CBSE Class 8 English Sample Paper Set 15

CBSE Class 8 English Sample Paper

SECTION A READING

I Read the passage given below :

I. A fundamental principle of pharmacology is that all drugs have multiple actions. Actions that are desirable in the treatment of disease are considered therapeutic, while those that are undesirable or pose risks to the patient are called “effects.”

II. Adverse drug effects range from the trivial, e.g., nausea or dry mouth, to the serious, e.g., massive gastrointestinal bleeding or thromboembolism; and some drugs can be lethal. Therefore, an effective system for the detection of adverse drug effects is an important component of the health care system of any advanced nation. Much of the research conducted on new drugs aims at identifying the conditions of use that maximize beneficial effects and minimize the risk of adverse effects.

III. The intent of drug labelling is to reflect this body of knowledge accurately so that physicians can properly prescribe the drug; or, if it is to be sold without prescription, so that consumers can properly use the drug. The current system of drug investigation in the United States has proved very useful and accurate in identifying the common side effects associated with new prescription drugs.

IV. By the time a new drug is approved by the Food and Drug Administration, its side effects are usually well described in the package insert for physicians. The investigational process, owever, cannot be counted on to detect all adverse effects because of the relatively small number of patients involved in premarketing studies and the relatively short duration of the studies. Animal toxicology studies are, of course, done prior to marketing in an attempt to identify any potential for toxicity, but negative results do not guarantee the safety of a drug in humans, as evidenced by such well known examples as the birth deformities due to thalidomide.

V. This recognition prompted the establishment in many countries of programs to which physicians report adverse drug effects.
The United States and other countries also send reports to an international program operated by the World Health Organization. These programs, however, are voluntary reporting programs and are intended to serve a limited goal: alerting a government or private agency to adverse drug effects detected by physicians in the course of practice. Other approaches must be used to confirm suspected drug reactions and to estimate incidence rates.

VI. These other approaches include conducting retrospective control studies; for example, the studies associating endometrial cancer with oestrogen use, and systematic monitoring of hospitalized patients to determine the incidence of acute common side effects, as typified by the Boston Collaborative Drug Surveillance Program.

VII. Thus, the overall drug surveillance system of the United States is composed of a set of information bases, special studies, and monitoring programs, each contributing in its own way to our knowledge about marketed drugs. The system is decentralized among a number of governmental units and is not administered as a coordinated function. Still, it would be inappropriate at this time to attempt to unite all of the disparate elements into a comprehensive surveillance program. Instead, the challenge is to improve each segment of the system and to take advantage of new computer strategies to improve coordination and communication.

Answer the given below questions based on the reading of the passage:
1 The author is primarily concerned with discussing:
(a) the importance of having accurate information about the effects of drugs
(b) methods for testing the effects of new drugs on humans
(c) procedures for determining the long-term effects of new drugs
(d) attempts to curb the abuse of prescription drugs

2 The author implies that a drug with adverse side effects:
(a) will not be approved for use by consumers without a doctor’s prescription
(b) must wait for approval until lengthy studies prove the effects are not permanent
(c) should be used only if its therapeutic value outweighs its adverse effects
(d) should be withdrawn from the marketplace pending a government investigation

3 Which of the following can be inferred from the given passage?
(a) A centralized drug oversight function would improve public health.
(b) Most physicians are not aware that prescription drugs have side effects.
(c) Some rare adverse drug effects are not discovered during the limited testing.
(d) Consumers are seldom unable to understand directions for proper use of a drug.

4 The author introduces the example of thalidomide to show that some:
(a) drug testing procedures are ignored by careless laboratory workers
(b) drugs do not have the same actions in humans that they do in animals
(c) drugs have no therapeutic value for humans
(d) drugs are prescribed by physicians who have not read the manufacturer’s recommendations

5 The author of the passage regards current drug investigation procedures as:
(a) important but generally ineffectual
(b) careless and generally in need of improvement
(c) comprehensive but generally unnecessary
(d) necessary and generally effective

6 The author is most probably leading up to a discussion of some suggestions about how to:
(a) centralize authority for drug surveillance among international agencies
(b) centralize authority for drug surveillance in the United States
(c) coordinate better the sharing of information among the drug surveillance agencies
(d) improve drug testing procedures to detect dangerous effects before drugs are approved

7 The author relies on which of the following in developing the passage?
(a) Examples
(b) Statistics
(c) Analogy
(d) Rhetorical questions

8 Which program has conducted studies on systematic monitoring of hospitalized patients to determine the incidence of acute common side effects?

9 Find the word from the passage which means to inspect (para 7) 

10 Give the name of the field which studies the science of how drugs act on biological systems and how the body responds to the drug (paragraph 1)

II Read the passage given below: (10)
I. On the trail, Sharon and Macy talked excitedly about the future. Both were saving for university. Sharon hoped to become a chef. Macy was thinking about a career in dentistry.
Each enjoyed the other’s contrasting nature. Sharon was tall and tended towards shyness while Macy’s dark complexion highlighted her lively, outspoken personality.

II. After stopping at the lower waterfall, the two hikers climbed the steep path to the thin trail that hugged the edge of the cliff above Tahquitz Creek. Neither knew that recent heavy rains had eroded a part of the trail. It was late afternoon when they reached the small trail. After they had enjoyed the spectacular view for a while, Sharon headed off the trail and started toward the stream.

III. Halfway down, she suddenly let out a startled cry. The rocks beneath her feet had given way. Macy watched in horror as her friend fell into the canyon. I have to help, thought Macy, panic-stricken. She called out to the crumpled body on the rocks below, but there was no response. Ignoring the obvious danger, she started down the cliff herself.

IV. A moment later, Macy slipped and lost her footing. Rocks rained around her as she, too, plummeted into the darkening canyon. The backpack on her back probably saved Sharon’s life. It provided a cushion when she skidded down the cliff and landed on her back. Her legs were scratched and bleeding. Looking up, she gasped in horror to see Macy fall like a stone, bouncing off the rock wall with a sickening thud five metres away. Sharon crawled toward
Macy’s battered body.
Macy lay on her back, her legs twisted inward at a horrible angle so that a bone stuck out of her flesh. Blood was everywhere. Reaching for her friend’s hand, Sharon could not find a pulse. “Oh God,” she cried, “please don’t let her die!” Macy’s eyes flickered open.

V. She tried to speak but was overcome by pain. Her head and back felt on fire. I can’t move my legs, she thought. Sharon hoped her voice didn’t betray the fear she felt, but then she saw
it didn’t matter. Macy had slipped into unconsciousness. As she stood up, Sharon realized how badly hurt she was. The fall had fractured a bone in her neck, and a stabbing pain ran down her spine with each step. Sharon headed for the creek, knowing that it would lead out of the canyon. When she reached it, she had to hike down the centre of the near-freezing, thigh-deep water because the undergrowth at the banks was too dense.

VI. After nearly an hour, she came to a huge rock. She began to climb but lost her footing and slid into the creek again, Stunned and in immense pain, she lay in the water until the cold anesthetized her wounds. Then she crawled onto a nearby ledge and tried to stand. The fourinch gash in her leg was bleeding badly. Shivering, she tore off a part of her sleeve, used it as a bandage and wrapped it around the wound. Half an hour later, the leg had stopped bleeding, but the pain in her neck and back had grown. Soon it would be too dark for rescuers to come.
She lay on the smooth rock and began to pray.

Answer the questions given below based on the reading of the passage:

1 Sharon and Macy were different in several ways. Give one example from the first paragraph.

2 What was the condition of the trail that hugged the edge of the cliff above Tahquitz Creek that made it dangerous?

3 From paragraph 2, quote the word which clearly indicates that the view from the top of the canyon was magnificent.

4 What danger awaited the two hikers as they headed towards the trail?

5 “I have to help” (paragraph 3). What does Macy’s response tell you about her? Explain your answer.

6 How did Sharon survive the fall? 

7 Choose the synonyms from the passage of the word /phrases
(a) surprised (paragraph 2)
(b) become crushed (paragraph 3)

8 Choose the antonyms from the passage of the word /phrases
(a) unclear (paragraph 3)
(b) little (paragraph 6)

9 What does the phrase ‘could not find a pulse’ mean? Explain based on the reading of the passage.

10 Explain the meaning of the line ‘lost her footing’ based on the reading of the passage. 

SECTION B WRITING AND GRAMMAR

III Grammar

I Fill in the blanks with suitable determiners as given in the brackets.
(a) Meg used ___ sketch pens to complete her project. (this/these)
(b) I had ___ rice today. (enough/all)
(c)___ picture was painted by Picasso. (that/those)
(d) The book belongs to ___. (her/hers)

II Fill in the blanks with appropriate idioms given below
In a pickle/an arm and a leg/a piece of cake/ night owl
(i) The exam was so easy, she thought it was ______________.
(ii) I was ________ when I had no money with me at the restaurant.
(iii) Ramesh never sleeps on time, he is a real ____________.
(iv) We could not buy a car as it costed___________________.

III Fill in the blanks with appropriate words as given in the brackets.
(i) _____________the flowers you like most. (choose/choice)
(ii) He doesn't take ___________well. (criticism/criticise)
(iii) When will you ___ which bike to buy? (decision/decide)
(iv) Did Ahmed invite you to his party? (invite/invitation)

IV Rearrange the jumbled sentences and rewrite them.
(a) keep/ vitamins / fit / body / our.
(b) appetite/they/ and / improve/ body’s / increase / ability / fight /to / diseases
(c) help/minerals / growth / the / body / of /in/ the
(d) vegetables / fresh fruits / sources / and / are / vitamins / of/ minerals / and

V The following paragraph has not been edited. There is an error in each line. Write the error along with its correction for each given line.
Error Correction
(i) Children love picnics and outings of their parents ____ ____
(ii) though they are equally happier doing things with ____ ____
(iii) them around the house. A parent may make ____ ____
(iv) his child feels special by following some simple ____ ____

VI Change the direct into indirect speech.
(a) John said, ‘I love this city.’
(b)“Be nice to others”, Priya said.
(c)“Don’t waste your money” he said to the boys.
(d) She said, “everyone loves her.”

VII Identify whether the given sentences are active or passive voice.
(a) Ram does the work.
(b) He was punished by the teacher.
(c) Geeta writes a letter.
(d) A true story is told by him.

IV Creative Writing Skills 
I Write a diary entry discussing your viewpoint on whether it is better to be an only child or sharing your home with siblings in 100-120 words.
Or
Write a paragraph on the topic ‘The Night Before The Examination’ in 100-120 words.

II ‘A farmer was visiting the fair in the village with his daughter. He wanted to see……’ 
Complete the story in about 100-120 words, for the given starting line.
Or
Your friend, Kunal, is fond of reading good books. Write a letter to him inviting him to visit the Book Fair which is going to be held in your city in December. You are Rajiv Mittal /Rohini Mittal, living at H-15, Ballabh Colony, New Delhi.

SECTION C LITERATURE

V Reference to context.
I Read the extract given below and answer the following questions that follow
Macavity ‘s a Mystery cat:
he’s called the Hidden Paw
For he’s the master criminal
Who can defy the Law.
He’s the bafflement of Scotland Yard,
The Flying Squad despair:
For when they reach the scene of crime Macavity’s not there

(i) What type of cat is Macavity referred to as in the given extract?

(ii) Why is Macavity called the ‘Hidden Paw’?

(iii) What is the poetic device used in the first line of the given stanza?

(iv) Why are the Scotland Yard and Flying Squad in shock?

(v) How has personification as a poetic device been used in the given extract?
                                      Or
“Come and hire me”, I cried, while in the morning
I was walking on the stone-paved road.
Sword in hand the king came in his chariot
He held my hand and said, “I will hire you with my power”
But his power counted for naught and he went away in his chariot.

(i) Who is the speaker of these lines?

(ii) What does the line ‘Sword in hand’ suggest?

(iii) What did the king offer to the man while trying to hire him for work?

(iv) Was the king successful in hiring the man? Support your answer with reason

(v) Who has written the mentioned poem?

II Read the extract given below and answer the following questions that follow
The King and Queen of Siam had many daughters, and the Queen said that it confused her to have to remember so many names. One day the King decided to call them January, February,
March (though of course in Siamese) till he came to the youngest whom he called September.
The King of Siam had a peculiar habit. Instead of receiving gifts on his birthday he gave them.

(i) What was the confusion that the Queen experienced?

(ii) How was the confusion of the Queen solved?

(iii) What do we mean by the word ‘peculiar’?

(iv) What did the King used to do on his birthday?

(v) Who is the writer of the story from which the above mentioned lines have been extracted?
                                                                           Or
And yet the man knew a great deal about him. How? He even seemed to know some intimate details. The Bag of books, wife's death, brother's insanity................... The only mistake was about his having gone to Ranchi. Not a mistake, a deliberate lie. In '58, during the Pujas, he was in Kanpur at his friend Haridas Bagchi's place.

(i) Who knew a great deal about whom?

(ii) What intimate details did the man know?

(iii) What was the only mistake the man was making? Why was it a mistake?

(iv) Why was it a mistake?

(v) Who is the author of the story from which above lines have been extracted?

VI Short and Long answer questions 

I Answer the questions given below in 30-50 words 

(i) What lesson was Bepin Babu taught by Chunilal and why?

(ii)How did Tilly Smith realise that a Tsunami was going to hit?

(iii) Was Velu happy after finding work? Give a reason for your answer.

(iv) What did the king and the old man offer to the unemployed man while hiring him?

Explain did he accept their respective offer with appropriate reasoning.

II Answer any two out of three questions in 50-70 words (3*2=6)

(i) Discuss how T.S. Eliot has described Macavity in the poetry.

(ii) Ram Mohan Roy said, “Cows are of different colours but the colour of their milk is the same”. Discuss what does the statement mean?

(iii) Did Hafeez like school as a young boy? Explain what he used to do in school?

III Answer any three out of four questions in 100-120 words 

(i) Explain four reasons which sparked and started the Revolt of 1857.

(ii) Who is the poet of ‘The Last Bargain’? What is the lesson that the poem imparts?

(iii) ‘Understanding nature and its inhabitants can reduce causality in disasters’. Explain the given statement with reference to the lesson Tsunami.

(iv) We must give respect to earn respect. Explain the given statement with reference to the lesson Princess September and highlight how September valued her relationship with the bird?