JSC English Model Question-2

SN English Center

Class: Eight

Subject: English

Time: 3 hours                                                                                                            Total Marks: 100

Part A: Reading Test (Seen Comprehension)

Read the text and answer the following questions.

Thousands of years ago, the first pearl was probably discovered while human beings were searching for food at the sea shore. Throughout history the pearl with its shine has been one of the most highly valued gems. Pearls have been mentioned many times in religious texts and mythologies from the earliest times. The ancient Egyptians valued pearls so much that they were buried with them. It is said that, the famous queen of Egypt Cleopatra would dissolve a pearl in a glass and drink it as a sign of love and respect for the entire nation. The Greeks thought the pearls as a sign of wealth and social position. The beauty of pearls was associated with love and marriage. In ancient Rome, pearls were considered the greatest sign of wealth and social status. At that time the young women of noble families loved to wear beautiful pearl necklaces. The brave knights used to wear them in the battles for good luck.

1. Guess the meaning of the following words and choose the correct meaning closest to the text. 1×7=7

a) respect -i) honor ii) dishonor iii) devour   iv) duty

b) probably-i) definitely ii) certainly iii) of course   iv) likely

c) mention-i) cite ii) site iii) sanction     iv) tension

d) shine-i) price ii) value iii) glow        iv) utility

e) The word ‘dissolve’ refers to ——.-i) solve ii) solution iii) melt    iv) break

f) The verb form of ‘beautiful’ is ——.-i) beautify ii) beauty iii) beautifully    iv) beautifier

g) Mythologies are a book of —— times.-i) ancient ii) modern iii) historical    iv) religious

2. Answer the following questions.                                                                                         2×4=08

a) Who are called the Greeks??

b) What did the Egyptians do with the dead?

c) Why did the brave knights wear pearls in battlefield?

d) Has pearl been highly valued throughout history? If yes, how?

3. Fill in the gaps with correct words.                                                                                    1×5=05

Most of these ethnic people living in Bangladesh have some common characteristics. They have their (a) —— lifestyles. They build their houses on bamboo or wooden platforms (b) —— ‘machang’. Rice is their (c) —— food. They eat vegetables, maize and fish, poultry and meat. Their kitchen utensils are bamboo, wooden and earthen pots which they (d) —— themselves. Men wear lungis and women wear thamis or sarongs and angis. Women (e) —— their own clothes.                      

Read the text and answer the questions 4 and 5:

William Shakespeare (1564 – 1616) was born at Stratford-upon-Avon in a house in Henley Street. This is preserved intact. His mother, Mary Arden, was one of the daughters of Robert Arden, a yeoman farmer of Wilmore: his father, John Shakespeare, was a Glover and wool dealer of good standing who held the office of Bailiff of the Borough in 1568. From the age of seven to about 14, he attended Stratford Grammar School receiving an excellent well-rounded education. At the age of 18 Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway, who was seven years his senior and three months pregnant. She was of ‘yeoman’ stock – her family owned a farm one mile west of Stratford in Shottery. He endured her until he could stand it no longer and fled to London to become an actor. He then became actor-manager and part-owner in the Black friars and afterwards the Globe Theatres. Shakespeare’s acting career was spent with the Lord Chamberlain’s Company, where he was a first-rate actor. The company was renamed the King’s Company in 1603 when James succeeded to the throne. Among the actors in the group was the famous Richard Burbage. The partnership acquired interests in two theatres in the Southward area of London, near the banks of the Thames – the Globe and the Black friars. Shakespeare returned to Stratford for his later years where he died at the age of 52 and now lies at rest in his special grave at Holy Trinity Church.

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

Who/ what	Event/ activity	Where/whom	When
William Shakespeare	lived with his family	Stratford	(i) ———-
He	married	(ii) ——–	1582
He	(iii) ——–		1592
He	died	(iv) ——–	1616
He	returned	Stratford	(v) ——–

5. Read the passage again and write True or False. If false, give the correct information.   1×5=5

a. William Shakespeare was born in 15th century.    

b. His grandfather Robert Arden was a sharecropper.

c. Anne Hathaway was seven years inferior to him. 

d. William Shakespeare was the predecessor of sonnet.

e. He is worldly famous for his literary work.

6. Fill in the gaps using clues from the boxes. There are more words than necessary.     0.5×10=5

books	ready	you	come	need	life
will	books	or	you	false	but

Books are men’s best friends in (a) —-. You may have many good friends (b) —- you do not find them when (c) —- need them. They may not always (d) —- to you with sympathy. Again, one (e) —- two may prove false and do (f) —- much harm. But books are always (g) —- to be by your side. Some (h) —- will make you laugh, some others (i) —- give you much pleasure. Again some (j) — will bring new knowledge and ideas. They are your real friends throughout your life.

7. Fill in the gaps with correct words.                                                                                   1×5=05

While eating food we have to (a) _____ that we should not eat just to (b) _____ hunger. We have to keep good health. For better health we need good food. Sometimes it so happens that people (c) _____ live even in the midst of plenty, do not eat the (d) _____ they need for a good health as they have no idea about health and nutrition. It happens only for (e) _____.

8. The phrases in column A are the beginnings of some sentences. The phrases in column B are the endings. Match the phrases in column A with the phrases in column B to make complete sentences. 5

Column A	Column B
a. There is difference	i. message and information.
b. Modern news deals with	ii. because it can mislead the people.
c. News means	iii. news and event.
d. News should not be false	iv. news from all sides.
e. So it means	v. a wide range of subjects.

Part C: Grammar (25 Marks)

9. Fill in the gaps used in the following text by adding suffix, prefix or both with the root words underlined in the text.                                                                                                         0.5×10=05

The (a) —- (king) of knowledge is (b) —- (limit). Any man is (c) —- (titled) to roam in the kingdom of knowledge. But all do not do so. Newton said that he was picking pebbles on the sea-shore of knowledge. It appears that (d) —- (one) does not possess the (e) —- (able) to enter the (f) —- (end) realm of knowledge. Those who make efforts (g) —- (continuous) can easily have (h) —- (enter) to that kingdom. They become (i) —- (power) with (j) —- (know).

10. Fill in the gaps of the following text with appropriate articles. Put a cross for zero article. .5×10=05

Man has no escape from (a) —– death. Sooner or later he will die. He dies in (b) —– many ways. Many die of diseases and many die by accident. Again (c) —– some die from something excessive but those who die for (d) —– country are martyrs. Many modern weapons can kill (e) —– men in (f) —– moment. Things have been discovered to keep (g) —– dead body alive for long. So, (h) —– man is called mortal. It is (i) —– meaningless effort if (j) —– man tries to escape from death.

11. Change the following sentences as directed in the brackets.                                        1×5=5  

a) Everybody prepares walking as an exercise usually in the morning. (Interrogative) b) It keeps our body fit for work. (Negative) c) So, we should never forget this thing. (Passive) d) Good health is very valuable. (Exclamatory) e) The life style of a healthy man should be followed. (Active)                            

12. Change the following passage into indirect speeches.                                                                05

“Why don’t you attend the classes ?” the teacher said to the boy . “You can not expect good results unless you attend the class as I tell you .” “I am sorry sir , I have offended you , “said the boy . “Thank you .” said the teacher .

13. Rewrite the following passage using capitalization and punctuation. 0.5×10=05 a fruit-seller said which fruits do you want to buy i have apples from australia oranges from darjelling grapes from kashmir                                            

Section B (Writing)

14. Write a dialogue between you and your friend about “Village life vs city life”                             10

15. Write an email to your friend inviting him/her to spend the summer vacation.                           10

16. Answer the following questions to write a paragraph on “A winter morning”                            10