CBSE Class 8 English Sample Paper Set 36

CBSE Class 8 English Sample Paper Set J. 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) 

1. Read the passage given below and answer the following questions:

Being born in a poor family often cuts into a child‟s chances of a bright future, but not for the group of children who have not only managed to beat their misfortune but have also turned into inspiring role models for others in their communities Nanda Munda, a 13 year old tribal boy from a remote village of Odisha‟s Nayagarh district was forced to work at a road site eatery to help his family meet their daily needs. But his strong desire to study not only just helped him fulfill his dreams, but also made him a “change maker” in his community who now inspires others to continue to go to school.

Similarly, Nazeema Khatoon (14), who hails from a small village in Jamtara district of Jharkhand, always believed that children should enjoy their childhood and not be sent to work. This belief, which she held despite all the difficulties of living in acute poverty, helped her turn into an activist who is now a known figure in her locality.

The story of Sukra Majhi is nothing different, as the 16-year-old from a remote Odisha village proved that poverty and disability could not stop one from dreaming big and even making them happen. Majhi, blind in one eye, was forced to quit school a few years ago, and is now a player with India‟s blind cricket team. He has recently represented the country in a tournament against Pakistan. What is common among these children is that they all have got the much needed assistance and motivation that helped them dream for a better and meaningful future.

Dola Mohapatra, National Director of Child Fund India, an international NGO which has been working for such children for the past 60 years in India, says, 'Every child has some potential, circumstances prevent them from realizing that. All they need is a small push, if we can provide them that; they can also shine like other privileged children.'

a) How did Nanda Munda fulfill his daily needs? 

b) What helped Nanda Munda to fulfill his dreams? 

c) What made Nazeema different from other people? 

d) How can you help these children shine?

e) What is the opposite of the word “fortune”? 

f) What is the opposite of the word “common”? 

g) Find out a word from the passage which means the same as “support”. 

h) Find the synonym of the word „advantage‟.

2. Read the passage given below and answer the following questions:

The solidest joy of Leh is seeing its palace from every angle and in every light; from below, as it stands in the full dazzle of the morning sun; from the side, in the afternoon from the
roof of my hotel, as one of its sheer side ignites slowly in the dusk; from behind, on the road to Leh from Sankar, as it rears ghostly in the moon light, hardly distinguishable from the
massy dark rock it is built on. You are haggling for vegetables in the market at sundown, and suddenly you look up and see the last sun catch the top of one of its balconies; you are
talking to a friend in the evening ,walking up the main street, and as you talk you see that the moon has risen above the palace and seems to be wearing it like a vast earring; you turn
a corner of Leh‟s innumerable labyrinthine streets and for a moment a whole flank of the Palace stands in front of you bare and stark as the mountains that surround it. The Queen
and her family now live in the smaller palace at Stok, ten miles away; the Palace of Leh is empty and crumbling. When you walk through its large vacant rooms, fat tame mice come
out of the dark corners to be fed.

Answer the following questions briefly:

a) What is the greatest pleasure that Leh offers? (2)
b) How does the palace appear in the moon light? (2)
c) How does the palace look when the moon rises above it? (2)
d) Where does the queen and her family live? (2)
e) Find the word from the passage which means the same as „bargaining loudly‟. (1)
f) Give the antonym of the word „dawn‟. (1)
g) What is the synonym of „numberless‟? (1)
h) Find a word from the passage which means the same as „to light up‟. (1) 

Section - B (WRITING AND GRAMMAR) (25 marks)

3. Human relations can be deceptive and unreliable but books are our best friends, guides and companions. Write an article on the topic „Books : Our Best Companion‟ in 120words. (5)

4. Complete the following story in about 150-200 words. Give a suitable title. (10)
„Raj was a very wealthy businessman. One day he was alone sitting at his dining table.
He heard the footsteps of a man behind the curtain………………………………
5. Fill in the blanks with one word: (½x6=3)
Rolihlahla was his tribal name, a)_____ he was born b)_____July 18, 1918. In Xhosa,
c)______ language that his parents spoke, his name d)_____‟ one who brings trouble
to himself'. He grew e)_____ in a valley surrounded f)_____ grass covered hills.

6. 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. (½x8=4)

                                         word before  word missing  word after
It was ten years, rather ten a) _______ ________ _______
and half, since he had last b) _______ ________ _______
been Kerala. He had come c) _______ ________ _______
his mother‟s funeral. His d) _______ ________ _______
father at first refused to e) _______ ________ _______
go back him to Delhi. f) _______ ________ _______
He a difficult time convincing g) _______ ________ _______
his father join him. h) _______ ________ _______

7. Rearrange the following words and phrases to form meaningful sentences: (3)

a) weigh up / elephant / an / to / can / five tons
b) mild / peace loving / is / animal / it / a / and
c) more easily / that is why / domesticated / it can be / and / trained 

Section - C (LITERATURE) (25 marks)

8. Read the given extract and answer the following questions: (1x3=3)

And your mouth is like a section of road that is being worked on.
And it is all cluttered up with stone crushers and concrete mixers and drills and steam rollers
and there isn‟t a nerve in your head that you aren‟t being irked on
a) Name the figure of speech used in the first line.
b) Why has the poet compared the mouth with a section of road?
c) What is the meaning of the word “irked” in the last line?

9. Answer the following questions in about 30-40 words each: (2x4=8)

a) Justify the title “My lost Dollar”.
b) “Tom was considered as the black sheep of the family”. Elucidate.
c) What was Mr. Nuttel‟s reaction when he looked towards the open window by
the end of the story and why?
d) What different answers did the king get for his three questions from the wisemen?

10. a) ”There is no pleasure without pain”. Write your opinion about the consequence of having a sweet tooth in 100-200 words with reference to the poem “This is going to hurt just a little bit."
(OR)
b) 'A Thing of Beauty is a Joy Forever.' Elucidate on this topic after reading the poem 'Parrot'. (4)
11. Answer the following questions in about 100 words each:
a) "Santiago was a fighter and a man with strong determination". Justify. (5)
b) Why didn‟t Manolin‟s parents send him with Santiago?

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