English
SECTION – A
(READING)
Q.1. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:
(1) Keep your watch accurate. For some people, moving up the time on their watch will help them get up earlier. For others, they will remember that the time on the watch is wrong and will disregard it altogether. It may be helpful to set your watch just two minutes ahead instead of five or ten.
(2) Keep a clock, phone, computer or anything that displays time in each room of your house. One of the easiest ways to run late is simply by not realising that the time is passing as quickly as it is.
(3) Set all your clocks and watches to the same time. Don’t be an optimist. Things usually take longer than what you’d expect, even without major delays. If you have a dinner appointment at 7:30 p.m., don’t think you can work till 7 p.m., then take a bath, dress and reach on time. Realistically, calculate the time you will take at each step and then add 10 minutes more to allow for unexpected delays, or you cannot get to your job in time.
(4) Wake up when you are supposed to wake up. Don’t hit the snooze button, keep on lying in bed, and watch TV at the very start of your day. Maybe try even setting your clock 10 minutes earlier than you need. If you have difficulty with this, move your alarm clock to somewhere away from your bed; that way, you have to get up to turn it off. Commit yourself to being 15 minutes early for everything. If you have to reach your place of work at 8:00, don’t even tell yourself this. Just tell yourself (and everyone else who listens- but don’t annoy them or make them think that they are late or early!) “I have to be at work at 7.45”. If you do this, you will be on time even with little unforeseen delays. You will be on time even with a traffic jam.
Q.1.1. Complete the following statements using words/phrases from the passage. Attempt any eight.
(a) Some people believe that if ….. it will help them be earlier.
(b) Many others know ….. they disregard it altogether.
(c) Keep …… in each room.
(d) One of the things that can be done is …… of five or ten minutes.
(e) Many a time we do not realise that ……
(f) Instead of pressing the snooze button ……
(g) If you have difficulty in getting up …….
(h) It is a good habit to ……. somewhere away from your bed.
(i) It is good to commit yourself …… for everything.
Answer: (a) they move up the time on their watch,
(b) that the time on the watch is wrong so
(c) a clock, phone, computer or anything that displays time
(d) to set watch just two minutes ahead instead
(e) the time is passing as quickly as it is
(f) wake up when you are supposed to wake up
(g) early then try to set your clock ten minutes earlier.
(h) move your alarm clock to
(i) to being 15 minutes earlier
Q.2. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow :
1. Music is perhaps the most popular and widely practised form of Fine Arts, transcending all kinds of cultural and linguistic barriers. Any form of fine art is difficult to master and almost impossible to perfect and music is no exception.
2. Nature, it is learnt, has blessed almost two- thirds of the human race with musical ability of some sort. Music has the power to bring out the deepest emotions. It can make one cry or bring a smile on one’s face. In fact it is a magic medicine and many seek refuge in it when they are depressed or stressed. It is this intimacy that makes us listen to music or even hum or sing sometimes. This singing, or realistically speaking, expressing one’s emotion musically sometimes takes a serious turn. This desire to show musical expression in public then becomes a serious business profession. And from here the musical journey begins.
3. This desire to sing before an audience is innocent and beautiful and indeed it is perfectly alright to have such a genuine desire. But it is also important to understand that, singing is an intricate art — a highly refined one at that, which requires systematic, prolonged and strict training, to be acceptable. This is an aspect we forget in our keen desire to reach the stage and perform. It is almost like preparing a formal meal for some specially invited guests, without even having learnt and trained in the basics of cooking. This is why we have more noise and less music nowadays.
4. These days almost everyone sings and it does not stop here. Most of us want to become professional singers, Result : a complete disregard for and ignorance of the
training part, as the need is never felt to go through one and the urge to get to the stage and perform overcomes even a little desire to learn, if any. If at all, somewhere along the way one feels the need to gain some knowledge and training, it leads to hurried shortcuts and half-hearted attempts, best described as ‘Crash Courses’.
5. It is observed that those who have attained the so called partial success, suddenly feel that they lack the required knowledge and are not learned enough. But it is too late by then. It should be understood here that the stage or a performance brings in a different mindset within the artist. It is always recommended and rightly said, that while on stage, cover the mistakes and weaknesses if any, and get along. But the contrary is true when it comes to acquiring knowledge and during the learning process. While under training, the student is expected to make mistakes but then rectify those mistakes under the supervision and guidance of the teacher. Therefore, it is good to make mistakes and be corrected during the process of learning as this subsequently makes one flawless and educated. This is a different mindset. And these two mindsets discussed above, (those of a performer and that of a student) cannot co-exist.
Q.2.1. On the basis of your understanding of the above passage, answer any four of the following questions in 30 – 40 words each :
(a) The desire to sing in public overcomes the need to train. Elaborate.
(b) How can we say that music is a magic medicine ?
(c) What is best described as ‘Crash Courses’ ?
(d) What should be the mindset of a student of music ?
(e) Why is singing a refined and intricate art ?
Answer: (a) The desire to sing in public is innocent and beautiful and indeed it is perfectly alright to have such a genuine desire. Most of us want to become professional singers with complete disregard for and ignorance of the training part. This is an aspect that we forget in our keen desire to reach the stage and perform which in turn, overcomes the desire to learn.
(b) Music has the power to bring out the deepest emotions. It is a magic medicine as it can make one cry or bring a smile on one’s face and many seek refuge in it when they are depressed or stressed.
(c) If one feels the need to gain some knowledge and training to become a professional singer, it leads to hurried shortcuts and half-hearted attempts, best described as ‘Crash Courses’.
(d) While under training, the student is expected to make mistakes but then rectify those mistakes under the supervision and guidance of the teacher. Therefore, it is good to make mistakes and then correct them during the process of learning as this subsequently makes one flawless and educated. This should be the mindset of the student of music.
(e) Singing is a refined and intricate art because it requires systematic, prolonged and strict training to be acceptable. We forget this aspect in our keen desire to reach the stage and perform. It is like preparing a formal meal for some specially invited guests without even having learnt and trained in the basics of cooking. That is why we have more noise and less music nowadays.
Q.2.2. On the basis of your understanding of the above passage, answer any four of the following:
(a) Almost of human population is blessed with musical ability of some sort.
(i) two-thirds
(ii) one-third
(iii) half
(iv) one-fifth
(b) Any form of is difficult to master.
(i) visual art
(ii) audio-visual art
(iii) fine arts
(iv) design art
(c) ‘Transcending’ in para 1 means.
(i) drown under
(ii) rise above
(iii) surrender
(iv) fail
(d) ‘Refuge’ in para 2 means.
(i) shelter from rain
(ii) shelter from storm
(iii) shelter from unhappiness
(iv) shelter from sun
(e) ‘Partial’ in para 5 means.
(i) unfair
(ii) incomplete
(iii) whole
(iv) total
Answer:
(a) (i) two-third
(b) (iii) fine arts
(c) (ii) rise above
(d) (iii) shelter from unhappiness
(e) (ii) incomplete
Section- B
(WRITING AND GRAMMAR)
Q.3. Promila/Praveen chopra reads the following news report in a newspaper and feels deeply troubled. She/He writes a letter to the Editor. The Times of Delhi’, New Delhi voicing her/his concern for ill * effect of synthetic milk on the health of unsuspecting consumers and suggesting ways to deal with the offenders. Imagine yourself as Promila/Praveen Chopra. 12/15, Kunj Vihar, Alapur and write the letter for her/him in 100 -120 words.
Alapur : August 24. The sale of synthetic milk continues unabated in the district despite ongoing efforts by the authorities concerned. Out of 20 samples of milk taken recently, reports of 19 which were received from Lakenagar Test Laboratory indicated adulteration with urea and other chemicals.
OR
Q.3. You are very impressed by the idea of ’Each one, Teach one and you want to participate in the campaign actively. Write an article in 100 -120 words to be published in your school magazine on the topic, “The Role of Students in Achieving 100% Literacy.” You are Mohan/Mohini.
Answer:
12/15, Kunj Vihar Alapur
25th August, 20XX
The Editor
The Times of Delhi
New Delhi
Sub: III effects of synthetic milk on health and suggestions to deal with it.
Sir,
This is with reference to a news report which I read yesterday, regarding the adulteration of milk with urea and other chemicals. It has greatly disturbed me as we have been hearing the increased cases of unique diseases daily which were never heard of earlier. They are the consequence of adulterated food products. Synthetic milk which contains the amount of urea, caustic soda, detergents and cheap cooking oils, increases the risk of heart problems. It is also harmful for pregnant ladies. Moreover, synthetic milk possesses cancerous properties and many people have been affected by it till date. Children are the biggest sufferers as their immune system is weak at a young age. The sodium that enters the body through the synthetic milk acts as a slow poison.
During the festival seasons, the increased cases of adulterated milk have come into light as the demand for milk increases to prepare sweets and other delicacies. Therefore, I suggest that the Health Department should keep a strict vigilance on these unscrupulous milk dealers and police should raid the milk factories from time to time. Food Safety and Standards Act prescribes a maximum of six months in prison for the offence and this should be taken into practice for sure. The Supreme Court has also advised the states to make the adulteration of milk a punishable offence. Thus, if these steps are followed strictly, I think the cases of milk adulteration will definitely reduce.
Thanking You
Yours Faithfully
Promila/Praveen Chopra
OR
Answer:
THE ROLE OF THE STUDENTS IN
ACHIEVING 100% LITERACY
By Mohan/Mohini
Youth plays a vital role in the development of any country and one cannot deny their importance in the upliftment of a nation. India is a land of villages and most of its population is illiterate. In many villages, there are no schools or teaching facilities. Thus, villagers don’t get any opportunity to learn. Poverty and ignorance have deprived them from becoming literate. They don’t even know how to write their name or recognize the alphabets. The villagers are bound by the superstitions and it is necessary to remove these beliefs from their minds. Therefore, it becomes the duty of the youth to render their services to them by teaching them. They can give their valuable advice and guidance to educate ’ them. The government has also started a campaign ‘Each one, Teach One’ to facilitate the learning programme for the illiterates. So anyone who wants to participate in this campaign can get their names enrolled. I think it is a very good initiative by the government. The students are the only ones who can change the mindset of the illiterates and transform them. They can easily teach them using innovative techniques which would help them in many things such as their farming process. The students could make groups among themselves and start teaching the illiterate people in their respective areas. With the increase in the population, the responsibilities of students have also increased. Their role in teaching people is now full of challenges and they can possibly achieve 100% literacy in the country by making revolutionary changes.
Q.4. Complete the story in 200 – 250 words, which begins as the following, providing an appropriate title also.
It was raining heavily, the street light had gone off and I was alone, coming back from my tuition class. It was 8 p.m. and very cold. Suddenly I
OR
Q.4. One day I was sleeping in my room. Suddenly I had difficulty in breathing. Upon waking up I found smoke coming into my room. I got up and opened my window.
Peeping out I saw
Answer:
A FEARFUL INCIDENT
It was raining heavily, the street lights had gone off and I was alone, coming back from my tuition class. It was 8 p.m. and very cold. Suddenly, I heard some footsteps behind me. I stopped and looked behind but saw no one. I started walking again and then, I heard the footsteps again. This time it scared me. The road was lonely and in that rainy night, I could hardly see a person or two on the sideways. I neither had an umbrella nor a raincoat as I couldn’t think of the possibility of rain that day. I imagined who it could be? a watchman returning home after his duty or a criminal following me for some purpose? Mere thought of the latter aroused my goosebumps. I dared not to see back and instead increased my walking speed. But what! The footsteps behind me were also heard walking rapidly. I prayed silently to God to help me. In my fear, I followed the wrong path. I thought of screaming for help but now no one was there. The whole road was deserted because the road which I had taken went towards the isolated industrial area and the workers might have gone to their houses by then. I started running fast and the footsteps behind me also started running fast. I was almost on the verge of fainting when the voice from behind held my breath. I mustered up the courage and turned back. I saw a tall man, wearing a long raincoat and a hat, moving towards me. In a stem voice he asked me stop and I stopped! When he came closer to me, I saw his face. He was a policeman who was doing his night duty. He asked me the reason for running as he suspected me to be a criminal. I explained him that I was returning back home from tuition and showed him my tuition register and books as proof. When he was satisfied with the answer, he escorted me to the house and went away.
OR
Answer:
A FIERY EXPERIENCE
One day I was sleeping in my room. Suddenly I had difficulty breathing. On waking up I found smoke coming into my room. I got up and opened my window. Peeping out, I saw a big fire which broke out in the busy commercial complex in front of my house. Without wasting a second, I rang up the fire brigade and informed the police too. The security guard was shouting at the top of his voice. Everyone came out of their houses. The fire started spreading fast and the worst thing that happened was the wind which started blowing at the same moment. It made the fire more tyrannous. Many people got trapped in the fire. I joined the others in the rescue work. Soon the police and firemen arrived and began doing their job. The police quickly evacuated the area and the firemen got engaged in fighting the fire. It nearly took one and a half hours to extinguish the fire. It was actually very difficult to evacuate the people trapped in the leaping flames. Fortunately, there was no harm to any life although goods worth lakhs were destroyed and turned into ashes. Later on, it was discovered that the fire broke out due to short circuit that had sparked off the fire in one of the shops in the complex. If there was no quick action taken by the firemen, policemen and security guards, anything hazardous could have happened.
That day, I understood the true value of our helpers and how they carry out their duties. Everyone’s job is equally important and we should never underestimate any work as no work is small. I salute these brave people who render their services to help others by putting their own lives at risk.
Moral – Always value the services rendered to us by the helpers’
Q.5. Fill in the blanks in the paragraph given below by choosing the most appropriate options from the ones that follow. Attempt any four. Write the answers in your answer sheet against the correct blank numbers.
Belgium is considered to __(a)__ a country __(b)__ chocolates. It is a big business __(c)__ employs nearly 72,000 people. Most Belgium chocolate makers __(d)__ their craft at vocational schools. They set up __(e)__ own business.
(a) (i) been
(ii) be
(iii) as
(iv) for
(b) (i) of
(ii) for
(iii) from
(iv) to
(c) (i) also
(ii) or
(iii) but
(iv) and
(d) (i) are learning
(ii) have learnt
(iii) will learn
(iv) learn
(e) (i) that
(ii) those
(iii) their
(iv) our
Answer: (a) (i) been
(ii) be
(iii) as
(iv) for
(b) (i) of
(ii) for
(iii) from
(iv) to
(c) (i) also
(ii) or
(iii) but
(iv) and
(d) (i) are learning
(ii) have learnt
(iii) will learn
(iv) learn
(e) (i) that
(ii) those
(iii) their
(iv) our
Answer: (a) (ii) be
(b) (i) of
(c) (iv) and
(d) (iv) learn
(e) (iii) their
Q.6. The following paragraph has not been edited. There is one error in each line. Identify the error and write down its correction against the correct blank number. The first one has been done for you. Attempt any four.
Answer:
Q.7. Rearrange any four or the following groups of words/phrases to make meaningful sentences:
(a) are / a storehouse / Indian / Indian art / of / temples
(b) these / the architecture / artistic masterpiece / of / temples / is an
(c) is situated / north-eastern / Konark temple / side / on the / of Puri
(d) chariot / from / temple is / the / the / a /in
(e) its sculptures / famous / is / for / temple / the
Answer: (a) Indian temples are a storehouse of Indian art.
(b) The architecture of these temples is an artistic masterpiece.
(c) Konark Temple is situated on the north-eastern side of Puri.
(d) The temple is in the form of a chariot.
(e) The temple is famous for its sculptures.
SECTION – C
(LITERATURE)
Q.8. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
The baker usually collected his bills at the end of the month. Monthly accounts used to be recorded on some wall in pencil. Baking was indeed a profitable profession in the old days. The baker and his family never starved. He, his family and his servant always looked happy and prosperous. Their plump physique was an open testimony to this. Even today any person with a jackfruit like physical appearance is easily compared to a baker.
(a) Where did the baker record his accounts?
(b) Why did the baker and his family never starve ?
(c) Which word in the extract is a synonym of ’rich’ ?
(d) How can a baker be identified in Goa ?
OR
Q.8. Now the name of the little black kitten was Ink.
And the little gray mouse, she called him Blink.
And the little yellow dog was sharp as Mustard,
But the dragon was a coward, and she called him Custard.
(a) Name the poem and its poet.
(b) What is the colour of Belinda’s dog ?
(c) What were the kitten and the mouse called ?
(d) Which word in the stanza is the antonym of ‘dull’ ?
Answer:(a) The baker recorded his accounts on some wall in pencil.
(b) The baker and his family never starved because baking was a profitable profession in the old days.
(c) The synonym of the word ‘rich is prosperous.
(d) A baker can be identified in Goa if he has a jackfruit- like physical appearance.
OR
Answer: (a) The name of the poem is ‘The Tale of Custard the Dragon’ and the poet Ogden Nash.
(b) The color of the Belinda’s dog is yellow.
(c) The kitten was called ‘Ink’ and the mouse was called ‘Blink’.
(d) Antonym of the word ‘dull’ is sharp.
Q.9. Answer any four of the following questions in 30-40 words each.
(a) Why did Leancho write a letter to God ?
(b) How did Chubukov react when lomov asked for the hand of his daughter in marriage ?
(c) Where in the classroom does Wanda sit and why ?
(d) How did Ebright’s mother helps him to becoming a scientist ?
(e) Why does Anil not hand Hari Singh over to the police ?
Answer: (a) Lencho’s crops were destroyed by a hailstorm. He had put all his money in farming and therefore, he was left with no money now. But he had strong faith in God that God would definitely solve his problem. So, he wrote a letter to God asking for 100 pesos so that he and his family wouldn’t starve.
(b) Chubukov was extremely cheerful and excited when Lomov asked for the hand of his daughter in marriage. He embraced and kissed Lomov on his forehead and shed tears of joy. He exclaimed with happiness that it was his heartfelt desire. He was of the opinion that Lomov would turn out to be the perfect match for his daughter, so he showered his blessings upon Lomov after hearing this.
(c) Wanda sits in the seat next to the last seat in the last row in Room 13. She belongs to a poor family. Her feet are usually caked with dry mud and the comer of the classroom in which she sits is also very dirty. In order to avoid the embarrassment and being laughed at by her classmates, Wanda sits there to hide herself.
(d) Ebright’s mother motivated him to leam. She was his only childhood friend and a companion. She used to take him on trips, buy scientific equipment like microscopes, telescopes, cameras, etc. and help him in many ways. She introduced him to Dr. Fredrick A. Urquhart of the University of Toronto, Canada. She found many interesting things for him to learn.
(e) Anil does not hand Hari Singh over to the police because he realizes that beyond his identity as a thief, Hari Singh is a good person and has learnt a lesson. Anil understands that Hari Singh has changed now otherwise he wouldn’t have put the stolen money back in its place. Anil has a humble nature so he wants to give Hari Singh a chance and forgives him for stealing money.
Q.10. Answer the following questions in 100-120 words:
Mme Forestier proved to be a hue friend of the Loisels. Elaborate.
OR
Q.10. Why did Gotami go to the Buddha ? What lesson did he teach her ?
Answer : Mme Forestier proved to be a true friend of Loisels. Mme Forestier played a crucial role in the story. She helped Mathilde when Mathilde needed her genuinely. Mathilde was blessed with a beautiful physique but she lacked the lavish lifestyle she yearned for. Therefore, she was discontented with her life. Although Mme Forestier treated her kindly, Mathilde was jealous of Mme Forestier because of her wealth. Once, Mathilde had to attend a fancy party so she borrowed a diamond necklace from Mme Forestier. Forestier was immediately ready to lend Mathilde the necklace. In fact, she displayed the entire array of her jewels in front of her and asked her to choose from them. She didn’t show any urgency to get back the necklace and when Mathilde returned the necklace, Mme Forestier didn’t even inspect it. It shows her honest nature. She also felt bad when Mathilde suffered unnecessarily to pay for a replacement necklace. Thus, she proved to be her genuine friend.
OR
Answer: Kisa Gotami was a young woman who belonged to a wealthy family. She was married to a merchant. When her one-year old child fell ill and died, she was grief- stricken and couldn’t bear his death. She took her dead child in her arms and went door to door begging everyone to tell the way to get her child back to life. Nobody helped her and instead thought her to be crazy but she didn’t give up. Then she came across a Buddhist who suggested her to meet Buddha as only he could help him. That’s why Gotami went to Buddha. Buddha taught her the lesson of life and truth. When she told Buddha the whole story, he listened to it with patience and asked her to collect mustard seeds from a house where no one had ever died. She went from house to house but she couldn’t find a single house where no one had ever died. Ultimately, she understood what Buddha had been trying to explain her that suffering is inevitable and in this way, she realized that death is the ultimate truth and one has to meet his destined end one day, no one can avoid it. So, she took her child away and became the Buddha’s follower.
Q.11. Answer the following question in 200 – 250 words :
Justify the title, “The Diary of A Young Girl’.
OR
Write a character sketch of Anne Frank.
OR
What type of relationship did Miss Anne Sullivan and Helen Share ?
OR
Write a character sketch of Alexander Graham Bell.