Term I Sample Question Paper

Session: 2023 – 2024

Subject: English
Grade: VIII Max. Marks: 80
Date:10/09/2023 Duration: 3 Hours
General Instructions:
• This Question Paper contains 9 typed pages.
• This Question Paper comprises of 4 sections – A, B, C and D.
• There are 9 questions in the question paper. All questions are compulsory.
• Write down the Serial Number of the questions in the answer sheet
before attempting it.
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Section – A (Reading) (20 Marks)

Q.1. Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the given questions.

1. There are various beliefs prevalent in the society as to what should be eaten and what should not
be eaten to keep healthy. If one has high blood pressure, one is told to cut down on or stop consuming
sodium. A new study from Boston University reveals that low sodium does not actually cause low
blood pressure. A little salt is part of a healthy food plan. The study has shown that the people with
the lowest intake of sodium along with the ones who have the highest intake of sodium have a greater
risk of heart disease than the people in the middle.

2. There is a theory that drinking milk post infancy is unnatural. It is true that humans are the only
species to drink milk as adults. Research shows that we have genetically evolved to adapt to it. Milk
products actually play an important role in keeping us healthy. Dairy products are rich in whey, protein,
linoleic acid and calcium.

3. Fat in general is not a bad thing. The scientific community is still debating the benefits of saturated
fats. The other types of fats taken in moderation are good for us. Plant-based fats such as
monosaturated fats found in foods like almonds, avocado and omega-3 fatty acids found in fish offer
many healthy benefits. These fats may reduce inflammation and improve the quality of blood.

4. It may seem that diet products such as light salad dressing are healthier choices to eat but often
they are really not. Healthy food like this used to be popular, but many of these products remove the
fat and replace it with added sugar. Large amounts of added sugar in the diet may be even more
damaging to health than excessive dietary fat. A major study from CDC showed that people who
consumed a lot of sugar were more than twice likely to die from heart disease. If you opt for a higher
food, check the ingredients and food label to make sure that the fats have not been replaced with
added sugar. We must study the reports of various research before adopting any new mode of eating
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or food habit otherwise the result of the food plan may be opposite of what is expected.

1.1. Answer the following questions by choosing the correct option. (1x7=7)

(i) The reason why we should consume dairy products, is:

(a) they are rich in protein and calcium.

(b) they are tasty and tempting.
(c) they are good for heart.
(d) they are not very expensive.

(ii) Which type of people have a greater risk of heart disease?

1. People with no intake of salt.

2. People with the lowest intake of salt.
3. People with moderate intake of salt.
4. People with the highest intake of salt.
5. People who have multiple complications.
(a) 1 and 3
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 4 and 5
(d) 2 and 4

(iii) Plant-based fats are good because they:

(a) improve the quality of blood.

(b) improve appetite.
(c) strengthen mind and body.
(d) improve heart beats.

(iv) The word `prevalent’ in the first paragraph of the passage means:
(a) most uncommon.
(b) most common.
(c) unconventional.
(d) important.

(v) What is more damaging to health than excessive dietary fat?

(a) A lot of added sugar in diet.
(b) No sugar intake.
(c) Eating saturated fat frequently.
(d) No fat intake.

(vi) Monosaturated fats are found in food like:

1. milk products
2. sugar
3. almonds
4. oil
5. avocado
(a) 1 and 4
(b) 3 and 5
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(c) 2 and 4
(d) 2 and 3

(vii) The phrase ‘added sugar’ in the last paragraph refers to sugars added during the:
(a) cooking of food.
(b) eating of food.
(c) processing of food.
(d) production of sucrose.

1.2. Answer the following questions in about 20-30 words. (1x3=3)

A. What does the first paragraph of the passage suggest?

B. The passage focuses on the importance of……………..
C. What does the term ‘Eating something in moderation’ mean?

Q.2. Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the given questions. (10
Marks)

The Leader
Patient and steady with all he must bear,
Ready to meet every challenge with care,
Easy in manner, yet solid as steel,
Strong in his faith, refreshingly real,
Isn’t afraid to propose what is bold,
Doesn’t conform to the usual mould,
Eyes that have foresight, for hindsight won’t do,
Never backs down when he sees what is true,
Tells it all straight, and means it all too,
Going forward and knowing he’s right,
Even when doubted for why he would fight,
Over and over he makes his case clear
Reaching to touch the ones who won’t hear.
Growing in strength, he won’t be unnerved,
Even assuring he’ll stand by his word.
Wanting the world to join his firm stand,
Bracing for war, but praying for peace,
Using his power so evil will cease:
So much a leader of worthy of trust,
Here stands a man who will do what he must.

2.1. Answer the following questions with the correct option. (1x5=5)

I. About what the given poem has been written?

a) Qualities a rich man has.

b) Qualities everyone should possess.
c) Qualities a leader possesses.
d) Qualities lacked in an individual.

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 II. The leader would fight war bravely, at the same time what does he want?

a) To be aggressive
b) To have peace
c) To increase his followers
d) To have support of the world

III. What is the synonym for the phrase ‘come to an end’ given in the above poem?
a) steady
b) conform
c) stand
d) cease

IV. According to the above poem, for what does a real leader always stand?

a) For his supporters

b) For truth
c) For the world
d) For growing in strength

V. What is the meaning of the word ‘unnerved’ according to the poem?

a) disheartened
b) uncomfortable
c) discouraged
d) both (a) and (c)

2.2. Answer the following questions in about 20-30 words. (1x5=5)

VI. What does the line ‘Doesn’t conform to the usual mould’ means?
VII. What actual qualities of a true leader have been shown?
VIII. If a leader is a real leader and shows his true leadership, what will be the result?
IX. What does the phrase ‘Stand by his words’ mean?
X. Give one example of alliteration from the above poem.

Section – B (Writing) (10 Marks)

Q.3. Attempt one question from each of the following in 100-120 words. (2X5=10)

I. Write a Letter to the Editor on one of the given topics:

A) You are Amrita/Amit. You have noticed the streets of Rajpat Nagar have lots of potholes that
cause traffic problems as well as accidents. You have already written to the authorities
concerned but to no use. Write a letter to the Editor of ‘The Today’s News’, New Delhi to put
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forward your concerns.

OR

B) You are Bella/Dinesh. Write a letter to the Editor to express your happiness on the success
of ‘Mission Chandrayaan-3’. Also, express your views on how this achievement can benefit India
.

II. Write a descriptive paragraph on one of the given topics:

A) Write a descriptive paragraph on the ‘My Father’. (Write about his appearance, behaviour,
qualities, way of dealing, etc)

OR

B) Write a descriptive paragraph on the topic ‘My favourite means of transport’. (Write about
its appearance, features, advantages, etc

Section – C (Grammar) (20 Marks)

Q.4. Do as directed.
Q.4.1. Choose the correct verb that agrees with the subject from the given
options. (4X1=4)

I. A few people _________ reported to have fallen sick after drinking the water from the
tubewell. (was/were)
II. Neither Joseph nor his family __________ French. (speaks/speak)
III. The jury _________ unanimous in their decision. (was/were)
IV. The Prime Minister, together with his wife, __________ the press cordially. (greet/greets)

Q.4.2. Make sentences according to the tense given in brackets.

(3X1=3)

I. The students / study/ for three hours/when I reached. (Past perfect continuous tense)
II. Abha/ finish/all her chores/so she can go out. (Present perfect tense)
III. I/not/work/ for two days. (Present continuous tense)

Q.4.3. Identify and name the part of speech to which the underlined word belongs.
(3X1=3)

I. The question was so difficult that no one could answer.

II. Her grandparents insisted on getting a bicycle for her.

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III. The team worked hard to win the match.
Q.4.4. Fill in the blanks choosing the most appropriate option from the ones given
below. Write the answers in your answer sheet against the correct blank number.
(3X1=3)

You play to win but a good sportsperson (a)________ that defeat may also come along
once in a while. There (b)________ times when others will do better than you do. What
you look to do is to maximize your chances of success. And (c) ______ only way you
can do that is by being yourself.

(a) (i) knows (ii) knew (iii) know (iv)known

(b) (i) are (ii) is (iii) have (iv) will
(c) (i) a (ii) an (iii) the (iv) some

Q.4.5. In the passage given below, one word has been omitted in each line.
Write the missing words of the given paragraph along with the words
that comes before and after it in the space provided. One has been
done as an example.
(3X1=3)

Before Missing After

The G20 is forum comprising nineteen countries with Ex: is a forum

some of world’s largest economies, as well as the EU. a) ______ _______
________
The leaders of G20 members meet discuss mainly b) ______ _______
________
and financial Matters. Climate change been a focus c) ______ _______
________
of recent summits.

Q.4.6. The following passage has not been edited. There is one error in each line.
Write theerror along with the correction in your answer sheet against the
correct question number. One has been done as an example.
(4X1=4)

Incorrect Correct

Tourism is one in the biggest businesses Ex: in of

in the world generating on least a) _______ ________
288 million jobs. It has vital for the b) _______ _________
economies of many countries. But it is making
considerable contribution on climate change. c) _________ _________
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 Section – D (Literature) (30
Marks)
Q.5. Read the extracts given below and answer ANY ONE of the following:
(5X1=5)

A. The next morning I was to start for the West to make my fortune. You couldn’t have
dragged Jimmy out of New York; he thought it was the only place on Earth. Well, we
agreed that night that we would meet here again exactly twenty years from that date and
time, no matter what our conditions might be or from what distance we might have to
come. We figured that in twenty years each of us ought to have our destiny worked out
and our fortunes made, whatever they were going to be.’ ‘It sounds pretty interesting,’
said the policeman. ‘Rather a long time between meets, though, it seems to me. Haven’t
you heard from your friend since you left?’ ‘Well, yes, for a time we corresponded,’ said
the other. ‘But after a year or two we lost track of each other. You see, the West is a
pretty big proposition and I kept hustling around over it pretty lively. But I know Jimmy
will meet me here if he’s alive, for he always was the truest, staunchest old chap in the
world. He’ll never forget. I came a thousand miles to stand outside this door tonight, and
it’s worth it if my old partner turns up.’

i. Who is the narrator of the given extract and to whom he is telling about his friend?
ii. For how long did the two friends correspond?
iii. What did the two friends agree upon?
iv. Describe Jimmy Wells using three Adjectives from the given extract.
v. Why couldn’t anyone have dragged Jimmy out of New York?

OR
B.
I saw someone drawing slowly near along the road. He was plainly blind, forhe tapped
before him with a stick and wore a great green shade over his eyes andnose; and he
was hunched, as if with age or weakness, and wore a huge old tattered sea-cloak with a
hood that made him appear positively deformed. I never saw in my life a more dreadful-
looking figure. He stopped a little away from the inn, and raising his voice in an odd
sing-song, addressed the air in front of him, ‘Will any kind friend inform a poor blind
man, who has lost the precious sight of his eyes in the gracious defence of his native
country, England—and God bless King George!—where or in what part of this country
he may now be?’

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 i. Who is the narrator of the given extract?
ii. Whom is the narrator talking about?
iii. Name the two qualities of the blind man.
iv. What did the person wear?
v. What did the person ask the narrator?

Q.6. Read the extracts given below and answer the following questions (Any one):
(5X1=5)

A.
They shut the road through the woods
Seventy yearsago.
Weather and rain have undone it again,And
now you would never know

There was once a road through the woods

Before they planted the trees.
It is underneath the coppice and heath,And
the thin anemones.

i. Give one example of Alliteration figure of speech.

ii. What happened to the road that once ran through the woods?
iii. How long ago did it exist?
iv. How has it disappeared?
v. What is above the road?

OR
B.
Nightingale that all day long
Had cheered the village with his song, Nor yet at
eve his note suspended, Nor yet when eventide
was ended, Began to feel, as well he might,
The keen demands of appetite; When looking
eagerly around, He spied, far off upon the ground,
A something shining in the dark,
And knew the Glow-worm by his spark; So
stooping down from hawthorn top; He thought to
put him in his crop.

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 i. Name the creatures mentioned in the extract.
ii. What did the Nightingale do that all day long?
iii. How long did the Nightingale sing?
iv. What did the Nightingale see on the ground?
v. What did the Nightingale intend?

Q.7. Answer any five of the following questions in 30-40 words. (2x5= 10)

A. What is the narrator’s opinion about blind and people who can see?
B. How can we say that the love was lost forever?
C. Why did the Nightingale release the Glow-worm?

D. What was drawn and written on the card? How did the captain react upon reading the card?

E. Why did the narrator scarcely get time to think of the captain?

F. Why did the policeman ask Bob, ‘Going to call time on him sharp?’

Q.8. Answer ANY ONE of the following questions in 100-120 words.

(1x5=5)

I. Write the summary of the poem ‘When You Are Old’.

II. Write the summary of the poem ‘The Way Through The Woods’
Q.9. Answer ANY ONE of the following questions in 100-120 Words.
(1X5=5)

I. Write a character sketch of ‘Bob’ from the chapter “After Twenty years”.
II. Write a character sketch of ‘The Blind Man’ from the chapter “The Black Spot”.

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