2023
ENGLISH
Full
Marks: 90
Pass
Marks: 27
Time:
3 Hours
The
figures in the margin indicate full marks for the questions.
SECTION-A
1.Choose
correct options for the following: 1x10=10
(i)
“A plague of locusts would have left more than this ….” What does the
underlines word mean?
(a)
a herd of animals (b) a swarm of
bees
(c)
a flock of birds (d) a swarm of
insects
Answer: (d) a swarm of insects
(ii)
“The postmaster – a fat, amiable fellow – also broke out laughing -”. Chose
from the below the word that is same in the meaning as ‘amiable’ –
(a)
huge (b) friendly
(c)
jealous (d) angry
Answer: (b) friendly
(iii)
Apartheid is a political system that separates people according to their
_________.
(a)
religion (b) language
(c)
race (d)
gender
Answer: (c) race
(iv)
In life, every man has twin obligations – what is another word for ‘obligations’?
(a)
duty (b) hobbies
(c)
wealth (d) livelihood
Answer: (a) duty
(v)
Between Mysore and the coastal town of _______ sits a piece of heaven.
(a)
Travancore (b) Mangalore
(c)
Cuddalore (d)
Bangalore
Answer: (b) Mangalore
(vi)
Lencho hoped for help from ________.
(a)
neighbours (b) sons
(c)
God (d)
wife
Answer: (c) God
(vii)
______ has the largest concentration of tea plantations in the world.
(a)
Darjeeling (b) Tamil
Nadu
(c)
Assam (d)
Kerala
Answer: (c) Assam
(viii)
Tea was first drunk in _______.
(a)
China (b)
Japan
(c)
England (d) India
Answer: (a) China
(ix)
Despite having a strong desire, what did Valli resist in the fair to save for
the bus fare?
(a)
merry-go-round (b)
ribbons
(c)
snacks (d)
lollipops
Answer: (a) merry-go-round
(x)
For Valli, the most fascinating thing to watch was
(a)
cows grazing in the field.
(b)
children playing in the street.
(c)
the bus that travelled between her village and the nearest town.
(d)
the bullock-carts on the village street.
Answer: (c) the bus that travelled
between her village and the nearest town.
2.
Choose the correct answer of the following: 1x10=10
(i)
The captured tiger is stalking in
(a)
the stable (b) the cage
(c)
the zoo (d) the night street
Answer: (b) the cage
(ii)
Chocolate was harmful for Amanda’s _______
(a)
nails (b) hair
(c)
acne (d) tummy
Answer: (c) acne
(iii)
The word ‘rigid’ means
(a)
flux (b) soft
(c)
hard (d) dry
Answer: (c) hard
(iv)
Custard was the name of a ______
(a)
dragon (b) dog
(c)
cat (d) biscuit
Answer:
(a) dragon
(v)
The world, as mentioned in ‘The Ball Poem’, is one of ______
(a)
balls (b) friends
(c)
fun (d) possessions
Answer: (b) friends
(vi)
Griffin was a _____
(a)
teacher (b) scientist
(c)
driver (d) trader
Answer: (b) scientist
(vii)
The speaker in ‘The Hack Driver’ was sent to a town _____ miles away in the
country.
(a)
twenty (b)
thirty
(c)
forty (d)
fifty
Answer: (c) forty
(viii)
Max was like a ______, according to the author of ‘The Midnight Visitor’.
(a)
deer (b) hyena
(c)
wolf (d)
fox
Answer: (d) fox
(ix)
Mandela’s country is rich in ______
(a)
forests and lakes (b) agriculture
(c)
gems and minerals (d) hills and rivers
Answer: (c) gems and minerals
(x)
The main crop of Coorg is ______
(a)
rice (b) coffee
(c)
tea (d) peanuts
Answer: (b) coffee
3.
Write very short answers to the following questions: 1x10=10
(i)
What is Coorg home to?
Answer: Coorg is home to evergreen rainforests,
spices and coffee plantations.
(ii)
Name the tea garden where Pranjol’s father was posted as a manager.
Answer: Dhekiabari.
(iii)
“____ there it is in water”. What does ‘it’ refer to here? (‘The Ball Poem’)
Answer:
It is
referred to the ball.
(iv)
Who is the poet of the poem ‘Animals’?
Answer: Walt Whitman is the poet of the poem ‘Animals’.
(v)
In the first stanza of the poem ‘Amanda’, what is Amanda told not to do?
Answer: In the first stanza of the poem ‘Amanda’, Amanda is told not to bite her nails and not to hunch her
shoulders.
(vi)
Which place was known as the centre of the theatre world? (‘Foot Prints without Feet’)
Answer: Drury Lane was known
as the centre of the theatre world.
(vii)
Who was following Ausable in the corridor of the French hotel?
Answer: Fowler, the writer, was following Ausable in the
corridor of the French hotel.
(viii)
What was people’s opinion about Horace Danby?
Answer: People’s opinion about
Horace Danby was
that Horace Danby was a good, honest citizen.
(ix)
Why is the boy in ‘The Ball Poem’ upset?
Answer: The boy in ‘The Ball Poem’ is upset because he
has lost his ball.
as well as all his young days or
childhood with the ball into the harbour or lost.(For 2 Marks)
(x)
Why would the poet like to turn and live with the animals?
Answer: The poet would like to turn
and live with the animals because they
are so placid and self-contain’d.
4.
Fill in the blanks with correct prepositions in Part – A and with correct
determiners in Part - B. 1x10=10
PART
– A
(i)
Put the cup _______ the dish.
(a)
at (b) in
(c)
on (d) over
Answer: (i) (c) Put the cup on
the dish.
(ii)
The cows are _______ the field.
(a)
in (b) to
(c)
on (d) by
Answer: (ii) (a) The cows are in
the field.
(iii)
Lila lives _______ her parents.
(a)
by (b) with
(c)
upon (d) at
Answer: (iii) (b) Lila lives with
her parents.
(iv)
He is fond _______ reading novels.
(a)
at (b) in
(c)
of (d) for
Answer: (iv) (c) He is fond of reading
novels.
(v)
This shop deals ________ stationery.
(a)
at (b) in
(c)
with (d) about
Answer: (v) (b) This shop deals in
stationery.
PART
– B
(vi)
My friend is ______ M.A. in English.
(a)
a (b) an
(c)
the (d) that
Answer: (vi) (b) My friend is an
M.A. in English.
(vii)
______ book you have mentioned is out-of-print.
(a)
A (b) The
(c)
Many (d) Some
Answer:
(vii) (b) The
book you have mentioned is out-of-print.
(viii)
Kindness is ______ great virtue.
(a)
the (b) much
(c)
that (d) a
Answer: (viii) (d) Kindness is a
great virtue.
(ix)
_______ Taj Mahal is one of the wonders of the world.
(a)
The (b) This
(c)
That (d) A
Answer: (ix)(a) The Taj
Mahal is one of the wonders of the world.
(x)
Is there _____ sugar in the pot?
(a)
little (b) few
(c)
any (d) much
Answer: (x)(c) Is there any
sugar in the pot?
5.
Answer the following questions as directed: 1x5=5
(i)
Whom did you call? (Change into Passive)
Answer: Who was called by you?
(ii)
The glass was not broken by the boy. (Change into Active)
Answer:
The boy did
not break the glass.
(iii)
Shillong is colder than Simla. (Rewrite in Positive degree)
Answer: Simla is not as cold as
Shillong.
(iv)
He said, “I can do it.” (Change into Indirect)
Answer: He said that he could do
that.
(v)
Rina asked him politely not to go home then. (Change into Direct)
Answer: Rina said to him politely,
“Please/Kindly don’t go home now.”
Or:
Rina
said to him, “Sir, don’t go home now.”
SECTION
– B
6.
Give short answers to the following: 2x8=16
(i)
What were Lencho’s feelings after the hailstorm was over?
Answer: After the hailstorm was over,
Lencho’s soul was filled with sadness.
He exclaimed with sorrow his sons that a plague of locusts would have
left more than that. But, the hail had left nothing. He felt that that year
they would have no corn. That night was a sorrowful one for Lencho and his
family. He expressed sorrowfully that all their work, for nothing and they
would all go hungry that year.
(ii)
Why does the postmaster send money to Lencho?
Answer: The postmaster sends money to Lencho in
order not to shake the writer’s faith in God and also he wants to help Lencho
in the situation. So, he stucks to his resolution and collects money from part
of his salary, his employees, and several friends of his that are obliged to
give something ‘for an act of charity’.
(iii)
What is courage according to Mandela?
Answer: According to Mandela, Courage is not
the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does
not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.
(iv)
Mention a few adventure sports that one can enjoy at Coorgs.
Answer: A few adventure sports that one can enjoy at Coorgs are river rafting, canoeing, rappelling, rock
climbing and mountain biking. Numerous walking trails in Coorg are also a
favourite with trekkers.
(v)
Explain the expression ‘quiet rage’ in the context of the poem ‘A Tiger in the
Zoo’.
Answer: In the context of the poem
‘A Tiger in the Zoo’, the
expression ‘quiet rage’ is basically symbolised with the anger and ferocity of
inside the tiger. The rage is controlled or being quiet by the tiger as the
tiger cannot able to come out from the cage to the jungle because he is locked.
(vi)
What kind of person was the bus conductor? How did he address Valli?
Answer: The bus conductor was a jolly sort, fond of
joking. He
addresses Valli as ‘fine
madam’ or ‘madam’.
(vii)
Why did Rajvir prefer to look out of the train window instead of reading?
Answer: Rajvir prefered to
look out of the train window instead of reading because at the moment he
was keener on looking at the beautiful scenery. Actually,
Rajvir had never
seen so much
greenery before like the soft green paddy
fields, the tea bushes and other the green scenery.
(viii)
Name the pets that Belinda had besides the Dragon.
Answer: Besides the Dragon (Custard), Belinda had Ink, the little black kitten; Blink, the little grey mouse; and Mustard, the little yellow dog.
7.
Answer any two from the following: 4x2=8
(i)
Narrate how Ausable managed to make Max believe that there was a balcony
attached to his room.
Answer: Ausable
falsely informed that that was the second time in the month that somebody got
into his room through the balcony. He said that the balcony belonged to the
next apartment. He also narrated that the room used to be part of a large unit.
The next room through that door there used to be the living room. The balcony
extended under his window and somebody entered his room through that.
Ausable description of a balcony made Max convincing. He convinced and believed Max that there was a balcony. The information of the balcony and the management were provided the techniques to believe the false information. Because, if Ausable could not convince or managed Max then he and Fowler might be face in danger.
(ii)
What led Horace Danby to break open the safe containing jewellery at Shot-over
Grange?
Answer: The
lady of the house was the real culprit of the story who was another thief like
Horace Danby. When the lady met Horace then she acted like a family member of
the house and convinced Horace Danby as she was the wife of the owner of the
house.
When Horace requested to let him go, then the lady
replied that she allowed him to go if he would do something for her. Then he readied to help anything she said. She said that before they had left for London, she promised her husband to
take her jewels
to their bank; but
she had left them there in the safe. She wanted to wear them to a party that night, so she had come down to
get them. She stopped talking with the word ‘but’, then Horace smiled and
understood that she had forgotten the numbers to open the safe.
In that leading situation, Horace wanted to help her and readied
to break open
the safe containing jewellery at Shot-over Grange in order to escape and save
himself from the lady (acted as owner of the house) , as well as police and
being caught as a thief.
(iii)
Describe, after the narrator in ‘The Hack Driver’, the character of Bill.
Answer: The narrator depressed at the place, but he was happy when he met the delivery man or Bill at the station and it was the only agreeable sight about the place.
He narrated that he or Bill was about forty years old. He was red faced, cheerful and thick about the middle. His working clothes were dirty but well-worn. He had a friendly manner. Anyone felt at once that he liked people.
The delivery man or Bil affected the narrator as a cordial. He gave his identity as name Bill or Magnuson. Besides, he introduced as a hack driver himself. The narrator also liked Bill’s behavior and the action of taking the work as his own like, was another favour for the narrator.
(iv)
Write about any one incident which proves that Griffin was a lawless person.
Answer: Griffin was a brilliant scientist, but he was rather a lawless person,
it is proved by the London Store’s incident.
Once, Griffin entered a big London
store at the closing time without being seen by anybody. He had entered for
pleasure of clothing and feeding. There, he broke open boxes and wrappers. He
put on/worn warm clothes, shoes, an overcoat and a wide-brimmed hat. Then, he
became a fully dressed and visible person for the first time. In the kitchen of
the restaurant, he ate cold meat and coffee. From the grocery store, he ate
sweets and wine. Finally, he had slept on a pile of quilts (gaddi).
In the next morning, he did not wake
up until the assistants already arrived. Seeing a couple of them came
approaching, he panicked and ran quickly. They naturally gave chase. In the
end, he was able to escape from them by taking off / removing his newly founded
clothes.
8.
Write an essay on either of the following topis: 5x1=5
(i)
Science in Daily Life.
Answer:
(i)
Science in Daily Life.
Introduction:
Science is a systematic knowledge.
It depends upon truth and logic. At present time, it is used as a best friend
by human being.
Gifts of science in daily
life:
Without
science, today’s human being does not live entirely/wholly. Science provides a
most comfortable, easiest and happiest life for everyone in every work.
Science for villages or
villagers:
Most of the villages are
depended on farming. On this regard, science provides water supplies’ facility,
chemicals for the corn fields and so on. Now a days, all the villagers are also
facilited at different kinds like electricity, tv, mobile, and many others.
Science for Urban or Town
Areas:
Only science makes the urban or
town areas as urban or town. In town areas, most of the works has been done
directly by science with the use of machines, technologies, computers, cars,
and any other else.
Bad or Negative Effects of
science:
Science makes men lazier,
tiredfull and amazement life where men can not do anything without science.
Also, science makes the pollutions like air, sound etc. Besides, for the atom
bomb, firearms, computers, mobiles and some others, many criminal works or
crimes are happenning in this world.
Conclusion:
In this world, science is used
both positively and negatively. But, we should always care and use in our positive
manners or works. Then only, science makes us happiest and most wonderful life
with no harms and no problems.
(ii)
A Rainy Day
Answer Reference:
Answer:
A Rainy Day
In summer the heat in intense. Hot winds
blow. A dark cloud or a shower of rain is always welcome. If the rain does not
fall people pray for it. They do Yoga exercise. It is difficult to go out in burning
heat.
In summer a rainy day is a day of enjoyment.
When dark clouds cover the sky, we begin to dance with joy. When breeze blows
and rain falls every heart is filled with delight. People go out to
the canal or the river to hold picnic. Some people go out to enjoy sight of
Nature. Young girls gather under some big tree to enjoy swing. They enjoy going
up and down on the swing. They sing sweet songs. These songs give us great
pleasure. Thus they make merry. Little children come out with lion clothes.
They bathe in the rain water. Some of the m roll in dirty rain water.
They float paper boats in the running water. How they shout when their
boas sink or are carried away by the current of water !
Everything in nature has fresh look after
rain. The grass which looked withered in summer’s heat a day before, rises it
head proudly. It moves to and fro when the wind blows. The cuckoo sings its
sweet songs from mango tree. It hails the rain. How sweet are its songs!
There are pools of water here and there. Houses
and streets wash off their dirt. Trees and plants are bathed in rain water.
They look gay and green Animals and birds also enjoy the rain. The
frogs make a very pleasant noise after the rain. They begin to croak.
After rain roads, lanes and streets are
covered with mud. It causes much trouble. We cannot walk without spoiling our
clothes. Everybody feels uncomfortable for some time. Boys have to stop out-
door games. People become bored and inactive. At some places railway track is
damaged when it rains heavily. Mud huts begin to leak. Some are damaged under
heavy rains. Boys and girls get completely wet. Sometimes they fall ill. They
fall a prey to skin diseases.
On the whole a rainy day in
the summer is generally full of joy. It brings comfort to us. It is fully
enjoyable if the sun does not appear. But if the clouds break up the sun begins
to shine more brightly. Then our joy disappears. The wind fails. Oh ! there is
close again. The heat becomes more intense. How miserable we feel! The roads
get muddy. Here and there the careless passers- by slip down. How people make
fun of them! They spoil their clothes. But all the same rain is a must in a
country like India.
OR
Develop
a short story with the following hints. Give a suitable title.
Two
cats steal a cake – they quarrel over their share – they ask a monkey for
making two equal divisions of the cake – cats are deceived.
Answer:
Title
: The Cunning Monkey and the two Stupid cats
One day, two cats
steal a cake from a house. They want to
part of the cake. For this reason, they quarrel
over their share. But, they cannot solve the issue. At this moment, a monkey is
observing the matter and comes to them. They ask the monkey for making two
equal divisions of the cake. He promises the cats to divide the cake equally. But, the monkey is intelligent. Each time, he
does not equal one part and eats more than the other part. At the end, the cake
has been totally eaten by the monkey and the cats are deceived.
Moral : Never believe a stranger fully and
solve the issue own self without quarrel.
9.
Write a letter to your friend inviting him/her to your place during the summer
vacation. 3x1=3
Answer:
From the Examination Hall
16-02-2023
My
Dear Nayanjyoti/Nayana,
I thank you
heartily for your recent sweet letter/cheery note. I hope you may be glad and I
pray to God to send you most prosperity/prosper in your life.
I hear and have
known that you have not planned to go anywhere during summer vacation. So, I like to invite you to my place/our
village during the summer vacation. If you come, we will have a party with our
family. I am also planning to show you in our beautiful areas, the scenery, the
monuments and most others.
I expect a positive response
from you and I am very happy and thankful to you if you keen interest on it.
Yours lovingly/sincerely
Ritu/Rita
To,
PQR,
C/O ABC
House No……
OR
Use
the following information to write a Report on the Prize Distribution ceremony
of your school.
Date:
Monday, 15th March
Time:
11 am
Place:
School Auditorium
President
of the function: Headmaster of the school
Details
of the event: Recitations. Singing of the School Anthem, Songs by school
students, Annual Report by the Headmaster, Distribution of prizes, Address by
the Chief Guest, President’s Address, Vote of Thanks by the School Monitor.
Answer:
Prize
Distribution ceremony of PB High school
Date:
Monday, 15th
March
Place:
School Auditorium
Today,
a memorable prize distribution ceremony was orgainsed in PB High School. At
first, the programme started at 11 am with our national anthem ‘Jana Gana Mana
Adhi’ at the School Auditorium and presided over of the function by the
Headmaster of the school. Different cultural activities like singing of the
School Anthem, Songs, Recitations, quiz Competition etc by the school students.
After that, the Headmaster read the Annual Report of the school. Later, the
prizes were distributed by the chief guest. The chief guest, president and some
teachers gave their addresses and valuable innovative speeches for the success of
life of students. After the speech, the
feedbacks were taken through the vote of thanks by the School Monitor. The
function was ended by ‘O mur apunar desh’.
10.
(i) Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow: 6
The
theory of Arab origin draws support from the long, black coat with an
embroidered waist-belt worn by the Kodavus, known as Kuppia, it resembles the
Kuffia worn by the Arabs and the Kurds.
Coorgi homes have a tradition of
hospitality, and they are more than willing to recount numerous tales of valour
related to their sons and fathers. The Coorg Regiment is one of the most
decorated in the Indian Army and the first Chief of the Indian Army, General
Cariappa, was a Coorgi. Even now Kodavus are the only people in India permitted
to carry firearms without a license.
The river Kaveri obtains its
water from the hills and forests of Coorg.
(a)
Where does Kaveri get its water from? 1
Answer: Kaveri gets its water from
the hills and forests of Coorg.
(b)
Who was the first Chief of the Indian Army? 1
Answer: General Cariappa was the
first Chief of the Indian Army.
(c)
Write briefly about the valour of the people from Coorg. 2
Answer: Coorgi homes have a
tradition of hospitality, and they are more than willing to recount numerous
tales of valour related to their sons and fathers. The Coorg Regiment is one of
the most decorated in the Indian Army and the first Chief of the Indian Army,
General Cariappa, was a Coorgi. Even now Kodavus are the only people in India
permitted to carry firearms without a license.
(d)
Why is it believed that Coorgies are of Arab origin? 2
Answer: The theory of Arab origin draws support from the long, black coat with an embroidered waist-belt worn by the Kodavus, known as Kuppia, it resembles the Kuffia worn by the Arabs and the Kurds. From this theory or concept of Arabic Origin, it is believed that Coorgies are of Arab origin.
(ii)
Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow: 4
Walking is a very good exercise.
When we walk in the morning, we feel fresh and it energies us. It is important
to develop good habits and a morning walk is one habit that we should have.
When we take walks regularly in the morning everyday, our daily routine will
also be well organized. As the early morning environment is suited for walking,
we will also develop the habit of rising early.
(a)
What is a very good exercise? 1
Answer: Walking is a very good
exercise.
(b)
What happens when we take morning walks every day? 1
Answer:
When we take morning walks every day, then our
daily routine will be well organized.
(c)
Name two benefits we derive from a morning walk. 1
Answer:
We feel
fresh and energetic from a morning walk.
Or:
Two benifits of Morning walk are we feel fresh from a morning walk and a morning walk energies us. (For 2 Marks)
(d)
Which environment is suitable for walking? 1
Answer: The early morning environment is suitable for
walking.
11.
Translate into the language as per your MIL/(IL) Subject: 1x3=3
(i)
Man is mortal.
Answer:
Assamese
Medium: মানুহ মৰণশীল ৷
Bengali
Medium: মানুষ মরণশীল।
Hindi
Medium: मनुष्य नश्वर है.
(ii)
We should respect our elders.
Answer:
Assamese
Medium: আমি আমাৰ বয়োজ্যেষ্ঠসকলক
সন্মান কৰা উচিত।
Bengali
Medium: আমাদের বড়দের
সম্মান করা উচিত।
Hindi
Medium: हमें अपने बड़ों का सम्मान करना चाहिए।
(iii)
Kashmir is known as the Heaven on Earth.
Answer:
Assamese
Medium: কাশ্মীৰক পৃথিৱীৰ স্বৰ্গ
বুলি জনা যায়।
Bengali
Medium: কাশ্মীর পৃথিবীর
স্বর্গ নামে পরিচিত।
Hindi
Medium: कश्मीर को धरती का स्वर्ग कहा जाता है।
OR
Write
a substance for the following:
It is easy to acquire bad habit, such as eating too
much food or eating too many sweets or drinking too much fluid of any kind or
smoking, The more we do a thing, the more we tend to like doing it; and if we
do not continue to do it, we feel unhappy. This is called the force of habit
and the force of habit should be fought against. Things which may be very good
when only done from time to time, tend to become harmful when done too often,
too much. This applies even to such good things as work or rest. Some people
form a habit of working too much and others of idling too much. The wise man
always remembers that this is true about himself, and he checks if he has any
bad habit. He says to himself, “I am now becoming idle” or “I smoke too much”,
and then he adds, “I will get myself out of this bad habit at once.”
Answer Reference: https://menonimus.org/substance-writing/
Answer:
Substance: Habit is second nature. If we do a thing too often or
so much then it become a habit. A habit is such a thing, if it is not continued
then it makes us feel unhappy. Wise people always avoid forming any bad habit.
If somehow they become addicted to any bad habit they can get out of it at
once. We should form good habits in our childhood.
Thank you, God Blessing you all,
Regards, Podmeswar