Class 8 English Unit 14

A. Match the given words with their meanings.

a. kingdom – v. a country ruled by a king or queen

b. merchant – iv. a person whose job is to buy and sell products

c. surround – iii. to be everywhere around something

d. convince – ii. to cause someone to believe something or to do something

e. pleased – i. happy or satisfied

B. Put these sentences in the order they appear in the story.

⇒ c. The king promised to give a good amount of money to those who would find him a bride.

⇒ a. The barber would have to tackle a lot of problems finding a bride for the king.

⇒ b. Many girls wanted to be the queen, but none dared to look in the mirror.

⇒ f. Every day, the king asked about the progress.

⇒ d. The barber suggested a shepherd girl to the king.

⇒ g. The shepherd girl was present in the hall.

⇒ e. The women present in the court knew that they were cheated.

C. Read paragraphs 1–10. Write whether these sentences are True or False. If the information is not given in the text, write NG.

a. A watchman conveyed the message of the king early in the evening. – False

b. The woman’s dishonest character would be reflected in the mirror. – True

c. The girl interested in marrying the king must be in her twenties. – True

d. Many wanted to be queen but none wanted to look into the mirror. – True

e. The king found the suitable candidate at once. – False

f. Kings in other states were also facing the same problem as that of the king of Granada. – NG

D. Read paragraphs (11–16) and answer these questions.

a. What happened as soon as the shepherd girl was brought into the palace?

👉 As soon as the shepherd girl was brought into the palace, the whole kingdom filled the royal hall to see the girl.

b. How do you know the king was happy at the first sight of the girl?

👉 It is mentioned that the king was “very pleased” with the girl’s appearance when she entered the hall.

c. Was the shepherd girl really shy? How can you say so?

👉 Yes, the shepherd girl felt very shy when she entered the hall. It is mentioned she was a shepherd girl living on the mountainside.

d. What was the secret of the mirror?

👉 The secret about the mirror was that it was a trick played by the barber. Dishonesty would supposedly be reflected in the mirror, but in reality, it had no magic or power.

e. What did the other ladies realize at the end?

👉 At the end, the other ladies realized that they had been deceived. They snatched the mirror from the shepherd girl and discovered that there was no magic in it, concluding that a trick had been played on them.

E. Read these lines from the story and answer the questions.

“I am afraid I will have great trouble finding a worthy lady for the king.”

  Who is the speaker? – 👉 The barber is the speaker.

  Who is he or she speaking to? – 👉 The barber is speaking to the people who questioned him about helping the king find a wife.

“What have you got to do with helping the king find a wife?”

Who is the speaker here? – 👉 The people who questioned the barber are the speakers.

Whom does ‘you’ refer to? – 👉 ‘You’ refers to the barber.

“No ladies, you have only yourselves to thank.”

Who said this? – 👉 The king said this.

Whom did he say so? – 👉 The king said this to the ladies present in the court.

F. Recall a magic story you have read or heard. Tell your friends.

The Fisherman and His Soul by Oscar Wilde

👉 Once upon a time, there resided a humble fisherman in a small hut by the tranquil seashore. Each day, he ventured out in his trusty boat to seek his livelihood through fishing. One fateful day, his fortune took an extraordinary turn. As he cast his net, he hauled in a remarkable discovery—a large fish that possessed the ability to speak.

“Please release me,” pleaded the fish, “for I am not an ordinary creature of the sea. I am a magical fish, capable of granting you three wishes.”

Surprised by this extraordinary encounter, the fisherman agreed to set the talking fish free.

“Thank you kindly,” expressed the fish. “For your first wish, I shall bestow upon you a magical net. This remarkable net shall ensnare only the grandest and most exceptional fish dwelling in the vast sea.”

The fisherman’s heart swelled with joy as he embraced this generous gift. Returning to the sea, he employed the enchanted net to capture numerous colossal fish, rapidly amassing great wealth.

As time passed, the fisherman contemplated his second wish.

“I desire a wife of unparalleled beauty,” he declared.

Granting his request, the fish presented him with an enchanting woman who soon became his beloved wife. Together, they shared a blissful existence throughout the years.

One day, the fisherman decided to invoke his third and final wish.

“I long to unravel the enigma of the sea,” he professed.

For a brief moment, the fish remained silent, pondering his query.

“The secret of the sea lies in its perpetual transformation,” responded the fish. “From day to day, it never remains the same, which is precisely what renders it so exquisitely captivating.”

Deeply appreciative of the fish’s wisdom, the fisherman embraced the knowledge and lived contentedly ever after.

Writing I

A. Complete the story with the suitable forms of the verbs given in the brackets.

👉 One day, a lamb was eating sweet grass away from her flock of sheep. She did not notice a wolf walking nearer to her. When she saw the wolf, she started pleading, “Please, don’t eat me. My stomach is full of grass, you can wait a while to make my meat taste much better. The grass in my stomach will be digested quickly if you let me dance.” The wolf agreed. While the lamb is dancing, she had a new idea. She said, “I can dance faster if you take my bell and ring it so hard.” The wolf took the bell and started to ring it so hard. The shepherd heard the sound, ran quickly to see what had happened. And the lamb was saved.

Reading II

If I Was a Superhero

A. Solve the crossword puzzle.

Across

a special character with superhuman powers: Superhero

a tall and narrow structure: Tower

insects that produce honey: Bees

having special power to make things happen: Magical

Down

reaching out as far as possible: Outstretched

certainty, without any doubt: Sure

a kind of liquid that is said to cure illness: Potion

B. Fill in the blanks. Use information from the poem.

a. The speaker wants to fly stretching their arms.

b. The strong legs would be used to jump over the towers.

c. The oceans would be saved with magical potions.

d. The speakers would save all the trees, mountains and rivers.

e. The poor would be helped with food.

f. The world would be a better place because of the speaker.

C. If you were a superhero, what would you do? List down at least five things you want to do.

👉 If I were a superhero, I would use my powers to help people in need. I would rescue people from burning buildings, stop criminals, and help those who are struggling. I would also protect the environment by cleaning up pollution and planting trees. I would promote peace and understanding by working to resolve conflicts between people and nations. I would inspire others to do good by showing them that they can make a difference in the world. And I would have fun! Being a superhero would be an amazing experience, and I would make the most of it.

Writing II

A. Read the given news story carefully and discuss these questions.

a. What is the headline of the news story?

👉 The headline of the news story is: Nepal begins exporting cement to India

b. What is the by-line of the news story?

👉 The by-line of the news story is: By Satish Mishra

c. When is it written?

👉 The news story is written on 10th July 2021.

d. Identify the lead paragraph.

👉 The lead paragraph of the news story is:

Nepal has begun exporting cement to India. Palpa Cement, based in Sunawal-7 of Nawalparasi district, says it has begun exporting cement to India, for the first time in the country.

B. Write a news story with the help of the guidelines below.

👉 New Delhi, India (May 25, 2023) – Mohammad Irfan, a young social and political activist from Banke, Nepal, was awarded the National Youth Icon Award 2022 at a ceremony held in Delhi on May 24. The award was presented to Irfan by the Chief Minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal.

Irfan was awarded for his excellent contribution to the field of development. He started his career with USAID in Jumla, where he worked on a number of development projects. He is also a very active social and political activist for disability awareness.

In his acceptance speech, Irfan thanked the Chief Minister of Delhi and the National Youth Icon Award Committee for the award. He said that he was humbled and honored to be recognized for his work. He also said that he would continue to work hard to make a difference in the lives of young people in Nepal.

Irfan’s award is a testament to his dedication and commitment to making a difference in the world. He is an inspiration to young people everywhere, and he is a role model for what can be achieved when someone is passionate about making a difference.

Grammar II

A. Complete the sentences by choosing the correct options.

a. If you were hungry, I would give you something to eat.

b. What would you do if you were alone at your home?

c. If they had gone to bed early, they wouldn’t have been late for the bus.

d. A snake may bite you if you touch it.

e. If it rains this evening, I will stay at home.

f. Would you walk more if you had a pair of shoes?

g. Maria would have bought a watch if she had had enough money.

h. If I hadn’t climbed up the tree, I wouldn’t have fallen.

i. What would happen if the doors are closed?

B. Complete the given sentence in any way you like.

a. If I were you, I would go to the doctor.

b. If you call him, tell him I said hello.

c. I would have called your mother if I had known she was sick.

d. If you don’t brush your teeth regularly, you will get cavities.

e. If they didn’t hurry, they would miss their flight.

f. If the weather is nice, we will play golf.

g. I can help you if you need someone to talk to.