1.

SECTION A – READING SKILLS

1 Read the text carefully and answer the questions: [12]

There are two problems which cause great worry to our educationist -
the problem of religious and moral instruction in a land of many faiths
and the problem arising out of a large variety of languages. Taking up
the education of children, we see that they should be trained to love one
another, to be tender to the lower animals, and to observe and think
right. The task of teaching them how to read and write and to count and
calculate is important, but it should not make us lose sight of the
primary aim of moulding personality in the right way.For this, it is
necessary to call into aid, culture, tradition, and religion. But in our
country we have, in the same school, to look after boys and girls born in
different faiths and belonging to families that live diverse ways of life
and follow different forms of worship associated with different
denominations of religion. It will not do to tread the easy path of
evading the difficulty by attending solely to physical culture and
intellectual education. We have to evolve a suitable technique and
method for serving the spiritual needs of school children professing
different faiths. We would thereby promote an atmosphere of mutual
respect, a fuller understanding, and helpful co - operation among the
different communities in our society. Again we must remain one people
and we’ve therefore to give basic training in our schools to speak and
understand more language than one and to appreciate and respect the
different religions prevailing in India. It is not right for us in India to be
dissuaded from this by considerations as to overtaking the young mind.
What is necessary must be done. And it is not in fact too great a burden.
Any attempt to do away with or steamroll the differences through
governmental coercion and indirect pressure would be as futile as it
would be unwise. Any imposition of a single way of life and form of
worship on all children or neglect of a section of the pupils in this
respect or barren secularization will lead to a conflict between school
and home life which is harmful. On the other hand, if we give due
recognition to the different prevailing faiths in the educational
institutions by organizing suitable facilities for religious teaching for
boys and girls of all communities, this may itself serve as a broadening
influence of great national values.
 1. Complete the sentence by choosing an appropriate option.Besides
teaching students how to read and write and to count and
calculate, ourprimary aim should be of ________.
a. giving them vocational training
b. moulding their personality in the right way
c. providing them free meal
d. giving extra focus on their career
2. Comment on the problems which cause great worry to our
educationist as mentioned in paragraph one.
3. List two ways in dealing witheducation of children to solve the
aforementioned problems.( Clue: what should be taught to them)
4. Select the option that conveys the opposite of ‘unsympathetic’,
from words used in paragraph one.
a. personality
b. instruction
c. sight
d. tender
5. How can a student’s personality be moulded in the right way?
a. By teaching them to think and do right
b. By teaching them about culture, tradition, and religion
c. By teaching them to count and calculate
d. By teaching them to read and write
6. Based on your understanding of paragraph two, list one major
problem that we face in schools today that these had over the
fishing nets being used in present times.
7. How can the spiritual needs of children be met?
8. Complete the given sentence with an appropriate inference, with
respect to the following:Changes that need to be brought in
schools are ________.
9. What would lead to a conflict between school and home?
a. Government Coercion
b. Indirect Pressure on young minds
c. Giving a choice of a single way of life/worship
d. Barren Secularization
2 Read the text carefully and answer the questions: India Covid - 19 [10]
numbers explained
1. With novel Coronavirus spreading rapidly all over the country,
there are only three states right now, Meghalaya, Sikkim and
 Andaman and Nicobar Islands, that have less than 1,000 people
infected with the disease.
2. Lakshadweep, of course, still hasn’t reported even a single case
till now, the only region in India entirely free of the epidemic.
3. Otherwise, even the relatively smaller states now have
significantly large spread of the disease. Goa, for example, has
seen more than 7,000 of its people infected by the virus till now.
Tripura has over 5,500 cases, while Manipur has more than 3,000,
and Nagaland a little less than 2,500. Puducherry has more than
4,000 cases, while even Daman and Diu has over 1,300 people
infected.
4. And in each of these states, the numbers are rising at a fast pace,
at a rate higher than the national level. The infections had initially
reached these states in the first and second week of May, when the
lockdown was relaxed for the first time to enable people stuck in
different parts of the country to return to their native places.
5. After a period of very slow growth, the number of cases have
begun to rise rapidly in the last one month. In Goa, for example,
the total number of infected people has nearly doubled in the last
15 days. Same has happened in Puducherry, as well.
6. Tuesday was one of those rare occasions when the number of
active cases in the country, those who are yet to recover from the
disease, went down compared to the previous day. That is because
the number of recoveries, combined with the number of deaths,
exceeded the new cases that were detected on Tuesday.

7. With over 52,500 new cases detected in the country, the total
 number of infections crossed 19 lakh, out of ‘which 12.82 lakh
people have recovered from the disease. The number of dead is
now close to 40,000.
8. The number of recoveries on Tuesday was the highest - ever for a
single day. More than 51,700 people were declared to have been
recovered. Three days earlier, the number of recoveries had
crossed 50,000 for the first time, but in the next two days the
number had fallen to much lower levels.
1. Does the following statement agree with the information given in
paragraph 1? At least 1,000 people have the disease in
Meghalaya, Sikkim, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Select
from the following: True - if the statement agrees with the
information False - if the statement contradicts the information
Not Given - if there is no information on this
2. Do you believe that COVID cases in Goa, Tripura, Manipur,
Nagaland, Puducherry, and Daman and Diu are increasing quickly
and at rates that are lower than the national average?
3. Based on your understanding of the passage, choose the incorrect
statement.
a. The virus has so far infected more than 7,000 residents of
Goa.
b. Manipur has over 3,000 cases, while Tripura has over
5,500.
c. Less than 2,500 COVID cases were reported in Nagaland.
d. There are fewer than 4,000 COVID cases in Puducherry.
4. Tuesday was one of those rare occasions when the number of
active cases in the country decreased from the day before. We can
say this because______________________________________.
5. More than 51,700 people were declared to have been recovered on
________.
a. Wednesday
b. Sunday
c. Tuesday
d. Monday
6. ______________ is the only area of India completely untouched
 by the disease.
a. Lakshadweep
b. Goa
c. Daman
d. Tripura
7. The infections had initially reached Goa, Tripura, Manipur,
Nagaland, Puducherry, and Daman and Diuin May’s first and
second week. Give one reason behind such an upsurge in COVID
cases.
8. Complete the given sentence by selecting the most appropriate
option. The overall number of infected peoplein Goa has nearly
doubled over the past 15 days. This indicates that
_________________ now.
a. there are less than 50% cases
b. there are not morecases
c. there are more cases
d. None of these
SECTION B – CREATIVE WRITING SKILLS

3 You are Jay/Jaya, Secretary, Interact Club, Shyamala Memorial Hall, [4]
Trichy. Draft a notice in not more than 50 words to be put up on your
school notice board, asking all the students to persuade their parents and
neighbours to donate blood in the blood donation camp to be organised
in your school campus byLion’s Club, as part of your club activity.
OR
You are Sports Secretary of ABC School, Agra. Write a notice in not
more than 50 words for the school notice board, asking the students
interested in hockey to give their names for selection for your school
hockey team.

4 You are the Secretary of the Old Students’ Association, Mayo School, [4]
Ajmer. The 20th Alumni Meet will be held on Sunday, 7 Nov, 2023 at
8.00 p.mat the PalaceHotel. Write invitation letters to ail the old students
of the school to attend the meet.
OR
You are Atul Gupta. You are opening a new branch of your business
house NEWLIGHTFURNISHINGS at C - 32, Ansal Plaza, Delhi. Write
 an invitation to your uncle to attend the inauguration ceremony and bless
you.

5 After passing the secondary school examination, a candidate has to [5]

make a very difficult choice from a number of streams available to him
at the senior school level for further studies. There is not a valid
mechanism to assess the suitability of a candidate for a particular stream.
Write a letter to the Editor of a national daily emphasising the need for
educational counsellors for guidance in this matter in each school. You
are Vinita/Vinay, 48, Agra Fort, Agra.

OR
You are Prem/Parul of 16, TT Nagar, Bhopal. You would like to apply
for the post of Marketing Manager in a reputed firm in Nashik. Write a
letter to the Public Relations Officer, Sun Agro India, Nashik, applying
for the job. Write the letter in 120 - 150 words giving your bio - data.

6 You are Sanjay/Geeta, a student of St Martha’s Sr Secondary School, [5]

Ghaziabad. You have read the news matter about the inhuman treatment
meted out to new entrants by the seniors in educational institutions. You
are shocked to read about it. Write an article in 150 - 200 words on ‘The
evil of ragging in educational institutions’ to be published in ‘The
 Hindu’, Delhi.
OR
The Social Club of Chitra Senior Secondary School, Sahibabad
organised cultural activities to collect funds and clothes especially for
old widows living in abject poverty at such places as Vrindavan etc.
Write a report in 100 - 125 words for your school newsletter about the
activities and how you utilised the funds. You are the Secretary of the
Club.
SECTION C - LITERATURE

7 Read the text carefully and answer the questions: [6]

“Such the Sun, the Moon,Trees old and young, sprouting a shady boon
For simple sheep; and such are daffodils With the green world they live
in; and clear rills That for themselves a cooling covert make ‘Gainst the
hot season.”
1. Which of these provide joy and respite in the hot season?
a. Shades of trees in forests
b. Daffodils
c. Clear water streams
d. Both Shades of trees in forests andClear water streams
2. What does the word brake implies?
a. Undergrowth of ferns or bush
b. Burning of forest
c. Stubble fire
d. Large area of grasslands
3. Describe the role of clear rills.
a. Cool and clear streams
b. Cooling shelter
c. Flowing in green surroundings
d. Getting away our thirst
4. On the basis of the extract, choose the correct option with
reference to the two statements given below
.statement 1: The sun, The Moon, and the Young trees provide us
joy.
statement 2: We feel joyous when surrounded by natural things.
Options:
a. (1) can be inferred from the extract but (2) cannot.
 b. (2) can be inferred from the extract but (1) cannot
c. Both (1) and (2) can be inferred from the extract.
d. (2) is the reason for (1) and can be inferred from the extract.
5. What are the things of beauty mentioned in the poem?
a. Sun and Moon
b. Young trees and streams
c. Flowers
d. All these
6. Answer in one word:According to the poet, all of the beauties of
nature are like a ________.
OR
Read the text carefully and answer the questions:
Aunt Jennifer’s fingers fluttering through her woolFind even the ivory
needle hard to pull. The massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band Sits
heavily upon Aunt Jennifer’s hand.
1. Choose the option that displays the same poetic device as used in
the first line of the extract.
a) The dazzling drizzle drenched all.
b) I’m as happy as I can be.
c) Life is a roller coaster ride.
d) Nature is God’s gift to us.
2. Which of the following may NOT be (symbolically) associated
with the phrase ‘massive weight’ in the given context?
a) superiority
b) cumbersome
c) stress
d) obligations
3. Which of the following is/are reflected in Aunt Jennifer’s
life/nature?
a. dominating
b. bad experiences
c. struggle - free life
d. better relationships
e. positive outlook
Choose the most appropriate option.
a) (i), (iii) and (iv) b) (i), (ii) and
(v)c) Only (ii) d) (ii) and (iv)
4. Answer in ONE word.It became difficult for the aunt to pull her
 ________ up and down of the cloth out of fear.
5. On the basis of the extract, choose the correct option with
reference to the two statements given below.
a. She trembles while she is embroidering the piece of cloth.
b. She fears her husband as he doesn’t approve of her hobby
of embroidery.
a) (2) can be inferred from the extract but (1) cannot.
b) (1) can be inferred from the extract but (2) cannot.
c) (2) is the reason for (1) and can be inferred from the extract.
d) Both (1) and (2) can be inferred from the extract.
6. Which of the following is an apt title for the extract?
a) Aunt’s Heavy Ring b) Uncle’s Gift of Ivory
c) Joy of Aunt’s Wedding d) The Ivory’s Anguish
8 Read the text carefully and answer the questions: [4]
He was flung up out of the ocean - flung, it seemed, to his feet by a
breaker. He staggered a few steps, his body outlined against the mist, his
arms above his head. Then the curled mists hid him again. "Who is
that?" Hana cried. She dropped Dr. Sadao’s arm, and they both leaned
over the railing of the veranda.
1. The synonym of leaning.
a. inclined
b. Straighten
c. Forget
d. rise
2. Who was he?
3. How did he come out of the ocean?
4. Who said: Who is that?
a. Hana
b. Tom
c. Dr. Sadao
d. Old General
OR
Read the text carefully and answer the questions:
MR LAMB: Mind the apples!DERRY: What? Who’s that? Who’s
there? MR LAMB: Lamb’s my name. Mind the apples. Crab apples
those are. Windfalls in the long grass. You could trip. DERRY:
I….there….I thought this was an empty place. I didn’t know there was
 anybody here…. MR LAMB: That’s all right. I’m here. What are you
afraid of, boy? That’s all right. DERRY: I thought it was empty….an
empty house.
1. What is the author’s motive behind using ellipses (…) in this
extract.
2. Select the option that best describes Derry and Mr. Lamb in the
extract.Derry: ______ :: Mr. Lamb: Vigilant
a. Anxious
b. Weird
c. Charming
d. Domineering
3. Which of the following best summarises Derry’s reaction in the
given extract?
a. Surprised
b. Shocked
c. Elated
d. Pensive
4. Why did Derry thinkthat was an empty place?
9 Read the text carefully and answer the questions: [6]
Gandhi never contented himself with large political or economic
solutions. He saw the cultural and social backwardness in the
Champaran villages and wanted to do something about it
immediately.He appealed for teachers. Mahadev Desai and Narhari
Parikh, two young men who had just joined Gandhi as disciples, and
their wives, volunteered for the work. Several more came from Bombay,
Poona and other distant parts of the land. Devadas, Gandhi’s youngest
son, arrived from the ashram and so did Mrs. Gandhi. Primary schools
were opened in six villages. Kasturbai taught the ashram rules on
personal cleanliness and community sanitation.
1. Which of the following never pleased Gandhiji?
a. Large political or economic solutions
b. The British orders
c. The landlords’ agreements
d. The peasants aggression
2. Identify the textual clue that allows the reader to infer that the
people agreed to help Gandhiji. (Clue: a phrase)
3. Select the suitable word from the extract to complete the
 following analogy:Appealed: Requested :: ________ : Satisfied
4. What did Kasturbai teach in primary schools?
a. Basics of Sanskrit and Spiritual knowledge
b. Basics of English Language
c. Community sanitation
d. Ashram rules on cleanliness
a. (i) and (ii)
b. (ii) and (iii)
c. (iii) and (iv)
d. (i) and (iv)
5. On the basis of the extract, choose the correct option with
reference to the two statements given below.
(1) Gandhiji sought to remove the cultural and social
backwardness of the village.
(2) Gandhiji’s typical method dealt with the observation of the
Englishpeople’s behaviour.
a. (1) Can be inferred from the extract but (2) cannot.
b. (1) cannot be inferred from the extract but (2) can.
c. (1) is true but (2) is false.
d. (2) is the reason for (1).
6. Complete the sentence with an appropriate information, as per the
extract.Followers of Gandhiji like ________ and ________ joined
with their wives to teach the villagers.
OR
Read the text carefully and answer the questions:
Then all effort ceased. I relaxed. Even my legs felt limp; and a blackness
swept over my brain. It wiped out fear; it wiped out terror. There was no
more panic. It was quiet and peaceful. Nothing to be afraid of. This is
nice... to be drowsy... to go to sleep... no need to jump... too tired to
jump... it’s nice to be carried gently... to float along in space... tender
arms around me... tender arms like Mother’s... now I must go to sleep...I
crossed to oblivion, and the curtain of life fell.
1. With reference to the given extract, according to the narrator
death was:
 a. Brutal
b. Peaceful
c. Merciless
d. Frightening
2. On the basis of the extract, choose the correct option with
reference to the two statements given below.
(1) The author stopped making efforts to save himself.
(2) The author was very anxious in water.
a. (1) Can be inferred from the extract but (2) cannot.
b. (1) cannot be inferred from the extract but (2) can.
c. (1) is true but (2) is false.
d. (2) is the reason for (1).
3. Rewrite the sentence by replacing the underlined phrase with its
inference.At one moment the author thought that
the curtain of (his) life fell.
4. List the author’s purpose of using ellipses (…) in this extract.
5. Select the phrase that matches the given inference
appropriately.Which phrase indicates that the poet lost
consciousness?
a. ‘It was quiet and peaceful.’
b. ‘I crossed to oblivion.’
c. ‘Tender arms like Mother’s.’
d. ‘It wiped out fear.’
6. Complete the sentence with an appropriate explanation, as per the
extract.He was not afraid of drowning anymore because
________.
10 Answer any five of the following questions in 40 - 50 words each: [10]
1. The iron master accuses the peddler of not being quite honest.
What does the peddler say to justify the situation?
2. Having looked at her mother, why does Kamala Das look at the
young children?
3. Why does the poet refer to the roadside stand as pathetic?
4. Why did Sophie not want Jansie to know anything about her
 meeting with Danny Casey?
5. How did the author discover who the English visitor to the studios
was?
6. Eco’s academic work has a certain playful and personal quality
about it. Comment. (The Interview)

11 Answer any two of the following questions in 40 - 50 words each: [4]

1. How did Geoff Green involve high school children in his
programme and why?
2. How did Charley make sure that he was not in the present time?
3. What was the objective of the Students on Ice Programme ?
(Journey to the End of the Earth)

12 The different portrayals of grit in the character of Rajkumar Shukla [5]

(Indigo), William Douglas (Deep Waters), and Mukesh (Lost Spring)
emerge due to their circumstances that render them strong.You have
been asked to address your peers and share -
• the ways these portrayals highlight firm grit and determination.
• the importance of understanding each individual man’s challenges
and experiences which impel them to take steps that eventually
build their characters.
Compose this draft, with reference to the prescribed texts listed
above.You may begin this way: Good morning, everyone.As I analysed
the allotted texts... You may end this way. To conclude, I’d like to say
that ...
OR
Neruda in Keeping Quiet writes, we work endlessly so that we can
achieve everything quickly because we are continuously threatening
ourselves with death . While the lesson Deep Water , deals with the
subject of conquering fear. You are Pablo Neruda. Write a letter to
Douglas and appreciate him for his attempts to get over the fear. You
may begin this way: Dear WilliamI recently read your autobiographical
book “Of Men and Mountains” and... You may end this way: People
fear death in vain as it is destined for one and all. They fail to identify
the real fear. I hope your story will inspire people who are rushing
 against the timeline.Warmly, Pablo Neruda
13 In the story, The Tiger King , the Maharaja was annoyed when he was [5]
unable to find the hundredth tiger. Create a diary entry as the irate King,
expressing his anguish referring to the steps he took in his tiger - killing
spree. You may begin this way: Earlier when I was informed about the
frequent disappearance of sheep from a hillside village, I was so happy
that...
OR
It may take a long time for oppression to be resisted, but the seeds of
rebellion are sowed early in life.As Bama’s brother, express your
concern about the impact of prejudices like discrimination and
oppression on the children’s minds in a diary entry. You may begin like
this: Injustice in any form cannot escape being noticed even by
children…