Class 8 Question Paper 2023 English

ANNUAL EXAMINATION

Question Paper
2023

NCERT BASED SYLLABUS
FOR CBSE AND STATE BOARD
FOLLOWING NCERT

ANNUAL EXAMINATION (2022-23)

Class: VIII Subject : English
Time 3 Hours. Maximum Marks-: 80

General Instructions :
1. The question paper is divided into Three sections, A, B & C.
2. It is compulsory to attempt all the sections.
3. Neatness carries marks.

SECTION – A (READING) (20 Marks)

I. Read the passage carefully :

1. This afternoon, Amrita Pritam passed away quietly in her sleep at the Hauz Khas
residence in New Delhi. And as the news of her demise got out, Punjab rose to
mourn her death. Amrita was 86-year old and for the last some years was
bedridden.
2. Dalip Kaur Tiwana, one of the leading names in Punjabi literature, could not
control her tears and she talked about Amrita Pritam. “I was told about her death
by Imroz this afternoon. I got the news over two hours ago and I have been
grieving since. My pain is so strong that I cannot even talk. The void Amrita Pritam
has left behind her can never be filled.”
3. Amrita Pritam, who has over 78 books to her credit – novels, volumes of verses
and miscellaneous prose among them – was born on August 31, 1919, in Punjab,
which now falls in Pakistan. She began writing at a tender age of sixteen and was
the first woman recipient of the prestigious Sahit Akademi award for the year
1956.
4. She also received the Padma Shree in 1969, Janapeeth in 1982 which was
followed by Padma Vibhushan in 2004. She had the distinction of more of her
works getting translated into European languages than any other Punjabi writer.
5. She was conferred D. Litt by the Delhi University while Jabalpur University
conferred her with the same honour in 1973. Amrita Pritam was also given the
International Vaptsarove award by the Republic of Bulgaria (1979) while the
Vishwa Bharti, Shantiniketan, awarded her D. Litt (1987). The French Government
honoured her with a degree of officer dens/order des arts et des letters in 1987.
Among her most admired words are Amrit Lehran, Jinnda Jian, Trel Dhote Phul O!
Gitan Valian, Badlaan De Laali, Lok Piar, Patthar Giite, Punjabi Di Aawaaz,
Sunehray, Ashoka Cheti, Kasturi, Nagmani, Ik si Anita, Chak Nambar Chatti,

Jilavatan, Rasidi Ticket, Uninja Din and Kagaz Te Kanvas.
6. Prof Gurdial Singh, an eminent name in the world of Punjabi literature and
Janapeeth awardee, says : “Amrita Pritam along with Prof Mohan Singh are a yug

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for Punjabi poetry. In present times, though I see many good female poets yet no
one has been able to even come near the class of Amrita Pritam.” Dr Gulzar
Singh Sandhu, a well known Punjabi short story writer, feels : “In my younger
days as I lived in Delhi I shared many moments with this great poetess. She is the
one who arranged my marriage. Her death is like an end of an era”.
– The Indian Express

Answer the given questions briefly. [1x10=10]

(1) Where was Amrita Pritam staying when she died ?
(2) At what age did Amrita Pritam pass away ?
(3) Who uttered these words on Amrita Pritam’s death : “The void Amrita Pritam has
left behind can never be filled” ?
(4) When was Amrita Pritam born ?
(5) Which award won by the first woman is credited to Amrita Pritam ?
(6) Find out two eminent names of the Punjabi literature from the passage.
(7) Who awarded her first D. Litt. ?
(8) With whom is she equated in literature ?
(9) The word demise means :-
(a) Funeral (b) disease (c) death (d) birth
(10) The name of the International award given to Amrita Pritam in 1979 was :-
(a) Republic of Bulgaria (b) Degree of Office
(c) D. Litt (d) Vaptsarove

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

FRIENDS AND FLATTERERS

Every one that flatters thee
Is no friend in misery
Words are easy, like the wind;
Faithful friends are hard to find.

Everyman will be thy friend
Whilst thou hast wherewith to spend;
But if store of crowns be scant
No man shall supply thy want.

If that one be prodigal
Bountiful they will him call:
And with such life flattering,
‘Pity but he were a king’.

But if fortune once do frown
Then farewell his great renown:
They that fawn’d on him before

Use his company no more.

He that is thy friend indeed,

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He will help thee in thy need;
If thou sorrow, he will weep;
If thou wake, he cannot sleep:
Thus of every grief in heart
He with thee doth bear a part,
These are certain signs to know
Faithful friend from flattering foe.

Tick the most appropriate option. [1x4=4]

(1) Words are compared to the wind
(a) because they are blowing. (b) to make a metaphor.
(c) because like the wind they are lost soon. (d) so that we get confused.
(2) You will have many friends when you are
(a) popular (b) old (c) young (d) rich
(3) When you have ________________ you will have few friends.
(a) lost your beauty (b) lost your money
(c) lost your job (d) lost your best friend
(4) We can say that a true friend is a friend
(a) in need. (b) who gives you money.
(c) who shares your sorrows. (d) you can talk to.
Answer these questions.

(5) What would flatterers say if you are wasteful ? [1]
(6) Identify the figure of speech in the last line of the poem – ‘Faithful friend from
flattering foe’. [1]
(7) Why is it necessary for you to know the signs of a friend ? [1]
(8) “If thou wake, he cannot sleep” – who is ‘he’ here ? [1]
(9) What method would you use to identify a true friend ? [2]

SECTION – B (WRITING & GRAMMAR) (35 Marks)

III. Yesterday you went with your family to dine at a famous restaurant of your city.
You were busy having your meal, when all of a sudden you saw M.S. Dhoni sitting
next to your table. You couldn’t control your emotions. Write a diary entry in 100 –
120 words expressing your feelings. [5]
OR
Write a letter to the Mayor of your city in minimum 120 words on the problems
related to cleanliness and hygiene of the city. Also suggest a few effective
remedies to make the city cleaner and more hygienic for the residents of every
nook and corner of the town.

IV. Develop a story on the basis of the beginning given below in minimum 120 words.

Provide a heading and conclude with a thought provoking idea. [5]
“Once a lion, the king of the forest, posed a great threat to all other beasts and
animals. He killed many animals whenever he was hungry. ________________ .”

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V. Change the following into Passive Voice. [1x2=2]
(1) We have invited all the relatives.
(2) The police could not find the stolen jewels.

VI. Replace the underlined words with suitable phrases. [1x2=2]
(1) A marble statue was erected by the family.
(2) You should learn to speak English fluently.

VII. Following sentences are given in Direct Speech; change these sentences
into Indirect Speech. [1x2=2]
(1) “Water boils when the temperature rises to 100 degree Celsius”, the teacher
said.
(2) I said to the boys, “Please listen the instructions carefully”.

VIII. Identify the subordinate clauses in the given sentences and state its kind. [1x2=2]
(1) She wore a necklace which was studded with diamonds.
(2) I must leave early because my father is waiting for me.

IX. State whether the sentences given below are Compound, Complex or
Simple. [1x2=2]
(1) Diya doesn’t know where Piyali has gone.
(2) It is dark outside and my brother has gone to the market.

X. Do as directed : [1x12=12]
(1) The animals at the zoo were disturbed by the loud noise. ( Identify Predicate )
(2) A generous prince of Kingston is loved by everyone. ( Identify Subject )
(3) I left my luggage ____________ ( on / at ) the station. ( Choose the correct
Preposition )
(4) Ravi had visited Delhi last year with me. ( Identify the Direct Object )
(5) Kiran came to my house yesterday. ( Identify the Tense )
(6) Arudhanti writes books on environment. ( Change the sentence into Simple
Past)
(7) My mother waters plants everyday. ( Find out object )
(8) He forgets eating his lunch. ( Re-write the sentence using to + infinitive )
(9) He walked continuously for two hours. ( Identify whether the underlined word
is Preposition or Conjunction )
(10) Swimming is my favourite sport. ( State whether the underlined word is
Gerund or Participle )
(11) This sum is very difficult. I can not solve it. ( Join the sentences to make one
simple sentence )

(12) I wish to go to America. My visa has not come. ( Make compound sentence )

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XI. There is one error in each line of this passage. Pick up the error and write in
column A and write the correct word in the space of column B. [1x3=3]
Column A Column B
Floods is a common natural disaster. (1) ________ ________
Scientists has often tried to predict floods. (2) ________ ________
There is a number of reasons that cause floods. (3) ________ ________

SECTION – C (LITERATURE) (25 Marks)

XII. Answer the given questions with reference to the context. [1x8=8]
A) “She was an interesting girl ….. can you tell me – did she keep her hair
long or short ?”
(1) Who did the speaker ask this question to ?
(2) Why did the speaker ask this question ?
(3) What happened immediately after this ?
(4) Do you think that it is the most important part of the story ? Explain why ?

B) “He plants the glory of the plain
He plants the forest’s heritage”
(1) What two thinks does a tree planter actually plant ?
(2) How does planting a tree brings us physical comfort ?
(3) Why does the speaker call the tree a link between us and our children ?
(4) What does heritage refer in the given lines ?

XIII. Answer any five questions in 30 to 40 words : [2x5=10]
(1) What was special about kite flying in Afghanistan ?
(2) How did the soldiers respond to the orders given by their commander in the
poem “The charge of the Light Brigade” ?
(3) How would the captain spend his time after the stroke ?
(4) Why is the speaker scared in the poem Gravity ?
(5) Explain “the treble of heaven’s harmony”.
(6) What instructions did the girl’s parents give her and why ?

XIV. Answer any one question in 80 to 100 words : [5]
(1) It often happens that people with good eyesight fail to see what is right in
front of them. Do you agree with the above statement ? Give reasons for
your answer.
(2) If there were no gravity on Earth, what would have happened ?

XV. Vocabulary : [1x2=2]
(1) Write the synonym of Feasibility.
(2) Students preparing for competitive exams must ____________ of the current

affairs.
(a) think on your feet
(b) get the show on the road
(c) keep fingers on the pulse
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