CLASS -VIII : THE BEST CHRISTMAS PRESENT IN THE WORLD

 

🎄 The Best Christmas Present in the World

 Section A – Reading Comprehension 

1. Who is the author of The Best Christmas Present in the World?

a) Ruskin Bond b) Charles Dickens c) Michael Morpurgo d) R.K. Narayan

➤ Answer: c) Michael Morpurgo

2. Where did the narrator buy the old roll-top desk?

a) From a shop b) From a junk shop c) From a fair d) From a friend

➤ Answer: b) From a junk shop

3. What did he find inside the secret drawer?

a) Money b) A letter c) A photo d) A diary

➤ Answer: b) A letter

4. Who wrote the letter?

a) Jim Macpherson b) Connie c) Hans Wolf d) Narrator

➤ Answer: a) Jim Macpherson

5. Who was Connie?

a) Jim’s sister b) Jim’s wife c) Jim’s daughter d) Nurse

➤ Answer: b) Jim’s wife

6. When was the letter written?

a) December 25, 1914 b) January 1, 1915 c) December 24, 1914 d) December 31, 1914

➤ Answer: a) December 25, 1914

7. Which war is mentioned in the story?

a) World War I b) World War II c) Civil War d) Korean War

➤ Answer: a) World War I

8. Who was Hans Wolf?

a) German soldier b) British soldier c) Doctor d) Farmer

➤ Answer: a) German soldier

9. Which game did the soldiers play on Christmas?

a) Cricket b) Football c) Hockey d) Cards

➤ Answer: b) Football

10. What did the soldiers share with each other?

a) Chocolates and drinks b) Bullets c) Clothes d) Books

➤ Answer: a) Chocolates and drinks

11. What is a “truce”?

a) Ceasefire b) Victory c) Attack d) March

➤ Answer: a) Ceasefire

12. What happened to Connie’s house?

a) It was burnt b) Sold c) Abandoned d) Locked

➤ Answer: a) It was burnt

13. Where was Mrs. Macpherson later found?

a) In a hospital b) In a nursing home c) At home d) Abroad

➤ Answer: b) In a nursing home

14. Why did she mistake the narrator for Jim?

a) Poor eyesight and memory b) Same voice c) Told by staff d) Coincidence

➤ Answer: a) Poor eyesight and memory

15. Why is it called “The Best Christmas Present in the World”?

a) The letter brought love and peace b) It was costly c) It was handmade d) It was gold

➤ Answer: a) The letter brought love and peace

🪶 Part B: Vocabulary & Word Meaning

16. The word “truce” means —

a) Stop fighting b) Start war c) Victory d) Escape

➤ Answer: a) Stop fighting

17. Meaning of “no man’s land” —

a) A park b) Land between enemy trenches c) Peace area d) Border post

➤ Answer: b) Land between enemy trenches

18. “Ceasefire” means —

a) To stop fighting b) To burn c) To shout d) To hide

➤ Answer: a) To stop fighting

19. The word “curious” means —

a) Interested b) Angry c) Sad d) Confused

➤ Answer: a) Interested

20. “Amazed” means —

a) Shocked b) Surprised c) Bored d) Happy

➤ Answer: b) Surprised

21. Synonym of “old” in “old roll-top desk” is —

a) Ancient b) Modern c) Plastic d) Small

➤ Answer: a) Ancient

22. Opposite of “peace” is —

a) War b) Calm c) Friendship d) Unity

➤ Answer: a) War

23. “Roll-top” means —

a) Desk with curved sliding cover b) Wooden chair c) Iron box d) Shelf

➤ Answer: a) Desk with curved sliding cover

24. The word “desperate” means —

a) Hopeless b) Cheerful c) Careless d) Excited

➤ Answer: a) Hopeless

25. The word “mystery” means —

a) Puzzle b) Simple thing c) Joke d) Play

➤ Answer: a) Puzzle

✏️ Part C: Grammar

26. Choose the correct verb form:

The letter ___ by Jim.

a) write b) was written c) writing d) writes

➤ Answer: b) was written

27. Choose the correct preposition:

The narrator found a letter _ the drawer.

a) on b) at c) in d) from

➤ Answer: c) in

28. Identify the tense: “She was waiting for her husband.”

a) Present perfect b) Past continuous c) Simple past d) Future

➤ Answer: b) Past continuous

29. Choose the correct article:

It was _ old roll-top desk.

a) a b) an c) the d) no article

➤ Answer: b) an

30. Choose the correct pronoun:

Connie thought the narrator was _ husband.

a) her b) she c) his d) mine

➤ Answer: a) her

31. Choose the correct synonym for “kind”:

a) Cruel b) Generous c) Angry d) Rude

➤ Answer: b) Generous

32. Identify the adjective:

“It was an amazing experience.”

a) was b) amazing c) it d) experience

➤ Answer: b) amazing

33. Choose the antonym of “happy”:

a) Sad b) Excited c) Curious d) Brave

➤ Answer: a) Sad

34. Pick the correct conjunction:

Jim smiled _ tears filled his eyes.

a) because b) but c) and d) if

➤ Answer: c) and

35. Identify the correct modal verb:

We _ always believe in peace.

a) must b) can c) may d) might

➤ Answer: a) must

📖 Part D: Inference & Interpretation

36. The story mainly promotes —

a) Peace and humanity b) Anger c) War d) Wealth

➤ Answer: a) Peace and humanity

37. The letter symbolized —

a) Love & hope b) Money c) Property d) Loss

➤ Answer: a) Love & hope

38. What feeling united both sides?

a) Hatred b) Humanity c) Fear d) Pride

➤ Answer: b) Humanity

39. What lesson does the story teach?

a) Compassion wins over war b) Strength is power c) Money is everything d) Revenge is sweet

➤ Answer: a) Compassion wins over war

40. The Christmas truce shows —

a) Peace can exist even in war b) Soldiers are cruel c) Weapons are powerful d) None

➤ Answer: a) Peace can exist even in war

🧠 Part E: Higher-order Thinking

41. What would have happened if the narrator had thrown away the letter?

a) The mystery lost b) Jim would return c) Connie would die d) Nothing

➤ Answer: a) The mystery lost

42. Why is the narrator important?

a) He brings the letter to Connie b) He fights war c) He writes stories d) He saves soldiers

➤ Answer: a) He brings the letter to Connie

43. The theme of “reunion” is shown through —

a) Connie and Jim meeting b) Soldiers playing c) Christmas dinner d) The war

➤ Answer: a) Connie and Jim meeting

44. How did Connie feel after receiving the letter?

a) Peaceful b) Angry c) Upset d) Sleepy

➤ Answer: a) Peaceful

45. The narrator represents —

a) Modern humanity b) Fear c) War d) Anger

➤ Answer: a) Modern humanity

🧾 Part F: Vocabulary in Context

46. “A charred piece of paper” means —

a) Burnt b) Torn c) New d) Clean

➤ Answer: a) Burnt

47. “Anxiously” means —

a) Nervously b) Happily c) Slowly d) Angrily

➤ Answer: a) Nervously

48. “Fragile” means —

a) Strong b) Delicate c) Old d) Heavy

➤ Answer: b) Delicate

49. “Longing” means —

a) Desire b) Hate c) Anger d) Confusion

➤ Answer: a) Desire

50. “Regarded” means —

a) Considered b) Ignored c) Refused d) Removed

➤ Answer: a) Considered

💬 Part G: Grammar Practice

51. Choose the correct past tense:

They _ football on Christmas Day.

a) plays b) play c) played d) playing

➤ Answer: c) played

52. Identify the noun:

“Peace brings happiness.”

a) peace b) brings c) happiness d) both a and c

➤ Answer: d) both a and c

53. Fill in the blank:

She _ waiting since morning.

a) has been b) was c) is d) are

➤ Answer: a) has been

54. Identify the correct punctuation:

The narrator said “This is the best Christmas present.”

➤ Answer: The narrator said, “This is the best Christmas present.”

55. Choose the correct adjective form:

This is the _ gift I’ve ever received.

a) good b) better c) best d) nice

➤ Answer: c) best

🌟 Part H: Mixed Recall

56. Where did Jim and Hans meet?

a) In no man’s land b) In a trench c) In a village d) At a bar

➤ Answer: a) In no man’s land

57. What were they celebrating?

a) Christmas b) New Year c) Easter d) Victory

➤ Answer: a) Christmas

58. What did the narrator feel after meeting Connie?

a) Emotional satisfaction b) Fear c) Boredom d) Anger

➤ Answer: a) Emotional satisfaction

59. What did Mrs. Macpherson believe?

a) Her husband had returned b) The war continued c) The narrator was a doctor d) None

➤ Answer: a) Her husband had returned

60. The moral of the story —

a) Humanity is stronger than war b) Weapons win battles c) War is necessary d) Hate others

➤ Answer: a) Humanity is stronger than war