COMMON PRE-BOARD SCHOOL EXAMINATION (2022-23) CLASS: X SUBJECT: ENGLISH LANGUAGE & LITERATURE (184)

No. of pages - 12 (M)

COMMON PRE-BOARD SCHOOL EXAMINATION (2022-23)

CLASS: X

SUBJECT: ENGLISH LANGUAGE & LITERATURE (184)

Time Allowed: 3 hours

Maximum Marks: 80

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS:

1. 15 minute prior reading time allotted for question paper reading.

2. This question paper contains THREE SECTIONS READING, WRITING & GRAMMAR and LITERATURE.

★ Section A Reading 20 marks.

★ Section B-Writing Skill and Grammar 20 marks.

★ Section C-Literature -40 marks.

3. Attempt questions based on specific instructions for each part and question.

SECTION-A (READING SKILLS) (20 MARKS)

Read the passage given below carefully: (10)

I. Most consider peer pressure as an external force that hinders us from living our life. But it is all in our mind.

II. So, what is peer pressure? It is an influence by which you do something because you want to feel valued or accepted by your friends or society. It can be something as small as being forced to do well in studies because the child next door is performing better than you in academics during your school days, or something big that forces you to choose a career or even a life partner. But the mental pressure and stress it exerts on us is the same no matter what. It destroys our self-esteem, would make us question our self-worth and pushes us into depression and worse, suicide. So many families have lost dear ones, been pushed into debt and deprived of peace of mind because of this peer pressure.

III. But what gives it so much power and control over us? The answer is simple. It's our lack of self-esteem. As we all know, right from our birth, we Indians have been taught to fit in. We have always been taught to follow something that is tried and tested; something that is being accepted by society as a successful method of living. Thinking out of box is alien to our society. We blindly follow the societal norms and end up forgetting to live a life of our own. We keep looking at others to do something that would give us validation. Questions such as "What if so and so thinks that I am inferior?", and "Will society accept me?" Pop in our mind.

IV. So, what can be done to avoid this peer pressure from affecting our lives? First, we need to understand the fact that peer pressure is not an external factor. It is a fear conjured up by our brain due to our lack of self-esteem. If we release this, we will never fear what others think of us. Parents play a key role in this. They need to accept the fact that each child is unique and not here to fulfill their expectations. They need to nurture the child's individuality. Then coming generations will be free of peer pressure. (Source: the hindu.com/opinion/open page) Based on your understanding of the passage answer the following questions: (1x10-10)

(i) What does the writer say is the reason we come under peer pressure? (Para II)

A. We want to become popular.

B. We want to be valued and accepted in society.

C. We want to do our best.

D. We want to do something big.

(ii) Select the option that displays the effects of peer pressure:

a. It causes stress.

b. It gives peace of mind.

c. It exerts mental pressure.

d. It makes us feel worthless.

e. It helps us control ourselves.

f. It affects our self-esteem.

A. Options - a, b, d, e

B. Options b. c. e. f

C. Options a d, e.f

D. Options a. c. d. f

(iii) Chose the correct option to complete the given analogy:

good :better :: bad: ______

A. worst

B. worse

C. best

D. bad

(iv) Complete the following with a phrase from para III:

(v) What, according to the writer, are we taught right from our birth?. (1)

(vi) Infer the reason why we blindly follow the societal norms and forget to live a life of our own.

(vii) The writer says that "Peer pressure is not an external factor." (Para III) (1)

(viii) Select the correct option that describes that peer pressure comes from within:

A. It is the fear of not being accepted by others.

B. It is the feeling of not being valued by others.

C. Only option A.

D. Both (A) & (B)

(viii) "Parents play a key role". Select the option that correctly describes the role of the parents: (1)

A. Important

B. Natural

C. Unique

D. Individual

(ix) The writer wants the parents to understand that _________ (complete the sentence). (1)

(x) Choose the option that sums up the passage most appropriately:

A. Option 1

B. Option 2

C. Option 3

D. Option 4

Q2. Read the passage given below carefully:

(10)

I. A dabbawala is a person in Mumbai. whose job is carrying and delivering freshly made food from home in lunch boxes to office workers. They are officially known as MTBSA (Mumbai Tiffin Box Suppliers Association), but most people refer to them as the dabbawalas. They dabbawalas originated when India was under the British Rule. Since many British people who came to India did not like the local food, a service was set up to bring lunch to their offices straight from their homes.

II. Today, businessmen in modern Mumbai use this service and have become the main customers of the dabbawalas. By delivering to each employee his tiffin or lunch, the dabbawalas solve the problem for an estimated 2.00.000 people. They charge between Rs. 150 to Rs. 300. per dabba, per month, depending on the location and collection time.

III. They are an incredible team. They have a record of no strikes against management. They are always on time, even through the rainiest days on the planet. Their creativity and ingenuity have kept them alive. When telephone services were at a premium in India, the dabbawalas encouraged housewives to use their system to communicate with their spouses by placing little chits inside their boxes. The husbands enjoyed the chits as much as the food. Thus, the dabbawalas were able to "think outside the box" and broaden their capabilities given in a very limited infrastructure. Dabbawalas have also embraced technology. On March 25, 2006, the dabbawalas went online with www.mydabbawala.com. The dabbawalas have become icons of hardwork and dedication. In fact, the 5000 strong workforce (there are a handful of women) is so well known that Prince Charles paid them a visit during his recent trip to India. Several academic institutions regularly invite the dabbawala's representatives for discussion, and to complement and enhance their academic content.

On the basis of your understanding of the passage answer the following questions:(1x10=10)

(i) Dabbawala's job is _______ and _______ freshly made food from home to office workers. (1)

A. carrying and delivering.

B. looking and eating.

C. cooking and carrying.

D. delivering and eating.

(ii) Which group of people form the main customers of the dabbawalas?

(iii) Pick out a sentence from the passage that tells that the dabbawala service has existed for a long time.

(iv) List two evidences from the passage that prove that the dabbawalas are a wonderful team.

1. __________________________

2. __________________________

(v) "When telephone services were at a premium in India." Select the explains the meaning of the underlined phrase in the sentence-option that (1)

A. Necessary

B. Scarce

C. Expensive

D Both (B) & (C)

(vi) What, in the passage, suggests that the dabbawalas have become technologically advanced?

(vii) The dabbawalas are appreciated for their ___________ thinking. (1)

A. limited

B. modern

C. innovative

D. poor

(viii) The phrase "a handful of women' in para III suggests that the workforce of dabbawalas has:

A. a big number of women

B. a small number of women

C. women working with hands

D. as many women as men

(ix) How did the dabbawalas enable the housewives to use their service to communicate with their spouses?

(x) The dabbas are _______ and _______ into handcarts between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

FOR VISUALLY CHALLENGED STUDENTS:

The dabbawalas have become an icon of __________.

A. Hardwork

B. Dedication

C. Only (B)

D. Both (A) & (B)

SECTION-B (GRAMMAR) (10 MARKS)

Attempt ANY TEN of the following questions:

(1x10-10)

(i) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option to complete an update on a research finding:

Research _________ that cycling can help patients overcome their illnesses.

A. is showing

B. show

C. has shown

D. have shown

(ii) Read the conversation between the customer and the Hotel Manager. Complete the sentence by reporting the customer's question:

Customer: Are the meals included in the price or not?

Hotel Manager: No, you will have to pay for the meals separately.

The customer asked the Hotel Manager ________________ to which he replied in negative saying that the meals had to be paid for separately.

(iii) Select the correct option to fill in the blank for the given line from a medicine bottle label: The medicine _____________ be kept in a cool place.

A. would

B. may

C. can

D. should

(iv) Select the option that identifies the error and supplies the correction for the following line displayed at a music school:

The best way to learn a musical instrument is to found an enthusiastic teacher.

(v) Complete the given news report by filling in the blank with correct option: The US space shuttle Atlantis has returned safety to earth. It ___________ in Florida this morning.

A. was landed

B. landed

C. lands

D. will land

(vi) Fill in the blank by using the correct form of word in the bracket: When she entered into the hall, everyone ___________ (cheer).

A. cheer

B. cheers

C. cheering

D. was cheering

(vii) Report the dialogue between the Attendant and the Principal by completing the sentence:

Attendant: A person wants to see you, Sir.

Principal: Did you ask him his name?

In response to the attendant's information that someone wanted to meet him, the

Principal asked the attendant if ______________ .

(viii) Identify the error in the given sentence and supply the correction: Either you or your brother have done this.

Use the given format for your response:

(ix) Fill in the blanks by choosing the correct option to complete the slogan:

IF YOU WANT TO DRINK CLEAN WATER

AND BREATHE CLEAN AIR

TO PRESERVE OUR ENVIRONMENT

YOU __________ DO YOUR SHARE.

A. CAN

B. MUST

C. MAY

D. NEED

(x) Select the correct option to complete the given sentence:

Many questions were asked but _______ were answered. (1)

A. many

B. a few

C. little

D. more

(xi) Fill in the blank by using the correct form of word in the bracket for the given portion of letter: (1)

Subject: Complaint about roads.

Dear Sir,

We _________ (regret) to bring to your notice that roads in Moti Colony need urgent repair.

(xii) Identify the error from a statement made by a health magazine:

Drinking large quantities of warm water results in sweating, thus remove poison from the body. Use the given format for your response:

SECTION-B (CREATIVE WRITING SKILL) (10 MARKS)

Q. 4 Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below: (5)

A. You are Arun/Arpita, a student of Adarsh Bal Vidyalaya, Shrinivas Puri, Delhi. You have recently noticed that due to extensive use of vehicles, school students have become vulnerable to road injuries, crashes and exposure to toxic air and noise pollution while going to school. Write a letter to the Editor of Health and Fitness magazine, in not more than 120 words requesting him/her to highlight the need for making the students aware of road safety rules and develop skills to become safe road users.

B. You are Saurabh/Surabhi, a student of Greenfield International School, Delhi. You wish to take up a course in personality development. Write a letter to the Director of Bright Beginnings School of Public Speaking & Personality Development, Anand Vihar, Delhi, seeking information about course structure, course duration, fees, faculty etc.

Q. 5 Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below:

A Write an analytical paragraph in 100-120 words analysing the given concept chart showing the evidence, causes and solutions of climate change: (5)

FOR VISUALLY CHALLENGED STUDENTS:

Write an analytical paragraph in 100-120 words analysing the concept of climate change showing the evidence, causes and solutions based on following cues : (Evidence - Melting glaciers, increase in extreme weather, warming oceans) (Causes - Human Activities, natural environmental changes) (Solutions Further research, change human behaviour explore renewable energy sources, reducing burning of fossil fuels).

B. Read the following excerpt from a research on link between time online and obesity in children.

Young children who spend a lot of time online or watching commercial television are much more likely to be obese and ask their parents to buy them junk food, a new survey has found.

Write a paragraph in 100-120 words to analyse the given statement.

You could include rationale/evidence that would strengthen/counter your argument.

SECTION-C (LITERATURE) (40 MARKS)

Reference to the Context:

Q.6 Attempt ANY ONE of the two extracts given below. (1x5)

Read the given extract and answer the questions that follow: The creature that emerged from this sack on to the spacious tiled floor of consulate bedroom, resembled most of all a very small, medievally-conceived, dragon. From the head to the tip of the tail he was coated with symmetrical pointed scales of mud armour, between whose tips was visible a soft velvet fur like that of a chocolate brown mole. He shook himself and I half expected a cloud of dust, but in fact it was not for another month that I managed to remove the last of the mud and see the otter, as it were, in his true colours. (Mijbil the Otter)

(i) How did the author describe his first sight of the otter as it emerged from the sack?

A. the creature was actually a dragon.

B. the creature was a dragon covered with mud.

C. the creature looked like a dragon of the medieval period.

D. the creature had dragon like scales.

(ii) What did the fur of the creature look like? (1)

(iii) Select the option that correctly describes the meaning of the phrase - "true colours".

A. Colourful personality

B. Real personality

C. Faithful personality

D. Devoted personality

(iv) The phrase 'mud armour' suggests that: (1)

A. a thick layer of mud protected the otter.

B. the otter was covered with a thick layer of wet mud.

C. the sack in which the otter was kept was muddy..

D. the otter's fur was of mud colour.

(v) Choose the option that describes the characteristic trait in the author's personality:

A. a student of zoology

B. an animal lover

C. a zoo keeper

D. a pet breeder

I made up a bed for him in a warm loose box next to the one where the other dogs slept. For two days I kept an eye on him giving him no food but plenty of water. At the end of the second day he started to show some interest in his surroundings and on the third day he began to whimper when he heard the dogs in the yard. (1x5-5)

When I opened the door, Tricki trotted out and was immediately engulfed by Joe, the greyhound and his friends. After rolling him over and thoroughly inspecting him, the dogs moved off down the garden. Tricki followed them, rolling slightly with his surplus fat. (A Triumph of Surgery)

(i) Select the reason why Tricki was given no food but only water for two days: (1)

A. to punish him

B. to control his extra fat

C. to make him weak

D. to take revenge on him

(ii) Tricki was engulfed by Joe and his friends. Replace the word 'engulfed' by a word similar in meaning to it. (1)

(iii) "rolling slightly with his surplus fat." What does it mean with reference to Tricki? (1)

A. moving lazily with less energy

B. having no energy to move

C. moving playfully

D. moving like a ball

(iv) Pick out a phrase from the passage which means 'to watch closely carefully'.

(v) Tricki's day to day activities mentioned in the passage tells us about ____________.

A. his playful nature

B. his social behaviour

C. his improvement in health

D. his interest in other dogs

Q. 7 Attempt ANY ONE of two extracts given below:

(I am an orphan, roaming the street.

I pattern soft dust with my hushed, bare feet.

The silence is golden, the freedom is sweet).

(Amanda!)

(i) In the above stanza Amanda __________.

A. is roaming the street like an orphan.

B. is lost in her imaginary world.

C. wants to walk on dusty roads.

D. wants to run away.

(ii) The golden silence, in the above lines, is contrasted with: (1)

A. noise in the street

B. noise of her feet

C. constant nagging by her mother

D. sound of dust

(iii) What does Amanda long for as per the content of the extract?

(iv) Choose the correct option to complete the famous proverb/saying: (words are precious/speech is silver)

______________ silence is gold.

(v) Pick out the word that DOES NOT correspond to the word "hushed':

A. Calm

B. Silent

C. Noisy

D. Quiet

If strolling forth, a beast you view,

Whose hide with spots is peppered,

As soon as he has lept on you

You'll know it is the leopard.

'Twill do no good to roar with pain,

He'll only lep and lep again.

(How to Tell Wild Animals)

(i) Why does the poet say that crying in pain will not help?

(ii) Select the option that correctly explains the meaning of the word "view" as used in the extract:

A. The view of the mountains is spectacular.

B. My view point is different from yours.

C. We will view all the exhibits in the fair.

D. In my view, the plan will fail.

(iii) The rhyme scheme followed in the above extract is __________.

(iv) "Whose hide with spots is peppered." How does this line describe the leopard?

(v) The words 'lept' and 'lep' have not been spelt correctly. Which poetic device has the poet used?

A. Alliteration

B. Poetic License

C. Allusion

D. Imagery

Q.8 Answer ANY FOUR of the following questions in about 40-50 words each: (4x3-12). (3)

(i) Describe how did the young seagull's family celebrate his first flight?

(ii) Explain why does the author say that "the most laidback individuals become converts to the life of high-energy adventure", when they go to Coorg? (Glimpses of India)

(iii) Sometimes little good things in life bring about big changes. How is this statement proved true in the poem 'Dust of Snow"?

(iv) What did the Buddha ask Kisa Gotami to bring? What lesson did he want to teach her? (The Sermon at Benaras)

(v) What makes Custard, the dragon look fearsome/scary? Explain.

Q.9 Answer ANY TWO of the following questions in about 40-50 words each: (2x3=6)

(i) What is the twist at the end of the story "The Necklace"?

(ii) How did Griffin's invisibility come to his rescue every time he was in trouble? Cite any two incidents from the story Footprints Without Feet.

(iii) Ebright could not win a prize in the Science Fair in Class VII. What lesson did he learn? Elucidate. (The Making of a Scientist)

Q. 10 Answer ANY ONE of the following questions in 100-120 words. (6)

Valli is very well organized, bold and at the same time very sensitive. Discuss Valli's character in the light of the above statement.

Explain how does Anne Frank's talent of writing convince Mr.Keesing.

Q. 11 Answer ANY ONE of the following questions in 100-120 words: (6)

Horace Danby was a meticulous planner but still he faltered. Where did he go wrong and why?

"And in her smiling eyes was the sight of a deep satisfaction that an artist feels when contemplating the completion of her masterpiece. How does Bholi become her teacher's masterpiece?

Marking Scheme

Solutions