Read the passage given below: 1. In the summer of 1967, when I was 10 years old, my father caved into my persistent pleas and took me to get my own dog. Together we drove in the family station wagon far into the Michigan countryside to a farm run by a rough-hewn women and her ancient mother. The farm produced just one commodity-dogs. Dogs of every imaginable size and shape and age and temperament. They had only two things in common: each was a mongrel of unknown and distinct ancestry, and each was free to a good home.

2. I quickly decided the older dogs were somebody else's charity case. I immediately raced to the puppy cage. "You want to pick one that's not timid," my father coached. "Try rattling the cage and see which ones aren't afraid."

3. I grabbed the chain-link gate and yanked on it with a loud clang. The dozen or so puppies reeled backward, collapsing on top of one another in a squiggling heap of fur. Just one remained. He was gold with a white blaze on his chest, and he charged at the gate, yapping fearlessly. He jumped up and excitedly licked my fingers through the fencing. It was love at first sight.

4. I brought him home in a cardboard box and named him Shaun. He was one of those dogs that gives dogs a good name. He effortlessly mastered every command I taught him and was naturally well behaved. I could drop a crust on the floor and he would not touch it until I gave the okay.

5. Relatives would visit for the weekend and returned home determined to buy a dog of their own, so impressed were they with Shaun-or "Saint Shaun," as I came to call him. Born with the curse of an uncertain lineage, he was one of the tens of thousands of unwanted dogs in America. Yet by some stroke of almost providential good fortune, he became wanted. He came into my life and I into his-and in the process, he gave me the childhood every kid deserves.

6. The love affair lasted fourteen years, and by the time he died I was no longer the little boy who had brought him along on that summer day. I was a man, out of collage and working across the state in my first real job. Saint Shaun had stayed behind when I moved on. It was where he belonged. My parents, by then retired, called to break the news to me. My mother would later tell me, "In fifty years of marriage, I've only seen your father cry twice. "The first time was when we lost Mary Ann"-my sister, who was stillborn. "The second time was the day Shaun died."

7. Saint Shaun of my childhood. He was perfect dog. At least that's how I will always remember him. It was Shaun who set the standard by which I would judge all other dogs to come.
1.1 Complete the following statements:

(a) The dog farm was run by .................... .
(b) The author did not want an old dog because .................... .
(c) He fell in love with the dog the moment the latter .................... .
(d) Shaun became so obedient that he .................... until the author allowed him.
(e) After visiting them their relatives wanted .................... .
(f) When Shaun died even .................... .


1.2 Find words from the passage which mean the same as the following:

(a) urgent request (para 1)
(b) falling (para 3) VIEW SOLUTION

Read the following passage:
In India, eating organic food is more of a style statement than due to health worries because the stuff is expensive. But people who can, do indulge in not only organic vegetables but even organic eggs laid by 'happy hens', who are allowed to roam around freely whereas 'unhappy hens' are kept in coops. Then there are companies that have installed music channels in their cowsheds and the milk from those sheds are sold at a marked up price since it has more nutritional value because the animals are happy thanks to lilting 24×7 music. We don't know yet any farmer using music to improve his crop quality, but then you never know : plants are known to respond to music.

Why such pickiness about food ? These days, the huge number of TV shows and articles that we see and read on food provide bread and butter for the specialist. But instead of decoding food, its sources and what has gone into growing it, isn't it much better to enjoy what's on the plate ?
2.1 Complete the statements given below by choosing the correct options from those that follow:

(a) According to a Stanford University study, organic food in relation to conventional food is________.
  (i) less nutritious
  (ii) more nutritious
  (iii) very conventional
  (iv) as nutritious

(b) The study will not be welcomed by _________.
  (i) farmers of conventional food
  (ii) makers of pesticides
  (iii) all sectors
  (iv) exporters of organic food

(c) We can save some hard cash by _________.
  (i) buying organic food
  (ii) not buying organic food
  (iii) going to the shop
  (iv) not buying food with pesticides

(d) Music channels are installed in the cowshed because the _________.
  (i) cows then give more milk
  (ii) milk is sold at a higher price
  (iii) milk becomes more pure
  (iv) workers becomes happy

(e) In the second paragraph, the author's attitude to the people who eat food sourced from 'happy' animals is that he _________.
  (i) is happy with them
  (ii) is unhappy with them
  (iii) is laughing at them
  (iv) wants crops to be grown similarly

(f) One benefit of organic food is that __________.
  (i) it is fashionable to eat
  (ii) only rich people can afford it
  (iii) it is less contaminated with pesticides
  (iv) even poor people can afford it

(g) The word 'contaminated' means ________.
  (i) adulterated
  (ii) for adults
  (iii) containing
  (iv) not healthy VIEW SOLUTION

Imagine you are Gitika. Road the following conversation and write a suitable message for your mother in 50-60 words:

Ankita  : Hi, didi ! I'm Ankita on the line. Is aunty at home?

Gitika   : No, she has gone to visit my grandparents. Is there any problem?

Ankita  : No, I just wanted to inform her that we have a special havan tomorrow at 9 a.m. at our place. My mother has specially invited all of you.

Gitika   : Okay, Thanks ! I'll inform her and we will definitely come. VIEW SOLUTION

Your maid has 4 children ‒ 3 daughters and 1 son. All her daughters work as maids to earn money, while the son goes to a school and gets everything he desires. You feel pity for the girls and sad at the way our society treats girls. Write a diary entry in 50‒60 words. VIEW SOLUTION

Last year your school appointed a new T.G.T. who came to teach you English in class 9. You are very impressed with her. Write a description of your T.G.T. (English) in about 100 words. You may use the clues given below:

• qualification, college/university
• personality
• attitude towards students
• manner of teaching
• problem solving
• course punctuality
• weak students VIEW SOLUTION

Your city was inundated by the recent rains causing extensive water logging, traffic snarls and ugly jams. The life of the common man was completely disrupted. You have decided to write an email to the editor of a local daily describing the condition of the city. Make suggestions for improvement. As Renu/Rohit, write this email in 120-150 words. VIEW SOLUTION

You are Amit/Anita, Head Boy/Head Girl of your school. You have been asked by your principal to deliver a speech in the morning assembly on 'Importance of Punctuality in a student's life'. Write your speech in about 120 words VIEW SOLUTION

Complete the paragraph given below by filling in each of the blanks with the help of the options that follow:

The butter (a) __________ melted. Onions and vegetables are (b)​ __________ in it for 3 minutes. Flour and stock are added. It is brought to a boil while (c) ​__________ continuously.
 

(a)	(i) be	(ii) is	(iii) are	(iv) being
(b)	(i) fried	(ii) fry	(iii) fries	(iv) frying
(c)	(i) stir	(ii) stirring	(iii) stirs	(iv) stirred

VIEW SOLUTION

Complete the news items given below by choosing the correct options from those that follow:

(a) 15-year-old Ram ____________________ against robbers last night.
(b) Delhi High Court​ ____________________ kite flying in urban areas is illegal.
(c) A killer whale thrashed a trainer killing him ​ ____________________ a shocked crowd. VIEW SOLUTION

Rearrange the following words and phrases to form meaningful sentences:

(a) one of / that of reading / known to / is / greatest / the / pleasures / man /

(b) a rich variety / adventure and wisdom / the / world of books / has / of /

(c) own / you / book / convenience / can enjoy / a / at your / VIEW SOLUTION

In the passage given below, one word has been omitted in each marked line. Write the missing word along with the word that comes before and the word that comes after it. Ensure that the word that forms your answer is underlined. The first one is done as an example.
 

Kite flying was a popular sport that time	e.g.	sport	at	that
and while the girls knitted and sewed
we boys climbed over the roofs enter	(a)	_______	_______	_______
the competition. We limited pocket-money	(b)	_______	_______	_______
and was not enough to buy all the	(c)	_______	_______	_______
material needed to make our kites.

VIEW SOLUTION

Read the conversation given below and complete the paragraph that follows.
 

Jatin    :	Will you come with me to watch a movie tonight?
David  :	I would have but I need to finish my English homework.
Jatin    :	Then I shall ask Ravi.

Jatin asked David if he would (a) _______________. David replied that he would have but (b) _______________. Jatin then said (c) _______________. VIEW SOLUTION

(a) Read the extract given below and answer briefly the questions that follow:

          He holds him with his skinny hand,
          "There was a ship," quoth he.

(i) Who does 'He' refer to in the above extract?
(ii) What do we know about the speaker's feelings?
(iii) Why is his hand called 'skinny'?


(b)  Read the extract given below and answer briefly the questions that follow:

          It all started a month ago. Dad and I had spent the entire Saturday afternoon at the Computer Fair.

(i) Who does 'I' in the extract refer to?
(ii) What started a month ago?
(iii) What does the speaker have a keen interest in?


(c)  Read the extract given below and answer briefly the questions that follow:

          Good countrymen, let me depart alone,
          And, for my sake, stay here with Antony:

(i) Identify the speaker of the above lines.
(ii) When and where were the above lines spoken?
(iii) Bring out the irony in the above extract. VIEW SOLUTION

Answer any two of the following questions in 30‒40 words each:

(a) Why did John's wife get angry with him? What did she decide to do?

(b) Why did the poet throw the log at the snake?

(c) How did nature foretell Caesar's death? VIEW SOLUTION

          Now let it work. Mischief thou art afoot.
          Take thou what course thou wilt!

Antony seeks justice by getting the mob to kill the conspirators. But to correct a wrong, one cannot commit another wrong. Write a speech for the school assembly on ‒ the ends do not justify the means. (120-150 words) VIEW SOLUTION

Answer the following questions in 120‒150 words: How did the air raids disrupt the Dutch public life?
  Describe the progress made by Helen Keller during the two years she spent at Wright-Humason School for the Deaf in New York city. VIEW SOLUTION

Answer the following questions in 120‒150 words: Attempt a character sketch of Anne Frank. Attempt a character sketch of Otto Frank, Anne's father. Attempt a character sketch of Mr. Gilman as a teacher. It was her determination that helped Helen Keller get admission to Radcliffe College. Comment. VIEW SOLUTION