Subject: English
Grade: X
Time: 3 hours
Marks: 80
General Instructions:
- This paper is divided into three parts: A, B and C. All questions are compulsory
- Separate instructions are given with each section and question, wherever necessary. Read these instructions very carefully and follow them.
- Do not exceed the prescribed word limit while answering the questions.
Section A (Reading) [20 Marks]
1. Read the following passage carefully:
1. The novel corona virus has given rise to a global pandemic that has destabilized most institutional settings. A virus invisible to the naked eye has massively disrupted our lives, economies, healthcare and education systems worldwide.
2. Given the corona virus’s current situation, some households have also had time to introspect on gender roles and stereotypes. For instance, women are expected to carry out household chores like cooking, cleaning, and looking after the family. With men sharing household chores responsibilities during the lockdown period.
3. This tough period also gave people some time to reflect on the importance of keeping themselves fit. Those who never exercised before, too developed some new habits of Yoga, Pranayam and exercises during the lockdown period. These new habits and people’s increased focus on their health, wellness and immunity will surely change the way we lead our lives even in future.
4. The nature too healed itself during the lockdown period. Restricted human movement led to better air quality, cleaner waterbodies and joyful wildlife movements. The human beings, we hope, reflected during this time, how some of their unconscious activities cause disruption in nature and worked out ways to adopt environmental-friendly options for their activities in future.
5. This situation also affected the education sector to a great extent. It has forced us to shift from offline to online mode of teaching-learning process. Technology-enabled teaching is definitely the future we are looking towards, but it is important to identify key challenges for students and teachers in the current scenario.
6. The current scenario has also affected our economies to the extent wherein many businessmen had to bear heavy losses in their businesses. The governments and individuals need to take actions to mitigate risk and minimize transmission while maintaining social and economic activities. However, relaxed control measures, declining risk perception and the understandable desire to return to normalcy have led to reduced protective behaviour and more social and workplace interactions, often in confined, close-contact settings, where the virus spreads really fast.
7. It is our responsibility that we take all necessary precautions through mask-wearing, physical distancing, hand hygiene as part of daily life. It is highly important to make these new behaviour part of our everyday habits. Travelling to new places, casual café visits with a large bunch of friends, spending our weekends in shopping, window-shopping and casual strolls, large gatherings in birthday parties and other celebrations; will require some modifications and patience to fit into ‘New Normal’ keeping all the safety norms in mind.
8. We are sure that regular communication from authorities, improved understanding of individual responsibility and, subsequently, a greater willingness to adopt infection prevention practices can be a stepping stone to a ‘new future’.
On the basis of your understanding of the passage, answer the following questions (1 x 10 = 10)
(a) COVID-19 has been called a pandemic as ___________
(i) it has spread across the globe
(ii) there is no vaccination for it
(iii) there is no preparedness for it.
(iv) it has disrupted the common life.
View AnswerAns. (i)
(b) State whether the following statement is TRUE OR FALSE
The lockdown period made people introspect on gender roles and stereotypes because People talked about gender stereotypes.
View AnswerAns. TRUE
(c) People, who never exercised before, started exercising during the lockdown period because ____________
(i) being at home, they had sufficient time at hand.
(ii) exercise was the only way to treat people infected with the novel corona virus.
(iii) people learnt new ways to exercise their body.
(iv) people understood the importance of health and wellness in the face of the pandemic.
View AnswerAns. (ii)
(d) During the lockdown period, the air and waterbodies were clean because _______
(i) there was less human movement due to lockdown
(ii) the virus helped in cleaning the air and the water
(iii) the government made extra efforts to clean the air and the water
(iv) people got together to clean waterbodies.
View AnswerAns. (i)
(e) During the pandemic period the education in schools continued through ________
(i) offline mode of teaching
(ii) online mode of teaching
(iii) weekly classes.
(iv) none of the above
View AnswerAns. (ii)
(f) Which of the following did NOT lead to reduced protective behaviours among people?
(i) Relaxed control measures
(ii) Declining risk perception
(iii) Physical distancing
(iv) Understandable desire to return to normalcy
View AnswerAns. (iii)
(g) Which of the following is OPPOSITE in meaning to the word ‘mitigate’ as used in the passage?
(i) Lessen
(ii) Reduce
(iii) Aggravate
(iv) Weaken
View AnswerAns. (iii)
(h) What does ‘stepping stone’ refer to ___________
(i) stones and pebbles lying on the road
(ii) something used as a way to progress
(iii) the destination of our journey
(iv) blocks and problems in one’s path.
View AnswerAns. (ii)
(i) State whether the following statement is TRUE or FALSE
During the pandemic there was a boom in the economy
View AnswerAns. FALSE
(j) Fill in the blank in the following sentence
_____________ should be avoided as a protection shield for corona infection.
View AnswerAns. Attending large gatherings
2. Read the following passage carefully.
1. The incidence of dengue has grown dramatically around the world in recent decades. A vast majority of cases are asymptomatic or mild and self-managed, and hence the actual numbers of dengue cases are under-reported or often misdiagnosed.
2. One estimate indicates 390 million dengue virus infections per year (95% credible interval 284-528 million), of which 96 million (67 – 136 million) manifest clinically (with any severity of disease). The number of dengue cases reported to WHO increased over 8 fold over the last two decades.
3. This alarming increase in case numbers is partly by a change in national practices to record and report dengue to the Ministries of Health, and to the WHO. But it also represents government recognition of the burden, and therefore the pertinence to report dengue disease.
4. Before 1970, only 9 countries had experienced severe dengue epidemics. The disease is now endemic in more than 100 countries in the WHO regions of Africa, the Americas, the Eastern Mediterranean, South-East Asia and the Western Pacific. The America, South-East Asia and Western Pacific regions are the most seriously affected. With Asia representing ~70% of the global burden of disease.
5. In 2020, dengue continues to affect several countries, with reports of increases in the numbers of cases in Bangladesh, Brazil, Cook Islands, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Mauritiana, Mayotte (Fr), Nepal, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Yemen.
6. The large number of dengue cases ever reported globally was in 2019 All regions were affected, and dengue transmission was recorded in
7. The first dengue vaccine, Dengvaxia (CYD-TDY) developed by Sanofi Pasteur was licensed in December 2015 and has now been approved by regulatory authorities in ~20 countries. In November 2017, the results of an additional analysis to retrospectively determine serostatus at the time of vaccination were released.
8. As described in the WHO position paper on the Dengvasia vaccine (September 2018) the dengue vaccine CYD-TDV has been shown in clinical trials to be efficacious and safe in persons who have had a previous dengue virus infection. However, it carries an increased risk of severe dengue in those who experience their first natural dengue infection after vaccination. For countries considering vaccination as part of their dengue control programme, pre-vaccination screening is the recommended strategy.
On the basis of your understanding of the passage attempt the following questions. (1 x 10 = 10)
(a) In the line, ‘and therefore the pertinence to report dengue disease’, the word ‘pertinence’ does NOT mean ________
(i) importance
(ii) ignorance
(iii) relevance
(iv) appropriateness
View AnswerAns. (ii)
(b) According to the WHO report, around 70% of the dengue cases from around the world ________
(i) are from Asia
(ii) are misdiagnosed in Asia
(iii) Do not occur in Asia
(iv) remain untreated in Asia
View AnswerAns. (i)
(c) The actual number of dengue cases are more than the figures in the reports because _________
(i) there has been a misprint
(ii) cases reported late
(iii) cases are under-reported
(iv) cases constantly increase
View AnswerAns. (iii)
(d) Choose the option that is correct about the rise in the number of dengue cases ______
(i) rise in dengue is due to rise in tourism
(ii) dengue is being tested and reported in vast numbers
(iii) dengue is a communicable disease
(iv) dengue spread is uncontrollable
View AnswerAns. (ii)
(e) State whether the following statement is TRUE or FALSE
Dengue vaccine works effectively on people who have been infected before.
View AnswerAns. FALSE
(f) What does the word ‘endemic’ refer to?
(i) Disease regularly found in people of a certain area.
(ii) Disease irregularly found in people of a certain area
(iii) Disease regularly found in people anywhere
(iv) Disease irregularly found in people anywhere.
View AnswerAns. (i)
(g) The number of cases of Dengue reported to WHO ___________
(i) decreased 8 times in the last ten years
(ii) decreased 10 times in the last twenty years
(iii) increased 10 times in the last eight years.
(iv) increased 8 times in the last twenty years.
View AnswerAns. (iv)
(h) What is the above report informing us about? Choose the most appropriate response.
(i) Spread of dengue and its effects around the world
(ii) Spread of dengue and its under-reportage
(iii) Spread of Dengue and how it affects Asia
(iv) Spread of Dengue and directions on the use of vaccine
View AnswerAns. (iv)
(i) Fill in the blank in the following sentence.
The estimated number of Dengue cases in the world annually is ___________
View Answer390 million
(j) State whether the following statement is TRUE or FALSE
Pre-screening must be done before administering the vaccine.
View AnswerAns. TRUE
Section B (Grammar & Creative Writing Skills) [20 Marks]
Grammar (10 Marks)
3. Choose the correct options to fill in any three blanks to complete the note about the Shad Suk Mynsiem Festival of Meghalaya.
Shad Suk Mynsiem is (a) ___________ most important festival of the Khasi clans of Meghalaya. It is also celebrated by the Jaintia and Garo clans of Meghalaya. This festival (b) _________ in April, every year. This (c) ___________ an extraordinary celebration and is also known as ‘Move of cheerful hearts’. This is a three-day festival and is popularly (d) ____________ as the ‘Shad Phur’. This festival is celebrated primarily in the Khasi Hills; close to Shillong.
(a) (i) an (ii) a (iii) the (iv) one
View AnswerAns. (iii)
(b) (i) celebrates (ii) is celebrated (iii) celebrated (iv) was celebrated
View AnswerAns. (ii)
(c) (i) was (ii) will be (iii) will start (iv) is
View AnswerAns. (iv)
(d) (i) was known (ii) has been knowing (iii) is knowing (iv) known
View AnswerAns. (iv)
4. In the following passage one word has been omitted in each line. Write the word in your answer sheet along with the word that comes before and the word that comes after it, against each line number. One has been done for you. Attempt any four of them. (1 x 4 = 4)
Before Word After
Savita, young girl in a Savita a young
dark pink dress, sits an (a) ______ ________ ______
elderly woman, soldering pieces glass. (b) ______ ________ ______
As hands move mechanically like (c) ______ ________ ______
the tongs of machine, I wonder if (d) ______ ________ ______
she the sanctity of the bangles (e) ______ ________ ______
View AnswerAns. (a) sits – alongside – an
(b) pieces – of – glass
(c) As – her – hands
(d) of – a – machine
(e) she – knows – the
5. Read the dialogue and complete the following passage by filling up the blanks (1 x 3 = 3)
Choose the correct options to fill in the blanks to complete the conversation between Chacha Chowdhary and a lady.
Chacha Chowdhary asked the lady (a) _________ that old bag. She replied that (b) ________ it very much. He commented that (c) ______________ a hundred rupees for it ten years ago.
View AnswerAns. (a) why she wanted to buy
(b) she liked
(c) he had paid
Creative Writing Skills (10 Marks)
6. Answer the following question in 100 – 120 words (5 Marks)
You are Rajiv/Ranjana. You are moved by the cruelty of your neighbor towards his pet dog. Write a letter in 100 – 120 words to the Chairman of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), complaining against the rough treatment.
View AnswerAns.
305, New Ashok Nagar
Delhi 1100XX
19 May 20XX
The Chairman
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA)
15, Chanakya Puri
New Delhi 1100XX
Dear Sir
Subject: Complaint against my neighbor for his cruelty to his pet dog
I am very much moved to see the acts of cruelty committed by my neighbor. Mr. Kapil Yadav, towards his pet dog Tom. I, therefore, request your society to rescue the miserable dog from the hands of this cruel man.
Only three months back Mr. Yadav brought this dog. As was on night duty, the dog was used as a night watchman. It was a grown-up Alsatian, so it needs good care and nourishment.
Unfortunately, the dog was kept hungry day after day. Frequently we saw him beating the dog with a chain or a lash. We heard the long-drawn whining and crying of this helpless creature. If anybody requested him not to do so, he started fighting with him.
So I feel it is our moral duty to inform your society so that proper action could be taken to stop such ill treatment to an innocent pet.
Yours faithfully
Rajiv Aggarwal
OR
You are Rajesh staying at 80, Tilak Lane, New Delhi. You are disturbed to find that the number of beggars has increased enormously recently. Write a letter to the Editor of a National Daily, expressing concern about this problem. Give suggestions to curb this menace (Word Limit: 100-120)
View AnswerAns.
80, Tilak Lane
New Delhi 1100XX
12 July 20XX
The Editor
The Hindustan Times
KG Marg
New Delhi 1100XX
Sir,
Subject: Problems of Beggars
I would like to draw the attention of the authorities concerned to the above mentioned problem through the columns of your esteemed newspaper.
It is really disturbing to see the number of beggars increasing in the area. These beggars come in the early hours of the morning and remain there till the sunset. It seems that some well-organized gang is operating the beggars who are invalids. Some small children, who are maimed, can be seen begging. It is a social blot and portrays a poor picture of the city to the visitors.
The Social Welfare Ministry should take some steps to rehabilitate these beggars. The able-bodied beggars should be trained in some vocation and given some work so that they may live a dignified life. You are requested to give an appropriate space to my letter in your newspaper so that the authorities concerned wake up and take necessary remedial action.
Yours faithfully
Rajesh
7. Answer the following question in 100-120 words.
Colours play a very important role in our life. They have a healing power also. Read the pie chart given below and write an analytical paragraph in 100-120 words on colour therapy.
View AnswerAns.
Colour Therapy
Colours add joy to everyone’s life. When infused properly into our lives they can enhance our qualities. Let us see what properties each colour possesses. Green is responsible for creating balance and harmony in life. It represents love and communication and acceptance since it’s nature’s colour. The shades between blue and indigo stand for calmness, peace, love, honesty, kindness, emotional depth, truth and devotion. Red can increase physical vitality and stamina. Orange stimulates creativity, productivity, pleasure, optimism, enthusiasm and emotional expression. Yellow is said to increase fun and humour. Violet stimulates intuition and imagination. So let us bring colour in our lives and reap its benefits. We all have our favourite colours and now that we know what characteristics they stand for. We can hope to inculcate those qualities in our life.
OR
A survey was conducted to know about the presence of women in public and private sectors India in the apresent time of women empowerment. Analyse the bar graph given here and write an analytical paragraph in 100-120 words.
Section – C (Literature Textbooks and Supplementary Reading Text) [40 Marks]
View AnswerAns.
Women Employment in Organised Sector
Women have faced countless barriers to access to adequate employment opportunities. The number of women employment is improving rapidly in some states, while some states are still lagging behind in the terms of women empowerment. The bar graph given here is showing the status of women employment in Kerala and Haryana. 259.5 thousand women are working in private sector while 185 thousand women are working in public sector in this state. But the situation is quite different while we see the graph of Haryana. 61.3 are working in public sector and 51.5 are working in private sectors. Haryana is a men dominating state. They don’t spend much on girl’s education. So they are not given better chances to get study and employment.
8. Read the extracts given below and attempt the questions that follow:
Poor Kisa Gotami now went from house to house, and the people pitied her and said, “Here is mustard-seed; take it!” But when she asked, “Did a son or daughter, a father or mother, die in your family?” they answered her, “Alas! The living are few, but the dead are many. Do not remind us of our deepest grief.” And there was no house but some beloved one had died in it.
(a) State whether the following statement is TRUE or FALSE
Kisa Gotami went door to door requesting water for her child.
View AnswerAns. FALSE
(b) Why did Gautam Buddha send Kisa Gotami to collect mustard seeds?
(i) He wanted mustard seeds for himself.
(ii) He wanted her to understand that everyone who is born will have to die one day.
(iii) He wanted to make a medicine from mustard seeds that could bring the dead to life.
(iv) He wanted to comfort her.
View AnswerAns. (ii)
(c) Fill in the blank in the following sentence.
Kisa Gotami asked the people ___________
View AnswerAns. if they had ever lost a loved one
(d) What was the deepest grief of most of the families?
(i) They were poor
(ii) They had lost their beloved ones.
(iii) They did not have mustard seeds.
(iv) None of the above
View AnswerAns. (ii)
(e) What is the synonym of ‘Grief’?
View AnswerAns. Sadness
OR
Natalya: Then smoke. Here are the matches. The weather is splendid now, but uesterday it was so wet that the workmen didn’t do anything all day. How much hay have you stacked? Just think, I felt greedy and had a whole field cut, and now I’m not at all pleased about it because I’m afraid my hay may not. I ought to have waited a bit. But what’s this? Why, you’re in evening dress! Well, I never!
Are you going to a ball or what? Though I must say you look better… Tell me, why are you got up like that?
Lomov: [excited] You see, honoured Natalya Stepanovna… the fact is, I’ve made up my mind to ask you to hear me out…. Of course you’ll be surprised and perhaps even angry, but a…[aside] It’s awfully cold!
(a) According to Natalya the weather was ___________
(i) fine
(ii) rainy
(iii) stormy
(iv) smoky
View AnswerAns. (i)
(b) Natalya was not happy getting the field cut as _____________.
(i) the workmen were wet
(ii) the hay was stacked all over
(iii) the hay may not dry up
(iv) the workmen were not ready to work
View AnswerAns. (iii)
(c) Fill in the blanks in the following sentence.
Natalya’s question to Lomov was about ______________
View AnswerAns. his evening dress
(d) State whether the following statement is TRUE or FALSE
Lomov gets excited because he has come to propose Natalya.
View AnswerAns. TRUE
(e) The word from the passage which means ‘fine’ is ___________
(i) splendid
(ii) pleases
(iii) stacked
(iv) surprised
View AnswerAns. (i)
OR
9. Read the extracts given below and attempt the questions that follow:
Stop that sulking at once, Amanda!
You’re always so moody, Amanda!
Anyone would think that I nagged at you, Amanda!
(a) Why do you think Amanda is sulking?
(i) She did not want to be instructed constantly
(ii) She wanted to be free
(iii) She wanted peace
(iv) She was afraid
View AnswerAns. (i)
(b) Which one of the following statements is NOT TRUE?
(i) Children are innocent and want freedom.
(ii) Amanda wants to escape the reality of the world.
(iii) Amanda is tired of daily nagging
(iv) Children needs constant nagging to be a good citizen
View AnswerAns. (iv)
(c) Fill in the blank in the following sentence.
The word ‘nagged’ here means ____________
View AnswerAns. always scolded
(d) Why is Amanda always moody?
(i) She is hurt
(ii) She is sad
(iii) She is a baby
(iv) She is a teenager
View AnswerAns. (iv)
(e) State whether the following statement is TRUE or FALSE
Amanda yearns for freedom.
View AnswerAns. TRUE
OR
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
(a) Which one of the following can happen in a treeless forest?
(i) Birds sitting in the branches
(ii) Insects can hide in trees
(iii) Sun can bury its feet
(iv) Animals can move freely
View AnswerAns. (iv)
(b) What is the meaning of the phrase ‘Sun’s feet’?
View AnswerAns. rays of the sun
(c) Where are the trees in the poem?
(i) Poet’s house
(ii) Forest
(iii) Garden
(iv) On the river bank
View AnswerAns. (i)
(d) Which poetic device has been used in ‘Sun bury its feet’?
(i) Personification
(ii) Metaphor
(iii) Simile
(iv) Oxymoron
View AnswerAns (i)
(e) State whether the following statement is TRUE or FALSE
Trees are moving out of the house.
View AnswerAns. TRUE
10. Answer in 40-50 words of any four out of the five questions.
(a) What does the poet mean by ‘All his young days into the harbour’?
View AnswerAns. The poet says that ‘All his young days into the harbour’. He meant the fond memories and associations of his early childhood.
(b) What does Anne do when she is with friends?
View AnswerAns. When Anne is with friends she has a good time but can’t bring herself to talk about anything but ordinary everyday things.
(c) Explain the term ‘the seat of white supremacy’?
View AnswerAns. The term ‘the seat of white supremacy’ means the centre of racial superiority.
(d) How does Chubukov appreciate ‘Squeezer’?
View AnswerAns. In order to quieten the boastful arguments of Lomov regarding his pet dog ‘Guess’. Chubukov appreciates Squeezer saying that he is pure breed, firm on his feet and has well sprung ribs.
(e) What should the tiger be doing outside houses?
View AnswerAns. the tiger should be terrorizing the villagers by snarling outside houses.
11. Answer in 40-50 words of any two out of the three questions.
(a) Why did Mrs. Hall try to be friendly with her strange guest?
View AnswerAns. Mrs Hall had a strange guest in odd season. She tried to be friendly with her strange guest because she wanted money.
(b) Why did Hari Singh not make friends?
View AnswerAns. Hari Singh was a thief. He did not believe in making friends as they were more trouble than help. He did not stay at one place for a long time so he could not make friends.
(c) What happened at the ball? Was Matilda’s dream fulfilled?
View AnswerAns. Matilda was on top of the world at the ball. She looked gorgeous and elegant. Yes, her dream was fulfilled because the people at the ball asked her name and expressed admiration for her.
12. Attempt the following question in 100-120 words.
“No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion”. Do you agree? Elaborate on the basis of chapter, “Nelson Mandela Long Walk to Freedom”.
View AnswerAns. According to Nelson Mandela, no one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite. Even in the grimmest times in prison, when Nelson Mandela’s comrades and he were pushed to their limits, he could see a glimmer of humanity in one of the guards, perhaps just for a second, but it was enough to reassure him and keep him going. Man’s goodness is a flame that can be hidden but never extinguished. I agree with him. Children become what they learn from their environment. Love is stronger than hate.
OR
Natalya and her father both accused Lomov of telling a lie regarding the Oxen-Meadows but when Natalya came to know that Lomov had come to propose her, she at once wanted him back. This shows her selfishness. What traits of Natalya’s character are revealed here? Do you like her?
View AnswerAns. Both Chubukov and her daughter Natalya have a dual personality. Natalya welcomed him warmly and talked with him pleasantly. But when Lomov referred to the Oxen Meadows, a disputed piece of land, as ‘My Oxen Meadows, she objected strongly saying that the land belonged to them. The argument went on for some time. When she came to know that Lomov wanted to marry her, she at once changed her tactics and hysterically told her father to bring Lomov back. Like her father, she also turned out to be very selfish. As she was about to pass the marriage age, she was desperate to get married. In spite of the differences in their thought and opinions, she agreed to marry him. I don’t like Natalya as she is too self-centered, short tempered and eccentric. Just to settle down in her life, she agreed to marry Lomov, with whom she had much differences. One should always be honest in one’s behaviour. Newer compromise on your values.
13. Attempt the following question in 100-120 words from.
Describe Anil, highlighting his generosity.
View AnswerAns. Anil was a young man of 25 years. He was a tall, lean and thin fellow. He was an easy-going, kind and simple man. He was a writer and wrote books as well as contributed to magazines. His income was not regular. He did not give any importance to materialism. He was an extravagant man, who would spend money lavishly on his friends. He was sympathetic towards Hari Singh and did not throw him out of his house, when he could not cook well. He trusted a stranger and gave him the keys. He finally became a saint by giving Hari Singh a chance to improve. He did not say anything to Hari Singh on knowing about his guilt, rather gave him a fifty rupee note with a promise to give him regularly.
OR
How did Dr. James Herriot cure Tricki?
View AnswerAns. Mrs Pumphrey made a frantic call to Mr Herriot because her loving pet dog had stopped eating anything. He even refused to eat his favourite dishes and sweets. He became inactive and lay motionless all the time. He began panting and had bouts of vomiting. He took no interest in anything. Mr. Herriot examined Tricki and came to know about the problem. He hospitalized him for a fortnight and kept him on strict diet. By giving him a lot of water he was able to make Tricki active and energetic once again. Thus, he was able to save him from any kind of surgery or medicinal treatment.