An unseen passage for Class 8 is a vital skill for students in Class 8 as it enhances their understanding of text and improves their ability to extract information. Unseen passages are an integral part of exams, helping students practice reading, analyzing, and answering questions effectively. This article will provide a sample unseen passage with answers to assist students in improving their comprehension skills.

For Class 8 CBSE students, unseen passages in English are an integral part of the curriculum, aiming to enhance their reading and analytical abilities. These passages not only test students’ understanding of the language but also prepare them for real-world communication by improving their vocabulary and critical thinking.

This article provides a carefully curated unseen passage with answers, tailored to meet the CBSE standards for Class 8. By practicing such passages, students can boost their confidence, refine their comprehension skills, and perform better in exams.

Read the passages given below and answer the questions that follow each of them

Unseen Passage For Class 8 : Passage 1

One of the greatest mysteries of bird life is travelling. Every year during autumn and early winter, birds travel from northern regions of Asia, Europe and America to the southern warmer lands. They make the return journey again during spring and early summer. They are punctual unless they are delayed by bad weather. They face many dangers and hardships while travelling long distances through the air, over hills, forests, plains and large stretches of water. Sometimes sudden storms arise and drive them far out of course. Often they are blown right out to sea and are drowned in the wild waves. At night bright lights attract and confuse the birds. They cannot fly at their fastest. The migration speed is usually from 48 to 64 km an hour and rarely exceeds 80.

1. When do the birds travel from northern regions to southern warmer lands and why?
2. What danger do they face when they are flying over the sea?
3. What happens to these birds at night when they see the lights?
4. When do the birds make their return journey?
5. What is the migration speed of the birds?
6. Which is the greatest mystery?
7. Which words in the passage mean the same as the following words: (i) Surpasses (ii) Secrets

————– ♦ —————

1. Answer: Birds travel from northern regions to southern warmer lands during autumn and early winter to escape the cold and find warmer climates.
2. Answer: When flying over the sea, birds face the danger of sudden storms that can blow them off course, and they may be drowned in the wild waves.
3. Answer: At night, bright lights attract and confuse the birds, making it difficult for them to navigate.
4. Answer: Birds make their return journey during spring and early summer.
5. Answer: The migration speed of the birds is usually between 48 and 64 km an hour and rarely exceeds 80 km an hour.
6. Answer: The greatest mystery is the travelling or migration of birds.
7. Answer: (i) Exceeds (ii) Mysteries

————– ♦ —————

Unseen Passage For Class 8 : Passage 2

When we enter New York harbour, the first thing we see is the Statue of Liberty. What impresses us the most is its size and magnificence. Have you ever wondered how it came to be there ? The Statue of Liberty was a gift from the people of France to mark the one hundred year anniversary of American Independence. In 1869, sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi began to plan his concept for the monument.

Bartholdi chose the look of classic Greek and Roman figures. He envisioned Liberty as a strong and proud figure, one who personified not only the majestic Greek goddesses of the past, but also the working men and women of the present. Finally, in 1884, the work was finished, and Liberty was packed into 214 crates and sent to New York city. Only one problem stood in the way. While the French had raised a lot of funds to build the statue, New York had not secured the funds to build its foundation. It was not until a New York newspaper implored people for donations that money became available. Finally, on 28th October 1886, Americans celebrated the unveiling of the Statue of Liberty.

1. Why was the Statue of Liberty given as a gift to America by France?
2. What is the name of the sculptor of the monument ‘the Statue of Liberty’ ?
3. What did the sculptor imagine the Statue of Liberty to be?
4. How many years did it take to unveil the Statue of liberty ?
5. Trace the word from the passage which means the same as “imagined”.

————– ♦ —————

1. Answer: The Statue of Liberty was given as a gift by France to America to mark the one hundred year anniversary of American Independence.
2. Answer: The name of the sculptor of the Statue of Liberty is Frederic Auguste Bartholdi.
3. Answer: The sculptor imagined the Statue of Liberty to be a strong and proud figure, personifying the majestic Greek goddesses of the past as well as the working men and women of the present.
4. Answer: It took 17 years to unveil the Statue of Liberty, from 1869 when the planning began to 1886 when it was unveiled.
5. Answer: The word from the passage that means the same as “imagined” is envisioned.

————– ♦ —————

Unseen Passage For Class 8 : Passage 3

Rainforests, dense and lush with diverse flora and fauna, play a crucial role in maintaining the ecological balance of our planet. Covering only about 6% of the Earth’s surface, they are home to over half of the world’s plant and animal species. Located primarily near the equator, rainforests are found in South America, Africa, Southeast Asia, and Oceania.

The biodiversity of rainforests supports a myriad of life forms. Trees in rainforests can grow up to 50 meters tall and create a complex canopy that regulates temperature and humidity levels below. This unique environment supports countless species of insects, birds, mammals, and amphibians, many of which are not found anywhere else on Earth.

Apart from their biological significance, rainforests also provide invaluable ecosystem services. They help regulate the global climate by absorbing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen through photosynthesis. Rainforests act as carbon sinks, storing vast amounts of carbon that would otherwise contribute to climate change if released into the atmosphere.

However, rainforests face severe threats from deforestation, primarily driven by agriculture, logging, and urbanization. Clearing land for farming, mining, and infrastructure projects leads to habitat loss and fragmentation, endangering countless species and disrupting vital ecological processes.

Efforts are underway to conserve and protect rainforests through initiatives like sustainable forestry practices, national parks, and wildlife reserves. Conservation efforts not only aim to preserve biodiversity but also recognize the cultural and economic importance of rainforests to indigenous communities and local economies.

1. Where are rainforests primarily located?
2. What is the significance of rainforests in terms of biodiversity?
3. How do rainforests contribute to regulating the global climate?
4. What are the main threats to rainforests?
5. What efforts are being made to conserve rainforests?

————– ♦ —————

1. Answer: A Rainforests are primarily located near the equator, in regions such as South America, Africa, Southeast Asia, and Oceania.
2. Answer: Rainforests are home to over half of the world’s plant and animal species, providing a unique environment that supports countless forms of life, many of which are not found anywhere else on Earth.
3. Answer: Rainforests absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen through photosynthesis, acting as carbon sinks and helping to regulate the global climate by storing vast amounts of carbon that would otherwise contribute to climate change.
4. Answer: The main threats to rainforests are deforestation caused by agriculture, logging, and urbanization. Activities like clearing land for farming, mining, and infrastructure projects lead to habitat loss, species endangerment, and ecological disruption.
5. Answer: Efforts to conserve rainforests include sustainable forestry practices, creating national parks and wildlife reserves, and initiatives to protect biodiversity while recognizing the cultural and economic importance of rainforests to indigenous communities and local economies.

————– ♦ —————

Unseen Passage For Class 8 : Passage 4

Once, it so happened that a Lion and a Bear were resting not very far from each other. They both chanced to see a strong kid nearby. The great Bear rushed to seize the kid from one direction and the Lion came towards it from the other.

Since both the lion and the Bear wanted the prey, they fought savagely for it. In the battle, both received so many wounds that they sank to the ground, as they were too exhausted to continue the contest. Just then the clever fox came by. The fox dashed up, seized the kid in his jaws by his teeth, and whisked it off.

The mighty lion and the powerful bear could only watch with helpless rage as a much weaker animal managed to get the prize, which they had themselves set their eyes upon. “It would have been much better,” agreed the Lion and Bear, “to have shared the prey between us ourselves in a friendly spirit, rather than lose it to a third party!”

1. Give a suitable title to the passage.
2. How was the fox able to get the Kid?
3. Write the message of the story in a sentence or phrase?
4. What lesson did the lion and the bear learn by their own action?
5. Find the synonym of “tired” from the second paragraph
6. Antonym of clever is _______.

————– ♦ —————

1. Answer: “The Lion, the Bear, and the Clever Fox”
2. Answer: The fox was able to get the Kid by seizing the opportunity while the Lion and the Bear were too exhausted and wounded from fighting each other.
3. Answer: “Unity and cooperation yield better results than rivalry.” or “Fighting among yourselves benefits your rivals.”
4. Answer: They learned that cooperation and sharing could have brought them success, instead of allowing a third party to take advantage of their quarrel.
5. Answer: Exhausted
6. Answer: Foolish

————– ♦ —————

Unseen Passage For Class 8 : Passage 5

For the mobility—impaired, highly trained canines called ‘service dogs’ can pick up dropped keys, open and close drawers, retrieve prepared meals, help a person in and out of bathtub, dial 911, push and pull wheelchairs, help operate a car or van and pull off gloves, shoes, socks and jackets. Other dogs provide specific assistance to those who suffer seizures (sudden attacks of illness) and require special medication. And, of course, the helping dogs provide companionship, play and give unconditional love to the people they assist.

It is thirty odd years now since the placement of the first assistance dog. But only in recent years, with the rising independent movement among disabled people has the idea begun to spread widely.

While most service-dogs are trained to work with people who rely on wheelchairs, other categories of helping dogs include hearing-dogs who alert their owners to sounds, such as doorbells, phones, cooking timers, alarm clocks, smoke alarms and seizure dogs which carry medication in their packs and are trained to dial 911 on large keypad phones.

1. The service-dogs were:
   
   a) paid highly
   b) less in number
   c) multiple taskers
   d) employees
   
   
2. The idea of assistance dogs became popular due to the:
   
   a) independent movement among the disabled
   b) awareness by the hospitals
   c) independence of the country
   d) both (a) and (c)
   
   
3. The categories of helping-dogs are:
   
   a) domestic dogs, service dogs & seizure dogs
   b) service, hearing and seizure dogs
   c) hunting and domestic dogs
   d) None of the above
   
   
4. There is a difference between:
   
   a) the service dogs and the helping dogs
   b) the serving dogs and canines
   c) the canines and ordinary dogs
   d) both (b) and (c)
   
   
5. Give the noun form of ‘trained’:
   
   a) train
   b) trains
   c) training
   d) trainee

————– ♦ —————

1. Answer: (c) multiple taskers
2. Answer: (a) independent movement among the disabled
3. Answer: (b) service, hearing, and seizure dogs
4. Answer: (c) the canines and ordinary dogs
5. Answer: (c) training

————– ♦ —————

Unseen Passage For Class 8 : Passage 6

Be like a flower. One must try to become like a flower: open, frank, equal, generous and kind. So you know what it means ?

A flower is open to all that surrounds it: nature, light, the rays of the sun, the wind etc. It exerts a spontaneous influence on all that is around it. It radiates joy and beauty.

It is frank. It hides nothing of its beauty and lets its fragrance flow frankly out of itself. What is within and what is in its depths, it lets it come out so that everyone can see it.

It is equal: it has no preferences. Everyone can enjoy its beauty and its perfume without rivalry. It is equal and the same for everybody. There is no difference, or anything whatsoever.

Then generous without reserve or restriction, it gives away the mysterious beauty and the very own perfume of Nature. It sacrifices itself entirely for our pleasure, even its life it sacrifices to express this beauty and the secret of the things gathered within itself.

And then, kind: it has such a tenderness, it is so sweet, so close to us, so loving. Its presence fills us with joy. It is always cheerful and happy.

Happy is he who can exchange his qualities with the real qualities of the flowers. Try to cultivate in yourself their refined qualities.

1. A flower is compared___________
   
   a) with all living things
   b) with human beings
   c) with girls
   d) with a child
   
   
2. A flower is open to all because___________
   
   a) it influences all
   b) it radiates joy
   c) it spreads its beauty to all
   d) all of these
   
   
3. The refined qualities of a flower are
   
   a) fragrance and beauty
   b) generosity and kindness
   c) equality and attractiveness
   d) frankness and honesty
   
   
4. The writer talks about___________
   
   a) rose flower
   b) lotus flower
   c) lily flower
   d) all flowers
   
   
5. A spontaneous influence means___________
   
   a) a slow influence
   b) a quicker influence
   c) naturally created influence
   d) a casual influence

————– ♦ —————

1. Answer: (b) with human beings
2. Answer: (d) all of these
3. Answer: (b) generosity and kindness
4. Answer: (d) all flowers
5. Answer: (c) naturally created influence

————– ♦ —————