Class- viii Subject: English 1st Paper

Class- viii

Subject: English 1^st  Paper

Time: 3 Hours                                                                     Marks: 100

Read the text carefully and answer the questions 1, 2 and 3.
Nakshi kantha is a kind of embroidered quilt. The name was taken from the Bengali word, ‘naksha’ which means artistic pattern. It is a kind of traditional craft and is said to be indigenous to Bangladesh and West Bengal in India. The art has been practised in rural Bengal for centuries. The name ‘Nakshi kantha’ became popular after the poet Jasimuddin’s poem ‘Nakshi Kanthar Math’ was published in 1929.
Traditional kanthas are made for family use. Old or new cloth and thread are used to make these quilts. Mymensingh, Jamalpur, Rajshahi, Faridpur, Bogra and Jessore are most famous for this craft. Now it is produced commercially. You can find them in many expensive handicraft shops in cities. The quilts are now in great demand because of the colourful patterns and designs embroidered on them.

1.Choose the best answer from the alternative:

a.demand means  -----.
(i)price                (ii) need     (iii) popularity    (iv) familiarity

b. Expensive means-----.

(i)cheap     (ii) costly   (iii) economical (iv) low cost

c. Craft means ----

(i)device    (ii) asset     (iii) art                (iv) property

d. old means ----

(i)aged                (ii)  former          (iii)  ancient        (iv)  used

e. colourful means----

(i)dull                   (ii)  dart               (iii) bright           (iv)  drab

2. Answers to the following questions.
(a) What is the ‘Nakshi Kantha’?
(b) When does ‘Nakshi Kantha’ become famous?

(c) Which districts are most popular for ‘Nakshi Kantha’?

(d) What are used to make ‘Nakshi Kantha’?

(e) Why are the quilts now in great demand?

3. Summarize the text in A with your own words in around 50 words.

Read the following text carefully and answer the questions (4and 5).

John Donne was born in 1573 in London. His father was a rich merchant. He had a name and fame in his circle. But he died in 1576. Donne was at first educated as catholic. He entered Oxford in 1584 and left it in 1587. Then he studied at Cambridge for three years. He was removed to London in 1591. He then entered Lincoln’s Inn to study law in 1592. When Donne came of age, he had considerable fortune. Donne traveled Italy, Spain and other countries of the continent between 1594 and 1596. He joined Essex Expedition to Cabiz in 1590. During this time he wrote several poems. His lyrical poetry was Mildly the out come of these years. In 1609 he began to compose his great prose work “Pseudo Martyz.” It was printed in 1601. In 1610 he wrote a satirical prose piece.

4. Complete the following table with information given in the passage.  1x5=5

The name of events	Place	Year
Donne entered	(i) ...........in 1584	In 1584
ii. ---------	...........Lincoln’s Inn	iii. ---------
Traveling	iv. ------------	between 1594 and 1596
v.---------	Essex Expedition to cabiz	in 1590

Read the passage again, write True or False beside the following statements. Give answers for false statements.     1x5=5
a) John Donne had studied at Cambridge for four years.
b) He was born in Oxford.
c) He was a son of a rich merchant.
d) John Donne’s father was famous in his circle.
e) His father died in 1578.
6. Fill in the gaps with appropriate words.    1x5=5
Independece is the a. ----- of a man. But no nation can  b. ----- it without struggle. Our war of independence c. ------ in1971. People of all walks of d. -------joined the war with a smilling face to e. ------ the country.
7. Rearrange the following sentences in correct order.
(a) The Mayor called a meeting of the councillors.
(b) The people of the town came to the Town Hall.
(c) At that moment there was a knock at the door.
(d) They said to the Mayor to do something about rats.
(e) The Mayor and the councillors talked about the problem.
(f) A long time ago Hamelin in Germany was faced with a great problem.
(g) The Mayor said “Come in.”
(h) But they could not find a way out.
(i) The stranger entered the hall.
(j) It became full of rats.
8.Fill in the gaps using clues from the boxes. There are more words than necessary.

Back	Once	Away	Duties	One	Fall
Some	Well	Lost	Prosper	Opportunity	Best

Time and tide wait forn none. No a……. can call it back. One can get his b…… money and healt but cannot get c……..his lost time. Time d…… lost is lost for ever. So we should make the e……. use of time. We should do our f…….. properly. If we put off our work for tomorrow, we may not get an g…….to do it at all. There are h……people who idle i…….. their time for no thing . They cannot j…… in life.
9. Match the phrases in column A with the phrases in column B to make complete sentences.

Column A	Column  B
a. Physical exercise means	i.of all exercises
b. There lies a close connection	ii.regular physical exercise.
c. One should take	iii. between body and mind.
d. Physical exercise is essential	iv. the regular movement of the limb of our body.
e. Walking is the best	v. for our physical exercise and mental health.

10. Make a dialogue in about 100 words between you and your friend about the  importance of reading newspaper.
11. Paragraph: Our National Flag.
12. Story writing: Once there lived a clever fox in a jungle. One day while walking through the jungle, he fell into a trap and lost his tail. Without a tail he looked very strange and he felt ashamed. He also felt very unhappy and sad. But the fox……….
13. Write a letter to your friend describing  what you intend to do after JSC Examination.