2016 maths question paper

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Ch 1 The Best Christmas Present in the World Honeydew class 8th CBSE= NCERT SOLUTIONS

Q-What did the author find in a junk shop?

Answer-

The author found a very old 19th century roll-top desk in a junk shop. It was made of oak. It was in a very bad condition. The roll-top was broken into several pieces. One of the legs was clumsily mended and there were scorch marks down one side.

Q-What did he find in a secret drawer? Who do you think had put it in there?

Answer

In a secret drawer of a roll-top desk, the author found a small tin box. There was a piece of lined note paper sello-taped to its top. It had, ‘Jim’s last letter, received January 25, 1915. To be buried with me when the time comes” written on it.
Most likely, it was put there by Mrs. Jim Macpherson, who was Jim’s wife. Her name and address were on the envelope inside the box.


Q-Who had written the letter, to whom, and when?

Answer

Jim Macpherson had written the letter to his wife Connie Macpherson on December 26, 1914.

Q-Why was the letter written-what was the wonderful thing that had happened?

Answer

Jim wrote the letter to tell his wife about a wonderful thing that had happened on Christmas day. The British and the Germans were engaged in a war, yet on this day, both the troops met in no man's land. It was a thing of wonder because right in the middle of a war, the warring soldiers were making peace.

Q-What jobs did Hans Wolf and Jim Macpherson have when they were not soldiers?

Answer

Hans Wolf was from Dusseldorf. He played the cello in the orchestra. Jim Macpherson was a school teacher from Dorset.

Q-Had Hans Wolf even been to Dorset? Why did he say he knew it?

Answer

No, Hans Wolf had never been to Dorset. He had learned all about England from school and from reading books in English.

Q-Do you think Jim Macpherson came back from the war? How do you know this?

Answer

No, it is most likely that Jim Macpherson did not come back from the war.

In the sellotaped notepaper it was written that the letter was Jim’s last letter. Connie Macpherson did not receive any more letters from him. It indicates Jim Macpherson’s demise. The incident took place around the earlier part of the World war I in which the Germans had been victorious which implies the defeat of the British and the demise of Jim Macpherson. 

Q-Why did the author go to Bridport?

Answer

The author went to Bridport because that was the address where Mrs. Macpherson lived. The address on the letter read “Mrs Jim Macpherson, 12 Copper Beeches, Bridport, and Dorset. He wanted to give that letter back to her.

Q-How old was Mrs. Macpherson now? Where was she?

Answer

Mrs. Macpherson was a hundred and one year old. She was in a nursing home in Burlington house, on the Dorchester road, on the other side of town.


Q-Who did Connie Macpherson think her visitor was?

Answer

Connie Macpherson thought that her visitor was her husband, Jim.

Q-Which sentence in the text shows that the visitor did not try to hide his identity?

Answer

The sentence which shows that the visitor did not try to hide his identity is, 'I explained about the desk, about how I had found it, but I don't think she was listening.'

Working with Text

Q-For how long do you think Connie had kept Jim's letter? Give reasons for your answer.

Answer

Connie must have kept Jim's letter for a long time. This is because she told the narrator how she read it quite often every day so that she could feel that Jim was near her.
2. Why do you think the desk had been sold, and when?

Q-Why do you think the desk had been sold, and when?

Answer

The desk must have been sold when the house in which Connie Macpherson lived had caught fire. She was taken to a nursing home. All the burnt up things must have been sold after that.

Q-Why do Jim and Hans think that games or sports are good ways of resolving conflicts? Do you agree?

Answer

Jim and Hans thought that games or sports are good ways of resolving conflicts because nobody dies in matches. No children are orphaned and no wives become widows.
Due to these reasons, games are good ways for resolving conflicts. Wars only lead to death and devastation.

 Q-Do you think the soldiers of the two armies are like each other, or different from each other? Find evidence form the story to support your answer.

Answer

The soldiers of the two armies were like each other. Below are some instances from the story to prove:

·         Both the armies celebrated Christmas

·         Both the armies shared their food and spent time together in smoking, laughing, talking, drinking and eating.

·         They played a football match and agreed that conflicts and disputes may be resolved by football match

·         They agreed about the negative aspects of war and longed peace.

·         They exchanged carols and hoped to unite with the families again.

Q- Mention the various ways in which the British and the German soldiers become friends and find things in common at Christmas.

Answer

The British and the German troops celebrated Christmas with each other. They enjoyed each other's food. All of them were smoking, laughing, talking, drinking and eating. Hans Wolf and Jim Macpherson shared the cake Connie had baked. They talked about Bathsheba, Gabriel Oak, Sergeant Troy and Dorset. They even talked about the books they liked. They agreed about everything. Both the troops played a game of football for which both Hans and Jim cheered, clapped hands and stamped feet. They also exchanged carols at night. In this way, they celebrated Christmas together, finding a lot in common between them.

Q- What is Connie’s Christmas present? Why is it “the best Christmas present in the world?

Answer

When the narrator came to see Connie and gave her the box, she mistook him for her husband Jim. She thought that Jim had come home for Christmas. This was Connie's Christmas present. It was the best Christmas present in the world for her because Jim had written in the letter that he would come home on Christmas. She had read that letter several times everyday to feel that he was near her. Now that he was finally there with her, she was extremely happy.

Q-Do you think the title of this story is suitable for it? Can you think of any other title(s)?

Answer

Yes, the title of the story is suitable for it. The spirit of Christmas is the theme that prevails throughout the story. The message of Christmas peace and good will to all is brought out so clearly through the story. It was on a Christmas day, in the middle of a raging war, that two warring troops made peace. The moment of peace that the soldiers shared with each other was the best Christmas present for them. Again, it was on a Christmas day that the narrator went to see Mrs Macpherson. He went to return her husband’s letters to her. The letter was precious to her, but even more precious was her delusion that the narrator was her husband Jim, who she believed had returned as promised on a Christmas day. This was the best Christmas present in the world for her.

Suitable titles could be “A Christmas wish comes true!”, “Someday at Christmas…””The Christmas Message”.



Q-Working with Language

1. (i) Read the passage below and underline the verbs in the past tense.
A man got on the train and sat down. The compartment was empty except for one lady. She took her gloves off. A few hours later the police arrested the man. They held him for 24 hours and then freed him.

(ii) Fill in the blanks using the correct form of the verbs in brackets.
My little sister is very naughty. When she________(come) back from school yesterday, she had_______(tear) her dress. We________(ask) her how it had____(happen).She______(say) she________(have,quarrel) with a boy. She________(have, beat) him in a race and he _____(have, try) to push her. She_______(have, tell) the teacher and so he_______(have, chase) her, and she_________ ________(have, fall) down and______(have, tear) her dress.

(iii) Underline the verbs and arrange them in two columns, Past and Earlier past.
(a) My friends set out to see the caves in the next town, but I stayed at home, because I had seen them already.
(b) When they arrived at the station, their train had left. They came back home, but by that time I had gone out to see a movie!
(c) So they sat outside and ate the lunch I had packed for them.
(d) By the time I returned, they had fallen asleep!

 Answer

(i) A man got on the train and sat down. The compartment was empty except for one lady. She took her gloves off. A few hours later the police arrested the man. They held him for 24 hours and then freed him.

(ii) My little sister is very naughty. When she came (come) back from school yesterday, she had torn (tear) her dress. We asked (ask) her how it had happened (happen). She said (say) she had quarrelled (have, quarrel) with a boy. She had beaten (have, beat) him in a race and he had tried (have, try) to push her. She had told (have, tell) the teacher and so he had chased (have, chase) her, and she had fallen (have, fall) down and had torn (have, tear) her dress.

(iii) (a)My friends set out to see the caves in the next town, but I stayed at home, because I had seen them already.

(b)When they arrived at the station, their train had left. They came back home, but by that time I had gone out to see a movie!

(c)So they sat outside and ate the lunch I had packed for them.

(d)By the time I returned, they had fallen asleep!

Past	Earlier past
set out	had seen
stayed	had left
arrived	had gone
came	had packed
sat	had fallen
ate
returned

Q-. Find these phrasal verbs in the story.

burn out

light up

look on

run out

keep out

Write down the sentences in which they occur, consult a dictionary and write down the meaning that you think matches the meaning of the phrasal verb in the sentence.

Answer

(i) burn out
House number 12 turned out to be nothing but a burned-outshell, the roof gaping, the windows boarded-up.

(ii) light up
That was the moment her eyes lit up with recognition and her face became suffused with a sudden glow of happiness.

(iii) look on
Hans Wolf and I looked on and cheered, clapping our hands and stamping our feet, to keep out the cold as much as anything.

(iv) run out
The time came, and all too soon, when the game was finished, the schnapps and the rum and the sausage had long since run out, and we knew it was all over.

(v) keep out
Hans Wolf and I looked on and cheered, clapping our hands and stamping our feet, to keep out the cold as much as anything.

Q-The table below contains a list of nouns and some adjectives. Use as many adjectives as you can to describe each noun. You might come up with some funny descriptions!

Noun	Adjective
elephant	circular, striped, enormous, multicoloured, round, cheerful, wild, blue, red, chubby, large, medium-sized, cold
face
building
water

Answer

Noun	Adjective
elephant	enormous, cheerful, wild, large, medium-sized,
face	round, cheerful, chubby
building	multi-coloured, blue, red, large, medium-sized
water	blue, cold

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प्राकृतिक आपदाओं

 पर्यावरण आज एक चर्चित और महत्वपूर्ण विषय है जिस पर पिछले दो-तीन दशकों से काफी बातें हो रहीं हैं और काफी चिंता भी काफी व्यक्त की जा रही है लेकिन पर्यावरणीय असंतुलन अथवा बिगाड़ को कम करने की कोशिशें उतनी प्रभावपूर्ण नहीं हैं, जितनी  आवश्यक हैं। पर्यावरण के असंतुलन के दो मुख्य कारण हैं। एक है बढ़ती जनसंख्या और दूसरा बढ़ती मानवीय आवश्यकताएं तथा उपभोक्तावृत्ति। इन दोनों का असर प्राकृतिक संसाधनों पर पड़ता है । पेड़ों के कटने, भूमि के खनन, जल के दुरुपयोग और वायु मंडल के प्रदूषण ने पर्यावरण को गंभीर खतरा पैदा किया है। इससे प्राकृतिक आपदाएं भी बढ़ी हैं। पेड़ों के कटने उसकी मिट्टी को बांधे रखने, वर्षा से मिट्टी को बचाने, हवा को शुद्ध करने और वर्षा जल को भूमि में रिसाने की शक्ति लगातार क्षीण हो रही है। इसी का परिणाम है कि भूस्खलन और भूमि का कटाव बढ़ रहा है जिससे मिट्टी अनियंत्रित होकर बह रही है। इससे पहाड़ों और ऊँचाई वाले इलाकों की उर्वरता समाप्त हो रही है ।  दुनिया के अनेक भागों में भूकम्प के झटकों ने जन-जीवन में भारी तबाही मचाई है। 1998 में उत्तराखंड में भूस्खलनों की भी व्यापक विनाश-लीला रही। यह सही है कि प्राकृतिक आपदाओं को हम पूरी तरह रोकने में समर्थ नहीं हैं किंतु उन्हें उत्तेजित करने एवं बढ़ाने में निश्चित ही हमारी भागीदारी रही है। क्षेत्रों में स्थाई विकास की योजनाओं को प्राथमिकता दी जानी चाहिए। उस क्षेत्र की धरती, पेड़, वनस्पति, जल, जानवरों को बचाना चाहिए। यह भी जरुरी है कि ऐसे नाजुक क्षेत्रों में आपदाओं के बारे में सूचनाओं का बिना रोक-टोक आदान-प्रदान किया जाना चाहिए। प्राकृतिक आपदाओं से संबंधित संवेदनशील क्षेत्रों को चिन्हित किया जाना चाहिए।

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ONE WORD/ ONE SENTENCE- CIVICS

ONE WORD OR SENTENCE

Ques-In which year the environment( protection act) act was passed?

Ans- 1986

Ques-What does Article 15 of Indian constituents forbids?

Ans-The practice of untouchablity.

Ques-Who introduced  Hindu Child marriage act was introduced?

Ans-Rai sahib harbilas sarda.

Ques-Who wrote Annandmath/ writer of Annandmath?

Ans-Bankim Chandra.

Ques-Who launched civil disobedience movement was launched?

Ans-Mahatma Gandhi

Ques-What is known as Manchester of India?

Ans-Osaka

 Ques-What is known as golden fiber?

Ans-Cotton.

Ques-Viticulture is a cultivation of what?

Ans-Grapes

Ques-Name the project launched by government in 2002 to supply clean water to rural area….. most important question…

Ans-Swajaldhara project

Ques-Name the hillstations developed by the British?

Ans-Kashmir, Darjeeling

Ques-Name the term used for the ratio of number of economically non active people to number of economically active people?

Ans-Dependency ratio

Ques- What for factories act launched for?

Ans-To set the standard of safety.

Ques-Why labour is cheaper in developing countries?

Ans-Because of shortage of jobs.

Ques-The constitution grants the right to life in which article?

Ans-Article 21

Ques- A   special tax for funding a particular service?

Ans-Cess

Ques-Privatization of public facilities often leads to greater?

Ans-Efficiency

Ques-The most ancient inhabitants of our country?

Ans-Adivasis

Ques-The sachar committee recommended reservation for which community?

Ans-Muslim community

Ques-Which commission proposed the reservation of 27% seats and jobs for OBC?

Ans-Mandal commission

Ques-Name one dalit activist?

Ans-C K Janu

Ques-For whom the reservation policy of 15% of government jobs are for?

Ans-STs and  SCs

Ques-Tribals are allowed to use and sell forest products under which act?

Ans-Forest rights act.

Ques-Taking away the land of member of SCs/STs is punishable under which act?

Ans-Scheduled castes and scheduled tribes act

Ques-The practice of untouchablity is punishable under which act?

Ans-Civil rights act.

Ques-The influencial or generally accepted group is called?

Ans-Main stream

Ques-What is called- work without wages?

Ans-Slave labour

  Ques-Small group that are different fro majority in race, religion are called?

Ans-Minorities

Ques-The lowest caste who were considered untouchable under the caste system?

Ans-Dalit

Ques-Set out the maximum punishment that  can be given for each type of crime under which rule of law?

Ans-The Indian penal code

Ques-Who can one complain to if police refuses to register an FIR?

Ans-The superintendent of police/  human rights commission

Ques-Observer of a crime being committed is called?

Ans-Witness

Ques-Who files a charge sheet?

Ans-Police

Ques-Who issues a warrant?

Ans-Court

Ques-Who Presents the facts of a case in court is called?

Ans-Public prosecutor

Ques-Who represents the accused in court is called?

Ans-Defence lawyer

Ques-Give one example of cooperative industry?

Ans- Anand milk cooperative in Gujarat.

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DEFINE TERMS- 8TH CBSE- HISTORY- SA2

Define terms- History

Infanticide-

The crime of killing a baby.

Rampant-

Something bad spreading in such a way which is difficult to control.

Eradication-

To completely remove something.

Emancipation-

Liberation of downtrodden people like untouchables.

Discrimination-

Unfair treatment of a person or a group in society.

Humiliation-

To make somebody lose the respect of others.

Capitol-

A building occupied by a state legislature.

Reclamation-

The conversion of wasteland into land suitable for habitation.

Habitation-

Occupation of a dwelling place.

Communication-

The exchange of thoughts, ideas, or information.

Architecture-

Designing and erecting buildings.

Flora and fauna-

Plants and animals of a region.

Naturalism-

Portraying objects as they really are.

Mythological-

Based on traditional stories especially of god and goddesses.

Upsurge-

A rapid rise.

Commemorate-

To honour the memory of someone.

Reform-

To improve a system by bringing changes in it.

Boycott-

To refuse to buy a product or take part in an activity as a way of expressing strong disapproval.

Tyranny-

Unfair or cruel use of power or authority.

Satyagraha-

Holding firmly to truth.

Adamant-

Determined not to be persuaded about something.

Interim government-

Temporary government.

Ultimation-

A final warning to a person or country about something.

Aftermath-

The condition that exists as a result of an important incident.

Stagnation-

Period of no growth in the economy.

Rehabilitation-

To help somebody to settle.

Refugee-

A person forced to leave his or her house due to war.

Annex-

To take control of a country or region.

Preamble-

An introduction to a book or a written document.

Integrity-

The respect to territorial unity of a nation.

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