KRISHNA PUBLIC SCHOOL

MID – TERM EXAMINATION 2020 - 21

SUB – ENGLISH
CLASS - XI
Time: 3Hrs. Date: 15.10.2020
M.M.: 80

Section - A Reading section

Que 1. Read the passage given below: (12marks)

Cardamom, the Queen of all spices, has a history as old as the human race. It is the
dried fruit of a herbaceous perennial plant. Warm humid climate, loamy soil rich in
organic matter, distributed rainfall and special cultivation and processing methods all
combine to make Indian cardamom truly unique in aroma, flavor, size and it has a
parrot green colour.

Two types of cardamom are produced in India. The first type is the large one, which
has not much significance as it is not traded in the future market. It is cultivated in
North-eastern area of the country. The second type is produced in the Southern states
and these are traded in the future market. These are mainly cultivated in Kerala, Tamil
Nadu and Karnataka. As per the future market rules, only 7 mm quality was
previously traded in exchanges. But later, it relaxed its norms, and now 6 mm quality
is also traded in the exchanges.

The small variety, known for its exotic quality throughout the world, is now traded in
India’s commodity future exchanges. Traditional auction markets also exist for trading
in small cardamom in the country.

Cardamom is an expensive spice, second only to saffron. It is often adulterated and

there are many inferior substitutes from cardamom-related plants such as Siam
cardamom, Nepal cardamom, Winged Java cardamom, etc. However, it is only
Elettaria cardamom which is the true cardamom. Indian cardamom is known in two
main varieties : Malabar cardamom and Mysore cardamom. The Mysore variety
contains levels of cineol and limonene and hence is more aromatic. India was the
world’s largest producer and exporter of cardamom till the 1980s.

By 1990s Guatemala emerged as the leading producer and exporter of cardamom.

The main harvest season of cardamom in India is between August-February.

Cardamom reaches yielding stage two years after planting. The primary physical
markets of cardamom are Kumily, Vandenmedu, Thekkady, Puliyarmala in Kerala

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and Bodynaikkannur and Cumbam in Tamil Nadu. Cardamom auctions also take
place in Sakalespur and Sirsi in Karnataka.

North India is the main market for cardamom produced in the country. Normally,
domestic demand goes up during the major festivals such as Diwali, Dussehra and
Eid. Colour, size and aroma are the major variables that shape cardamom prices in
the Indian market. Cardamom price formation in India is also influenced by the
output in Guatemala as that country controls the global markets. Kerala is the main
producer of cardamom and contributes up to 60% in total production. Karnataka
produces around 25% cardamom of the total production. Ooty is the main producer
of cardamom in Tamil Nadu and contributes around 1015% of the total production.

Besides India, Guatemala also produces around 2,200 ton cardamom. On the other
hand, India produces nearly 1,000-2,000 ton cardamom per year. Due to low quality of
cardamom from Guatemala, it remains available at cheaper rates. Moreover,
cardamom of Indian origin fetches $ 3-4 per kilogram higher rates than the ones from
Guatemala.

(A) On the basis of your reading of the above passage, answer the following questions.
(2×4 = 8 marks)

(a) Why is Indian cardamom unique ?

(b) What is special about the Mysore quality of cardamom ?

(c) What role does Guatemala play in the Indian market ? (d) Write two sentences
on the harvesting of cardamom.

(B) Find words from the options given below which mean the same as: (1×4 =4marks)

(e) permanent:

(i) unique (ii) perennial (iii) exotic (iv) old

(f) fragrance:

(i) herbaceous (ii) loamy (iii) aroma (iv) humid

(g) earlier:

(i) substitute (ii) exported (iii)main (iv) previously

(h) make poor in quality by adding another substances :

(i)adulterated (ii) emerged (iii) contribute (iv) remain

Que2. Tomorrow, May 31, is when Delhi’s tongas go off the road. In one stroke, over 200
tongawallahs will be left with no option but to discontinue a profession that many of
them have been involved in, for generations. It will also be the end of a way of life for
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 many people in old Delhi — used to having the tonga in their midst for commuting
around the area. Or, for those who are dependent on it for their livelihood, like horse-
shoe makers and cleaners.
Why are tongas being phased out? Apparently, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi
(MCD) decided last year that the tongas cause congestion and pose a threat to traffic
security. Therefore, they have to go. It seems to be a knee-jerk reaction, at best. Even if
one were to accept MCD’s argument, banning tongas completely is hardly a solution
to Delhi’s traffic mess. Considering that there are almost 10-15 lakh rickshaws in the
capital — which some would say add to the traffic problem even more, the 200 odd
tongas are a mere drop in the ocean.
The alternative being provided to the tongawallahs is a tehbazaari or a roadside shop.
This shift in profession is something that most tongawallahs are not too keen about—
they feel that the shops are located too far away from the Old Delhi area where they
live. And neither do most of them have the capital to equip the shops with goods nor
do they have the inclination to let go of their horses, which inevitably, they will have
to, once their tongas are gone.
Is there a solution to their plight? Majority of tongawallahs that I spoke to, are keen on
an idea which, if it is implemented, can be a workable solution. It is simply, to let them
refurbish their tongas as buggies(carriages) and allow them to cater to tourists in areas
like India Gate, Red Fort etc. Indeed, many cities across the world are doing this
already from the ‘Victorias’ operating near the Gateway of India in Mumbai to the
chariots rented out to tourists near the Colosseum in Rome to Fiacres, the quaint
carriages that carry visitors around the old city of Vienna.
Delhi can easily follow the examples of these cities and probably do a bit more,
considering that it has a rich Mughal ancestry as well as a colonial past. Carriages can
be furbished according to the areas where they ply. In the process, they can give
tourists a chance to relive that era in style and thereby ensure that a slice of the past is
still relevant in the present.

Questions:
1. On the basis of your reading make notes on the above passage. 5m
2. Write the summary of the passage in your own words. 3m

3. Provide suitable abbreviations.. 2m

Section - B Writing and grammar

Que 3. Design a poster to launch ‘Tree Plantation Campaign’ in the area surrounding your
school. (4 m)

Que 4 Junk food can be very appealing to children, but they cause more harm to them than
they can imagine. Prepare a speech, to be delivered in the school assembly on the
harmful effects of Junk Food on School Children. Use the hints given below.(6m)
Hints

• Proves to be harmful.

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• Addictive.

• Obesity, chronic illness, low self esteem, depression.

• Decreases concentration level.

• High calorie, fats, carbohydrates and added sugars.

• Creates deficiency of nutrients.

• Diabetes, blood pressure, stroke.

• Slow poison.

Que 5 In the recent staff meeting, a decision was taken to place an order with M/s Punjab
Book Depot, Nai Sadak, Delhi, for the supply of books for the school library. As the
librarian, Lord Mahavira Public School, Panipat, place an order for the supply of the
books (4 m)

Que6 Complete the following sentences using an appropriate determiner.(4m)

(a) ………………… Delhi was without electricity last night.

Most

Most of

Either could be used here

(b) ………………….. my friends wished me on my birthday.

None of

No of

No

(c) ...................... her income come from the estate.

Half

Half of

Either could be used here

(d) There are trees on …………………. side of the path.

Each each of

Either could be used here

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Que 7. Rearrange the given words to form meaningful sentences(2m)

a) stood / first / term / first / who / the / in / class / ? / in.

b) should/ you /have /coming /seen/ this.

Section-C LITERATURE

Que 8 On the basis of your knowledge about the poem' The Photograph'.

Choose the correct answers for the questions given below. (5m)

A. The cardboard shows the pictures of --

(a) two school girl

(b) two real sisters

(c) two neighbours

(d) poetess's mother and her two cousins

B. The big girl here means

(a) the eldest cousin of the mother

(b) the tallest of the girl

(c) poetess's mother

(d) the heaviest of the girls

C. Besides the poetess's mother.

(a) one more girl stood there

(b) two more girls stood there

(c) three more girls stood there

(d) her uncle stood there

D. They were standing.

(a) at the beach

(b) near a river

(c) near a canal

(d) on a rock

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E) Name the poet of the poem The photograph.

Que9. Long answer type question

Discuss the aptness and significance of the title The address (5m)

Que10. Sketch the character of Uncle Khosrove (5m)

Que11. Describe the three stages portrayed by Khushwant in The Portrait of a Lady. (5m)

Que12 Who in your opinion is smart in dealing with the situation in the chapter The
summer of a beautiful White Horse and why? (4m)

Que 13.What makes the laburnum top lively and how? (4m)

Que14. Answer the following MCQs (5m)

a. What role does the tree play for the Goldfinch bird?
A. As a shelter
B. as a supporter
C. as a means to feed her family
D. as a resting place

b. How did the bird move to the other side of the branch?
A. Like a lizard
B. Slowly
C. Smoothly
D. by flying

c. How did the bird arrive at the other branch of the tree?
A. with a chirping sound
B. silently
C. never arrived at other branch
D. flew away and then arrived at the branch

d. What happened after she fed her young ones?

A. she flew away
B. she flew to the other side of the branch
C. she stayed there
D. she took some rest in the nest

e. Name the poet of the poem laburnum top

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Que15. Fill in the blanks with suitable words (5m)

i) Aram and Murad belonged to……………dynasty.

ii) “It is of no harm, pay no attention to it. “

Above is the punchline of………….

iii) The narrator searched for ……. Address in “The Address”

iv) The………. birds often sits on the grandmother’s head.

v) ……………Bird has its nest on the top of laburnum tree.