SAMPLE QUESTION PAPER (2019-20)
ENGLISH- Language and Literature (code 184)
CLASS-X
Time allowed: 3 Hrs Maximum Marks: 80
General Instructions:
1.This Paper is divided into three sections. All questions are compulosry.
2. Separate instructions are given with each section and question, wherever necessary. Read these instructions very carefully and follow them.
3. Do not exceed the prescribed word limit while answering the questions.
Section: A 20 Marks
Read the passage carefully. (12)
Adult Education
One of the major problems of adult education is the paucity of time with adults. Their own pursuits will not allow them time to do this type of work. If at all they find the time, it is never the appointed time. The only solution to the problem is the opening of libraries in villages and towns, equipped with books and periodicals useful for adults. Teachers may also be appointed who will make these libraries and library books more attractive and useful for them. Adults may step in these libraries as and when they find the time and thus carry on their studies. These libraries can serve as good meeting places for adults after their day’s work. Certain good books containing interesting pictures should be placed in these libraries. Journals, newspapers and posters may be good supplements. Life-size portraits of great men and various maps should be hung on the walls of the library to create an absorbing and encouraging atmosphere for the reader.
This leads us to the problem of training of teachers for adults. The ordinary teachers may not be able to accomplish the job. To be able to understand the mental makeup of adults is an essential part of the training of teachers. A less expensive scheme will be that the experienced teachers should be entrusted with the work of adult education, of course, after giving them some training in adult psychology.
We may give some extra allowance to these teachers who work with adults. They will also take upon themselves the upkeep of the libraries, along with the discharge of their usual official duties. This will lead to the establishment of close contact between the school and the home of the child. The parents of the children will have ample opportunity to visit the school and have frequent talks about their wards with the teacher. This bond of friendship between the school and the home will stand in good stead to the children. Any difference between school and home will stand automatically reconciled for the good of the children. In fact. the only two character-building institutions for the child are the school and the home. When the two character-building institutions stand united, the children are bound to progress and even the parents are apt to add to their educational and general abilities. This will mean a greater communion between child education and adult education. one lending support to the other.
1 On the basis of your reading of the passage, complete the following statements as briefly as possible. (2*4=8)
(a) The adults suffer from the problem of lack of time because …
(b) The problem of lack of time with the adults can be solved to a great extent …
(c) …and adults may visit them when they find time for …
(d) Pick out and write the expression which indicates that libraries if set in villages and towns, can be greatly useful in creating an educative atmosphere…
2. Find words/phrases from the passage, which mean the same as the following. Write the answers against the correct blank numbers in your answer sheet. (1*4=4)
(i) the smallness of number or quantity
(ii) succeed in doing
(iii) trust somebody to take charge of something
(iv) to become friends again
Q.2 Read the passage carefully. (8)
Sullivan
Sullivan has decided that he will look after his ailing mother, who is laid up with fever and pneumonia. He will therefore not be able to attend school. Devoted a son as he is he does everything that can lessen the agony and pain of his mother. When the physical condition of his mother worsens, Sullivan calls a doctor who prescribes a cough syrup for her. The dispensary is far away, and on his way to the dispensary, he passes by an old cathedral. In return for his mother’s getting well soon, Sullivan promises to spend a penny on a candle for the Blessed Virgin. When he reaches the dispensary, he is told that he will have to wait for the medicine as its preparation will take time. It is while waiting that he meets a girl, who is also there for some medication. Meanwhile, the medicine the girl had come for, is ready. The girl collects her bottle of medicine and readily waits for Sullivan. Happy at the company. Sullivan buys a pennyworth of sweets to share with the girl, while they wait for his bottle of medicine. When Sullivan’s bottle is ready, the girl innocently asks Sullivan to let her taste the medicine. Sullivan also asks if he can taste the medicine she is carrying. To this, the girl replies that hers tastes bad. Sullivan allows the girl to taste the medicine he is carrying. The girl finds the taste good. Both of them finish the contents of the bottle.
Now the reality of what has happened dawns on Sullivan and he starts crying bitterly. He curses himself for having spent the penny he had planned to buy the candle with. Feeling downcast and hopeless, Sullivan runs to the cathedral and, kneeling down before the Blessed Virgin, promises to buy a candle with the next penny if only she will cure his mother of her ailment. When he reaches home guilt-ridden he finds his mother all right and reveals everything to her. God had listened to his prayer.
On the basis of your reading of the above passage, answer the following questions briefly (8 marks)
(a) Why will Sullivan not be able to attend school?
(b) At the cathedral, what promise does Sullivan make?
(c) What is Sullivan told on reaching the dispensary?
(d) Being happy at the girl’s company, what does Sullivan do?
(e) Why does Sullivan start crying bitterly?
(f) On his way home, what does Sullivan do at the cathedral?
(g) Why is Sullivan kept waiting at the dispensary?
(h) What promise did Sullivan make if his mother would be cured?
Section: B 30 Marks
Q.3 You are Amit/Amita, a student of class X in Sarvodaya Vidyalaya, Mori Gate, Delhi. On your way to school, you have seen that a gang of pick-pocket freely boards the bus; they not only rob the passengers but also threaten them to keep their mouths shut. Write a letter in 100-120 words to the Commissioner of Delhi Police bringing this problem to his notice for immediate action.(8)
OR
A number of festivals are celebrated in different parts of India in a variety of ways. Write an article in not more than 120 words on ‘India — A Country of Festivals’.
Q.4 The sun and the wind good friends. The wind boasted of his superpower ………..decided to try their strength on a traveller………… both tried their best……….. the wind failed …………the sun succeeded……….. Moral. (10)
Q.5. Complete the paragraph given below by filling in the blanks choosing the correct option from those that follow. (4)
Read the following instructions and complete the paragraphs that follow:
The following was the Annual Day program of our school:
- Started with prayers.
- The Principal addressed the gathering.
- The chief guest delivered his speech.
- There was a party at the end.
The Annual Day program of our school began with (a) …………..…… This was followed by an address by (b) ………….. Then the chief guest delivered (c)………… Finally, there was (d)………. at the end.
Q.6. The following paragraph has not been edited. There is one error in each line. Write the incorrect word and the correct in your answer sheet against the corrrect blank number. (4)
Incorrect Correct
The children are regularly tell that a diet (a) _______ _________
having too much sugar and fat are bad (b) _______ _________
for them, and chocolate contain a great (c) _______ _________
deal of both off these. (d) _______ _________
Q.7 Look at the words and phrases below. Rearrange them to form meaningful sentences to make a reading passage. Write the correct sentences in the space provided. (4)
(a) sensation / Sania Mirza / in / is / Indian tennis / the / newest
(b) on November 15, 1986 / and lives / in / was born / with her parents / she / Hyderabad
(c) Indian woman / the fourth round / the 2005 US Open / of a Grand Slam / she became / to reach / the first / tournament at
(d) the Gold and Silver / won / in 2006 / in the Doha Asian / she / games / medal
Section: C 30 Marks
Q.8 Read the extract given below and answers the questions that follow. (1*4=4)
It was this desire for the freedom of my people to live their lives with dignity and self-respect that animated my life that transformed a frightened young man into a bold one that drove a law-abiding attorney to become a criminal.
(a) What animated the narrator’s/author’s life?
(b) Who is the law-abiding attorney here?
(c) How did `he’ become a criminal?
(d) When and what transformation took place in Mandela?
Or
Ausable moved to an armchair and sat down heavily. “I’m going to raise the devil with the management this time, and you can bet on it,” he said grimly. “This is the second time in a month that somebody has got into my room through that nuisance of a balcony!” Fowler’s eyes went to the single window of the room. It was an ordinary window, against which now the night was pressing blackly.
(a) Why was Ausable disturbed?
(b) What did he complain of?
(c) What story did Ausable cook up to confuse Max?
(d) When do you think Ausable thought up his plan for getting rid of Max?
Q.9 Answer any five of the following question in 30 to 40 words each. (2*5=10)
1.What story did Horace tell the police when he was arrested?
2. What was so strange about the furniture of Mrs Hall?
3. ‘The sight of the food maddened him.’ Who is ‘he’ in these lines? Why was he angry? What does this suggest?
4. Give two points to demonstrate that Bholi’s wedding was a grand one.
5. What is the theme of the poem — ‘Amanda’?
6. Though Horace planned everything meticulously, why did he fail?
Q.10 Justify the title of the play ‘The Book that Saved the Earth’. (8)
Or
Lisle wished to keep his wife in good humour. Which values of Matilda impress him?
Q.11 Which act of Wanda made the girls know that she liked them even though they had teased her? How did Peggy and Maddie realise this? Explain.
Or
What information do you gather about the history of tea after reading the lesson, ‘Tea from Assam’?
