The Millennium School

Pre Term- II(2021-22)

Subject:-English M.M.40
Class-X Time: 2 Hrs
General Instructions
 The Question Paper contains THREE sections- READING, WRITING & GRAMMAR and LITERATURE.

• Attempt questions based on specific instructions for each part.

SECTION A –READING (10 MARKS)

Q.1. Read the following passage carefully:-

1. Frankness may be among the most overrated of virtues! And here’s why. Because unrestricted
and unfiltered frankness is a recipe for breaking relationships, even the closest ones. Such
frankness is understandable, acceptable and even ‘cute’ only in children under the age of five.

2. Thinking before one speaks and using restraint are hallmarks of growing maturity and
preparation for life. Learning to put a filter between thought and spoken word (and, even more
importantly, written word) is an important life skill. Think is a popular acronym for Trúe, Helpful,
Inspiring, Necessary and Kind. This would do wonderfully well as a filter in our minds.

3. It is good to speak what’s true, but only along with the other attributes in the acronym,
particularly the last one, kindness. In the righteous glow of speaking what we see as the truth,
we often forget to be kind. We blurt out ‘truths’ even when it is totally unhelpful and
unnecessary to do so, let alone inspiring! Too often, such truth–telling is destructive rather than
noble. Only those who do not care about the consequences can afford the luxury of ‘speaking
their minds’ whenever and wherever they please. When relationships are at stake, it is essential
to choose the time, place and words appropriately when imparting unpleasant truths. And even
then, only when absolutely necessary and with the utmost kindness.

4. Speaking without forethought can be even more dangerous in other circumstances, for
example, when someone has entrusted us with a secret. A sign of maturity is the ability to keep a
secret. Very young children are incapable of understanding the concept of a secret. To them,
every piece of information is interesting, new and meant to be shared. As we grow older, we all
learn how to keep a secret, but too often we keep only our own secrets and not those that
others confide in us. We may blurt out something a friend told us in confidence, perhaps
carelessly but often to appear important in other people’s estimation. It gives us a sense of
power to know something that our friends don’t, and it requires conscious effort to keep the
 information to ourselves.

5. But this is the real test of an important life skill: self–restraint. Revealing a friend’s secret is to
betrayal of the friendship. Indeed, the consequences may well spread way beyond the friendship
alone. It may lead to gossip spreading like a forest fire, destroying peace of mind and even lives.

6. Words have power to hurt or heal. They are not mere tools for tweeting and messaging.
Before the tongue speaks, before the fingers fly over the keyboard, it is important to pause and
apply the THINK acronym filter. Is this True, Helpful, Inspiring, Necessary and Kind? (1X5=5)

7. Of course it is important to communicate. But it is far more important to be considerate and

compassionate. Speaking well is a skill: speaking kindly is a life skill.

 (1.1) On the basis of your reading of the passage, answer ANY FIVE questions from the six
given below.

(a) How much of frankness is acceptable?

(b) What does the term ‘put a filter’ mean in this context?
(c) According to the writer what is the best way to reveal the truth”?
Q.2 (d) Why is it important to keep secrets?
(e)The antonym of ‘cruelty’, used in para 3 is……..
(f) Words are not mere tools for tweeting and messaging, but they also have power to

Read the following excerpt from a case study titled 'Sustainable Tourism'.

(1) The white tiger is an offspring of Bengal tiger, which has the necessary gene for white
colouring. It has beautiful black stripes on a white coat. This species of animal has blue eyes and
a pink nose.

(2) A pure white tiger is totally white without any stripe, which is due to the presence of double
recessive allele in the genetic code. It happens only in the Bengal tiger subspecies, and only one
in 10,000 births can have it naturally. White tigers are rarely seen in the wild, and only twelve of
them have been spotted in India since last one-hundred years. Tigers have a life-span of 10-15
years. They are solitary animals, and are fond of hunting at night. Their diet consists of any
animals that they can catch, and can eat up to 40 pounds of meat at one time. After such a big
meal, they usually remain away for several days from food.

(3) They are slow runners, but good swimmers. They are poor climbers and cannot climb a tree
easily. They live in an area ranging from 10 to 30 square miles depending upon the availability of
prey, water and shelter. Habitat loss, poaching and expansion of human population have
together contributed to their becoming endangered. They are widely hunted for their bodyparts,
 which are used in traditional Chinese medicines.

(4) Genetic inbreeding is another reason for their endangerment. Due to shortage in their
number, this species of animal has been subjected to inbreeding. It has resulted in high mortality
rates and severe disabilities. About 80 percent of the white tiger cubs are born with serious
birthdefects related to inbreeding, and they soon die-off.
(1X5=5)
(5) The critical condition of this animal has attracted the attention of conservationists worldwide.
World Wildlife Federation (WWF), defenders of wildlife, and many other wildlife organisations
are working with the support of the government for the cause of protecting them from becoming
extinct. Once they become extinct, it will not be possible to bring them back to life.

1411 (year -2006) 1706(year-2010) 2226(year-2014) 2967(year 2018)

Increasing Tiger Number
(1.2) On the basis of your understanding of the passage, answer ANY FIVE questions from the
six given below.
(i) Why is there no stripe on the pure white tiger?
(ii) Which factors have led to the tiger species fall in the category of endangered species?
(iii) Why are the tigers hunted?
Q.3 (iv) The word which means the same as 'illegal hunting' in para 3 is _____________.
(5)
(v) What does the visual given about depict about the number of tigers?

(vi) What has contributed to the change in the number of tigers from 2006 to 2018?

Section – B ( Writing and Grammar)

(a) You are Neeti/Rajan, a resident of 25/42, civil Lines, Kanpur. You are very much
inspired to watch reality shows on dance at various channels on T.V. and wish to join
dance classes to learn ‘Salsa’. Write a letter in about 120 words to Shamak Dawar
(Salsa Guru), Director, S.D. Group, Model Town Delhi, enquiring about the dance
classes, timings, fees, duration, conditions for admission, etc.
OR

(b) The chart below displays details regarding online activity for six age groups in six
categories. In 150-200 words, write an analysis paragraph for the table provided.
Age Age Age Age Age Age

Activity % Teens 20s 30s 40s 50s 60s

 Get News 76 71 72 78 76 73

Downloads 85 55 35 25 26 23
Q.4
Buying a product 44 66 67 69 63 68

Online games 88 55 36 28 24 23
(0.5X6=
Searching for people 6 33 22 21 25 28 3)

Product research 0 77 81 85 78 76
(1X2=2)

Q.5.
The following passage has not been edited. There is an error in each line against which a blank
has been given. Write the incorrect word and the correction in your answer-sheet against the
correct blank number. Remember to underline the word that you have supplied.
In British days, India was knowing (a)………… (20)
like a country of maharajas, snakes (b)…………
charmers and beggars. While a first (c)………… (2X6=12
two species is almost extinct, (d)……….. )
Q.6 beggars are surviving perhaps on (e)………..
adopting Darwin’s theory of survive. (f)…………

Read the conversation given below and complete the passage that follows.
Customer : These caps don’t fit me.
Tailor : Wear them on the tip of your fingers. They’ll fit you.

The customer complained .....(a)...... .

The tailor told him .....(b)..... ……..

Section – C (Literature)
Answer ANY SIX questions in 30-40 words each:
(1) Pranjol buried his head in his detective book while Rajvir was eager to look at the
Q.7. beautiful scenery during the train journey. Why was there a difference in their
attitude?
(2) Why was Madame Loisel shocked at the end of the story? (4X2=8)
(3) How would you characterise the speaker in the poem Amanda!’? List any two
qualities, supporting the reason of your choice, with evidence from the poem.
(4) How did Kisa Gotami realize that life and death is a normal process?
(5) “The Lomovs and the Chubukovs have always had the most friendly, and I might
almost say the most affectionate, regard for each other.” How would you evaluate
Lomov and Chubukov’s relationship as neighbours?
(6) How did you feel when you read about Bholi being ignored and ill-treated by her
parents as a child?
Answer ANY TWO of the following in about 120 words each.

(1)Which qualities of animals has the poet lost and now wants to regain? Answer with reference
to the poem, ‘Animals’
(2)The will to win, for the right reason, was a quality that Richard had. Do you think this quality
alone can help us accomplish great feats? Why/ Why not?
(3)What lesson did Kisa Gotami learn the second time that she had failed to learn the first time?