Class 8 Sample Paper English (Half Yearly)

SAMPLE
PAPER
Half Yearly Examination

Prepared For
NCERT BASED SYLLABUS
Applicable For
CBSE BOARD AND STATE BOARD USING NCERT

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HALF YEARLY EXAMINATION
SAMPLE QUESTION PAPER

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. Handwriting carries marks.

Section-A (Reading)

1. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions: (1x10 = 10)
On a cloudy day, the clouds hide the Sun, but the sun is always there. Happiness is like the Sun,
it is often hidden by the clouds of thoughts, worries and desires. We have to scatter and dissolve
them to experience happiness.
You don’t have to create happiness. All you have to do is calm down your mind because when
one has a quiet mind and inner peace, there is happiness. Happiness is not something far away
and unattainable. Happiness does not depend on circumstances, objects or events. It is an
inseparable part of our consciousness, of our essence, but hidden and covered from sight, by our
thoughts, desires and worries.
The mind is always in a constant race from one thought to another, from one worry to another. It
constantly moves from one object or task to another, never standing still. This restlessness hides
the happiness that is within you.
It is like a choppy sea that hides the bottom. When the sea gets calm you can see the bottom. In
the same way, when the mind gets quiet you sense the happiness that is within you.
You cannot see a treasure at the bottom of a stormy and muddy lake, though it is there. However,
when the wind stops, the water becomes still, and the mud sinks, you can see the treasure. The
treasure is there, whether you see it or not. So is happiness. It is always there, only hidden by
thoughts, desires and worries.
You can experience more and more happiness in your life. Only your thoughts stand in your way
of experiencing it. Next time you feel happy, stop for a moment and watch the state of your mind.
You will be surprised to discover that it is calm, and there is almost no thought in your mind.
Since the mind is not accustomed to staying in this peaceful state for long, it soon becomes active
again and the sense of happiness disappears.

The experience of mystics down the ages has shown that happiness is inherent in our souls; it is
not something to be gained anew. All that is necessary to do is to uncover it.

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1) Why has happiness been compared to the Sun?
2) What are the requisites for experiencing happiness?
3) What does not allow us to sense happiness that is within us?
4) When can one see a treasure at the bottom of a stormy and muddy lake?
5) What stands in the way of our happiness ?
6) What is the inseparable part of our consciousness?
7) In the passage, the word ‘treasure’ has been used to refer to ….
(i) Mud (ii) worries (iii) happiness (iv) gold
8) What is meant by the word, essence?
(i) separate (ii) spirit (iii) necessary (iv) sorrow
9) Chose the correct synonym of the word ‘constant’?
(i) continuous (ii) Varying (iii) unstable (iv) change
10) What is the antonym of the word, ‘sinks’?
(i) raise (ii) lift (iii) drowns (iv) floats

2. Read the following poem carefully and answer the questions : (1x10 = 10)

Remember, no men are strange, no countries foreign,
Beneath all uniforms, a single body breathes
Like ours; the land our brothers walk upon
Is earth like this, in which we all shall lie.
They, too, aware of sun and air and water,
Are fed by peaceful harvest, by war’s long winter starv’d
Their hands are ours, and in their lines, we read
A labour not different from our own.
Remember they have eyes like ours that wake
Or sleep, and strength that can be won
By love. In every land is the common life
That all can recognize and understand.
Let us remember, whenever we are told
To hate our brothers, it is ourselves
That we shall dispossess, betray, condemn.
Remember, we who take arms against each other.
It is the human earth that we defile,
Our hells of fire and dust outrage the innocence
Of the air that is everywhere like our own.
Remember, no men are foreign and no countries strange.

1. What does the poet mean by ‘no men are foreign and no countries strange’ ?
2. How should we win others ?
3. What starves a man ?
4. What will happen when we hate and fight with others ?

5. Suggest a suitable title to the above poem.
6. The word ‘betray’ means
(a) deceive (b) ill-treat
(c) dishonest (d) frustrate
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7.`… we who take arms …’ means
(a) who twist arms (b) who handle arms
(c) who raise voices (d) who fight and declare war on others
8. In fighting together we
(a) shrug our shoulders (b) make the earth dirty
(c) defile the earth (d) make the earth useless
9. Chose the correct synonym of the word ‘defile’
(a) degrade (b) respect
(c) appreciate (d) beautify
10. Chose the correct antonym of the word ‘condemn’
(a) criticize (b) slam
(c) praise (d) censure

Section-B (Grammar and Writing)

3. Do as Directed: (1x12=12)
a) _____________ is necessary for _____________(Meditate, relax) (Fill in the blanks with abstract
nouns.)
b) The wolf killed a sheep. (Change the underlined noun into their plural form)
c) The priest blessed the heiress to the throne: (Rewrite the sentence changing the underlined
nouns to their opposite gender)
d) In the heart of the forest lived a saint. (Identify the subjects and the predicate)
e) Venomous snakes often build nests underground. (Identify the subject word and the attribute)
f) John has bought a vase for her mother. (Identify the direct and indirect objects)
g) I myself will do this. (Identify the pronouns and state their kind)
h) These apples are from Srinagar. (underline the adjective and state its kind)
i) The wind kissed my brow. (Identify the figures of speech)
j) Her act of foolishness was responsible for our failure. (Rewrite the sentence using adjective in
place of the highlighted words.)
k) This is the heavier of the three parcels. (Identify the error and write it correctly)
l) Turn right and you will find it. (Identify the adverb and state its kind)

4. Fill in the blanks by using the correct form of tenses of the word given in the brackets. (½x6=3)

a) After the game, the children _____________ (go) inside to have food.
b) I’d like to ________________ (reserve) a table, please.
c) Srinagar _____________ (Be) famous for its handicrafts and dry fruits.

d) Aalia ______________ (have) finished her homework.
e) Tony and Nick ______________(score) six baskets each.
f) She had been ________________ (hide) something.

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5. Underline the determiners in the following sentences and state its kind: (1x3=3)

a) Some people are very clever.
b) Those houses are for sale.
c) That is my dog Tipsy.

6. Underline the non-finite verbs and state its kind: (1x3=3)
a) I am tired of your grumbling.
b) The broken window had to be replaced.
c) You ought to have played.

7. Change these sentences to the passive voice: (1x4=4)
a) The Cobbler mended my shoes in 10 minutes.
b) Your uncle teaches us English.
c) Our drama society is staging a ballet.
d) Post this letter.

8. Write a paragraph on ‘Actions speak louder than words’ in about 80 to 100 words. (5)
OR
‘ Learn to walk before you run’ in about 80 to 100 words.

9. You are the Sports Secretary of your school. Write a notice inviting students to join a special cricket
coaching camp for boys and girls under the age of 14 at your school, to be held during the winter
vacation. (50 words) (5)

OR
Write a letter to your friend telling him about the puppy you rescued some days ago and have
adopted as your pet. (120 words)

Section-C (Literature)

10. Answer with reference to the context. (1X10=10)

a) Flashed all their Sabres bare,
Flashed as they turned in air
Sabring the gunners there,

Charging an army, while
All the world wondered.

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(i) Who flashed their sabres ?
(ii) At whom did they flash the Sabres ?
(iii) What does the second ‘flashed’ in the above verse mean ?
(iv) Why does the poet say ‘while All the world wondered’ ?
(v) Write the meaning of the word ‘ Sabres ’.
b) I felt his glare on me like the heat of a blistering sun. This would be a failure on a grand
scale, even for me.
(i) Who is the speaker ?
(ii) Whose glare is, he speaking of ?
(iii) Name the figure of speech used in the given line.
(iv) Khaled Hosseini was born in ________ in ________.
(v) What would be a failure ?

11. Answer any four questions in 20 to 30 words. (2X4=8)

(i) Who was the young lady ? What could be the relationship between the young lady and
the shoemaker ?
(ii) Who are the bosom friends? What do the two friends do in the poem ‘Ode to Autumn’.
(iii) Which historical event is this poem based on ? (The charge of Light Brigade)
(iv) Is it right to follow orders without asking questions ? (The charge of Light Brigade)
(v) Explain Hassan’s favourite trick.

12. Seasons are the cycle of life. How does the given statement related to human existence. Write
your thoughts. ( in 50 to 60 words) (3X1=3)

13. Do as directed : (1X4=4)

(i) Brevity (write the antonyms)
(ii) Acid test (write the meaning)
(iii) From hand to mouth (write the meaning)
(iv) Above board (write the meaning)

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