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)
COMMUNICATION SKILLS
(1) It is rare to find someone with good technical and communication skills. You can get far ahead of your colleagues if you combine the two early in your career. People will judge, evaluate, promote or block you based on your communication skills. Since habits form by repeating both good and bad forms of communication, learn to observe great communicators and adapt their styles and traits in written and verbal forms. The art of listening and learning from each and every interaction is another secret recipe. Develop the subconscious habit of listening to yourself as you speak and know when to pause.
(2) Learning what not to say is probably more important than learning what to say. As your career develops, you will realise that the wise speak less. Speak when you have value to add, else refrain. Poorly constructed e-mails with grammatical errors are acceptable between friends, but they should be seriously avoided while communicating formally with your seniors. Avoid any communication in an emotional state when you might say things you will regret later. One unnecessary word uttered at the wrong time or place can ruin a relationship, career or even your life. Such is the power of words. If such a thing happens, you should immediately apologise, else it may haunt you for life.
(3) Another problem to overcome is speaking too fast since our minds are working faster than our speech, we are inclined to speak fast. This does not necessarily mean that the person hearing it will get it any faster. On the contrary, it is always the reverse. So slow down, think before you speak. “When I get ready to speak to people,” Abraham Lincoln said, “I spend two-thirds of the time thinking what they want to hear and one-third thinking what I want to say.” Adding humour and it is also essential. But realise that not all jokes are funny and observe certain boundaries. Never say anything that could offend. Remember you are not a comedian who must offend as many people as you can to be witty.
I. Answer the following questions briefly. (2*4=8)
(a) Why is it necessary to have good communication skills?
(b) How can communication skills be developed?
(c) What according to the writer should be avoided while communicating?
(d) Why should you be careful when you tend to be humorous?
II. Choose the most appropriate meaning of the given words from the options provided.(1*4=4)
A.Evaluate:
(i) estimate (ii) assume
(iii) punish (iv) evolve
B.Trait:
(i) treaty (ii) trail
(iii)quality (iv) liberty
C.Utter:
(i) flatter (ii) speak
(iii) rot (iv) unique
D.Haunt:
(i) hunt (ii) chant
(iii) trouble (iv) avoid
Read the passage carefully. (8)
SNAKE
One day Gandhiji and Vallabhbhai Patel were talking in the Yeravda jail when Gandhiji remarked, At times even a dead snake can be of use.” And he related the following story to illustrate his point: Once a snake entered the house of an old woman. The old woman was frightened and cried out for help. Hearing her, the neighbours rushed up and killed the snake. Then they returned to their homes. Instead of throwing the dead snake far away, the old woman flung it onto her roof.
Sometime later a kite flying overhead spotted the dead snake. In its beak, the kite had a pearl necklace which it had picked up from somewhere. It dropped the necklace and flew away with the dead snake. When the old woman saw a bright, shining object on her roof she pulled it down with a pole. Finding that it was a pearl necklace she danced with joy! When Gandhiji finished his story, Vallabhbhai Patel said he too had a story to tell:
One day a bania found a snake in his house. He couldn’t find anyone to kill it for him and hadn’t the courage to kill it himself. Besides, he hated killing any living creature. So, he covered the snake with a pot and left it there.
As luck would have it, that night some thieves broke into the bania’s house. They entered the kitchen and saw the overturned pot. “Ah,” they thought, the bania has hidden something valuable here:” As they lifted the pot, the snake struck. Having come with the object of stealing, they barely left with their lives. Once he came out of jail Gandhiji went from city to city, village to village collecting funds for the Charkha Sangh. During one of his tours, he addressed a meeting in Orissa.
After his speech, a poor old woman got up. She was bent with age, her hair was grey and her clothes were in tatters. The volunteers tried to stop her, but she fought her way to the place where Gandhiji was sitting. “I must see him: she insisted and going up to Gandhiji touched his feet. Then from the folds of her sari, she brought out a copper coin and placed it at his feet. Gandhiji picked up the copper coin and put it away carefully. The Charkha Sangh funds were under the charge of Jamnalal Bajaj. He asked Gandhi for the coin but Gandhi refused.
Read the given questions and write the answer in a sentence. (1*8=8)
1.Why did the woman cry out for help?
2. What did the kite do when it saw the dead snake on the roof?
3. How did the live snake help the bania?
4. Why was the old woman happy?
5. Why did Gandhiji go to Orissa?
6. Describe the woman who went up to meet Gandhiji.
7. Why the old woman had to fight her way to the place where Gandhiji was sitting?
8. Who was in charge of the Charkha Sangh funds and what did he ask Gandhiji?
Section : B 30 Marks
Q.3 Write a letter on behalf of Pankaj Crockeries, Rajguru Market, Hisar to a firm in Faridabad, placing an order for some items of crockery. (8)
OR
You are Maria. Write an article on the advantages of tree plantation in about 100-120 words. Trees keep environment cool, check direct sunlight, provide shade, and bring rain.
Q.4 A rich man arranged a great feast……… the occasion was his son’s marriage…….. a fisherman brought five big fish ……..gatekeeper allowed him to go in but with half the profit ………asked for hundred shoes as a reward……….. the rich man came to know the cause……… dismissed the gatekeeper ………..Moral. (10)
Q.5. Complete the paragraph given below by filling in the blanks choosing the correct option from those that follow. (4)
I’ve only been back a couple of days and already I (a)……….. lots of old friends.
(i)have met (ii) am meeting (iii) met (iv) should meet
They don’t appear to (b)………..very much.
(i) have changed (ii) change (iii) changes (iv) changing
They are as (c)……….as ever.
(i) friendlier (ii) friendly (iii) friends (iv) friendliest
And they say that I (d)……….the same as I always did.
(i) looking (ii) look (iii) looks (iv) looked
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
You would use your cell phone on the campurs e.g., would could
but it shall be switched off during the training (a) _______ _________
sessions. Before you join you are requiring (b) _______ _________
to have the medical check-up. You are (c) _______ _________
expected to comply to all the rules. (d) _______ _________
Q.7 Rearrange the given words/phrases to make meaningful sentences. (4)
(a) arid/lands/to life/this useful/in harsh/animal/is/well adapted
(b) one bump/camel/the Arabian/the Bactrian camel/has two
(c) of fat/are scarce/a store of/used when/the bump/is/food and water
(d) 100 litres/a camel/in 10 minutes/can drink/of water
Section : C 30 Marks
Q.8 Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow. (1*4=4)
Further footprints followed one after another, descending the steps and progressing down the street. The boys followed, fascinated, until the muddy impressions became fainter and fainter, and at last disappeared altogether.
(a) Who was gazing at these footprints and where were the steps?
(b) What can be inferred about the person from the footprints?
(c) What surprised the two boys?
(d) Where were the footprints heading?
OR
“But I can get a hair-dye
And set such colour there,
Brown, or black, or carrot,
That young man in despair
May love me for myself alone
And not my yellow hair.”
(a) What different colours have been mentioned in the extract?
(b) The speaker wants
(c) Who does ‘I’ stand for?
(d) Why does the speaker talk about changing the colour of hair?
Q.9 Answer any five of the following questions in 30 to 40 words each. (2*5=10)
1.The poet actually says that the fog is like a cat”, With reference to the poem, ‘Fog’ explain this statement.
2. What was Valli’s favourite pastime?
3. Why doesn’t the poetess make any mention of the struggle waged by the trees to free themselves to move towards the forest in her long letters?
4. What did the Losels do to replace the necklace?
5. Give two points to demonstrate that Bholi’s wedding was a grand one.
6. Name the persons who are in the Mars Space Control.
Q.10 Tricki was more a member of Mrs Pumphrey’s family than a mere dog. Explain, giving example from the text. (8)
OR
Though Max was very cunning, still he was but ‘a little spy’ before Ausable. Explain.
Q11. How does Carl Sandburg describe the arrival, stay and departure of the fog through the image of a metaphorical cat?
OR
How did Gautama Buddha teach Gotami that life is full of pains and sorrows and death comes to all?
