SECTION - A: PROSE
READING SKILLS, VOCABULARY, GRAMMAR
Q. 1: (A) Read the following extract carefully and answer the questions given below.
He asked. Boy, did he ask! First he asked me for a chance, then he asked nearly all the people he came across if they wanted to buy a telephone system from him. And his asking paid off. As he likes to put it, "Even a blind hog finds an acorn every once in a while." That simply means that if you ask enough, eventually someone will say 'yes'.
He cared. He cared about me and his customers. He discovered that when he cared more about taking care of his customers than he cared about taking care of himself, it wasn't long before he didn't have to worry about taking care of himself.
Most of all, Cowboy started every day as a winner! He hit the front door expecting something good to happen. He believed that things were going to go his way regardless of what happened. He had no expectation of failure, only an expectation of success. And I've found that when you expect success and take action on that expectation, you almost always get success.
Cowboy has made millions of dollars. He has also lost it all, only to get it all back again. In his life as in mine, it has been that once you know and practice the principles of success, they will work for you again and again.
He can also be an inspiration to you. He is proof that it's not environment or education or technical skills and ability that make you a success. He proves that it takes more: It takes the principles we so often overlook or take for granted. These are the principles of the Ya Gotta's for Success.
Questions:
(1) What was the Cowboy's motto? (1)
(2) What did the Cowboy learn after he lost millions of dollars? (1)
(3) Why did the Cowboy firmly believe that asking would pay off? (1)
(4) When you expect success andtake action on that expectation, you almost always succeed. (Name the part of speech of the underlined words) (2)
(5) (a) He cared about me and his customers.
(Rewrite using 'not only …………. but also') (1)
(b) Cowboy has made millions of dollars. (Add a Question tag) (1)
(6) In what way is the cowboy a source of inspiration for you? (2)
Q. 1: (B) Read the following extract carefully and answer the questions given below.
Maggu's achievements are particularly noteworthy because - as is well-known-academic institutions in India are less than sold on the idea of inclusive education. In fact, when Maggu lost her sight in class IV, her school (which she declines to name) expelled her while suggesting she attend a "blind school". Though shocked Maggu rejected the advice. "Attending a special school would have tarred me with a handicap forever, which was not how I saw my future. Therefore I did the rounds of other public schools with my father, a small-time merchant, explaining that my case was different since I had vision till the age of ten," she recalls.
Impressed by her persistence and ambition Delhi's Bluebells school not only admitted her but pulled out all the stops to support her in academics and in sports. Not surprisingly she won laurels in inter-school sporting events and also notched up a respectable 73 percent average in the class XII exam with the help of Braille, interactive textbooks and extra coaching.
This respectable average in her CBSE exam paved the way for admission into LSR where again she proved her mettle by winning medals in a slew of inter-college events (100, 200 and 400 metre spirits) high jump, long jump, javelin and discus throw resulting in her being declared 'Athlete of the year' 2003 at a sportsmeet for 100 physically challenged athletes. And the cherry on the cake was the selection to the IBSA Games last year. "It was a tough regimen", recalls Maggu. "I had to attend sports camps, manage my studies and officiate as sports president. But I managed."
Questions:
(1) What qualities of Maggu are highlighted in this passage? (1)
(2) Why did Maggu refuse to attend a 'blind school'? (1)
(3) Quote the lines that show that Jyoti Maggu was good in academics as well as in sports. (1)
(4) Use any two phrases in sentences of your own: (2)
(a) To win laurels, (b) To pave the way,
(c) To prove one's mettle, (d) A tough regimen.
(5) (a) I did the rounds of other public schools with my father.
(Change the voice)
(b) Though shocked Maggu rejected the advice.
(Rewrite as simple sentence) (2)
(6) Should the physically challenged be sent to special schools? Express your views. (2)
Q. 2: (A) Read the following extract carefully and answer the questions given below.
The natural life span of a domesticated horse is about 25-30 years, 10 years down from what it was in the wild. You can tell a horse's age from the number of teeth he has. They get all their teeth by the age of 5, after which those teeth just get longer. Horses have close to 360 degree all round vision. The only place they cannot see is directly behind or right in front of themselves, which is why it's dangerous to stand behind a horse. If they feel something behind them, they may kick first and ask questions later! It also means that they cannot see a jump once they are about four feet from it, and have to rely on memory as to its height and shape! Each of the horse's two eyes work independently wherever a horse's ear points is where the horse is looking. A horse is able to sleep standing up as he is able to lock his leg muscles so that he doesn't fall asleep. Nor do all horses in the same field ever lie down at once - one animal always stands "on look out" duty.
Questions:
(1) What is the life span of a wild horse? (1)
(2) Why do the horse owners cover their horse's eyes with blinkers? (1)
(3) What prevents a horse from falling while asleep? (1)
(4) (a) Falls shorter the mane on the side legged.
(Rearrange the words to make a meaningful sentence) (1)
(b) Form antonyms by adding a prefix. (i) able (ii) direct. (1)
(5) (a) They get all their teeth by the age of five. (Pick out the prepositions)
(b) If they feel something behind them they may kick. (Rewriter using 'unless')
(6) How have horses helped man through the ages? (2)
Q. 2: (B) Read the following extract carefully and answer the questions given below.
Nicholas Chorier is not your usual photographer. He is a kite aerial photographer. He uses a kite to hoist his camera into the skies and clicks photographs while the camera dangles precariously mid-air. As a teenager, Nicholas had two passions - photography and kite flying. During a trip to India to make a photo report on kite making, he learnt about this unique style of photography. Fascinated, he literally tied his two hobbies together for a living.
Nicholas learnt to make strong kites modeled on the Japanese kites, Rokkaku that could endure harsh winds. A novice in his chosen field, he then set out to train himself. Today he is one of the most well-known kite aerial photographers in the world.
The technique is to tie a cradle containing the photography equipment to the string of the kite and then fly it, thus launching the camera into air. From the ground, Nicholas manipulates the angles of the camera with a remote. An air-to-ground video link enables him to see the view from the kite's vantage point. Once satisfied with the frame, he clicks a picture.
However, the job does have its pitfalls too. Once, his kite disappeared in the Yamuna river, with his expensive camera in tow.
He is especially fond of India, having made a couple of trips and taken many spectacular photos. "India is too vast and beautiful a country to be captured through the lenses in one life" he says.
He recently released a book, Kite's Eye View: India between Earth and Sky. Though it includes photographs of oft taken sites like the Taj Mahal, it shows them from a totally different perspective.
Questions:
(1) What were Nicholas's two passions? (1)
(2) How does Nicholas take aerial photographs? (1)
(3) What is 'Rokkaku'? (1)
(4) (a) Pick out words from the passage which mean: (i) to tolerate, (ii) costly.
(b) Nicholas has two passions.
(Start the sentence with 'Nicholas was ……….. using the adjective form of passion') (1)
(5) (a) India is too vast a country to be captured through the lenses.
(Remove too ………. And rewrite) (1)
(b) Nicholas learnt to make strong kites.
(Rewrite using past perfect tense) (1)
(6) What risks do aerial photographers face? (2)
Q.3: Grammar:
Do as directed:
(a) Master : "Well, Shailesh, I hear you are taking part in the speaking competition."
Pupil : "Yes; and I came to ask you to give me some hints on the art of public speaking."
(Change into Indirect Speech) (1)
(b) The people regarded him ……… Imposter and called him ……… villain.
(Insert correct articles) (1)
(c) go then said the ant and dance winter away (Punctuate) (1)
SECTION - B: POETRY
Q. 4: (A) Read the extract carefully and answer the questions that follow: (5)
Life is a gift to be used every day
Not to be smothered and hidden away;
It isn't a thing to be stored in the chest
Where you gather your keepsakes and treasure your best;
It isn't a joy to be sipped now and then
And promptly put back in a dark place again.
Life is a gift that the humblest may boast of
And one that the humblest may well make the most of,
Get out and live it each hour of the day,
Wear it and use it as much as you may;
Don't keep it in niches and corners and grooves,
You'll find that in service its beauty improves.
Questions:
1. What do we treasure in a chest? (1)
2. How does the poet want us to use the gift of life? (1)
3. Do you agree that life should be measured in deeds and not in years? Why? (1)
4. Which words in the poem mean the following:
(a) Kept from developing (b) hollow places in a wall. (1)
5. Life is a gift to be used every day.
(Name and explain the figure of speech) (1)
Q. 4: (B) Read the following extract carefully and answer the questions given below:
India, my India, where first human eyes awoke to heavenly light! All Asia's holy place of pilgrimage, great Motherland of might! Worlds-mother, first giver to humankind of philosophy and sacred lore, Knowledge thou gav'st to man, God-love, works, art, religion's opened door.
O even with all that grandeur dwarfed or turned to bitter loss and maim,
How shall we mourn who are thy children and can vaunt thy mighty name?
Before us still there floats the ideal of those splendid days of gold;
A new world in our vision wakes, Love's India we shall rise to mould.
India, my India, who dare call three a thing for pity's grace today?
Mother of wisdom, worship, works, nurse of the spirit's inward ray!
Questions:
1. The poem is a ………… .
(a) praise (b) prayer (c) story in the form of a poem (d) song of condolence.
(Choose the correct alternative) (1)
2. What has India given to the world? (1)
3. How does the poet visualize New India? (1)
4. Give the rhyme scheme of the first four lines. (1)
5. Name and explain the figure of speech that dominates the poem. (1)
SECTION - C: RAPID READING
Q. 5: Read the following extract carefully and answer the questions given below:
We sang our school fight song dozens of times-en route to Arlington National Cemetry, and even on an afternoon cruise down the Potomac River.
We visited the Lincoln Memorial twice, once in day-light, the second time at dusk. My classmates and I fell silent as we walked in the shadows of those 36 marble columns, one for every state in the Union that Lincoln labored to preserve. I stood next to Frank at the base of the 19-foot seated statue. Spotlights made the white Georgian marble seem to glow. Together, we read those famous words from Lincoln's speech at Gettysburg remembering the most bloody battle in the War between the States.: "………… we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain-that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom ………..".
As Frank motioned me into place to take my picture, I took one last look at Lincoln's face. He seemed alive and so terribly sad.
The next morning I understood a little better why he wasn't smiling. "Clifton", a chaperone said, "could I see you for a moment?"
Questions:
1. When did the boys visit Lincoln Memorial? (1)
2. What made the Georgian marble glow? (1)
3. What did the words: "………… we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain-that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom ………." Remind them? (1)
4. Do you believe in building memorials? What kind should they be, if your answer is 'yes'? If no, give reasons why you do not believe in memorials? (2)
SECTION - D: WRITING SKILLS
Q.6: (A) Write a letter to the District Sports Officer to help the school improve in sports. (ground, grants, facilities, coach.) (5)
OR
Write a letter of advice to your younger sister who complains that she does not know how to manage time.
(B) Study the chart showing the Noise Scale. Transfer the information into one or two paragraphs: (5)
Sounds are timy vibrations that can travel through air and other materials. The loudness of a sound is measured in decibels (db).
Typical sound level in decibels:
(1) | Silence | 0 db |
(2) | Rustle of leaves | 10 db |
(3) | Breathing | 10 db |
(4) | Radio music inside hoem | 56-60 db |
(5) | Loud television | 70 db |
(6) | Road traffic Noise | 60-90 db |
(7) | Powerful rock music | 100 db |
(8) | Motor cycle | 105 db |
(9) | Heavy truck traffic | 90-100 db |
(10) | Wind in the trees | 20 db |
OR
Read the following information and prepare a fact file:
Delhi, capital of India, has an area of 1,486sq. km. Haryana and U.P. are its neighbours. It has a literacy rate of 81.7%: (males 87.3%, females 74.7%). People generally speak Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu and English. It is known for its Roshnara festival, Shalimar, Qutab, Mango Festivals, Garden Tourism and Winter Carnival.
Q.7: (A) Prepare a speech you wish to give on the Farewell Day Function of your school. (5)
OR
You wish to open an account is SBI in your area. Write a dialogue between you and the Bank Manager.
(B) A thief was caught in your neighbourhood. Write a short report about the incident to the local newspaper. (5)
OR
An ex-student of your school received an award for this informative documentary film. He has been invited to the school for felicitation. You, as the Head Boy, have been asked to interview him. Frame 10 questions to interview him.
Q.8: Expand any one of the following in about 100 words: (5)
(1) Fine feathers make fine birds.
(2) Justice delayed is justice denied.
(3) Pollution - the bane of machine age.