Read the poem given below carefully:
THE SMELL OF CHRYSANTHEMUMS
The chestnut leaves are toasted. Conkers spill
Upon the pavements. Gold is vying with
Yellow, ochre, brown. There is a feel
Of dying and departures. Smoky breath
Rise and I know how Winter comes
When I can smell the rich chrysanthemums.
It is so poignant and it makes me mourn
For what? The going year? The sun’s eclipse?
All these and more. I see the dead leaves burn
And everywhere the Summer lies in heaps.
I close my eyes and feel how Winter comes
With acrid incense of chrysanthemums.
I shall not go to school again and yet
There’s an old sadness that disturbs me most.
The nights come early but each bold sunset
Tells me that Autumn soon will be a ghost,But I know best how Winter chrysanthemums.
1.1
On the basis of your reading of the poem, answer the following questions as briefly as possible. Write your answer in your answer sheet against the correct blank number.
a)
The poet knows that winter is approaching when he sees……………………..
i) _____________ being toasted or burnt.
ii) _______________________________
iii) _______________________________
iv) _______________________________
(4 marks)
b)
Write any two words, which describe the smell of chrysanthemums.
(1 mark)
c)
What do you think the word ‘these’ in the third line of the second stanza stands for?
(1 mark)
d)
Why does the poet feel sad in autumn?
(1 mark)
1.2
Find words in the poem which mean the following:
(1 mark)
a)
sad or moving (stanza 2)………………….
b)
pungent to smell (stanza 2)…………………
2.
Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follows:
(12 marks)
WHY WORRY?
One worries because he is too short, another because he is too tall; one because he is too lean, another because he is too fat; one because he has a lame foot, another because he has a lame foot, another because he has a mole on his face. No amount of fretting will change any of these things. People worry, too, over their circumstances. They are poor, and have to work hard. They have troubles, losses, and disappointments, which come about through causes entirely beyond their own control. They find difficulties in their environment, which they cannot surmount. There are hard conditions in their lot, which they cannot change.
“Now why should they worry about these things? Will worrying make matters any better? Will discontent cure the lame foot, or remove the ugly mole, or reduce corpulence, or put flesh on the thin body? Will chafing make the hard work lighter, or the burdens easier, or the troubles fewer? Will anxiety keep the winter away, or the storm from rising, or put coal in the caller, or bread in the pantry, or get clothes for the children? Even wise philosophy shows the uselessness of worrying, since it helps nothing, and only wastes one’s strength and unfits one for doing one’s best. Then religion goes farther, and says that even the hard things and the obstacles are blessings, if we meet them in the right spirit – stepping stones lifting our feet upward, disciplinary experiences from which we grow. So we learn that we should quietly and with faith accept life as it comes to us, fretting at nothing, changing hard conditions to easier if we can; if we cannot, then using them as a means for growth and advancement.”
The mother eagle had tried by every means to induce the little one to leave the nest, but he was afraid.
Suddenly, as if discouraged, she rose well above him. I held my breath, for I knew what was coming. The little fellow stood on the edge of the nest, looking down at the plunge, which made him alert and tense as a watch-spring. The next instant the mother eagle had swooped, striking the nest at his feet, sending his support of twigs and himself with them out into the air together.
“He was afloat on the blue air in spite of himself, and flapped lustily for life. Over him, under him, beside him, hovered the mother on tireless wings, calling softly that she was there. But the awful fear of the depth and the lance tops of the spruces was upon the little one; his flapping grew more wild; he fell faster and faster. Suddenly, more in fright, it seemed to me, than because he had lost his strength – he lost his balance and tipped head downwards in the air. It was all over now; he folded his wings to be dashed in pieces among the trees. Then like a flash the mother eagle shot under him, his despairing feet touched her broad shoulders, between her wings. He righted himself, rested an instant, found his head; then she dropped like a shot from under him, leaving him to come down on his own wings. A handful of feathers, torn out by his claws, hovered slowly down after them.
“As the eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over he young, spreadth abroad her wings, taketh it then, beareth it then on her wings – so the Loar”.
2.1
On the basis of your reading the passage complete the following sentences:
(10 marks)
a)
There is no sense in worrying _______________________________________
(1 mark)
b)
Worries and obstacles _____________________________________________
(1 mark)
c)
We should treat obstacles in life as:
i) ____________________________ ii) ______________________________
iii) ____________________________ iv) ______________________________
(4 marks)
d)
The example of the mother eagle and her baby teaches us that:
i) _______________________________ ii) ________________________________
(2 marks)
e)
Like the mother eagle helped her baby just when he thought he would surely die, in the same way _____________________________________________________________
(2 marks)
2.2
Find words in the passage which mean:
a) worrying …………………………………… (para 1) _______________
b) feeling of dissatisfaction and irritation …….. (para 2) _______________
c) sudden downward rush………………………(para 3) _______________
d) immediate……………………………………(para 3) _______________
(2 marks)
SECTION – B (Writing)
(30 marks)
3.
You are Manish, the Head Boy of D.A.V. School, Ranchi. An Air Force Officer has agreed to conduct an orientation camp in your school for those interested in joining the Air Force after school. Put up a notice informing the students about the programme and encouraging them to participate. Write the notice in not more than 50 words and put the notice in a box.
(5 marks)
4.
Imagine that you are Paresh Patel living in Delhi. Write a postcard to your friend Rakesh, living at 21, Vallabh Colony, Raipur-492001, telling him what you intend to adopt as a career and why so. Do not exceed 50 words. Copy the format of the postcard from the question paper in your answer sheet.
(5 marks)
_____________
_____________
_____________
PIN
5.
Sulekha recently came across the following advertisement, which appeared in one of the weekly magazines. These and advertisement like such as below have been instrumental in taking the child away from regular school and teachers. The senior school students favour and depend more and more on tuitions. Using information in the advertisement and your own ideas from the unit Education, write a letter to the Editor of a National Daily, voicing your opinion on these tuition centres. Write the letter in not more than 150 words.
(10 marks)
Are you looking for:
Then Hurry, Don’t
· Confidence waste your precious time.
· Competence
· Clarity
· Clear subject knowledge
You have reached your destination, that’s right here in SUBHASH STREET
READER’S DEN
Call : 21220096
[All subjects coaching available]
[Paradise for student of class X – XII ]
6.
You are Principal of a Prestigious school in your city. You are upset about the low pass percentage of students who appeared for the tenth class exam in the past few years.
Write a speech in not more than 150 words to be delivered at the Principal’s Meet. Mention the reasons for this and the possible suggestions for improvement.
(10 marks)
PASS PERCENTAGE
80
70
60
50
40
2004 2005 2006 2007
SECTION – C (Grammar)
(20 marks)
7.
Samina is the reporter of “The Tribune ”. She was sent to report a bomb-blast in a shopping complex. Using the information from her note-pad complete the notes. Do not add any new information. Write the correct answer in your answer sheet against the correct blank number. Do not copy the whole sentence.
(1x5=5 marks)
Shopping complex…………………….destroyed……………bomb……… 7 o’clock ………………..80 people burnt alive…………………two young men……………..seen speeding off………………police assured immediate arrest of culprits.
The citizens of Kantipur were shocked when one of its (a)……………….by a (b)………………….. The place was crowded and about (c)…………………. Witness say that (d)…………………on a two wheeler soon after the blast. The Police Commissioner assure the people…………………….
8.
In the passage given below, there is an error in each line. Write the incorrect word and the correction against the correct blank number in your answer sheet.
(½x8=4 marks)
Contrary by popular belief, the dreaded Aides
(a)
mosquito, the carrier of the many feared Dengue
(b)
virus, strikes between dawn and dusk.
(c)
Much conventional types strike usually at night.
(d)
The Aides mosquito must breed anywhere near
(e)
your home – by tin cans, coconut shells, piles
(f)
of garbage, even in your flower vase, which
(g)
is important is that they breeds in fresh water.
(h)
9.
In the following passage one word has been omitted from each line. Mark the place where you think a word has been omitted and write the omitted word in your answer sheet against the correct blank number.
(½x8=4 marks)
It is essential to teach a child to
(a)
faith in himself. The teenagers today
(b)
are filled with uncertainty insecurity.
(c)
A few words of faith can wonders
(d)
to help a child be achiever. He must be
(e)
told God and His power so that
(f)
he faith on Him and learns to rely
(g)
on him. The child must told about what
(h)
God can do for him.
10.
Rearrange the following words and phrases to form meaningful sentences. Write the answer against the correct blank numbers in your answer sheet.
(1x4=4 marks)
a)
water / the baby / in the / here / plays / sits and
b)
long enough / the mother / him / does not / to weary / there / leave him.
c)
older / at low tide / as / wade about / allowed to / he is / he grows.
d)
look out / water / keep a / into deep / sharp / does not stray / so that he / his elders.
11.
Read the newspaper headlines and complete the sentences below. Write the answer in your answer sheet against the correct blank number. Do not copy the whole sentence.
(½x6=3 marks)
1)
IDOLS IMMERSED IN RIVER
The ten-day Durga-puja festival comes to an end today with_________________ in the river Ganga.
2)
MINISTER RESIGNS : PARTY CONFUSED
The sudden (a)________________ of a senior cabinet minister caused (b)__________ among the party cadres.
3)
“DEAD” BABY FOUND ALIVE : HOSPITAL ATTACKED
A government hospital in Uttar Pradesh (a)_______________ by a mob after an infant declared dead by a doctor (b)__________________ alive at the burial ground.
4)
SANIA CONSIDERED QUITTING OVER FLAG ROW
Sania Mirza, at the centre of controversy for reportedly disrespecting the National Flag, admitted that she________________ the sport over the row.
SECTION – D (Literature)
(30Marks)
12.
Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow. Write the answers in your answer sheet in one or two lines only. Number the answers correctly.
(4 marks)
A)
Ah! Well a day! What evil looks
Had I from old and young !
Instead of the cross, the Albatross
About my neck was hung.
i)
Who does ‘I’ refer to?
(1 mark)
ii)
Why did the ‘old and young’ cast evil looks at him?
(1 mark)
iii)
How was the person punished by them?
(1mark)
iv)
What is the rhyming scheme used in the above lines?
(1 mark)
B)
Ladies with tiaras glittering
In the interval sat twittering
And the frog observed them glitter
With a joy both sweet and bitter.
i)
Who were these ladies? Why were they here?
(2 marks)
ii)
Why did the frog feel a joy sweet and bitter?
(2 marks)
13.
What predictions does Antony make regarding the future events in Rome?
(Word limit 75-100 words)
(5 marks)
14.
‘His sickness accused them of incompetence.’ What did the scientists do to overcome their so-called “incompetence”? Your answer should not exceed 75 words.
(4 marks)
15.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow. Write the answers in your answer sheet in one or two lines only. Remember to number the answer correctly.
(5 marks)
‘Another idol has displaced me, a golden one. You hold money more important than me or anything else, for that matter, and I’m going to grant your wish: Free you from marrying me’.
i)
Who is ‘me’ referred to in the passage?
(1 mark)
ii)
What light does the passage throw on the listener?
(2 marks)
iii)
Cite two examples from the play to show that the listener underwent total transformation at the end.
(2 marks)
16.
You are the reporter of an investigative magazine. Your editor entrusted you with the duty of collecting information about what had happened to Cutie Pie after he had escaped from prison. After the investigation you decide to write a letter to a friend on what had happened to cutie pie. Write the letter in 150 – 175 words.
(8 marks)
CLASS - X
ENGLISH (ANSWER KEY)
SECTION – A (READING)
1.1
(a) i) The chestnut leaves
ii) Conkers spilling upon the pavements
iii) Gold vying with yellow, ochre, brown
iv) Smoky breath rising
(ANY OTHER SUITABLE ANSWERS CAN BE ACCEPTED)
b) i) rich , ii) acrid
c) The word ‘these’ stands for : The end of the year ; The eclipse of the sun; The passing of time.
d) because the summer with its pleasures and beautiful sights is over and soon all the trees will lose their leaves and become bare.
1.2
a) poignant , b) acrid
2.1
a) because no amount of worrying will make any difference.It cannot make a short person tall or tall person short.
b) only waste one’s strength and make one unfit for doing one’s best.
c) i) blessings and meet them in the right spirit
ii) stepping stones, to achieve better things
iii) disciplinary experiences , which teach us the lessons of life
iv) means for the growth of advancement
d) i) We should have faith in God. , ii) We should have confidence in our own ability / We should not fear or worry unnecessarily.
e) God helps us just when we think that all is over and we cannot do anything else further.
2.2
a) fretting
b) discontent
c) swooped
d) instant
SECTION – C (GRAMMAR)
7.
a) shopping complexes were destroyed
b) bomb explosion at 7 o’clock
c) 80 people were burnt alive
d) two young men were seen speeding off
e) that the culprits would be arrested immediately.
8.
INCORRECT CORRECT
a) by to
b) many much
c) striken strikes
d) Much Many
e) must can
f) by in
g) Which What
h) breeds breed
9.
Word before Word missing Word after
a) to have faith
b) teenagers of today
c) uncertainty and insecurity
d) can do wonders
e) be an achiever
f) told about God
g) he has faith
h) must be told
10.
a) The baby sits and plays in the water here.
b) The mother does not leave him there long enough to weary him.
c) As he grows older he is allowed to wade about at low tide.
d) His elders keep a sharplook out so that he does not stray into deep water.
11.
1) the immersion of idols
2) a) resignation , b) confusion
3) a) was attacked, b) was found
4) had considered quitting
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