Class Viii Ray and Martin Question Bank Page :71 Unseen Solved 2025

Class Viii Ray and Martin Question Bank Page :71 Unseen Solved 2025 

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1. Reading Skill (Seen)

📖 Read the following passage and answer the questions given below:

“It’s not the same thing,” said the little bird. “The rice-fields and the lake and the willow trees look quite different when you see them through the bars of a cage.”

So she brought him home again and gave him supper. But he wouldn’t eat a thing. The Princess was anxious. “Perhaps he’ll have got used to his cage by tomorrow,” she thought.

And next day when she awoke, she cried out good morning in a cheerful voice. She got no answer. She jumped out of bed and ran to the cage. She gave a startled cry, for there the little bird lay with his eyes closed, and he looked as if he were dead. She opened the door and lifted him out. She gave a sob of relief, for she felt that his little heart was beating still.

“Wake up, wake up, little bird,” she said. She began to cry and her tears fell on the little bird. “I cannot sing unless I’m free and if I cannot sing, I die,” he said.

“Then take your freedom,” the Princess said. “I shut you in a golden cage because I loved you and wanted to have you all to myself. But I never knew it would kill you. Go. Fly away among the trees that are round the lake and fly over the green rice-fields. I love you enough to let you be happy in your own way.”

She threw open the window and gently placed the little bird on the sill.

A. Choose the correct option from the alternatives given:

(1 × 4 = 4)

(i) Finally the caged bird lost his –

(a) ability to fly

(b) ability to sing

(c) will to live

(d) ability to eat

(ii) The bird’s song was tied to his –

(a) food

(b) freedom

(c) sleep

(d) voice

(iii) The ‘sill’ is a –

(a) narrow shelf below a window

(b) marine animal

(c) stamp or emblem

(d) thing used to close an opening tightly

(iv) The princess decided to release the bird because –

(a) she grew tired of him

(b) she understood that happiness was freedom

(c) she wanted him to sing again

(d) she feared the bird might die

B. Complete the sentences with information from the passage:

(1 × 3 = 3)

(i) The rice fields, the lake, the willows lost their magic when

👉 __________________________________________.

(ii) The Princess became anxious because

👉 __________________________________________.

(iii) The Princess felt relieved when

👉 __________________________________________.

C. Answer the following questions (each in about 15 words or less):

(1 × 3 = 3)

(i) What does the repetition of the word ‘bones’ in the first stanza convey?

👉 __________________________________________.

(ii) How is the sea described in the third stanza?

👉 __________________________________________.

(iii) Identify an example in the poem of onomatopoeia (sound word).

👉 __________________________________________.

2. Reading Skill (Unseen)

📄 Read the passage and answer the questions below:

It was already late when we set out for the next town, which according to the map was about fifteen miles away on the other side of the hills. There we felt sure that we would find a bed for the night. Darkness fell soon after we left the village, but luckily we met no one as we drove swiftly along the narrow winding road that led to the hills. As we climbed higher, it became colder and rain began to fall, making it difficult at times to see the road. I asked John, my companion, to drive more slowly.

After we had travelled for about twenty miles, there was still no sign of the town which was marked on the map. We were beginning to get worried. Then, without warning, the car stopped. A quick examination showed that we had run out of petrol. Although we had little food with us, only a few biscuits and some chocolates, we decided to spend the night in the car.

Our meal was soon over. I tried to go to sleep at once, but John, who was a poor sleeper, got out of the car after a few minutes and went for a walk up the hill. Soon he came running back. From the top of the hill he had seen, in the valley below, the lights of the town we were looking for. We at once unloaded all our luggage and, with a great effort, managed to push the car to the top of the hill. Then we went back for the luggage, loaded the car again and set off down the hill. In less than a quarter of an hour we were in the town, where we found a hotel quite easily.

A. Complete the sentences by choosing the correct option:

(1 × 2 = 2)

(i) The travellers had a map but –

(a) they did not know how to use it

(b) it gave them the wrong information

(c) they could not see very well in the dark

(d) the town they were looking for was not clearly marked

(ii) Their car stopped because –

(a) they had travelled more than twenty miles

(b) they ran out of petrol

(c) there was no sight

(d) they were going uphill

B. Answer the following questions:

(2 × 2 = 4)

(i) What did the travellers expect to find in the next town?

👉 __________________________________________.

(ii) How long did it take them to reach the town after they had set off down the hill?

👉 __________________________________________.

C. State whether the following are True or False. Provide support from the passage:

(2 × 2 = 4)

(i) It was dark when they left the village.

👉 True / False

Supporting sentence: ____________________________________

(ii) They pushed the car up the hill easily.

👉 True / False

Supporting sentence: ____________________________________

D. Find a word from the passage which means: "Not straight"

👉 Word: ___________________________

3. Grammar and Vocabulary

A. Underline the dependent clause and state its kind:

(1 × 3 = 3)

(i) He is a king who is very powerful.

→ Type: ___________________________________

(ii) Indian cricket team is confident that they will win the match.

→ Type: ___________________________________

(iii) When she awoke the next day, the little bird was still sitting there.

→ Type: ___________________________________

B. Change into Indirect Speech:

(2 × 2 = 4)

(i) She said, “How happy I am!”

👉 ______________________________________

(ii) My grandfather told me, “May you shine in life.”

👉 ______________________________________

C. Replace underlined words with their antonyms:

(1 × 3 = 3)

(i) He replied in a loud voice.

👉 ____________________________

(ii) The news made him sad.

👉 ____________________________

(iii) He spoke politely.

👉 ____________________________

4. Writing Skill

✍️ Write a short story using the given hints. Add a title.

[Word limit: 80 words]

Hints:

A hungry fox passing through a forest – searched for food – saw ripe grapes on the vine – jumped at the grapes – could not get them – failed a number of times – gave up the idea of eating them – went away saying, "These grapes are sour".

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📘 English Examination – Full Answer Sheet

1. Reading Skill (Seen)

📖 Passage: The Princess and the Bird

A. Choose the correct option: (1 × 4 = 4)

(i) Finally the caged bird lost his –

✅ (c) will to live

(ii) The bird’s song was tied to his –

✅ (b) freedom

(iii) The ‘sill’ is a –

✅ (a) narrow shelf below a window

(iv) The princess decided to release the bird because –

✅ (b) she understood that happiness was freedom

B. Complete the sentences:(1 × 3 = 3)

(i) The rice fields, the lake, the willows lost their magic when

👉 the little bird saw them through the bars of the cage.

(ii) The Princess became anxious because

👉 the bird refused to eat anything.

(iii) The Princess felt relieved when

👉 she felt that the bird's little heart was still beating.

C. Reading Skill (Seen) – Poetry Section

📜 Poem: “The Sea” by James Reeves

 

A. Choose the correct answers from the given alternatives:

(1 × 4 = 4)

(i) The sea is compared to a dog throughout the poem. What kind of a dog do you think the poet has in mind?

✅ (d) a large stray dog

(ii) In the first stanza, the dog moans with –

✅ (b) hunger

(iii) What does ‘reedy tune’ refer to?

✅ (c) the sound of the wind grass in summer

(iv) What is a dune?

✅ (d) a mound of wind-blown sand

 

B. James Reeves compares the sea to a dog at three different times. Complete the following chart:

(1 × 3 = 3)

Time                          Nature of the Dog

(i) Quiet days in May/June  Sleeping dog

(ii) Daytime on the beach/all day      Hungry dog

(iii) Windy nights                   Howling dog

 

C. Answer in about 15 words or less:(1 × 3 = 3)

(i) What does the repetition of the word 'bones' in the first stanza convey?

👉 It conveys the sea's endless hunger, like a dog constantly chewing on bones.

(ii) How is the sea described in the third stanza?

👉 In the third stanza, the sea is described as calm, peaceful, and lying still like a sleeping dog with its head between its paws.

(iii) Identify an example in the poem of onomatopoeia (sound word).

👉 "Howls and hollos" – these mimic the loud, wild sounds of the sea.

2. Reading Skill (Unseen)

📄 Passage: A Journey to the Town

A. Choose the correct option:

(1 × 2 = 2)

(i) The travellers had a map but –

✅ (c) they could not see very well in the dark

(ii) Their car stopped because –

✅ (b) they ran out of petrol

B. Answer in full sentences:

(2 × 2 = 4)

(i) What did the travellers expect to find in the next town?

👉 They expected to find a bed to sleep in for the night.

(ii) How long did it take them to reach the town after they had set off down the hill?

👉 It took them less than a quarter of an hour to reach the town.

C. True/False with support:

(2 × 2 = 4)

(i) It was dark when they left the village.

✅ True

Supporting sentence: "Darkness fell soon after we left the village."

(ii) They pushed the car up the hill easily.

❌ False

Supporting sentence: "With a great effort, managed to push the car to the top of the hill."

D. Word meaning:

Not straight

👉 Winding

3. Grammar and Vocabulary

A. Underline dependent clause and state its kind:

(1 × 3 = 3)

(i) He is a king who is very powerful.

👉 Relative Clause

(ii) Indian cricket team is confident that they will win the match.

👉 Noun Clause

(iii) When she awoke the next day, the little bird was still sitting there.

👉 Adverbial Clause of Time

B. Change into Indirect Speech:

(2 × 2 = 4)

(i) She said, “How happy I am!”

👉 She exclaimed that she was very happy.

(ii) My grandfather told me, “May you shine in life.”

👉 My grandfather blessed me  that I might shine in life.

My grandfather prayed  that I might shine in life.

C. Replace underlined words with antonyms:(1 × 3 = 3)

(i) He replied in a soft voice.

(ii) The news made him happy.

(iii) He spoke rudely.

4. Writing Skill

Story Writing (within 80 words)

📝 Title: The Fox and the Grapes

A hungry fox was passing through a forest. He saw ripe grapes hanging from a vine. He jumped to reach them but failed. He tried again and again, but still could not get them. After many failed attempts, he gave up and walked away saying, “These grapes are sour.” This shows that we often pretend to hate what we cannot have.

Moral: It’s easy to despise what you can’t get.