Final Exam Paper English - Set 2

M.M - 80
Time Allowed - 3 Hours
General Instructions:
All questions are compulsory.
The question paper is divided into three sections:

• Section A: Reading (20 Marks)
• Section B: Writing and Grammar (30 Marks)
• Section C: Literature (30 Marks)

Syllabus of Section C: The Final Exam question paper is framed from the following chapters: Paper Boats, North South East West, The Tunnel, Travel, Conquering the Summit, A Homage to Our Brave Soldiers, My Dear Soldiers, Rani Abbakka.

Section A: Reading

Q1. Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.(12 Marks)

In a tranquil mountain village cradled by towering peaks, young Arjun spent his evenings watching fireflies dance in the twilight. Their soft glow lit up the meadows, creating a magical spectacle against the starry sky. One summer, Arjun noticed their numbers dwindling, the fields dimmer than before. Pesticides from nearby farms were poisoning the streams, harming the fireflies' habitat. The breeze seemed to sigh, "I'm fading, help me." Arjun met an elderly herbalist tending her garden. "The fireflies are vanishing," she said, "because of chemicals in the water." Heartbroken, Arjun gathered his friends to restore the meadows. They planted wildflowers to attract pollinators and cleaned the streams of toxic runoff. Arjun approached the village council, explaining how fireflies signaled a healthy ecosystem, supporting plants and animals. Inspired, the council banned harmful pesticides and promoted organic farming. Volunteers monitored the streams, and children created posters to educate farmers. Arjun kept a journal, tracking firefly sightings, which became a symbol of hope. Months later, the meadows sparkled again, fireflies twinkling in abundance. The herbalist beamed, proud of Arjun's resolve. His journal, filled with glowing entries, marked the village's renewal. The once-threatened meadows now thrived, a testament to a boy's dedication to nature's light. 

(i) What drew Arjun's attention to the fireflies' plight? (1 mark)

(ii) What did the herbalist tell Arjun about the fireflies? (1 mark)

(iii) Describe what Arjun noticed about the fireflies' situation. (2 marks)

(iv) How did Arjun and the village help the fireflies, and what was the result? (2 marks)

(vi) How do fireflies benefit the ecosystem? (1 mark)

(vii) How did the fireflies show their recovery? (1 mark)

(viii) Why did the village council ban pesticides? (1 mark)

(ix) Find synonyms for the following words from the passage: (2 marks)
(a) Sigh
(b) Runoff

Q2. Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow. (8 Marks)

Animals exhibit astonishing survival strategies to thrive in challenging environments. Polar bears grow thick fur to insulate against Arctic cold. Camels store fat in humps to survive desert scarcity. Chameleons change color to blend into surroundings, evading predators. Elephants use their long trunks to reach high foliage and drink water. Cheetahs rely on unmatched speed to chase prey across savannas. These adaptations enable animals to conquer extreme climates, from icy tundras to scorching deserts. Their resilience stabilizes ecosystems, supporting biodiversity and human livelihoods. Such strategies highlight nature's brilliance in fostering life's endurance. 

(i) How do polar bears survive in the Arctic? (1 mark)
(a) By changing color
(b) By storing fat in humps
(c) By growing thick fur
(d) By using long trunks

(ii) What helps camels endure desert scarcity? (1 mark)
(a) Thick fur
(b) Fat in humps
(c) Color change
(d) Speed

(iii) Why do chameleons change color? (1 mark)
(a) For warmth
(b) To evade predators
(c) For speed
(d) To reach foliage

(iv) How do elephants use their trunks? (1 mark)
(a) To change color
(b) To store fat
(c) To reach foliage and drink
(d) To run fast

(v) What helps cheetahs catch prey? (1 mark)
(a) Speed
(b) Thick fur
(c) Color change
(d) Long trunks

(vi) The word 'thrive' means: (1 mark)
(a) Struggle
(b) Flourish
(c) Weaken
(d) Fail

(vii) The opposite of 'resilience' is: (1 mark)
(a) Strength
(b) Weakness
(c) Endurance
(d) Balance

(viii) Which word in the passage means 'brilliance'? (1 mark)
(a) Astonishing
(b) Strategies
(c) Endurance
(d) Brilliance

Section B: Writing and Grammar

Q3. You are Anjali/Ankit, Cultural Secretary of Bright Future School, Chennai. Write a notice in about 50 words to inform students of classes VI to VIII about an Inter-House Debate Competition. Include necessary details. (4 marks)

Q4. Write a letter in about 100-120 words to your friend inviting them to a school cultural event. Mention the date, time, and venue. (5 marks)

Q5. Write an article in about 120-140 words on the topic "Importance of Water Conservation." (6 marks)

Q6. Change the following sentences to passive voice. (3 marks)
(i) The gardener waters the plants.
(ii) The children are drawing pictures.
(iii) Did Anil repair the bicycle?

Q7. Fill in the blanks with the correct forms of the verbs given in brackets. (3 marks)
(i) He __ (play) cricket now.
(ii) They __ (visit) the museum last week.
(iii) __ you __ (like) to draw?

Q8. Fill in the blanks with suitable conjunctions. (3 marks)
(i) I couldn't go out __ it was snowing.
(ii) She practiced daily __ she won the race.
(iii) Hurry up __ you'll miss the train.

Q9. Fill in the blanks with suitable adverbs. (3 marks)
(i) The bird sang __ (sweet).
(ii) He works __ (careful).
(iii) They danced __ (graceful).

Q10. Fill in the blanks with suitable articles (a, an, the). (3 marks)
(i) __ eagle soared above the mountain.
(ii) __ stars twinkle at night.
(iii) She is __ kind teacher.

Section C: Literature

Q11. Answer the following questions briefly in 30-40 words. (2M x 5 = 10 marks)
(i) In "Travel," what inspires the poet to explore new horizons?
(ii) In "My Dear Soldiers," how does the speaker express gratitude to soldiers?
(iii) In "Conquering the Summit," what challenges does the climber face?
(iv) In "Paper Boats," how does the child imagine the journey of the boats?
(v) In "Rani Abbakka," what strategies does Rani use to protect her kingdom?

Q12. Answer the following question in 80-100 words. (5 marks)

In "The Tunnel," explain how Suraj overcomes his fear while walking through the tunnel. Support your answer with incidents from the lesson.
OR
In "A Homage to Our Brave Soldiers," describe how the poet portrays soldiers' sacrifices, with examples from the text.

Q13. Read the extract carefully and answer the questions that follow. (4 marks)
"My boats sail to unknown lands," said the child dreamily.
(i) Who is the speaker?
(ii) What does the speaker imagine about the boats?
(iii) From which poem is this line taken?
(iv) Name the poet.

Q14. Read the extract carefully and answer the questions that follow. (5 marks)

"The tunnel grew darker as he walked further into it."
(i) Who is referred to as 'he' in the extract? 
(ii) What change does Suraj notice as he moves forward?
(iii) From which lesson is this line taken?
(iv) What feeling does this situation create in Suraj?
(v) What does the darkness of the tunnel symbolize?

Q15. Imagine you are the climber from "Conquering the Summit." Write a diary entry in about 100-120 words describing how you felt while climbing the peak. Use the proper diary entry format. (6 marks)

You can access the solutions of this paper here.