CBSE Sample Papers for Class 8 English Set 7 with Solutions

The latest CBSE Sample Papers for Class 8 English with Solutions Set 7 include questions based on the updated syllabus.

CBSE Sample Papers for Class 8 English Set 7 with Solutions

Time Allowed: 2 1/2 hrs.
Max. March: 60

General Instructions:

1. This question paper has been divided into four sections :
   • Section A : Reading (16 marks)
   • Section B : Writing (12 marks)
   • Section C : Grammar (12 marks)
   • Section D : Literature (20 marks)
2. All the questions are compulsory.
3. Marks are indicated against each question.

Section – A : Reading

Question 1.
Read the given passage carefully and answer the questions that follow : 5
Men and their activities have affected nature in a very significant manner. Melting ice and warming waters have raised average sea level worldwide by more than an inch since 1995, new* data from space satellites and robotic submarines have revealed. “That’s twice as fast as the rate the oceans rose during the previous 50 years”, ocean experts said. If the current rate continues or accelerates, as they say is likely, the world’ seas will rise at least a foot by the end of this century, causing widespread flooding and erosion of islands and low-lying coastal areas,

“Even a small change will matter to a whole lot of coastal people. If 15 per cent of the Greenland ice sheet were to melt, much of South Florida would be underwater,” said Richard Alley, a geoscientist. The rise in the sea level was caused by a recent speed-up in the melting of glaciers and ice sheets, especially in Greenland and Antarctica, due to global warming, another serious man-made problem threatening the world with severe consequences. It puts a deep impact on every life and nature.

Humans have significantly affected the flow of half of the world’s major rivers by building dams, according to the first detailed global assessment of the activity’s impact. Another study shows that dam building, among other human actions, has altered the amount of sediment that rivers carry to the coast, with implications for marine ecology, fisheries and coastal erosion.

(i) Our nature has been greatly disturbed by:
(a) men and their activities
(b)ice and water
(c) machines and tools
(d) scientists and explorers
Answer:
(a) men and their activities

(ii) Sea level rising will be of great disadvantage because it will cause
(a) widespread loss of property and life
(b) erosion and islands and widespread flooding
(c) loss to marine and wild life
(d) landslides and climatic changes
Answer:
(b) erosion and islands and widespread flooding

(iii) Who is a Geoscientist?
(a) A man who analyses earth formation
(b) A student well-versed in the evolution of earth
(c) A person having complete knowledge about the earth
(d) A scientist who studies activities pertaining to earth
Answer:
(d) A scientist who studies activities pertaining to earth

(iv) Global warming has greatly put a deep impact on
(a) every life and nature
(b) rise of sea level
(c) melting of glaciers and ice sheets
(d) marine life
Answer:
(a) every life and nature

(v) The word ‘consequence’ means :
(a) Reason
(b) Result
(c) Action
(d) Activities
Answer:
(b) Result

Question 2.
Look at the poster carefully and answer the questions that follow : 1 x 5 = 5

(i) Give the suitable title for the above given poster.
(a) Early Human
(b) How to Survive Early Human
(c) Life of Early Men
(d) None of these
Answer:
(c) Life of Early Men

(ii) What did the early men eat if there was shortage of food?
(a) Rotten whale
(b) The bark of trees
(c) The root of trees
(d) A bird’s nest with eggs
Answer:

(iii) If men tamed animals, they made the animals for them :
(a) race
(b) search
(c) work
(d) hunt
Answer:
(b) search

(iv) Why did the early men make weapons?
(a) To kill animals for safety
(b) To kill larger animals for meat
(c) To kill all kinds of animals
(d) None of these
Answer:
(c) To kill all kinds of animals

(v) At first men wondered from place to place to find their food. Then some of them began to stay in one place, why?
(a) Because they began to grow plants and ate what they could grow
(b) Because they trained wild animals
(c) Both (a) and (b)
(d) None of these
Answer:
(a) Because they began to grow plants and ate what they could grow

Question 3.
Read the given poem attentively and answer the questions that follow:

The quality of mercy is not stained,
It droppeth as the ‘gentle rain” from heaven
Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest;
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes:

‘T is mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes
The throaned monarch better than his crown:
His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe and majesty,

Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;
But mercy is above this sceptred sway;
It is enthroned in the hearts of Kings,
It is an attribute to God himself;
And earthly power doth then show likest God’s
When mercy seasons justice

Therefore, Jew
Through justice by thy plea, consider this
That is the course of justice, none of us
Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy
And that same prayer doth teach us all to render
The deeds of mercy.

Questions:
(i) Where does ‘mercy’ come from ?
(a) heaven
(b) soul
(c) the mightiest
(d) heart of King
Answer:
(b) soul

(ii) In the process of mercy, the involving blessed entities are
(a) human beings
(b) people in power
(c) giver
(d) receiver
Answer:
both (c) giver and (d) receiver

(iii) The word ‘sceptre’ signifies
(a) kingship
(b) fear and respect to the King
(c) God
(d) mercy
Answer:
(b) fear and respect to the King

(iv) When mercy seasons justice, what happens them?
(b) appears to be the power of soul
(d) all / none of above
(b) our connection to God
(d) a divine quality
Answer:
(b) appears to be the power of soul

(v) The word ‘salvation’ here in the last stanza means
(a) saving human beings from sin and its impacts
(b) deliverance
(c) redemption
(d) gift of freedom
Answer:
(b) deliverance

(vi) Mercy is an attribute of God, it exhibits
(a) our nearness to humanity
(b) our connection to God
(c) love for life
(d) a divine quality

Section – B : Writing

Question 4.
You are the student editor of Brij Public Inter College, Mathura. Write out a notice in not more than 50 words writing names of those who would like to give articles stories, titbets, cartoons etc. for the college magazine.

Brij Public Inter College, Mathura
Notice

October 8, 20xx

Inviting Articles for College Magazine

New life (college magazine) is going to be published very soon. The student writers are requested to submit their own literary works-articles, stories, titbits, cartoons, poems etc. to the understood on or before October 15, 2’0 or correct Arun Attal, the activity incharge of the college.
Dev/Ishani
(Dev/Ishani)
Student Editor

Or
You are Vipul. When you reached Mumbai Railway Station at 4:00 p.m to board the Vande Bharat Express, bound for Amritsar. You heard an announcement that the Vande Bharat Express has derailed 20 hours from Surat. It was also announced that Jan Shatabadi leaves the Mumbai Railway Station at 6:00 p.m. and this train will carry the passengers to their destination since your friend’s father was to board the Vande Bharat Express, he can now travel safely in Jan Shatabadi. I wish for the safe journey. Write the message on behalf of Vipul to your respected father. You are Arjun/Avantika.

Message

May 17, 20

1 : 00 p.m

Respected Daddy

The Vande Bharat Express bound for Amritsar has derailed 20 kms. from Surat. So you can board Nav Jan Shatabadi leaving from Mumbai at 6:00 p.m. The old tickets will be valid for travelling my friend Vipul has sent this message for you. Arjun/Avantika

Question 5.
You are Mukat/Muskaan of VIIIB, reading in Agartala School of Skill Learning. Write an application to your school principal to grant you freeship in the school. Give valid reasons for considering your case in this connection. 4
Answer:
April 4, 20
The Principal
Tripura School of Skill Learning
Tripura
Subject: Request for Granting freeship
Sir/Madam,

I am a student of VII-B and earnestly beseech your kind honour to grant me freeship in the school. I may inform you that my father is a poor gardener in your school. He is getting a meagre salary hardly enough to meet the monthly expenses of the house. My elder brother is studying in some professional college with concession in college charge. Lasy year my mother a paralytic attach and she has become bed-ridden. She. needs care, medicines and other help. It is difficult to manage the expenses.

Further I am add that I am shining student and stood first in the precious annual examination. I was declared the best athelete in the junior Group. I keenly participate in all the extra co-curricular activities of the school. All the teachers streak highly of me. Sol request you to keeping in view my good academic record and poor financial condition, kindly grant me freeship to enable me to carry on my studies smoothly. I assure you that I will show my best performance in the school.

Yours Obediently
Muskaan
Roll No. 5, VIII B

Or
You are Purusharth/Pavitra, 152/21 Panchsheel Club Colony-Dwarka. You were much grieved to know about the security breach at the Indian Parliament oh Wednesday i.e. 13th December, 2023. Write a letter to the editor, The Hindustan Times, Connaught Place-New Delhi for stringent action against the miscreants.
Answer:
1521/21, Panchsheel Club Colony
Dwarka-17,
Delhi December 14, 2023
Subject: Security Breach at the Indian Parliament and Panic thereon.
Sir,
Through the esteemed columns of your newspapere I want to draw the attention of the authorities towards the major lapses on the part of the concerned authorities to allow the entry of 4 miscreants in the holy Parliament House on 13th December at about 1:00 p.m. when two intruders jumped from public gallery number four. At that time, the Zero Hour was in progress in the Lok Sabha. They rushed towards the speaker’s chair and shouted slogans.

Around the same time, 2 persons, including a woman also sprayed coloured gas from canisters while shouting slogans outside the Parliament premises. The speaker informed that these were arrested and their belongings were seized. He told that the security lapse is being thoroughly probed and after he called the meeting of the parties. The further probe is underway.

But the question occurs when the lawmakers in the house are unsafe even after light security, how can a common feel about his safety. It is now high time to book these intruders so that the nefarious activities never try to raise their nose since such lapses are highly questionable by all. Stopping’for understanding the seriousness of the issue. Yours Faithfully Purushattha/ Pavitra

Question 6.
Write a long paragraph on “Morning Assembly in My School”.

Morning Assembly in My School

Answer:
In every school, the morning assembly forms an important part and parcel e.g. school life. It it our age-old culture since ancient times. As per our traditions and rituals, we start every new work with prayers to our Gods. Same is true with the schools since it is the start of new work for the day in every school. Schools are our temples of learning and knowledge. They make us a true and useful citizen of a nation. In the morning assembly, all the students stand and rows along with the teachers before the rows. All say prayers for the best start of the day. The scene is very calm and peaceful. In their specific school uniform, they look like blosomed flowers spreading their smel everywhere.

In most of the schools, physical exercises are undertaken. Even the roll call of the students is taken and entered in the attendance register. Daily news are read by the students and one or the other teacher delivers a moral lecture for the upliftment of the students. The principal too imparts important formation to the school. He remains there and the tune on the loud speaker starts resounding when the students enter their classes. It creates a congenial atmosphere for study. ,
Or
Read the given outlines in a box and the visual input to develop into a readable store of about 100-150 words.
Hints : Proud Oak Tree in a dense forest ___ tall like a date free ___ small plant & herbs nearby tree felt pendy and boasted of his strength ___ herb advise ___ pride hath a fall ___ ignored its advice ___ one day a violent storm appeared ___ school every thing ___ herb boned ___ leaves fell and place in the atmosphere ___ making feem of the herb & leaves ___ suddenly the storm become more violent ___ Oak Tree fell and broke in two parts ___ died ___ herb got strength.
Answer:

The Greedy Man

Once there lived a Greedy man in town. He was very Greedy man he loved gold and all things fancy. But he loved his daughter more than anything. One day, he chanced upon a fairy. The fairy’s hair was caught in a few tree branches. He helped her out, but as his greediness took over, he realised that he had an opportunity to become richer by asking for a wish in return (by helping her out). The fairy granted him a wish. He said, “All that I touch should turn to gold.” And his wish was granted by the grateful fairy.

The greedy man rushed home to tell his wife and daughter about his wish, all the while touching stones and pebbles and watching them convert into gold. Once he got home, his daughter rushed to greet him. As soon as he bent down to scoop her up in his arms, she turned into a gold statue. He was devastated and started crying and trying to bring his daughter back to life. He realised his folly and spent the rest of his days searching for them.

Section – C : Grammar

Question 7.
Separate the subject and predicate in the following sentences.
(i) Richa has a good memory.
(ii) The earth revolves around the sun.
(iii) Arun goes for a morning walk daily.
Answer:

Subject	Predicate
(i) Richa	has a good memory.
(ii) The earth	revolves around the sun.
(iii) Arun	goes for a morning walk daily.

Question 8.
Change the following sentences into passive voice.
(i) Richa sings a sweet song.
(ii) Do you play cricket?
(iii) He does not open the book.
Answer:
(i) A sweet song is sung by Richa.
(ii) Is cricket played by you?
(iii) The book is not opened by him.

Question 9.
Look at the given groups of words. Rearrange them to form meaningful sentences. Also, put the correct punctuation mark at the end of each sentence. 3
(i) is / a / happiness / of / state / mind
(ii) with / a / person / polite / no / one / can / angry / be
(iii) a / exercise / makes / healthy / person
Answer:
(i) Happiness is a state of mind,
(ii) No one can be angry with a polite person.
(iii) Exercise makes a person healthy.

Question 10.
Choose one word the following group of words. (3)
(i) A person who loves money and hates spending it.
(a) spendthrift
(b) miser
(c) philanthropist
(d) capitalist
Answer:
(b) miser

(ii) The family was known for its wealth and greatness.
(a) generosity
(b) courage
(c) affluence
(d) prestige
Answer:
(a) generosity

(iii) A person who has been appointed or selected to attend a conference.
(a) ambassador
(b) delegate
(c) representative
(d) messenger
Answer:
(b) delegate

Section – D : Literature

Question 11.
Read the given passages and answer the questions by choosing the correct option : (any three) 1 1/2
One of the Germans was waving a bottle above his head. “It is Christmas Day, Tommy. We have schnapps. We have sausage. We meet you? Yes?” By this time there were dozens of them walking towards us across no man’s land and not a rifle between them. Little Private Morris was the first up. “Come on, boys. What are we waiting for?” And then there was no stopping them. I was the officer. I should have stopped them there and then, I suppose, but the truth is that it never even occurred to me I should. All along their line and ours I could see men walking slowly towards one another, grey coats, khaki coats meeting in the middle. And I was one of them. I was part of this. In the middle of the war we were making peace.

Questions:
(i) ‘In the middle of the war we are making peace!’ Who said this?
(a) Little Private Morris
(b) Jim Macpherson
(c) Hans Wolf
(d) Michael Morpurgo
Answer:
(b) Jim Macpherson

(ii) The above mentioned scene belonged to :
(a) Second World War
(b) Spanish Civil War
(c) First World War
(d) American Civil War
Answer:
(c) First World War

(iii) What is ‘Schnapps’?
(a) It is a German drink made of grain
(b) Russian drink made of Maple syrup
(c) A British drink made of sugarcane
(d) An American breakfast drink
Answer:
(a) It is a German drink made of grain

(iv) ‘And I was one of them’. Who is T here?
(a) Connie
(b) Jim Macpherson
(c) Hans Wolf
(d) Michael Morpurgo
Answer:
(b) Jim Macpherson

Question 12.
Read the extract given below and answer the following questions: (any 3)

A silly young cricket, accustomed to sing
Through the warm, sunny months of gay summer and spring,
Began to complain when he found that, at home,
His cupboard was empty, and winter was come.

Questions:
(i) The stanza is taken from:
(a) Geography Lesson
(b) The Grasshopper and Cricket
(c) The Ant and the Cricket
(d) The Duck and the Kangaroo
Answer:
(c) The Ant and the Cricket

(ii) The cricket is being described as:
(a) foolish
(b) wise
(c) active
(d) intelligent
Answer:
(a) foolish

(iii) The weather in the poem is:
(a) warm and gay
(b) cold and dry
(c) rainy and stormy
(d) hot and sunny
Answer:
(b) cold and dry

(iv) Find a word from the stanza which is the opposite of ‘full’.
(a) young
(b) empty
(c) began
(d) silly
Answer:
(b) empty

Question 13.
Read the given passages and answer the questions by choosing the correct option : (any three)
“That has a purpose,” said the Djinn, “all because you missed those three days. You will be able to work now for three days without eating, because you can live on your humph; and don’t you ever say I never did anything for you. Come out of the Desert and go to the Three, and behave.” And the Camel went away to join the Three. And from that day to this the Camel always wears a humph (we call it ‘hump’ now, not to hurt his feelings); but he has never yet caught up with the three days that he missed at the beginning,of the world, and he has never yet learned how to behave.

Questions:
(i) “he has never yet learned how to behave.” In the light of this, what is the writer’s opinion about the camel?
(a) Kind
(b) Helpful
(c) Arrogant
(d) All of these
Answer:
(c) Arrogant

(ii) For how many days could a camel work with his hump without eating food?
(a) Five
(b) Four
(c) Three
(d) Four
Answer:
(c) Three

(iii) What bulged out on the camel’s back?
(a) Big hump
(b) Tail
(c) Thorns
(d) Bones
Answer:
(a) Big hump

(iv) What according to the Djinn, was the use of the hump?
(a) The camel could survive without food for three days
(b) The camel looked more attractive
(c) The camel could stand in the desert for four hours
(d) The camel could survive without water for two days
Answer:
(a) The camel could survive without food for three days
Or
Read the given passages and answer the questions by choosing the correct option : (any three)
The Smith family from South-East England were celebrating Christmas at a beach resort in southern Thailand. Tilly Smith was a ten-years-old schoolgirl; her sister was seven years old. Their parents were Penny and Colin Smith. It was 26 December 2004. Deadly tsunami waves were already on their way. They had been triggered by a massive earthquake off northern Sumatra earlier that morning.
Questions:
(i) From where did the Smith family come?
(a) South-East England
(b) South-West England
(c) Central England
(d) North England
Answer:
(a) South-East England

(ii) How old was Tally Smith?
(a) 20 years old
(b) 10 years old
(c) 5 years old
(d) 50 years old
Answer:
(b) 10 years old

(iii) The tsunami waves were triggered by a massive earthquake:
(a) off northern Sumatra
(b) off Thailand
(c) off Japan
(d) None of these
Answer:
(a) off northern Sumatra

(iv) “The water was swelling and kept coming in”. Who said this?
(a) Colin Smith
(b) Penny Smith
(c) Tilly Smith
(d) A commentator
Answer:
(b) Penny Smith

Question 14.
Answer any two of the following questions in about 30-40 words : 2 × 3 = 6
(a) How did Indians decide to fight collectively against the British ?
Answer:
The British exploited Indian handicrafts. They also adopted all the mean and foul tactics to take over the princely states. They forced Indians to adopt Christian religion. They employed Indians only for clerical jobs and paid them very low wages. Hence, all the sections of the society and also the Indian soldiers were displeased with them. So Indians decided to fight collectively against the British.

(b) “He becomes conscious in a special manner of his own smallness in his large universe.” This awareness defines an emotion mentioned in the first paragraph. Which is the emotion?
Answer:
The emotion mentioned is ‘humility’. It means a sense of being small and mortal. It is a fact that our planet earth is a small speck of dust in the larger universe and we are a tiny part of this planet. The sheer grand size of a mountain peak dwarfs your size and has a sobering effect on you. Due to this you tend to realize that you are just a small part of the large scheme called the universe.

(c) Why did the fair maid go back alone into the dark? Contrast the bargain made to a child with others that hire him.
Answer:
Like the power of the king, the money of the old man, the charm of the fair maid too is very temporary regarding its existence. Her sweet smile is bound to be dried away in tears with the due course of time, that is why the fair maid went back alone into the dark. The child hires the man for nothing. Other people promised to hire him against power, money and changing emotions. So when he is offered a job against nothing, he is happy to do it for he feels he is a free man then.

(d) What does the child say about his attitude in the school? What does the phrase ‘worn thro’ with the dreary shower’ mean? What does the phrase ‘plants are striped of their joy’ mean?
Answer:
The child was neither interested in his books nor in the boring lectures of his teachers. The phrase mean ‘to be tired with the dull and boring shower of continuous lectures of teachers over the child. The phrase means that the joy is taken away from the children.

Question 15.
Answer any two of the following questions in about 20-30 words : 2 × 2 = 4
(a) Who did the Giant love most? Why?
Answer:
The Giant loved the little boy most because he had kissed him. He felt helpless and began to cry. The Giant saw him. His heart melted all of a sudden. He came to the little boy and put him into the tree. The tree broke at once into blossom and the birds came and sang on it. The little boy became happy. He stretched out his two arms and flung them round the Giant’s neck, and kissed him. The Giant’s joy knew no bounds. He (the Giant) made the little boy his friend.

(b) How did Hafeez use to remember things? Do you concur with Hafeez that learning incapacities don’t go connected at the hip with talented?
Answer:
Hafeez used to see things as a photograph and remember the matter similarly. There is a general belief that the genius usually does not shine in studies. Those who always stand first or second do very ordinary jobs later on. Personality and skills ultimately decide the careers of boys.

(c) What made Princess September follow up on her sister’s recommendation?
Answer:
After the death of her lovely parrot; Princess September got the company of a little song bird. He comforted her with his sweet songs. One day, her sisters advised her to put the bird into a cage lest he should fly. Princess September loved the bird too much to take chances. So, she acted upon their advice.

Question 16.
Answer any one of the following questions in about 40-50 words : 1 × 4 = 4
(a) Write the character-sketch of Jody.
Answer:
Jody was a sensitive boy. He remembered the fawn who was left alone after doe was killed. He was not ungrateful as he wanted to pay back doe by taking care of its fawn. Jody was smarter than boys of his own age. He had great convincing power. He was bold enough to go alone to find the fawn. He was loving and caring. When he found fawn, he put his arms around its body. He brought fawn home. He took its motherly care. He dipped his fingers in the milk and thrust them into fawn’s soft wet mouth.

(b) Why does the boy compare himself to a caged bird and a plant?
Answer:
Like a caged bird, the boy is also not free to do any thing at his own will. He wants to lead a life of freedom but he can’t because there are many restrictions on him. A small child is like a tender plant. If he is suppressed too much, he fails to grow to full size. A tender plant if crushed at the bud-stage, won’t bear any flower or fruit in spring season.

(c) Compare and contrast the character traits of the two adversaries or contestants in the story ‘The Fight’.
Answer:
Suraj was a tall, thickset wrestler. He was a bully. He proclaimed that he was a warrior and he had exclusive right to swim in the pool. He tried to scare Ranji away. But Ranji had a strong feeling of self respect. He accepted the challenge to fight. He thought if he surrendered he would lose his right to the pool for ever. He suffered cuts and bruises. But he went to the pool ready for a second fight. This time he proved his excellence as a swimmer. Suraj got influenced by Ranji’s art of swimming. He also wanted to be a good swimmer. So he agreed to get training from Ranji and in return make Ranji a wrestler.