VIBGYOR HIGH

HALF YEARLY EXAMINATION

SAMPLE PAPER
ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE

Grade: VIII Max. Marks: 80

Date: Time Allowed: 3 hours

INSTRUCTIONS:

 The time given at the head of this paper is the time allowed for writing the answers.
 The intended marks for the questions or parts of questions are given alongside the
questions.
 The question paper consists of 6 questions divided into three sections: A, B and C
 All questions are compulsory.
 Separate instructions are given with each section and question, wherever necessary.
Read these instructions very carefully and follow them.
 Do not exceed the prescribed word limit while answering the questions.
 The question paper contains 10 pages.

SECTION – A: READING （20 MARKS）

Q1 Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow: [10]
1. The film industry is facing the challenge of the television screen which, because of its
ready availability and nearness to entertainment seekers, is becoming very popular,
particularly in the West where television programmes are as indispensable to people as
newspaper material. Sustained entertainment for multitudes lasting two or three hours
is possible only in big cinema halls. Scenic beauty, background effects and colour
techniques which have made the products of cinema industry so attractive and delightful
may not be reproduced by television programme organisers, and therefore, this
important invention in the field of wireless communication, in spite of having become a
big rival of the cinema, may not succeed in replacing it.

2. The motion picture has also stepped into the international sphere as an agent of
goodwill and co-operation among nations. Cultural contacts which tend to reduce
tension in the world and bring harmony in international relations have been established
through the medium of films. The more people understand and appreciate the past
history, present aims, customs, habits and beliefs of men and women in foreign lands,
the more will they realise that their interests can best be served by establishing friendly
relations with them and by removing those irritants which breed distrust, lack of co-
operation and the desire to punish those whose views and attitudes are such as they do
not like. As cultural agents movies can cement ties of love and brotherhood among
nations and teach them to confer on each other the benefits of all the rich and glorious
achievements of the present enlightened age. In recent years, artists of the film world
have been visiting foreign lands with a view to presenting before audience in those

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countries the best products of their cultural heritage. Film festivals which many
European and Asian countries have been organising from time to time have also proved
to be of immense value in reducing social barriers, colour prejudices and other causes
of friction between nations.

Based on your reading of the passage given above, answer the following
questions.
1. The TV has become popular because of: [1]
(i) its entertaining programmes
(ii) its educative value
(iii) its ready availability and nearness
(iv) its wide appeal

2. Films have become agents of: [1]

(i) pioneering
(ii) providing
(iii) conferring
(iv) goodwill and cooperation

3. Which of these reduces the tension of the people and bring harmony? [1]
(i) film industry
(ii) television programme
(iii) beauty of nature
(iv) cultural context

4. The artists of the film industry visit foreign lands with the purpose of: [1]
(i) establishing friendly relations with them
(ii) presenting best products of their cultural heritage
(iii) bringing harmony in international relations
(iv) getting better opportunity.

5. Film festivals have proved to be of immense value in reducing social barriers [1]
and colour _____
(i) prejudices
(ii) unfairness
(iii) intolerance
(iv) social impair

6. Irritants only breed mistrust and conflicts among nations. (True/False) [1]

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 7. Complete the idea, The film industry is facing the challenge of ________ [2]

8. Three things which make cinema so attractive are: [2]

1.__________ 2. __________ 3. _________________

Q2 Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow: [10]
1. Global weather is warming leading to Arctic meltdown. This is primarily a result of the
greenhouse effect caused by too much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere which acts as
a blanket, trapping heat and warming the plant. Burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil and
natural gas for energy cutting down and burning forests to create pastures and
plantations leads to carbon accumulation. Refrigeration and air conditioning and certain
agricultural practices also aggravate the problem by releasing additional potent global
warming gases such as methane and nitrous oxide. Over the last century, global
average temperature has increased by more than 1.0º F. A warming would also have
the potential to change rainfall and snow patterns, increase droughts and severe storms,
reduce lake ice cover, melt glaciers, increase sea levels and change plant and animal
behaviour. The impact of global warming on our planet is extremely serious and if this
problem is not talked on an urgent basis it will lead to melting of polar ice caps leading
to an increase in sea level drowning coastlines and slowly submerging continents. Our
generation needs to give a healing touch to the earth which we have ourselves made
sick.

Based on your reading of the above passage, answer the following.

1. Global warming is a result of: [1]
(i) warm planet.
(ii) trapped heat.
(iii) greenhouse effect.
(iv) carbon dioxide.

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 2. The cause of greenhouse effects is: [1]
(i) global warming.
(ii) burning of coal.
(iii) cutting down trees.
(iv) too much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

3. Carbon accumulation is caused by: [1]

(i) burning of fossil fuel.
(ii) burning forests.
(iii) burning natural gas.
(iv) all the above

4. The word in the passage which means the same as ‘to make worse‘is [1]
(i) potent
(ii) severe
(iii) aggravate
(iv) accumulation

5. According to the pie chart the main greenhouse gas emissions is by: [1]
(i) power stations.
(ii) industries.
(iii) transportation fuel.
(iv) land use.

6. A warming world DOES NOT: [1]

(i) increase droughts.
(ii) reduce lake ice cover.
(iii) create pastures.
(iv) melt glaciers.

7. It is evident from the pie chart that almost 40% of greenhouse gas emissions [2]
are caused by____________

8. If global warming is not tackled on an urgent basis it will lead to____________ [2]

SECTION B: WRITING SKILL

Q3. Answer any ONE from the following question: [5]
A) Write a letter to M/s. Oxford Publishing House, London complaining that the books
sent by them were not those you had ordered for. Ask for a replacement. You are
Varun Joshi, Sector-20, Chandigarh.:01

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 OR
B) You are Secretary of the History Club of Vidya Mandir School. Draft a notice in not
more than 50 words informing students of a proposed visit to some important historical
sites in your city.

Q4. Answer any TWO from the following questions: [10]

A) You are Ali / Alia, Head girl / Head boy of your school. You are deeply disturbed [5]
by the rising cases of aggressive behaviour of students in your school. You decide
to speak during the morning assembly about it. Write a speech on ‘Indiscipline
in Schools’. (150 – 200 words)
B) ‘Grow more trees to reduce pollution.’ Write an article in 150-200 words on the topic[5]
given above for your school magazine.
C) Write a letter to your friend Rudra inviting him to spend the summer vacation at your [5]
place in Mumbai. You are Sakshi/ Saksham. Do not exceed 120-150 words.
SECTION B: GRAMMAR [10]
Q5. I. Rearrange the jumbled word to form sensible sentences: [5]
1. sister / chocolates / loves / my / and / ice creams / eating [1]
a) my sister loves eating chocolates and ice creams.
b) my sister loves chocolates eating and ice creams.
c) my sister loves chocolates eating and ice creams.
d) chocolates My sister loves eating and ice creams.

2. place / nobody / parents / take / the / can / of [1]

a) can take the place of parents nobody.
b) nobody can take the place of parents.
c) take nobody can the place of parents.
d) nobody the can take place of parents.

3. its / urbanisation / in India / everywhere / has / tentacles / spread [1]

a) urbanisation has spread its tentacles everywhere in India.
b) spread has urbanisation its tentacles everywhere in India.
c) has spread its tentacles urbanisation everywhere in India.
d) has spread its tentacles urbanisation everywhere in India.

4. only / the country / a / land / of / remains / villages / in name [1]

a) the remains country a land of villages only in name.
b) the country remains a land of villages only in name.
c) the country a land remains of villages only in name.
d) the country a land of villages remains only in name.

5. policymakers / numerous / this / posed / challenges / has / the / to [1]

a) this has posed challenges to numerous the policymakers

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 b) this has posed challenges numerous to the policymakers
c) this numerous has posed challenges to the policymakers
d) this has posed numerous challenges to the policymakers

II. Identify the type of clause: [5]

1. My friend helped me when I was in danger.

a) Adverb clause
b) Noun clause
c) Adjective clause

2. He could not answer any of the questions that I asked him. [1]

a) Adverb clause
b) Noun clause
c) Adjective clause

3. Everybody admits that he is a brave man. [1]

a) Adverb clause
b) Noun clause
c) Adjective clause

III. Fill in the blank with suitable phrase:

1. We left early ___________ avoid the traffic. [1]
a. because
b. so as not to
c. so as to
d. provided that

If he should be late, we__________________ to start without him. [1]

a. will have to
b. would have to
c. either could be used here
d. would had to
SECTION C: LITERATURE
Q6. A. Answer the following questions:
1. How did the police officer recognize Jimmy? [1]

A. Jimmy introduced himself

B. he lit his cigar, and the police officer was able to see his face

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 C. from a picture
D. he didn't, the police office just kept walking

B. Answer the following questions:

1. What does the author learn about the kite flying in Agra? What is that the gardener’s [3]
son finds interesting when he sees the Taj Mahal every day?

C. Answer the following questions:

1. Which two childhood incidents were remembered by Ratan? [1]

2. With what philosophy did the postmaster console himself? [1]

3. How did Ratan look after the sick postmaster? [1]

4. Why did the postmaster apply for a transfer from the village? Did he get his transfer [2]
orders?

5. Why did the postmaster find Ratan’s request for taking her to Calcutta ‘absurd’? [1]

D. Answer the questions by choosing the correct alternative:

[1]
1. What is the meaning of the word "smote"?
a) confused
b) knocked loudly
c) animal's voice
d) crowd sound

2. What was the traveller's mode of transport? [1]

a) a car
b) a horse
c) a bus
d) a tram

3. Which words below are an example of alliteration? [1]

a) leaned and looked
b) plunging hoof
c) traveller's head
d) world of men

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 4. What is the meaning of the word "Hearkening?" [1]
a) listening attentively
b) crowding
c) breathing quickly
d) confused

5. What is the meaning of the word "thronging"? [1]

a) confused
b) outskirts
c) crowding
d) knocking

E. Answer the questions by choosing the correct alternative:

1. Why were the huts in ‘Rashid’s school in Okla’ plastered with cow dung? [1]
a) it kept the animals stay away
b) it kept the interiors cool
c) to decorate the huts
d) all of the above

2. What is the waiting man's connection to Jimmy Wells? [1]

a) They
b) are brothers.
c) Both are running from the police.
d) They were childhood friends.
e) They once worked in the same restaurant.

3. What memories did Ratan have about her past? [1]

a) she enjoyed read with her mother.
b) The food that her mother made.
c) She enjoyed fishing with her brother.
d) The gifts she got on occasions.

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 4. 'You have all improved to the extent of not referring to him as "brute" or "beast", [1]
but I'm sorry to note that you still have no confidence in him or me.'Here the
swami is referring to_________________.
a) the normal perception that the tiger is a large and dangerous animal and hence
must be caught or killed.
b) the extraordinary and irrational fear that the people of Malgudi felt when they saw
the tiger.
c) the poor language of the people who used words incorrectly and inappropriately.
d) None of the above

5. Which river did the author describe in ‘Footloose in Agra’? [1]

a) Ganga
b) Krishna
c) Yamuna
d) Indus

6. One of the most magical places I’ve ever been to is ______, south of Rome. [1]
Which place is the writer referring to in ‘My Favourite Places’?
a) London
b) Greece
c) Ninfa
d) Rome

7. What was the "logic of geography"? [1]

a) Land and water attracted man
b) Why valleys were populated
c) Why cities ran along the river
d) How cities are developed

8. Where does the poem ‘The Listeners’ physically set in? [1]
a) River side
b) Sea shore
c) Moonlit wood

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 d) Deserted island

9. Deep underground life lies sleeping. [1]

The line from the ‘The Tree in Season’ means that in freezing winter_________.
a) The tree appears to be sleeping without its green cover.
b) The roots of the tree are alive.
c) There are seeds in the ground that are waiting to germinate.
d) The tree hibernates in winter.

10. With reference to the lesson ‘There Will Be School Tomorrow’ [1]
‘Today’s the day, mommy. Remember?” What was Johnny referring to?

a) It was his birthday, and he was getting a robot

b) Robo teachers will help him learn mathematics
c) It was the first day at the new school.
d) New school opens with robo teachers

11. With reference to the lesson ‘Abraham Lincoln’s School Days’ the school [1]
term was short because____.
a) The school did not have many activities and the syllabus was small.
b) The settlers could not afford to pay very much for a teacher.
c) The settlers had to migrate during the winter season.
d) The school hours were long enough to complete their learning quickly.

F. Answer the following questions in 50-80 words.

1. The master told the people not to fear the tiger. He said, ‘he has only the [3]
appearance of a tiger, but he is not one-inside he is not different from you and me.’
What did he mean?
2. One of the most magical places I’ve ever been to is Ninfa, south of Rome. [3]
Why does the writer describe the above place as ‘magical’ place? What makes it
magical for him?
3. What does the singing of the Tree indicate? [3]
*****

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