SAMPLE PAPER

CENTRAL END TERM EXAMINATION 2023-24

CLASS: VIII
SUBJECT: ENGLISH
Time allowed: 3 hours Max. Marks: 80

General Instructions:
1. The question paper is divided into the following sections:
2. Read the questions carefully and answer them accordingly.
3. Mention the correct question number in the answer booklet while attempting the answer.
4. It is compulsory to attempt all the questions. Internal choice is provided in some questions.

SECTION A READING (20 Marks)

Q1. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below:

1. During my growing years, my siblings and I were taught both at home and school to worship the photos and idols of the
deities of our respective religions. When we grew a little older, we were introduced to scriptures like the Bhagwad Gita,
the Bible, and the Quran. We were told that there are a lot of life lessons to be learned from these holy books. We were
then introduced to mythological stories, through which we learned about ethics and morality. I also learned to be
respectful towards my parents, who made my life comfortable with their love and sacrifice, and my teachers, who
guided me to become a good student and a responsible citizen.
2. Much later in life, I realised that, though we learn much from our respective scriptures, there is a lot to learn from our
surroundings. This realisation dawned upon me when I learnt to inquire and explore. Everything around us—the
sun, the moon, the stars, rain, rivers, stones, rocks, birds, plants, and animals teach us many valuable life lessons.
3. No wonder that besides the scriptures, in many cultures, nature is also worshipped. The message that is transmitted is
that of maintaining environmental and ecological balance. People are taught to live in harmony with nature and
recognise that divinity is everywhere. Nature is a great teacher. A river never stops flowing; if it finds an obstruction in
the form of a heavy rock, the river water fights to remove it from its path or finds an alternative path to move ahead. This
teaches us not only to be forgiving but also to be progressive in life, keeping the fighting spirit alive.
4. We learn a lot in nature's lap but are unwilling to comprehend it. Rather than being considerate to our surroundings and
environment, we are being senselessly insensitive. Overcome with greed, we are destroying nature, the extent of which
is so profound that we are frequently facing natural disasters like droughts and landslides. We refuse to accept that nature
is angry with us. We forget that if the dam of patience bursts, the result is destruction. However, it is never too late to learn
that if we imbibe the life-giving and nurturing aspects of Mother Nature, the quality of our lives will improve
dramatically.

(i) What do mythological stories teach us?

a) to become good citizens b) to be respectful towards parents
c) both (a) and (b) d) none of these

(ii) What does the river teach us?

a) to maintain ecological balance b) to be progressive in life
c) to accept everything in life d) to maintain environmental balance

(iii) Frequent natural disasters occur due to .

a) human greed b) landslides
c) ecological balance d) nurturing aspect of nature

(iv) We learn life lessons from .

a) mythological stories b) nature
c) surroundings d) all of these

(v) According to the passage, nature is great .

a) student b) healer
c) teacher d) parent

(vi) The bursting of the dam of patience results in .

a) construction b) destruction
c) happiness d) excitement

(vii) Nature has started showing its in the form of landslides, floods, droughts etc)
a) joy b) anger
c) elation d) recognition

(viii) We should imbibe aspects of Mother Nature.

a) devastating b) life giving
c) destroying d) comprehending

(ix) Find the synonym of the word ‘brothers and/or sisters’ in para 1.
(x) Find the word similar in meaning to ‘precious’ from para 2.
Q2. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below:

1. Like watering a tree, we grow our friendships (and all our relationships) by nurturing them. Friendships need the
same attention as any other relationship if they are to continue. These relationships can be delightfully non-
judgmental, supportive, understanding, and fun.
2. Sometimes a friendship can bring out positive aspects that you would never see in any other relationship. This may be
because the pressure to play the ‘role’ (daughter, partner, or child) is removed. With a friend, you will be free to be
yourself and change. Of course, you are free to do this in all other relationships as well, but in friendships, you will
have a lot of rehearsal and discussion about the changes they experience.
3. It’s an unconditional experience where you get as much as you give. You can openly explain yourself to a friend
without fear of offending a family member. How does friendship grow? The answer is simple, expresses itself. By
carefully remembering what shows the most empathy and seeing the world through your friend’s eyes, you will
understand the value of friendship. It means learning to accept a person from a completely different family than your
own, or perhaps someone from a completely different cultural background. This is how we learn to tolerate. Instead, we
gain tolerance and acceptance for our own differences.

i) What is the importance of nurturing friendships?

a) It plays a role in other relationships. c) It brings out positive aspects of oneself.
b) It helps maintain the relationship with family members. d) It helps maintain cultural values.

ii) What makes friendships delightfully non-judgmental?

a) The pressure to play a role is removed. c) Friends are more critical of each other.
b) There is always competition in friendships. d) Friends are less supportive.

iii) How can friendships help in accepting people from different cultural backgrounds?
a) By not accepting differences in culture.
b) By learning to tolerate and accept differences.
c) By rejecting people from different cultural backgrounds.
d) By trying to make people adapt to one’s own culture.

iv) What does it mean to express oneself in a friendship?

a) To avoid offending family members. c) To openly communicate with a friend.
b) To criticize a friend’s behavior. d) To compete with a friend.

v) What is the role of empathy in growing friendships?

a) It helps maintain cultural values. c) It helps to understand the value of friendship.
b) It helps to avoid offending friends. d) It helps to compete with friends.

vi) How does friendship differ from other relationships?

a) It allows for rehearsal and discussion about changes. c) It involves a lot of competition.
b) It does not require any effort to maintain. d) It is based on fulfilling roles.

vii) What is the nature of the give-and-take in a friendship?

a) It is conditional. c) It is one-sided.
b) It is unconditional. d) It is limited.

viii) Why is it important to accept a person from a completely different family or culture?
a) To maintain cultural values. b) To avoid offending family members.
b) To learn tolerance and acceptance for differences. d) To compete with others from different backgrounds.

ix) Find the synonym of the word ‘easy’ from para 3.

x) Find the antonym of the word ‘foe’ from para 2.
Section-B (Grammar and Writing ) 15

3 Fill in the blanks with appropriate option:

(i) We started early we might not miss the show.
a) because b) so that c) that d) and
(ii) I can help you you tell me the truth.
a) so b) provided c) unless d) but
(iii) I had rice today (Determiners)
a) enough b) many c) all d) few
(iv) picture was painted by Picasso.
a) That b) Those c) All d) Some
(v) the newspaper, he left it on the table. (Non-finites)
a) Reading b) To read c) Having read d) Read
(vi) The police constable saw a thief on a bicycle.
a) escape b) to escape c) escaped d) escaping
(vii) The doctor gave me a prescription my cough. (Prepositions)
a) on b) to c) for d) at
(viii) He gave a talk the causes of dengue fever.
a) in b) on c) for d) at
Do as instructed:
(ix) I have been working on the problem. (Identify the tense in the given sentence)
a) simple present b) past perfect
c) present perfect continuous d) present continuous
(x) I will help him if he . (Fill in the blanks with correct form of the verb)
a) asked b) asks c) will ask d) is asking
(xi) Change the following sentence into reported speech.
Dad said, “Mohan is reading the newspaper”.
(xii) Change the following sentence into reported speech.
She said to Geeta "I work in a bank."
(xiii) Ram said to Raman, "We went out last night." (Change the speech)
(xiv) Change the following sentence into passive voice.

Shiva was flying a kite.

(xv) The hunter shot the deer. (Change the voice)

4 You are Vandita of Class IX. As the Cultural Secretary of your school, draft a notice for an Inter School Fancy Dress 4
Competition. Mention the date, time, and venue in the notice.

5 Delhi Public School, Nellore organised an adult literacy camp in its neighbourhood. Write a report in 120 – 150 words on 6
the camp for your school newsletter. You are P. V.Sunitha, Secretary.

Use the following clues: no. of volunteers – hours spent in teaching – location of the class – chairs, blackboards – number
of people attending the camp – benefits
SECTION C LITERATURE
6 Read the extract and answer the questions that follow it.
5
It was evening. The garden hedge was all a flower.
The fair maid came out and said, ‘I will hire you with a smile.’
Her smile pale and melted into tears, and she went back again in the dark.

(i) Who is the speaker of the above lines?

(ii) Where did the speaker go in the evening?
(iii) Why does the speaker want to hire the man?
(iv) What did the speaker offer to pay?
(v) Why did the smile pale?
7 Read the extract carefully and answer the questions that follow it.

Him shelter for rain And a 5

mouthful of grain. He wished only to
borrow; He’d repay it tomorrow;
If not ,he must die of starvation and sorrow.

(i) What did the grasshopper expect from ant?

(ii) What did the grasshopper wish to borrow?
(iii) Who must die of starvation and sorrow?
(iv) How did the grasshopper wish to repay?
(v) What lesson do we learn from grasshopper’s foolishness?
8 Answer any 7 of the following questions in about 30-40 words. 2x7

(i) When does the monsoon season begin and when does it end? How do you prepare to face the monsoon?
(ii) What did Bepin realize after lunchtime?
(iii) What tactics did the English adopt to expand their empire? How were the Indian princes short-sighted?
(iv) Why did dogs, in the chapter Tsunami, refuse to go outside at Galle?
(v) “You draw inspiration from each other And then, without first being aware of it, you are at the summit”.
Explain this statement with reference to the chapter’ The Summit Within’.
(vi) How does the writer describe the fawn while drinking water?
(vii) When Stephen Hawking said, “I’ve had no choice.” Does the author think there was a choice?
(viii) “I think that is what every soldier wants, on both sides,” who said these lines and why?

Answer the following questions in about 100 words. 5

9
The internal summit is, perhaps, higher than Everest. What qualities do a human being should possess to be able to scale
this internal summit?
OR
Discuss the theme of the poem On the Grasshopper and the Cricket.

10 Answer the following questions in about 120 words. 6

You are a student of class VIII and your school decided to take you to a trip to show you the different important historical
monuments in Delhi. This trip invited discussion on the
‘History of the different monuments in Delhi’. Why do you think it is important to show students 'Glimpses of the Past?

OR

Imagine you are Bepin Babu. Write a letter to your relative describing the incident that happened with you and how Chunilal
tricked you.