GUJARAT PUBLIC SCHOOL, ATLADARA

SUBJECT: - ENGLISH
Name : - __________________ Roll No: -____Date: - 02/8/25
Academic Topic : Worksheet No :- 8 Std : - X ________ Div
Year : Footprints Date of submission: : - ________ Sign &
2025-26 2,3 06/8 Remarks
• Read the instructions and strictly follow them:
• Attempt questions based on specific instructions for each part.
• Section A: Reading
• Section B: Writing and Grammar
• Section C: Literature

Section A: Reading
Q.1. Read the passage and answer the questions that follow:
1. In an age where information travels faster than comprehension, the ability to discern truth from
fabrication has become a defining skill of the informed citizen. The proliferation of digital media has
democratised the creation and sharing of content, but it has also unleashed a deluge of half-truths,
manipulated narratives, and outright fabrications.
2. Psychologists argue that humans are not naturally wired for scepticism. Cognitive biases—
confirmation bias, anchoring bias, and the bandwagon effect—predispose us to accept information that
aligns with our pre-existing beliefs, regardless of its accuracy. In the past, such biases had limited impact
because information was filtered through institutional gatekeepers like newspapers, universities, and
public broadcasters. Today, the collapse of these filters means every individual must act as their own fact-
checker.
3. The challenge is compounded by the fact that disinformation campaigns are not merely accidental by-
products of the digital age; they are often meticulously orchestrated to manipulate public opinion,
destabilise societies, and influence political outcomes. The tools of such campaigns—deepfake videos,
bot-generated social media accounts, and micro-targeted advertisements—exploit both our cognitive
vulnerabilities and the algorithms that curate what we see online.
4. Some scholars contend that media literacy should now be treated as a civic duty, akin to voting Or
paying taxes. To navigate this environment, individuals must develop not only the ability to question
sources but also the humility to recognise the limits of their own knowledge. In a paradoxical twist, the
most informed citizens may not be those who know the most facts, but those who know when to doubt
what they know.

Questions:
a) Why does the author claim that the speed of information travel poses a problem? (2)

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b) Explain two cognitive biases mentioned in the passage with examples. (4)
c) What role did institutional gatekeepers play in the past? (2)

d) According to the passage, why are disinformation campaigns dangerous? (2)

e) Find words in the passage meaning:
i) Spread widely (para 1)
ii) Agree with (para 2) (2)

Q2. Unseen Poem (8 Marks)

Read the poem below and answer the questions:

I have measured out my life with coffee spoons,

And I have known the eyes already, known them all—
The eyes that fix you in a formulated phrase,
And when I am formulated, sprawling on a pin,

When I am pinned and wriggling on the wall,

Then how should I begin…?
Questions:
a) What does the metaphor of “measured out my life with coffee spoons” suggest? (2)
b) Identify and explain one image of entrapment in the poem. (2)c) What tone does the speaker convey
here? (2)
d) Name one poetic device used in the excerpt. (2)

Section B – Writing Skills (20 Marks)

Q3. Article Writing (8 Marks)
Write an article for your school magazine on “The Erosion of Deep Reading in the Age of Social
Media” in 150–200 words. Support your argument with examples.

Q4. Letter to the Editor (7 Marks)

Write a letter to the Editor of The Hindu expressing concern about the rise of AI-generated
misinformation and suggesting concrete steps to address the issue. Sign as Raghav/Ritika.
Q5. Analytical Paragraph (5 Marks)
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The table below shows the percentage of renewable energy usage in five countries in 2024.
Write an analytical paragraph in 100–120 words

Section C – Grammar (10 Marks)

Q6. Error Correction (4 Marks)

Identify the errors in the following sentences and rewrite them correctly:
a) Neither of the students have submitted their assignments.

b) The news are not encouraging.

c) She insisted to accompany her friend to the station.
d) If I was you, I would reconsider this decision.
Q7. Gap Filling (3 Marks)

Fill in the blanks with suitable modals:

a) You ____ not park your car here; it’s a no-parking zone.
b) If we had left earlier, we ____ have caught the train.
c) I ____ rather stay home than go to that noisy party.
Q8. Transformation of Sentences (3 Marks)

Rewrite as directed:
a) The students were too tired to continue. (Remove ‘too’)
b) People believe that she is a genius. (Change to passive voice)
c) “Do you like jazz music?” he asked. (Change to reported speech)

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 Section D – Literature. (30 Marks)

Q9. Extract-based Question (6 Marks)

Read the extract and answer the questions:

“Was she so terribly changed? I only found her hands familiar—thin and pale.
And the skin felt old, rough on the bone.”
a) Who is the speaker referring to? (1)
b) What is the context of this meeting? (2)

c) How does the imagery in this description reflect the theme of the story? (3)

Q10. Short Answer Questions (Any Four) (12 Marks)

Answer in 50–60 words each:

a) How does The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse question the idea of trust?
b) In Discovering Tut, how does the author combine science and history?
c) How does We’re Not Afraid to Die… highlight the importance of teamwork?
d) How does the narrator in The Portrait of a Lady depict his grandmother’s daily routine?

e) In The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse, what role does Aram’s perspective play in
shaping the story?

Q11. Long Answer Question (Any Two) (12 Marks)

Answer in 120–150 words each:

a) Compare the themes of loyalty and integrity in The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse
and We’re Not Afraid to Die….
b) Analyse the role of modern technology in uncovering historical mysteries in Discovering
Tut.

c) How does The Portrait of a Lady present the idea of change over time in relationship

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