PRESIDENCY SCHOOL

Bangalore South
2022-23

English Worksheet Grade 7 Moving to Grade 8

Reading Comprehension

Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.

Fishing plays a key role in the economy of Kerala. High rainfall and the large number of rivers
made the Kerala coast especially fertile for fish. Mudbanks-unique formations of clay and
organic matters on the coast-give rise to a good harvest of fish in southern Kerala. Known as
‘chakara’ in Malayalam, these mudbanks occur after the monsoon, when the sea is calm, leading
to a good harvest of fish.

Fishermen in Kerala use traditional fishing techniques and their greatest asset is their
knowledge of fish and the sea, including currents and winds. The technology, meaning the kind
of boat and the equipment, used by most of the fishermen differ according to the requirements
of the specific local conditions.

The use of catamarans or vallams is popular. A catamaran is made up of two or three logs of
wood tied together with coir ropes. The small gaps in between the logs allow the water to drain,
thus reducing the impact of the waves. Smaller catamarans are used for hook-and-line fishing
while larger ones are used in pairs with bell-shaped nets. These nets have ropes on their side for
the two catamarans to pull the ropes at equal angles while catching fish.

Vallams are small boats that are used for fishing from the shore. They are made by seaming
together several planks of wood with coir ropes. The inside of the boat is coated with pitch to
make it watertight.

Due to the special relationship that the fisherfolk share with the sea and the environment, they
have their own way of life and a very unique culture. They are deeply religious because their
lives are completely dependent on natural forces. They perform different rituals to please the
forces of nature as they these forces affect their lives both positively as well as negatively.

Ponkala is a festival performed to honour the sea-rice pudding(ponkala) is offered to the sea,
along with flattened rice, puffed rice, jaggery, navadhanyam (nine pulses), ghee, camphor,
benzoin, sugarcane and coconuts. The sea, which is believed to be very sacred and powerful
force, is referred to as the kadalamma and seawater, which is also considered to be sacred, is
used in many rituals to ward off evil.
 A. Answer the following questions based on the passage.

1. What makes Kerala extremely fertile for fish?

2. What are vallams?
3. How is Ponkala celebrated?

B. Choose the correct answers for the following.

1. Chakara is a _______.

a) kind of fish
b) formation of clay and organic matter
c) place in Kerala

2. The fishermen’s greatest asset is _________.

a) their knowledge of fish and the sea.

b) the kind of boats they use.
c) their location.

3. For hook-and-line fishing, the fishermen use ________.

a) small catamarans
b) a pair of catamarans
c) big vallams.

4. Ponkala is offered to the sea to __________.

a) ward off evil.

b) honour the sea.
c) to feed the fish.

C. Find words from the text to match these meanings.

1. the condition of a country or region with regard to its wealth, trade, industry.
2. something which has been commonly practiced for a long time.
3. related to something in particular.
4. carry out an action or a task.

Grammar

1. Change the following sentences to active voice.

a) A stone was being thrown by the man.

b) The door had been locked by someone.
 c) A seat was offered to them by her.
d) Some trees have been planted by the gardener.
e) Some advice will be given to you by the doctor.

2. Read the following sentences and rewrite them into passive voice. Choose the right
answer from the given alternatives:

1. The choir will sing a song.

(a) A song will sing the choir.

(b) A song will be sung by a choir.

(c) A song will being sung by a choir.

(d) Sing a song will be by the choir.

2. They declared him a culprit.

(a) A culprit was declared him by them.

(b) He was declared a culprit by them.

(c) He was declared by them a culprit.

(d) A culprit was declared by them.

3. A terrible cyclone destroyed the village.

(a) The village was destroyed by a terrible cyclone.

(b) The village is destroyed by a terrible cyclone.

(c) The village was being destroyed by a terrible cyclone.

(d) A terrible cyclone was destroyed the village.

3. Identify whether the underlined group of words are phrases or clauses.

a) Professional football teams compete for the best college players.

b) The heavyweight champion is fighting an unknown competitor.
c) Doctors studied thousands of case histories to prove the relationship between smoking and
cancer.
d) The tenants complained that there was not enough hot water.
e) Please concentrate on the lesson.
4. Read through the following sentences and do as directed.

a) In order to reduce weight, Anjali has to eat a balanced diet. (Into Compound)
b) Stretching itself, the cat crawled into a comfortable position on the couch. (Into Complex)
c) You must follow the traffic rules or you will be punished. (Into Complex)
d) He is a Russian by birth, but he speaks Hindi like his mother tongue. (Into Simple)
e) The umpire found the light poor and decided to call off the day’s play. (Into Simple)

5. Transform the highlighted phrase into a clause.

a) The report of his failure has surprised us all.

b) He felt sorry on finding out his mistake.
c) Being rich, he can afford this expensive treatment.
d) He wanted to know the reason for his dismissal.
e) You may do it at your pleasure.

6. Identify the type of the underlined clauses.

a) He is working day and night so that he may improve his prospects.

b) I still remember the joys which I experienced in my childhood.
c) The boy who is wearing blue shirt is our Captain.
d) He is so simple minded that he cannot see through the game.
e) I was glad to know that he had succeeded.

7. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate tense form of the verbs given in brackets.

a) They ________for seven hours, (work-present perfect continuous tense).

b) When I saw them at midnight, they________ to find a taxi.(try-past continuous)
c) Melaine ______________ money to buy herself a telescope, but it still was not enough.
(save-past perfect continuous tense)
d) By this time next month, I _______ the course. (complete-future perfect continuous tense)
e) They __________ the documentary on TV. (show-future continuous tense)

Writing

8. On the occasion of Durga Puja, your housing society has planned a feast for all its members.
As the chairman of your society, write a notice in about 50 words inviting all the members of
the society to this gathering. Provide all the necessary details.
9. Write a letter in about 100-120 words to the mayor or your city seeking a solution to the bad
roads in your area.
10. Write a story in about 120-150 words beginning with this line- “Good friends are almost as
important as family.”