- Question 1
Read the following passage carefully.
“Mum!” I shouted. “Are you okay?” I saw her little tent shuddering in the gale and listened closely for her response. Her voice was almost casual: “Oh, yes, I’m fine.” That’s my mother. It was the first night of our cycling trip through the interior of Iceland − a region so remote and inhospitable that for centuries, according to legend, it was abandoned. The weather was decidedly hurricane-like, but Mum wasn’t concerned. Months ago, I told her about my plan to pedal across Iceland. “It will be really difficult,” I said. “The roads are unpaved and often washed out, and the wind is blowing constantly − sometimes so hard that it pushes you off the road.” There was silence for a moment. Then she asked, “Can I come?” “Sure,” I replied. “But like the rest of us, you have to train to do two 160 kilometres a day back-to-back,” “Wow,” she said, “I could never do that,” I had more faith in my mother’s physical abilities than she did. I’d seen her raise six children and put in long hours doing physical labour on our small farm. “Sure you can,” I told her, “Start tomorrow.” What really concerned me was what I perceived to be her frustrating humility: I thought her too self − deprecating about her intellect just because she had not completed college. I felt she underestimated her attractiveness just because she was not the type to wear make-up or fancy clothes. As I had grown into adulthood, the life I’d chosen seemed light-years away from Mum’s quiet existence, still caring for her children and her children’s children. Sometimes, on a visit home, I’d describe some recent trip I’d taken, and her blue eyes would shine with interest. So I couldn’t help thinking this trek might revitalize Mum, who had started to slow down in her 50s. It might spice up what I saw as her humdrum life. And it might be a boost to her tentative and retiring persona. Mum trained furiously, months in advance. As the trip roster was pared down to Mum, my good friend Allen and me, she stood as the most dedicated. Soon she was riding 80-100 kilometers per day, and was as strong a rider as Allen or I.
1.1 Based on your reading of the passage, complete the following sentences. 1 × 7 = 7
(a) The narrator describes the roads across Iceland as ………… .
(b) The narrator had faith in his mother’s physical abilities as ……….. .
(c) The training to take the adventure trip on cycle included …………… .
(d) In his adulthood the narrator realized that his life was…………. .
(e) Descriptions of his trips always ……………
(f) The narrator was sure that the trip would ………..
(g) The narrator and his friend were sure about Mum’s preparation when …………
1.2 Find words from the passage that mean the same as the following. 1 × 3 = 3
(a) noticed/became aware of
(b) to give new life
(c) hesitance/not certain
VIEW SOLUTION
- Question 2
Read the following passage carefully. (5)
From the danger of losing one leg due to a knee injury to winning an Olympic bronze medal Yogeshwar Dutt has came a long way. The freestyle wrestler’s story is one of passion for the sport and his perseverance and solid determination in realising his dream. Thanks to him, Bhainswal Kalan, a village, some 20 kilometers away from Sonepat in Haryana, has become very popular now. Yogeshwar has qualities of a champion and virtues like humility, respect for others and extending a helping hand to the needy, which make him even more endearing. His dream of winning an Olympic medal was not fulfilled in Beijing in 2008. Going through the injuries was difficult period for him. The Mittal Champions Trust helped him when he had the knee injury after the Beijing Olympics. He had problem in seeing due to injury. His intense desire to win a medal worked as a healing agent to all his injuries. He trained hard and God listened to his prayers. After 2008, his sole target was the 2012 Olympics. He wanted to Participate in more and more competitions, but he was pulled down by injuries in 2009 and that robbed him of nearly one year. After that, he could no reduce his weight too often to take part in various events. All the time the Olympics was there in his mind. Even when he was injured he thought of winning an Olympic medal. His back injury was a problem but he got over it. His friends and family backed him a lot. His brother and friends shared his responsibilities and allowed him to focus on wrestling with a free mind.
Based on your reading of the passage, choose the right answer from the given options to complete the following sentences.
(a) A quality necessary for a champion is ………
(i) perseverance
(ii) determination
(iii) passion
(iv) each one of the above
(b) Yogeshwar Dutt lost almost a year in 2009 because of ………..
(i) injuries
(ii) worship
(iii) loss of weight
(iv) the villagers
(c) The problem that did not trouble Yogeshwar was ………. injury.
(i) eye
(ii) knee
(iii) back
(iv) head
(d) Even during his long and lonely stays abroad ……. kept him motivated.
(i) his parents
(ii) the thought of the Olympic medal
(iii) his injuries
(iv) the thought of his responsibilities
(e) Yogeshwar Dutt was able to give his best as …………
(i) he did not have to think of his responsibilities
(ii) he participated in the Olympic games
(iii) he was sure to get a medal
(iv) he had an intense desire to win a medal
- Question 3
Read the following passage carefully. (5)
We sat in silence in the dark of the night as the large head appeared from the large foliage. The female was young, healthy and alert. Seconds later, she walked confidently to the edge of a waterhole followed by not one, not two, but three beautiful young cubs. Like works of art on display, all four tigers bent low at the waterhole that had been created for them and for the myriad creatures that shared their troubled kingdom. The Goshri tigers had come visiting and we watched them with rapt attention on our closed − circuit TV screens, in the conservation retreat of Harsh and Poonam Dhanwatey, a husband and wife team whose life had been dedicated to the protection of tigers in and around Maharashtra’s Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve. Their son Nikhil carefully positioned the cameras and cabled them 40 meter from their conservation retreat, near the waterhole that had turned into a magnet for every conceivable animal found in the Tiger Reserve itself. We were making preparations to set up one of the first Community Conservation Reserves in Central India. Originally into business, the Dhanwateys changed tracks midstream by shutting down a thriving interior design business in response to just one meeting they had with Dr. Ullas Karanth and Valmik Thapar, two of India’s finest tiger people, in Nagpur. In their own words: “From admirers of wildlife we became passionate defenders and we launched our non-governmental organisation called Tiger Research and Conservation Trust (TRACT).” The Dhanwateys lived for years in a small hut that was their field camp near the famous Tadoba Lake and they discovered the secrets of the forest in the best way possible, by walking its trails, and generally learning all they could about the magical mix of life that comprised this tropical, dry deciduous forest.
Based on your reading of the passage, choose the right answer from the given options to complete the following sentences.
(a) Before taking up the cause of tigers the Dhanwateys were……… .
(i) working in a non-governmental organisation
(ii) in the textile business
(iii) working with Dr. Karanth
(iv) managing an interior design business
(b) The waterhole is referred to as a magnet because …….. .
(i) a magnet was placed there
(ii) all the animals were attracted to it
(iii) cameras had magnets
(iv) water was not available
(c) The narrator had gone to the Tiger Reserve to ……….. .
(i) kill tigers
(ii) set up a Tiger Reserve
(iii) set up the first Community Conservation Reserve
(iv) employ Nikhil in the Tiger Reserve
(d) The meeting with Dr. Ullas Karanth and Valmik Thapar changed the lives of …… .
(i) Nikhil
(ii) the Dhanwateys
(iii) the narrator
(iv) TRACT
(e) The activities in which the champions of TRACT are not involved are ……… .
(i) killing of tigers in that area
(ii) discovering the secrets of the forests
(iii) Walking the trails of tigers
(iv) living in the deciduous forests
- Question 4
Your school is celebrating grandparents’ day next week. Write a notice in 50-60 words to be put up on the school notice board informing students of the celebration and requesting them to be present with their grandparents. You are Samir/Suman, Head Boy/Head Girl ABC Sen. Sec. School, Delhi. (3)
- Question 5
You are Mahesh. You have been asked to meet the passport officer urgently to clarify certain details regarding renewal of your passport. Write a message in 50-60 words for your mother who was not at home informing her of the matter and also telling her that you would be late in reaching home. (3)
- Question 6
Given below are details of an eminent environmentalist. Use the information to form a biographical sketch of Aruna Saxena in 80-100 words. (4)
Aruna Saxena − born in 1978 − education − M.A. in Environmental Science
− achievements − actively involved in Green Revolution Movement − won her worldwide recognition − published a collection of poems, ‘Singing Birds’
− awards − won the national award for creating environmental awareness
− other interests − painting, writing poetry −
− positions held − President of Rotary Club of Marwar in 2007, President of the Poetry Club in 2009
- Question 7
You happened to witness a film being shot in your locality. Write a letter in 120-150 words to a friend describing your experience. You are Rani/Raman, 15, Vinay Nagar, Ooty. (5)
- Question 8
At the party, Lalitha was thrilled to notice that sitting in a corner all alone, was her friend whom she had not met for a long time .................... Complete the story in 120-150 words in any suitable way. (5)
- Question 9
Inspite of laws banning child labour, children are still made to work. As President of the Residents' Association, make a speech in 120-150 words to be delivered at the Association's meeting about why it is still happening. Seek their co-operation to stop this practice. (5)
- Question 10
Choose the appropriate options from the ones given below to complete the following
passage. (4)
As a young boy I (a) ……….. to play on the ground near my home. At the (b) ……… end of the ground was a library. I had often seen people walk in and out of it (c) ………… books in their hands. One evening I walked in and politely asked the librarian (d) …….. … a book.
(a)
(i)
was
(ii)
used
(iii)
are
(iv)
had
(b)
(i)
far
(ii)
near
(iii)
off
(iv)
hind
(c)
(i)
carried
(ii)
carrying
(iii)
carries
(iv)
carry
(d)
(i)
for
(ii)
him
(iii)
about
(iv)
to
- Question 11
Rearrange the following words/phrases to form meaningful sentences. The first one has been done for you. (4)
Watching TV / on exercise / while you are / the following ways / The American Council / suggests / to exercise /
The American Council on exercise suggests the following ways to exercise while you are watching TV.
(a) the remote / the channel / to change / get up / from the couch / instead of using
(b) the room during / Walk up / the stairs / or around / and down / commercial breaks
(c) a treadmill / use / you watch / while / you can / TV/
(d) resistance band / while watching / use a / television /
- Question 12
The following passage has not been edited. There is one error in each line. Identify the error and write it along the correction in the answer sheet. The first one has been done for you as an example. (4)
Incorrect
Correct
One morning I finished one business at the bank
one
some
and was returning in pick my motorbike which I had left
(a)
in the parking lot outside, Suddenly he realised that I had
(b)
lost the bike key. Upset I searched about it in the bank. A bank
(c)
employee tried to help me find it, and in vain
(d)
- Question 13
Study the notes given below and complete the paragraph that follows by filling in the blanks suitably. (4)
NOTES
− Octopush − underwater hockey game
− created by a group of English divers
− aim was to keep scuba diving club busy in winter
− each team − 8 players − battle for a lead puck with a pusher
Octopush (a) ……….. hockey game. It (b) ……….. a group of English divers.
The game (c) ……….. keeping the local scuba club busy during the winter months. The original rules required 8 players (d) ………… a lead puck with a small stick called pusher.
- Question 14
Read the dialogue given below and complete the passage that follows. (4)
Teacher: Why were you absent yesterday?
Ravi: I went for a family friend's wedding.
Teacher: The exams are approaching. Don't miss classes until absolutely necessary.
Ravi: Sorry ma'am. I promise not to miss classes any more.
The teacher asked Ravi (a) .................... Ravi replied that (b) .................... a family friend's wedding. The teacher then reminded him (c) .................... and advised him not to miss classes until absolutely necessary. Ravi said he was sorry and (d) ....................
- Question 15
(A) Read the extract given below and complete the sentences that follow with the help of given options. 1 × 3 = 3
I met a traveller from an antique land
Who said : Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert.
(a) The poet was informed about the broken statue by .................... .
(i) Ozymandias (ii) some travellers (iii) the sculptor (iv) a traveller
(b) The legs of stone belonged to .................... .
(i) Ozymandias (ii) the traveller (iii) the statue (iv) the poet
(c) The word, 'trunk' in this context means .................... .
(i) upper part of a body (ii) part of a tree (iii) legs of the statue (iv) none of the above
(B) Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow. 1 × 3 = 3
At least, that was what I thought then. Now I knew that Sebastian Shultz, the boy from the game, really did exist, I’d seen the proof in the newspaper.
(a) What had Michael thought earlier?
(b) Why is Sebastian Shultz called ‘the boy from the game’?
(c) What had Michael seen in the newspaper ?
(C) Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow. 1 × 3 = 3
‘Shall Caesar send a lie?
Have I in conquest stretch’d mine arm so far,
To be afraid to tall graybeards the truth ?
Decius, go and tell them Caesar will not come’.
(a) Why has Decius come to Caesar’s place?
(b) What message does Caesar give him?
(c) Who are the ‘graybeards’ referred to here?
- Question 16
Answer any three of the following in 50-60 words each. (6)
(a) Why had Michael and his father gone to the computer fair?
(b) Why does Lavinia feel that the Ouija board would help her husband?
(c) How did the mariners reach the land of ice and snow?
(d) How does Brutus convince the Romans that Caesar deserved his death?
- Question 17
Patol Babu always remembered the words of his mentor that one has to accept whatever is offered and make the best of any opportunity. Write a letter to a friend telling him about the value of hard work and the art of putting in your best. Write the answer in 120-150 words. (5)
- Question 18
Answer the following in 120-150 words. (5)
Describe the circumstances under which the albatross was hung around the ancient mariner's neck.
OR
As Lavinia, John Hallock's wife, write a letter to your sister on Helen, the ghost and how you misunderstood your husband.