Madhyamik Examination 2019
ENGLISH (Second Language)
SECTION – A
READING COMPREHENSION (SEEN)
1. Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follows :
” What have you written, Father ?” Swami asked apprehensively.
“Nothing for you. Give it to your headmaster and go to your class.”
“Have you written anything about our teacher Samuel ?”
“Yes. Plenty of thing”
“What has he done, Father ?”
“Everything is there in the letter. Give it to your headmaster.”
Swami went to school feeling that he was the worst boy on earth. His conscience bothered him. He wasn’t at all sure if his description of Samuel had been accurate. He felt he had mixed up the real and the imagined.
Swami stopped on the roadside to make up his mind about Samuel . Samue| was not such a bad man after all. Personally he was much more friendly than the other teachers. Swam also felt Samuel had a special regard for him.
Swami’s head was dizzy with confusion. He coult decide if Samuel really deserved the allegations made against him in the letter. The more he thought of Samuel, the more Swami grieved for him. To reca|| Samuel’s dark face, his thin moustache, unshaven cheek and yellow coat filled Swaminathan with sorrow …
A. Write the correct alternative to complete the following sentences : 1 x 5 = 5
(a) Swami’s father wrote the letter to Swami’s _____________
(i) friends, (ii) headmaster, (iii) teacher (iv) mother
Ans. (ii) headmaster
(b) The letter made Swami feel _____________
(i) happy, (ii) sad, (iii) excited, (iv) worried.
Ans. (iv) worried
(c) Swami stopped on his way to school to decide whether Samuel was a/an _____________
(i) bad person, (ii) good and friendly person, (iii) honest person, (iv) dishonest person.
Ans. (i) bad person
(d) Swami felt dizzy because he was _____________
(i) excited, (ii) indifferent, (iii) afraid, (iv) puzzled.
Ans. (iv) puzzled
(e) The more Swami thought of Samuel the more _____________
(i) aggrieved he felt, (ii) cheerful he felt, (iii) disappointed he felt, (iv) angry he felt.
Ans. (i) aggrieved he felt
B. Complete the following sentences with Information from the text : 1×3=3
(i) Swami’s father asked him to _____________
Ans. Swami’s father asked him to give the letter to his headmaster.
(ii) While going to school Swami felt _____________
Ans. While going to school Swami felt that he was the worst boy on earth.
(iii) Other teachers were not as _____________
Ans. Other teachers were not as friendly as Samuel.
C Answer the following questions : 2×2=4
(i) Why did Swami’s conscience bother him ? _____________
Ans. Swami’s conscience bothered him because he wasn’t at all sure if his description of Samuel had been accurate.
(ii) How did Swami recall Samuel’s appearance ? _____________
Ans. Swami sorrowfully recalled Samuel’s dark face, his thin moustache, unshaven cheek and his yellow coat.
2. Read the following poem and answer the questions that follow:
Once I crept in an oakwood — I was looking for a stag.
I met an old woman there — all knobbly stick and rag.
She said : ‘I have your secret here inside my little bag.’
Then she began to cackle and I began to quake.
She opened up her little bag and I came twice awake —
Surrounded by a staring tribe and me tied to a stake.
They said ; ‘We are the oak-tress and your own true family.
We are chopped down, we are torn up, you do not blink an eye.
Unless you make a promise now — now you are going to die.’
‘Whenever you see an oak-tree felled, swear now you will plant two.
Unless you swear the black oak bark will wrinkle over you
And root you among the oaks where you were born but never grew.’
This was my dream beneath the boughs, the dream that altered me.
When I came out of the oakwood, back to human company,
My walk was the walk of a human child, but my heart was a tree.
A. Write the correct alternative to complete the following sentences: 1×4=4
(i) The young child met _____________
(a) a forester, (b) an old man, (c) an old woman, (d) a stag
Ans. (c) an old woman
(ii) The old woman was _____________
(a) very smart, (b) looking nervous, (c) richly dressed, (d) unsteady and poorly dressed.
Ans. (d) unsteady and poorly dressed.
(iii) The oak trees complained that _____________
(a) the old woman cackled,
(b) they are chopped down, torn up but the humans remain Indifferent,
(c) they are not watered everyday,
(d) they are tied to a stake.
Ans. (b) they are chopped down, torn up but the humans remain Indifferent,
(iv) A ‘staring tribe’ refers to _____________
(a) local inhabitants, (b) the primitive people, (c) homeless people, (d) the oak trees
Ans. (d) the oak trees
B. 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
(a) The oak trees told the child in his dream that whenever an oak tree is cut down he should plant two oak saplings. [T]
Supporting Statement : ‘Whenever you see an oak-tree felled, swear now you will plant two.’
(b) When the child woke up from his dream he forgot all about the oak trees. [F]
Supporting Statement: When I came out of the oak wood, back to human company, My walk was the walk of a human child, but my heart was a tree.
READING COMPREHENSION (UNSEEN)
3. Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow :
It is a known fact that children generally emulate the adults. When a child imitates an elder smoking by holding a pencil between his/her tiny fingers, most of us find it quite cute. We fail to realise that this harmless imitation often results in actual smoking when they grow up. So it is time to take a pause and think about its consequences. According to WHO data, tobacco kills more than seven million people each year. While more than six million of those deaths are the result of direct tobacco use, many non-smokers die because they are exposed to second-hand smoke.
Over eighty percent of individuals, who start smoking during adolescence, will continue to smoke in adulthood, while one-third of them will die prematurely due to smoking-related diseases like cancer, heart disease and chronic lung diseases. Experimentation by children can rapidly escalate into heavy smoking.
Experts say that unless urgent action is taken immediately, the annual death toll could rise to more than eight million by 2030. This sure is a gloomy and cheerless world that we are leaving behind to our future generations. So it is time to motivate youngsters to stay away from this deadly habit.
Dr Shyama Chona, the educationist says, “The best way to motivate them to stay away from smoking is to involve them in some activities.” She suggests that schools can organise events like sports, drama and story-telling sessions. Such participatory learning is very effective because it dissuades kids from smoking, when they themselves propagate its bad effects.
Parents have a big role to play when it comes to influencing their kids. Theatre director Arvind Gaur says that a smoking parent can never tell his/her child not to smoke because that would be too hypocritical.
[Adapted from an article, published in The Times of India dated March 14, 2018]
A. Tick the right answer : 1×6=6
(i) We find it cute when –
(a) a child imitates an adult
(b) an adult imitates a child,
(c) a child copies an elder smoking by holding a pencil between his/her tiny fingers
(d) a child actually smokes.
Ans. (c) a child copies an elder smoking by holding a pencil between his/her tiny fingers
(ii) According to WHO data, each year direct use of tobacco kills —
(a) seven million people
(b) more than seven million people
(c) less than six million people
(d) more than six million people.
Ans. (d) more than six million people.
(iii) In the opinion of experts urgent action should be taken —
(a) immediately (b) after one year (c) by 2030 (d) by the parents
Ans. (a) immediately
(iv) Dr Shyama Chona is —
(a) a medical practitioner (b) a psychologist (c) a social worker (d) an educationist
Ans. (d) an educationist
(v) ‘Deadly habit’ in paragraph 3 refers to —
(a) sports (b) smoking (c) play-acting (d) story-telling
Ans. (b) smoking
(vi) A smoking parent can —
(a) always tell his child to smoke
(b) tell his child to be hypocritical
(c) never tell his child not to smoke
(d) tell his child to be honest and truthful
Ans. (c) never tell his child not to smoke
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 line (s) or phrase (s) from the passage in support of your answers: (1+1)x3=6
(i) A child never imitates an elder smoking. [F]
Supporting Statement: When a child imitates an elder smoking by holding a pencil between his/her tiny fingers, most of us find it quite cute.
(ii) Many non-smokers die because of passive smoking. [T]
Supporting Statement: Many non-smokers die because they are exposed to second-hand smoke.
(iii) Our future generations will be left in a dark and hopeless world due to smoking. [T]
Supporting Statement: This sure is a gloomy and cheerless world that we are leaving behind to our future generations.
C Answer the following questions: 2 x 4 = 8
(i) How does a child imitate an elder smoking ?
Ans. A child imitates an elder smoking by holding a pencil between his/her tiny fingers.
(ii) Name some of the smoking-related diseases.
Ans. Some names of smoking related diseases are cancer, heart disease and chronic lung diseases.
(iii) Why should urgent action be taken immediately to stop smoking ?
Ans. Urgent action should be taken immediately to stop smoking, otherwise the annual death toll could rise to more than eight million by 2030.
(iv) How can children be motivated to stay away from smoking ?
Ans. Children can be motivated to stay away from smoking by involving them in some activities.
Section-B
[GRAMMAR AND VOCABULARY]
4. Write the correct alternative to fill in the blanks : 1×3=3
When Mrs Gupta ________ (return / returned / was returning) home she noticed at once that thieves ________ (enter / have entered / had entered) her house during her absence. The local police station ________ (was informing / had informed / was informed) immediately.
Ans. When Mrs. Gupta was returning home she noticed at once that thieves had entered her house during her absence. The local police station was informed immediately.
5. Do as directed :
A. Fill in the blanks with appropriate articles and prepositions : 1×3=3
Sunil _____ young diver jumped _____ the river and saved the child ______ drowning.
Ans. Sunil, a young diver jumped into the river and saved the child from drowning.
B. Rewrite the following sentences according to the instructions given in brackets : 1×3=3
(i) He has worked out the answers carefully. (Change the voice)
Ans. The answers have been worked out carefully by him.
(ii) You do not take care of your health. You may fall ill. (Join into a single sentence using an adverb clause)
Ans. If you do not take care of your health, you may fall ill.
(iii) “What have you written, Sachin ?” The teacher said. (Change into Indirect Speech)
Ans. The teacher asked Sachin what he had written.
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) Kshudiram sacrificed his life for his motherland. |¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨|
Ans. sacrificed: gave up
(ii) Police is investigating the case. |¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨|
Ans. investigating: looking into
(iii) I am trying to find a job. |¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨|
Ans. trying to find: looking for
[List : look into, come, by, look for, give up]
6. Given below are the meanings of four words which you will find in the passage in Question No. 3. Find out the words and write them in the appropriate boxes on the right-hand side. 2×4=8
(i) imitate. |¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨|
Ans. imitate: emulate
(ii) increase rapidly. |¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨|
Ans. increase rapidly: escalate
(iii) discourage. |¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨|
Ans. discourage: dissuade
(iv) spread and promote an idea widely |¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨|.
Ans. spread and promote an idea widely: propagate
SECTION – C
WRITING
7. Write a story (within 100 words) using the given hints. Give a title to the story. 10
[Hints: Three children collecting green mangoes near railway track — one sees a crack on rails — hears a train coming — senses danger — tears his red shirt — three pieces — waves like flags — driver stops — accident avoided — children rewarded]
Ans. One day, three children were collecting green mangoes from a tree. It was near a railway track. They were in a playful mood. All of a sudden, one of the children noticed a crack on rail line. He became anxious. Just then he heard the sound of a train coming towards them from a distance. He could clearly sense the danger. He knew that to stop the train red flag is necessary. But the children had very little time to collect it. He wore a red shirt that day. Quickly he tore the shirt into three pieces. Then all the three started to wave those red pieces as flag. The driver noticed that and stopped the train in a safe distance. With the instant wit, the accident could be avoided. After some time, the Indian Rail authority invited them in a programme and rewarded them for their courage and instant decision making capacity.
8. Write a letter (within 100 words) to the editor of an English daily stating reasons why plastic carry bags should be banned. 10
Your letter may include the following points :
[Points : Large scale use of plastic carry bags — choking sewerage system — waterlogging on roads — drains overflowing — pollution of land and ocean — must be banned to save environment — use of substitutes like jute bags and paper bags.]
Ans. To
The Editor
The Telegraph 6 Prafulla Sarkar Street Kolkata-700001
Sub: Why plastic carry bags should be banned
Sir, With humble prayer | want to share my anxiety related to the dangers of plastic carry bags. Hope my letter will get a little place in your editorial column. We are searching for cost friendly material for our benefit. So, we have forgotten earthen pots, paper bags, jute bags, etc. Everywhere there is the plastic. We have started to use it in every purpose. A number of plastic bags are floating here and there. But the problem created by them is alarming. Those are choking the sewerage system. So, in rainy season roads become waterlogged. Drains overflow spreading foul smell and causing dangerous pollution. When plastic is left on land it makes the land infertile. It separates the upper and lower level of soils. In the sea and ocean it creates danger for the sea animals. Some of the sea animals are already on the way to extinction because of such kind of pollution. So, without wasting any further time, plastic must be banned by imposing strict law. Then only we can save our environment. At the same time, substitute eco friendly materials like jute and paper should be used for making bags. Thank you,
Yours faithfully
Debasis Gupta Md. Abdulla Street, Malda 20.02.2019
9. Your school is going to host an inter-school drama competition. Suppose you are the Cultural Secretary of your school. Write a notice (within 100 words) calling students to participate in the competition. Mention the time, date and venue of the competition. Your notice should be countersigned by the Headmistress / Headmaster of your school.
Ans. NOTICE
ABC High School, Purulia Ref. No.: S/2019/12
Date: 22.02.2019
Our ABC High School is going to host an inter-school drama competition on 30.03.2019. The competition will take place in our Netaji Indoor complex. Twelve schools in total will participate. The programme will start at 11 a.m. To compete from our school two teams will be selected. One team will consist of four to six participants. So, the willing students are requested to enlist their names within a fortnight. They should contact our respected teacher, Amulyababu, who is in charge of our cultural programmes. He will provide every details of the programme. We expect a quick response from our students. Thank you.
Countersigned by H.M.
Souvik Majumder
Class-X Cultural Secretary ABC High School, Purulia
SECTION – D
(SUPPLEMENTARY)
[FOR EXTERNAL CANDIDATES ONLY]
1. Fill in the blanks with appropriate forms of the words in brackets : 1×5=5
(a) Mrs. Bhimani is well known for her ____________ (kind).
(b) ____________ (honest) is the best policy.
(c) Sumona completed the rare ____________ (success).
(d) The gentleman is famous for his ____________ (wise).
(e) Mr. Soren is an ____________ (honour) man.
2. Add prefix the following words to make antonyms : 1×5=5
(a) Happy ________________________
(b) Please ________________________
(c) Movable ________________________
(d) Rational ________________________
(e) Logical ________________________
[ dis, un, ir, im, il, ]