SAMPLE PAPER SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT – II, 2016 – 17
CLASS – VIII
SUBJECT – ENGLISH
Time: 3 Hours
Max. Marks: 100
This paper is divided into four sections:
Section - A (Reading)
Section – B (Writing)
Section – C (Grammar) Section - D (Literature) -
20 marks
30 Marks
20 Marks
30 Marks
General Instructions:
 Attempt all questions in serial order
 Do not copy the questions
 Do not write anything on the question paper.
 Write in neat and clear handwriting.
______________________________________________________________________________
Section-A (Reading)
A. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:
Our house is filled with photos. They cover the walls of my kitchen, dining room and den. I see
our family’s entire history, starting with my wedding, continuing through the births of both sons,
buying a home, family gathering and vacations .When my sons were little, they loved to pose
and I crazily captured all their actions. They waved, danced, climbed trees, batted balls, hung
upside down from the jungle gym and did anything for a picture. They grew at haphazard speeds.
But when they reached adolescence, picture taking changed into something they barely tolerated.
Reluctantly they stood with us or with their grandparents at birthday celebrations and smiled
weakly, at the camera for as short a time as possible.
I am the chronicler of our photographs. I select those to be framed and arrange the others in
albums. The process is addictive, and as the shelves that hold our albums become fuller and
fuller, I wonder what will become of them. Will anyone look at these photographs in future
years? If my sons look at them, what will they think of us and of themselves? One bright
afternoon, I took some photograph of my father with my husband as they fished in a lake near
our vacation house. As my sons and I sat on the shore and watched them row away ,I picked the
camera up and photographed the beautiful lake surrounded by green trees. The two men I loved
gradually grew smaller until all I could see were my father’s red shirt, and the tan and blue caps
on their heads.
My father died a week later, and suddenly those photos became priceless to me. I wept when I
pasted them in our album. I wept again afterwards when I saw my younger son looking at the
them. It was a few days before he went away to college. He had taken all our albums down from
the bookshelves in the study and spread them out on the carpet. It had been a very long time
since I had seen him doing this. Once he stopped posing for pictures, he seemed to lose interest
in looking at them. But now he was on the verge of leaving home. This was his special time to
look ahead and look back. I didn’t take a photo of my son that afternoon, but I will remember
how he looked for as long as I live. Some pictures, I learned, only exist and don’t have to be
taken with a camera.
1. Fill in the summary using one word only:
(1x4=4)
The author was (a) ______________________about taking photographs and framing them. But
she always (b)_____________________ whether her sons would ever look at them. She was full
of(c)____________________ when she pasted the pictures of her father’s last days in the album.
She learnt that some pictures always (d)_____________ in one’s mind without camera.
2. Two examples that show that the author’s sons were unwilling for taking photographs
are:
a) ___________________________
(1x2=2)
b)___________________________
3. Find words which mean the same as:
a) not organised or planned (para 1)
b) one who records events in order(para 2)
c) very valuable (para 3)
d) continued engagement an activity (para 2)
(1x4=4)
A2. Read the passage carefully and choose the correct option in each question:
(1x5=5)
The Age of Discovery, or Age of Exploration with, started in the 15th century and continuing into the
early 17th century, during which Europeans and their descendants intensively explored and mapped the
world. Historians often refer to the 'Age of Discovery' as the period of Portuguese and Spanish pioneer
oceanic explorations, between the 15th and 16th centuries, that established links with Africa, Americas
and Asia in search for alternative trade routes to "the Indies", moved by the trade of gold, silver and
spices. These explorations in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans were soon followed by France, England
and the Netherlands, who explored the Portuguese and Spanish trade routes into the Pacific Ocean,
reaching Australia in 1606 and New Zealand in 1642. Russians conquered and explored almost the
whole of Siberia from the 1580s to the middle of the 17th century. European exploration spanned until
accomplishing the global mapping of the world, resulting in a new world-view and distant civilisations
acknowledging each other, reaching the most remote boundaries much later.
(i) The activity during the Age of Discovery was __________
(a) intensive
(b) exploration
(c) mapping
(ii) The ‘Age of Discovery’ is referred to ____________
(a) establishment of links with Africa, Americas and Asia.
.
(b) as the period of Portuguese and Spanish pioneer oceanic explorations.
(c) search for alternative trade routes to "the Indies".
(d) the trade of gold, silver and spices.
(d) All of these
(iii) Their example was followed by ___________
(a) France, England and the Netherlands.
(b) the Portuguese and Spanish
(c) Australia.
\
(d) New Zealand
(iv) European exploration resulted in ________________
(a) the global mapping of the world
(b) a new world-view and distant civilizations acknowledging each other
(c) reaching the most remote boundaries
(d) none of the above.
(v)The word ‘acknowledging’ in the passage means:
(a) recognizing
(b) allowing
(c) denying
(d) accepting
A3. Read the poem given below and write the option that you consider the most
appropriate in your answer sheets:
An Irish Airman Foresees His Death
I know that I shall meet my fate
Somewhere among the clouds above;
Those that I fight I do not hate
Those that I guard I do not love;
My country is Kiltartan Cross,
My country is Kiltartan’s poor,
No likely end could bring them loss
Or leave them happier than before.
Nor law, nor duty bade me fight,
Nor public men, nor cheering crowds,
A lonely impulse of delight
Drove to this tumult in the clouds;
I balanced all, brought all to mind,
The years to come seemed waste of breath,
A waste of breath the years behind
In balance with this life, this death.
I.Choose the most appropriate option:
1)The first two lines mean that the poet will …….
a) among the clouds flying high
b) be shot down while flying high among the clouds
c) meet his luck among the clouds
d) none of the above
2) The outcome of the war will ………
(1x5=5)
a) affect the fate of his countrymen
b) result in a lot of bloodshed and loss
c) not affect his countrymen
d) bring prosperity to his country
3) ‘A lonely impulse delight’ means……..
a) a feeling of joy
b) a joyous discovery
c) thrill of the battlefield or adventure
d) all of the above
4) What prompted the airman to fight?
a) his obligation for the country
b) cheering of the crowds
c) inspiring speeches of the leaders
d) thrill of the battlefield or adventure
5) The phrase ‘waste of breath’ means…………
a) hopeless
b) unhappiness
c) waste of material
Section-B (Writing)
d) serving no useful purpose
B1. You are the Head Girl/Boy of the school. The Principal wants to hold a meeting with the
staff, the monitors and the prefects. The agenda of the meeting is the allotment of the duties
during the ‘Compufest’ to be held shortly. Write a notice about this to be put up on the notice
board of the school. You must not exceed the limit of 50 words.
(5)
B2. Read the notes given below. Use the information to complete the paragraph by writing
suitable words or phrases in each space from the given information. Do not add any new
information. Write the correct answers in your answer sheet.
(5)
SOYABEAN
 Richest in nutrition
 Rich in proteins, vitamin B,E, Folic Acid
 Unique protein- all amino acids, equal to protein of egg, milk and meat.
 Good for diabetes, skin disorders(eczema) anemia
 How to remove bitterness: soak for 10 minutes in warm water with ½ teaspoon of
sodium bicarbonate
Soyabean is one(a) ___________________ foods. It has rich (b)______________ and
Folic Acid. Soyabean protein has the uniqueness of (c)_____________.Soyabean is very
useful for those(d)_________________and anemia since it is rich in Vitamin D. In order
to remove the bitterness of soyabean (e)____________________ .
B3. In India we face a common scene of a large family living in unhealthy conditions. Write an
article in about 100-120 words on how increase in population leads to reduced availability of
health services and deteriorating sanitary conditions.
(10)
B4. A small toy making factory in your neighbourhood employs young underage children. They
work long hours and do not get enough to eat. Their living conditions are not very hygienic and
are paid meager salaries. You have informed the municipal authorities but no action has been
taken so far.
Write a letter to the editor describing the plight of these children and the apathy of the
authorities. Appeal to the editor and the readers to come forward and take firm steps to improve
the condition of these children.
(10)
Section-C (Grammar)
C1. The following passage has not been edited. There is one error in each line. Write the
incorrect word and the correction in your answer sheet:
(.5x8=4)
The passenger were waiting at the station
a)___________ ______________
when five policemen rushing
b)___________ ______________
into difference compartments of a
c)___________ _______________
train. After sometimes one of them
d ______________ ____________
comes out with two young men
e)___________ ______________
and soon the other policemen joined her.
f) ______________ ___________
The men which had been arrested
g)___________ _____________
was been caught for a theft.
h)___________ ______________
C2. In the following passage, one word has been omitted in each line. Write the missing
word along with the word that comes before and the word that comes after it in your
answer sheet against the correct blank number. Ensure that the word that forms your
answer is underlined.
(.5x8=4)
The consumption petroleum in.
a) ________________________
India increasing at a chillingly
b) _______________________
fast face. It leaped from 3.5 MMT
c) _______________________
in 1950-51 175 MMT in 2006-07.
d)_______________________
Can afford this trend ? India has oil
e)____________________
Reserve present production levels
f)______________________
only a year, gas for 28 years and
g)_____________________
coal for about 23 years. Clearly
h)____________________
renewable the only way to go.
i) ______________________
C3.Rearrange the words and phrases given below to form the meaningful sentences:
i)
ii)
iii)
(1x3=3)
the impression/a/and / are public/that a man’s duties /woman’s at home/ generally we
are under
to work/in the evening/lies in bed late/ a late hour/ anyone who/ is /till/compelled
the best/may be/a/of friends/ good book/ among
C4. Change the voice of the following :
(1x4=4)
a) We are renovating all the laboratories.
b) Many ships had already been destroyed by the storms
c) What does Mr. Kaul teach?
d) Let this letter be posted.
C5. Read the given conversation and complete the report that follows:
(1x5=5)
Man: You are becoming very lazy these days. Didn’t I ask you to get my breakfast ready by 8
o’clock?
Servant: I am sorry, sir. I got up very late today. That’s why I couldn’t prepare it on time.
Man: Didn’t you set the alarm before going to sleep?
Servant: Yes, I did sir.
Man: Then, what happened?
Servant: I forgot to wind the clock.
The man scolded the servant (a) ______. He questioned him (b) _________. The servant
apologized to him respectfully and explained that (c) __________. The man asked him (d)
__________. To this, the servant answered politely (e) _________. His master further inquired
the reason for the delay. The servant answered humbly that he had forgotten to wind the clock.
Section-D (Literature)
D1. Answer the following questions with reference to the context :
I. “ Even for that I thank you,
Therefore, I pray you, lead me to
the caskets,
To try my fortune, By this scimitar
That slew the Sophy and a Persian prince”
a. Who is the speaker and who is being addressed?
b. What is he giving an explanation about?
II. ‘Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high:
(1+2=3)
Where knowledge is free;’
(1x3=3)
a. Name the poet and the poem of the above lines?
b. Who is the poet speaking to and what is the tone of the above lines?
c. What does the poet convey in the above lines?
III “ That ends this strange eventful history,
Is second childishness and mere oblivion,
Sans teeth,sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.”
(1+2=3)
a. What does the speaker refer to in the above lines?
b. What does he mean by childishness and oblivion?
D2.Answer the following questions:
(3x5=15)
a. What is the ‘heaven of freedom’ which the speaker prays for ?
b. Who was Douglas Jardine ? Why did he start Bodyline bowling?
c.What is Bodyline bowling?
d. How did the department of Tourism and the travel agent respond to the author’s decision?
e. Who was Jesse Owens? Why was he famous?
D3. You are going to perform first time on the stage. The night before you are very excited and
you sit down to write in your diary. Write the diary entry bringing out your excitement and
nervousness.
(6)