Class 8 2nd Summative English Examination 2026

 Class 8 2nd Summative English Examination 2026   

Muninagar Radhakanta Vidyapith (H.S.)

2nd Summative Evaluation-2026  Time-1 hour 45 minutes 

Class - VIII   Sub - English

Reading Passage

"This is the Excalibur", Merlin said. "Only an honest and fearless knight who protects the common people can possess this sword."  

King Arthur accepted the enchanted sword from the mysterious hand appearing from the depths of the lake. "I shall never use this magic sword for any personal benefit," King Arthur declared.  

King Arthur could gift peace and prosperity to England. The greedy barons were unhappy with King Arthur because he was gentle and just. He married the beautiful Lady Guinevere, daughter of the King of Cornwall. On the wedding day, Merlin took him to a richly gilded pavilion, painted crimson and dark blue. The floor was marbled. In the middle of the room was a huge, round, oak table, richly carved, capable of seating fifty people. This was the famous round table around which gathered King Arthur's devoted knights.  

Answers

A. Complete the following sentences with information from the text: (1×4=4)

i) The mysterious hand appeared from the depths of the lake.

ii) Lady Guinevere was the beautiful daughter of the King of Cornwall.

iii) King Arthur's devoted knights gathered around the famous round table.

iv) King Arthur declared that he would never use the magic sword for any personal benefit.

B. Answer the following questions: (1×2=2)

i) Who could possess the sword according to Merlin?

Ans: According to Merlin, only an honest and fearless knight who protects the common people could possess the sword.

ii) Why were the barons unhappy with King Arthur?

Ans: The greedy barons were unhappy with King Arthur because he was gentle and just.

C. Write 'T' for true and 'F' for false statements. Give a Supporting Statement for each of your answers: (1+1)×2=4

i) Merlin took King Arthur to a richly gilded pavilion on his birthday.

[ F ]

S.S.: "On the wedding day, Merlin took him to a richly gilded pavilion, painted crimson and dark blue."

ii) Arthur was able to make his country peaceful and prosperous.[ T ]

S.S.: "King Arthur could gift peace and prosperity to England."

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

The sea is a hungry dog,

Giant and grey.

He rolls on the beach all day.

With his clashing teeth and shaggy jaws

Hour upon hour he gnaws

The rumbling, tumbling stones,

A. Tick (✓) the correct alternative: (1×2=2)

i) The sea is compared to a —

(d) hungry dog ✓

ii) The word ‘gnaws’ means —

(c) bites and chews ✓

B. Complete the following sentences with information from the text: (1×2=2)

i) The sea rolls on the beach with his clashing teeth and shaggy jaws.

ii) The sea gnaws hour upon hour on the rumbling, tumbling stones.

C. Answer the following question: (2×1=2)

i) What is the name of the poem? Who is the poet?

Ans: The name of the poem is "The Sea" and the poet is James Reeves.

3. Reading Comprehension (Unseen)

Dance is a skillful art. It is an effective means of expression; facial expression and hand gestures are the essence of dance. A dance can express such feelings as joy, anger or helplessness without saying a word. People have been dancing since time immemorial. Pre-historic people probably made up dances to gain favour of their gods. Many Indian tribes danced while appealing for rain and good crops. Dance is also an ideal exercise. Twenty minutes of dancing can burn as many calories as twenty minutes of swimming or biking. Half an hour of dancing can burn as many as 200 to 400 calories. Dancing can reduce stress, tension, anxiety and even depression.  

A. Tick (✓) the correct alternative: (1×4=4)

i) Dance is —

(c) a skillful art ✓

ii) Indian tribe danced —

(c) while appealing for rain or good crops ✓

Page 3

iii) The essence of dance is —

(d) both 'a' and 'b' (a: facial expressions, b: hand gestures) ✓

iv) A dancer can express many feelings by —

(c) without saying a word ✓

B. Write 'T' for true statement and 'F' for false statement: (1×2=2)

i) Dance can not be an effective means of expression.

[ F ]

ii) Pre-historic people did not know dancing.

[ F ]

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

i) What feelings are expressed by dance?

Ans: Feelings such as joy, anger, or helplessness are expressed by dance without saying a word.

ii) What is the usefulness of dancing?

Ans: Dancing is an ideal exercise. Twenty minutes of dancing burns as many calories as twenty minutes of swimming or biking, and half an hour of dancing burns 200 to 400 calories. It also reduces stress, tension, anxiety, and depression.

4. Grammar & Vocabulary

A. Change the narration: (1×3=3)

i) The Swallow said to the Happy Prince, "Why are you crying?"

Ans: The Swallow asked the Happy Prince why he was crying.

ii) Mother said to me, "Please, wait for me here."

Ans: Mother requested me to wait for her there.

iii) The Swallow said to the Statue, "I am staying with you."

Ans: The Swallow told the Statue that he/it was staying with him/it.

B. Underline and identify the phrases in the following sentences: (1×3=3)

i) This is a table made of wood.

Ans: Made of wood — Adjective Phrase

ii) The little girl did not know what to do.

Ans: What to do — Noun Phrase

iii) The wind blew with great speed.

Ans: With great speed — Adverb Phrase

C. Underline and identify the clauses in the following sentences: (1×2=2)

i) The artist hoped that he would win an award.

Ans: That he would win an award — Noun Clause (Subordinate)

ii) He could not walk further as he was tired.

Ans: As he was tired — Adverbial Clause (Subordinate)

D. Underline the infinitives in the following sentences: (1×2=2)

i) He wanted to go home.

Ans: to go

ii) To lie is a sin.

Ans: To lie

E. Find out the meaning of the following words from unseen passage (Q. No. 3): (2×2=4)

i) Perfect — Ideal

(From unseen passage: "...Dance is also an ideal exercise...")

ii) Worry — Anxiety / Stress / Tension

(From unseen passage: "...burn as many as 200 to 400 calories. Dancing can reduce stress, tension, anxiety...")

5. Writing Skill (10 Marks)

Write a letter in about eighty words to your younger brother / sister advising him / her to be kind to animals.