DELHI PUBLIC SCHOOL BANGALORE NORTH

ACADEMIC SESSION 2022-’23

PRE-BOARD -3

CLASS : X DURATION : 3 hours

SUBJECT: ENGLISH MAX MARKS: 80

General Instructions:

1. 15-minute prior reading time allotted for Q-paper reading.

2. The Question Paper contains THREE sections-READING, GRAMMAR &
WRITING and LITERATURE

SECTION A : READING SKILLS [20 MARKS]

I. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow. [1m*10=10m]

1. Mountains have always been held in great awe by mankind. They have been a challenge to
humans. Those brave among us have always wanted to conquer them. You see, the more
incredible the mountains, the greater the thrill – a challenge to the bravery of the human race.
Climbing mountains is an experience that is hard to put into words. You are in a beautiful
environment and, when you reach the top, you feel incredible. But you also have to climb
down, which is when most accidents happen – people are tired, it gets dark, it’s harder. So,
mountain climbing is undoubtedly one of the most popular adventure sports along with being
challenging and risky for the climber.

2. Without any perceived risk, there can’t be a feeling that any significant challenge has been
surmounted. Fair, but we have to bear in mind that mountaineering is not a sport that can be
embraced without preparation. The enthusiasts must develop in themselves the spirit of
adventure, willingness to undertake hardships and risks, extraordinary powers of
perseverance, endurance, and keenness of purpose before climbing a mountain. They should
also know how to handle the mountaineering equipment. Then comes the penance of the
rigorous training. This could very well be the lifeline up there. It helps inculcate and hone
survival instincts that allow the climber to negotiate perilous situations. There are numerous
institutes in India and abroad that offer such training.

3. Mountain climbers are unanimous in agreeing that the unpredictable weather is what they
fear the most. There may be sunshine one moment and a snowstorm the other. At higher
altitudes, snow is a regular feature and being decisive about setting up camps or proceeding
further is crucial. The icy sheets after ice storms make walking treacherous, while the
powdery snow makes a mountaineer sink deep into the snow. Up there, where the intention is
to embrace Nature’s wonder, one realizes that it cannot be done without facing its formidable
glory. A true mountaineer may challenge the mountain, yet is always respectful to the
powerful forces of nature.

4. Summiting mountains carries its own health risks such as oxygen and altitude sickness
problems, frost bites, swelling of hands and feet, fluid collection in brain or lungs and
exhaustion. Yet, the gratification mountaineers feel from mastering something that is so
frightening, urges them to undertake these endeavors. We may think that the mountaineers
are fearless, experts say, “Not at all. It’s fear that keeps them so intrigued with such arduous
journeys.” Impulse and brazenness can be deadly foes. In the words of the Indian
mountaineer, Bachendri Pal, “The biggest risk ... is to not to take the risk at all. Remember
that.”

Based on the understanding of the passage answer the questions given below:

1. Why does the writer say that mountains inspire ‘awe’ in humans? (Paragraph 1)

(i) They present us with opportunities for exciting sports.

(ii) They evoke the wish in us, to master them.

(iii) They inspire in us, deeds of valor.

(iv) They represent peace and calm, to us.

2. Select the option that corresponds to the following relation below:

The more incredible the mountains—the greater the thrill (Paragraph 1)

(i) The higher the stamina—the lower the food intake

(ii) The more you laugh—the lesser your illness

(iii) The smaller the car—the bigger the advantage

(iv) The heavier the luggage—the higher the penalty

3. Select the option that displays what the writer projects, with reference to the following:

So, mountain climbing is undoubtedly one of the most popular adventure sports (Para 1)

(i) doubt (ii) caution (iii) conviction (iv) denial

4. Complete the following with a phrase from paragraph 1.

Opinion Reason
---------------------------------_________ Best experienced rather than described
5. The writer compares training to penance in the line –

Then comes the penance of the rigorous training. (Paragraph 2)

State 1 point of similarity between training and penance.

6. Based on your reading of the text, list 2 reasons why the writer says that

“Mountaineering is not a sport that can be embraced without preparation”. (Paragraph 2)

7. What connect does the writer draw out between unpredictable weather and setting up of
camps? (Paragraph 3)

8. The writer says, “A true mountaineer may challenge the mountain, yet is always respectful
to the powerful forces of nature.” (Paragraph 3)

Select the reason the mountaineer is respectful to the forces of nature, up in the mountains.

(i) survival (ii) experience (iii) tradition (iv) directive

9. Supply 1 point to justify the following:

While mountain climbing, an impulsive mountaineer is either disaster-prone or as good as

dead.

10. Evaluate the INAPPROPRIATE reason for the feeling of exhilaration on reaching a
summit, that the mountain-climbers experience.

(i) Achievement of a seemingly impossible feat

(ii) Spectacular panoramic view

(iii) Application of the inculcated survival instincts

(iv) Opportunity to use sophisticated mountaineering equipment

II. Read the given passage and answer the questions. [1m*10=10m]

1. The North-East of India is a melting pot of variegated cultural mosaic of people and races,
an ethnic tapestry of many hues and shades. Yet, these states are lesser explored as compared
to the rest of the country. The new generations of travellers who are ‘money rich and time
poor’ are increasingly looking for unique experiences --a phenomenon being called the
emergence of the ‘experience economy’. For this new and growing breed of tourists, the
North-East with its variety and uniqueness holds immense attraction.

2. A study conducted in 2020 by Dr. Sherap Bhutia, revealed that the foreign tourist arrival in
the North-East increased from 37,380 persons in 2005 to 118,552 in 2014. The overall
growth rate of tourist (both domestic and foreign) in the North-East was as high as 26.44%
during 2005-06. A high and positive growth of 12.53% was registered in foreign tourist visits
to North-East States of India during 2012 from 2011, which further rose to register a growth
of 27.93% during 2013 from 2012. Foreign tourist arrivals in the North-East witnessed a
growth of 39.77% during 2014 from 2013, according to data provided from the Ministry of
Tourism, Government of India.

3. The study recommendations for tourism planners included the need to concentrate on some
key areas like enhancement of tourist facilities, tourism financing, focus on community
involvement and others for the formulation of a sustainable tourism strategy in the North-East
States of India.

Based on the understanding of the passage answer the questions given below:

1. Infer one reason for the following, based on information in paragraph 1.

The rate of tourism in the North-East of India puzzles tourism officials.

2. Select the appropriate option to fill in the blanks.

From paragraph 1, we can infer that the _________ and _________ of the North-Eastern
states aid attracting the ‘money rich and time poor’ tourists.

1. distinctiveness 2. Conventionality 3. Diversity 4. Uniformity 5. Modernity

(i) 1 & 3 (ii) 2 & 4 (iii) 2 & 5 (iv) 1 & 4

3. Complete the following analogy correctly with a word/ phrase from paragraph 1:

aroma: cooking:: ________ : painting

(Clue: Just like aroma is integral to cooking, similarly is/ are integral to painting)

4. Select the correct option to complete the following sentence:

Travellers advocating the ‘experience economy’ seek a holiday package with (Paragraph 1)

(i) grand facilities, expensive hotels and excellent services to pamper them.

(ii) a wholesome experience within the budget they have planned for.

(iii) places and cities to buy things from and opportunities spend money.

(iv) cost-effective services, affordable accommodation and many days of touring.

5. Select the chart that appropriately represents the trend of foreign tourist travels in the
North-East, from 2011-2014, as per paragraph 2.

(i) Option 1 (ii) Option 2 (iii) Option 3 (iv) Option 4

6. Fill in the blank by selecting the correct option.

The study of tourist travel statistics in the North-East, from 2005 to 2014 showed _____
results.

(i) expected (ii) encouraging (iii) inconsistent (iv) questionable

7. Substitute the word ‘witnessed’ with ONE WORD similar in meaning, in the following,
sentence from paragraph 2:
Foreign tourist arrivals in the North-East witnessed a growth of...

8. List any 2 examples of ‘tourist facilities’ as referred to, in Paragraph 3.

9. List one reason why the researchers recommend that the formulation of a tourism strategy
in the North-Eastern States of India be sustainable.

10. Select the option that titles paragraphs 1-3 appropriately, with reference to information in
the text.

SECTION-B
III. GRAMMAR (10 Marks)

i. Read the conversation between a Resort Manager and customer. (1 Mark)

Then complete the passage that follows:

Resort Manager: Mr. Sinha, did you enjoy your stay at the resort? Please share your
experience in the visitor’s book before leaving.

The Resort Manager asked Mr. Sinha (a) _____________ and requested him
(b)______________________before leaving.

ii. The following paragraph has not been edited. There is an error in each line. Identify the
error and write its correction against the correct blank number. (1 Mark)

Error Correction A
Headache is usually caused for spinal misalignment (a) _____ ________

of the head, due to the posture. Sleeping above the stomach (b)_____ _______

with the head turned to one side and bending

over positions for a long time makes it worse.

iii. Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option to complete the sentence. (1 Mark)

Would you like a coffee? No, thanks. I ________ (already / have) four cups today.

a) already had b) have already had c) already have d) had already

iv. Select the correct option to fill in the blank for the given line: (1 Mark)

A black and a white cow ________ grazing outside.

a) is b) was c) are d)have

v. Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option, to complete the sentence: (1 Mark)

Savita has lost the (a) _________ pens she had. Now she has spent the (b) _______ money
she had on buying more.

a) i) some ii) few iii) little iv) many

b) i) some ii) more iii) little iv) man

vi. In the lines given below, one word has been omitted in each line. Write the word along
with the word that comes before and the word that comes after it. (1 Mark)

Before Word After

a) Saima, active social worker ______ ______ ____

happened to visit the slum of Seemapuri.

vii. Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option.(1 Mark)

My grandfather cannot ………………… past events.

a) bring out b) call up c) bring up

viii. Fill in the blank with the correct modal. (1 Mark)

'I'm starving! What's for dinner, Mum?'

'Fish.'
'I hate fish! I'm not eating it.'
'You ____________ be very hungry, then.'
a) might b) can’t c)won’t d) must

ix. Choose the correct option to complete the sentence(1 Mark)

When I turn 16, I ____________ French for eight years.

a) will learn b) will be learning c) will have been learning d) learn

x. Rajdhani __________ (be) a fully air-conditioned train. (1 Mark)

a) has b) is c) become d) are

IV. CREATIVE WRITING SKILLS (10 Marks)

All the names and addresses used in the questions are fictitious. Resemblance, if any, is
purely coincidental

1.Attempt any ONE of the following in 100 -120 words: (5 Marks)

1A. The following bar graph shows nutrient content of some common food items. Write an
analytical paragraph in about 100-120 words briefly summarizing the data and making
appropriate comparisons.
 OR

1B. Your school has 4 buses each with a capacity of 50 students. The total number of
students who actually travel by these buses is 175. Another 150 students have applied for
school transport. The school is not in a position to buy new school buses.
What should school authorities do to ensure that school buses run to full capacity and the
students in the waiting list for school transport get it?
Write an analytical paragraph in about 100-120 words to briefly describe the situation and
suggest some practical or viable solutions to the problem.

2.Attempt any one of the following. (5 Marks)

2A.

You are Ayush/Anjali of Vidya Nikethan Public School, Kannur. You had arranged a trip for
50 students to Munnar with Mount Travels and Tourism, Thalassery. The arrangements done
by the travel agency were far below your expectation. The accommodation and food facilities
were inferior in quality. Write a letter of complaint to the Director of the agency to stop
duping tourists with false promises.

OR

2B. You are interested to join a swimming club of repute in your town. Write a letter to the
Secretary, College Square Swimming Club, Kolkata, enquiring about the details about
membership and other terms and conditions of the club. You are Monalisa of 143, Palm
Avenue, Kolkata.

SECTION C- LITERATURE (40 marks)

V. Read the given extracts and then answer the questions that follow. (10 marks)

1. Attempt ANY ONE of the two extracts given. (5 marks)

1A. But he’s locked in a concrete cell,

His strength behind bars

Stalking the length of his cage,

Ignoring visitors.

(a) He is locked in a:
(i) Wooden cell (ii) iron cage
(iii) Concrete cell (iv) tent

(b) Name the poet.

(i) Leslie Norris (ii) Robert Frost
 (ii) William Blake (iv) John Keats

(c) What is meant by ‘stalking the length of his cage’?

(i) The tiger is locked in a cage.
(ii) The tiger is staring the people.
(iii) The tiger is walking from one end of the cage to another.
(iv) The tiger is waiting to hunt for food.

(d) Who is being ignored?

(i) Visitors (ii) Animals
(iii) Tiger (iv) Poet

(e) Why is the tiger kept in a cell?

(i) So that he could not hunt
(ii) So that he could not kill villagers
(iii) So that he could not escape
(iv) So that he could be sold

OR

1B. Inside the clouds, everything was suddenly black. It was impossible to see anything
outside the aeroplane. The old aeroplane jumped and twisted in the air. I looked at the
compass. I couldn’t believe my eyes: the compass was turning round and round and round.
It was dead. It would not work!

(a) Why did it become impossible for the narrator to see?

(i) Due to a sudden rainstorm

(ii) Due to poor night vision
(iii) Due to the darkness inside the storm clouds
(iv) Due to the broken windscreen

(b) Why was the aero plane twisting in the air?

(i) Because the plane could not be kept under control

(ii) Because all the instruments of the plane had stopped
(iii) Both (i) and (ii)
(iv) Neither (i) nor (ii)

(c) Why did the narrator not receive any answer from Paris control station?

(i) Because he was not in the right mind

(ii) Because he was not listening to them
(iii) Because he was distracted
(iv) Because his radio was broken
 (d) What problem did the narrator face in the storm?

(i) He could not see where he was.

(ii) He got lost in the storm.
(iii) All his instruments had stopped working.
(iv) All of these

(e) What motivated the narrator to keep flying to England despite the storm?

(i) Reaching home in time for a big English breakfast

(ii) Leaving Paris
(iii) Outsmarting the storm
(iv) Breaking a record
2. Attempt ANY ONE of the two extracts given: (5 Marks)

2A. I think he knew I made a little money this way, but he did not seem to mind. Anil made
money by fits and starts. He would borrow one week, lend the next. He kept worrying about
his next cheque, but as soon as it arrived, he would go out and celebrate. It seems he wrote
for magazines a queer way to make a living!

1.Anil made money 'by fits and starts' means that he

a) deemed it fit to start investing money.

b) started earning money in the recent past.

c)received money intermittently.

d) put his money to use frequently.

2.The information in the extract suggests that Anil could be a

a) salaried professional

b) freelancer

c) business man

d) volunteer

3. If borrow : : lend, then pick the ODD pair from the options given below.

a) give :: take

b) lose :: find

c) hop:: skip.
d) buy :: sell

4.The reference to making a little money 'this way’ refers to a way that is viewed by most
people as

a) sensible

b) inappropriate

c) charitable

d) aggressive

5. Based on your understanding of Anil in the extract, choose the option that synchronises
with his thinking.

a)So what if I don't have much money ? Giving it to that person is important as they could do
with a helping hand.

b) I better learn how to protect my money. I think I'm being looted.

c) I earn money with such tremendous effort. Where does it all go?

d) When I become rich, I can begin to help friends then. Right now, I will spend only on
myself.

OR

2B. Ausable did not fit any description of a secret agent Fowler had ever read. Following him
down the musty corridor of the gloomy French hotel where Ausable had a room, Fowler felt
let down. It was a small room, on the sixth and top floor, and scarcely a setting for a romantic
adventure. Ausable was, for one thing, fat. Very fat. And then there was his accent. Though
he spoke French and German passably, he had never altogether lost the American accent he
had brought to Paris from Boston twenty years ago. "You are disappointed," Ausable said
wheezily over his shoulder.

1."Following him down the musty corridor of the gloomy French hotel where Ausable had a
room..."

Choose the correct option to replace the underlined words.

a) expensive ; abnormal

b) lighted ; formal

c) damp; dingy

d) uncanny ; smart

2. Amy is an American woman who teaches French and German in a primary school. This
means that Amy is

a) an empathetic teacher.

b) a rational human being.

c) an experienced guide

d) a multilingual instructor

3. It can be inferred from the extract that a secret agent is expected to be

1) fit.

2) compassionate

3) apologetic

4) suave

5) violent.

a) Option 1, 3 & 5

b) Option 1 & 4

c) Option 2, 4 & 5

d) Option 2 & 3

4.The reason Fowler was disappointed by Ausable when he met him was because Ausable

a) lived in a shady French hotel.

b) was related to the cops.

c) didn't have the personality of a spy.

d) had a very strange accent.

5.Choose the option that lists the INCORRECT statements about the given passage.

1. Fowler had no expectations at all from Ausable.

2. Fowler was elated when he met Ausable.

3. Ausable was living in France as a spy.

4. Ausable had acquired the French accent over twenty years ago.

a) 1 & 2

b) 3 & 4

c) 1 & 3

d) 2 &4

VI. Answer ANY FOUR of the following in about 40-50 words each. (4x3=12 marks)

a. What do we learn about the financial condition of the bakers of Goa?

b. Give examples from the text to show that Valli was a meticulous planner.
c. How did Kisa Gotami realize that life and death is a normal process?
d. Why did Lencho call the post office employees a ‘bunch of crooks?
e. Peculiar behavior is a characteristic of otters. Discuss with respect to’ Mijbil the
otter’.

VII. Answer ANY TWO of the following in about 40-50 words each: (2x3=6 marks)

1.What was Tricki’s state of health when the doctor brought him to the surgery?

2.Who was Richard A Weiherer? What was his views about Ebright?

3. What type of changes marked the emotional status of Matilda after ten years of hard
work?
VIII. Answer ANY ONE of the following in about 100-120 words. (6 marks)

a. What deep meaning does the poem ‘Fire and Ice’ carry in it?
b. Lomov’s and Chubukov’s families never got along well but still Lomov went to
Chubukov with a proposal of marriage for his daughter Natalya. Comment.

IX. Answer ANY ONE of the following in about 120 words each. (6 marks)

1. Hari Singh in "The Thief's Story " is a petty thief but Horace Danby and the ' lady in
red ' in "The Question of Trust" are seasoned criminals. Discuss.

2. Bholi is ‘a harmless dumb cow ’ people feel so but her teacher does not agree and plays
a big role in giving her life a turning point. Develop a conversation between the two , based
on your understanding of the story Bholi. You may begin like this

Teacher- Bholi please feel comfortable in my class. You are dressed in neat clothes
and look so bright.
Bholi- Maám I feel nervous all the time.
Teacher- You--------

_______________________