Practicing with English Question Paper Class 8 Kerala Syllabus and Annual Exam Question Paper 2022-23 will help students prepare effectively for their upcoming exams.
Class 8 English Annual Exam Question Paper 2022-23 Kerala Syllabus
Time: 90 minutes
Max. Score : 40
Instruction:
- 15 minutes is given as cool off time.
- This time is to be used for reading the question paper.
- You are not supposed to write anything during the cool off time.
- Attempt the questions according to the instructions.
- Keep in mind the score and time while answering the questions.
- The maximum score for questions from 1 to 27 will be 40.
Questions 1-5. Read the passage from the story ‘The Merchant of Venice’ and answer the following questions.
Antonio was a young and honest merchant in the town of Venice. He was the kindest man ever lived. He always came to the help of the people in trouble. He was greatly loved by all his fellowcitizens. Antonio had a bosom friend, Bassanio was a noble Venetian. He was not very rich. He had lived a luxurious life and squandered all the little money he had. Whenever he wanted money, Antonio helped him. It seemed they had but one heart and one purse between them.
Question 1.
Who was Antonio?
Answer:
Antonio was a rich, young and honest merchant in the town of Venice.
Question 2.
Why was Antonio known as the kindest man ever lived?
Answer:
Antonio was known as the kindest man ever lived because he always came to the help of the people in trouble. ‘
Question 3.
What type of a person was Bassanio?
Answer:
Bassanio was a noble Venetian. He was not very rich. He had lived a luxurious life and squandered all the little money he had.
Question 4.
Which sentence shows the intimate friendship between Antonio and Bassanio?
Answer:
It seemed they had but one heart and one purse between them.
Question 5.
Pick out the word from the passage which means ‘to spend money foolishly’.
Answer:
Squandered
Questions 6-9. Read the following extract from the poem ‘My Grandmother’s House’ and answer the following questions.
There is a house now far away where once
I received love… That woman died,
The house withdrew into silence, snakes moved
Among books, I was then too young
To read, and my blood turned cold like the moon.
How often I think of going
There, to peer through blind eyes of windows or
Just listen to the frozen air,
Or in wild despair pick an armful of
Darkness to bring it here to lie
Behind my bedroom door like a brooding Dog…
Question 6.
Which house is mentioned in the-first line?
Answer:
The house which is far away where the writer received love.
Question 7.
What happened to the house after the death of grandmother?
Answer:
The house withdrew into silence and snakes moved among books.
Question 8.
How are the eyes of the windows described?
Answer:
The eyes of the windows are described as blind.
Question 9.
Pick out an instance of similie from the lines above.
Answer:
My blood turned cold like the moon.
Questions 10-14. Read the passage carefully and answer the following questions that follow. (1 × 5 = 5)
Some frogs were travelling through woods and two of othem accidentally fell into a pit. The other frogs which were safe upside understood how deep the pit was and saw no hope for the frogs to escape out of it. Both of these frogs started trying to get out of the pit but failed many times. The frogs on the safe side shouted at them to give up the pain of trying as it was not possible. Eventually, one frog heard the other frogs and decided to stop trying and fell down to death. However, the other frog went on trying and at last managed to reach the top.
The other frogs asked him, “Did you not hear us?” He explained that he was deaf and thought other frogs were encouraging him to get out. Some people around you may ask you to be on a safer side always and stop trying and taking risks. However, there is no gain without pain. So try hard to achieve success in life despite what life offers you.
Question 10.
Where were the frogs travelling through?
Answer:
The frogs were travelling through woods.
Question 11.
What did frogs on the safe side shout?
Answer:
The frogs on the safe side shouted to give up the pain of trying as it was not possible.
Question 12.
What was the explanation given by the frog that reached safely to the top of the pit?
Answer:
The explanation was that he was deaf and thought other frogs were encouraging him to get out.
Question 13.
How can one achieve success in life?
Answer:
One can achieve success only by trying hard. There is no gain without pain.
Question 14.
Give a suitable title for the story.
Answer:
No Gain without Pain
Question 15. Prepare a profile of Ella Wheeler Wilcox using the details given below. Use appropriate linkers wherever necessary. (5 marks)
Question 15.
Name : Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Birth : 1850
Place of Birth : Johnstown, USA
Known as : Author, poet
Nationality : American
Notablework : Solitude
Autobiography: The Worlds and I
Death : 1919
Answer:
Ella Wheeler Wilcox was bom in 1850, at Johnstown, Wisconsin, USA. She was an American author and poet. Her family later moved north of Madison, after losing its wealth, as the result of her father’s failed business aspirations and speculation. During her childhood, Wilcox amused herself by reading books and newspapers, which may have influenced her later writing. She read William Shakespeare, The Arabian Nights, The Diverting History of John Gilpin and Gulliver’s Travels, in addition to the few other pieces of literature that were available in her home. Her works include the collection Poems of Passion. Her most famous poem is “Solitude”. This poem contains the lines “Laugh, and the world laughs with you; weep, and you weep alone.” Her autobiography, The Worlds and I, was published in 1918, a year before her death. She died in 1919.
Questions 16-17. Attempt any one of the following.
Question 16.
The disguised Portio saved the life of Antonio from the hands of Shylock in the story ‘The Merchant of Venice’. After the trial in the court of the duke, Antonio met Shylock. Construct a possible dialogue between them. (Five exchanges)
Answer:
Shylock : Thank you Antonio for pardoning me. If you had not pardoned me I would have been hanged for trying to kill a citizen of Venice.
Antonio : I am a Christian, I don’t harbour vengeance.
Shylock : But you used to insult me as I am a Jew.
Antonio : Why did you want to take a pound of flesh from me?
Shylock : I wanted to kill you. You were mining my business by giving people money without interest. I hate Christians. My daughter Jessica has run away with a Christian.
Antonio : Forget all that. We should not fight again.
Shylock : How can I forget? You have asked me to become a Christian. I have lost all my property as half of it goes to the State of Venice and half goes to you.
Antonio : I don’t want your money. I have given it back to you on the condition that after your death you will give it to your daughter.
Shylock : Why did she mn away with a Christian when she knows that I hate Christians?
Antonio : Shylock, love is blind.
Shylock : Woe to me! I have lost everything. My money, my religion and my daughter!
Question 17.
Write a paragraph describing the incidents which led to the arrest of Rosa Parks.
Answer:
It was on 1 December 1955 in the town of Montgomery. Rosa Parks worked in a dress maker’s shop. She had been working all day. That day her work was heavier than usual. At the end of the day she thought only of one thing – to sit down. She walked to the bus stop and got on a bus. There were many vacant seats. She paid her fare and sat down in the nearest seat. Her feet were very tired. The driver knew nothing about her or her feet. What he knew was she was a Black person. She was a quiet lady. She did not envy anybody. She broke no law. Before the bus started, many white passengers rushed to the bus. Each time a White passenger entered, a Black passenger got up from his seat and gave the seat to the White passenger. That was the rule. All Black passengers gave their seats to the Whites except Rosa. A White passenger stood near her but she did not get up from her seat. She thought the rule of Blacks giving seats to Whites was unfair. As she did not get up, the driver was angry. He asked Rosa to get up. But she sat still. Then the driver brought the police in, and they arrested Rosa for breaking the rule and she was taken to the jail.
Questions 18-20. Answer any two of the following.
Question 18.
The boy in the story ‘The Nightingale and the Rose ’ was very sad when he was rej ected by his beloved. He decided to write a letter to one of his intimate friends. Draft the likely letter.
Answer:
XV/24 Azad Road,
Irinjalakuda – 680 125
I had hoped that she would take the red rose and then dance with me. But she tells me that someone else has brought her some expensive jewellery and she values the jewellery much more the rose I was giving her. She did not take the rose. My hopes were dashed and so I threw the red rose in the gutter where it was run over by a cart. I now know that love is ridiculous and logic is better. The poor nightingale’s sacrifice was a waste! I will never again believe any girl who professes her love to me. This should be a good lesson for you also!
I will meet you during the Christmas vacation and tell you more about the girl who cheated me. Convey my regards to your parents and your sister, Lilly.
Yours affectionately,
Joby
Question 19.
The English club of your school has decided to stage the story ‘The Merchant of Venice’. Being the secretar of the club, you are asked to prepare a notice to invite all to watch it. Draft the notice.
Answer:
St. Mary’s High School, Mapranam English Club
29.6.2023
NOTICE
17 July 2021
Dear Wilson,
I am writing this letter to tell you about an incident that pained me a lot. You know I had a girl friend, Rosy. She told me the other day that she would dance with me in the ball if I gave her a red rose. I thought she really loved me. I could not find any red rose and so I was sitting and lamenting in my garden.
A nightingale heard my laments and she wanted to help me. She flew around searching for a red rose to give me. But no red rose was found. Finally she pierced her heart on a thorn to bleed onto a white rose and it became red. But in the process the nightingale died for me. I was sorry, but I picked the red rose and brought it to my lover.
The English Club of our School is staging the story “The Merchant of Venice” by William Shakespeare. The story will be staged in the School auditorium at 3.00 p.m. on 3 July 2023.
It is a very interesting story. Antonio is the merchant of Venice. There is a moneylender there whose name is Shylock. He is a Jew. He lends money to people on high interest. Antonio gives money to people without any interest. Shylock hates him. Bassanio is his friend. Bassanio spends money lavishly and whenever he needs money he borrows from Antonio. Bassanio comes to know there is a rich, beautiful and intelligent girl Portia who wants to get married. If he can marry her, all his financial problems will be solved. But to go to her he needs money. He wants 3000 ducats. He goes to Antonio to get the money. But Antonio does not have ready cash as all his ships have gone to different countries for selling goods. So he goes to borrow 3000 ducats from Shylock. Shylock sees this as an opportunity take revenge on Antonio. He gives the money on the condition that if the money is not returned by a certain date, he will cut off one pound of flesh from Antonio’s body. Bassanio goes and succeeds in marrying Portia. But there is bad news for Antonio. His ships are reported lost. He can’t pay the money to Shylock in time.
Will Shylock succeed in his evil plan? Will Antonio be saved? You can see all that on the stage.
You are welcome! Come and enjoy!
Liz Job Secretary
Question 20.
The lesson ‘School for Sympathy’ highlights the values like empathy and kindness. The writer EV Lucas was very much impressed by the education system of the school. He drafts his thoughts in the form of a diary. Prepare the likely diary entry.
Answer:
I had heard a lot about Miss Beam’s school. The teaching methods there are quite different. They teach only those things that are simple and useful to students. It is a residential school. Here the students have to take an exercise of going through blind day, lame day, dumb day and deaf day. This is to have first-hand experiences of the physically challenged people, their difficulties, and their special physical, psychological and emotional needs and to generate sympathy and a sense of special responsibility towards them. The real aim of Miss Beam’s school is not to teach thought but thoughtfulness, humanity, kindness and citizenship. Some may think the blind day is the most difficult for the students, but I think the dumb day would be the worst because the child must use his will power because his mouth is bandaged.
Question 21.
Edit the following. (1 × 3 = 3)
The old man speak (a) kindly to the lad, and asked him some hard questions. So clever was (b) the answers that the priest agreed to take the little felow (c) into the temple as an acolyte, and to educate him for the priesthood.
Answer:
The old man (a) spoke kindly to the lad, and asked him some hard questions. So clever (b) were the answers that the priest agreed to take the little (c) fellow into the temple as an acolyte, and to educate him for the priesthood.
Question 22.
Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions given in the bracket. (1 × 3 = 3)
Terenty came out ……(a)……. the kitchen-garden and begins striding ….(b)…. the village street. He walks quickly without stopping or looking ………(c)….. side to side. Fyokla can hardly keep up with him.
(down, of, from, to)
Answer:
Terenty came out (a) of the kitchen garden and begins striding (b) down the Village Street. He walks quickly without stopping or looking (c) from side to side. Fyolka can hardly keep up with him.