English Questions and Answers - Class 8 End Term Exams Term 1 2023 Set 2

QUESTIONS

Read the passage below. It contains blank spaces numbered 1-15. For each blank space, choose the best alternative from the choices given.

We have heard it said repeatedly that ................1.................. have consequences.' If they were asked to choose a career that they liked, many learners are likely to ..............2.................... mention professions such as being a doctor, a pilot, an engineer .................3.................even an astrologer. It is not ...............4................... easy as that. One expects your choice of the profession to be .................5................. you can achieve because the fact that you want to be a doctor .................6................. not automatically mean you will ................7.................. become one . There are subjects you are expected to perform .................8................. well at in order to qualify to be a doctor. You must start working hard ..................9................ from your primary level, secondary and even college. ...............10...................you find yourself not performing as expected, it is not the ..................11................ of the road for you as .................12.................there are many other ................13..................available. Do not force yourself or even, allow anyone else to force you to do a

..................14.................. that you have got, ................15.................. any interest in as you would be uncomfortable upon qualifying.

1.                      
   1. Actions
   2. Solutions
   3. Choices
   4. Decisions
2.                        
   1. easily
   2. slowly
   3. carefully
   4. hurriedly
3.          
   1. and
   2. then
   3. even
   4. or
4.                    
   1. more
   2. as
   3. so
   4. far
5.                  
   1. when
   2. how
   3. what
   4. why
6.              
   1. can
   2. will
   3. must
   4. does
7.                  
   1. really
   2. eventually
   3. properly
   4. happily
8.              
   1. very
   2. so
   3. too
   4. fairly
9.                
   1. only
   2. how
   3. right
   4. first
10.                  
    1. Should
    2. Could
    3. Would
    4. Might
11.            
    1. stop
    2. end
    3. length
    4. beginning
12.                
    1. though
    2. likewise
    3. always
    4. still
13.                  
    1. things
    2. issues
    3. alternatives
    4. spaces
14.                    
    1. subject
    2. course
    3. duty
    4. chore
15.                
    1. hardly
    2. usually
    3. just
    4. occasionally 

In questions 16 to 18, choose the best alternative to complete the sentences,

16. It was not until they heard the bell ..............................
    1. and the pupils ran into their classrooms
    2. when the pupils ran into their classrooms
    3. then the pupils ran into their classroom
    4. that the pupils ran into their classrooms
17. Kandi prefers walking.............................
    1. to jogging
    2. besides jogging
    3. for jogging
    4. than jogging
18. They neither went to the show.................................
    1. or the stadium
    2. and the stadium
    3. even the stadium
    4. nor the stadium

For questions 19 and 20, arrange the given sentences to form a sensible paragraph.

19.                  
    1. It's like he did not see the type of food he wanted.
    2. He went into the hotel and summoned the waited.
    3. He apologised to her and walked out of the hotel.
    4. She quickly picked the menu and walked to him.
       1. (ii), (iii), (i), (iv)
       2. (ii), (i), (iv), (iii)
       3. (ii), (iv), (i), (iii)
       4. (ii), (iii), (iv), (i)
20.                  
    1. Even before he could be reached, the suspect started trembling. 
    2. The policemen quickly arrested him and released the rest.
    3. The policeman ordered the men to stand in a straight line.
    4. He started walking with the child along the line.
       1. (iii), (i), (iv), (ii)
       2. (iii), (iv), (i), (ii)
       3. (iii), (ii), (i), (iv)
       4. (iii), (iv), (ii), (i).

For questions 21 to 23, select the alternative that can best replace the underlined words.

21.  The workers felt very exhausted because of working for too long.
    1. bored
    2. extremely weak
    3. finished
    4. worn-out
22. In April, it sometimes rains cats and dogs.
    1. continuously
    2. dangerously
    3. heavily
    4. noisily
23. Looking after many children has become very difficult nowadays.
    1. Feeding
    2. Raising
    3. Educating
    4. Accommodating

In questions 24 and 25, select the alternative that does not fit in the group.

24.                  
    1. conclusion
    2. introduction
    3. development
    4. handwriting
25.              
    1. book
    2. bread
    3. money
    4. chalk

Read the passage below and then answer questions 26 to 38.

They liked Rebecca during communal work, especially those that involved cooking. Whenever there was a wedding preparation, burial or church function, women were selected to offer catering services. This is because there were characters who could do more damage than good. Rebecca had good and modern crockeries and utensils for she and her husband had lived in town for quite a long time. This is why she always topped the list.

It was normal to share out food to such women once the visitors left just as it was a taboo to throw away food. Every single one of them was given equal share, irrespective of the work they had done or the size of their families back at home. However, they always knew how much to expect immediately after serving the visitors for they were also experts at sharing out the food by just looking at it while still in the pots. Any of them could be given the responsibility of sharing out the food but it was done as they all stood there, supervising and giving direction where necessary. Maria, however, was the favourite bet for this.

The women had successfully taken care of a wedding delegation and it was time for sharing out the uncaten food. Rebecca was still arranging her utensils and crockery in her basket and because of the impending bad weather, the others started the sharing out exercise without her. In a short while, it was done and each of the six women picked a served bowl. Only one remained; Rebecca's. She rarely raised queries on sharing but by the time she came for it, it was mysteriously missing!

The others had their baskets on their heads, ready to leave when Teresa asked them to hold on. She demanded to know where Rebeca's share had gone to but they all looked perplexed. They put down their baskets, each ready to reveal the content of their baskets to prove their innocence. Interestingly, the bowl in which the lost food had been served also belonged to Rebecca so she pleaded with whoever had it to even take the food but leave the bowl behind but Teresa would hear none of it. She wanted both returned there and then. It was then that Sella interjected that there were several dogs hovering about in the compound and they could have eaten the food. Maria looked at her directly in the eye and asked if dogs ate even serving bowls of late. All the others laughed except Sella. The others wondered and already became suspicious.

Each of them was asked to bring out their bowls of food for inspection, one by one. Maria volunteered to have hers checked first, having been the one who served all the others. The others were satisfied with it one by one, the others opened theirs and moved aside to repack. When it reached Sella's turn, her bag was still outside and a dog was seen nosing around it. One of the women rushed out, chased it away and carried the bag inside. The moment it was placed down, all of them moved closer to it. She moved one step backwards but the others raised their voices, asking her to remain exactly where she had been. They descended on it and the bowl in question was easily found. Inside it was the food as it had been served!

As the others started throwing unprintables at Sella, Rebecca, without saying a word, took the bowl, put it in her basket and mumbled a "Thank you' to no one in particular and slithered away.

26. The main reason why the others liked Rebecca is because
    1. she talked very little during work
    2. she volunteered to give out her crockery and utensils
    3. she worked well with others
    4. she was always available when needed.
27. Wedding preparation, burial or church functions are given as examples of
    1. where women used their household items
    2. duties that Rebecca did best when with others
    3. how others ended up doing more damage than others
    4. women's ability to work while being supervised.
28. Rebecca's crockery and utensils were sought for as
    1. they were of high quality
    2. her husband allowed her to give them out
    3. others felt reluctant to give out theirs 
    4. she had bought them in town.
29. Why was left over food shared among the women?
    1. The food is what had made them go to work.
    2. They did not like being paid money.
    3. Their serving bowls could not be returned empty.
    4. In appreciation for the services they offered.
30. Even before the food was shared out, the women
    1. would always consult on the formula to use
    2. knew how much each of them would get
    3. were uncomfortable with Sella's presence
    4. ensured the food would not get lost.
31. The women liked to make Maria to share out the food because she was
    1. strict
    2. keen
    3. fair
    4. loyal.
32. What made Rebecca to be away while sharing of food was going on?
    1. She was ensuring her personal items were safe.
    2. The work had been allocated to a different woman.
    3. No one had alerted her that sharing was starting.
    4. She never used to go until the sharing was over.
33. The other women had their baskets on their heads because
    1. each wanted to go and eat at their own homes
    2. they did not want trouble with Rebecca
    3. they were aware of what would soon happen
    4. they had accomplished their duty.
34. Rebecca pleaded for the recovery of the bowl
    1. as that was the easiest way to get her share
    2. since it was the first time one was getting lost
    3. she feared its loss could cause her trouble
    4. because she knew the suspect.
35. By referring to the dogs in the home, Sella expected
    1. others to confirm that the dogs had eaten the food
    2. to shift the blame to the dogs
    3. to make others share out their food with Rebecca
    4. to end the meeting due to fear of the dogs.
36. Sella's statement and the dog's action on her basket can best be described as
    1. prophecy
    2. intelligence
    3. mystery
    4. coincidence.
37. Sella is likely to have moved one step backwards due to
    1. need of fresh air
    2. creating space for others
    3. the shock and disbelief of the revelation
    4. embarrassment she was to face.
38. In the end, we learn that
    1. Sella was banned from such communal work
    2. the women punished Sella for the theft
    3. Rebecca left the others in dilemma
    4. no one ever talked about the issue again. 

Read the passage below and then answer questions 39 to 50.

Bad news is part of life. There is a time when so many good things happen in our lives and we crown each of them with a celebration. We feel good and take it for granted that more of such will always flow towards us. Then, the wind changes direction and bad news start dropping in, one after the other. Shocking as it may be even to you, at times, you are expected to step up and be the one to relay this news to the others.

When sharing the bad news, it will be painful, uncomfortable and at times, awkward. You have no control over your audience. They could react in a manner that you least expected upon receiving such news. Some of them could already be in bad health and this calls for you to balance your act. A wrong statement or rather, a correct one released at the wrong time and it could end up causing a bigger problem than the initial one.

Analyse the situation carefully and if need be, consult with the others elsewhere first. You have to be sure the audience can handle the bad news and this is why the preparation has to be done in good time. Before you deliver the bad news, you must take care of yourself first. Do not break the news when you are upset or emotionally unstable. Take a moment to go through what the reaction of the others could do to you. When you are sure about yourself, you can let the cat out of the bag. Chances are that you too could end up breaking down following the reaction of the others. Do not be too hard on yourself because you will struggle with your side of the process.

Finding the right words to use could also be tough. Be sincere, talk naturally and try to be as calm as you can. Practice what you will say in good time and let not your face betray you. Keep your message simple and clear. This is not the time to beat about the bush. Do not allow others to push you to release the message in a way you had not planned to. Answering their questions directly could lead you into this trap.

You must also factor in the state of their mind. Can they handle the kind of news you have? This will determine the approach. Share the news while everybody, including you, is seated and if possible, you should maintain eye contact.

They may lash out at you. Do not take it at heart if they do. Understand that they are just getting the news but you have had it for some time, even for days. Should they want to take more time with you, be there for them.

39. As you continue to receive good things in life
    1. celebration should become a normal thing
    2. you should not forget that bad news too could come
    3. it's possible to share the same with others
    4. it shows not everybody gets bad luck.
40. By saying that the wind changes direc- tion, the writer implies that
    1. bad luck starts coming to us
    2. the weather suddenly changes unexpectedly
    3. both good and bad luck gets mixed up 
    4. we become unable to differentiate bad from good luck.
41. When you are the one to relay the bad news to others
    1. it could shock you more than them
    2. the news will affect you in the same way
    3. shows you are responsible for its cause
    4. it gives you a heavier responsibility.
42. You may have no control over your audience because
    1. you are not used to relaying such news
    2. others may decide to ignore you
    3. it may affect them badly
    4. you are not a trustworthy person.
43. By balancing your act, the writer suggests that you should
    1. combine both truth and false statements
    2. choose the best way to relay the news
    3. not talk to a big crowd of people
    4. neither be too loud nor too in audible.
44. A correct statement should be released
    1. to the actual audience at the right time
    2. to anybody because it is the truth 
    3. when everybody is aware of it 
    4. only if the speaker knows the cause of the problem.
45. How should you be sure of yourself before delivering bad news?
    1. You should ensure you're not telling lies.
    2. You should be comfortably seated.
    3. You should check if you can escape if need be.
    4. You should be in control of your emotions.
46. The phrase 'let the cat out of the bag' as used in the passage means to
    1. frighten your audience with the news 
    2. behave in a strange way
    3. give the unexpected news
    4. show your audience how good you are.
47. How can the reaction of the others affect you?
    1. They may refuse to believe your statement.
    2. Their reaction could make you break down too.
    3. It may turn out to be good to some of them.
    4. Each of them may ask you questions.
48. Which of the following words mean the same as 'handle' as used in the fifth paragraph?
    1. Accommodate
    2. Hear
    3. Conclude
    4. Compare.
49. Staying with your audience for some time is good as it
    1. helps confirm that you have told the " truth
    2. attracts more people who come to hear it
    3. reminds them that it's you who gave the news
    4. it could help control their emotions.
50. The best title for this passage would be
    1. Balancing bad and good news.
    2. The quick spread of bad news. 
    3. The burden of bearing bad news.
    4. Choosing the audience for bad news. 

COMPOSITION

You have 40 minutes to write your composition.

Below is the beginning of a story. Write and complete the story making it as interesting as you can.

We were seated at home one afternoon. Then I saw a person pass through the gate, walking towards the house. The closer he came, the more I realised that .....................................................................

MARKING SCHEME