Roll No.

________________

Code : 820132.1(M)-SA2

CLASS : VIII

ENGLISH (COURSE-'A')
(Summative Assessment - II)
Time : 3.00 hrs.

Please check that this question paper contains 16 questions and 12 printed pages. Maximum Marks : 90

General Instructions : 1. This paper consists of four sections : A, B, C & D. 2. Attempt all the questions. 3. Don't write anything on the question-paper. 4. Read each question carefully and follow the given instructions. 5. All the answers must be correctly numbered and written in the answersheet provided to you. 6. Strictly adhere to the word limit given in the question-paper. Marks will be deducted for exceeding the word limit. 7. Ensure that questions of each section are answered together.

SECTION-A (READING) 1. Read the following passage carefully : STRESS BUSTERS (1)

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"The most obvious way to avoid examination stress is to be fully prepared" is an oft-repeated advice from the experienced elders. They ignore two facts : first, the most stressed students are the highest achievers who set unrealistic goals for themselves; second, asking students to relax is easier said than done.

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"Is there no way to calm the tired nerves that seem to accompany examinations and the resultant exam blues?" ask the anxious students. Well, there are no pills, quick-fix methods or sure-shot ways to combat stress. However, certain steps, if followed properly, can yield the desired results.

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You must discuss your anxiety with family or friends. When you express a feeling or emotion, its intensity automatically goes down, making it easier for you to cope.

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Usually, anxiety sets off a chain reaction where students imagine what would happen if they don't get good marks, which adds to their nervousness. Psychologists advise that you should distract yourself by talking to a friend, going for a run, or watching television as soon as these thoughts begin.

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Studying long hours at a stretch does not translate into being well prepared for the exams. Non stop studying brings down the mind's ability to remember and recall. So always take a short break before hitting the books.

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Deep breathing with your eyes closed while focussing on your body slows the physiological response to stress and brings down muscular and mental tension. It stabilises the biochemical response of the body by controlling hormonal secretions induced by anxiety. You can do breathing exercises just before you begin a paper and start writing. It will help focus your thoughts better and prevent panic attacks.

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You must have a high corbohydrate-low fat diet. Fats in the diet make the body sluggish. So it's best to consume fresh fruits and vegetables. While limiting the tea and coffee intake to not more than three cups a day.

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These tips should help you make it through the trauma of answering papers.

1.1. On the basis of your reading of the passage, complete the following statements. (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) In order to avoid exam stress, one _______________. The highest achievers are sometimes the most stressed ones because _______________. It is easy to cope with anxiety by sharing it with family or friends as by doing this, _______________. One can distract oneself by talking to a friend (i) _______________ or (ii) _______________ One must avoid non stop studying because it brings down _____________________________________.

8 1 1 1 1 1

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Two benefits of deep breathing with one's eyes closed are _________ (i) it ______________________________ (ii) it ______________________________ and 2 1

(g) (a) (b) (c) (d) 2.

During exams, one must take ______________________________ diet. clear / easily seen high strength to fight against / to oppose (para 1) _______________ (para 3) _______________ (para 2) _______________

1.2. Find words from the passage which mean the same as the following: 4=2

distressing/unpleasant experience (para 8) _______________ 5

Read the following poem carefully. My parents kept me from children who were rough And who threw words like stones and who wore torn clothes. Their thighs showed through rags. They ran in the street And climbed cliffs and stripped by the streams. I feared more than tigers their muscles likeiron And their jerking hands and their knees right on my arms. I feared the salt coarse pointing of those boys Who copied my lisp behind me on the road. They were flexible they sprang out from behind hedges Like dogs to bark at our world. They threw mud And I looked another way, pretending to smile I longed to forgive them, yet they never smiled. 2.1. Answer the following questions by choosing the most appropriate option from the ones given below : (a) The poet's parents kept him away from the children who (i) were rough (iii) wore torn clothes (b) (ii) (iv) used harsh words all the above

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When the poet went to school, the street children used to (i) run in the streets (iii) both (i) & (ii) (ii) (iv) climb steep hills dance in the rain

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(c)

The street children were very strong. This is indicated by (i) their thighs showed through rags. (ii) their muscles like iron (iii) they were flexible (iv) they threw words like stones

(d)

The street children used to hide behind (i) hedges (iii) hills (ii) (iv) sheds trees

(e)

The poet's longing was to (i) attack the street children (ii) (iii) throw mud at them (iv) forgive them make fun of them 5

3.

Read the following passage carefully ANIMAL BUILDERS Animals are great builders, using simple materials but employing sound engineering principles. Man has long used suspension bridges made of ropes of steel and concrete, which bear loads in tension. The webs of spiders provide the most vivid examples of animal structures built entirely in tension. Spider-web silk is so strong that many species of birds use it to build their nests. It has a stiffness index which is 30 times less than that of steel, yet has a stretching strength one and a half times as much as that of steel. Unlike steel, silk stretches to more than twice its original length before breaking. Beavers are natural engineers. They use tree branches to construct dams, the divided end being pressed into the walls. This apparently serves to collect stress from a broad area and to focus it into a single trunk embedded in the layers of earth at the bottom of the stream. The dams of the beavers have an angle of 450 on the downstream side. This enables the structure to bear not only its own weight acting downward but also resist the lateral pressure of water acting on the upstream side. 3.1. On the basis of your reading of the passage, answer the following

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questions by choosing the most appropriate option from the ones given below. (a) Animal can be called 'engineers' in real sense because they : (i) build their nests by engineering methods (ii) employ engineering techniques/principles (iii) have engineering minds (iv) all the above (b) The best examples of structures built in tension are (i) spider-webs (iii) dams of beavers (c) Silk is very elastic as it (i) enlarges itself (iii) doubles up on pulling (d) (ii) (iv) is stretchable breaks while pulling (ii) (iv) spider-web silk steel dams 15=5

The dams of the beavers have an angle of 450 on the (i) upstream side (iii) straight stream side (ii) (iv) downstream side low stream side

(e)

Beaver's structures have the capacity to (i) bear their own weight (ii) resist the lateral pressure of water (iii) withstand all pressuress (iv) both (i) & (ii)

SECTION -B (WRITING) 4. (a)

(25 MARKS)

Read the following telephonic conversation between Vineet and Bimal. Bimal has to go out for some official work. So he leaves a message for his boss, Mr. Gupta. As Bimal, write the message in not more than 50 words and put it in a box. Vineet Bimal Vineet : : : Is it Gupta Electronics? Yes, what can I do for you? I want to talk to Mr. Gupta. (5) 4

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Bimal Vineet Bimal Vineet

: : : :

Sorry Sir, he is not here at the moment. Would you please give him my message? Sure Sir. Please tell him that I purchased an inverter from his shop last month. It has not been functioning properly for the last 2 days. He should send some mechanic at my residence in the evening to check it. Please ask him to call me at 9898989898. It's quite urgent.

Bimal Vineet (b)

: :

Ok, Sir. I'll convey your message. Thank you

On the basis of the hints given below, write a short bio-sketch of Viswanathan Anand, "The Grandmaster of Black & white Squares'. (Word Limit - 70 words) Name : VISWANATHAN ANAND Birth Parents Siblings Education Mother's Contribution Marriage : : : : : : December 11, 1969 Viswanathan and Susheela a brother and a sister prestigious Don Bosco, chennai, degree in commerce from Loyola College played a vital role in developing interest in chess; taught the liner points of the game; sharpened mind by making him solve puzzles. with Aruna, a post-graduate in Public relations in 1996 Achievements : : : : : Five world chess titles/championship 1985 - Arjuna Award 1987 India's first grandmaster & youngest grandmaster in the world Awarded 'Padma Sri' by Govt. of India 2001 - honoured with 'Jameo De Oro' by Govt. of Spain 6

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'Our Earth is the only planet which has the environment to support life'. But unfortunately, this environment is bieng polluted by man leading to rise in temperature and consequently global warming and ecological imbalance. Taking ideas from the unit 'Nature' and using your own ideas

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write an article in about 100-150 words expressing your concern over the most serious problem of the hour GLOBAL WARMING. You are Ritik/ Ritika, a student of class VIII. 6. You are Namit / Namita. You feel quite concerned to see the children of today spending a lot of their time surfing the internet, accessing prohibited sites and misusing the gift of science. You decide to write a letter to the editor of a national newspaper expressing your concern on the misuse of internet and drawing the attention of the parents to guide and monitor their children. Write the letter in about 100-150 words. 7 8

SECTION-C (GRAMMAR) 7.

(20 MARKS) 8=4

Read the notes given below and complete the following paragraph : KODAIKANAL Kodaikanal one of the most popular hill resorts in India located amidst folds of Pali hills situated at an attitude of about 2,133 m. high covers area of 21.45 sq. km established in 1845 mesmerises visitors rocks, woods, lovely lake, bracing air frequented

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all through the year renowned for educational institutions fruits and plums known for freshness and taste. Kodaikanal is one of the most popular serene hill resorts in India. It (a) ______________ amidst the folds of the verdant Pali hills near Madurai in Tamil Nadu. It (b) ______________ at an attitude of about 2,133m. high and (c) ______________ an area of 21.45 sq.km. Kodaikanal (d) ______________ in 1845 as a refuge from the high temperatures of the plains. With its rocks, woods, lovely lake and bracing air, Kodaikanal (e) ______________ any visitor and (f) ______________ all through the year. The hill town (g) ______________ for its educational institutions of international repute. The hill-fruits and plums (h) ______________ for their freshness and taste. 8. In the following passage, one word has been omitted in each line. Write the missing word alongwith the word that comes before and the word that comes after in your answer sheets against the correct blank number. Ensure that the word that you have supplied in underlined. The first one has been done for you as an example : Word before Kadaikanal lake an artificial, roughly star-shaped 60 acres lake built 1863. It is recognised Kadaikanal's most popular tourist attraction. Rowboats and pedalos can hired at the lake. Horses bicycles can also be hired short periods. The 5 km path skirts the periphery of lovely lake is a favourite walk for locals and tourists alike 9. (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ e.g. lake Missing word is Word After an 8=4

Rearrange the following jumbled words and phrases to make meaningful sentences. Write the correct sentences in your answer-sheet. The first one has been done for you as an example : e.g. a wonderfully maintained / the kodainkanal lake / just east of / botanical garden / is 14=4

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Just east of the kodaikanal lake is a wonderfully maintained botanical garden. (a) (b) (c) (d) in 1908 / from Madurai / was planned / this garden / forest officer / and built / by a 740 varieties / nearly / there are / of roses. a large / Bodhi tree / in the park / there is are cultivated / for sale / ornamental plants / in a nursery

10. Complete the following paragraph by choosing the correct option from the ones given in the brackets. Write the correct answers in your answer sheet against the correct blank number. English is a subject which students neglect (a) ___________ (till, until, unless, upto) the last moment. No matter which stream a student (b) ___________ (belong, belongs, belonging, belonged) to, the marks in English are counted in the best (c) ___________ (for, of, on, at) four subjects. Students generally (d) ___________ (paid, pay, pays, paying) a lot of attention to other subjects (e) ___________ (and, but, either, or) score very high marks in them. But in English, owing to a general (f) ___________ (negligence, neglects, neglected, neglecting) the scores are usually poor. If the English score is, in (g) ___________ (the, a , an, any) range of 80's, their entire score graph rises. Thus every student (h) ___________ (can, will, must, would) realise the importance of this subject. 11. Read the following set of instructions for polishing shoes. Complete the paragraph by choosing the most correct option from the ones given below. Dust the shoes with a piece of cloth. Apply polish on the brush. Rub the shoes with the brush. Repeat this action many a time. Sprinkle some water and use a piece of cloth for extra brightness. Shoes are then ready to wear. 14=4 8=4

The shoes (a) ___________ with a piece of cloth. Then polish is applied on the brush and the shoes (b) ___________ with the brush. This action
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(c) ___________ many a time. Some water is also sprinkled and a piece of cloth (d) ___________ for extra brightness. Finally, the shoes are ready to be worn. (a) (b) (c) (d) (i) (i) (i) (i) is dusted are rubbed was repeated is used (ii) (iv) (ii) (iv) (ii) (iv) (ii) (iv) are dusted were dusted is rubbed was rubbed repeated were repeated was used should be used

(iii) was dusted (iii) were rubbed (iii) is repeated (iii) were used

SECTION-D (LITERATURE)

(25 MARKS)

12. Read the following extract and answer the questions given below. Write the correct option in your answer sheet. Some like the flame of her marriage fire, Or rich with the hue of her heart's desire (a) Name the poem and the poet. (i) (ii) 'Bangle Sellers' by 'Sarojini Naidu' 'Bangle Sellers' by 'Ruskin Bond' 4

(iii) 'Couplet's, by 'Alexander Pope (iv) 'Couplets' by Sarojini Naidu (b) 'her' in the above lines refers to (i) (c) the young girl (ii) (iv) (ii) (iv) (ii) (iv) the bride the old woman metaphor repetition yellow red (iii) the poet (i) (d) simile

Name the figure of speech used in the 2nd line. (iii) alliteration (i) orange

Which colour appropriately describes 'her heart's desire'? (iii) pink

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13. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow. Write the correct option in your answer sheets. "I agree with you now. of course, she is not a good cook but she works hard". (a) Name the speaker and the person addressed to (i) Mr. Hill to Mrs. Hill (ii) (iv) Mr. Hill to Annie Mr. Hill to Mr. Winter (iii) Mr. Hill to Mr. Briggs (b) Who isn't a good cook? (i) Mrs. Hill (ii) (iv) Annie his mother (iii) Mr. Hill's daughter (c) 14=4

What is the speaker's state of mind? (i) (ii) sad on losing his job in a dream-like state

(iii) repentant for being unthoughtful (iv) all the above (d) Why has the speaker changed his mind? (i) (ii) his wife has taught him a lesson Annie has started working harder

(iii) his wife has started cooking for him (iv) he had a bad dream which made him realise his mistake. 14. Answer any four of the following questions in 30-40 words each. (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) What, according to Alexander pope, is the similarity between judgements and watches? What impression did the narrator in the story 'The Luncheon' gather of the woman when he met her? How did William Morris realise that the American had no idea of jewels and stones? How do the bangle-sellers describe their bangles? What advice was given by the narrator's friends to him in the story 'The Undersved Reward'? 15. Why was the narrator happy that the district officer had not come to his house himself? (The underserved Reward)
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16. You are the narrator in the story 'The Luncheon". Write a diary entry expressing your satisfaction on observing the woman put on a lot of weight in the second meeting. OR You are the American in the story 'The case of Sharp-eyed Jeweller'. You feel quite disappointed when your well-made plan to steal the flower ring is spoiled by the vigilant william Morris. You to write a page in your diary highlighting your feelings of frustration. (80-90 words) 6

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