English P-1

COORG PUBLIC SCHOOL-GONIKOPPAL
FIRST TERM EXAMINATION-SEPTEMBER 2021

English-Paper 1 Duration: 2hr
Std – VIII Max Marks:80
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Answers to this paper must be written on long ruled sheets.
You will not be allowed to write during the first 15 minutes.
This time is to be spent in downloading the question paper and reading it.
The time given at the head of this paper is the time allowed for writing the answers.
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Attempt all five questions.
The intended marks for questions or parts of questions are given in brackets [ ]
You are advised not to spend more than 30 minutes in answering Question 1 and 20
minutes in answering Question 2
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Question1 (Do not spend more than 30 minutes on this question)

Write a composition (300-350) words on any one of the following: [20]
(a) Write a short story beginning with the words: “It was a cold winter night….”
(b) Write about a time when you were really frightened. This could be when you were in real or
imagined danger or when you were afraid of consequences of something you had done or not
done.
(c) Narrate an experience that helped you to understand that your parents were right. State what
you learnt from that experience.
(d) Express your views either for or against the statement: “ Sports is the answer to maintain a
healthy weight .”
(e) Study the picture given below. Write a short story or a description or an account of what it
suggests to you. Your composition may be about the subject of the picture or you may take
suggestions from it; however, there must be a clear connection between the picture and your
composition.
Page 1 of 5
Question 2
[Do not spend more than 20 minutes on this question.] [10]
Select any one of the following:
(a) Write a letter to a friend who was expected to go for a picnic with you but was unable to do so
because of his/her father’s illness. Tell your friend how the picnic was, your feelings after the
picnic and how much you missed his/her company.
(b) Write a letter to the Principal of your school, requesting him to extend the time for the games
period from the present forty minutes to one hour. Give reasons for your request.
Question 3
(a) You are the Prefect of the Literary Club of your school. Your school is organising an Inter-
school Creative Writing Competition next month. Write a notice informing the students about the
event. [5]
(b)Write an e-mail to the Principal of a neighbouring school informing him/her of the event and
requesting to send a team of five students to participate.
[5]
Question 4
Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:
Page 2 of 5
My family was not rich. We just managed to make both ends meet. We economised on everything.
We bought on subsidised rates and our meals had no variety. My sisters made their dresses at
home and I used to go through terrible scenes on account of lost buttons and torn trousers. Uncle
Jules, my father’s brother, was the only hope of the family. I had heard about him since childhood;
so I knew details of his life up to the day of his departure for America. Uncle Jules had visibly
diminished my father’s share of the inheritance after he had swallowed his own.
Once he wrote to us saying that he would soon make up for the damage done by him. After two
years, another letter arrived informing us that he was undertaking a long sea voyage on account of
his business and he hoped to see us once he would return. Uncle Jules, who up to that time had
not been worth his salt, suddenly became a good man. For ten years, nothing was heard of him;
but as time went on, my father’s hope grew.
His letter became the gospel of the family. It was read on the slightest pretext and it was shown to
everybody. Thousands of schemes were planned on the strength of his expected return. One day,
following the wedding of one of my sisters, all of us took a trip to America.
At a distance on the deck, an old ragged sailor was opening oysters with his knife and passing
them to some gentlemen. He was dirty, wrinkled and didn’t lift his eyes from his work. Both my
sisters and my brother-in-law, gathered around the old man to buy some oysters. My father
suddenly appeared to be worried and said in a low voice, “It’s strange that the old man opening
the oysters looks like Jules.”
My father enquired from the captain, who confirmed that it was indeed Jules, my uncle Jules. My
father murmured, “What a catastrophe!” My parents were visibly upset, and it was decided that in
my brother-in-law’s presence none of us would acknowledge Uncle Jules as our family member. It
would be such a shame if we did. I was given five francs to pay for the oysters my sisters had
bought. As Jules returned the change, I gave him a generous tip, carefully observing him all the
time.
As we approached the harbour, a violent desire seized me to see my legendary uncle who had
fallen from grace. I wanted to say something that was consoling, something tender but then no
one was eating any more oysters and he had disappeared.
a) Give the meaning of the following words as used in the passage: One-word answers or
short phrases will be accepted. [4]
(i) diminished (line 6) …………………………………………………..

(ii) swallowed (line 6) …………………………………………………..
(iii) ragged (line 15) …………………………………………………...
(iv) murmured (line 21) ………………………………………………….
b) Answer the questions briefly in your own words.

(i) What kind of life did the narrator’s family lead? Who was the only hope of the family? [3]
(ii) What damage did Uncle Jules do to the family? [2]
Page 3 of 5
(iii) How did the family react to the expected return of Uncle Jules? [2]
(iv) Describe Uncle Jules. [2]
(v) State the circumstances that led to the recognition of Uncle Jules on the ship. [3]
(vi) Who gave the narrator’s father the confirmation that it was Jules? [1]
(vii) How did the narrator’s parents react after recognising Jules? Why? [3]
Question 5
a) Fill in each of the numbered blanks with the correct form of the word given in the
brackets. Do not copy the passage, but write in correct serial order for the word or phrase
appropriate to the blank space. [4]
Example: (0) spoke
As she 0…. (speak) I (1).…. (rise) and (2) ……(go) to the centre blackboard, I (3) ………. (find) the
chalk (4) ……………. (write) in block letters the title of the book. Then I (5) …………. (put) the
chalk down and went to (6) ………… (sit), beside her, to (7) ……………. (hold) her hand.
The day had barely (8) ………. (begin).
b) Fill in the blanks with an appropriate word. [4]

i. He presided _________ the meeting.
ii. The postman knocked _______ the door.
iii. Let us divide the sweets _____ us two.
iv. He arrived ______ all his belongings.
v. We will return ________ an hour.
vi. The three friends could not agree ________ themselves.
vii. The Chief Minister has access _____ the Governor.
vii. He plunged_____ the water.
c) Join the following sentences to make a complete sentence without using and, but or so.
[4]
i. Sam asked me a question. I was unable to answer it.
ii. There was heavy traffic. We reached the stadium on time.
iii. He lost the race. He impressed all.
iv. They consulted Dr.Paul. He is an able doctor.
Page 4 of 5
d) Rewrite the following sentences according to the instructions given after each. Make
other changes that may be necessary, but do not change the meaning of the sentence. [8]
i. Study hard now or you will regret it. [Begin: Unless……]
ii. She could not accuse her sister or her friend. [Begin: Neither…]
iii. As soon as I heard a knock at the door, I switched on the light. [Begin: No sooner…….]
iv. They could hardly see each other. It was very dark. [Use: so…. that]
v. He is so weak that he cannot walk on the road. [ Use: too…]
vi. Mount Everest is higher than all other peaks. [Begin: No other …]
vii. Everybody ______ (was/were) asked to keep quiet. [Choose the appropriate verb given in the
brackets.]
viii. What a brilliant game it was! [End: …. game.]
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COORG PUBLIC SCHOOL-GONIKOPPAL

FIRST TERM EXAMINATION-SEPTEMBER 2021

Question1 (Do not spend more than 30 minutes on this question)

(i) diminished (line 6) …………………………………………………..

b) Answer the questions briefly in your own words.

b) Fill in the blanks with an appropriate word. [4]

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