English Questions and Answers - Class 8 Mid Term Exams Term 1 2023 Set 9

QUESTIONS

Read the passage below. It has blank spaces numbered 1 to 15. For each blank space, choose the answer from the choices given.

The coot is a water bird that is ................1.................. black except for the white patch  .................2................. the front of the head, the white beak and grey legs.  ................3.................. narrow whitish wing-bar shows in flight. Its toes are long and broad but are not webbed  .................4................. the moorhen, the coot prefers open water and is  .................5................. found on small ponds and streams. It likes the company of other coots and of ducks, and in the winter, coots may gather in enormous  .................6................. on big lakes, reservoirs and sometimes on the sea Coast. They seldom fly,  ..................7................ to reach another piece of water. The coot often  .................8................. on land but is  ................9.................. at home there than the moorhen. Mostly it dives for water weeds, with an  ...............10................... insect or fish for variety.

In the spring, the coots.  .................11................. The large raised nests are frequently built of dead stems  ................12.................. the plants at the edge of the lake. Six to nine stone-coloured eggs with brown spots  ................13.................. be found from the middle of March onwards. The young coots  ................14..................  start to swim three or four days after they hatch are covered with black down tipped with reddish orange on the chin and neck. The coot is not only found in Europe  ...................15............... there are also coots of one kind or another in Asia, Australia, Africa and America.

1.                        
   1. completely
   2. partially
   3. almost
   4. fully
2.                  
   1. at
   2. in
   3. on
   4. to
3.                     
   1.  A
   2. An
   3. The
   4. Some
4.                      
   1. Like
   2. Besides
   3. Beside
   4. Unlike
5.                
   1. often
   2. rarely
   3. always
   4. frequently
6.                
   1. flocks
   2. swarms
   3. prides
   4. clutches
7.                  
   1. but
   2. when
   3. while
   4. except
8.                  
   1. eat
   2. eats
   3. feeds
   4. feed
9.                
   1. least
   2. little
   3. less
   4. more less
10.                  
    1. common
    2. occasional
    3. idle
    4. insecure
11.                
    1. reproduce
    2. produce
    3. give birth 
    4. hatch
12.              
    1. between
    2. in
    3. beneath
    4. among
13.                
    1. will
    2. could
    3. may 
    4. would
14.              
    1. who
    2. that
    3. whom
    4. which
15.                  
    1. but
    2. but also
    3. and also
    4. and

For questions 16 to 18, choose the alternatives that best complete the sentences.

16. There was.............................evidence against Micah, so he was not charged with murder.
    1. a little
    2. little
    3. some
    4. few
17. Aunt Deborah gave........................... and ............................... a piece of cake each.
    1. her, me
    2. I, she
    3. she, I
    4. me, she
18. The bridegroom came with his uncle in accordance ....................... our culture.
    1. with
    2. to
    3. of
    4. by

For questions 19 to 21, choose the opposite of the underlined word

19. My sister is a slender girl.
    1. thin
    2. slim
    3. fat
    4. beautiful
20. She rarely visits her grandparents.
    1. oftenly
    2. frequently
    3. seldom
    4. always

For questions 21 and 22, choose the correct question tag:

21. Let them in, ......................?
    1. shall you
    2. isn't it
    3. won't you
    4. will you
22. It seems they will be late,  ......................?
    1. won't they
    2. will they
    3. doesn't it
    4. does it

For question 23, choose a word that least fits in the group

23.                    
    1. Stationary
    2. Pretty
    3. Stationery
    4. Quick

Read the passage below and then answer questions 24 and 25

Five children, Kache, Katana, Kadzo, Otieno and Kamau were discussing the fruits they enjoy eating. Kadzo and Kamau said passon and pawpaw were their best while Katana liked oranges. Mangoes were in Kache's, Otieno's and Kadzo's list. Pears was in Kadzo's list just as Katana, who also named mangoes. Had Otieno not mentioned guavas it would have gone without being chosen. Only Kadzo did not like pineapple.

24. Which two fruits were equally popular with the children?
    1. Pineapple and pawpaw 
    2. Pears and passion 
    3. Pawpaw and guavas
    4. Passion and guavas
25. Which of the following statements is not true according to the passage?
    1. There's no fruit that was liked by all the children
    2. One fruit was liked by one child
    3. Pawpaw and quavas were disliked by a similar number of children
    4. Only one child liked oranges

Read the passage below and answer questions 26 to 38.

There are many stories and questions on how the zebra got his stripes and here in Africa one of the most well-known is from the San who are the Bushmen of people of the Namibian Kalahari Desert. Many Africans tales and stories were told of wild animals in Africa, to explain their unique look or behaviour.

So, how did the zebra get his black stripes, or is it white stripes?? Well, let me tell you the fable. Long ago, when animals were still new in Africa, the weather was very hot, and what little water was there remained in a few pools and pans. Animals were dying in large numbers and the few who remained were miserable and constantly thirsty.

One of the remaining water pools was guarded by a boisterous baboon, who claimed that he was the lord of the water and forbade anyone from drinking at his pooll. One fine day when a zebra and his son came down to have a drink of water, the baboon, who was sitting by his fire next to the water hole, jumped up and barked in a loud voice. "Go away, intruders. This is my pool and I am the lord of the water."

The water is for everyone, not just for you, monkey-face," The zebra's son shouted back, "If you want some of the water, you must fight for it," returned the baboon in a fine fury, and in a moment the two were locked in combat. Back and forth they went fighting, raising huge cloud of dust, until with a mighty kick, the zebra sent the baboon flying up among the rocks of the cliff behind them. The baboon landed with a smack on his buttocks, taking all the hair clean off, and to this very day, he still carries the bare patch where he landed. The tired and bruised young zebra, not looking where he was going staggered back through the baboon's fire, which scorched him, leaving black burn stripes across his white fur. The shock of being burned. sent the zebra galloping away to savannah plains, where he has stayed ever since.

The baboon and his family, however, remain high up among the rocks where they bark defiance at all strangers, and when walking around, they still hold up their tails to ease the sore rock burn of their bald patched bottoms.

26. The word unique has been used in the passage. Which word would best replace it?
    1. Common
    2. Special
    3. Ordinary
    4. Unrivaled
27. Where do the San originate from?
    1. The Kalahari desert
    2. The Namib desert
    3. The bushes in Namibia
    4. All across Africa
28. According to the second paragraph, which of these choices is true?
    1. The weather was favourable for animals
    2. Water was in plenty
    3. Animals had stayed in Africa for long
    4. Water was hard to come by
29. What is the meaning of the word pans as used in the passage?
    1. Metal containers for cooking
    2. Washing areas
    3. Holes in the ground which collect water
    4. Fertile lands in the desert
30. Why were the animals dying in large numbers?
    1. Because they were not used to the heat
    2. Because they were thirsty
    3. The baboon was killing them
    4. The weather in Africa was too cold for them
31. According to the passage, what colour was the zebra before?
    1. Brown
    2. Black
    3. White
    4. Black and white
32. According to the passage, which of the following choices best describes the baboon's character in the third paragraph?
    1. Annoying
    2. Loud
    3. Unkind
    4. Selfish
33. From what you have read in the fourth paragraph, it would be safe to assume that 
    1. the zebra's son was stronger than the baboon
    2. the baboon was brave
    3. Zebra's son was rude
    4. the baboon lost his hair in a fire
34. According to the passage, where do Zebras live?
    1. In the desert
    2. In the savannah
    3. On cliffs
    4. In Namibia's desert with bush
35. How did the baboon refer to himself?
    1. Lord of the river
    2. Lord of the water
    3. King of the plains
    4. Lord of the baboons
36. Which part of the body did the babo a lose all its hair?
    1. His face
    2. His arms
    3. His buttocks
    4. His head
37. How was the young zebra walking before he got scorched in baboon's fire?
    1. He was wobbling
    2. Steadily
    3. Quickly
    4. Consistently
38. What lesson have you learned from the passage you just read?
    1. The early bird catches worm
    2. Kindness pays
    3. Once bitten twice shy
    4. There is no use crying over spilt milk

Read the passage below and answer questions 39 to 50

Many of us have baby brothers or sisters. If not, you must have taken care of one when you visited a relative or a neighbour. Babies are very young children. Some are so young that they can neither walk nor talk. It is therefore important to know a few things about the baby before you are left to take care of him or her.

Before your parents or guardians leave you with the baby, you must remember to ask a few questions. You should be told what to feed the baby on in case he or she falls hungry and needs food. Babies need food almost all the time but they only eat a little at a time. If you are left with milk, ensure it is not cold or very warm. Do not force the baby to drink all of it at ago because if you do so, what will you give her when she wants more? Since they eat very little, a baby will start crying if you try to force her to eat more than she needs. You will have put yourself in serious problem if you drink the remaining milk meant for the baby!

Be aware that the baby will need to sleep. You must know where you will take the baby to sleep because they cannot be awake throughout. Do not put a baby to sleep near an open window because the blowing wind could wake her from time to time. Make sure the baby is comfortable. You do not need to shake him/her up because he/she could wake up and start crying.

It is normal for the baby to wet her clothes so there should be dry clothes to change her in. The baby should first be washed before changing the clothes as failure to do this could make him/her start smelling and who could wish to carry a smelly baby?

When the baby is awake, he/she might play, choose items which are safe for him/her to play with. Do not leave the baby alone as he/she may crawl into a trough of hot water or a hot jiko. You know the kind of accidents these could cause. You must all along keep a watchful eye to avoid such even if you are doing some other work.

When your parents or guardians come back and find you are responsible and the baby is comfortable, you are likely to be rewarded.

39. According to the first paragraph
    1. many of us lack brothers but have a sister
    2. we have many brothers and sisters
    3. many of us have baby brothers and sisters
    4. many of us have brothers and sisters
40. Which one should you ask your parents or guardians before they leave you with the baby?
    1. How the baby should be punished
    2. What to feed the baby on in case she falls hungry and need food
    3. Whether she will sleep the whole day
    4. Whether she may suffer from a stomachache
41. According to the passage, why shouldn't we force the baby to drink all the milk?
    1. She may vomit all the milk
    2. She may lack what to drink next
    3. She will sleep the whole day
    4. She may suffer the whole day
42. The baby should not be put near the window when she is asleep because
    1. the wind may wake her up from time to time
    2. the baby may fall sick
    3. she may jump through the window and fall down
    4. the baby may die
43. According to the passage, what should be done in case the baby wets her clothes?
    1. The baby should be washed
    2. The baby should be dried
    3. The baby should be carried
    4. The baby should be pinched
44. Which items should the baby play with?
    1. Items which are heavy
    2. Items that are safe
    3. Items that are dirty
    4. Items that are new
45. The baby should not be left alone as she
    1. fall down
    2. crawl into a trough of hot water or jiko
    3. injure her eyes
    4. get sick
46. The baby needs to sleep because
    1. he/she cannot be awake all the time
    2. he/she needs to dream when asleep
    3. babies are weak and need to sleep all the time
    4. it is their nature to sleep may
47. The word problem has been used in the passage. It can mean all the following except
    1. trouble
    2. difficulty
    3. setback
    4. effect
48. Who is a gurdian according to the passage?
    1. One legally responsible for the care of another person
    2. Watchman
    3. Parent
    4. Security guard
49. Why do you think you must keep a watchful eye to the baby?
    1. So that the baby may not get lost
    2. So that the baby may not be involved in any accident or incident
    3. To protect any kind of sickness 
    4. To protect the baby from sleeping
50. Which is the best title given to the above passage?
    1. How to feed the baby
    2. Taking care of the baby
    3. Soothing the baby
    4. Cleaning the baby

COMPOSITION

You have 40 minutes to write your composition.

The following is the beginning of a composition. Write it in your own words making it as interesting as possible.

Everyone in our family gathered around the old radio awaiting the news.........................................

MARKING SCHEME