Model Test 4 (Full): Class Eight (অষ্টম শ্রেণী) English 1st Paper

1. Choose the correct answer from the alternatives1 × 7 = 7

Read the passage and answer questions 1 & 2

Two Alaskan Kodiak bears joined a small circus where the pair appeared in a nightly parade pulling a covered wagon. The two were taught to somersault, to spin, to stand on their heads, and to dance on their hind legs, paw in paw, stepping in unison. Under a spotlight the dancing bears, a male and a female, soon became favourites of the crowd. The circus went south on a West Coast tour through Canada to California and on down into Mexico, through Panama into South America, down the Andes the length of Chile to those southernmost isles of Tierra del Fuego. There a jaguar jumped a juggler, and afterwards, mortally mauled the animal trainer; and the shocked show people disbanded in dismay and horror. In the confusion the bears went their own way. Without a master, they wandered off by themselves into the wilderness on those densely wooded, wildly windy, subantarctic islands. Utterly away from people, on an out-of-the-way uninhabited island, and in a climate they found ideal, the bears mated, thrived, multiplied, and after a number of generations populated the entire island. Indeed, after some years, descendants of the two moved out onto half a dozen adjacent islands; and seventy years later, when scientists finally found and enthusiastically studied the bears, it was discovered that all of them, to a bear, were performing splendid circus tricks. On nights when the sky is bright and the moon is full, they gather to dance. They gather the cubs and the juveniles in a circle around them. They gather out of the wind at the center of a sparkling, circular crater left by a meteorite which had fallen in a bed of chalk. Its glassy walls are chalk white, its flat floor is covered with white gravel, and it is well-drained, and dry. No vegetation grows within. When the moon rises above it, the light reflecting off the walls fills the crater with a pool of moonlight, so that it is twice as bright on the crater floor as anywhere else in that vicinity. Scientists speculate that originally the full moon had reminded the two bears of the circus spotlight, and for that reason they danced. Yet, it might be asked, what music do the descendants dance to? Paw in paw, stepping in unison what music can they possibly hear inside their heads as they dance under the full moon and the Aurora Australis, as they dance in brilliant silence?

1. (a) The two Alaskan Kodiak bears joined a small circus in
   i. New York ii. West Coast iii. South America iv. Chile
2. (b) In the nightly parade, the two bears
   i. pulled a covered wagon ii. performed tricks iii. walked around the ring iv. juggle
3. (c) The bears learnt to perform
   i. ride a bicycle ii. play musical instruments iii. jump through hoops iv. somersault, spin, stands on their heads and dance
4. (d) What did the bears do while dancing?
   i. performed acrobatics ii. played with each other iii. stood on their hind legs and dance in unison iv. paint pictures
5. (e) Which of the following describes the pair of dancing bears?
   i. a male and a female ii. two males iii. two females iv. unknown
6. (f) After leaving the West Coast, the circus travelled
   i. North to Alaska ii. South to California, Mexico iii. East to Asia iv. West to Africa
7. (g) In South America, the circus eventually reached
   i. Brazil ii. Panama iii. Chile and Tierra del Fuego iv. Colombia

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS

1. (h) What caused the circus to break up?
   i. a bear escaped ii. a bear attacked iii. disbanded of show people iv. a jaguar attacked
2. (i) What happened to the bears after the circus disbanded?
   i. they wandered into the wilderness ii. they joined another circus iii. they returned home iv. they were captured by the authorities
3. (j) After leaving the circus, the bears went
   i. into the mountains ii. into the crater iii. into a dense wooded island iv. to the city
4. (k) The bears thrived in their new environment by
   i. forming a new circus ii. mating and multiplying iii. learning new tricks iv. seeing other animals
5. (l) After several generations, the bears eventually
   i. stayed on one island ii. became extinct iii. returned to the circus iv. moved to six adjacent islands
6. (m) What happened after 70 years?
   i. the bears forgot to dance ii. scientists discovered the bears iii. the bears became extinct iv. the bears found a crater
7. (n) When the bears were found scientists discovered that
   i. the bears forgot to perform circus tricks ii. the bears became wild and nocturnal iii. the bears were on an island iv. the bears were performing circus tricks
8. (o) The bears gathered to dance
   i. at the rainy day ii. when there was heavy wind iii. when the sky was bright and the moon was full iv. at the time of choosing their mating partner
9. (p) What do the bears do during their dance?
   i. gather their cubs ii. gather their juveniles iii. make a circle with them iv. all of the above
10. (q) The bears gather to dance
    i. at a crater ii. in a cave iii. in a forest iv. on a beach

2. Answer the following questions2 × 5 = 10

Answer from the passage about the dancing bears. Write 1–2 short sentences for each.

1. (a) What role did the two Alaskan Kodiak bears play in the circus?
2. (b) How did the circus journey unfold geographically?
3. (c) What tragic event occurred in Tierra del Fuego?
4. (d) What did the bears do after the circus disbanded?
5. (e) Where did the bears settle after leaving the circus?

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS

1. (f) How did the bears adapt to their new environment?
2. (g) What discovery did scientists make about the bears seventy years later?
3. (h) What natural feature became the bears' gathering place for dancing?
4. (i) Why do scientists think the bears began dancing under the full moon?
5. (j) What unique behaviour do the bears display during full moon?

3. Fill in each gap with a suitable word1 × 5 = 5

Read the passage and answer questions 3 & 4

The farming teacher told the children to take spades and hoes from the car and started them on weeding. He told them all about weeds: how hardy they were; how some grew faster than crops and hid the sun from them; how weeds were good hiding places for bad insects; and how weeds could be a nuisance by taking all the nourishment from the soil. He taught them one thing after another. And while he talked, his hands never stopped pulling out weeds. The children did the same. Then the teacher showed them how to hoe; how to make furrows; how to spread fertilizer; and everything else you had to do to grow things in a field, explaining as he demonstrated. A little snake put its head out and very nearly bit the hand of Ta-chan, one of the older boys, but the farming teacher reassured him, "The snakes here ain't poisonous, and they won't hurt you if you don't hurt them." Besides teaching the children how to plant a field, the farming teacher told them interesting things about insects, birds, and butterflies, about the weather, and about all sorts of other things. His strong gnarled hands seemed to attest that everything he told the children, he had found out himself through experience. The children were dripping with perspiration when they had finally finished planting the field with the teacher's help. Except for a few furrows that were a bit uneven, it was an impeccable field, whichever way you looked at it. From that day onward, the children held that farmer in high esteem, and whenever they saw him, even at a distance, they would cry, "There's our farming teacher!" Whenever he had any fertilizer left he would bring it over and spread it on the children's field, and their crops grew well. Every day someone would visit the field and report to the head-master and the other children on how it was doing. The children learned to know the wonder and the joy of seeing the seeds they had planted themselves sprout. And whenever two or three of them were gathered together, talk would turn to the progress of their field. Terrible things were beginning to happen in various parts of the world. But as the children discussed their tiny field - they were still enfolded in the very heart of peace.

Type one word in each gap.

The story is about a farming (a) ____ who teaches children how to plant a field. He explains how to weed, hoe, make furrows and use fertilizer, sharing his (b) ____ about plants, insects, and nature. The teacher also reassures the (c) ____ about the harmless snake they encounter. Through (d) ____ lessons and hands-on experience, the children gain a deep respect for the teacher. As they see their crops grow, they feel a sense of accomplishment and joy. Despite the troubling events happening in the world, the children remain focused on their peaceful (e) ____ experience.

4. Write the synonym or antonym as directed1 × 5 = 5

(a) furrow (synonym): ____ (b) poisonous (antonym): ____ (c) gnarled (synonym): ____ (d) esteem (synonym): ____ (e) enfold (antonym): ____

5. Complete the table with information from the passage1 × 5 = 5

Read the passage and answer questions 5, 6 & 7

Scientists have recently reported that the polar ice caps are melting. This is due to a rise in atmospheric temperature known as the "Green house effect." According to Melvin Calvin, the carbondioxide is primarily responsible for temperature rise in atmosphere. The carbondioxide is given off when coal and oil are burned. This gas is accumulating in the atmosphere and causing temperature to rise. As a result, the ice covering the north and south poles is melting and may eventually lead to a rise in sea levels which could flood many areas of the world. Even if we take measures to stop the melting, it may take years to control the rise in sea levels. The "Green house Effect" is just one of many fundamental changes which are taking place in the environment. Tropical rain forests, which took fifty million years to grow, are being reduced at the rate of fourteen acres per minute. The total area of world's deserts is increasing every year. Many species of animals and plants are endangered with the threat of extinction. In presenting the result of "Global- 2000" Edmund Muskie says that world population growth, the degradation of the Earth's natural resources base and the spread of environmental pollution collectively threaten the existence of the inhabitants of the world. If the people of the world do not act quickly and decisively to protect the environment, this world will soon become uninhabitable.

Complete the table with information from the passage.

6. Read the statements. Write (T) if true, (F) if false. If false, write the correct answer1 × 5 = 5

Choose True or False. If you choose False, the correct statement will be shown.

1. (a) The rise in atmosphere is responsible for melting of polar ice.
   True (T) False (F)✓ This statement is True.
2. (b) Green house effect is primarily responsible for the rise in temperature.
   True (T) False (F)✓ Correct: The carbon-dioxide is primarily responsible for the rise in temperature.
3. (c) The melting of polar ice leads to a decrease in sea levels.
   True (T) False (F)✓ Correct: The melting polar ice leads a rise in sea levels.
4. (d) It is a long term process to control the rise in sea levels.
   True (T) False (F)✓ This statement is True.
5. (e) Tropical rain forest are reducing very slowly.
   True (T) False (F)✓ Correct: Tropical rain forests are being reduced at the rate of fourteen acres per minute.

7. Summarize the above text in your own words10

Write 5–7 sentences summarizing the passage about the environment.

8. Match the parts of sentences in columns A and B to make five complete sentences1 × 5 = 5

Choose the right part from Column B for each sentence in Column A.

• 26th March, 16th December, etc.
• always inspire us.
• have some glorious days.
• with due solemnity.
• some glorious and memorable days.

1. (a) Every nation must
2. (b) Our nation has also
3. (c) These days are 21st February,
4. (d) These days are observed
5. (e) These days will

9. Rearrange the following sentences in correct order1 × 8 = 8

Type 1 to 8 beside each sentence to show its place in the story.

(a) One said, "I have lost my husband". Another said, "Our youngest child dies last year." (b) A poor woman once came to Buddha. (c) The sorrowful mother went from door to door seeking the mustard seeds but at every door she met with sad replies. (d) She returned with heavy heart to the great teacher and told him the result of her great search. (e) Then Buddha told her affectionately that she must not think much of her own grief since sorrow and death are common to all. (f) The holy man was touched by the great sorrow of the woman. (g) She asked him whether he could give her any medicine to restore her dead child to life. (h) He told her to bring a handful of mustard seeds from a house where death had never entered.

10. Answer the following questions from the poems in your textbook (any 5 of 8)2 × 5 = 10

Answer any 5 of the 8 questions — the best five self-marks count. These questions are from your textbook poems, so please consult your textbook to verify your answers.

1. (a) Why does the speaker (Hason Raja) express dissatisfaction with his house?
2. (b) In the poem "The field of the embroidered quilt" why does the woman ask to place the quilt on her grave?
3. (c) Who is mentioned in the song, "Oh, They say...", and what is notable about them?
4. (d) In the poem "A Little Plant" where is the little plant sleeping?
5. (e) In the poem "Something Told the Wild Geese" what makes the geese decide to leave?
6. (f) Do you like the poem "The Children's Song"? Why?
7. (g) In the poem "Green Escape" what does the speaker hear and see in the grass?
8. (h) In the poem "Contemplation" what significance does the speaker find in his observations?

11. Read the beginning of the story. Complete it and give a suitable title10

Beginning: Sheikh Saadi was a great poet in Iran. He used to lead a very simple life. Once on his way to the court of the king of Iran he took shelter in a nobleman's house for a night. He was then in very simple dress. The nobleman could not recognize him and....

12. Write a paragraph on 'Anti-discrimination Students Movement' in 150 words10

Answer the questions: (a) What is anti-discrimination students movement? (b) How did the movement gain momentum? (c) What intensified the protest? (d) What is the ultimate outcome of this movement? (e) What does the movement symbolize?

13. Write a dialogue about an exciting cricket match10

Suppose you are Supin/Sapna and your friend is Safin/Salma. Both of you like cricket. Make a dialogue between you and your friend about an exciting cricket match.