Tamil Nadu Class 8 English Important Questions Bank — Samacheer Kalvi

Prose: The Secret Garden

One Mark

• Where did Mary discover the hidden door to the garden?
• What was Mary's character like at the beginning of the story?
• Why was the garden secret?

Short Answer (3 marks)

• How does the garden change Mary's personality? Give three points.
• Describe the secret garden as Mary first sees it.

Long Answer (5 marks)

• Narrate the important events of "The Secret Garden" excerpt. What theme does it convey about nature and healing?

Prose: The Devoted Son

One Mark

• What profession did the son take up?
• How did the father's health change as he grew old?

Short Answer (3 marks)

• Explain the irony in "The Devoted Son." Why is the title meaningful?
• How did the son show his devotion in the earlier years of his father's illness?

Long Answer (5 marks)

• What is the moral of "The Devoted Son"? Do you think the son was truly devoted? Support your answer with evidence from the story.

Prose: The Tower of London

One Mark

• In which city is the Tower of London located?
• Name two famous prisoners who were kept in the Tower of London.

Short Answer (3 marks)

• What is the historical importance of the Tower of London? Give three facts.
• Describe the tower's architecture briefly.

Long Answer (5 marks)

• Write a detailed account of the Tower of London — its history, purpose, and present-day significance.

Prose: Exploring the Deep Blue Sea

One Mark

• Name one creature found in the deep ocean mentioned in the lesson.
• What percentage of the ocean remains unexplored?

Short Answer (3 marks)

• What challenges do deep-sea explorers face? Give three.
• Mention three fascinating facts about deep-sea creatures from the lesson.

Long Answer (5 marks)

• What do scientists hope to discover by exploring the deep sea? Why is ocean exploration important for humanity?

Prose: The Power of Music

One Mark

• What effect did the music have on the listeners in the story?
• Name the main character in "The Power of Music."

Short Answer (3 marks)

• Describe how music changed the mood of the people in the story.
• What message about music does the writer convey?

Long Answer (5 marks)

• Write a summary of "The Power of Music" and explain what the story reveals about the power of art.

Poem: The School Boy

One Mark

• Who wrote "The School Boy"?
• What does the boy prefer to the school room?

Short Answer (3 marks)

• What feeling does the boy have about going to school? Explain with two examples from the poem.
• Identify two literary devices in "The School Boy."

Long Answer (5 marks)

• Summarise "The School Boy" and discuss the poet's views on forced education.

Poem: Friendship

One Mark

• What is the central theme of the poem "Friendship"?
• Name one quality of a true friend described in the poem.

Short Answer (3 marks)

• What does the poem say about the difference between a true and a false friend?
• Identify and explain two literary devices in "Friendship."

Long Answer (5 marks)

• Write a paragraph on the importance of friendship based on the poem. Use at least two references from the text.

Poem: The Song of the Flower

One Mark

• Who wrote "The Song of the Flower"?
• What does the flower offer to the world?

Short Answer (3 marks)

• Describe the flower's attitude toward life and death as shown in the poem.
• Find two examples of personification in "The Song of the Flower."

Long Answer (5 marks)

• "The Song of the Flower" is a celebration of selfless living. Justify this with reference to the poem.

Poem: I Wonder

One Mark

• Who is the speaker in "I Wonder"?
• Name the literary device used in repeating "I wonder."

Short Answer (3 marks)

• List three things the child wonders about in the poem.
• What is the message of the poem? Write three sentences.

Long Answer (5 marks)

• Write a summary of "I Wonder" and explain how it celebrates the spirit of enquiry.

Grammar — Important Practice Questions

Tenses

• Fill in the blank: She _____ (finish) her homework before dinner.
• Correct the error: He go to school yesterday.

Active and Passive Voice

• Change to passive: The dog chased the cat.
• Change to active: The exam was passed by all students.

Reported Speech

• Report: "I am reading a book," said Arjun.
• Report: "Will you come to my party?" she asked.

Articles

• Fill in: _____ Ganges is a holy river. / She bought _____ new bag.

Degrees of Comparison

• Fill in: Mount Everest is _____ (high) mountain in the world.
• Comparative: She is _____ (intelligent) than her sister.

Writing — High-Probability Topics