ENGLISH (Core)
Time allowed: 3 hours
Maximum Marks: 100
Instructions:
1. All questions are compulsory.
2. You may attempt any section at a
time.
3. All questions of that particular
section must be attempted in the correct order.
SECTION-A (READING) 30
Marks
Read the
passage given below: 12
1. One of the greatest sailing adventures of
the past 25 years was the conquest of the Northwest Passage, powered by sail,
human muscle, and determination. In 100 days, over three summers (1986-88),
Canadians Jeff MacInnis and Mike Beedell accomplished the first wind-powered
crossing of the Northwest Passage.
2. In Jeff MacInnis's words...Our third season.
We weave our way through the labyrinth of ice, and in the distance we hear an
unmistakable sound. A mighty bowhead whale is nearby, and its rhythmic breaths
fill us with awe. Finally we see it relaxed on the surface, its blowhole
quivering like a volcanic cone, but it senses our presence and quickly sounds.
We are very disappointed. We had only good intentions - to revel in its
beautiful immensity and to feel its power. Mike thinks how foolish it would be
for this mighty beast to put any faith in us. After all, we are members of the
species that had almost sent the bowhead into extinction with our greed for
whale oil and bone. It is estimated that as many as 38,000 bowheads were killed
off eastern Baffin Island in the 1800s; today there are about 200 left.
3. The fascinating and sometimes terrifying
wildlife keeps us entertained during our explorations. Bearded harp and ring
seals greet us daily. The profusion of bird life is awesome; at times we see
and smell hundreds of thousands of thick billed murres clinging to their Cliffside
nests. Our charts show we are on the edge of a huge shoal where the frigid
ocean currents up swell and mix nutrients that provide a feast for the food
chain. At times these animals scare the living daylights out of us. They have a
knack of sneaking up behind us and then shooting out of the water and belly
flopping for maximum noise and splash. A horrendous splash coming from behind
has a heart-stopping effect in polar bear country.
4. We have many encounters with the "Lords
of the Arctic," but we are always cautious, observant, and ever so
respectful that we are in their domain. In some regions the land is totally
devoid of life, while in others the pulse of life takes our breath away. Such
is the paradox of the Arctic; It's wastelands flow into oasis' that are found
nowhere else on the face of the earth. Many times we find ancient signs of
Inuit people who lived here, superbly attuned to the land. We feel great
respect for them; this landscape is a challenge at every moment.
5. We face a 35 mile open water passage across
Prince Regent Inlet on Baffin Island that will take us to our ultimate goal -
Pond Inlet on Baffin Bay. The breakers look huge from the water's edge. Leaning
into the hulls, like bobsledders at the starting gate, we push as hard as we
can down the gravel beach to the sea. We catch the water and keep pushing until
we have plunged waist deep, then drag ourselves aboard. Immediately, we begin
paddling with every ounce of effort. Inch by agonizing inch, Perception moves
offshore. Sweat pours off our bodies. Ahead of us, looming gray-white through
the fog, we see a massive iceberg riding the current like the ghost of a
battleship. There is no wind to fill our sails and steady the boat, and the
chaotic motion soon brings seasickness. Slowly the wind begins to build. Prince
Regent Inlet now looks ominous with wind and waves. The frigid ocean hits us
square in the face and chills us to the bone.
6. We were on the fine edge. Everything the
Arctic had taught us over the last 90 days was now being tested. We funneled
all that knowledge, skill, teamwork, and spirit into this momentous crossing...
If we went over in these seas we could not get the boat back up. Suddenly the
wind speed plummeted to zero as quickly as it had begun.... Now we were being pushed
by the convulsing waves toward sheer 2,000 foot cliffs. Two paddles were our
only power. Sailing past glacier capped mountains, we approached the end of our
journey. At 05:08 on the morning of our hundredth day, speeding into Baffin
Bay, the spray from our twin hulls makes rainbows in the sun as we complete the
first sail powered voyage through the Northwest Passage.
7. We have journeyed through these waters on
their terms, moved by the wind, waves and current. The environment has always
been in control of our destiny; we have only tried to respond in the best
possible way. We've been awake for nearly 23 hours, but we cannot sleep. The
joy and excitement are too great. Our Hobie Cat rests on the rocky beach, the wind
whistling in her rigging, her bright yellow hulls radiant in the morning
sunlight. She embodies the watchword for survival in the Arctic - adaptability.
(838 words)
1.1. On
the basis of your understanding of the passage, answer the following questions
by choosing the most appropriate option:
1. The
passage is about the:
(1x4 = 4)
A. author’s sailing adventure through the
Northwest Passage
B. flora and fauna of the Arctic
C. survival skills needed while sailing
D. saving the Arctic
2."Lords
of the Arctic," (Para 4) refers to:
A. Wind breakers
B. Icebergs
C. Polar Bears
D. Innuits
3. The
author’s sailing vessel is named:
A. Prince Regent
B. Hobie Cat
C. Perception
D. Arctic
4. ‘We
were on the fine edge’ refers to:
A. the Prince Regent Inlet
B. the ominous sail
C. the frigid ocean
D. their expedition
1.2
Answer the following questions briefly: (1x6=6)
1. Why does the author feel disappointed to see
the bowhead whale disappear into the ocean?
2. How does his sailing partner rationalize it?
3. What reason does the author give for a
thriving wildlife in the Arctic?
4. What is the paradox of the Arctic?
5. What skills helped the author and his
partner survive the adventure?
6. What is the author’s sailing vessel an
embodiment of?
1.3 Pick
out the words/phrases from the passage which are similar in meaning to the
following: (1x2 = 2)
(a) Abundance (Para 3)
(b) Threatening (Para 5)
Q2. Read
the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow: 10
1. By the time a child is six or seven she has
all the essential avoidances well enough by heart to be trusted with the care
of a younger child. And she also develops a number of simple techniques. She
learns to weave firm square balls from palm leaves, to make pinwheels of palm
leaves or frangipani blossoms, to climb a coconut tree by walking up the trunk
on flexible little feet, to break open a coconut with one firm well-directed
blow of a knife as long as she is tall, to play a number of group games and
sing the songs which go with them, to tidy the house by picking up the litter
on the stony floor, to bring water from the sea, to spread out the copra to dry
and to help gather it in when rain threatens, to go to a neighboring house and
bring back a lighted faggot for the chief's pipe or the cook-house fire.
2. But in the case of the little girls all
these tasks are merely supplementary to the main business of baby-tending. Very
small boys also have some care of the younger children, but at eight or nine
years of age they are usually relieved of it. Whatever rough edges have not
been smoothed off by this responsibility for younger children are worn off by
their contact with older boys. For little boys are admitted to interesting and
important activities only so long as their behavior is circumspect and helpful.
3. Where small girls are brusquely pushed
aside, small boys will be patiently tolerated and they become adept at making
themselves useful. The four or five little boys who all wish to assist at the
important, business of helping a grown youth lasso reef eels, organize
themselves into a highly efficient working team; one boy holds the bait,
another holds an extra lasso, others poke eagerly about in holes in the reef
looking for prey, while still another tucks the captured eels into his
lavalava. The small girls, burdened with heavy babies or the care of little
staggerers who are too small to adventure on the reef, discouraged by the
hostility of the small boys and the scorn of the older ones, have little
opportunity for learning the more adventurous forms of work and play.
4. So while the little boys first undergo the
chastening effects of baby-tending and then have many opportunities to learn
effective cooperation under the supervision of older boys, the girls' education
is less comprehensive. They have a high standard of individual responsibility,
but the community provides them with no lessons in cooperation with one
another. This is particularly apparent in the activities of young people: the
boys organize quickly; the girls waste hours in bickering, innocent of any
technique for quick and efficient cooperation. (473 words)
Adapted
from: Coming of Age in Samoa, Margaret Mead (1928)
2.1 On
the basis of your understanding of the passage, answer the following questions
by choosing the most appropriate option:
(a) The
primary purpose of the passage with reference to the society under discussion
is to:
i. explain some differences in the upbringing
of girls and boys
ii. criticize the deficiencies in the education
of girls
iii. give a comprehensive account of a day in
the life of an average young girl
iv. delineate the role of young girls
b. The
list of techniques in paragraph one could best be described as:
i. Household duties
ii. Rudimentary physical skills
iii. Important responsibilities
iv. Useful social skills
2.2
Answer the following as briefly as possible: (1x6=6)
(a) What is the prime responsibility of a girl
child by the time she is six or seven?
(b) What simple techniques does she learn at
this stage?
(c) What household chores is she responsible
for?
(d) In what way is a boy’s life different?
(e) What qualities ensure that the boys move on
to a higher responsibility?
(f) In what way is the girls’ education less
comprehensive?
2.3 Find
words from the passage which mean the same as the following: (1x2=2)
(i) Brusquely (para 3)
(ii) Scorn (para 3)
Q3. Read
the following passage carefully: 8
1. It seems that there is never enough time in
the day. But, since we all get the same 24 hours, why is it that some people
achieve so much more with their time than others? The answer lies in good time
management. “Time management” refers to the way that you organize and plan how long
you spend on specific activities. Good time management requires an important
shift in focus from activities to results: being busy isn’t the same as being
effective. (Ironically, the opposite is often closer to the truth.) Spending
your day in a frenzy of activity often achieves less, because you’re dividing
your attention between so many different tasks. Good time management lets you
work smarter – not harder – so you get more done in less time.
2. It may seem counter-intuitive to dedicate
precious time to learning about time management, instead of using it to get on
with your work, but the benefits are enormous. It improves productivity and
efficiency. Your reputation as a professional grows. The stress levels dip and a
world of opportunities opens up for you. Your career advances and important goals
are reached.
3. Failing to manage your time effectively can
have some very undesirable consequences. Deadlines are missed and the work flow
is not only inefficient but of poor quality. It dents your reputation as a
professional and your career is in in danger of being stalled. As a result your
stress level shoots up.
4. Everyday interruptions at work can be a key
barrier to managing your time effectively and, ultimately, can be a barrier to
your success. Think back to your last workday, and consider for a minute the
many interruptions that occurred. There may have been phone calls, emails, hall
way conversations, colleagues stopping by your office, or anything else that
unexpectedly demanded your attention and, in doing so, distracted you from the
task at-hand. Because your day only has so many hours in it, a handful of small
interruptions can rob you of the time you need to achieve your goals and be
successful in your work and life. More than this, they can break your focus,
meaning that you have to spend time re-engaging with the thought processes
needed to successfully complete complex work. The key to controlling interruptions
is to know what they are and whether they are necessary, and to plan for them
in your daily schedule. (403 words)
(a) On
the basis of your reading of the above passage make notes on it using headings
and sub-headings. Use recognizable abbreviations wherever necessary.
(b) Write
a summary of the above in 80 words using the notes. 3
SECTION B
ADVANCED WRITING SKILLS – 30 Marks
4. In a recent survey it was found that your
city has the highest rate of pollution in the country. Innumerable vehicles on
the road and lack of green cover have made the air unfit to breathe. Draft a
poster in about 50 words, creating awareness about the need to keep your city
clean and green. You are Rakhsita/Rohit of MVN Public School. 4
OR
Your school is organizing a SPICMACAY programme
on the occasion of the World Dance Day wherein the renowned Bharatanatyam
dancer, Geeta Chandran would be giving a lecture demonstration. As the
President, Cultural Society of your school, draft a notice in about 50 words,
informing the students about the same. You are Rakhsita/Rohit of MVN Public
School. 4
5. Your school recently launched a GPRS system
in the school buses which will enable the parents to keep track of their
children while they are travelling in the bus. The service, however, is not
smooth and is facing a lot of problems. As the Transport Incharge of DML Public
School, Delhi, write a letter in about 120-150 words to the Manager, Forumloft,
21 Park Street, Delhi, complaining about the same. 6
OR
Your school has opened a new activity wing for
the kindergarten students for which you require play equipment. Write a letter
to the Manager, OK Toys, 21, Daryaganj, Delhi, in about 120-150 words placing
an order for educational toys and other play equipment. You are Neera/Naresh,
Manager, DML Public School, Delhi. 6
6. Although students have been using cell
phones consistently in their daily lives for almost a decade, schools continue
to resist allowing the devices into the classroom. Schools generally grapple
with new technologies, but cell phones’ reputation as a nuisance and a
distraction has been hard to dislodge. Using information given below prepare a
speech in about 150-200 words in favour of or against the cell phone being
allowed in schools.
10
· Critics
believe that allowing these devices will only encourage their non-educational
use in school
·
they
will be a significant distraction for teachers and students
·
a
potential tool for cheating
·
could
foster cyberbullying
·
But
on the other hand BYOD-Bring Your Own Device is gaining momentum as a learning
tool, not just a toy for entertainment
·
can
be cost effective for the schools instead of having to purchase technology for
students.
·
many
educators believe that banning any type of technology can foster inequity
·
Schools
can develop rules for how students physically handle the device in the
classroom.
OR
It is a toss-up between Class X boards &
CCE. The board exams were once considered a rite of passage but with the
introduction of the Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation, (CCE), students
have greater choice. Write a speech in about 150-200 words in favour of or
against the topic giving reasons for your stand. 10
· The
CCE allows students to study select portions of the year's syllabus for the
examination.
·
Stress
free and comprehensive
·
encourages
project work more than rote learning
·
Board
exams have a standardized system of evaluation
·
Board
exams cater to the competitive spirit in students
·
Board
exams provide an equal platform for students from all strata of schools.
7. They may have stood the test of time but
there is a growing demand for the need to protect the country’s monuments.
Write an article in about 150-200 words for your school magazine on how we can
conserve our built heritage. You are Akshay/ Akshita of Graham Public School,
Indore.
OR
As part of an Entrepreneurship project the
commerce students of your school recently launched a product called Oatlicious.
They not only set up a company to produce the product but also designed its
advertising and marketing strategy. Write an article in about 150-200 words for
your school magazine giving details of the enterprise and its launch. You are
Akshay/ Akshita of Graham Public School, Indore.
SECTION C– 40 Marks
LITERATURE, TEXT BOOKS, A LONG READING TEXT
8. Read
the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
“Perhaps
the Earth can teach us
As when
everything seems dead
And later
proves to be alive
Now I
will count upto twelve
And you
keep quiet and I will go.”
(a) What does the Earth teach us?
(b) What does the poet mean to achieve by
counting upto twelve?
(c) What is the significance of “keeping
quiet”?
OR
Aunt
Jennifer’s fingers fluttering through her wool
Find even
the ivory needle hard to pull.
The
massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band
Sits
heavily upon Aunt Jennifer’s hand.
(a) Why are Aunt Jennifer’s fingers fluttering?
(b) What is the result of the fluttering?
(c) Explain: ‘The massive weight of Uncle’s
wedding band’.
(d) What is Aunt Jennifer’s state of mind?
9. Answer
any four of the following in about 30 -40 words each: 3x4=12
(a) How and why was M. Hamel dressed
differently that day?
(b) Mention any two long term consequences of
the drowning incident on Douglas.
(c) How does the poem, ‘An Elementary School
Classroom in a Slum’, portray/describe the slum children?
(d) According to Keats what moves away the pain
and suffering from human life?
(e) How did the Tiger King’s Diwan prove to be
resourceful?
(f) How does Evans escape from the jail?
10.
Answer any one of the following questions in about 120-150 words:
Edla is able to bring about a change of heart
in the Pedlar. Justify this with reference to the story, ‘The Rattrap’. What
qualities helped her bring about this transformation? 6
OR
Why did Gandhiji consider freedom from fear
more important than legal justice for the poor peasants of Champaran? 6
11. Answer any
one of the following questions in about 120-150 words: 6
What efforts were made by Dr . Sadao and Hana
to save the life of the injured man?
OR
Do you think Jack shared an affinity with Roger
Skunk? Explain.
12.
Answer any one of the following questions in about 120-150 words: 6
How do both the thefts determine Marner’s
interaction with the people of Raveloe?
OR
What disadvantages does Griffin face because of
his invisibility?
13.
Answer any one of the following questions in about 120-150 words: 6
Not only does Eppie have golden hair but she
also has a heart of gold. Justify by giving instances from the novel.
OR
Griffin is the model of science without
humanity. Justify with reference to the Invisible Man.
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