<p> D.P.S MIS, DOHA, QATAR Class –VIII Half Yearly Examination -- English Date: .10.08</p><p>Time allowed: 3 Hrs Max Marks: 80</p><p>This paper consists of 4 sections: Section A Reading 20 marks Section B Writing 20 marks Section C Grammar 15 marks Section D Literature 25 marks </p><p>Answer all the questions. Neat work is appreciated. </p><p>SECTION – A (Reading) Read the poem carefully:</p><p>My parents kept me from children who were rough And who threw words like stones and who wore torn clothes. Their thighs showed through rags. They ran in the street. And climbed cliffs and stripped by the country streams. I feared more than tigers their muscles like iron And their jerking hands and their knees tight on my arms. I feared the salt coarse pointing of those boys Who copied my lisp behind me on the road. They were little, they sprang out behind hedges Like dogs to bark at our world. They threw mud And I looked another way, pretending to smile. I longed to forgive them, yet they never smiled. </p><p>A.1. Answer the following questions:</p><p>1. What kind of words did the street children use? What does the poet compare the words to? (1)</p><p>1 2. What were the things the street children did that the boy didn't do? (1 /2) 3. Were the street children strong or weak? What does the poet compare their 1 muscles to? (1 /2)</p><p>4. How did they tease the boy? (1)</p><p>5. Where did they hide? (1)</p><p>6. What did they throw at the boy? What did he pretend to do? (1) </p><p>1 7. a. What did the schoolboy long to do? ( /2)</p><p>1 b. The boy's longing to do so was because the street children were: ( /2) </p><p>(1) poor (2) uneducated (3) underfed </p><p>A.2. Read the passage carefully:</p><p>Many people regard Albert Einstein (1879-1955) as one of twentieth century's greatest geniuses. He was a physicist whose research into the working of the universe made such inventions as nuclear energy, space travel and television possible. Stories about Einstein show that he had a great sense of humour. </p><p>One such story tells that as a young man with a growing reputation, he received many invitations to go to universities to explain his theories. On these trips he was always chauffeured by the same person - a man called Hans. Hans often said to him, 'It's a pleasure to drive a genius like you, Dr Einstein.' </p><p>One evening, on their way to a remote university, Einstein said, 'I wish I didn't have to give my lecture tonight, Hans. I'm so tired. But I can't let my audience down, can I?’ </p><p>'You don't need to,' said Hans, 'we'll change places, and I'll give the lecture for you. I've listened to it dozens of times. I don't understand it, but I know it by heart. And no one knows you at the university, do they? No one will find out.' </p><p>Einstein eventually agreed with Hans, but said to him, 'Don't try to answer any questions, whatever you do.' </p><p>They changed places, and at the university Hans was greeted and led to the platform in a great hall crowded with professors and students. Einstein joined the audience and listened to Hans give his lecture perfectly, and joined in the applause at the end. </p><p>However, before Hans could get off the platform, a professor shouted from the audience, 'I'd like to ask you a question. It's very difficult, but please answer it.' He then asked a question so difficult that Hans had no idea what he was talking about. </p><p>Einstein thought, 'Oh dear, now we're in trouble.' But Hans just laughed and said, 'That's not a difficult question, sir. In fact, it's so easy even my driver knows how to answer it. Hans, stand up and ... ' </p><p>Einstein stood up and answered the question perfectly. </p><p>They left the university, with Einstein driving. A little later, Hans offered to take over from him. 'No, my friend,' laughed Einstein, 'it's a pleasure to drive a genius like you.' </p><p>A.2. Based on the reading of the passage, answer the following questions: 1 1. What kind of story is this? ( /2) a. fictitious b.amusing</p><p>1 2. a. What did Einstein study? ( /2) b. What did his research help to create? (1)</p><p>3. According to the story, which of the following qualities made him a great scientist? (1) a. modesty b. interest in space travel c. curiosity d. sense of humour </p><p>4. a. Why did Hans give the lecture in place of Einstein? (2) b. What did Einstein ask Hans not to do? (1) </p><p>5. Did Hans perform well? Pick out words from the story in support of your answer . (2)</p><p>6. a. Did the professor ask an easy question? (1) b. What was Hans' reply? (2)</p><p>7. Einstein called Hans a genius because he - (1) a. impersonated Einstein well b. had presence of mind c. had memorized Einstein's lecture d. did not let Einstein down</p><p>SECTION B (Writing)</p><p>B.1.Read the telephone conversation between Vishal and Vinod. (5)</p><p>Vishal: Can I speak to mummy? Vinod: No, she has gone to the market. Vishal: When will she be back? Vinod: In about half an hour. Vishal: Please tell her that I would be late to get back from work. Vinod: Will you get here in time for the cinema we are planning to go to? Vinod: No, please don’t wait for me. Now Vinod decides to go to his friend’s house to spend the day and not go to the cinema. He, therefore , leaves a message for his mother. Write the message in not more than 50 words. </p><p>B.2. You are Vikram staying in hostel. Your roommate has met with an accident and fractured his right arm. You first thought of writing the following letter and then changed your mind. You decided to send a telegram instead of the letter. Copy the format of the telegram into your answer sheet and write the telegram . (5)</p><p>Dear uncle, My name is Vikram. I am Rakesh’s roommate in the hostel. Yesterday while returning from the evening walk, Rakesh met with an accident. It was pitch dark as there was a power cut in the area. Rakesh stumbled over a few stones scattered near a construction site and fell down. He has fractured his right arm and got a few bruises on both his knees. He has been admitted to Kings Medical college. There is nothing to worry. However he is in need of Rs. 1500. Kindly send the money as soon as possible. With regards Vikram B.3. Write a letter to the Chairman of Doha Municipality about the nuisance of stray cats in your locality. Use information from the verbal inputs given below: ______(10)______stray animals- nuisance- roll about garbage pits- garbage in streets- block traffic- cause accidents- dirty the place- disturb at night- put in shelters. ______</p><p>SECTION C (Grammar)</p><p>C.1. Complete the sentences by supplying the right preposition and the -ing form of the verbs given in brackets: (2) a. The government is placing restrictions ______cigarettes to youth. (market) b. The student gathered signatures ______the hours of the library. (increase) c. I'm really not interested ______biochemistry for the rest of my life. (study) d. Heavy rain prevented them______the cricket match. (play)</p><p>C.2. Rewrite the following questions in the reported form: (4) a. “Did you buy the T-shirt?” (Mother/ Anil) b. “Are they supporting the Congress?” (Mr Patel/ his neighbour) c. “Have you seen my garden?” (She/ her friend) d. “Where did you go for the swimming classes?” (Salma/ her friend)</p><p>C.3. Fill in the blanks using - had, provided, should : (3) a. ______you informed the police, they would have taken prompt action. b. ______Ajith enquire, tell him that I am on leave. c. You can ask for a raise, ______you work hard. </p><p>C.3. The following paragraph has not been edited. There is one error in each line. Write the error and the correction alongwith the correct blank no. Underline your answer. The first one has been done as an eg. (3) Folk tales offer a lots of advice eg. lots - lot Much of them deliver the message a) quite clear. There is a story about b) Birbal not being allowed to attending c) the king’s free lunch. The reasons was d) which he was not dressed properly. This e) happened in spite of the high intellectual abilities. f) C.4. Rearrange the jumbled words to form meaningful sentences: (3) a. high/ blood/ many/ pressure/ be/ there/ can/ causes/ for b. to/ consult/ determine/ doctor/ important/ is/ the/ it/a/ to/ cause c. advice/ his/ seek/ and/ required/ medication/ on/ lifestyle/ in/ change</p><p>SECTION D (Literature)</p><p>D.1. Read the extracts and answer the questions that follow: 1. “What release are you talking about? You appear to be walking about freely.” a. Name the speaker. (1) b. Who is the listener? (1) c. When will the listener be released? (1)</p><p>2. “How do you suppose you will ever learn maths if you keep reading this idiotic stuff?” a. Who is the speaker? (1) b. What does ‘idiotic stuff’ refer to? (1) c. What should the listener read according to the speaker? (2)</p><p>3. “Full well they laughed, with counterfeited glee, At all his jokes, for many a joke had he.” a. Who does ‘they’ refer to? (1) b. Explain -‘counterfeited glee’ (1) c. Whom does the poet describe here? (1)</p><p>4. “The man replies without hesitation: ‘Oh, yes, my lord, I often saw such persons.” a. Whom does the man reply to? (1) b. Who were the persons he often saw? (2) c. Where is the man now? (1)</p><p>5. “But where? Where should I send it?” asked the utterly bewildered clerk. a. Who is the listener? (1) b. What does ‘it’ refer to? (1) c. Why was the clerk bewildered? (2)</p><p>D.2. What happened to Ali when he failed to receive any news from his daughter after her marriage? (3) D.3. Give meanings for the underlined words: (4) a. A little imp resided in an abandoned well behind Appu’s house. b. “Come with me,” he added after a flitting moment’s thought. c. There seemed an inevitability about what on ground had looked haphazard. d. His tenderness, I suspected, was a kind of penance in advance for the murder he planned to perform. </p><p>______</p>