HALF YEARLY EXAMINATION – 2023 A

LANGUAGE – PART II - ENGLISH

Class: 10
Time : 3.00 Hours Marks : 100

Instructions : (1) Check the question paper for fairness of printing. If there is any lack of fairness, inform
the Hall Supervisor immediately.
(2) Use Blue or Black ink to write and underline.
Note : (i) This question paper contains five parts.

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Part- I

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Note: Answer all the questions. 14 x 1 = 14
Choose the most appropriate synonyms for the italicized words.
1. The little seagull even gnawed at the dried pieces of eggshell.
a) chewed b) swallowed c) digested d) devoured
2. They were apprehensive and supportive too.

3.
a) confident b) angry
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When school began there was a great bustle.
c) anxious d) happy

a) missing b) traffic c) excitement d) disturbance

Choose the most appropriate antonyms for the italicized words.
4. The birds were chirping at the end of the woods.
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a) singing b) shouting c) tweeting d) alarming
5. The project was taken in consonance with the national policy.
a) constant b) agreement c) harmony d) disagreement
6. The sun was soothing without much heat.
a) pleasing b) relaxing c) annoying d) comforting
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7. Choose the correct plural form of ‘lorry’ from the following.

a) lorrys b) lorry c) lories d) lorries
8. Attach a suitable suffix to the word – ‘trans………’
a) form b) er c) able d) ly
9. The common expansion of the abbreviation of ‘GPS’ is ___________.
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a) Global Pointing Structure b) Global Position System

c) Global Positioning System d) Geometric Position System
10. Complete the following sentence with the most appropriate phrasal verb given below.
The sailor soon ___________ food and water.
a) stood up for b) ran out of c) got along with d) looked up to
11. Choose the suitable option to pair it with the word ‘green’ to form a compound word.
a) house b) dress c) glass d) pen
12. Fill in the blank with the most appropriate preposition given below.
All ________ once, the church clock struck twelve.
a) in b) on c) of d) at
13. Complete the following sentence by using the most appropriate tense form of the
verb given below.
The tiger ___________ [ not eat] the grass.
a) did not eat b) does not eat c) do not eat d) eats
14. Choose the appropriate linker from the given four alternatives.
My uncle entered my house ___________ I was doing my homework yesterday.
a) when b) after c) whenever d) since

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Part - II

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Section-1
Answer any THREE of the following questions. 3x2=6
15. What was the first catch of the young seagull’s older brother?
16. What does the term circumnavigation mean?
17. Is it possible to control the computer screen with eye gaze?
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18. Why were the old villagers sitting on the last bench?

Section-2
Read the following poetic lines and answer Any THREE of the following questions. 3x2=6
19. My heart will keep the courage of the quest,
And hope the road’s last turn will be the best:
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a) What kind of quest does the poet seek here?
b) What’s the poet’s hope?
20. Strong is she in her faith and belief;
Persistence is the key to everything says she.
a) What is she strong about?
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b) What is meant by the word persistence here?

21. The weather is always too hot or cold;
Summer and winter alike they scold.
a) What are the seasons mentioned here?
b) How is the weather always?
22. Their hands are ours, and in their lines, we read;
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A labour not different from our own.

a) Whom does 'their’ refer to?
b) What does not differ?

Section-3
Answer any THREE of the following. 3x2=6
23. Change the sentence to the other voice.
Did you write the test?
24. Rewrite the sentence in indirect speech.
Mannan said to Mangai, “I want your English book now
25. Punctuate the following sentence.
well sell the house and go back to india
26. Transform the sentence into a Compound sentence.
The problem was too difficult for Raja to solve it.
27. Rearrange the words in the correct order to make meaningful sentences:
a) a graduate / I am / employment /seeking/for
b) jewels / in/ my/ safe / are / my locker

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Section-4
28. Observe the map given below and write the instructions required to guide

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the stranger to the Textile shop by giving Instructions. 2x1=2

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Part - III
Section-1
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Answer any two of the following in utmost 10 lines. 2 x 5 = 10
29. Describe the struggles undergone by the young seagull to overcome its fear of flying.
30. Narrate the extensive search operation made by the policemen in the house.
31. How do we use technology in our day-to-day lives?
32. Write in detail about the selection and training process which the crew underwent.
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Section-2
Answer TWO of the following in a paragraph about 80 – 100 words. 2 x 5 = 10
33. Write a paragraph on The Grumble Family and their attitude towards other folks.
34. Describe the journey of life as depicted in the poem by Henry Van Dyke.
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35. Read the following stanza and answer the questions given below.
We can pull and haul and push and lift and drive,
We can print and plough and weave and heat and light,
We can run and race and swim and fly and dive,
We can see and hear and count and read and write!
i) Pick out the rhyming words from the above lines.
ii) Write the rhyme scheme of the given stanza.
iii) Identify the figure of speech employed in the third line of the given stanza.
iv) Pick out the alliterated words from the second line.
36. Paraphrase the following stanza.
A woman is beauty innate,
A symbol of power and strength.
She puts her life at stake,
She’s real she’s not fake!

Section-3
Answer any ONE of the following. 1x5=5
37. Rearrange the following sentences in coherent order.
a) She was not yet strong but stood tall.

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b) Mulan heard this from inside her tent.
c) A soldier announces a surprise attack is coming.
d) It was such a big victory that the enemy gave up at last.

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e) She told the soldiers where they must go to hide so they could attack the enemy.

38. Read the passage and answer the questions that follow.
One afternoon in the early fall when Peter was eight years old his mother called him from his play,
“Come, Peter,” she said. “I want you to go across the dike and take these cakes to your friend, the blind
man. If you go quickly, and do not stop to play, you will be home again before dark”. The little boy
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was glad to go on such an errand and started with a light heart. He stayed with the poor blind man a
little while to tell him about his walk along the dike and the sun and the flowers and the ships far out
at sea. Then he remembered his mother’s wish that he should return before dark and bidding his friend
goodbye, he set out for home.
Questions:
a) What did Peter’s mother want him to do?
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b) What did Peter’s mother advise him to do?
c) Why was the little boy glad?
d) What did the little boy tell his friend?
e) What did the little boy remember?

Section-4
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Answer any four of the following. 4 x 5 = 20

39. Prepare an attractive advertisement based on the information given below.

Books for sale – exhibition cum sale – 15% discount for students – lucky prizes – 10 am to 8 pm –
visit and benefit – Chennai.
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40. Write a letter to a sports store ordering sports goods for your school.
41. You are Saranraj / Saranya school pupil leader of your school. Your school Headmaster has requested
you to inform the students about the English Club meeting in your school. Prepare a notice giving the
details such as the date of the meeting, time and venue.
42. Look at the picture and express your views on it in five sentences.

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43. Make notes or write a summary of the following passage.
Girl Education in India is largely essential for the growth of the nation because girls can do most of the
things better than boys. Nowadays girl education is necessary and is also compulsory because girls are

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the future of the country. In India, a girl’s education is necessary to develop socially and economically.
Educated women yield a positive impact on Indian society through their contribution to professional
fields like medicine, defence services, science and technology. They do good business and also well-
versed in handling their home and office. An improved economy and society are the outcome of girl’s
education. Educated women can also help in controlling the population of the country by marrying at
the right or later age in comparison to uneducated women.
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Women's education in early Indian society was quite good but in the middle age, it was not because of
numerous limitations towards women. However, again it is getting better and better day by day as
people in India have understood the fact that without the growth and development of women, the
growth of the country is not possible. Equivalent expansion of both sexes will indeed boost economic
and social growth in every area of the country.
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44. Identify and correct the errors in the following sentences.
i) The sceneries was enchanting.
ii) I am working here since 2020.
iii) Neither Raju nor Senthil are available.
iv) The deer runs fastly.
v) Have anyone seen my purse?
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Section –5
45. Quote from memory: 1x5=5
“In the dim past……………
……………hill or down”
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Part- IV
46. Write a paragraph of about 150 words by developing the following hints. 2 x 8 = 16
a) Prospero - lived - daughter Miranda - island cave -help of Ariel - raised storm – Antonio- king of
Naples -Ferdinand - shipwrecked - Prospero commands Ariel - bring Ferdinand - to cave - Miranda
- sees first time - human being- Ferdinand surprised to see - Miranda - Prospero engages - Ferdinand
- hard tasks - Miranda - pleads with father - Prospero chides Miranda – Ariel brings King of Naples
- Antonio - to Prospero – they realize - mistake - repent - restores the dukedom to Prospero -
Prospero agrees - marriage of Miranda and Ferdinand
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b) Years ago - China - the emperor - ordered – one from- family - Mulan father weak - Mulan - wears
- armour - sword - goes to war - disguised man - fights bravely - promotes chief -king happy - fever
sweeps - war camp – Mulan affected - fever - Doctor finds - Mulan woman -soldiers -resent to the
fact - Mulan doesn't mind - fights - wins war for China - King rewards her – offers position at palace
- Mulan rejects -returns back – village – happy - royal gifts - people happy -Mulan.

47. a) 39*Read the following paragraph and answer the questions given below.
Reading is an excellent source of knowledge and a powerful tool for personal growth. Books open
doors to new world, ideas, and perspectives that can expand our knowledge and understanding.
Whether it’s classic literature, self-help books, or poetry, reading allows us to explore different
experiences and emotions that can enrich our lives. Reading has numerous benefits for our mental

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and emotional well-being. It stimulates our brain, improves focus and concentration, and enhances
our critical thinking skills. Moreover, reading can be a form of escapism, providing a healthy
distraction from daily stressors as we immerse ourselves in captivating stories and characters.

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Questions
1. What are the benefits of reading for personal growth?
2. How does reading contribute to expanding our knowledge and understanding?
3. What can reading do for our mental and emotional well-being?
4. Name any two books which you like/read.
OR
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b) Read the following poem and answer the questions given below.
Each One, Teach One Each one,
Teach one. Let this be our slogan
Let us spread the light
Of learning, across the nation.
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The gift of knowledge, they say
It is the loveliest gift of all.
Let us offer this gift
To those whose needs are small.
To those who never learnt
How to write or read
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Instead of making noises

Let’s get on with the deed.
Let our country awaken
From the slumber of centuries
Let us make a pledge
To vanish illiteracy.
Questions:
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i) Which is the loveliest gift of all?

ii) The inability to read or write is called?
iii) What is the main idea of this poem?
iv) Choose the wrong pair.
a. vanish – disappear
b. deed – action
c. slumber – a sleep
d. awaken – doze