Microsoft Word - ENGLISH Paper II.doc

ENGLISH Paper II

(Third language) Class X

Time: 2 hrs 45 min.] [ Maximum Marks: 40

Instructions:

1. This paper contains THREE Sections.

2. 15 minutes are allotted exclusively for reading the question paper and 2.30 hours for writing the answers.

3. Answer all the questions on a separate answer booklet.

4. Make use of the last pages of the answer booklet for rough work, if necessary, while answering the questions under Section - C.

Section - A: Reading Comprehension (15 Marks) (1-7) Read the following passage.

The sun rose as usual. The rays did bring soothing joy to the earth. Laxmi sat outside the house, on

the bench under a tree. The cool breeze touched her with care. She felt happy. The next minute she sighed; she became conscious of the date. She had to write the examination. She knew she was not ready, for she hated examinations. She put the blame on teachers. She wanted to prepare for the examination but did not know how she should. She had not even opened the book. Suddenly, she heard a call.

Laxmi, phone for you! She ran in.

Hello it was her classmate Radha.

Hello, Radha, are you ready for the exam? I know nothing.

You always say that but when it comes to writing, youll have written the best answers. Well, what is the news?

It seems the municipality squad will be here any moment. These poor dogs and pups will be put to sleep. You will not find your Tommy tomorrow.

Laxmi thought of the puppies on Radhas street. She used to play with them when she went to

Radhas house.

No, please. Dont tell me. Ill be there in five minutes. Lets see what we can do.

She forgot her exams. She thought of one thing. I should save them. She collected a loaf of bread and ran to Radhas house.

She tempted the pups. Got them into the compound and closed the gate and took them to the back yard. Ten of them, wagging their tails, were running with her, jumping up and down. None looked chubby, none cute. But all had melting eyes. She felt a feeling of joy running through her.

Now, answer the following questions. Each question has four choices. Choose the correct answer and write (A), (B), (C) or (D) in your answer booklet. (4x1=4 Marks)

1. These poor dogs and pups will be put to sleep this sentence means the dogs will be (A) Given food and put to sleep in their kennels

(B) Taken away from that area.

(C) Killed by the municipality people

(D) Given medicines for treatment

2. Laxmi did not like exams because

(A) Her teachers did not teach her well. (B) She did not like her studies.

(C) She did not know how to prepare for the exams. (D) She was poor at her studies

3. The word that best describes Laxmi is

(A) sympathetic

(B) clever

(C) mischivous

(D) stubborn

4. Laxmi felt a joy running through her because

(A) She missed her exam

(B) The puppies were very beautiful

(C) She could save the puppies

(D) The puppies thanked her

Answer the following questions in one or two sentences in your own words. (3 x 2 = 6 Marks)

5. Do you think Laxmi is a good girl / a bad girl / both? Why?

6. Was Laxmi right in saving the puppies from the municipal squad? Support your answer.

7. Why do you think Radha has not done what Laxmi has done with the puppies?

(8-12) Read the following poem.

There are four chairs round the table

Where we sit down for our tea. But now we only set places

For Mom, Terry and me.

We dont chatter anymore About what we did in the day. Terry and I eat quickly

Then we both go out to play.

Mom doesnt smile like she used to. Often, she just sits and sighs. Sometimes, I know from the smudges That while we are out, she cries.

-Derek Stuart

Now, answer the following questions. Each question has four choices. Choose the correct answer and write (A), (B), (C) or (D) in your answer booklet. (3x1=3 Marks)

8. But now we only set places for Mom, Terry and me. Who do you think is the fourth person?

(A) the poet himself

(B) poets mother (C) poets father (D) poets brother

9) The children do not chatter anymore because

(A) they are afraid of their mother

(B) they are eager to go out and play

(C) they are sad

(D) their mother is sad

10) How does the poet know that his mother cries?

(A) Because she does not smile as she used to

(B) Because she just sits and sighs

(C) By looking at the stains on her face

(D) By looking at the tears on her face

Answer the following questions in one or two sentences in your own words. (2x1=2 Marks)

11. What do you think the children used to do earlier?

12. What is the mood of the poem? Justify your answer.

Section - B: Vocabulary & Grammar (10 Marks)

(13-17) Read the following passage focusing on the parts that are underlined and answer the questions given at the end. Write the answers in your answer booklet. (5x1=5 marks)

The cockroach is one of the oldest creatures, old (13) than the dinosaurs. It has survived (14)

because it can live anywhere and in any climate, from the coldest to the warmest. It is found in

cities as well as forests. It can live on anything. Predatory animals (15) keep away from it because its scent glands give out a dirty smell. Everything seems to favouring (16) the cockroach. Man has loathed (17) the insect and tried to keep it away from his places of dwelling.

13) Choose the correct form of the word.

(A) older (B) oldest (C) more old (D) most old

14) Choose an appropriate synonym from the given options.

(A) won (B) remained (C) succeeded (D) extincted

15) The meaning of the phrase predatory animal is

(A) animals that eat cockroaches (B) dangerous animals

(C) animals that eat other animals (D) animals that do not eat cockroaches

16) The right form of the word is .

(A) favourite (B) favoured (C) favour (D) favourable

17) The opposite of the word is .

(A) liked (B) hated (C) protected (D) cared

(18-22) Complete the passage choosing right words from those given below it. Each blank is numbered, and for each blank four choices (A), (B), (C) and (D) are given. Choose the correct answer from these choices and write (A), (B), (C) or (D) in your answer booklet. (5x1=5 Marks)

Once a farmers cow was stolen. He immediately grabbed a thick stick and started

(18) the

people of his village. You cowards and thieves! Do you think (19) a fool? Give me back my cow or else, I (20) do what my father had done.

The thief, (21) had stolen the cow, was terrified to hear the farmers warning. He came and silently handed back the stolen animal. While he was giving, he asked the farmer: Sir, please tell me

what your father had done when his cow was stolen?

He bought (22) cow was the farmers reply.

18.

(A) warn

(B) warned

(C) warning

(D)

warns

19.

(A) am I

(B) I am

(C) we are

(D)

are we

20.

(A) should

(B) can

(C) will

(D)

must

21.

(A) which

(B) where

(C) when

(D)

who

22.

(A) one

(B) the other

(C) another

(D)

a

Section - C: Creative Writing (15 Marks)

23. Read the following News Report on water problem in Mahaboobnagar District of Telangana.

Mahaboobnagar: Draught like situation is looming over 106 villages of Mahaboobnagar district. Government has already declared 92 of these villages as water scarcity hit. Sources in Mahaboobnagar Collectorate said, The region has not received good rainfall during the last monsoon and the major water sources of these villages are almost dried up. Several villages had received rainfall much below the average.

At present, water is being supplied through tankers from the nearby sources. Farmers and villagers

are facing severe difficulties due to scarcity of water. But the Government is taking necessary steps to control the situation, a Government official said.

Now, write an essay on Problems Due to Water Scarcity. Also state the reasons and solutions for the problem. (10 Marks)

(OR)

Imagine that you are one of villagers facing the water scarcity problem. Write a letter to the District Collector of Mahaboobnagar explaining the problem to him. Request him to take necessary steps to solve the problem.

24. Given below are the notes about the famous writer R.K Narayan. A book publishing company is planning to release a book of The Greatest Collection of R.K Narayan. The company needs a brief profile of R.K Narayan to print on the books cover.

Write a brief PROFILE of him in a paragraph using the information given below. (5 Marks)

Full name

Rasipuram Krishnaswamy Iyer Narayanaswami

Date and place of birth

10 October,1906, Madras, Tamilnadu

Major writings and style

Fiction novels, Essays on English literature and language, funny and lively characterization,

writes on social, day to day contexts.

Important achievements

Introduced Indian English to the rest of the world.

Credited as the greatest and most popular

Indian writer of English.

Nominated to the Rajya Sabha as an MP.

Awards, prizes, Honours

A C Benson Medal

Padma Vibhushan

Sahitya Academy Award etc.

Popular works

Swami and Friends, The Bachelor of Arts, The Guide, The English Teacher, The Financial Expert, and many essays on various issues.