Class VIII English Sample Paper – Set 3

Max. Marks: 60 Time Allowed: 2.30 hours

General Instructions:

1. This question paper is divided into four sections:

Section A: Reading: 16 Marks

Section B: Writing: 12 Marks

Section C: Grammar: 14 Marks

Section D: Literature: 18 Marks

2. All the questions are compulsory.

3. Marks are indicated against each question.

4. Attempt the questions based on the specific instructions for each part.

5. Read the questions carefully before answering.

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Q. No. Questions Marks

Section A 16

1. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that 8
follow:

Passage:

There was a time when the world was a simple place. People lived
simple lives, and everything was straightforward. But, as time passed,
the world grew more complex. People became too busy to help each
other, too focused on their own problems, and society slowly began to
crumble. A man, known for his wisdom, went to the king and told him
that something had to be done. "The world is losing its way," he said.
"We need to remind people of the good that still exists." The king, who
was wise in his own way, thought about it for a moment and then gave
the wise man a task: "Find something that can help people remember
their kindness and compassion."

The wise man went on a journey, across hills and valleys, to find the
solution. He asked many people along the way if they had seen
something that might bring back the world’s goodness. Finally, after
much searching, he found a tree in a faraway forest. The tree’s branches
were strong, and it was full of ripe fruits. He gathered the fruits and
returned to the king. He said, "I have found it, Your Majesty. The fruit
of kindness and compassion. It has been hidden for a long time, but it
still exists. It is a reminder of a time when people helped each other
without hesitation." The king was delighted and asked the wise man to
share the fruit with the people.

Questions:

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 1. What was the wise man’s task given by the king?

2. What did the wise man find on his journey?

3. How did the king respond when he learned about the fruit?

4. What message does the passage convey about kindness and

compassion?

2. Read the following poem carefully and answer the questions below: 8

Poem:

The Ant and the Cricket

By Aesop

The ant works hard in the summer's heat

To store up food for the winter's cold.

The cricket, on the other hand, sings all day,

Without a care or a thought of the cold.

When the winter winds begin to blow,

The cricket has no food, nowhere to go.

He asks the ant for help, but the ant replies,

"You should have thought ahead when the skies were bright."

"Why should I help you now?" the ant asks,

"When you danced through the summer days.

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 I worked and stored food, while you sang and played,

Now you're left to face the cold in your own way."

Questions:

1. What does the cricket do all summer?

2. How does the ant respond to the cricket’s request for help?

3. What lesson can we learn from the poem?

4. What does the ant’s behavior symbolize in the poem?

Section - B 12

3. Write a letter to your friend inviting them to a cultural event in your 6

school.

4. Write a short story (100-150 words) on 'The Importance of Helping 6

Others'.

Section - C 14

5. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb: 4

1. She _____ (go) to the market every Saturday.

2. I _____ (complete) my homework before the teacher arrived.

3. If they _____ (arrive) on time, they would have met the guest.

4. By next month, we _____ (finish) the project.

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6. Choose the correct option: 5

1. Which of the following sentences is correct?

a) I can singing.

b) I can sing.

c) I can sang.

d) I can sings.

2. Identify the preposition in the following sentence: "The cat jumped

over the wall."

3. Rewrite the following sentence in passive voice: "The teacher

teaches the students daily."

4. What is the correct form of the adjective in this sentence? "She is the
_____ (talented) player in the team."

5. Change the following sentence into indirect speech: "He said, 'I am
going to the park.'"

7. Underline the conjunctions in the following sentences: 5

1. I like both tea and coffee.

2. She stayed at home because it was raining.
3. We can go to the park or the beach.
4. He failed the exam, yet he remained hopeful.
5. I don’t like spinach, but I like broccoli.

Section - D 18

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8. Answer the following questions based on your reading of the 6
chapter ‘How the Camel Got His Hump’.

1. What was the reason for the camel’s hump?

2. Describe the consequences of the camel’s laziness.

3. How does the story explain the origin of the camel’s hump?

9. Answer the following questions based on the poem ‘The Ant and 6
the Cricket’.

1. What is the moral of the poem?

2. How did the cricket’s attitude towards work lead to his
downfall?
3. Explain the behavior of the ant in the poem.

10. Read the following extract and answer the questions below: 6

The Giant had been away for many months, journeying far and wide
across the land. When he finally returned to his garden, he was filled
with anticipation, eager to see his beloved home again. However, as he
entered the gates, he immediately noticed something was different.
Gone were the harsh, high walls that had once isolated his garden from
the rest of the world. Instead, the garden seemed alive, full of vibrant
flowers blooming in every corner, and the air was filled with the songs
of birds. Laughter echoed through the air, and for the first time in so
long, the garden seemed to be brimming with joy.

The children, whom the Giant had once shut out in his selfishness, had
returned. They were playing freely among the flowers, their laughter
ringing out as they ran through the bright, sunny paths that had once
been cold and barren. The Giant stood still for a moment, completely
taken aback. He could hardly believe what he was seeing. His garden,

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once a place of loneliness and coldness, was now a place of warmth,
beauty, and love.

The Giant’s heart swelled with emotion. He had spent so long keeping
the world out, building walls to protect himself from the chaos of
others. But now, with the children in his garden, he realized what he
had been missing all along—love, connection, and the simple joy of
sharing with others. His once hard and selfish heart was softened, and
he felt a deep sense of happiness that he had never known before. It
was in this moment that he understood the true value of kindness and
sharing.

1. Who is the character speaking in this extract?

2. What event does this extract describe?

3. How does the author describe the emotions of the character?

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 Answer Key

Section - A

1. i. The wise man’s task was to find something that would remind people of their kindness
and compassion. The king believed that these virtues were slowly being forgotten by society
and needed to be revived.

ii. The wise man found a tree in a distant forest. This tree was strong and bore ripe fruits,
which symbolized kindness and compassion. The tree became the key to reminding people of
these important values.

iii. The king responded with great delight when he learned about the fruit. He was pleased to
know that the virtues of kindness and compassion still existed and asked the wise man to share
the fruit with the people.

iv. The passage conveys the message that even in times of complexity and self-centeredness,
kindness and compassion still exist. It emphasizes the need to remind people of the importance
of helping others and the goodness in the world, which has the power to restore a sense of
unity and care in society.

2. i. The cricket spends the entire summer singing and enjoying the warmth of the season. He
doesn’t think about the future or prepare for the coming winter, which leads to his problem.

ii. The ant refuses to help the cricket. The ant tells the cricket that he should have prepared
during the summer, just like the ant did. The ant had worked hard to store food, while the
cricket spent his time carelessly.

iii. The lesson we can learn from the poem is that preparation and hard work are essential for
the future. If we only focus on the present moment without thinking ahead, we may face
difficulties when challenges arise, as the cricket did in winter.

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iv. The ant’s behaviour symbolizes the values of hard work, foresight, and responsibility. It
shows that thinking ahead and preparing for the future is essential to avoid hardships. The ant's
focus on working and storing food contrasts with the cricket's carefree attitude.

Section - B

3.

[Your Name]

[Your Address]

[City, State, ZIP Code]

[Date]

Dear [Friend's Name],

I hope this letter finds you in the best of health and spirits. I am writing to invite you to a
special cultural event being held at our school on [date]. The event will begin at [time] in the
school auditorium, and we are planning a variety of performances, including dances, plays,
and musical performances. There will also be delicious food and stalls for everyone to enjoy.

I would love for you to be a part of this celebration. It will be a fantastic opportunity to see
some of the incredible talents our school has to offer, and we will have a great time together.
Please let me know if you can make it.

Looking forward to your reply.

Warm regards,

[Your Name]

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4. Once upon a time, in a small village, there lived a boy named Ravi. One day, he was walking
through the village when he saw an elderly woman struggling to carry a heavy basket. Without
hesitation, Ravi went over and offered to help her. She smiled gratefully and thanked him.

As they walked together, the woman shared stories about how kindness and helping others can
make the world a better place. Ravi realized that his small act of kindness had made a big
difference in someone’s life.

Later that week, when Ravi’s family faced a problem, it was the same woman who came to
help them in their time of need. Ravi understood that helping others creates a chain of kindness,
and when we extend a helping hand, it often comes back to us in unexpected ways.

The story teaches us that even small acts of kindness can lead to great things.

Section – C

5.

1. goes

2. had completed

3. had arrived

4. will have finished

6.

1. b) I can sing

2. over

3. The students are taught daily by the teacher

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4. most talented

5. He said that he was going to the park

7.

1. both, and

2. because

3. or

4. yet

Section – D

8.

1. The camel received his hump as a consequence of his laziness. He refused to work when
the other animals were toiling, and as a result, the Djinn gave him a hump as a reminder of
his idleness.

2. The camel’s laziness led to the other animals having to work hard without his help. The
Djinn, noticing the camel's refusal to work, punished him by giving him a hump. This hump
became a permanent reminder of his selfish behavior.

3. The story explains that the camel's hump was a result of his refusal to do any work. The
Djinn, noticing the camel's idle behavior, gave him a hump, making it an everlasting
punishment and symbol of his laziness.

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9.

1. The moral of the poem is that hard work and preparation are essential for the future. It
teaches that when we neglect responsibilities, we might face difficulties when circumstances
change.

2. The cricket’s carefree attitude led him to spend the summer singing rather than preparing
for winter. As a result, when winter arrived, he had no food or shelter, which left him dependent
on the ant, who refused to help him.

3. The ant works diligently during the summer, storing food for the coming winter. The ant
symbolizes hard work, responsibility, and foresight. While the cricket wasted time singing, the
ant focused on preparing for the future.

10.

1. The character speaking in this extract is the Giant.

2. The extract describes the moment when the Giant returns home after a long journey and
finds his garden transformed with flowers, birds, and children playing in it, unlike the cold and
barren garden he left.

3. The author describes the Giant's emotions as a mix of surprise and joy. He is amazed and
pleased to see the children have returned, bringing warmth and life back to the garden, which
had previously been isolated and cold.

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