Catalyst Hybrid School

Half Yearly Examination

Session -2020-21
Subject-English
Class 8
Time: 03 Hrs M.M-80
Section 'A'

Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow. 5

An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer of his plans to leave the house
building business and live a more leisurely life with his family. He would miss the pay cheque,
but he needed to retire. The employer was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he
could build just one more house as a personal favour. The carpenter said ‘yes’, but in time it
was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and
used inferior material. It was an unfortunate way to end his career.
When the carpenter finished his work, his employer handed over the key of the house to the
carpenter— “This is your house, my gift to you.”

What a shock! What a shame ! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would
have done it all so differently! Now he had to live in a poorly built house. So it is with us. We
build our lives, a day

At a time, often putting less than our best into the building. Then, with a shock, we realize we
have to live in the house we have built. If we could do it over, we would do it much differently.
But, you cannot go back. You are the carpenter, and every day you hammer a nail, place a
board, or erect a wall. Someone once said, your attitude, and the choices you make today, help
build the “house” you will live in tomorrow. Therefore, build wisely!
Answer the following questions-
1)What did the carpenter tell his employer?
2) What favour did his employer ask from the carpenter ?
3) What surprise did the employer have for the carpenter ?
4) Why was the surprise a’shame’for the carpenter?
5) Which word in the first paragraph means the same as ‘art of skill of a workman’ ?

2- Write an application to your principal of your school requesting him/her to arrange for
special coaching in English after the school hours.
Or. 10
Write an informal letter to your father to buy you a good practical box that you need
urgently for biology classes in school. You are Sunil and you stay in school hostel.

3- Write an Essay on any one of the following topics-. 10

A- Social Networking
B- Swach Bharat Abhiyan
 Section 'B'
4- Do as directed. 5
1- I am right. (Change into negative)
2- It was hot yesterday. (Change into interrogative)
3- This sum is very difficult.I cannot solve it. (Adverb clause of purpose)
4- I shall go. I shall go to the same place as you.( Adverb clause of place)
5- This is an amazing story. (Change into exclamatory)

5- Complete using who,which,that,whose or where- 5

1- A kangaroo is an animal_______ lives in Australia.
2- Marie Curie,_________ was born in Poland in 1867, was a scientist.
3- Karen,_______ surname is Johnson, is a beautiful model.
4- In 1998 I travelled to Paris,______ I met my husband.
5- Radium is a metal_______ shines in dark.

6- Put the verbs into correct tenses-. 5

1- Anand is tired because he(work)______all day.
2- Dhruv broke his leg when he was (ski) …………………….. last week.
3- She (just/come) ___________ back from Mediterranean cruise.
4- My husband (be)______ free for most of the afternoon.
5- It was late. Most of the shops(close)___________.

7- Underline the adjectives in the following sentences-. 3

1- I like red juicy apples.
2- My mother is a good cook.
3- In the winter I wear woollen clothes.
4- There are eleven boys and ten girls in my class.

8- Fill in the blanks with a,an or the-. 3

1- _______ pen on_____desk is Manu's.
2- This is______ story about ______a man who used to roam in _______ jungles to look for
____ unique animal.

9- Define any two of the following-. 4

1- Personal pronoun
2- Collective noun
3- Declarative sentence

Section'C'
10- Give the meanings of the following words (any five). 5
Bristled, fork, tenants, sacred, celestial, hence, signalled, pensive

11- Make sentences of the following words(any three). 6

Verge, hapless, sermons, ego, sacred,striving.
12- Join the sentences using suitable relative pronoun-. 3
1- He was my best friend.I will never forget him.
2- She is the candidate.They want to hire her.
3- That is the road. It leads to the village school.

13- Complete the sentences with the correct prepositions-. 3

1-Her face looks familiar_____me.
2- I cannot comply _____your wishes anymore.
3- A sincere student is never negligent ___ his studies.
4- She had many servants attending ______ her.
5- The accused was convicted _____ the crime.
6- The ship was bound _____ the equator.

14- Answer the following questions (any five)-. 2x5=10

1- What do you understand by the line 'Where knowledge is free'?
2- Why do you think the poet's father asked the tenants to leave and had all the trees cut down
in the poem 'Felling of The Banyan Tree'?
3- How did Lillian Wright manage to arrange a picnic with their new neighbours?
4- What was the poet's first reaction to not being able to travel both the roads in the poem 'The
Road Not Taken'?
5- Describe the condition of the street in Saint Antoine. Which were the only shops on the street
that did good business?
6-Why did the elder brother remind his sibling about Ravan?
7- What was Selima doing in the beginning of the poem?

15- Answer the questions with reference to context (any one) 3

1- Trees are sacred my grandmother use to say/felling them is a crime but he massacred them
all
A- Who is the speaker in the given lines?
B- Who is the person referred to as 'he'?
C- Name the trees that were cut down?
2- 'Why do you write in the public street? Are there no better places to write such words?'
A- Who said these words and to whom?
B- Describe the speaker's appearance.
C- What had the person spoken to written in the public street?