Max.
marks: 25
I. Answer the following briefly: 5x2=10
1. The boys did not spend much on clothes
and food. Why?
The boys were in need of money for the
treatment of their sister. So, they did not
spend much on clothes and food.
2. Describe the girl with whom the boys
were talking to in the cubicle.
Lucia was a girl of about twenty. She was
propped up on pillows wearing a pretty
lace jacket. Her eyes were soft and tender.
3. What were the boys doing at night in a
deserted square?
The boys were resting on the stone
pavement in the windy and deserted square
beneath the street light. They were waiting
for the last bus from Padua to sell the
unsold newspapers.
4. Why did the driver not approve of the
narrator buying fruits from the boys?
The fruit vendors were shabby in their
appearance. So, the driver did not approve
of the narrator’s idea of buying fruits from
them.
5. Why did the author avoid going to
Lucia’s room?
The author did not want to disturb the
privacy of the family party and the sense
of pride the boys had in supporting their
elder sister.
II. Answer the following appreciation
questions: 3x2=6
1. “A creeper climbs, in whose embraces
bound
No other tree could live.’’
a) Which tree is referred to in the above
lines?
‘Casuarina tree’ is referred to in the above
lines.
b) How does the tree survive the tight hold
of the creeper?
The tree takes the tight hold of the creeper like
the embraces of lady love. So, it doesn’t hurt
the tree. It grows stronger bearing the bite
marks of love.
2. “But not because of its magnificence
Dear is the Casuarina to my soul:
Beneath it we have played; though years
may roll,”
a) What makes the tree dear to the poet?
As children, the poet and her friends had
played under the tree. This experience has
made the tree dear to the poet.
b) What is the poet unable to forget despite
the passage of years?
The poet is unable to forget the wonderful
time she had under the tree with her friends.
3. “What is that dirge-like murmur that I
hear Like the sea breaking on a
shingle-beach?’’
a) Why does the tree lament?
The tree laments the absence of the poet.
b) What do you mean by dirge?
‘Dirge’ means a lament for the dead.
III. Choose the right meaning of the idiom:
3x1=3
1. To tell you fair and square, I did
everything that I was meant to do, but I
still feel unfulfilled.
a) Being direct
b) Tell about events
c) Being contended
d) Unclear
Ans: a) Being direct
2. My pet dog is down for the count after
playing the whole day with the frisbee.
a) Counting in reverse
b) Tired
c) Disinterested
d) Ready for anything
Ans: b) Tired
3. Hey Barry, it’s time for you to get on the
stage and present your monologue, break
a leg.
a) Wishing bad luck
b) Wishing good luck
 c) Expressing trust
d) Fracturing
Ans: b) Wishing good luck

IV. Choose the correct answer from the

following: 2x1=2
1. Choose the trisyllabic word:
a) military
b) participation
c) abandon
d) liability
Ans: c) abandon

2. Choose the monosyllabic word:

a) baby
b) benefit
c) again
d) yelled
Ans: d) yelled
V. Rewrite as directed: 2x2=4
1. Deepa said, “Hurrah! We have won the
match.” (change into indirect speech)
Ans: Deepa exclaimed with joy that they
had won the match.
2. Report the following dialogue.
Robert: What’s the matter Rodger?
Rodger: I’ve got a headache.
Robert: You better go back to bed.
Ans: Robert asked Rodger what the matter
was. Rodger, replied that he had a
headache. Robert advised him to go back to
bed.