Class 8 English Unit 8

A. Underline the words in column B which are similar in meaning to the words in column

Answer 👉

● mischief – misconduct, mishap, misbehaving
● precious – valuable, expensive
● vain – useless, impossible
● happy – lively, cheerful
● hugged – embraced, cuddled

B. Use appropriate words from ‘column A’ above to complete the sentences below.

Answer 👉

● Everyone likes her. She is happy and outgoing.

● These guys are best known for causing mischief and making fun.

● That old man tried in vain to escape from prison.

● After they won the match, the players hugged their coach.

● The Mountain Museum is full of rare and precious treasures.

C. Put these sentences in the correct order.

Answer 👉

1. A pair of old shoes were lying on the road.

2. The father and son hid behind the bush.

3. The farmer found some coins inside his shoes.

4. The farmer was very happy to get the money.

5. The old farmer thanked God for everything he had got.

6. The son learnt a good lesson that day.

D. Read the story again and answer these questions.

a. What did the son want to do with the shoes?

👉 The son wanted to hide the shoes and watch the farmer’s reaction when he couldn’t find them.

b. How did the father react to his son’s proposal about hiding the shoes?

👉 The father was disappointed in his son’s proposal and told him that it was wrong to make fun of a poor person.

c. What was the farmer going to do with the money?

👉 The farmer was going to use the money to buy medicine for his sick wife and food for his starving children.

d. What would have been the farmer’s reaction if his shoes had been hidden?

👉 The farmer would have been very upset and worried. He would have had to walk home barefoot and be unable to buy medicine and food for his family.

e. What lesson did the son learn from the incident?

👉 The son learned that it is wrong to make fun of poor people and that it is better to help them. Even small acts of kindness can make a big difference in someone’s life.

E. Imagine you are the boy in the story. Retell the story in your own words.

Answer 👉

I was walking with my father one evening when we saw a pair of shoes lying on the ground. I thought it would be funny to hide the shoes and watch the farmer who owned them get confused. But my father said it was wrong to make fun of a poor person.

Instead, he suggested that we put some coins in the shoes. We did, and when the farmer came back, he was so happy. He said that the coins would help him buy medicine for his sick wife and food for his children.

I learned a valuable lesson that day: it is always better to be kind than to be cruel.

Grammar I

Choose the correct alternatives to complete the sentences.

Answer 👉

● The climate of the city remained pleasant most of the time last year.

● While they were having lunch, some guests arrived.

● Manita and Pasang were playing hide and seek at this time yesterday.

● Sonali had painted her house before she sold it.

● Susan was working all day yesterday. He is not working today.

● All the students were queuing for lunch when I reached there.

● Last year, we hadn’t celebrated any festival.

Use past simple, past continuous or past perfect forms of the verbs from the brackets to complete the sentences.

Answer 👉

● When the burglars broke into the house, I was having sound sleep.

● They were watching TV when they heard a loud bang on the door.

● Namrata had called her parents before she left for her office.

● Did you remember to call your mother last night?

● Sami called me twice yesterday but I didn’t reply to him.

● Their team scored 150 runs after they had had lunch break.

● The bus had already been there at the stop before we reached.

● Bipana was mending the roof when she fell off.

● After Alina had read a novel, she wrote its summary.

Writing I

Choose the correct phrases/sentences from the box to complete the following story.

Correct order 👉

1. A busy couple used to live in Chicago.

2. They booked a hotel room.

3. His wife was planning to meet him there.

4. He accidentally left out one letter from her email address.

5. The woman who received the email had just returned home from her husband’s funeral.

6. She screamed and fainted.

Write a story with the help of the given clues. Give it a suitable title.

Answer 👉

The Ripple of Kindness

Once upon a time, in a coastal town, a man was walking along the beach after a fierce storm. Thousands of starfish had been washed ashore. As they lay stranded, the man felt the task of helping them was too overwhelming.

Then, he saw a young girl gently picking up starfish and throwing them back into the ocean. When he asked why, she said, “If I don’t, they’ll die.” He said she couldn’t save them all, but she replied, “It sure made a difference to that one.”

Her words touched the man. He smiled and began helping her. Together, they saved many starfish, one by one. Though tired, they felt proud of making a difference.

The story spread through town and inspired others. People began helping one another, showing that even small acts of kindness can have a big impact.

Moral 👉 Each small act of kindness creates a ripple of change. Be kind. Always.

A. Complete the crossword puzzle with the words in red from the text.

Answer 👉

Across

2. wonder

6. artificial

7. realized

Down

1. foundation

2. remarkable

3. telegraphy

4. expelled

B. Match the inventions with their inventors.

Answer 👉

a. Application of Steam Engine – iv. James Watt

b. Motor car – v. Daimler

c. Electricity – i. Michael Faraday

d. Spaceship – iii. A group of scientists

e. Mobile phone – ii. Reginald Fessenden

C. Read the text again and answer these questions.

a. What incident inspired James Watt to invent the steam engine?

👉 James Watt was inspired to invent the steam engine when he observed the lid of a kettle rising due to the pressure of steam from the boiling water. He realized that the power of steam could be used to drive engines.

b. Mention a benefit of motor car compared to train.

👉 Motor cars are more convenient than trains because they are smaller and can travel on roads that are not designed for trains. Motor cars are also faster than trains over short distances.

c. Why is electricity called ‘white coal’?

👉 Electricity is called ‘white coal’ because water is used to generate it.

d. Why is a spaceship thought to be a wonder?

👉 A spaceship is thought to be a wonder because it is a type of artificial satellite which moves in space beyond the atmosphere of the Earth.

e. When was the first spacecraft launched to the moon?

👉 The first spacecraft was launched to the moon on October 4, 1957.

f. How old are mobile phones?]

👉 Mobile phones are about 100 years old. The first mobile phone was invented by Martin Cooper in 1973.

D. What modern appliances or gadgets do you use? Make a list of them and discuss how they have aided in your life.

Answer 👉

● Washing machine: It helps me do laundry quickly and easily.

● Dryer: It helps dry my clothes fast and conveniently.

● Refrigerator: It keeps my food fresh and prevents spoilage.

● Microwave oven: It allows me to cook or heat food instantly.

● Stove: It helps me cook food in multiple ways like boiling or frying.

● Heater: It keeps my room warm during cold days.

● Television: It provides entertainment and keeps me informed.

● Computer: It helps in work, study, and communication.

● Smartphone: It helps me stay connected, access information, and manage daily tasks.

● Tablet: Useful for reading, watching movies, and playing games.

● Smartwatch: Helps track fitness and receive notifications conveniently.

Grammar II

A. Use of “used to”

Answer 👉

When I was 10 years old, I used to stay with my uncle. At my uncle’s house, I used to start my tasks early in the morning. I used to go to the tap with my aunt to fetch water.

After returning from the tap, I used to do my homework. I was free to study but whenever I had free time, I used to work on the farm, too. Despite my daily chores at home, I used to work hard to be in the first position in my studies.

We used to create a lot of resources for ourselves. Therefore, we did not use to go on any excursions. All the teachers used to engage us in different practical activities which helped me a lot to become successful.

B. Rewrite the given sentences using “used to”. Use negation where necessary.

Answer 👉

a. She lived in Italy when she was five.

👉 She used to live in Italy when she was five.

b. We grew a lot of crops.

👉 We used to grow a lot of crops.

c. Did you spend much money?

👉 Did you use to spend much money?

d. There were a lot of trees in that jungle.

👉 There used to be a lot of trees in that jungle.

e. William and Fiona went to school together.

👉 William and Fiona used to go to school together.

f. The Smiths did not work much.

👉 The Smiths did not use to work much.

g. What did you do in the evenings?

👉 What did you use to do in the evenings?

h. Suhana did not help her parents.

👉 Suhana did not use to help her parents.

i. People were helpful in the past.

👉 People used to be helpful in the past.

Writing II

The Joy of Attending a Wedding Ceremony

Answer 👉

I recently attended a wedding ceremony for my cousin. The wedding was held at a beautiful outdoor venue in the mountains. The ceremony was simple and elegant, with the bride and groom exchanging vows in front of their closest friends and family.

After the ceremony, there was a reception with dancing, food, and drinks. It was a wonderful celebration of love and commitment.

I was so happy to be able to attend my cousin’s wedding. It was a special day for her and her new husband, and I was honored to be a part of it. I felt so much joy and happiness for them, and I was so proud of them for finding their soulmates.

The ceremony itself was very moving. The bride and groom spoke beautiful vows to each other, and it was clear that they were deeply in love. The officiant did a wonderful job of leading the ceremony, and he made it feel very personal and meaningful.

After the ceremony, there was a reception with dancing, food, and drinks. We all had a great time celebrating with the bride and groom. It was a wonderful way to end a perfect day.