Padma Seshadri Bala Bhavan Senior Secondary School, T.

Nagar

STD 8 PERIODIC TEST -1 English Language Revision

PROSE COMPREHENSION

Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:

John, a successful businessman, who owned many stores in the country fell ill one day and was
hospitalised. Fearing he may not survive the illness, he decided to appoint one of his three sons as
the head of the business. But he wanted to make sure that he chose the most enlightened , as he
had worked hard to make the business successful. He gave each of his sons Rs.100 and asked them
to go and buy something with the money, that would fill up every single inch of space of the room
in which he lay.

Next evening, all three sons returned. The first one had brought a lot of hay, which he scattered in
the room. For a while, the room looked full and then the hay settled on the floor and the room
was empty. The second son brought many feather pillows, which he tore open and for a while the
room was filled with feathers but they too soon settled and the room was half empty.

Disappointed with his first two sons, he turned to the third. The boy looked at his father and
spoke, ”I went to the small store in the neighbourhood and asked for change for the hundred
rupees. I put rupees fifty in my savings box, and then I gave rupees twenty to a poor woman who
needed help. With the remaining, I have bought something that will fill up this room.” He reached
in his pocket and took out a candle and a match box. He shut all the lights and lit the candle. In a
second, every corner of the room was filled with- not hay, not with feather- but with light. The
father was overjoyed, and handed over the business to the third son.

1. Why did the businessman decide to appoint one of his three sons as the head of the
business?
2. How did the first and the second son spend the money given by their father?
3. Which son was appointed as the head of the business? Why?
4. Give a suitable title and a moral to the story.
5. What, according to you, are two essential qualities to be a successful businessman?

PUNCTUATE THE FOLLOWING:

1. varun sat on the chair without saying a word his friend amir spoke after a long time
whats really troubling you speak up its nothing please leave me alone varun pleaded
2. hold it in your right hand and wish out loud but im warning you you wont like the
consequences said morris