Unseen Passage- 7 | English Grammar Class 8 PDF Download

7. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:

1. The Kohinoor meaning ‘Mountain of Light’ in Persian, is a 105 carat diamond. It was once the largest known diamond in the world. The Kohinoor was traditionally known as ‘Syamantaka-mani’ and later ‘Madnayak’ or the King of Jewels’. It was named Kohinoor in the 18th century, by Afghan Ahmed Shah Abdali .

2. The Kohinoor originated in Andhra Pradesh along with another diamond called the ‘Darya-ye Noor’-the ‘Sea of Light.’ It was found in the Kollur region of Guntur district, one of the world’s earliest diamond-producing regions. This region was the only known source of diamonds until 1730. Later, diamonds were discovered in Brazil.

Since the Kohinoor was found, it has belonged to various kings and nations. Hindus, Persians, Mughals, Rajput, Turks, Afghan, Sikh and British rulers have fought bitterly over it for many years.

The Kohinoor was seized by the East India Company and it became part of the British Crown Jewels when Queen Victoria was proclaimed Empress of India in 1877. The diamond is currently set into the crown of Queen Elizabeth and is on display at the Tower of London.

3. It is believed that the Kohinoor carries a curse which affects the men who wears it, but not women. All the men who owned it have either lost their throne or suffered other misfortunes.

I. On the basis of your reading of the passage, choose the correct option to complete each of the statements below:

(i) Where was Kohinoor found ______?
(a) Andhra Pradesh
(b) Banglore
(c) Kollur region
(d) London

Correct Answer is Option (c)

(ii) The precious diamond is presently set into the crown of ______.
(a) Moghals
(b) Rajputs
(c) East India Company
(d) Queen Elizabeth

Correct Answer is Option (d)

(iii) The Kohinoor was later known as ______.
(a) ‘Syamantaka-mani’
(b) Darya-ye Noor’
(c) Gunturi stone
(d) ‘Madnayak’

Correct Answer is Option (d)

(iv) In which year was diamond discovered in Brazil?
(a)1947
(b) 1745
(c) 1730
(d) 1877

Correct Answer is Option (c)

(v) Find the word which means the same

(a) announced ( Para -2)______

proclaimed

(vi) Answer the questions given below:

(a) What curse is the Kohinoor believed to carry?

It is believed that the Kohinoor carries a curse which affects the men who wears it, but not women. All the men who owned it have either lost their throne or suffered other misfortunes.

(b) Name the largest known diamond?

The Kohinoor

II. Unscramble the following words and phrases to make meaningful sentences and rewrite them on the lines given:

(i) Marie /and/one of them/Professor /had/Sklodovski /children/four/ was

Professor Sklodovski had four children one of them was Marie.

(ii) famous/at the /Science/Marie /wanted /to study/Sorbonne/had /but/money/no/she

Marie wanted to study Science at the famous Sorbonne but had no money.

III. Choose the word with the correct spelling:

(i) (a) Behrman
(b) Behmen
(c) Bahmmen
(d) Berhmen

Correct Answer is Option (a)

(ii) (a) magnificent
(b) magnifecint
(c) megnifecent
(d) megnifecennt

Correct Answer is Option (a)

(iii) (a) illuctrat
(b) illustrate
(c) illestrat
(d) illostrat

Correct Answer is Option (b)

(iv) (a) mastrepiece
(b) masterpiece
(c) mactrepeice
(d) masterpeice

Correct Answer is Option (b)

IV. Write the meanings of the words given below. Provide the contextual meaning where mentioned:

(i) janitor (contextual):  ______

caretaker of a building

(ii) congenial: ______

suited to each other

(iii) morbid: ______

sad, unhealthy

(iv) traversing(contextual): ______

travelling along

V. Frame a meaningful sentence of your own with the word given below:

(i) fancy: ______

I don't want a big, fancy wedding.

(ii) accomplish ______

You can accomplish anything if you believe in it.

VI. Read the extract given below carefully and answer the questions that follow:

‘In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed’

(i) Identify the phrase that the poet-speaker uses to describe his boldness.

My head is bloody, but unbowed..

(ii) What do people tend to do when caught in the ‘clutch of circumstance’?

people fall prey …not give up all hopes and become ….

(iii) Find the antonym of the word ‘smiled’ from the above extract ______

winced X ‘smiled’

(iv) Name the Poem and the poet of the above extract? ______

Invictus, William Earnest Henley

VII. Answer the following questions briefly.

(i) Who was Behrman?

fancy Painter lived in the ground floor Sue lived. He was a failure in art earned living by posing young artist who could professional models.

(ii) What did Sue do to try and keep Johnsy feeling cheerful?

Sue tried doctor had told recovery ten to one which was She did this because she remembered Johnsy to live she must have the will to live.