Some of you might have already seen this, but a friend of mine sent me a copy of an actual test given to 8th graders as a final exam so they could graduate from 8th grade....in 1895!
Since I am a former educator and English was my specialty, I am only including the "grammar" section of the test. Holy Cow! I thought I was doing well to get through college in 1968. I'm extremely glad I didn't have to pass this exam!
Grammar (Time, one hour)
1. Give nine rules for the use of capital letters.
2. Name the parts of speech and define those that have no modifications.
3. Define verse, stanza and paragraph
4. What are the principal parts of a verb? Give principal parts of 'lie,
''play,' and 'run.'
5. Define case; illustrate each case.
6 What is punctuation? Give rules for principal marks of punctuation.
7 - 10. Write a composition of about 150 words and show therein that you
understand the practical use of the rules of grammar.
Well, see how well you do. I had a little problem with #4 and #5.
I don't have an answer key. I looked up a few things in my old grammar handbook.
There's more subjects tested. I skipped the Arithmetic section altogether. I did well on the US history section, I think!! (I didn't write a composition, either.)
Peace,
JE
5 comments:
It might be fun to relearn all that, now that we have the time. I'm never sure about capitalization; is it winter or Winter, etc. Always have to look it up in my writers' handbook.
Things to do while we're snowed in, right?
Principle and principal. Was question #4 a trick question? It's a tough test. I think I'd be spending a few years in 8th grade if I had to take it. ;0)
I guess I should have never made it past the 8th grade.
I taught some English too, but I think I would fail this. I kin stil right gud tho.
Terry: Good catch! It should have read principle. Who ever sent this to me probably retyped it and made a booboo! Oh, I mean mistake!
You should see some of the other parts of the test. I couldn't have passes the Math portion on a bet! How would one convert cubic feet to bushels? I suppose it's possible, though!
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