Summer Vacation Holiday Homework

Class VIII
English
Name: ________________________ Class & Section ____
Answer the following questions on the worksheet itself:

Q 1. Read the following story and answer the questions as given below:

There once was a King whose son was a dishonest telltale. This Prince would threaten to punish the
servants if they ever let the King know this.
One day, the King and the Prince left the castle together. They arrived at a village, at which point they
separated. The Prince went back to his normal behaviour, getting on everyone's nerves, but the King
returned unannounced and caught the Prince red-handed, up to his tricks.
The Prince took advantage of the fact that in that village there was a youth who looked just like him. He
told his father that it had been the youth who had done all these bad things. However, the King, seeing
what a lying snitch this person was, concluded that the boy in the village must be his real son, the Prince.
So the King took the boy back with him to the palace, and left the real Prince in the village. While there,
the Prince finally came to regret his previous life filled with lies and accusations. The other young man
heard of this, and decided to forgive the Prince. He confessed to the King that he wasn't his real son
after all. The King left the castle and brought his son home, and the two young men ended up as
inseparable friends.
Once upon a time all the spirits set about building two palaces; a palace of truth, and a palace of
lies. Every time a child told the truth, a brick was created for the palace of truth. The spirits of truth
would then take it and add it to the growing walls.
In just the same way was the palace of lies built. Each brick was created when a child told a lie. Both
palaces were impressive - the best in the world - and each group of spirits worked hard to try to make
sure that their own palace was the best. So much so that the lying spirits, who were much more tricky
and deceitful, sent a group of spirits to the world to get children to tell more and more lies. These spirits
were successful, and started getting many more bricks. As a result, their palace became bigger and more
spectacular.
But one day, something strange happened in the palace of lies. One of the bricks turned into a cardboard
box. A little later another brick turned into sand, and then another turned into glass, and smashed. And
so, little by little, it became clear that whenever a lie was discovered, the brick that it had created
changed its form, was crushed, and finally disappeared. In this way, the palace of lies became weaker
and weaker, and in the end it completely fell to pieces.
At this, everyone, including the lying spirits, understood that you cannot use lies for anything. They are
never what they appear to be, and so you never know what they will turn into.
 1. Answer the following questions in one sentence only:
a) How did the prince threaten others?
_______________________________________________________
b) What made the Prince regret finally?
________________________________________________________
c) What message do you get from the story?
________________________________________________

Q 2. Match the idioms with their meanings:

 Here are some common idiomatic expressions in English.
1. Mean business 1. If something is a means to an end it is not valued in
2. Mean well itself but is useful in achieving an aim.
3. A means to an end 2. When you have the measure of someone, you
4. Have the measure of understand their character or abilities.
5. Mention someone in your will 3. When you mean well, you have good intentions, but
6. Mess something up you don’t always manage to carry them out.
7. Mill about 4. To mention someone in your will is to leave a legacy to
8. Not mince words them.
9. Be in two minds 5. When you mean business, you are serious.
10. Out of your mind 6. To mess something up is to handle it badly.
7. To mill about is to move about in a confused mass.
8. When you don’t mince words you speak plainly.
9. When you are in two minds, you are unable to decide
between alternatives.
10. When you are out of your mind, you are not thinking
sensibly.

Q 3. Below given is a quiz on earthquake. Choose the correct answer:

1. If you are INSIDE when the shaking from an earthquake begins, you should:
a) Run outside immediately.
 b) DUCK, COVER and HOLD ON! Duck or drop down to the floor.
c) Call your friends and relatives as soon as possible to find out if they are OK.

2. If you are OUTSIDE when the shaking from an earthquake begins, you should:
a) Move into an open area away from trees, buildings, signs, utility poles and wires.
b) Run inside the nearest building.
c) Find a tree or something sturdy to grab on to.

3. Which state in the United States has the most earthquakes?

a) Alaska
b) California
c) BOTH of the above; Alaska and California.

4. If you are at risk from earthquakes, what can you do to prepare for an earthquake?
a) Choose a safe place in every room in your home, such as under a sturdy table or desk.
b) Develop a Family Disaster Plan.
c) BOTH of the above; choose a safe place and develop a Family Disaster Plan.

5. Where do most earthquakes occur?

a) Along the boundaries of the Earth's crustal plates.
b) On the continent of Antarctica.
c) On the equator.

Q 4. DIVIDED SYLLABLES: 5) GRAMMAR :

A . gram–mar B . gr–ammar C . gramm–ar D .
DIRECTIONS: Find the word that has been gra–mmar
6) EATEN:
divided into syllables correctly, i.e. find the
A . ea–ten B. . eat–en C . e–aten D . eate–n
correct pronunciation of the given words. 7) DAYDREAM:
A . daydr–eam B . day–dream C . da–ydream D
Example: . d–aydream
TEACHER : 8) HAPPY:
Teacher sounds like tea–cher. A . ha–ppy B. happ–y C. .hap–py D . h–appy
A. . t–eacher B. . tea–cher C. . teach–er D. . te– 9) CAPTAIN :
acher A . capt–ain B . ca–ptain C. cap–tain D. captai–
1) LADDER: n
A . l–adder B . la–dder C . lad–der D . ladd–er 10) DISEASE :
2) FANCY: A . dis–ease B . disea–se C . di–sease D .
A . f–ancy B. . fan–cy C. . fa–ncy D. . fanc–y diseas–e
3) GIANT:
A . gian–t B . gia–nt C . gi–ant D . g–iant
4) ARRIVE :
A . a–rrive B . ar–rive C . arr–ive D . arriv–e

Q 5. Read the following incident of India’s freedom movement and read along:
 Dandi March And the Civil Disobedience Movement
Following the rejection of the recommendations of the Simon Commission by Indians, an all-party
conference was held at Bombay in May 1928. The conference appointed a drafting committee under
Motilal Nehru to draw up a constitution for India. The Calcutta session of the Indian National Congress
asked the British government to accord dominion status to India by December 1929, or a countrywide
civil disobedience movement would be launched. The Indian National Congress, at its historic Lahore
session in December 1929, under the presidency of Jawaharlal Nehru, adopted a resolution to gain
complete independence from the British. It authorised the Working Committee to launch a civil
disobedience movement throughout the country. It was decided that 26 January 1930 should be
observed all over India as the Purna Swaraj (complete independence) Day. Many Indian political parties
and Indian revolutionaries of a wide spectrum united to observe the day with honor and pride.Gandhi
emerged from his long seclusion by undertaking his most famous campaign, a march of about 400
kilometers from his commune in Ahmedabad to Dandi, on the coast of Gujarat between 12 March and 6
April 1930. The march is usually known as the Dandi March or the Salt Satyagraha. At Dandi, in protest
against British taxes on salt, he and thousands of followers broke the law by making their own salt from
sea water.In March of 1931, the Gandhi-Irwin Pact was signed, and the government agreed to set all
political prisoners free. In return, Gandhi agreed to discontinue the civil disobedience movement and
participate as the sole representative of the Congress in the second Round Table Conference, which was
held in London in September 1931. However, the conference ended in failure in December 1931. Gandhi
returned to India and decided to resume the civil disobedience movement in January 1932.
1. Answer the following questions orally in only one sentence:
a) Why was an all-party conference was held at Bombay?
_____________________________________________________________________
b) When was a resolution to gain complete independence from the British adopted?
_____________________________________________________________________
c) When was the Gandhi-Irwin Pact signed ?
_____________________________________________________________________
2. Find words from the passage which mean the same as :
a) the state of being private and away from other people ( para 2)
b) carry on ( para 3)

Q 6. Multiple Choice Questions - Freedom Fighters

1. Who of the following was considered by the British to be The Father of Indian Unrest?
a. Gopal Krishna Gokhale
b. LokmanyaTilak
c. LalaLajpat Rai
d. Madan Mohan Malaviya
2. Who succeeded Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel as the 2nd Home minister of India?
a. AbulKalam Azad
b. Madan Mohan Malaviya
c. C Rajagopalachari
d. None of the above
3. Gyan PrasarakMandali, an organization dedicated to the education of the adult was formed by –
a. G K Gokhale
b. M MMalviya
c. DadabhaiNaoroji
d. LokmanyaTilak
4. In which language was Kesari, a newspaper started by Bal GangadharTilak published?
a. Marathi
b. Hindi
c. English
d. Both (B) and (C)
5. Hitavada, the newspaper started by Gopal Krishna Gokhale in 1911 was initially published from –
a. Mumbai
b. Pune
c. Sholapur
d. Nagpur
6. Do or Die was one of the most powerful slogans of India’s freedom struggle. Who gave it?
a. Gandhiji
b. J. L. Nehru
c. Bal GangadharTilak
d. Subhash Chandra Bose
7. Dadabhai Naoroji was the first Indian to be appointed as a Professor at Elphinstone College in
a. Mumbai
b. London
c. Delhi
d. Stuttgart

8. Who founded the Deccan Education Society to impart teachings about India culture to India’s
youth?
a. DadabhaiNaoroji
b. LokmanyaTilak
c. Motilal Nehru
d. C Rajagopalachari
9. Which of the following newspapers was started by Motilal Nehru in 1919?
a. Voice of India
b. The Leader
c. Young India
d. Independent
10. Three of the following were awarded the Bharat Ratna in the same year. Who was awarded much
later?
a. C Rajagopalachari
b. S Radhakrishnan
c. AbulKalam Azad
d. CV Raman

Q 7. Read the following fable and answer the questions as given below:
Kharanakhara was a lion who ruled over a certain part of a jungle. 
 One day, he could not prey upon a single animal after wandering around the jungle in search of food. It
was almost sunset, and the lion started returning in spite of being very hungry. 
 On his way, he saw a big cave, and thought to himself, "It is for sure that some animal must be living in
this big cave. Such a nice cave cannot be un-inhabitated. At sunset, whatever animal lives here is bound
to return. I shall hide inside the cave and wait for my dinner to arrive." 
 The cave was the home to a jackal, who arrived a while after the lion had hidden himself inside. While
entering he noticed the footprints of the lion leading into the cave, but could not find any footprint
coming out. 
 He thought, "If a lion is indeed entered, I will be dead as soon as I enter. But, how can I be sure? There is
no reason for me to stay away from my home if there is no lion inside. I must find out a way to confirm if
the lion is still inside." 
 The jackal thought of a plan, and standing in front of the cave, began to shout, "Hello Cave! Hello Cave!
Can I come inside?" 
 For some moment, he waited in silence and shouted again, "Hello Cave! Have you forgotten our
understanding of all these years? I always wait for your reply before I enter. Why are you silent today? I
shall then go to some other cave if you do not reply." 
 On hearing this, the lion thought, "The cave must reply to the jackal when he returns at sunset. It is
because I am inside that the cave is not replying today. I must invite on behalf of the cave, or the jackal
will go away." 
 So, the lion replied from inside the cave, "Hello Jackal, you may enter. It is safe inside." 

 The reply was even more frightening due to the echo from the walls of the cave. The jackal at once
knew that the lion was waiting for him to enter and make a meal out of him. He ran off, as fast as he
could and saved himself. 
 The wise indeed say:Use your tactics to protect yourself from destruction.

 Multiple choice questions

1. The Lion started back as
a) He got the food
b) It was getting dark
c) He wanted better food in dark
2. The cave was the home of the
a) Lion
b) Jackal
c) Hyena
3. The lion replied to the Jackal because
a) He thought cave had a habit of replying
b) He was scared of the Jackal
c) He wanted the eat the Jackal
 Answer the following questions in one sentence only :
1. Why did the lion hide into the cave ?
_____________________________________________________________________________
 2. How the Jackal did made the Lion to speak?
_____________________________________________________________________________
3. What is the message given the story ?
______________________________________________________________________________

Q 8. Write any a short paragraph of 3-4 sentences on each of the following pictures:

1. :______________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

2. : ___________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

3. : _________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Q 9. Read the following poem and answer the questions that follow:

Those were moments indeed very opaque

In my office room beside the green lake
Although I felt an uneasy headache
Yet I was engaged at the leave or take
With a flood of words like ladder and snake
For the funny monorhyme contest’s sake
It was then that arrived the ghostly shake
On the chair of mine of fibre glass make
My boss yelled, “What are you doing, please wake
We are into a terrible earthquake”
Quickly I ran out in a speed breakneck
Grudgingly ignoring the coffee break
1. Fill in the blanks using one word/ Phrase only:
a) The poem is about ___________________
b) Earthquake has been called in the poem as _________________
c) The poet ran out at _______________ speed.
2. Find the words from the passage which mean the same as:
a) Involved
b) Shouted:
c) Complaining

Q 10. Look at the following picture and describe the scene of a railway platform. Take help from the
clues given:

(Hint:
 Can you identify a porter in the picture?
 Can you identify a ticket checker?
 Can you see the people sitting in the train?
 Can you see a man who has got down from the train?
 Can you see some people sitting on the bench waiting for their train?)

Write your answers here:

Q 11. Writing a story – plan a story by filling words according to the instructions given.
 Title: ……………………

Opening – write about your characters and the setting. Set the mood.

Build up – here write about some events that happen, the characters are going to do
something to lead up to the problem.

Dilemma (Problem) – something goes wrong. It could be a mystery, a fight. Is it something

terrible, is it a problem?

Resolution – now the problem is sorted out in some way. Everything is made right.

Ending – Think about what has happened. What has been learnt? How have

characters changed?

Now, write the complete story here.