Class 8

Time: 1 hr.

This question paper consists of 3 sections:

Section A Reading 5 marks

Section B Writing & Grammar 6 marks

Section C Literature 9 marks

General Instructions:

1. Attempt all questions.
2. All the answers must be correctly numbered.
3. Marks will be deducted for untidy work.

SECTION - A (Reading)

1. Read the following passage carefully:

Chirp for the Sparrow; Tweet for the Sparrow

1 They were once everywhere. Chirping and flapping their wings at the window sills, on top of cupboards and on the branches of trees. Where have all the little sparrows gone? This is the most frequently asked question about sparrows these days.

2 The association between humans and the house sparrow dates back to several centuries and no other bird has been associated with humans on a daily basis like the house sparrow. It is a bird that evokes fond memories of childhood and adds freshness to households through its presence. Many bird watchers and ornithologists recall with fondness how the house sparrow gave flight to their passion for observing birds. The nests of sparrow dotted almost every house in the neighborhood as well as public places like bus stands and railway stations, where they lived in colonies and

survived on food grains and tiny worms.

3 Unfortunately, the house sparrow has now become a disappearing species. Like all other plants and animals which were once abundant and are now facing an uncertain future, their numbers are also declining across their natural range. A study conducted by the Andhra University, Visakhapatnam highlighted that the population of house sparrows fell by over 60 per cent even in rural areas of coastal Andhra Pradesh. A survey conducted by the British Trust for Ornithology that

house sparrow population in Britain has declined by about 58 per cent since 1970.

4 Certainly, there is no one single reason for the decline of the house sparrow. Scientists and experts say that severe changes in the urban ecosystem in recent times have had tremendous impact on the population of house sparrows whose numbers are declining constantly. Mobile tower radiation and excessive use of chemical fertilizers are aggravating the problem and have been identified as potent sparrow killers.

5 There have been many theories put forward for the almost worldwide decline of the house sparrow. It is said that sparrow chicks, which require insect food for their survival in their early days, have not been getting adequate supply from their parents. This has triggered large scale deaths of chicks leading to gradual decline of their population.

6 Urban landscape too, has been dramatically altered over the years. Old houses, with courtyards in front and backyards, have made way for concrete multistoreys, with little greenery. No longer are sparrows able to find the tiny nooks, crannies and holes where they used to build their nests.

7 Typically, sparrows were never an issue of concern for us with their diminutive presence in our households. Perhaps, it is this diminutive presence because of which even their gradual disappearance has gone unnoticed. Mohammed Dilavar is rightly called the "sparrow man of India" as he has been successful in drawing the attention of the world towards the declining number of house sparrows.

8 House sparrows are important bio-indicators and their decline is a grim reminder of the degradation of urban environment and the danger from it to the humans in the long run.

- 2 -

Std. 8

English

Based on your reading of the passage, answer the following questions: <math>(1x5=5 \text{ marks})</math>

1. What is the reason for the decline in numbers of the house sparrow?
2. How has urban landscape effected the sparrow population?
3. Who is the "sparrow man of India"?
4. Is the decline of house sparrow an actual cause of worry?
5. What does the word "degradation" in para 8 mean?

SECTION - B (Writing & Grammar)

1. As the Head Boy/Head Girl of your School, draft a notice, inviting students to donate their

previous years books for the under privileged students. Give all necessary details. (50 words) (3)

1. The following passage has not been edited. There is one error in each line. Write th

Incorrect word and correction against the correct blank number in your answer sheet. <math>(\frac{1}{2}x4=2)</math> Incorrect Correct A much preferred destination for higher education, Tamil Nadu had been known (a) to attract a wide cross section for students _____ (b) from all over a country, particularly from the (c) Northern states. Right from the day of colonisation education played (d) an important role.

1. Rearrange the following words into meaningful sentences: (1)
2. a lot of / requires / mountaineering / expedition / planning / careful / a
3. of / kings / Akbar / greatest / was / the / all SECTION - C (Literature)
4. Read the following lines and answer the questions: (3) Spring, and the trees are translucent.