DELHI PUBLIC SCHOOL

NACHARAM/ MAHENDRA HILLS/ NADERGUL

SUBJECT: ENGLISH TEST YOURSELF 2 CLASS: VIII

1. Read the following text.

1. Peer pressure is a phenomenon wherein we tend to get influenced by the lifestyle and the ways of
thinking of our peers. Peer pressure can prove beneficial but it is most often observed to have negative
effects.
2. The thought, behaviour and taste in fashion, music, television and other walks of life of the masses are
often seen to have a deep impact on society. We tend to get influenced by the lifestyle of our peer group.
The changing ways of life of our peers often force us to change our ways of looking at life and leading
it. It’s a human tendency to do what the crowd does. Few have the courage to resist peer pressure and be
their own selves rather than being one among the lot.
3. Peer pressure is bound to affect most of us both positively and negatively. The distinction between
positive and negative peer pressure lies in a thoughtful analysis of the views of the masses. Following
your peers blindly leaves a negative impact on your life while an analytical approach to looking at peer
behaviour can help you act positively.
4. Peer pressure is not always bad. It can help you analyse yourself and contemplate your ways of life.
Some of the practices that the masses follow may actually teach you the way of living. You may be able
to change yourself for the better. Looking at what others do can help you bring about a positive change
in your way of thinking. If you can pick selectively, peer pressure can actually result in a positive change
in your way of life.
5. Teenage is that phase of life when you are exposed to the world outside. These are the years when you
spend most of your time with your friends. Teenage is the phase of beginning to become independent in
life; the years of forming your ideals and principles, the years that shape your personality and the years
that introduce you to your own self. As adolescents, you often spend most of your daily time with friends
and, owing to this, you tend to imitate your friends. The people around you are bound to influence you.
However, the effect of the influences of the masses is greater during your teen years. Parents have a vital
role to play during this phase of your life.
6. Parents and teachers need to be careful while dealing with teenagers as they are most susceptible to
succumbing to peer pressure during these years of their life. Teenage individuals need to be taught to
distinguish between the good and the bad, the right and the wrong and should be taught to be thoughtful
in life.
7. A strong support from family, an ability to differentiate between the positive and the negative and a
skill to choose friends from among peers this three-pronged strategy is the best way to keep away from
negative peer pressure.
Answer the following questions, based on the passage above.
i. Select the option that corresponds to the following relation below. 1
Peer pressure can prove beneficial but it is most often observed to have negative effects.
(a) Sleep is good for memory but too much sleep can also be linked to health problems.
(b) Beginnings and ends are easier to remember than middles.
(c) Some people enjoy seeing anger in others.
(d) Food tastes better when someone else makes it.
ii. Based on your reading of the text, list 2 reasons why the writer says Peer pressure is not always bad.
Answer in about 40 words. 2
iii. Complete the sentence appropriately. 1
The changing ways of our peers’ life can affect us by _____.
iv. Complete the sentence appropriately. 1
Adolescents tend to imitate and share views with their friends because _____.
v. The passage includes some words that are opposites of each other. From the sets (a) - (e) given below,
identify two sets of antonyms. 1
(a) looking and leading
(b) walks and masses
 (c) positively and negatively
(d) distinction and change
(e) right and wrong
vi. Supply one point to justify the following. 1
Parents and teachers need to be careful while dealing with teenagers as they are most susceptible to
succumbing to peer pressure during these years of their life.
vii. Which of the following is an appropriate reason for the effect of peer pressure in teenage years? 1
(a) Teenagers spend more time with their parents and old people.
(b) Teen years are always unmanageable.
(c) Teenagers spend more time with their peers and friends.
(d) It is impossible to convince teenagers.
viii. Which of the following strategies is recommended for resisting negative peer pressure? 1
(a) Ignoring family support and relying solely on personal strength.
(b) Following the crowd without considering the consequences.
(c) Differentiating between positive and negative influences.
(d) Surrounding oneself with peers who exert negative pressure.
ix. The writer mentions ‘The people around you are bound to influence you’. (Paragraph 5) 1
Mention one reason from the passage that supports the above statement.

2. Read the following text.

1. Through the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG), the countries of the world have resolved to achieve
universal access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation and hygiene for all by 2030. The aim is
to ensure the consumption of safe drinking water and practice safe sanitation and hygiene, resulting in
lower exposure to a contaminated environment, resulting in lower morbidity and mortality, especially
amongst children.

2. The Swachh Bharat Mission was launched by the Government of India on 2nd October, 2014 t
achieve the vision of ‘Swachh Bharat’ by 2nd October, 2019. The Swachh Bharat Mission Gramin-
SBM (G) endeavours to accelerate rural sanitation coverage, reduce open defecation and improve the
management of solid and liquid wastes in rural areas. The implementation of SBM (G) is the
responsibility of the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation (MDWS). The MDWS, while issuing
guidelines for Open Defecation Free (ODF) verification stressed on “safe technology option which
aimed at no contamination of surface soil, groundwater or surface water; excreta management
inaccessible to flies or animals; no human handling of fresh excreta and freedom from odour and
unsightly condition”. Over the past 4 years, over 92 million new households have received access to
household toilets and by the end of the SBM (G) programme, all 16.5 million rural households will
have such access. However, the issue is of usage and thus, the goal is to create ODF communities
and villages, with no one defecating in the open.
3. The status of ODF villages published on the website of MDWS indicates that as of 01.04.2019, over
99% of rural HHs in India have toilet access. The declared ODF villages at all India levels accounted for
556,824 spreading over 247,723 Gram Panchayats, 6,031 Blocks and 616 Districts.
4. UNICEF in India accords high priority to the provision of safe sanitation and water services to people
in rural areas and has over the past many years aided through catalytic technical support to MDWS,
the Government of India and 15 state governments in the implementation of the various sanitation
programmes and since 2014, specifically to the SBM (G). With the progress of the SBM (G) and the
declaration of ODF communities, there is an emerging question on whether the campaign to eliminate
open defecation and create ODF communities is resulting in a decrease in faecal contamination in the
environment.

Answer the following questions, based on the passage above.

i. Complete the following analogy appropriately. 1
There will be a decrease in faecal contamination in the environment because _____.
ii. Fill the blank with appropriate word. 1
The passage provides data that proves that over 99% of rural households have access to _____.
 iii. Describe the purpose of the launch of Swachh Bharat Mission (G) in about 20 words. 1
iv. According to the passage, who is responsible for the progress of the Swachh Bharat Mission? 1
v. Suggest a suitable title for the passage. 1
vi. Select the option that the given sentence refers to “Over the past 4 years, over 92 million new
households have received access to household toilets.” 1
(a) There is an increase in the usage of toilets among rural households.
(b) There is an increase in the construction of community-shared toilets.
(c) There is an increase in the building of toilets inside households.
(d) There is an increase in access to toilets but are not being used by the villagers.
vii. Which international organisation is helping in providing sanitation and how? (Answer in about 40
words) 2
viii. Why is the government successful in providing access to toilets to over 99% of rural households? 1
(a) Government is giving false data.
(b) Villagers also want to have access to toilets to minimize the negative impact of open defecation.
(c) Villagers are cooperative.
(d) Rural households have become educated.
ix. What is the main focus of the Swachh Bharat Mission (G)? 1
(a) Providing clean drinking water to rural communities
(b) Promoting environmental conservation initiatives
(c) Improving sanitation and eliminating open defecation
(d) Enhancing access to healthcare services in urban areas

Writing

1. You are Secretary of the History Club of Vidya Mandir School. Draft a notice in not more than 50
words informing students of a proposed visit to some important historical sites in your city.
2. You are Nitin/ Nipun of H.No. 123/8, KG Nagar, New Delhi. You are concerned about the
consequences of reckless driving. Write a letter to the editor of a national daily, expressing your
concern. (100-120 words)
3. You had bought a mobile phone from a reputed showroom in Mumbai but after a month it developed
a serious fault. Write a complaint letter to the manager asking for immediate repair or replacement of
the same. You are Sadiq/Razia, 123, TT Nagar, Mumbai.
4. "Write a diary entry expressing your thoughts and emotions after achieving a personal milestone or
goal."
5. You are Sumit / Sunita. You are a member of the Environment Club of your school. After visiting
many places you have realized that it is the need of the hour to protect environment. You decide to
create awareness among the students. Write a speech in about 150 words on ‘Environmental
protection’ to be delivered in the morning assembly.
6. Your school celeberated World Environment Day on 5th June in the school campus. You are
Sameer/Mansi, the head boy/girl of the school. Write a report on the function in not more than 150
words for your school magazine
7. Write a short story that begins with the words : "The day started off well enough, whoever thought it
would __________"