D.A.

V PUBLIC/MODEL SCHOOLS, WEST BENGAL ZONE

MID-TERM EXAMINATION
SESSION: 2021-2022
Class: VIII Maximum Marks: 40
Subject: English Time: 90 Minutes
READING
1. Read the following passage carefully:
The National Disaster Management Authority has recently released
guidelines on the management of urban flooding. It clearly states that
urban flooding should be treated as a separate disaster as the causes of
urban flooding and the strategies to deal with them are different. Even
though urban flooding has been experienced since decades in India,
sufficient attention was not given to plan specific efforts to deal with it
holistically. In the past, any strategy on Flood Disaster Management
mainly focussed on riverine floods affecting large tracts of rural areas.
Urban flooding is significantly different from rural flooding. Urban
areas are centres of economic activities with vital infrastructure which
needs to be protected 24×7. In most of the cities the damage to the vital
infrastructure has a bearing, not only locally but could even have global
implications. The problem of flooding worsens when low-lying areas
are filled up for infrastructure development due to unplanned urban
growth. Using hydraulic models for two South Asian cities, Sylhet (in
Bangladesh) and Bharatpur (in Nepal) we find that 22.3% of the land
area in Sylhet and 12% in Bharatpur is under flooding risk. However,
the area under flood risk could increase to 18.5% in Sylhet and 5.5% in
Bharatpur in five years if the solid waste of the cities is not managed
properly. Urban areas are also densely populated and people living in
vulnerable areas suffer due to flooding. This disaster has sometimes
resulted in loss of life, damage to property, disruptions in transport and
power, bringing life to a grinding halt causing untold misery and
hardships. There has been an increasing trend of urban flood disasters in
India over the past several years. Almost every major city of India has
been severely affected. Mumbai floods in July 2005 turned out to be an
eye opener. The deluge of rain in the catchment areas of Yamuna during
August and September 2010 has inundated many villages and towns of
Haryana, besides threatening the low-lying areas of Delhi.
Encroachments are major problems in many cities and towns all over
the country. With large scale encroachments on the natural drains and in
the flood plains, the capacity of the natural drain has decreased,
1
resulting in flooding even with lower intensity of rainfall. The following
pie-chart shows the possible causes of urban flooding:

Choose the correct answer from the given options in each of the (1×5=5)
following:
(a) The urban flooding has to be treated as a separate disaster because....
(i) the problem of urban areas is unique.
(ii) urban areas get flooded easily.
(iii) the causes of urban flooding are different.
(iv) urban and riverine flooding are similar.
(b) Urban areas need round the clock vigil for they are the hub of
politics and entertainment industry. The statement is:
(i) True (ii) False
(iii) Partially true (iv) Partially false
(c) Which of the following is an image of ‘deluge’?

(i) (ii)

(iii) (iv)
(d) According to the given pie chart, which of the following contributes
the most to urban flooding?
(i) pollution (ii) drainage system
(iii) management of environment (iv) the weather

2
 (e) Which of the following words does NOT mean ‘encroachment’?
(i) intrusion (ii) intervention
(iii) invasion (iv) invention
2. Read the following passage carefully:
Have you ever failed at something so miserably that the thought of
attempting to do it again was the last thing in your mind? If your answer
is yes, you should understand that you are not a robot. Unlike robots, we
human beings have feelings, emotions and dreams. We are all meant to
grow despite our circumstances and limitations. Flourishing and trying
to make our dreams come true make us feel great when life goes our
way. But what happens when it doesn’t? What happens when you fail
despite all your hard work? Do you stay down and accept defeat or do
you get up again? If you tend to persevere and keep going, you have
what experts call, ‘grit’.
Falling down or failing is one of the most agonising, embarrassing and
scary human experiences. But it is the most educational, empowering
and essential parts of living a successful and fulfilling life. Do you know
that perseverance is one of the seven qualities that has been described as
the key to personal success and betterment in the society? The other six
are curiosity, gratitude, optimism, self-control, social intelligence and
zest. Thomas Edison is an example of grit for trying more than 1000
times to invent the light bulb. If you are reading this with the lights on
in your room you will understand the importance of his success. When
asked why he kept going despite hundreds of failures, he merely stated
that they had not been failures; they were hundreds of attempts towards
creating the light bulb. This was not only his grit but also his optimism
for looking at the brighter side. Grit can be learnt to help you become
more successful. One of the techniques that helps is mindfulness.
Mindfulness is a mental training that teaches you to slow down racing
thoughts, let go off negativity, and calm both your mind and body. This
practice has been used to quieten the noise of fears and doubts. Through
this simple practice of mindfulness, individuals have the ability to stop
self-defeating thoughts, downward spiral of hopelessness, despair and
frustration. Reflect on what you did and try to use those same powerful
resources to help you today.

Choose the correct answer from the given options in each of the (1×5=5)
following:

3
 (a) The reason why you are not a robot is that:
(i) you fail miserably at tasks.
(ii) failure and success can affect your emotions.
(iii) you work hard.
(iv) you have limitations.
b) “Falling down or failing is one of the most educational, empowering
and essential parts of living a successful and fulfilling life.” – The
mentioned line makes us feel....
(i) humorous
(ii) optimistic
(iii) grim
(iv) desolate
(c) Which of the following sentences makes the correct use of ‘grit’, as
used in the passage?
(i) Get rid of that grit in your shoes.
(ii) She had a bit of grit in her eyes.
(iii) The road had been covered with grit.
(iv) Her grit never made her give up.
(d) To develop perseverance one must...
(i) become more alert.
(ii) not to work hard.
(iii) continue to make efforts to do or achieve something despite
difficulties, failure, or opposition.
(iv) seek guidance.
(e) How does mindfulness help?
(i) It creates curiosity.
(ii) It quietens the noise of fears and doubts.
(iii) It helps one to become successful.
(iv) It helps develop focus.
GRAMMAR
3. Choose the correct answer from the given options in each of the (1×5=5)
following:
(a) Which of the following sentences is grammatically correct?
(i) After he had left, the roof collapsed.
(ii) After he left, the roof collapsed.
(iii) After he has left, the roof collapsed.
(iv) After he left, the roof had collapsed.

4
 (b) Read the following dialogue and choose the correct alternative to fill
in the blank given below:
Richa: I am very busy today.
Nisha: What is the matter?

Richa told Nisha that ___________

(i) she is very busy today.
(ii) she is very busy that day.
(iii) she was very busy that day.
(iv) she was very busy today.
(c) Choose the appropriate modal to be inserted in the gap:
Drivers ____________wear the seat belt while driving.
(i) will
(ii) should
(iii) dare to
(iv) might
(d) In which of the following sentences, the verb is NOT in accordance
with the subject?
(i) The quality of the food has gone down in this restaurant.
(ii) Towels and sandals is an essential gear for a trip to the beach.
(iii) Second-hand furniture is sold here at reasonable price.
(iv) Neither my father nor my brothers know how to ski.
(e) Which one of the following sentences is correctly punctuated?
(i) You need: three documents, your passport, your driving license, and
a bank statement.
(ii) You need, three documents, your passport your driving license,
and, a bank statement.
(iii) You need three documents; your passport; your driving license;
and a bank statement.
(iv) You need three documents: your passport, your driving license,
and a bank statement.
WRITING 5
4. On the occasion of ‘Van-Mahotsav’, you have been asked to deliver a
speech in the morning assembly of your school on the importance of
tree plantation. You are Chandan/ Chaitali of class VIII. Write the
speech in about 100-120 words.
OR

5
 Read the following telephonic conversation:
Mr. Gupta: Hello, is this 252586542?
Rajat: Yes. May I know who’s calling?
Mr. Gupta: I am Suresh Gupta. Can I talk to Mr. Mahajan?
Rajat: Sorry uncle. Daddy is not at home. Do you have any message for
him?
Mr. Gupta: Yes. Please tell him that the meeting fixed for tomorrow has
been cancelled and we shall let him know as and when the next date for
the meeting is fixed.
Rajat: Ok uncle, I shall inform daddy when he comes back.

Rajat has to go to his music class. He leaves a message for his father,
Mr. Mahajan. Write the message for Mr. Mahajan in not more than 50
words.

LITERATURE 1×5=5
5.
I. Mother generously suggested that Swami might stay at home.
This line shows that Swami’s mother was___
A. rough
B. sympathetic
C. indulgent
D. strict
II. In the following question two statements A(Assertion) and R
(Reasoning) are given. Examine the statements carefully and
choose the correct answer as per the given instructions.
Assertion (A) Swaminathan left his seat joyfully and hopped on the
platform for the punishment.
Reasoning (R) Swaminathan wanted to justify the letter.
A. Both A and R are correct and R is the correct reason for A.
B. Both A and R are correct and R is not the correct reason for A.
C. A is correct and R is wrong.
D. A is wrong and R is correct.

6
 III. Mother suggested Swaminathan to go to school in a___
Choose the correct image.

i ii iii iv
A. Image i
B. Image ii
C. Image iii
D. Image iv

IV. Choose the INCORRECT statement from the given sentences.

A. Father decided to send the headmaster a letter.
B. With a shudder Swami realised that it was Monday.
C. When Swami entered the class, Samuel was teaching history.
D. The headmaster was on leave for a week.
V. Swaminathan did not want to go to school.
Which of the following images depicts the reason given by
him?

i ii iii iv
A. Image i
B. Image ii
C. Image iii
D. Image iv
6. (a) Why did the bearded man ask for the king’s forgiveness? (2)
(b) ‘Well, I’ll grow old disgracefully.’- Why did granny prefer to be (2)
disgraceful rather being graceful in her old age?
(c) ‘Margie was thinking about how the kids must have loved it in the (3)
old days. She was thinking about the fun they had.’- Why did Margie
think that the school in old days must have been fun?

7
(d) The poem, ‘My Mother’, is the poet’s heartfelt gratitude to his (3)
mother who was his sole source of inspiration and strength. Render the
poet’s feelings for his mother as reflected in the poem, ‘My Mother’.
(e) Being flattered by the praise of opposite gender in youth may often (5)
lead to an unexpected and uncomfortable situation. Justify the statement
referring to the story ‘The Luncheon’. (100-120 words)
OR
Today’s children are the future of our nation. They have to shoulder the
responsibility of carrying the legacy of our great culture and heritage.
As a part of today’s youth how would you like to seek blessings from
the Almighty to perform this eminent duty? Write your answer with
reference to the poem, ‘The Children’s Song’. (100-120 words)
*******************