Reading comprehension is the act of understanding what you are reading. Comprehension tests are essential to check how well we understand things and improve our reading and thinking skills.
They give helpful feedback to grow and do better in school and in everyday life.
Comprehension Test for Class 8
#1 Comprehension Test for Class 8
Once, there was a merchant who sold salt. He had a strong donkey that carried heavy salt loads to far places. Sometimes, they crossed a stream to reach other villages. Once, the donkey slipped into the stream with the salt, dissolving much of it. The merchant lost money, but the donkey felt better with the lighter load and found it easier to cross the stream.
The donkey got an idea and started falling into the stream on purpose to make the load lighter. It did this again the next day, and the merchant realized the donkey’s trick. The smart donkey repeated this trick again, and the merchant knew the donkey’s plan.
To teach the donkey a lesson, the merchant put cotton on it instead of salt. When the donkey fell into the stream again, the cotton soaked up water and became heavy. The donkey struggled to move with the heavy load, learning its lesson. It understood that tricks were wrong and decided not to play them anymore. The merchant’s plan taught the donkey about honesty.
#2 Comprehension Test for Class 8
Oceans are extremely important to human life. The following are the importance of oceans:
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Fish is an important source of food and nutrition for human life. It has been a vital part of the human diet since prehistoric times. Fishing has become a well-developed industry today and significantly contributes to the economy of many nations. Oceans provide food and other marine products to humans. Several kinds of edible oil are manufactured by humans from marine animals. Besides, food and oil, marine animals and plants also provide leather, glue, and cattle feed.
Much research is on extracting essential oil and other products of marine life which can cure different diseases. Marine pharmacologists are researching the physical and chemical properties of marine organisms such as crabs, sea cucumbers, sharks, and cod. Oceans provide us with a variety of mineral resources. Some of these are common salt, magnesium, bromide, sulfur, gold, platinum, tin, sand, and petroleum.
The most important mineral resources obtained from the sea are petroleum and natural gas. Petroleum known as the ‘Black Gold’ is mainly found in the continental shelves and slopes. Bombay High is an important source of oil in India. Oceans also provide us with non-conventional sources of energy such as tidal energy—the energy generated from waves. The rise and fall of seawater is known as tides. Powerful tidal waves generate a large amount of force when they strike the shore. This energy is tapped and used to produce electricity.
Many countries are researching on the prospects of harnessing energy from the surface of ocean waters. Water at the surface of the sea in tropical regions may reach up to 30°C. Belgium and Cuba have designed floating generators that can be used for the production of electricity.
Oceans also regulate the temperature of the Earth. They cover about 71% of the Earth’s surface. They store the heat of the Sun and keep the Earth warm. This is because oceans absorb the heat of the Sun and release it after a long time. On the other hand, the land gets heated and releases the heat quickly. Had the land been greater than the water, it would have remained frozen for most time of the year.
Oceans play an important role in the water cycle. About 97% of the total water available on the Earth is stored in oceans. Water evaporates from the oceans in the atmosphere. It then condenses and precipitates on the Earth in the form of rainfall, dew, and snow.
#3 Comprehension Test for Class 8
Once, there was a wealthy man who wanted to throw a big feast for his friends. He had everything ready except for fish. He promised a reward to whoever could bring him some. A poor fisherman heard about the reward and caught a big fish to give to the rich man.
When the fisherman arrived at the rich man’s house, the gatekeeper, who was not very nice, stopped him. The gatekeeper said he’d only let the fisherman in if he shared half the reward. The fisherman thought of a clever plan to teach the gatekeeper a lesson.
The fisherman agreed to share half of his reward with the gatekeeper. Inside, the rich man was happy to receive the fish and wanted to give the fisherman Rs. 100 as a reward. However, the fisherman surprised everyone by asking for a hundred lashes on his back instead. People were puzzled, but the rich man agreed. As the lashes began, the fisherman stopped at fifty and said he had a partner who should receive the other fifty lashes. This partner was the greedy gatekeeper.
The gatekeeper ended up getting the remaining fifty lashes for his greediness. The rich man finally understood what was happening. After giving the gatekeeper his punishment, the rich man fired him from his job. The fisherman was rewarded handsomely for his cleverness and honesty.
#4 Comprehension Test for Class 8
He is that fallen lance that lies as hurled,
That lies unlifted now, come dew, come rust,
But still lies pointed as it plowed the dust.
If we who sight along it round the world,
See nothing worthy to have been its mark,
It is because like men we look too near,
Forgetting that as fitted to the sphere,
Our missiles always make too short an arc.
They fall, they rip the grass, they intersect
The curve of earth, and striking, break their own;
They make us cringe for metal-point on stone.
But this we know, the obstacle that checked
And tripped the body, shot the spirit on
Further than target ever showed or shone…………….by Robert Frost
#5 Comprehension Test for Class 8
Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village, though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep…………………by Robert Frost
#6 Comprehension Test for Class 8
In a village lived a hardworking farmer with four sons. Sadly, the sons were lazy and constantly fought among themselves. They spent their days sleeping and arguing while their father worked hard in the fields. The father’s attempts to involve them in work fell on deaf ears. Wanting to teach them a lesson, he devised a plan.
One day, the father asked his sons to bring a bundle of sticks. They did so, and he told them to break the bundle. Try as they might, they couldn’t break the bundle of sticks. Then, the farmer instructed them to break the sticks individually. When they separated the sticks and tried breaking them one by one, they succeeded easily. The farmer then explained, “See, my sons, these sticks have a lesson for you. When you’re united, like the sticks in the bundle, you’ll be strong and nobody can harm you. You can achieve a lot together. But if you’re apart and divided, like the separate sticks, you’ll be weak and won’t achieve much.”
These words opened the sons’ eyes. They realized the importance of unity and stopped quarreling. Instead, they started working hard and working together, making their father very happy.
#7 Comprehension Test for Class 8
The Maurya Empire is regarded as the first and greatest empire in India. It is called an empire because it annexes and brings under its control several smaller states. Chandragupta Maurya established the Maurya Empire in the 4th century BC by ousting the Nandas from Magadha. His son Bindusara further expanded the boundaries of the Maurya Empire. Bindusara’s son, King Ashoka is considered one of the greatest kings of ancient India.
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Kautilya’s Arthasastra is one of the most important sources of Mauryan history. Kautilya or Chanakya was Chandragupta Maurya’s chief advisor. The book contains important information on politics, rules of diplomacy, principles of administration, and other state affairs.
The Indika was written by Megasthenes who was the Greek ambassador to the court of Chandragupta Maurya. A Greek ruler named Seleucus sent him to Chandragupta’s court. Megasthenes lived in Chandragupta’s court for about five years. He observed the social customs, culture, and people of the country. His work in India was later mentioned by scholars like Arrian, Strabo, and Diodorus.
#8 Comprehension Test for Class 8
Once, a king named Midas helped a Satyr, and as a reward, he got a wish from Dionysus, the god of wine. Midas asked that everything he touched should turn into gold. Although Dionysus tried to discourage him, Midas insisted, and his wish was granted. Happy with his new power, Midas touched various things, turning them into gold.
But soon, he felt hungry and tried to eat. Unfortunately, the food turned into gold in his hands. Midas realized his mistake and exclaimed, “I’ll starve! Maybe this wasn’t a good wish after all!” His daughter tried to comfort him, but when he touched her, she turned into gold too. Midas finally understood that the golden touch was not a blessing, and he was filled with sorrow.
#9 Comprehension Test for Class 8
If it is not my portion to meet thee in this life
then let me ever feel that I have missed thy sight
—let me not forget for a moment,
let me carry the pangs of this sorrow in my dreams
and in my wakeful hours.
As my days pass in the crowded market of this world
and my hands grow full with the daily profits,
let me ever feel that I have gained nothing
—let me not forget for a moment,
let me carry the pangs of this sorrow in my dreams
and in my wakeful hours.
When I sit by the roadside, tired and panting,
when I spread my bed low in the dust,
let me ever feel that the long journey is still before me
—let me not forget a moment,
let me carry the pangs of this sorrow in my dreams
and in my wakeful hours.
When my rooms have been decked out and the flutes sound
and the laughter there is loud,
let me ever feel that I have not invited thee to my house
—let me not forget for a moment,
let me carry the pangs of this sorrow in my dreams
and in my wakeful hours-……………..Rabindranath Tagore
#10 Comprehension Test for Class 8
After his father Bindusara, Ashoka became king. When he became king, he called himself Devanamapriya (loved by the Gods) and Priyadarshi (the beautiful one). He ruled until 232 BC. Kalinga was in an important place. It was at the center of routes for trade and pilgrimages. So, Ashoka wanted to take control of it. In 261 BC, there was a big fight called the Kalinga War.
According to Megasthenes, Kalinga had a strong army. Ashoka had a hard time fighting them. He won over Kalinga, but a lot of people died in the war, about 150,000. This war changed Ashoka a lot and had big effects on him.
The sadness and deaths caused by the war changed Ashoka’s life a lot. He gave up the policy of conquest by force. After the war, Ashoka decided not to hunt or eat meat on some days. He also abandoned the life of luxury. Ashoka was inspired by the ideas of Buddhism. So, he made Buddhism the main religion in his kingdom.
People captured during the war were made to work on farms. This increased the productivity of the land and brought economic prosperity to the empire. Ashoka decided to stop fighting in wars and believed in not hurting anyone. This made the Mauryan army less strong.
After winning over Kalinga, Ashoka’s empire became much bigger. It went from the northwest Hindukush Mountains to the southern River Pennar. His empire also included the parts of Nepal, Kabul, Heart, and Kandahar provinces in the west.
#11 Comprehension Test for Class 8
Over hill, over dale,
Thorough bush, thorough brier,
Over park, over pale,
Thorough flood, thorough fire!
I do wander everywhere,
Swifter than the moon’s sphere;
And I serve the Fairy Queen,
To dew her orbs upon the green;
The cowslips tall her pensioners be;
In their gold coats spots you see;
Those be rubies, fairy favours;
In those freckles live their savours;
I must go seek some dewdrops here,
And hang a pearl in every cowslip’s ear. — by William Shakespeare
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Comprehension Test for Class 9