HALF YEARLY EXAMINATION( 2024-2025)

SUBJECT:- ENGLISH
CLASS :- VIII
MM:-80

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS :-

● This question paper is divided into 3 sections A, B & C.

● Writing should be neat and clean
● Read the question paper carefully and answer the
questions.

SECTION - A ( Reading) 20M

1.Read the passage carefully and answer the following
questions: 10×1=10 Marks

One stormy night many years ago, an elderly man and his wife
entered the lobby of a small hotel in Philadelphia. Trying to get
out of the rain, the couple approached the front desk. hoping to
get some shelter for the night.

'Could you possibly give us a room here?' the husband asked.

The clerk, a friendly man with a winning smile looked at the
couple and explained that there were three conventions in town.
'All of our rooms are taken.' The clerk said. 'But I can't send a
nice couple like you out into the rain at 1 o'clock in the morning.
Would you perhaps be willing to sleep in my room? It's not
exactly a suite, but it will be good enough to make you folks
comfortable for the night.' When the couple deadline, the young
man pressed on. Don't worry about me, I'll sleep in the lobby,
told them. So the couple agreed.
As the elderly man paid his bill the next morning, he said to the
clerk, 'You are the kind of manager who should be the boss of
the best hotel in the United States. Maybe someday I'll build one
for you.' The clerk looked at them and smiled. The elderly couple
agreed that the helpful clerk was indeed exceptional, as finding
people who are both friendly and helpful isn't easy.Two years
passed. The clerk had almost forgotten the incident when he
received a letter and enclosed round trip ticket to New York from
the old man, asking the young man to pay them a visit. The old
man greeted the clerk in New York and led him to the corner of
fifth. Avenue and 34th a street. He then pointed to a great new
building with turrets anda watchtowers thrusting up into the sky.
"That,' said, the older man, 'is the hotel I have just built for you to
manage.' "You must be joking," the young man said. 'I can
assure you I am not said the older man, a genuine smile playing
around his mouth.

The old man's name was William Waldorf Astore, and that
splendid structure was the original Waldorf Astoria Hotel, one of
the world's most dazzling hotels. The young clerk who became
Its first manager both George C Boldt.

I. Where was the small hotel located?

(a) California

(b) Bavaria

(c) Philadelphia
(d) None of these

II. Who entered the lobby of the small hotel one stormy
midnight?

(a) An old man

(b) An elderly couple

(c) An old women

(d) None of these

III. Who was sitting at the front desk?

(b) The owner

(a) The bellhop

(c) The Clerk

(d) All of these

IV. What did the elderly couple want at the hotel?

(b) A cup of tea

(a) Some food

(c) A Room
 (d) None of these

V. How was the clerk exceptional?

(b) He was friendly

(a) He was helpful

(c) None of these

(d) Both of these

VI. ........ years had passed when the clerk received a letter.

VII. The old man greeted the clerk in New York and led him to
the corner of Fifth Avenue and 34th street. (True/False)

VIII. The young clerk who became the first manager was George
C. Boldth. (True/False)

IX. What was the name of the old man?

X. What is the antonym of 'dazzling?

2.Read the passage carefully and answer the question that

follows :- (10 Marks)

1. Man suffers from a distorted complex. He always considers animals

as inferior beings only fit for exploitation. Man has been using
domestic and wild animals for his selfish ends. Many animal lovers
joined together to form the 'Society for Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals'.

2. The society has been working for the well-being and welfare of
animals for many years. Its main aim is to change the attitude and
thinking of people towards animals. It is quite sad that animals
continue to be ill-treated, tortured and killed according to the whims of
the people. About 15% of the people entertain the belief that animals
are man's slaves. They use, misuse and torture them accordingly.
About 50% of the people exploit animals for selfish ends.

3. Horses and oxen are used for transport, carrying loads and in
agricultural activities. Dogs, cats and many birds are domesticated for
fun, entertainment and convenience. Wild animals like elephants,
tigers, lions and deer are victims of poaching and killing. Animals are
forced to do acrobatic feats in circus shows. Unfortunately, about 35%
of people don't think about the animals at all. They are totally
indifferent to them.

4. The Government and the animal lovers must work together to bring
a change in the attitude of the people. Animals should not be killed
and poached for fun, furs or financial gains. They should be treated
with kindness, care and sympathy. Cruelty towards animals must be
legally punishment.
(i) In the line "... fit for exploitation", the word 'exploitation' does not
refer to:

(a) abuse

(b) ill-treatment

(c) oppression

(d) utilisation

(ii) For many years, 'Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals' has
been working for:

(a) destruction of animals.

(b) exploitation of animals.

(c) the welfare of animals.

(d) All of these

(iii) It is very disappointing that animals are still:

(a) iII-treated

(b) tortured

(c) killed

(d) All of these

(iv) For what activities do people use horses and oxen?

(a) Carrying loads

(b) Transport

(c) Agricultural activities

(d) All of these

(v) …………. for Fun, entertainment and convenience, man

domesticates.

(a) Birds

(b) Cats
(c) Dogs

(d) All of these

(vi) Animal should be killed and poached for fun. (True/False)

(vii) 'Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals' aims to change the

attitude of man towards _______.

(viii) Animals should not be used in circus to earn one's

livelihood.(True/False)

(ix) What change should the government and animal lovers bring
together?

(x) What does the word ‘indifferent’ in para 3 mean?

SECTION - B (WRITING & GRAMMAR) 25 Marks

3. fill the gap choosing the appropriate words from the given
option: 3 Marks

He was surprised at ….… news of the success of …… poor

candidate who got …… highest number of votes in the Bihar
Election.

a) (i) a (ii) an (iii) the (iv) of

b) (i) an (ii) a (iii) the (iv) to

c) (i) the (ii) a (iii) an (iv) for

4.here is an error in each line. Write the incorrect word and the
correction in the answer sheet as given below: (4 Marks)

India is very fortunate it that it may have many rivers. Their famous
rivers are Sutlej, Ganga, Yamuna and Narmada. Some of the river like
the Ganga, which originated from the Himalayas, flow throughout the
year.

Incorrect Correct

(a) ___________,__________
(b) __________,___________
(c)_________,____________
(d)___________,__________

5. transform the following sentences as directed : 3 Marks

(i) They finished their work in the evening. (change into past perfect)

(ii) We go to kanpur next week. (Change into present continuous

tense)

(iii) The members made a quick decision (transform the underline

adjective into adverb)
6. Look at the picture given below carefully and describe it in 50
words: 5 Marks

7. Write an article on-‘Fast Food A Health Hazard’ in about 100

words. 5 Marks

8. You are Amit/Amita a student of class 8. Write an application to

the principal of your school requesting him/her to grant you 2
days leave. 5 Marks

SECTION - C (LITERATURE) 35 Marks

9. Read the prose extract carefully and give the answers: 5 Marks
Lawrence was honoured with a prize. The District Collector who gave
away the prize, asked him, "Lawrence, when you ran to save the
young boy, you ust nave realized that as a result you would be late for
the race, so what made you take the right decision?"

It was not difficult, Sir," said Lawrence. "I realized that if I could not
swim to save the life of a young boy, my reputation as the fastest 100-
metre swimmer in the district would be meaningless." The audience
broke into rapturous applause.

(i) Who was honored with the prize?

(a) Hamed

(b) Laurence

(c) Mehmood

(d) Stephen

(ii) write the meaning of rapturous.

(a) Sadness

(b) Enthusiasm

(c) Without hope

(d) Skill

(iii) “It was not difficult sir. ”,who said this line?
(a) District Collector

(b) Oldman

(c) Young boy (Laurence)

(d) None of these

(iv) Why was Laurence awarded with a prize?

(v) Was Laurence a fast swimmer?

OR

Zubeida: What a stupid thing to say! The wife didn't die first. It was
Abou Hassan who died first. You don't know what you are talking
about. I tell you, your man was lying. My maid found Abou's wife
tearing her hair out in grief. Abou died first.

The Caliph: I don't understand it at all. I'll give a thousand pieces of

gold to anyone who can prove which one of them died first.

Zubeida: Well, I don't mind giving away one thousand and five
hundred pieces of gold to the man who proves you wrong. (Abou
jumps up from his bed.)

(i) Who jumps up from his bed?

(a) Nuzhat
(b) Zubeida

(c) Abou Hassan

(d) All of these

(ii) Write the meaning of ‘Stupid’ in the given extract

(a) Foolish

(b) Clever

(c) Honorable

(d) Mischief

(iii) From which chapter this lines have been taken?

(a) A play of death

(b) Our environment

(c) Real Champion

(d) None of these

(iv) How many pieces of gold had been given to anyone proved died
first?

(v) “ it was Abou Hassan who died first”, who said this line to whom?
10. Read the poetic extract carefully and give the answers : 5
Marks

To one who has been long in the city pent,

'his very sweet to look into the fair

And open face of heaven,--to breathe a prayer

Full in the smile of the blue firmament.

(i) according to the poet where we cannot see clear vision of the sky?

(a) Mountain

(b) City

(c) Village

(d) None of these

(ii) Who is the poet of the poem?

(a) John Keats

(b) William Shakespeare

(c) William Wordsworth

(d) None of these

(iii) Write the antonym of ‘Heaven’?

(a) Paradise

(b) Hell

(c) Hall

(d) None of these

(iv) What does the poet describes in the above extract?

(v) Write the meaning of firmament?

OR

You abandon

Your intent

It opens, and it

Closes and you

Reach for it —

(i) What things open and closes?

(a) The tentacles

(b) Heart

(c) Brain

(d) None of these

(ii) From which poem these lines have been taken?

(a) Beauty of starfish

(b) Beauty of jellyfish

(c) Beauty of goldfish

(d) None of these

(iii) what is the meaning of ‘abandon’?

(a) Give up completely

(b) Take up

(c) Keep

(d) None of these

(iv) what was the intent according to the poet?

(v) which figure of speech is used in the above lines?

11. Answer the following questions in about 30 to 40 words: (any

five) : (5×3=15 Marks)

(i) Why did Abou pretend to be dead?

(ii) Which awards Madam sitling received for her efforts?

(iii) Why was Lawrence in a hurry to reach the stadium?

(iv) To whom is the poem ‘To one who has been’.......... Indicating?

(v) What did the women want Laurence to do?

(vi) Name thet books that were written by Stephen Hawking.

12. Who said :- 5 Marks

(a) Can you tells us how this change came about?

(b) The caliph is certain it was your wife who did.

(c) "If were going to die anyway, I might as well do some good.”

Answer in One Word :-

(a) How many children did Stephen had?

(b) Who gave the prize to Laurence?

13. Answer the following question: (any one) (5 Marks)

(a) Who was Jyotsna Sitling . How did she work for the value of
flower.

OR

(b) Why was Lawrence keen to participate in the swimming

competition?