Beaconhouse School System

End of Year Examination

Northern Region
English Listening

Class: VII

2022

Time Allowed: 30 Minutes Marks Allocated: 10

Listen to the following passage carefully and answer the questions given at the end:

The following extract is from the novel ‘The Old Curiosity Shop’ written by Charles Dickens,
published in the year 1840.

One night, I was walking slowly in the city when I was stopped by a soft voice asking
me something. I turned and found at my elbow a pretty little girl, who begged to be directed
to a street in another part of town..
"That is far from here," said I. "I know that, sir," she replied timidly. "For I came from there
tonight." "Alone?" said I, in some surprise.
"Oh, yes, but I am a little frightened now, for I am lost." "And what made you ask me?
Suppose I tell you wrong?"
"I am sure you will not do that," said the little creature. "You are such a very old gentleman,
and walk so slow yourself."
I cannot describe how much I was impressed by this request. "Come," said I, "I'll take
you there." She put her hand in mine as if she had known me from her cradle, and we
trudged away together; the little creature accommodating her pace to mine. Every now and
then she looked at my face, as if to be sure that I was not deceiving her.
My curiosity was equal to the child's, for child she certainly was, although I felt her very
small and delicate frame imparted a peculiar youthfulness to her appearance. She was
dressed with perfect neatness,and betrayed no marks of poverty or neglect. "Who sent you
so far by yourself?" said I.
“Someone who is very kind to me, sir."
"And what have you been doing?"
"That, I must not tell," said the child firmly. I wondered what kind of errand made her
prepared for questioning. She seemed to read my thoughts, for she added that there was no
harm in what she had been doing, but it was a great secret - a secret that she did not even
know herself.
She walked on as before, talking cheerfully, but she said no more about her home,
beyond remarking that we were taking a new road and asking if it were a short one.
 While walking, a hundred different explanations of the riddle came into my mind. I had
felt pleased at first by her confidence and now determined to deserve it. There was no
reason why I shouldn't see the person who had inconsiderately sent her so great a distance
by night alone. It was not unlikely that if she found herself near home she might leave me,
depriving me of the opportunity, so I avoided the most frequented ways and took the most
intricate. It wasn't until we arrived in the street itself that she knew where we were. Clapping
her hands with pleasure, she ran on before me, waiting on the step till I came up, knocking
when I joined her.

All was dark and silent within, and I was anxious for an answer. When she had knocked
twice or thrice there was a noise as if someone were moving inside. At length a faint light
appeared through the glass. It approached very slowly, the bearer having to make his way
through a great many scattered articles. It was an old man with long grey hair. Though much
altered by age, I fancied I could recognize something of that delicate mould which I had
noticed in the child. Their bright blue eyes were certainly alike, but his face was so deeply
furrowed and so very full of care, that here all resemblance ceased.
 Beaconhouse School System
End of Year Examination
Northern Region
English Listening

Class: VII

2021

Time Allowed: 30 Minutes Marks Allocated: 10

Section-A
1. Circle the correct answer. /3
i)The novel Oliver Twist was published in:

a)1827
b) 1837
c) 1840
d) 1857

2. Who was approached by the little girl?

a) A young boy
b) An old lady
c) An old gentleman
d) A strange lady

3. At what time was the girl sent away from her home?
a) morning
b) noon
c) evening
d) night

Section-B
Fill in the blanks with correct answers.
1. The girl looked _________________________ from her appearance.
2. The girl told the narrator that a very ___________________ person sent her away from
home.
3. She kept her work a great __________________________ from the narrator.

Section- C
Answer the following questions:
1. Write down every thing that you have learnt about the girl? /2
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2. What are the thoughts that came into the narrator’s mind while walking with the girl?
/1
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3. What happened when both of them reached the girl’s home? /1

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