CBSE Class 8 English Sample Paper Set I

CBSE Class 8 English Sample Paper Set I. It’s always recommended to practice as many CBSE sample papers as possible before the examinations. The latest sample papers have been designed as per the latest blue prints, syllabus and examination trends. Sample papers should be practiced in examination condition at home or school and also show it to your teachers for checking or compare with the answers provided. Students can download the sample papers in pdf format free and score better marks in examinations. Refer to other links too for latest sample papers.

SECTION-A: READING 

I. Read the given passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:

A young man, ready to graduate from college. For many months had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer’s showroom, and knowing his father could well afford it, he told him that was all he wanted.

As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited signs that his father had purchased the car. Finally, on the morning of his graduation, his father called him into his private study. His father told him how proud he was to have such a fine son, and told him how much he loved him. He handed his son a beautifully wrapped gift box. Curious, but somewhat disappointed, the young man opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bible, with the young man’s name embossed in gold.

Angry, he raised his voice to his father and said “With all your money, you give me a Bible?” and stormed out of the house, leaving the Bible. Many years passed and the Young man was very successful in business. He had a beautiful home and wonderful family, but realized his father was very old, and thought perhaps he should go to him. He had not seen him since that graduation day. Before he could make arrangements, he received a telegram telling him his father had passed away, and willed all of his possessions to his son. He needed to come home immediately and take care of things.

When he arrived at his father’s house, sudden sadness and regret filled his heart. He began to search through his father’s important papers and saw the still new Bible, just as he had left it years ago.

tears, he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. And as he did, a car key dropped from the back of the Bible.
It had a tag with the dealer’s name, the same dealer who had the sports car he had desired. On the tag was the date of his graduation, and the words PAID IN FULL. How many times do we miss Spirit’s blessings and answers to our prayers because they do not arrive exactly as we have expected?

1. On the basis of your reading of the above passage, complete the following summary by writing suitable words or phrases. [1*8=8]

A young man, ready to graduate, asked for [a] _____________ from his father. On the graduation
morning, he was gifted [b] _________ which made him [c] _______________. After many years he had the
realization about his father’s [d] _________ and wanted to see him but was informed he was no more.
Filled with [e] _____________, he flipped through his father’s gift and found [f] _________, leaving him [g]
_________ and proving that sometimes we miss [h] _______________.

2. Chose the correct option: [0.5*4=2]

a. What was the young man getting ready for?
i. lunch ii. graduation iii. meeting iv. none of these
b. What was the young man’s expectation from his father
i. A sports car ii. precious stones iii. books iv. vase
c. The young man felt _________ on receiving the Bible:
i.pleased ii. angry iii. disappointed iv. none of these
d. On reaching his father’s house, the young man was filled with _________:
i. happiness ii. regret iii. pride iv. irritation

3. i. Find the word from paragraph 5 which means the same as ‘badge’: [0.5*2=1]

a.tag b. paid c. arrive d. none of these
ii. Find a word in para 2 which means the opposite of ‘disinterested’

4. Suggest a suitable title for the passage. [1*1=1]

II. Read the following poem carefully: 8m
In London Town
It was a bird of paradise
Over the roofs he flew

Children clapped their hands and cried:” How nice!
Look- his wings are blue!”
His body was of ruby red
His eyes were burning gold
All the grown-up people said
“What a pity the creature is not dead,
For then it could be sold”
One was braver than the rest,
He took a loaded gun
Aiming at the emerald chest
He shot the creature through the breast,
Down it fell in the sun.
It was not heavy, it was not fat
And folk began to stare
“We cannot eat it, that is flat!
And such outlandish feathers as that
Why, who could ever wear?”
They flung it in to the river brown
“A pity the creature died!”
Thus they said in London town
But all the children cried.

1] “Children clapped and cried” shows that [0.5*4=2]
[a] they were celebrating
[b] they were happy and excited
[c] they were very sad and emotional
[d] they were shouting at each other

2] The grown-ups were materialistic as

[a] they wanted to eat the bird and sell its feathers
[b] they wanted to throw the bird into the river
[c] they wanted to sell the bird for a huge sum
[d] they wanted to kill the bird to save their town

3] The adults do not have

[a] the innocence of children
[b] the wealth of the world
[c] peace of mind
[d] cruel feelings

4] The children were different from the grown-ups as the children

[a] were kind and liked the bird just as it was
[b] they liked the bird for its colourful feathers
[c] wept when the bird died
[d] they stared at the outlandish bird in distaste

2. Complete the summary on the basis of reading the poem [1*5=5]

In London a gorgeous bird with [i] ________________wings, ruby red [ii]________________ and
[iii]_______________________ eyes enthralled the onlookers. The children were [iv] __________________ but the
adults were [v]_________________ because they wanted to [vi] _________________. One brave man [vii]
_____________ the bird. The people gathered around the [viii]___________________ and declared it as worthless
because it was[ix] ____________________. They finally they [x]__________________ the useless dead thing in the
brown river.

3. ] The word ‘outlandish’ here means 1m
[a] Out of land
[b] Unusual and strange
[c] Ordinary
[d] Colourful  

SECTION-B: WRITING & GRAMMAR [30 Marks]

3. Write a paragraph in about 80-100 words on the impact of Mobile Phones on students. 5m
OR
Write a dairy entry on your feelings after you lost in the final round of the Elocution contest. 5m

4. Complete this story: 'It was a quiet, silent and deserted road, like it usually is in barren, uninhabited place, suddenly I heard a heart rending cry………….. [120-150 words] 10m
OR
Write a letter to the editor of Hindustan Times, Kasturba Gandhi Marg, Delhi, advocating the
need to keep our cities and towns clean as we see a spate in cases of Dengue, Swine Flu and
Chikuniya. [120-150 words] 10

5. Fill in the blanks using appropriate options: [0.5*8=4]

We [a] ______________[can, should, would, could] not be anxious about our life, food [b]______________[but, and, though, yet] clothing, because heavenly father [c]________________________ [takes, take, took, taken] care of [d]_____________________________ [everybody, everybodies, everybody’s] necessities. This, [e]____________[therefore, however, rather, but] does not mean [f]________________[if, whether, what, that] we stop working and [g]_______________[hope, hoping, hoped, hopes] that He will provide [h]_____________________ [of, for, to, into] us.

6. Fill in the blanks using appropriate options: [0.5*8=4]

It is unfortunate that many people who [a]____________________ [should, might, must] benefit from massage[b]_________________ [always, never, sometimes]try it, dismissing it as a specialised treatment [c]___________________ [of, by, for] athletes or disabled people or as an unjustifiable indulgence. If you think this way, you[d]__________________ [are, is, has] missing out on[e]__________________ [anything, something, everything] enjoyable. It [f]____________ [was, be, is]a simple extension of warm human care and touch. Professional masseurs and masseuses[g]______________________ [offer, offering, offers] the benefit of both skill [h]__________________ [but, and, so] and experience.

7. The following passage has not been edited. Write the error and the correction. [0.5*10=5]

They called her name and she didn’t move. [a] ________________ __________________
“ I suddenly realized she hadn’t hear,” [b] ________________ _________________
says Isabel. For quite the while Evelyn [c] _________________ __________________

manage to conceal her growing deafness [d]__________________ __________________
from friends and teachers. But by a time [e] _________________ ___________________
she was eleven her marks has deteriorated [f] _________________ ___________________
and her headmistress urged her parent to take [g]__________________ __________________
her to a specialist. It is then discovered [h]_________________ ___________________
so her hearing was severely impaired [i]_________________ ____________________
as a result of gradual nerve damaged. [j] _________________ ____________________

8. Rearrange the following to form meaningful sentences. [1*2=2]

[a] are/and/Bats/found/every/in/continent/except/country/Antarctica
[b] passage/Drake Passage/turbulent/the/most/is/sea/dreaded/the/as/very
OR
Change the following sentences into Passive Voice.
[a] Thousands of tourists view the Grand Canyon every year.
[b] The team will celebrate their victory tomorrow. 

SECTION-C: LITERATURE [30 marks]

9. Answer the following questions with reference to the context. Write your answers in complete statements: 9m

[A] “I hope you don’t mind the open window.”

[i] Who said these words to whom? 1

[ii] Why was the window left open? 1

[iii] What was the listener’s reaction to this statement? 1

[B] “Puzzled we approached the tree slowly……………..”

[i] Which tree has been referred to? 1

[ii] Why are the speakers puzzled? 1

[iii] What was the gift they received? 1

[C]”And who is your teacher? How proud he must be of such an accomplished pupil?”

[i] Who said this to whom? 1

[ii] What is the background of the ‘accomplished pupil’? 1

[iii]How did the ‘accomplished pupil’ know Drona ? 1

10. Choose ANY FOUR the following questions and answer in 30-40 words: [2*6=12]

[a]Why was the postmaster tortured by doubt and remorse?

[b]Which pocketbook was lost and what was its content?

[c]Why is the implied by Drake Shake?

[d]Describe Wangari’s contribution to the society.

[e] How did the palanquin bearers carry the bride?

[f]How did Vera trick Mr. Nuttel? Was it justified?

[g] What did guru Drona asked from Eklavya as gurudakshina. Why do you think he do so?

11. Answer the following questions in 50-60 words: [3*3=9]

[a]What qualities of a hero does the boy highlight in his imaginative story?
OR
What does Eklavya’s sacrifice tell us about him?
[b]No one believed Maitre Hauchecorne- why?
OR
What does John Lennon want to imply by the repetitive use of ‘Imagine’ in his song?
[c] Do you think the poet John Lennon is a peace loving person? Elaborate.
OR
Compare the characteristics of Vera with Mr. Nuttel.

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