CLASS -VIII MAXIMUM MARKS-80

SUBJECT- ENGLISH

General Instructions:

The question paper is divided into four sections:

Section-A – Reading Skill -20 marks

Section-B – Creative -10 marks

Section-C- Grammar -10 marks

Section-D- Literature -40 marks

All the questions are compulsory

SECTION-A (READING SKILLS)

Read the passage given below. (1×10=10)

1. During our growing up years we as children were taught-both at home and school to worship the
photos and idols of the Gods of our respective religions. When we grow a little older, we were to
read holy books like The Bhagwad Gita, Bible and Quran; we were told that there are a lot of life
lessons to be learnt from these holy books. We were then introduced to stories from our
mythologies which taught us about ethics and morality- what is good and what is bad. I also learnt to
be respectful towards my parents who made my life comfortable with their hard work, love and care,
and my teachers who guided me to become a good and a responsible student.

2. Much later in life, I realised that though we learn much from our respective holy books, there is a
lot to learn from our surroundings. This realisation dawned upon me when I learnt to enquire 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 we get is to save our environment and maintain ecological balance. People are taught to live in
harmony with nature and recognise that there is God in all aspects of nature.

4. Nature is a great teacher. A river never stops flowing. If it finds an obstacle in its way 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 to be progressive in life, and keep the lighting spirit alive.

5. Snakes are worshipped as they eat insects in the field that can hurt our crops, thus protecting the
grains for us. In fact, whatever we worship is our helper and makes our lives easy for us. There are
many such examples in nature, but we are not ready to learn a lesson. Overcome with greed, we are
destroying nature. As a result we face natural disasters like drought, flood and landslides. We don't
know that nature is angry with us.

6. However, it is never too late to learn. If we learn to respect nature the quality of our life will
improve.

On the basis of your reading of the passage, answer the following questions.
i. During which age period we all were taught to worship the photos and idols of the Gods of our
respective religions?

(A) Adulthood (B) Toddlerhood (C) Childhood (D) Adolescence

ii. Which word from para 2 is the synonym of 'awareness’?

(A) comprehension (B) understanding (C) realisation (D) consciousness

iii. Which word from para 3 is the antonym of "fabrications”?

(A) scriptures (B) manuscripts (C) documents (D) inscriptions

iv. Which word from para 4 is the antonym of "compulsion"?

(A) options (B) opportunities (C) alternatives (D) substitutes

v. Which of the following statements is not true.

(A) Snakes are not worshipped because they don't eat insects in the field that may infuse our crop.
(B) Snakes are worshipped because they don't eat insects in the field that may infuse our crop.
(C) Snakes are not worshipped because they eat insects in the field that may infuse our crop.
(D) Snakes are worshipped because they eat insects in the field that may infuse our crop.
vi. Choose the correct option that suits best in the passage.

(A) If humans don't learn to disrespect nature the quality of our life will not improve.

(B) If you learn to disrespect nature the quality of your life will not improve.

(C) If we learn to respect nature the quality of our life will improve.

(D) If they don't learn to respect nature the quality of their life will improve.

vii. Choose the correct option to fill in the blanks in the given sentence.

Whatever we ……………… is our ..................... and makes our lives easy for us.

1. worship 2. pray 3. worker 4. helper 5. supporter

(A) 1 and 2 (B) 1 and 4 (C) 3 and 4 (D) 4 and 5

viii. Choose the correct option to fill in the blanks in the given sentence.

This ……………….. dawned upon me when I ……………. to enquire and explore.

1. awareness 2. studied 3. read 4. realization 5. learnt

(A) 1 and 2 (B) 2 and 3 (C) 3 and 4 (D) 4 and 5

ix. Why is Nature called a great teacher?

(A) Because it teaches us not to take tension. (B) Because it teaches us to be progressive in life.
(C) Because it teaches us to work leisurely. (D) Because like river it does not stop flowing

x. Find a word from para 1 which is the synonym of ‘pious'

Read the passage given below. (1×10=10)

Water is super important because it’s what we need to drink, wash, and grow food. But there’s not
an endless supply of it. We have to be careful with how we use water, just like we’re careful with our
toys or treats.

You can help by not letting water run when you brush your teeth, taking shorter showers, and fixing
any leaky taps. When you wash your bike or the driveway, using a bucket or a broom instead of a
hose can save lots of water.

Saving water is not just good for us, but it’s also good for the planet because it uses less energy. So,
let’s all do our part to save water and make sure we have enough for everyone and for the future.

On the basis of your reading of the passage, answer the following questions.

1. Why is water super important?

2. How can you help save water when you brush your teeth?

3. What can you do to save water while washing your bike or the driveway?

4. Why is saving water not just good for us but also good for the planet?

5. What is the main message of the passage regarding water conservation?

6. Find a synonym for “infinite” as used in the passage.

7. What is the opposite of “careless” as described in the passage?

8. Write the analogy of: drink :water::save:

9.Complete the sentence: _________________is good for our planet.

10. Give a suitable title for the passage.

SECTION-B (CREATIVE WRITING SKILLS) (10 marks)

1. Write a letter to your grandmother informing her about the award you won in the Science Quiz at
the Science Centre. Also mention how hard you had worked for this competition and how delighted
you are on receiving this award from the Chairmen of the Science Centre.

2. You are going on a school picnic with your classmates and teachers. You are very excited. The night
before the trip you sit down to write your diary. Describe what you have planned for the picnic and
how you hope to enjoy yourself there. You are Ramesh. Write your diary in 100 – 150 words.

SECTION-C (GRAMMAR) (10 marks)

1. Use the correct forms of the verbs according to the voice of the sentences and fill in the blanks.
(1×3=3)

a) Holi ____________________(celebrate) with great fervour throughout the country.

b) The Government of India ____________________(declare) it as a national holiday.

c) Srinagar ______________(bless) with natural beauty.

2. Change the following conversation into Indirect speech. (1×3=3)

Monkey : why are you trying to kill the mouse?

Lion : He was running over me while I was asleep.

Mouse : Please forgive me!

Sleeping, the lion holding the mouse in his paw, a monkey asked him a)
____________________________? The lion replied that b) ______________________. The mouse
pleaded with the lion c) ______________________.

3. Rearrange the jumbled words and phrases to make meaningful sentences. (1×=2)

i. Medical/ go/ check-up/ for/ doctor/ I/ to/ every/ the/ month/ in

ii. Me/ can/ dining-room/ show/ you/ the

4. Choose the correct option and write the answer. (1×2=2)

i. Have you been __________________ till now ?

a) sleep b) sleeping c) slept d) had slept.

ii. The Metro ____________________ just now.

a) departed b) depart c) has departed d) departing

SECTION-D( LITERATURE) (40 marks)

I. Read the extract given below and answer the following questions:-

The coins disliked what I did said so much that all of them began to speak at the same time. There
was such a clamour that passersby in the bazaar stared, eyes wide with surprise, at me and my
pocket, the coin of those days, the wretched thing, made so much more noise too! Finally in a panic,
I grabbed all four of them and held them tight in my fist and then they were silent.

After taking a few steps, I loosened my grip. Immediately, the oldest coin said, “Here we are trying to
tell you something for your own good and you try to strangle us instead. Tell me honestly now, don’t
you feel like eating those hot, hot jalebis? And then, if you do end up spending us for today , won’t
you get the scholarship money tomorrow? Sweets with the fees money, fees with the scholarship
money. End of story! Kissa khatam, paisa hazam.”

Answer the following questions:- (1×4=4)

1. If you were in place of the school boy, would you like to follow the coins advice? Why/Why not?

2. Complete the analogy with the help of the above mentioned extract:-

appreciate: dislike :: tight:

3. The coins were not provoking the boy to purchase the sweet (true/false)

4.Identify the sentence which conveys the same meaning as given line has ‘ There was a clamour that
passerby in the bazaar stared

a) The road was jammed because some workers were demanding for more safety for them.
b) The bus was stopped because of road accident.
c) Everyone clapped for his bravery
d) I heard a horrible sound and I got fainted

II. On a long winter evening when the frost (1×4=4)

Has wrought a silence, from the stone there shrills

The crickets song, in warmth increasing ever,

And seems to one in drowsiness half lost;

The grasshoppers among some grassy hills.

1. Who is the poet of the poem “on the grasshopper and cricket?

a) John Keats
b) T.S Eliot
c) Rabindranath Tagore
d) Ruskin Bond

2. __________ voice is heard from the stones?

a) The grasshopper b) The cricket c) the poet d) the nature

3. Which element of nature has been personified in these lines ?

a) Winter b) Frost c) Silence d) Wrought

4. What has the frost wrought?

a) Poetry of earth b) Warmth c) Silence d) All of these

III. Answer the following questions in about 30-40 words. (5×2=10)

i) When and why does Jody’s father need a remedy?

ii) Hawking didn’t talk much to the writer while they were in the garden. Why?

iii) Where do the snakes and rodents take shelter? Why ?

iv) In what ways did the British officers exploit Indians ?

v) Do you think Jody had fulfilled his responsibility after finding the fawn ? which responsibility Jody
had to fulfil after finding the fawn?

IV. Answer the following questions in about 40-50 words. (3×4=12)

i) Why was the giant said, despite spring having had come to his garden?

ii) What were the consequences of buying jalebis with the fees money ?

iii) What is panini known for ?

V. Answer the following questions in about 100-120 words. (2×5=10)

i. Narrate the episode of the fight between Ranji and Suraj in the forest in about 100-120 words.

ii. What lesson of geography did the poet learn when he flew above his city?