CHINMAYA VIDYALAYA, TAYLORS ROAD

I MID TERM EXAMINATION – AUGUST, 2021

ENGLISH CORE
STD. XI TIME : 60 mins.
DATE : 3.8.21 MARKS : 40
SECTION – A Reading
Q.1. Read the passage carefully :
I have said this much because it is my wish that the principles which have
guided me in this composition of these memoirs may be understood. I am
aware that they will not please every reader; that is a success to which I
cannot pretend. Some merit, however, may be allowed to me on account of
the labour I have undergone. It has neither been of a slight nor an agreeable
kind. I made it a rule to read everything that has been written respecting
Napoleon, and I have had to decipher many of his autographed documents,
though no longer so familiar with his scrawl as formerly. I say decipher,
because a real cipher might often be much more readily understood than the
handwriting of Napoleon. My own notes, too which were often very hastily
made, in the hand I wrote in my youth, have sometimes also much
embarrassed me.
My long and intimate connection with Bonaparte from boyhood, my
close relations with him when he was General, Consul and Emperor, enabled
me to see and appreciate all that was projected and all that was done during
that considerable and momentous period of time. I not only had the
opportunity of being present at the conception and the execution of the
extraordinary deeds of one of the ablest men nature ever formed, but, not
withstanding an almost unceasing application to business, I found means to
employ the few moments of leisure which Bonaparte left at my disposal in
making notes, collecting documents and in recording for history the facts
respecting which the truth could otherwise with difficulty be ascertained ;
and more particularly in collecting those ideas, often profound, brilliant, and
striking, but always remarkable, to which Bonaparte gave expression in the
overflowing frankness of confidential intimacy. The knowledge that I
possessed much important information has exposed me to many inquiries,
and wherever I have resided since my retirement from public affairs, much of

Page 1 of 6
 my time has been spent in replying to questions. The wish to be acquainted
with the most minute details of the life of a famous man is very natural; and
the observation on my replies by those who heard them always was, ‘ You
should publish your memoirs! ’
A. On the basis of your reading of the passage, complete the statements given
below by choosing the most appropriate option : ( 6x1=6 )
(i) The author is embarrassed, as stated in paragraph 1, because -----------
(a) Napoleon’s handwriting was unreadable
(b) the author’s handwriting was very poor in his youth.
(c) he cannot please every reader.
(d)none of these.
(ii) The author was known to Napoleon Bonaparte since ---------------------
(a)Bonaparte became General (b) Bonaparte became Consul and Emperor.
(c) birth (d) boyhood.
(iii) The phrase ‘on account of ’ used in paragraph 1 means the same as-----------
(a)as a consequence of (b) under no circumstances
(c) makes up (d) none of these.
(iv) The word ‘ scrawl ‘ used in paragraph 1 means the same as -------------
(a) sayings (b) method of working (c) style of dress (d) careless handwriting.
(v) The word ‘ conception ’ used in paragraph 2 is the synonym of ---------------
(a) birth (b) proposal (c) death (d) pregnancy
(vi) The word ‘ profound ’ used in paragraph 2 is the antonym of ------------
(a) wise (b) sincere (c) superficial (d) comical.

SECTION – B Writing and Grammar

Q.2. The following Notice has been written by the Cultural Secretary of the
Academy. Complete the Notice by filling up the blanks, choosing the right
options. ( 3 marks )

Page 2 of 6
 BRILLIANT ACADEMY
3.8.21
NOTICE
DRAMA TACTICS

An Inter School English Dramatics Competition (i) ----------------------- by

School of Excellence for the students of the Middle School on 13th August
2021. Auditions scheduled on 6th August 2021.
Students who (ii)------------------ in exhibiting their talents (iii)
-------------------- to give their names to the undersigned.
Shikha Juneja
SHIKHA JUNEJA
Cultural Secretary.

(i) a. is being organized b. would be organized c. shall be organized.

(ii) a. is interested b. have the interest c. are interested.
(iii) a. are wanted b. are requested c. are asked

Q.3. Edit the following passage : (6x1=6)

In Indian homes, the floor in the house (i) -------- --------

is always a best maintained element (ii)-------- ---------
cleaned twice a day or wiped down (iii)-------- ---------
to a sparkling state. On front of the (iv)-------- ---------
threshold of the house, a floor is (v) -------- --------
often decorated by rangoli . (vi) -------- ---------

(i) (a) of (b) at (c) to (d) outside

(ii) (a) one (b) the (c) an (d) to be
(iii) (a) and (b) be (c) the (d) up
(iv) (a) in (b) by (c) at (d) for
(v) (a) on (b) the (c) one (d) few
(vi) (a) in (b) for (c) with (d) of

Q.4.Complete the passage by filling up each blank with one appropriate word:
( 5x1=5)
Page 3 of 6
 A person (i) ----------- feel sad or downcast when faced with difficulties in life.
Many kinds of depression (ii) ----------- the result of non-acceptance of reality. The
real solution to this problem (iii) ------------ to take life as it comes. A wise man
(iv) ------------ surely know how to handle situations. He (v) ------------ from his
experience.

(i) (a) may (b) can (c) should (d) shall

(ii) (a) is (b) are (c) will be (d) would be
(iii) (a) was (b) were (c) is (d) are
(iv) (a) might (b) will (c) should (d) would
(v) (a) must (b) learn (c) will (d) learns

LITERATURE and SUPPLEMENTARY

Q.5. Read the extracts and answer the questions : ( 4x1=4 )

A. Each one holding one of my mother’s hands,
And she the big girl – some twelve years or so.
All three stood still to smile through their hair.
(i) Which poem are these lines taken from ?
(a) The Photograph
(b) My Photograph
(c) A Photograph
(ii) Who is the speaker ?
(a) Robinson
(b) Paulson
(c) Shirley Toulson
(iii) Who is the twelve-year-old girl ?
(a) Betty (b) the poet’s mother (c) the poet.
(iv) Who are the three mentioned in the above lines?
(a) Betty, Dolly and the poet
(b) Betty Dora and the poet
(c) The poet’s mother and her cousins

B. We stopped half-way in the courtyard. All over the verandah and in her room
right up to where she lay dead and stiff wrapped in the red shroud,
thousands of sparrows sat scattered on the floor. ( 4x1=4 )
(i) Who does the word, ‘ we ’ refer to ?

Page 4 of 6
(a) The author and his friends
(b) The author and his wife
(c) The author and his parents.

(ii) They stopped half-way in the courtyard because ---

(a) They found the street dog seated there
(b) The birds were chirping aloud
(c) the sparrows were seated there.
(iii) Who was the one wrapped in the red shroud ?
(a) The grandfather
(b) the old man in the picture
(c) the author’s grandmother.
(iv)Why were the sparrows seated there ?
(a)to pay their homage
(b) they were hungry
(c) it was time for prayer.

Q.6. Answer the following questions choosing the right options : (12x1=12 )

1. What did the author learn in the city school ?

(a) Scriptures (b) Yoga (c) Science and Music.

2. What does the poet mean by ‘ terribly transient feet ’ ?

(a) Human life prone to changes (b) the sea doesn’t change (c) trembling feet.

3. Why did the author visit No. 46, Marconi street ?

(a) To see her mother (b) because the house belonged to her (c) to get back the
things that belonged to her mother.

4. What do you know about Uncle Khosrove ?

(a) A man with a crazy streak in his trait (b) a man very popular among the
Assyrians (c) a humble and helpful person.

5. The author’s grandmother accompanied him to school, when

(a) they lived in the town (b) he was a boy of eleven (c) they lived in the village.

Page 5 of 6
 6. For the poet’s mother, the sea holiday was the past and for the poet
(a) It was her school days (b) it was the mother’s laughter (c) it was her
childhood.

7. The beautiful white horse belonged to

(a) John Byron, the peasant (b) Ian Botham, the cricketer (c) John Byro, the
farmer.

8. When the author visited the address the second time,

(a) She was humiliated (b) she was greeted by an elderly woman (c) she was
taken in by the fifteen-year-old girl.

9. The grandmother began to feel lonely,

(a) So she decided to leave for the village (b) she expressed her disapproval (c)
but she accepted her seclusion with resignation.

10.The poet’s mother looked at her snapshot and

(a) was annoyed (b) was amused (c) was terrified.

11. Mrs. S was the author’s

(a) neighbour (b) mother (c) old acquaintance.

12. Aram and Mourad belonged to the

(a) Karmanian family (b) Sylvanian family (c) Garoghlanian family.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Page 6 of 6