SAMPLE PAPER

GRADE-8
UNIT TEST-1
Total- 35 Marks + 5 Marks
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SECTION-A
READING
(10 Marks)
I. Read the following comprehension and answer the questions. (1X5=5)
1.President Barack Obama likes to draw parallels between himself and Abraham Lincoln.
One reason Obama seeks inspiration from the US’s greatest leader is the enormity of the
challenges he faces. The new administration’s highest priority will be an economy heading
for the severest recession since at least the 1970s.Obama also inherits two wars, and a lurking
threat from terrorism. Though all this pales in comparison to the political landscape that
confronted Lincoln, the newest US presidency sees climate change as an existential threat of
a kind never faced by a White House resident.
On the day before moving into the nation’s most storied house, Barack Obama visited a
shelter for teenagers with no home. With sleeves rolled up, he spent a few minutes painting
for the benefit of the cameras that trail him everywhere now.
Cara Fuller, a shelter worker, asked if he was sweating.
“Nah, I don’t sweat,” he told her.” “You ever see me sweat?”

2.Throughout the 77 days since his election, he has been a font of cool confidence, never too
hot, never too cold, seemingly undaunted by the magnitude of troubles awaiting him and
unbothered by the few setbacks that have tripped him up.

3.He will eventually have to choose between competing advice and priorities, risking the
disappointment or anger of constituencies that for the moment can still see him what they
hope to see. What the country has seen of his leadership style so far evokes the discipline of
George Bush and the curiosity of Bill Clinton. Obama is not shy about making decisions and
making them expeditiously he assembled his team in record time- but he has also sought to
tap into the nation’s intellectual dialogue at a time of great ferment.
More than any president since he was an infant, Obama has taken place in society that
extends beyond political leadership. He is as much symbol as substance an icon for the young
and a sign of deliverance for an older generation that never believed a man with his skin
colour would ascend those steps to vow to preserve, protect and defend a constitution that
originally counted a black man as three fifths of a person.

1. From the above passage we can infer and draw a parallel between President Barack Obama
and Abraham Lincoln that_______.

I. Both are from Africa.

II. Both faced enormous challenges.
III. Both faced wars and terrorism
IV. Both faced climate change
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 A. II
B. I & II
C. III & IV
D. II& III

2. ‘Pales in comparison to the political landscape….’

Pales in paragraph 1 means ___________
A. a light shadow of yellow
B. appears weak.
C. appears strong.
D. appears bright.

3. ‘Seemingly undaunted by the magnitude of troubles awaiting him….’

Which of the following simile describes Obama’s personality?

A. as cool as a cucumber
B. as clean as a whistle
C. as clear as a crystal
D. as gentle as a lamb

4. Obama is not shy about making decisions and making them….

Give one example from the text to support the above statement.

5. Find the word which means the same as ‘areas from where politicians fight elections.’

II. Read the poem given below and answer the questions. (1X5=5)

The Solitary Reaper

Behold her, single in the field,
Yon solitary Highland Lass!
Reaping and singing by herself.
Stop here, or gently pass!
Alone she cuts and binds the grain,
And sings a melancholy strain.
O listen! for the Vale profound
Is overflowing with the sound.

No Nightingale did ever chaunt

More welcome notes to weary bands
Of travellers in some shady haunt,
Among Arabian sands:
A voice so thrilling ne'er was heard.
In springtime from the Cuckoo-bird,
Breaking the silence of the seas
Among the farthest Hebrides.

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Will no one tell me what she sings? —
Perhaps the plaintive numbers flow
For old, unhappy, far-off things,
And battles long ago:
Or is it some more humble lay,
Familiar matter of to-day?
Some natural sorrow, loss, or pain,
That has been, and may be again?

Whate'er the theme, the Maiden sang

As if her song could have no ending.
I saw her singing at her work,
And o'er the sickle bending; —
I listened, motionless and still.
And, as I mounted up the hill,
The music in my heart I bore,
Long after it was heard no more.

1. The poet compares the reaper’s song to _____________.

A. Pigeon and dove

B. Cuckoo and Nightingale
C. Cuckoo and Peacock
D. Pigeon and Sparrow

2. What was the reaper doing when the poet first saw her…
I. She was singing.
II. She was deep in her thoughts.
III. She was reaping and singing to herself.
IV. She was welcoming travellers.

A. I
B. II &III
C. III
D. IV

3. In the third stanza of the poem the poet tries to imagine what the girl’s song is about. What
are two of the possibilities he imagines?

A. About her lost child and land.

B. Some past or present sorrow, pain, or loss.
C. Some life in the mountains and faraway lands.
D. About her travels to a land and fighting battles.

4. Why has the poet used the song of the nightingale and the cuckoo bird to compare? What
is the significance?

5. Why do you think the speaker fails to understand the song of the "Solitary Highland Lass"
in Wordsworth's Poem "The Solitary Reaper?’’

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 SECTION-B
WRITING SKILLS
(7 Marks)
III. You are Surabhi Shankar /Sreedhar Shankar. You want to bring to light the parking problem
faced by the people in the residential colonies, near schools and shopping areas. Write a dialogue
between two neighbours discussing this problem and what measures can be taken to rectify it in
about 8 sets excluding the greetings. (4 marks)

IV. Create an awareness poster on Road Safety. Poster: Message: Follow traffic rules, wear
seatbelts, and don’t text and drive. Be responsible and ensure your safety and the safety of others.
(3 Marks)

SECTION-C
GRAMMAR
(6 Marks)

IV. Rewrite the following sentences using correct tense of the verbs given in brackets.
(2 Marks)
1. She was sitting in the park till sunset. (Past Perfect Continuous)
2. George, Jacob, and Abraham had been going for music classes recently. (Present Continuous)

V. Choose the appropriate option. (3 Marks)

1.I __________ working all afternoon and just finished the assignment.

A. had been
B. was worked.
C. has been.
D. shall be.

2. Identify the tense used in the given sentence. “Everyone will be reaching by tomorrow.”

A. Simple Future tense

B. Present continuous tense
C. Future perfect continuous tense
D. Future continuous tense

3. Choose the past perfect continuous tense form of the sentence. “Derek was travelling around
the world for the past two years.”

A. Derek has been travelling around the world for the past two years.

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 B. Derek had been travelling around the world for the past two years.
C. Derek shall have been travelling around the world for the past two years.
D. Derek travelled around the world for the past two years.

4.Fill in the blank with the present perfect continuous tense form of the verb given in the bracket.
“Monica __________ since last week.” (plan)
A. did plan.
B. has been planning.
C. had been planning.
D. was planning.

5.One of his projects_________ awarded a prize.

A. are
B. has been
C. have been
D. will

6. Finn has been waiting to talk to you about the test results. Identify the tense.

A. Present Perfect
B. Past continuous
C. Past Perfect
D. Present perfect continuous

VI. There are two errors in the given sentence. Identify the errors and choose the right option.
(1x 1=1mark)
Synthetic material are designed and made by human, usually in order to mimic and improve
the properties of natural materials.
Option no: Error Correction
i design designed
ii material materials
iii human humans
iv is are

A. Options (i) and (ii)

B. Options (ii) and (iii)
C. Options (ii) and (iv)
D. Options (iii) and (iv)

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 SECTION-D
Literature
(12 Marks)

VI. Read the following extracts and answer any one of the following in complete sentences.
(1X3=3)

1. 1. ‘So, I came out from my ambush to find you….

a. A Who is the speaker?

b. B. Explain the context here.
c. C. The synonym of the underlined word is ______
i. exposed
ii. camouflage
iii. surprise
iv. visible

OR

2. ‘Markey is through…
No, he’s been tackled by the drainpipe….

a. Who is Markey?
b. Explain the context here.
c. Identify the poetic device used in the above lines.

VII. Answer any two questions in 50 words. (2X2=4)

1. Comment on how the poet has used different poetic devices to enhance the poem ‘The
Commentator.’ Support your answer with two examples from the poem.

2. How can you justify the title ‘The Three Questions’? Express your views in about in 40 to 50
words.

3.Give a brief description of the encounter between the King and the hermit in the story ‘The
Three Questions’ with suitable references from the text.

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 VIII. Answer any one of the following questions in about 120 words. (1X5=5)

1. In the story ‘Three Questions,’ how does Tolstoy use the characters of the Hermit and the
wounded man to contrast with the King’s journey towards understanding the significance of
living in the present moment and the true meaning of serving others?

OR
The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. He is the one that gets
the people to do the greatest things." What qualities should a team leader have? Elaborate with
examples from the poem.

READING ACROSS THE CURRICULUM

(5 Marks)

Read the following passage and answer the questions.

I. Ratatouille is a dish that has grown in popularity over the last few years. It features eggplant,
zucchini, tomatoes, peppers, and garlic chopped, mixed, sautéed, and finally, cooked slowly
over low heat. As the vegetables cook slowly, they make their own broth, which may be
extended with a little tomato paste. The name ratatouille comes from the French word
touiller, meaning to stir or mix together.

1. Which of the following is the correct sequence, order of steps for making ratatouille?

A. chop vegetables, add tomato paste, stir, or mix together.

B. mix the vegetables together, sauté them, and add tomato paste.
C. cook the vegetables slowly, mix them together, add tomato paste.
D. add tomato paste to extend the broth and cook slowly over low heat.

2. Ratatouille can best be described as a _____________.

A. French pastry.
B. sauce to put over vegetables.
C. pasta dish extended with tomato paste.
D. vegetable stew.

II. Daylilies are a beautiful perennial flower that can brighten up any yard or landscape.
They are tolerant of drought and flooding, immune to heat stress, and grow well in full sun
or light shade. They are the perfect choice for just about any soil or climate condition.
Different varieties of daylilies can be in bloom from late spring until autumn. Individual
flowers last only one day, but each plant produces many buds, and many varieties have
more than one flowering period.

3.Replace the underlined word without changing the meaning of the text.
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 They are tolerant of drought and flooding, immune to heat stress, and grow well in full sun or
light shade.

A. resistant.
B. affected.
C. patient.
D. exempt.

4.You could infer from this passage that these flowers are called daylilies because __________.
A. they only bloom in the daytime.
B. the blooms last for one day.
C. they look like real lilies but aren’t.
D. Charles Day developed the hybrid.

5.The underlined word perennial, as used in this passage, most nearly means __________.
A. it blooms once.
B. it blooms every year.
C. it is always popular.
D. it is part of the lily genus.

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