Attempt Five question in all.

Attempt atleast one question from each section and not more than
two other questions
Section A
Drama
Question1
Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:

Duke: You hear the learned Bellario, what he writes. And here, I take it, is the doctor come. Give
me your hand. Come you from old Bellario?
Portia: I did, my lord.
Duke: You are welcome. Take your place. Are you acquainted with the difference that holds this
present question in the court?

a) Where is the scene set? Why was Portia there? [3]

b) What reason had Bellario given for his absence? Whom had he sent in his stead? [3]
c) Bellario’s letter stated that he had taken some measures to prepare the ‘young and learned
doctor’ to deal with the case. What were they? [3]
d) What was the difference between Shylock and Antonio that the Duke was unable to resolve? [3]

[3]
e) Earlier in the play what did Portia urge Bassanio to do when she learnt that his friend was in
trouble? What aspect of her character is revealed through her words? [4]
Question2
Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:
The quality of mercy is not strained.

a) Where does this scene take place? Why was this statement made? How was Portia dressed? [3]
b) Earlier who else in the play appealed for mercy? How was the plea made? [3]
c) Explain: The quality of mercy is not strained. How does Shylock turn down this plea of
mercy? [3]
d) What does he insist on? Describe Shylock’s attitude as per this scene and justify with
examples [3]
e) Explain the qualities of mercy as told by Portia. [4]
Section B-Poetry
A collection of Poems
Question3
Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:
I go in the rain, and, more than needs,
A rope cuts both my wrists behind;
And I think, by the feel, my forehead bleeds,
For they fling, whoever has a mind,
Stones at me for my year's misdeeds.
Thus I entered and thus I go!

a) Who is ‘I’ in these lines? Where is I now? In what mood is the ‘I’ in? [3]
b) What does rain symbolise? Describe his past as well his present condition. [3]
c) What does the speaker say about entry and exit? [3]
d) What thoughts does the speaker have towards the end of the poem? [3]
e) Do you agree with the speaker’s opinion? [4]
Question4
Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:
 What does he plant who plants a tree?
He plants in sap and leaf and wood,
In love of home and loyalty
And far-cast thought of civic good—
His blessings on the neighborhood,
Who in the hollow of His hand
Holds all the growth of all our land—
A nation’s growth from sea to sea
Stirs in his heart who plants a tree.

a) What is the tree made of? What feeling does the planter highlight? [3]
b) How does the planter bless his neighbourhood? [3]
c) To Whom does ‘His’ refer? What does he carry in the hollow of His hand? What
is the significance of ‘hollow’? [3]
d) In what way does a Nation’s growth depend upon planting trees? [3]
e) What are the values imparted when one plants a tree? How does planting a tree contribute
towards social and economic benefits? [4]
Section C-Prose
A collection of Short Stories
Question5
Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:

As they passed down the aisle of the coach the only vacant seat offered was a reversed one facing the
attractive young woman.
a) Name the coach they were travelling by and who were ‘they’? [3]
b) How did the attractive young woman react when they occupied the only vacant seat opposite
to her? [3]
c) How did her reaction change when she saw that one of them was handcuffed? [3]
d) Who intervenes to save the situation from turning awkward and how? [3]
e) What role did the fellow passengers play in the story? [4]
Question6
Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:
Today while he observed the yellow vehicle coming down, he was wondering how to
describe it later to his wife.
a) What happened while Muni was wondering how to describe the vehicle to his wife? [3]
b) Why was Muni scared to face the red-faced man? [3]
c) What was the English expression Muni was familiar with? How did he introduce himself
after his only expression got exhausted? [3]
d) What made him realise that the red-faced man was not an ‘inquistor’ of any kind? [3]
e) Was Muni God fearing man? Give examples from the text to support your answer. [4]

Question7
Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow.
On the way back, she met her mother, out of breath, come to look for her, and scolding.
“I did not see till I was home, that you were not there .I thought something must have happened
to you.”
And Sibia bursting with her story, cried,” Something did! I found a blue bead for my necklace,
look!”

a) What had happened to Sibia? Why did she not mention the other important event that
happened? [4]
b) Describe the crocodile in the story. [4]
c) Draw a character sketch of Sibia by quoting incidents from the chapter [8]