Madhyamik English Question Paper ––– 2017
SECTION—A
[Reading Comprehension (Seen)]
1. Read the passage careflully and answer the question that follow:
It is always lovely on the Big Half Moon in summer. When it is fine, the harbour is blue and calm, with little wind and ripples. Every summer, we had some hobby. The last summer before Dick and Mimi came, we were crazy about kites. A boy on the mainland showed Claude how to make them. Back on the island we.made pilenty of kites. Calude would go around to the other side of the island and we would play shipwrecked mariners signalling to each other with kites.
We had a kite that was big and covered with lovely red paper. We pasted gold tinsel stars all over it and had written our names full in it—Claude Leete and Philippa Leete, Big Half Moon lighthouse.
One day there was a grand wind for kite-flying. I’m not sure how it happened, but as I was bringing the kite from the house, I tripped and fell over the rocks. My elbow went clear through the kite, making a big hole.
We had to hurry to fix the kite if we wanted to send it up before the wind fell. We rushed into the lighthouse to get some paper. We knew there was no more red paper. We took the first thing that came handy—an old letter lying on the bookcase in the sitting room. We patched the kite up with the letter, a sheet on each side and dried it by the fire. We started out, and up went the kite like a bird.
A. Write the correct alternative to complete the following sentences in the given spaces: 1×5=5
(i) The Big Half Moon looked lovely during—
(a) spring (b) summer (c) autumn (d) winter
Ans. (ii) summer.
(ii) The narrator and his playmates pretended to be—
(a) robbers (b) adventures (c) mountaineers (d) shipwrecked mariners
Ans. iv) shipwreckedmariners.
(iii) The part of the narrators body that went through the kite was his—
(a) elbow (b) ankle (c) knee (d) fingers
Ans. iv) shipwreckedmariners.
(iv) The narrator of the text is—
(a) Dick (b) Mimi (c) Philippa (d) Claude
Ans. iii) Philippa.
(v) The kite was mended with a—
(a) red paper (b) letter (c) leaflet (d) newspaper
Ans. ii) letter.
B. Complete the following sentences with information from the text: 1×3=3
(i) The visitors to the island last summer were—————
Ans. i) The visitors to the island last summer were Dick and Mimi.
(ii) The name of the lighthouse was —————————
Ans. The name of the lighthouse was Big Half Moon lighthouse.
(iii) They hurried to fix the kite because —————————
Ans. They hurried to fix the kite because they wanted to send the kite up before the wind fell
C. State whether the following statements are True or False. Write ‘T’ for true and ‘F’ for false in the boxes on the right-hand side. Provide sentences/phrases/words in support of your answer: 2×2=4
(i) In summer the island is rough and windy. [ ]
Ans. ‘It is always lovely on the Big Half Moon in summer.’
(ii) The names of Claude and Philippa were written on the kite. [ ]
Ans. : ‘We had a kite that was big and covered with lovely red paper. We ‘pasted gold tinsel stars all over it and had written our names full on it.’
2. Read the poem and answer the questions given below:
The mountain and the squirrel
Had a quarrel:
And the former called the latter
‘Little Prig.’
bun replied,
‘You are doubtless very big;
But all sorts of things and weather
Must be taken in together,
To make up a year
And a sphere.
And I think it no disgrace
To occupy my place.
If I’m not so large as you,
You are not so small as I, And not half so spry.
I’ll not deny you make
A very pretty squirrel track;
Talents differ, all is well and wisely put;
If I cannot carry forests on my back,
Neither can you crack a nut’
A. Write the correct alternatives to complete the following sentences: 1 x4= 4
(i) ‘Little Prig’ refers to—
(a) the mountain (b) the squirrel (c) the forest (d) a nut
Ans. ii) the squirrel.
(ii) The mountain is—
(a) very wise (b) quite lively (c) very big (d) very pretty
Ans. iii) very big.
(iii) The quarrel was between—
(a) the forest and the squirrel (b) a nut and the squirrel (c) talent and wisdom (d) the mountain and squirrel
Ans. iv) the mountain and the squirrel.
(iv) Unlike the squirrel the mountain can—
(a) carry forests on its back (b) crack a nut (c) move about happily (d) make a sphere
Ans. d) Unlike the squirrel the mountain can
B. Answer the following questions: 2×2=4
(i) How does the mountain make fun of the squirrel ?
Ans. . The mountain makes fun of the squirrel by calling.him a ‘little prig’ and demeaning bis capabilities.
(ii) Mention two qualities of the mountain.
Ans. Two qualities of the mountain are – i) he makes a very pretty squirrel track and, ii) he can carry forests on its back.
[Reading Comprehension (Unseen)]
3. Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow:
P V Sindhu, India’s latest badminton superstar, spoke freely and frankly to the press. She impressed everyone with her charming manner, infectious smile and friendly jokes. The Rio Olympics silver medalist is a lively 21 year old with a sharp brain and fierce dedication to her work. She recalled her days at Gopichand’s Academy. She told the press that she started her training at 4.30 am everyday and she wished to continue to stick to that same schedule. She was full of praise for Gopichand’s Academy. “I can tell you,” she said with great excitement, “the infrastructure and everything has been perfect and we have been getting all the facilities. Whatever we have wanted has been there”
When she was asked how she felt to be a woman achiever, she replied, “It’s really a great feeling.” She added that all the women participants from India performed really well, because she believed that coming to the Olympics itself was a very big achievement.
Sindhu was asked to comment on her feelings on the day of the final match. She said that she was confident and even her coach Gopichand believed that she could do it. On National Sports Day, 29th August, Sindhu along with Deepa Karmakar and Sakshi Malik received the RajnV Gandhi Khel Ratna award.
[Adapted from an interview published in The Times of India, dated 31st August, 2016]
A. Write the correct alternative to complete the following sentences: 1×6=6
(i) P V Sindhu is the latest superstar in the field of—
(a) table-tennis (b) badminton (c) lawn tennis (d) hockey
Ans. . b) badminton
(ii) P V Sindhu is———
(a) 25 years old (b) 43 years old (c) 21 years old (d) 17 years old
Ans. . c) 21 years old
(iii) Sindhu was trained at—
(a) Gopichand’s Academy (b) Sports Authority of India (c) a local badminton club (d) National Sports Academy
Ans. a) Gopichand’s Academy! ,/I·
(iv) Everyday Sindhu started her training—
(a) in the afternoon (b) early in the morning (c) in the evening (d) at midday
Ans. b) early in the morning
(v) National Sports Day is observed on—
(a) 29th August (b) 15th August (c) 5th September (d) 2nd October
Ans. 29th August
(vi) The above passage is an adaptation from—
(a) a story (b) a report (c) an article (d) an interview
Ans. d). an interview
B. Each of the following statements is either True or False. Write ‘T’ for true and ‘F’ for false in the boxes on the right-hand side. Also pick out suitable lines (s) or phrase (s) from the passage in support of your answers: (1+1) x 3=6
(i) While speaking to the press Sindhu was nervous and shy. [ ]
Ans.T(SS): P.V. Sindhu, India’s latest badminton superstar, spoke freely and frankly to. the press. ·
(ii) Sindhu was full of admiration for Gopichand’s Academy. [ ]
Ans. T.(SS) She was full of praise for Gopichand’s Academy. fu) As a worn achiever she felt excited.
(iii) As a woman achiever she felt excited. [ ]
Ans. T. (SS) : When she was asked how she felt to be a woman achiever, she replied, “It’s really a great feeling.”
C. Answer the following questions: 2×4=8
(i) How did Sindhu impress every one ?
Ans. .impressed everyone with her charming manner, infectious smile and friendly jokes
(ii) Mention the two special qualities that Sindhu has.
Ans. The two special qualities that Sindhu has, are : i) a sharp brain and ii) fierce dedication to her work
(iii) What is Sindhu’s opinion about the women participants from India at the Rio Olympics ?
Ans. Sindhu said that all the women participants from India performed really well because she believed tha� coming to the olympics itself was a very big achievement.
(iv) How did Sindhu feel on the day of the final match ?
Ans. .Sindhu said that she felt confident and even her coach Gopicband believed that she could do it
SECTION—B [Grammar and Vocabulary]
4. A. Write the correct alternatives to fill in the blanks: 1×3=3
Minara Begum, who ——— (was coaching/has been coaching/is coaching) national-level gymnasts for 30 years,——— (is surpirsed/has been surpirsed/was surpirsed) to receive a call from a parent soon after Deepa Karmakar ——— (will finish/was finished/finished) fourth in the Olympics.
Ans. has been coaching, was suxprised, finished
5. Do as directed: 1×6=6
A. Fill in the blanks with appropriate articles and prepositions:
When John arrived —— Mumbai ——— train, there was not single penny in his pocket.
Ans. In, by
B. (i) It was raining. The children could not go out to play. (Join into a complex sentence)
Ans. The children could not go out to play as it was raining
(ii) My friend gave me a story book. (Change the voice)
Ans. MY :friend gave me a story book. (Change the voice)
(iii) The policeman said to the thief, “Where have you kept the stolen goods?” (Change into indirect speech)
Ans. .The policeman said to the thief, “Where have you kept.the stolen goods?” (Change into Indirect Spech)
C. Choose the correct phrasal verbs from the list given below.to replace the words underlined. Write the correct phrasal verbs in the boxes on the right-hand side changing the form, where necessary. There is one extra phrasal verb in the list: 1×3=3
(i) The patient will recover withtn a week.
Ans. come round
(ii) Please do not reject my proposal.
Ans. turn down
(iii) He wore a white shirt.
Ans. put on
[List: put on, put off, turn down, come round]
D. Given below are the meanings of four words which you will find in Question No. 3. Find out the words and write them in the appropriate boxes on the right-hand side. 2×4=8
(i) very pleasant and attractive
Ans. charming
(ii) basic systems and services for an organisation
Ans. infrastructure
(iii) something done successfully
Ans. achievement
(iv) feeling sure about one’s ability
Ans. confident
SECTION—C [Writing]
1. Write a story (in about 100 words) with the help of the points given below and add a suitable title: 10
[Points: shepherd tends sheep near a forest—raises false alarm of a wolf —villagers rush to his rescue—shepherd enjoys—one day wolf really comes —shepherd cries for help—nobody comes—wolf kills sheep]
Ans. What goes around, Comes around.
Once there was a shepherd .in a village. He used to tend sheep near a forest. One fme day he wanted to do some mischeif, to fool the villagers. “Wolf! Wolf! help me ! He will kill my sheep. Help!” – He raised a false alarm. Being unaware of his mischief the. villagees rushed to his rescue. “Ha! Ha! you really came! It Wc\S just for fun, you fool villagers! “-He said these to them while laughing and enjoying the bewilderd faces of the villagers.
The other day the shepherd was out for some time. When he came back he found out that a wolf had really come and lcilled many of his sheep. Being helpless the shephered crjed, “Please help! The wolf really came and killed my sheep. Please help me!” -Nobody came to his rescue as he lie he told before regareg the same. The -w9lflcilled al.1 the sheep and.the. sephered sat there, crying with regret.
2. Write a letter (in about 100 words) to a friend living in a village about the place you live in. You may use the following points: 10
[Points: The name of the place you live in—district where situated—the people around you—sights worth seeing—why you like the place.]
87 /52 A, Bose Pukur Road,
Kolkata-700 042
23.02.2017,
Dear Dishani,
The name of my ci is Kolkata and it is siated in West Benga}. This is one of the biggest cities in India. The people around me are really humble and helpful, but you can see a strange thing among them. They are always in hurry but never in time! Apart from the people here ar.e some sights worth seeing. The Howra Bridge is holding its prid for more than hundreds of years as a symbol of true ‘Calcuttan spirit’. Beside, that, Outram Ghaat, St. Paul’s Cathedral Church, Victoria Memorial, Marble Palace, Jorashanko Thakurbari etc, are the places of
storical importance one should visit in Kolkata. I love this place, you know, for its tj.ch culture and nostalgia. From the love of tea stalls to pandal hopping in Durga puja, Kolkata is much more of an emotion than just a city.
Next time when you come I’ll take you to all the place I mentioned. Now it’s time to finish the letter. Awaiting your early reply. Stay healthy.
Regards
, Promita Sanyal,
StampstampsName : Dishani Roy c/o: Dishanjeet Roy Address : 24/6 Karimpur Lane Nadia-700009
3. Use the following flow-chart to write a paragraph (in about 100 words) on the preparation of a mixture useful for rehydration or maintaining balance of water in the body: 10
[Points: Wash hands, pots, spoons, glass—boil one litre water in pot-cool—and six level teaspoons of sugar + half teaspoon of common salt—stir well—ready]
Ans. The preparation of a mixture useful to maintain the water balance in the body
To fight against_dehydration there are few simple steps , to follow. At first, hands, pots, spoons and glasses are needed to wash. Then, in ·a pot, one litre wate is boiled. After cooling the water, six level teaspoons of sugar is added with half teaspoon of common salt. Finally, the mixture is stirred well and is· ready to drink Tbis is the easiest homemade remedy to stay rehydrate and maintain the water balance in the body.