INTERNATIONAL INDIAN SCHOOL, RIYADH.

Yearly Exam Worksheet March 2019 - 20

Subject: English Std: VIII
SECTION A ( Reading)
ENGLISH WORKSHEET

Section A – Reading

Topics covered:
1. Passage Comprehension

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that
follow:-

Communication English
1. With the globalization of knowledge and culture,the need for
acquiring good communication English by one and all,has
assumed great significance in the 21st century. In fact,the demand
for learning effective communication English has never been so
great as it stands today is interesting to note that during the last
two decades the use of English for communication purposes has
not been confined only to the elite group of the society. People
from the middle and lower middle classes have been equally keen
on learning and using it effectively.

2. These days it is essential to communicate in English because they

consider spoken English as a passport for a guaranteed successes
 in every walk of life. The craze for learning good communicative
English has led to the mushroom growth of English. Coaching
institute all over country(India) – the small towns are no
exception to it. In their advertisement they very often claim to
help an individual learn spoken English within 30 – 40 days.

3. Learning Spoken English does not mean parrot like repeating

some crammed sentences with the help of limited vocabulary. It
means acquiring the skill to generate and use functional English in
ever changing life situation while speaking. For this, besides
acquiring the required sentence pattern and expressions in a
given situation, a person needs an appropriate contextualized
vocabulary. Naturally, all this cannot be learned in just 30 – 40
days’ time.

4. How much time in terms of number of hours a person needs to be

able to communicate effectively in different situations of life, is
difficult to say. It differs with person and from situation. However,
one thing is certain that a person needs a minimum of 2 -3 hours
rigorous practice session everydayfor 5 – 6 months before he or
she feels confident to communicate in English for various
purposes in life. Needless to say that this desired success will
occur only to the strong- willing person working with a positive
bent of mind like, ‘Yes, I can.’ Besides having this positive
approach and 2- 3 hours’ constant daily practice sessions working
in pairs and groups of equally spirited leaners using the role paly
technique will go a long way to help you realize your dream come
true easily.

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

questions as briefly as possible:-
Q.1. What does learning ‘Spoken English’ mean?
Q.2. Why is it essential to communicate in English these days?
Q.3. What is must for a person to feel confident to communicate in
English for various purposes in life?
Q.4. How much time does a person need to spend to feel confident to
communicate in English?
Q. 5. Is the use of English for communicative purposes confined only to
the elite group of the society?

Read the following poem carefully and answer the

questions that follow.
NO MEN ARE FOREIGN
Remember no men are strange no countries foreign,
Beneath all uniforms a single body breathes
Like ours,the land our bruthers walk upon
Is earth like this in which we all shall lie.
They ,too ,aware of sun and and water,
Are fed by peaceful harvests, by war’s long winter starved
Their hands are ours , and in their lines we read
A labour not different from our own.
Remember they have eyes like ours that wake
Or sleep, and strength that can be won
By love. In every land is common life
That all can recognise and understand.
It the human earth that we defile,
Our hells of fire and dust outrage the innocence
Of air that is everywhere our won.
Remember, no men are foreign and no countries strange.

On the basis of reading the poem, complete the summary below by

filling the blanks:
The poet strongly believes that there is no _______ who is strange. All
the people have the same _______ beneath all uniforms. The mother
______ on which we walk is the same. All the people share __________
which are gifts of nature.All prosper during ________ and ________
during war. All the people are won by_______ and if somebody incites
the people to war, they themselves _______ the earth.

Section B – Writing
Topics covered:
1. Report Writing for School Magazine
2. Informal Letter
3. Formal Letter
4. Poster
5. News Paper Article

1. Report Writing for School Magazine

Read the following summary of a student conducted titled The
Impact of Television Advertising on Children. Then based on the
information in the summary and your own ideas on the subject,
 write a report for the school magazine titled Children and T.V.
Advertising. You are Raj / Rita of Model Town Public School, Pune.

ONE YEAR OUT OF TEN IS SENT WATCHING T.V.

 On an average, children in Pune watch 17 hours of TV every week.

Children spend more time in front of small screen than on hobbies
and other activities, including homework and meals.
 The average 5 year old spends about 68 hours every month, 30 days
(of 24 hours each) every year, and one entire year out of 10 exclusive
on watching television.
 Seventy-five percentage of children said they loved watching ads on
TV.
 Children below eight like advertisements better than the programs
and see them as pictures with storylines. Only older children
understand the ads intention to sell.

2. Informal Letter
You are Rahul / Rosy living in the school hostel. Your annual
examination is going to be over in a couple of days. The school
authorities have declared that they will be holding hobby classes
like painting, clay-modelling, yoga and karate. You are interested in
joining these classes which will run for a fortnight. Write a letter to
your father, informing him that now you will come after the hobby
classes.

3. Women walk long distances to fetch water in certain parts of the

country. There is not only scarcity of water but water most places is
also contaminated. Using the hints given below and with your own
ideas write a letter to the editor of The Hindustan Times about the
 scarcity of clean drinking water and suggesting ways to improve
the situation.
 Scarcity of clean drinking water
 Women travel long distances in certain areas like Rajasthan and
Gujarat to fetch water
 scarcity in big cities
 linking of rivers
 awareness of clean drinking habits.

4. It is sadly noted that the children today are suffering from

obesity,hypertension,diabetes and some other serious diseases.
Indoor games play a major role in spreading these diseases.
Design a poster encouraging the children to play outdoor games
rather than indoor games.

5. There are hundreds of stray cattle and dogs loitering on city streets.
Stray cattle is a menance on the roads as they cause traffic jams,
accidents and loss of lives. Often, people are gored by cattle. Cows,
bulls , and dogs also posed a health hazard. Some of them sorround
garbage dumps in colonies and make it nauseating for residents
living nearby. The cattle often excrete on the roads which causes
filth and stench all around. Such excreta is a breeding ground for
microbes which could spread various diseases. Stray cows eat
garbage from rubbish heaps die to which they fall sick and thus
their milk is unfit for human consumption.
You are Shivani/ Subhash . Based on the above information and
your own ideas , write an article for the local newspaper regarding
the menance of stray animals on city roads in about 200 words.
 Section C– Grammar

Topics covered:
1. Tenses
2. Adverb
3. Active and Passive voice –( Half yearly portion)
4. Reported Speech
5. Conjunctions

(A) Fill in the blanks using the correct tense of the verb given in
brackets:

My father and I usually go to a walk in the evening. Yesterday,

while we (a) __________ (go / are going / were going / gone) on
the road, we (b)____________(saw / sees / see / seen) a young
boy whose neck was (c)____________ ( bends / bent / bend /
bending). He was (d)______________(Drives / driven / drive /
driving) a bike. I (e)___________________(think / thought /
thinks / thinking) that he was a handicapped person. But in reality
he (f)_____________ (were listening / was listening / listen /
listened) to a mobile phone. He rushed part us. After sometime
the same boy (g) _________________ (meets / met / meet /
meeting) with accident and mobile phone was still(h)
____________(go / goes / going went) on.

(B) Use the correct forms of verbs given in the brackets:

a. Tendulkar ______________ (scored / has scored / scores /

was scored) a century before he ( get / /got / gets / was got)
out.
 b. His father __________________ (saves / saved / had saved /
saving) enough money before he _______________ ( retired /
retires / retire / retirement).

c. We _______________ (did not go / not went / had not gone /

are not go) far when it _______________( starts / started /
start / to be started) raining.

d. She___________ (given / gave /give / given) her husband the

shirt she _________(brought / buys / had bought / buying)

e. His father _________ (had suffered / suffers / suffer /

suffering) a heart attack before he (breathes / breathed /
breathe / will breathe ) his last.

(C) Fill in the blanks with the correct form of verbs given in brackets
a. Bad students never _____________ hard.( work )
b. She usually _______________ French. (Speak)
c. Mother always _____________ food in the kitchen. (cook)
d. A vegetarian is a person who never _____________ meat.(eat)
e. We _______________ to the hills for a month in summer. (go)
f. An honest man always _______________ the truth. (tell)

2. Place the adverb given in brackets in their correct

position in the sentences.

1. The visitors have left. (just)

2. The car rolled down the hill. (slowly)
3. He removed the broken glass from the floor. (carefully)
4. I think you behaved selfishly. (very)
 5. I feel angry at our noisy neighbours. (sometimes)
6. Do you go out in the evening? (often)
7. The weather stayed fine through the week. (fortunately)
8. We’ll find out the result. (soon)
9. Raman was in hurry so he ate his breakfast. (quickly)
10. Alice and John are married. (happily)

3. In the following sentences pick out the adverbs and

mention their kind:
1. He was ill pleased.
2. Try again.
3. He is too shy.
4. We rose very early.
5. I am so glad to hear it.
6. Cut it lengthwise.
7. Are you quite sure.
8. That is well said.
9. The railway station is far off.
10. I have heard this noise before.
11. Father is somewhat better.
12. Iam much relieved to hear it.
13.The walk was rather long.
14. The patient is much worse today.
15. She arrived a few minutes ago.
 4. Rewrite the following sentences into indirect
speech.
1. The poet said ,”Sweet are the uses of adversity.”
2. David declared ,”Friends ,we are going on a picnic tomorrow.”
3. Romani said ,” I can’t take any risk now.’
4. The security guard said to me,”You should switch off your
mobile phone.”
5. Robin said to me ,”Sister ,you are late today.”
6. Our teacher said ,”The moon is a satellite.”
7. She said to him,”Do you recognise me?”
8. He said to me ,”Why did you write such a nasty letter to me?”
9. The servant said to his master , “Please pardon my fault.’
10. He said, God save my son!”

5. Rewrite the following sentences into direct speech.

1. He said that he is an early riser.
2. He asked me if I knew the sum.
3. The teacher advised Ganet to work hard.
4. He proposed to me that we should have some tea.
5. They said that they knew all those rules.
6. The teacher told us that India became indepedent in 1947.
7. My father said that he would him the next day at his place.
8. She told me that she goes to temple every Tuesday.
9. She said that man is mortal.

10. Rakesh said that he had been helping all of them liberally the
previous year.
6. Read the following conversation and change it into
reported speech:
Son : I want fifty rupees ,father.
Father : Are you buying some new book?
Son : No I’m not.
Father : Then, why do you need money?
Son : To go on a picnic.
The son told his father a) ________ . The father asked him b)_________
. The son replied c) __________ . At this the father enquired d)
_________. The son told him e)__________ .
Attendant : Doctor, Is my husband out of danger ?
Doctor : He is improving but not that fast .
Attendant : How many days are required?
Doctor : It may take another two days , but have faith .
Attendant : Thank you doctor.
The attendant asked the doctor a) ___________ . The doctor replied
that b) ___________ . Showing concern , the attendant wanted to
know c)____________. The ___________ for that .

7 . Join the following sentences by using suitable conjunctions :

1. The sun comes out. The stars disappear.
2. She is hardworking.She in intelligent.
3. Our luggage was very heavy . We took a taxi.
4. He will hear the news. He will be happy.
 5. He did not come to school. He was not well.

8. Fill in the blanks with suitable conjunctions:

1. He is doing it only _________ it is necessary.
2. He worked hard ________ he could pass.
3. They arrived _______ he was sleepimg.
4. You must go ________ I will kick you out.
5. I am going to stay here _______ you come back.

9. Change these sentences from active to passive voice.

1. The teacher is correcting the papers.

2. Frost kills these flowers
3. Do cats eat mice?
4. I’m afraid the fire will destroy those houses.
5. The boys have eaten some of the cakes
6. The teacher had completed most of the portion before the
vacation.
7. The grocer will have closed his shop by six o’clock
8. The farmer is ploughing the field.
9. The Secretary was typing the letter.
10. People speak Arabic all over the Gulf countries.
11. They blamed me for something I hadn’t done.
12. The boys realised their mistake.
13. Rahul cleaned his cupboard.
14. The neighbours saw a stranger
15. Anil tore the paper into pieces.

10. Change these sentences from passive voice to active voice.

1. He was praised by his father.

2. The first railway was built by George Stephenson.
 3. The horse was frightened by the noise.
4. Not a word was spoken by Ravi,
5. The teacher was pleased with the boys work.
6. Shakuntala was written by Kalidas.
7. Abeautiful song is sung by Minu.
8. Sweets were distributed by the birthday girl.
9. An important letter was posted.
10. A circular was brought by the peon.
11. The structure is being demolished by the workers.
12. He was taken to the hospital by his friends.
13. The town was destroyed by an earthquake.
14. The road was lined with people.
15. The Pesident was welcomed by the people.

11. Given below are some simple set of instructions for maintenance
measures which are a must for all homes. Use these to complete
the paragraph that follows (voice). The first one has been done as
an example:

 Maintain the house neat and clean on daily basis

 Polish the wooden furniture regularly to maintain its lusture.
 Clean the fans and light fittings fortnightly with a soap solution
 Regularly air mattresses, pillows, blankets.
 Clean and disinfect the dark cupboards as they make excellent
hiding places for mosquitos and moths.

First of all, the house (e.g) is maintained neat and clean on daily basis.
The wooden furniture (a)___________________ regularly to maintain
its lusture. The fan and light fittings (b)___________________ with a
soap solution. The matresses, pillows and blankets
(c)___________________ . the dark cupboards, which make excellent
hiding places for mosquitoes and moths (d)_____________________.
 Section D–Literature

Topics covered:
1. Cricket for the crocodile
2. Quality for Mercy
3. Adventure with books – (Half yearly portion)
4. The Post Master
5. Mother To Son
6. The Louse and The Mosquito

I. Answer the following:-

1. “He did not care for people, especially cricketers.”

a. Whom does he refer to?
b. Why did he not care for cricket?
c. Name the lesson.
2. “Sunder has them.”
a. What did Sunder have?
b. Who is the speaker?
c. To which team did Sunder belong?
3. “Sheroo opened the bowling for the village team”
a. Who was bowled out by Sheroo?
b. With whom did Sheroo tossed a coin?
c. Name the author?
4. “Help”, he shouted’
a. Who shouted for help?
b. Why does the speaker say so?
c. From whom did he shout for help?
5. “Is that the law?”
 a. Who is the speaker in the above line?
b. What is the law?
c. Name the author.
6. “I cannot find it. It is not in the bond.”
a. What could Shylock not find in the bond?
b. Why does Shylock not agree to Portia’s request?
c. What was Antonio’s reaction to Shylock’s reply?
7. “What mercy can you render him, Antonio?”
a. What mercy does Antonio show to Shylock?
b. Is Shylock happy with the decision of Antonio?

8.”Dada , will you take me to your home?”

a) who is the speaker?
b) Who is referred as Dada here?
c) why did the speaker say the above line?
9. I’m not coming back.
a) who said to whom?
b) where was the speaker going and why ?
c) Name the lesson and the author.
10. They had dwelt here as of right for three decades.
a) Whom does they refer to?
b)Where did they live for three decades?
c) Name the poem and the poet.
11. Seriously --- I’m not a child.
a) Who said to whom?
b) Why did the speaker say so ?
c) What was the result of this?

12. And places with no carpet on the floor --- Bare.

a)What do you mean by the above line?
b) Who said this to whom?
c) Name the poem and the poet.
13. And life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.
a) Whom does me refer to ?
b) What did the speaker mean here?
c) Whom are these words spoken to?

14. “And I am the captain bold and free,”

1. Whom does “I” refer to?
a. Reader’
b. Sailor
c. Visitor
d. Author of the book

2. The poem Adventures with Books is written by:

b. Velda Blumhagen
c. Velda Greenhagen
d. Walter De La Mare
e. Zulfikar Ghose
15. “I choose the things to show you”
1. Whom does ‘I’ refer to?
2. Whom does “you” refer to?
3. Name the poem and the poet.
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