Section - A
(Reading Skill, Grammar, Vocabulary, Note-Making and Summary)
Q. 1 (A) Read the following extract and answer the questions given below: (11)
Everybody who knew young David Hartman thought he was riding for a fall. Even his own family realized that the time to call a halt to Dave's impossible plan was that September night in 1968, the night before he first went off to college. The four Hartmans were lingering at the dinner table in their Havertown, (U.S.A.), home when David, who was blind, broached an old subject with a new intensity. "Father", he said, "tell me honestly. Do you think I can ever be a doctor?"
Fred Hartman, a bank officer and a very practical man, stalled before replying. It was one thing not to pamper Dave, quite another to let him go on building up for a tragic let-down. What medical college would accept a blind student? The time had come to set David straight. But, wondered the father, how could he give a flat 'no' to a boy like Dave? How could he clamp a ceiling on his dreams? And so, Fred Hartman finally said "A doctor, son? Well, you'll never know unless you try, will you?"
Both he and David grinned. For this was the same response he had always made to David's "Can I do?" queries - ever since the boy, born with defective lenses, had gone completely blind at the age of eight. "Dad", Dave had asked at the age of ten, "Can I play baseball?"
Questions:
- When did David become blind? (1)
- Where did Hartman family live? (1)
- Why Hartman couldn't say 'no' to his son directly? (1)
- Why did Fred Hartman wonder? (2)
- How would you behave with a blind person? (2)
- Rewrite the following sentences in the ways instructed:
- You will never know unless you try.
(Rewrite using 'if ……. not') (1)
- Both he and David grinned. (Add a question tag) (1)
- The four Hartmans were lingering at the dinner table.
(Name the tense used in the sentence) (1)
(7) Find the words from the extract which mean- (1)
(i) stopped for a while (ii) mentioned a subject.
(B) Grammar: Do as directed: (4)
(i) Fill in the blanks with appropriate articles. (1)
It was …… excellent lunch. The meal cost him …….. hundred and fifty rupees.
(ii) Fill in the blanks with proper prepositions. (1)
We have a break ……. Tea. We start again …….. 3.30 p.m.
(iii) "Something is burning," said the man. "Can you smell it, Vinay?" (2)
(Change it into Indirect Speech.)
Q. 2 (A) Read the following extract and answer the questions given below: (11)
On that terrible Tuesday, the 26th of July, 2005 the sky suddenly became an ocean and poured turbulent waters on Mumbai to transform all the bylanes into streams; lanes and streets into rivers. And roads turned into the tributaries of the mighty river Brahmaputra known for flash floods of enormous intensity.
This great river in spate, rushed to all parts of the suburban townships at the speed of lightning, entering even the tiniest space of a hair's breadth, destroying life and properties coming its way, never heard of in the history of Mumbai.
The rain had divided Mumbai into two: South Mumbai from Colaba to Mahim and North Mumbai from Bandra to Dahisar. In South Mumbai the rain recorded a fall of 35 mms while the North Mumbai had the record fall of 975 mms, highest in the last 100 years.
On that Tuesday the day dawned as usual. But it was raining. At one o'clock when I had gone to the Post Office it was raining without any break but was not heavy. It was as usual as it should be during the Monsoon.
- Where had the writer gone on that Tuesday? (1)
- What is the mighty river Brahmaputra known for? (1)
- Which area of Mumbai had received the record fall of rain? (1)
- When did the lanes and the streets of Mumbai transform into rivers? How? (2)
- What do you think is your duty in such a deluge? (2)
- Rewrite the following sentences in the ways instructed:
- The rain had dividend Mumbai into two.
(Rewrite beginning with 'Mumbai ………') (1)
- The sky poured turbulent waters on Mumbai to transform lane and streets into rivers.
(Rewrite using gerund form of the underlined word.) (1)
- It was never heard of in the history of Mumbai.
(Make it affirmative without change in meaning) (1)
(7) Give the meanings of: (i) hearth and home (ii) turbulent (1)
- Read the following extract carefully and complete the table given below: (4)
While preparing to plant trees in a residential colony, highways or anywhere, one should consider three factors before taking decision. What kind of (species) trees, where to plant and what kind of soil. He should consider the qualities of a tree such as pattern of branching and its height. If it is a school, you need shad-giving trees of moderate height so that children can play under them and not be hurt when they climb on to them.
In residential colonies, trees with thick branches, like eucalyptus or Ashoka should be chosen to control pollution and trap dust. Similarly, the nature of the soil too should be considered. If you are planting trees by the road side, it makes sense to go in for native trees like neem or 'pungai' that can with stand the topic monsoon and provide shade in summer.
On highway the well-known choice would be the native trees like tamarind 'marudam' or peepal. Being hardy, they do not need much care. Birds and animals interact more easily with native trees than the exotics. Villagers too consider such native trees to be sacred as the abode of gods.
Kind of trees | ||
(1)Shade- giving (Short trees) | (a) Children climb and play (b) Enjoy shade of a tree. | |
(2)_________ (Tall trees) | ____________ | |
(3) | road side | |
(4) | (a) (b) Villagers consider them sacred |
Q. 3 (A) Read the following extract and answer the questions given below: (11)
We are in the 21st century, Eight years ago we witnessed the change of century, we moved from 20th century to 21st century. It is not only the change of century that we witnessed, we saw the change of the millennium. We moved from second millennium to third millennium. What is the identity of the 21st century? Clearly it is associated with knowledge. We talk of knowledge-linked society and we also talk of knowledge-linked economy. The 20th century, more predominantly the second half, witnessed the rise the rise of Science and also of Technology. The human quest to understand nature produced marvels in science through discoveries and human society very innovatively. Many of the basic needs of humans, be it connected with housing, or clothing, or food, or health, or transportation, or entertainment, underwent a magnitude change that improved the life style. It was a quality change hitherto unimaginable. The end of 20th century saw the convergence of three important technologies namely that of computers, communication and broadcasting. This convergence gave birth to information revolution. The nations got linked and world, in a true sense, became a village. The distance shrunk, the geographical boundaries disappeared, the world economy underwent a change. The world as Thomas Friedman has said in his latest book 'The World is Flat', became 'Flat' in the 21st century.
Questions:
(1) What did the second half of the 20th century witness? (1)
(2) What did the human quest to understand nature produce? (1)
(3) Why did the world become 'Flat' in the 21st century? (1)
(4) What is the importance of computer in our life? (2)
(5) Rewrite the following sentences in the ways instructed:
(i) The distance shrunk, the geographical boundaries disappeared. (1)
(Rewrite using 'Not only …….. but also'.)
(ii) Eight years ago we witnessed the change of century. (1)
(Being your sentence with, 'The change of century …….')
(iii) Clearly it is associated with knowledge. (1)
(Rewrite using the noun form of underlined word.)
(6) Give the antonyms of the following from the passage:
(i) imaginable, (ii) fall (1)
(B) Summary: (4)
Write a brief summary of the above extract and suggest a suitable title.
Section - B: Poetry
Q. 4 Read the following extract and answer the questions given below: (8)
'DALICE, dear, what ails you,
Dazed and lost and shaken?
Has the chill night numbed you?
Is it fright you have taken?
'Mother, I am very well,
I was never better,
Mother, do not hold me so,
Let me write my letter,'
'Sweet, my dear, what ails you?'
'No, but I am well,
The night was cold and frosty ……….
There's no more to tell.'
'Ay, the night was frosty,
Coldly gaped the moon,
Yet the birds seemed twittering
Through green boughs of June.'
'Soft and thick the snow lay,
Not all lambs of May-day
Skip so bold and high.'
Questions:
- What is Alice doing? (1)
- Which seasons are mentioned in the above extract? (2)
- What is your idea about the ideal relationship with your parents? (2)
- Name and explain the figure of speech in the following line: (1)
'Stars danced in the sky ……….'
- What do the above stanzas reveal about the behaviour of Alice? (2)
Section - C: Rapid Reading and Composition
Q. 5 (A) Read the following extract and answer the questions given below: (4)
Class began at half-past eight. And since it was Saturday, it began with Reading, and Miss Moss reminded the boys of three coloured action post cards on her desk that went every Saturday to the first three boys who read best. It was an exciting period, always looked forward to. After reading, came Arithmetic which did not fare well with him; he was always falling asleep and then having to write fifty lines. Today, Miss Moss did not assign him a task and only asked someone to rouse him; but he wondered why. Then they had English and that wound up Saturday morning.
He had lunch with the boarders and a few other day-scholars and Mr. White, the master-in-charge, who had his lunch at another table with Mr. Brown and Mr. Black, gave him a helping of the teachers' pudding. He was such a sensitive boy: so that should have made him remember but since the marbles in the bus he had completely forgotten and was so happy.
In the afternoon they had History and Geography and, because it was Saturday, they went upstairs to the library for the last hour. There he read a tale about how a clever young prince foiled an evil ogre and escaped from its clutches. It was exciting and at the same time comical and he enjoyed it. He would tell it to his mother when he got home; she would like it; and he could enjoy it all over again with her. Then the bell rang: time to go home.
Questions:
- Where did the boys go for the last hour on Saturday? (1)
- Which was an exciting period for the boy? (1)
- What would the boy tell his mother after reaching home? (2)
- Composition: (4)
Rewrite the above extract, as if you were the boy.
Section - D: Written Skills
Q. 6 (A) Letter Writing - Write any ONE of the following letters: (4)
(1) Write a letter of application for a job in response to the classified advertisement with the help of the points given below.
- WANTEDWanted young boys / girls to work as data entry operations.Apply to -The Manager.Data Soft.Kranti Chowk,Aurangabad.(i) Mention your qualifications.(ii) Mention experience if any.(iii) Do not give your Bio-data
OR
Write a letter to congratulate your brother on winning the NTS Scholarship.
(B) Write on any ONE of the following items as directed: (4)
(i) Write a short tourist leaflet on a historical place with the help of the following points:
(i) How to get there. (ii) Accommodation.
(iii) Attractions of the place. (iv) Shopping attractions.
OR
(ii) Prepare a report on the function of Annual Social Gathering of your college;
(1) Day and date of the function.
(2) Welcoming the chef guest and the other invitees.
(3) Introductory and other speeches.
(4) The Chief guest's address.
(5) Prize distribution.
(6) Vote of thanks.
(C) Read the following graph and prepare a short paragraph regarding the sale of two-wheelers in the year 1998. (4)
OR
Prepare a speech stating the importance of blood donation:
(1) Organization of blood donation camp.
(2) Donating blood is not harmful.
(3) Benefits of blood donation.
(4) Concluding lines with an appeal.
Q. 7 Essay Writing: (7)
Write an essay on any ONE of the following in about 250 words:
(1) My Visit to a Forest. (2) Impact of Globalisation.
(3) Uses and Misuses of Cell / Mobile Phone