XAM IDEA English Sample Papers Class 10 2023
XAM IDEA English Sample Papers Class 10 2023
XAM IDEA English Sample Papers Class 10 2023
CLASS–X (2022-23)
ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE (Code No. 184)
SECTION–WISE WEIGHTAGE
Sections
A Reading Skills (40 periods)
B Writing Skills with Grammar (40 periods)
C Literature Textbooks and Supplementary Reading Text (50 periods)
Total
20 Marks
I. Discursive passage of 400-450 words. (10 marks)
II. Case-based passage (with visual input- statistical data, chart, etc.) of 200-250 words.
(10 marks)
(Total length of two passages to be 600-700 words)
Multiple Choice Questions/Objective Type Questions will be asked to assess inference, analysis,
interpretation, evaluation and vocabulary.
SECTION–B
III. Grammar 10 Marks
u Tenses
u Modals
u Subject – verb concord
u Reported speech
o Commands and requests o Statements
o Questions o Determiners
The courses at the secondary level seek to cement high professional grasp of grammatical items
and levels of accuracy. Accurate use of spelling, punctuation and grammar in context will be
assessed through Gap Filling/Editing/Transformation exercises. Ten out of 12 questions will have to
be attempted.
IV. Creative Writing Skills 10 Marks
This section will have short as well as long writing tasks including compositions.
(i) Formal Letter based on a given situation in 100-120 words. One out of two questions is to be
answered. (5 marks)
(ii) Writing an Analytical Paragraph (100-120 words) on a given Map / Chart / Graph / Cue/s . One
out of two questions is to be answered. (5 marks)
SECTION–C 40 Marks
V. Reference to the Context
(i) One extract out of two from Drama/Prose.
(ii) One extract out of two from poetry. (5 + 5 = 10 Marks)
Multiple Choice Questions/Objective Type Questions will be asked to assess inference,
analysis, interpretation, evaluation and vocabulary.
VI. Short & Very Long Answer Questions 30 marks
(i) Four out of Five Short Answer Type Questions to be answered in 40-50 words from the
book FIRST FLIGHT (4 x 3 = 12 marks)
(ii) Two out of Three Short Answer Type Questions to be answered in 40-50 words each from
FOOTPRINTS WITHOUT FEET. (2 x 3 = 6 marks)
(iii) One out of two Long Answer Type Questions from FIRST FLIGHT to be answered in about
100-120 words each to assess creativity, imagination and extrapolation beyond the text
and across the texts. This can be a passage-based question taken from a situation/plot
from the texts. (6 marks)
(iv) One out of two Long Answer Type Questions from FOOTPRINTS WITHOUT FEET on
theme or plot involving interpretation, extrapolation beyond the text and inference or
character sketch to be answered in about 100-120 words. (6 marks)
Prescribed Books: Published by NCERT, New Delhi
First Flight
Prose
1. A letter to God 2. Nelson Mandela - Long Walk to Freedom
3. Two Stories About Flying 4. From the Diary of Anne Frank
5. Glimpses of India 6. Mijbil the Otter
7. Madam Rides the Bus 8. The Sermon at Benares
9. The Proposal (Play)
Poems
1. Dust of Snow 2. Fire and Ice
3. A Tiger in the Zoo 4. How to Tell Wild Animals
5. The Ball Poem 6. Amanda!
7. The Trees 8. Fog
9. The Tale of Custard the Dragon 10. For Anne Gregory
FOOTPRINTS WITHOUT FEET
1. A Triumph of Surgery 2. The Thief’s Story
3. The Midnight Visitor 4. A Question of Trust
5. Footprints Without Feet 6. The Making of a Scientist
7. The Necklace 8. Bholi
9. The Book That Saved the Earth
WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS – II (WORKBOOK FOR CLASS X) – Units 1 to 4 and Units 7 to 11
NOTE: Teachers are advised to:
(i) encourage interaction among peers, students and teachers through activities such as role
play, discussions, group work etc.
(ii) reduce teacher-talking time and keep it to the minimum,
(iii) take up questions for discussion to encourage pupils to participate and to marshal their
ideas and express and defend their views, and
(iv) follow the Speaking and Listening activities given in the NCERT books.
Besides measuring learning outcome, texts serve the dual purpose of diagnosing mistakes
and areas of non-learning. To make evaluation a true index of learners’ knowledge, each
language skill is to be assessed through a judicious mixture of different types of questions.
INTERNAL ASSESSMENT
Listening and Speaking Competencies 30 Periods
Assessment of Listening and Speaking Skills will be for 05 marks.
It is recommended that listening and speaking skills should be regularly practiced .
Art-integrated projects based on activities like Role Play, Skit, Dramatization, etc. must be used.
Please refer to the Circular no. Acad-33/2020 dated 14th May 2020 at the http://cbseacademic.
nic.in/web_material/Circulars/2020/33_Circular_2020.pdf. for details.
(Classes IX-X)
Year End (2021-22) Existing
Examination/ (2022-23)
(As per Special Scheme of Assessment
Board Modified
for Board Examination – Circular No.
Examination (Annual Scheme)
(Theory) Acad-51/2021 dated 05.07.2021)
Max. Marks: 80
Total
Sections Competencies
Marks
Total 80
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CBSE SAMPLE QUESTION
PAPER–2023 (SOLVED)
Time allowed: 3 hours Max. Marks: 80
General Instructions:
1. 15-minute prior reading time allotted for Q-paper reading.
2. The Question Paper contains THREE sections–READING, GRAMMAR & WRITING and
LITERATURE.
3. Attempt questions based on specific instructions for each part.
SECTION–A
(Reading Skills) (20 Marks)
I. Read the passage given below:
(10 marks)
(1) Mountains have always been held in great awe by mankind. They have been a challenge
to humans. Those brave among us have always wanted to conquer them. You see, the
more incredible the mountains, the greater the thrill – a challenge to the bravery of the
human race. Climbing mountains is an experience that is hard to put into words. You
are in a beautiful environment and, when you reach the top, you feel incredible. But
you also have to climb down, which is when most accidents happen – people are tired,
it gets dark, it’s harder. So, mountain climbing is undoubtedly one of the most popular
adventure sports along with being challenging and risky for the climber.
(2) Without any perceived risk, there can’t be a feeling that any significant challenge has
been surmounted. Fair, but we have to bear in mind that mountaineering is not a sport
that can be embraced without preparation. The enthusiasts must develop in themselves
the spirit of adventure, willingness to undertake hardships and risks, extraordinary
powers of perseverance, endurance, and keenness of purpose before climbing a
mountain. They should also know how to handle the mountaineering equipment. Then
comes the penance of the rigorous training. This could very well be the lifeline up there.
It helps inculcate and hone survival instincts that allow the climber to negotiate perilous
situations. There are numerous institutes in India and abroad that offer such training.
(3) Mountain climbers are unanimous in agreeing that the unpredictable weather is what
they fear the most. There may be sunshine one moment and a snowstorm the other. At
higher altitudes, snow is a regular feature and being decisive about setting up camps or
proceeding further is crucial. The icy sheets after ice storms make walking treacherous,
while the powdery snow makes a mountaineer sink deep into the snow. Up there, where
the intention is to embrace nature’s wonder, one realises that it cannot be done without
facing its formidable glory. A true mountaineer may challenge the mountain, yet is
always respectful to the powerful forces of nature.
(4) Summiting mountains carries its own health risks such as oxygen and altitude sickness
problems, frost bites, swelling of hands and feet, fluid collection in brain or lungs and
Sample Papers 5
exhaustion. Yet, the gratification mountaineers feel from mastering something that
is so frightening, urges them to undertake these endeavours. We may think that the
mountaineers are fearless, experts say, “Not at all. It’s fear that keeps them so intrigued
with such arduous journeys.” Impulse and brazenness can be deadly foes. In the words
of the Indian mountaineer, Bachendri Pal, “The biggest risk ... is to not to take the risk
at all. Remember that.”
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below.
(1×10 = 10 marks)
(i) Why does the writer say that mountains inspire ‘awe’ in humans? (Paragraph 1) 1
(ii) Select the option that corresponds to the following relation below: 1
The more incredible the mountains—the greater the thrill. (Paragraph 1)
(a) The higher the stamina—the lower the food intake.
(iii) Select the option that displays what the writer projects, with reference to the
following: 1
So, mountain climbing is undoubtedly one of the most popular adventure sports. (Paragraph 1)
(a) doubt
(b) caution
(c) conviction
(d) denial
Opinion Reason
_________________ Best experienced rather than described
(v) The writer compares training to penance in the line–Then comes the penance of the
rigorous training. (Paragraph 2) 1
State 1 point of similarity between training and penance.
(vi) Based on your reading of the text, list 2 reasons why the writer says that
“mountaineering is not a sport that can be embraced without preparation”.
(Paragraph 2) 1
(1) _______________________
(2) _______________________
(vii) What connect does the writer draw out between unpredictable weather and setting
up of camps? (Paragraph 3) 1
(viii) The writer says, “A true mountaineer may challenge the mountain, yet is always
(c) tradition
(d) directive
races, an ethnic tapestry of many hues and shades. Yet, these states are lesser explored as
compared to the rest of the country. The new generations of travellers who are ‘money
rich and time poor’ are increasingly looking for unique experiences – a phenomenon
being called the emergence of the ‘experience economy’. For this new and growing breed
of tourists, the North-East with its variety and uniqueness holds immense attraction.
(2) A study conducted in 2020 by Dr. Sherap Bhutia, revealed that the foreign tourist
arrival in the North-East increased from 37,380 persons in 2005 to 118,552 in 2014.
The overall growth rate of tourist (both domestic and foreign) in the North-East was as
high as 26.44% during 2005-06. A high and positive growth of 12.53% was registered in
foreign tourist visits to North-East states of India during 2012 from 2011, which further
rose to register a growth of 27.93% during 2013 from 2012. Foreign tourist arrivals in
the North-East witnessed a growth of 39.77% during 2014 from 2013, according to data
provided from the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.
(3) The study recommendations for tourism planners included the need to concentrate
on some key areas like enhancement of tourist facilities, tourism financing, focus on
community involvement and others for the formulation of a sustainable tourism strategy
in the North-East states of India.
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below.
(1×10 = 10 marks)
(i) Infer one reason for the following, based on information in paragraph 1. 1
The rate of tourism in the North-East of India puzzles tourism officials.
(ii) Select the appropriate option to fill in the blanks. 1
From paragraph 1, we can infer that the ____________ and ____________ of the
North-Eastern states aid attracting the ‘money rich and time poor’ tourists.
1. distinctiveness
2. conventionality
3. diversity
4. uniformity
5. modernity
(a) 1 & 3
(b) 2 & 4
(c) 2 & 5
(d) 1 & 4
Sample Papers 7
(iii) Complete the following analogy correctly with a word/phrase from paragraph 1. 1
(b) a wholesome experience within the budget they have planned for.
(c) places and cities to buy things from and opportunities to spend money.
(v) Select the chart that appropriately represents the trend of foreign tourist travels in
the North-East, from 2011-2014, as per paragraph 2.
(a) Option 1
(b) Option 2
(c) Option 3
(d) Option 4
(c) inconsistent
(d) questionable
(vii) Substitute the word ‘witnessed’ with ONE WORD similar in meaning, in the
(i) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option to complete an online update.
1
The climate control comment by an activist __________ on social media yesterday.
(a) blow up
(b) blew up
(c) is blown
(d) will be blown
(ii) Read the conversation between a doctor and his patient. Complete the sentence by
The advertisement read, ‘If you smoke, statistically your story ___________ end 15%
before it should’. 1
(a) must
(b) should
(c) will
(d) ought to
(iv) Select the option that identifies the error and supplies the correction for the
(v) Complete the given narrative, by filling in the blank with the correct option:
1
As I was standing on the dock, looking out at the lake for the last time, a feeling of
emptiness ______________ over me like darkness.
(a) will wash
(b) had washed
(vi) Fill in the blank by using the correct form of the word in the bracket, for the given
portion of a letter: 1
Dear Sir
This is to respectfully submit that I ___________________ (seek) approval for
organising a tree plantation drive to be undertaken by the club.
Sample Papers 9
(vii) Report the dialogue between a grandson and his grandfather, by completing the
sentence: 1
Grandson: Grandpa, who are your superheroes?
Grandpa: Anyone who shows kindness and compassion to others.
In response to the question about his superheroes, grandfather says that
_______________________ .
(viii) Identify the error in the given sentence, from a school magazine report and supply
the correction. 1
In order to balancing the sentiments of the Eagles and the Hawks, the Student
Council suggested a rematch between the teams.
Use the given format for your response.
error correction
(ix) Sunil shared some information, with Tariq, about a holiday at sea. Report Tariq’s
question. 1
Did you enjoy travelling by sea?
(x) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option, to complete the slogan by the
(c) NEED
(d) CAN
(xi) Select the correct option to complete the narration of the dialogue between Latha
(xii) Identify the error on a shop’s hoarding and supply the correction, for the following
sales offer: 1
Gumnaam & Daughters Pvt. Ltd. Bindapur, Jharkhand
Massive discount for all senior citizen vaccinated with the precautionary dose.
error correction
You have recently noticed several posters around your school premises conveying a
hazardous message:
Lose weight in just a month!
“A WONDER DIET comes to your rescue …
A privilege available for only a few!”
Write a letter to the Editor of The DWA, in not more than 120 words, drawing attention
towards harm caused by such advertising. Propose the implementation of “Wholesome
Lunch Month’ in schools as an idea to address such practices, mention the advantages
and share suggestions to foster healthy eating routines and develop positive body image
among youngsters.
OR
(B) You are Zac Skaria, a resident of # 412, Magna Greens Apartments, Gandhi Marg,
Jonpara, Mumbai. Three students of grade 10 from your residential complex have
rescued and rehabilitated a few old beggars from the neighbourhood. You think that
their work deserves appreciation and recognition. Write a letter to the President of the
RWA, seeking recommendation for these youth, to be nominated for ‘Serving Citizens’
Award’. Suggest other ways such acts of kindness could be recognised and awarded in
the future.
2. Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below.
(5 marks)
(A) Gurmeet Kaur is an aspiring candidate for a public-funded engineering college in the
suburbs.
She belongs to a nearby village, has minimal technological skills and exposure, has the
required cut-off percentage and is looking for a complete or partial scholarship.
Write a paragraph, in about 100-120 words, analysing her SWOT notes to support your
stand on whether she should join/not join the college.
STRENGTH WEAKNESS
OO Strong curriculum OO Lack of diversity
OO Quality faculty OO Students’ behavioural problems
OO Vibrant activity clubs OO No hostel facility
OO Green location OO Slow repair and maintenance work
OO Close proximity to residential areas OO Underutilization of IT services
OO Lack of targeted advertisements to out-
state students
OPPORTUNITIES THREAT
OO Practice based research OO Lack of publicity in areas of excellence
OO Partnership with professional organisations OO Public perception towards funded colleges
OO Strong alumni OO Declining students’ interest towards
OO Acclaimed Student Exchange Programme technical subjects
with European countries OO Low employee morale due to budget cuts
Sample Papers 11
OR
(B) Read the following excerpt from an online post of a website on educational practices.
Kids who appreciate how much effort, time and care goes into growing food will
understand how important farmers are, and why it’s important to take care of our Earth.
In the world of today, gardening needs to be given more importance than sports, music
and dance in all schools because it creates environmental stewards and outdoor learning
laboratories that help the child and community for years to come.
Write a paragraph, in 100-120 words, to analyse the given argument.
You could think about what alternative explanations might weaken the given conclusion
and include rationale/evidence that would strengthen/counter the given argument.
SECTION–C
(Literature) (40 Marks)
V. Reference to the Context
(10 marks)
1. Attempt ANY ONE of two extracts given.
(5 marks)
(A) “Hey, a tea garden!” Rajvir cried excitedly.
Pranjol, who had been born and brought up on a plantation, didn’t share Rajvir’s
excitement.
“Oh, this is tea country now,” he said. “Assam has the largest concentration of plantations
in the world. You will see enough gardens to last you a lifetime!”
“I have been reading as much as I could about tea,” Rajvir said. “No one really knows
who discovered tea but there are many legends.”
(Glimpses of India)
(i) Why was Pranjol not as excited as Rajvir about the tea gardens?
1
(a) He disliked looking at tea gardens.
(ii) What does Pranjol mean by saying that Assam has the largest concentration of
Pranjol’s ____________ comes through clearly when he exclaims, “You will see
enough gardens to last you a lifetime!” 1
(iv) How, according to Rajvir, does the world know about the discovery of tea?
1
(a) Historical places
(b) Traditional tales
(v) Select the option that correctly captures the application of the word ‘cried’ as used
(b) Jaspreet cried out loud when she saw a white tiger in the sanctuary.
(c) Jaspreet cried for hours when the police were unable to find her lost pet.
(d) Jaspreet has barely cried since she was three years of age.
of the extract. 1
(a) Oops received a nice present from Think-Tank.
(c) Omega must focus on the present and leave the past behind.
(d) Oops didn’t know anyone even though a crowd was present.
(ii) Complete the analogy by selecting the suitable word from the text.
vitamins.
In order to: 1
(a) boost their physical energies.
(b) adapt to their circumstances.
(iv) According to the extract, what did THINK-TANK most likely want OMEGA to do
(a) Only 3
(d) 1, 4 and 5
(v) The playwright places certain words and sentences in brackets in the given extract.
List any ways these benefit both the director and actors. 1
i) ________________________
ii) ________________________
Sample Papers 13
2. Attempt ANY ONE of two extracts given.
(5 marks)
(A) The trees inside are moving out into
the forest,
the forest that was empty all these
days
where no bird could sit
no insect hide
no sun bury its feet in shadow
the forest that was empty all these
nights
will be full of trees by morning.
(The Trees)
(i) Complete the sentence appropriately.
1
It is clear that personification is the poetic device used for ‘No sun bury its feet….’
because ________________________.
(Clue: explain how personification applies here)
(ii) The poet has used a poetic device in the given lines. What effect does she wish to
(c) rhyme
(d) humour
The idea of a forest that has been ‘empty all these days’ is ____________.
(a) unnatural
(b) scary
(c) magical
(d) legendary
OR
(B) But I can get a hair-dye
And set such colour there,
Brown, or black, or carrot,
That young men in despair
May love me for myself alone
And not my yellow hair.
(For Anne Gregory)
3. agitated
4. insulting
5. argumentative
Select the appropriate option.
(a) 1, 4
(b) 3, 5
(c) 2, 4
(d) 1, 5
(ii) What causes the young men to ‘despair’, according to the extract?
1
(iii) Identify the reason for the speaker’s need to colour her hair, as per the extract. 1
the extract.
1
(a) I want to set him up and get my work done this time.
(b) Do you have another set of the books that I can read?
(c) The dessert needs to set for two hours before being served.
(d) The set for the school play looked quite grand.
VI. Answer ANY FOUR of the following in about 40-50 words each.
(4×3=12)
(i) Validate the given statement with reference to baby seagull’s fear.
ballad. 3
(v) How can we say that Natalya was continuously successful in maintaining an upper
hand during her arguments with Lomov? (Any one example) (The Proposal) 3
VII. Answer ANY TWO of the following in about 40-50 words each.
(2×3=6)
(i) Dr. Herriot knew his patients as well as their owners really well. Discuss.
Sample Papers 15
(iii) Validate the importance of small, fun learning tasks towards successful careers, in
each other in the zoo and have a conversation about their lifestyle and feelings.
Write this conversation as per your understanding of ‘Mijbil the Otter’ and ‘A Tiger
in the Zoo’. 6
You may begin like this
Tiger : Thanks for visiting me, though I don’t usually like visitors.
If you had to use the message of the given quote from the Buddha’s sermon (The
Sermon at Benares) to help the boy cope with the loss of his ball and what it signifies
(The Ball Poem), what would you include in your advice?
Also, evaluate why it might be difficult for him to understand the notion. 6
this in detail, with reference to both the characters of ‘The Thief ’s Story’. 6
OR
(ii) ‘Honour among thieves’ is considered a popular code.
II. (i) This is so because these states are lesser explored as compared to the rest of the
(iii) hues/shades
(iv) (b) a wholesome experience within the budget they have planned for.
Sample Papers 17
To ensure protection of culture and heritage/ To ensure minimal intervention in the
cultural aspects
To protect natural wildlife and resources
(Any other relevant)
(x) (b) 1. Winds of Change; 2, Numbers Don’t Lie; 3. Time for Action
Barra Kanpur
29 August, 20XX
The Editor
The DWA
K-21, Anjana Pura Kanpur
Dear Madam
This is with reference to posters bearing the message of ‘crash diet’ being posted
around our school premises. Such posters impact the youngsters negatively and can
be hazardous for their self-esteem.
I would like to propose the idea of implementing ‘Wholesome Lunch Month’ for
all school students to counter the implications of such misleading advertisements.
This initiative is sure to encourage all students to bring nutritious and healthy
lunch daily and develop healthy eating routines. To ensure that this project gains
strength, schools may organise puppet shows, street plays, Ted Talks (by Nutritionist/
Psychologist), encompassing the theme, to foster healthy eating routines and a
positive body image.
Yours truly
Sunidhi Prakash
Vice-Captain
OR
1. (B) 421, Magna Greens Apartments
Gandhi Marg
Jonpara
Mumbai
19 July, 2022
The President
RWA, Magna Greens Apartments
42, Gandhi Marg
Jonpara
Mumbai
Dear Sir
This is with reference to the empathetic social service done by Miss Jiya, Master
Adwait and Master Pranit (residents of our complex), in rescuing and rehabilitating
a few old beggars from our neighbourhood. These students ensured that the beggars
were rehabilitated at ‘Seva Sadan’– an NGO which takes care of the needy of our
city.
This selfless initiative carried out with dedication and responsibility, deserves due
recognition. I, therefore, request you to issue a letter of recommendation for these
students to be nominated for ‘Serving Citizens’ Award’ organised by the local
Municipal Corporation.
I would also like to submit that the RWA set up a special committee that looks
into such acts in the future. This would aid dedicated attention and appropriate
screening of nominations. Arrangement of academic sponsorships for such children
would also be an encouraging gesture.
I entreat you to address this at your earliest convenience and issue the
recommendation letters.
Yours sincerely
Zac Skaria
Sample Papers 19
2. (A) The given information illustrates the options Gurmeet would weigh in order to
take the right decision about her admission in a public-funded engineering college.
With availability of strong curriculum, quality faculty and vibrant Activity Clubs,
she will be assured of an enriching educational journey. Though hostel facility is
unavailable, she may take up accommodation in the suburbs or choose to travel daily
from her village. Good opportunities of practice-based research, partnership with
professional companies and international students exchange program will enhance
her professional and interpersonal skills. Hard work, responsible behaviour and
prudent decision-making could help Gurmeet thrive in the college even though
it has a rigid and conventional culture. The strengths and opportunities work in
favour of Gurmeet. Taking this opportunity will allow her to mend the incorrect
public perception towards public-funded colleges and students’ outlook towards
technical subjects.
Against the decision:
The given information indicates Gurmeet’s dilemma about seeking admission in
a public-funded college. Though equipped with a strong curriculum, engaging
activity clubs and an able faculty, the college lacks diversity and good conduct
among the students, giving rise to concerns of safe environment for a novice like
Gurmeet. Underutilisation of IT services will be further detrimental to the progress
of Gurmeet’s educational journey and add to extra costs related to research work.
If she does not qualify for a complete or partial scholarship, arrangement of her
own accommodation and additional expense of students exchange programme
will increase her expenditure, too. Such a college environment may dampen her
endeavouring spirit. The weakness and threats outweigh the strengths, in the case
of Gurmeet. So, it is recommended that Gurmeet does not apply for admission to
the said college.
OR
2. (B) Argument FOR the subject of the statement:
In the world of today, gardening needs to be given more importance than sports,
music and dance in all schools. While sports, music and dance contribute towards
personal growth, the current times mandate attention towards an issue that is
global–nature and natural processes. With growing food wastage in many homes
today and the urban young believing that vegetables are grown, harvested at the
super markets, the efforts of the farmers are discredited. Gardening at school will
open a world of first-hand learning experiences of sowing, watering and harvesting
processes. Waiting for the saplings to grow will inculcate sensitivity, patience,
empathy, gratitude and value for one’s hard work. They will feel accountable for
their piece of Mother Earth, resulting in making them efficient and enterprising
environmental stewards. Unlike sports, music or dance, gardening goes beyond just
enjoyment to create awareness and responsible citizens of the future.
Argument AGAINST the subject of the statement:
Gardening, certainly, should not be given precedence over sports, music and
dance in all schools. Gardening at school requires good planning with hands-on
guidance and continued supervision by the teachers. Students tend to lose interest
due to the slow and natural growth progress of plants as well as the investment of
continuous hard work. Small targets or goals would be missing, whereas the danger
of destruction of their work due to rains, intrusion of grazing animals or a pest
(ii) Pranjol meant that the cultivation/harvesting of tea is the highest at one place
namely Assam.
(iii) frustration/irritation/exasperation
(v) (b) Jaspreet cried out loud when she saw a white tiger in the sanctuary.
OR
1. (B) (i)
(b) Iota needs to present his opinion firmly.
(ii) brightly
(iii) (d) accomplish a specific task.
(iv) (b) 2 & 4
(v) (i) Helps actors and director gain clarity about the emotions and gestures
affections
(iii) (d) Her conviction that she is beautiful inside
(iv) orange/red
(v) (c) The dessert needs to set for two hours before being served.
VI. (i) The baby seagull could not take his first flight as he was scared that his wings would
not support his body weight. He longed to soar high into the sky, but his fear gripped
his mind. While his two brothers and sister had already conquered the sky, his fear
and hesitation stopped him from doing so.
(ii) He was a victim of the fiery aspect of desire. According to him, hate is just as powerful
as desire. While desire exhausts quickly, hate can occur and linger in people’s minds
and hearts for ages and sometimes even lifetimes. Desire here represents the greatest
problem that attributes to the cause of the war.
Sample Papers 21
(iii) Agree:
Yes, Valli was fascinated by the bus and watching the bus filled with a new set of
people every time was a source of unending joy. A bus ride seemed to her like a
fascinating means of recreation and adventure. She had never been to a big city. So
the coming and going of the buses might have fascinated the young mind. She was
not exposed to crowded places unlike cities and bigger towns. It is also evident that
there was only one bus that Valli observed several times. She might have reconnected
herself with the adventure and desired to have varied means of transport that might
seem more adventurous.
Disagree:
It is but natural that fascination for riding a bus or an automobile can exist in children
of Valli’s age even in big cities. Travelling unnoticed is apparently easier in large
cities than in small towns or villages due to familiarity of the places. The meticulous
planning of the little girl who was just eight has left the readers gobsmacked. The
fascination to take the ride would have been numerous had she been in the city.
Cities would offer more opportunities for a bus ride due to availability and frequency
of several buses on the same route.
(iv) Fable is a fictitious narrative usually with animals, birds, etc. as characters and shares
a strong message, whereas ballad is a narrative verse that can be silly or heroic. In
fables, much can be learned about a given culture or society by the stories it tells.
Moreover, a fable is usually an entertaining tale featuring animals that talk, think
and act as people do, as it offers a firm moral lesson to be learned at the end.
A ballad is a poem that tells a story through its beautiful and attractive verses. It
narrates all kinds of stories, including histories, legends, fairy tales, animal fables,
jokes, and tales of outlaws. ‘The Tale of Custard the Dragon’ includes animals, is
surely fictitious and shares a meaningful message. Hence, the poem better qualifies
as a fable.
(v) Natalya has been quite dominating throughout the play. She was able to answer
every query and presented a befitting argument defeating the one presented by
Lomov. We can how she see manipulates him into accepting that Squeezer is better
than Guess, but Lomov, being adamant as he is, refuses to accept it. Chubukov was
just quarrelsome, abusing and insulting who barely managed to handle Natalya
under the pretext of his palpitation.
VII. (i) Dr. Herriot could understand the problems of his patients (dogs) just by observing
them. He saw Tricki in the market and understood that the dog was urgently in
need of help.
The vet understood the owner (Mrs. Pumphrey) well and never spoke any harsh and
advising words on the seriously obese dog. He knew them fully well and was convinced
that Mrs. Pumphrey was solely responsible for the dog’s miserable condition.
(ii) The writer portrayed Ausable as short and fat as he wants to draw attention to the
spy and expose his wits and mental ability to handle any grave situation. He wants
to acquaint the readers with the expected conduct of a spy agent.
Ausable beautifully narrated a story and was able to successfully plant a non-existent
balcony in the mind of Max and also made him believe it. The writer proved that
handsome is that handsome does.
He showed his inquisitiveness about the gold spots and the secretion from them.
He dedicated his effort to develop a theory of cell structure and later DNA because
of it. The book gifted to him by his mother also played a very instrumental role. Fun
learning resulted in a career as a renowned successful scientist.
have been so intrepid had I been living alone. I won’t know how to survive
in this materialistic and cruel world.
Tiger : I am happy for you. I find myself in a pathetic state as I have been caged
here. I don’t have my own free will to roam anywhere. I feel astounded to
see human behaviour. I just pray to be in a natural habitat.
Mijbil : I really feel pity for you. May God bless you with what you aspire!
OR
(ii) There is not even a single soul rich enough to avoid his destiny. This life, given to
us, is precious. We need to accept the fact that life is not a bed of roses. We’ll have
to accept whatever it offers us. It’s not that we only lose in life; we gain also. There
are always two phases of a coin. In this life only, we need to learn to accept the
loss of irreplaceable things that bring grief and sorrows. Learning to stay calm and
understanding the perishable/mortal nature of things helps in living life normally
and forgetting loss.
To help the boy cope with the loss—It is imperative to note that loss is also an
integral part of life. It’s better if we understand how important it is to learn from
experience and adapt and move on.
Difficult for the boy to understand the notion—The boy is too young to understand
the depth of these words. He is alone in his loss. In fact, he has just started his
journey where he experiences such losses. He has no one to explain and must learn
from his experience painstakingly. He will take time to realise that there is always
a dawn after dusk. All he needs to do is muster all courage and gird up his loin to
easily face the situation manfully.
Sample Papers 23
IX. (i) Morally grey or morally ambiguous characters are those which are not like the
traditional heroes. They do some questionable things too which cannot completely
be put in the bubble of right or wrong as we can see the two characters in the story
we have read. None of them is completely black or white. Provided that Anil has
been portrayed in the story in such a way that the readers would sympathise with
him. The story unfolds both their characters as grey.
Hari Singh
Hari Singh was a smart thief who is always found on an easy hunt. He is equipped
with extraordinary indifference and could easily befool his victims and police. No
wonder why he always kept his name changing just to avoid getting nabbed. He
made no efforts to confess that he had given in to the temptation of stealing the
notes.
However, Hari Singh mended his ways just because of Anil who reposed his faith
in him. But Hari Singh succumbs to his baser impulse. After stealing money from
Anil, he hurried to the station to catch Lucknow Express. But his conscience didn’t
let him do so. He returns to Anil in order to follow a righteous path and live a life of
honour and respect. Anil, at the same time, does not reveal that he knew about the
incident and embraces Hari Singh with open arms. Thus, a well-intentioned person
tries to reform a teenager who had diverted from the righteous path.
Anil
Anil is certainly an admirable character in the story. He is helpful and simple, but
at times he appears to be naive. His modesty was abused for reposing his trust in
Hari Singh so early. He could have easily handed the thief over to the police. But he
didn’t do so. Instead, he wanted Hari Singh to make amends for his ways. He must
have felt guilty. Anil wanted to give him one more chance and therefore, forgives
him. Although it must be done, such sort of patience and compassion are rarely
found nowadays in this human world.
OR
(ii) It is generally believed that prudent people befriend like-minded types, while the
profligate hang out among themselves. They strictly follow a code of conduct.
Honour among thieves is believed that thieves never double cross each other/commit
crimes against each other. Rather, they render their helping hands in crisis.
The protagonist, Horace Danby was careful and meticulous in his theft which he
conducted once a year. For two weeks, Horace had studied the house of Shotover
Grange. He had to burgle this house and when he entered the house, he felt allergic
to some flower in the house and started sneezing. Then he heard the voice of a
woman. She told him that she could cure his allergy. He failed to anticipate the role
of the lady in red.
The lady in red made a fool of him. In spite of being a thief herself, she did not
follow the code of honour normally existing between two thieves.
This resulted in Horace Danby going to prison for the first time in his life. He felt
betrayed and the phrase rightly coined.
zzz
SECTION–A
(Reading Skills) (20 Marks)
I. Read the passage given below:
(10 marks)
(1) Meditation has become a mainstream activity in many parts of the world. Though the
main reason to meditate is for spiritual awareness, there are additional benefits from
learning to focus our attention within. One of these is the healing it brings about in our
physical bodies. Over the past few decades, doctors and scientists have been studying
the body-mind connection and its relationship to physical health. Medical research has
indicated a link between certain illnesses and our state of mind and emotional condition.
(2) It has been found that when we undergo mental stress, emotional pain or depression,
problems, heart disease, and migraine headaches, to name a few, may sometimes be
caused due to stress. Thus, we arrive at the possibility that by reducing stress in our lives,
we can improve our physical health and well-being.
(4) To begin to explore this possibility, it is imperative to understand the root cause of stress
in our lives. In this hectic and fast-paced world, we are constantly being bombarded with
information, and stimuli.
(5) Life has become increasingly complicated. With competing priorities, family and social
obligations, increasing responsibilities, and looming deadlines, people seem to have too
much to do and not enough time to do it. We hold jobs that require long hours and too
much responsibility.
(6) Medical research has shown that meditation, the process of taking our attention away
from the stresses and strains of the outer world, and focusing it within ourselves, can
help reduce stress in our lives. In doing so, it can reduce our chances of developing a
stress-related illness.
(7) When we meditate on the inner light and sound of God, we come in contact with God’s
love within us, which fills us with inner peace, joy, bliss and happiness. This experience
takes our attention away from the stresses and pains of the outer world. As we spend
time in meditation, we create a calm haven in which we restore equilibrium and peace
to our mental functioning.
(8) Researchers have recorded that the brain activity in people who meditate reflects a state
of deep relaxation. Their mind becomes calmer. The tranquil effect of meditation lasts
Sample Papers 25
beyond the time spent in meditation. The carry-over effect helps us maintain peace of
mind as we continue our activities throughout the day.
(9) We become more in control of our reactions and maintain an even keel in the face of
conflict, or in the midst of turmoil and strife. It also gives us a private retreat of bliss
and peace within us that we can retreat to anytime we wish. This refuge helps take our
attention away from the pains of the world and gives us another mechanism by which
we can reduce stress in our lives.
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below:
(1×10=10)
(i) Why has meditation become a mainstream activity in many parts of the world?
(ii) Select the option that displays what the writer projects, with reference to the
following:
Researchers have recorded that the brain activity in people who meditate reflects a
state of deep relaxation. (Paragraph 8)
(a) Reflection
(b) Meditation
(c) Vexation
(d) Both (a) and (c)
(iii) Discuss the main objectives of meditation.
(iv) Based on your reading of the passage, list two reasons why the writer says that:
We become more in control of our reactions and maintain an even keel in the face
of conflict, or in the midst of turmoil and strife. (Paragraph 9)
(v) What are the findings of doctors and scientists about meditation?
(vi) What are the ill-effects of stress according to the passage you have read above?
We become more susceptible to catching a disease because our ability to keep our
immune system in top working order decreases.
(viii) How does meditation relieve us from stress? Answer the question with reference to
paragraph 6.
(ix) Select the option that displays what happens when we come in contact with God’s
love.
(a) It fills us with the feeling of resurrection.
(x) How are the people who meditate significantly different from others?
to an increased mix of entry to mid-tier products and a fall in revenues for key
smartphone OEMs.
and 32% of the overall handset revenue. The loyal premium user base in the major
markets like the USA, EU and Japan is one of the reasons that Apple can still operate
at a profit level that its competitors can only wish for. Now with a strong service
strategy, Apple’s overall ecosystem is strong enough to guarantee it a steady inflow
of revenue in the coming years. In the immediate future, we believe that Apple’s
profit for the holiday season will increase with the new line up of iPhones gaining
good traction.
100% Global Mobile Handset Operating Profit Share Trends
Global Mobile Handset Operating
Profit Share (%) Trends
80%
Apple
60% Samsung
Huawei
Oppo
40%
Vivo
Xiaomi
20%
0%
2018Q1 2018Q2 2018Q3 2018Q4 2019Q1 2019Q2 2019Q3
(3) Samsung is a distant second, taking 17% of the overall handset Industry profits.
The increased mix of Galaxy A Series along with the positive start of Galaxy Note 10
Series was the key reason for the growth.
(4) Chinese smartphone brands operate at low-profit margins, but better than in
previous years, even though they are expanding outside China and also penetrating
high-tier price bands. Chinese brands offer attractive propositions to mature
smartphone users with new feature-packed flagships at affordable prices. Some of
these Chinese brands are also now looking at monetizing their userbase by launching
services like financial services, IoT products and others. However, it is becoming a
challenge for Chinese brands to increase their smartphone ASPs and margins due to
a combination of longer consumer holding periods and Apple lowering pricing on
some key SKUs, which has limited the headroom that Chinese vendors had used to
increase their ASPs.
(5) In coming quarters, the adoption of 5G will drive some upgrades. This will likely
lead to revenue growth for OEMs which are already preparing themselves ahead of
full 5G commercialisation.
—Karn Chauhan, Counterpoint Research
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below.
(1×10=10)
(i) Infer one reason for the following, based on the information given in paragraph 1.
Overall global handset profits declined 11% YoY to USD 12 billion in Q3 2019.
(ii) Select the appropriate option to fill in the blank.
Sample Papers 27
(a) loyal premium user base in the major markets
(iii) Complete the following analogy correctly with a word/a phrase from paragraph 2.
(c) reducing
(d) excelling
(v) What are the overall global handset profits decline in 2019?
(vii) Substitute the word ‘concept’ with ONE WORD similar in meaning, in the following,
(ix) List one reason why the writer says Samsung will be at number 2.
SECTION–B
(Grammar) (10 Marks)
III. 1. Attempt ANY TEN of the following questions.
(i) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option to complete an online update.
(c) is
(d) has
Sudhir asked Riya what was the reporting time for photoshoot the following day. In
response to his question, Riya answered that _________________________________.
(iii) Select the correct option to fill in the blank for the given line, from a magazine.
(c) can
(d) could
(iv) Select the option that identifies the error and supplies the correction for the
The two parks in our locality have virtually _______________ over by undesirable
elements.
(a) been taking
(b) take
(c) taken
(d) been taken
(vi) Fill in the blank by using the correct form of the word in the bracket, for the given
portion of a letter.
Dear Sir
This is to respectfully submit that the students of Agatha House ____________
(seek) approval for organising an Inter-house Rangoli Making Competition to be
undertaken by the house.
(vii) Report the dialogue between a father and his son, by completing the sentence.
Amit : While coming from school to bus stop, I slipped by stepping on a banana
peel.
Father asked Amit ____________________________ late from school. In response to
the question, Amit replied that while coming from school to bus stop, he had slipped
by stepping on a banana peel.
Sample Papers 29
(viii) Identify the error in the given sentence, from a school magazine report and supply
the correction.
Exploring solutions to brought awareness about celebrating festivals without
harming ecology was the second objective of the competition.
Use the given format for your response.
error correction
(ix) Ahmed shared some information with Anmol about his visit to a book fair. Report
Anmol’s question.
Did you buy any book from the fair?
(x) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option, to complete the slogan by the
(c) Can
(d) Can’t
(xi) Select the correct option to complete the narration of the dialogue between Sanskriti
school bus?
Pranika : No, my dad was enroute to the school. So, he offered me to drop me to
the school.
Sanskriti told Pranika that she couldn’t see her on the school bus that morning and
further asked ____________________. In response to her question, Pranika replied
that her father was enroute to the school and offered her to drop her to the school.
(a) that if she had missed the school bus (b) if she had missed the school bus
(xii) Identify the error on a shop’s hoarding and supply the correction, for the following
sales offer.
SUPER SAVER DEALS !!!
With Mom and Me Super Saver Days Offers, got discounts on daily essentials,
personal care, baby care, fashion, kitchen & dining, nutrition, and more.
Use the given format for your response.
error correction
SECTION–B
(Creative Writing Skills) (10 Marks)
IV. 1. Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below.
(5 marks)
(A) Drinking water is becoming a rare commodity. Industrial development is filling our
rivers, seas and oceans with toxic pollutants which are a major threat to human
health. You are deeply saddened to see water pollution as an appalling problem,
Men Women
50
43.1
41.0 40.4
40
36.2 36.8 35.5
30
20
10
0
All No children At least one child
less than 6 years old
OR
Sample Papers 31
Can’t say
Only after cases
Should be opened
5% are less than 0.3%
for all classes
8%
20%
Only for classes
15%
9th to 12th After Vaccination
28%
24%
SECTION–C
(Literature) (40 Marks)
V. Reference to the Context
(10 marks)
1. Attempt ANY ONE of two extracts given.
(5 marks)
(A) Our elders are often heard reminiscing nostalgically about those good old Portuguese
days, the Portuguese and their famous loaves of bread. Those eaters might have vanished
but the makers are still there. We will have amongst us the mixers, the moulders and
those who bake the loaves. Those age-old, time-tested furnaces still exist. The fire in
these furnaces has not yet been extinguished. The thud and jingle of traditional baker’s
bamboo, heralding his arrival in the morning, can still be heard in some places.”
(i) The narrator says that the furnaces were ‘time-tested’ because _________________.
(ii) ‘Those eaters might have vanished but the makers are still there.’ Pick the option
(7) celebratory
(a) 1 and 7
(b) 2 and 6
(c) 3 and 4
(d) 4 and 5
(iii) Pick the idiom that brings out the same meaning of ‘reminiscing’ as used in the
passage.
(a) train of thought
(b) commit something to memory
(iv) Why do you think the baker came in with ‘a thud and a jingle’?
(v) The ‘fire in the furnaces has not yet been extinguished’ implies that:
(a) the furnaces are still being used to bake the loaves of bread
(b) the fire is in the process of being reviewed as a respectable method for heading
furnaces
(c) the furnaces are very strong and cannot be shifted for use in other areas
(d) the fire in the furnaces takes a long time to cease burning, once lighted
yours?
Lomov : Yes, mine.
Natalya : What are you talking about? Oxen Meadows are ours, not yours!
Natalya : Well, I never knew that before. How do you make that out?
Lomov : How? I’m speaking of those Oxen Meadows which are wedged in between
Natalya : Just think, Ivan Vassilevitch! How long have they been yours?
(i) Select the option that displays how the author makes very effective use of highlighting
(ii) Complete the analogy by selecting the suitable word from the text.
Because:
(a) her father appeared in the scene.
(c) Natalya wanted Lomov to rectify himself about his claim for Oxen Meadows.
(d) Natalya wanted Lomov to discuss only about his marriage proposal.
(iv) What was the reason of the spat between the two, according to the extract?
(v) Based on the extract, recall any two incidents of verbal spat over which the two
(a) possessions
(b) mood
Sample Papers 33
(iii) The boy is sad because _____________________.
(d) It suggests that the boy is nothing now that his ball is gone.
OR
(i) What thought does the stanza evoke in the reader’s mind?
(c) scary
(d) valiant
(ii) The first line in the given stanza possesses __________________ which is used to
(c) anaphora
(d) simile
(a) aabb
(b) abab
(c) abcb
(d) acbc
(v) The pirate held a ______________________ in between his teeth since his hands were
occupied.
VI. Answer ANY FOUR of the following in about 40-50 words each.
(4×3=12)
(i) ‘Every journey of a thousand miles begins with but a single step.’ With reference to
the chapter ‘His First Flight’, analyse the statement and show your acquaintance.
(ii) The poem ‘Fire and Ice’ uses the metaphor of the end of the world to characterise
Dragon’?
(v) How can we say that Chubukov was continuously trying to reconcile the differences
the chapter ‘The Midnight Visitor’. Substantiate your answer with examples from
the text.
(iii) Validate the importance of ‘Try and try until you succeed’, in the context of Richard
with M. Loisel that the necklace was a false one. Write the dialogue between Matilda
and M Loisel.
Matilda : I don’t know how to tell you this but I met Mme Forestier today and she
Matilda : ___________________________________________________________.
M Loisel : ___________________________________________________________.
OR
(ii) Valli’s visit to the town has been disclosed and mother gives her a scolding. Develop
could have avoided her woes and miseries only if she had been a little vigilant and
more careful? Comment.
OR
(ii) Horace might not have ended up in prison repenting at the way he was deceived
but by cursing the lady in red. Examine the statement ‘A Question of Trust’ giving
reasons for the same.
zzz
Sample Papers 35
SECTION–A: Reading Skills (20 Marks)
I. (i) (a) Because it helps us maintain peace of mind.
(iii) The main objective of meditation is to reduce stress and chances of developing a
stress-related illness.
(iv) 1. Meditation helps in working or progressing on any vocation smoothly and steadily,
headaches.
(vii) We are more likely or liable to be influenced or harmed by stress.
(viii) It reduces our chances of developing stress-related illnesses and helps us remain
focused.
(ix) (c) It fills us with inner peace, joy, bliss and happiness.
II. (i) The profits declined due to an increased mix of entry to mid-tier products and a fall
(iii) revenue
(vii) proposition
New Delhi
13 June, 20XX
The Editor
The Express News
New Delhi
Sir
Through the columns of your esteemed newspaper, I would like to draw the
attention of the concerned authorities towards our rivers, seas and oceans with toxic
pollutants which are a major threat to human health.
Our environment, from where we fetch water, is one of the important health
determinants of concern. Safe and readily available water is important for public
health, whether it is used for drinking, domestic use, food production or recreational
purposes. Chronic water scarcity, hydrological uncertainty, and extreme weather
events (floods and droughts) are perceived as some of the biggest threats to global
prosperity and stability.
We can prevent water pollution by conserving water used in the household chores.
This helps prevent water shortages and reduces the amount of contaminated water
that needs treatment. We shouldn’t throw paints, oils or other forms of litter down
the drain and use environmentally household products, such as washing powder,
household cleaning agents and toiletries.
Therefore, you’re requested to kindly publish this article in your newspaper making
a common appeal meant to bring awareness.
Sincerely yours
Parul Aggarwal
Sample Papers 37
OR
1. (B) C-216, Margaret Green Avenue
The Secretary
King Heights Apartment
Delhi
Sir
This is with reference to our volunteers who came forward and rendered their
services in order to bring smiles on the faces in such a spine-chilling winter.
Let me take this opportunity to draw the attention of the concerned committee of
the society towards the three students of grade X from our residential complex who
went around the city at midnight and covered the homeless people with blankets
without waking them up and showed a warm gesture. I believe this should not go
unheeded and deserves appreciation and recognition.
Volunteering locally on their own free will indeed reflects their kind gesture for
which I would like to recommend ‘Star Volunteers Award’ to be conferred upon
these children and hence, sensitise our younger generation.
Thanking you
Yours sincerely
Nidhi Kamat
2. (A) The given date as per the graph shows average weekly hours worked by gender.
The three revelations made in the graph are time spent by parents without the birth
of the child, after the birth of the child and time spent by fathers and mothers with
at least one child less than 6 years old. The significant difference displays barriers
to paternal involvement in children’s lives. Fatherhood may put some pressure on
fathers’ working behaviours as they tend to be the main household earner. These
statistics clearly show the total amount of time devoted to childcare as a primary
activity differs significantly between mothers and fathers. Fathers spend on average
a total of 40 minutes per day on childcare, while mothers spend lesser minutes a day.
OR
2. (B) The survey conducted by a group of enterprising young adults shows parents’
concerns and attitudes toward school reopening. Analysis shows that 28% of
parents have agreed with school reopening but only after vaccination, but 24% have
raised some legitimate concerns adding that the school should be opened only for
experiments and practicals. The data primarily reflects their concerns about their
children’s safety when 20% of parents added that the school should be opened only if
the cases come down to 0.3%. Despite parents’ concerns, it does seem that only 8% of
parents were in favour of school reopening and would send their children to school
2. (A) (i)
(c) first responsibility
(ii) (a) intruding on him
(iii) he has lost his ball.
(iv) (c) It suggests that he wants to transform himself.
(v) a dime
OR
2. (B) (i)
(c) scary
(iv) The pirate had a scary presence and made nasty sounds. He looked scary with
VI. (i) Yes, it’s absolutely true. This saying teaches us that even the longest and the most
difficult ventures have a starting point; something which begins with first step. The
story of his first flight is a very good example of this saying because at the early
stages the young seagull was afraid of flying. But once he tried and got succeeded,
he started flying with great happiness and enthusiasm. Hence, every great journey
starts with a single step.
(ii) Yes, it is so because fire and ice have a metaphorical sense. Fire is compared to desire
and ice with cold-heartedness and indifferent behaviour even in the most difficult
situation. It describes how we humans will be the end of our own race.
(iii) Undoubtedly yes, the conductor was a jolly fellow and behaved very well with
Valli. When she boarded the bus, he guided her for the seat and gave her a ticket.
Sample Papers 39
He called her ‘fine madam’ as a comment because she pretended to be a mature
woman. He took Valli’s confident responses in humour. Moreover, when he came to
know that she had no extra money except the bus fare, he offered her a cold drink.
His behaviour towards Valli was positive and cheerful which made Valli’s bus ride
experience pleasant.
(iv) The poem unfolds that everything created whether small or big has its specific
importance. We should never underestimate the talent of a person. It’s not that
if one wants a safe cage means he is a coward. We should never look down upon
anyone. Moreover, right and timely actions are always beneficial.
(v) We can say so to some extent that Chubukov was actually trying to reconcile the
differences between Natalya and Lomov. For example, he tells Natalya that Lomov
had come to propose to her for marriage. He laments that it is a great burden to be
a father of a grown-up daughter.
VII. (i) Yes, it is true to a large extent because Griffin was irresponsible and irrational by his
behaviour and disturbed everyone wherever he went. His existence and influence
was destructive. His anger and temperament didn’t help him. He had to face
atrocities of weather and society, and became ruthless to his behaviour. He scared
people. His lawlessness harmed himself and everyone around him.
(ii) Yes, Max has been ridiculed throughout as he has been introduced to the readers as
a spy who was over-confident and too proud. His pride blinded him and he thought
that simply by wielding a gun would give a further edge over the apparently slow
Ausable. Max lay wait to steal the important paper from him but the story woven
by the smart Ausable saved him. Ausable created an extremely believable story and
convinced Max to jump from the non-existent balcony.
(iii) Ebright was undoubtedly curious, in fact, it was merely his inquisitiveness that drove
Matilda : I don’t know but I am feeling discouraged and highly downcast. I don’t
equally responsible for your misery because I didn’t check the necklace
on my own. Had I checked, our life today, would have been different.
Matilda : No, you should not blame yourself. It was I who resisted to go to the ball
to share your confidence with your parents. You should abide by what
your parents instruct. When they advise you, they advise you for the
sake of your well-being.
Valli : But Mamma, I just wanted to explore the town. I wanted to experience
how a bus ride is like. I wanted to meet different people. And one more
thing, I didn’t get into any trouble. I always grew jealous of my friends
who visited the town with their parents riding a bus. And besides, I went
unheeded and returned safe Mamma.
Mother : Child, it’s good that nothing unfortunate happened, but just think, what
if you had been kidnapped or assaulted. This world is unpredictable.
Nobody knows what happens next moment. But I promise I will
shepherd my baby from now to the teen years, and beyond upon this
promise that you will never flout your parents.
Valli : But Mamma, I need to share with you a story of dead cow.
Mother : No Valli, not now. I will listen to your story tomorrow. Go to your room
and prepare yourself for the upcoming test.
IX. (i) Mrs Hall was responsible for her disgrace to some extent. She should have asked his
guest to produce his identity. But she just ignored. Consequently, she had to become
a part of such a brouhaha.
Griffin came to Iping and it was a slack time of the year. When Even Mrs Hall did
not expect a guest in the winter season, as it was bitterly cold. She compromised
with standard operational etiquette. It was vitally important for her to find the
whereabouts of the strange and spooky man who appeared to be covered in
bandages. It is distinctly clear from the story that Mrs Hall was only concerned about
the payment that she received from the stranger. She should have confirmed the
profession of Griffin and if she smelt anything dubious, she could have outrightly
rejected his request of stay in the hotel. Therefore, we can say that she was solely
responsible for her disgrace.
OR
(ii) The lady managed to deceive Horace Danby into thinking that she was the lady of the
house with her subtle ways; and Horace’s only fault was that he failed to get enough
information about the real occupants of the house. He seems to be too occupied
with collecting information about the house map, wiring and location of valuable
items. Although he was smart enough to know the dog’s actual name, he overlooked
getting information about the occupants of the house. When he landed in trouble
with the appearance of the young lady, his clever mind gave way to carelessness,
leading him to open the safe without wearing gloves that landed him to jail. What
makes it more ridiculous is that the lady in red even managed to know the name of
the dog which Danby ignored and as a result he could establish a reliable connect
with the dog.
zzz
Sample Papers 41
SAMPLE PAPER
[SOLVED]
12
Time allowed: 3 hours Max. Marks: 80
General Instructions: Same as CBSE Sample Question Paper–2023 (Solved).
SECTION–A
(Reading Skills) (20 Marks)
I. Read the passage given below:
(10 marks)
(1) It is rare to find someone with good technical and communication skills. You can get
far ahead of your colleagues if you combine the two early in your career. People will
judge, evaluate, promote or block you based on your communication skills. Since habits
form by repeating both good and bad forms of communication, learn to observe great
communicators and adopt their styles and traits—in written and verbal forms. The art of
listening and learning from each and every interaction, is another secret recipe. Develop
the subconscious habit of listening to yourself as you speak and know when to pause.
(2) Learning what not to say is probably more important than learning what to say. As your
career develops, you will realise that the wise speak less. Speak when you have value
to add, else refrain. Poorly constructed emails with grammatical errors are acceptable
between friends, but they should be seriously avoided while communicating formally
with your seniors. Avoid any communication in an emotional state when you might say
things you will regret later. One unnecessary word uttered at the wrong time or place
can ruin a relationship, career or even your life. Such is the power of words. If such a
thing happens, you should immediately apologise, else it may haunt you for life.
(3) Another problem to overcome is speaking too fast. Since our minds work faster than our
speech, we are inclined to speak fast. This does not necessarily mean that the person
hearing it will get it any faster. On the contrary, it is always the reverse. So slow down,
and think before you speak. ‘‘When I get ready to speak to people,’’ Abraham Lincoln
said, ‘‘I spend two-thirds of the time thinking what they want to hear and one-third
thinking what I want to say.’’ Adding humour and wit is also essential. But realise that
not all jokes are funny and observe certain boundaries. Never say anything that could
offend. Remember you are not a comedian who must offend as many people as you can
to be witty.
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below.
(1×10 = 10)
(i) What does the author prefer more over what to say? (Paragraph 2)
(iii) Select the option that displays what the writer projects, with reference to the
following:
Adding humour and wit is also essential. (Paragraph 3)
It suggests that:
(a) it’s important to incorporate some humour while you speak
(b) it’s imperative to reflect wit when you address the gathering
(c) the speakers should be subconscious when they are to address the gathering
Opinion Reason
If such a thing happens, you should _________________________________
immediately apologise, else it may
haunt you for life.
(v) State 1 factor how you can be way ahead from your friends in your career.
(vi) Based on your reading of the text, list two ways how to form good habits.
(vii) Why should you be careful when you tend to be humorous?
(viii) What restriction has been imposed by the author when you are in an emotional
state? (Pargragph 2)
(a) To make tall claims
(b) To make promises
(c) upbraiding
(d) chiding
beginning in 1957, but it took more than 30 years for it to pervade Indian lifestyles.
In 1979, the market for plastic was just being seeded by the state-owned Indian
Petrochemicals and it was only in 1994 that plastic soft drink bottles became a visible
source of annoyance.
(2) In the same year, people in other cities were concerned about the state of public
sanitation and also urged regulatory bodies to ban the production, distribution and
use of plastic bags. However, the challenge was greater than it appeared at first.
Sample Papers 43
(3) The massive generation of plastic waste in India is due to rapid urbanisation, spread
of retail chains, plastic packaging from grocery to food and vegetable products,
to consumer items and cosmetics. The projected high growth rates of GDP and
continuing rapid urbanisation suggests that India’s trajectory of plastic consumption
and plastic waste is likely to increase.
Global Plastics Production, 1950 to 2020
Annual global polymer resin and fiber production Our World
(plastic production), measured in metric tonnes per year in Data
50 million tonnes
0 tonnes
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2015 2020
(4) According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Report of 2018,
India stands among few other countries like France, Mongolia and several African
countries that have initiated total or partial national level bans on plastics in their
jurisdictions. On World Environment Day in 2018, India vowed to phase out single-
use plastics by 2022, which gave a much-needed impetus to bring this change.
(5) In this context, thereafter, ten states (Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat,
by the staggering plastic waste management in the country. The time is now to
formulate robust and inclusive National Action Plans, and while doing so, the
country will establish greater transparency to combat the plastic jeopardy in a more
sustainable and holistic way.
(1×10=10)
(i) Infer one reason for the following, based on the information given in paragraph 6.
The country will establish greater transparency to combat the plastic jeopardy in a
more sustainable and holistic way.
(ii) Select the appropriate option to fill in the blanks. (Paragraph 3)
(iii) Complete the following analogy correctly with a word/phrase from paragraph 4:
The time is now to formulate ________________ and inclusive National Action Plans.
(a) concerted
(b) muscular
(c) vigorous
(d) none of these
(v) With reference to the graph, write one conclusion that can be drawn about the
‘The challenge was greater than it appeared at first.’ The challenge was
________________.
(a) to urge the authorities to impose partial ban on plastic
(d) to urge regulatory bodies to ban the production, distribution and use of plastic
bags
(vii) Substitute ‘the path followed by a projectile flying or an object’ with ONE WORD
(ix) Discuss the steps taken to combat the challenges of plastic waste.
Sample Papers 45
SECTION–B
(Grammar) (10 Marks)
III. Attempt ANY TEN of the following questions.
(i) The ACC ________________ the date of examination to recruit soldiers and train
(c) to be announced
(d) announcing
(ii) Read the conversation between Amit and Shlok. Complete the sentence by reporting
Shlok : No, I am coming with Devendra. He will start day after tomorrow.
Amit rang up Shlok and asked whether he was going to Delhi the following day. In
response to this, Shlok replied _________________________.
(iii) Select the correct option to fill in the blank for the given line, from the speech of the
school President.
I ____________________ admit, the trek which we thought would be a boring and
exhausting experience was one of the most enjoyable experiences we have had this
term.
(a) must
(b) should
(c) need
(d) would
(iv) Select the option that identifies the error and supplies the correction for the
(vi) Fill in the blank by using the correct form of the word in the bracket, for the given
portion of a letter:
Subject: Electricity problem in the locality
Please _________________ (publish) an article in your esteemed daily, so that the
authorities should focus on that and take any action against the situation. So that we
will be free from the current worst condition of the electricity breakdown.
sentence:
Confectioner : How may I help you, child?
(ix) The class teacher shared some information, with Prakriti, about the Open House.
(c) Will
(d) May
(xi) Select the correct option to complete the conversation between Abhigyan and
Anmol.
Abhigyan : Anmol, why did you not attend the Biology class yesterday?
(b) Anmol that why he has not attended the Biology class last day.
(c) Anmol why he had not attended the Biology class last day.
(d) Anmol why he has not attended the Biology class yesterday.
(xii) Identify the error spotted from a local newspaper and supply the correction
required:
Save Wildlife
Its all part of an effort to find ways to protect coastal communities and make space
for wildlife.
Use the given format for your response.
error correction
Sample Papers 47
SECTION–B
(Creative Writing Skills) (10 Marks)
IV. 1. Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below.
(5 marks)
(A) You are Arnav / Athiya, a resident of Surya Nagar Colony, Vadodara, Gujarat. You
noticed that the curb on wearing masks has been lifted but even then, we, as sincere
citisen need to be responsible and wear masks religiously.
Write a letter to the editor of The Gujarat Times, drawing attention towards the
same. Explain how such acts impact the health of the community and requesting
immediate intervention and strict action against the violators.
OR
(B) Whenever a child is restless, they are given to play a video on mobile phone. Children
also use it as bait and they refuse to eat. In no time, your child becomes obsessed
with screens. Mobile phones have become a common fad these days.
Write a letter to the editor requesting to publish an article voicing your opinion and
concern that the children are being physically inactive while sitting over time with a
mobile phone.
Assign yourself as Nidhi Kamat, Vasant Kunj Lane, Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh.
sky above me. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky. I was happy to be alone high up above
the sleeping countryside. I was flying my old Dakota aeroplane over France back to
England. I was dreaming of my holiday and looking forward to being with my family.
I looked at my watch at one thirty in the morning. I should call Paris Control soon. I
thought. As I looked down past the nose of the aeroplane, I saw the lights of a big city in
front of me.
(i) Why did the pilot think of calling Paris Control?
(ii) Which direction do you think the pilot was heading to?
The thought of the coming holiday and the time the pilot would spend with his
family made him ________________________.
(iv) ‘I saw the lights of a big city in front of me.’ What is the light the pilot is referring to?
(a) Favourable
(b) Adverse
(c) Cloudy
(d) Full of black clouds
OR
(B) Natalya : Excuse my interrupting you. You say, “my Oxen Meadows”. But are they
yours?
Lomov : Yes, mine.
Natalya : What are you talking about? Oxen Meadows are ours, not yours!
Natalya : Well, I never knew that before. How do you make that out?
Lomov : How? I’m speaking of those Oxen Meadows which are wedged in between
Natalya : Just think, Ivan Vassilevitch! How long have they been yours?
(i) Select the option that doesn’t correctly capture the usage of the word ‘make out’
Sample Papers 49
(c) She makes herself out to be smarter than she really is.
(ii) Complete the analogy by selecting the suitable word from the extract.
restricted : proscribed : : respected : _______________
(iii) “How long have they been yours”? What is ‘they’ referred to here?
(a) Burnt Marsh
(b) Oxen Meadows
(c) Birchwoods
(d) None of these
(v) Based on the extract, recall any two incidents of Mr Chubukov’s welcoming attitude
when Lomov first appeared in the scene.
meanings different from their literal meanings. Identify the poetic device used here.
(ii) It appears that the leaves of the trees strive hard to put immense pressure on the
The poem shows women as trees because the women have been liberated in the
homes.
(iv) Select the most suitable option to complete the sentence that the extract
demonstrates. The small twigs have become very hard due to applying so much
pressure __________________.
(a) to free themselves
absent) or a thing.
OR
(B) Never shall a young man
thrown into despair
By those great honey coloured
Ramparts at your ear
Love you for yourself alone
And not your yellow hair
(i) ‘Never shall a young man’ reminds us of _______________________. (Hint: when the
(iii) The poet says that no one can love Anne, for what she is. One can love her only for
__________________.
(a) her outward beauty
of the stanza.
(a) The love of his life is be loyal to his beloved.
VI. Answer ANY FOUR of the following in about 40-50 words each.
(4×3=12)
(i) ‘Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run.’ How do you think this statement would
(iii) Valli’s venture to the town brings an alarm to the parents. Elucidate.
(v) Chubukov’s attempt to appease Lomov is no strange in context with today’s scenario
Sample Papers 51
VII. Answer ANY TWO of the following in about 40-50 words each.
(2×3=6)
(i) Do you think Mrs Pumphrey’s overindulgence would not let Tricky lead a healthy
(iii) All might have been well, had Griffin woken up on time in the store. Elucidate the
statement.
Singh was forced to change his ways. Show your acquaintance with the statement
analysing the chapter ‘A Question of Trust’.
OR
(ii) Hari Singh (A Thief ’s Story) and the lady (A Question of Trust) in red were alike.
II. (i)
Because plastic can release harmful chemicals into the surrounding soil
(ii) (d) both (b) and (c)
(iii) Impetus
(iv) (b) muscular
(v) It suggests that India’s trajectory of plastic production was increasing.
(vi) (d) To urge regulatory bodies to ban the production, distribution and use of plastic
bags
(vii) Trajectory
(viii) In 1957
(ix) Mandating scientific sterilization and the use of sealed bags for safe disposal of
contaminated plastic wastes should be immediately taken care of.
(ii) in negative and informed him that he was coming with Devendra and further added
(vi) publish
Sample Papers 53
(ix) The class teacher asked Prakriti why her parents had been absent the previous day.
(x) (a) Can
(xi) (c) Anmol why he had not attended the Biology class last day.
(xii) error– its, correction–it’s
Vadodara, Gujarat
13 June, 20XX
The Editor
The Gujarat Times
Vadodara
Sir
Through the columns of your esteemed newspaper, I would like to draw the
attention of the concerned authorities towards the negligence of people for Covid
protocols.
It seems some people have forgotten that there ever was a pandemic. Weddings and
leisure activities are almost back in full-swing, while religious centres are turning
into potential hotspots. Social distancing isn’t being followed. We have been careless.
We were maintaining social distance, and wearing masks when the lockdown was in
place. Some people hope that merely trust in God and religion will safeguard them
from the coronavirus, and deem measures including facemasks unnecessary.
Therefore, you’re requested to kindly publish an article in your newspaper making
appeal to the common masses about the same.
Sincerely yours
Arnav Baisoya
OR
1. (B) Vasant Kunj Lane, Ayodhya
Uttar Pradesh
12 August, 20XX
The Editor
The Times of India
Prayagraj
Dear Sir
Through the columns of your esteemed newspaper, I would like to draw the
attention of the concerned authorities towards increased risk of expressive use of
mobile phones.
The early stage of life plays a critical role in the development of a child. It is the time
in which most of the essential development takes place, one of it being the language
or speech development. In this fast-moving world, technology has become an
integral part of our existence. We have enslaved ourselves to this web of technology,
where most of our activities are somewhere or the other hitched to it.
It is because of this fact when a new life comes into existence before learning
anything, he first acquires the skill of holding a device in his hand. I don’t think
it’ll be a good idea to offer the cell phones to the young ones just to avoid your
involvement. Hope you’d publish my appeal through a piece of article in your
esteemed newspaper.
Thanking you
Yours Sincerely
Nidhi Kamat
2. (A)
KEEPING THE WEIGHT OFF
Permanent weight loss is a result of making changes to eating habits that become a
long-term part of a healthier lifestyle. Unhealthy eating habits should be analysed
and must be avoided. You should plan when to eat and eat only when you are
truly hungry instead of when you are tired, anxious, or feeling an emotion besides
hunger. If you find yourself eating when you are experiencing an emotion besides
hunger, such as boredom or anxiety, try to find a non-eating activity to do instead.
You may find a quick walk or a phone call with a friend which will help you feel
better. Plan meals ahead of time to ensure that you eat a healthy well-balanced meal.
OR
2. (B)
FACTS ABOUT CHILD HOMELESSNESS
Few know child homelessness and regard it as a serious issue. It is certainly an
issue that greatly impacts India. But have you ever thought why the number is so
high and the consequences that stem from it. In order to better comprehend the
epidemic of child homelessness in India, it is important to first understand the factors
contributing to this continued rise and the impacts stemming from this issue. Young
boys and girls can typically find work doing small jobs. On a daily basis, children
fight for their survival, facing poverty, abuse and exploitation. As the population
continues to grow, the rate of child homelessness in India can expect to grow too.
However, while it is important to recognise the severity of child homelessness in the
country, it is just as crucial to understand the ways in which varying groups are
already mobilising to tackle this issue.
Sample Papers 55
SECTION–C: Literature (40 Marks)
V. 1. (A) (i) (c) Because he wanted to know the weather before the start
(ii) West
(iii) happy
OR
1. (B) (i) None of these
(ii) honoured
(v) 1. An angel
2. A darling
2. (A) (i) Personification
(iii) False
OR
2. (B) (i) (c) Inversion
(iii) (b) her beautiful yellow hair and her physical beauty
(iv) despair
VI. (i) Yes, it’s true in the case of the young seagull. Life is full of trials and tribulations
which can be overcome by a human being through his own efforts. Simply with the
crutches of excuse and procrastination, no one can reach their destination.
(ii) The poet wants to convey through the poem ‘Fire and Ice’ that everything in this
world is certain to deplete. The poet says that both fire and ice are destructive. Fire
of violent desires will put the world to an end. If the world had to perish twice then it
will be perished by the hatred between humans. Ice has been presented as a symbol
of hatred.
(iii) Yes, it is absolutely true that Valli’s venture to the town has brought an alarm to
the parents. When it comes to parenting, sometimes the way instructions are given
can be just as important as what you’re trying to communicate. Valli has flouted a
standard norm and has definitely raised a concern for parents.
(iv) Custard was a coward dragon who always kept asking for safe passage. Everyone
else in the house was very brave. Belinda was as brave as a barrel full of bears,
Ink and Blink could chase lions and Mustard as brave as an angry tiger. While the
dragon was the only one, who feared a lot and looked for a nice safe cage for himself.
(v) The play is indeed a beautiful portrayal of the contemporary society. There are
many girls whose marriage is not solemnised because their parents can’t afford to
pay dowry. Chubukov didn’t give a second thought to the proposal and agreed to
recovered quite well at the end. It can be called a real-life episode for the people
who take excessive care of their children and hence, spoil their habits.
(ii) Fowler was actually taken aback the moment he spotted Ausable. He had a
preoccupied notion in his mind about his meeting with Ausable. He had thought
Ausable would have a natural, adaptable and high functioning ability to interact
with others.
(iii) Griffin had to face the disgrace because of his own wrong doings. He was caught
because he could not wake up in time. He had been without any sleep for quite some
time. When he found himself comfortable on the quilts there in the store, he forgot
that he was on a run and would be caught any moment if people spotted anything
dubious.
VIII. (i)
You : Hi Rajvir! Hope you had a comfortable stay in Assam.
Rajvir : Well, how did you know I was off to Assam.
You : Yeah….
Rajvir : Well, Pranjol discussed a lot about you that you own acres and acres of land
in Assam.
You : Not exactly, but yes, a small piece of land that I inherited from my father.
That is right next to his father’s property. But I had wonderful harvest this
time. I would love if you visit sometime in a good season.
Rajvir : Yeah… sure.
OR
(ii) It’s important to learn that life is nothing but a walking shadow. No one in this world
is rich enough to avoid his or her death. There is no way a living being can avoid
facing death. The only thing we should learn is that this life is the most precious gift
we have ever got from the almighty. One can avoid death by renouncing selfishness
and all worldly pleasures. We learnt from the chapter that one should not grieve,
weep or lament over the loss of someone close to your heart. Weeping and lamenting
about someone or something only adds miseries and woes, and keeps man away
from obtaining peace of mind. It will only multiply the pain and suffering thus,
leading to physical weakness and moreover, no amount of grief would bring back
the dead.
IX. (i) Hari Singh’s transformation was not a deliberate act to some extent. He was in fact
about to board the train, but in the meantime, his inner conscience held him back.
He thought that Anil would feel sad not for loss of money but for the loss of trust
he had reposed in him. Moreover, he did not want to lose the chance of learning.
His inner self was transformed. His heart changed because he preferred to be an
educated man and decided to return back and placed the money back to its place.
So, the sudden change we spotted in Hari Singh who realised that stealing was
Sample Papers 57
completely different to getting educated. The change in him was ideally due to the
prospect of getting education and live in the society with integrity and high regards.
OR
(ii) The lady in red was entirely different from Hari Singh of ‘The Thief ’s Story’. She
never showed any glimmer of animation while duping Horace Danby. She beautifully
managed to pose as the wife of the owner with great precision. Danby’s offer to help
the lady with the safe and his attempt to unlock it speaks much how meticulous he
was. At least, Hari Singh eventually realised that it was unethical to ditch a simple
man like Anil. But the lady in red didn’t think even once before abusing Danby’s
immense faith that he showed when she appeared in the scene. Her dealing with the
dog is a true specimen of how intelligent and sharp-witted she was. She made the
dog enjoy her company. She subtly told Horace that she wished to wear the jewels to
the night party. She made him open the safe without gloves and sneaked away with
it.
zzz
SECTION–A
(Reading Skills) (20 Marks)
I. Read the passage given below:
(10 marks)
(1) Do you ever feel there’s a greater being inside of you bursting to get out? It is the voice
that encourages you to really make something of your life. When you act congruently
with that voice, it’s like you are a whole new person. You are bold and courageous. You
are strong. You are unstoppable. But, then reality sets in, and soon those moments
are history. It is not hard to put yourself temporarily into an emotionally motivated
state. Just listen to that motivational song for that matter. However, this motivation does
not stay forever. Your great ideas seem impractical. How many times have you been
temporarily inspired with an idea like, “I want to start my own business.” And then a
week later it’s forgotten! You come up with inspiring ideas when you are motivated. But
you fail to maintain that motivation through the action phase.
(2) The problem we ask ourselves is: Why does this happen? You can listen to hundreds
of motivational speakers and experience an emotional yo-yo effect, but it does not last.
The problem is that as we are intellectually guided, we try to find logic in emotional
motivation and as we fail to find logic, eventually it all fizzles out. I used to get frustrated
when my emotional motivation fizzled out after a while. Eventually, I realised that being
guided by intellect was not such a bad thing after all. I just had to learn to use my
mind as an effective motivational tool. I figured that if I was not feeling motivated to
go after a particular goal, may be there was a logical reason for it. I noted that when I
had strong intellectual reasons for doing something, I usually did not have any trouble
taking action.
(3) But when my mind thinks a goal is wrong on some level, I usually feel blocked. I
eventually realised that this was my mind’s way of telling me that the goal was a mistake
to begin with. Sometimes, a goal may seem to make sense on one level but when you look
further upstream, it becomes clear that the goal is ill-advised. Suppose you work in sales,
and you get a goal to increase your income by 20% by becoming a more effective sales
person. That seems like a reasonable and intelligent goal. But may be you are surprised
to find yourself encountering all sorts of internal blocks when you try to pursue it. You
should feel motivated but you just don’t. The problem may be that on a deeper level
your mind knows you don’t want to be working in sales at all. You really want to be
a musician. No matter how hard you push yourself in sales career, it will always be a
motivational dead end.
Sample Papers 59
(4) Further when you set goals, that are too small and too timid, you suffer a perpetual lack
of motivation. You just need to summon the courage to acknowledge your true desires.
Then you will have to deal with the self-doubt and fear that’s been making you think
too small. Ironically, the real key to motivation is to set the goals and scare you. You are
letting fears, excuses, limiting beliefs hold you back. Your subconscious mind knows that
you are strong, so it won’t provide any motivational fuel until you step up, face your
fears, and acknowledge your heart’s desire. Once you finally decide to face your fears
and drop the excuses, then you will find your motivation turning on full blast.
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below.
(1×10=10)
(i) What does the author want to convey when he says, “When you look further
(iii) Replace the word ‘timid’ with the most suitable one identified from the passage.
So, he sat there trembling and afraid; for he was a timid, bashful man and did not
like to be noticed.
(iv) Which of the following is the most suitable title for the passage?
(v) What does the author mean when he says, “It eventually fizzles out.”
(a) Periodically
(b) In delusion
(c) Progressively
(d) In agreement
(vii) According to the passage, the author says about the emotional motivation that:
(viii) “When you are setting goals that are too small, you ___________.”
(ix) According to the passage, to get true motivation you first have to:
“Your subconscious mind knows that you are strong, so it doesn’t let you ___________.”
1,400,000
1,200,000
1975
1,000,000
1990
800,000 2005
600,000
400,000
200,000
m
A
y
ina
da
dia
an
US
do
na
Ch
In
rm
ng
Ca
Ge
Ki
d
ite
Un
(1) This bar chart compares the emission of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere of six
countries, including two of them coming from emerging nations, for three decades
starting from 1975 to 2005. As an overall assessment, it can clearly be seen that only
Germany and United Kingdom managed to reduce the carbon emissions compared to
the other countries.
(2) USA being the number one polluter of all, emitted 1,200,000 thousand metric tonnes in
1975 and this count increased to 1,300,000 and 1,600,000 thousand metric tonnes in 1990
and 2005, respectively. In contrast, the carbon emissions of China was nearly 300,000
metric tonnes in 1975 and it rose by nearly 100% in 1990 and surged dramatically to just
below1,600,000 thousand metric tonnes in 2005. In terms of percentage increase, China
was the largest contributor in carbon emissions of all.
(3) The figures for Germany and United Kingdom remained relatively stable throughout
the period of time, and so were for Canada until 1990. The carbon dioxide emissions
in India increased exponentially from around 100,000 in 1995 to just below 400,000
thousand metric tonnes in 2005.
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below.
(1×10=10)
(i) In terms of percentage increase, I was the largest contributor of CO2. Identify me.
(ii) What do you think could be the possible reason for surging of CO2 emission in million
tonnes?
(a) Lack of sustainable development
(iii) In year 2005, I was in India and realised that I should switch the country and should
go to a place which is the least contributor of CO2. Which country have I landed to?
Sample Papers 61
(iv) Which country has the lowest emission of CO2 in graph?
(a) Germany
(b) United Kingdom
(c) Canada
(d) India
(v) Which countries had the same level of CO2 emission in 1975 and 1990?
(vi) What is the highest quantity unit of global emission of CO2 by different countries?
(a) 1,600,000
(b) 1,570,000
(c) 1,700,000
(d) 1,650,000
(vii) Which country had the minimum CO2 emission during 1975?
(c) Germany
(d) United Kingdom
(ix) Find the antonym of the word ‘influx’ from the given passage.
(x) The bar chart compares the emission of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere of six
countries, including two of them coming from emerging nations. Identify the two
nations from the given graph.
SECTION–B
(GRAMMAR) (10 Marks)
III. 1. Attempt ANY TEN of the following questions.
(i) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option to complete an online update.
(c) at year
(d) of year
(ii) Read the conversation between Mannu and Annu. Complete the sentence by
reporting it correctly.
Mannu : Where are you going?
Mannu asked Annu ________________. Annu replied she was going to the market
and further asked if she wanted anything.
(iii) Select the correct option to fill in the blank for the given line, from an article by
Penguin G.G. J who is considered one of the pioneers of the Gujrati short story.
His writing ________________ by a dramatic style, romanticism and powerful
depiction of human emotions.
(a) is characterised
(b) has been characterised
(c) is characterising
(d) characterises
(iv) Select the option that identifies the error and supplies the correction for the
The center’s panel on air quality, CAQM, has directed the agencies ________________
to develop proper gas infrastructure in NCR before the next winter.
(a) was concerned
(b) will be concerned
(c) is concerned
(d) concerned
(vi) Fill in the blank by using the correct form of the word in the bracket, for the given
portion of a letter.
Cobbler : Yes sir. But I will take 10 Rupees for each shoe.
Mr. Harish : I will not mind as long as it is done.
Mr. Harish asked the cobbler could he polish his shoes. The cobbler replied
affirmatively and added but ______________.
(viii) Identify the error from a magazine report and choose the correct option.
The traffic police has deployed teams at various intersections in the city to issue
challans and impound old and polluting vehicles.
Option no. error correction
(a) has have
(b) on at
(c) in of
(d) ever never
While we are loath to place restrictions on language use, oxymoron usually refers to
a set of ______________ (contradict) words rather than to a contradictory person.
(x) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option, to complete the slogan on
Independence Day.
Countless freedom fighters lost their ______________, and then we got a country to
survive.
(a) lives
(b) lifes
(c) life
(d) live
As soon as the students saw the teacher, they rushed to their class.
(a) No sooner had the students seen the teacher, than they rushed to their class.
(b) No sooner have the students seen the teacher, than they rushed to their class.
(c) No sooner do the students see the teacher, than they rushed to their class.
(d) No sooner did the students see the teacher, than they rushed to their class.
Sample Papers 63
(xii) Identify the error on a newspaper headline and supply the correction, for the
following sentence:
Ahead of the hearing on Supreme Court where it has to give opinion on according
to Scheduled Caste status to Dalit.
Use the given format for your response.
error correction
SECTION–B
(CREATIVE WRITING SKILLS) (10 Marks)
IV. 1. Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below.
(5)
(A) You are a resident of Kamala Colony. There have been incidents of chain snatching
in your locality in the past 2-3 months. Your resident welfare association took it
up with the local police station requesting patrolling in the area after 6 p.m. and
surprise checks both of which have not happened. Write a letter to the editor of the
local newspaper highlighting the attitude of the police authorities.
OR
(B) You are Rama/Ramesh of D 105, Lajpat Nagar, New Delhi. You want information
about German Language courses at German Embassy, Chanakyapuri. New Delhi.
Write a letter to the director inquiring about the same.
2. Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below.
(5)
(A) The given double bar graph shows the preferences of children in a school in playing
different games over the span of six years. Write an analytical paragraph about the
given information.
500 Volleyball
450 Basketball
400
Number of People
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
OR
(B) The given bar graph shows the increasing use of skin care products by women over
the period of three months. Write an analytical paragraph elaborating the given
information.
Number of Times
30
25
20
10
June July August
Tonner
Number of Times
30
25
20
10
June July August
SECTION–C
(Literature) (40 Marks)
V. Reference to the Context
(10 marks)
1. Attempt ANY ONE of two extracts given.
(5 marks)
(A) The house—the only one in the entire valley—sat on the crest of a low hill. From this
height one could see the river and the field of ripe corn dotted with the flowers that
always promised a good harvest. The only thing the Earth needed was a downpour or
at least a shower. Throughout the morning, Lencho, who knew his fields intimately-had
done nothing else but see the sky towards the north-east. (A letter to god)
(i) Based on the given extract, what is Lencho NOT likely to think while looking at his
field?
(a) Such a blessing, God! Thank you!
(c) All set for the grand harvest. I’m going to be rich!
Sample Papers 65
(ii) The field of corn dotted with flowers means that:
(iii) Based on the details of the house’s location, how can it best be described?
(iv) Lencho wished for a downpour or a heavy shower. Pick the option that correctly
matches.
(1) heavy rain
(i) light rain that falls in very fine drops
(2) thunderstorm
(ii) very heavy rain, tropical rain
(3) drizzle
(iii) it’s coming down quite strong and you
suddenly
(5) downpour
(v) is a violent, short-lived weather
(v) In the light of the statement “Man proposes God disposes,” fill the blanks. Lencho
OR
(B) From then on, his progress was rapid. He had no medicinal treatment of any kind but
all day he ran about with the dogs, joining in their friendly scrimmages. He discovered
the joys of being bowled over, tramped on and squashed every few minutes. He became
an accepted member of the gang, an unlikely, silky little object among the shaggy crew,
fighting like a tiger for his share at mealtimes and hunting rats in the old henhouse at
night. He had never had such a time in his life.
(i) Place the word ‘scrimmages’ in the correct blank.
(c) The two players got into a _________ off the court and got suspended.
(iii) Figurative device used in the expression, ‘fighting like a tiger’ is to establish:
his heart but his entire self who has been given a change of mood. The poet has
tried to employ _____________________, a poetic technique that represents a part of
something that is substituted for the whole.
(ii) Mood swing is a common phenomenon among humans. Here it is caused due to
____________________ .
(iii) What does the poet mean when he says ‘had saved some part of the day’?
(iv) I am the medium to bring change in the thought process of the poet. Guess who
I am?
(a) crow
(b) hemlock tree
(c) snow
(d) melancholic element
(v) Identify the correct use of ‘rue’ or its form in the following sentences.
(a) Robert heartily rued his abruptness, as the poor young wife sank back in a
deadly swoon.
(b) The rich maroon rue was mixed with a ribbon of black.
(c) People injured in accidents caused by the defective tire have threatened to rue.
OR
(B) My head is full of whispers
which tomorrow will be silent.
Listen. The glass is breaking.
The trees are stumbling forward
into the night. Winds rush to meet them.
The moon is broken like a mirror,
its pieces flash now in the crown
of the tallest oak.
(The Trees)
Sample Papers 67
(i) What are the ‘whispers’ that the poet can hear?
(ii) Recognise the intention of the poet and complete the analogy.
A. Glass 1. breaking
B. Wind 2. stumbling
C. Moon 3. rushing
D. Tree 4. flashing
VI. Answer ANY FOUR of the following in about 40-50 words each.
(4×3=12)
(i) The role of crow is vital in the transformed vision of the poet. Justify how.
(ii) ‘God helps the ones who help themselves’. Substantiate this with reference to the
VII. Answer ANY TWO of the following in about 40-50 words each.
(2×3=6)
(i) How can you say that Horace Danby was good and respectable but not completely
honest?
(ii) Richard’s project on the purpose of the twelve tiny gold spots on a monarch pupa
their people.
Assume they both met each other at a sea beach of California and shared their
expedition. Write this conversation as per your understanding of the chapters
‘Mijbil the Otter’ and ‘The first Flight’.
an important character through the ongoings of the play and the thoughts and
interactions of its characters. Imagine yourself to be a historian who has been
invited to speak about nineteenth century upper class Russian society. Based on
your reading of the play, how might you decide it? Support your evaluation with
instances from the text.
and succeed?
OR
(ii) Sense of insecurity and not understanding the true value can result to destruction.
What was the cause of Matilda’s ruin? How could she have avoided it?
zzz
Sample Papers 69
SECTION–A: Reading Skills (20 Marks)
I. (i) When you analyse your goal closely you realise that it is not what you thought it
would be
(ii) to gather strength
(iii) scared
II. (i)
China
(ii) (c) Both of these
(iii) Canada
(iv) (c) Canada
(v) (b) United Kingdom and India
(vi) (a) 1,600,000
(vii) (a) India
(viii) exponentially
(ix) emitted
(x) USA and China
Howrah
2 April, 20XX
The SHO
Bandipara P.S
Howrah
Sir,
This is to bring to your kind attention that splinter gangs of chain-snatchers are on
the prowl at the areas like Bandipara, Kali Ghat and its surroundings.
Despite mobile police on bikes as well as in SUVs patrolling the roads round the
clock, the incidents of broad-day-light chain-snatching on the roads like Dalitram
Chowk and S.N. Banarjee Road reflect that the criminals are smarter than the cops
on patrolling duty.
The gang ride up to the victim in their motorcycle and ask for directions. At a
convenient time, they commit the crime and flee the scene. These chain snatchers use
special tools and customised motorcycles. Special pliers are used to cut chains. Many
boost the engine power of their bike by fitting imported carburetors and quick
action throttles.
You are requested to bring us relief and take strict action against such hooligans and
ruffians.
Thanking you in anticipation.
Yours sincerely
ABC
OR
(B) D 105, Lajpat Nagar
New Delhi
12 April, 20XX
The Director
German Embassy
Chanakyapuri
New Delhi
Sample Papers 71
in class X and preparing for my final examinations. I am very much interested in
learning a language and want to take it as a career. I’m also given to understand that
this institute is by far the best as far as German Language learning is concerned and
I would very much like to be a part of it.
Kindly send me the prospectus and the application form. I would be highly grateful
if you could provide me with the following information:
O the course structures
O
O scholarships, if any
O
O admission procedure
O
O eligibility criteria
O
Kindly send me the brochure along with the enrollment form for further formalities.
Sincerely yours
Rama Kashyap
2. (A) The given double bar graph shows the preferences of children in a school in playing
different games over the period of six years i.e., from 2014 to 2019. The graph
shows that the highest number of children interested in playing volleyball is in the
year 2016, whereas in the year 2019, very smaller number of children preferred
volleyball. The graph shows a hike in the game of volleyball again in the year 2018.
The data shows that the preference of people in basketball is almost constant, like
in the years 2014, 2017, and in 2018 same number of children showed interest in
it. Basketball got a slight hike of interested children in the year 2016, but a decline
has been seen in it in 2019 which is equal to 2015. If we observe the graph, we can
see that children’s preference related to volleyball is continuously changing every
year. Although initially 200 children were interested in volleyball in 2014. Then it
reached to 300 in 2015, the greatest hike of 450 in 2016, but it again declined to
250 children in 2017, it again showed a hike of 400 children in 2018 and the lowest
number of children’s i.e., only 150 in 2019. Whereas basketball was much preferred
in 2014 than volleyball. It shows a decline of 100 children in 2015, but again reached
400 in 2016 and then remained same in 2017 and 2018. To conclude the data
shows that throughout the six years basketball was more preferred in comparison
to volleyball. Although data shows that volleyball has got the highest number of
interested children in 2016 but the numbers are constantly flickering which reached
the lowest and is less preferred by the children in the year 2019 also.
OR
(B) The given bar graph shows the usage of skin care products by men and women over
the time of three months. The products used are facewash, toner and sunscreen.
The bar graph of men shows that the most used product by men is facewash. In
the month of June, the facewash was used around 33 times, in July 30 times and
in August 35 times. The toner was used around 27 times in the month of June, 20
times in July and around 33 times in the month of August. The sunscreen was used
29 times in the month of June, 25 times in July and 32 times in August.
The bar graph of women shows that the most used product is sunscreen. In the
month of June, the facewash was used 25 times, in July 22 times and in August 24
times. The toner was used 22 times in the month of June, in July 25 times and in
August 27 times. The sunscreen being the most used product was used 34 times in
June, 29 times in July and 35 times in August. To conclude the given information,
Hemlock tree by which the poet gets relaxed and was later thankful.
(ii) It should always be your honest intention and the Almighty is with you. The author
of the Black Aeroplane understands the complexities of life. The pilot dares to face
the ordeal and then he succeeds. So, it is clear that God helps only those who help
themselves.
(iii) Giving a vent out to one’s emotions makes the body and mind feel light which is
good for health and works as a healing therapy for the mind and body. Evidently,
she takes the decision of writing her feelings in a diary. It is unusual for her to write
in a diary, but she is really in need of a true friend.
(iv) When Belinda and all her pets were terrified at the sight of the pirate, it was Custard
who succeeded in killing them. Those who were making fun of Custard, were then
ready to idolise him for his valour.
(v) Amanda’s mother is just trying to instruct her and expects of her to mend her
ways. She wants her to listen to her properly and must not be ignorant about her
responsibilities.
Sample Papers 73
VII. (i) Horace was undoubtedly a good and respectful fellow but not completely honest.
This description is apt for Horace. His intention was noble but even then, he cannot
be spared by the critics. It may look good in others’ eyes but cannot be pardoned at
all, as a crime is always a crime. And guilty has to be punished.
(ii) When Ebright won a prize at the science fair, he learnt that winners do real experiment,
eat. He made another guess that the books were some communication devices used
by the earthlings.
VIII. (i) Mijbil : Hey, how have you come here?
Mijbil : But I heard you were actually encouraged much by your mother. She
was instrumental in making take your first flight. So, hope you must
have learnt that the spark must be there in order to succeed in life.
Seagull : Yes, that’s true.
OR
(ii) A general perception about women in Russian society or women in general is that
they have never effectively enjoyed the same rights as their male counterparts. So
as a historian, it is crucial to continue raising awareness about women’s rights in
the 19th century Russia. Through the portrayal of the characters in the play ‘The
Proposal’, it is evident that women even in those times were not the rightful owner
of their individual identity. The proposal seems to serve the nuptial proceedings
between Natalya who is only 25, whereas Lomov who is at his critical age of 35.
Such a big gap in marital arrangement was seen nothing unusual. The only criteria
required to engage into such an arrangement was that the grooms should be well-
to-do and hold a reputable social rank. It’s apparent from the way Stepan Chubukov
gets excited when he learnt the precise reason of Lomov’s arrival. A father of 19th
century Russian society always aspires to get a son-in-law of such stature.
IX. (i) As it is evident that it was merely his teaching ability and the effectiveness of his
teaching that transformed a seasoned thief into a gentle soul. Anil was a reformer in
Hari Singh’s life. He knew that Hari Singh has stolen his money and returned it safe
back to its place. However, he was focused on the fact that he came back and kept
the money back. He is happy that his conduct and kind gesture at least impacted his
mind who was now ready to transform himself.
OR
(ii) Matilda Loisel has always been unhappy and fought against her destiny. She felt that
she was born for all the delicacies and luxuries of life. She never accepted her true
identity and endeavoured to achieve something that was not meant for her. Had she
embraced her current status and realised that she was merely a wife of a clerk, she
would never have ruined her life. She could have avoided this ruin by being satisfied
with whatever she had. The sole reason of her distress was due to her longing for
a life of luxury. She suffered from the poverty of her apartment, the shabby walls
and the worn chairs. All these things tortured and angered her. She was always
dissatisfied and unhappy, craving for all the delicacies and luxuries of life.
zzz
SECTION–A
(Reading Skills) (20 Marks)
I. Read the passage given below:
(10 marks)
(1) Call it a blessing or curse of Mother Nature, we have to breathe in over 10,000 litres
of air in a day (more than four million litres in a year) to remain alive. By making it
essential for life, God has wished that we try to keep the air we breathe clean. Everyone
can see the food that is not clean and perhaps, refrain from eating it but one cannot
stop breathing even if one can feel the air to be polluted. Several harmful and noxious
substances can contaminate the air we breathe. Generally, much is said and written
about outdoor air pollution, most of which is due to vehicular and industrial exhausts.
Given the fact that most of us spend over 90% of our time indoors, it is most important
to recognise that the air we breathe in at home or in offices can be polluted. It can be a
cause of ill-health. Air pollutants that are generally present in very low concentrations
can assume significance in closed ill-ventilated places.
(2) The indoor air pollution can lead to allergic reactions and cause irritation to the skin,
the eyes and the nose. But as is logical to assume, the brunt of insult by pollutants is
borne by the lungs. It can lead to development of fresh breathing problems, especially
in those who have allergic tendencies, or it can worsen the existing respiratory illnesses
like asthma and bronchitis.
(3) There can be several sources of indoor air pollution. Tobacco smoke is one of the most
(HDM) are very small insects not visible to the naked eye and are the commonest source
of allergy in the house. They are ubiquitous and thrive in a warm and moist atmosphere.
Sample Papers 75
They bread very fast and are very difficult to eradicate. Modern houses present ample
breeding spaces for them in the form of carpet, curtains, mattresses, pillows, etc.
(6) Exposure to HDM can be prevented by the frequent washing of linen and by encasing
the mattresses and pillows in a non-permeable cover. Pets form an important part of
life for some of us. But they can add plenty of allergens to our indoor atmosphere.
Cats are notorious for doing this. Fine particles from feline fur can remain stuck to the
upholstery and carpets for a long time even after the removal of the animal and lead
to the worsening of asthma and skin allergies. Fortunately, owing to religious and social
customs, cats are not very popular pets in India. Dogs, however, are quite popular and
can be as troublesome. Pets should be kept out of the bedrooms and washed frequently.
To remove the fur particles, one has to use vacuum cleaners as the ordinary broom and
mop are not effective.
(7) Moulds, fungi and several other microorganisms thrive in damp conditions and can
lead to allergies as well as infections. Humidifiers in the air-conditioning plants provide
an ideal environment for certain types of bacteria and have led to major outbreaks of
pneumonia. It is important to clean regularly the coolers, air-conditioners and damp
areas of the house regularly, such as cupboards, lofts, etc., to minimize this risk.
(8) Toxic gases can also pollute the indoor environment. Biomass fuels (wood, cow dung,
dried plants) and coal, if burned inside, can lead to severe contamination by carbon
monoxide (CO). The poor quality of stoves and other cooking or heating appliances that
cause incomplete combustion of LPG can also lead to the emission of CO or nitrogen
dioxide. Formaldehyde (a gas) can be released from adhesives that are used for fixing
carpets, upholstery and also in making plywood and particle board.
(9) The gases are very toxic in high concentrations as may be encountered during industrial
accidents, but even in very minimal amounts as may be prevalent in homes and offices
can cause irritation to the skin or the eyes, rashes, headache, dizziness and nausea.
Improving ventilation is an important preventive measure besides trying to eliminate
the source that may not be always feasible.
(10) Other indoor pollutants are toxic chemicals like cleansing agents, pesticides, paints,
solvents and inferior-quality personal care products, especially aerosols. Very old
crumbling pipes, boilers, insulation or false roofing can also be important sources.
Asbestos is a hazardous product that can cause cancer in humans. Thus, it is important
to realise that the air we breathe at home may not be clean always and we must try to
eliminate the source of pollution. We should give due consideration to ventilation.
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below.
(1×10=10)
(ii) The air in offices and indoors can be polluted because __________________________.
(c) mattresses
(d) pillows
(vii) Burning of biomass fuel inside homes pollutes the indoor environment________ .
networking site. With that one act, he bid a silent adieu to more than 300 contacts
that he had added to his account during the period. Like almost everyone from his
friends’ circle, the 20–year–old was a regular on the service, visiting it every day
to post photos and update status. But last week, a new feature on Facebook called
‘Timeline’ forced him to reconsider the pros and cons of being on the networking
site.
(2) “Everyone has some skeletons in their closet and I am just not comfortable with
Facebook digging up and displaying all the facets of my life on a bulletin board,”
says this youngster who joined the network in July 2007 while he was in Class 11.
(3) Facebook, you see, had compressed the time he spent on the site and arranged
it in chronological order. And while he initially liked the new, neatly organised
scrapbook–like feature, he wasn’t happy to reveal posts from the past, those that,
until recently, were hidden under layers and layers of recent updates. Just clicking
on a date on the timeline could transport his friends back in time and enable them
to view every embarrassing comment, link or photo he had posted on his profile.
(4) I think it’s a recipe for disaster, he says, “In 2007, I had some wall posts, which
seemed appropriate at the time, but now after a lapse of four years, I have moved
on and don’t want them to be openly displayed for all to see.
(5) And he is not alone. Many users, worried about how Facebook activity could possibly
affect their offline lives, are choosing to commit Facebook suicide. While some have
privacy concerns, others feel that the site that was meant to bring them closer to
their friends, actually does the opposite; it reduces their friendship to something
superficial.
Sample Papers 77
(6) “Poking and liking are not enough to keep a friendship going”, says a business
analyst. Having quit Facebook three years ago, she prefers meeting her real friends
face–to–face, instead of reading their trite posts online.
(7) “On Facebook, people hype everyday issues including what they ate and where they
went on a daily basis”, says this analyst who continues to use Twitter.
(8) Similarly, an engineering student, quit Facebook last December, four years after
joining it. One fine day, he exported all the data from his account into a zip file and
hit the delete button.
(9) “I realised that when it came to my friends who really mattered, I could actually
keep in touch with them over the phone or by meeting them in real life”, he wrote
on his blog.
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below.
(1×10=10)
(i) The feature of Facebook where one can see the posts, the embarrassing comments
and thoughts, photos and links that a person has put on his profile in the past is
_____________.
(ii) According to the passage, the social media ______________.
(iii) The feature ‘Timeline’ on Facebook, according to the passage, forces the youngster
to reconsider _______________.
(a) meeting friends face to face.
(iv) Many people are getting out of Facebook as they feel _____________ .
(vi) Which of the following is OPPOSITE in meaning to the word ‘retained’, as used in
the passage?
(a) exported
(b) delete
(c) account
(d) quit
(vii) Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE in the context of the passage?
(b) People visit social media every day to post photos and for status updates.
(c) No one prefers meeting real friends face–to–face, instead of reading their trite
posts online.
(d) Few think that social media reduces their friendship to something superficial.
(ix) Which of the following statements is TRUE in the context of the passage?
(b) Using social media could increase the time teens spend together in person.
(x) Select the option that makes the correct use of ‘trite’, as used in the passage, to fill in
(c) Her _______________ powers give life and colour to her paintings.
SECTION–B
(Grammar) (10 Marks)
III. 1. Attempt ANY TEN of the following questions.
(i) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option to complete an online update.
The mystery of why, home ____________ biggest tech cos, can’t solve visa backlog.
(a) for world’s
(b) to world’s
(c) of world’s
(d) on world’s
(ii) Read the conversation and complete the passage given below:
front.
UN World Population Prospects 2022 predict that on November 15, global
population will cross 8 billion, and during 2023, India will take over China’s.
(a) is predicting
(b) had predicted
(c) predicts
(d) has predicted
(iv) Select the option that identifies the error and supplies the correction for the
Sample Papers 79
(v) Complete the given narrative, by filling in the blank with the correct option:
(c) works
(d) has been working
(vi) Fill in the blank by using the correct form of the word in the bracket, for the given
portion of a letter:
Subject: Bullying of a Class X student
Respected Sir/Madam,
With due respect, I bring to your notice that my brother, Ashutosh Roy, of Class X
D,____________ (stay) in dormitory No. 20 for last 6 months.
(vii) Report the dialogue, by completing the sentence:
correction.
Of all the honours bestowed in Indian Cinema, Dada Sahib Phalke award is a jewel
in the crown.
Use the given format for your response.
Error Correction
___________ ____________
Ministry of Forest.
__________effort towards saving the environment is better than no effort.
(a) A little
(b) The little
(c) Little
(d) None of these
(xi) Select the correct option to complete the narration of the dialogue between Umar
(b) that he had been a little occupied with his board’s preparation.
(d) that he has been a little occupied with his board’s preparation.
In 5 years, the web of ropeways could help end Shimla city’s traffic woes.
Use the given format for your response.
Error Correction
___________ ____________
SECTION–B
(Creative Writing Skills) (10 Marks)
IV. 1. Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below.
(5)
(A) Your school had organised an educational trip to Fatehpur Sikri and Agra. You
notice the dilapidated condition of some of the monuments. Write a letter to the
Municipal Chairman of Agra mentioning the condition and requesting him to take
urgent steps for the prevention of this valuable heritage. You are Anuj/Anju, 40 Civil
Lines, New Town. (100-120 words)
OR
(B) You are Anshul/ Anshika, a student of Grade X and a resident of 36 D Ring
Road, ITO, New Delhi, wants to be a choreographer. Recently you came across
an advertisement by Set Fire Dance Academy, MG Road, New Delhi, which offers
various forms of dancing. Write an enquiry letter seeking information about the
course and its package. (100–120 words)
2. Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below.
(5)
(A) The given chart shows the division of household tasks by gender in Great Britain.
Write an analytical paragraph describing the chart, in not more than 100-120 words.
40
30
20
10
0
Clothes
Cooking Cleaning Gardening Care of own Maintenance washing
baking house pet care children odd jobs ironing,
washing up tidying and play sewing
Males 30 13 49.5 20 26 2
Females 74 58 21 45 9.5 25
Sample Papers 81
OR
(B) Given below is a tabular statistic showing the quality of life in five countries, assessed
under specific parameters.
Write an analytical paragraph on the given information by selecting and reporting
the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write in 100-120 words. (5 marks)
Country GNP per head Daily calorie Life Infant
(1982: US supply per expectancy at mortality
dollars) head birth (years) (per 1000 live
births)
Bangladesh 140 1877 40 132
Bolivia 570 2086 50 124
Egypt 690 2950 56 97
Indonesia 580 2296 49 87
USA 13160 3653 74 12
SECTION–C
(Literature) (40 Marks)
V. Reference to the Context
(10 marks)
1. Attempt ANY ONE of two extracts given.
(5 marks)
(A) Tenth May dawned bright and clear. For the past few days, I had been pleasantly
besieged by dignitaries and world leaders who were coming to pay their respects before
the inauguration.
The inauguration would be the largest gathering ever of international leaders on South
African soil. The ceremonies took place in the lovely sandstone amphitheater formed by
the Union Buildings in Pretoria. For decades this had been the seat of white supremacy,
and now it was the site of a rainbow gathering of different colors and nations for the
installation of South Africa’s first democratic, non-racial government.
(Nelson Mandela)
(i) “For decades, this had been the seat of white supremacy”. Here, white supremacy
refers to:
(a) control from white house.
(ii) “The inauguration would be the largest gathering”… inauguration literary means
ceremony?
extract.
(a) The fortress was never captured by the enemy while besieged.
(v) ‘The site of a rainbow gathering of different colours and nations’. The word ‘rainbow’
refers to:
1. People from different origin
(a) Only 1
(b) 1 and 2
(c) 1, 2, and 3
(d) Only 4
OR
(B) There was no answer, the radio was dead too. I had no radio, no compass, and I could
not see where I was, I was lost in the storm. Then, in the black clouds quite near me, I
saw another aeroplane. It had no lights on its wings, but I could see it flying next to me
through the storm. I could see the pilot’s face–turned towards me. I was very glad to see
another person. He lifted one hand and waved. (Black Aeroplane)
(i) The narrator expected an answer from:
(A) storm
(B) radio
(ii) ‘The black clouds quite near me’. Were the black clouds his hallucination? State your
(iv) Complete the analogy with the help of the given extract:
Sample Papers 83
(i) While walking, how does a leopard’s hide appear to be?
(a) Peppered
(b) Struck with spots
(v) The poet wants to introduce the readers with the _______________ of wild animals.
OR
(B)
Belinda giggled till she shook the house,
And Blink said Weeck! which is giggling for a mouse,
Ink and Mustard rudely asked his age,
When Custard cried for a nice safe cage.
Suddenly, suddenly they heard a nasty sound,
And Mustard growled, and they all looked around.
(i) What can you infer from the repetition of ‘suddenly, suddenly’ in the above stanza?
(ii) A cage means captivity. Why is Custard inclined to remain in a cage despite what it
symbolises?
This is so because he viewed it as a:
(A) sanctuary
(B) guardhouse
(C) cubicle
(D) refuge
(E) booth
(iii) Why has the poet used the word ‘weeck’ to signify the giggling of the mouse?
(iv) Pick the option with the correct matches for columns A and B.
A B
Word Meaning
1. chuckle A. to smile in a half-suppressed mocking way
VI. Answer ANY FOUR of the following in about 40-50 words each.
(4×3=12)
(i) Chubukov says of Natalya: “… as if she won’t consent! She’s in love; egad, she’s like
a lovesick cat…” Would you agree? Find reasons for your answer. (The Proposal)
(ii) Why does the poet say that ‘Money is external’?
(The Ball Poem)
(iii) How is the fog like a cat? What three things does the poem suggest?
(Fog)
(iv) Why did Maxwell call the airhostess “the very queen of her kind”? (Mijbil the Otter)
(v) ‘Paper has more patience than people.’ Do you agree/disagree? Give reason.
anxiety and the threat of livelihood. Suggest some philosophical tools which Buddha
must have preached him to handle the same. (The Sermon at Benares)
OR
(ii) “Not enough can be said to show how important a baker can be for a village”. How
were the services of the baker required on various occasions? (Glimpses of India)
IX. Answer ANY ONE of the following in about 100-120 words.
(1×6=6)
(i) Our sins never go unpunished. Horace Danby ultimately had to go to prison. This
shows that in spite of planning a crime intelligently and carefully, a criminal can’t
escape the law. Explain.
OR
(ii) Bholi and Matilda, both are distinct characters, wherein one gave importance to
self-instinct and the other gave importance to her beauty. Assume they both meet
each other at Bholi’s wedding and had a conversation over the greed of Bishamber.
Write this conversation as per your understanding of ‘Bholi’ and ‘The Necklace’.
You may begin like this:
Matilda : Are you fine now?
Bholi : Ya! much relieved.
zzz
Sample Papers 85
SECTION–A: Reading Skills (20 Marks)
I. (i)
(d) one cannot stop breathing even if the air is polluted.
(ii) air pollutants even in very low concentration are harmful.
(iii) (a) dust mites
(iv) passive smoking
(v) allergens on their fur stick to upholstery and carpets
(vi) (a) thrive in damp conditions
(vii) (b) because of incomplete combustion
(viii) (d) asbestos sheet
(ix) hazardous/toxic
(x) ubiquitous
II. (i)
timeline
(ii) (a) can cause more harm than good.
(iii) (d) the advantages and disadvantages of being on Facebook
(iv) that their Facebook activity could affect their real life
(v) reveal
(vi) (a) exported
(vii) (a) People love being poked and liked on Facebook.
(viii) quitting Facebook, as it could affect their real life.
(ix) (d) Facebook activity does not affect real life.
(x) (a) At that moment, his words ____________ sounded to me.
New town
20 August, 20XX
The Chairman
Municipal Corporation
Agra
Sir
Through the columns of your esteemed newspaper, I would like to draw the
attention of the concerned authorities towards the dilapidated condition of several
historical monuments.
The monuments in India are slowly being eroded away and they are in a pathetic
state as they have turned hideous. Recently, we visited the monuments and had a
horrible experience. Some of them have lost their shine, some have blackened, some
left ruined in acid rain. We have thousands of big and small monuments spread across
the length and breadth of the country. But I don’t find anybody who cares for it.
Therefore, the concerned authority is being requested to kindly pay heed to the issue
mentioned above and take immediate measure conducting awareness camp or so.
Yours sincerely
Anuj Tiwari
OR
(B) 36 D, Ring Road
ITO
New Delhi
20 July, 20XX
The Director
Set Fire Dance Academy
MG Road
New Delhi
Subject: Enquiry regarding course in choreography
Sir
This is with reference to your advertisement regarding the courses in choreography
offered by your reputable institute. I want to state that I am currently in class X and
preparing for my final examinations.
I am very much interested in dancing and want to take it as a career. I’m also given
to understand that this institute is by far the best as far as choreography is concerned
and I would very much like to be a part of it.
Kindly send me the prospectus and the application form. I would be highly grateful
if you could provide me with the following information:
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• the course structures
• scholarships, if any
• admission procedure
• eligibility criteria
• hostel facilities
• nearest metro station
Kindly send me the brochure along with the enrollment form for further formalities.
Sincerely yours
Anshul Gupta
2. (A) The chart provides information about the division of household tasks by gender
in Great Britain and the number of minutes per day spent by both males as well
as females in doing various tasks. On an average, women spend approximately
four hours doing the household tasks, whereas men spend less than two and half
hours for the same. The tasks on which women spend more time than men include
cooking, cleaning the house, taking care of the children and laundry. In doing all
these tasks, women spend approximately 200 minutes which is almost three times
the time spent by men in accomplishing these tasks. On the other hand, men spend
twice the time than women in doing tasks like gardening and maintenance of odd
jobs in the house. Men spend majority of their time, almost 50 minutes, in gardening
and pet care, whereas women spend only 30 minutes for these tasks. The time spent
by men in washing, ironing and sewing clothes is as low as 2 minutes per day as
opposed to 25 minutes spent by women. In a nutshell, women spend far more time
when it comes to doing household chores than men who prefer to do gardening, pet
care and maintenance of odd jobs.
OR
(B) The table uses four economic indicators to show the standard of living in five selected
countries in 1982. Overall, it can be seen that the quality of life in the USA is far
higher than the other four countries. The USA, which is a developed country, had
the highest GNP at 13,160 dollars per head. It also has a much higher daily calorie
of 3653 calories, and life expectancy of 74, and the lowest rate of infant mortality
at just 12 of 1000 children born. In contrast, Bangladesh scores the least in all the 4
parameters, with GNP at 140, calorie intake as low as 1877, a life expectancy of 40
and an infant mortality of 132 deaths per 1000 children born. The other countries
Bolivia, Egypt and Indonesia, have GNP’s of 570.690 and 580, calorie intake at the
rates of 2086, 2950 and 2296, and their life expectancy at birth stands 50, 56 and
49. While Indonesia and Egypt report an infant mortality of 87 and 97 per 1000
children, Bolivia, is closer to Bangladesh in this particular indicator, reporting an
infant mortality of around 124 per 1000 children born. In conclusion, the statistic
shows the extreme situations in the quality of life in developed, underdeveloped
and developing countries.
(ii) It was the installation of first democratic, non-racial government in the history
of democracy.
OR
(B) (i) (d) Only (B)
(ii) Yes
(iv) no lights
(iii) leapt
(v) attributes
OR
(B) (i) It focuses on the hasty attack and the loud noise.
VI. (i) Yes, Natalya is in love. This is clear by the way she behaves when she gets to know
that Lomov came to propose to her. She starts weeping and asks her father to call
Lomov so that she could confess and express her love for him.
(ii) Money is external because money can only buy all worldly or materialistic things.
The poet wants to say that it cannot buy emotions, attachment, love, childhood, etc.
Once these things are lost, they are lost forever and they never come back.
(iii) The fog comes slowly and silently like a cat. It sits on its haunches for some time
looking around and then moves away as it came. Similarly, the fog spreads over the
harbour and city for some time. Finally, it moves away like a cat.
(iv) Maxwell calls the airhostess ‘the very queen of her kind’ because she was very
sympathetic after listening to Maxwell’s story. She understood how he might be feeling
and then gave him permission to take the otter out of the box to keep on his knees.
(v) Yes, according to me, Anne is right to perceive so. Paper is more patient than
persons because the diary is a silent recorder of Anne’s thoughts, non-judgmental
and patience. It cannot react to what or how she thinks.
VII. (i) Ebright was inclined towards collecting butterflies, rocks, fossils and coins. He began
as early as when he was in kindergarten. His mother of course was a driving force
and remained his sole reason for his success.
(ii) Noodle avoided offending Think-Tank, but at the same time he corrected his
mistakes. Whenever he had to say something contrary to what Think-Tank said,
he would present his thoughts by referring to them as being of no particular
importance.
(iii) No, I don’t think Hari Singh was ever grateful to Anil. Rather, he lost no chance to
dupe him and ditch him of his trust and money, and run away from there.
Sample Papers 89
VIII. (i) Humans today aren’t chased by predators, we are chased by uncertainty about the
health of our loved ones, whether we’ll have a job next week or next year, whether
our company will go bankrupt — worries that provoke the same neurological and
physical responses. Stress is a response to a threat in a situation. Anxiety is a reaction
to the stress. Buddha must have preached renunciation. Our basic decency and
sense of humour lies in what we do and how we do. According to Buddha, the basic
view is that people are fundamentally good and healthy. It’s as if everyone who
has ever been born has the same birth right, which is enormous potential of warm
heart and clear mind. The ground of renunciation is realising that we already have
exactly what we need, that what we have already is good. Every moment of time has
enormous energy in it, and we could connect with that.
OR
(ii) Bakers were considered as indispensable and extremely important on any
celebrations there in Goa. They had a unique place among the people. They were
known as ‘Paders’ in Goa. They had a peculiar dress earlier known as the Kabai.
Breads and cakes were an integral part of everyday life in Goa and were also
consumed on special occasions. Thus, the baker was a man whose arrival was always
eagerly anticipated by the adults and children. Bakers were very informal with the
children They were considered as friends and companions, and treated as a family
member.
IX. (i) The passion of Horace Danby was collecting rare and expensive books. To satisfy
this passion, he needed money and arranged it by robbing one safe every year and
then secretly bought the books through an agent. Though he was an honourable
person but not an honest one indeed. He loved collecting rare and expensive books,
he robbed a safe every year to finance the purchase of these books through an
agent. Thus, he was not completely honest. By stealing other people’s valuables, he
may have become successful but he is actually a criminal. It cannot be justified that
a person steals things and readers reflect their soft corner for his wrong doings.
He may be efficient in conducting his crimes so that he is successful, but we still
cannot appreciate his work. Ultimately, we need to think of the person who has been
robbed. Who would show their empathy to him?
OR
(ii) Matilda : Are you fine now?
Bholi : Ya! much relieved. What about you, Matilda? I heard about your woes
and miseries that you had to undergo. My heart wrenched with pain.
Matilda : No, you should not. Actually, I am to confess that in this singular life one
should be contented with whatever he/she has. One should not cut his
coat beyond his cloth. But in my case, I always kept grudging against my
destiny and had never been thankful to the Almighty that at least I was
better than many.
Bholi : Yes, it can be reflected that way too. You really had to bear what you
actually didn’t deserve. I am feeling so blessed that I am now able to
raise my opinion and find my own identity. I wanted you to be feeling
proud of yourself since are my friend.
zzz
SECTION–A
(Reading Skills) (20 Marks)
I. Read the passage given below:
(10 marks)
(1) Yuri Gagarin was the first man to travel into space. The Russian scientists were ready to
send up a man into space, and they chose Major Yuri Gagarin to be the first pilot.
(2) He had to go through a long and difficult period of training, since he would have to
carry out many scientific experiments during his journey, and had also to know as much
as possible about the rocket in which he was to fly. He would be taking great risks, for
it was impossible to tell just what the effects of travelling in space would be. If anything
went wrong with the rocket, Gagarin would be certain to lose his life. However, Gagarin
was ready for any risk, and quickly learned all that he needed to know. On April 12th,
1961, his spaceship, the Vostok, was ready, and the great adventure began.
(3) Flying a spaceship is not the same as flying an ordinary aircraft. Instead of sitting at the
controls, the pilot lies flat upon a couch; and the take-off is mainly automatic, though the
pilot must always be ready in case anything goes wrong. Fortunately, all went well; the
Vostok was launched by its powerful motors, and before long it was more than 100 miles
up, travelling at a speed of 5 miles a second or 18,000 mph-faster than any man had
travelled before. Gagarin did not feel any sensation of speed, but he could look through
the porthole of his pressurized cabin and see the Earth far below, looking like a vast
globe instead of a flat plain. He could make out coastlines, rivers, forests, and clouds; he
passed over Siberia, then on to South America, and then over Africa.
(4) Gagarin was busy all the time making scientific measurements. Also, as the Vostok
was equipped with radio, he was able to give the scientists on the ground a running
commentary on everything he saw before long the spaceship passed into the earth’s
shadow. When it came out of the shadow again, the horizon glowed a brilliant orange
colour. In space, the sky looked black even when in the sunlight, as Gagarin had expected
it to look. It is only from the Earth that the sky looks blue; it is not really blue.
(5) When Gagarin had been in space for rather over an hour, he had nearly completed a
journey right round the Earth, and it was time to prepare for the landing. This was
perhaps the most dangerous part of the whole trip. If he came into the air too quickly,
his ship would rub against the air particles, and the friction would make the ship so hot
that it would burn up. The speed of the Vostok had to be checked gradually. Again,
all went well. The outer hull of the ship did become hot, but not too hot. The Vostok
steadily dropped closer and closer to the ground until, when not far from the ground,
Gagarin’s cabin was separated from the rest of the rocket; a huge parachute opened, and
Sample Papers 91
the cabin, with Gagarin in it, floated gently down to a safe landing. Two women working
in the fields saw him, and came running up. As they drew near, Gagarin opened the door
of his cabin and climbed through, his journey over. He had been up for 108 minutes,
during which time he had flown right round the world.
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below.
(1×10=10)
(i) How did Gagarin prepare for the space flight?
(ii) What is the biggest difference between flying a spaceship and flying an aircraft?
(iii) What all did Gagarin experience while sitting in the spaceship Vostok?
Landing was perhaps the most dangerous part of the whole journey as
________________.
(vi) Based on your reading of the text, list two reasons why the writer says that “Gagarin
(vii) Which word shows the movement of Vostok as it started to land (para 5)?
(viii) Which word is the opposite of the word ‘sunk’ as used in para 5?
people from the other cities in India head to one of these sanctuaries to wash away all
the hardships of an ultra-modern life.
the country which is located at an altitude of 4,780 ft. in the Kurung Kumey district of
Arunachal Pradesh. The village is known for its brilliant natural beauty and the Menga
caves which are dedicated to Lord Shiva.
(3) Located about 27 km from Keylong in Himachal Pradesh, the village of Shansha has a
population of 320 people in 72 houses. The hamlet is located close to the Tandi Kishtwar
road which is generally a pit stop for those adventure-seeking individuals who ride
through this dangerous route. The hamlet of Shansha is home to a greenhouse which is
located at a height of 10,000 ft. and provides aid to the locals living and working in this
highly challenging terrain.
(4) One might think the entire state of Goa is filled with a bunch of beaches and shacks, but
there is another side of the tiny state which is known for its isolated villages. Xelpem,
also known as Shelpem, is an example of one such place which is located on the banks of
Salaulim river and has a population of just 255.
(5) The village of Sankri in Uttarakhand is the base camp of many treks and is well
known for being the last village which has a market on the way to the Harki Dun Trek,
Kedarkantha. The hamlet has just 77 homes out of which, three are small guest houses
and has a population of about 270 people. Most families welcome the trekkers to stay at
their homes as well.
(6) One amongst the most scenic and hidden gems of Nagaland is the village of Nitoi. The
village has a population of about 402 people and boasts of an 80% literacy rate even in
its small population. The small hamlet can be reached from Kiphire which is an 8-hour
drive from Kohima.
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below.
(1×10=10)
(i) The purpose of this passage is to provide awareness regarding the _____________.
(ii) Select the option that is true for the two statements given below.
(c) The hamlet has just 77 homes with a population of about 270 people.
(d) People from Sankri village keep their doors open for guests.
(iv) According to the passage, the greenhouse in Shansha is essential for the people
because ________________.
Sample Papers 93
(v) Select the option listing what the given sentence refers to. “The village has a
population of about 402 people and boasts of an 80% literacy rate even in its small
population”.
(5) The village boasts high literacy rate even in its small population.
(vi) The Menga Caves from the village of Ha in Arunachal Pradesh are dedicated to
which deity?
(vii) This passage lists an example of the tiny villages in India where people
______________.
(viii) Choose the correct option to answer the following. According to paragraph 4, “One
might think the entire state of Goa is filled with a bunch of beaches and shacks”. This
is so because:
(c) Not much is known about the beaches and shacks of Goa.
SECTION–B
(Grammar) (10 Marks)
III. 1. Attempt ANY TEN of the following questions.
(i) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option to complete an online update.
Forests remove carbon from the atmosphere ______________ that is roughly 13% of
our total emission.
(a) at a rate
(b) on a rate
(ii) Read the conversation between a doctor and his patient. Complete the sentence by
When life is uncertain, our usual responses and coping strategies ______________
not always work.
(a) may
(b) might
(c) can
(d) could
(iv) Select the option that identifies the error and supplies the correction for the
(c) is looking
(d) has been looking
(vi) Fill in the blank by using the correct form of the word in the bracket, for the given
portion of a letter:
Subject: Appeal for Assam Flood Relief
Respected Sir/Madam,
In the last month, India has witnessed one of the worst manifestations of nature’s
wrath-floods in Assam, which ______________ (wash) away thousands of pilgrims,
resulting in a massive loss of life and property, and leaving millions impoverished
and homeless.
(vii) Report the dialogue between Vivek and Neerja by completing the sentence:
In response to the idea of Vivek about homemakers, Neerja said that ____________.
(viii) Identify the error in the given sentence, from a school magazine report and supply
the correction.
A group of students were invited to come on stage and play a drama scene. The
drama they presented was funny and interesting.
Use the given format for your response.
error correction
Sample Papers 95
(ix) Binny shared some information, with Pansy, about her visit to a War Memorial.
(x) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option, to complete the slogan by the
______________ you don’t vote for your nation; it goes in the favour of an undeserving
person. Time to step up!!
(a) Will
(b) If
(c) Need
(d) Can
(xi) Read the conversation given below and complete the paragraph that follows:
Jhumru : It makes the rubber last longer and prevents it from drying.
Jhumru : Yes, exactly. Now I see you are beginning to get the point.
Martha asked her husband ______________. Jhumru explained that it made the
rubber last longer and prevented that from dying.
(a) why he was spraying wax on his car tyres.
(xii) Identify the error on a newspaper headline and supply the correction, for the
following
Dispersing through thinning forests, tigers came into conflict with humans.
SECTION–B
(Creative Writing Skills) (10 Marks)
IV. 1. Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below.
(5)
(A) Your state government has banned the use of plastic bags. You are highly moved by
the violence of the rule in the weekly markets. You are Amarjeet, a resident of Wave
City Ghaziabad.
Write a letter to the Editor of The Tribune, in not more than 120 words, drawing
attention towards harm caused by law offence and also aware people about the need
of the hour.
OR
(B) You recently came across an advertisement by A New Dimension, Mehrauli, which
offers various bridge courses in Creative Writing for students of Class X. You are
Prakash/Pratishtha of B 905, Goenka Building, Mansarover Park, New Delhi,
interested in pursuing a course during your summer break. Write a letter enquiring
about the course details. (100-120 words)
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
OR
(B) Analyse the picture in your own words in 120 – 150 words.
Rising pollution- a serious cause of concern
SECTION–C
(Literature) (40 Marks)
V. Reference to the Context
(10 marks)
1. Attempt ANY ONE of two extracts given.
(5 marks)
(A) He stepped slowly out to the brink of the ledge and standing on one leg with the other
leg hidden under his wing, he closed one eye, then the other, and pretended to be falling
asleep. Still, they took no notice of him. He saw his two brothers and his sister lying on
the plateau dozing with their heads sunk into their necks. His father was preening the
feathers on his white back.
Only his mother was looking at him. She was standing on a little high hump on the
plateau, her white breast thrust forward.
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Now and again, she tore at a piece of fish that lay at her feet and then scrapped each side
of her beak on the rock. (First Flight)
(i) What did the young seagull do out of his ledge?
(iii) Find out the word from the passage which mean the same as ‘to sharpen’.
(a) The court must have pretended innocence until there is proof of guilt.
(b) I pretended he was coming, so I was surprised when he didn’t show up.
OR
(B) At twelve, he was sent away for schooling in the Hindu sacred scriptures and four years
later he returned home to marry a princess. They had a son and lived for ten years
befitting royalty. At about the age of twenty-five, the prince heretofore shielded from
sufferings of the world, while out hunting chanced upon a sick man, then an aged than
a funeral procession, and finally a monk begging for alms. These sights so moved him
that he at once became a beggar and went out into the world to seek enlightenment
concerning the sorrows he had witnessed. (The Sermon of Benares)
(i) Select the option that correctly captures the usage of the word ‘befitting’ of the
extract.
(ii) Complete the analogy by selecting the suitable word from the text.
In order to:
(a) realise what he witnessed.
(iv) According to the extract, what does begging for alms mean?
(v) Hunting showed a true picture of life. Identify from the text how this could happen?
The poet has tried to create an image of tiger’s activities through the expression
____________ .
(ii) The poet has used enjambment in the given lines to narrate about the style of Tiger
in / among _______________.
(a) visitors
(b) zoo
(c) woods
(d) water bodies
The extract suggests the poet wants to say that the actual life of a tiger is to live
around deer.
(iv) Complete the analogy on the basis of your understanding about the text.
(b) aid in camouflaging the presence of the predator, before it rushes in.
(c) help the predator pounce on the prey comfortably without getting tired.
OR
stop you.
(4) You get in life what you have the courage to ask for.
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(5) Fear has a large shadow, but he himself is strong.
(a) (1) and (5)
(b) (2), (3) and (4)
(ii) What is the poet’s purpose of using the onomatopoeic words given in the stanza?
(iii) Pick the option that best fits the usage of the word ‘trickled’ as used in the stanza.
here?
VI. Answer ANY FOUR of the following in about 40-50 words each.
(4×3=12)
(i) The poet in the poem ‘For Anne Gregory’ conveys that we should give importance
to the inner beauty and not to the physical appearance. Explain with reference to
the poem.
VII. Answer ANY TWO of the following in about 40-50 words each.
(2×3=6)
(i) What changes came into the life of Loisels after the necklace was lost?
(The Necklace)
(ii) Scientists contribute to make the world a better place. Griffin is an antithesis to this
Assume they both meet each other in the town and have a conversation about their
passion and curiosity.
OR
(ii) “Mandela mentions that every man has twin obligations. The first is to his family,
parents, wife and children; the second obligation is to his people, his community
and his country.”
How is the first obligation well performed by mother seagull in the story ‘The First
Flight’.
wishes. What values would you like such people to imbibe to reform themselves?
OR
(ii) With reference to ‘The Midnight Visitor’, do you think presence of mind should
Ghaziabad
21 October, 20XX
The Editor
The Tribune
Ghaziabad
Sir
Through the columns of your esteemed daily, I would like to draw your attention
towards the violence erupted across the state post ban on single plastic use.
Dozens of supermarket staff in Ghaziabad have been attacked by customers after
single-use plastic bags were banned in supermarkets. One shopper even put his
hands around a worker’s throat. Some customers threw their shopping on the floor,
shouting abuse at staff, and one man even put his hands around a shop assistant’s
throat when he found out that he would not be getting free bags. Other shoppers
vented their anger by shouting slogans and burning effigies.
It was really heart-wrenching to see all that.
But I don’t want to hurt the sentiment of those who protested and would like to
make a humble request that damaging government’s property is actually damaging
our property. This country belongs to us and we need to respect and safeguard
the assets provided to us by the government. But I don’t find any reason to shout
slogans and hurl abuses. Everyone should know that plastics give rise to toxic and
dangerous fumes and gases, which can potentially cause cancer in humans. It is
hazardous to animals as well. So before creating any furore, introspect and react.
Hope you raise my opinion in your esteemed newspaper.
Sincerely yours
Amarjeet Singh
OR
(B) B-905, Goenka Building
Mansarovar Park
New Delhi
23 June, 20XX
Sir
Sincerely yours
Pratishtha Mehra
2. (A) The advent of coaching has transformed the education industry by creating a
lose their lives every year due to airborne diseases. Inhaling polluted air increases
the risk of respiratory and heart diseases, thereby lowering the life expectancy by
3.3 to 6.3 years. As urban air quality declines, the risk of stroke, heart disease, lung
cancer, and chronic and acute respiratory diseases, including asthma, increases for
the people who live in them. As shown in the image, factories, small scale industries,
and public and private transports, and their fuels continue to be an important
contributor to air pollution. The risks to public health and the environment from
climate change are substantial and far-reaching. It has risen dramatically in past
years affecting air pollution to cause the greenhouse effect and health problems,
land pollution which causes harm to our environment, and water pollution which
impairs water ecosystems. These obstacles cause harm and distress to plants, animals
and humans.
(iii) scrapped
(iv) staring
(v) (b) I pretended he was coming, so I was surprised when he didn’t show up.
OR
(B) (i) (c) He couldn’t come befitting as he was sick.
(ii) hunting
(v) He learnt the difference between life and death, happiness and woes.
(iii) False
(iv) jungle
(v) (b) aid in camouflaging the presence of the predator, before it rushes in.
OR
(B) (i) (c) (2) and (3)
(iii) (b) Students trickled into the classroom as the teacher entered.
(iv) petrified
(v) Just like the robin catches the worm, Custard attacked the pirate without delay.
VI. (i) Yes, it emphasises that the physical appearance is changeable and hence, it should
(ii) All night the roots work to free themselves and leaves transport food to the roots
in place of its exertion. They strive hard to seek liberty and freedom. They do it
ceaselessly.
(iii) Yes, bread making is still popular in Goa. This is clear from the statement when the
narrator states that the eaters have gone away leaving the makers behind. There are
mixers, moulders, and the ones who bake the loaves. The time-tested furnaces still
exist there.
(iv) The dust of snow represents natural joy and energy. The dust of snow that the crow
shakes off a hemlock tree means passing through the sad phase of his life. He feels
restored and revived rising his spirit from gloom to life.
(v) Natalya regrets fighting with Lomov and requests her father to alter his perspective
about Lomov when she comes to know that Lomov had come to propose her. She
wails, changes her outlook, and asks her father to fetch Lomov.
had to shift to a cheaper and smaller apartment. She did all the household works
and shipping by herself. She fetched water, washed the floor, utensils, dirty clothes
by herself.
(ii) Griffin as a scientist, degenerated himself into a lawless person. He discovered that
the human body could become transparent and invisible. But he misused his great
discovery. He did not use the power of invisibility for the welfare of society and
humanity at large. He misused it to trouble innocent people.
(iii) An old book of rhymes ‘Mother Goose’ was able to avert the disaster and it saved the
Earth from Martian invasion. Martians could not decode the little lines, squabbles
and dots along the pictures in the book. When they saw the picture of Humpty
Dumpty, it resembled with that of Think-Tank. The rhyme ‘Humpty-Dumpty had a
great fall’ made Think-Tank scream and he prepared to run away.
Anne : Did you inform your parents about your so-called adventure?
Valli : No, not of course. I perceive I wouldn’t have been allowed to explore the
I have come with my siblings. They are all there in the supermarket. And to
your surprise, I have informed my uncle what we are doing and where we
are off to. So, there is nothing to get inhibited.
OR
(ii) Yes, the mother seagull aroused his interest and flew towards him with a piece of
fish in her beak. The young seagull dived at the fish due to hunger. Within a few
moments, he felt his wings spread outwards. Thus, he started flying for the first time
provided that he pretended to be standing on the brink of the ledge with his eyes
closed, on one leg with other leg hidden under his wing. She reached close to him
and halted just in front of him. The sight of food made him mad. He dived to catch
the food and fell down. In the way, he struggled and learnt to fly. This was the first
obligation the mother seagull had done to her child which was well performed.
IX. (i) Horace Danby was a successful businessman. He was a respectable citizen, but had
a habit that led him to do robberies. Danby loved rare, expensive books and to get
them, he used to rob a safe every year. Every year, he planned carefully just to get
what he wanted. Danby adopted wrong ways to fulfil his wishes and hence, later got
observed, apart from the pointed gun, he didn’t look very menacing. Even this
proved useless for him as Ausable outwitted him with his presence of mind and
intelligence. Ausable cleverly found out how Max had entered the room and created
an extremely believable story about a non-existent balcony. He kept calm, and
hearing the waiter knock, declared it to be the police. Max, in an attempt to hide,
fell to his death. Thus, Ausable got rid of Max without moving a muscle.
zzz
SECTION–A
(Reading Skills) (20 Marks)
I. Read the passage given below: (10 marks)
(1) Parenthood has become much more demanding than it used to be. Over just a couple
of generations, parents have greatly increased the amount of time, attention and money
they put into raising children. Too many parents these days can’t say no. As a result, they
find themselves raising ‘children’ who respond greedily to the advertisements aimed
right at them. Even getting what they want doesn’t satisfy some kids; they only want
more. Now, a growing number of psychologists, educators and parents think it’s time
to stop the madness and start teaching kids about what’s really important: values like
hard work, contentment, honesty and compassion. The struggle to set limits has never
been tougher—and the stakes have never been higher. One recent study of adults who
were overindulged as children, paints a discouraging picture of their future: when given
too much too soon, they grow up to be adults who have difficulty coping with life’s
disappointments. They also have a distorted sense of entitlement that gets in the way of
success in the workplace and in relationships.
(2) Psychologists say that parents who overindulge their kids, set them up to be more
vulnerable to future anxiety and depression. Today’s parents themselves, raised on
values of thrift and self-sacrifice, grew up in a culture where ‘no’ was a household word.
Today’s kids want much more, partly because there is so much more to want. The oldest
members of this generation were born in the late 1980s, just as PCs and video games
were making their assault on the family room. They think of MP3 players and flat screen
TV as essential utilities, and they have developed strategies to get them. One survey
of teenagers found that when they crave for something new, most expect to ask nine
times before their parents give in. By every measure, parents are shelling out record
amounts. In the heat of this buying blitz, even parents who desperately need to say no
find themselves reaching for their credit cards.
(3) Today’s parents aren’t equipped to deal with the problem. Many of them, raised in
the 1960s and 70s, swore they’d act differently from their parents and have closer
relationships with their own children. Many even wear the same designer clothes as
their kids and listen to the same music. And they work more hours; at the end of a
long week, it’s tempting to buy peace with ‘yes’ and not mar precious family time with
conflict. Anxiety about the future is another factor. How do well intentioned parents say
no to all the sports gear and arts and language lessons they believe will help their kids
thrive in an increasingly competitive world? Experts agree: too much love won’t spoil a
child. Too few limits will.
(1×10=10)
(i) To become a successful adult, what do you think is the least essential?
(ii) Children need limits on their behaviour when they live within a secured structure.
(iv) “PCs and video games were making their assault on the family room”. This implies
that _____________.
(v) Give a synonym for inaccurate from the first para.
(vi) Some parents don’t want their kids to do household work because they think that
(ix) The psychologists, educators and parents DO NOT want to teach children:
(a) treachery
(b) discipline
(x) Some people born in the 1960s and 70s are different from their parents in dealing
rooms and debate the quality of leadership this country has, we will achieve nothing.
We have to play an active role in creating a new type of leadership because it is we, the
people, who own the nation.
(4) We can achieve this kind of leadership firstly by educating the youth of the country
which is of supreme importance. Secondly, parents need to teach their children the
importance of obeying laws. Children need to learn and be encouraged to express their
talents and skills, and consider themselves as the real strength of their nation. We need
to encourage new ideas and creativity.
(5) Whether you start a small business, write an article, teach a child, shop at local stores,
not pollute your environment, participate in cleanliness drives, create a work of art,
volunteer for some social cause or another similar effort, you are performing your duty
as a citizen. You are contributing to the consciousness of the community development,
and this will begin the process of change. Considering that most young people spend
most of their time at school or at work, it is also important for teachers and employers to
inculcate a sense of duty in the hearts and minds of young people.
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below.
(1×10=10)
(i) Identify the correct order of the information as appeared in the passage given
above.
1. We need to encourage new ideas and creativity.
2. The citizens have to play a larger role and fulfil their duties towards the nation.
3. The government is only the guardian of the nation and is ready to serve the
(ii) What should the teachers and employers inculcate in the minds of young people?
(iii) Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE, according to the passage?
(d) Parents need to teach their children the importance of obeying laws.
(iv) What should be the role of children in achieving new type of leadership?
(a) Children need to learn and be encouraged to express their talents and skills.
(b) Children need to consider themselves as the real strength of their nation.
(d) To inculcate a sense of duty in the hearts and minds of young people
(vi) Select the option that displays what the writer projects, with reference to the
following:
You are contributing to the consciousness of the community development, and this
will begin the process of change. (Paragraph 5)
(vii) Complete the following with a phrase from paragraph 1.
Opinion Reason
The government is only the guardian of the nation and is ready to serve the people
of the country. (Paragraph 2)
(ix) Why does the author emphasise on the term ‘true democracy’?
(Paragraph 3)
(x) Select the option that displays the correct title for the passage you have read above.
SECTION–B
(GRAMMAR) (10 Marks)
III.
1. Attempt ANY TEN of the following questions.
(i) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option to complete an online update.
The service lanes ________________ able to sustain the large volume of vehicles.
(a) aren’t being
(b) aren’t been
(ii) Read the conversation between a patient and a doctor. Complete the sentence by
(c) will
(d) mustn’t
Grit can be learned to help you ____________________ more successful. One of the
techniques that helps is mindfulness.
(a) have become
(b) to become
(c) become
(d) became
(vi) Report the dialogue between a biology teacher and Sameer, by completing the
sentence:
Teacher : I instructed you to draw the diagram of bacteria. Why did you submit
a blank sheet?
Sameer : Sir, I had drawn the diagram of bacteria, but you can’t see it because it
the correction.
Falling down or failing is one of the most agonising, embarrassing, and scary human
experience.
Use the given format for your response.
error correction
(viii) Sunil shared some information, with Sudip, about gardening. Report Sudip’s
question.
Don’t you know that you should trim your roses only in the beginning of winter
when it’s not the flowering season?
(ix) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option, to complete the slogan by the
Ministry of Education.
_____________________ we allow children with mobile phones in school? Think
twice!!
(a) Will
(b) May
(c) Should
(d) Must
and a teacher.
Student : Sir, can you please ask someone to help me with the previous notes?
Teacher : I will certainly do but before that, you need to bring an application
(c) that he needs to bring an application from his parents stating the reason for his
absence.
(d) that he needed to bring an application from his parents stating the reason for
his absence.
(xi) Identify the error on a shop’s hoarding and supply the correction required:
RADHIKA STATIONARY
Buy Office Items and Office Supplies like Diaries, Notebooks, Pens, Notepads,
Calendars and more from India’s best and cheapest shop.
Use the given format for your response.
error correction
(xii) Fill in the blank by using the correct form of the word in the bracket, for the given
portion of a letter:
Subject: Request for organising a Blood Donation Camp
Dear Sir
This is to humbly submit that I ___________________ (seek) approval for organising
a Blood Donation Camp to be undertaken by the Lion’s Club, Mussoorie.
SECTION–B
(CREATIVE WRITING SKILLS) (10 Marks)
IV. 1. Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below.
(5)
(A) You are Aditya Purohit, the Head Boy of Rameswaram International School, T.K.
Nagar, Chennai. You have recently noticed several posters around your school
premises from a gymnasium conveying a hazardous message:
Make Muscles
Not Excuses !!!
Write a letter to the Editor of The Tamil Times, in not more than 120 words,
drawing attention towards harm caused by over straining and exercises. Suggest
some measures to fitness enthusiasts how going to the gym and doing physically
tough exercises, such as the ones involving heavy machinery, deadlifts and strength
training ones may injure or strain their muscle and also risk their growth spurt.
of responsibility and empathy. You were moved to see the kindness of one such
child who saved the puppies from cold wave and provided them shelter. Later, you
realised the child should be recognised for his act of kindness.
Write a letter to the Secretary of your society seeking recommendation for the child
to be nominated for ‘Khula Aasman’. You are Agatha Henfrey, a resident of # 494
A, ABS Advantage Apartments, Curzon Street, Panaji.
2.
Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below. (5 marks)
(A) The number of active Internet users has marked a significant rise. But with the
tremendous increase and growth in the Internet fame over the world, there is
always a question hanging around the corner– Is Internet a boon or a bane? Write
a paragraph, in about 100-120 words, analysing the data shown below.
DIGITAL SURGE
Number of active Compared with 2019, the active Rural users’ growth at 45% continues to
internet users who are internet userbase for 12+ has outshine urban users’ growth at 28%
aged 12 years and shown a growth of 37%
1 in every 3 female users in rural
above is 592mn
India are actively using the internet
At most 90% access the internet on a daily basis, users aged Mobile phones have remained the
50 years and above are also not left behind, with 81% key device for all internet usage
accessing it daily. across sectors
OR
(B) A feeling of belongingness, love and pride towards your nation and value it highly
while wishing for its well-being is the true meaning of patriotism. No one-line
definition can define patriotism though, but a true sense of patriotism shunning
jingoism can make us feel a proud Indian.
Write a paragraph, in about 100-120 words, analysing the given statement instilling
a sense of pride and patriotism in a child. You are free to share your own thoughts
advocating what you write.
SECTION–C
(Literature) (40 Marks)
V.
Reference to the Context (10 marks)
1.
Attempt ANY ONE of two extracts given. (5 marks)
(A) Pranjol’s father slowed down to allow a tractor, pulling a trailer-load of tea leaves, to
pass.
“This is the second-flush or sprouting period, isn’t it, Mr Barua?” Rajvir asked. “It
lasts from May to July and yields the best tea.”
“You seem to have done your homework before coming,” Pranjol’s father said in
surprise.
“Yes, Mr Barua,” Rajvir admitted. “But I hope to learn much more while I’m here.”
in the extract.
(a) This soil yields good crops.
(d) The current interest rate will give a yield of 10% on your investment.
OR
(B) Think-Tank : It can’t be worth much, but go ahead. Give us your trifling bit of
data.
Noodle : Well, sir, I have seen surveyor films of those sandwiches. I noticed
that the Earthlings did not eat them. They used them as some sort
of communication device.
Think-Tank : (haughtily) Naturally. That was my next point. These are actually
(i) Select the option that correctly captures the usage of the word ‘order’ from the last
(b) Get your ideas into some sort of order before you begin to write.
(d) The people sat on their haunches because the magistrate failed to order his
immediate arrest.
(ii) Complete the analogy by selecting the suitable word from the text.
is never wrong”.
Because:
(a) they are Think-Tank’s subordinates and he likes to be praised for his intelligence.
(c) Noodle is trying to establish a good relationship between the Martians and the
people of Earth.
(v) The playwright has placed certain words and sentences in brackets in the given
extract. List any ways these benefit both the director and actors.
(v) The poet uses the term ‘long-cramped boughs’ in order to highlight the appearance
of:
(i) the twigs
(ii) the trees
VI. Answer ANY FOUR of the following in about 40-50 words each.
(4×3=12)
(i) What was the Indian legend about the discovery of tea?
(ii) Why does the poet say, “Balls will be lost always”?
(The Ball Poem)
(iii) Kisa compared human life to an inanimate object. What is it and why does she do
(v) Mijbil caused a sensation in London. Expound with reference to the chapter “Mijbil
the Otter”.
VII. Answer ANY TWO of the following in about 40-50 words each.
(2×3=6)
(i) Exercise is equally important for the well-being along with nutritious food. Discuss.
(A Triumph of Surgery)
(ii) Max was a big moron. Comment.
(The Midnight Visitor)
(iii) How instrumental a teacher’s role is to determine his pupil’s success is evident from
‘Glimpses of India’. What will be most likely reaction of yours and how would you
initiate your discussion with him. Develop the conversation.
article for your school magazine on the topic, ‘Caste, Colour and Communalism’.
Write a paragraph, sharing two key opinions from the article.
the journey taken by Richard Ebright from losing at the science fair to winning at
the international fair.
zzz
SECTION–A
(Reading Skills) (20 Marks)
I. Read the passage given below: (10 marks)
(1) From renewable energy to food security, to jobs and safe water, nations are promoting a
more sustainable and prosperous world for everyone. Today, there is a lot of talk about
the environment. All nations are coming to an agreement to save planet earth. Like we
pollute the earth, we pollute the water; we also pollute the subtle environment through
our negative feelings and emotions. We have become a victim of our environment. We
are not in control of our mind. We hear a lot about other things in life, but we spend
very little time to hear about ourselves. How to handle our mind? How to be in present
moment? How to be happy and be grateful? This we have not learnt. This is the most
unfortunate thing. Then, what is the solution? This is where we miss a very fundamental
principle that governs our environment, our mind, our emotions and our life in general.
(2) Our body has the capacity to sustain much longer the vibrations of bliss and peace than
it does negative emotions because positivity is in the centre of our existence. Just like in
the structure of atom, protons and neutrons are in the centre of the atom and electrons
are only the periphery, same is with our lives; the centre core of our existence is bliss,
positivity and joy, but it is surrounded by a cloud of negative ions. Through the help
of the breath, we can easily get over our negative emotions in a short period of time.
Through meditation and certain breathing techniques, we can clear this negative cloud.
(3) This life has so much to offer to you. You can see this once you take some time off,
rejuvenating the soul. Your soul is hungry for a smile from you. If you could give this,
you feel energized the whole year and nothing, whatsoever, can take the smile away
from you. Everyone wants to be successful in life. But without knowing what is success,
you want to be successful. What is the sign of success? Just having a lot of money, is that
success? Why do you think money means success? Because money gives you freedom
so that you can do whatever you want. You may have a big bank balance but you have
stomach aches, ulcers, you may have to go for bypass surgery; can’t eat this, can’t do this,
can’t do that. We spend half our health to gain wealth and spend half our wealth to gain
back the health. Is this success? It is very bad mathematics.
(4) Look at those who claim to be successful–are they successful? No, they are miserable.
Then, what is the sign of success? It is confidence, compassion, generosity and a smile
that none can snatch away, being really happy and being able to be freer. These are
the signs of a successful person. Smiling is a sign of joy, happiness and contentment.
People are attracted to and enjoy hanging around people who regularly smile because
Happiness, confidence, and friendliness don’t have an age limit. They can all improve
your quality of life regardless of whatever age you are.
(5) Smiling is a sign of joy, happiness and contentment. People are attracted to and enjoy
hanging around people who regularly smile because these smiling people are seen as
happier and more friendly than those who don’t smile. Happiness, confidence, and
friendliness don’t have an age limit. They can all improve your quality of life regardless
of whatever age you are.
(6) Take some time off to look a little deeper into yourself and calm the mind down. Thus,
erasing all the impressions that we are carrying in our minds and experience the
presence, the divine that is the very core of our existence. This is feeling the presence.
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below.
(1×10=10)
(i) Why does the writer say that nations are coming to an agreement? (Paragraph 1)
(ii) Select the option that corresponds to the following relation below:
(iii) Select the option that displays what the writer projects, with reference to the
following:
Structure of atom, protons and neutrons are in the centre of the atom.
(Paragraph 2)
(a) Hurry
(b) Emotions
(c) Positivity
(d) Happiness
(vi) Based on your reading of the text, why does the writer say that, “It is very bad
mathematics?” (Paragraph 3)
(vii) What difference does the writer draw out between successful people and unsuccessful
people? (Paragraph 4)
(viii) The writer says, “If you could give this, you feel energised the whole year.”
(Paragraph 3)
Select what does the writer want to give.
(a) Money
(b) Charity
(c) Vacation
(d) Smile
(1) The UN’s 2017 International Year tells that sustainable tourism is an important
tool for development, most importantly in poor communities and countries. Today,
sustainability – environmental, social, and economic – is increasingly recognised as the
benchmark for all tourism business. As noted by the UN World Tourism Organisation,
57% of international tourist arrivals will be in emerging economies, by 2030. The various
‘Tourism Terms’ are defined as follows:
Category Definition
Ecotourism Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the
environment, socially and economically sustains the well-being of
local people, and creates knowledge and understanding through
interpretation and education of all involved (including staff,
travellers, and community residents).
Ethical Tourism Tourism in a destination where ethical issues are the key driver,
e.g., social injustice, human rights, animal welfare, or the
environment.
Geotourism Tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of
a place–its environment, heritage, aesthetics, culture and well-
being of its residents.
Pro-Poor Tourism Tourism that results in increased net benefit for the poor people
in a destination.
Responsible Tourism that maximizes the benefits to local communities,
Tourism minimizes negative social or environmental impacts, and helps
local people conserve fragile cultures and habits or species.
Sustainable Tourism that leads to the management of all resources in such
Tourism a way that economic, social, and aesthetic needs can be fulfilled
while maintaining cultural integrity, essential ecological processes,
biological diversity, and life-support systems.
(2) Based on data collected by a survey by Travel Bureau, the following market profile of an
ecotourist was constructed:
Age: 35 - 54 years old, although age varied with activity and other factors such as cost.
Gender: 50% female and 50% male, although clear differences based on activity were
found.
Education: 82% were college graduates, a shift in interest in ecotourism from those who
have high levels of education to those with less education was also found, indicating an
expansion into mainstream markets.
Household composition: No major differences were found between general tourists
and experienced ecotourists.
Party composition: A majority (60%) of experienced ecotourism respondents stated
they prefer to travel as a couple, with only 15% stating they preferred to travel with
their families, and 13% preferring to travel alone. (experienced ecotourists = Tourists
that had been on at least one “ecotourism” oriented trip.)
Trip duration: The largest group of experienced ecotourists (50%) preferred trips
lasting 8-14 days.
(1×10=10)
(i) In the line “......recognised as the benchmark”, the word ‘benchmark’ DOES NOT
refer to:
(a) a basis for something.
(b) the criterion required.
(c) the ability to launch something new. (d) a standard point of reference.
(ii) The World Tourism Organisation of the UN, in an observation, shared that
__________________ .
(iii) One of the elements that is important to ecotourists on trip is _______________ .
(iv) Study the following statements and choose the correct option.
1. Asha Mathew, an NRI, loves animals and wishes to travel to places that safeguard
their rights and inculcate awareness of their rights. What kind of tourist is she?
2. Gurdeep Singh from UK is an environmental scientist and has always chosen to
travel to places that are examples of a symbiotic relationship between man and
nature. What kind of tourist is he?
(a) (1) is an ecotourist and (2) is a geotourist
(v) Based on your understanding of the passage, choose the option that lists the inherent
qualities of geotourist.
1. showcases adventure sports
2. promotes landscape appreciations
3. promises luxurious travel
4. includes being environmentally responsible
5. believes in commercializing forests
6. initiates donations for the underprivileged
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 5 and 6
(c) 2 and 4
(d) 3 and 5
(vi) In the market profile of an ecotourist, the information on gender indicates that
_______________ .
(vii) The education aspect in the market profile of the ecotourist revealed that
________________ .
(viii) According to the survey conducted by the Travel Bureau, the total percentage of
(x) Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE, according to the passage?
(c) Emerging economies will receive negligible international tourists in the near
future.
(d) The sustainability factor in tourism is a significant means for development.
SECTION–B
(Grammar) (10 Marks)
III.
1. Attempt ANY TEN of the following questions.
(i) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option to complete the headline appeared
in a magazine.
The government ___________________ to make six airbags mandatory in eight-
seater vehicles for enhanced safety of occupants from October 1.
(a) has now planned
(b) has now been planned
(ii) Read the conversation between Rahul and Sakshi. Complete the sentence by
Rahul, while coming to school by the school bus asked Sakshi what her plan
was after the last paper of the term-end examination. To this, Sakshi replied
_________________________.
(iii) Select the correct option to fill in the blank for the given line, from a school magazine.
(c) will
(d) mustn’t
(iv) Select the option that identifies the error and supplies the correction for the
Making simple changes to your life and making good habits a part of your routine
is simpler than it ______________.
(a) sound
(b) is sounding
(c) sounds
(d) has sounded
(vi) Fill in the blank by using the correct form of the word in the bracket, for the given
portion of a letter:
Subject: Water Shortage in Indirapuri
Through the columns of your newspaper, I would like to bring to the notice of
the concerned authorities the acute water shortage ________________ (prevail) in
Indirapuri and adjoining areas of West Delhi.
(vii) Report the dialogue between Arya and receptionist, by completing Arya’s sentence:
Receptionist : I am sorry but the doctor is already occupied with his prior
correction.
Over time, our work with people have supported community efforts and led to
transformative social and environmental results.
Use the given format for your response.
error correction
(ix) Sanjay’s principal announced something in the morning assembly. His friend, Arush
was unfortunately absent. Write how he would report the following information to
his friend, Arush.
Our school is planning an excursion for South India during the winter vacation and
only senior wings students are eligible to join the trip.
(x) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option, to complete the quote Amrish heard
(c) Shouldn’t
(d) Mustn’t
(xi) Select the correct option to complete the conversation between Radhika and Atulya.
Radhika : Atulya, did you attend the last class of Biology yesterday?
Atulya : No, I was called by the Physical education teacher for practice.
(c) Atulya that whether he has attended the previous class of biology last day.
(d) Atulya whether he has attended the previous class of biology yesterday.
(xii) Identify the error spotted from a local newspaper and supply the correction
required:
Atrocities Against Women
Domestic Violence is yet another term who is common in our country as women
were and are considered to be the inferior strata of human society.
Use the given format for your response.
error correction
SECTION–B
(Creative Writing Skills) (10 Marks)
IV. 1. Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below.
(5)
(A) You are Nitish Nitin, the Head Boy of Arya Public School, Woods Valley, Dehradun.
You recently learnt that your friend is addicted to smoking after you found a packet
of cigarette from his pocket. You found that the packet contained statutory warning
and even then, the selling of cigarette is on a rise.
Smoking Kills!!!
Write a letter to the Editor of The Doon Times, in not more than 120 words, drawing
attention towards the harm caused by smoking. Suggest some measures to spread
awareness.
OR
(B) Shocked at the news of the death of a whale in Ahmedabad due to consumption of
plastic bags, Protyoy realised that it was a major global environmental problem and
many countries have been grappling with this issue. He decided to write a letter to
the editor seeking his immediate attention and address this problem by making the
people aware about its ill-effects. Write the letter, in not more than 120 words.
2. Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below.
(5)
(A) The majestic animals like tigers are on the verge of extinction for they are widely
threatened due to consumer demand for their skins, bones, and other body parts.
Write a paragraph, in about 100-120 words, analysing the data shown below.
OO Today, fewer than 3,900 live in a mere four per cent of their historic range.
goal.
require more clean water. Increasing urbanization and agriculture are encroaching
on freshwater habitats, causing loss and fragmentation. Increased demand for
energy and resources means more pollution and obstructed water flows. A warming
climate is resulting in changes to freshwater habitats.
Write a paragraph, in about 100-120 words, analysing the given statement ensuring
how to safeguard the future of wildlife and habitat, as well as communities that
depend on freshwater ecosystems.
SECTION–C
(Literature) (40 Marks)
V. Reference to the Context
(10 marks)
1. Attempt ANY ONE of two extracts given.
(5 marks)
(A) The moon was coming up in the east, behind me, and stars were shining in the clear
sky above me. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky. I was happy to be alone high up above
the sleeping countryside. I was flying my old Dakota aeroplane over France back to
England. I was dreaming of my holiday and looking forward to being with my family.
I looked at my watch at one thirty in the morning. I should call Paris Control soon. I
thought. As I looked down past the nose of the aeroplane, I saw the lights of a big city in
front of me.
(i) Why was the pilot flying his aeroplane over France back to England?
(c) Because he was dreaming of his holiday and longing to be with his family
(ii) What did the pilot see when he looked down past the nose of the aeroplane?
(iii) Fill in the blank with ONE WORD substituting the underlined word given in the
sentence below.
I was dreaming of my holiday and looking forward to being with my family.
(iv) How was the weather when the pilot started flying his aeroplane?
(v) Select the option that correctly captures the application of the word ‘being’ as used
in the extract.
Pick the option that DOESN’T list the usage of the word ‘being’, as in the extract
above.
(a) The rubrics are being prepared in order to carry out the new project.
(b) It was exciting being at the forefront of drug development through the study of
gene sequences.
(c) The seriousness of water crisis in the locality was being discussed in the meeting.
(d) I was being heard patiently even after the dissent created by the representative.
about anything but ordinary everyday things. We don’t seem to be able to get any closer
and that’s the problem. Maybe it’s my fault that we don’t confide in each other. In any
case, that’s just how things are, and unfortunately they’re not liable to change. This is
why I’ve started the diary.
(i) What were Anne’s views on friends?
(iv) Why did Anne think she could confide more in her diary than in people?
(v) Why did Anne think that ‘paper has more patience than people’?
(iv) Given below is the list of words that show MOVEMENT. Which of the following is
not a movement?
(a) Stumbling
(b) Crawling
(c) Staggering
(d) Musing
(a) Perceive
(b) Tepid
(c) Discover
(d) Recognise
OR
(B) (I am an orphan, roaming the street.
I pattern soft dust with my hushed, bare feet.
The silence is golden, the freedom is sweet.)
(i) The tone of the given line is _________________.
(ii) Read the following statements and choose the option that correctly evaluated these
statements.
Statement A - The figure ‘I’ imagines a less than realistic view of being an orphan.
Statement B - The figure ‘I’ does not like the speaker.
(a) A is true, B is false, according to the extract.
(d) A is true and can be inferred from the poem, B is true too.
VI. Answer ANY FOUR of the following in about 40-50 words each. (4×3=12)
(i) Why was Mr Keesing annoyed with Anne? What did he ask her to do?
(iii) There is not a dull moment when pets are around. Explain how this hold true in
(ii) What does he say about the different reaction of people when they are robbed?
VIII. Answer ANY ONE of the following in about 100-120 words. (1×6=6)
(i) Did you find any difference in the behaviour of the young seagull in the very
beginning and at the end of the story? If yes, then explain briefly.
OR
(ii) The narrator shares, “Baking was indeed a profitable profession in the old days.”
What do you feel has changed now? Why? State any one way, you feel, the paders
can regain their lost glory.
IX. Answer ANY ONE of the following in about 100-120 words. (1×6=6)
(i) “He had never been known to refuse food; he would tackle a meal at any hour of
the day or night.” Herriot believed that Tricki’s problem was his greed. Did he lack
tolerance?
OR
(ii) Bholi’s father was worried about her. Why didn’t Bholi’s parents treat her at par
with other siblings? Parents are the ones who the children look up to. What values
should the parents possess that help their children share a strong bond with them?
zzz
SECTION–A
(Reading Skills) (20 Marks)
I. Read the passage given below: (10 marks)
(1) In the days gone by, heroes emerged when wars broke out and messiahs appeared when
decadence overtook societies. Through the centuries, adversities have inspired people
to rise to the occasion and display special skills which have earned them the label of a
leader.
(2) The driving force behind a leader’s actions and behaviour is his instinct. It guides
silently, telling him what to do, which way to go and how to develop skills that can enable
him to overcome any challenge that life proposes. Abraham Lincoln failed in almost all
his endeavours through his life. And yet his instinct urged him to keep trying, finally
culminating in earning him the highest seat of political leadership in America.
(3) So, what is instinct? Is it genetic, or is it cultivated? Instinct is what drives a new-born
into sensing that he is hungry or cold, making him cry for help.
(4) It can be best described as a compass of objective observation, although born with it, we
tend to lose touch with our instinct as we grow older.
(5) If everybody is born with this sense, why is it that some people become leaders and
others don’t? Firstly, external circumstances greatly dictate our evolution. All people
who are deprived of opportunities to develop their latent abilities, fail to grow into
leaders.
(6) The second reason relates to internal attitude. There are many people who, despite
being blessed with all the right opportunities, still fail. This is because they are insensitive
to their own instincts, ignoring all the signals that can enable them to act appropriately.
Listening is a critical skill that needs to be evolved over time. While our earlier
experiences enable us to list and put evaluated choices, it is eventually our instinct that
helps us in determining which one to go for. At such times, people who are tuned in
to their instincts, are more likely to make the right decisions than those who are not.
Instinct is like a psychometer. When a leader gives his team an emotionally charged
speech in the attempt to motivate them into action, he can invariably tell even before he
has completed it, whether or not he has succeeded. In fact, right through the process of
speaking, he is constantly modulating his behaviour.
(7) Leadership is a quest for doing the right things, a quest that is initiated not for fulfilling
one’s own selfish needs but for the greater good of all concerned.
(a) what to do
(b) what to write
(iii) Instinct can be best described as a compass of objective observation. This statement
Opinion Reason
___________________________ Energy behind something in motion
(v) Find the factor from the passage that drives a new-born into sensing that he is
hungry or cold.
(vi) List two reasons that inspire people to become a messiah.
(a) Heroes
(b) Messiahs
(c) Leaders
(d) None of these
(x) All the people who are deprived of opportunities to develop their latent abilities, fail
to grow into:
(a) a leader
(b) a good human
(c) a politician
(d) none of these
to witness a major growth in the coming years. The industry in India can be broadly
classified into two categories; the formal education industry comprising schools, colleges
and universities, and the tutorial industry comprising private tutorials and coaching
institutes.
(2) A major contribution to the formal education market is the higher education segment
as shown in the below chart. The university count in India has gone up in the last two
decades. The number of universities in India has increased at a CAGR (Compound
Annual Growth Rate) of 8.5% from 367 (2010) to 850 (2018). Globally, the nation is
ranked 1st in terms of the number of universities. Most of the schools, colleges and
universities in the country were operated by the state, union or the local government.
However, the scenario saw a change in the last two decades. India has seen a surge in
private universities such as Amity and Sikkim Manipal universities entering the market.
According to the University Grants Commission (UGC), private universities account for
34.8% of the total universities in India in 2018 compared to 3.4% in 2008. The number
of colleges has also increased from 34,852 (2012) to 40,026 (2017).
5%
Pre-School
15%
School Education
Higher Education 52% 28%
Vocational Course
(3) India is a young democracy and a progressing country. The literacy rate was lower than
30% at the time of independence in 1947 and 72 years after, it presently stands at more
than 75%. This is a phenomenal growth, considering the fact that the population of
the country has also risen from 33 million to 1.3 billion during the period. Currently,
29% of the population is under 14 years of age. The government has given special
attention towards education through initiatives such as ‘Right to Education Act’ and
‘Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan’ (education for all). Resultantly, people in the rural areas
have an increased awareness of the importance of education for their children. This
has created a significant increase in the demand for education at all levels. India is a
developing country, the GDP per capita and the personal disposable income of people
are increasing, and they are now willing to spend more on education than in the last
millennium. The students’ enrolment in universities has gone up from 29 million (2012)
to 36 million (2017). These socio-economic factors have created a conducive ecosystem
for the rise of private players in the education industry.
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below.
(1×10=10)
(i) Infer one reason why education industry in India is broadly classified into categories
From paragraph 3, we can infer that in the developing country like India
___________________ and the _____________________ are increasing.
1. personal disposable income of people
2. awareness of the importance of education
3. the GDP per capita
4. higher education segment
5. several universities entering market
(a) 1 & 3
(b) 2 & 4
(c) 2 & 5
(d) 1 & 4
(iii) Complete the following analogy correctly with a word/phrase from paragraph 3:
(a) 2nd
(b) 4th
(c) 3rd
(d) 1st
(a) state
(b) union
(a) government
(b) public
(c) private
(d) none of these
(vii) Substitute the word ‘rise’ with ONE WORD similar in meaning, in the following
(x) Which statement from the following is NOT TRUE, according to the passage?
(a) The socio-economic factors have created a conducive ecosystem for the rise of
increasing.
(c) The number of colleges has also increased from 34,852 (2012) to 40,026 (2017).
(d) People in the urban areas have an increased awareness of the importance of
SECTION–B
(Grammar)
(10 Marks)
III.
1. Attempt ANY TEN of the following questions.
(i) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option to complete the headline appeared
in a magazine.
India had previously seen a lot of students migrating to foreign countries for
higher education. But over the past few years, a lot of foreign students from the
neighbouring countries _____________________ to India for better education.
(a) have migrated
(b) had migrated
(ii) Read the conversation between Raj and Sunny. Complete the sentence by reporting
Sunny : No, I was planning to stay at home and prepare for my upcoming
examination.
Raj, while coming to school, asked Sunny whether he was coming to school
the following day. To this, Sunny replied in negative and further added that
_________________________.
(iii) Select the correct option to fill in the blank for the given line, from a school magazine.
(c) will
(d) mustn’t
portion of a letter:
Subject: Create awareness about health and hygiene.
The villagers are not paying any attention to sanitation and personal hygiene which
_________________ (lead) them towards ill health.
(vii) Report the dialogue between Arya and Geeta, by completing Geeta’s sentence:
Geeta : Arya, kindly inform the students that their practicals for Term-II is to
correction.
We’re told breakfast is the most important meal of the day, we’re given lunch breaks
at work, and than our social and family lives revolve around evening meals.
Use the given format for your response.
error correction
(ix) A psychologist suggested something while addressing a gathering. Write how you
(c) mustn’t
(d) can
Gunjan : Mayank, I won’t be able to make myself available for the assessment
Gunjan told Mayank she won’t be able to make herself available for the assessment
the next day. She enquired ______________________________. Mayank consented
positively but expressed his hitch that he would also not be available in the first half.
He asked if that would be ok.
(a) Mayank politely whether he would inform Ms. Rita.
(xii) Identify the error spotted from a local newspaper and supply the correction
required:
Girls’ right to life is not respected as much as boys
More boys born have been intentionally carried to full-term and girls die more
frequently before an age of five.
Use the given format for your response.
error correction
SECTION–B
(Creative Writing Skills) (10 Marks)
IV. 1. Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below. (5 marks)
(A) You are Ayaan Hassan, the Head Boy of Dev Samaj International School, Dehradun.
You have just been reminded of your school days after spotting a poster bearing the
following:
School Days are Pleasant Memories
Not Every Child is Fortunate
You feel pity and wish to write a letter to the Editor of The Devbhoomi Times
sensitising the common masses, in not more than 120 words. Draft the letter.
OR
(B) Almost one in five children live in countries affected by conflict and many of
them are denied education as a result. Provided that there are movements like
‘Sarvashiksha Abhiyan’, ‘Mid-day Meal’ and ‘Mission Blackboard’ and enrolling of
underprivileged children in schools under RTE, there are still many children, who
do not go to school, rather have never seen a school. It is indeed disturbing. Write
a letter to the editor of a national newspaper expressing your views and the steps to
be taken.
2. Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below.
(5 marks)
(A) We live in a time where social media is an important part of our everyday life, and
and repair muscles and bones and to make hormones and enzymes. But how much
protein should be consumed in our diet varies depending on our weight, gender,
age and health.
Write a paragraph, in 100-120 words, analysing the given statement ensuring how
to consume it and in what quantity.
SECTION–C
(Literature) (40 Marks)
V. Reference to the Context
(10 marks)
1. Attempt ANY ONE of two extracts given.
(5 marks)
(A) “Kisa Gotami became weary and hopeless, and sat down at the wayside watching the
lights of the city, as they flickered up and were extinguished again. At last the darkness
of the night reigned everywhere.
(i) What happened when Kisa Gotami could not find a house where no one has died?
(ii) What did Kisa Gotami realise while watching the city lights?
(a)
That suffering is eternal
(b)
That loss is not that bad
(c)
That God is testing her
(d)
That lives are like city lights and they flicker out too
(iii) What was happening to the city lights?
(v) Which of the following sentence matches the meaning of the word ‘reigned’, as used
in the extract?
(a) For more than a century, peace reigned undisturbed in Brittany.
(b) He was regarded as the mediator between suffering humanity and the
unknowable and inaccessible God of all beings, who reigned in the ether.
(c) He reigned in society as much by the attraction of his manners as by the superior
at Horace, and went on, “However, I came back just in time, though I didn’t expect to
meet a burglar.”
(ii) “Anyone would think I’d been away for a month!” The statement shows the lady’s
‘________________’.
(a) diffidence
(b) arrogance
(c) drudgery
(d) grudge
(iii) Pick the option/s that correctly exhibit/s the synonyms of ‘burglar’.
(1) intruder
(2) trespasser
(3) picklock
(4) sentinel
(5) pilferer
(6) purloiner
(7) amateur
(iv) Horace carried out the instructions of the lady because he didn’t want to:
After getting a fresh list of instructions from her parents, Amanda wishes to be away
from her daily routine life.
(iv) ‘I’ in the above extract is __________________.
(a) Amanda
(b) Amanda’s mother
OR
(B) The fog comes
on little cat feet.
It sits looking
over harbour and city on silent haunches
and then moves on.
(i) Choose the option with qualities of the cat that Carl Sandburg applies to the fog?
1. Cats are independent animals, they don’t follow rules, they slip and slide in and
a mysterious fashion.
4. Cats often communicate with a combination of a distinctive sound and body
language.
5. Cats like to move on at their own pace and before you know it, they’ve disappeared.
(a) Only 1
(b) 2, 3 and 4
(c) 1, 3 and 5
(d) Only 4
(ii) The poet has used short lines to compose the given poem. Choose the option that
sentence, which gives the reader a chance to fill the gaps while reading it out.
(c) By keeping the lines short, the poet wants to introduce ambiguity or contradiction
The intention of the poet in the given extract is to criticise the atrocities of human
being against nature in a clever and amusing way.
(iv) Stealth is an important aspect of fog. Two instances from the poem ‘Fog’ that suggest
(b) Only a cat can impersonate like fog and move so gracefully like it.
(d) Only a cat can create such an image in the minds of the readers.
VI. Answer ANY FOUR of the following in about 40-50 words each.
(4×3=12)
(i) Describe the young seagull’s effort while taking his first flight.
(ii) Why do you think the poet feels “fire” is the likely way for humanity to destroy itself
(iv) How did Belinda treat with Custard and other members living with her?
(v) How can we say that the play ‘The Proposal’ is an elaborate portrayal of the difference
VII. Answer ANY TWO of the following in about 40-50 words each.
(2×3=6)
(i) Mr Herriot’s treatment given to Tricki is likely to be considered as a breach of trust.
Comment.
(ii) According to Fowler, Ausable was unlike any fictional spy. Validate the statement
his freedom and doesn’t approve of the visitors who are taking him to be a matter of
entertainment. The tiger appears to you quite helpless and yearns to move out of it.
What would the tiger have told you and how would you have cajoled him? Develop
the conversation.
OR
(ii) The young seagull, who has not yet soared in the sky, is being counselled by his
about developing compassion and accepting others for being imperfect. Analyse the
statement in the light of the chapter ‘The Thief ’s Story’.
OR
(ii) ‘When you shower your love to your loved ones, make sure it’s not in excess’. Analyse
the statement with reference to the love and care Mrs Pumphrey showered on her
pet dog, Tricki.
zzz
SECTION–A
(Reading Skills) (20 Marks)
I. Read the passage given below: (10 marks)
(1) Birds have been building nests for over 10 million years. Dinosaurs, the ancestors of
birds, also built terrestrial nests over hundreds of millions of years. The diversity we see
in bird’s nest today is a result of these thousands of bird species, evolving in different
environments, creating diverse ways to house and protect their families.
(2) We think of architecture as a result of conscious design, purpose and aesthetic
expression there is, precisely, such architecture in avian nests. These are not unplanned
constructions. These are shaped by a history of selection and functionality. Also, the
diversity of materials used by birds to build nests is astonishing and birds arrive at this
independently.
(3) As adults, the birds go out into nature alone and gather materials to construct their
nests which have very specific structures. They have extraordinary building capacities
which show both flexibility and an innate way of interacting with the environment.
(4) Interestingly, all nests perform a physical job to house and protect a bird’s eggs from
bad weather and predators. The nest is also often the location of the development of
the young. Therefore, knowing the nest’s centrality birds have developed habitat-based
strategies to meet these needs. Diverse species use sticks, twigs, webs or mud, handled
in specific ways to create the nest they require. Like human builders, birds choose
materials related to the actual structure they want.
(5) Birds’ nests also have regular styles of construction historically conditioned by
circumstances, like human communities which use bricks or stones. Birds have a similar
historical investment in their nests. For instance, a group of land birds, which includes
kingfishers, hornbills, and woodpeckers, is about 60 million years old. All of these nests in
holes, from ground burrows to holes in trees, where they can safely keep their eggs. None
of them has created an alternative way. Nests are, therefore, conservative structures.
Birds don’t change the designs much, unless they are sure they are improving on the
conditions required for breeding and protecting their young ones.
(6) Now, weaver birds are an extraordinary example of a group that makes impressive
nests. These include an egg chamber suspended from a branch, with a doorway. The
complexity is amazing as the fibres are interlaced, like weaves. This creates very strong
water-repellent structures. The weaver bird starts with a vertical ring, like a hoop, and
adds a back hemisphere to this. It then weaves on the front to create a small door. Some
(iii) When the birds think of building their nests, the most important factor in their
minds is:
(a) its beauty.
(b) its purpose.
(c) its design.
(d) its colour.
Opinion Reason
___________________________ Any design which is a result of
observation, impact, connection and
inclusion
(v) Find the factor from the passage which explains why birds don’t change the designs
(viii) The materials that birds use for building their nests are:
(a) sticks.
(a) elasticity.
(b) adjustability.
(c) stability.
(d) fluidity.
medical professionals called for balance in the treatment of COVID and non-
COVID cases pointing to the fact that every year cardiovascular diseases kill more
than 17 million, cancers over 9·5 million and chronic respiratory diseases almost
four million, cancers over 9.5 million and chronic respiratory diseases almost
four million. According to the medical journal, Lancet’s report Global Burden of
Diseases, there are at least 15 different diseases that kill more than a million people
every year.
(2) While the swine flu pandemic in 2009 is estimated to have killed about half a million
in one year, the 1918 Spanish flu is estimated to have killed about 50 million.
(3) However, COVID-19 stretched the capacity of health systems as no other
dead to the hospital every day. The only difference is that COVID deaths are
being counted and these are not.
(6) A modelling study published in the Lancet Global Health suggested that,
worldwide, one in five people were at an increased risk of severe COVID-19 should
they become infected, mostly as a result of underlying non-communicable diseases.
(7) Unfortunately, hospital systems are designed for average patient loads, not
(1×10=10)
(i) Infer one reason for the following, based on the information given in paragraph 4.
Many who needed treatment for diseases like cancer, heart ailments and diabetes
were not getting the required attention.
(iii) Complete the following analogy correctly with a word/phrase from paragraph 3.
1. A good section of COVID patients required critical care only for a short duration.
2. Those who fell critically ill became a burden on the health system.
Choose the correct option from the following.
(a) 1 is right and 2 is wrong.
(b) 1 is wrong and 2 is right.
(b) health-workers
(vi) Substitute the word ‘sluggishness’ with ONE WORD similar in meaning, in the
(x) Diabetes is not more dangerous than digestive diseases. (State whether the statement
is True/False)
SECTION–B
(GRAMMAR) (10 Marks)
III.
1. Attempt ANY TEN of the following questions.
(i) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option to complete the information as
appeared in a magazine.
Coffee has anti-inflammatory properties which ________________________ in
treating skin problems.
(a) helped
(b) helps
(c) is helping
(d) help
I shared with her each and every detail. She wondered whether it __________________
be true.
(a) could
(b) should
(c) will
(d) mustn’t
(iv) Select the option that identifies the error and supplies the correction for the
The pursuit of happiness is many people’s primary goal in life. Taking the first step
to being happier could be a lot simpler than many people____________________.
(a) has realised
(b) realised
(c) realises
(d) realise
(vi) Fill in the blank by using the correct form of the word in the bracket, for the given
portion of a letter:
Subject: To create awareness about rain-water harvesting
Rain-water harvesting is the collection and storage of rain-water that
___________________ (run) off from roof tops, parks, roads, open grounds, etc.
(vii) Report the dialogue between Shoba and Manju, by completing Manju’s statement:
correction.
Leaving devices on and forgetting about them is one of the biggest energy-wasting
habit at home. And having a device in sleep or standby mode uses less electricity
than having it completely on.
(ix) A friend suggested something in order to raise the spirit of Mohan. Write how you
environmentalist.
Many household chemicals can be recycled. Your community _____________________
have a recycling center that can take the old paint, used motor oil, and other
chemicals and recycle them.
(a) can’t
(b) may
(c) need
(d) will
(xi) Select the correct option to complete the conversation between Anjali and Bhavesh.
Anjali : Will you recommend my name for the position of Head Girl?
(b) whether you would recommend her name for the position of Head Girl.
(c) whether he will recommend her name for the position of Head Girl.
(d) whether he would recommended her name for the position of Head Girl.
(xii) Identify the error spotted from a magazine and supply the correction required:
SECTION–B
(Creative Writing Skills) (10 Marks)
IV. 1. Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below. (5)
(A) Reading has a number of benefits including improving your memory and vocabulary,
helping you learn new things, and improving focus and concentration. Suppose you
met a student of Class X and realised that the students today don’t read books. Write
a letter to the editor of a local daily suggesting some interesting ways that can help
children read more and develop a daily reading habit.
natural and synthetic milk. Study the table analyzing the data shown and write a
paragraph of 150 words on the characteristics of natural milk and synthetic milk
higlighting the hazards of synthetic milk.
Physical Natural Milk Synthetic Milk
Taste Palatable Bitter
Colour White White
PH (Hydrogen ion 6.8 acidic 10-11 alkaline
concentration)
Texture No soap feeling if rubbed Gives a soapy feeling
between fingers
Effect of storage No change in colour Turns yellowish
Presence of Urea Weekly positive Highly positive (yellow)
OR
(B) Heart-related ailments among young Indians have become a concern. The issue is
being debated why there has been a surge in heart attack cases in relatively younger
age groups in India. Write a paragraph, in 100-120 words, on the topic ‘The burn-
and-refuel mentality is dangerous’.
SECTION–C
(Literature) (40 Marks)
V.
Reference to the Context (10 marks)
1.
Attempt ANY ONE of two extracts given. (5 marks)
(A) Inside the clouds, everything was suddenly black. It was impossible to see anything
outside the aeroplane. The old aeroplane jumped and twisted in the air. I looked at
the compass. I couldn’t believ my eyes: the compass was turning round and round
and round. It was dead. It would not work!
(i) Why did it become impossible for the narrator to see?
(iii) Why did the narrator not receive any answer from Parish control station?
(v) What motivated the narrator to keep flying to England despite the storm?
OR
(B) Valli devoured everything with her eyes. But when she started to look outside, she
found her view cut off by a canvas blind that covered the lower part of her window.
So she stood up on the seat and peered over the blind. The bus was now going along
the bank of a canal and beyond it, palm trees, grassland, distant mountains, and the
blue, blue sky.
(i) Why could Valli not enjoy the outside scene?
(ii) Which of these elements are used to describe the outside scenery?
(c) Grasslands
(d) All of these
(iv) What can you infer about Valli from the above lines?
It is clear that Anaphora is the poetic device used for ‘Did you finish your homework
…. your room’ because _____________________.
(Clue: explain how anaphora applies here)
(ii) The poet has used a poetic device in the following line. What effect does the poet
(v) Choose the option showing the reason NOT corresponding with “… a crow / Shook
down on me / The dust of snow”.
(a) The crow’s landing on the branch of the tree
Justify the given statement with reference to the chapter “His First Flight”.
(ii) What traits of human being would be responsible for the destruction of this world?
conductor?
(iv) Give one reason why Custard chose to steal the scene when the pirate attacked
VII. Answer ANY TWO of the following in about 40-50 words each.
(2×3=6)
(i) How did Fowler receive the first thrill of the day?
(ii) Why was Mr. Herriot prompted to keep Tricki for a longer period of time?
(iii) What are the prerequisites that determine a successful scientist? Validate your points
learning that people are of the opinion that crocodile often lures its potential prey
by shedding tears and moaning. So, the crocodile decides to change the opinion of
the people by his speech. Write the speech in your own words, in not more than 120
words.
OR
(ii) The pilot of the Dakota plane was an experienced flier, but he panicked when he
got engulfed by the black storm. He sits one morning with his family narrating the
ordeal and concludes his speech on the topic ‘Courage is Guided by Faith’.
Narrate on behalf of the pilot what kept him going in such an unfavourable weather.
behaviour of rich people like Ms. Pumphrey whose excessive love may sometimes
harm their near and dear ones. Tricki’s declined heath was the outcome of Ms.
Pumphrey over-caring nature. Suggest some values for such people in your words.
OR
(ii) Hari’s return to Anil proves that despite indulging in criminal acts, he still had a
SECTION–A
(Reading Skills) (20 Marks)
I. Read the passage given below: (10 marks)
(1) Usually, you would need to visit a national park or sanctuary to sight beautiful wild
animals such as the wild boar, blue bull (Nilgai), spotted deer, chinkara, blackbuck,
Indian hare, or monkeys. Today, just go round to any agricultural field and you may
find plenty of wild herbivores roaming on the grounds freely and feeding on the crops
and natural palatable plants therein.
(2) When forests were abundant, ecologically sound and self-sufficient, the movement of
wildlife inside the protected areas/forests in search of food would extend no further
than the buffer zone. Over time, however, the alarming rise in human population
has put immense pressure on forest wealth, leading gradually to large swathes of the
forest, including the buffer zone and corridors, being converted into agriculture fields
and industries, and cleared for the construction of urban zones, big dams, railway
tracks, roads and highways, mining corridors, electricity transmission lines and other
development works that massively reduce forest area and shrink good-quality wildlife
habitats.
(3) Resultantly, as wild herbivores made to move or migrate, through natural corridors,
from one forest to another in search of food, they found themselves in agricultural fields,
which are full of easily accessible feeding material. This has been the gradual effect of
encroachment into the homes of wildlife by humans, compounding the human-wild
animal conflict to boot. Exposed, such animals also come as easy prey for poachers or
become roadkill. As per Delhi-based NGO Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI),
over 1,000 tigers have been killed in the country by poachers over the last two decades.
Over 650 instances of roadkill have been recorded in the last five years.
(4) So, on the one hand, wildlife outside the protected areas is in great peril. On the
other hand, farmers and locals in and around the forest-fringe areas are at a loss due
to crop damage and the danger posed to human and livestock lives. The Ministry of
Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEF & CC) estimates that between 2014
and 2017, one death took place every day due to human-animal conflict. It is observed
that the wild herbivores damage between 15-50% of the standing crops in the field and
may affect 50-75% of the total agricultural area. Hence, a balanced solution in the form
of a ‘Special Management Plan’ (SMP) is a need of hour, not only to protect wildlife
outside protected areas and forests but also to safeguard human lives and livelihoods.
(i) Discuss what the alarming rise in human population leads to.
(b) Encroachment
(iii) Complete the following analogy correctly with a word/phrase from paragraph 4:
agricultural fields?
(a) towns
(b) villages
(v) The Special Management Plan has been suggested in para 4 because the Government
wants:
(a) to extend buffer zone
(b) to protect wildlife outside protected areas and forests but also to safeguard
(vi) Where would one find wild herbivores like Nilgai nowadays?
(ix) Which statement from the following is NOT TRUE, according to the passage?
(a) Wild herbivores migrate from one forest to another in search of food.
(b) Over 1,000 tigers have been killed in the country by poachers over the last two
decades.
(c) Electricity transmission lines reduce the forest area and shrink good-quality
wildlife habitats.
(d) None of these.
(x) Infer one reason for the following, based on the information given in paragraph 2.
The movement of wildlife inside the protected Areas/forests in search of food did
not extend any further than the buffer zone.
(1×10=10)
(i) __________________ does not create awareness among people to save the
environment.
(ii) ___________________ enjoy bursting crackers for amusement and do not try to limit
(c) 32%
(d) 68%
(iii) We unintentionally pollute our ecology. This statement means that we do so by:
say ‘yes’, festival pollution persists. How does evidence from table 1 support this
statement?
(vii) What purpose does the ‘Can’t Say’ column serve in the questionnaire (table 1)?
(viii) What do you infer from celebrating all festivals in an eco-friendly manner?
(ix) Justify the researchers’ recommendation for limiting the drastic impact of festival
4.
(a) To pressurise the offenders who burst crackers during festivals
SECTION–B
(Grammar) (10 Marks)
III.
1. Attempt ANY TEN of the following questions.
(i) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option to complete the headline appeared
in a magazine.
(c) occupy
(d) occupying
(ii) Read the conversation between a student and a teacher. Complete the sentence by
Student : Sir, I didn’t buy it. I went to the library and got it issued.
The teacher asked his student how much he had paid for that book. The student
replied respectfully that _________________________.
(iii) Select the correct option to fill in the blank for the given line, from a journal.
When you come across a disturbing, hateful message, there are many thoughts,
emotions, reactions that ___________________ suddenly appear.
(a) may
(b) need
(c) will
(d) must
(iv) Select the option that identifies the error and supplies the correction for the
(c) have
(d) is being
(vi) Fill in the blank by using the correct form of the word in the bracket, for the given
portion of a letter:
Subject: Regarding meditation classes
If you’re open to joy, you have to be _________________ (open) to disappointment.
(vii) Report the dialogue between a conductor and a passenger:
Passenger : This is just a fun ride. You can drop me anywhere you wish.
While heading to the city, the conductor on a running bus asked a young boy
______________________.
The young boy replied that it was just a fun ride and added that he could drop him
anywhere he wished.
No crackers should be burst on the eve of Diwali, as they only led to air and noise
pollution and also sometimes lead to serious accidents or fire.
Use the given format for your response.
error correction
(ix) Giri’s father wanted to convey something important to his eldest son. But he was not
at home. Mohit, Giri’s younger brother, received the information and was asked to
convey the same. Assume you’re Mohit, report the information of your father when
Giri comes.
Father : Mohit, ask Giri to collect me from the office sharp at 5 in the evening.
Amrit.
There ____________________ be monitoring agency to perform all rituals and
traditions related to particular festival like Diwali. We all must co-operate to restore
and to protect our environment.
(a) will
(b) must
(c) could
(d) can
(xi) Select the correct option to complete the conversation between Sukesh and Sunil.
Sukesh : Sunil, do you know how to make a claim for your lost water bottle?
Sunil : It’s very simple. You just have to go to the Lost and Found section and
give a brief specification of your lost treasure and make a claim for it.
Sukesh asked Sunil ________________________________________ for his lost
treasure. To this, Sunil replied that it was very simple. He just had to go to the Lost
and Found section and give a brief specification of his lost treasure and make a claim
for it.
(a) whether he knows how to make a claim for his lost water bottle.
(b) whether he knew how to make a claim for your lost water bottle.
(c) that whether he knew how to make a claim for her lost water bottle.
(d) whether he knew how to make a claim for his lost water bottle.
(xii) Identify the error spotted from a local newspaper and supply the correction
required:
Fire Broke out at Residential Building
A fire broke out on the 7th floor of a residential building. There was no reports of
anyone getting injured in the incident.
Use the given format for your response.
error correction
SECTION–C
(Literature) (40 Marks)
V. Reference to the Context (10 marks)
1. Attempt ANY ONE of two extracts given. (5 marks)
(A) “We, who are outlaws not so long ago, have today given the rare privilege to be host to
the nations of the world on our own soil. We thank all of our distinguished international
guests for having come to take possession with the people of our country of what is, after
all, a common victory for justice, for peace, for human dignity.”
(i) The guests of the spectacular ceremony are being called distinguished because ____
___________________________.
(ii) It is a victory for ‘human dignity’. Pick the option that lists the correct answer for
(iii) Why does the speaker say that it is ‘rare privilege’? He says this as they have ______
__________________________________.
(iv) How do you think the speaker feels?
(v) Pick the option that showcases the usage of ‘host’ as in the extract.
(a) He was praised for his hospitality as the host of the party.
(b) She was able to host the event without any hindrance.
(c) She met the host and apologised for her friend’s misbehaviour.
(d) He is the best host that one can ever come across.
OR
(B) He spent hours shuffling a rubber ball round the room like a four-footed soccer player
using all four feet to dribble the ball, and he could also throw it, with a powerful flick of
the neck, to a surprising height and distance. But the real play of an otter is when he lies
on his back and juggles with small objects between his paws. Marbles were Mij’s favourite
toys for his pastime: he would lie on his back rolling two or more of them up and down
his wide, flat belly without ever dropping one to the floor.
(iii) The above extract is rich with the words that show movement. Match the columns
with their correct meaning and subsequently choose the correct option that follows.
1. shufflig A. jerk
2. dribble B. trickery
3. flick C. releasing
4. juggle D. spinning
5. rolling E. stumbling
6. dropping F. exude
(iv) Pick the option that correctly states what the otter DID NOT do according to the
given extract.
(a) Mij loved to engage himself with marbles.
(b) The otter took two or more marbles and rolled them on his wide flat stomach.
(d) Mijbil spent most of his time playing with a ball, dragging and pushing it
(c) abbaab
(d) abcabc
stanza.
(a) The accused tried to hide the truth from the public prosecutor.
(b) Why did you hide the truth from the magistrate?
(c) The tiger’s hide was very much in demand in the international market.
(d) The father could not hide the secret from his son.
OR
(B) Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favour fire.
(Fire and Ice)
(i) Complete the sentence appropriately.
It is clear that the poet talks about the discourse going on about which of the two
things i.e. _________________ will destroy the world. (Clue: explain the two things
that can destroy the world)
(ii) The central idea of the given stanza is that____________________________.
(b) man’s parochial attitude towards man will destroy the world
(d) fire and ice are equally destructive, in their own ways
The poet highlights that mutual understanding and sympathy for one and all can
help in establishing peace on the Earth.
(iv) Select the most suitable option to complete the sentence that the stanza demonstrates.
(v) The repetition of ‘some say’ in the two consecutive lines in the stanza shows that the
VI.
Answer ANY FOUR of the following in about 40-50 words each. (4×3=12)
(i) Fear exists when you don’t try. Justify the statement with reference to the chapter
(iii) Valli behaved very authoritatively with everyone on the bus. Substantiate and
fantasy.
(v) How can we say that marriage is symbolic of economic considerations?
(The Proposal)
VII.
Answer ANY TWO of the following in about 40-50 words each. (2×3=6)
(i) Mr Herriot deduced that the only way was to get Tricki out of the house for a
VIII.
Answer ANY ONE of the following in about 100-120 words. (1×6=6)
(i) Ausable and Valli, both were meticulous planners. But Ausable failed and Valli
emerged victorious by contemplating the mystery of life and death at a very tender
age. Assume Valli meets Ausable in the jail and have a conversation about where
Ausable went wrong.
Write their conversation as per your understanding of ‘A Question of Trust’ and
‘Madam Rides the Bus’.
OR
(ii) There is no one right way to raise a child. It’s important to focus on balancing
IX. Answer ANY ONE of the following in about 100-120 words. (1×6=6)
(i) Resilience and not aggression can help you cope with stress, overcome adversity,
and enjoy the better days to come. How is it true in the case of Ausable in the story
‘The Midnight Visitor’?
OR
(ii) How can you say the inquisitive child Ebright tasted success solely because of his
SECTION–A
(Reading Skills) (20 Marks)
I.
Read the passage given below: (10 marks)
(1)
Hobbies help us grow as a person. The best way to have a new hobby is to try something
new. All of us are unique, and this is the reason why our hobbies and interests are
different. Once we find an activity, we are passionate about, we can explore that activity
more. When you get hooked, you will realise that your hobby has become an integral
part of your life. Having a hobby that we enjoy brings us joy and refreshes us. Hobbies
help us manage our leisure and unplanned time more productively. It also affords you
the opportunity to learn new skills in your work. But these are not the only benefits of
having a hobby.
(2)
It feels great to be skilled and good at something, doesn’t it? And this is what that makes
you confident. It can take some time to develop your hobby, so that you may be able to
tell that you are skilled. But, the journey of experiencing your hobby, is very rewarding
in itself. With the exposure to different types of activities these days, it doesn’t matter
which activity you choose. Whether you are pursuing a craft, sports, puzzles, or skill
development, your hobby should be a diversion and a passion. Simultaneously, if your
hobby gives you a sense of purpose, then you will be more confident about challenging
yourself in your hobby and help you prepare for learning new things at work.
(3)
Hobbies give you an opportunity to enhance your life. Hobbies allow you to destress
yourself while remaining mentally productive. Having hobbies promotes better health
and may lower the risk of having high blood pressure. Enjoying a few hours of your
hobby a week can also reduce the risk of depression and dementia. Hobbies refocus
your mind on to something that you enjoy doing. Hobbies that include physical activities
create chemical changes in your body that help to reduce stress.
(4)
Even if it doesn’t involve physical activities, you can still reap the benefits of having a
hobby. Getting a short break from work and doing something you are passionate about
can rejuvenate your mind and help prepare you to handle challenges in the future in a
better way.
(5)
Hobbies may provide an opportunity for you to socialise with people and that can be an
additional benefit for your overall well-being. You can connect with people who enjoy
doing the same things that you do. You can meet new people, discuss your hobby and
get connected to a bigger circle that may even help you turn your hobby into your
profession. The internet provides numerous groups and forums to connect with people
that enjoy doing the same things that you want to do.
(1×10 = 10)
(i) When a person gets hooked on a hobby, he realises that:
(d) it is quite essential for us to learn some skills through our hobbies.
(ii) Based on your reading of the passage, choose the correct statement from the
following.
(a) Hobbies become instrumental in prosperity.
(b) Hobbies are helpful during our leisure and unplanned time more productively.
(iii) No matter which sort of hobby you are pursuing, be it a craft, sports, puzzles, or skill
(vi) Getting a hobby means having a short break from work and doing something you
to success.
(c) make you enjoy and appreciate your life much more as you are happy pursuing
in a better way.
(vii) Hobby provides you with an opportunity to socialise with people by making
_________________.
(viii) Choose an option that can be considered as an appropriate title for the passage.
V. reduces stress
(3) Shen Maosheng, from the Qin Shihuang Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum, said
that archaeologists had located another 11 warriors but had not yet begun to excavate
or dig up the sculptures.
(4) Today, people from around the world visit China to see these terracotta warriors each of
whose figures is individually carved. So, they have different hairstyles, expressions, and
facial features. Inside the pit, the statues are arranged by military rank which means that
the higher the rank, the taller is the statue. As the lower half of each soldier is made of
solid clay with the upper half being hollow, the figures remain upright.
(5) The discovery of the terracotta army is significant as it helps us to understand the
economic and social history of that period along with the military hierarchy that existed
during that time.
(1×10 = 10)
(i) The weapons found in the pits had neither corroded nor rusted in spite of being
(c) significant
(d) reign
(iii) Complete the following analogy correctly with a word/phrase from paragraph 5.
province.
(v) The discovery of the terracotta army is significant because:
(vi) Who has ordered for the creation of the clay soldiers and why?
(ix) The statues of the terracotta soldiers have not fallen down. Substantiate.
(x) Find out the word from paragraph 4 which means ‘upended and straight’.
(a) Carved
(b) Hollow
(c) Clay
(d) Upright
SECTION–B
(Grammar)
(10 Marks)
III.
1. Attempt ANY TEN of the following questions.
(i) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option to complete the headline appeared
in a magazine.
India will record an increase of 116 per cent in Type 1 diabetes cases by 2040, up
from 2021. Globally, the number of cases __________________ by 106.9 per cent.
(a) will increase
(b) has increase
(ii) Read the conversation between Sanjay and Sanjana. Complete the sentence by
(c) will
(d) must
(iv) Select the option that identifies the error and supplies the correction for the
(c) are
(d) has
(vi) Fill in the blank by using the correct form of the word in the bracket, for the given
portion of a letter:
Subject : Regarding potholes and drainage
The concerned authorities are requested to address the issue at the earliest as it
________________ (cause) problems to the local commuters.
(vii) Report the dialogue between a shopkeeper and a customer, by completing the
customer’s sentence:
Customer : Can you get me a bottle of soda?
(ix) My mother shared some information, with my younger sister, about her upcoming
(c) Must
(d) Could
(xi) Select the correct option to complete the conversation between Savar and his uncle.
spoken to her.
Savar said that he needed some cash before he leaves for the trip. His uncle
responded that ______________. He had already spoken to her.
(a) he can ask for some cash from your teacher, if required.
(b) he could asked for some cash from your teacher, if required.
(c) he could be asked for some cash from your teacher, if required.
(d) he can ask for some cash from his teacher, if required.
(xii) Identify the error spotted from a local newspaper and supply the correction
required:
Girls block highway over fee hike and late session
On Saturday night, the protest against the college administration was
organised by hostel girls from Agatha Hostel in Jaipur.
Use the given format for your response.
error correction
SECTION–B
(Creative Writing Skills) (10 Marks)
IV. 1. Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below.
(5 marks)
(A) You are Tanvi/Shirish of Safdarjung Development Area, New Delhi. You are
extremely disturbed about the attacks on old people living alone. Write a letter,
in 100-120 words, to the editor of The New Indian News making people sensitive
to the problem. Make suggestion to the people living alone and the authorities to
ensure that such attacks do not take place.
OR
(B) Shocked at the news of the death of a whale in Ahmedabad due to consumption of
plastic bags, Praveen realised that it was a major global environmental problem and
many countries have been grappling with this issue. He decided to write a letter to
the editor seeking his immediate attention and address this problem by making the
people aware about its ill-effects. Write the letter in not more than 120 words.
2. Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below.
(5)
(A) The majestic animals like tigers are on the verge of extinction for they are widely
threatened due to consumer demand for their skins, bones, and other body parts.
Write a paragraph, in about 100-120 words, analysing the data shown below.
• Today, fewer than 3,900 live in a mere four per cent of their historic range.
• Nepal has become the first country on track to achieve the ambitious TX2 goal.
OR
(B) Our water systems are facing increasing pressure every day. Growing populations
require more clean water. Increasing urbanization and agriculture are encroaching
on freshwater habitats, causing loss and fragmentation. Increased demand for
energy and resources means more pollution and obstructed water flows. A warming
climate is resulting in changes to freshwater habitats.
Write a paragraph, in 100-120 words, analysing the given statement ensuring how
to safeguard the future of wildlife and habitat, as well as communities that depend
on freshwater ecosystems.
SECTION–C
(Literature) (40 Marks)
V.
Reference to the Context (10 marks)
1.
Attempt ANY ONE of two extracts given. (5 marks)
(A)
“Tell me another!” scoffed Pranjol.
“We have an Indian legend too. Bodhidharma, an ancient Buddhist ascetic, cut off his
eyelids because he felt sleepy during meditations. Ten tea plants grew out of the eyelids.
The leaves of these plants when put in hot water and drunk, banished sleep.”
“Tea was first drunk in China,” Rajvir added, “as far back as 2700 B.C.! In fact, words
such as tea, chai and chini are from the Chinese. Tea came to Europe only in the sixteenth
century and was drunk more as medicine than as beverage.”
(i) The main idea of this extract is:
(d) Indian legend on tea and how it travelled from China to Europe.
(iii) Pick the option that includes the tea label information that corresponds to the given
sentence.
“The leaves of these plants when put in hot water and drunk, banished sleep.”
(1) Its calming effects maybe attributed to an antioxidant called apigenin, which is
(GABA) and improves overall sleep quality by shortening the time it takes to fall
asleep and decreasing night-time awakening.
(3) It interferes with REM sleep, has some unwanted side effects, keep sleep away
and allows the possibility of inducing hours of sleeplessness and increased night-
time awakenings.
energy levels and helps banish stress and results in a better night’s sleep naturally.
(a) Option (1)
(b) Option (2)
(iv) Based on the inference from the extract, which of these is NOT TRUE about tea
(v) Based on this extract, how do you think Rajvir felt while narrating.
OR
(B)
“It was only when I began to learn that my boyhood freedom was an illusion, when
I discovered as a young man that my freedom had already been taken from me, that
I began to hunger for it. At first as a student, I wanted freedom only for myself, the
transitory freedoms of being able to stay out at night, read what I pleased and go where
I chose. Later, as a young man in Johannesburg I yearned for the basic and honourable
freedoms . . . “
(i) The title that best suits this extract is:
(ii) Why do you think the speaker mentions some freedoms as ‘transitory’?
(iii) Choose the option that best fits the usage of the word ‘illusion’, as used in the extract.
(iv) The speaker says, “at first as a student I wanted freedom only for myself.” Why do
most appropriate solution to the blanks in the given paraphrase of the extract.
The speaker’s belief about freedom, since childhood proved false. It was not until
the speaker grew up to be a young man when it (1) __________________ on him that
he was (2) ____________________ of freedom. Then he began (3) __________ it.
(a) (1) desired; (2) dawned; (3) depriving
The continuation of a sentence without a pause beyond the end of a line, couplet,
or stanza is called _________________________. (Clue: Hint at the poetic device you
can draw from the given extract)
(ii) The poet has used a poetic device in the given lines. Identify the poetic device.
(c) Personification
(d) Transferred epithet
The way a crow shakes down the dust of snow on the poet disappoints and gives him
obnoxious feelings about nature.
(iv) Select the appropriate option to complete the sentence, according to the stanza.
The dust of snow is the symbol of natural joy and energy which means passing
through the sad and depressing moments. Here, the poet is entering into the
time________________________.
(a) of uncertainty
(b) of celibacy
(v) What is the message conveyed by the poet through the given lines in the extract?
(a) One should see the positive aspect, and one’s response may greatly affect the
outcome of incidents.
(b) One should always contemplate and introspect about his wrong-doings.
(d) One should keep looking for a hemlock tree with a black crow.
OR
(B) The fog comes
on little cat feet.
It sits looking
over harbour and city on silent haunches
and then moves on.
(i) Choose the option with qualities of the cat that Carl Sandburg applies to the fog.
(1) Cats are independent animals, they don’t follow rules, they slip and slide in and
in a mysterious fashion.
(4) Cats often communicate with a combination of a distinctive sound and body
language.
(5) Cats like to move on at their own pace and before you know it, they’ve
disappeared.
(a) Only 1
(b) 2, 3 and 4
(c) 1, 3 and 5
(d) Only 4
(ii) The poet has used short lines to compose the given poem. Choose the option that
lists the most appropriate explanation for the same.
(a) By keeping the lines short, the poet keeps the liberty in stepping away from
sentence, which gives the reader a chance to fill the gaps while reading it out.
(c) By keeping the lines short, the poet wants to introduce ambiguity or contradiction
2. _______________________________________________
(v) The poem is an extended metaphor, seeing the fog as a cat that comes on tiny, silent
feet, as cats do when they are stalking.
Pick the most suitable example that supports the statement.
(a) Only a cat can move so visibly, almost perceptibly, and in sheer arrogance.
(b) Only a cat can impersonate like fog and move so gracefully like it.
(c) Only a cat can move in such a way, almost imperceptibly, and in complete silence.
(d) Only a cat can create such an image in the minds of the readers.
VI.
Answer ANY FOUR of the following in about 40-50 words each. (4×3=12)
(i) The author provides a psychological insight into life’s problems and the ways of
overcoming them. Justify the statement in the light of the chapter ‘His First Flight’.
(ii) Do you agree with the statement ‘There is no choice between life and death: there is
only a choice in the method of death’? Enumerate with reference to the poem ‘Fire
and Ice’.
(iii) Why does Valli not approve of her interaction with the ugly old woman on the bus?
(v) Marriage is nothing but a worked, crafted and magical togetherness. Comment.
(The Proposal)
VIII. Answer ANY ONE of the following in about 100-120 words. (1×6=6)
(i) Kisa Gotami went from house to house, trying to find the mustard seeds. But finally,
she came to realise that there is no one in the world who had never lost a family
member to death. She was returning and spotted the following:
WE ALL BLEED THE SAME WAY
She correlates the saying with her own agony and now understood that death is
inevitable and cannot be avoided. Putting aside her grief, she comes to Gautam
Buddha and develops this conversation. Complete the conversation on the basis of
your understanding of the text ‘The Sermon at Benaras’.
Buddha : Kisa, could you get mustard seeds from anywhere?
Kisa : ……………………………………………………………………………..
OR
(ii) The crow on the hemlock tree found the poet with a long face and tries to find
out the reason of his gloom. The poet upon insisted, reveals that he feels low and
listless on account of no obvious reason. The crow tells him that happiness takes
work and learning how to live life to the fullest takes dedication and practice. The
crow initiated the conversation which needs to be completed in your own words.
Complete the conversation.
Crow : Dear Frost, life is short, and we only live once. Learning to live life to
IX. Answer ANY ONE of the following in about 100-120 words. (1×6=6)
(i) One should always be realistic in his ambitions, dreams and approach. Examine
SECTION–A
(Reading Skills) (20 Marks)
I. Read the passage given below:
(10 marks)
(1) Women all over the world in general and Indian women in particular have been facing
different problems. A recent report titled ‘Women and Children in India’ and a nearly
simultaneous report on ‘Indian Women–their Health and Economic Productivity’
highlight the international importance given to the problems of the Indian women.
(2) Unfortunately, both the reports fail to either convey a fresh understanding of the issues
or to suggest innovative and workable approaches for women’s development. The former
is because the reports restrict themselves to old statistics. We are told, for example, that
the ratio of women to men remains below its natural level and that it is related to other
parameters, such as the level of literacy and the availability of primary health care.
(3) The failure to suggest a fresh approach is less understandable given that a variety of
approaches to women’s development has been tried out all over the world. In India,
the state has made a strong political and economic commitment to women. In 1990, the
National Commitment to Women was established. In 1969, two major policy documents
were released. Ever since the sixth Five-year plan, there has been a special section on
socio-economic programmes for women. Poverty alleviation programmes have a 30%
target for women. Special programmes like development of women and children in rural
areas have also been started. These government and other approaches have had mixed
results. For example, certain organization’s approach of using bank credit to organize
self-employed women has worked well. So did women’s literacy programmes in Kerala.
On the other hand, some of the legislated reforms like dowry prohibition have not worked
well. The issue of whether women should be identified as separate participator in the
development process is also not free from controversy. In this context, it is disappointing
to read in one of the reports that one of the government’s targets for 1991-95 ought to
be to foster “an ethos of caring in the community not to let a child go to bed hungry, be
subjected to a preventable disease or remain without learning opportunity–this could
not mark the beginning of a social process towards a more humane order”. Is the report
saying that Indians do not love their children, as a matter of cultural practice? Both the
reports are likely to be highly influential on opinion leaders and policy makers. It is very
unfortunate that these reports have become superficial and do not delve sufficiently
deep into the real problems.
(1×10 = 10)
(i) Which of the following would correctly reflect the tone of the author to the two
(a) Biased
(b) Critical
(c) Neutral
(d) Praiseful
(ii) Which of the following is specifically put forward as a reason for the unequal sex
3. Right from independence, women have been receiving special attention for
development.
(a) Only 1
(b) Only 2
(c) Only 3
(d) Only 2 and 3
Opinion Reason
_________________ Best experienced rather than described
(v) The writer has highlighted a strong political and economic commitment to women.
(vi) Based on your reading of the passage, list two reasons why the writer says, “Women
(vii) Why does the ratio of women to men remain below its natural level? (Paragraph 2)
(viii) The writer says, “Poverty alleviation programmes have a 30% target for women.”
(Paragraph 3)
Select the correct option from the following that displays the meaning of ‘poverty
alleviation’.
(a) poverty that doesn’t exist
(b) poverty eradication
the report?
would look forward to. Government jobs are preferred, in general, to private sector jobs.
Large companies are usually considered to be the best employers. A proxy for growth
in headcount would be the growth in what the companies spend on compensation to
employees. Growth in this would reflect a growth in the headcount and the growth in
wages paid. We find that this growth rate has been falling. CMIE’s Prowess database
shows a steady fall in the rate of growth of compensation paid by companies to employees
since 2013-14. The database includes performance information on a large sample of
listed and unlisted companies of all sizes and industries. Compensation to employees
grew by 25 per cent in 2013-14. The growth rate halved to 12 per cent in 2014-15 and
then it fell further to 11 per cent in 2016-17. In 2017-18, the growth rate fell to 8.4
per cent. From this, it wouldn’t be entirely wrong to infer that the corporate sector’s
appetite for new hiring has been declining quite sharply. 2017-18 saw the slowest growth
in the past eight years, or since the year after the Lehman crisis of 2008 when the
compensation to employees grew by only 7.7 per cent. The Prowess database also shows
that the corporate sector registered a fall in growth in fixed assets to 6.9 per cent in
2017-18.
(2) Growth of investments into the job-creating plant and machinery part of fixed assets
was even lower at 5.9 per cent. Both were the lowest since 2004-05. Evidently, the two
declines in growth rates — plant and machinery, and wages go hand-in-hand. The
lack of investments into fresh capacities is hurting growth in employment. We see the
same fall in investments in another dataset — capex and the same fall in employment
in yet another dataset — the Consumer Pyramids Household Survey. The evidence
of falling growth in investments and employment during the recent past is therefore,
overwhelming. Some of the growth in compensation to employees can be explained as
a consequence of inflation and given that inflation has been much lower in recent years
compared to the past, it would be good to correct the growth numbers for inflation. We
do this using the consumer price index for recent years and the consumer price index
for industrial workers for earlier years. Now we see inflation-adjusted compensation
to employees grow by only 4.6 per cent in 2017-18. This is lower than the already-low
average growth of 5.5 per cent seen in the preceding three years. The average real
compensation to employees grew at the rate of 5.3 per cent per annum in the four
years between 2014-15 and 2017-18. The industry-wise distribution of this growth in
inflation-adjusted compensation to employees shows some sharp variations between
major sectors. The services sector has seen a very small growth in compensation to
employees in 2017-18 compared to the overall growth of 4.6 per cent, the services sector
saw a growth of only 2.2 per cent.
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below.
(1×10 = 10)
(i) What does the sentence “the two declines in growth rates — plant and machinery,
(ii) If the term ‘inflation adjusted compensation’ as used in the passage implies
‘compensation adjusted as per inflation’, then which of the following statements best
refers to the term in the intended context?
inflation.
ensure that employees are able to enjoy the same standard of living over time.
(d) If the cost of hiring an additional worker exceeds the revenue that the new
worker will produce, the business will lose profit by hiring the new worker.
(iii) Complete the following analogy correctly with a word/phrase from the passage.
monotonous: tedious :: _________: painting
(Clue: Just like monotonous is similar to tedious, similarly ___________ is/are similar
to voracity)
(iv) Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the CMIE Prowess
dataset?
(c) Corporate sector’s appetite for new hiring has been enhancing.
(d) Year 2014-15 witnessed the slowest growth rate in compensation to employees
(vi) Describe the trend of employees’ growth and compensation, in 2014-15, as per
paragraph 1.
The CMIE’s Prowess database shows a _________________ fall in the rate of growth
of compensation paid by companies to employees since 2013-14.
(a) meteoric
(b) fluctuating
(c) shaky
(d) stable
(viii) Substitute the word ‘enormous’ with ONE WORD similar in meaning, in the
following sentence from paragraph 2.
The wealthy will get enormous tax cuts under the proposal....
(ix) In 2017-18, the growth rate fell to 8.4 per cent. What do you infer from this?
(x) Which part of speech does the word ‘sharp’ given in para 2 of the passage belong
to?
(a) Noun
(b) Verb
(c) Adverb
(d) Adjective
SECTION–B
(Grammar) (10 Marks)
III. 1. Attempt ANY TEN of the following questions.
(i) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option to complete the headline appeared
in a magazine.
(ii) Read the conversation between Priyanka and Puja. Complete the sentence by
Some experts think that improving the lives of farm animals ______________________
be an important step not just for farmers and animals but towards feeding and
protecting the planet.
(a) could
(b) needn’t
(c) will
(d) mustn’t
(iv) Select the option that identifies the error and supplies the correction for the
At a time when many people are rethinking there jobs; they should also be thinking
about their quality of life away from work.
Option no. Error Correction
(a) at on
(b) when which
(c) there their
(d) their there
(v) Complete the given narrative, by filling in the blank with the correct option:
Domestic dogs are descended from wolves, which man once ___________________
(take) in and tamed with shelter and food in return for them acting as guard dogs.
(a) take
(b) takes
(c) took
(d) is taking
(vi) Fill in the blank by using the correct form of the word in the bracket, for the given
portion of a letter:
Raj : I have dropped my plan for today. I am planning to leave for Delhi
correction.
There is a vested interest in creating a narrative of ‘tigers in danger’ and besmirching
the government’s image.
Use the given format for your response.
error correction
(ix) The principal addressed the morning assembly and shared some information about
the changed pattern of examination, with the high school students. Report the
principal’s announcement.
The overall idea to address this morning assembly is to acquaint you with the
changed pattern of examination.
(x) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option, to complete the scolding given to
You have been quite insolent these days. __________________ you mend your ways?
(a) Won’t
(b) Can’t
(c) Shouldn’t
(d) Mustn’t
(xi) Select the correct option to complete the narration of the dialogue between Rashid
(xii) Identify the error spotted from a local newspaper and supply the correction
required:
Pilgrims Airlifted
A Assam government has made arrangements to get the pilgrims airlifted and
provide all necessary items.
Use the given format for your response.
error correction
SECTION–B
(Creative Writing Skills) (10 Marks)
IV. 1. Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below.
(5)
(A) You are Anuradha, the Head Girl of Aravalli Public School, Jamnagar, Gujarat. You
OO The neutrality of the environment protection laws all over the world.
Write a letter to the Editor of The Hindu, in not more than 120 words, drawing
attention towards our Mother Earth.
OR
(B) You are Atharv /Ashna, a student of class X, Ramprastha International School, Loni.
You feel computer classes should be given right from the very beginning but the
unavailability of resources in your school compelled you to write this letter. Write a
letter to the editor drawing attention of the concerned authorities.
2. Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below.
(5)
(A) All living things including plants, animals and human beings need water to live
and to carry out different cellular activities. Using appropriate message through
the picture shown below, encourage the people making them understand the water
issues.
OR
(B) The given pie chart shows proportion of people from different households living in
a state of poverty in the UK in the year 2002. Write an analytical paragraph based
upon the information provided in about 100-120 words.
14% 7%
5%
Couples with children Single without children
15%
24%
26%
9%
societies, the world has ever known. Now, in the last decade of the twentieth century and
my own eighth decade as a man, that system had been overturned forever and replaced
by one that recognised the rights and freedom of all people, regardless of the colour of
their skin.
(i) What structure did ‘they create?
(iii) Why did the inauguration ceremony take place in the ampitheatre formed by the
Union Buildings?
(a) Because it was a cultural hub
(c) Because it had been the seat of white supremacy for decades
(iv) Which decade was this for Mandela since his birth?
OR
(B) “Day after day she watched the bus, and gradually a tiny wish crept into her head and
grew there: she wanted to ride on that bus, even if it was just once. This wish became
stronger, until it was an overwhelming desire. Valli would stare wistfully at the people
who got on and off the bus when it stood at the street corner. Their faces would kindle
in her longings, dreams and hopes. If one of her friends happened to ride the bus and
tried to describe the sights of the town of her. Valli would be jealous to listen and would
shout in English: “Proud! Proud!”
(i) Valli would stare wistfully at the people as she ___________________________.
(ii) Pick the option that shows the list of words that collocate with ‘overwhelming’.
(1) Response
(2) Lies
(3) Support
(4) Majority
(5) Pets
(6) Places
(a) 1, 5, 6
(b) 1, 3, 4
(c) 2, 5
(d) 3, 5, 6
(iv) A part of the extract has been paraphrased. Choose the option that includes the
(v) What does the line ‘gradually a tiny wish crept into her hand and grew there’ mean?
jungle.
(ii) In the context of the given poem, all of the following are INCORRECT, except for
(b) The word ‘tawny’ in the given stanza represents the lion’s colour.
(c) The word ‘tawny’ in the given stanza represents the lion’s strength.
(iii) The given stanza from the poem ‘How to Tell Wild Animals’ can be said to convey
poem.
(b) We should frequently pay a visit to the jungle.
(c) We should stay away from lions; specifically, from the Asian Lions.
(iv) The ‘tawny beast’ in the stanza is referred to the Asian Lion who ROARS. Pick out
(a) 1, 4
(b) 4
(c) 2, 3
(d) 3
OR
(B) My head is full of whispers
which tomorrow will be silent
Listen. The glass is breaking.
The trees are stumbling forward
into the night. Winds rush to meet them.
The moon is broken like a mirror,
its pieces flash now in the crown
of the tallest oak.
(i) What do the first two lines of the stanza reveal about the poet?
(a) Sympathetic state of mind
(b) only the tallest have right to survive even in the adversity
(d) women have not regretted being the supreme creature of the society
VI. Answer ANY FOUR of the following in about 40-50 words each.
(4×3=12)
(i) Self-confidence is very much required to live a life of integrity. Validate the statement
by giving your own opinion referring to the chapter ‘His First Flight’.
(ii) How are fire and ice similar to each other even though the two have contradictory
traits?
(iii) Valli had to make way with the aspirations of a young child. Discuss with reference
(v) In order to live a well-regulated life, one must get married. Substantiate this
(ii) Looking back at the story ‘The Midnight Visitor’, when do you think Ausable
you never take risks, you’ll never get anywhere in life, and you certainly won’t learn
how to live life to the fullest. This way, the young seagull’s father counsels his child.
Write the conversation between the two on the basis of your understanding of the
text ‘His First Flight’.
Father : Staying in your comfort zone is the fastest way to become discontent.
Seagull : …………………………………….
OR
(ii) Grieving is an intense feeling that we feel when in deep sorrow as in the event of
losing someone. No one wants to lose a loved one, the resulting emotion could tear
one apart and is hard for every person. No words can take away the pain, we only
say what we can. On a certain occasion, you were expected to address the mourning
of Kisa’s son. The speaker develops the conversation with Kisa Gautami. Complete
the conversation between the speaker and Kisa.
Speaker : I understand it’s hard to bear the loss of someone who is close to your
heart.
Kisa : …………………………………….
SECTION–A
(Reading Skills) (20 Marks)
I. Read the passage given below:
(10 marks)
(1) In a new finding, climate change has now become a national issue in America as a recent
study has deduced that warming-induced drought in the Middle East is leading to
increased conflicts over food and water, leading to its consequences on America and the
world. The accelerating rate of climate change poses a severe risk to national security
and acts as a catalyst for global political conflict. This is the conclusion drawn up by
US experts, according to a government report. At the US Centre for Naval Analyses,
the Military Advisory Board found that climate change had induced drought in the
Middle East and Africa. The lack of food and water was affecting the populations of
these countries to take recourse to extreme measures. It was escalating long-standing
ethnic tensions into violent clashes in the affected countries. In addition, the report
predicted that an increase in catastrophic weather conditions worldwide would create
more demand for American troops, even as flooding and extreme weather could damage
naval ports and military bases.
(2) According to official findings, the report signalled that it would influence American
foreign policy as well. The report visualises situations caused by the massive dislocation
or massive drying up of the waters of the Nile or of the major rivers of India and China.
Pentagon officials also feel that the report would affect military policy of their country
as climate change is having an impact on national security, whether by increasing global
instability or by opening the Arctic or by increasing sea level and storm surge close to
coastal installations. This is the first major study to draw the link between climate change
and national security. Thus, American leaders are delivering major speeches wherein
they are linking up climate change with that of national security. New regulations would
also be put in place to cut pollution from coal-fired power options.
(3) The report follows a recent string of scientific studies that warn that the effects of climate
change are already occurring and that more flooding, droughts, extreme storms, food
and water shortages, and damage to infrastructure will occur in the future. There is
thus, a link in some quarters between rising sea waters and terrorism. These effects are
stress multipliers that will aggravate stressors abroad, such as poverty, environmental
degradation, political instability and social tensions.
(1×10=10)
(i) What, according to the passage, is the latest finding regarding climate change?
(4) Climate change has created more demand for American troops.
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 1, 2 and 4
(c) 4
(d) 3 and 5
(ii) Select the option that makes the correct use of ‘aggravate’, as used in the passage, to
(b) Military intervention will only _______________ the conflict even further.
(iv) List the factors that affected the populations of the Middle East and Africa to take
(v) Discuss the factor why the catastrophic weather conditions worldwide will create
(vi) What does the author mean when he says, ‘ethnic text’?
(vii) Discuss the first major study drawing the link between climate change and national
security.
(ix) Select the option that correctly states the two meanings of ‘conflict’ as used in the
passage.
(a) 1 and 3
(b) 1 and 3
(c) 3 and 4
(d) 2 and 4
it’s estimated that the share of global plastic waste that enters the ocean is around 3%.
In 2010 – the year for which we have the latest estimates – that was around 8 million
tonnes.
(3) Most of the plastic materials we produce are less dense than water and should therefore,
float at the ocean surface. But our best estimates of the amount of plastic afloat at sea are
orders of magnitude lower than the amount of plastic that enters our oceans in a single
year: as we show in the visualization, it’s far lower than 8 million tonnes and instead in
the order of 10s to 100s of thousands of tonnes.
(4) If we currently pollute our oceans with millions of tonnes of plastic each year, we must
have released tens of millions of tonnes in recent decades. Why then do we find at least
100 times less plastics in our surface waters? This discrepancy is often referred to as the
‘missing plastic problem’. There are several hypotheses to explain the ‘missing plastic
problem’.
(5) One possibility is that it is due to imprecise measurement: we might either grossly
overestimate the amount of plastic waste we release into the ocean or underestimate
the amount floating on the ocean surface. Another popular hypothesis is that ultraviolet
light (UV) and mechanical wave forces break large pieces of plastic into smaller ones.
These smaller particles, referred to as microplastics, are much more easily incorporated
into sediments or ingested by organisms.
(6) A study which sampled deep-sea sediments across several basins found that microplastic
was up to four orders of magnitude more abundant (per unit volume) in deep-sea
sediments from the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea and Indian Ocean than in
plastic-polluted surface waters.
(7) But new research may suggest a third explanation: that plastics in the ocean break down
slower than previously thought, and that much of the missing plastic is washed up or
buried in our shorelines.
(1×10=10)
(i) Why do most of the plastics float on the ocean surface?
(a) Because most of the plastic materials are less dense than water
(a) 1 and 4
(b) 2 and 4
(c) 1 and 3
(d) 1, 4 and 5
(iii) Complete the following analogy correctly with a word/phrase from paragraph 6:
(b) mechanical wave forces break large pieces of plastic into smaller ones.
(v) Describe the popular hypothesis about ultraviolet light (UV) and mechanical wave
forces.
(vi) Fill in the blank by selecting the correct option.
A study which sampled deep-sea sediments across several basins found that
microplastic was in _____________.
(a) small quantity
(b) abundance
(vii) Substitute the word ‘postulation’ with ONE WORD similar in meaning, in the
basins.
(ix) List one possibility that overestimates the amount of plastic waste we release into the
ocean.
(x) How much is the global primary plastic production per year?
(i) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option to complete the headline appeared
in a magazine.
White vinegar ____________________ miracles and can be used for pretty much
every single cleaning task. There is a simple trick to make your floors clean and
shiny like never before.
(a) works
(b) worked
(c) is working
(d) has been working
(ii) Read the conversation between Rahul and Sakshi. Complete the sentence by
Rahul : What’s your plan after the last paper of the term-end examination?
Rahul asked Sakshi what her plan was after the last paper of the term-end
examination. To this, Sakshi replied _________________________.
(iii) Select the correct option to fill in the blank for the given line, from a school magazine.
(a) could
(b) needn’t
(c) will
(d) mustn’t
(iv) Select the option that identifies the error and supplies the correction for the
Electronic devices and screens are part of our daily lives. However, these screens
have a very harmful affect on both children as well as adults.
Option no. error correction
(a) have has
(b) however moreover
(c) affect effect
(d) on over
(v) Complete the given narrative, by filling in the blank with the correct option.
Making simple changes to your life and making good habits a part of your routine
is simpler than it ______________.
(a) sound
(b) is sounding
(c) sounds
(d) has sounded
(vi) Fill in the blank by using the correct form of the word in the bracket, for the given
portion of a letter:
statement:
correction.
Over time, our work with people have supported community efforts and led to
transformative social and environmental results.
Use the given format for your response.
error correction
(ix) Sanjay’s principal announced something in the morning assembly. His friend, Arush
was unfortunately absent. Write how he would report the following information to
his friend, Arush.
Our school is planning an excursion for South India during the winter vacation and
only senior wings students are eligible to join the trip.
(x) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option, to complete the quote Amrish heard
(c) Shouldn’t
(d) Mustn’t
(xi) Select the correct option to complete the conversation between Radhika and
Atulya.
Radhika : Atulya, did you attend the last class of Biology yesterday?
Atulya : No, I was called by the Physical education teacher for practice.
(b) Atulya whether he had attended the previous class of Biology last day.
(c) Atulya that whether he has attended the previous class of Biology last day.
(d) Atulya whether he has attended the previous class of Biology yesterday.
(xii) Identify the error spotted from a local newspaper and supply the correction
required:
Atrocities Against Women
Domestic violence is yet another term who is common in our country as women
were and are considered to be the inferior strata of human society.
Use the given format for your response.
error correction
67k
0 1 2 3 4 5+
Years of Experience
“God: Of the money that I asked for, only seventy pesos reached me. Send me the rest,
since I need it very much. But don’t send it to me through the mail because the post
office employees are a bunch of crooks. Lencho”. (First Flight)
(i) Why did the postmaster open the mailbox immediately after Lencho had posted his
letter?
(ii) Why did Lencho not want God to send the rest of the money through mail?
(a) Because Lencho thought that the letter could get lost in mail
(c) Because Lencho believed that post-office employees were all cheats
(iv) What did Lencho believe would happen to his family if God doesn’t help him?
OR
(B) As she and her husband turned away in terror, the extraordinary chair pushed them
both out of the room and then appeared to slam and lock the door after them.
Mrs Hall almost fell down the stairs in hysterics. She was convinced that the room was
haunted by spirits, and that the stranger had somehow caused these to enter into her
furniture.
“My poor mother used to sit in that chair,” she moaned! To think it should rise up against
me now!
The feeling among the neighbours was that the trouble was caused by witchcraft.”
(Footprints without Feet)
(i) Mrs Hall felt that the room was haunted by spirits because
_____________________________________________________________________ .
(ii) Pick the option that best describes how Mrs Hall must be feeling at the moment
(a) My friend and I were in splits when he saw the clown’s antics.
(b) I don’t know why I suddenly felt worried about flying home.
(d) The people who had witnessed the accident were spellbound.
(iv) Pick the option that displays a cause -> effect relationship.
(v) The neighbours thought it was ‘witchcraft’. This tells us that neighbours were
_____________________________________________________________________ .
(A) The villagers don’t feel happy that the tiger is caged.
(C) The tiger is happy that he doesn’t have to hunt for his food.
(poetic device)
(v) The tiger is reacting to his imprisonment in the zoo by _________________________
________________.
OR
(B) Money is external.
He is learning, well behind his desperate eyes,
The epistemology of loss, how to stand up
Knowing what every man must one day know
And most know many days, how to stand up
(The Ball Poem)
(i) The poet says ‘money is external’. What does it mean in this extract?
(ii) What does the boy learn by losing the ball, according to the extract?
(1) Loss is the unavoidable truth of life.
(a) 1, 2, 5
(b) 2, 4
(c) Only 1
(d) 3, 5
(v) According to the poet, from whom do we mostly learn about loss?
VI. Answer ANY FOUR of the following in about 40-50 words each.
(4×3=12)
(ii) What are the thematic ideas the poet highlights through the poem ‘Fire and Ice’?
(iii) Why does find the elderly woman on the bus repulsive?
(iv) Merely outer appearances and physical strength don’t make a person brave. Discuss
the statement with reference to the poem ‘The Tale of Custard the Dragon’.
(v) ‘It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good
fortune, must be in want of a wife’. It is an excerpt from Jane Austen’s Pride and
Prejudice. Do you find any relevance of the quote with the play ‘The Proposal’?
VII. Answer ANY TWO of the following in about 40-50 words each.
(2×3=6)
(i) ‘Affection blinds the reason.’ How far do you think the statement is appropriate in
the ‘thrill’?
acclaimed scientist?
The poet further feels rejuvenated and chooses to draw upon his experience with
the crow and the dusting of snow to share his thoughts on ‘Every cloud has a
silver lining’. As Frost, write the speech in your own words for the school morning
assembly.
OR
(ii) You strongly feel that hate is a venom, and it is so strong that it can pollute your
spirit, poison your soul and seep into all of the relationships that surround you.
Anyone who has found themselves wrapped up in the arms of hate knows how
damaging and mind-consuming it can become.
Referring to the poem ‘Fire and Ice’ you have recently read, you are aspiring to
create a harmonious world through a speech.
Write a speech, for your classmates, expressing your belief/s with respect to the
poem.
OR
(ii) The ability to ask questions is one of the most important lifelong learning skills a
student can acquire in the course of their education. Write how Richard proved it to
be true. Justify.
zzz
SECTION–A
(Reading Skills) (20 Marks)
I. Read the passage given below: (10 marks)
(1) Celebrities advertising products are nothing new. In fact, it has been a part of our lives.
Back in the 2000’s you could not sit through a commercial break without seeing the
teen pop icon of that time, Britney Spears, endorsing Pepsi. The Pepsi legacy was later
continued by the most famous celebrity we know of, Beyonce. She was paid millions to
promote the carbonated drink which outraged health advocacy groups. Many concerned
people questioned her ethics as to why she was supporting a drink that plays a major
role in causing obesity.
(2) With growing importance of social media in a shopper’s purchase journey, companies
are evolving and stepping up the endorsement game across different channels. With
celebrities vouching for promoting their products, brands can increase awareness, trust
and familiarity, which are important variables in the purchase making decision process.
(3) Consumers feel more sympathetic towards a brand, if their products are promoted by
a celebrity they admire or relate to. It is simple psychological effect. People believe that
purchasing a product that is promoted by a celebrity they admire, will allow them to
emulate the celebrity’s desired traits or attract similar people into their lives. They will
associate the celebrity’s success, beauty aesthetic skills, etc. with a particular product.
(4) A research by Nelson conducted in 2015 broke down the level of trust in advertising
formats by different generations. It found that celebrity endorsements resonate more
strongly with Generation Z (ages 15 to 20) and Millennial (ages 21-34), audiences.
CELEBRITY ENDORSEMENTS
20
16%
15 14%
10 8%
7%
5
2%
0
Age Age Age Age Age
15-20 21-34 35-49 50-64 65+
(Gen Z) (Millennials) (Gen X) (Boomers) (Silent Gen)
(1×10=10)
(i) According to the passage, why are celebrities questioned for brand endorsements?
(ii) Big brands started hiring big celebrities to endorse their brands because:
(iii) Select the reason that displays what the writer projects, with reference to the
following:
It is the quality of your product that will keep consumers coming back, not a celebrity
link. (Paragraph 6)
(a) Meditation
(b) Counseling
(c) Self-realisation
(d) Motivation
(iv) Complete the following with a phrase from paragraph 6.
Opinion Reason
Blind faith in celebrity endorsement
is beginning to wane.
(vi) Based on your reading of the passage, list two reasons why the writer says that
(Paragraph 3)
With celebrities vouching for promoting their products, brands can increase awareness.
(x) Select the reason that displays why people purchase a product that is endorsed by
(1) Earth's climate has changed throughout history. Just in the last 800,000 years, there
have been eight cycles of ice ages, and warmer periods, with the end of the last ice age
about 11,700 years ago, marking the beginning of the modern climate era — and of
human civilization. Most of these climate changes are attributed to very small variations
in Earth’s orbit that change the amount of solar energy our planet receives.
(2) The current warming trend is different because it is clearly the result of human activities
since the mid-1800s, and is proceeding at a rate not seen over many recent millennia.
It is undeniable that human activities have produced the atmospheric gases that have
trapped more of the Sun’s energy in the Earth system. This extra energy has warmed
the atmosphere, ocean, and land, and widespread and rapid changes in the atmosphere,
ocean, cryosphere, and biosphere have occurred.
(3) Earth-orbiting satellites and new technologies have helped scientists see the big picture,
collecting many different types of information about our planet and its climate all over
the world. These data, collected over many years, reveal the signs and patterns of a
changing climate.
480
460
440
carbon dioxide level(parts per million)
current level
420
400
380
360
340
320
For millennia, atmospheric carbon dioxide had never been above this line 1950 level
300
280
260
240
220
200
160
800,000 700,000 600,000 500,000 400,000 300,000 200,000 100,000 0
years before today (0 = 1950)
(4) Scientists demonstrated the heat-trapping nature of carbon dioxide and other gases
in the mid-19th century. Many of the science instruments NASA uses to study our
(1×10=10)
(i) Infer one reason for the following, based on the information given in paragraph 1.
The current warming trend is different and is proceeding at a rate not seen over
many recent millennia.
(ii) Select the appropriate option to fill in the blanks.
(iii) Complete the following analogy correctly with a word/phrase from paragraph 1.
Evidence from the ancient paleoclimate reveals that current warming is occurring
roughly _______________ than the average rate of warming after an ice age.
(a) 7 times
(b) 10 times faster
(v) Describe the study of NASA how the gases affect the movement of infrared radiation
(c) colossal
(d) small
(vii) Substitute the word ‘extended’ with ONE WORD similar in meaning, in the
(ix) List two things that helped scientists to see the big picture about our planet and its
climate.
in the text.
(a) The Trend of Warming
SECTION–B
(Grammar) (10 Marks)
III.
1. Attempt ANY TEN of the following questions.
(i) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option to complete the headline appeared
in a newspaper.
Nearly 20,000 Indian students, studying medicine, were stuck in Ukraine amid the
conflict. The Government and other countries _______________________ efforts to
evacuate the students from the war-torn country.
(a) has made
(b) have made
(ii) Read the conversation between Rajesh and Sakshi. Complete the sentence by
(c) will
(d) might
(iv) Select the option that identifies the error and supplies the correction for the
following line.
I was walking through the station on my way to work when I heard a huge explosion,
and then all hell breaks loose.
Option no. error correction
(a) walking walked
(b) through near
(c) to for
(d) breaks broke
(c) arises
(d) is arising
(vi) Fill in the blank by using the correct form of the word in the bracket, for the given
portion of a letter:
Subject : Deteriorating law and order situation in the city
Incidents of theft, kidnapping, molestation and chain snatching ________________
(be) on the rise these days.
(vii) Report the dialogue between Shailaja and Ankita, by completing Shailaja’s sentence:
correction.
Peer pressure is a phenomenon wherein we tend to get influence by the lifestyle and
the ways of thinking of our peers.
Use the given format for your response.
error correction
(ix) Ananya shared some information with Dhriti about her visit to a five-star hotel.
(c) Shouldn’t
(d) Mustn’t
(xi) Select the correct option to complete the conversation between Danish and Dhanush.
(c) that they had ultimately proved they had been indefatigable.
required:
Smoke in cabin, SpiceJet flight makes emergency landing at Hyderabad
A SpiceJet flight operating from Goa to Hyderabad on Thursday made an
emergency landing at it’s destination following smoke in the aircraft.
Use the given format for your response.
error correction
SECTION–B
(Creative Writing Skills) (10 Marks)
IV. 1. Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below.
(5)
(A) The discrimination on the basis of caste and class is a major hurdle for National
Integration of India. The people engaged in weakening the unity of the country
tried desperately to create divisions and rifts in the name of caste, creed and culture.
Using your own ideas and the clues given below on “National Integration”, write
a letter to the Editor of a leading national daily highlighting the significance of
national integration.
OR
(B) Women have made countless contributions to society that has literally changed the
and, by extension, printing. We cut down trees to make paper, right? You will get to
know more about deforestation after reading points mentioned below:
hectares.
• Only 18% of the world's forests are on land protected from deforestation.
• 4.2% of the world’s tree cover loss was between 1990 and 2020.
Write a paragraph, in about 100-120 words, analysing the data given and how
deforestation is a threat to ecosystems around the globe.
cult is changing the mindset of people and making them complacent. You’d realise
a flood of negatives come to the fore the moment you start introspecting on the
subject.’
You spotted the headline in the newspaper and decided to write a paragraph on:
‘Poll freebies: Road to economic disaster’.
Write a paragraph, in 100-120 words, analysing the given statement showing how
distribution of freebies of any kind influences all people which is unethical in a
democracy.
SECTION–C
(Literature) (40 Marks)
V. Reference to the Context (10 marks)
1. Attempt ANY ONE of two extracts given. (5 marks)
(A) “What’s the matter with you, you fool?” Shouted Ramlal. “I am only taking you to
school.” Then he told his wife, “Let her wear some decent clothes today or else what will
the teachers and other schoolgirls think of us when they see her?
New clothes had never been made for Bholi. The old dresses of her sisters were passed
on to her. No one cared to mend or wash her clothes. But today, she was lucky to receive
a clean dress which had shrunk after many washings and no longer fitted Champa. She
was even bathed and oil was rubbed into her dry and matted hair. Only then did she
believe that she was being taken to a place better than her home! When they reached the
school, the children were already in their classrooms.”
(i) Why did Ramlal call Bholi a fool?
(ii) Pick the sentence that bring out the meaning of ‘decent’ as used in the extract.
(iii) Pick the option that best describes how Bholi felt at the end of her first day in school.
(v) What fear did Bholi have when she was told about being taken to school?
OR
(B) NOODLE : It shall be done, sir. (in a singsong) O Great and Mighty Think-Tank,
Ruler of Mars and her two moons, most powerful and intelligent
creature in the whole universe- (out of breath) what-are-your-
orders?
our manned space probe to that ridiculous little planet we are going
to put under our generous rulership. What do they call it, again?
NOODLE : Earth, your Intelligence.
THINK-TANK : Earth - of course. You see how insignificant the place is? But first,
(ii) The word ‘singsong’ in the first line of the extract shows that:
(iii) What did Think-Tank do with the mirror immediately after this scene?
(v) Choose the word from the following that suits best to describe Think-Tank.
(a) Amiable
(b) Conciliatory
(c) Boastful
(d) Compliant
Dragon’.
1. Everything whether created big or small has its specific importance.
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 1 and 5
(c) 2 and 5
(d) 3 and 4
The one who had seemed to be the biggest coward is the one
_____________________________.
(iii) State whether the following statement is TRUE or FALSE:
The true definition of ‘brave’ is when the situation demands it, they are bound to
show their true colours which may surprise us.
(iv) Enlist the physical attributes of Custard, the dragon.
(Any two)
(b) Paradox
(c) Antithesis
OR
(B) Stop that sulking at once,
Amanda!
You’re always so moody,
Amanda!
Anyone would think that I nagged at you,
Amanda!
____________________ is the major theme of the poem Amanda. (Write the theme
appropriately)
(ii) Amanda, efforts to escape her realities of controlling over her and, turns to
After getting a fresh list of instructions from her parents, Amanda wishes to be away
from her daily routine life.
(iv) ‘I’ in the above extract is __________________.
(a) Amanda
(v) What does the poet indicate through the last line of the given extract?
statement.
(iv) Custard’s exterior was quite formidable. Show your acquaintance with the statement.
(v) Why do you think Mr Chubukov had to speak out that his daughter is willing to
marry?
VII. Answer ANY TWO of the following in about 40-50 words each.
(2×6=12)
(i) What did Fowler envision about Ausable prior to his meeting with him?
(ii) Tricki was transformed from “bloated sausage” to “lithe and hard muscled animal”.
and raising an irrelevant issue. The core issue of their discussion seems to be
compromised. Once when they realised so, they are ready to exchange polite mental
view. Assume you are Natalya and you are aware why Lomov had visited your father.
Develop the conversation addressing Lomov cajoling him and promising that you
would no longer claim for the Oxen Meadows.
Write this conversation as per your understanding of the play ‘The Proposal’.
You may begin like this:
Natalya : It’s really very unfortunate of me that we exchanged unpleasantries
like a lay man. I sincerely tender my apology.
Lomov : ………………………………………………………………………………
Natalya : ………………………………………………………………………………
OR
(ii) Students, at times, deliberately flout and flagrantly disregard the law and ethics of
the classroom. Suppose Anne realises her mistakes and wants to seek apology from
Mr. Keasing, her Maths teacher. Write the most likely conversation to be observed
between the two.
Loisel followed it, she could have easily avoided her miseries and ordeals of life.
Discuss.
OR
(ii) The practice of accepting or giving dowry is prevalent in Indian society, despite
the spread of education and awareness. The chapter ‘Bholi’ shows that men are
supreme and they have high value in the society. Discuss how this evil practice was
responded rightly by Bholi.
zzz
SECTION–A
(Reading Skills) (20 Marks)
I. Read the passage given below:
(10 marks)
(1) Everyday new careers and professional opportunities emerge. No matter how much
each career option excites you, you will have to prioritise and choose the best option for
yourself. Your personality, interests, abilities, aspirations, strengths and weaknesses will
help you to decide the most viable option for you. The following exercises are important
for career planning, and following these will ensure that you are on the right track.
(2) Self-assessment: The entire process of career planning should be ideally done in
conjunction with your career counselor, so that you have professional help at every
step. A trained career counsellor can help you identify a variety of professions in which
you can excel. Remember to keep your list of possible professions long, so that your
confidence in yourself does not wane.
(3) When I took my test, the long list of professions included being a florist, teacher,
counselor, doctor and sales executive. The very idea that I have an aptitude for several
professions – and not just to be a doctor – was very comforting. I thought to myself,
“When patients get tired of me, I can always be a salesman!” Do not let anyone ever tell
you that you are good for nothing. Each one of us has several talents, and it is important
to first identify them, and then work hard to develop them.
(4) Self-analysis: Another important aspect of self-assessment is self-analysis or soul
searching. We are the best judge of our abilities, strengths and weaknesses. If you
concentrate and decide to be honest with yourself, self-analysis can help you understand
your career options better.
(5) Need for planning: If you ask adults around you whether they actually became what
they had wanted to become when they were young, chances are that very few of them
actually became what they had aspired towards in childhood. This may not essentially
be a reflection of their failure – but an indication of change. Circumstances change,
ideas change, and so do people. By the time you grow up, you may end up working
in professions that neither you nor your parents know about today. Of course, some
of you may get to work in traditional professions and move along a well-planned path.
Whatever the consequence of your planning, the truth about making a plan is that it
may not work. But in the words of Henry C. Link, if “you do make a plan, the chances
of getting what you want significantly increase.”
(1×10=10)
(i) Career planning is an activity that requires:
weaknesses
(b) working hard at your studies, acquiring new skills as you move along in life and
one’s planning, the truth about asking a plan is that it may not work
(ii) This passage may be summarised as:
are good for nothing, because our personality, interests, abilities, aspirations,
strengths and weaknesses will help us decide the most viable career options for
ourselves.’
(d) ‘A good career choice results when you follow traditional professions and move
(Paragraph 2)
(iv) Self-analysis is considered an important part of self-assessment because:
(a) soul searching helps us to judge our abilities, honestly and helps us understand
professional can help us prioritise and choose the option that is most viable for
us.
Opinion Reason
Adults may sometime not have reflected ___________________________________
what they had wanted to become when
they were young
(vii) An important point highlighted in the passage is that:
(a) only a trained counselor can help you make the right career choice
(b) it is our abilities, strengths and weaknesses that help us succeed in our career
(c) there is not much use of making a plan – very few people get their plans fulfilled
(d) many people do not get to pursue the career of their choice because circumstances,
Remember to keep your list of possible professions long, so that your confidence in
yourself does not wane. (Paragraph 2)
II. Read the passage given below:
(10 marks)
(1) Each year nearly 1.2 million people die and millions of others are injured or disabled as
a result of road traffic crashes. The vast majority (over 90%) of all road traffic deaths and
injuries occur in low-income and middle-income countries.
(2) In high-income countries, most of those killed or injured in road traffic crashes are
document highlights the main risk factors for road traffic injuries, noting how many of
these risks are elevated in youth. It stresses that successful prevention programmes can
be put in place to protect young people, and presents examples of interventions from
different geographic and cultural contexts that have been shown to be effective.
(4) Children and young people under the age of 25 years account for over 30% of those
killed and injured in road traffic crashes. Of the 3,83,046 road traffic deaths that were
recorded in this age group around the world, at least half were road users from the
World Health Organization’s African and South-East Asia Regions. However, the highest
rates of road traffic fatalities in the 0-25 year age range occur among road users in the
African and the Eastern Mediterranean regions.
(5) Road traffic injuries among those under 25 years rank as the eighth leading cause of death
around the world. However, when analysed by five-year age groups, the significance of
road traffic injuries rises dramatically. Among 15-19 year-olds, road traffic injuries are
the leading cause of death, while among the 10-14 years and 20-24 years age groups
they are the second leading cause of death.
especially vulnerable to other diseases and conditions, have the lowest ranking for road
traffic deaths.
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below.
(1×10=10)
(i) Where does more than 90% of road traffic accidents and injuries occur?
(ii) Passengers of four-wheeled vehicles form the majority of those killed in road
(iv) Which age group is least affected by road accidents and injuries?
(v) Identify the word in para 2 which means the same as ‘to be at risk’.
(a) Disabled
(b) Intervention
(c) Vulnerable
(d) Killed
(vi) The highest rate of road traffic fatalities in the 0–25 year age range is in the:
(vii) Road accidents and injuries is the second leading cause of death in the age group of:
(a) 10-14
(b) 20-24
(c) both (c) and (b)
(d) 15-19
(viii) Complete the following analogy correctly with a word/phrase from paragraph 2:
The writer means to say that those injured or killed on the roads are from
_______________ countries.
(a) affluent
(b) low-income countries
(c) less populated
(d) densely populated
(x) Select the option that displays the age bracket for eighth leading cause of death
SECTION–B
(GRAMMAR) (10 Marks)
III. 1. Attempt ANY TEN of the following questions.
(i) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option to complete the headline appeared
Prajwal : Don’t worry. I will brief you whatever happens in the class.
Pranet, coming out of the examination hall, admitted that the paper was very tiring
and he could not even think to attend the evening class. Prajwal cajoled him saying
that he _________________.
(iii) Select the correct option to fill in the blank for the given line, from a journal.
True friends care about you. They’re able to have concern and respect for your
thoughts and emotions even when they __________________ not agree.
(a) could (b) may
(iv) Select the option that identifies the error and supplies the correction for the
(c) shined
(d) shines
(vi) Fill in the blank by using the correct form of the word in the bracket, for the given
portion of a letter:
Subject: Placement of order for electronics
We have never been given any opportunity to complain and the goods
________________ (reach) as well on time and in excellent condition.
(vii) Report the dialogue between Anil and Shivangi, by completing Anil’s sentence:
Anil : What do you want to do this evening?
Shivangi : I feel like going to the library. I have to cover some important topics.
absent that day. He was told to report the following sentence. Write how he would
have reported the following information to Sonali.
The viva-voce, due for the second semester, is likely to be held on October 6, 20XX.
(x) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option, to complete the quote by a member
from WHO.
_________________ We Afford To Have Covid Wave-Iii? Wear Mask Religiously.
(a) Will
(b) Can
(c) Should
(d) Must
(xi) Select the correct option to complete the conversation between Kamal and Disha.
Disha : No, I have my assignments pending. I need to submit all the pending
(b) needs to submit all the pending assignments by the next day
(d) needed to submit all the pending assignments by the next day
(xii) Identify the error spotted in a local newspaper and supply the correction required:
‘normal’ children struggled to come to terms with the new arrangements and
online classes, the same also become a huge challenge for the specially-abled
children.
Use the given format for your response.
error correction
SECTION–B
(CREATIVE WRITING SKILLS) (10 Marks)
IV. 1. Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below.
(5)
(A) You are Ansh Sinha, the Environment Club Secretary of Sapphire Public School,
B-62, IndusInd Lane, Kanpur. You feel rapid and uncontrolled tourism development
in the coastal zones has exposed their fragile ecosystems to an ever-increasing risk of
environmental degradation.
Write a letter to the editor giving suggestions and ending with some suggestions in
the hope of effective transition towards sustainable tourism in coastal areas.
You may use the following points:
l Tourism has impacted on global warming
OR
(B) Ruining the present and the future of the children is a crime. In spite of the
government’s strong warning, this evil practice is very much prevalent. Write a
letter to the editor criticising the deep-rooted social issue which in turn has given
rise to other social issues.
2. Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below.
(5)
(A) The graph below shows India and China’s population figures since the year 2000
and predicted population growth up until 2050. Summarize the information by
selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.
India China
1.7
1.6
1.5
Billions
1.4
1.3
1.2
1.1
1.0
2000 2010 2020 2030 2040 2050
OR
(B) Road rage is a form of raging abusive behaviour displayed by drivers to exert power.
Analyse the image and write a paragraph showing how you would avoid being
tailgated and harassed.
THE FACE OF Top 10 offences most likely to have sent the driver into road rage?
ROAD RAGE
The likeliest road rage culprits are 49% 44% 39% 35%
men aged 35-50 driving blue BMW’s.
16% 16%
Driving in Having a
a city bad day
44% 56%
56% of the men surveyed said they experienced rage
on a daily basis versus 44% of the women.
completely alone in the world. And I’m not. I have loving parents and a sixteen-year-
old sister, and there are about thirty people. I can call friends. I have a family, loving
aunts and a good home. No, on the surface I seem to have everything except my one
true friend. All I think about when I’m with friends is having a good time. I can’t bring
myself to talk about anything but ordinary everyday things.
(i) Why does Anne feel the following?
. . . no one will believe that a thirteen-year-old girl is completely alone in the world.
(1) People knew she had a family.
(2) People rejected the idea of loneliness.
(3) She had several friends.
(4) She had a cheerful personality.
(5) Her life was comfortable.
Choose the correct option from the following.
(a) 1 and 5
(b) 1, 3 and 4
(c) 2 and 3
(d) 2, 4 and 5
(ii) Select the most appropriate option for (1) and (2).
(1) . . . on the surface I seem to haver everything, except my one true friend.
(2) Anne doesn’t truly connect with anyone.
(a) (1) is true and (2) is false
(d) Both (1) and (2) cannot be inferred from the extract.
(iv) Select the option which displays an example of ‘having a good time’.
(a) He is put for a picnic with his friends and they are laughing and singing together.
(b) He is studying hard for the periodic test the following day to improve his scores.
(c) He is trying to convince his father to purchase the latest video games for him.
(d) He just rescued and injured puppy and is tending to its wounds.
(v) What do we get to know about Anne when she says the following?
I can’t bring myself to talk about anything but ordinary everyday things.
OR
(B) “What should I? You were going to rob me. If I let you go, you’ll only rob someone
else. Society must be protected from men like you.”
Horace smiled. “I’m not a man who threatens society. I steal only from those who
have a lot of money. I steal for a very good reason. And I hate the thought of prison.”
She laughed, and he begged, thinking that he had persuaded her, “Look, I have no
(ii) Horace says “I’m not a man who threatens society.” Which quote from the following
(iv) Pick the option showing the CORRECT meaning of the word ‘persuaded’.
(a) Dissuaded
(b) Chided
(c) Cajoled
(d) Discouraged
(v) Choose the statement from the following that the lady speaks to establish her
confidence.
(a) If I let you go, you’ll only rob someone else.
(c) About the importance of love for internal beauty and not the external one
(ii) Anaphora is a rhetorical device that features the repetition of a word or phrase at
the beginning of successive sentences, phrases, or clauses. Here, the said definition
goes with _____________________. (Identify the line)
(iii) God is capable of looking beyond external beauty. It contradicts with:
(a) that humans do not have the insight and understanding to look into the soul of
a person.
(b) that God doesn’t approve of the ugliness of human being.
stanza.
(a) I love the fact that you always seem to care so much.
OR
(B) He is learning, well behind his desperate eyes,
The epistemology of loss, how to stand up
Knowing what every man must one day know
And most know many days, how to stand up.
(i) What is the boy learning?
(ii) The boy’s eyes look:
(a) frustrated
(b) sleepy
(c) happy
(d) desperate
(iii) What do you understand by ‘epistemology of loss’?
(iv) The boy is going to know the universal truth that ____________________
_________________________________________________________________.
(v) Which word from the stanza means ‘hopelessness’?
(a) Desperate
(b) Epistemology
(c) Loss
(d) Learning
VI. Answer ANY FOUR of the following in about 40-50 words each.
(4×3=12)
(i) Every big deal begins with a first small step. Validate the given statement with
(iv) Custard earned his self-respect only after he displayed his valour against the pirate.
play?
VII. Answer ANY TWO of the following in about 40-50 words each.
(2×3=6)
(i) Who do you think the writer used the metaphorical expression “about thirty feet of
Dragon’, celebrated the victory and feat of their hero. In fact, Ink and Blink gyrated
around Custard, the dragon who saved their lives. You, on behalf of the characters
mentioned above, show your gratitude to Custard for he saved your lives. You may
begin your conversation like this:
Ink : Dear Custard, I am relieved and truly indebted to see your valour.
Thanks buddy.
Blink : ………………………………………………………………………………
Belinda : ………………………………………………………………………………
Mustard : ………………………………………………………………………………
OR
(ii) After having read the lesson on the unshakable and unwavering faith of Lencho,
you were really gobsmacked. You decided to share your experience delivering a
speech in the morning assembly of your school. Relate your own experience and
draft a speech based on the lesson ‘A Letter to God’.
you’ll be rewarded with physical, mental and emotional well-being. Justify with
reference to your understanding of the chapter, ‘The Thief ’s Story’.
zzz
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