ENGLISH FULL COURSE TEST

CLASS : 8
Date: 5-2-2020 MARKS : 50
TIME : 2 Hours.
The question paper is divided into two sections
Section A: Reading 20 marks
Section B: Writing Skills & Grammar 30 marks

General Instructions:
1. Attempt all questions.
2. Do not write anything in the question paper.
3. All the answers must be correctly numbered as in the question paper
and the answers written in the answer sheet provided to you.
4. Attempt all questions in each section before going to the next section
5. Read each question carefully and follow the instructions.
6. Strictly adhere to the word limit given with each question.

SECTION A- READING-20 MARKS

Q.1. Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow: (10)
Thomas Alva Edison was called Alva or Al by his family. He was a very inquisitive child. He always
asked questions which sometimes his mother was unable to answer. He would experiment to try to
find the answers.

He wanted to experiment. To make money for his experiments, he went to work at the age of 12,
selling newspapers and candy on a train. When he had some spare time on the train, he would do
experiments in the baggage car. When he was 16, he went to work for the telegraph office sending
messages.

When he was 22 years old, he went to New York. He only had $1 in his pocket. He hunted for a job
during the day, and at night he slept in the basement of a gold company. He inspected everything
around him very closely. Some equipment broke down and Edison was able to repair it because he had
been watching it work before he went to sleep each night. The owners gave him a job. He improved
the machine so much that the company paid him $40,000 for his invention. He started the American
Telegraph Works in New Jersey.

He built a laboratory in Menlo Park, New Jersey. It was here with his employees that he made many of
his inventions. He would work night after night, and sometimes he would fall asleep at his workbench.
His wife wouldn't see him for days at times.

After he had made the light bulb, he worked to make a power system so that the people could use the
bulb. In 1882 he flipped a switch and 85 houses in New York City had electric lights for the first time.
Thomas Edison was probably the world's greatest inventor. He got a patent on 1,093 inventions. In
addition to the electric light, he also invented the phonograph, a camera to take motion pictures, a
cement mixer, the automatic telegraph, and he improved Alexander Graham Bell's telephone.
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I. Answer the following questions. (6)
a) How did Thomas Alva Edison try to find the answers to his questions?
b) At what age did Thomas Alva Edison start working to earn money?
c) Why did the owner give him a reward?
d) Where did Edison make most of his inventions?
e) How did Edison improvise the light bulb invention to help people?
f) Suggest a suitable title for the passage.
II. Find a word in the passage that means the following: (4)
(a) Eager for knowledge-
(b) Look carefully –
(c) Gear –
(d) Copyright –

Q.2. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:

1. Animal testing is a controversial topic, particularly amongst animal rights activists. Typically, it
is used to test pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and other products.
Scientists tend to use animal testing when there is a possibility that the substances used in the
materials could cause harm to the person using them. With that being said, there are a number of
reasons why animal testing should be banned. Of these, the most often cited fact is that animal
testing doesn’t conclusively prove that a substance, when used by or on a human, will be either
safe or dangerous. Experts estimate that more than ninety percent of the tests that prove safe on
animals, end up actually being dangerous when applied to people.

2. While no sane person would disagree that it’s better to test a chemical with unknown effects on a
person instead of an animal, animal testing is rarely performed with the comfort of the test
subjects in mind. For instance, many small rodents used for tests are forced to live in crammed
conditions, typically in spaces no larger than a shoebox. Larger animals are kept in small cages
with no opportunity to stretch their legs or run free, regardless of the actual experiments being
performed. Additionally, animals are frequently tested for reasons that aren’t related to the safety
of human beings. For instance, many experiments revolving around biochemistry, involve the
administration of pain simply to see what changes take place in the brain. These animals are
rarely offered any form of pain relief, and in some cases, may be left to suffer until they
eventually die.

3. There is little enforceable regulation when it comes to animal testing. There are certainly laws
and ethical guidelines, but they are generally so broad that it’s easy for those performing the
experiments to find loopholes in them. Any experiment performed on rodents, reptiles, birds or
fish, are not required to be reported on through the Animal Welfare Act. This means that it is
even more likely for these experiments to involve arbitrary and even at times, unnecessary
cruelty. Furthermore, many of the animals used for lab testing are dogs and cats- the same
animals humans keep as pets and eventually bond with, as family members.
4. Animal testing should be banned, if for no other reason than the fact that few of us would
volunteer our cats, dogs or other pets as lab subjects. When considering whether or not one is in
favour of or against animal testing, they should consider whether or not they would allow their
own pets to be experimented on or not, in the same way. Finally, it’s been shown that there are
other effective means of testing the safety of products for human use or consumption without
using animals.
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2.1 On the basis of your reading of the passage, answer the following questions in about
30-40 words each: (2x4=8)

i. According to the passage, what is the purpose of animal testing?

ii Why does the author feel that animal testing should be banned?
iii Describe the conditions in which the animals to be tested, are forced to live.
iv Does the law help the condition of animals used for testing?

2.2 Find the synonym of the following words: (1x2=2)

i. The word ________ in paragraph 1 means the same as ‘debatable’
ii. The word ________ in paragraph 2 means the same as ‘overcrowded’

SECTION –B-GRAMMAR & WRITING SKILLS -30 MARKS

Q.3. Shirin has met her friend Shrinita after a long time. Read the conversation that takes
place between them and report it into Indirect speech: (3)
Shirin : How long have you been out of work ?
Shrinita : I am not out of work now. I have just started a new job.
Shirin : How did you find the job ?
Shrinita : I found the job through an advertisement in the newspaper.

Shirin met Shrinita and asked her how long she had been out of work. Shrinita……..

Q.4. Rearrange the following words to make meaningful sentences. The first one has been done
for you : (3)
Eg:by / childhood /are / memories / everyone / cherished
Childhood memories are cherished by everyone.

(a) childhood / one / I / for / remember / my / happy / days.

(b) carefree / some of / recall / my / I / can / times
(c) frightening / remember / I / can / moments / also

Q.5. Convert the following sentences into passive voice: (4)

(a) Sangeeta has bought a brand new bicycle.

(b) Ranjana will learn French during the vacations.
(c) Akash is playing the guitar.
(d) Rakesh will have completed the project before the deadline.

Q.6. There is an error in each line. Write the incorrect word and the correct word in your
answer sheets : (4)
Incorrect Correct
Eg: Scotland has the rich cultural heritage the a
(a) Part of this is reflected in the thousand ____ ____
(b) castles that are scatter around the length ____ ____
(c) and broad of the country. Most of the ____ ____
(d) castles are now at ruins. ____ _____

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Q.7. Read the following telephone conversation between Mrs. Pandit and Shikha. Shikha is about to
leave for school in 5 minutes. As her mother is not at home,she writes a message for her mother,
conveying Mrs. Pandit’s message. Write the message for her. (4)

Mrs.Pandit: Hello. This is Mrs. Pandit here. May I speak to Mrs. Gupta please?
Shikha : Hello Aunty. This is Shikha here. Mom has gone out. You can leave a message with me.
Mrs. Pandit : Please tell your mother that Mrs. Pandit had called. Mrs. Kaushalya and Mrs. Sampat were
to come to your house today. But they will not be coming. Ask your mother to reach Mrs. Gupta’s house
in Green Park at 3 p.m. She knows the address. This is urgent.
Shikha : You needn’t worry Aunty. I’ll inform her.

Q.8. You have recently visited a hill station in the summer vacations. Write a letter to your friend
Amit describing your experience. You are Mudit/Mudita. (5)

Q.9. Given below is the outline of a story. Using the points and your own imagination, write a
short story in 100-20 words (7)

A holiday on a beach – secluded island- abandoned lighthouse – ghostly looking ship – investigation-
shocking result.