Ray Martin Question Bank Page-93 Class VIII

 Ray Martin Question Bank Page-93

Class VIII

🏫 Barlow Girls’ High School (H.S.)

ENGLISH (Class VIII)

Reading Skill, Grammar & Writing Section

Full Marks: 50  Time: 2 Hours

1. Reading Skill (Seen)

Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:

 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 ‘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.

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

(i) The shadowy figure put the –

✅ (b) candle on the table.

(ii) Mortimer sank into the –

✅ (d) armchair.

(iii) Mortimer turned the pages of the book –

✅ (c) fearfully.

(iv) The book contained a –

✅ (d) dreadful picture.

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B. State whether the following are True or False: (1 × 2 = 2)

(i) Mortimer found the old battered book on the armchair. – ❌ False

(ii) Mortimer tried to understand the series of events he was going through. – ✅ True

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C. Answer the following questions briefly: (2 × 3 = 6)

(i) Mortimer was filled with acute dread because he found himself living through a strange and frightening event that seemed to repeat a story from his own childhood.

(ii) When Mortimer found the old book, he was shocked and terrified. He realized it was the same red-leather book he had once read as a child and began to read it again with trembling hands.

(iii) The story in the battered old book was about a man who, in his childhood, had read a book that contained a frightening picture—just as Mortimer was doing now.

2. Poem – “Only the Busy Beetle”

 Tap-tapping in the wall,

Only the cricket whistling,

The screech-owl’s call,

At all, at all, at all.

While the dewdrops fall,

Only from the forest—

So I know not who came knocking.

A. Complete the sentences: (1 × 2 = 2)

(i) The busy beetle is tap-tapping in the wall.

(ii) The screech-owl’s call is coming from the forest.

B. Answer the following questions: (2 × 2 = 4)

(i)The  name of the poem is “Someone "

and the poet is Walter John de la Mare

(ii) The poet did not know who came knocking because the sounds he heard were only those of insects and birds at night, not of any visitor.

3. Reading Skill (Unseen Passage)

Read the passage carefully and answer the following questions:

One of the most valuable treasures of the earth is common salt. It can be found almost everywhere. All boys and girls know that sea water is salty. It is salty because there is salt in the soil. As rivers cut their way through the soil, they dissolve the salt and carry it down to the sea in this way every year. Much of the sea water evaporates, but the salt is left behind. In some places, great salt-water lakes dry up leaving behind a great amount of salt, and people are engaged in gathering this together. In other places, salt is found beneath the surface of the ground just as we find coal.

Today salt is cheap because it is plentiful. Many years ago, it was expensive. In some places it was so valuable that people used to give salt when they wished to give someone a splendid present.

A. State True (T) or False (F): (1 × 4 = 4)

(i) Sea water is palatable. – ❌ False

(ii) We find coal on the surface of the ground. – ❌ False

(iii) Nowadays salt is expensive. – ❌ False

(iv) Salt is carried down to the sea by the rivers. – ✅ True

B. Complete the sentences: (1 × 2 = 2)

(i) When salt-water lakes dry up, people gather the salt left behind.

(ii) Salt was so expensive in the past that it was given as a splendid present.

C. Answer the following questions: (2 × 3 = 6)

(i) Sea water is salty because rivers dissolve the salt in the soil and carry it to the sea every year.

(ii) Salt is cheap nowadays because it is easily available and plentiful.

(iii) Salt and other minerals like coal are common because both are found beneath the surface of the earth.

D. Word Meaning: (2 × 2 = 4)

(i) Turn into vapour from liquid – Evaporate

(ii) Resplendent – Splendid / Brightly shining

4. Grammar and Vocabulary

A. Fill in the blanks with appropriate articles and prepositions: (1 × 4 = 4)

(i) Mr. Bose is affectionate to his girl.

(ii) He is the Messi of our football team.

(iii) His grandfather died of cholera.

(iv) I gave him a one-rupee note.

B. Do as directed: (1 × 10 = 10)

(i) The President governed our country.

➡ Our country was governed by the President.

(ii) The sun helps the trees to grow.

Trees are helped by the sun to grow.

(iii) He was extremely sad to hear the news.

(iv) We believe in international --brotherhood.

(v) The King, who was protector to all his people, was favourite to everyone.

➡ Subordinate clause: “who was protector to all his people.”

Type: Adjective clause.

(vi) You must hurry up, or you will be late.

(vii) Pradip Sir lives near the Income Tax Office.

➡ Phrase: “near the Income Tax Office” — Prepositional phrase.

(viii) She is working on the project at this moment.

(ix) The sailor said to us, “There will be a severe storm.”

➡ The sailor told us that there would be a severe storm.

(x) The doctor said to the patient, “Do you have a toothache?”

➡ The doctor asked the patient if he had a toothache.

5. Writing Skill

(i) Autobiography of “A Pulled Rickshaw”

I am a pulled rickshaw, a humble vehicle that carries people through the crowded streets every day. I was built by a skilled craftsman who shaped my wooden frame and painted me bright red. My owner pulls me with great effort under the scorching sun and pouring rain. Together we carry passengers—students, workers, and shoppers—to their destinations. Though my wheels get tired and my paint fades, I feel proud to serve people and earn their smiles. I dream of a day when my master will no longer struggle and both of us can rest after a long journey of service.

(ii) Letter to Younger Sister (10 Marks)

আমাদের লেটার এর ছকে ফেলে দেবে

 I am writing this letter to tell you about the importance of learning martial arts and self-defence. Nowadays, it is necessary for every girl to know how to protect herself in any situation. Martial arts help you build strength, confidence, and discipline. It teaches you to stay calm and face danger bravely. So, I suggest you join a good self-defence class in your area. It will surely make you stronger and more confident.

Take care of yourself and write to me soon.

6.