Class X English Language and Literature Past Paper PDF (2023-24)

ODISHA ADARSHA VIDYALAYA SANGATHAN CBSE ANNUAL EXAMINATION 2023-24 CLASS X ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE (Code 184) CLASS X General Instructions: 1. All questions are compulsory. 2. Attempt questions based on specific instructions for each part. 3. The Question Paper contains THREE sections- SECTION A- READING 20 MARKS SECTION B- GRAMMAR &CREATIVE WRITING 20 MARKS SECTION C- LITERATURE 40 MARKS 4. All answers must be correctly numbered as in the question paper and written in the answer sheet provided. 5. Strictly adhere to the word limit 6. 15-minute prior reading time allotted for Q-paper reading. SECTION A: READING SKILLS 20 MARKS I Read the passage given below. 10 1 Technology is making advancements at a rapid rate but at the cost of a valued tradition of the crafts industry. The traditional crafts industry is losing a lot of its trained and skilled craftsmen. With that, the art of embellishing brass and copper utensils with fine engravings is also disappearing. The Government has identified around 35 crafts as languishing craft. The speciality of handcrafted items is its design, an association with long traditions belonging to a specific region. The word 'handcrafted' does not imply the involvement of dexterous human fingers or an agile mind with a moving spirit anymore. Lessening drudgery, increasing production and promoting efficiency have taken precedence. The labour-saving devices are taking the place of handcrafted tools and this has jeopardized the skills of these artisans. 2 Mechanisation has made its way into everything cutting, polishing, edging, designing etc. Ideally, the use of machinery should be negligible and the handicrafts should be made purely by hand with a distinguishable artistic appeal. However, with the exception of small-scale industries, the export units are mostly operated by machines. The heavily computerised designs contribute to a faster production at lower costs. 3 Although mechanisation of crafts poses a challenge to safeguarding traditional crafts, the artisans are lured with incentives in order to impart handicrafts training. Some makers do see machines as a time- saving blessing since they are now able to accomplish difficult and demanding tasks with relative ease. These machines might give a better finesse to these products but they don't stand out as handcrafted. Quantity has overtaken quality in this industry. 4 A need to highlight the importance of the handmade aspect is required by both the government and private sectors, in order to amplify awareness and also support the culture of making handicrafts. A few artisans are still trying their best to rejuvenate and revive their culture and heritage but it's an uphill task competing with the machine- made goods. A multitude of artisans have changed their professions and are encouraging their progeny to follow suit. There are others who have stayed their ground but are Page 1 of 11 clearly inclined towards buying machines. 5 Nearly two decades ago, there were around 65 lakh artisans in the country. Three years ago, when the Government started the process of granting a unique number to the artisans based on the Aadhaar card, 25 lakhs were identified. Loss of traditional crafts is clearly a worrying issue, but it stands to reason that forcing any artisan to follow old ways when concerns of livelihood overrule other considerations is unfair. Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below. (Any Ten) 1x10 'At the cost of a valued tradition' means ___________. 1 i a) An expensive tradition b) A tradition that that has a lot of importance c) By giving up a cherished custom d) By harming a worthy practice Skilled craftsmen are leaving their traditional tools due to ________________ 1 ii a. The drudgery that these tools involve b. Advanced technology that requires less effort c. Their idleness in using hand-tools d. The time these tools take to craft a utensil Which of the following is not true? 1 iii a. Technology affects the skill of the craftsmen b. The skills of the craftsmen are diminishing c. Handicraft needs an intelligent brain d. Technology is replacing craftsmen What is the disadvantage of machine-made craft? 1 iv a. Machines can do all types of work required for a product b. Machines can create what craftsmen can. c. Such products do not have the artistic charm. d. Thirty-five types of craft are languishing. The reason for mechanization of craft product is ___________________ 1 v a. Cost and labour- saving effects b. The rate of production needed for export c. Only (A) d. Both (A) and (B) ‘Quantity has overtaken quality'. Can this trend be reversed for handcrafted products? 1 vi a. Yes, if there is training for the craftsmen b. No, because it is difficult to compete with machines c. Yes, because people value traditional art more d. No, because handicraft is dying out How will awareness improve the demand for handcrafted objects? 1 vii a. More people will be motivated to buy these objects. b. Both the government and the private sectors will buy these products. c. Handmade products look better than machine products. d. Buyers can understand which products are made by machines. Page 2 of 11 Some craftsmen still produce handicraft items. Why? 1 viii a. They are fascinated by their craft. b. They understand the value of traditional handicraft. c. They can make more money selling their product. d. The Government provides incentives to them. Choose the reason why the craftsmen encourage their children not to produce handicraft. 1 ix a. The cost of their produce goes higher. b. Getting customers to buy their products becomes impossible. c. Competing with machine production is very difficult. d. Parents want the younger generation to have an easy life. Select the main idea of the passage. 1 x a. Handicraft is not dying out b. Machines can do all types work done by artisans c. Livelihood is more important than craft supports d. Government production handicraft xi Why is it necessary to highlight the importance of handmade? 1 xii What is the meaning of ‘languishing craft’? 1 a. Expensive craft of ancient culture b. Craft with less value c. Craft of ancient culture d. Crafts which may be practised but are fading away due to global forces II Read the passage given below. 10 1 Kausani is situated at a height of 6,075 feet in the central Himalayas. It is an unusually attractive little town. It covers just about 5.2 sq. km.. It lies to the North of Almora in Uttarakhand's picturesque Kumaon region. 2 Kausani provides the 300 km. wide breath- taking view of the Himalayas. It is the most striking aspect of this place. Snow-capped peaks are spread in a stately row. They stare at you in silvery-white majesty. The most famous peak on view is Nanda Devi, the second highest mountain in India. It is situated at a height of 25,645 feet and is 36 miles away as the crow flies. The other famous peaks on view are Choukhamba (23,420 feet) and Trishul (23,360 feet). Then there are also Neelkanth, Nandaghunti, Nandaghat and Nandakot. On a clear day, the blue of the sky makes a splendid background to these peaks. At sunrise and at sunset, when the colour of the sky changes to a golden orange, the scene gets etched in your memory. 3 When Gandhiji visited this place in 1929, its scenic beauty held him spellbound. He named it the 'Switzerland of India'. He prolonged his two days stay to fourteen days, making time to write a book, 'Anashakti Yoga'. The place where he was staying was originally a guest house of a tea estate. It was renamed 'Anashakti Ashram' after the book. 4 Kausani is the birthplace of SumitraNandan Pant, India's poet laureate. Its natural surroundings inspired many of his poems. Its tea gardens mingle with dense pine forests and fruit orchards. The area is also host to many fairs and religious ceremonies. If Uttarakhand is the abode of Gods, Kausani is God's own backyard. There is no traffic; no one is in a hurry. If serenity could be put on a canvas, the picture would resemble Kausani. Page 3 of 11 Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below. (Any Ten) 1x10 i Kausani is situated on/in ___________ region. 1 a. The Himalayas b. Uttarakhand c. Almora d. Kumaon ii What does 'picturesque' mean in the first paragraph? 1 a. Attractive b. Scenic c. Striking d. Quaint iii 'They stare at you in silvery-white majesty'. Who are 'they' here? 1 a. The mountains b. The people of Uttarakhand c. The people of Kausani d. Not available in the passage iv What made Gandhiji to write ‘Anashakti Yoga’? 1 v Arrange the mountain peaks from the highest to the lowest in height. 1 a. Nanda Devi, Trishul, Chaukhamba b. Chaukhamba, Nanda Devi, Trishul c. Nanda Devi, Chaukhamba, Trishul d. Trishul, Nanda Devi, Chaukhamba vi How did Kausani influence Sumitranandan Pant? 1 vii What makes Kausani a calm and quite place? 1 viii The guest house where Gandhiji stayed bears the name_____________. 1 a. Anashakti Yoga b. Anashakti Ashram c. Both (A) and (B) d. None of these ix What does this phrase mean: 'If serenity could be put on a canvas, "? 1 a. This is a possibility. b. Artists can do this. c. This will be undoable. d. Kausani can be painted beautifully. x The following vegetation can be seen in Kausani. 1 a. Pine forests, fairs and festivals b. Tea gardens and pine forests c. Fruit orchards where festivals happen Page 4 of 11 d. Fruit orchards pine forests and tea gardens xi What is the most striking aspect of Kausani? 1 SECTION B: GRAMMAR 10 III Attempt ANY 10 of the following questions. 10 Fill in the blanks by choosing the correct options. 1 i The date of the examination _____________ by the department. a. Have announced b. Has announced c. Has been announced d. Announce Read the conversation between a teacher and a student. Complete the sentence by 1 reporting the student’s reply correctly. ii Rohan: Are you going to school today? Mohit: No, I am going to my uncle’s house. Rohan asked Mohit _______________ in response to this Mohit replied in negative and informed him that he was going to his uncle’s house. Select the correct option to fill in the blank for the given line. 1 iii _____________ you give me your note book? I have not completed my homework. a. Could b. Should c. May d. Shall Select the option that identifies the error and supplies the correction for the following line. 1 iv Every person of the family depend on Rohan for their survival and their activities. Option Error Correction a their There b depend depends c every Each d and Or Complete the given narrative, by filling in the blank with the correct option: 1 His thoughts _______________ by his way of living and the place where he lives v a. Is characterised b. Was characterized c. Are characterized d. Are characterizing Page 5 of 11 Choose the correct option. 1 You have to write a letter to the editor of a national daily drawing attention towards the problems occurred due to low voltage vi a. To restrict the usage of electricity b. Inconvenience faced by the people due to low voltage c. Drawing attention towards conserving energy d. Improper service for the common people Report the dialogue between a father and his son, by completing the sentence: 1 vii Sohan: Have your father permitted you for the picnic? Nikita: No, Not yet. Sohan asked Nikita _______________ to which she replied in negative. Identify the error in the given sentence and supply the correction. 1 viii Matilda has always been unhappy and fought to destiny. Error Correction ix Neha asked Mitesh about his trip to Rameswaram. Report Neha’s question about the trip. 1 How is your trip to Rameswaram? Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option to complete the statement. 1 Children _________ in the field since morning. x a. Is playing b. Was playing c. Has been playing d. Had playing Select the correct option to complete the narration of the dialogue between Rohan and 1 Ankit. Rohan: How are your classes going on? Ankit: It is good but I am not attending as my health is not good. xi Rohan asked Ankit how his classes were going on. To this Ankit replied ____________ a. That it was good but he was not attending as his health is not good. b. That it is good but he was not attending as his health is not good. c. That it was good but he is not attending as his health is not good. d. That it was good but he was not attending as his health was not good. You ___________ plant many trees to save our earth. 1 xii a. Would b. Might Page 6 of 11 c. Should d. Shall IV SECTION B –CREATIVE WRITING SKILLS 10 1 Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below. 5 1A You are Ankit/ Ridhima of BasantVihar, Cuttack. Now-a-days, mobile phone is helpful for study purpose but according to a survey, it is widely misused by the students which hamper their study as well as their life. Write a letter to the Editor of the local daily in not more than 120 words to aware the students and the parents about the impact of misusing the mobile phones. OR 1B You are Aditi/ Abhaya, the Secretary of Modern Public School. Your school is going to purchase different kinds of books for its library. Write a letter in 100-120 words to KitabMahal, Buxi Bazar, Cuttack placing an order of different books. 2 Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below. 5 2A The given table shows the no of voters of different age groups of a village from the year 2010-2022. Write an analytical paragraph in about 100-120 words using the information given below. YEAR AGE GROUP 1 AGE GROUP 2 AGE GOUP 3 18- 29 YRS 30-50 YRS 50 YRS ABOVE 2010 1150 1056 900 2014 1254 1576 1124 2018 1432 1127 1000 2022 2132 1452 1265 OR 2B The given pie chart represents the percentage of students choosing different streams as career in a state. Write an analytical Paragraph in about 100 to 120 words using the information given in the chart. OTHERS 7% DIPLOMA 14% SCIENCE COMMERCE 43% 13% ARTS 23% Page 7 of 11 SECTION C – LITERATURE 40 V Reference to the Context. 10 1 Attempt ANY ONE of two extracts given. 5 1A. The young seagull was alone on his ledge. His two brothers and his sister had already flown away the day before. He had been afraid to fly with them. Somehow when he had taken a little run forward to the brink of the ledge and attempted to flap his wings he became afraid. The great expanse of sea stretched down beneath, and it was such a long way down- miles down. He felt certain that his wings would never support him; so he bent his head and ran away back to the little hole under the ledge where he slept at night. (Two stories about flying) i. The young seagull was afraid of __________________ 1 a. Eagles and vultures b. Flying over the sea c. The big ships and boats sailing over the sea d. Sharks and dolphins ii. What did the young seagull think about his wings? 1 a. His wings would not support him to fly. b. They were strong enough to fly him over the sea. c. His wings were like floaters. d. His wings were strong and huge. iii. Where had his siblings gone to? 1 a. To the next continent b. To a new destination c. Into the sea d. They were in the hole, and had not gone anywhere. iv. Find out a word in the passage that means a narrow flat piece of rock that sticks out from a 1 cliff. a. Expanse b. Ledge c. Beneath d. Flap v. 'So he bent his neck and ran away...'. What attitude did the seagull express? 1 a. Fright b. Defeat c. Frustration d. Shame OR 1B. I started right away at the Montessori nursery school. I stayed there until I was six, at which 5 time I started in the first form. In the sixth form my teacher was Mrs Kuperus, the headmistress. At the end of the year we were both in tears as we said a heart breaking farewell.In the summer of 1941 Grandma fell ill and had to have an operation, so my Page 8 of 11 birthday passed with little celebration. Grandma died in January 1942. No one knows how often I think her and still love her. This birthday celebration in 1942 was intended to make up for the other, and Grandma's candle was lit along with the rest. The four of us are still doing well, and that brings me to the present date of 20 June 1942, and the solemn dedication of my diary. (The Diary of Anne Frank) i. How long did Anne start her education in Holland? 1 ii. Her teacher and Anne both were in tears at the end of the school term because _____ 1 a. the teacher was a nice person b. she was a good teacher c. they were close to each other d. Anne was going to leave the school iii. How do you know that Anne was very close to her grandmother? 1 a. She did not tell anyone about it. b. She stayed with her when she was a very young child. c. She attended her grandmother when she fell ill. d. She remembered her grandmother very fondly. iv. Why was a candle lit for her grandmother on Anne's birthday? 1 a. To make Anne happy b. To celebrate more c. In her memory d. All above v. What does 'solemn dedication' signify? 1 a. Sad message b. Sincere commitment c. sombre address d. impressive influence 2. Attempt ANY ONE of two extracts given. 5 2A. His ball went. I would not intrude him A dime, another ball, is worthless. Now He senses first responsibility In a world of possessions. (The Ball Poem) i. Giving another ball to the child is ______________ 1 a. Intruding on him b. Worthless c. Going to make him upset Page 9 of 11 d. Make him happy ii. What is the state of mind of the boy after losing the ball? 1 a. Sad b. Happy c. Not so shocked d. None of these iii. What is the ball symbolic of? 1 a. His favourite thing b. Childhood memories c. His incapability d. His carelessness iv. What does in the world of possession mean? 1 v. Why does the poet say ‘I would not intrude him’? 1 a. He does not like to interfere in other’s matter b. He thought the boy will forget about it c. He wants the boy to learn the meaning of loss d. None of these OR 2B. Belinda tickled him, she tickled him unmerciful, Ink, Blink and mustard, they rudely called him Percival They all sat laughing in the little red wagon At the realio, trulio, cowardly dragon.” (The tale of Custard: The Dragon) i. Why did Belinda tickle him? 1 a. To take revenge b. He troubles Belinda c. She enjoyed troubling him d. He was not listening to her ii. Which poetic device is used in the above extract? 1 a. Simile b. Metaphor c. Alliteration d. Imagery iii. What does the word ‘Percival’ mean? 1 a. A cruel person b. A timid person c. A demon in King Arthur’s court d. A knight in king Arthur’s court iv. Why is the dragon called as coward? 1 v. The tone of the stanza is __________ 1 a. Humorous b. Optimistic c. Harsh Page 10 of 11 d. Tragic VI Answer ANY FOUR of the following in about 40-50 words each. 4*3=12 i. What are the legends about the discovery of tea? (Tea From Assam) 3 ii. What was Valli’s favourite pastime? How did she live her life? (Madam rides the bus) 3 iii. How did Anne justify her being a chatterbox in her essays which later allowed her to talk in 3 the class? (From the Diary of Anne Frank) iv. How did Custard prove to be brave when the pirate came? (The Tale of Custard the 3 Dragon) v. What does the Buddha say about the suffering of the world? (Sermon at Benaras) 3 VII Answer ANY TWO of the following in about 40-50 words each. 2*3=6 i. Why the twentieth century was called the ‘Era of the Book’? (The book that saved 3 the Earth) ii. Bholi was fascinated by the walls of the classroom. Why? (Bholi) 3 iii. Why did Mrs Pumphrey takeTricki to the doctor? (A Triumph of Surgery) 3 VIII Answer ANY ONE of the following in about 100-120 words. 1*6=6 i. Describe the character of Lomov. (The Proposal) 6 OR ii. “The airhostess was the very queen of her kind”. Do you agree? Justify the statement by 6 referring to the context. (Mijbil: the Otter) IX Answer ANY ONE of the following in about 100-120 words. 1*6=6 i. What strange or extra ordinary things occur at the inn? (Foot prints without feet) 6 OR ii. ‘Vanity is evil. It leads to ruin’. Justify the statement by referring to Matilda’s life. 6 (The Necklace) Page 11 of 11 Maximum Mark: 80 Time allowed: 3 Hrs. General instructions: 1. All the questions are compulsory. 2. Attempt the questions based on specific instructions for each part. 3. The question paper contains THREE sections: SECTION A – READING 20 MARKS SECTION B- GRAMMAR & CREATIVE WRITING 20 MARKS SECTION C – LITERATURE 40 MARKS 4. All answer must be correctly numbered as in the question paper and written in the answer sheet provided 5. Strictly adhere to the word limit. 6. 15- Minute prior reading time allotted for Q-paper reading. 20 SECTION- A : READING SKILL MARKS I Read the passage given below. 10 (1) While we all may not possess the ability to paint the Mona Lisa, compose like Mozart, cook like Julia Child, or Organic food write like Hemingway, every human being is born with a special talent. Some people are able to find and learn to express their talents early on while others might discover them later in life. We are all creative beings, and creative beings need to create as much as we need to eat, breathe and sleep. Creativity has different meaning for different people and unfortunately, due to many factors (one's upbringing, religion, busy schedule, et cetera), that creativity is often stifled. Its importance is not valued as much as it should be which can have a powerful effect on one's overall ability to achieve true happiness and success in life. If we stifle our creativity or discount its importance, we create blockages in other aspects of life, which can hinder our ability to move forward in different areas like health, work and personal relationships. (2) No matter how busy one's schedule is, it is very important to schedule time for self-care, specifically for expressing creativity. Trying out different hobbies is a great way to explore one's creativity because it can be very enjoyable. Some people find one hobby and fall in love with it so much that it becomes their passion. For example, I love to play with natural ingredients and blend essential oils. Making all- natural, organic skin care products and teaching the recipes in my community workshops is one of my passions. Some people prefer to try different hobbies for shorter periods of time, or change them up each season to stay interested and keep trying different things. (3) One great thing about hobbies is that there are no set of rules. Each person gets to decide how often they want to do it and whether they want to stick with it for a long time or move on to something else after trying it for a few weeks or months. Another valuable aspect of hobbies is that one can enjoy them quietly when enjoying some downtime alone, or as a way to become involved with a community. Book clubs, art or cooking classes, writers" workshops, knitting circles, gardening clubs nearly every type of hobby presents an opportunity to meet with other likeminded individuals and build relationships. This could be beneficial on both personal and professional level. In any business, especially the salon and spa business, teamwork is vital to success. (4) Hobbies can be a great way to create a community among co-workers either in or outside of the spa. Sometimes if co-workers are not getting along, having them participate in a seemingly non-work related hobby, where all participants are novices, can be great for creating common ground. Often, the simple act of providing Page 1 of 11 an opportunity for a person to find and express his or her own inherent creative talents produces significant positive changes. When people experience something as simple and profound as creating something beautiful from seemingly nothing, they begin to view the world and daily environments in a fresh, new way. Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the question given below. 1×10 i The examples of Mozart, Julia Child and Hemingway are used here to mark their: (A) talents (B) cooking skill 1 (C) creative expertise (D) none of the above ii The criteria which DOES NOT stifle one's creativity (A)Upbringing (B) health 1 (C) busy schedule. (D) religion iii According to the passage, what DOES NOT receive its deserved importance? (A) skills (B) creativity 1 (C) relationships (D) beauty iv Choose the option in which the meaning of 'stifle' is NOT the same as it is in the passage. (A) She stifled a giggle. (B) Those in the streets were stifled by the fumes. 1 (C) High taxes were stifling private enterprise (D) The children tried to stifle their laughter during class v What do we achieve from creativity? (A) happiness (B) success in life 1 (C) both (A) and (B) (D) none of these vi Which is false about creativity? (A) Creativity has different meaning to different people. (B) When people create something beautiful, they begin to view the world differently. 1 (C)Expressing his or her own inherent creative talents produces significant negative changes. (D) Creative minds have lots of opportunities to meet the likeminded people. vii How can one explore one's creativity? (A) By trying out different hobbies. (B) by creating a set of rules 1 (C) meeting other likeminded people (D) all of the above viii The word in para 4 which means "deep and intense' is (A) novice 1 (B) profound (C) inherent (D) significant ix What can later become one's passion? 1 Page 2 of 11 (A) hobby (B) education (C) profession (D) religion x Choose the option which is NOT a correct statement about hobbies. (A) They do not have any set of rules. (B) People have every freedom to decide how and when to continue with their hobby. (C) Hobbies are a great way to maintain personal relationships. (D) We can stick to a hobby for a long time but can't switch to another. II Read the following excerpt from a case study titled 'Impacts of Festivities on Ecology'. 10 (1) Festivals are synonymous with celebration, ceremony and joy. However festivals bring to fore the flip side of celebrations pollution - air, water, soil and noise. This led to the need of assessing the awareness level among people about ecological pollution during festivals. So, a study was conducted by scholars of an esteemed university in India. This study was titled "Awareness Towards Impact of Festivals on Ecology." (2) There were two main objectives of the study. The first one was to assess the awareness level among people about ecological protection during festivities, exploring solutions to bring awareness about celebrating festivals without harming ecology was the second objective. The method used to collect data was a simple questionnaire containing 6 questions, shared with 50 respondents across four selected districts of a state in the southern region of India. (3) The research began by understanding the socio-economic conditions of the respondents before sharing the questionnaire. Once the responses were received, the data collected was tabulated (Table 1), for analysis. Table-1: Awareness level among respondents. Questions Yes % No Can’t Say 1. Do you feel that bursting crackers is a must 46 54 0 during festivities? 2. Do you think most people abuse environmental 72 28 0 resources during celebration of festivals? 3. Do you think that celebrations and festivities 64 32 4 result in uniting people? 4. Do you enjoy bursting crackers for amusement? 68 32 0 5. Do you feel pressured to burst 82 crackers 82 12 6 during festivals as an expectation of your social status? 6. Are you aware of waste segregation and 56 40 4 disposal guidelines for better ecology? (4) The study recommended the imposition of strict rules and regulations as opposed to a total ban on all festive activities which have a drastic impact on our environment. The researchers believed that such measures would help in harnessing some ill-effects that add to the growing pollution and suggest further studies be taken up across the country to assess awareness about ecological degradation. (5) The observations made in the study pointed to the environmental groups and eco-clubs fighting a losing battle due to city traffic issues, disposal of plastics, garbage dumping and all sorts of ecological degradation. The researchers stressed that the need of the hour is increasing awareness among reduce ecological pollution which can be facilitated by celebrating all festivals in an eco- friendly manner. Page 3 of 11 Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the question given below. 1×10 i Why do the researchers call pollution the 'flip side' of festivals? 1 ii What is the significance of the second objective of the study with reference to paragraph-2 1 iii Justify the researchers' recommendation for limiting the drastic impact of festival pollution on the 1 environment with reference to paragraph 3 & 4. iv Why do the researchers feel that environmental groups and eco- clubs are fighting a losing battle in 1 the given scenario? v Even though a larger number of people say 'no' to bursting crackers than those who say 'yes', 1 festival pollution persists. How does evidence from Table 1 support this statement? vi 82% of respondents said they feel pressured to burst firecrackers during festivals. This is an example 1 of: (A) Psychological manipulation (B) Peer pressure (C) Ethical behavior (D) Brainwashing vii According to the survey, what was needed to stop people from bursting firecrackers during 1 festivals? (A) A complete ban on firecrackers (B) Strict rules and regulations (C) Finding eco-friendly alternatives to firecrackers (D) None of the above viii 'Festivals are synonymous with celebration, ceremony and joy.' Replace the underlined word with 1 an option that means the same. (A) Relatable (B) One and the same as (C) Opposite to (D) Symbolic of ix The researchers were able to find from the survey that: 1 (A) A majority of people think firecrackers are a must during festivities. (B) A major portion of the respondents do not like bursting firecrackers. (C) Everyone was aware of the waste disposal guidelines. (D) Many people abuse environmental resources during festivals. x Why did the researchers begin by understanding the socio-economic conditions of the respondents? 1 (A) To understand how much they spent on firecrackers. (B) They only wanted to focus on one socio-economic class. (C) They wanted to find which socio-economic class causes most pollution. (D) None of the above SECTION –B : GRAMMAR 10 III Attempt any ten of the given questions. 1×10 i Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option to complete the following. 1 The police told the protesters to __________. (A) back off (B) back into (C) back down (D) back up ii Read the conversation and complete the sentence by reporting the reply correctly. 1 Mike: I haven't seen you since June. Page 4 of 11 Liz: I've just come back from my holiday in Ireland. Mike said that he had not seen Liz since June. Liz explained________ iii Identify the error in the given sentence, from a school magazine report and supply the correction. 1 While much needs to be done to transforming our education system to meet the needs of all types of students, it is equally important to teach our children the art of taking stress in their strides. Use the given format for your response. Error Correction iv He ________his boss that he________ back after his vacation. 1 (A) won't tell/won't have come (B) isn't telling/doesn't come (C) doesn't tell / hasn't come (D) hasn't told/won't be coming v Fill in the blank by using the correct form of the word in the bracket, for the given portion of a letter: 1 This selfless initiative _____ (carry) out with dedication and responsibility, deserves due recognition. vi Read the conversation between a doctor and his patient. Complete the sentence by reporting the 1 patient's reply correctly. Doctor: How do you feel now? Patient: Slightly better. The doctor, while trying to figure out his patient's ailment, asked how he felt then, to which, the patient affirmed_______. vii Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option, to complete Mrs. Harding's irate warning to her 1 neighbour Joshua. You _________your car in front of the garage entrance at any time. (A) can't park (B) shouldn't be parking (C) don't have to park (D) wouldn't have parked viii Select the correct option to fill in the blank for the given line, from an environmental magazine. 1 Long periods of drought ______turn fertile lands into deserts with little vegetation. (A) may (B) could (C) shall (D) will ix Choose the correct reported speech of a given sentence: 1 A doctor said, "You take rest." (A) A doctor was advised me to take rest. (B) A doctor said me to take rest. (C) A doctor advised me to take rest. (D) A doctor said me to you had taken rest. x Elvis went to a shop to mend his watch. The watchmaker asked a few questions related to the 1 watch. Report his question. “Did you buy this Swiss watch at my place?” xi Report the dialogue between a mother and her daughter, by completing the sentence: 1 Mother: When will your exams start? Page 5 of 11 Daughter: Next month, Mother. In response to the question about her exams, the daughter told her mother that _______. xii Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option optio to complete the following. 1 He _______the photos on the table so that everyone could see them. (A) spread away (B) spread in (C) spread out (D) will be spreading IV SECTION –B : CREATIVE WRITING SKILL 10 1 Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below. 5 1A Roadside vendors occupy most of the space on roads disturbing the flow of traffic and causing difficulties even to the pedestrians. Write a letter to the Editor of a national daily, in about 120 words, expressing your views and suggesting ways and means to curb this problem. You are Roshni/ Rohan, 15, Niladri Apartments, Cuttack. OR 1B You are the Physical Education Instructor at Odisha Adarsha Vidyalaya Khiching, Mayurbhanj. You had placed an order for sports goods with Student Sports Enterprises. When the items arrived you found that some of them were defective. Write a letter to the Manager, Student Sports Enterprises, asking him to replace the defective items. 2 Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below. 5 2A The given pie chart illustrates how internet users aged 15+ prefer to access the internet at home and in other places. Write an analytical paragraph using the information given in the pie-chart. pie OR 2B The given double bar graph shows the runs scored by two batsmen in five different test matches 100 120 words summarising the they have played in a year. Write an analytical paragraph in 100-120 information and make comparisons wherever relevant. Page 6 of 11 SECTION –C : LITERATURE 40 V Attempt any one of two extracts given below. 5 1A OOP: I haven't a clue. I've been to seven galaxies, but I've never seen anything like this. Maybe they're hats. (He opens a book and puts it on his head.) Say, maybe this is a haberdashery! OMEGA: (bowing low) Perhaps the Great and Mighty Think Tank will give us the benefit of his Think-Tank thought on the matter. THINK-TANK: TANK: Elementary, my dear Omega. Hold one of the items up so that I may view it closely. (Omega holds a book on the palm of her hand.) Yes, yes, I understand now. Since Earth creatures are always eating, the place in which you find yourselves is undoubtedly a crude refreshment stand. OMEGA: (to lota and Oop) He says we're in a refreshment stand. OOP: Well, the Earthlings cer certainly have a strange diet. (The Book that Saved the Earth) i 1 Why did Omega bow low before Think-Tank? Think (A) As a mark of respect and recognition of supremacy. (B) To flatter and appease the character. (C) As a sign of submission and understanding of his strength. (D) To curry favour and goodwill from the character. ii 1 Choose the option that associates the person to a haberdashery. haberdashery (A) Jagdeep is a primary school teacher who teaches English. (B) Tanishq is a tailor who makes garments for men only. (C) Falguni is a chemist who manufactures her own medicine. (D) Asma is an engineer who works on designing space stations. iii 1 Choose the option that hat associates the person to a haberdashery. haberdashery (A) Jagdeep is a primary school teacher who teaches English. (B) Tanishq is a tailor who makes garments for men only. (C) Falguni is a chemist who manufactures her own medicine. (D) Asma is an engineer who works on designing space stations. Page 7 of 11 iv 1 The quality of being crude has been allotted to the refreshment stand because (A) Earthlings have bad eating habits according to Think-Tank. (B) the temperature of the refreshment stand was too high. (C) the refreshment stands are responsible for poor health of the Earthlings. (D) it produces food that is unrefined and unprocessed in nature v 1 Earth inhabitants are Earthlings and those from Mars are Martians, what are the inhabitants of Venus dressed as in most sci-fi stories? (A) Venusites (B) Venatians (C) Venings (D) Venusians OR 1B He just felt a bit dizzy. Then he flapped his wings once and he soared upwards. "Ga, ga, ga, Ga, ga, 5 ga, Gaw-col-ah," his mother swooped past him, her wings making a loud noise. He answered her with another scream. Then his father flew over him screaming. He saw his two brothers and his sister flying around him curveting and banking and soaring and diving. Then he completely forgot that he had not always been able to fly, and commended himself to dive and soar and curve, shrieking shrilly. i Pick the most appropriate reason why the young gull felt dizzy. 1 (A) He hadn't eaten anything for a day. (B) He was dizzy with excitement. (C) He was wary of heights. (D) He was flying for the first time ii How would you describe the screams of the gulls in the given extract? 1 (A) elation (B) bewilderment (C) shock (D) protection iii The line "he completely forgot that he had not always been able to fly" implies the 1 (A) great confidence the young gull had in his skills. (B) naturalness of the act of flying for the young gull. (C) satisfaction and joy of flying together as a family. (D) desire of the young gull to leave his fears behind. iv The extract refers to the many movements of the young gull's brothers and sister. Choose the 1 option that correctly sequences these movements. (A) The young gull's brothers and sister flew by tilting their wings, rose high, made darting movements and plunged headfirst. (B) The young gull's brothers and sister flew by plunging headfirst, making darting movements, titled their wings and rose high. (C) The young gull's brothers and sister flew with darting movements, titled their wings, rose high and plunged headfirst. (D) The young gull's brothers and sister flew by rising high, plunging headfirst, making darting Page 8 of 11 movements and tilting their wings. v 1 Which of the following mirrors the use of the literary device in "shrieking shrilly"? (A) sparkling saga (B) singing soft (C) slippery sloppily (D) sneeze silently 2 Attempt ANY ONE of the extracts given. 5 2A I sit inside, doors open to the veranda writing long letters in which I scarcely mention the departure of the forest from the house. The night is fresh, the whole moon shines in a sky still open... (The Tree) i. The poet talks about the house as 1 (A) a safe sanctuary from predators. (B) a place of confinement. (C) a representation of family. (D) a concrete alternative to a natural on ii. The poet uses the indefinite article for 'sky' instead of the definite one. This is so because the poet is 1 referring to (A) the ceiling of the verandah as 'a sky' versus the door kept open, being 'the sky'. (B) some part of the sky still left open for women to explore, away from limitations set by Patriarchal norms. (C) the opportunities symbolized by an open sky outside can be utilized by a single woman. (D) the portion of the sky bathed in moonlight versus the part that is still dark. iii. The extract uses 'open' twice, suggesting different meanings. 1 Pick the option that lists the correct meanings, respectively. (A) entry point-vastness (B) sharing a common space-great view (C) allowing access and vision-expanse of space (D) advantage-obstacles ahead. iv. Choose the option that DOES NOT state the meaning of the underlined word. 1 'I scarcely mention...' (A) tactfully (B) hardly (C) barely (D) only just v. Choose the option that correctly depicts the imagery in the last two lines of the extract. 1 (A) Partial moon (B) New moon (C) Full moon (D) Complete darkness Page 9 of 11 OR 2B "Ink trickled down to the bottom of the household, And little mouse Blink strategically mouseholed. But up jumped Custard, snorting like an engine, Clashed his tail like irons in a dungeon, With a clatter and a clank and a jangling squirm, He went at the pirate like a robin at a worm" (The Tale of Custard the Dragon) i. Which option lists the quotes that support the ideas in the extract? 1 1. Fear makes strangers of people who would be friends. 2. If you're brave enough to start, you're strong enough to finish. 3. Courage doesn't mean you don't get afraid. Courage means you don't let fear stop you. 4. You get in life what you have the courage to ask for 5. Fear has a large shadow, but he himself is strong. (A) 1 and 5 (B) 2, 3 and 4 (C) 2 and 3 (D) 1,3 and 5 ii. What is the poet's purpose of using the onomatopoeic words given in the extract? 1 A) It is to emphasize on the might and boldness of Custard. B) It is to introduce the character Custard to the readers. C) It is to impress upon the readers that Custard was ready. D) It is to make Custard bold enough to face the situation. iii. Pick an option that best fits the usage of the word trickled as used in the extract. 1 (A) The water trickled down the tap and filled the trough. (B) Students trickled into the classroom as the teacher entered. (C) Tears trickled down her cheeks as she heard the sad news. (D) His enthusiasm for the task slowly trickled away. iv. Select the option that fits with the reaction of the characters in the context of the extract. 1 Ink: terrified:: Blink: i) _____________ Pirate: ii)_______:: Custard: undaunted A) i) shocked ii) displeased B) i) petrified ii) wondered C) i) upset ii) dazed D) i) petrified ii) shocked v. 'He went at the pirate like a robin at a worm. Why has this comparison been used here? 1 A) Custard attacked the pirate after careful observation. B) Custard attacked the pirate without delay. Pirate valourously. C) Custard attacked the D) Custard attacked the pirate stealthily. VI Answer ANY FOUR of the following in about 40-50 words each. 4×3=12 i. Do you think that Lencho was right to call the post office employees a bunch of crooks? Why or why 3 not? (A Letter to God) ii. When would the baker come every day? Why did the children run to meet him? 3 (Bakers from Goa) Page 10 of 11 iii. Give one reason why “The Tale of Custard the Dragon” is more a fable than a ballad? 3 (The Tale of Custard the Dragon) iv. Describe the Kodavus as mentioned in the lesson. (Coorg) 3 v. What was a source of unending joy for Valli? What was her strongest desire? 3 (Madam Rides the Bus) VII Answer ANY TWO of the following in about 40-50 words each. 2×3=6 i. How did Bholi’s teacher play an important role in changing the course of her life? (Bholi) 3 ii. Noodle avoids offending Think − Tank but at the same me, he corrects his mistakes. How does he 3 manage to do that? (The Book that saved the Earth) iii. Who is Fowler and what is his first authentic thrill of the day? (Midnight Visitors) 3 VIII Answer ANY ONE of the following in about 100-120 words each. 1×6=6 i. Anne was a sensitive and mature girl. From the chapters and poems in your text book, 6 First Flight, think of at least one character who could be her friend or confidante. Analyse the common character traits that would help in creating this special bond of friendship. (From the Diary of Anne Frank) OR ii. Describe Lencho’s qualities in light of his faith in God. Do you have faith in God like Lencho? Was 6 Lencho’s reaction towards post office employees right? (A Letter to God) IX Answer ANY ONE of the following in about 100-120 words each. 1×6=6 i. Bholi chose a dignified life of service rather than surrendering herself to a greedy old man for the 6 rest of her life. Education provides the required stimulus to overcome one’s personal barriers. Explain the role of education in shaping the life of a child with respect to the lesson ‘Bholi’. (Bholi) OR ii. Readers believe that Griffin was a man without conscience. You have a class discussion on why our 6 conscience plays a vital role in shaping our character. Present a summary of your views on this. (Footprint Without Feet) Page 11 of 11 Maximum Mark: 80 Time allowed: 3 Hrs. General Instructions: 1. 15-minute prior reading time allotted for Q-paper reading. 2. The Question Paper contains THREE sections-READING, GRAMMAR & WRITING and LITERATURE. 3. Attempt questions based on specific instructions for each part. Section A: READING SKILLS 20 MARKS 1 Read the passage given below. 10 1 Mountains have always been held in great awe by mankind. They have been a challenge to humans. Those brave among us have always wanted to conquer them. You see, the more incredible the mountains, the greater the thrill – a challenge to the bravery of the human race. Climbing mountains is an experience that is hard to put into words 2 You are in a beautiful environment and, when you reach the top, you feel incredible. But you also have to climb down, which is when most accidents happen – people are tired, it gets dark, it’s harder. So, mountain climbing is undoubtedly one of the most popular adventure sports along with being challenging and risky for the climber 3 Without any perceived risk, there can’t be a feeling that any significant challenge has been surmounted. Fair, but we have to bear in mind that mountaineering is not a sport that can be embraced without preparation. The enthusiasts must develop in themselves the spirit of adventure, willingness to undertake hardships and risks, extraordinary powers of perseverance, endurance, and keenness of purpose before climbing a mountain 4 They should also know how to handle the mountaineering equipment. Then comes the penance of the rigorous training. This could very well be the lifeline up there. It helps inculcate and hone survival instincts that allow the climber to negotiate perilous situations. There are numerous institutes in India and abroad that offer such training. 5 Mountain climbers are unanimous in agreeing that the unpredictable weather is what they fear the most. There may be sunshine one moment and a snowstorm the other. At higher altitudes, snow is a regular feature and being decisive about setting up camps or proceeding further is crucial 6 The icy sheets after ice storms make walking treacherous, while the powdery snow makes a mountaineer sink deep into the snow. Up there, where the intention is to embrace Nature’s wonder, one realises that it cannot be done without facing its formidable glory. A true mountaineer may challenge the mountain, yet is always respectful to the powerful forces of nature 7 Summiting mountains carries its own health risks such as oxygen and altitude sickness problems, frost bites, swelling of hands and feet, fluid collection in brain or lungs and exhaustion. Yet, the gratification mountaineers feel from mastering something that is so frightening, urges 2/1/1 3 P.T.O. them to undertake these endeavours. We may think that the mountaineers are fearless, experts say, “Not at all. It’s fear that keeps them so intrigued with such arduous journeys.” Impulse and brazenness can be deadly foes. In the words of the Indian mountaineer, Bachendri Pal, “The biggest risk... is to not to take the risk at all. Remember that.”.. Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the following questions. 1*10=10 i Why does the writer say that mountains inspire ‘awe’ in humans? 1 Page 1 of 9 (a) They present us with opportunities for exciting sports. (b) They evoke the wish in us to master them. (c) They inspire in us deeds of valour. (d) They represent peace and calm to us ii Select the option that corresponds to the following relation below: The more incredible the 1 mountains—the greater the thrill (a) The higher the stamina—the lower the food intake. (b) The more you laugh—the lesser your illness. (c) The smaller the car—the bigger the advantage. (d) The heavier the luggage—the higher the penalty. iii Select the option that displays what the writer projects, with reference to the following: So, 1 mountain climbing is undoubtedly one of the most popular adventure. (a) doubt (b) caution (c) conviction (d) denial iv Complete the following with a phrase from paragraph 1and 2 1 Opinion Reason ……………… Best experienced rather than described. v The writer compares training to penance in the line --Then comes the penance of the rigorous 1 training State 1 point of similarity between training and penance. vi Based on your reading of the text, list 2 reasons why the writer says that “mountaineering is not a 1 sport that can be embraced without preparation”. (Paragraph 1&2) (1)......................... (2)......................... vii What connect does the writer draw out between unpredictable weather and setting up of camps? 1 viii The writer says, “A true mountaineer may challenge the mountain, yet is always respectful to the 1 powerful forces of nature.” Select the reason the mountaineer is respectful to the forces of nature, up in the mountains. (a) survival (b) experience (c) tradition (d) directive ix Supply 1 point to justify the following: 1 While mountain climbing, an impulsive mountaineer is either disaster-prone or as good as dead. x Evaluate the INAPPROPRIATE reason for the feeling of exhilaration on reaching a summit, that the 1 mountain-climbers experience. (a) Achievement of a seemingly impossible feat (b) Spectacular panoramic view (c) Application of the inculcated survival instincts (d) Opportunity to use sophisticated mountaineering equipment 2 Read the passage given below 10 1 Festivals are synonymous with celebration, ceremony and joy. However festivals bring to fore the flip side of celebrations – pollution – air, water, soil and noise. This led to the need of assessing the awareness level among people about ecological pollution during festivals. 2 So, a study was conducted by scholars of an esteemed university in India. This study was titled “Awareness Towards Impact of Festivals on Ecology.” 3 There were two main objectives of the study. The first one was to assess the awareness level among people about ecological protection during festivities, exploring solutions to bring awareness about celebrating festivals without harming ecology was the second objective 4 The method used to collect data was a simple questionnaire containing 6 questions, shared with 50 respondents across four selected districts of a state in the southern region of India. 5 The research began by understanding the socio-economic conditions of the respondents before sharing the questionnaire. Once the responses were received, the data collected was tabulated (Table Page 2 of 9 1), for analysis 6 Yes Can’t Questions No % % Say % 1. Do you feel that bursting crackers is a must during 46 54 0 festivities? 2. Do you think most people abuse environmental 72 28 0 resources during celebration of festivals? 3. Do you think that celebrations and festivities result in 64 32 4 uniting people? 4. Do you enjoy bursting crackers for amusement? 68 32 0 5. Do you feel pressured to burst crackers during 82 12 6 festivals as an expectation of your social status? 6. Are you aware of waste segregation and disposal 56 40 4 guidelines for better ecology? 7 The study recommended the imposition of strict rules and regulations as opposed to a total ban on all festive activities which have a drastic impact on our environment. The researchers believed that such measures would help in harnessing some ill-effects that add to the growing pollution and suggest further studies be taken up across the country to assess awareness about ecological degradation. 8 The observations made in the study pointed to the environmental groups and eco-clubs fighting a losing battle due to city traffic issues, disposal of plastics, garbage dumping and all sorts of ecological degradation. The researchers stressed that the need of the hour is increasing awareness among reduce ecological pollution which can be facilitated by celebrating all festivals in an eco-friendly manner. On the basis of your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below: i Why do the researchers call pollution the ‘flip side’ of festivals? 1 ii Comment on the significance of the second objective of the study with reference to paragraph 1 3&4. iii Justify the researchers’ recommendation for limiting the drastic impact of festival pollution on 1 the environment with reference to the passage. iv Why do the researchers feel that environmental groups and eco-clubs are fighting a losing 1 battle in the given scenario? v Even though a larger number of people say ‘no’ to bursting crackers than those who say ‘yes’, 1 festival pollution persists. How does evidence from Table 1 support this statement? vi 82% of respondents said they feel pressured to burst firecrackers during festivals. This is an 1 example of: (a) Psychological manipulation (b) Peer pressure (c) Ethical behaviour (d) Brainwashing vii According to the survey, what was needed to stop people from bursting firecrackers during 1 festivals? (a) A complete ban on firecrackers (b) Strict rules and regulations (c) Finding eco-friendly alternatives to firecrackers (d) None of the above viii ‘Festivals are synonymous with celebration, ceremony and joy.’ Replace the underlined word 1 with an option that means the same. (a) Relatable (b) One and the same as (c) Opposite to (d) Symbolic of ix The researchers were able to find from the survey that: 1 (a) A majority of people think firecrackers are a must during festivities. (b) A major portion of the respondents do not like bursting firecrackers. Page 3 of 9 (c) Everyone was aware of the waste disposal guidelines. (d) Many people abuse environmental resources during festivals. x Why did the researchers begin by understanding the socio-economic conditions of the 1 respondents? (a) To understand how much they spent on firecrackers. (b) They only wanted to focus on one socio-economic class. (c) They wanted to find which socio-economic class causes most pollution. (d) To understand the pressures and perspectives of different socio-economic classes. 3 SECTION –B – GRAMMAR Answer ANY TEN of the following questions. 10 i Complete the given narrative, by filling in the blank with the correct option: 1 As I was standing on the dock, looking out at the lake for the last time, a feeling of emptiness............... over me like darkness. (a) will wash (b) had washed (c) will have washed (d) washed ii Fill in the blanks with an appropriate modal. 1 I wish you..................... fight this election. iii “Your exams will go well. Just don’t panic.” Report the teacher’s advice to her students 1 iv Read the following dialogue between Kashika and Sam. The underlined parts of this dialogue 1 may or may not have an error. Choose the option that best replaces the underlined part(s). You may choose 'no error' if no change is required. Kashika: Sam, will we take a look at the rules of the poetry competition conveyed by Ms Natasha last Tuesday? We have very little time to prepare. Sam: You're right! I completely forgot about it. We should not delay it any longer. (a) no error; shall not (b) shall we; no error (c) may we; may not (d) can we; could not v Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option to complete the sentence below. Shazia stared 1 at the mountain range before her. From a distance..................., (this/that/these/those) towering peaks seemed to touch the sky, creating a breathtaking sight. vi Identify the error and supply the correction for the following statement. 1 The national team could adhere to a strict code of conduct, refraining from cheating and unethical behaviour, or else they will be disqualified. Error correction ……….. ……………… vii Select the option that identifies the error and supplies the correction for the given line, from a 1 survey. Everyone are expected to submit their feedback to our customer service representative at the event Option No. Error Correction (a) are is (b) their your (c) feedback feedbacks (d) the a viii Fill in the blank with the correct option. 1 Dad: "Ramya, I heard your school made some changes recently. What is going on?" Ramya: "Yes, dad. The school administration......................... a revised attendance policy to ensure academic success." Page 4 of 9 (a) will implement (b) is implementing (c) has implemented (d) was implementing ix Fill in the blanks with the correct option. 1 The coach shouted, "................... the ball!" Later, he................... onto the ball in order to dictate the game's pace. (a) pass; commanded them to hold (b) passed; command them to held (c) passes; commands them to hold (d) passing; commanded them to held x Complete Nelson Mandela's quote by filling in the blank with the correct option. 1 "The greatest glory in living...................... not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." - Nelson Mandela (a) lie (b) lies (c) lays (d) laying xi Reena always........................ the truth. 1 (a) speak (b) speaks (c) will speak (d) speaking xii Identify the error in the given sentence, from a school magazine report and supply the 1 correction. In order to balancing the sentiments of the Eagles and the Hawks, the Student Council suggested a rematch between the teams. Error correction ……….. …………… SECTION B –CREATIVE WRITING SKILLS 10 All the names and addresses used in the questions are fictitious. Resemblance, if any, is purely coincidental. [Any one from A or B] 4 Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below. A You are Vipul/Apoorva living at D-424, Island Avenue, Ernakulam. You have seen an 5 advertisement given below about a diploma course in French language soon to be organized by Maxwell Institute of Languages, Fort Road, Kochi. Maxwell Institute of Languages French courses available for students wanting to learn the language. Assurance of fluency. Interested students may please contact: Director, Maxwell Institute of Language. Write a letter in 120 words to the advertiser seeking all relevant information like admission procedure, fee structure, duration of the course, timing of the class, transport facilities, etc. Or B You are Sunidhi Prakash, the Vice Captain of Brilliant Vidyalaya, Barra, Kanpur. You have recently noticed several posters around your school premises conveying a hazardous message: Lose weight in just a month! “A WONDER DIET comes to your rescue … A privilege available for only a few!” Write a letter to the Editor of The DWA, in not more than 120 words, drawing attention towards harm caused by such advertising. Propose the implementation of “Wholesome Lunch Month’ in schools as an idea to address such practices, mention the advantages and share suggestions to foster healthy eating routines and develop positive body image among youngsters 5 Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below. 5 You asked people what they thought was the most valuable thing. The given table shows the Page 5 of 9 A analytics of the different answers you received. Write an analytical paragraph for a research project in 100-120 words. Sl no Different thoughts Percentage 1 knowledge 48% 2 money 18% 3 love 20% 4 Fame 8% 5 power 6% or B World Economic Forum carried out a survey to identify the cause of our country's poor economic growth. Read the following excerpt taken from an article published by them online: “A holistic approach in higher education based on knowledge, skill and value is required for our nation to become a global talent leader.” Write a paragraph in 120 words on your interpretation of the data and what steps must be taken to help change India’s economic growth and make it a developed country. You may begin like this: The survey conducted by the World Economic Forum give / do not give us relevant insights into the higher education sector in India. You may end like this: The given information gives us / does not give us a clear case for India's next step forward. Use of Talent in India 1.4% Enrolment rate in vocational training. 8.7% Gap in mean years of schooling between rich and poor. 3.3% Share of GDP invested in education. 36% Female labour force participation. SECTION C - LITERATURE 40 Reference to the Context 10 6 Attempt ANY ONE of two extracts given. 5 A When he saw those photos, Ebright didn’t shout, ‘Eureka!’ or even, ‘I’ve got it!’ But he believed that, along with his findings about insect hormones, the photos gave him the answer to one of biology’s puzzles: how the cell can ‘read’ the blueprint of its DNA. DNA is the substance in the nucleus of a cell that controls heredity. It determines the form and function of the cell. Thus, DNA is the blueprint for life. Ebright and his college room-mate, James R. Wong, worked all that night drawing pictures and constructing plastic models of molecules to show how it could happen. Together they later wrote the paper that explained the theory. i What type of task Ebright and Wong were engaged in, as per the extract? 1 ii Ebright was perhaps expected to shout ‘Eureka!’ because he had................. 1 iii “Thus, DNA is the blueprint for life”, is another way of saying that the DNA contains a 1 genetic.................. (a) experiment (b) ultimatum (c) takeaway (d) plan iv Four newspapers published a headline about Ebright and Wong. 1 Choose the option that published a factually correct headline, as per the extract: Newspaper-1: WONG DENIES CONTRIBUTING TO EBRIGHT’S THEORY Newspaper-2: EBRIGHT CONTRIBUTES WITH ROOM MATE WONG Newspaper-3: WONG AND EBRIGHT ENGAGE IN THEIR THEORY DEFY LOGIC Page 6 of 9 Newspaper-4: EBRIGHT AND WONG’S THEORY PROVED WRONG Options: (a) Newspaper 1 (b) Newspaper 2 (c) Newspaper 3 (d) Newspaper 4 v Compound words are those words which are formed by joining two separate words to create a 1 new word with an entirely different meaning. Identify two compound words from the above extract Or B Stepanovna is an excellent housekeeper, not bad-looking, well-educated. What more do I want? But I’m getting a noise in my ears from excitement. [Drinks] And it’s impossible for me not to marry. In the first place, I’m already 35 — a critical age, so to speak. In the second place, I ought to lead a quiet and regular life. I suffer from palpitations, I’m excitable and always getting awfully upset; at this very moment my lips are trembling, and there’s a twitch in my right eyebrow. But the very worst of all is the way I sleep. I no sooner get into bed and begin to go off, when suddenly something in my left side gives a pull, and I can feel it in my shoulder and head... I jump up like a lunatic, walk about a bit and lie down again, but as soon as I begin to get off to sleep there’s another pull! And this may happen twenty times... i Which of the following is NOT true about Stepanovna? 1 (a) She was well-educated. (b) She was not bad-looking. (c) She was an excellent housekeeper. (d) She was tall. ii Choose the statement that is NOT true about Lomov: 1 (a) Lomov was 35-year old man. (b) Lomov was medically fit. (c) Lomov was willing to get married to Natalya. (d) Lomov wanted to live a peaceful life. iii What was Lomov’s reaction to his decision of marrying Natalya? 1 iv What ailments were Lomov suffering from? 1 v Which word is NOT similar to ‘trembling’? 1 (a) Shaking (b) Steady (c) Quivering (d) Twitching. 7 Attempt any one of the two given extracts. 5 A Some say the world will end in fire, Some say in ice. From what I’ve tasted of desire I hold with those who favour fire. But if it had to perish twice, I think I know enough of hate To say that for destruction ice Is also great And would suffice. i The poet says that both fire and ice would be sufficient for the destruction of the world. What is 1 the tone of the poet? ii Does the poet believe that desire is more capable of bringing the world to end than hatred? 1 Evaluate in about 40 words based on your understanding of the poem. Page 7 of 9 iii The poem is a..................., put across by the poet 1 a)powerful warning b)heartfelt apology c)earnest appeal d)threat iv Which theory of doom did the poet favour – fire or ice? 1 v Create a tag line or slogan for the poem. 1 Or B The fog comes 5 on little cat feet. It sits looking over harbour and city on silent haunches and then moves on. i Which qualities of the cat has Carl Sandburg applied to Fog? 1 ii What was the fog looking at? 1 iii Evaluate the following statement in about 40 words and give reasons for your answer. No action 1 takes place in the poem 'Fog'. iv The poet has used short lines to compose the given poem. Why do you think he has done this? 1 v What is common about the movement of the cat and that of a fog? 1 (8 ) Answer any four (4) of the following in about 40-50 words each. 4*3=12 i Discribe the Kodavus as mentioned in the lesson. 3 ii Do you think the tiger in the poem had lost its natural instinct due to captivity? Support your 3 response with evidence from the poem. iii Read the anecdote: 3 ‘The field was white, as if covered with salt.’ This is how the field is described after the hailstorm. The pelting hailstones could have been easily seen as sugar cubes. Do you think comparing it with sugar would have been more appropriate? Why/ Why not? iv Explain the emotion vested in Anne’s statement, “…I was plunked down on the table as a 3 birthday present for Margot.” v Give one reason why ‘The Tale of Custard the Dragon’ is more a fable than a ballad. 3 (9) Answer any two of the following in about 40-50 words each. 2*3=6 i What did Mrs Pumphery do to bring her dog back to normal health? Was she successful? 3 ii Do you agree that the teacher was an artist and Bholi was her masterpiece? Why/ why not? 3 iii Max, who said: "I will get it back tonight." Was he successful? Conclude the lesson learnt from 3 this? (10) Answer any one of the following in about 100-120 words. 1*6=6 i You have been asked to give a speech on the topic 'The journey is more important than the 6 destination'. Prepare a draft for the speech, in not more than 120 words, with reference to the texts Madam Rides the Bus and The Black Aeroplane. You may begin this way: Good morning, everyone. Today, I would like to talk to you about how the journeys that we experience in life are often more important than their destinations. You may end this way: To conclude, I would like to say that... Page 8 of 9 Thank you. Or ii Imagine Robert Frost from ‘A Dust of Snow’ met with Lencho from ‘A Letter to God’ and 6 discussed the various ways nature can influence a person's mood. Create this conversation in not more than 120 words. You may begin this way: Lencho: As a farmer, my livelihood depends on nature and sometimes nature can be cruel. (11) Answer any one of the following in about 100-120 words. 1*6=6 i Mme. Forestier proved to be a true friend. Elucidate. 6 Or ii Fiction writers prefer creating grey characters rather than black and white. Analyse this in detail, 6 with reference to both the characters of The Thief’s Story. Page 9 of 9 Maximum Mark: 80 Time allowed: 3 Hrs. General Instructions: 1. 15-minute prior reading time allotted for Q-paper reading. 2. The Question Paper contains THREE sections-READING, GRAMMAR & WRITING and LITERATURE. 3. Attempt questions based on specific instructions for each part. Section A: READING SKILLS 20 MARKS Q1 Read the passage given below. 10 Nature depletion to most of us has been reduced to threats of global warming. With the forest cover depleted to a minimum, animals poached to extinction and holidays in wildlife sanctuaries, 1 the interest of a few-to link with nature seems like a distant possibility. Zoos and zoological parks remain the only places for the multitudes to connect with wildlife. Traditionally, zoos have provided an economic form of recreation for people from various strata of society, income and educational levels, ages and socio-economic backgrounds. They offer a 2 large vista of possibilities to educate and sensitise people. According to CEE India, "In India there are more than 150 zoos and they attract as many as 50 million visitors annually." Today, children have a wide disconnect with nature. An attractive place is required for nature education that will provide a competition to internet, television and play stations. Zoos are a 3 place where children get to see the animals. It gives form -to their imagination and opens a new world of curiosity. Many grow up to become crusaders of wildlife protection. 4 In India, Reuben David, a champion of wildlife, created the Ahmedabad zoo. During his time, the zoo became one of the most remarkable zoos of India and contributed substantially to conservation and research. Animals are exchanged between zoos of the world. Man-animal conflict continues to intensity. The Wildlife Protection Society of India estimated 5 that at least 3189 leopards were killed from 1994 to 2010. Leopards are targeted as they attack livestock and enter human habitation. Wild animals need protection. Some animal activists talk about banning zoos. What is the alternate plan to save various critically endangered species? Banning zoos might just accelerate their extinction. Zoos provide 6 breeding places for the species that face a threat of extinction in the jungles. When a species is confined to one place, it faces a threat of being wiped away by disease, famine or epidemic. Many species are bred in zoos and reintroduced in their natural habitats. 7. The issue should not be to ban the ill-maintained zoos but to put more investment into creating a naturalized environment, keeping animals healthy and well fed, facilitating captive breeding programmes, carrying out researches, restoring endangered species, understanding 7 animal behaviour, improving animal husbandry, develop conservation initiatives and educate the visitors. Zoos, a substantial way of conservation, provide life-system education and have immense educational and research value. Answer the following questions, based on the passage above. 1*10=10 i. Many species are bred in zoos and reintroduced in their natural habitats. The word i 'reintroduced’ means. 1 (a) sent back to their original surroundings. Page 1 of 9 (b) introduced to animals. (c) familiarized with the jungle. (d) introduced to humans Nature depletion to most of us has been reduced to threats of global warming’. This sentence indicates that: (i) depletion of nature doesn’t lead to global warming ii 1 (ii) we view depletion of nature as only from the point of view of

Class X English Language and Literature Past Paper PDF (2023-24)

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