English Grammar and Composition chapter 16: Sample Questions and References

Sample Question

Subject: English 2nd Paper

Grade: Eight

Time: 2 hours | Marks: 50

[Marks for individual items are mentioned next to the test items]

Part A: Grammar

1. Complete the text using the words in the box as needed. 5x10=05

It was (a)____ early morning when Sarah decided to go for (b) ____ walk in the park. The sun was shining (c) ____, and the birds were chirping (d) ____. As she walked, she noticed an old man sitting (e) ____ a bench reading a newspaper. Being (f) ____, she approached him and said, "Good morning, It's such a beautiful day, isn't it?" The old man smiled and replied, "Yes, (g) ____ I enjoy coming here every morning to read and (h) ____ in the fresh air." Sarah sat beside him and they started (i) ____ about life. She realized that sometimes, a simple (j) ____ can teach us valuable lessons.

2. Make five meaningful sentences from the following substitution table. 1x5=05

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3. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verbs given in the brackets. 1x5=05

Reading a good book is one of the best ways to relax. It can also be a good material of (a)(learn) new things. A well-written book takes you to a different world, (b)(fill) with adventure and imagination. It helps (c) (improve) vocabulary, knowledge and critical thinking skills. When I read a great book, I feel completely (d)(absorb) in the story and forget everything around me. A good book is like a true friend that (e)____(stay) with you forever.

4. Rewrite the following passage in the reported speech. 1x5=05

"Have you ever seen such a beautiful sunset?" asked Sinthia as she pointed at the sky. "It looks like a painting," replied Nishat with admiration. "How quickly the colours are changing!" said Monia. "I wish we could stay here forever," said Shaily with a smile. 'Please take a picture to remember this moment,' said Nishat to Sinthia.

5. Change the following sentences as directed in brackets. 1x5=05

(a) The cake was baked by my grandmother for the party.( Make it Active)

(b) It was the most delicious dessert I had ever tasted. ( Make it Positive)

(c) Unfortunately, not everyone got a slice because it was gone too quickly. (Make it Affirmative)

(d) Please save a piece for me next time.( Make it Assertive)

(e) It was a very incredible treat.( Make it Exclamatory)

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6. Use appropriate punctuation marks and capital letters where necessary.

5x10=05

Dhrubo rushed into the room and shouted guess what I won the competition his sister clapped excitedly and said thats amazing tell me everything.

Part B: Writing

7. Suppose, you are Anil/Anila and your friend's name is Sadi/Sadia. Now, write an email to your friend advising him/her to make at least one Technology-Free day in a week. 08

8. Write a short composition on "A Dream Place That You Want to Visit" in 250 words. 12

Probable Answers

a) an b) a c) brightly d) happily e) on f) curious g) indeed h) relax i) talking j) conversation

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a) Good friends share laughter, secrets, and unforgettable memories. b) Real friends stand by your side, even in difficult times. c) Trust and honesty make the foundation of a strong friendship. d) Friendship is a precious bond that brings joy and support. e) A true friend always makes every moment special and meaningful.

a) learning b) filled c) improve d) absorbed e) stays

4. Sinthia asked if they had ever seen such a beautiful sunset as she pointed at the sky. Nishat replied with admiration that it looked like a painting. Monia exclaimed that the colours were changing so quickly. Shaily with a smile wished that they could stay there forever. Nishat requested Sinthia to take a picture to remember that moment.

a) My grandmother baked the cake for the party. b) No other dessert I had ever tasted was as delicious as it. c) Unfortunately, some people missed a slice because it was gone too quickly. d) You should save a piece for me next time./You are requested to save a piece for me next e) What an incredible treat it was!

6. Dhrubo rushed into the room and shouted, "Guess what? I won the competition!" His sister clapped excitedly and said, "That's amazing! Tell me everything."

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Guidelines for question setters and markers for English

1. Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ)

MCQ can be set for testing a number of strategies and skills related to reading such as scanning, skimming, reading for gist, inferencing (guessing the meaning from the context) comprehension check etc. Each MCQ item will carry ½ mark. However, depending on the level of difficulty some items may have 1 mark as well.

In preparing MCQ item, question setters will make sure that learners have to apply certain skills or strategies of reading in order to be able to choose the right options. Depending on the level of the learners, items will be set to test learners' lower order thinking skills (knowing and understanding) as well as higher order and more critical thinking (analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating). Use synonyms in the questions to avoid quoting directly from the original passage. Make the questions a bit round about so that learners think.

For example :

Text : The Great Wall of China, one of the greatest wonders of the world, was first built between 220-206 BC.

Question : When was the Great Wall first built? (Don't make this type of question. Student will just get the answer from the question paper as 'was born' is common in both the text in the question paper and the answer.)

Question : What is the initial construction period of the Great Wall? (This question is Okay as learners has to understand that 'was built' and 'construction period' are same.)

Students will write the question number and then write only a/b/c/d that refers to the correct answer. Whole sentence from the question paper is not required.

The same text can be used for guessing the meaning from the context and Question Answer (open ended and close ended). However, the same text cannot be used for Question-Answer and True/False. Depending on difficulty level and text length, information transfer and True/False questions can be set from the same text or from two different texts. Two different texts are preferred to a single text.

Please note the following points while setting MCQ test items :

• Phrase stems as clearly as possible. Confusing questions can generate wrong answers from students who do understand the material.

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• Avoid redundant words and phrases in the stem. Extraneous details make a question more complex and less reliable.

• Include any language in the stem that you would have to repeat in each answer option.

• Options should be similar in length and structure.

• The number of answer options should not be more than four.

• Distracters must be incorrect, but plausible. Try to include among the distracters options that contain common errors.

• To make distracters more plausible, use words that is familiar to students.

• If a recognizable key word appears in the correct answer, it should appear in some or all of the distracters as well. Don't let a verbal clue decrease the validity of your exam.

• Avoid using extreme or vague words in the answers. Use rarely extreme words like all, always and never or vague words or phrases like usually, typically and may be in the answers.

• Avoid using All of the above or None of the above as an answer choice.

In designing MCQs the following class wise guidelines have to be followed.

MCQ for grades 6 and 7

Altogether 10 MCQs will be set. Each MCQ will have ½ mark (or half mark) for a correct answer. There should be 6 MCQs on vocabulary test (guessing meaning from the context) and 4 MCQs on answering questions (scanning for specific information, search reading, deducing the meaning of unfamiliar words). Thus the marks distribution will be:

Vocabulary ½ X 6 = 3

Questions ½ X 4 = 2

Total = 5

MCQ for grade 8

As given in NCTB Sample Question.

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MCQ for grades 9-10

Altogether 7 MCQs will be set. Each MCQ will have 1 mark for a correct answer. There will be 2 MCQs on vocabulary test (guessing meaning from the context and inferencing) and 5 MCQs on answering questions (skimming, reading for main ideas and supporting details, reading to infer meaning). Thus the marks distribution will be:

Vocabulary 1X2 = 2

Questions 1X5 = 5

Total = 7