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MG School for Excellence Affiliated to CISCE, New Delhi Bilekahalli, Bangalore First Preparatory Examination - 2015-16 Sub: English Language - Paper I Date: 8.12.15 Std: X Marks: 80 Time: 2 hrs ____________________________________________________________________________ Answers to this paper must be written on the paper provided separately. You will not be allowed to write during the first 15 minutes. This time is to be spent in reading the Question paper. The time given at the head of this paper is the time allowed for writing the answers. ______________________________________________________________________________ Attempt all four questions. The intended marks for questions or parts of questions are given in brackets [] You are advised to spend not more than 35 minutes in answering Question 1 and 20 minutes in answering Question 2. This paper consists of six printed pages. _____________________________________________________________________________________ QUESTION 1 (Do not spend more than 35 minutes to this question) [25] Write a composition (350-400 words) on any ONE of the following: (a) Write an original short story that begins with the words: I was waiting to confess the truth when . (b) You were to go for a picnic from school. However, you woke up late and missed the picnic bus. You decided to catch a private bus and reach the picnic spot. Narrate the entire event, how you felt, the effort you made to contact school, and how you finally reached the spot. What did you learn from this experience? (c) Teenagers should be taught the value of money early on in life . Express your views for or against this statement. (d) If you were given a chance to meet a famous personality, whom would you choose? Mention why you would like to meet him/her and what has impressed you the most about this person. 1 (e) Study the picture given below. Write a story or a description or an account of what it suggests to you. Your composition may be about the subject of the picture or you may take suggestions from it; however, there must be a clear connection between the picture and your composition. QUESTION 2 [Select any one letter.] Do not spend more than 20 minutes. [10] (a) Write a letter to your grandfather appreciating him for helping you prepare for the board examination. Express your gratitude for all the support. (b) The games period is being utilized to complete the portions. Write a letter to your Principal requesting her to do something about it. Give 2 reasons for your request and suggest ways in which the teachers would get extra time without touching the games period. QUESTION 3 Read carefully the passage given below and then answer the questions (a), (b) and (c) that follow: The trail they followed was narrow, and men walked in a single file. The leader carried a spear and kerosene flare- a narrow bamboo-tube filled with kerosene and cloth soaked in kerosene stuffed at the opening. The man directly behind the leader was laden with a pair of fishing nets. The three just behind him carried huge wicker-baskets balanced on their heads. The last individual in the file carried a spear in one hand and a large canister in the other. The group s progress was swift. They trudged along with an unmistakable sense of purpose and soon reached their destination. This was a small beel, a shallow reed-fringed pool of water. The leader yelled out a command and the men put down their equipment. He then looked round for possible danger. There was none. The landscape darkened abruptly. The leader uttered a curse. He scanned the sky to gauge how long the cloud would hide the moon. It was a large patch, and there were other clouds approaching. The moon would remain hidden for a pretty long time. The leader cursed again, then shrugged his shoulders. The flare would have to be lit. Its light might attract the attention of the game wardens and forest guards. But there was no alternative. As he set about doing so he hissed out another command to his companion, the one with the canister. The man quickly unscrewed the plastic cap and waded with the canister into the water. After a few steps he stopped, and poured the canister s contents into the beel . The liquid gushed out with a gurgling sound. The strong, pungent smell of pesticide wafted into the air. His job done the man returned to the bank. Meanwhile the leader had lit the flare. While the other five squatted on the grass, he stood close to the beel , flare in hand, examining the water carefully. A patch of water was brightly illuminated by the light of the flare. Five minutes. Ten minutes .Time ticked slowly by. The men waited, their faces tense with anticipation. All eyes were fixed on the circular patch of water. Twenty-five minutes later it happened. The calm, still surface of the beel was 3 suddenly agitated by a series of ripples. Hundreds of tiny specks appeared on the surface. Get ready , the leader ordered. Here they come , As if on cue, the moon overhead escaped from the clouds clutches and all was brightness once more. The moonlight revealed a fearful, pathetic sight. The surface of the beel was a mass of fish in their death throes. It was as if some unseen hand was strangling them alive- they were gasping for air. It was a horrible sight, yet the six men startled with glee. Two of them jumped up and picked up a net each. They folded the nets neatly and furred into the water, preparing to cast. Suddenly the leader tensed, called for silence, cocked his ears and listened intently. Everyone on the alert! he shouted. I think I hear a jeep . In one bound he picked up the torch and threw it into the beel . The faint drone that the leader s sharp ears had picked up gradually grew in volume. A jeep was roaring towards them. Forest guards , the leader hissed. They must have seen the light from our flare. No time to waste. Collect the equipment and let s get going . The jeep with five armed guards stopped about two hundred metres from the spot. The sudden disappearance of the flare, which had caught their attention baffled them. The driver kept the head lights on while the guards jumped down, their rifles on the ready. Careful to keep together they began to search the area systematically. Their powerful torched probed the nooks and crannies. They could have covered a wider area and far more quickly if they had separated and spread out. But ,experienced men that were, they knew it was unsafe to move singly. Poachers were ruthless. They thought nothing of putting a dagger in one s back. A half-hour search having yielded nothing suspicious, the guards returned to the jeep. They climbed aboard and the jeep resumed its nightly patrol. (1) Five words or phrases are given below. Give the meaning of 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. each as used in the passage. One word answers or short phrases will be accepted: [5] Scanned No alternative Wafted Pathetic Poacher 4 (2) Answer the following questions in your own words:1. What equipment did the men carry? [2] 2. What unexpected occurrence annoyed the leader? [1] 3. Why was the leader reluctant to light a flare? [2] 4. What method was used to kill the fish? [1] 5. What was the very first sign of the first fish surfacing? In the passage which line best illustrates the men s callousness towards the dying fish? [2] 6. What caused the men to flee? [1] 7. Quote the sentences which shows that poachers show no mercy to those who interfere in their work. [1] (c) In not more than 60 words describe how the men attempted to capture the fish and why they failed. [8] (d) Give a title to your summary in question 2 (c) Give a reason to justify your choice. [2] QUESTION 4 a In the following passage, fill in each of the numbered blanks with the correct form of the words given in brackets. Do not copy the passage, but write in correct serial order the word or phrase appropriate to the blank space. [4] Example (0) : are connected The European and Indian languages (0) (connect) by a common ancestor called Indo-European. This (1) ..(be) the common language of the Aryan people before various groups(2) .. (travel) to different parts of the Indo-European continent. Latin (3) . (speak) by the ancient Romans, who (4) . (take) the language with them to several other countries which they (5) . (conquer). In these countries Latin (6) .. (undergo) various changes and eventually (7) (develop) into French, Spanish, Portuguese, Romanian. In Italy, too, Latin (8) . (evolve). (b) Fill in the blanks with an appropriate word: (i) The rain poured in _______ a hole in the roof. 5 [4] (ii) We must refrain _____ telling lies. (iii) Sheetal is very different ______ her sister. (iv) He has no sympathy ___ the poor. (v) He is deficient ______ street sense. (vi) She did not agree ______ me. (Vii) He ran ____the stairs. (viii) He rules _____ a vast empire. (c) Join the following sentences to make one complete sentence without using and, but or so. [4] The student did not confess his mistakes. He was punished. The train was damaged. No one was hurt. Aarti may be guilty. We do not know. The books were missing. The students searched everywhere. (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) b Re-write the following sentences correctly according to the instructions given after each. Make any necessary changes; don t change the meaning of the sentence. 1. 2. 3. 4. [8] As soon as the door opens, the kids rush in. (Begin : No sooner .) Although he is unwell, he attended the meeting. ( Use : In spite) Very few cities in India are as crowded as Delhi. ( Use : more crowded) If you are not a member of the club, you cannot avail free passes. ( Begin with : Only .) 5. Shema said to her friend, Please teach me Calculus . (Change to Reported speech) 6. She is too scared to walk by the seashore alone at night. ( Use :so ..that) 7. If he wants to join the army, he needs to be physically and mentally fit. (Use : ought) 8. The children carried the books from the library to the classroom. a. (End : ..the children. 6
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