Term pack
Year 8 English
Name: ________________________
Skills in this pack
- Vocabulary in context
- Main idea and supporting detail
- Note-making and summarising
- Agreement in longer sentences
- Simple, compound and complex sentences
- Transforming sentences
- Question tags
- Adverbs and their kinds
- Articles and determiners in use
- Comparison of adjectives
- Prepositions in idiomatic use
- Phrasal verbs
- Using a dictionary and a thesaurus
- Prefixes and suffixes
- Direct and indirect speech
- Writing a paragraph
- Writing an informal letter
Free at www.arenapublications.com/learn — no account, no ads, ever.
Year 8 English · 1 of 17
Vocabulary in context
Work out what an unfamiliar word means from the sentence around it.
1.Sort each word by the feeling it carries.
Groups: Describes something pleasant · Describes something unpleasant
- cruel
- generous
- cheerful
- delightful
- dreadful
- gloomy
2."The instructions were ambiguous, so half the class did the wrong task." What does "ambiguous" mean?
- a) very clear
- b) open to more than one meaning
- c) spoken loudly
- d) written down
3."She was hesitant at first, but soon joined the game happily." What does "hesitant" mean?
- a) slow to act because unsure
- b) very loud
- c) quick to act
- d) very skilled
4."The path was so narrow that we had to walk in single file." What does "narrow" mean here?
- a) muddy
- b) wide
- c) not wide
- d) steep
5."The monsoon brought a deluge that flooded the fields for weeks." A deluge is ____.
- a) a strong wind
- b) a light shower
- c) a great flood of water
- d) a long dry spell
6."The scarcity of water forced the village to dig a new well." What does "scarcity" mean?
- a) plenty
- b) quality
- c) sweetness
- d) shortage
7."The room was immaculate — not a speck of dust anywhere." What does "immaculate" mean?
- a) very large
- b) perfectly clean
- c) newly built
- d) very dark
8."The judge was impartial and favoured neither side." Which single word in that sentence means "fair to both sides"?
Vocabulary in context · Year 8 English · www.arenapublications.com/learn
Year 8 English · 2 of 17
Main idea and supporting detail
Find what a passage is mainly about, tell a supporting detail apart from the main idea, and separate what a passage says from what it does not.
1.Sort each statement by whether the bee passage says it. "Honey bees do far more than make honey. As they move from flower to flower drinking nectar, grains of pollen stick to their bodies and are carried to the next flower. This is how many plants make seeds. Nearly a third of the food we eat depends on insects doing this work. When bee numbers fall, farmers notice it first: the fruit trees blossom as usual, but far less fruit forms."
Groups: The passage says this · The passage does not say this
- About a third of our food depends on insects.
- Bees carry pollen from one flower to the next.
- Wind also carries pollen.
- Pollen sticks to a bee's body.
- Honey is sold in every market.
- A bee lives for about six weeks.
- Bees sting when they are frightened.
- Farmers notice when bee numbers fall.
2.Which of these is a supporting detail from the passage about the well, rather than its main point?
- a) Its steps were cracked and its walls were furred with weeds.
- b) Students cleared the well and the water came back.
- c) The village got its water back.
- d) Clearing the well changed the village.
3.Which would be the best title for the bee passage?
- a) Fruit trees in blossom
- b) How to keep bees
- c) More than honey
- d) The life of a farmer
4.Match each question to the answer the passage about the well gives.
- How long had the well been dry?
- Who cleared it?
- When did they work on it?
- How long before it filled again?
- What else started working again?
- Thirty years
- The hand pumps in the lanes
- Two monsoons
- A group of students
- After school
5.Sort each sentence by whether it is a main idea or a supporting detail.
Groups: Main idea · Supporting detail
- They cost nothing at all to run.
- Bicycles are a good way to get about a town.
- Even a short story teaches you new words.
- They take up very little space to park.
- A book can take you to a country you have never seen.
- Reading widens what you know.
6.Read this passage. "Honey bees do far more than make honey. As they move from flower to flower drinking nectar, grains of pollen stick to their bodies and are carried to the next flower. This is how many plants make seeds. Nearly a third of the food we eat depends on insects doing this work. When bee numbers fall, farmers notice it first: the fruit trees blossom as usual, but far less fruit forms." What is the main idea?
- a) Bees matter to us for far more than the honey they make.
- b) Fruit trees blossom every year.
- c) Bees drink nectar from flowers.
- d) Farmers grow many kinds of fruit.
7.Answer in one word. According to the bee passage, what sticks to a bee's body as it moves between flowers?
8.Answer in one word. In the passage about the well, in which season did the hand pumps run dry every year?
Main idea and supporting detail · Year 8 English · www.arenapublications.com/learn
Year 8 English · 3 of 17
Note-making and summarising
Turn a passage into short notes under headings, and write a summary that keeps the meaning in far fewer words.
Before you start
A page of notes, with every line drawn as a block. Find out what each line is, and notice how far along the page each one begins.
- 1. The main heading — what the whole passage is about
- 2. A sub-heading
- 3. A point belonging to that sub-heading
- 4. Another point belonging to the same sub-heading
- 5. The next sub-heading
- 6. A point belonging to the second sub-heading
The further right a line begins, the smaller the idea it belongs to. That indentation is doing as much work as the words are, which is why a page of notes can be taken in at a glance and a paragraph cannot.
1.What is the main purpose of a summary?
- a) To give the main ideas in far fewer words
- b) To repeat the passage word for word
- c) To list every example in the passage
- d) To add your own opinion about the passage
2.Which would make the best heading for a passage about how bees make honey?
- a) Bees are insects that live in colonies and are found on every continent except Antarctica
- b) Bees
- c) How bees make honey
- d) Honey is sweet
3.Match each short form to the words it stands for.
- govt.
- &
- e.g.
- etc.
- yrs
- info
- government
- years
- for example
- information
- and so on
- and
4.Which is the best note for this sentence? "The Sun is the star at the centre of our solar system, and it provides the energy that keeps life on Earth going."
- a) Sun — star at centre of solar system; gives energy for life on Earth
- b) The Sun is very important to all of us.
- c) The Sun is the star at the centre of our solar system.
- d) Sun, star, centre, solar, system, energy, life, Earth
5.A passage of 200 words is to be summarised. Which is the most sensible length for the summary?
- a) About 5 words
- b) About 65 words
- c) About 200 words
- d) About 400 words
6.Sort each statement by whether it describes what a set of notes does.
Groups: A note does this · A note does not do this
- Leaves out small words like "the" and "of"
- Uses abbreviations to save space
- Uses a heading and sub-points
- Uses short phrases instead of sentences
- Adds your own opinion of the passage
- Keeps every example in full
- Copies whole sentences out of the passage
- Is written in complete grammar
7.Sort each line by whether it is written in note form.
Groups: Note form · Not note form
- Uses of bamboo: houses, baskets, paper
- There are several causes of soil erosion, such as rain.
- The population of the city is two million.
- Causes of soil erosion — rain, wind, farming
- Pop. of city — 2 mn
- Bamboo is used to make houses, baskets and paper.
8.Put the steps of note-making in the right order.
- Read the notes on their own to check they still make sense.
- Look at the underlined points and write one heading that covers them all.
- Underline the points that matter most.
- Turn each underlined point into a short phrase under that heading.
- Read the whole passage from start to finish.
Note-making and summarising · Year 8 English · www.arenapublications.com/learn
Year 8 English · 4 of 17
Agreement in longer sentences
Find the real subject of a long sentence and make the verb agree with it, even when words come in between or the order is turned round.
1.There ____ three mangoes left in the basket.
- a) is
- b) has
- c) was
- d) are
2.Match each subject to the verb that agrees with it.
- A basket of oranges
- The oranges in the basket
- Everyone in the room
- All of the children
- was listening
- were listening
- are on the table
- is on the table
3.Neither the coach nor the players ____ happy with the result.
- a) was
- b) has
- c) is
- d) were
4.A number of students ____ absent today.
- a) has
- b) is
- c) are
- d) was
5.Write "is" or "are": Everybody in the two classes ____ ready to leave.
6.The teacher, along with her students, ____ visiting the museum today.
- a) have
- b) is
- c) were
- d) are
7.Write "has" or "have": Ravi and his cousin ____ finished the puzzle.
8.Which sentence is correct?
- a) The quality of the mangoes was poor.
- b) The quality of the mangoes were poor.
- c) The quality of the mangoes have been poor.
- d) The quality of the mangoes are poor.
Agreement in longer sentences · Year 8 English · www.arenapublications.com/learn
Year 8 English · 5 of 17
Simple, compound and complex sentences
Count the clauses in a sentence and name it simple, compound or complex.
1.Sort each joining word by whether it joins two equal clauses or makes one clause depend on the other.
Groups: Joins two equals — coordinating · Makes one depend — subordinating
- and
- but
- so
- although
- or
- until
- when
- if
- because
2.Which sentence is compound?
- a) We went out when the rain stopped.
- b) After the rain stopped, we went out.
- c) The rain stopped suddenly.
- d) The rain stopped and we went out.
3.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex? Write one word. "The bell rang, so the children ran out."
4.Put the parts in order to make one correct complex sentence.
- stayed
- it
- we
- raining,
- was
- indoors.
- Because
5.How many clauses does a simple sentence have?
- a) None
- b) Two
- c) Two or more
- d) One
6.Match each joining word to the job it does.
- and
- but
- because
- although
- when
- if
- joins two equal clauses that disagree
- introduces a clause giving a time
- introduces a clause giving a reason
- joins two equal clauses
- introduces a clause giving a condition
- introduces a clause giving a contrast
7.Is this sentence simple, compound or complex? Write one word. "Although he was tired, he finished the race."
8.Which of these words turns two simple sentences into a complex one?
- a) because
- b) or
- c) but
- d) and
Simple, compound and complex sentences · Year 8 English · www.arenapublications.com/learn
Year 8 English · 6 of 17
Transforming sentences
Rewrite a sentence in another form — statement, question, exclamation or negative — without changing what it means.
1.Rewrite as a negative sentence without changing the meaning: "Everyone was present."
- a) Not everyone was present.
- b) Nobody was absent.
- c) Nobody was present.
- d) Everyone was not present.
2.Rewrite as an exclamatory sentence: "It is a very sad story."
- a) What a sad story it is!
- b) How a sad story it is!
- c) What sad story it is!
- d) How sad story it is!
3.Which sentence means the same as "No sooner did she sit down than the phone rang"?
- a) The phone rang long before she sat down.
- b) She did not sit down when the phone rang.
- c) She sat down after the phone rang.
- d) As soon as she sat down, the phone rang.
4.Sort each sentence by its kind.
Groups: Assertive — a statement · Interrogative — a question · Exclamatory — a strong feeling · Imperative — an order or request
- Water the garden, please.
- What a voice she has!
- Is the garden full of roses?
- Does she sing every morning?
- The garden is full of roses.
- How lovely the garden is!
- She sings every morning.
- Sing that song again.
5.Rewrite as a negative sentence without changing the meaning: "Only she can solve it."
- a) None but she can solve it.
- b) Nobody can solve it.
- c) She can solve nothing.
- d) She cannot solve it.
6.Rewrite as a question: "She has finished her work."
- a) Does she finish her work?
- b) Is she finished her work?
- c) Has she finished her work?
- d) Did she finish her work?
7.Put the words in order to make one correct exclamatory sentence.
- What
- surprise
- wonderful
- a
- this is!
8.Write the missing word so the meaning stays the same. "He is too tired to walk" means "He is ____ tired that he cannot walk."
Transforming sentences · Year 8 English · www.arenapublications.com/learn
Year 8 English · 7 of 17
Question tags
Add the right question tag to a statement — negative after a positive, positive after a negative, using the statement's own helping verb.
1.Ravi rarely comes on time, ____
- a) isn't he?
- b) doesn't he?
- c) does he?
- d) is he?
2.Match each statement to its tag.
- Everyone enjoyed the trip,
- Nothing was broken,
- We should leave now,
- You had forgotten,
- There is a problem,
- hadn't you?
- shouldn't we?
- didn't they?
- isn't there?
- was it?
3.Write the two-word tag: You have not finished your homework, ____?
4.Sort each statement by the kind of tag it needs.
Groups: Needs a negative tag · Needs a positive tag
- We can go now,
- They came late,
- You are ready,
- He never listens,
- She has not finished,
- It was raining,
- Nobody knew the answer,
- You do not like coffee,
5.Write the two-word tag: She cannot swim, ____?
6.I am late, ____
- a) isn't it?
- b) aren't I?
- c) am I?
- d) wasn't I?
7.Let us start the game, ____
- a) shall we?
- b) do we?
- c) don't we?
- d) will we?
8.She has not seen the film, ____
- a) does she?
- b) hasn't she?
- c) did she?
- d) has she?
Question tags · Year 8 English · www.arenapublications.com/learn
Year 8 English · 8 of 17
Adverbs and their kinds
Spot an adverb, name its kind — manner, place, time, frequency or degree — and tell it apart from the adjective it was built from.
1.The soup smells ____.
- a) more deliciously
- b) deliciously
- c) delicious
- d) most deliciously
2.Write the adverb of frequency that means "not even once": He has ____ been late.
3.Which sentence contains an adverb of degree?
- a) He is very tired.
- b) He runs outside.
- c) He runs fast.
- d) He runs daily.
4.Sort each word by whether it is an adjective or an adverb.
Groups: Adjective · Adverb
- loud
- loudly
- truly
- bravely
- sudden
- suddenly
- true
- brave
5.In "The train arrived quite late", what does the word "quite" tell you?
- a) When the train arrived
- b) How late the train was
- c) Where the train arrived
- d) How often the train arrives
6.Write the adverb formed from the adjective "gentle": He closed the door ____.
7.In "She sang beautifully at the concert", which word is the adverb?
- a) sang
- b) She
- c) beautifully
- d) concert
8.Which of these words is NOT an adverb?
- a) almost
- b) never
- c) lonely
- d) slowly
Adverbs and their kinds · Year 8 English · www.arenapublications.com/learn
Year 8 English · 9 of 17
Articles and determiners in use
Choose the, a, an or no article at all, and pick between few and a few, little and a little, either and neither.
1.Write "each" or "every": ____ of the four children was given a different badge.
2.Which sentence uses articles correctly?
- a) Honesty is the best policy.
- b) The honesty is the best policy.
- c) Honesty is a best policy.
- d) A honesty is best policy.
3.I need ____ information about the trip before I decide.
- a) few
- b) a few
- c) an
- d) a little
4.Sort each sentence by whether the gap needs "the" or no article at all.
Groups: the · no article
- They came to the station by ____ bus.
- I would like ____ same drink as yesterday.
- He is ____ cleverest boy in the class.
- Please shut ____ door behind you.
- This is ____ third time I have rung the bell.
- Everyone knows that ____ sun rises in the east.
- My uncle speaks ____ Japanese fluently.
- We went back to work after ____ lunch.
5.Sort each word by the job it does in front of a noun.
Groups: Article · Quantifier — how much or how many · Demonstrative — which one
- much
- this
- few
- a
- several
- those
- an
- the
- that
6.Match each determiner to what it tells you.
- the
- a few
- few
- a little
- little
- either
- neither
- a small number, but enough
- a small amount, but enough
- a thing we have already mentioned
- one or the other of two
- not one and not the other of two
- hardly any amount at all
- hardly any at all
7.There is still ____ milk in the jug, so you can have your tea.
- a) a few
- b) few
- c) little
- d) a little
8.____ of the two answers is correct — both of them are wrong.
- a) Neither
- b) Both
- c) Each
- d) Either
Articles and determiners in use · Year 8 English · www.arenapublications.com/learn
Year 8 English · 10 of 17
Comparison of adjectives
Form the comparative and superlative of an adjective — with -er and -est, with more and most, or by learning the irregular ones.
1.Write the comparative of "expensive" — two words: A phone is ____ than a book.
2.Which sentence is correct?
- a) He is more tall than his brother.
- b) He is taller than his brother.
- c) He is more taller than his brother.
- d) He is the taller than his brother.
3.Write the comparative of "happy": She looks ____ today than she did yesterday.
4.Sort each adjective by how it makes its comparative.
Groups: Add -er · Use "more"
- expensive
- happy
- young
- difficult
- interesting
- careful
- bright
- cold
5.Ravi is not as tall ____ his sister.
- a) then
- b) than
- c) from
- d) as
6.Sort each form by its degree of comparison.
Groups: Positive · Comparative · Superlative
- tall
- best
- tallest
- more beautiful
- taller
- better
- most beautiful
- beautiful
- good
7.Which is the correct superlative of "bad"?
- a) worse
- b) worst
- c) most bad
- d) baddest
8.Which sentence is correct?
- a) She sings more good than her brother.
- b) She sings more better than her brother.
- c) She sings gooder than her brother.
- d) She sings better than her brother.
Comparison of adjectives · Year 8 English · www.arenapublications.com/learn
Year 8 English · 11 of 17
Prepositions in idiomatic use
Choose the preposition that a particular verb, adjective or noun always keeps beside it.
1.I am looking forward ____ meeting you.
- a) at
- b) to
- c) on
- d) for
2.She is very good ____ solving puzzles.
- a) on
- b) for
- c) in
- d) at
3.Write the missing preposition: The team consists ____ eleven players.
4.Write the missing preposition: Please listen ____ me carefully.
5.Match each adjective to the words that follow it.
- afraid
- good
- interested
- proud
- famous
- full
- of her work
- for its temples
- at drawing
- in music
- of water
- of the dark
6.Which sentence uses the preposition correctly?
- a) She is married with a doctor.
- b) She is married of a doctor.
- c) She is married on a doctor.
- d) She is married to a doctor.
7.Sort each verb by the preposition it takes when one follows it.
Groups: on · to · of · for
- wait
- search
- approve
- listen
- belong
- consist
- insist
- depend
8.This picture is similar ____ the one in my room.
- a) as
- b) to
- c) with
- d) from
Prepositions in idiomatic use · Year 8 English · www.arenapublications.com/learn
Year 8 English · 12 of 17
Phrasal verbs
Work out what a verb plus a small word means together, and put the object in the right place.
1.Which phrasal verb means "to postpone"?
- a) put up
- b) put down
- c) put off
- d) put on
2.Put the words in order to make one correct sentence.
- pilot
- will
- take
- six.
- off
- at
- The
3.Match each phrasal verb to its meaning.
- take off
- hand in
- come across
- bring up
- get over
- leave the ground
- give to a teacher
- meet or find by chance
- recover from
- raise a child
4.Match each phrasal verb to its meaning.
- give up
- look after
- put off
- find out
- call off
- turn down
- cancel
- stop trying
- discover
- refuse
- take care of
- delay to a later time
5.Complete with one word: I could not remember what it meant, so I looked it ____ in the dictionary.
6.Complete the phrasal verb with one word: Do not ____ up — you are almost there.
7.The match was ____ because of the heavy rain.
- a) called up
- b) called on
- c) called off
- d) called in
8.A pronoun like "it" must go in the middle of a separable phrasal verb. Which sentence follows that rule?
- a) Please off switch it.
- b) Please switch it off.
- c) Please switch off it.
- d) Please switch off the it.
Phrasal verbs · Year 8 English · www.arenapublications.com/learn
Year 8 English · 13 of 17
Using a dictionary and a thesaurus
Find a word by alphabetical order and guide words, read what its entry tells you, and use a thesaurus to find a better word.
Before you start
One entry from a dictionary page, with every part of it drawn as a block. Find out what each part is there to tell you.
- 1. The two guide words at the top of the page
- 2. The headword — the word being explained
- 3. How the word is said aloud
- 4. Which part of speech it is
- 5. The first meaning
- 6. A second meaning of the same word
- 7. An example sentence, showing the word in use
The guide words are the fastest thing on the page: if your word does not fall between them, the whole page can be turned past without a single entry being read.
1.A thesaurus is most useful when you want to ____.
- a) find another word with a similar meaning
- b) find out how to say a word aloud
- c) find out where a word came from
- d) find out how to spell a word
2.In "She could not bear the noise", which meaning of "bear" fits?
- a) to give birth to
- b) a large wild animal
- c) to carry a heavy load
- d) to put up with
3.Match each word to a stronger word that means almost the same.
- big
- sad
- hot
- happy
- cold
- tired
- exhausted
- scorching
- freezing
- enormous
- delighted
- heartbroken
4.Which comes first in a dictionary, "celery" or "cellar"? Write the word.
5.A dictionary page has the guide words "harmony" and "harvest". Which of these words is on that page?
- a) hammer
- b) hard
- c) hasty
- d) harp
6.Put these words in the order you would find them in a dictionary.
- page
- paint
- packet
- pair
- pack
7.Sort each job by whether you would reach for a dictionary or a thesaurus.
Groups: Dictionary · Thesaurus
- Find a more interesting word for "nice"
- Check whether a word is a noun or a verb
- Stop yourself repeating one word all through a paragraph
- Find a word meaning the opposite of "brave"
- Find out what a word means
- Check how a word is spelled
- Find out how a word is said aloud
- Find three other words for "walk"
8.Which comes first in a dictionary, "quiet" or "quite"? Write the word.
Using a dictionary and a thesaurus · Year 8 English · www.arenapublications.com/learn
Year 8 English · 14 of 17
Prefixes and suffixes
Build a new word by adding a prefix or a suffix, and say what the new word means.
1.Add a suffix to "hope" to make a word meaning "full of hope".
2.Match each suffix to what it adds to the word.
- -ful
- -less
- -ness
- -ly
- -able
- -er
- full of
- without
- in that manner
- a quality or a state
- a person who does it
- able to be
3.Sort each word part by where it attaches.
Groups: Prefix — goes before the word · Suffix — goes after the word
- re-
- un-
- -ful
- -less
- dis-
- -ness
4.What does "rewrite" mean?
- a) write again
- b) stop writing
- c) write badly
- d) write before
5.Add a suffix to "teach" to name the person who teaches.
6.Match each prefix to its meaning.
- un-
- re-
- pre-
- mis-
- over-
- sub-
- again
- before
- not
- wrongly
- too much
- under
7.Which word means "able to be carried"?
- a) transport
- b) porter
- c) import
- d) portable
8.Add a prefix to "happy" to make a word meaning "not happy".
Prefixes and suffixes · Year 8 English · www.arenapublications.com/learn
Year 8 English · 15 of 17
Direct and indirect speech
Turn a spoken statement into reported speech, shifting the tense, the pronoun and the time words.
1.Sort each line by whether it gives the exact spoken words or reports them.
Groups: Direct speech · Reported speech
- They said that they had finished.
- "We have finished," they said.
- Asha said, "I am busy."
- Ravi said that he liked mangoes.
- Asha said that she was busy.
- "I like mangoes," said Ravi.
2.Report this: Ravi said, "I am tired."
- a) Ravi said he am tired.
- b) Ravi said that I was tired.
- c) Ravi said that he is tired.
- d) Ravi said that he was tired.
3.Report this: "We are leaving now," they said.
- a) They said that they were leaving then.
- b) They said that they are leaving now.
- c) They said that they were leaving now.
- d) They said that we were leaving then.
4.In reported speech, "yesterday" usually becomes ____. Write three words.
5.Report this: She said, "I will call you tomorrow."
- a) She said she will call me tomorrow.
- b) She said she would call me the next day.
- c) She said I would call you tomorrow.
- d) She said she would called me the next day.
6.In reported speech, "am" usually becomes ____.
7.In reported speech, "will" usually becomes ____.
8.In reported speech, "today" usually becomes ____. Write two words.
Direct and indirect speech · Year 8 English · www.arenapublications.com/learn
Year 8 English · 16 of 17
Writing a paragraph
Build a paragraph from a topic sentence, supporting sentences and a closing sentence, and keep everything in it about one idea.
Before you start
A finished paragraph, drawn as the sentences it is built from. Find out what job each sentence is doing.
- 1. The topic sentence, opening the idea
- 2. A supporting sentence — a reason
- 3. A supporting sentence — an example
- 4. A supporting sentence — a detail
- 5. The closing sentence, tying it off
The first and last sentences do a different job from the three in between: one opens the idea and one looks back over it, while the middle three are the only ones carrying anything new.
1.Sort each sentence by the job it does in its paragraph.
Groups: Topic sentence · Supporting sentence · Closing sentence
- In all these ways the monsoon shapes the whole year.
- Bicycles are a cheap way to travel.
- They cost nothing to run and never need fuel.
- Rivers that were almost dry fill up again.
- Farmers begin sowing as soon as the first rain falls.
- So it is no wonder that so many people ride them.
- The monsoon changes life in many ways.
2.A paragraph is linked so that each sentence leads naturally into the next. What is that quality called?
- a) Unity
- b) Repetition
- c) Coherence
- d) Contrast
3.Which sentence does NOT belong in a paragraph about how honey is made?
- a) The first bicycle was built in Europe.
- b) Bees collect nectar from flowers.
- c) Inside the hive the nectar slowly turns into honey.
- d) They carry the nectar back to the hive.
4.Which sentence would make the best topic sentence for a paragraph about why reading is useful?
- a) My favourite book is about a dog.
- b) Books are made of paper.
- c) Reading helps us in more ways than one.
- d) I read a book last night.
5.Which would make the best closing sentence for a paragraph about the uses of bamboo?
- a) So bamboo is one of the most useful plants we have.
- b) Bamboo is a kind of grass.
- c) Bamboo grows very fast.
- d) My grandfather has a bamboo walking stick.
6.Put these sentences in order to make one good paragraph.
- First, boil some water in a pan.
- Then pour in milk and sugar and stir.
- Next, add the tea leaves and let them brew.
- Making tea is easy if you follow four steps.
- Finally, strain the tea into a cup and drink it.
7.Write one word: A paragraph that sticks to one idea and lets nothing else in is said to have ____.
8.Write one word: The sentence that tells the reader what the whole paragraph is about is called the ____ sentence.
Writing a paragraph · Year 8 English · www.arenapublications.com/learn
Year 8 English · 17 of 17
Writing an informal letter
Lay out a friendly letter in its usual parts, and keep the language warm rather than official.
1.Write one word: In a friendly letter, the date is written just below your own ____.
2.In a friendly letter, which of these should you NOT do?
- a) Use short, chatty sentences
- b) Ask about the reader's family
- c) Use stiff, official language
- d) Sign off with your first name
3.You are writing to a friend about your holiday. Which opening line fits best?
- a) I wish to inform you regarding my recent vacation.
- b) With reference to your letter of last month.
- c) It is submitted for your kind consideration.
- d) I hope this letter finds you well. I have so much to tell you about my holiday!
4.This is the layout of a friendly letter. Tap the part where the greeting goes.
Write the number of the part.
5.Write one word: A letter to a friend is called an ____ letter, because it does not use official language.
6.Write the one word that begins the greeting of almost every letter: ____ Meera,
7.Which ending suits a letter to a close friend?
- a) Yours obediently,
- b) With love,
- c) Respectfully yours,
- d) Yours faithfully,
8.Which greeting suits a letter to your cousin?
- a) Dear Madam,
- b) Dear Sir,
- c) Dear Ravi,
- d) Respected Sir,
Writing an informal letter · Year 8 English · www.arenapublications.com/learn
Answer keys — Year 8 English
In the same order as the worksheets.
Vocabulary in context
- 1. delightful → Describes something pleasant; dreadful → Describes something unpleasant; cheerful → Describes something pleasant; gloomy → Describes something unpleasant; generous → Describes something pleasant; cruel → Describes something unpleasant
- 2. b) open to more than one meaning
- 3. a) slow to act because unsure
- 4. c) not wide
- 5. c) a great flood of water
- 6. d) shortage
- 7. b) perfectly clean
- 8. impartial
Main idea and supporting detail
- 1. Pollen sticks to a bee's body. → The passage says this; Bees carry pollen from one flower to the next. → The passage says this; About a third of our food depends on insects. → The passage says this; Farmers notice when bee numbers fall. → The passage says this; Honey is sold in every market. → The passage does not say this; A bee lives for about six weeks. → The passage does not say this; Wind also carries pollen. → The passage does not say this; Bees sting when they are frightened. → The passage does not say this
- 2. a) Its steps were cracked and its walls were furred with weeds.
- 3. c) More than honey
- 4. How long had the well been dry? → Thirty years; Who cleared it? → A group of students; When did they work on it? → After school; How long before it filled again? → Two monsoons; What else started working again? → The hand pumps in the lanes
- 5. Bicycles are a good way to get about a town. → Main idea; They cost nothing at all to run. → Supporting detail; They take up very little space to park. → Supporting detail; Reading widens what you know. → Main idea; A book can take you to a country you have never seen. → Supporting detail; Even a short story teaches you new words. → Supporting detail
- 6. a) Bees matter to us for far more than the honey they make.
- 7. pollen
- 8. summer
Note-making and summarising
- 1. a) To give the main ideas in far fewer words
- 2. c) How bees make honey
- 3. govt. → government; & → and; e.g. → for example; etc. → and so on; yrs → years; info → information
- 4. a) Sun — star at centre of solar system; gives energy for life on Earth
- 5. b) About 65 words
- 6. Uses short phrases instead of sentences → A note does this; Uses abbreviations to save space → A note does this; Uses a heading and sub-points → A note does this; Leaves out small words like "the" and "of" → A note does this; Copies whole sentences out of the passage → A note does not do this; Adds your own opinion of the passage → A note does not do this; Keeps every example in full → A note does not do this; Is written in complete grammar → A note does not do this
- 7. Causes of soil erosion — rain, wind, farming → Note form; Uses of bamboo: houses, baskets, paper → Note form; Pop. of city — 2 mn → Note form; There are several causes of soil erosion, such as rain. → Not note form; Bamboo is used to make houses, baskets and paper. → Not note form; The population of the city is two million. → Not note form
- 8. 1. Read the whole passage from start to finish. 2. Underline the points that matter most. 3. Look at the underlined points and write one heading that covers them all. 4. Turn each underlined point into a short phrase under that heading. 5. Read the notes on their own to check they still make sense.
Agreement in longer sentences
- 1. d) are
- 2. A basket of oranges → is on the table; The oranges in the basket → are on the table; Everyone in the room → was listening; All of the children → were listening
- 3. d) were
- 4. c) are
- 5. is
- 6. b) is
- 7. have
- 8. a) The quality of the mangoes was poor.
Simple, compound and complex sentences
- 1. and → Joins two equals — coordinating; but → Joins two equals — coordinating; or → Joins two equals — coordinating; so → Joins two equals — coordinating; because → Makes one depend — subordinating; although → Makes one depend — subordinating; when → Makes one depend — subordinating; if → Makes one depend — subordinating; until → Makes one depend — subordinating
- 2. d) The rain stopped and we went out.
- 3. compound
- 4. 1. Because 2. it 3. was 4. raining, 5. we 6. stayed 7. indoors.
- 5. d) One
- 6. and → joins two equal clauses; but → joins two equal clauses that disagree; because → introduces a clause giving a reason; although → introduces a clause giving a contrast; when → introduces a clause giving a time; if → introduces a clause giving a condition
- 7. complex
- 8. a) because
Transforming sentences
- 1. b) Nobody was absent.
- 2. a) What a sad story it is!
- 3. d) As soon as she sat down, the phone rang.
- 4. The garden is full of roses. → Assertive — a statement; Is the garden full of roses? → Interrogative — a question; How lovely the garden is! → Exclamatory — a strong feeling; Water the garden, please. → Imperative — an order or request; She sings every morning. → Assertive — a statement; Does she sing every morning? → Interrogative — a question; What a voice she has! → Exclamatory — a strong feeling; Sing that song again. → Imperative — an order or request
- 5. a) None but she can solve it.
- 6. c) Has she finished her work?
- 7. 1. What 2. a 3. wonderful 4. surprise 5. this is!
- 8. so
Question tags
- 1. c) does he?
- 2. Everyone enjoyed the trip, → didn't they?; Nothing was broken, → was it?; We should leave now, → shouldn't we?; You had forgotten, → hadn't you?; There is a problem, → isn't there?
- 3. have you
- 4. You are ready, → Needs a negative tag; They came late, → Needs a negative tag; We can go now, → Needs a negative tag; It was raining, → Needs a negative tag; She has not finished, → Needs a positive tag; He never listens, → Needs a positive tag; Nobody knew the answer, → Needs a positive tag; You do not like coffee, → Needs a positive tag
- 5. can she
- 6. b) aren't I?
- 7. a) shall we?
- 8. d) has she?
Adverbs and their kinds
- 1. c) delicious
- 2. never
- 3. a) He is very tired.
- 4. loud → Adjective; loudly → Adverb; brave → Adjective; bravely → Adverb; sudden → Adjective; suddenly → Adverb; true → Adjective; truly → Adverb
- 5. b) How late the train was
- 6. gently
- 7. c) beautifully
- 8. c) lonely
Articles and determiners in use
- 1. each
- 2. a) Honesty is the best policy.
- 3. d) a little
- 4. Please shut ____ door behind you. → the; He is ____ cleverest boy in the class. → the; This is ____ third time I have rung the bell. → the; Everyone knows that ____ sun rises in the east. → the; I would like ____ same drink as yesterday. → the; We went back to work after ____ lunch. → no article; My uncle speaks ____ Japanese fluently. → no article; They came to the station by ____ bus. → no article
- 5. a → Article; an → Article; the → Article; few → Quantifier — how much or how many; several → Quantifier — how much or how many; much → Quantifier — how much or how many; this → Demonstrative — which one; those → Demonstrative — which one; that → Demonstrative — which one
- 6. the → a thing we have already mentioned; a few → a small number, but enough; few → hardly any at all; a little → a small amount, but enough; little → hardly any amount at all; either → one or the other of two; neither → not one and not the other of two
- 7. d) a little
- 8. a) Neither
Comparison of adjectives
- 1. more expensive
- 2. b) He is taller than his brother.
- 3. happier
- 4. cold → Add -er; expensive → Use "more"; bright → Add -er; difficult → Use "more"; happy → Add -er; careful → Use "more"; young → Add -er; interesting → Use "more"
- 5. d) as
- 6. tall → Positive; taller → Comparative; tallest → Superlative; good → Positive; better → Comparative; best → Superlative; beautiful → Positive; more beautiful → Comparative; most beautiful → Superlative
- 7. b) worst
- 8. d) She sings better than her brother.
Prepositions in idiomatic use
- 1. b) to
- 2. d) at
- 3. of
- 4. to
- 5. afraid → of the dark; good → at drawing; interested → in music; proud → of her work; famous → for its temples; full → of water
- 6. d) She is married to a doctor.
- 7. depend → on; insist → on; listen → to; belong → to; consist → of; approve → of; wait → for; search → for
- 8. b) to
Phrasal verbs
- 1. c) put off
- 2. 1. The 2. pilot 3. will 4. take 5. off 6. at 7. six.
- 3. take off → leave the ground; hand in → give to a teacher; come across → meet or find by chance; bring up → raise a child; get over → recover from
- 4. give up → stop trying; look after → take care of; put off → delay to a later time; find out → discover; call off → cancel; turn down → refuse
- 5. up
- 6. give
- 7. c) called off
- 8. b) Please switch it off.
Using a dictionary and a thesaurus
- 1. a) find another word with a similar meaning
- 2. d) to put up with
- 3. big → enormous; sad → heartbroken; hot → scorching; happy → delighted; cold → freezing; tired → exhausted
- 4. celery
- 5. d) harp
- 6. 1. pack 2. packet 3. page 4. paint 5. pair
- 7. Find out what a word means → Dictionary; Check how a word is spelled → Dictionary; Check whether a word is a noun or a verb → Dictionary; Find out how a word is said aloud → Dictionary; Find a more interesting word for "nice" → Thesaurus; Find a word meaning the opposite of "brave" → Thesaurus; Find three other words for "walk" → Thesaurus; Stop yourself repeating one word all through a paragraph → Thesaurus
- 8. quiet
Prefixes and suffixes
- 1. hopeful
- 2. -ful → full of; -less → without; -ness → a quality or a state; -ly → in that manner; -able → able to be; -er → a person who does it
- 3. un- → Prefix — goes before the word; -ful → Suffix — goes after the word; re- → Prefix — goes before the word; -less → Suffix — goes after the word; dis- → Prefix — goes before the word; -ness → Suffix — goes after the word
- 4. a) write again
- 5. teacher
- 6. un- → not; re- → again; pre- → before; mis- → wrongly; over- → too much; sub- → under
- 7. d) portable
- 8. unhappy
Direct and indirect speech
- 1. Asha said, "I am busy." → Direct speech; Asha said that she was busy. → Reported speech; "We have finished," they said. → Direct speech; They said that they had finished. → Reported speech; "I like mangoes," said Ravi. → Direct speech; Ravi said that he liked mangoes. → Reported speech
- 2. d) Ravi said that he was tired.
- 3. a) They said that they were leaving then.
- 4.
- the previous day
- the day before
- 5. b) She said she would call me the next day.
- 6. was
- 7. would
- 8. that day
Writing a paragraph
- 1. The monsoon changes life in many ways. → Topic sentence; Farmers begin sowing as soon as the first rain falls. → Supporting sentence; Rivers that were almost dry fill up again. → Supporting sentence; In all these ways the monsoon shapes the whole year. → Closing sentence; Bicycles are a cheap way to travel. → Topic sentence; They cost nothing to run and never need fuel. → Supporting sentence; So it is no wonder that so many people ride them. → Closing sentence
- 2. c) Coherence
- 3. a) The first bicycle was built in Europe.
- 4. c) Reading helps us in more ways than one.
- 5. a) So bamboo is one of the most useful plants we have.
- 6. 1. Making tea is easy if you follow four steps. 2. First, boil some water in a pan. 3. Next, add the tea leaves and let them brew. 4. Then pour in milk and sugar and stir. 5. Finally, strain the tea into a cup and drink it.
- 7. unity
- 8. topic
Writing an informal letter
- 1. address
- 2. c) Use stiff, official language
- 3. d) I hope this letter finds you well. I have so much to tell you about my holiday!
- 4. 3 — The greeting
- 5. informal
- 6. dear
- 7. b) With love,
- 8. c) Dear Ravi,
Year 8 English · www.arenapublications.com/learn