LYCEUM INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
Monthly Test – January 2018
Subject : English Language and Literature
Class : 8 …....
Duration : 1 hour and 40 minutes Date : ........................................
Candidate's name : ........................................................... Admission no : ..........................
PART - I
1. Read about Dave, the police officer and answer the questions set on the passage.
1
I'm 46, I have two kids, whom I see once a fortnight. I live in Devon, in the south-west
of England. I'm a police officer. I've been in the police force for over twenty years. I
love my job, but my passion is surfing.
2
I work different shifts. The morning shift starts at 5.00, and I can't stand that because I
have to get up at 4.30. My favourite shift is 2.00 in the afternoon till midnight because I
get home about 12.30. What's good is that I work ten hours a day for four days, then
have three days off.
3
My job is extremely demanding and very difficult at times. But I like it because it's
challenging, and I never know what's going to happen. I like working in a team. We look
after each other and work together.
4
My work is very stressful, so I surf to get away from it all. It's just me and the sea, and
my mind goes into a trance. I concentrate so hard on what I'm doing that I don't think
about anything else.
5
I go surfing whenever I'm not working. Sometimes I'm on the beach even before 6.00 in
the morning. I go surfing all over the world. In the fall, I'm going to Costa Rica, and in
the autumn, I'm going to Thailand.
6
I've got a surf school as well. I teach all ages, from kids to pensioners. I have also opened
two shops that sell surfboards. Business is thriving. The boards I sell are made in South
Africa. They're the best.
7
Apart from that, I work as a lifeguard all day on Sunday then around 6.00 my mates
and I barbecue some fish and have a fantastic evening on the beach. So I like Sundays
the best. I've been all round the world, but when I look around me, I think there's
nowhere else I'd rather be.
contd.....to page 2
2
Grade 8 English Language & Literature contd.....from page 1
(i) Which question goes with which paragraph? Write the relevant letter in the blank space
given above each paragraph of the passage.
Questions :
a) How often do you go surfing?
b) Why do you like surfing?
c) What's your background?
d) What's your favourite day of the week?
e) What do you think of your job?
f) Do you have other income avenues?
g) What hours do you work?
(14 marks)
(ii) Answer in complete sentences, using your own words as much as possible.
a) How does he say that he prefers surfing than being a police officer?
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(2 marks)
b) He works two jobs. What are they? ---------------------------------------------------------------
(2 marks)
c) He visits his family once a "fortnight" what does a "fortnight" mean?
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(2 marks)
d) There is a contradiction (difference) when he refers to “waking up in the morning” in
paragraphs 2 and 5. Explain the contradiction.
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(3 marks)
[Total = 9 marks]
(iii) What words / phrases does Dave use to express the following?
a) His dislike of waking up early : ---------------------------------------------------------------
b) Summer : ---------------------------------------------------------------
[Total = 4 marks]
(iv) Make questions about Dave using the prompts given below.
a) How often..... children?
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b) Why.... morning shifts?
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contd.....to page 3
3
Grade 8 English Language & Literature contd.....from page 2
c) What... like about his job?
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e) …..business doing well?
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[Total = 8 marks]
PART - II
(i) Write the verbs within brackets in a suitable present tense. (prsent / present continuous).
Elephants -------------------------------------- (kill) these days in the thousands by poaches
who ------------------------------- (want) their tusks for the ivory trade. Hundreds of birds
---------------------------------- (die) during attempts to capture them and of the birds that
------------------------------- (catch), a large number ------------------------------------ (die)
during transportation. Sometimes about thousand dollars ----------------------------- (pay).
by the collectors. Public assistance ----------------------------- (need) very much to stop
these incidents.
[Total = 7 marks]
(ii) Fill in the blanks with prepositions.
a) His friend died ------------------------------- cholera.
b) He comes to school ------------------------------- foot.
c) Write ------------------------------- a pen.
d) The train was travelling ------------------------------- 100 kmph.
e) The accused was told to appear ------------------------------- the judge.
[Total = 5 marks]
PART - III
Select one of the compositions and write in 250 - 275 words.
(i) Imagine that you have been assigned by your Principal to plan three leisure activities for a
group of students who come from another school for a school project. What activities would
you plan and how?
Follow the draft given below.
Intro – purpose / the project
Body – three activities in detail (3 paragraphs) / how you can assure that the activities would be
successful.
Conclusion – Expected outcome.
contd.....to page 4
4
Grade 8 English Language & Literature contd.....from page 3
(ii) Should leisure time be used to improve the mind with reading, puzzles etc., or to relax
one self only with TV games etc.? Write a speech to deliver at the assembly discussing
both views and your own opinion at the end.
For the teacher's use only :
CONTENT - TOPIC (I) CONTENT -TOPIC (II) LANGUAGE
Coherence /2 Coherence /2 Grammar
Accuracy /3
Ability to explain and describe Ability to present all sides of an Level /2
activities and a step-by-step plan issue objectively and express a Vocabulary /3
/7 personal stance /7
Spelling /2
Creativity /3 Ability to draff a speech with
relevant features /3 Punctuation /1
TOTAL /23
PART - IV
* Answer all the questions.
Novel – The village by the sea
(Anita Desai)
(i) “The novel presents how children can mature fast when they live difficult lives.” Comment on
the above statement in light of either Lila or Hari and one other character from the book.
[Total = 15 marks]
Poem
A poison Tree
(William Blake)
(ii) Tick the correct answer.
(Recommended time for answering : 5 minutes)
(I) What do the line 1 to 4 tell the reader?
(a) The speaker's unwillingness to share his frustration with his enemy to become
angry / angers the enemy.
(b) The speaker's wishes he could tell his friend how irritated he is.
(c) The speaker's has a difficult time speaking with people.
(d) The speaker's has an increasing amount of anger towards his friend and enemy.
contd.....to page 5
5
Grade 8 English Language & Literature contd.....from page 4
(II) Which line indicates that the speaker's wrath increased over time?
(a) Night and morning with my tears.
(b) Till it bore an apple bright.
(c) I was angry with my foe.
(d) And it grew both day and night.
(III) What does the apple symbolise?
(a) The speaker's foe' s happiness and delight.
(b) The speaker's passion for gardening.
(c) The speaker's anger and resentment.
(d) The speaker's foe's curiosity.
[Total = 6 marks]
(iii) “The poem suggests that anger produces dangerous results.” Discuss. (10 – 12 lines)
These words may help you :
wrath, foe , deceitful , wiles
[Total = 9 marks]
For the teacher's use only :
PROSE POETRY
Grammar /3
/2
Vocabulary /2
Pertinence / Organisation /6 /5
Quotations / Examples /4 /2
TOTAL /15 /09
END
Ref : NK
