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ENGLISH LANGUAGE
ENGLISH Paper -1
(Two hours)
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.
(Do not spend more than 35
minutes on this question.)
Write a composition
(350-400 words) on any one of the following:
a) Frequent
examinations and tests are stressful and the pupils lose interest in
learning. Express your views either for or against this statement.
b) Cleanliness
is next to godliness. Describe an incident that strengthened your faith in
this statement.
c) Narrate
an incident from your life which made you believe perseverance can make you a
consistent achiever.
d) “She
was my best friend. We were very close and used spend our holidays together. It
was during a holiday that I received a call from her…….”
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.
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[10]
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(Do not spend more than 20
minutes on this question.)
Select any one
of the following:
a) Write
a letter to your best friend describing your plans for summer vacation. Give a
vivid picture of the places that you will be visiting during your summer
holidays.
b) Write
a letter to the editor of a national daily highlighting the improved performance
of Indian Cricket Team under the captaincy of Virat Kohli.
Question 3.
Read the following passage
carefully and answer the questions that follow. (25)
Long
ago there lived in a village a man and his wife with their little son. They were
extremely poor. They had a small farm, which could produce barely enough sweet
potatoes to keep body and soul together. Sometimes the man used to work as a porter
to carry the produce of the larger farmers to the market at a distance of ten
miles. But even then he could earn only for a week for his family.
Time
went on, the severe strain of his labour and the poor quality of food told upon
the health of overworked father. Gradually he became a confirmed invalid and
died after sometime. After the funeral, the widow was left almost destitute. She
was a woman, however, with a strong character, and she realized the absolute
necessity of making up her mind at once as to her course of action. Soon a
scheme came to her mind. It must be the secret of her life, which not even her
own son should ever know.
After
selling her cottage, she moved away to a quiet suburb outside the city. Then she
discarded her woman’s attire and dressed herself as a man. In no other way
could she support herself and her child: for in China, a woman was under great
disadvantage in the way of earning her own living. She took up the job of
porter and used to carry as heavy a load as any of the men.
The
years went by, and her little son grew up to be a fine young man. The mother
had determined that he should be a scholar. One day her son came back home in
an excited mood. “Father,” he cried, “the great desire of your heart and of
mine has been granted to us today. I have passed, and that too with honours,
for my name stands at the very top of the list of those who have been adjudged
successful. And now, my beloved father, there will be no more hard work for
you. My name will soon be flashed throughout the Province. My fortune has
indeed been made, and it is due entirely to the hardship you have endured.
All
the time her son was talking, the mother’s face shone with delight, for the
hopes and wishes of a lifetime had come to her with a rush that almost
overpowered her. The young fellow did not notice that deadly pallor that spread
over his mother’s face as he was speaking. She was a true and noble woman, with
a high ideal of what a woman’s life ought to be, and she dared not face the
opinion of the world when it was discovered that she had lived as a man.
Next
morning, at sunrise, when the son entered his father’s room, he found him lying
upon his bed, dead, but dressed in woman’s clothes. The story spread rapidly in
every home, gentle and simple. The universal feeling was one of intense
admiration for the devotion and heroism which had caused the mother to
sacrifice her life for her son. The Emperor issued an edict with an inscription
carved upon the arch with the words: “The Wonderful Man.”
a)
Give the meaning of 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)
Destitute
ii)
Endured
iii)
Pallor
b)
Answer the following questions briefly in your
own words: (12)
i)
How did the man earn a living for his
family?
ii)
What took a toll on the poor man’s life?
iii)
What was the secret scheme planned by the
lady? Why did she make such a plan?
iv)
What news did the son bring about his success?
To whom did he attribute his success?
v)
What was the reason for the deadly pallor
on the lady’s face?
vi)
What did the son see when he entered his
father’s room?
c) In
not more than 60 words, summarise how the mother received the honour of being ‘The
Wonderful Man’. (8)
d) Give
a title to the summary and 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. (4)
0: is lost (4)
As a result of violence, the quality of
living together ….0..(lost) and the felicity of life…1..(undermine). Everywhere
there …2..(be) suspicion, anxiety, fear and misery. So, for all our progress, we…3…(destroy) the
very foundation of life. we …4…(cut) the branch on which we are sitting, and
therefore my worry5…..(be) that we…6…(defeat) and not able to lead a happy life and …..7….(lead)
a miserable life, what is it after all? I deal with and I …8..(meet) with
hundreds and thousands of people, and I am telling you, today it is very rarely
that I come across a happy human being.
b) Fill
in the blanks with appropriate words: (4)
i)
I saw Rita last summer, but……then I haven’t
seen her.
ii)
A good leader must be……such mean
considerations.
iii)
There were old magazines lying……in his room.
iv)
The doctor gave her an effective injection…..Hepatitis.
v)
They do not work carefully…the festival week.
vi)
Their offices functioned in these premises……twenty
years.
vii)
The three friends quarrelled …..sharing the
award money.
viii)
We walked on…..we reached the shrine.
c)
Join the
following sentences to make one complete sentence without using and,
but or so: (4)
1.
His
breakfast was not ready. His clothes were not pressed.
2.
He worked
very hard at school. He was a good obedient boy.
3.
My friend
arrived. We went for a walk.
4.
How long
will the strike last? It is uncertain.
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.
If the
test is cancelled, I’ll let you know.
(Begin: Should)
2.
Neither of
her sons never help her in the morning. ( Begin: Both)
3.
The scheme
was abandoned due to several protests. ( Begin: In view of)
4.
The Hindu
is one of the most read national dailies of India. (Begin: The Hindu..)
5.
Negligence
causes many accidents. (Begin: Many)
6.
They said,
“ We are sure Anil was here last month.” ( Begin: They assured…..)
7.
He was
far too stupid for such a difficult task. ( Remove ‘too’)
8.
Only he
can answer these questions. ( Begin: None……)
Where are the answers
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