Date:

Class:VIII

English Time: 3 Hrs. M. M: 70

General Instructions:

20 marks

1. This paper consists of THREE sections: Section A Reading Section B Writing & Grammar Section C Literature

25 marks

25 marks

2. Attempt all questions.

3. Do not write anything on the question paper.

1. All the answers must be correctly numbered as in the question paper and written in the Answer sheet provided to you.

5. Read each question carefully and follow the instructions.

1. Strictly adhere to the word limit given with each question. Marks will be deducted for exceeding the word limit.

SECTION A: READING

1. 12

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.

The main difference between men and the animals is the difference in their power of

concentration. All success in the line of work is the result of this. Everybody knows something about concentration. We see its result everyday. High achievements in art, music, etc, are the results of concentration. Those who have trained animals find much difficulty in the fact that the animal is constantly forgetting what is told to him. He cannot concentrate his mind upon anything long at a time. Herein is the difference between man and the animals – man has the greater power of concentration, this also constitutes the difference between man and man. Compare the lowest with the highest man. The difference is in the degree of concentration. This is the only difference.

Everybody's mind becomes concentrated at times. We all concentrate upon those things we love and we love those things upon which we concentrate our minds. Which mother is there who does not love the face of the homeliest child? That face is to her the most beautiful face in the world. She loves it because she concentrates her mind on it, and if everyone could concentrate his mind on that same face, everyone would love it. It would be the most beautiful face.

We all concentrate our minds upon those things we love. When we hear beautiful music, our minds become fastened upon it and we cannot take them away. Those who concentrate their minds upon what you call classical music do not like common music, and vice-versa. Music in which the notes follow each other in rapid succession holds the mind readily. A child loves lively music because the rapidity of the notes gives the mind no chance to wander. A man who likes common music dislikes classical music, because it is more complicated and requires a great degree of concentration to follow it.

The great trouble with such concentration is that we do not control the mind; it controls us.

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Something outside of ourselves, as it were, draws the mind into it and holds it as long as it chooses. We hear melodious tones or see a beautiful painting, and the mind is held fast; we cannot take it away.

If I speak to you well upon a subject you like, your mind becomes concentrated upon what I am saying. I draw your mind away from yourself and hold it upon the subject inspite of yourself. Thus our attention is held, our minds are concentrated upon various things, inspite of ourselves.

a.) What is the difference between man and animals? 2 2 b.) What does 'difference between man and man' mean? When would be the child's face the most beautiful face in the world? 2 c.) Why does a child love lively music? Why does a man having great love for common music dislike classical music? 2 d.) What is the trouble with concentration that is being talked in the above passage? When is it easy to concentrate our mind upon a particular thing?

e.) Find the word similar to the meaning of the phrase 'one after the other' from the passage.

f.) Find the synonym of the word 'focus' from the passage. 1 g.) Find the word similar to the meaning of the phrase 'roam here and there' from the passage.

h.) Find the antonym of the word 'simple' from the passage. 1 8

2. Read the following poem carefully and answer the questions that follow.

Suns that set and moons that wane

Rise and are restored again,

Stars that orient day subdues

Night at her return renews.

Herbs and flowers, the beauteous birth

Of the genial womb

Suffer but a transient death

From the winter's cruel breath.

We alas, earth's haughty kings,

We that promise mighty things,

Losing soon life's happy prime,

Droop and fade in little time.

1/2 *10=5

On the basis of your reading of the poem, complete the following summary with one word only.

The poet is sullen about the brevity of human life. He says that sun (a.) and moons wane. But, the very next day they rise again. Their lives are (b.)_____in a very short span of time. Stars return every (c.) _____. Herbs and (d.) _____ are beautifully born out of (e.) _____ womb of earth. They suffer but attain a (f.) _____ death from the chill of the cruel (g.) _____. But, human beings rule the (h.) _____ and promise to do the mighty things. When we lose happiness of our (i.) _____we droop and fade in little (j.)_____.

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