Regular practice of 8th Standard English Question Paper Kerala Syllabus Set 5 helps students overcome exam fear and perform better.
Kerala Syllabus Class 8 English Model Question Paper Set 5
Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Max. Score: 40
Instructions:
- 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.
Questions 1-3: Read the excerpt from “A Long Walk with Granny” by Ruskin Bond and answer the questions that follow. (3 × 1 = 3)
Mani carried a small bedding-roll. Granny had a large cloth shopping bag and an umbrella. They decided to take rest when they were hungry. They walked steadily without much talk. A flock of parrots flew overhead. There were no other sounds except the hiss and patter of the rain. Mani picked a few blackberries from the bush. Granny was not fond of berries. Mani’s lips became purple with the juice from the berries.
Question 1.
What things did Granny have?
Answer:
Granny had a large cloth shopping bag and an umbrella.
Question 2.
The only sound they could hear was:
A. the sound made their feet as they walked.
B. the sound of the parrots.
C. the sound of the rain.
D. the from the animals in the bush
Answer:
C. the sound of the rain.
Question 3.
Pick out the word from the passage that means ‘continuously’.
Answer:
steadily
Questions 4-6: Read the following excerpt from A Tale of Two Gifts” by O. Henry and answer the questions that follow. (3 × 1 = 3)
Jim and Della were very proud of two things which they owned. One thing was Jim’s gold watch. It had once belonged to his father. And, long ago, it had belonged to his father’s father. Though the watch was so distinctive, it did not have a fine chain. So could not wear it in the public.
The other thing was Della’s hair. Della knew her hair was more beautiful than any queen’s gold or gems. So now Della’s beautiful hair fell around her, shining like a falling stream of brown water. It reached below her knee. It almost made itself into a dress for her. And then she put it up on her head again, nervously and quickly. Once she stopped for a moment and stood still while a tear or two ran down her face.
Question 4.
What were the two precious things that Della and Jim owned?
Answer:
The two precious things that Della and Jim owned were Della’s long and beautiful hair and Jim’s watch which he got from his father.
Question 5.
“It almost made itself into a dress for her.” What was it?
Answer:
Her long and thick hair
Question 6.
Why did a tear or two run down Della’s face?
A. Because Jim was not with her.
B. Because her hair was too long.
C. Because she was sick.
D. Because she was planning to sell her hair.
Answer:
D. Because she was planning to sell her hair
Question 7.
Read the following lines from “The Seven Ages of Man” by William Shakespeare. In these lines the 5,h’ 6th and 7th ages are described. Write a paragraph summarising the ideas contained in the lines, using the hints given below. (1 × 4 = 4)
And then the justice
In fair round belly, with good capon lin’d,
With eyes severe, and beard of formal cut,
Full of wise saws, and modem instances,
And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts
Into the lean and slipper’d pantaloon,
With spectacles on nose, and pouch on side,
His youthful hose well sav’d, a world too wide.
For his shrunk shank, and his big manly voice,
Turning again towards childish treble, pipes
And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
Is second childishness and mere oblivion,
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.
Answer:
In the fifth age, man becomes the justice, with a fair round belly as he has eaten fat chicken meat. His eyes are severe and his beard is formally cut. He is full of wise sayings and contemporary knowledge. Thus he plays his part.
In the sixth stage he shifts into lean and loose pants. He has spectacles on his nose and a bag on his side like a school teacher. His youthful skin has become loose. His legs have become small and weak and the world too wide for him. His big manly voice goes back to his childish treble, with pipes and whistles in his sound making his speech unclear.
In the last scene we see the end of his strange eventful history. He is in his second childhood and in forgetfulness. He is without teeth, eyes, taste – without everything. This is when he quits the stage as his life has ended. “The Seven Ages of Man is a beautiful description of a person’s steady movement from cradle to grave.
Questions 8-10: Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow. (3 × 1 = 3)
Riya loved visiting her grandmother’s village during the holidays. Unlike the noisy city, the village was calm and filled with fresh air. Every morning, Riya woke up to the sound of birds instead of traffic. She enjoyed walking through the fields, where farmers worked patiently from sunrise to sunset. One day, her grandmother took her to the small community library. Although the library was old, it was filled with interesting books about nature, history, and science. Riya spent hours reading and discovered many new ideas. She realized that learning could happen anywhere, not just in school. By the time she returned home, she felt thankful for the simple but meaningful experiences the village had given her.
Question 8.
How was Riya’s grandmother’s village different from the noisy city?
Answer:
Riya’s grandmother’s village different from the noisy city by being calm and filled with fresh air.
Question 9.
To what sounds did Riya wake up every morning?
A. The sounds of traffic.
B. the sounds her grandmother made.
C. The sounds the farmers made.
D. The sounds the birds made.
Answer:
D. The sounds the birds made.
Question 10.
The community library had books about:
A. history
B. science
C. politics
D. sports
Now, choose the right option,
i) A
ii) B
iii) Both A and D
iv) Both A and B
Answer:
iv) Both A and B
Questions 11-13: Answer either A or B. (3 × 4 = 12)
Question 11.
[A] Write the story of “Engine Trouble” by R.K. Narayan, using the hints given below.
(Hints: Malgudi – lottery – narrators wins a road engine in a lottery – proves a burden – the engine has to be moved – temple elephant 50 coolies and Joseph moving the engine – hitting and breaking the compound wall – police – debts -earthquake pushes the engine into a disused well – the owner of the well agrees to pay all the debts of the narrator)
Answer:
“Engine Trouble” by R.K. Narayan narrates the humorous misfortune of a man from Malgudi who wins a road engine in a lottery at a fair. What seems like a grand prize soon becomes a burden. The huge machine is impossible to move, and the winner has neither the space to keep it nor the money to operate it. The engine blocks the town’s public road, causing inconvenience to everyone and attracting complaints from officials. The municipality gives him a dead line to remove the engine. He gets the temple elephant, 50 coolies, and one driver named Joseph.
As the engine is dragged out, it hits a compound wall and breaks it. There are many spectators to watch the fun and there is a lot of noise. The angry elephant strained and broke the rope. The coolies fled in panic. The owner of the compound slaps the man and takes him to the police station. Finally, an earthquake gets the road engine fall into a disused well. The owner of the well is happy and agreed to pay all the debts of the narrator. The story highlights the irony of unexpected “gifts” and the humour of everyday life.
OR
[B] In the story “A Tale of Two Gifts” by O. Henry we see what happens between what is expected and what actually occurs. How does the unexpected twist in the tail-end of the story emphasise the value of love over material possessions?
Answer:
Jim and Della love each other deeply. They want to give their partner an appropriate Christmas gift. Della has beautiful hair and Jim has a precious watch. Della thinks the best gift for Jim, is a golden watch chain so that he can wear it proudly in public. Jim thinks the best gift for Della is some fine combs so that she can wear her hair elegantly. Della sells her beautiful hair to get the golden watch chain. Jim sells his watch to get the combs for Della’s hair. The irony is that the gifts are currently useless for them.
The unexpected twist in the tail-end of the story emphasises the value of love over material possessions by showing us Jim and Della going to dinner with hearts overflowing with love. They may have lost their precious possessions but they have shown each other that their love is paramount. By selling her hair Della bought the golden watch chain and he bought the combs by selling the watch. The golden watch chain and the combs are useless for them now. Material possessions are nothing before real love.
Question 12.
[A] How was the newspaper distribution in Rameshwaram before World War II started and why did Abdulkalam accept the job of distributing the paper?
Answer:
[A] The newspapers reached Rameswaram in a unique way. They came by morning train and were kept at the Rameswaram station. From there they had to be collected and sent to all subscribers. Samsuddin managed it effortlessly. When World War II raged, it affected the newspaper delivery business in a strange way. The British government had placed a number of sanctions and rations on goods. Something like a state of emergency prevailed in the country. Our large family felt the difficulties badly. Food, clothes and the need of the babies were difficult to get. Samsuddin came up with a proposal that delighted me. The train stop at Rameswaram was cancelled. Flow to get the papers then? Samsuddin found a way out.
The papers would be kept ready in large bundles. As the train slowed down at the Rameswaram-Dhanushkodi track, the bundles would be flung out on to the platform. Samsuddin offered me the job of collecting these bundles and then taking them around town for distribution. I was very happy. I was only 8, but I was going to contribute meaningfully to the household income. I had seen that the food on the plates of my mother and grandmother was getting smaller and smaller as the food had to be shared among all of us. So I accepted Samsuddin’s offer.
OR
[B] Imagine you were a reporter at the time of India’s Independence. You heard the speech “A Tryst with Destiny” by Jawaharlal Nehru. In about 150 words, report the speech to be published in your newspaper.
Answer:
Jawaharlal Nehru’s “ATryst with Destiny” speech, delivered on the eve of India’s independence on 14 August 1947, celebrates the nation’s historic transition from colonial rule to freedom. Nehru describes independence as the fulfilment of a long-awaited pledge made by India’s leaders and freedom fighters. He emphasizes that political freedom is only the beginning and calls for dedicated effort to build a just, prosperous, and democratic nation.
Nehru urges citizens to end poverty, inequality, and discrimination, reminding them that the responsibility of shaping India’s future lies with every individual. He highlights unity, communal harmony, and service to humanity as essential values for the new nation. India has been suffering long under the yoke of the British. Now we are no more a colony of some foreign power, but an independent nation that has to work for self-sufficiency in everything. We should prove to the world that we are behind no one. The speech concludes with a hopeful vision of India awakening to life and freedom, ready to contribute to peace and progress in the world.
Question 13.
[A] In “Thank you Ma’am” by Langston Hughes we find how Roger tries to snatch the purse from Mrs. Jones and how she decides to take him to her house and treat him well. Describe the incident in about 250 words.
Answer:
Mrs. Jones was a large woman with a large purse that seemed to contain everything. It had a long strap, and she carried it slung across her shoulder. It was about 11 at night, and she was walking alone, when Roger, a boy of around 15, ran up behind her and tried to snatch her purse. The strap broke with the single tug Roger gave it from behind. But he lost his balance and fell on his back on the sidewalk. Mrs. Jones kicked him in his buttocks. Then she picked the boy up by his shirt front, and shook him until his teeth rattled. She made him pick up her purse and give it to her. She then asked if he wasn’t ashamed of himself. The boy said yes and apologized to her.
She said his face was dirty and asked him if he did not have anybody home to tell him to wash his face. The boy said there was none at home. She took Roger to her house and then said to him she would treat her like her son and teach him right from wrong. He asked her to wash his face. She then sat with him and ate together. When he finished his meals, she gave him 10 dollars to buy the kind of shoes he wanted to buy. He was trying to snatch the purse from Mrs. Jones to buy a pair of blue suede shoes he desired so much.
OR
[B] Imagine you had a chance to meet Jim, the hero of the story “A Tale of Two Gifts” by O. Henry. Write down four questions you want to ask him and his possible answers to them.
Answer:
1. What prompted you to sell your valuable possession, the watch, you got from your father?
My desire to buy my beloved Della a proper Christmas gift prompted me to sell my valuable possession, the watch.
2. When you saw Della without her hair, how did you feel?
When I saw Della without her hair, at first I was very much shocked. But when I came to know the reason why she cut and sold her hair, I felt greater love and admiration for her.
3. Did you regret your decision to sell your watch?
No, I didn’t. I sold it for a noble purpose. I love for Della is much more precious to me than the watch which is just a material possession.
4. Did Della look less beautiful to you without her hair?
No, she didn’t. In fact she looked more beautiful without her hair as she made such a great sacrifice because of her love for me.
Question 14.
Using the hints given below, prepare a brief profile of R.K. Narayan who wrote the story “Engine Trouble”. (4)
(Hints: bom in Madras in 1906 – graduated from Maharaja College in Mysore, tried a brief stint as a teacher – celebrated writer – Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan – Swami and Friends, The Guide, and Malgudi Days, The Guide, The Financial Expert, and Mr. Sampath – themes – death of his wife – died in 2001)
Questions 15-17: Read the news headlines and answer the questions that follow. (3 × 1 = 3)
A. Ethiopian Volcanic Ash Cloud Reaches India, Affecting Flights
B. Dharmendra, Bollywood Legend Hero of Sholay, Passes Away at 89
C. Delhi Air Quality Crisis Prompts New Restrictions
D. Indian Cricket Team Worried about its Performance Against South Africa
Answer:
R. K. Narayan was bom in Madras in 1906. He graduated from Maharaja College in Mysore. He tried a brief stint as a teacher but left to become a full-time writer. He was a prominent Indian writer in English, celebrated for his novels set in the fictional town of Malgudi. He was much influenced by English literature from a young age. He is known for his simple, humorous style and insightful portrayals of everyday Indian life. Narayan was a recipient of numerous awards, including the Padma Bhushan and the Padma Vibhushan. His writing is characterized by its simplicity, genial humour, and keen observation of human nature.
His works often explored the clash between tradition and modernity, the role of the individual, and family dynamics. He is most famous for creating the fictional town of Malgudi, which became a recurring setting for many of his stories. Malgudi provided a window into small-town Indian life for a global audience.
Some of his notable novels include “Swami and Friends, The Guide, and Malgudi Days, The Guide, The Financial Expert, and Mr. Sampath. He also wrote over two hundred short stories, essays, and travel books. –
The tragic and untimely death of his wife, Rajam, was a profound experience that influenced the themes of fate in his writing. Narayan died in 2001.
Question 15.
Which headline is of the greatest importance to air travellers?
Answer:
A. Ethiopian Volcanic Ash Cloud Reaches India, Affecting Flights
Question 16.
Which is saddest news to lovers of films?
Answer:
B. Dharmendra, Bollywood Legend Hero of Sholay, Passes Away at 89
Question 17.
If you live Delhi, which headline will get your immediate attention?
Answer:
C. Delhi Air Quality Crisis Prompts New Restrictions
Question 18.
Fill in the blanks using the appropriate phrases given in brackets. (1 × 3 = 3)
My friend Mark decided to a)…… his old, stressful job to pursue his dream of becoming a chef. It was tough at first, but his family helped him b) …… while he was in culinary school. He didn’t give up on his dream, and now he is a successful restaurant owner who loves to c) ……
his customers.
(get by, look up, give up. make out. speed up. look after)
Answer:
a) give up,
b) get by,
c) look after
Question 19.
Edit the following passage: Errors are in bold. (4 × 1/2 = 2)
Jim stopped inside the door. He was as a) quite as a hunting dog when it is near a bird. His eyes looked strangely at Della, and there was an expression in them that she could not b) understood It filled her with fear. It was not anger, nor surprise, nor anything she had been reads for. He simply looked at her with that strange expression on c) her face. Della went to him. “Jim. dear.” she cried, “don’t look at me like that. I had my hair cut off and sold it. I couldn’t live through Christmas without giving you a gift. My hair will grow again. You won’t care, d) won’t you? My hair grows very fast
Answer:
a) quiet,
b) understand,
c) his,
d) will you?
Question 20.
Complete the conversation between Roger and Mrs. Jones. (3 × 1 = 3)
She said, “What is your name?”
“Roger,” answered the boy.
“Roger, go to that sink and a) ______ said the woman. She turned him looseat last. Roger looked at the door—looked at the woman— looked at the door—and went b) ______”
“Let the water run until it gets warm,” she said. “Here’s a clean towel.”
Are you going to take me to jail?” asked the boy, bending over the sink.
“Not with that face, I would not take you anywhere,” said the woman. “I was trying to get home to cook me something to eat and you snatch my pocketbook! Maybe, you haven’t eaten your supper, c) ______?”
Answer:
a) wash your face,
b) to the sink,
c) have you