`k`m\ ZXe ]leZk`fe Xj X efle X[a\Zk`m\ fi X[m\iY K_\
one hat one shirt and one pa r of pants for each outf t how many outfits can he make? mpact Tsunamis occur most frequently n the Pac fic Ocean, but they can j`dgc\ `e]`e`k`m\ `j k_\ nfi[ kf gclj k_\ m\iY K_\ `e]`e`k`m\ g_iXj\ j k_\
_Xk j_`ik gXekj flkZfd\ appear in any body of water, even in lakes e]`e`k`m\ `kj df[`]`\ij gclj `kj Zfdgc\d\ekj
a\Xej A :NA The most common cause of a tsunami is an undersea earthquake During an undersea earthquake, K`g1 Kf [\Z`[\ n_\k_\i X g_iXj\ `j Xe `e] e`k`m\ g_iXj\ fi X gi\gfj k feXc g_iXj\ cffb Xk k_\
tectonic plates shift and the sea floor rap dly changes shape These changes can cause water to be shifted up nfi[ X]k\i kf @] k_\ nfi[ `j X m\iY k_\ g_iXj\ `j Xe `e]`e k m\ @] k_\ nfi[ `j X efle gifefle
n_`k\ j_ ik N jn\XkgXekj J :NJ quickly, resulting in a tsunami fi df[ ]`\i k_\ g_iXj\ `j X gi\gfj k`feXc g_iXj\
ZXg a\Xej A :9A The word tsunami comes from Japanese, and it means harbor wave Japanese fishermen called tsunamis ;f\j DXiZ`X nXek kf ni`k\ k_\ gi\j`[\ek`Xc i\gfik6 `e]`e k m\ g_iXj\
YcXZb j_`ik 9 harbor waves because they often have l ttle effect on the open ocean, but devastate coastal villages and
Z jn\XkgXekj J :9J K_\ gi\j`[\ek jgfb\ kf k_\ i\gfik\ij X]k\i k_\ Xjj\dYcp gif^iXd gi\gfj`k`feXc g_iXj\
harbors So, a fisherman might have had a peaceful day at sea and come home to d scover his village has
gfcbX [fk j_`ik G a\Xej A :GA been destroyed by a tsunami
Underl ne the inf nit ve phrase in each sentence
jn\XkgXekj J Tsunam s used to be known as t dal waves but this is a misnomer Geologists and oceanographers cons der
:GJ
tidal wave an inappropriate name for a tsunami because tidal waves are caused by the gravitational pull of 1 Our class s planning to exhibit our artwork in the cafeteria
1 How many of Dougs out its include a baseball cap? 6 the moon In contrast, tsunamis are norma ly caused by seismic activity such as undersea earthquakes For this
reason, sc entists prefer he term seismic sea waves Al hough, at high tide, when the moons gravitational pull 2 Do you want to pa nt the background wall on Saturday?
2 How many out its include a white sh rt? 2 on the ocean is the strongest and the ocean level is the highest, tsunamis are much more destructive

3 How many out its include jeans? 3 3 Our fami y went to see the Fourth of Ju y parade
Answer the fol owing quest ons
Fill in th s tree d agram to find out which different outf ts Stel a can make w th her clothes 4 We left the tra n sta ion early to see all the floats in the parade
She can p ck one sh rt one sk rt and one pa r of shoes for each outfit Here s what she s got: 1 Tsunami is a Japanese word meaning 5 A misnomer is
polka dot sh rt striped shirt ong skirt short skirt sneakers and sandals 5 Please pay the admiss on fee to enter the amusement park
A tidal wave A a fema e gnome
j_`ik jb ik j_f\j flkZfd\ B harbor wave B a type of tsunami
6 Who wants to run o the grocery store for cheese and crackers?
Sn GCJe
C gravitational pull C a type of tidal wave
cfe^ jb`ik C D misnomer D an napprop iate name
jXe[Xcj JX GCJX 7 Jonah was pleased to hear the news this morning
gfcbX [fk 2 During an undersea earthquake irst 6 The moons grav tational pu l causes
j_`ik G je\Xb\ij Je GJ_Je 8 My mother was qu te happy to read my essay
Sh Sa
A tectonic plates shift
B the tsunami strikes the shore
A tsunam s
B t dal waves
GJ_JX
C water rapid y rises C undersea earthquakes 9 The on y way to have a friend is o be one

L Sn JkCJe D the sea floor is pushed up D se sm c sea waves


10 To cook breakfast for our family you will need a much larger skil et
jki`g\[ Sa JkCJX
3 Tsunamis are most dangerous 7 Why is a tsunami more harmful at high ide?
S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 7 & 8

S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 7 & 8

S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 7 & 8


j_`ik Jk A on peaceful days A The water level is already h gh
11 To reach the Italian restaurant turn right at the next street
je\Xb\ij J_ JkJ_Je B at low t de B The f shermen are at sea
j_fik jb`ik J_
Sa JkJ_JX
C at high t de
D during a drought
C Oceanographe s have lunch then
D Everyone is at the beach
12 Mothers suggestion was o leave by 4:00 P M

4 Seismic sea waves are also known as 8 Tsunamis only occur 13 t was Tonys idea to take a taxi instead of the train
4 How many of Stellas out its include a striped shirt? 4 A tornadoes A near coastal vil ages
5 How many out its include a ong skirt? 4 B tsunamis B near bod es of water exc uding akes 14 To score the most points is the object of the game
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C misnomers C n the Pacif c ocean
6 How many out its include sneakers? 4 D hurr canes D n bodies of water nclud ng lakes

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Problem Solving Summariz ng

Car forr Rent Pedal Power


Here s your chance to see the U S A On Monday mornings, city streets are jammed with cars and buses filled with commuters Take a closer
without leaving your home! look, and you might see plenty of people pedaling their way to work or school The number of bike commuters
has more than tripled over the past two decades Worldwide, three times more bikes are bu lt than cars
The fol owing car ental plans are from
Take Off Rent a Car Why do so many Amer cans like to ride bikes? Bik ng s a fun way to get outdoors and to exercise More
people are discovering that on a b ke, they can get in shape and get where they need to go at the same t me
In fact, nearly five mill on Americans commute to work on bicycles
GcXe 8 GcXe 9 GcXe :
Two major b ke to work cit es are Tucson, Arizona, and San Diego, California In these
ese areas,
$32 95 per day $27 95 per day $45 per day warm weather makes year round biking possible Surprisingly, rainy Seattle, Washington, n, and
500 free mi es no ree miles 1 500 free m les chilly Minneapolis, Minnesota, both have h gh rates of bicycle commuters
then $0 20 a mi e $0 25 a mile then $0 30 a mi e Cities are racing to make he ride eas er More bike commuters mean fewer cars
Fewer cars mean less of a need for new roads Creating bike paths or Bikes Only
lanes on streets is far less expensive than building roads
1 Choose a North American destination youd like to visit How about the Statue of Liberty
Big Bend National Park Monument Valley or the Everglades? Plot a route to he spot you Officials n Portland, Oregon, came up with a unique idea They wanted to
pick Map out and ecord the route and estimate the dr ving distance encourage people to bike around town instead of driving So the city rounded up used b kes ones that
people would have just thrown away They repaired them and painted hem yellow Then they put the yellow
b kes around the city and spread the word that they were free for anyone to use When borrowers reach their
destination, they just leave the bike for someone else People are pedal ng the ye low bikes all over Portland
The public b ke leet is growing as more people donate old bikes Will your town be next? About 50 cities
have asked Portland how to start their own publ c pedal power program!
All of these healthy bikers help create a healthier env ronment When it comes to planet friendly modes
of transportat on, you cant beat a bike Unlike cars, bikes burn no fossil fuels and create no air pollution In
2 Figure out how ong the entire round tr p would take Remember: You cant drive a l day addit on, computer a ded des gn and new technolog es have helped create a new breed of bicycles that make
long and you need to s eep eat get gas and spend some time at the place youre rid ng safer, easier, and a lot more fun
visiting And dont forget those speed l mits!

y. Wr te one paragraph summar z ng what you read n Pedal Power

ill var
we rs w
Ans

y.
var
Summ r Exp ess Be ween Gr des 7 & 8

Summ r Exp ess Be ween Gr des 7 & 8

3 Using each plan determine the cost of the car rental or your entire ound tr p Which plan

will
makes the most sense for you? Why?

w ers
Ans
c

c
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Variables Following D rections Descript ve Writ ng

Evaluating Variable Expressions Comparing Family Recipes Show, Dont Tell


@e dXk_ X mXi`XYc\ `j X c\kk\i lj\[ kf i\gi\j\ek fe\ fi dfi\ eldY\ij `e X These one dish meals are easy to prepare Add a salad bread beverage and desse t and N_\e pfl j_fn iXk_\i k_Xe k\ c `e pfli ni`k`e^ pfl _\cg i\X[\ij Zi\Xk\ g`Zkli\j `e k_\`i
dXk_\dXk`ZXc \ogi\jj`fe dinner is served! With perm ss on you can be chef for a day and prepare d nner for the fami y d`e[j I\m`\n k_\ \oXdgc\j kf j\\ k_\ [`]]\i\eZ\
<oXdgc\1 <mXclXk\ )) n_\e p ) at least tw ce this summer After each meal have each fami y member evaluate the hot d sh <oXdgc\j1
p )) (( Al ow the members of your fam ly to vote to decide if the d sh shou d be added to the fam ly s
K\cc`e^ J_fn`e^
) favor tes Th ngs to cons der are as fo lows: taste cost per serving ease of preparation and
A cc nXj _Xggp A`cc jb`gg\[ [fne k_\ _Xcc ZcXgg`e^ _\i _Xe[j Xe[ jd`c e^
possible eftovers
Xk \m\ipfe\
Eva uate each expression when y = 2
K_\ glggp nXj jZXi\[ J_`m\i e^ Xe[ n_ dg\i e^ k_\ glggp Zfn\i\[ Y\_`e[ k_\
1 8y 16 Read the rec pe be ow Then answer the questions
ZflZ_ [li e^ k_\ jkfid

2 10
y 5 (TWS (MNU (FXXJWTQJ Rew ite the fol owing sentences so that you are showing rather than te ling
1
3 y+3 5 2
2
15 2 oz cans chili w th beans
15 12 oz cans chili w thout beans
3
2
cups enchilada sauce
tab espoons on on chopped
1 My room was a mess
1
1 13 oz pkg corn ch ps 1 4 2 oz can olives (opt onal) chopped
4 14 y 12 3 cups sharp cheddar cheese shredded 1 4 oz can g een ch lies chopped
2 cups toma o sauce 2 cups sour cream
Evaluate each express on when y = 5
Preheat oven o 350
2 Summer camp was fun
5 2y 3 7 Reserve 1 cup corn chips 1 cup gra ed cheese and a l the sour cream P ace remaining
ngredien s n a 4 quart casserole M x well and bake 30 m nu es Spread sour cream
on op and garn sh wi h remaining corn chips and grated cheese Bake for 5 minutes
6 y+y+8 18 onger Serves 12

7 19 y+4 18 3 Making cupcakes left a big mess in the kitchen


y.
6 ill var
35 minutes rs w
8 9 y+3 1
1 What is the total baking time for this recipe?
we
The per meter of a square s equal to 4s where s equals the ength of one side 2 What item s opt onal? olives Ans
1
9 What is the per meter of a square where s is equal to 7 feet? 28 3 What is the total amount of chi i needed for the rec pe? 4 15 2 oz cans or 62 oz 4 The soccer game was bad

492
S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 7 & 8

S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 7 & 8

S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 7 & 8


10 F nd the perimeter of a square where s = 123 eet 4 Elenas fami y of five has nvited our neighbors over to share this cassero e

Will they have enough to serve everyone? Yes, there will be 9 people,
11 James knows he perimeter of a square is 1 023 feet He stated that one side of the
and the casserole serves 12.
square s an even whole number Is th s answer correct? Why or why not? corn chips and
5 What ingredients are used as garnish for the cassero e?
5 The dinner was good

No. Because for the sides to be an even number, the perimeter grated cheese
would have to be an even number divisible by 4. 1023 is an odd 6 What size d sh s requ red for this recipe? a 4-quart casserole dish
Scho a t c nc

Scho a t c nc

Scho a t c nc
number and cannot be divided evenly by 4.
59 60 61

page 59 page 60 page 61


Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

Portmanteau Parts of Speech

Estimation: Using Rounding Blends Identifying Parts of Speech


Solve the prob ems be ow us ng only estimat on Using a calcu ator pencil or paper s not N_\e gXikj f] knf nfi[j Xi\ ZfdY`e\[ k_\ e\n nfi[ k_Xk j ]fid\[ `j ZXcc\[ X Yc\e[ Ident fy the parts of speech n ita ics by label ng it n (noun) pro (pronoun) v (ve b) adj
a lowed Round your answers to the nearest dollar fi X gfikdXek\Xl <oXdgc\j f] jfd\ Yc\e[j Xi\ ^`m\e `e k_\ Z_Xik Y\cfn (adjective) adv (adverb) prep (prepos t on) conj (conjunction) and interj (interjection)

Word One Word Two Blend interj.


8MTU FY 2FHX 2FWPIT\S 1 Oh I eft my purse and cell phone on the seat in my aunts car
smoke fog smog
where all prices include sales tax!
emot on con emot con
prep. 2 During the party our dog had to stay outside the house
8MTJX breakfast unch brunch v.
Sneakers $66 78 9TUX 3 Old Faithful geyser erup s almost hour y
/JFSX Boots $99 99 T shirt $13 59 chuckle sno t chort e
'JQYX
Boot Cut
Flares
$39 99
$48 62
Flip Flops
ops $24 79 Brown $12 50 Sweater $38 79 f out vaunt f aunt adv. 4 The race car drove extremely fast
Black $12 50 Hoodie $19 95
Sk nny $72 95
conj. 5 Neither Sonja nor Isabel e wants to go sw mming
Write the b end formed from each pa r of words below

motel prep. 6 Joe and Maria usua ly play softball with Terry and Thomas
1 You have earned $150 by doing small chores a ound the neighborhood Mom takes you to 1 motor and hotel
Macs to shop Use est mation to f nd if you have enough money to purchase a pa r of boots pro.
and two pa rs of flip f ops What is your estimate of the cost of the hree pairs of shoes? 2 situation and comedy sitcom 7 Who told you about our trip to Spain?

$150 infomercial conj. 8 Molly vacuumed the carpets and I cleaned the w ndows
3 information and commercial
2 Mom gives you perm ssion to buy one complete outfit (a pair of jeans a top a be t and
walkathon interj. 9 Ouch! I did not know the edge of the board was so sharp
shoes) Your budget s $175 Find at east two different outfits w thin the budget 4 walk and marathon
Answers will vary. splatter v. 10 Yesterday we wa ked through the park on the way home
5 splash and spatter
3 Mom discovers she has on y $150 in her wallet Which tems would you return or change to prep. 11 You must make a decision before six oclock
stay with n her budget? Write the best blend from the chart above to comp ete each sentence
Answers will vary. emoticon pro. 12 They mow lawns during the summer to earn extra money
6 Alden ended h s text message with a funny
4 How much money would you need to buy two hood es three t shir s and one sweater?
brunch adv. 13 Which of the two movies did you l ke better?
$120 7 On weekends s served in he restaurant after 11am
adj.
S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 7 & 8

S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 7 & 8

S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 7 & 8


5 Everyone in your group decides to buy the same belt There are 6 people nterested in 8 Alissa likes to flaunt her diving skil s
14 The oldest c ock in the world is in England

buying bel s Will $78 be enough money to buy a l 6 belts?


smog v. 15 My lit le brother went to play softball in the park
Yes 9 The fire added to the layer of over he city

chortle pro. 16 The red brick house on the corner s ours


6 When estimating costs one can round up or down f you round more items down than up 10 The audience began o when the comedian told the joke
wi l the total cost be ess than or greater than your estimate? Why do you th nk so?
Scho a t c nc

Scho a t c nc

Scho a t c nc
Answers will vary.
62 63 64

page 62 page 63 page 64

U e with page 68

Basic Operations Algebra Reading Comp ehension

Practice Makes Perfect Evaluating Algebraic Expressions The Disappearing Bees


Solve the p ob ems Pay attention to the s gns You can use a calculator N_\e \mXclXk e^ Xe Xc^\YiX`Z \ogi\jj`fe1 Around the world, bees are van shing Beekeepers open their hives
=`ijk jlYjk`klk\ k_\ eldY\ij ]fi k_\ mXi`XYc\j to discover that all the adult bees have vanished, and only the very
K_\e jfcm\ k_\ i\jlck`e^ \hlXk`fe young bees and he queen remain While some might argue that the
1 126 6 7785 45 = 173 11 11 925 225 = 53 world would be a better place w th fewer bees, they would be wrong
x 6
<oXdgc\1 d + k * .d *k Bees Are Necessary Creatures
756 . + * * First of all, the world needs bees to make honey Honey is a tasty treat that some people use to sweeten
)/ 0 their oatmeal or their tea and sometimes spread on toast It is known as a perfect food because it wi l
7 39 995 12 507 never go bad, no matter how long it is left on the shelf Bees make honey from nectar that they harvest from
(0
2 2 972 + 12 699 x 109 flowers Once honey is made, bees store it n honeycombs to save as a food source Beekeepers collect honey
984 from these honeycombs to sell to human consumers
52,694 55,263 Evaluate the algebraic express ons be ow us ng the following va ues:
1,988 p = 15 t = 3 r = 2 m = 4
Secondly, bees produce wax Worker bees make beeswax with certa n glands in their abdomens Then,
they mold the wax to make the walls of their honeycombs Beekeepers also gather beeswax Somet mes the
gathered beeswax is used to make candles These beeswax candles burn much longer than other candles and
8 926 13 52 009 emit the scent of honey
3 92 475 x 27 21 950 1 10 m (p + 9) r= 14 5 6t
9 The third and most important reason we need bees s for pollination As bees fly from flower to flower
76 097 r
25,002 30,059 gathering nectar to make honey, they also brush up against pollen, a powdery substance that sticks to
16,378 their legs When the bee brushes up against a flower, it leaves some of another plants pollen on the lower
and collects some of the new plants pollen This process of moving pollen from plant to plant is called
9 5280 120 = 44 14 108 462 2 = 54,231 pollination W thout po lination, there would be no new flowers Some of the plants that bees pollinate are
fruits and vegetables, which would not be able to reproduce if there were no bees to poll nate them
4 22 048
+ 31 456
2 p (11m + 7t) 975 = 0 6 2tm 24
Why Are Bees D sappearing?
Many people are concerned about the d sappearance of the bees, but there are few clear reasons Some of
53,504 the more outlandish theories suggest that electromagnet c radiation from wireless commun cation devices s
10 19 191 15 2011
+ 91 999 x 66 the cause The theory is that as bees find the r way back to the hive us ng an internal compass that is affected
by the earths magnetic field, they become confused by a l of the wireless waves n the a r and become lost
5 242 111,190 132,726 Most scientists do not give th s theory much credence One of the reasons they do not believe the theory s
x 33 3 2p + 6t + 7r = 62 7 (pt) (rm) 360 that there s evidence that some bees disappear in rural areas without cell phone towers, and some bees stay
7,986 in hives on roofs in busy urban centers full of cell phone towers
Ano her theory is that a poor diet and stress is causing the bees harm Ever since the 1950s, some
beekeepers have started moving their beehives across the country to search for farmers who need their
Summ r Exp ess Be ween Gr des 7 & 8

Summ r Exp ess Be ween Gr des 7 & 8

Summ r Exp ess Be ween Gr des 7 & 8

orchards pollinated This is ca led migratory beekeeping These roving beekeepers feed their bees food that
To find the answer to this ridd e so ve the math problem us ng
your calcu ator Then turn the calcu ator so you can read the would be the equivalent of an energy drink or bar for a person Some people are concerned hat this food
answer ups de down 4 4p 8 pr 3 10 is not nutritious enough to keep the bees hea thy Additionally, travel ng around in vans is not something
m 1 20 that bees are accustomed to in the wild, and so some people suggest that it causes them undue stress This
What flies but is not a plane floats but is not a ship combination of poor diet and stress might be causing the disappearance
and honks but is not a truck? The most popular theory involves a combination of factors that may nclude pest cides, infection by tiny
Solve: m tes that carry bacteria, and/or a virus Scientists are repopulating abandoned colon es with healthy bees to
c

35,009 '//3%
Scho a t c

Scho a t c

Scho a t c

50 x 7 x 100 + 9 = discover if traces of what killed the previous bee populat on remain If so, the heal hy bees w ll become sick,
too Then, scientists can study the new bees and possibly determine the causes Once scientists
discover the causes, beekeepers can learn how to counter the threats
65 66 67

page 65 page 66 page 67


Use with page 67

Reading Comprehension Capitalization

The Disappearing Bees Capitals Arent Just for States


Answer the following questions that re ate to the preced ng passage Read each sentence Draw three l nes under each letter that should be capita ized

1 Pollination is the way plants 7 Migratory beekeepers 1 The pen name of wi liam sidney porter s o henry
A attract bees A send their beehives around the
B reproduce country
2 The declarat on of independence was written by thomas jefferson
C repel predators B use their bees to poll nate orchards
D make propo is C somet mes feed their bees something
like an energy dr nk or bar 3 Many early exp orers were spanish dutch and eng ish
2 F rst bees D all of the above
A convert nectar nto honey
4 The golden gate park is located in san francisco cal fornia
B pol inate plants on their journey 8 Most scientis s bel eve bees are
C search for nectar from f owers d sappearing because of
D store honey n honeycombs A radiation from ce l phones 5 mark twain remarked when in doubt tell he truth
B growing c ties
3 Honey is known as a perfect ood C global warming 6 dr e izabeth blackwe l was the irst woman doctor n america
because D none of the above
A it s so de icious
B people put t on toast 9 The most important reason that people 7 In crystal city texas here is a s x oot high monument of popeye
C bees store it for later need bees s
D it never spoils A for poll nation 8 Some countries in asia are tha land india china and japan
B wax
4 Beeswax can be made into which C honey 9 The store manager mr thomas announced we will be c osing in five minutes
A abdomens; swell up w th pus D no reason peop e do not need bees
B cand es; smell like honey when they
burn 10 If there were no more bees 10 We went on vacation to f orida in july to enjoy disney world
C dol s; frighten ittle ch ldren A many plants cou d not be po linated
D hairbrushes; tang e any hair t touches B there might be starvation because
of a lack of bee pol inated crops Read the passage Draw three ines under each etter that shou d be cap ta ized
5 The theory that bees are disappearing C some peop e could no longer get
because of cell phones is medicine that s made f om bee
A accepted by most sc entists What s in a name? An interesting story when t comes to the 50 states in the united states of america!
poll nated p ants
B not accepted by most scientists D all of the above many state names come from indian words For example, ill nois is an algonquin word that means land
C true because bees only d sappear
near cell phone towers 11 One way that scien ists are try ng to of superior men kansas comes from a sioux word meaning people of the south w nd several states
D true because bees never disappear discover what has happened to the were named for people For example, louisiana was named for a king of france, louis xiv both north
S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 7 & 8

S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 7 & 8


in p aces without ce l phone towers bees is by
carolina and south carolina were named for charles 1, a king of england washington was named or our
6 When someone gives an idea credence repopulating abandoned first president, george washington Some states were named for other places new york was named a ter
they consider that idea
A wo thy of bel ef
colonies with healthy york, england, and new ersey takes its name from the is e of jersey off the coast of england And some
B l ke y to van sh bees. states come from span sh nevada is from a spanish word meaning snowcapped, and colorado means
C a le
D capable of producing honey ruddy or red How oregon got its name is a bit of a mystery There are ots of theories, but no one
Scho a t c nc

Scho a t c nc
knows for sure

68 71

page 68 page 71
Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

Reading a Chart Types of Sentences Expository Writing

Counting Calories Identifying Types of Sentences How To Prompt


A calorie s a unit of energy that humans receive from the food they eat Do you know how 8 j`dgc\ j\ek\eZ\ _Xj fe\ `e[\g\e[\ek ZcXlj\ Xe[ ef [\g\e[\ek ZcXlj\j @k _Xj X jlYa\Zk Xe[ Often the most d fficult th ng about teaching someone how to do something s be ng precise
many ca ories are in some of your favorite foods? The calor e cha t be ow gives average X gi\[`ZXk\ Ylk k_\j\ dXp Y\ Zfdgfle[ and concise with the exp anation and step by step nstructions Think about your favor te
calor e counts for some common foods <oXdgc\1 K_\ ifcc\i ZfXjk\i Xe[ k_\ k\iifi kfn\i Xi\ k_\ dfjk gfglcXi i`[\j `e k_\ gXib pastime It may be play ng a sport partic pat ng in a hobby or creating something
8 Zfdgfle[ j\ek\eZ\ _Xj knf fi dfi\ `e[\g\e[\ek ZcXlj\j af`e\[ kf^\k_\i Ylk ef Wr te a composit on that expla ns to someone e se the background of your interest in the
(FQTWNJ (MFWY [\g\e[\ek ZcXlj\j K_\ ZcXlj\j dXp Y\ af`e\[ Yp X ZfddX Xe[ X Zffi[`eXk`e^ ZfealeZk fe fi activity and how to accomp ish it Be sure that you include all of the deta ls needed to do
Calor es Ca o ies Yp X j\d`Zfcfe <oXdgc\j f] Zffi[`eXk e^ ZfealeZk`fej Xi\ Xe[ Ylk fi efi fi ]fi the activity When you feel the d rections are complete reread them and make corrections
1 med um apple 70 1 cup ice c eam 270 <oXdgc\1 =iXeb`\ nXek\[ kf i`[\ k_\ =\ii`j n_\\c Ylk 8eeX nXj X]iX`[ and adjustments F nal y have someone e se read and f possib e fol ow your d rections How
1 med um banana 100 1 cup sk m m lk 120 successful a teacher were you?
8 Zfdg \o j\ek\eZ\ _Xj fe\ `e[\g\e[\ek ZcXlj\ Xe[ fe\ fi dfi\ [\g\e[\ek ZcXlj\j DXep
2 s ices whi e b ead 140 1 cup whole mi k 150
[\g\e[\ek ZcXlj\j Xi\ `ekif[lZ\[ Yp jlYfi[`eXk`e^ ZfealeZk fej <oXdgc\j f] jlYfi[`eXk`e^
1 regu ar cheeseburger 518 1 medium orange 65
1 ZfealeZk`fej Xi\ X]k\i Xck_fl^_ Xj# Xj jffe Xj Y\ZXlj\ Y\]fi\ \m\e k_fl^_ `] j`eZ\ How to
4 cup dry unsweetened ce eal 70 1 cup orange juice 120
n_\e# Xe[ lek`c
4 ounces baked ch cken 205 1 slice cheese pizza 145
1 cup cola (soda) 145 3 pancakes 180
4 plain sugar cookies 200 1 cup unbut e ed popcorn 25 After studying the def nitions and examp es of the types of sentences identify each sentence
10 F ench ries 135 15 po a o chips 150 below with S for simp e CD for compound and CX for complex
1 ried egg 115 1 cup spaghetti and sauce 260
1 hot dog 291
3
4 cup una fish salad 210 S 1 Deja opened her book and raised her hand

CD 2 The ra n stopped sudden y and the cold a r rushed in from the mountains
Find Justin s ca orie ntake for two days Add each day s calor es and then answer the questions
Day 1 Calories Day 2 Calories S 3 A severe thunderstorm struck the down own area and interrupted power for hours
Breakfast: 3 pancakes 180 Breakfast:
1
cup dry cereal 70
1 cup o ange ju ce 120
4
1 cup sk m m lk 120 CX 4 As darkness closed n around the campf re the campers began to shiver
1 cup orange ju ce 120
Lunch: 20 French fr es 270 CX
518 210 y.
1 cheeseburger Lunch:
3
cup una sa ad 5 When I saw he word in the book I had to look it up n the dict onary
var
4
150 140
1 cup who e m lk
200
2 sl ces whi e bread
120 S ill
6 Jessica asked the store manager or directions to the new mall
sw
wer
4 cookies 1 cup sk m m lk

Dinner: 3 slices of p zza


2 cups soda
435
290 Dinner:
1
1
medium apple
cup spaghetti
70
260 CD 7 Mario took the flag down and Angela folded it Ans
270 120
1 cup ce c eam 1 cup sk m m lk
65 CX 8 No one ever entered the old house because people thought it was haunted
S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 7 & 8

S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 7 & 8

S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 7 & 8


1 medium orange
Snack: 30 potato ch ps 300
Snack: 1 cup popcorn 25 CX 9 Af er the baseball game ends we will eat dinner at a nearby restaurant

TOTAL CALORIES 2,733 TOTAL CALORIES 1,320 CD 10 Aldo heard strange noises but they did not frighten him

On which day did Justin consume fewer calories? Day 2


Scho a t c nc

Scho a t c nc

Scho a t c nc
What was the di ference in ca orie intake be ween days 1 and 2? 1,413 calories
72 73 74

page 72 page 73 page 74

Using Formulas Tricky Words Reading Comprehension

Bone Up on Formulas Confusing Word Choices The Mona Lisas Hardships


To a o ens c scientist a ske eton isn t just a pi e of old bones It s a clue! Sometimes a scient st Some words are often confused because they sound s mi ar even though they a e not The Mona Lisa is one of the most famous paintings in the world Leonardo da Vinci painted th s portra t
may have only one bone to study But thanks to formu as even that can be enough to find pronounced exact y the same way and have different spel ings and meanings Look of a Renaissance woman in oil on a panel of poplar wood A though most people are familiar w th the ladys
out informat on such as how tall the person was when he or she was a ive c ose y at the context of each sentence to determ ne the correct word cho ce If needed smile, they may be surprised at what this painting has survived in its 500 years
use a dict ona y The Mona Lisa has seen a great deal in its lifetime Or ginally, the portrait hung in the chateau of the King
Take a look at the real l fe forens c formu as below
Then use them to answer the questions of France, where noblemen and dignitaries could adm re it Later, it graced the wall of Napoleon Bonapartes
Under ine the wo d that best completes each sentence bedroom After the French Revolution, the painting moved to the Louvre, an art museum in Paris, France
At the museum, millions of people could come to enjoy the Mona Lisas artistry
Forensic Formulas for Height 1 Once the program started everyone became (quiet qui e) Dur ng the Second World War, the Mona Lisa was spirited away to safety It finally landed in Montauben,
a city in southern France Unfortunately, while it was displayed there in 1956, someone splashed acid on
In these formulas r radius
h humerus and t tibia ?ld\ilj 2 Jenn fer cannot decide (wither whether) to practice her piano lessons or to play soccer it Later that same year, a man threw a rock at the paint ng Both of these acts of vandalism led to costly,
A l measurements are n careful repairs to the painting The paint ng now rests at the Louvre behind bulletproof glass to prevent
cent meters (cm) further damage
3 My mother drove (pest past) Mr Choo on her way home from work
Male 80 4 + 3 7r height By far the most dramat c attack on the Mona Lisa occurred when it was stolen in 1911 The pol ce
73 6 + 3 0h height tracked down many leads and investigated everyone from v s tors to clean ng staff and secur ty guards Still,
81 7 + 2 4t height 4 Dessert is the sweet (course cores) usual y served at the end of a meal
for two long years, they found nothing but dead ends In 1913, the th ef, Vincenzo Peruggia, was caught
Female 73 5 + 3 9r height trying to sell the treasured painting to an antique dealer n Florence, Italy Finally, the lost lady was found!
65 0 + 3 1h height
5 The valedictorian deserved all of the (prize praise) and adora ion she received The painting toured several major cities before be ng returned to the Louvre, where it remains to this day
72 6 + 2 5t height IX[`lj
6 Kelly ate the last (peas piece) of chocolate cake Answer the fol owing questions

1 A forensic scient st is given the tibia of a 7 Everyone on the swim eam was able to practice (accept except) Corey who was sick
woman who lived hundreds of years ago 1 The Mona L sa 4 If you made a time ine of the Mona
found at an archaeological dig What A rests n the Louvre in Paris France Lisas hardsh ps which of he following
formula should the scient st use to f nd out 8 Last summer we chose to visit Boston the (capital capitol) of Massachuse ts B is a painting by Leonardo da Vinci happened f rst?
how tall he woman was? C is a national t easure for the French A the Mona L sa had a rock thrown at it
9 Don t forget to bring your camera to take (pitchers pictures) on our vaca ion D all of the above B the Mona L sa had acid splashed on it
72.6 + 2.5t 2 Da Vincis Mona Lisa s pa nted
C the Mona L sa surv ved World War I
D the Mona L sa was stolen by Peruggia
10 Of all the people who live on our s reet Mrs Martinez is the loudest (singer zinger) A on canvas
2 If the tibia from quest on 1 was 37 cm long
K`Y X B on poplar wood 5 The Louvre is
how tall was the woman?
11 sabella saw many (ilk elk) in Yellowstone National Park th s summer C w th pastels A the bedroom of Napoleon Bonaparte
165.1 cm D w th a moustache B an art museum in Par s France
C the home of the Mona L sa
12 t was interesting to hear about my brothers 3 When the Mona L sa was hung in the K ng
Summ r Exp ess Be ween Gr des 7 & 8

Summ r Exp ess Be ween Gr des 7 & 8

Summ r Exp ess Be ween Gr des 7 & 8

D both B and C
3 Suppose po ice find a man s t bia that is (signs science) experiment of Frances chateau it was v ewed by
46 cm long How tall was he? A mi lions of people everyday 6 The definition of vandalism is probably
B Vincenzo Peruggia everyday A careful repairs to paintings
192.1 cm C the King on y B steal ng paintings

4 Say a woman s humerus 28 cm long is discovered How ta l was she?


151.8 cm D noblemen and dign taries only C c eaning up property
D wi lful destruct on of prope ty

195.1 cm
c

c
Scho a t c

Scho a t c

Scho a t c

5 A forensic scient st f nds a man s radius 31 cm long How tall was he?

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page 75 page 76 page 77


Geometry Context Clues Geometry

Identifying Angles Heres to Your Health! Whats Your Angle?


Angle Def nition Example Everybody wants to be healthy and enjoy all aspects of life To achieve that goal, there are several factors e fi[\i kf `[\ek`]p Xe[ cXY\c Xe^c\j Xe[ Xe^c\ k\idj i\d\dY\i k_\ ]fc fn e^1
to be considered ( K_\ m\ik\o f] k_\ Xe^c\ `j k_\ gf`ek n_\i\ knf iXpj ek\ij\Zk
An angle measuring <oXdgc\1
Acute A healthy diet is essential for a heal hy l festyle No one food has all the nutrients the body needs to ) K_\ knf j`[\j f] Xe Xe^c\ Xi\ ZXcc\[ iXpj
between 0 and 90
function we l, so we need to eat a variety of foods in the proper amounts Drinking plenty of water is * IXpj Xi\ `[\ek`]`\[ Yp eXd`e^ k_\ m\ik\o gf`ek Xe[ k_\ \e[ gf`ek 9
An ang e between extremely mportant as it helps mainta n a steady body temperature and helps remove wastes from the body f] X iXp N_\e pfl c`jk k_\ knf gf`ekj Y\ jli\ kf gcXZ\ X c`e\
Obtuse 8
90 and 180 XYfm\ k_\ c\kk\ij 98 `j X iXp `e k_\ \oXdgc\
Besides being fun, regular exerc se strengthens muscles and keeps them flexible Getting enough sleep is
An angle measuring + 8e Xe^c\ `j ]fid\[ n_\e knf iXpj j_Xi\ k_\ jXd\ \e[ gf`ek : ;
vital to your health In most cases, enough means between 8 and 12 hours each night Keeping safe should
Right , 8e Xe^c\ dXp Y\ jg\Z ]`\[ fi eXd\[ Yp lj`e^ k_\ m\ik\o Xe[ X
exactly 90 also always be a top prior ty It s fool sh to take unnecessary risks Common sense tells us to avoid tobacco,
gf`ek fe \XZ_ iXp
alcohol, and other drugs Having a good attitude, being friendly, courteous, and pleasant can also be a sign of
Straight An angle of 180 - K_\ m\ik\o gf`ek `j XcnXpj k_\ d`[[c\ c\kk\i f] k_\ Xe^c\ eXd\
good health
@e k_\ \oXdgc\ gf`ek 9 j k_\ m\ik\o
The choices are yours Will you opt for a healthy lifestyle?
. Lj`e^ k_\ \oXdgc\ k_\ Xe^c\ eXd\j ZXe Y\ ni`kk\e 89: :9; 89;
Use the chart to he p you ident fy the angles below ;98 ;9: fi :98 Pfl ZXe Xcjf lj\ k_\ nfi[ Xe^ \ iXk_\i k_Xe k_\
Use words from the passage to solve the puzz e jpdYfc
1 3 5

p e
1 2 First answer quest ons 1 3 Then name a l the ang es shown in 4 and 5

r i s k
3
h ea l t h y
4 5
1 In this figure which point 2 Name the rays in this 3 Which group of letters do
names he vertex? figure? not name an angle n the
i s t figure?
obtuse acute acute o e d t
6
T F WZY YZX XZW XYZ

r n i v i t a l
7 8
S
D
C Z
2 4 6
i t e t v Q
Y
X
9
n u t r i e n t s u o
R B
W
y
Q BD, BF, BC
a d i
f l e x i b l e d
0
G
right straight obtuse 4 HGM JGK KGM
H M HGK JGM MGK
acute
S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 7 & 8

S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 7 & 8

S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 7 & 8


Across Down J K
7 An ang e measuring between 0 and 90 is
3 dangerous chance 1 first in mportance
HGJ KGH MGJ
8 An ang e measuring exactly 90 is right 4 having soundness of 2 necessary JGH KGJ MGH
mind and body 5 feeling toward a
7 very important person or thing N
9 An ang e between 90 and 180 s obtuse 9 substances body cells 6 food eaten
5 A
NAB CAB CBA CAN
straight
use o do their work 8 to keep away from NAC BAC ACB
10 eas ly bent
Scho a t c nc

Scho a t c nc

Scho a t c nc
10 Ano her name for an angle of 180 is
C B BAN ABC BCA
80
78 79

page 78 page 79 page 80


Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

Run on Sentences Geometry

Going On and On . . . Pythagoras Theorem


_pgfk\elj\
e X ile fe j\ek\eZ\ knf fi dfi\ j\ek\eZ\j Xi\ ni`kk\e Xj k_fl^_ k_\p n\i\ fe\ j\ek\eZ\ K_\ Gpk_X^fi\Xe K_\fi\d j X j`dgc\ ilc\ XYflk k_\ gifgfik`fe
Xe[ X ZfddX `j gcXZ\[ n_\i\ X g\i`f[ j_flc[ Y\ K_\i\ Xi\ k_i\\ nXpj kf Zfii\Zk X ile fe f] j`[\j f] i`^_k Xe^c\ ki`Xe^c\j @e X i`^_k ki`Xe^c\ k_\ jhlXi\ f] k_\
j\ek\eZ\1 Pfl ZXe ni`k\ knf j dgc\ j\ek\eZ\j2 pfl ZXe ni`k\ fe\ Zfdgfle[ j\ek\eZ\2 fi pfl _pgfk\elj\ \hlXcj k_\ jld f] k_\ jhlXi\ f] k_\ fk_\i j`[\j Dfi\ Z
ZXe ni`k\ fe\ Zfdgc\o j\ek\eZ\ Zfddfecp jkXk\[ Xj X " Y Z X
0'
<oXdgc\1 8c\o gcXpj k_\ ^l`kXi C`jX gcXpj k_\ m`fc`e K_\ Gpk_X^fi\Xe K_\fi\d ZXe Y\ lj\[ Xep k`d\ pfl befn k_\ c\e^k_
Knf J\ek\eZ\j1 8c\o gcXpj k_\ ^l`kXi C`jX gcXpj k_\ m`fc e f] knf j`[\j f] X i`^_k ki`Xe^c\ kf ]`e[ k_\ c\e^k_ f] k_\ k_`i[ j`[\
:fdgfle[ J\ek\eZ\1 8c\o gcXpj k_\ ^l`kXi Xe[ C`jX gcXpj k_\ m`fc`e <oXdgc\1 Y
:fdgc\o J\ek\eZ\1 8c\o gcXpj k_\ ^l kXi n_`c\ C`jX gcXpj k_\ m`fc`e , X " Y Z
* * " +  ,  I\d\dY\i kf ZXcZlcXk\ k_\ jhlXi\
0 " (- ), iffk kf [\k\id`e\ k_\ XZklXc c\e^k_
Co rect each run on sentence by w iting two s mple sentences or one compound sentence
), ), f] k_\ k_`i[ j`[\1 ), ,
or a complex sentence +

1 We have been practic ng our soccer plays every day we really enjoy doing this Use the Pythagorean Theorem to determine the hypotenuse of the following r ght t iangles
Show your work Use a calcu ator to help you f gure out the square root

2 Joshua dribbled the basketball he took a jump shot 1 One side of a right triangle s 9 feet The 3 A large c ty park is triangular in shape
other side is 12 feet What is the length The nor h south and east west streets
of the hypotenuse? meet in a right or 90 angle g ven that
he north south side is 5 blocks long and
3 My s ster s new watch is waterproof our mother wears it when she goes or a swim 15 he east west side is 12 blocks long and
hat all blocks surround ng the park are
of equal lengths What is the approximate
2 If one side of a triang e is 20 feet and
number of blocks form ng the diagonal
y.
4 Here s your birthday present do not open t until your birthday the other side is 21 eet what is the
var
street?
hypotenuse?
will
a + b = c

s w ers 29 5 + 12 = c

5 n
Theresa is planning a surprise party A mantha does not suspect a thing
Solve or the value of c

Answer: c = 13
S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 7 & 8

S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 7 & 8


6 Aunt Martha wrote a etter to her brother Dad mai ed the letter today or her The Pythagorean Theorem can a so be used to tell whether a r ght triangle can be formed from
three g ven l ne segments

4 Can a right triangle be ormed with sides 5 What if the sides were 6 8 and 10 meters?
7 Leandra is wa king to the park Dianne is riding her bike of 6 feet 8 feet and 12 feet?
a + b = c Answer: Yes
6 + 8 = 12
No
Scho a t c nc

Scho a t c nc
Answer:

83 84

page 83 page 84

Word Orig ns Distr but ve Property Descr ptive Wr ting

Words From Other Languages Have No


o Fear Writing to a Prompt
Many words in English come from other languages Some examples are given n the Don t wo ry algebra is nothing to ear! Do you dream of the beach or the mountains when you th nk of a perfect vacat on?
chart below But some peop e do fear spec fic things Perhaps you cannot decide between the two but can th nk of a perfect spot where the two
ike heights snakes or f re These strong come together Even if you have never visited your dream ocation you have seen pictures
fears are cal ed phob as and/or videos that make you long to go there
Other Language Word Definition
Choose a locat on Descr be the scenery How does it ook? What fee ings does the p ace
aloof unfr endly detached evoke? What are the smells and sounds that are unique to your spec al place?
Dutch To f nd out what each phobia below means
bicker argue squabb e use the d str butive property to s mplify each Descr be this special place n as much detail as poss ble so that the reader can be
clique group gang express on Draw a l ne to match the transported the e in their mind s eye
French
n che p ace pos tion express on to its simp est form
tar ff tax duty A Dream Vacation
Arabic
zen th top p nnacle
torso upper part of the human body 1 Zoophobia 4n + 2n 6n + 36 Fear of Water
Ita ian
regatta series of boat races
loot rob ransack
H ndi 2 Nyctophobia x + 3x 6n + 3 Fear of Snakes
bungalow small house cottage

Read each question Choose the best answer from the words in the chart above
3 Astraphobia p + 8 + 7p 8x + 28 Fear of Light

1 Which of hese would you not want to do with a friend?


b cker n che regatta 4 Ophid ophobia 8n + 3 2n 6n Fear of An mals
y.
2 Which of hese would be fun to watch?
var
tar ff regatta bungalow will
5 Pyrophobia 4(x + 3) 9n + 12 Fear of D rt
w ers
3 Which of hese might you l ve in?
oot bungalow c ique Ans
6 Acrophobia 6p + 17 8 2p 12p + 30 Fear of Infin ty
4 Which of hese words describes what winning the World Series is for a baseba l team?
zen th torso c ique

5 Which of the following has a torso? 7 Hydrophobia 3(n + 6) + 3(n + 6) 4p + 9 Fear of Heights
gu debook spider human be ng
Summ r Exp ess Be ween Gr des 7 & 8

Summ r Exp ess Be ween Gr des 7 & 8

Summ r Exp ess Be ween Gr des 7 & 8

8 Photophobia 7(2x + 4) 6x 4x + 12 Fear of Fire


Read each set of words below Cross out the one word n each group that is not a synonym

6 gang group sound c ique 9 Ape rophobia 5(2p + 6) + 2p 4x Fear of Darkness


7 p nnacle top zen th oss

8 nstrument oot rob ransack 10 Mysophobia n(6 + 3) + 12 8p + 8 Fear of Lightning


c

9 argue bicker s ot ight


Scho a t c

Scho a t c

Scho a t c

10 tariff tax delay du y


85 86 87

page 85 page 86 page 87


Spe ling Word Problems Dictionary Skills

Selecting Correctly Spelled Nouns Major League Baseball Word Problems Decisions, Decisions
First read the sentence Then circle the correctly spel ed noun (names a person p ace So you think you know about baseba l Take a ook back at some facts and figures related to
or th ng) to comp ete the sentence major eague baseball in the ate 1990s When you have so ved these problems you may want Write true or false for each statement below Then on another sheet of paper rewr te
to research present day major league facts and figures and compare these stat st cs each fa se sentence so it becomes a true sentence Use a d ctionary to ook up the
underl ned word f necessary
1 We live n an A apartment B apartmint C apartmant

2 Jose plays the A banjoe B bannjo C banjo 1 n the late 1990s there were 30 teams 4 Not all teams enjoyed the same evels of 1 It is reasonable to acce erate as you approach a stop sign false
n the major eague The average team attendance n 1998 the team with the It s not reasonable to accelerate as you approach a stop s gn
3 Mark is scared of his own A shaddow B shadow C shadowe had 33 players How many players could lowest da ly average saw only 11 295 2 You need stam na to run in a marathon true
potentially be in the eague? ticke s on average sold per day As a
4 In which did she go? A dirktion B direcshun C direction result of ower attendance figures the cost 3 Perishab e food w ll last for a ong time false
990 per ticket was under $10 only $9 81 per Per shable food w ll not last for a long time
5 Do you know heir ? A sloggan B slogan C slogen ticket How much less did that team take
4 You expect to w n the prize if you do mediocre work false
in per day than the team in problem 3? You do not expect to win the pr ze f you do mediocre work
6 Mom cannot find her A almanak B almanac C allmanac Round to the nearest dollar
5 An ump re is a good utens l false
An umpire is not a good utens l
7 Did you bring your ? A pajamas B pagamas C pajammas $569,889 6 A bag of potato ch ps is a wholesome breakfast false
A bag of potato ch ps is not a wholesome breakfast
8 An s very important A education B edjucation C edducat on
2 n 1998 the average team revenue was 5 The team w th the highest revenue also 7 You should stack cans for a d splay in a haphazard manner false
$84 383 533 In 1997 the revenues were had the highest salaries The teams You should not stack cans for a display n a haphazard manner
9 The doctor checked my A v zion B v shun C vis on
7% less What was the 1977 revenue revenue was $170 236 000 and paid 8 It would be rivolous to buy a new pair of shoes because
10 At the zoo I want to see the A r nocerhos B rhinoceros C rinoceros
rounded to the nearest dollar? $88 236 708 in salaries Once payro l was the soles are worn through false
met what revenue did the team have? It would not be fr volous to buy a new pair of shoes because the soles are worn through
11 The was sold today A merchand se B mershendise C merchandize $78,476,686 9 Going to the ma l in a horse and buggy s obsolete true
$81,999,292
12 Jill is a for the group A vo unteer B vo untear C volunte r 10 You are be ng punctual when you arrive at the doctor s of ice
at 2:25 P M for your 2:30 P M appo ntment true
13 The s qu te valuable A diamend B dimond C diamond
11 You could expect to see boisterous behavior at a carn val true
14 The house is ring ng A tel ephone B telephone C telaphone

15 The was a forgery A docum nt B documant C document


3 Dai y attendance at games varies 6 One rookie made $325 000 in 1998 and 12 You are be ng helpful when you defy your mother false
accord ng to the day of the week and played 162 games What was h s average You are not being helpful when you defy your mother
16 My parents is Monday A ann versary B aniversary C anniversery
whether the game is played during the per game income? Round to the nearest
13 You would expect a gymnast to be nimble true
S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 7 & 8

S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 7 & 8

S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 7 & 8


day or at night One team reported the r dollar
17 Our starts tomorrow A vakation B vacation C vacatiun
average daily attendance was 46 783
fans Dur ng that time the average ticket $2,006.00 14 Going to Grandmothers house for Thanksg ving s a predicament false
Go ng to Grandmothers house for Thanksgiving is not a predicament
price for a game was $14 55 What would
18 Please seal the A envelope B invelop C envelop 15 You are persistent because you tr ed to so ve the crossword
have been the average da ly income
rom ticket sales that year rounded o the puzz e for only five m nutes false
19 The frightened Jud th A thundar B thunder C thundir You are not being pers stent because you tr ed to solve the crossword puzzle for only
nearest do lar?
five minutes
Scho a t c nc

Scho a t c nc

Scho a t c nc
20 May I borrow your ? A handkerchief B hankerchief C hankerchef
$680,693
88 89 90

page 88 page 89 page 90


Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

Reading a Chart Measurement

Burning Calories Measurement Review


EldY\i f] D`elk\j E\\[\[ kf 9lie Jg\Z`] Z :Xcfi`\j Complete each sentence below to review what you know about un ts of customary measu e

G\i J\ m`e^
=FF; :Xcfi`\j Ilee`e^ Jn`dd`e^ 9 b`e^ NXcb`e^ 8\ifY`Zj
1 Another name for 1 000 years is a millennium
8ggc\ .' , 0 (( (/ ((
:\i\Xc .' , 0 (( (/ (( 2 A small car might weigh about 1 ton
:_\\j\Yli^\i ,(/ *0 -+ /) (*- ./
:fcX (+, (( (/ )* */ )) 3 A fortnight has 14 days
=i\eZ_ =i`\j (*, (' (. )( *- )'
@Z\ :i\Xd ).' )' ** +* .( +( 4 The abbreviation ft s used for the unit that has 12 inches
FiXe^\ Al`Z\ ()' 0 (, (0 *) (/ 1
5 24 of a day is called an hour
G`qqX (+, (( (/ )* */ ))
GfgZfie ), ) * + . + 1
6 The abbreviation for the unit that s 8 of a cup is oz
GfkXkf :_`gj (,' (( (0 )+ *0 )*
1
7 36 of a yard is called an inch
Based on the chart answer the following questions

8 A cup conta ns 8 fluid ounces


1 If Corey drinks a glass of orange juice how many m nutes must he swim to burn it off?
15 9 The d stance 10 560 feet is equal to 2 miles
2 It w ll take Tonio 19 minu es of sw mming to burn off a package of potato ch ps 10 Another way to say 12:00 P M is noon
3 Amarani can walk off a slice of pizza in 38 minutes 11 Four pints is equal o a half-gallon
4 Kody needs to burn off the ca ories in a cheeseburger and French fries He can run for 12 There are 10 years n a decade
49 minutes or b ke for 103 m nutes 1
13 4 of a gallon s ca led a pint
5 Pauline can choose e ther to do aerobics for 41 minutes or to bike or 43 1
14 128 of a gallon is ca led an ounce
S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 7 & 8

S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 7 & 8

minutes to burn off the calories in a dish of ice cream

22 15 A m le has 1 760 yards


6 How many m nutes wi l it take Jordan to run off the calor es in two slices of pizza?

16 There are 3 600 seconds in 1 hour


7 David chose an apple and popcorn for h s snack How many calor es were in h s two
snacks? 95 17 There are 24 units in 2 dozen
Scho a t c nc

Scho a t c nc

8 Carlos wants to do whatever exercise wi l burn his extra ca ories the fastest
running
1
18 The abbreviation for the weight equivalent to 1000 of a ton s lb
Which exercise should he do?
91 92

page 91 page 92

Algebra Punctuation Research Ski ls

Amazing Animal Inequalities Semicolons Common Knowledge Quiz


Below you l find some ncredible facts about animals But only some of them a e t ue! C\k j i\m`\n _fn kf lj\ j\d`Zfcfej How many of the fol owing tr via questions can you answer? If necessary use an encyclopedia
To find out which statements a e just hogwash look at each inequal ty f the inequal ty is true Lj\ X j\d Zfcfe atlas almanac or the nternet
so is the fact C rcle True f the inequal ty s fa se the statement s too C rcle Fa se Y\kn\\e k_\ ZcXlj\j f] Zfdgfle[ j\ek\eZ\j `] k_\p Xi\ efk af e\[ Yp X ZfealeZk`fe
<oXdgc\1 9Xj\YXcc j X jgfik2 `k ZXe Y\ Xe fZZlgXk`fe 1 What s x U S states were named for Engl sh kings and queens?
1 Some types of bats measure 5 Koalas are the laz est an mals in the Y\kn\\e ZcXlj\j k_Xk Xi\ af`e\[ Yp Z\ikX`e kiXej`k`feXc nfi[j Xe[ g_iXj\j `e X Zfdgfle[
just one inch long world They snooze 22 hours per day j\ek\eZ\ XZZfi[ e^cp Zfej\hl\ekcp ]fi \oXdgc\ ]fi ejkXeZ\ ]lik_\idfi\ _fn\m\i Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina,
2x 14 8 x = 11 4y + 6 + 3y < 50 y = 6 dfi\fm\i e\m\ik_\ \jj fk_\in`j\ Xe[ k_\i\]fi\
<oXdgc\1 N\ n`cc _Xm\ k_\ gXk`f [ffi `ejkX c\[ k_`j =i`[Xp X]k\ieffe2 Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland
True Fa se True False
fk_\in`j\ n\ n`cc _Xm\ kf nX`k lek`c e\ok n\\b
Y\kn\\e k_\ k\dj `e X j\i`\j `] k_\ `k\dj Xci\X[p ZfekX`e ZfddXj EXkliXccp k_`j n`cc 2 True or fa se: Giraffes sleep standing up?
false
Xmf`[ X Zfe]lj e^ eldY\i f] ZfddXj
2 The amazing cheetah can run
120 miles per hour
6 Some clams live up to 200 years
15 18 3z z = 1
<oXdgc\1 K_\ gi\j`[\ek`Xc ZXe[`[Xk\ kfli\[ EXj_m`cc\ K\ee\jj\\2 8kcXekX >\fi^`X2
3 How many vertebrae do most mamma s have in the r necks?
seven
3p 12 > 0 p = 4
DfY`c\ 8cXYXdX2 Xe[ D`Xd` =cfi`[X

True False
True False
4 What is the we test spot in the United States? Mt. Waialeale on Kauai, Hawaii
Insert sem colons in the fo lowing sentences

5 What is the driest spot in the United States?


Death Valley National Park
7 One of the top en names for pet 1 My brother Mark wi l attend col ege this fall however he has to earn money this summer
3 A giant South American spec es of
rabbit can weigh up to 275 pounds
goldfish in the U S is Flu fy
u 12 3 u = 24
; 6 How many carats are in pure gold?
0
2 When my uncle was on tour he visited the ollowing cit es: Chicago I lino s St Louis
r + 14 2r 12 r = 1
True False Missouri Bil ings Montana and San Franc sco Cali ornia ; 7 The longest snake is the
reticulated python
True Fa se ; ;
3 The player scored a goal the fans screamed en husiastically
8 True or fa se: The chemical composition of the Sun is most y gas?
true
8 There are at east 1 000 000 nsects ;
4 Blue whales weigh as much as or every human being on Earth! 4 t snowed all day therefore we stayed inside the house femur
260 000 pounds
20 > 7 + 4j j = 2
16 < 3t + 8 t = 3 ; 9 Which human bone is the longest in the body?

True False 5 My brother loved the latest action f lm I found it boring No, they are herbivores.
True False ; 10 Are gori las carnivorous?

6 Ill ask Dad to drive us to the mall otherwise we wi l have to walk


11 Which American presidents were born in Texas? Eisenhower, Lyndon B. Johnson
;
7 Jana is bring ng cups soda and ice to the party Wal er is br nging music stands for a French phrase,
; ; 12 What do the in tials in R S V P stand or?
Summ r Exp ess Be ween Gr des 7 & 8

Summ r Exp ess Be ween Gr des 7 & 8

Summ r Exp ess Be ween Gr des 7 & 8

and Sammy s bring ng fruit and popcorn


rpondez, sil vous plat, which means please reply.
8 Band practice was postponed until Saturday however I have soccer practice that day
; 13 How many legs does a spider have? How many eyes?
8 legs and 8 eyes
14 Who was the first American president to be awarded the Nobel Peace Pr ze? Theodore
c

Roosevelt
Scho a t c

Scho a t c

Scho a t c

15 Which river is the longest in the world?


Nile
95 96 97

page 95 page 96 page 97


Analogies Subject Verb Agreement Algeb a

Word Relationships Do They Agree? Missing Museums


8eXcf^`\j j_fn i\cXk`fej_`gj Y\kn\\e nfi[j 8 m\iY dljk X^i\\ n`k_ `kj jlYa\Zk `e eldY\i EldY\i i\]\ij kf n_\k_\i X nfi[ `j j`e^lcXi Meet Anne DeSplay She just loves museums! Anne was plann ng a trip to see some of her
8eXcf^`\j Xi\ i\X[ ZfddX `j kf gXlj\ Xj g\i f[ `j kf jkfg eXd`e^ fe\ fi gcliXc eXd`e^ dfi\ k_Xe fe\ favor te museums in the U S but she got them all mixed up Now Anne needs your help!
K_\p Xi\ ni`kk\e lj`e^ jpdYfcj Xj ]fccfnj1 ZfddX 1 gXlj\ 11 g\i`f[ 1 jkfg
In each sentence under ine the subject Then underline the co rect verb form in the To find out where each real museum s ocated figure out what number completes each
Read the f rst pa r of words; then add the word that best completes the second pa r of words parentheses number pattern Find your answer in the Museum Locations box and write t fol owing the
pattern Then exp ain the re at onship within each pattern

1 basketba l : hands :: soccer : feet 1 Most stories in a newspaper (begin beg ns) with a ead paragraph
Museum Names

2 sociab e : extrovert :: retiring : introvert 2 The lead of most stories (answer answers) the questions who what when where and why 1 Tupperware H storic Food Container Museum
Museum Locations
27 Lincoln Nebraska
3 prohibit : a low : strenuous : easy 3 What (cause causes) a volcano to erupt?
14, Orlando, Florida;
224 112 56 28 63 Bos on Massachusetts

4 ster le : clean : muddy : dirty 4 A volcano (don t doesnt) usua ly erupt without warning
Each number is divided by 2. 14 Orlando Flor da

34 Dal as Texas
2 Museum of Bad Art
5 cafeteria : school :: kitchen : home 5 The word volcano (come comes) from the Latin word vulcan 125 W ch ta Kansas
11 24 37 50 63, Boston, Massachusetts; 129 Phoen x Arizona
vegetable
6 green : color :: carrot : 6 Occasiona ly a volcano (has have) blown a mountain apart
Each number is increased by 13.
7 diver : descend :: c imber : ascend 7 Everyone (want wants) to know about the Loch Ness monster 3 Hall of Flame (Fire Fight ng Museum)

8 jaguar : cat :: duck : bird 8 Many ( ook looks) for it in the waters of the lake n Scotland 5 9 17 33 65129, Phoenix, Arizona;
country 9 Some ( hink thinks) the monster is a prehistoric beast
Multiply by 2, then subtract 1.
9 N le : river :: Egypt :
4 Leroys Motorcycle Museum
10 jazz : music :: ba let : dance 10 Bar magne s (am is are) used as the needles in compasses
125, Wichita, Kansas;
1 5 13 29 61
11 summer : season :: week : month 11 The needle n a bar magnet (am is are) attracted to the North Po e
Number added is doubled.
12 commence : begin : cease : stop 12 Square dancing (grew grown) out of other forms of folk danc ng 5 National Museum of Ro ler Skat ng

S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 7 & 8

S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 7 & 8

S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 7 & 8


13 teeth : chew :: eyes : see 13 Direct ons to he dancers are (sang sung) by a square dance caller
27, Lincoln, Nebraska;
48 47 45 42 38 33
Number subtracted increases by 1.
14 money : buy :: advertisement : sell 14 Even if you (knew known) nothing about danc ng you could learn the steps
6 Tolberts Chili Parlor and Museum of Ch li
15 eat : ate :: f nd : found 15 W ll your friend (join joins) you for the square dance?
34, Dallas, Texas;
1 1 2 3 5 8 13 21
cut
Scho a t c nc

Scho a t c nc

Scho a t c nc
16 towel : dry :: scissors : Add each set of 2 numbers to get the next number.
98 99 100

page 98 page 99 page 100


Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

Bus ness Letter Reading Comprehension Problem Solving

Its All Business Strange New World What, No Numbers?


K_\i\ Xi\ dXep i\Xjfej ]fi ni`k`e^ X Ylj`e\jj c\kk\i Pfl d`^_k i\hl\jk `e]fidXk`fe \ogi\jj Amira opened her eyes It wasnt a dream A moment ago she was in her bland liv ng room with her The prob ems be ow have no numbers Dec de how you would so ve
Xe fg`e`fe kf X glY `Z f]]`Z`Xc fi \ogcX`e X gifYc\d n`k_ jfd\k_`e^ pfl _Xm\ Yfl^_k fr end Cesar, playing an old v deo game Now that bland room was gone each one Tell what you would add subt act multip y or divide to
8 Ylj`e\jj c\kk\i _Xj j o gXikj She and Cesar stood in a crudely rendered world of primary colors Everyth ng looked blocky, like it was find the answer If it he ps you fi l n reasonab e numbers
Pfli X[[i\jj Xe[ k_\ [Xk\ ^f `e k_\ _\X[`e^ K_\ eXd\ Xe[ X[[i\jj f] k_\ g\ijfe made of large colored bricks There were green blocks underfoot, blue and white blocks in the sky A blocky Answers will vary but should reflect the following responses.
fi ZfdgXep i\Z\ m`e^ k_\ c\kk\i ^f `e k_\ `ej`[\ X[[i\jj turtle waddled past them Suddenly, she realized, hey are all made of pixels! Cesar laughed 1 Max saved some money by buying a book of 10 movie passes rather than
8 ]fidXc ^i\\k`e^ Zfd\j e\ok K_`j `eZcl[\j X k`kc\ f] i\jg\Zk jlZ_ Xj ;\Xi Di He took off, sprinting down the blocky green path Amira had to dash to keep up with him He stopped ind vidual ickets How can he figure out how much money he saved?
;\Xi Dij ;\Xi Dj ;\Xi J`i \kZ so suddenly that she almost ran into him Before she could catch her breath, he po nted up at what had
K_\ Yf[p jkXk\j k_\ gligfj\ f] pfli c\kk\i caught his eye Add up the total cost of 10 movie tickets. Then subtract the amount he paid
It was a big ye low block, as tall as e ther of them, inexpl cably suspended in the air about ten feet above
8 ]fidXc Zcfj`e^# jlZ_ Xj J`eZ\i\cp pflij ]fc fnj k_\ Yf[p Pfli j`^eXkli\ j cXjk
them They could see no wires for his book of passes from that first amount. The result is what he saved.
Before she could stop h m, Cesar leapt up nto the air Th s new world had granted them new abilit es,
Imag ne that you ordered the Thingamabob a popular new toy from the Razz e Dazzle Toy too, because he flew up hree times the height he normally could and head butted the float ng block 2 Inez knows the number of mi es she ran last week She knows how many hours she ran
Company for $29 99 It was a gift for your younger brother Unfortunately the toy broke the CLINK! A giant coin shot out of the top of he block Amira tr ed to move out of the way, but the coin How can she igure out her rate of speed in miles per hour?
f rst t me he played with t! How wou d you feel? Would you want your money back? Wou d was plummeting toward her She cr nged As soon as it touched her, the coin faded harmlessly She exhaled
you want another Thingamabob? Write a etter to Mr Dewey Cheatem the president of the softly She can divide the number of miles she ran by the number of hours she spent
company at 123 Any Street Anytown Anystate 00001 Explain why you are wr ting Tell what
Cesar pointed down the path where more yellow blocks waited in a row He held out his hand Amira
happened and how Then suggest a so ution to the prob em
looked from his outstretched hand to the blocky path ahead, then back at his beaming face She took a deep running.
breath She smiled, reached out, and took his hand
3 Ed knows his cars odometer readings (in mi es) before and after a tr p He knows the
_\X[`e^
number of ga lons of gaso ine he used How can he figure out the number of m les per
Answer the following questions
gallon his car got on the trip?

ej`[\ X[[i\jj
1 This story takes place 4 Suspended is used n this story to mean Figure out miles he traveled using the start a d end number on the odometer.
A on Mars A to hang in m da r
B at a barbecue B to spr nt down the path
C in a iv ng room C to be temporar ly forced to eave
Then divide the number of miles by number of ga lons of gas used.
D in a video game school
Yf[p D to spur to act on 4 Pat knows the weight and price of two dif erent size boxes of dry cat food How can he
: ]fidXc ^i\\k`e^ 2 F rst Amira figure out which of the two is the better buy?
A opens her eyes 5 When Cesar sees he he
B takes Cesar s hand A b ocky turtle; catches it Divide the price of each by the weight. The one that cost less per weight is
C smi ed B giant coin; uns away
D plays a v deo game C b g ye low b ock; head butts it the better buy.
S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 7 & 8

S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 7 & 8

S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 7 & 8

D green blocky path; collapses


3 CLINK! is an examp e of the
literary term 6 The b ocks making up the world are 5 Li has a paper route She de ivers a certain number of papers every day For each
A onomatopoeia A coins paper she delivers she makes the same amount of money How can she figure out
B al iteration B p xe s her hour y wage?
C al us on C atoms
Calculate the number of papers she delivered and the money she totalled.
D foreshadowing D friends
]fidXc Zcfj`e^
Then divide the total amount she earned by the number of hours she spent
Scho a t c nc

Scho a t c nc

Scho a t c nc

j ^eXkli\
delivering the papers. That is her hourly wage.
101 102 103

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Reading for Details Logic

Forests on Fire Lets Be Reasonable


There are some places where you can expect Just exactly where s the middle of nowhere? To find out f rst c rcle the best answer for
wildfires In California, fires burn 50,000 to 500,000 each statement Then wr te the letter of the correct answer in the code at the bottom
acres of land every year Some of the plants that l ve
there have oily sap They can surv ve the dry, hot
1 Cal fornia is the state with the largest populat on about
summers, but if they catch f re they explode into flame
V 3 900 W 39 mil ion X 390 mi l on
Grasses grow th ck during the spring rains and then
die They dry into a thick layer of straw that burns fast,
2 On the other hand Wyom ng has a population of about
making a very hot fire
T 540 000 U 54 000 V 5 400
F res can start wherever theres fuel to burn
Southern California has plenty of fuel and a hot, dry
wind that blows every year between mid September 3 The border between Canada and the United States s miles long
N`e[j Ycfn fm\i k_\ [ip DfaXm\ ;\j\ik Xe[ kiXm\c kfnXi[ L 550 000 M 55 000 N 5 500
and late October This wind, called the Santa Ana,
k_\ GXZ`]`Z FZ\Xe
passes over the inland desert, losing moisture and
ga ning heat, and rushes toward the ocean to the west The Santa Ana wind fans the flames and makes 4 The owest point n the nation Death Valley s feet below sea evel
f ghting the fires nearly impossible N 0 282 O 282 P 2 820
Forests are a natural storehouse of fuel for a fire During a dry summer, dead trees and low brush in a
forest can burst into flame wherever lightning strikes Rain usually puts out these fires But sometimes the 5 The height of Mt McKin ey the highest n the country is feet
combination of dry fuel, hot dry a r, and strong w nds is just right for a major forest fire D 2 320 E 20 320 F 200 320
In 1988, Wyomings Yellowstone National Park was burned by several such fires at once Lightn ng
struck in two places A worker dropped a lit cigarette in another place On the worst day of the fire, more 6 Yellowstone the first national park was founded in
than 600 square kilometers (about 230 square miles) of forest burned Clouds of smoke that looked like A 1872 B 1802 C 1772
storm clouds rose into the atmosphere Smoke blocked the sun and dr fted far beyond the park
F refighters work hard to control fires like those in Yellowstone and Californ a, many of which are caused 7 The smal est state Rhode Island has an area of square miles
by people But long before humans learned how to start or put out a fire, prairies and forests burned every S 1 545 T 41 545 U 241 545
year Both k nds of land recovered, as they have in Yellowstone and in Cal fornia
8 Texas the second largest has an area of square m les
1 What mountains are between Los Ange es and the Mojave Dese t? The Santa Monica Mtns. G 86 861 H 268 601 I 6 168 601

2 What path do the Santa Ana winds fo low? from inland desert out to sea 9 Crater Lake the deepest lake n the nat on is feet deep
L 32 M 932 N 1 943
3 Why might a rainy spring increase the r sk of forest fires?
Summ r Exp ess Be ween Gr des 7 & 8

Summ r Exp ess Be ween Gr des 7 & 8

10 Oklahoma has the largest Native American population about


growth of fuel; grasses grow thick in spring rains, then Q 2 500 R 250 000 S 25 m ll on

dry over summer. 11 The number of Americans under age 18 s about


4 In 1988 what caused he fires in Ye lowstone National Park?
H 1 mi l on I 65 mi lion J 200 mil ion
lightning and a cigarette A I N S W O R T H N E
c

false
Scho a t c

Scho a t c

6 11 3 7 1 4 10 2 8 9 5
5 True or false: Yellowstone is located in California:

104 107

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Prepos tions Real World Math Types of Sentences

Preposition Crossword Puzzle Shop Til You Drop Identifying Sentence Types
Find the prepos tion n each sentence Then p ace the prepos tion where t be ongs in the puzzle How much do shoppers who buy in bu k real y save? Do 8 j`dgc\ j\ek\eZ\ _Xj X jlYa\Zk Xe[ X m\iY Xe[ \ogi\jj\j X Zfdgc\k\ k_fl^_k @k [f\j efk
some research to f nd out Visit a store or ook at newspaper eZcl[\ Xep [\g\e[\ek ZcXlj\j Ylk `k dXp _Xm\ Zfdgfle[ gXikj ` \ jlYa\Zkj Xe[ m\iYj
ads to f nd some of the items l sted be ow Add some tems of <oXdgc\j1 f_eep i\X[ _`j i\j\XiZ_ gXg\i f_eep Xe[ DXiZ`X i\X[ Xe[ ZfdgXi\[ k_\ i
Across omplete the table to f nd out if
your own to the table Then complete i\j\XiZ_ gXg\ij
1 Jenn fer went with her best fr end you re shopping smart
3 The dog ran a ter the cat w i t h 1 8 Zfdgfle[ j\ek\eZ\ _Xj knf fi dfi\ `e[\g\e[\ek ZcXlj\j Ylk ef [\g\e[\ek ZcXlj\j
K_\ ZcXlj\j dXp Y\ af`e\[ Yp X ZfddX Xe[ X Zffi[`eXk`e^ ZfealeZk`fe fi Yp X j\d`Zfcfe
4
6
Pirates hid the gold be ow the deck
Kathy and Bobby went to the store
i <oXdgc\j f] Zffi[`eXk`e^ ZfealeZk`fej Xi\ ]fi Xe[ efi Ylk fi

8 t
The tan colt wa ked behind h s mother
2
b <oXdgc\1 JX[`\ Xe[ 8d`X nX k\[ ]fi k_\ kiX`e Ylk k_\ kiX`e nXj m\ip cXk\
9 Practice the piano until 4:00 h e 8 Zfdgc\o j\ek\eZ\ _Xj fe\ `e[\g\e[\ek ZcXlj\ Xe[ fe\ fi dfi\ [\g\e[\ek ZcXlj\j
DXep [\g\e[\ek ZcXlj\j Xi\ ekif[lZ\[ Yp X jlYfi[ eXk`e^ ZfealeZk`fe <oXdgc\j f]
11 The ba loon flew above the trees
o f EldY\i jlYfi[`eXk`e^ ZfealeZk`fej Xi\ X]k\i# Xck_fl^_# Xj# Xj jffe Xj# Y\ZXlj\# Y\]fi\# \m\e
u o @k\d :fjk f]
J`e^c\ @k\d
:fjk f]
Dlck`gXZb
f] @k\dj e JXm`e^j k_fl^_# `]# j`eZ\# k_Xe# k_fl^_# le \jj# lek`c# n_\e# n_\e\m\i# n_\i\m\i# n_`Z_# n_`c\
Dlck`gXZb
3
a f t e r <oXdgc\1 N_`c\ JX[ \ Xe[ 8d`X nX`k\[ Xk k_\ kiX`e jkXk`fe k_\p i\Xc`q\[ k_\ kiX`e nXj cXk\

r e GXg\i Kfn\cj [\g\e[\ek ZcXlj\ `e[\g\e[\ek ZcXlj\


4
b e l o w 8 j\ek\eZ\ ZXe Xcjf Y\ Yfk_ Zfdgfle[ Xe[ Zfdgc\o

e u :Xee\[ ;f^ =ff[


Ident fy each sentence below by wr ting S for s mple CD for compound CX for comp ex
a 5
y n 9Xij f] JfXg and CD CX for compound comp ex
6
t 7o g o d
v a n 1 My grandmother who is 84 years old owns a condo near Myrtle Beach CX
9Xccgf`ek G\ej
8
b e h i n d S
. 2 The magazine artic e was both time y and interesting
r n :Xee\[ Jf[X v ary
ill CD
s sw
wer
3 My father must have ost he tickets for they are not on the car seat
u n t i l Ans
9

4 Although we just purchased it the cake is stale CX


u
10
n
p d 5 CDs and clothes were scattered all over Jakes room S
a b o v e
11
Down
CD
S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 7 & 8

S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 7 & 8

S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 7 & 8


n r 1 Do not go sw mming without a buddy 6 The ice skater per ormed a back flip and the crowd rose to its feet
Your turn to bat is before Jose
2
3 Carl went around the corner 7 Because the switch does not work you need o buy a new flashlight CX
4 The child may not go beyond the ga e
5 The ladder leaned against the wall 8 Although I like to swim I have neither had the time to
7 Mr Parkers farm is over the next hill go lately nor have I found anyone to go w th me CD-CX
9 Look for the ball under the fence
Scho a t c nc

Scho a t c nc

Scho a t c nc
10 P ease put the puzzle upon the table

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Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

Logic Reading Comprehension F nd ng Averages

Math Puzzles and Tricks Alberto Santos Dumont: Mean, Mode, Median & Range
Solve the following math puzzles and tricks
Brazils Favorite Aviator D\Xe d\[`Xe Xe[ df[\ Xi\ k_i\\ b`e[j f] Xm\iX^\j IXe^\ j k_\ [ ]]\i\eZ\ Y\kn\\e k_\
cXi^\jk Xe[ jdXcc\jk mXcl\ `e k_\ ^iflg f] eldY\ij
Most people have heard of the Wright Brothers, the two Americans generally considered the inventors of
1 On June 9 of this year Walt D sney Studio created Donald Duck To find the year: ( Kf ]`e[ k_\ d\Xe f] X j\k f] eldY\ij X[[ Xcc k_\ eldY\ij Xe[ k_\e
the first practical a rplane Few people other than Brazilians (and certain aviation enthusiasts) have heard of
The tens and unit digits are consecut ve integers whose sum s 7 and product is 12 [`m`[\ k_\`i jld Yp k_\ eldY\i f] X[[\e[j
Alberto Santos Dumont, another visionary n early aviation
The tens digit is 13 of the hundreds digit ) K_\ d`[[c\ eldY\i `e X j\k f] eldY\ij `j k_\ d\[`Xe Kf ]`e[ k_\ d\[ Xe k_\ eldY\ij
The sum of all the digits is 17 Santos Dumont was born in 1873 in Minas Gerais, Braz l When he turned 18, he was sent to Paris to
dljk ]`ijk Y\ XiiXe^\[ `e fi[\i @] k_\i\ Xi\ knf d`[[c\ eldY\ij n_`Z_ n cc fZZli `] k_\i\ `j
Dona d Duck was created in 1934 (year)
study chemistry, astronomy, phys cs, and mechanics He became nterested in dirigibles, or airships held up
by a l ghter than a r gas often contained in a balloon Xe \m\e eldY\i f] X[[\e[j k_\ d\[`Xe `j k_\ Xm\iX^\ f] k_\ knf d`[[c\ eldY\ij
Santos Dumonts balloons won many races and prizes, including one in 1901 for circling the Eiffel Tower * Df[\ i\]\ij kf k_\ eldY\i k_Xk fZZlij dfjk ]i\hl\ekcp e X j\k f] eldY\ij
2 To do this trick you wi l need a calculator
in less than 30 minutes Reportedly, Santos Dumont took the 100,000 franc prize and split it among his
F rst enter the number 37037
workers and Par ss beggars F nd the mean mode median and range or each data set
Next mu tiply your favorite digit from 1 o 9 by 3 (Do this step in your head )
Then multip y the number in he calculator by the above answer (the number n your head) After conquering the skies n lighter than air veh cles, Santos Dumont became interested in heavier than
a r vehicles His 14 BIS plane left the ground on November 12, 1906, to fly at a speed of approximately 1 Erik planted en apple trees He kept track of how many apples he picked from each tree
What is it? Answers will vary. 37 km/h and a he ght of 6 meters to reach a total d stance of 220 meters This flight won him the
Archdeacon Pr ze and demonstrated that a heavier han air vehicle could take off by its own means
His results are shown n the table:

The Wright Brothers had flown the r Flyer I n 1903 with the help of a catapults launch The Wright Ki\\  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
3 Astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first person o step on he moon His famous quote is
Flyer, once airborne, flew for longer distances at a higher altitude than the 14 BIS Therefore, most people
Thats one small step for a man one giant leap for mankind To ind the year:
consider the Wright Flyer the first practical airplane Undaunted by this classif cation, Brazilians sti l  f] 8ggc\j 137 120 140 141 137 124 119 129 137 136
The tens digit is a perfect number
The hundreds and units digi s are the same square number celebrate Santos Dumont as a national hero
The sum of all the digits is 25
1969 Answer the fol owing quest ons Mean: 132 Median: 136.5 Mode: 137 Range: 22
Ne l Armstrong wa ked on the moon n

4 A two hundred pound man and his two sons each of whom weigh one hundred pounds 1 A berto Santos Dumont was 4 What happened first? 2 Over the summer Tamara read four mystery novels The table shows how many pages
want o cross a river They have only one boat that can on y carry two hundred pounds A a Wright brother A the Wright Brothers f ew Flyer I each book had:
B the developer of the Flyer I B Santos Dumont flew the 14 B S
An Eye or The Treehouse
How w ll they all cross the iver? The two sons row across. One stays while the other C an av ator and nventor C Santos Dumont won 100 000 francs 9ffb K`kc\
Mystery
Unbelievab e!
Nextdoor
Treading L ghtly
D never ce ebrated n his bi th country D Santos Dumont won the Archdeacon
 f] GX^\j 512 272 368 512
rows back. That son then stays while the father rows back again by himself. 2 Aviation s Latin root s av s which 5 The di ference between a dirigible and
probably means an a rplane is
The son origina ly dropped off then rows over a d brings back the other son. A brick A one is l ghter than a r and one is
Mean: 416 Median: 320 Mode: 512 Range: 240
B bird heavier than air
5 Write your house number double t add 5 mu tiply by 50 add your age add 365 subtract
S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 7 & 8

S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 7 & 8

S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 7 & 8

C Brazi ian B d rig b es are more popular today


615 The answer w ll conta n both your house number and your age D w nner C a rplanes were nvented fi st 3 Seven friends have a contest to see how long they can balance the r left foot
D there is no difference Their resul s are shown in the table:
Answers will vary. 3 A synonym for avia or is most ikely
A enthusiast 6 Because Santos Dumont won the race EXd\ Adeela Henry Wendy Kenny Thea Winston Cyrus
6 You are the pi ot of an airplane that fl es from New York to Chicago a distance of 1 000 B beggar A he received the 100 000 franc pr ze
miles The planes air speed averages 200 miles per hour and makes one 30 minute stop C w nner B he gave his proceeds to charity K`d\ j\Zfe[j 56 35 88 65 91 6 35 63 4
D pi ot C he built the 14 B S
Scho a t c nc

Scho a t c nc

Scho a t c nc

my name D he is a Brazil an national hero


What is the p lot s name?
Mean: 62 Median: 63.4 Mode: 35 Range: 56.6
111 112 113

page 111 page 112 page 113

Idioms Narrative Wr ting Metric System

Warm-Up With Idioms Planning a Story Hidden Meters


@[`fdj Xi\ k_\ dfjk [`]]`Zlck gXik f] c\Xie`e^ Xep cXe^lX^\ @[`fdj Xi\ Zfddfecp lj\[ 8 eXiiXk`m\ k\ccj X jkfip 8ejn\i k_\ ]fc fn e^ hl\jk`fej kf _\ g gcXe pfli jkfip Find three boxes hor zonta ly vertical y or d agona ly whose sum is 1 meter Pay close attention
\ogi\jj`fej k_Xk d\Xe jfd\k_`e^ [`]]\i\ek ]ifd k_\ XZklXc nfi[j =fi \oXdgc\ :c\Xi Xj to whether the numbers are listed as mm cm dm or m There are 16 such tr os Ring each trio
X Y\cc _Xj efk_`e^ kf [f n k_ Y\ cj i e^ e^ K_\ `[`fd d\Xej kf Y\ le[\ijkff[ Z \Xicp What is the tit e? you see You may use a calcu ator One is done for you

Under ine the d om in each sentence Where wi l the story take place?

When wi l the story take place? 0' dd (( Zd '/d ,'' dd +' Zd ), Zd ',d ' ), d
1 Jake and Maria almost missed their flight because t was down o the w re

2 My sister was on top of the world when her team won the game Who is the main character?

3 It is time to face the music on your chocolate addiction What s he main character ike? )'' dd ,' [d -' Zd ( [d *' Zd 0 dd ( Zd '/d
4 If you choose to l ve high on the hog you wi l spend a l of your sav ngs
What prob em or problems wi l your ma n character face?
5 Break a leg in our school play today
+' Zd ( Zd .'' dd / Zd , Zd + [d ,,' dd ,' Zd

Match the dioms w th their mean ngs What other characters wi l you nclude?

C y.
6 b owing smoke A to ta k about unimportant things What will be the most exci ing moment or turning point?
ill var +'' dd '*d *'' dd * [d +' Zd '*d ' + Zd *'' Zd

sw
E wer
Ans
7 cold turkey B ability to grow f owers and plants

D 8 spi l the beans C boas ing w thout being ab e to back it up


What events or actions w ll lead up to this moment? ) [d * [d +' dd (, dd ((d *'' dd 0d ',d

A 9 chew the fat D give away a secret


What events or actions wi l fol ow th s moment and show how the problem s resolved? ' * Zd (d *' Zd -'' dd ( [d / [d )' Zd *,' dd
B 10 green thumb E to quit something abruptly

,' Zd ' +, d ( [d +, Zd ) , Zd '(d 0 [d (, Zd


Write sentences using each of the fol ow ng idioms
What is the resolution?
Summ r Exp ess Be ween Gr des 7 & 8

Summ r Exp ess Be ween Gr des 7 & 8

Summ r Exp ess Be ween Gr des 7 & 8

11 in the doghouse
W ll you ell your story n the f rst person or third person point of view? )'' dd * [d ,' Zd ' 0, d + Zd * Zd ' /' d +' [d
y.
var
12 put your best foot forward
ill
sw
Now review your plan Make any rev sions Then wr te a draft of your story on another sheet

wer
13 jump to conclusions of paper Begin by wr ting a topic sentence that w ll g ab the attent on of your reader
Ans
(' dd ),' dd -'' [d + , [d ' '. d -'' dd .' Zd *'' dd

14 cut from the same cloth


c

c
Scho a t c

Scho a t c

Scho a t c

114 115 116

page 114 page 115 page 116


Decimals Adverbs Sequencing

Stumpers Adverbs That Compare Pictures Are Worth a Thousand Words


Wr te your answers in both number and word form; for example 14 37 (number form) 8[m\iYj ZXe Y\ lj\[ kf ZfdgXi\ XZk fej 8 ZfdgXiXk m\ X[m\iY n_`Z_ ZfdgXi\j knf XZk`fej Comic strips tell a story in a short sequence of sketches and poss bly a few short capt ons or
fourteen and th rty seven hundredths (word form) \e[j e \i fi Y\^`ej n`k_ dfi\ fi c\jj 8 jlg\icXk`m\ X[m\iY n_`Z_ ZfdgXi\j dfi\ k_Xe knf conve sat on bubb es Th nk of the most exciting experience n your ife so far Wr te the story
XZk`fej \e[j `e \jk fi Y\^`ej n`k_ dfjk fi c\Xjk 8[m\iYj k_Xk _Xm\ dfi\ k_Xe fe\ jpccXYc\ fi Then break the story into sequential steps You have s x ce ls to tell your story Remember: cell
k_Xk \e[ `e cp lj\ k_\ nfi[ dfi\ kf ]fid k_\ ZfdgXiXk`m\ Xe[ k_\ nfi[ dfjk kf ]fid k_\ one sets the story and cell six is the conclusion; therefore you are eft w th four cel s to g ve the
1 Who Am I? 4 Who Am I? jlg\icXk`m\ h ghlights of the event The art stic merit of the drawings is not as important as the clar ty of the
A I have 4 d gits and they a l are different A I have 4 digits story you tell
B All of my d g ts are odd B Each d g t s e ther a 2 or a 4 :fdgXiXk`m\1 K_\ jle `j Z fj\i kf <Xik_ k_Xe Xep fk_\i jkXi
C I have a 1 n he hundredths place C The numbe s in the ones place and ten hs N\ gcXp jfZZ\i dfi\ ]i\hl\ekcp k_Xe YXj\YXcc
D I have a 7 n he ones place place a e the same Jlg\icXk`m\1 K_\ jle `j k_\ Zcfj\jk jkXi kf <Xik_
E The number in the tens place s less than the D The numbe s in the tens place and hundredths
F] Xcc k_\ jgfikj kf gcXp n\ gcXp jfZZ\i dfjk ]i\hl\ekcp
number n the tenths place place a e the same
F None of my d g ts s 9 E I have a 4 n the hundredths place
Wr te n the blank the missing form of the adverb
Answer 37.51 Answer 42.24
Adverb Comparative Superlative
thirty seven and fifty one hundredths forty two and twenty four hundredths 1 fast faster fastest
2 high higher h ghest
2 Who Am I? 5 Who Am I? 3 soon sooner soonest
A
B
I have 4 d gits and they are a l odd
The number in the tenths place is greater than
A
B
I have 3 even digits
The number in the tenths place when 4 carefully more carefully most carefully
C
3 It s a factor of 36
The number in the hundredths place s less C
subtracted from 3 equals 1
The number in the ones place s 8 5 long longer ongest
han 4 and greater than 1 D D v de the number n the ones place by 2 and 6 regularly more regu a ly most regularly
D The numbers in the ones and tens places are
he same and are also factors of 25
you wi l have the number n the hundredths
place 7 far farther farthest
Answer 55.93 Answer 8.24 Underl ne the correct form of the adverb n parentheses

fifty five and ninety three hundredths eight and twenty four hundredths
8 Jonathan always eats (faster fastest) than his brother does

9 We go swimming (more o ten oftener) now that the weather is warmer


3 Who Am I? 6 Who Am I?
A I have 4 d gits and they are a l different and A I have 4 digits and they are a l odd 10 Carlos w ns (more frequently most frequently) than h s brother Eduardo
even B The 2 d git whole number s greater than 10
B The number in the hundredths place s half of and less than 20 When th s number is divided 11 The owl can screech the (louder loudest) of all the b rds that I know

S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 7 & 8


S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 7 & 8

S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 7 & 8


he number n the ten hs place nto 121 the quot ent s also that number
C The number in the hundredths place s g eater C The d g t n the tenths place s 3 12 Samantha will arr ve (sooner soonest) of the 12 guests
han 3 D Add 4 to the number n he tenths place and
D The number in the ones place is 6 you wi l have the number n the hundredths 13 Lauren sat (closer closest) to the exit door than Debb e did
E The number in the tens place s 2 place
14 Jenni er is study ng (more long onger) han usual because she has a test tomorrow
Answer
26.84 Answer 11.37 15 Senator Roberts speaks the ( ntelligentliest most inte ligently) of all the candidates

Scho a t c nc
Scho a t c nc

Scho a t c nc
twenty six and eighty four hundredths eleven and thirty seven hundredths

119 120 121

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Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

Word Work Wo d Problems Tricky Words

Vocabulary Review Algebra Word Problems Troublesome Verbs


K_`j gX^\ i\m`\nj1 Read these word problems careful y Then so ve them using a gebra Show your work K_\i\ Xi\ ]fli m\iYj k_Xk f]k\e Zi\Xk\ gifYc\dj ]fi dXep ni`k\ij1 cXp Xe[ c`\ j\k Xe[ j`k
jpefepdj# nfi[j k_Xk _Xm\ j`d cXi d\Xe e^j K_\ m\iY cXp d\Xej kf gcXZ\
Xekfepdj# nfi[j k_Xk _Xm\ fggfj`k\ d\Xe`e^j <oXdgc\j1 >\fi^\ gc\Xj\ cXp k_\ kfn\cj fe k_\ YXk_iffd j_\cm\j gi\j\ek
1 Right now Jamals mother s 3 times older 5 A pen and a pencil oge her cost $5 10
`[`fdj# \ogi\jj`fej k_Xk _Xm\ X ]`^liXk`m\ d\Xe e^ k_Xk `j [`]]\i\ek ]ifd n_Xk \XZ_ than Jamal But in 12 years her age w ll The pen costs $5 more than the pencil Af\p cX`[ k_\ k` \ ]cffi cXjk n\\b gXjk
`e[`m`[lXc nfi[ d\Xej be exact y 2 times greater than Jamals How much does each cost? K_fdXj _Xj cX`[ k_\ knf c`YiXip Yffbj fe k_\ Zflek\i gXjk gXik`Z gc\
How old are Jamal and his mother today? K_\ m\iY c`\ d\Xej kf i\Zc`e\
Under ine the synonym for each bo dface word in each row $5 pen; 10 pencil <oXdgc\j1 Dp YXYp j jk\i `\j `e _\i Zi`Y lek`c j_\ XnXb\j gi\j\ek
12, 36 8j X Z_`c[ @ cXp [fne ]fi X eXg \m\ip X]k\ieffe gXjk
K_\ ^`]kj _Xm\ cX`e fe k_\ b kZ_\e kXY \ j`eZ\ p\jk\i[Xp gXjk gXik`Z`gc\
1 lourish thrive prov de feed

2 conspicuous hidden obv ous angry Circ e the best answer in the parentheses
3 escue stretch jump save 2 Unc e Rupert asked Rachel to visit his farm 6 In the basketball league Ivy belongs to 2
to he p count all he llamas and ostriches points are awarded for every shot made 1 The cat likes to (lay ie) near the warm stove
4 drawback behind disadvantage artwork
The anima s are running around real y fast and 3 points are deducted or every shot
5 g isten sparkle speak hear but shes still sure she counted 35 heads missed In one game Ivy took 40 sho s 2 The ile instal ers have laid lain) he floor to the pat o
and 94 feet How many llamas are there? but scored 0 points How many shots did
How many ostriches are there? she make? How many did she miss? 3 Please lay l e) your essay on he desk when you have finished
Under ine the antonym of the boldface word in each row
12 llamas; 23 ostriches 24; 16 4 Lay Lie) the plastic cups and plates on the picnic table
6 advance retreat forwa d horizontal

7 vertical stra ght hor zontal advance 3 Larissa has a bag full of gumdrops She 7 Luisa noticed that in 7 years shell be ha f K_\ m\iY j`k d\Xej kf Y\ `e X j\Xk fi kf i\jk
knows there are fewer than 75 p eces of her mothers age If 3 years ago Lu sa was <oXdgc\j1 B\eep j`kj `e k_\ k_ i[ ifn Xk k_\ YXcc ^Xd\ gi\j\ek
8 placid feeble calm turbulent candy n all When she divides them nto
1
her mother s age how old s her mo her B\eep jXk e k_\ k_`i[ ifn Y\]fi\ gXjk
3
9 mport export empty send groups of 3 4 5 or 6 there is always 1 now? B\eep _Xj jXk k_\i\ `e k_\ k_`i[ ifn f]k\e gXjk gXik`Z`gc\
gumdrop le t over How many gumdrops K_\ m\iY j\k d\Xej kf glk fi gcXZ\ jfd\k_`e^
10 nflate rise mport deflate does Lar ssa have? 33 years old <oXdgc\j1 CXli\e j\kj k_\ gcXk\j fe k_\ kXY \ \m\ip [Xp gi\j\ek
CXli\e j\k k_\ gcXk\j fe k_\ kXYc\ p\jk\i[Xp gXjk
Circle the letter of the correct meaning of each idiom
61 gumdrops CXli\e _Xj j\k k_\ gcXk\j fe k_\ kXYc\ j`eZ\ j_\ nXj X pfle^ ^ ic gXjk gXik`Z`gc\

Circ e the best answer in the parentheses


4 The sum of the ages of the three Perez 8 Kevin can do a job in 4 hours It takes

Summ r Exp ess Be ween Gr des 7 & 8


S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 7 & 8

S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 7 & 8

11 come to grips w th 13 on the dot


sisters s 50 Rosa is the youngest Elena Kendra 2 hours to do the same job If they
A accept or deal w th firm y A on the black spot 5 No one may (sit set) on he patio while it s ra ning
is the middle s ster and Felicia is the do the job together how ong w ll it take
B shake hands firmly B exact y at the t me agreed on; prompt y
oldest 10 years older than Rosa them?
12 a far cry 14 showing your true colors Five years ago the r ages were prime 1 6 Please carefully (sit set) the expens ve vase on the dining room table
A cal ing to someone in a d stance A reveal ng your true nature numbers How old was each then? 1 3 hours
B quite d fferent; far removed B exh biting your paintings 7 Janie had (sat set) the vase there many imes
7, 11, 17

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8 Our next door neighbors (sit sat) with us during the concert

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Use wi h page 126 Use wi h page 125

Reading for Information Reading for Information Future Tense Verbs

The Art of Deception Answer the o lowing questions that relate to the preceding passage
For the Future
1 Someone that mimics 7 When a damselfish appears a mimic
A beautiful but poisonous lion fish glides past Wait, or is it a sea snake? A eats something that ooks l ke tse f oc opus will usua ly =lkli\ k\ej\ m\iYj k\cc XYflk XZk fe k_Xk _Xje k _Xgg\e\[ p\k Lj\ n`cc n`k_ X m\iY kf j_fn
Or a flat sole fish slipping down across the sand? There is an animal that can B looks acts or sounds l ke someone or A imitate a f at so e fish ]lkli\ k\ej\
look like all of these creatures, and more someth ng else B imitate a banded sea snake
C cannot b end in to the r env ronment C camouflage itself among the sand Complete this poster for the Tota ly Terr fic Talent Show Use a different verb to te l what
The m mic octopus was discovered in 1998 in a river in Indonesia It
D is afraid of mimes D run and hide talent each performer wi l share
grows to about two feet in length and normally is striped white and brown
However, as its common name suggests, the m mic octopus changes its shape, 2 The m mic octopus lives 8 The m mic octopuss behavior in Question
color, and behavior to mimic, or appear like, other animals Th s adaptation A in forests near orb weaver spiders 7 demonstrates
has developed over time to help the animal protect itself from predators B in the coral ee s n Austra ia A the octopus s h gh level of intel igence
While some other octopuses camouflage themselves, chang ng their color to blend into their C in murky r ver bottoms in Indones a B a form of Batesian mimicry
env ronment, the mimic octopus changes its color and behavior to resemble dangerous animals This D at the bottom of the Pac fic Ocean C both A and B
represents a r sky strategy for the octopus; nstead of remaining safely hidden it must act vely swim out and D none of the above
3 The antonym of camouflage is
hope that its performance is good enough to fool predators This form of mimicry, where a harmless species
m mics a dangerous species, is called Batesian mimicry
A reveal 9 Three animals the m mic octopus 9TYFQQ^ 9JWWNKNH 9FQJSY 8MT\
B hide mitates are
C a my A the l on fish sea snake and sole f sh
What Makes the M mic Octopus Special? D civ lian B the l on fish dormouse and sole fish 1 Mister Greene will be your host for the evening
Although many animals use mim cry to survive, the m mic octopus is the first known species to mimic
several different animals 4 When not m micking the mimic octopus
C are the lion fish damsel fish and orb
weaver spider 2 To open he show the Tempo Trio will sing the
A hisses ike a snake D are the lion fish je lyf sh and Monarch Star Spangled Banner
Th s talented octopus has three confirmed impersonations the lion fish, the sea snake, and the sole f sh
B turns completely b ack
To impersonate a poisonous lion fish, it floats above the sea floor, spreading its arms w de to resemble the
C has white and brown str pes 10 The m mic octopuss habitat is 3 Next on the bi l Kiyoko Sato will dance her
lion fishs fins For a sea snake impersonat on, he octopus color shifts to the red and black bands associated D undulates l ke a sole fish A fil ed with verdant colors experimental blend of ballet and hip hop
with the venomous snake and wriggles two arms in different directions To create the illusion of a toxic sole
fish, it pu ls its arms together into a heart shape, uses jet propulsion to build up speed, and undulates across 5 Batesian mimicry s demonstrated when
B the coral reefs
4 Gilbert Lopez will play a classical guitar nterlude
C popu ar w th scuba d vers
the sea floor The mimic octopus is also believed to take on the form of sand anemones, mantis shrimp, A a ha mless spec es m mics a harmful D murky river bottoms 5 Scoot up to the edge of your seat! The Amazing Sabarisi
one
stingrays, and jellyfish
Another remarkable attr bute of the mimic octopus is that it seems to know which creature to B two harmful spec es mimic each other 11 The m mic octopus was only discovered will perform jaw dropping magic tricks
impersonate to scare off its current predator This demonstrates the octopuss high intelligence For instance, C a c eatu e hides itself n the sand
D someone named Bates m mics you
n 1998 because
A the coral reefs are heavi y protected
6 Col ege roommates Bronwyn and Jessica will recite
when a mimic octopus is attacked by a damselfish, it imitates a banded sea snake, one of the damselfishs original poetry
B it l ves in a popu ar area for d vers
known predators By taking on the appearance of a known predator of its attacker, the octopus is more l kely 6 Another itle for this story could be C it l ves in an unpopu ar area for divers 7 So everyone leaves in a good mood Freddy Funniman
to scare o f its attacker A Orb Weaver Sp ders and Other Mim cs
B New Octopus D scovered in 1998
D it is so good at mim cry
will tell the most hilar ous jokes in his repertoire!
A Recent Discovery C The Mimic Octopus: Nature s Best 12 Extend ng the previous answer the most
8 You will have the best time
S mmer Expr ss Be ween Gra es 7 & 8
Summ r Exp ess Be ween Gr des 7 & 8

ikely place to discover new creatures is


Summ r Exp ess Be ween Gr des 7 & 8

Researchers had not previously d scovered the mimic octopus because its habitat is not a very popular Performer
in your ife!
place for divers to explore The muddy river bottom lacks the v brant diversity of l fe available in areas like D A Damselfish Attacks: A Sea Floor A in coral eefs
the coral reefs However, the stark nature of the landscape may have prompted the mimic octopus unusual Surv val Guide B in popular areas
adaptat on Since there is nowhere to hide, the octopus must either retreat nto the ground or pretend to be C in unpopu ar a eas
D in areas w th much mimicry
something else Scientists speculate that there may be even more species of mimic octopuses le t to d scover
in more murky river bottoms
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Summer Express Between Grades 7 & 8 Scholastic Teaching Resources

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