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Q12. How did the ghost help Virginia ‘to see the significance of life and death, and why love is stranger than both’?
SAMPLE PAPER I
Section A : Reading 20 marks
1.
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Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow it : 12
The New Year is a time for resolutions. Mentally, at least most of us could compile formidable lists of ‘do’s and ‘don’ts’. The same old favorites recur year in and year out with monotonous regularity. We resolve to get up earlier each morning, eat less, find more time to play with the children, do a thousand and one jobs about the house, be nice to people we don’t like, drive carefully and take the dog for a walk every day. Past experience has taught us that certain accomplishments are beyond attainment. If we remain deep-rooted liars, it is only because we have so often experienced the frustration that results from failure.
Most of us fail in our efforts at self-improvement because our schemes are too ambitious and we never have time to carry them out. We also make the fundamental error of announcing our resolutions to everybody so that we look even more foolish when we slip back into our bad old ways. Aware of these pitfalls, this year I attempted to keep my resolutions to myself. I limited myself to two modest ambitions : to do physical exercise every morning and to read more in the evening. An all-night party on New Year’s Eve provided me with a good excuse for not carrying out either of these new resolutions on the first day of the year, but on the second, I applied myself assiduously to the task.
The daily exercise lasted only eleven minutes and I proposed to do them early in the morning before anyone had got up. The self-discipline required to drag myself out of bed eleven minutes earlier than usual was considerable. Nevertheless, I managed to creep down into the living-room for two days before anyone found me out. After jumping about on the carpet and twisting the human frame into uncomfortable positions, I sat down at the breakfast table in an exhausted condition. It was this that betrayed me. The next morning the whole family trooped in to watch the performance. That was really unsettling but I fended off the taunts and jibes of the family good humouredly and soon everybody got used to the idea. However, my enthusiasm waned, the time I spent at exercises gradually diminished. Little by little the eleven minutes fell to zero. By January 10th, I was back to where I had started from. I argued that if I spent less time exhausting myself at exercises in the morning I would keep my mind fresh for reading when I got home from work. Resisting the hypnotizing effect of television, I sat in my room for a few evenings with my eyes glued to a book. One night, however, feeling cold and lonely, I went downstairs and sat in front of the television pretending to read. That proved to be my undoing, for I soon got back to the old bad habit of dozing off in front of the screen. I still haven’t given up my resolution to do more reading. In fact, I have just bought a book entitled ‘How to Read a Thousand Words a Minute’. Perhaps it will solve my problem, but I just haven’t had time to read it.
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I.
a)
b)
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Read the given alternatives of the questions given below carefully and write the option you consider the most appropriate : 6
‘Resolutions’ include :
(i) Our favorite pastimes (ii) Pledging not to do certain things
(iii) pledging doing certain things (iv) pledging doing and not doing certain things
Past experiences have taught us that :
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All accomplishments are attainable
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Most of our promises are true.
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All our accomplishments are not attainable
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We can do everything and anything
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c)
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We fail to improve ourselves because :
(i) our plans are very ambitious (ii) we are short of time to carry them out
(iii) we disclose our plans to everybody (iv) all of the above
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d)
e)
f)
II
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By January 10th the narrator :
(i) achieved what he aimed to do (ii) did nothing at all
(iii) was back to square one (iv) progressed and achieved a lot
The narrator wanted to save his energy in the morning for :
(i) exercises (ii) reading
(iii) playing (iv) taking rest
The best time for resolutions is :
(i) your birthday (ii) The New Year Eve
(iii) The New Year (iv) Christmas Day
(a) Answer the following questions briefly : 4
i) What were the author’s resolutions ?
ii) Did he succeed to keep his resolutions ? What was the result ?
iii) Why did the author fail in his mission ?
iv) Suggest an appropriate title for the passage.
(b) Find words in the passage which convey similar meaning as the following : 2
i) mesmerizing (Para 3)
ii) zeal (Para 3)
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2.
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Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow it : 8
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The other day we heard someone smilingly refer to poets as dreamers. No it is accurate to refer to poets as dreamers but it is not discerning to infer as this person did, that the dreams of poets are just as practical as people who build bridges or look into microscopes are just as close to reality and truth. Where they differ from the logician and the scientist is in the temporal sense alone : they are ahead of their time, whereas logicians and scientists are abreast of their time. We must not be superficial that we fail to discern the practicability of dreams. Dreams are the sunrise streamers heralding a new-
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day of scientific progress, another forward surge. Every forward step man takes in any field of life is first taken along the dreamy paths of imagination. Robert Foulton did not discover his steamboat with full steam up, straining at a hawser at some Hudson River dock ; first he dreamed the steamboat and then scientific wisdom converted a picture in the mind into a reality of steel and wood.
The automobile was not dug out of the ground like a nugget of gold ; first men dreamed the automobile and afterwards, the practical minded engineers caught up with what had been created by winging fantasy. He who looks deeply and with a seeing eye into the poetry of yesterday finds there all the cold scientific magic of today and much we shall not enjoy until some tomorrow. If the poet does not dream so clearly that blue print of this vision can immediately be drawn and the practical conversions immediately effected, he must not for that reason be smiled upon as merely the mental host for a sort of harmless madness. For the poet, like the engineer, is a specialist. His being turned to the life of tomorrow, cannot be turned simultaneously to the life to today. To the scientist, he says, “Here, I give you a flash of the future.” The wise scientist thanks him and takes that flash of the future and makes it over into a fiber of today.
(Glen Falls)
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One the basis of your reading of the above passage make notes on it using headings and subheadings. Use recognizable abbreviations, wherever necessary and give it a suitable title. 5
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Give a summary of the passage in your own words 3
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Section B : Writing and Grammar 30 Marks
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3.
4.
5.
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ABC School needs two nursery teachers. Write a suitable advertisement for the ‘situations vacant’ column of a local newspaper.
OR
Write out a notice for your school Notice Board inviting students to give their names for a Fancy Dress Competition. 4
M.L.Saxena, General Manager, Globes Infocom Ltd. Nasik, writes a letter to the owner of a commercial complex at Central Market Nasik, for a branch office. Write a letter on behalf of Mr. L.M.Gupta, the owner of the complex, offering an accommodation in the commercial complex. Invent the necessary details regarding the terms and conditions required in the deal.
OR
Write a letter to the Superintendent of Police (Traffic), New Delhi , requesting him to install traffic lights at the crossing near your school. 6
You are selected as the head boy/girl of your school. It is your first address to the school assembly. Draft a speech in 150-200 words with the help of the following points:
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Hints :
- Express your gratitude
- Declare your planning for smooth functioning of academic and co-curricular activities
- Co-ordination with students and teachers
- Suggest some improvements
- Seek cooperation from the students
OR
As compared to the older generation the Youth of Today are greatly inclined to pursue adventurous activities either for money or Fun. There is latest craze for joining Reality Shows, Rafting, Rock-Climbing, Mountaineering etc. Write an article in 150-200 words on ‘Which life would you prefer- Safe or Adventurous’. 10
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6
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Make corrections wherever necessary. 4
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He usually is going to school at 7 a.m.
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The clerk has already typed the letter before the Principal summoned him to do so.
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They will talk for hours sitting at the bridge doing nothing (Past habit)
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All citizen of India enjoys certain fundamental rights conferred on them by the Constitution.
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7.
8.
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The following passage has not been edited. There is one word omitted in each line. Write the omitted word as given in the example against the correct blank number in your answer sheet. Underling the omitted word. Also write the words coming before and after the omitted word.
8 x ½ = 4
The ancient Greeks revered honey much so e.g. honey so much
that many playwrights conveyed (a)
luxurious lifestyle to Athenians (b)
with a description of cheese cake (c)
eaten with honey. Honey known not (d)
only for its sweet, also for (e)
its soothing. Unless sugar (f)
became common in late 18th (g)
century, honey also used in traditional remedies. (h)
Look at the sentences given below in a disorderly form. Re-order them to form meaningful sentences. 2
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Playing football/for an hour/he/had been/ I/when/his house/reached
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He/get/success/is industrious/since he/may
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Section C : Literature And Long Reading Text- Novel 30 Marks
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9.
10
11
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Read the stanza given below and answer the questions that follow it : 3
And who are thou ? said I to the soft-falling shower,
Which, strange to tell, gave me an answer, as here translated :
I am the Poem of Earth, said the voice of the rain,
Eternal I rise impalpable out of the land and the
bottomless sea,
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‘And who are thou ?’ Who puts this question and to whom ?
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Why does the poet feel it strange to tell ?
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Why is the rain impalpable ?
OR
When did my childhood go ?
Was it when I found my
Mind was really mine,
To use whichever way I choose,
producing thoughts that were
But my own, and mine alone
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What do the words ‘My own’ and ‘mine’ stand for ?
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When did his childhood go?
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Which phase of life does this stanza show?
Answer the following question in not more than 40 words : 3 x 3 = 9
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How has archaeology changed over the years?
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How did Khushwant Singh portray his Grandfather in the lesson?
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Suggest a few instances in the poem ‘The Tale of Melon City’ which highlights humor and irony.
Answer the following in 150 words : 6
The children are not far behind the adults when confronted with dangerous and disastrous situations. What differences did you notice in the reaction of the parents and children when faced with the storm and the tempestuous Indian Ocean ?
OR
What are the factors as enumerated by Nani Palkivala that have made our Earth an ailing planet?
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12.
13.
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Describe the Otis family in detail in about 150 words . 6
OR
Mention the plans made by the Ghost to frighten the Otis family.
‘It was the Ghost who was haunted by the American Family.’ Explain the statement indicating instances from the novel.
OR
The Canterville Ghost is study in contrast. Justify the statement. 6
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SAMPLE PAPER-II
Sub: English
Time Allowed: 3 Hours M.M. 80
All questions are compulsory.
Marks are allotted against the each question.
READING SECTION- 20Marks
Q1. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow: 12 Marks
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Right from the childhood , a human being starts enjoying the pleasure of reading. As a child, he learns the ways of life through reading and writing .He is thrilled by going through new little things and learning through them .Any new lesson that comes his way, excites his emotions by giving his little mind freshness of knowledge .A little poem about an animal , a little prose about the toys and a little sentence about society he lives in , give him strange pleasure.
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The pleasure one derives from reading , is indeed re creative as well as instructive . The mental effects of reading create a strange sense of pleasure .Reading provides an ecstasy and intellectual exertion . Reading of novels or their interesting literature makes a person forget the worries and cares of life. The reading of newspaper ,periodicals , journal etc. which is light reading , gives the reader knowledge about human being around and solves his curiosity for knowledge about the world. Newspaper and journal give information about the events taking place in the world and happening in the state .The newspapers also publish important news and views in the fields of economics , politics and science .Reading of newspaper is newspaper is indispensable for even a little educated citizen in modern society.
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The reading of novels is the most popular pastime of a large number of people .The attraction of novel lies in its ability to create interest , to sustain it and take the reader to the heights of imagination and luxuries fiction . All fictions are somewhat connected with life and give in words the picture drawn from real life or from imagination .As such , of all forms of literature , novels are the most popular and interesting. They portray pen pictures from our real life and society and present the character of the people we see around or wish to see. A novel inspires the interest and intention of a reader because in it scenes rapidly shift and change and there are unexpected turns of events giving shocks and shakes to the mind.
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Next , we come to the books of travel and adventure . The spirit of of adventure is in the very blood of man . A man wants glamour and romantic life , full of adventure and material spirit . Books of travel and adventure infuse a spirit of fearlessness which the travelers who are the heroes of the books ,may inspire in us.
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Whatever type of books one reads , the reading is always a source of pleasure and enjoyment , the habit of reading is sign of good culture . It is a source of knowledge and the best means of making use of one’s leisure .Books are , after all , a gold time of knowledge ,art , literature and science. Books are not only useful , instructive but also entertaining.
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On the basis of your reading of the passage ,answer the following questions by choosing the best of the given choices. 1*6=6 Marks
(a)How does a child learn the ways of its life ?
i) by imitating his elders ii) by observing iii)through reading and writing iv)through school education.
(b) What are the two salient features of reading?
i) recreative and instructive ii) pleasure and intellectual exertion iii) information and views iv)all the above
(c ) How does the reading of a novel inculcate the interest of a reader ?
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novels take the reader to the height of imagination and give pen pictures from real life.
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Novels create interest and sustain it
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Novels present the characters of people we see around us.
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Scenes in novels shift and change and unexpected events take place.
(d) Why is the reading of books of travel and adventure , a source of immense pleasure and thrill?
i) these books provide glamour and romance.
ii) these books inspire us to be heroes depicted inthem.
iii) they are the best literature in the world
iv)these books infuse fearlessness in the reader.
(e) Choose the synonym of the word ‘unavoidable’ from the options given below.
i) indispensable ii) avoidable iii) urgent iv) foremost
(f)Find the antonym of the word of ‘rest’ from the given passage
i) ecstasy ii) pleasure iii) exertion iv) curiosity
I I .(a) Answer the following questions briefly: 1*4=4Marks
i)How does the reading of a novel inculcate the interest of a reader ?
ii) Why is the reading of books of travel and adventure , a source of immense pleasure and thrill ?
iii)Why is the habit of reading regarded as a sign of good culture?
Iv) What kind of pleasure ,reading provides to the readers of books?
(b) Find words from the passage which mean the following : 1*2=2 Marks
(i) excited with joy (para 1)
(ii) educative (para 2)
Q2 Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow it : 8 Marks
The other day we heard someone smilingly refer to poets a dreamers . No it is accurate to refer to poets as dreamers but it is not discerning to infer as this person did, that the dreams of poets are just as practical as people who build bridges or look into microscopes are just as close to reality and truth .Where they differ from the logician and scientist is in the temporal sense alone : they are ahead of their time ,whereas logicians and the scientists are abreast of their time . We must not be superficial that we fail to discern the practicableness of dreams .Dreams arethe sunrise streamers heralding a new day of scientific progress ,another forward surge .Every forward step man takes in any field of life is first taken along the dreamy paths of imagination .Robert Foulton did not discover his steam boat and then scientific wisdom converted a picture in the mind into a reality of steal and wood.
The automobile was not dug out of the ground like a nugget of gold ; first man dreamed the automobile and afterwards , the practical minded engineers caught up with what had been created by winging fantasy .He who looks deeply and with a seeing eye into the poetry of yesterday finds there all the cold scientific magic of today and much we shall not enjoy until some tomorrow. If the poet does not dream so clearly that blue print of this vision can immediately be drawn and the practical conversions immediately effected , he must not for that reason be smiled upon as merely the mental host for a sort of harmless madness. To the scientist , he says, “ Here I give you a flash of future .” The wise scientist thanks him and takes that flash of the future and makes it over into a fiber of today.
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On the basis of your reading of the above passage make notes on it using headings and sub headings .Use recognized abbreviations , wherever necessary , and give it a suitable title. 5 Marks
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Give a summary of the passage in your own words . 3Marks
WRITING AND GRAMMAR SECTION- 30 Marks
Q3 .You are Manisha Rathore , you want to rent out your newly constructed flat in the heart of the city .Draft an advertisement in not more than 50 words to be published in ‘The Indian Express’ Gurgaon under classified columns .Give all necessary details. 4Marks
OR
You are Sachin ,Sports Secretary of Kendirya Vidyalaya Faridabad .Draft a notice in not more than 50 words for your school notice board asking the students to give their names for participation in Throw Ball event to be held on the Regional Sports Meet at KV Gurgaon .Invent the details of the events .
Q4. You are Kalpna Singh ,write an article on ‘Physical Education in Schools’ for your school magazine .Using the information given below, write that article in about 150-200 words.
Physical education necessary for all around development---priority in school curriculum ---inadequate facilities and no incentives to sports ---healthy mind in healthy body---teaches team work and discipline ---via media of national unity and co operation ---need of the hour. 10 Marks
OR
Children usually come to school without taking breakfast in the morning and eat junk food from the school canteen. This habit affects adversely the performance of students in academics and sports . Write a speech in about 150-200 words to be given in your school assembly about ‘How Health is Affected by Lifestyle.’
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