Class: VIII

Subject: English
Annual Exam Sample Paper (2022-23)

Name: ______________________________ Class & Sec: ________________ Roll No.: __________

Time: 3 Hrs. MM:80

SECTION A: Reading
Q1. Read the below given passage carefully and answer the questions that follow. (10x1=10)
1. Experts say that what customers buy in the name of herbal cosmetics is often the same synthetic
cosmetic with a herb or two added, which works to lure customers. A product that says it is 100%
natural may be misleading in the sense that it’s difficult to stabilize a fully natural base and is always
quite expensive, requiring advanced technology. The desired shelf life of a product is expected to be
at least two years, but that of a purely herbal product would be restricted to about six months. Also,
the product won’t be aesthetically appealing as a synthetic product. Hence manufacturers of herbal
products have to include synthetic base ingredients to balance the formula.

2. Herbal ingredients might also cause allergies as they may contain a large number of constituents
which may be allergic to that user. Thus, the concept of using ‘total extracts’ may be harmful,
because there are several other ingredients going into the product. Also, things like pH need to be
considered before using it.

3. According to the law experts, customers suing someone is considered extreme. Given the legal
system in India and the long-drawn litigation process, consumers tend to pursue legal action against
manufacturers/distributors in the event of any problem. However, with the dawn of consumer forums
and more effective laws protecting the interests of the consumers, the trend is slowly moving towards
this direction.

4. At times it is not just manipulative manufacturers and passive consumers but sometimes weak and
absent rules regarding the process of manufacturing can also get fake production licences. Also, one
cannot make a generalisation that synthetics are safe while naturals are harmful. I would say that the
difference is that if one is a known devil (synthetics) the other is unknown. Unlike the case of
synthetic cosmetic, herbal cosmetics are still in a nascent stage. You don’t have well-defined
standards for the use of raw materials in the production of herbal cosmetics.

5. Finally, customers can also check out their cosmetics by using the ‘Cosmetics ingredient dictionary, a
database of 19,000 ingredients. It claims to help users check out what chemical compounds they use
daily. This App lets you feed the names of the ingredients written on the container into the app and
then get the reading about it.
On the basis of your understanding of the passage, answer the following questions-

1. Why is it misleading when a product is labelled as 100% natural?

2. Mention two drawbacks of natural products.
3. Why is taking recourse to legal action gaining momentum?
4. What is the cosmetics ingredient dictionary?
5. Why it is said that the herbal ingredients might also cause allergies?
6. Complete the sentences-
a) The desired shelf life of a purely herbal product is ______________________________
b) Manufacturers of herbal products have to include____________________________________
7. State True or False - The Cosmetics Ingredients Dictionary is a dictionary about cosmetics.
8. Find the word from the passage that mean the same as the following –
a) a legal action (para 3) b) skilful at influencing in an unfair way (para 4)

Q2. Read the below given passage carefully and answer the questions that follow. (10x1=10)
1. Ulhas Mandlik, 35, a power-loom owner from Ichalkaranji, Maharashtra, and his mother were
homeward-bound one evening when heavy rain forced them to take shelter beneath a bridge. Not far
away, a small group of labourers huddled together under a part of the cement housing above a 16
metre deep well used to pump water for irrigation.

2. Suddenly, Mandlik and his mother heard the labourers scream. When the two got to the well, they
were told that a five-year-old boy named Hariya had fallen in through a side opening in the structure.
Ignoring his mother’s fears, Mandlik quickly knotted together lengths of flimsy rope belonging to the
labourers and asked them to lower him into the dark well. “I hope the rope holds,” he thought. As he
descended, Mandlik noticed the metal rungs on the wall of the well. He grabbed hold of one and
started climbing down, when he saw the boy clinging to a pipe running up the well’s centre.
Grabbing the child, Mandlik started to climb praying that the old rungs wouldn’t give away and
plunge them both into the churning water below. Their luck held and within a few minutes, Mandlik
clambered to ground level and handed over Hariya to his sobbing father.

3. The man fell at Mandlik’s feet and offered him some money as a reward. Refusing the cash, Mandlik
took Hariya and his family to a nearby eatery and offered them steaming tea to warm them up.
Several organisations have honoured Mandlik for his bravery and presence of mind on that wet day
three years ago. “I am happy I was at the right place at the right time,” he says,” and was able to
return a little boy to his family.”

On the basis of your understanding of the passage, answer the following questions-

1. What first drew Ulhas and his mother to the well?

a) shelter from the heavy rain c) the return journey home
d) news of a small boy’s fall e) the labourer’s screams
 2. What were Ulhas’ mother’s fears really associated with?
a) the rusted rungs inside the wall b) the risk to the life of the rescuer
c) the churning water insidethe well d) doubts about the safety of the boy

3. Which of the following could be a learning from the report?

a) It is best not to involve oneselfeven b) One should not take shelter. beneath a
in situations involving others. bridge in the rain.
c) One cannot predict whenmetal d) A well may not always be useful.
rungs alongside the wall of may
give way.

4. Which of these did Hariya’s father express on receiving his son?

a) gratitude b) relief
c) anxiety d) peace

5. Which of these expressions best describes Ulhas in view of this incident?

a) disregard for an elder’swarnings b) disbelief in one’s own abilities
c) faith only in prayers for success d) concern for others with no expectations

6. “a small group of labourers huddled together under a part of the cement housing” Which part of
the speech is the word ‘huddled’?
a) adverb b) verb
c) preposition d) noun

7. Find the word from the passage that means the same as the following –
a) collected (para 1) b) delicate (para 2)
c) thrust (para 2) d) institutions (para 3)

SECTION B: Writing and Grammar

Q3. Choose the most appropriate options. (3 marks)

1. Which of these is NOT a correct sentence as per subject verb agreement?

a) The Prime Minister, together with his wife, greets the press cordially.
b) The committee debate these questions carefully.
c)  Eight dollars is the price of a movie these days..

2. Choose the appropriate degree of adjective to complete the sentence - He is ________ enough to
lift this box.
a) stronger b) strong c) strongest

3. ‘Choose the appropriate article to complete the sentence -Please give me ________ cake that is on
the counter.
a) an b) the c) a

4. Which degree of adjective is the word underlined? - Rohan was the loudest to attract our attention.
a) Positive b) Superlative c) Comparative
Q4. Fill in the most appropriate Determiner to complete the dialogue conversation. (3 marks)

Two friends meet in their school canteen. They are going to have their lunch.
Namit: You can share my lunch and I’ll share (a) ……………………..
Vipul: Oh, that’ll be nice. I’ll have (b) ………………… good things to eat.
Namit: I’m afraid. I don’t have (c) ……………………. . to eat. There are only two sandwiches
and (d) ……………………. .      apple. Here’s your sandwich. And you can
takehalf (e) ……………………. apple.
Vipul: Thanks. They look delicious. I have four poories and some pickles.
We can have two poories each. And we will order for (f) …………………… . drink. What would you
like tea or coffee?
Namit: I’ll have tea.
Vipul: So shall I.

Q5. Edit the following sentences to eliminate errors with subject-verb agreement and write the
edited sentence. (4 marks)
a) The people who own that house has no insurance.
b) Rajat and Rahim runs to the finish line as fast as possible.
c) One of the boys are coming over to help build the model car.
d) There is no players in the league who would be comfortable in such a situation.
Q6. Reading skills are essential to succeed in society. It is a source of knowledge and pleasure.
Write a paragraph on ‘The Importance of Reading’. (5 marks)

OR

There is a fall in values in today’s life. Keeping this cue in mind, write a paragraph on ‘The Need
For Moral Education in Schools’, so as to make the youth of today, aware of high moral standards.

Q7. Write a short story in about 100-150 words based on the hints given below. Provide a suitable
title to your story. (5 marks)
Hints: A house near Ganges ---- father goes to another village ---- son takes charge of the house --- the
river in flood water everywhere ---- mother and sister in danger ---- a boat near the house ---- boy acted
smartly --- saves the family
OR
You are Praveen of 23 Civil Lines, Lucknow. Write a letter to the Editor of Bharat Times Lucknow
about frequent break-down of electricity. You can use the following points—

 Irregular and erratic supply

 Affects water-supply
 Dark streets invite accidents
 Any other point

SECTION C: Literature
Q8. Read the extracts given below and attempt any one. (5x1=5 marks)
But to go to school in a summer morn,
O’ it drives all joy away,
under a cruel eye outworn,
The little ones spend the day,
In sighing and dismay.

a) What drives away all the joy?

b) What does ‘cruel eye outworn’ refer to?
c) How do the little ones spend the day?
d) Identity the rhyme scheme of the stanza.
e) Identity the poetic device in “a cruel eye outworn “.
Q9. Attempt any six questions in not more than 40 words. (6×3=18 marks)
a) The new bird was full of new songs but the old parrots always repeated themselves. What did they
say?
b) “Children’s stomachs are like digestion machines.” What do you understand by that? Do you
agree?
c) The horror on the girl’s face made Frampton swing around in his seat. What did he see?
d) Where did nuns and monks receive their education.
e) Describe the meeting of the fawn and Jody in your own words.
f) “A first glimpse of Hawking is shocking”. Why?
g) Why did they leave the picture of God at Everest?
h) Mention a few things that can happen with endless rain for days together?

Q10. Attempt any two questions in not more than 100 words. (2x6=12 marks)
a) Compare and contrast the characters Stephen Hawking and Firdaus Kanga.
b) The lesson is a record of personal experiences that is helpful in understanding the nature. Give
your opinion.
c) Why do you think students from other countries came to India to study at that time?