PRE-BOARD PAPER

SELF-ASSESSMENT

ENGLISH
LANGUAGE & LITERATURE
Time Allowed: 3 Hours Maximum Marks: 80

General Instructions:
(i) 15 Minute prior reading time allotted for Q-paper reading.
(ii) The Question Paper contains THREE Sections-Reading, Grammar & Writing and Literature.
(iii) Attempt questions based on specific instructions for each part.

SECTION - A 20 Marks
READING SKILLS
1. Read the passage given below. 1 × 10 = 10
(1) Have you ever failed at something so
miserably that the thought of attempting to
do it again was the last thing you wanted to
do?
(2) If your answer is yes, then you are ‘‘not a
robot.” Unlike robots, we human beings
have feelings, emotions, and dreams. We
are all meant to grow and stretch despite
our circumstances and our limitations.
Flourishing and trying to make our dreams
come true when you fail despite all of your
hard work? Do you stay down and accept
the defeat or do you get up again and
again until you are satisfied? If you have a
tendency to persevere and keep going then
you have what experts call, grit.
(3) Falling down or failing is one of the most
agonising, embarrassing, and scariest
human experiences. But, it is also one of
the most educational, empowering, and
essential parts of living a successful and
fulfilling life. Did you know that perseverance
is one of the seven qualities that have been
described as the keys to personal success
and betterment in society? The other six are:
curiosity, gratitude, optimism, self-control
social intelligence, and zest. Thomas Edison
is a model for grit for trying 1000 plus times
to invent the light bulb. If you are reading this
with the lights on in your room, you know
well he succeeded. When asked why he kept
going despite his hundreds of failures, he
merely stated that what he had were not
failures. They were hundreds of ways not to
create a light bulb. This statement not only
revealed his grit but also his optimism for
looking at the bright side.
(4) Grit can be learned to help become more
successful. One of the techniques that helps
is mindfulness. Mindfulness is a practice that
helps the individual stay in the moment by
bringing awareness of his/her experience
without judgment. With this practice of
mindfulness, individuals have the ability to
stop the self-sabotaging downward spiral of
hopelessness, despair and frustration.
(5) What did you do to overcome the negative
and self sabotaging feelings of failure?
Reflect on what you did, and try to use those
same powerful resources to help you today.
Based on your understanding of the passage,
answer the given questions:
(A) 'Grit can be learned to help become more
successful.’ The underlined word can be
substituted with the word .................. from
the passage. 1

Pre-Board Paper 1
 (B) Choose the statement from the following
that is NOT APPROPRIATE according to the
passage.
(a) Grit can not be learned to help become
more succesful.
(b) Practising our dreams come true is
great when life is going our way.
(c) Mindfulness can be learned to help you
become more successful
(d) Reflect on what you did and try to use
those same powerful resources to help
you. 1
(C) Select the sentence from the following
that reveals Thomas Edison's grit.
(a) Did you know that grit is one of
the seven qualities that have been
described as the keys to personal
success and betterment in society?
(b) We are all meant to grow and stretch
despite our circumstances and our
limitations.
(c) They were hundreds of ways not to
create a light bulb.
(d) Thomas Edison is a model for grit. 1
(D) According to the passage, falling down or
failing is one of the most ..............., .............
and ............. human experience. 1
(E) What does the phrase 'keep going’ refer to
in the line—‘If you have the tendency to
persevere and keep going’?
(a) to walk
(b) get wild
(c) moving in a certain direction
(d) continue doing something difficult 1
(F) Select the appropriate option to complete
the given sentence.
2
The word ‘gratitude’ refers to the quality
of being ...................
(a) regretful (b) thankless
(c) arrogant (d) thankful 1
(G) Choose the option that makes the correct
use of ‘model’, as used in the passage to
fill in the blank space.
(a) They allowed me to ............... it on stage.
(b) Jane Austen was regarded as the
............... of grit in fiction.
(c) The first woman up was not certainly a
...............
(d) The business ............... must work
because of its novelty. 1
(H) The self-sabotaging downward spiral of
hopelessness, despair and frustration can
be stopeed using ............... .
(a) mindfulness (b) growth
(c) gratitude (d) hard work 1
(I) Failure is the most frustrating emotion felt
by a person who is regularly trying. (True/
false) 1
(J) Complete the given analogy correctly
with a word from the passage.
Despair : disdain :: …………. : Positivity 1
2. Read the passage given below. 1 × 10 = 10
India’s SDG Scores
India has crossed the halfway mark in achieving
the UN’s sustainable development goals (SDGs)
adopted in 2015 and to be achieved by 2030,
according to the SDG India Index released on
Friday by think tank NITI Aayog and the UN.
Here are the 10 best-performing states and
Union territories according to the index.
India 57
69
69
68
66
65
64
64
64
64
64
(1)
Himachal Pradesh. Kerala and Tamil
Nadu have emceed as the front runners
in the race to achieve key sustainable
development goals (SDG) like removal of
poverty inequality, while Assam, Bihar and
Uttar Pradesh are the laggards in ranking of
states.
(2) According to the SDG India Index, the nation
as a whole has a score of 57, showing the
country has reached a little beyond the
halfway mark in meeting the sustainable
development goals adopted by India and
192 other nations in 2015. The index covers
13 of the 17 sustainable development goals,
including healthcare, gender equality, clean
energy, infrastructure, education, peace and
building strong, accountable institutions.
(3)
Goals, including climate action and
sustainable use of marine resources, were left
out because of lack of data at the state level.
Kerala’s overall top rank (69) is attributed to
its strong performance in providing good
health, reducing hunger, achieving gender
equality and providing quality education.
The rank shows the distance each state has
to cover to reach 100 - the point at which
it fully meets the sustainable development
goal.
(4) Himachal Pradesh ranks high with a similar
overall score in providing clean water
and sanitation, reducing inequalities and
preserving the mountain ecosystem. Tamil
Nadu has a score of 66. Among Union
territories, Chandigarh takes the lead with
a score of 68 on account of its track record
in providing clean water and sanitation.
Performance in providing quality education
has also helped Chandigarh achieve high
score.
(5) Tamil Nadu topped the states in poverty
reduction, while Kerala topped in providing
quality education, closely followed by
Chandigarh and Himachal Pradesh.
(6) Kerala and Tamil Nadu also topped in
facilitating good health and well-being.
Gender equality, however, is an area all states
and the nation as a whole need to improve
upon. The toppers in gender equality, Sikkim
and Union territories .Andaman and Nicobar
Islands and Chandigarh, have crossed the
hallway mark in reaching the goals.
(7) The scores represent the current status of
achievement in meeting the goals.
Based on your understanding of the passage,
answer the given questions:
(A) The other remaining goals are left out
from SDG India Index because:
(a) of lack of data of the state level
(b) they have already crossed halfway
mark in reaching the goals.
(c) countries have not taken care of the
remaining goals
(d) those goals have not yet been officially
accepted by the countries 1
(B) Among Union Territories ………….. takes the
lead with a score of 68 on account of its
track record in providing clean water and
sanitation. 1
(C) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct
option.
According to the survey, ……………. topped in
providing quality education.
(a) Kerala (b) Tamil Nadu
(c) Chandigarh (d) Andhra Pradesh 1
(D) How many sustainable goals does index
cover?
(a) 13 (b) 15
(c) 17 (d) 19 1
(E) What do 100 points mean as per SDG
Index?
(a) It means the index has covered 13
goals including healthcare, gender
equality clean energy, infrastructure,
education, peace and building strong,
accountable institutions.
(b) It means the point at which it fully
meets the sustainable development
goal.
(c) It means the removal of poverty and
equality.
(d) It means India has reached a little
beyond the halfway mark to meet
sustainable development goals. 1
(F) Which state has the least SDG score
according to the graph? 1
(G) The SDG score represents the current
status of achievements by the states in
meeting the goals. True/False. 1
(H) Which state ranks the best in total SDG
scores? 1
(I) Select the option that is true for the two
statements given below.
(1) Tamil Nadu topped the states in
poverty reduction.
(2) Kerala topped the states in providing
amenities.
(a) (1) is the result of (2).
(b) (1) is true and (2) is false.
(c) (1) is independent of (2).
(d) (1) contradicts (2). 1
(J) The index covers ……………. sustainable
development goals out of ………….. 1
Pre-Board Paper 3
 SECTION - B
GRAMMAR 10 Marks
3. Attempt ANY TEN of the given questions.
(A) Choose the correct option to fill in the
blank to complete the note about the
Wangala Festival of Meghalaya.
The Wangala ........ festival for the Garo in
Meghalaya, Assam and Nagaland. It is a
post-harvest festival celebrated to mark the
end of the agricultural year. It is popularly
known as ‘The Hundred Drums’ festival.
(a) is important
(b) are an important
(c) was the important
(d) is an important 1
(B) Read the following conversation and
complete the passage that follows.
Rohit: I am surprised to see you here in
Delhi. When did you come?
Shruti: I came here yesterday. I have been
offered a job here.
Rohit told Shruti (i) ................. and asked
when she had come. Shruti replied that
she had come there the previous day and
added that (ii) ................. . 1
(C) Sir, when ...................... you be able to spare
some time for it ?
(a) should (b) would blanks to complete the narration.
(c) could (d) might 1
(D) Identify the error and write its correction
in the blank given:
The students are fighting for the flowers
or fruits that they plucked.
Error Correction
.................... .................... 1
(E) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct
options.
The swimming pool ................ at 9o’ clock
and ................ at 18:30 everyday.
(a) is opening / is closing
(b) opens / closes
(c) has opened / has closed
(d) opened / closed 1
(F) The taxi driver spoke .............. English. I
couldn‘t understand him.
(a) many (b) a little
(c) very little (d) some 1
4
(G) Choose the correct option to complete the
given dialogue.
Priya : Hey Smita. Are you free this
weekend?
Smita : Yes, (i) “.................” .
Choose the correct option for (i)
(a) I am busy this weekend.
(b)
I have no plans for the weekend.
(c) I have a meeting for the weekend.
(d) Sorry, I have an appointment. 1
(H) Identify the error and write its correction.
Paper was first made by the Egyptians for
the plant named ‘papyrus’.
Error Correction
.................... .................... 1
(I) Report the following statement:
He said to his maid, "Why are you so lazy
today?" 1
(J) Fill the blank with the correct modal verb :
I ...................... not budge an inch from the
righteous path. 1
(K) Choose the correct options to fill in the
Seema was angry as she couldn't enjoy
the fashion monthly issue digitally. So, her
mom surprised her with a physical book.
She knew that Seema was ......(i)........ with
the digital version, so she went to the
store and got it for her. Seema was elated.
Choose the correct option for (i)
(a) shocked (b) elated
(c) angry (d) sad 1
(L) Identify the error and choose its correction
from the options given:
Children are fond of orange.
Error Correction
(a) Children Child
(b) are is
(c) of for
(d) orange oranges 1
 CREATIVE WRITING SKILLS 2 × 5 = 10 Marks
4. Attempt ANY ONE of the following in 100-120
words.
You are the manager of Hotel Green View,
Chennai. You had ordered 50 kilograms of
cheese for the hotel. You are not happy with
the quality of the cheese that was sent.
In about 100-120 words, write a letter to
the manager of Amaltas Dairy, Chennai
complaining about the poor quality of the
product.
5. Attempt ANY ONE of the following in 100-120 words.
With the help of the given flowchart, write an analytical paragraph in about 120 words on ‘Rising Prices’.
OR
World Economic Forum carried out a
survey to identify the cause for the poor
economic growth of our country.
Read the following excerpt taken from an
article published by them online:
“A holistic approach in higher education
based on knowledge, skill and value is
required for our nation to become a global
talent leader.”
Write a paragraph in 120 words on your
SECTION - C
LITERATURE 40 Marks
6. Attempt ANY ONE of two extracts given. handed the letter to him while the postmaster,
1×5=5
The following Sunday Lencho came a bit
earlier than usual to ask if there was a letter
for him. It was the postman himself who
OR
Write a letter in 100-120 words to M/s Riddhi
Publishing House, Rewari, complaining that
the books sent by them were not the ones
you had ordered and ask for a replacement.
You are Shalini Arora/Samar Arora, of Kamla
Nagar, New Delhi. 5
interpretation of the data and what steps
must be taken to help change India’s
economic growth and make it a developed
country.
Use of Talent in India
1.4% enrolment rate in vocation training
8.7% gap in mean years of schooling
between rich and poor
3.3% share of GDP invested in education
36% female labour force participation
5
experiencing the contentment of a man who
has performed a good deed, looked on from his
office. Lencho showed not the slightest surprise
on seeing the money; such was his confidence
— but he became angry when he counted the
Pre-Board Paper 5
 money. God could not have made a mistake,
nor could he have denied Lencho what he had
requested. Immediately, Lencho went up to the
window to ask for paper and ink. On the public
writing-table, he started to write, with much
wrinkling of his brow, caused by the effort he
had to make to express his ideas.
(A) How did Lencho feel when he counted the
money? 1
(B) Choose the option that lists the set of
statements that are not true according to
the given extract:
(1) Lencho was very casual in his duties.
(2) Lencho had a simple pure heart.
(3) Lencho was extremely happy to see
the amount.
(4) Lencho was not a hard working farmer.
(5) Lencho was angry on the amount
being sent by God.
(6) Lencho had requested God to send him
some amount.
(7) Lencho wrote a letter to God.
(a) (1), (3), (4) (b) (2), (3), (4)
(c) (5), (6), (7) (d) (1), (2), (3) 1
(C) Pick the option that correctly classifies
fact/s (F) and opinion/s (O) of the
statements below:
(1) Lencho firmly believed that God would
help him.
(2) Lencho was not a wise farmer.
(3) Lencho wrote a letter to God, requesting
him to send him seventy peso.
(4) Post master was a mature and kind
hearted person as he could understand
the problems of Lencho.
(1) (2) (3) (4)
(a) Option (1) (b) Option (2)
(c) Option (3) (d) Option (4) 1
(B) Why was the speaker standing at the
platform? 1
(C) The statement that is TRUE about the
passage is:
6
(a) F - (1), (2), (3) and O - (4)
(b) F - (1), (3), (4) and O - (2)
(c) F - (1), (2) and O - (3), (4)
(d) F - (1), (2) and O - (1), (3) 1
(D)
Which word does ‘contentment’ NOT
correspond to?
(a) Relaxed (b) Happy
(c) Satisfied (d) Sad 1
(E) How much money Lencho had asked God
for ? 1
OR
When the train had gone, I found myself
standing alone on the deserted platform. I
had no idea where to spend the night. I had
no friends, believing that friends were more
trouble than help. And I did not want to make
anyone curious by staying at one of the small
hotels near the station. The only person I knew
really well was the man I had robbed. Leaving
the station, I walked slowly through the bazaar.
In my short career as a thief, I had made a
study of men’s faces when they had lost their
goods. The greedy man showed fear; the rich
man showed anger; the poor man showed
acceptance. But I knew that Anil’s face, when he
discovered the theft, would show only a touch
of sadness. Not for the loss of money, but for
the loss of trust. I found myself in the maidan
and sat down on a bench. The night was chilly
— it was early November — and a light drizzle
added to my discomfort. Soon it was raining
quite heavily. My shirt and pyjamas stuck to
my skin, and a cold wind blew the rain across
my face.
(A) Choose the incorrect option that does not
align with the thoughts of the writer.
(a) The speaker of the given passage is
Max.
(b) The thought of loneliness plagues the
speaker.
(c) The speaker is happy to be without
friends.
(d) The speaker did not want to leave the
town. 1
 (D) Complete the analogy by selecting the
suitable word from the text excess :
dearth : : denial : ...................... 1
(E) The extract uses the phrase “but for the
loss of trust”. Which of the following
expressions is incorrect with respect to
“Loss” of:
1
7. Attempt ANY ONE of the two extracts given.
1×5=5
But if it had to perish twice
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
.Is also great and would suffiice
(A) What is the synonym for the word ‘perish’
in the given line “But if it had to perish
twice.”
(a) decay (b) die
(c) cold (d) putrid 1
(B) What is the rhyme scheme of the given
stanza? 1
(C) To say that for destruction ice,
Is also great and would suffice.
Why would the ice be sufficient?
(a) To make the world cold.
(b) To make the weather chilly.
(c) To end the world.
(d) To make the earth look blue. 1
(D) What would NOT destroy the world?
(a) war (b) hate
(c) love (d) desire 1
(E) What causes of destruction does the poet
cite?
(1) ...................................
(2) ................................... 1
OR
But he’s locked in a concrete cell,
His strength behind bars,
Stalking the length of his cage,
Ignoring visitors.
(A) Complete the analogy by slecting the
suitable word from the text : happiness :
joy : : caged : ...................... 1
(B) What is the statement 'his strength
behind bars' mean ?
(a) The tiger is strong behind the
bars.
(b) The tiger is behind the bars.
(c)
The tiger is helpless behind
bars.
(d) The tiger is helpless in a cage. 1
(C) The word “strength” DOES NOT have a
meaning similar to:
(a) power (b) happiness
(c) determination (d) courage 1
(D) “Ignoring visitors”, what does the poet
mean by this? 1
(E) The word that DOES NOT indicate a
stalking attitude of the tiger towards the
indicators is :
(a)  helplessness of tiger
(b)  deprivedness of tiger
(c)  happiness of tiger
(d)  desperation of the tiger for freedom 1
8. Answer ANY FOUR questions in 40-50 words
each. 4 × 3 = 12
(A) Who, according to Nelson Mandela, is a
courageous man? 3
(B) Comment on the tone of Kisa Gotami
when she said, “Pray tell me, sir; who is
it?”. 3
(C) Justify the poet’s allusion to Rapunzel in
the poem ‘Amanda’. 3
(D) Prince Siddhartha left the luxury of his
palace and became a beggar. Justify. 3
(E) What does Chubukov at first suspect
Lomov has come for? Do you think he is
sincere in calling him his son? 3
9. Answer ANY TWO questions in 40-50 words
each. 2×3=6
(A) What was the reason behind Matilda’s
incessant suffering? 3
(B) How can you tell that Hari was happy
working for Anil? 3
(C) Why were the two boys in London
surprised and fascinated? 3
Pre-Board Paper 7
 10. Answer ANY ONE the following in 100-120
words.
Not every air hostess is as kind as the one the
author met. In the light of this statement,
develop a conversation between Maxwell and
another air hostess.
You may begin as:
Air hostess: Oh no. I can’t allow you to keep
11. Answer ANY ONE of the following in 100-120
the pet open.
Maxwell: Please help me. This is my first
time………………….
OR
Read the extracts given below and comment
on the difference in the nature of help both
the characters, of these two stories, received.
(A) Suddenly I came out of the clouds and
saw two straight lines of lights in front
of me. It was a runway! An airport! I was
safe! I turned to look for my friend in the
black aeroplane but the sky was empty.
[The Black Aeroplane]
(B) All through the night Lencho thought
only of his one hope: the help of God…The
following Sunday, at daybreak he began
to write a letter…It was nothing less than
a letter to God...The following Sunday
Lencho came a bit earlier than usual to
ask if there was a letter for him…. Lencho
showed not the slightest surprise on seeing
the money, such was his confidence.
[A Letter to God] 6
words.
“The air was bitterly cold and he could not do
without clothes.”
Troubling situations and the inescapable
weather forced Griffin to turn lawless.
Drawing reference from the statement given
above, explain the experience of Griffin at the
big London store.
OR
Read the following quote by William
Shakespeare.
“It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in
ourselves.”
Do you think Matilda had control over her
fate? Justify your response. 6