SAGAR PUBLIC SCHOOL, BHOPAL

TERM - II EXAMINATION, 2023 - 24

CLASS - VIII
MOCK TEST
TIME: 3 Hours ENGLISH
M. M.: 80
General Instructions: Total no. of printed
pages: 08
- All questions are compulsory.
SECTION - A (READING)
A. 1 Read the passage carefully: 10
1) Necessity is indeed the mother of invention. When areas in and around Leh began to experience water
shortages, life didn’t grind to a halt. Why? Because Chewang Norphel, came up with the idea of artificial
glaciers.
2) Years back, on a harsh winter morning in Ladakh in the northernmost Himalayas in India, a young and
curious boy in a remote mountain village of the cold desert observed water coming out of a semi-frozen
pipe, collecting in a small crater on the ground and freezing, just like a glacier.
3) A few decades later, in 1986, the boy, Chewang Norphel, as a civil engineer with the Jammu and Kashmir
Rural Development Department -- took inspiration from his childhood observations and made a
breakthrough by devising the first artificial glacier in picturesque Leh, thereby solving a water crisis faced
by the local community, of which at least 80 per cent were farmers growing barley and wheat.
4) Ladakh, a cold desert at an altitude of 3,000-3,500 meters above sea level, has a low average annual rainfall
rate of 50 mm. Glaciers have always been the only source of water. Agriculture is completely dependent on
glacier melt unlike the rest of river/monsoon-fed India. But over the years with increasing effects of climate
change, rainfall and snowfall patterns have been changing, resulting in severe shortage and drought
situations. Given the severe winter conditions, the window for farming is usually limited to one harvest
season.
5) Artificial Glacier is an innovative solution; to freeze, and store winter fresh water in huge, towering
structures, also known as ice stupa. It is located between the natural glacier above and the village below.
The one closer to the village and lowest in altitude melts first, providing water during April/May, the crucial
sowing season. Further layers of ice ensure continuous supply to the fields. Thus, farmers have been able to
manage two crops instead of one. It costs about a 1,50,000 and above to create one.
6) Fondly called the “glacier man”, Mr. Norphel has premeditated over 15 artificial glaciers in and around Leh
since 1987. In recognition of his pioneering effort, he was conferred the Padma Shri by President Pranab
Mukherjee, in 2015.
7) There are few basic steps followed in creating the artificial glacier. River or stream water at higher altitude
is diverted to a shaded area of the hill, facing north, where the winter sun is blocked by a ridge of a
mountain range. At the start of winter/November, the diverted water is made to flow onto sloping hill faces
through distribution channels. Stone embankments are built at regular intervals which impede the flow of
water, making shallow pools and freeze, forming a cascade of ice along the slope. Ice formation continues
for 3-4 months resulting in a large accumulation of ice which is referred to as an “artificial glacier”.
Answer the following questions carefully:
i. Why have Glaciers been the only source of water for Ladhak? 1
a. Ladhak has a low average annual rainfall rate of 50 mm.
b. Because 15 artificial glaciers have designed.
c. Due to severe shortage and drought situations.
d. Because farming is limited to one harvest season.
ii. How are artificial glaciers made? 1
a. They are built in winter months.
b. Winter freshwater is stored.
c. The water freezes into a huge stalagmite-type structure.
d. All of the above.
iii. How are Glaciers significant for irrigation? 1
a. Because Ice formation continues for 3-4 months.
b. Because they provide water in April/May.
c. Because they help in irrigation in winter/November.
d. Because they are large accumulation of ice.
iv. What kind of landform is Ladakh? 1
a. Mountains b. Hot Desert
c. Cold Desert d. Plains
v. How do farmers manage to grow two crops instead of one? 1
(1)
 a) Introduction of multiple cropping.
b) Mountain soil is enriched with fertile land.
c) Due to distribution channels that follow a sloping hillside.
d) Because glaciers and their layers close to the village melt.
vi. Why has the pattern of snowfall and rainfall changed? 1
a. Due to increase in population b. Due to climate change
c. Due to glaciers d. Due to infrastructure

vii. Mr. Norphel was conferred the Padma Shri by President Pranab Mukherjee, in 2015 ______. 1
a. In recognition of his pioneering effort of designing Artificial Glaciers.
b. For innovative agricultural practices.
c. Both (a) and (b)
d. None of these
viii. The genre of the passage is 1
a. Historical fiction b. Informational writing c. Persuasive writing d. Science fiction
ix. Find the synonym of the word ‘Persist’ used in paragraph 5. 1
a. Located b. Lowest c. Continuous d. Manage
x. Find the antonym of the word ‘Non-deliberate’ used in paragraph 6. 1
a. premeditated b. pioneering c. Conferred d. Recognition
A. 2 Read the poem carefully- 5
1. I DREAMED that as I wandered by the way
Bare winter suddenly was changed to Spring,
And gentle odours led my steps astray,
Mix’d with a sound of waters murmuring
Along with a shelving bank of turf, which lay
Under a corpse, and hardly dared to fling
Its green arms round the bosom of the stream,
But kissed it and then fled, as Thou mightest in the dream.
2. There grew pied wind-flowers and violets.
Daisies, that pearled Arcturi of the earth,
The constellated flower that never sets;
Faint oxlips; tender bluebells, at whose birth
3. The sod scarce heaved; and that tall flower that wets
Like a child, half in tenderness and mirth
Its mother’s face with heaven-collected tears.
When the low wind, its playmate’s voice, it hears.
And in the warm hedge grew lush eglantine,
Green cow-bind and the moonlight-coloured May,
And cherry-blossoms, and white cups, whose wine
Was the bright dew yet drained not by the day;
4. And wild roses, and ivy serpentine
With its dark buds and leaves, wandering astray;
And flowers azure, black, and streaked with gold,
Fairer than any waken’ eyes behold.
And nearer to the river’s trembling edge
There grew broad flag-flowers, purple pranked with white,
And starry river buds among the sedge,
And floating water-lilies, broad and bright,
Which lit the oak that overhung the hedge
With moonlight beams of their own watery light;
5. And bulrushes, and reeds of such deep green
As soothed the dazzled eye with sober sheen.
I thought that of these visionary flowers
I made a nosegay, bound in such a way
That the same hues, which in their natural bowers
Were mingled or opposed, the like array
Kept these imprisoned children of the Hours
Within my hand, and then, elate and gay,
I hastened to the spot whence I had come
That I might their present it O! to Whom?
— P.B. Shelley
(2)
 Answer the following questions carefully:
i. The poet had dreamt that- 1
a. bare summer had given way to spring b. spring suddenly changed to winter
c. summer and winter were together d. bare winter had changed to spring
ii. The poet had wandered in his dream- 1
a. on to a bank of turf b. under the river
c. under a corpse round the bosom of the stream d. into a dream
iii. The poet saw growing along the banks- 1
a. a variety of flowers b. a variety of cows
c. his fair eyes awakened d. a dazzling of sunshine
iv. The poet imagines creating a nosegay of _____. 2
v. The bulrushes soothes the eye because of their deep green colour with____.
SECTION - B (WRITING SKILLS)
B. 1 Create a poster promoting the reduction of plastic usage and the importance of recycling. The topic for the 5
same is ‘SAY NO TO PLASTIC’.
B. 2 You are Anay/ Ankita. Write an article for your school magazine on the topic ‘Role of Sports in Building 7
Character and Teaching Life Lessons’ in 150-200 words explaining the significance of Sports in a
student’s life.
B. 3 Republic Day was recently celebrated in your school. District Magistrate, Ms. Indu Bala Sharma was the 8
Chief Guest. Write a report on the function in 180 – 200 words describing all the activities that took place.
You are Sahil/ Sejal Pal.
SECTION – C (GRAMMAR) 15
B. 4 Choose the correct order of adjective in the given sentences: 1x2
i. The clown was wearing a ________ hat. 1
a) big green-yellow b) big green and yellow c) yellow and green big d) None of the
above

ii. Have you met that _____ next door? 1

a) cute boy new b) cute new boy c) new boy cute d) None of the
above
B. 5 Fill in the blanks with appropriate determiners: 0.5 x 4
i. Shakespeare wrote ………………….. plays.
a) little b) any c) many d) much
ii. They have planted trees on ………………….. side of the road.
a) few b) either c) little d) any
iii. ………………….. citizen should vote.
a) each b) few c) all d) every
iv. I know very ………………….. about him.
a) little b) few c) any d) none of the above
B. 6 Change the following sentences into indirect speech - 1

i. She said to them, “Please do not make a noise.”

a) She told them not to make a noise. b) She requested them please do not make a noise
c) She requested them not to make a noise. d) She told them please do not make a noise
ii. He inquired, “Did she come yesterday?” 1
a) He inquired that she had came the next day.
b) He inquired if she had come the previous day.
c) He inquired if had she come the previous day?
d) He inquired that she had come that day.
iii David said to Anna, "Mona will leave for her native place tomorrow." 1
a) David told Anna that Mona will leave for her native place tomorrow.
b) David told Anna that Mona left for her native place the next day.
c) David told Anna that Mona would be leaving for her native place tomorrow.
d) David told Anna that Mona would leave for her native place the next day.
B.7 Choose the correct degrees of comparison: 0.5 x 4

i. Kolkata is one of the _____________ cities of India.

a. big b. bigger c. biggest
ii. This book is ___________ interesting than that.
a. more b. most c. much

(3)
 iii. Subhas Bose was one of the ________ Patriots of India.
a. great b. greater c. greatest
iv. Iron is ___________than any other metal.
a. useful b. more useful c. most useful
B. 8 Choose the correct form of the participle :- 0.5 x 4
i. The house was filled with a haunting spectre. a) present participle b) past participle
ii. The finished picture was a beauty. a) present participle b) past participle
iii. The troops gave a stunning blow to the enemy. a) present participle b) past participle
iv. Being occupied with work, I couldn’t meet them. a) present participle b) past participle

B. 9 Choose the correct voice: 1

i. Why did she break the garden wall?

a) Why the garden wall was broken by her? b) Why had the garden wall been broken by her?
c) Why was the garden wall broken by her? d) Why will the garden wall be broken by her?
ii. The student is learning the answer by heart. 1
a) The answer was learnt by the student by heart. b) The answer is being learnt by heart by the student.
c) The answer is learnt by heart by the student d) The answer has been learnt by heart by the student.
B. 10 Identify the type of clause – 1x2
i. Eco friendly cars, which primarily run on electricity, help the environment.
a) Adjective clause b) Noun clause c) Adverb clause d) None of the above
ii. Identify the type of phrase –
I like to go grocery shopping at the Whole Foods behind my house.
a) Noun phrase b) Adverb phrase c) Preposition phrase d) b and c both
SECTION – D (LITERATURE) 30
C. 1 Read the extracts given below and answers the questions:
“I shall be telling this with a sigh 1x5
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.”
i. Who is the speaker in the above lines? 1
a) Robert Frost b) Harindranath Chattopadhyay
b) Carl Sandburg d) Lord Krishna
ii. What do the roads represent? 1
a) The path b) The choices in life c) Autumn season d)None of the above
iii. What does the speaker mean by the phrase "And that has made all the difference"? 1
a) The speaker wishes he had made a different choice
b) The speaker is satisfied with the path he chose
c) The speaker believes his choice was inappropriate
d) The speaker is unsure if his choice was right or wrong
iv. Which road does the poet choose and why? 1
The poet chooses the less travelled road because it was less grassier and provided more freedom.

v. Write any one figure of speech mentioned in the given lines. 1

Visual Imagery, enjambment, Assonance, Symbolism, Repetition (with example)

C. 2 “Maharaja,” said Vidura to his brother, ‘I beg you to be warned. You love Duryodhana; but you 1x5
know well in your heart that his wickedness and greed are the curse of your race. Be wise in time.
Give up this jackal of evil omen, and win the support of the Pandavas, those tigers of men who will
defend the House of Bharata against all its foes. Do you wish to die that you so
provoke their anger?”
i. According to Vidura, who are the "tigers of men" that can defend the House of Bharata?
a) Duryodhana and his allies b) The elders of the Bharata family
c) The soldiers of the Kaurava army d) The Pandavas
ii. What does Vidura suggest to his brother regarding Duryodhana?
a) Embrace Duryodhana's wickedness b) Seek support from the Pandavas
c) Ignore Duryodhana's faults d) Fight against the House of Bharata
iii. Name the text and the writer. The Gambling Match, Marjorie Sykes
iv. Who is the speaker of the above lines and to whom is he speaking?

(4)
 Vidura, Dhritrashtra
v. What warning does Vidura give to his brother?
Vidura advised King Dhritrashtra to stop the gambling match in order to avoid destructive
consequences of it.
C. 3 Answer the following questions in about 40- 60 words: 5x2
i. What does the speaker mean when they say, "The Napoleons come from me and the Lincolns"? Who does
the speaker identify themselves as in the poem?
From these lines, we can see that the speaker (as the "people") takes on many identities -- a
workingman, an inventor, the maker of the world's food and clothes, and an audience that witnesses
history.
ii. How does the poet depict the relationship between humans and animals in the poem "Zoo"? How does the
poet convey the idea of freedom as a fundamental right for all living beings?
The poet wants to convey that like human beings, animals also like freedom. They do not want to be
caged, they cannot live a miserable life. If their habitat is destroyed by human beings, these animals
cannot survive.
iii. Provide a brief character sketch of Yudhishthira from ‘The Gambling Match’. Accept relevant responses
iv. How did Satan convince Eve to eat the forbidden fruit? What does this say about Eve as a human?
Satan convinced Eve to eat the forbidden fruit by tempting her with the idea of gaining knowledge
and becoming like God. This suggests Eve, like humans, can be swayed by desires for wisdom and
power.
v. Explain the line “government dies as the men who form it die” in your own words. What is the figure of
speech used by the poet in this line.
The line means that when the people who create a government pass away, the government itself ceases
to exist. It's a metaphor, suggesting the government's vitality relies on its founding members, using
personification to attribute life and death to the government.
C. 4 Answer the following question in about 80- 100 words: (ATTEMPT ANY ONE) 1x5
i Based on the text ‘The Fall of Eve’, provide a character sketch of Eve focusing on her perception of
knowledge and its consequences. Analyze her thoughts, emotions, and reasoning as depicted in her
dialogue. How does Eve's contemplation of the Tree of Knowledge reveal her curiosity, intellect, and
internal conflict between obedience and the pursuit of wisdom? In your response, reflect on the significance
of freedom, choice, and moral responsibility. Also, explain what is Soliloquy?

Value points for character sketch of Eve:

 Curiosity and thirst for knowledge: Eve demonstrates a strong desire to understand and
explore the forbidden Tree of Knowledge, indicating her intellectual curiosity.
 Intellect and reasoning: Through her dialogue, Eve showcases her rationality and capacity for
critical thinking as she weighs the consequences of disobeying God's command against the
potential benefits of gaining wisdom.
 Internal conflict: Eve's contemplation of the Tree of Knowledge reveals her internal struggle
between obedience to God's will and the temptation to pursue enlightenment and autonomy.
 Moral responsibility: Eve grapples with the moral implications of her actions, recognizing the
potential consequences of disobedience not only for herself but for humanity as a whole.
 Freedom and choice: Eve's decision to eat the forbidden fruit highlights her exercise of free
will and agency, underscoring the theme of individual freedom and the responsibility that
comes with it.
Explanation of Soliloquy:
Soliloquy is a dramatic device where a character speaks their thoughts aloud, usually when they are
alone on stage. It allows the audience to gain insight into the character's inner thoughts, motivations,
and emotions. In the context of 'The Fall of Eve', a soliloquy could provide a glimpse into Eve's
internal struggles, dilemmas, and contemplations regarding the Tree of Knowledge and its
consequences, offering deeper understanding of her character and the thematic elements of the text.

ii. In the ‘Verse from the Bhagavad Gita’, who is the speaker and what fundamental concept about the nature
of the soul is being conveyed? What metaphor is used to convey the nature of the eternal soul? Explain how
this verse illustrates the idea of the indestructibility of the soul and its detachment from the physical body.

Value points for the 'Verse from the Bhagavad Gita':

 Speaker: Lord Krishna is the speaker of the verse, imparting wisdom to Arjuna on the battlefield of
Kurukshetra.
(5)
  Fundamental concept: The verse conveys the concept of the immortal nature of the soul,
emphasizing its indestructibility and eternal existence beyond the physical body.
 Metaphor: The metaphor of clothing is used to illustrate the nature of the eternal soul, likening the
changing of bodies to the shedding of old garments and donning new ones.
 Indestructibility of the soul: The verse illustrates that just as a person discards worn-out clothes and
wears new ones, the soul discards old bodies and inhabits new ones, highlighting its perpetual
existence despite physical death.
 Detachment from the physical body: By comparing the soul to clothing, the verse emphasizes the
soul's detachment from the material body, suggesting that the true essence of a being transcends
physical form and is unaffected by the body's decay or destruction.

C. 5 Answer in about 100- 120 words: (ATTEMPT ANY ONE) 1x5

i. Reflecting on Kahlil Gibran's poem ‘The Prophet: On Children’, discuss the significance of parental
guidance versus allowing children to develop their own individuality. How does the poem challenge
traditional notions of parental authority and control? What are the metaphors used for parents and children
in the poem? In your response, explore the themes of freedom, acceptance, and the balance between
nurturing and respecting the independence of children.
Value points for discussing the significance of parental guidance versus individuality development:

 Parental guidance: Highlight the importance of providing children with support, wisdom, and
direction as they navigate life's challenges and decisions.
 Individuality development: Emphasize the value of allowing children the freedom to explore
their own identities, beliefs, and passions, fostering independence and self-discovery.
 Challenging traditional notions of parental authority: Discuss how the poem challenges the
idea of strict parental control by advocating for a more open and accepting approach to
parenting that respects the autonomy and individuality of children.
 Metaphors for parents and children: Analyze the metaphors used in the poem, such as
parents as bows and children as arrows, to illustrate the roles of guidance and direction
versus the ultimate trajectory and destination of the child's life journey.
 Themes of freedom and acceptance: Explore how the poem underscores the importance of
freedom in allowing children to flourish and the significance of parental acceptance and
unconditional love in nurturing their growth and development.
 Balance between nurturing and respecting independence: Discuss the delicate balance parents
must strike between providing support and guidance while also allowing children the space
and freedom to forge their own paths and make their own choices.

ii. In the poem, "The Government," the poet presents a series of ironic observations about the nature of
government. Explore the irony embedded in the poet's depiction of government actions and institutions.
How does Sandburg convey the message that government is not an abstract entity but rather a product of
human actions, with all their complexities and imperfections? In your response, analyze the poet's portrayal
of government as a human institution shaped by power dynamics, corruption, and societal influences.
 Irony in government actions: Sandburg uses irony to highlight contradictions between
government ideals and actual practices, such as claiming to serve the people while
perpetuating power dynamics and corruption.
 Depiction of government as human-made: The poet suggests that government is not an
abstract concept but a result of human actions, implying its fallibility and susceptibility to
flaws.
 Human complexities and imperfections: Sandburg portrays government as influenced by
human traits like greed, ambition, and societal pressures, reflecting the inherent complexities
and imperfections of human nature.
 Power dynamics and corruption: Through ironic observations, the poet reveals how power
dynamics and corruption shape government institutions, challenging the notion of
government as purely benevolent or impartial.
 Societal influences: Sandburg suggests that government is influenced by societal norms,
values, and interests, illustrating its interconnectedness with broader social dynamics and
reflecting the complexities of governance in a diverse society.
(End of the question paper)

(6)