CBSE Class 8 English Revision Worksheet Set M

CBSE Class 8 English Worksheet - Revision (14)

Balanced Personality

Often students who are very fond of reading books are labelled by their comrades as bookworms. Those disparagements generally come from the mouths of students who consider themselves as being‟ gamesters‟. Boys who shine in athletics or in the playing of some game- particularly cricket, consider that the games field is a better or nobler arena for their activities and the expenditure of their energies than the classroom or the reading desk. The idea is born out of an inferiority complex inherent in the „games- minded‟ students who actually envy their fellow who shine academically. Academic honours have a glamour which is unique. It is not to be denied that the playing of games is a worthy activity; it is worthy in the sense that the team spirit can be encouraged in the individual only if he has learnt to participate in the playing of games. It is also true that the player does much for society and for his country on the playing field. It is true that the feeling of co-operation can be cultivated in a person only through group activity. But studies should not be sacrificed in order that students devote their time only to the playing of games. It is my observation that those boys who become obsessed with the playing, particularly of cricket, begin to ignore their studies and then their academic ability suffers, as it must. Let each type of activity have its own place in our daily round and then only will the balanced division of interests produce the individual with a proper perspective of things.

Then will we have the student who is both academically good and who can hold his own on the games field. That is the personality that we want our educational system to produce.

A.1. Complete the following:

(i) According to the author the main goal of education is _______________

(ii) Gamesters‟ tend to call academically sound students bookworms because ______________.

(iii) The two qualities that we can acquire through playing games are

(a) ______________ (b) ______________

A.2. Pick and write the phrases which indicate the importance of academic achievement.

A.3. Find out a word from the passage which means the same as
(i) a companion who shares one‟s activities ______________
(ii) developed ______________

A.4. Match the woods with its correct meaning.
Cultivated Belittle
Perspective Understanding of importance
Disparage Developed

Section – B (Writing)
B.1. Write an e-mail to your cousin in reply to the pictures of his trek sent by him.
B.2. You are Abha/ Abhinav. Write an e-mail to your friend advising him/ her about which websites to avoid and why.

MODALS AND AUXILIARIES

Auxiliary is a helping verb. In a sentence an auxiliary is always used with another verb. There are two types of auxiliary verbs:-
Primary auxiliary: words „be‟, „have‟ and „do‟ are called primary auxiliaries. The forms of „be‟ are „is‟, „am‟, „are‟, „were‟. The forms of „have‟ are „have‟, „has‟, „had‟. The forms of „do‟ are „do‟,‟ does‟ and „did‟.
Modal auxiliary: The words „can‟, „could‟, „may‟, „might‟, „shall‟, „should‟, „must‟, „will‟, „would‟, „used‟, „need‟, „dare‟, „ought‟ express attitudes like permission, possibility etc. Modal auxiliaries are also called modals. They do not change their forms.

Can and Could
Can usually suggests potential or ability.
Eg:- Ram can take you to the airport.
Eg:- Can you lift this?
Can is also used to indicate permission.
Eg:- You can join from tomorrow.
Could is used to ask a polite question.
Eg:- Could you help me solve the sum?
Could is used as the past tense of can in indirect speech.
Eg:- Toto said, „I can help you.‟
Toto said that he could help me.
Could is used to indicate ability in the past.
Eg:- He could sing well once upon a time.

May and Might
May is usually used to request permission formally.
Eg:- May I use your eraser?
May is also used to express a wish.
Eg:- May you always enjoy goodluck!
May is used to indicate possibility.
Eg:- There may be some rain this evening.
May suggests a weak possibility and might suggests a very weak possibility in the future.
Eg:- The match schedule may be announced next Monday.
We might return sooner than expected.

Shall, Should, Will, Would
Shall is usually used in the first person and will in the second and third person.
Eg:- I shall be pleased to visit you.
You will agree with me.
Shall is used in the second and third person to express a command, a promise or even a threat.
Eg:- He shall not work here again. ( threat )
You shall be rewarded. (promise)
Shall is used in interrogative sentences with the first person to indicate an offer or a suggestion.
Eg:- Shall I carry these books for you?
Will is used to express a decision or a choice.
Eg:- I will do the cooking today.
Will is used to indicate a habit.
Eg:- He will go swimming as usual.
Will is used in interrogative sentences to suggest an invitation.
Eg:- Will you go on a holiday with us?
In clauses starting with if, should is used to express a supposition that may not be true.
Eg:- If it should rain, the match will be called off.
Should is used to ask for and give suggestion or advice, to talk about duty and obligation, and to say what is right or good.
Eg:- You should not raise your voice.
How much money should I carry with me?
Would is more polite than will. It is used to make polite requests.
Eg:- Would you mind repeating what you just said?
Would you speak a bit slowly?
I would like a glass of water, please.

Must and ought
Must expresses necessity or obligation.
Eg:- We must remember this.
Must can express fixed determination.
Eg:- I must have an opportunity to do what I wish.
Must and ought also express certainty or strong possibility.
Eg:- He must have forgotten about the invitation.
We ought to strike this deal.
Ought is used to expresse moral obligation or desirability.
Eg:- We ought to try hard.

Used
It is used to indicate discontinued habit.
Eg:- She used to learn ballet.
Need
It denotes necessity or obligation. It is commonly used in negatives and interrogatives.
Eg:- He need not give up tennis.
Need I help him?
Need can also be used to denote requirement or desire.
Eg:- I do not need your help.

Dare
Dare as a modal auxiliary means „be bold enough‟.
It is commonly used in interrogative and negative sentences.
Eg:- How dare she say this?
Dare can also be used to indicate a challenge.
Eg:- I dare you to eat all the food on the table.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

1. Note: Can, May and could are used for asking for permission. However the difference is:
• Can is direct, informal, friendly (used among friends, close relations etc.).
• May is very formal, friendly (used by people in a subordinate position).
• Could is less direct more polite than can. (often used for strangers, or for people not intimately known)

2. Note: May, might, could all indicate possibility.
• May suggests a good possibility+++.
• Might suggests a weak possibility++.
• Could suggests a still weaker possibility+.

3. Note: „Must‟, „have to‟ both express necessity or compulsion. However, there is a slight difference between „must‟ and „have to‟.
• In „must‟ the authority comes from the speaker.
• In „have to‟ the authority comes from outside the speaker.
Example: You must be in your seat by 6. (I insist)
You have to be in your seat by 6. (That‟s the rule)
Example: My back pain is getting worse.
I must go and see the doctor. (I think it necessary)
I have to see my doctor this evening. (There is an appointment)

Section – C (Grammar

Modals
C.1. Choose the correct alternative:
(i) I don‟t think I (Should, can, will) be able to go.
(ii) He (shall, will) not pay unless he is compelled.
(iii) You (should, must, ought) to pay your debt.
(iv) They (mustn‟t, needn‟t, won‟t) light a match; the room is full of gas.

C.2. Rewrite each of these sentences, using a Modal:
(i) Perhaps we will go to Shimla next month.
(ii) It is not necessary for you to wash the car.
(iii) I am certain that they have left already.
(iv) Do you allow me to use your phone?

C.3. Fill in the blanks with appropriate Modals:
(vi) Our dreams_____________ be realized only through perseverance, faith and determination. Nothing is impossible in this world which a man
_____________ achieve. As long as we are alive we _____________ face the ups downs of life manfully. Rather than sitting & waiting for the result to come, one _____________ keep on working hard without worrying for the outcome.
(vii) Lives of great men & heroes teach us that we too _____________ succeed in our life if we make the most of ourselves & circumstances. Apart from conceiving great thoughts, we _____________ also have a desire & will to put them into action. When some difficulty arises, we __________ accept the challenge. It was due to this willpower that Raja Harishchandra, a crusader of truth, underwent numerous sufferings & still came out a winner. In other words, success is not reserved for the successful only, it _____________ be achieved by anyone who wills to have it.

C.4. Fill in the blanks using Conjunctions given in the box.
But, neither, nor, what, but, otherwise, when, that
(i) ______________ I was a small girl, my grandpa used to tell me the story of the honest woodcutter. (ii) ______________ these days situations have totally changed (iii) ______________ do we have honest wood-cutters (iv) _______________ such gods. By saying this I don‟t mean (v) _______________ it does not pay to be honest. (vi) _______________ used to be a virtue in the past has become a crime today. People have become callous, selfish and feelingless, (vii) _______________ still we have to make efforts to curb these vices. (viii) _______________ the world will be doomed and we will be left nowhere.

Section – D (Literature)

Advia
D.1. Pooja na her brother were so oppressed by the sight of the wild rocky mountain side that-
(i) They found the entire place unbearable.
(ii) They thought it to be a perfect hiding place for dacoits.
(iii) They decided to explore the mountains.
(iv) They both started crying.

D.2. ―I haven‘t been long enough in Afghanistan to comment on that.
(i) Who is the speaker?
(ii) What did the speaker not want to comment on?
(iii) What according to the speaker was the nature of the people of Afghanistan?

D.3. Why did Pooja and her family take the two men to be dacoits?
English is Fun- 5
Observe the highlighted words in the sentence below.
* The rest of him is muscle and sinew.
Choose the correct meaning of the twin words given below, from the box.
acquaintances and relatives very nervous disorder and confusion
young days material benefits great activity
uninterrupted vigilance with all power very thin
says something and does another thing
(i) skin and bones
(ii) watch and ward
(iii) play fast and loose
(iv) pins and needles loaves and fishes
(v) kith and kin
(vi) sixes and sevens
(vii) hustle and bustle
(viii) green and salad days
(ix) loaves and fishes
(x) tooth and nail

Proverb Time
P.14. You scratch my back and I scratch yours – You help me and I will help you
P.15. Facts speak louder than words. – People show what they are really like by what they do, rather than by what they say.