SECTION – A
READING COMPREHENSION (SEEN)
1. Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:
When the family has finished tea, and gathers round the fire, the cat casually goes out of the room.
True life now begins for him. He saunters down his own backyard, springs to the top of the fence,
drops lightly down to the other side. He trots across and skips to the roof of an empty shed. His
movement becomes lithe and pantherlike. He looks keenly from side to side and moves noiselessly,
for he has so many enemies — dogs and small boys with stones.
On top of the shed, the cat arches his back and rakes his claws once or twice through the soft bark of
the old roof. He stretches himself a few times to see if every muscle is in full working order. Then,
drooping his head nearly to his paws, he sends across a call to his kindred. Before long they come,
gliding, graceful shadows. No longer are they the meek creatures who an hour ago were mewing for
fish and milk. They are now grim fighters.
Just think how much more he gets out of his life than you do out of yours! And the sports they have,
too! As they get older, they go in for sport to the suburban backyards. These backyards that are dull
to us, are to them hunting grounds where they have more gallant adventure than King Arthur’s
knights ever had.
A. Write the correct alternative in the given space to complete the following sentences:
(a) When the family gathers round the fire, the cat goes out of the room
(i) cautiously
(ii) smartly
(iii) casually (Ans)
(iv) noiselessly
(b) Sauntering down his own backyard, the cat jumps to the top of the
(i) fence (Ans)
(ii) roof
(iii) other side
(iv) shed
(c) The cat looks keenly from side to side and moves
(i) carefully
(ii) anxiously
(iii) fearfully
(iv) noiselessly (Ans)
(d) On top of the shed the cat
(i) mews
(ii) arches his back (Ans)
(iii) goes to sleep
(iv) fights
(e) As the cats get older, they go in for sport to the
(i) neighboring house
(ii) old roof
(iii) empty shed
(iv) suburban backyard (Ans)
B. Complete the following sentences with information from the text:
(i) The family gathers round the fire after They had finished tea and the cat causally goes out of the room.
(ii) The cat skips to the roof of an empty shed where his movement becomes lithe and pantherlike,
(iii) The cat stretches himself a few times to feel if every muscle is in full working condition.
C. State whether the following statements are true or false. Write ‘T’ for ‘True’ and ‘F’ for ‘False’ in the boxes given on the right-hand side. Provide sentences/ phrases/ words in support of your answer.
(i) The cat sends across a call to his kindred by stretching himself a few times.
Ans: False
Supporting sentence: Then, dropping his head nearly to his paws, he sends across a call to his kindred.
(ii) The cats behave as gallantly as King Arthur’s knights.
Ans: False
Supporting sentence: These backyards that are dull to us, are to them hunting grounds where they have a more gallant adventure than king Arthur’s knights ever had.
2. Read the poem and answer the questions that follow:
To grass, or leaf, or fruit, or wall
The snail sticks close, nor fears to fall
As if he grew there, house and all,
Together.
Within that house secure he hides
When danger imminent betides
Of storm, or other harm besides
Of weather.
Give but his horns the slightest touch,
His self-collecting pow’r is such,
He shrinks into his house with much
Displeasure.
Wherever he dwells, he dwells alone,
Except himself has chattels none,
Well satisfied to be his own
Whole treasure.
A. Write the correct alternative to complete the following sentences:
(a) The snail is not afraid to
(i) fight
(ii) hide
(iii) fall (Ans)
(iv) touch
(b) The snail faces imminent danger when there is
(i) storm (Ans)
(ii) rain
(iii) thunder
(iv) lightning
(c) With the slightest touch the snail shrinks into his house with much
(i) delight
(ii) displeasure
(iii) defiance
(iv) pain (Ans)
(d) In the house the snail lives
(i) alone (Ans)
(ii) with others
(iii) with chattels
(iv) with family
B. Answer the following questions:
(i) What does the snail stick close to?
Ans: The snail sticks close to the grass, leaf, fruit and wall.
(ii) What does the snail do when it faces danger?
Ans: When it faces danger, the snail hides itself in its secure house.
READING COMPREHENSION (UNSEEN)
3. Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow
Mother nature has been very generous to us by giving us so many resources of water — rain
water, rivers, lakes, melting glaciers and ground water. The demand for water is ever increasing but
the supply is far from adequate.
Given the lack of water in rivers, people have been resorting to pumping out ground water for
personal consumption and for farming. As a result, ground water table has fallen to alarming levels.
Moreover, harmful fertilisers used for growing crops have contaminated ground water so that in
many places it is not fit for drinking.
It is time to wake up. Every drop of water is a source of life. It is high time we realise that water
resources are not permanent. Soon, we as a family, society and nation will be struggling to get a
drop of clean potable water. We have to focus on water conservation and stop polluting our water
resources.
Each one of us also needs to do our bit by avoiding use of plastic, recycling waste products and
keeping our surroundings clean. Every town, every village should have an eco-friendly garbage
sorting and disposal system. Every school and college should initiate programmes educating youngsters about the importance of our natural resources, especially water and air. We have, to train new generations to adopt an eco-
friendly way of life.
[Adapted from an article published in The Times of India dated June 26, 2019]
A. Tick the right answer:
(i) The demand for water is increasing but the supply of water is
(a) adequate
(b) surplus
(c) inadequate (Ans)
(d) plentiful
(ii) People have been resorting to pumping out ground water due to
(a) lack of water in the rivers (Ans)
(b) scanty rainfall
(c) drying up of wells
(d) melting glaciers
(iii) The ground water table has
(a) risen
(b) dropped (Ans)
(c) increased
(d) remained stable
(iv) Ground water is contaminated by
(a) irrigation
(b) construction of roads
(c) harmful fertilisers (Ans)
(d) pumping out of water
(v) It is high time we realise that water resources are
(a) permanent
(b) portable
(c) impermanent (Ans)
(d) abundant
(vi) Each one of us must avoid the use of
(a) copper
(b) paper
(c) jute
(d) plastic (Ans)
B. Each of the following statements is either ‘True’ and ‘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:
(i) People have been resorting to pumping out ground water for construction work.
Ans: False
Supporting sentence: People have been resorting to pumping out ground water for personal consumption and for farming.
(ii) Water is valuable because it is a source of life.
Ans: True
Supporting sentence: It is time to wake up. Every drop of water is a source of life.
(iii) Soon, it will be easy for us to get clean potable water.
Ans: True
Supporting sentence: Nation will be struggling to get a drop of clean portable water.
C. Answer the following questions:
(i) How has mother nature been generous to us?
Ans: Mother Nature has been generous to us by giving us so many resources of water – rain water, rivers, lakes, melting glaciers and ground water.
(ii) What should be our immediate focus regarding water?
Ans: Water conservation and stop polluting our water resourcesshould be our immediate focus regarding water.
(iii) What should every town and every village have to keep the surroundings clean?
Ans: Every town and every Village should avoid to use of plastic, recycling waste products and keeping our surroundings clean.
(iv) What kind of programs should every school and college initiate?
Ans: Every school and college should initiate programs educating youngsters about the importance of a natural resources, especially water and air. We have to train new generations to adapt and eco-friendly way of life.
SECTION – B
GRAMMAR AND VOCABULARY
4. Write the correct alternative to fill in the blanks:
Rina who has been (have been / has been / is being) ill for a month visited (will visit / visited / had visited) the doctor last Monday. The doctor advised (advised / had advised / will advise) her complete bed rest.
5. Do as directed:
A. Fill in the blanks with appropriate articles and prepositions:
Wrestling is one of the oldest sports in the world. Ancient cave drawings of people wrestling with one another have been found in Europe. It is a serious sport.
B.
(i) The authorities postponed the cricket match (Change the voice)
Ans: The Cricket match was postponed by the authorities.
(ii) “Is there anybody there?” said the traveller. (Change into Indirect Speech)
Ans: The traveller asked if there anybody was.
(iii) We should not show cruelty to animals.(Rewrite using adjective form of the word underlined)
Ans: We should not be cruel to animals.
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:
(i) The dog followed the thief.
Ans: The dog went after the theif.
(ii) Have you read this book?
Ans: Have you go through this book.
(iii) The chief guest distributed the prizes.
Ans: The cheif guest gave away the prizes.
[take back, go through, give away, go after]
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:
(i) kind– generous
(ii) disturbing– alarming
(iii) polluted– Contaminated
(iv) process of getting rid of something– Recycling
SECTION – C
WRITING
7. Write a newspaper report (within 100 words) about an accident that took place yesterday. Write the report on the basis of the points given below:
Date and time — place — cause of the accident — consequences — measures taken.
Ans:
Ghastly Bus accident
—By a staff reporter
Kolkata, 1 January 2001: A terrible road accident took place at Howrah – Hugli Highway yesterday. A bus coming from Hugli collided with a private car bound for Howrah. Kantar Singh who was the driver of the private car was seriously wounded. Observing his serious condition some pedestrians being excited began to break the bus. The bus driver was lucky. Causing the accident, he fled away.
The police came and cooled down the situation. They seized the bus and filed a case against the owner of the bus.
In the meantime, the car driver was about to die. He was taken to a nearby hospital. He was hospitalized at the emergency unit. But after some time he was dead.
The police are investigating the case. Though the bus owner and the driver have not yet been arrested, they are hopeful to make the case successful and taking drastic action against the criminals.
8. Write a letter (within 100 words) to your friend describing a cultural programme you have attended recently. Your letter should include the following points:
Name of the program — venue — date — description of performances — your feelings.
Ans:
B.C. street Nischinda
Bally, Howrah
Kolkata – 711114
Date: 1.1.2022
Dear Akash,
I hope you are fine. I am also good and write this letter to you to describe a cultural programme held at my school.
We celebrated the annual function on 1st January. The school building was white-washed and repaired. We erected a beautiful gate at the main entrance. There were coloured buntings, hanging right from the main entrance to the Auditorium. There were flower pots along the road leading to the Auditorium. The school building look like a bride.
At 1 p.m. our principal entered the hall along with the chief guest, the Chief Minister of the state. The function was inaugurated with the lighting of the lamp by the chief guest and soon the cultural programme started. After it, the Head sir read the annual report and the chief guest then distributed the prizes and delivered a short speech. Our Head sir thanked the guests and the function ended with the National Anthem.
Hoping for your early reply.
Your lovingly friend
Kaushik Sharma
Name: Kaushik Sharma
C/O: Ram Sharma
Address: Nischinda, Bally, Howrah
Pin -711114
9. Write a paragraph (within 100 words) on ‘The Most Memorable Day in Your Life’ based on the following points:
Date / Day — a description of the day — your role on that day — why is the day memorable to you?
Ans:
Memorable day of my life
I had a most memorable experience f my life last summer.I went to visit one of my elder cousins in Diamond Harbour. A working day as it was, my cousin, an officer, went out for his office leaving me alone in his residence. The previous night I expressed to him my intention of visiting Gunasegaram. An experienced man as my cousin was, advised me not to undertake a trip to that place in view of storm which was so common by the summer evenings. But the next day I went out all alone without paying any heed to my cousin’s advice. I reached Sagar Island though the route was unknown to me. I of course that evening gave up the idea of visiting Ganga-Sagar as it was about 30 km. away from Kachumbari. I was waiting for the next launch to comeback to Kakdwip. But then a storm started brewing. Gradually the storm broke out accompanied by the heavy shower. The launch services were cancelled. I got much worried because I was to come back to my uncle’s residence before my cousins return by 6 p.m. In the meantime, the storm and rain stopped and I reached Kakdwip by 8 p.m. All the time I went on thinking what my cousin would think about me. However, I reached Diamond Harbour by 10 p.m. and on the way fortunately met my worried cousin going to lodge a diary with the local police station. My cousin rebuked me greatly and I bore it silently. The incident taught me that one should listen to the advice of one’s elders.
