Students must start practicing the questions from CBSE Sample Papers for Class 10 English with Solutions Set 2 are designed as per the revised syllabus.
CBSE Sample Papers for Class 10 English Set 2 with Solutions
Time:3 Hours
Max. Marks: 80
General Instructions:
- The Question Paper contains THREE sections – READING, GRAMMAR & WRITING and LITERATURE.
- Attempt questions based on specific instructions for each part.
Section A: Reading Skills
(Reading Comprehension Through Unseen Passages)
Question 1.
Read the following text:
1. Located about 60 miles south of Baghdad, in modem-day Iraq, the ancient city of Babylon served for nearly two millennia as a centre of Mesopotamian civilization.
2. One of its early rulers, Hammurabi, created a harsh system of laws, while in later times, the Babylonian language would be used across the Middle East as a way of communicating across borders. Another great accomplishment, if the ancient stories are true, is the construction of the Hanging Gardens, a wonder of the ancient world, which some believe was built by the biblical king Nebuchadnezzar II.
3. The ancient scientists who lived in the city made important discoveries in mathematics, physics, and astronomy. Among their many accomplishments, they developed trigonometry, used mathematical models to track the planet Jupiter, and developed methods of tracking time that is still used today. Ancient Babylonian records are still used by modem-day astronomers to study how the rotation of the Earth has changed.
4. Archaeologically, little is known about the early history of Babylon. Ancient records suggest that more than 4,000 years ago, at a time when the city of Ur was the center of an empire, Babylon appears to have been a provincial administration center. “Babylon had not been an independent city,” writes researcher Gwendolyn Leick in her book “The Babylonians”.
5. She notes that in 1894 B.C. after the Ur-based empire had collapsed, the city was conquered by a man named Samu-abum. He was an Amonte, a Semitic-speaking people from the area around modem-day Syria. He proceedèd to turn Babylon into a petty kingdom made up of the city and a small amount of nearby territory. Babylon would remain this way until, six kings Later, a man named Hammurabi (1792- 1750 B.C.) ascended the throne. He was the ruler who would go on to turn this once-small kingdom into a great empire.
6. While the Law Code of Hammurabi (now in the Louvre) is well known for its “eye for an eye” style of lawmaking, it also sets out the nature of the relationship between Hammurabi, the gods, and the people he ruled. Ultimately, Hammurabi’s empire was not to last, falling into decline after his death. In 1595 B.C., the Hittite ruler Mursili I captured Babylon, bringing the rule of Hammurabi’s successors to a close. (Source: www..livescience. com)
Answer the following questions, based on the passage above.
(i) Choose the option that best captures the central idea of the passage from the given quotes.
A. “Civilization is a limitless multiplication of unnecessary necessities.” – Mark Twain
B. “The liberty of the individual is no gift of civilization. It was greatest before there was any civilization.” – Sigmund Freud
C. “The gross heathenism of civilization has generally destroyed nature and poetry, and all that is spiritual”. – Muir
D. “Each civilization dies from indifference to the unique values which created it.” -Davila
Answer:
D. “Each civilization dies from indifference to the unique values which created it.” – Davila
(ii) What is the tone of the writer in the given lines from paragraphs (1) & (2)? Give a rational response in about 40 words.
The ancient city of Babylon served for nearly two millennia as a center of Mesopotamian civilization Another great accomplishment, if the ancient stories are true, is the construction of the Hanging Gardens.
Answer:
The writer’s tone is from factual to a surmise when we go through the passage from paragraph (1) to (2) The introductory part is intended to apprise the reader about a historical fact from where the tone changes to a surmise when it is intended to capture the reader’s imagination to mention another wonder of the ancient world, the Hanging Gardens.
(iii) Complete the sentence appropriately. The author’s reference to the achievements of the scientists in making important discoveries in mathematics, physics, and astronomy impresses the reader because ……………………
Answer:
ancient Babylonian records are still used by modern-day astronomers to study how the rotation of the Earth has changed.
(iv) The passage includes some words that either carry the sense of synonyms or antonyms. From the sets (a) to (i) below, identify all possible antonyms and synonyms.
(a) modem day Iraq
(b) ancient city of Babylon
(c) petty kingdom
(d) conquered
(e) captured
(f) great empire
(g) independent
(h) centre of an empire
(i) provincial
Answer:
Antonyms:
(a) modern-day Iraq and
(b) ancient city of Babylon
(c) petty kingdom and
(d) conquered and
(f) great empire
(g) independent
(h) center of an empire and
(i) provincial
Synonym:
(d) conquered and
(e) captured
(v) Complete the sentence appropriately.
We can say that apart from being well known for its “eye for an eye” style of lawmaking, the law code of Hammurabi has much more to inform because ………………….. .
Answer:
it also sets out to reveal the nature of the relationship between Hammurabi, the gods and the people he ruled.
(vi) Based on your reading of the text, list in about 40 words, 2 reasons why the writer says that “The ancient scientists who lived in the city made important discoveries”. (Paragraph 3)
Answer:
The writer said this because:
- They developed trigonometry, and used mathematical models to track the planet Jupiter.
- They also developed methods of tracking time that are still used today.
(vii) Raymond, is an avid reader of the books about ‘Near East Civilization’, what is not the intent of Raymond, in the following case?
In his dissertation, he writes “Through my research, I found that Babylon remained a petty kingdom till Hammurabi turned this small kingdom into a huge empire.”
A. He is aware of the book, ‘The Babylonians’ written by Gwendolyn Leick.
B. Legal codes of Laws can only be written by a very powerful king.
C. The survival of the code of Laws for such a long period is a ‘lucky find’.
D. There couldn’t possibly be some extant code of laws earlier than this.
Answer:
D. There couldn’t possibly be some extant code of laws earlier than this.
(viii) The following lines do NOT display which of these?
love song? prayer/ lamentation/remembrance.
By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down,
Yeah we wept when we remembered Zion
By the rivers of Babylon. there we sat down,
Yeah we wept when we remembered Zion
There the wicked
Carried us away in captivity
Required of us a song
Now how shall we sing the lord’s song in a strange land?
Answer:
Love song.
Question 2.
Read the following text. (10)
1. Right from literacy, accessibility to schools, and household expenditure on education, the rural-urban gap remains significant. There is a digital divide, too, with just 4% of rural households having access to computers as compared to 23% in urban areas. These and other trends on a rural-urban gap in education are revealed in the details of a survey conducted by the National Statistical Office (NSO).
2. The report on ‘Household Social Consumption: Education’ surveyed 1.13 lakh households spread across over 8,000 villages and 6,000 urban blocks between July 2017 and June 2018. The study involved 1.52 lakh students across different levels of study.
3. On accessibility, while 92.7% of the rural households have a primary school within 1 km as compared to 87.2% in urban areas, the situation gets skewed as only 38% of the rural households have access to secondary school as compared to 70% in the urban areas on similar parameters.
4. While accessibility to a neighbourhood school at the primary level is not an issue in rural areas, the gross attendance ratio is also satisfactory with nearly 100% of boys and girls in rural as well as urban areas attending classes. However, in sync with reduced accessibility, there is a gap at the secondary level between rural and urban settings. The all-Indian literacy rate among persons aged 7 years and above is 77.7%. However, for the same age group, rural literacy is 73.5%, and for urban areas, it is, 87.7%.
5. The digital divide between rural and urban households is stark with just 4% of the rural population having access to computers. The report highlighted that while only 15% surveyed population in the rural cluster has internet access, 42% of the students in the urban areas have access to the internet.
6. At the school level while the majority of the urban households had shown a preference for private schools, it’s the opposite for rural households. The report highlights that 76.1% of the rural children attend a primary and middle school run by the government, while only 38% of the urban children attend government schools. However, for graduate and above studies, 49.7% of rural students are attending classes in government institutions as compared to 41% of their urban counterparts in government institutions.
Answer the following questions, based on the passage above.
(i) Fill in the blank appropriately. (1)
The majority of urban households show a preference for……………. .
Answer:
private schools
(ii) Fill the blanks with the appropriate option from those given in brackets, based on your understanding of the passage. (1)
The rural-urban divide in the field of education is much more rampant in ……………….. (primary/secondary) education due to the problem of (accessibility/ income).
Answer:
secondary, accessibility
(iii) What data shows that the rural-urban gap is visible at the secondary level of education? (2)
Answer:
The facts that, only 38% households of in rural areas have access to secondary schools and more than 70% of households in urban areas have access to secondary schools, shows that the rural-urban gap is visible at the secondary level of education.
(iv) Based on your understanding of the passage, list the factors that indicate the rural-urban gap. (1)
Answer:
The factors that indicate the rural-urban gap are
- Right to literary
- Accessibility to schools
- Household expenditure
- Digital divide
- Employment opportunities
- Infrastructure development
(v) What did the survey conducted by the NSO cover? (1)
Answer:
The survey covered over 8,000 rural and 6,000 urban households.
(vi) Which word can substitute the word ‘accessibility’ in the following sentence from Paragraph 4. (1)
The students were concerned about the accessibility of quality academic counselling
(a) presence
(b) availability
(c) sufficiency
(d) merging
Answer:
(b) availability
(vii) What did the ‘Household Social Consumption: Education’ survey found out? (2)
Answer:
‘Household Social Consumption Education Survey’ found out that there is a stark divide in the secondary education received by children visa-a-vis rural-urban divide. It related a rural whan gap in education.
(viii) In which aspect is the condition of education in the urban and rural households equal? (1)
(a) On the accessibility of primary schools
(b) On the accessibility of secondary schools
(c) On gross attendance ratio of both girls and boys
(d) On digital access to computers and the Internet
Answer:
(a) On the accessibility of primary schools
Section B: Writing Skills & Grammar
GRAMMAR
III. Complete ANY TEN of twelve of the following tasks, as directed:
(i) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct form of word in the bracket.
I knew that Ramesh …………………….. Jaipur before, so I asked him to recommend a good hotel. (visit)
Answer:
had visited
(ii) Read the given sentence from a recipe review article. Identify the error and supply the correction in the sentence.
Discipline in life ensure peace and harmony which in turn, offers the impetus for a nation’s progress.
| Error | Correction |
Answer:
| Error | Correction |
| ensure | ensures |
(iii) You had a conversation with a policy agent last week regarding a scheme. Report the policy agent’s question.
The policy agent said, “Are you interested in the scheme?”
Answer:
The policy agent asked me if I was interested in the scheme.
(iv) Doctor: How many times did you take the medicine?
Patient: As per your prescription?
Doctor: What was my prescription?
Patient: Three times a day.
The doctor asked the patient (I) ……………….. The patient replied (II) …………….. The doctor cross-questioned
(III) ………………………. The patient informed that it was about three times a day.
(I)
(a) how many times you have taken the medicine.
(b) how many times he had taken the medicine.
(c) how many times you had taken the medicine.
(d) how many times he has taken the medicine.
(II)
(a) that I have taken it as per his prescription
(b) that T had taken it as per his prescription
(c) that he has taken it as per his prescription
(d) that he had taken it as per his prescription
(III)
(a) what my prescription has been
(b) what his prescription had been
(c) what his prescription has been
(d) what my prescription had been
Answer:
(I)
(b) how many times he had taken the medicine
(II)
(d) that he had taken it as per his prescription
(III)
(b) what his prescription had been
(v) Fill the blank by choosing the correct option.
Is there ………………… milk left in the fridge?
Choose the option that completes the above sentence correctly (Here X signifies “no determiner needed”)
A. Some
B. Any
C. X
D. Little
Answer:
B. Any
(vi) Identify the error and supply correction for the given sentence.
The entire household was under the control of my mother-in-law.
| Error | Correction |
Answer:
| Error | Correction |
| on | under |
(vii) Select the option that identifies the error.
Goals provide direction for our behaviour and guide our actions and thoughts.
| Option No. | Error | Correction |
| A. | our | your |
| B. | behaviour | behaviours |
| C. | for | to |
| D. | guide | guides |
Answer:
| Option No. | Error | Correction |
| C. | for | to |
(viii) Complete the given narrative, by filling the blank with the correct option.
The main building of the school ……………….. now therefore, students are requested to take their examination in the assembly hail where chairs and benches have been arranged according to roll numbers.
(a) is being painted
(b) was painted
(c) had painted
(d) could be painted
Answer:
(a) is being painted
(ix) Father: Son, don’t pull the cat’s tail. It will hurt the cat.
Son: Dad, I am not doing anything. I’m simply holding the cat’s tail!
Father asked his son ……………………….. to which the son replied that ……………………..
Answer:
not to pull the cat’s tail as it would hurt it; he wasn’t doing anything but simply holding the cat’s tail.
(x) Choose the option that completes the sentence below correctly.
I just heard the journalist report that several highways in Uttarakhand ……………….. are blocked due to landslides as incessant rain batters the hill state.
A. has been
B. have been
C. were being
D. will have been
Answer:
B. have been
(xi) The police ………………………. prepared a list of suspects for the robbery case. Each of the suspects ………………….. is not allowed to leave the town until further notice.
Answer:
have, is
(xii) Identify the error in the given sentence from an article and supply the correction.
Overeating is one of the more wonderful practices among those who think that they can afford it.
Use the given format for your response.
| Error | Correction |
Answer:
| Error | Correction |
| more | most |
Section C: Writing
IV. 1. Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below.
A. Write a letter about 120 words, to the President of the Resident’s Welfare Association about some disturbing activities in the residential park after 6 p.m.
Answer:
115, Anand Parbat,
Delhi
10th August, 2OXX
The President,
Resident’s Welfare Association,
Anand Parbat,
Delhi
Subject: Disturbing activities inside residential park premises.
Sir,
This is to bring to your kind notice that some inappropriate and disturbing activities are being carried out in our residential park daily after 6 p.m. Several residents have seen some unknown boys, mostly teenagers, entering the park with liquor bottles and snacks in the evening. Even after the closure of the gates, these people remain inside and then come out late at night by jumping over the gates. This has been going on for quite some time. Some of the kids and pets have got hurt because of the broken beer bottles.
I request you to take some stringent measures to check these unlawful activities and do the needful accordingly. This is a serious concern that has been bothering the residents of our complex and the whole locality. I hope that you will consider this issue and take prompt action to prevent this from happening again.
Yours sincerely,
Advesh Tha
OR
B. Write a letter to the Editor of a leading newspaper in about 120 words, regarding the poor quality and inadequate supply of water faced by the residents of your society.
Answer:
102, Bal Vihar,
Delhi
21st October, 2OXX
The Editor,
The Times of India,
Dethi
Subject: Poor quality and inadequate supply of water
Sir,
Through the esteemed columns of your leading newspaper, I would like to express my concern regarding the poor quality and insufficient supply of water in our residential locality. Most of the families have working members and hence the supply of water on time is very essential for them. The average supply is only for 2 hours in a day and even the timing is not fixed. It is a huge problem for students and office goers. This hindrance makes the households run for water or get it at a huge expense in the form of packaged water. Moreover, the poor quality of water is causing various diseases and many health issues. A demand-driven supply is the need of the hour for all the residents of our locality. I hope the concerned authorities will take some immediate steps for the benefit of the residents.
Thanking you,
Yours sincerely,
Ritu Mohan
2. Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below.
A. Write a paragraph in about 120 words analyzing the given chart.
Write an analytical paragraph based on the following table:
| Different types of schools in India | Year-wise percentage of attendance | Year-wise percentage of attendance | Year-wise percentage of attendance |
| Year | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| City govt. schools | 59% | 65% | 67% |
| Village govt. schools | 31% | 35% | 39% |
| General English medium schools | 58% | 55% | 60% |
| Public schools | 75% | 77% | 79% |
Answer:
The ‘Table’ shows year wise percentage of attendance in four different types of schools of India. The percentage of attendance is recorded with a gap of 5 years. As it is clear from the given data, from 2000 to 2010 there is a steady and positive increase in the percentage of attendance in all four types of schools. The attendance in public schools is much higher compared to the other three types of schools. Initially, the village schools show a noticeably poor percentage in attendance. At the same time, the ‘General English Medium’ schools witnessed less attendance than the public schools.
However, concludingly, the continuous higher percentage indicates that the relevant authorities are concerned about improving the country’s education. Therefore, the ‘Government’ must have taken an effective measure to improve the literacy in the villages. Noteworthy, public school attendance indicates solid infrastructure and focuses on the healthy growth of the corresponding authorities.
OR
B. The line graph shows Delhi Metro station passengers. Write an analytical paragraph on the information provided by the graph and make comparisons where relevant.
Answer:
The line graph depicts the number of people using a metro in New Delhi in a day. The number of passengers rises sharply in the morning reaching a peak of 1500 at 7 am. After the morning peak, there is a steady drop to below 600 passengers at around 12 in the noon. After 12 there is a steady increase in the number of passengers. Around 1000 passengers board the train at around 3:00 p.m.The evening brings a huge increase in the number of passengers from 1200 at 4 p.m to almost 1600 at 5 p.m.
The number of passengers tapers off slightly after 5 p.m, but falls quickly to 200 by 8 p.m. All in all, the time series shows that the greatest number of passengers gather in the station early in the morning and also early in the evening when it is their time to go to work and in the evening when they come back from work and take the metro home. In between there is no rush in the Delhi metro.
Section D: Literature
V. Reference to context.
1. Read the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of the two, given.
A. OOP: I haven’t a clue. I’ve been to seven galaxies, hut 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 thought on the matter.
THINK-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. (The Book that Saved the Earth)
(i) State any one inference about the Martian’s perspective of Earth from the given context “The place in which you find yourselves is undoubtedly a crude refreshment stand.”
Answer:
It can be inferred that the Martians mistakenly interpreted Earth’s objects like books, as items related to food or refreshments. According to them, Earth was a place where food was of paramount importance and a book-stuffed library was a “crude refreshment stand”.
(ii) State TRUE or FALSE.
None of the terms (a)-(d) below, can be applied to the statement – “I haven’t a clue. I’ve been to seven galaxies, but I’ve never seen anything like this. Maybe they’re hats.”
(a) A hypothesis – a proposed explanation for a phenomenon
(b) An assumption – something that is taken for granted or assumed to be true without proof
(c) A premise – a proposition that forms the basis of an argument
(d) A theory – a well-substantiated explanation for a natural phenomenon
Answer:
False, it is an assumption since the Martians are assuming the books to be hats.
(iii) “I haven’t a clue. I’ve been to seven galaxies, but I’ve never seen anything like this”. Why does Oop say this statement? Elaborate in about 40 words.
Answer:
oop along with others did not belong to earth but were from Mars. They had not seen anything like books before and that startled them to the point where they assumed them to be hats or sandwiches.
(iv) Which phrase from the extract would correctly substitute the phrase “A makeshift restaurant”.
Answer:
The phrase “A crude refreshment stand” correctly substitutes the given phrase.
OR
B. For the first twenty-four hours Mijbil was neither hostile nor friendly; he was simply aloof and indifferent, choosing to sleep on the floor as far from my bed as possible. The second night Mijbil came onto my bed in the small hours and remained asleep in the crook of my knees until the servant brought tea in the morning, and during the day he began to lose his apathy and take a keen, much too keen, interest in his surroundings. I made a body belt for him and took him on a lead to the bathroom, where for half an hour he went wild with joy in the water, plunging and rolling in it, shooting up and down the length of the bathtub underwater, and making enough slosh and splash for a hippo.
This, I was to learn, is a characteristic of otters; every drop of water must be, so to speak, extended and spread about the place; a bowl must at once be overturned, or, if it will not be overturned, be sat in and sploshed in until if overflows. Water must be kept on the move and made to do things; when static it is wasted and provoking. (Mijhil the otter)
(i) What characteristics of Otters have been highlighted in the extract?
A. Heavy Sleeper
B. Take keen interest in the surroundings
C. Aquaphile
D. All of these
Answer:
D. All of these
(ii) How did Mijbil adapt to the new environment?
Answer:
Initially, Mijbil came across as aloof and indifferent and gradually became comfortable in his owner’s presence. Within no time, he started taking a keen interest in the surroundings. A visit to the bathroom made the narrator realise he is a water baby and could spend hours in the bathtub.
(iii) What was the highlight of the day as per the extract?
A. Mijbil started taking keen interest in the surroundings
B. The otter showed no resistance while wearing the body belt
C. Mijbil went wild with joy in water
D. A vivid characteristic of the otter came across as moving water was welcome but when it was static, it could prove provoking.
Answer:
D. A vivid characteristic of the otter came across as moving water was welcome but when it was static, it could prove provoking.
(iv) If an actor were to enact this extract, what would he be required to focus on, while modulating his voice?
Answer:
The actor would be focusing on Mijbil completely, starting with a low tone as Mijbil was taking time to adjust and did not feel at home initially and would then immediately shift to a high tone displaying Mijbil’s excitement with water and a keen interest in the surroundings.
2. Read the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of the two, given.
A.
The way a crow
Shook down on me
The dust of snow
From a hemlock tree
Has given my heart
A change of mood (Dust of Snow)
(i) Fill the blank with one word.
When the speaker says that the mood of his heart has changed, he refers to his day that he had previously.
Answer:
rued
(ii) What is the traditional symbolism of a crow and how is it used here in the poem?
Answer:
Crows are generally considered as bad omens of death but here, in the poem, the crow is the one that uplifts the poet’s mood while he was having a bad day.
(iii) Which of the following best describes the speaker’s mood before his encounter with the crow?
A. Happy
B. Afraid
C. Forlorn
D. Lost
Answer:
C. Forlorn
(iv) Comment on the poet’s use of hemlock tree in these lines.
Answer:
Hemlock is a poisonous tree that is considered an ill omen. But the poet uses it to juxtapose how the snow trapped into the spiny leaves of the tree changed his mood for the good. He is redefining what is traditionally deemed as bad luck.
OR
B. 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. (Fire and Ice)
(i) In what way does the language used in this poem follow the traditional ideas of what poetry should be?
Answer:
The poem uses an abaca rhyming scheme and has an iambic meter which cumulatively adds to the poetic rhythmic flow. The poem is divided into two stanzas, both of which are coherent and follow a similar rhyme scheme.
(ii) What is the significance of the use of the word “ice” to describe destruction in the poem and how does this word choice contribute to the overall mood and tone of the poem? Answer in about 40 words.
Answer:
The poet here uses “ice” to describe a general lack of warmth among human beings. Ice may not necessarily mean the frozen state of water, rather it alludes to the greedy and isolated behavior of man that kills humanity as a society.
(iii) Complete the sentence with the appropriate option.
The lines from the poem tell us that the poet wants the world to end by ………………………..
A. heat
B. war and destruction
C. isolation
D. greed
Answer:
A. heat
(iv) Identify the type of imagery used in the lines of the poem.
Answer:
The poet juxtaposes two contrasting characters, fire, and ice, as a means of the world’s end. Both are depicted as an inherent reflection of human behavior and actions rather than the literal meaning of the words themselves, where fire is the volatile anger of man and ice is the rude calculated harshness of the heart.
VI. Answer ANY FOUR of the following five questions, in about 44-50 words each.
(i) “When you have pets like Mijbil around you, you can never get a dull moment.” Discuss. (MijbiI the Otter)
Answer:
Pets keep us entertained with their playful behavior. Mijbil would also do the same and do it in its way. He would invent a game with a rubber ball or would splash water playfully or gallop on the boundary wall during his walks. He would follow his master everywhere and jump about excitedly when let loose. He would keep himself occupied by remaining happy and energetic all the time.
(ii) Explain the symbols used in the poem Fire and Ice by Robert Frost.
Answer:
Frost depicts fire as human desires and lust for things. It symbolizes all the uncontrolled greed that humans have for things. Ice is the symbol of coldness. It symbolizes hatred, indifference, and coldness of the heart.
(iii) “You seem to have done your homework before coming,”. Who has done the homework and why is it so impressive? (Glimpses of India: Tea from Assani)
Answer:
Rajvir had done his homework as he was excited about his first visit to the Dhekiabari Tea estate in Assam. It was very impressive for him because he had never been to a tea estate before. Pranjol had grown up in that tea estate, yet didn’t know half as much as Rajvir who surprised Pranjol’s father with his in-depth knowledge about the discovery of tea.
(iv) Did Mandela think the oppressor was free? Why/Why not? (Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom)
Answer:
Mandela did not think that the oppressor is free. He believed that the oppressor was a prisoner of hatred. He is locked behind the bars of prejudice and narrow-mindedness. Elaborate on the pirate and the pirate scene. (The Tale of Custard the Dragon) The pirate had a wooden leg and his beard was black. He had a pistol in both his left and right hands and he held a cutlass in his teeth.
When they saw the pirate, Belinda cried for help, him, the cat hid under the house, the mouse ran to his hole, the dog yelped and ran but the dragon who was being teased as a ‘coward’, attacked the pirate. He snorted like an engine, clashed his tail like irons in a dungeon, and went at the pirate like a robin at a worm. As the pirate fired two bullets at him he gobbled every bit of him and saved the Belinda household.
VII. Answer ANY TWO of the following three questions in about 40-50 words each.
(i) State any two features that make Footprints Without Feet an adventure story.
Answer:
Firstly, Griffin’s criminal escapades like his escape from the landlord’s house after burning his house in revenge, are truly a villainous adventure. Secondly, Griffin’s invisibility and the use of it for criminal conduct make it an adventure story.
(ii) ‘I’m going to raise the devil with the management this time, and you can bet on it.’ Why does Ausable say so? (The Midnight Visitor)
Answer:
Ausable says this to fool the intruder because he finds that Max has intruded into his room. He tricks Max into deception and tells him that the extended balcony of the next apartment was used a month before to sneak into his room. The hotel management had promised to block it off but Max’s intrusion indicates that the hotel staff had not done its duty.
(iii) “The greedy man showed fear; the rich man showed anger; the poor man showed acceptance.” Concerning the above line from The Thief’s Story, explain why different people react differently when their money is stolen.
Answer:
The greedy man is always in want of more money, so the thought of losing money scares him. The rich man has worked hard to earn his money and is naturally angry when it is stolen. The poor man is used to being treated unfairly and has accepted loss as a part of his life. Therefore, for Han Singh, it is more difficult to steal from a poor man.
VIII. Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions in about 100-120 words.
(i) You have been asked to present an evaluation of the attitude and characteristics of Lencho and the poet in Dust of Snow. Write this presentation draft including your insights, in about 120 words, comparing the approaches of both. (Dust of Snow & A Letter to God)
Answer:
Every character is driven by their diverse mindset. Lencho, the hardworking farmer in the story ‘A Letter to God’, is a man of deep faith who is committed to his family and livelihood. Despite facing a significant setback in the form of hailstorms that destroyed his crops, Lencho’s unyielding trust in God led him to write a letter to God asking for help. However, his attitude towards the postmaster changed when he received only seventy pesos instead of the hundred he had requested, revealing a lack of gratitude and trust in his fellow human beings.
In contrast, the poet in ‘Dust of Snow’ has a positive outlook on life and is grateful for even the smallest pleasures. The simple act of a crow shaking snow off a hemlock tree transformed the poet’s mood and uplifted his heart, leading him to appreciate the beauty of nature around him. Unlike Lencho, the poet’s character embodies gratitude and a positive attitude, which inspires the reader to appreciate the beauty and goodness in life.
OR
(ii) You have been chosen to address a student gathering from the neighborhood schools, on the restrictions and freedom of young girls. Prepare the speech draft in not more than 120 words, regarding ‘Madam Rides the Bus’ and ‘Amanda!’
Answer:
Good morning, everyone.
Today, I want to talk about the restrictions and freedom of young girls. We often see that young girls are subjected to more restrictions compared to boys. But is it fair to restrict their actions and choices based on societal norms and expectations?
In the short story, ‘Madam Rides the Bus’, we see how Valu longs to explore and experience new things, like riding a bus. Despite her mother’s strict rules, she finds a way to sneak out and fulfill her desire for adventure. This shows us that even with limitations, young girls can find ways to break free and seek their freedom.
On the other hand, in the poem ‘Amanda!’, we see a young girl who feels trapped by the expectations placed on her. She is tired of conforming to societal norms and wishes to be free from all the restrictions. This highlights the fact that excessive control can be suffocating and can lead to feelings of frustration and helplessness.
So, my dear friends, it is important to strike a balance between freedom and restrictions in the lives of young girls. They should be allowed to explore and experience the world around them while still being guided by values and principles so that they grow up to be strong and independent women. We must empower young girls to make their own choices and pursue their dreams, while also providing them with the necessary guidance and support.
Thank you.
IX. Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions in about 100-120 words.
(i) Imagine that Mrs. Pumphrey, from A Triumph of Surgery by James Herriot writes a diary entry in the context of her own experience, exploring the range of emotions owners of pet dogs go through once their pets fall sick, in the context of her own experience. Write this diary entry as, Mrs. Pumphrey, in about 120 words.
Answer:
April 11, 2OXX
Monday
3:00 p.m.
Despite our ardent efforts at taking care of Tricky, we were worried for his health. The haplessness of pet owners, when their pets fall sick, can be devastating as animals are unable to express themselves. The situation got out of hand when Tricky stopped eating and started vomiting. I had to send him to Dr. Herriot’s hospital. I was extremely sad when I was barred from seeing him during his treatment. We survived very tough days till Dr. Herriot confirmed that Tricky was convalescing.
I immediately started sending him nourishing food like eggs, bacon, and wine. After surgery, good nutrition is essential. I still can’t forget the refreshing sight of a vigorous Tricky jumping onto my lap when Dr. Herriot allowed me to fetch him after fifteen days.
Mrs. Pumphrey
OR
(ii) A character arc is the transformation or development of a character throughout a story and refers to the changes a character undergoes as a result of their experiences, challenges, and interactions with other characters. In light of the above information, trace the character arc of the thief in Ruskin Bond’s The Thief’s Story, in about 120 words.
Answer:
The story began with the description of a thief who was not only experienced but managed to remain ahead of the law. He targeted Anil as his next victim since he was impressed by the former’s trusting nature. Anil hired him and taught him how to cook, read, and write. The thief was slowly getting attached to Anil because of the latter’s kindness.
The story takes an unexpected turn when the thief, getting a golden opportunity to steal a huge amount of cash, suddenly gives in to his temptation but reverses his action as per his conscience’s demand. The money was thus returned. This act of regret and eventual atonement by returning the money, completes the arc of transformation of the thief’s character.