English Language Specimen Question Paper

ENGLISH LANGUAGE

ENGLISH Paper -1

Answers to this paper must be written on the paper provided separately.

You will not be allowed to write during the first 15 minutes.

This time is to be spent in reading the question paper.

The time given at the head of this paper is the time allowed for writing the answers.

Attempt all four questions.

The intended marks for questions or parts of questions are given in brackets [ ]. You are advised to spend not more than 35 minutes in answering Question 1 and 20 minutes in answering Question 2.

Question 1.

[25]

(Do not spend more than 35 minutes on this question.)

Write a composition (350-400 words) on any one of the following:

a)     Don’t use social media to impress people; use it to impact people. Express your views either for or against this statement.

b)    Write an original short story that begins with the words: “ Help me, help me,” I cried in despair. Then I ran as fast as I could…………………

c)     Narrate an incident from your life that makes you believe that nothing is impossible in this world if you have the right attitude and determination.

d)    Travel is like an investment in yourself; it transforms you and changes you forever. It is not just the sights that make up a vacation; it is the food, the people, their customs and the insights. Describe one such vacation which you went for.

(e)  Study the picture given below. Write a short story or description or an account of what the picture suggests to you. Your composition may be about the subject of the picture or you may take suggestions from it; however, there must be a clear connection between the picture and your composition.

Question 2.

[10]

(Do not spend more than 20 minutes on this question.)

Select any one of the following:

(a)  A book club affiliated to a local library, that you are a member of, wants you to recommend a book for its members to read. Write a letter to the president of this book club suggesting a suitable book, describing it briefly. Give reasons for your choice.

(b)  Write a letter  to a friend, who is discouraged by his failure in the examination, encouraging him not to lose heart and to try again with renewed vigour.

(c)  Question 3.

(d)   

(e)  Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.

Youth is that wonderful time in life when energy is limitless, human creativity is at its best and the ‘never say die’ spirit is at its peak. Today, one keeps seeing and reading about the achievements of hundreds of young people in practically all spheres of life. Demographically, the India of today is at its youngest best. Nearly 78% of our country’s population is less than 40 years old. Imagine the potential energy in these millions of young Indians and you can then fathom the fact that we could face any challenge as a nation. But are we doing anything to internalize and understand the potential of this enormous power that could make us one of the leading nations in the world, not just in material terms but also in every conceivable way that the human mind can think of? Youth is also an impressionable age wherein  we try to model our life against that of a ‘role model’ or ‘icon’. This is the time when one is ready to take on  tasks however onerousthey are; the time when our  ideals can drive and determine one’s actions; the time when we believe that we can do anything under the sun. This is the time when we are easily motivated by the environment and by what we see and value around us. A few years ago, one reputed international magazine had published that India is possibly the only nation with so many young and educated people. They had written about a situation wherein India would have retired young people in a few years from now. While it does make one feel warm that our young are so capable of creating  enormous wealth in such a short period of time, it also makes one wonder if ‘amassing wealth’ is the only value that  is driving  our young today. India is a land  of tremendous contradictions. On one hand, one sees such enormous prosperity and wealth while on the other hand one third of Indians go without a second meal everyday. While India’s scientific achievements in the fields of telecommunication, information and technology and space is enviable, it makes one’s heart bleed when you know that only 10% of rural Indians have sanitation facilities and 22% of them are able to get potable water to drink. Even today, nearly 42% of our children in the villages find it difficult to access schooling while many children are still laboring  away in the fields and factories to make both ends meet. While we are able to find solutions to all kinds of technical and software  problems all over the world, we still are grappling with having nearly 25% of the world’s poor in our country.  While we are finding more young achievers in the field of sports, music, arts, technology and wealth creation, we find very few young people leading us in political and social arenas.

How do we get our young, whose role models and icons today are mostly from economic, technology, music, cinema and sports arenas, to consider nation building as an important facet of our productive lives? How do we get them to address the myriad problems facing us? While there is not just one correct way to do this, I feel we need to begin by understanding our youth and the environment in which we live presently.

India has always idolized its icons and has made their character into a national phenomenon. During the early Vedic times, knowledge was all important and hence we placed our rishis and hermits on the highest pedestal. Even kings would pay obeisance to them. We had people like Vishwamitra who was a king but whose ideas was to become  a ‘Rajarishi.’ Then came the phase wherein we began placing human valour higher than knowledge. This was the period of the Mahabharata; where the Kshatriya and his valour were worth emulating. We have examples from  Karna to Ekalavya, a tribal in the forest after knowledge of weaponry. We also have examples of Brahmins like Dronacharya and Kripacharya, whose traditional pursuit was knowledge, becoming teachers and trainers of warriors. Gradually this value of valour changed with the times to that of ‘Nationalism and Patriotism.’ This was the period of the British rule where every young man considered it a sacred duty to  lay down his life for the motherland. From Bhatgat Singh to Subhash Chandra Bose to Gandhi, the burning fire in ever young one’s belly was to free this great motherland of ours from the slavery of the British. Today, the post independent India has a value system different from that of the past.

a)     Give the meaning of each of the following words as used in the passage. One word answers or short phrases will be accepted. (3)

i)                Fathom

ii)              Onerous

iii)            Enviable

b)    Answer the following questions briefly in your own words:

i)                Why do we consider youth as a wonderful time in life? (2)

ii)              Youth is an impressionable age. Why? (2)

iii)            State any two contradictions that we find in India. (2)

iv)            What was the specialty of the Vedic Period? (2)

v)              State the most important values of Vedic Period, Mahabharatha Period and the Pre-Independent Period. (2)

vi)            Why do we not get the participation youngsters in the process of nation building?  (2)

(i)              In not more than 60 words describe India’s value system of the past. (8)

(ii)            Give a suitable title to the summary .  Give a reason to justify your choice. [2]

Question 4.

(a)  Fill in each of the numbered blanks with the correct form of the word given in brackets. Do not copy the passage but write in correct serial order the word or phrase appropriate to the blank space.

Example: (o) was

There ….o…(be) a flood in a small town and everyone was..1….(run) for safety. A holy man, however, stayed behind saying, “ Lord is my shepherd, He….2….(save) me.” As the water level rose, a jeep….3…(come) to rescue him. The man refused, ….4…(repeat), “God will save me.” As the water level rose further, he …5…(go) up to the second floor and a boat came for his help. Again he refused to go, saying, “ God will save me.” When the water kept..6…(rise) the man climbed up to the terrace. A helicopter came…7…(rescue) him but he said, “ God will save me.” Suddenly lightining struck the man; and he dropped dead. When he reached his Lord in heaven, he said, “ My God,  I had trust in you. Why didn’t you save me?” The Lord replied, “ Didn’t save you!  I ….8…(send) you the jeep, the boat and the helicopter.

(b) Fill in the blanks with an appropriate word:

(i)    The child persists ________________ colouring the sky green.

(ii)  The cruise ship is bound ____________ Mauritius.

(iii)Please dispose ________________ all waste properly.

(iv)                    This soil abounds _____________ rich minerals.

(v)  The workers did not agree ______________ the new rules and regulations.

(vi) A child finds it difficult to part ______________ a favourite toy.
(vii)She prefers tea _______________ coffee.
(viii)The decision was arrived ____________, after a long discussion.	[4]

(c) Join the following sentences to make one complete sentence without using and, but or so:

1.     Perhaps she will pass with distinction. I shall be disappointed then.

2.     He has revision worksheets. He goes to play cricket regularly.

3.     The weather is cold. The child refuses to wear a sweater.

4.     Einstein was a great scientist. He discovered the theory of relativity.

(d)  Rewrite the following sentences according to the instructions given after each. Make other changes that may be necessary, but do not change the meaning of each sentence. (8)

1.     As soon as the chairperson arrived the board meeting commenced. (Begin: Barely…..)

2.     In spite of having scarce resources, Rani Lakshmibai fought bravely against the Mughals. ( Use: Though)

3.     We never imagined that he would win the election. ( Begin: Little)

4.     Spend your time judiciously; otherwise you may fail in the examination. ( Use: Lest)

5.     Very few musicians are as creative as  Mr A R Rahman. (Begin: Mr A R Rahman…..)

6.     It is a pity that I did not take my father’s advice. (Use: wish)

7.     He left Ranchi two weeks ago after completing his thesis. (Begin: It has been…….)

8.     He said, “What have you done to pacify your parents?” (Begin: He asked…….)