Class VIII Ray Martin Question Bank Page -95
Class VIII Ray and Martin Question Bank Page 96
Begum Rokeya Smriti Balika Vidyalaya
English Examination Paper (With Answers)
Class – VIII Full Marks – 50 Time – 2 Hours
Reading Skill (Seen)
1. Read the following passage and answer the questions:
> The shadowy figure took him to an upper room where a bright fire was burning. There was an armchair beside the fire. By the armchair was a small, oak table on which lay a battered old book bound in red leather. The shadowy figure put the candle on the table and departed silently.
Mortimer collapsed into the armchair and picked up the old book. With a shock he realized it was the same book from his childhood, the book which contained the story of the ‘Midnight Express’. Mortimer was greatly afraid. He turned the pages with trembling hands. He began to read. The story was about a man who in his childhood had read a book which contained a frightening picture.
Mortimer tried to grasp the strange cycle of events he was going through. He was filled with acute dread. “Who is the strange man who asked me into this cottage?” Mortimer asked himself fearfully. At that very moment the door opened and the strange host came in. His face was covered in darkness. The candle on the table cast huge shadows on the walls. The shadowy figure stood before Mortimer. Slowly he edged forward. Mortimer, sitting on the armchair, felt a chill run up his spine. He looked up into the face of the shadowy figure. Mortimer realized he was looking at himself.
A. Write ‘T’ for True and ‘F’ for False statements. Give supporting sentences:
(1+1)×3 = 6 marks
Statements Answer (T/F) Supporting Sentence
(i) An old, battered book lay on the armchair. F
“By the armchair was a small, oak table on which lay a battered old book.”
(ii) Mortimer was not at all afraid of the things happening around him. F “Mortimer was greatly afraid.”
(iii) The story of ‘Midnight Express’ was about a midnight express train. F “The story was about a man who in his childhood had read a book which contained a frightening picture.”
B. Complete the sentences with information from the passage:1×2 = 2 marks
(i) The armchair was placed beside the fire in the upper room.
(ii) The face of the strange host was covered in darkness.
C. Answer the following questions:2×3 = 6 marks
(i) What did Mortimer realise when he saw the face of the shadowy figure?
→ When Mortimer saw the face of the shadowy figure, he realised that he was looking at himself.
(ii) Where did the shadowy figure take Mortimer to?
→ The shadowy figure took Mortimer to an upper room where a bright fire was burning.
(iii) Describe the activities of the strange host.
→ The strange host silently took Mortimer to the room. He placed the candle on the table, and later entered the room again, standing before Mortimer with his face covered in darkness.
2. Read the poem and answer the questions:
The Swallow is a summer bird;
He in our chimneys, when the weather
Is fine and warm, may then be heard
Chirping his notes for weeks together.
Come there but one cold wintry day,
Away will fly our guest the Swallow:
And much like him we find the way
Which many a gay young friend will follow.
In dreary days of snow and frost
Closer to Man will cling the Sparrow:
Old friends, although in life we're crost,
Their hearts to us will never narrow.
Give me the bird—give me the friend—
Will sing in frost—will love in sorrow—
Whate’er mischance to-day may send,
Will greet me with his sight to-morrow.
A. Choose the correct alternatives:
1×2 = 2 marks
(i) In a cold day the Swallow will —
✅ (b) fly away
(ii) The poet wishes to have a friend who will be like —
✅ (a) sparrow
B. Answer the following questions:2×2 = 4 marks
(i) Give one similarity between the gay young friend and the Swallow.
→ Both the gay young friend and the Swallow leave when difficult times come.
(ii) Which bird do you like, the Swallow or the Sparrow, in respect of the poem? Give reasons.
→ I like the Sparrow because it stays with man in the dreary days of snow and frost, just like a true friend who never leaves in sorrow.
Reading Skill (Unseen)
3. Read the passage and answer the questions:
> Michelle was a nine-year-old girl. Her father worked as a driver and her mother was a homemaker. Although Michelle’s family was not a rich one, they led a happy life. Michelle’s school was located two miles away from her home. Michelle’s birthday was coming up in two weeks. She requested her father to buy her a bicycle so that she could go to school on it and would not have to depend on anyone to drop her to school.
On her birthday morning, her mother stood with a beautiful gift. Michelle opened it eagerly but became disappointed—it was a Barbie doll, not the bicycle she had dreamed of. Her father was sad too, for he had no money to buy a bicycle.
A week later, Michelle saw a boy crash his bicycle into a tree. The boy was her neighbour, Robin. She helped him, gave him water, and informed his parents. Out of gratitude, Robin’s parents gifted a cycle to Michelle. She was overjoyed—her dream had come true.
A. Choose the correct alternatives:
1×5 = 5 marks
(i) Michelle’s father was a — ✅ (c) driver
(ii) Michelle was — years old. ✅ (d) nine
(iii) Michelle wished for a — ✅ (b) bicycle
(iv) Who met with an accident? ✅ (a) Robin
(v) The best title for the passage is — ✅ (c) A Wonderful Gift
B. Answer the following questions:
(1×4 = 4 marks)
(i) Why did Michelle request her father to buy her a bicycle?
→ She requested her father to buy her a bicycle so that she could go to school by herself.
(ii) Why was Michelle unhappy on her birthday?
→ She was unhappy because she received a Barbie doll instead of the bicycle she had wanted.
(iii) What gift did Robin’s parents give to Michelle?
→ Robin’s parents gifted her a bicycle.
(iv) How did Michelle help Robin?
→ Michelle helped Robin when he met with an accident by giving him water and informing his parents.
Grammar and Vocabulary
4. Change the following sentences from Active to Passive Voice:
1×5 = 5 marks
(i) The old man helped the boy.
→ The boy was helped by the old man.
(ii) Aladdin lights the magic lamp.
→ The magic lamp is lit by Aladdin.
(iii) I have broken the dinner plates.
→ The dinner plates have been broken by me.
(iv) The girl is picking mangoes.
→ Mangoes are being picked by the girl.
(v) They had forced the enemy to retreat.
→ The enemy had been forced to retreat by them.
5. Change the following sentences from Direct to Indirect Speech:1×5 = 5 marks
(i) She said, “My friends are very helpful.”
→ She said that her friends were very helpful.
(ii) Mother said to me, “It is raining now.”
→ Mother told me that it was raining then.
(iii) Mina said to Tina, “All the teachers have praised your drawing.”
→ Mina told Tina that all the teachers had praised her drawing.
(iv) Father said to his son, “All that glitters is not gold.”
→ Father told his son that all that glitters is not gold.
(v) Abhi said to Pran, “Are you going to Jaipur tomorrow?”
→ Abhi asked Pran if he was going to Jaipur the next day.
6. Underline the Subordinate Clauses and state their kinds:1×5 = 5 marks
(i) The birds return to their nests when it is evening. → Adverb Clause of Time
(ii) I know your sister who is a good student. → Adjective Clause
(iii) If it rains I shall not get out. → Adverb Clause of Condition
(iv) Stay where you are. → Adverb Clause of Place
(v) I had a pet dog which was very helpful. → Adjective Clause
7. Use appropriate suffixes and fill in the blanks:1×3 = 3 marks
(i) Murshidabad is famous for its historical places.
(ii) I cannot remember my childhood days.
(iii) The old man was famous for his wisdom.
Begum Rokeya Smriti Balika Vidyalaya
English – Class: 8
Full Marks: 50 Time: 2 Hours
Reading Skill (Seen)
1. Read the following passage and answer the questions given below :
> The shadowy figure took him to an upper room where a bright fire was burning. There was an armchair beside the fire. By the armchair was a small, oak table on which lay a battered old book bound in red leather. The shadowy figure put the candle on the table and departed silently.
Mortimer collapsed into the armchair and picked up the old book. With a shock he realized it was the same book from his childhood, the book which contained the story of the ‘Midnight Express’. Mortimer was greatly afraid. He turned the pages with trembling hands. He began to read. The story was about a man who in his childhood had read a book which contained a frightening picture.
Mortimer tried to grasp the strange cycle of events he was going through. He was filled with acute dread. “Who is the strange man who asked me into this cottage?” Mortimer asked himself fearfully. At that very moment the door opened and the strange host came in. His face was covered in darkness. The candle on the table cast huge shadows on the walls. The shadowy figure stood before Mortimer. Slowly he edged forward. Mortimer, sitting on the armchair, felt a chill run up his spine. He looked up into the face of the shadowy figure. Mortimer realized he was looking at himself.
A. Write ‘T’ for True and ‘F’ for False statements. Give supporting sentences:
(1+1) × 3 = 6 marks
Statements T/F Supporting Sentence
(i) An old, battered book lay on the armchair.
(ii) Mortimer was not at all afraid of the things happening around him.
(iii) The story of ‘Midnight Express’ was about a midnight express train.
B. Complete the following sentences with information from the passage:
1 × 2 = 2 marks
(i) The armchair was placed _______________________________________.
(ii) The face of the strange host ____________________________________.
C. Answer the following questions:
2 × 3 = 6 marks
(i) What did Mortimer realise when he saw the face of the shadowy figure?
(ii) Where did the shadowy figure take Mortimer to?
(iii) Describe the activities of the strange host.
2. Read the poem and answer the questions that follow:
> The Swallow is a summer bird;
He in our chimneys, when the weather
Is fine and warm, may then be heard
Chirping his notes for weeks together.
Come there but one cold wintry day,
Away will fly our guest the Swallow:
And much like him we find the way
Which many a gay young friend will follow.
In dreary days of snow and frost
Closer to Man will cling the Sparrow:
Old friends, although in life we're crost,
Their hearts to us will never narrow.
Give me the bird—give me the friend—
Will sing in frost—will love in sorrow—
Whate’er mischance to-day may send,
Will greet me with his sight to-morrow.
A. Choose the correct alternatives:
1 × 2 = 2 marks
(i) In a cold day the Swallow will —
(a) chirp notes (b) fly away (c) cling to the poet (d) store food
(ii) The poet wishes to have a friend who will be like —
(a) sparrow (b) swallow (c) nightingale (d) parrot
B. Answer the following questions:
2 × 2 = 4 marks
(i) Give one similarity between the gay young friend and the Swallow.
(ii) Which bird do you like, the Swallow or the Sparrow, in respect of the poem ‘Summer Friends’? Give reasons.
---
Reading Skill (Unseen)
3. Read the passage and answer the questions:
> Michelle was a nine-year-old girl. Her father worked as a driver and her mother was a homemaker. Although Michelle’s family was not a rich one, they led a happy life. Michelle’s school was located two miles away from her home. Michelle’s birthday was coming up in two weeks. She requested her father to buy her a bicycle so that she could go to school on it and would not have to depend on anyone to drop her to school.
On her birthday morning, her mother stood with a beautiful gift. Michelle opened it eagerly but became disappointed—it was a Barbie doll, not the bicycle she had dreamed of. Her father was sad too, for he had no money to buy a bicycle.
A week later, Michelle saw a boy crash his bicycle into a tree. The boy was her neighbour, Robin. She helped him, gave him water, and informed his parents. Out of gratitude, Robin’s parents gifted a cycle to Michelle. She was overjoyed—her dream had come true.
---
A. Choose the correct alternatives:
1 × 5 = 5 marks
(i) Michelle’s father was a —
(a) engineer (b) doctor (c) driver (d) teacher
(ii) Michelle was — years old.
(a) ten (b) eight (c) eleven (d) nine
(iii) Michelle wished for a —
(a) storybook (b) bicycle (c) doll (d) doll’s house
(iv) Who met with an accident?
(a) Robin (b) Michelle (c) Michelle’s father (d) Robin’s parents
(v) The best title for the passage is —
(a) A Barbie Doll (b) A Brave Girl (c) A Wonderful Gift (d) Michelle’s Friend
---
B. Answer the following questions:
(1×4 = 4 marks)
(i) Why did Michelle request her father to buy her a bicycle?
(ii) Why was Michelle unhappy on her birthday?
(iii) What gift did Robin’s parents give to Michelle?
(iv) How did Michelle help Robin?
---
Grammar and Vocabulary
4. Change the sentences from Active to Passive Voice:
1 × 5 = 5 marks
(i) The old man helped the boy.
(ii) Aladdin lights the magic lamp.
(iii) I have broken the dinner plates.
(iv) The girl is picking mangoes.
(v) They had forced the enemy to retreat.
---
5. Change the sentences from Direct to Indirect Speech:
1 × 5 = 5 marks
(i) She said, “My friends are very helpful.”
(ii) Mother said to me, “It is raining now.”
(iii) Mina said to Tina, “All the teachers have praised your drawing.”
(iv) Father said to his son, “All that glitters is not gold.”
(v) Abhi said to Pran, “Are you going to Jaipur tomorrow?”
---
6. Underline the Subordinate Clauses and state their kinds:
1 × 5 = 5 marks
(i) The birds return to their nests when it is evening.
(ii) I know your sister who is a good student.
(iii) If it rains I shall not get out.
(iv) Stay where you are.
(v) I had a pet dog which was very helpful.
7. Use appropriate suffixes to fill in the blanks:
1 × 3 = 3 marks
(i) Murshidabad is famous for its __________ places. (history)
(ii) I cannot remember my __________ days. (child)
(iii) The old man was famous for his __________. (wise)
Writing Skill
8. Use the flow chart and describe how tomato jelly is prepared:
10 marks
Hints:
Tomatoes collected → cleaned → rotten ones removed → smashed → juice extracted → boiled → salt, sugar, etc. mixed → cooked to make jelly → cooled and stored in bottles.
9. Write a letter to the Headmistress of your school
praying for three days’ leave on account of your mother’s illness.
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