HALF YEARLY EXAMINATION 2022-23

SAMPLE QUESTION PAPER

Subject: ENGLISH Grade: VIII
Marks: 80
Name: ------------------
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General Instructions:
(i) The question paper is divided into 3 parts:
Part A – This section comprises MCQs based on Reading Comprehension. -20 Marks
Part B – This section comprises subjective type of questions, based on Grammar and Creative Writing- 25
Marks
Part C – This section comprises RTCs and subjective type of questions based on Literature- 35 marks

(ii) All questions are compulsory.

(iii) Marks are indicated against each question.
(iv)You may attempt any one Section at a time. All the questions of a section must be attempted together and
in the correct order.
(v) Please read the questions well before answering.

Part A

This part comprises questions based on Reading Comprehension.

1. Read the passage and answer the questions that follow:

1. In response to the increasing environmental damage wrought by poachers, authorities placed a ban on ivory in the
1980s. Although the ban resulted in an initial decrease in the sale and trade of illegal ivory and a concurrent increase in
the elephant population, more pressing needs caused most Western nations to withdraw funding for poaching
prevention programs. Without significant financial support, poorer countries were unable to effectively combat
poachers. The resulting explosion in the ivory trade has seen prices increase to nearly 10 times the $45 per pound price
at the beginning of the decade.

2. Unfortunately, the countries with the worst poaching problems have also tended to be the ones least able to combat
the problem due to unstable political systems, corruption, lack of comprehensive enforcement programs, or some
combination of all these factors. One primary hindrance to better enforcement of the ivory ban came from an inability to
definitively identify the country of origin of illegal ivory. Countries used this uncertainty to avoid responsibility for
curbing illegal poaching in their territories by attempting to blame other countries for the oversights in enforcement.

3. Now, though, zoologists have perfected a new DNA identification system. First, scientists gathered genetic data from
the population of African elephants, an arduous effort that ultimately resulted in a detailed DNA-based map of the
distribution of African elephants. Then, the researchers developed a method to extract DNA evidence from ivory,
allowing them to match the ivory with elephant populations on the map. Zoologists hope this new method will pinpoint
the exact origin of poached ivory and force countries to accept their responsibility in enforcing the ban.

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 1.1. On the basis of your understanding of the above passage, answer the following questions by choosing the best
option and write it in your answer sheet.

A. The passage suggests which of the following about the ivory ban?
(a) It will be successful now that the DNA-based map has been developed.
(b) It has been mostly unsuccessful in reducing the trade of illegal ivory.
(c) It will continue to be ineffective unless the problems of political corruption are solved.
(d) Western monetary support was a major factor in its success.

B. The response of the countries with the worst poaching problems to the situation was most analogous to:
(a) a tax evader who uses deceptive accounting practices to hide her income from auditors
(b) an embezzler who steals from her company by pilfering small amounts of money over a long period of time
(c) a criminal who argues that it is not he but one of his accomplices who is guilty of a crime
(d) a con artist who convinces his victim that it is in the victim’s best interest to help him

C. The passage suggests which of the following about the DNA-based map created by zoologists?
(a) Its assemblage involved a great deal of work on the part of the researchers.
(b) Its creation will force countries to accept responsibility for the ivory poached from within their
borders.

(c) The map is able to pinpoint the exact elephant from which poached ivory was obtained.
(d) It must be updated constantly to account for changes in elephant populations.

D. The passage is chiefly concerned with:

(a) advocating a course of action for countries with poaching problems.
(b) exposing the weaknesses of the ivory ban.
(c) pleading with Western countries to re-institute financing for the ivory ban.
(d) detailing a way to overcome a problem that has lessened the effectiveness of the ivory ban.

1.2 Why did the researchers develop a method to extract DNA evidence from ivory? [1x2=2]

1.3. What was the initial hindrance to the enforcement of the ivory ban? [1x2=2]
1.4. Find the synonyms of the following words from the passage: [4x½=2]
A. Hindrance (paragraph 2)
a) distraction b) disturbance c) Deterrent d) interesting
B. Concurrent (paragraph 1)
a) synchronized b) comical c) electric d) discuss
C. Arduous (paragraph 3)
a) simple b) conventional c) strenuous d) in
D. Enforcement (paragraph 2)
a) pressurize b) execution c) renunciation d) neglect

1.5. Find the antonyms of the following words from the passage: [4x½=2]
A. Damage (paragraph 1)
a) restore b) downfall c) destroy d) construct
B. Corruption (paragraph 2)
a) crude b) fraud c) honesty d) filtered
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 C. Ban (paragraph 2)
a) prohibit b) permit c) veto d) display
D. curbing (paragraph 2)
a) unleash b) reopen c) restrained d) constrain

2. Read the poem and answer the questions that follow:

Remember, no men are strange, no countries foreign

Beneath all uniforms, a single body breathes
Like ours: the land our brothers walk upon
Is earth like this, in which we all shall lie.
They, too, aware of sun and air and water,
Are fed by peaceful harvests, by war’s long winter starv’d.
Their hands are ours, and in their lines we read

A labour not different from our own.

Remember they have eyes like ours that wake
Or sleep, and strength that can be won
By love. In every land is common life
That all can recognise and understand.
Let us remember, whenever we are told
To hate our brothers, it is ourselves
That we shall dispossess, betray, condemn.

Remember, we who take arms against each other

It is the human earth that we defile.
Our hells of fire and dust outrage the innocence
Of air that is everywhere our own,
Remember, no men are foreign, and no countries strange.

2.1. Choose the correct option given after each question and write it in your answer sheet: [4x1=4]

A. “Beneath all uniforms…” What uniforms do you think the poet is speaking about?

a) The poet speaks about the various dresses that people of various countries wear.

b) The military uniform or the uniform that government employees wear.

c) The uniformity in which they speak.

d) All of the above.

B. How does the poet suggest that all people on earth are the same?

a) The poet says that nobody is different and peculiar. No country is foreign. A single body breathes beneath all
uniforms. Moreover, the land is the same everywhere.
b) We have the same cuisines
c) We celebrate the same festivals
d) We have the same economy

C. In stanza 1 there are words which tell us that we are alike. Pick one sentence which states that?
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 a) We live and die on the same earth.
b) We all travel to the same places.
c) We have the same way of thinking.
d) We are all fit and healthy.

D. When we are asked to hate our brothers, we should ….

a) Make sure we are well prepared for war.

b) keep reminding ourselves of the threat they are to us.
c) Be aware of the fact that we are defiling and condemning ourselves
d) Keep the air of revenge alive, so we don’t become weak.

2.2 What do we do when we take up arms against each other? [1]

2.3 What is the main concept of the poem? [1]
2.4 Find the antonym of ‘outrage’ from the poem. [1]

Part B

This part comprises questions based on Grammar and Writing Skills

3.1. Change the following sentences as directed. [6x1/2=3]

a) We were all witness to the rainbow today. (Change into negative)
b) It is not an unusual sight to see tigers at this time of the year. (Change into affirmative)
c) You were to meet your brother during Diwali. (Change to interrogative)
d) I am displeased with the current situation. (Change into negative)
e) We had an extraordinary view of the Mona Lisa. (Change into exclamatory)
f) If only I had another chance at proving myself correct! (Change into assertive)
3.2. Underline the adverbs in the following sentences and state their kind. [7x1=7]
a) Ballu reached home late.
b) His grandfather seldom goes out.
c) Hopefully it will rain today.
d) She visits her mother occasionally.
e) We were rather uncomfortable with the beds that they had provided us.
f) She is clearly happy with her new house.
g) She writes clearly.
3.3. Change the degree of comparison by using the given words appropriately. [6x1/2=3]
a) What a ___________ experience it is! (wonderful)
b) This job is ___________ than the previous one. (tedious)
c) Pune is the ______________ city in India. (expensive)
d) A book can be your ________ friend when no one else is (good)
e) Rishi was declared the ____________ athlete during the Commonwealth games. (outstanding)
f) The Date and Walnut cake is the _____________of all the cakes. (tasty)

4. Attempt any one of the following: [1X7=7]

A. You are Param Kumar/ Pallavi of 17E, Ravi Dass Road, Mumbai. Write a letter to the Editor of a newspaper about
the nuisance caused by loudspeakers in the city during examination days, drawing attention to the authorities
concerned to the problem
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 OR
B. You are the Sports in-charge of a school, and had placed an order for Sports items. Write an official letter of
complaint to the dealer for sending you goods that are damaged.

5. Attempt any one of the following: [1X5=5]

A. The Residents’ Welfare Association of Swasthya Vihar is organizing a ‘Holi Fiesta’ in the locality. As the president
of the association, draft a notice in not more than 50 words informing the residents of the same.
OR
B. You recently visited the historical city of Agra in your vacations, where you saw the famous monument the Taj
Mahal. Describe this monument in about 100-120 words.

Part C

This part comprises questions based on Literature.

6. Read the extracts given below and choose the correct answer from the options given after each question. Attempt
all four parts of this Question. [12X1=12]

6.1. “Don’t shoot lads!” someone shouted. And no one did. Then there was another Fritz up on the parapet, and
another. “Keep your heads down.” I told the men, “it’s a trick.” But it wasn’t.

A. Who asked the lads not to shoot?

a) Private Morris
b) One of the Tommys’
c) Wolf Haans
d) One of the Fritz’

B. Where is this conversation taking place?

a) On the battlefield during World War I
b) On the battlefield during World War II
b) War between France and Germany
c) War between England and Japan

C. “Keep your heads down.” I told the men, “it’s a trick.”Who is the speaker?
a) Wolf Haans
b) Jim Macpherson
c) The Tommys’
d) The Fritz

6.2.
“Hello,” I said. She turned and looked up at me vacantly. “Happy Christmas, Connie,” I went on. “I found this, I
think it’s yours.” As I was speaking her eyes never left my face.

A. Who is conversing with Connie in the above lines?

a) Jim Macpherson
b) The matron
c) The author
d) The nurse
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 B. What did the speaker say, belonged to Connie?
a) A roll-top desk.
b) A box.
c) Jim’s letter.
d) A Christmas present.

C. Why according to you did Connie’s eyes not leave the speaker’s face?
a) She never expected a visitor.
b) She misunderstood the speaker to be her husband.
c) She was happy he had a present for her.
d) She was happy to hear her name being mentioned.
6.3. In the heat of the mid-day the houses stood with
shut doors
I wandered along the crooked lane.
An old man came out with his bag of gold.
He pondered and said, “I will hire you with my money.”
He weighed his coins one by one, but I turned away.

A. Why were the doors shut?

a) Because of the fact that it was very hot.
b) In fear of an oncoming dust storm.
c) To symbolise lost opportunities.
d) They were meant to be shut as per the orders of the king.
B. What is the second line of the stanza, symbolic of?
a) An uneven path.
b) A path covered with underbushes.
c) Difficult situations we face in life.
d) Rocky and curved by lanes.
C. What reason did the man have for turning down the old man’s offer?
a) The old man’s offer was unconditional.
b) The old man’s offer was temporary.
c) The old man’s offer came with an underlying motive.
d) The old man did not seem to be honest with his offer.

6.4 Macavity, Macavity, there’s no one like Macavity,

He’s broken every human law, he breaks
The law of gravity!’
His powers of levitation could make a fakir
stare,
And when you reach the scene of crime
Macavity’s not there!

A. How does Macavity break the law of Gravity?

a) By creating an anti-gravitational law.
b) By making objects remain in the air.
c) By levitating.
d) By escaping the scene of crime.

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 B. What do you understand by the term ‘He’s broken every human law’?
a) He’s been instrumental in enforcing the law.
b) He’s amended every law in the town.
c) He does not abide by the law.
d) He punishes all criminals and provides justice to the meek.

C. Who according to your understanding is Macavity?

a) A criminal who is manipulative and intelligent.
b) A representation of the master criminal.
c) A con artist.
d) An undercover agent.

7. Answer the following questions in about 30-40 words: (Any 3) [3X2=6]

a) Who found the letter written by Jim Macpherson? Where did he find it?
b) Who was Almas Javed? What did she and her father do by way of their professions?
c) State the characteristics of Jim Macpherson.
d) Why did the man not strike a bargain with the King? What was he in search of?
e) In what way did the Djinn deal with the lazy camel?

8. Answer the following questions, in about 60-70 words: (Any 3) [3X3=9]

a) What features of the cat would enable you to recognize Macavity?
b) Velu’s father abused Velu physically and took away his and his sister’s earnings for the purpose of buying himself
alcohol. Do you agree with the way Velu reacted to this abuse?
c) How did Tilly use her knowledge in saving the lives of people on the beach? What was Penny’s reaction to her
daughter’s warnings?
d) As compared to many people found dead around many countries, the number of animals who died in the
Tsunami was very less? What do you think attributed to this?
e) Describe the relationship that Jim Macpherson shared with his wife.

9. Answer the following questions, in about 80-100 words: [2x4=8]

a) “When the author handed over the letter from Jim Macpherson to Connie, she just stared into his eyes. What do
you think was the author’s reaction? Should he have broken the truth to her about her husband, or allowed her
to wallow in her happiness?
b) Do you think the government is doing enough in banning “Child labour”? If yes, state the various ways in which it
is bringing about a change to alter the situation. If not, then in your mind, what constructive work needs to be
done in order to bring about a difference?
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