PRE-BOARD 2 EXAMINATION

2022-23
ANSWER KEY
Grade: X Total Marks: 80
Subject: English Literature Duration: 2 hours
BHOPAL
Answers to this Paper must be written on the paper provided separately.
You will not be allowed to write during the first 15 minutes.
This time is to be spent in reading the question paper.
The time given at the head of this paper is the time allowed for writing the answers.
This paper has four sections
Section A is compulsory – All questions in Section A must be answered
You must attempt at least one question from each of the Sections B, C and D and one other question from
any section of your choice.
The intended marks for questions or parts of questions are given in brackets [ ].
SECTION A
(Attempt all questions from this Section)
Question 1
Read the following questions and choose the most appropriate response from the choices given below. (Please do not
copy the question. Write out in correct serial order the appropriate word or phrase) [16]
i) In the story the Blue Bead, what were the contents of the locked chest?
a) Silver and gold c) Diamonds and opals
b) Turquoises and opals d) Platinum and turquoises
ii) In the poem Daffodils ‘I gazed and gazed’ suggests____________
a) the poet was absent minded
b) the poet was all alone and idle
c) the poet observed the flowers very carefully
d) the poet was enchanted by the flowers
iii) What does Shylock allege upon meeting Salarino and Salanio?
a) He holds them responsible for his losses
b) He accuses them of being responsible for Jessica's flight
c) He blames them for knowing about Jessica's flight
d) He holds them responsible for Launcelot’s betrayal.
iv) In the poem I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, the free bird demonstrates freedom and power when it
a) stalks down its narrow cage c) sings with a fearful trill
b) shouts on a nightmare scream d) claims the sky
v) In the short story, My Greatest Olympic Prize, when he set the world record in long jump, Jessie Owens
was___
a) studying in high school
b) a final year student at the Ohio State University
c) a first-year student at the Ohio State University
d) a second-year student at the Ohio State University
vi) “There is more difference between thy flesh and hers.” Who said these words and to whom?
a) Lorenzo to Shylock c) Lorenzo to Launcelot
b) Salarino to Shylock d) Launcelot to Shylock
vii) According to Shylock, revenge is ............ for a Jew and …………for a Christian.
a) poison, sorrow c) humility, sufferance
b) sorrow, poison d) sufferance, humility.
viii) As Act IV ends where does Portia send Nerissa?
a) To find Antonio c) To Shylock’s house
b) Back to Belmont d) To find Bassanio
ix) In the poem Nine Gold Medals by David Roth what are the athletes waiting for?
a) A flag c) The sound of the gun shot
b) A call d) A horn
x) Which of the following quotes suggest that it would be bad for Venice if Shylock did not get his bond?
a) “What judgment shall I dread, doing no wrong”
b) “tis mine and I will have it”
c) “There is no force in the decrees of Venice”
d) “let the danger light upon your charter and your city’s freedom”
xi) "Timber was being floated down this great Indian river from forests further up and there were sleepers
lying stuck until someone came to dislodge them”. In this line from The Blue Bead what does 'sleepers'
mean?
a) Heavy pieces of stone c) Light pieces of wood
b) Heavy pieces of wood d) Light pieces of stone.
xii) What does Antonio offer as a bond against any future infidelity by Bassanio?
a) His soul c) His flesh
b) 3000 ducats d) A chest of gold
xiii) Browning's poem The Patriot can be called a _______
a) a sonnet c) a didactic poem
b) an elegy d) a dramatic monologue
xiv) What was announced on the loudspeakers before the start of the race in the poem Nine Gold Medals?
a) The nationalities of the runners c) The age of the runners
b) The names of the runners d) The gender of the runners
xv) What was the rumour about Margot in All Summer in a Day?
a) Her parents were taking her to meet a psychologist
b) She was going to be awarded the ‘Best Student' award
c) Her parents were taking her back to Earth next year
d) Her parents were taking her back to Earth next month
xvi) Maggie's house has been described as a ............ in An Angel in Disguise.
a) Hovel c) poorhouse
b) shovel d) cart

SECTION B
(Answer one or more questions from this section)
DRAMA
(The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare)
Question 2
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
SHYLOCK:
I would my daughter were
dead at my foot and the jewels in her ear!
Would she were hearsed at my foot, and the
ducats in her coffin! No news of them?
Why, so: And I know not what's spent in the search..
Why thou loss upon loss!

i) Who is 'she' in the above lines? Why is Shylock angry with her? (3)
'She' is Shylock's daughter, Jessica. [1]
Shylock is angry with his daughter because she has run away with a Christian man named Lorenzo and has also taken
away his cash and a lot of jewellery.[2]
ii) Explain ‘loss upon loss’ with reference to context. (3)
Shylock calls it 'loss upon loss' as his daughter, Jessica has already taken away a considerable number of ducats and a
lot of jewellery with her and is still untraceable.[2] Further, he has spent a lot of money on her search. [1]
iii) Shylock's anger surely changes into happiness with a news he received. What news does he receive? Why does
this piece of news make him happy? (3)
Shylock gets the news that Antonio's ship sailing from Tripoli was wrecked and lost at sea. Antonio had no option
but to declare himself bankrupt. [1]
This news makes him happy as now Antonio will not be able to return his loan and Shylock can take his revenge
from Antonio. [1+1]
iv) After the change in his mood, Shylock asks Tubal to do something. What is the instruction given to Tubal? Why
does Shylock give such an instruction? (3)
Shylock, after hearing the news of Antonio's bankruptcy instructs Tubal to engage a lawyer.[1]
As he is planning to prosecute Antonio for the forfeiture of the bond. [1+1]
v) Do you like Shylock as a father? Give reasons for your answer. (4)
Two reasons in favour or against; substantiated with relevant textual reference. [2+2}
Question 3
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
GRATIANO
O, be thou damned, Inexecrable dog.
And for thy life let justice be accused;
Thou almost mak'st me waver in my faith,
To hold opinion with Pythagoras

i) Where does this scene take place? To whom is Gratiano addressing the above lines? With which animal does he
compare the listener to a little later? (3)
In a court of justice in Venice. [1]
The above lines are spoken by Gratiano to Shylock. He compares Shylock with a wolf.[1+1]
ii) Explain: "And for thy life let justice be accused; Thou almost mak'st me waver in my faith" (3)
In the given lines, Gratiano is blaming justice for allowing blood-thirsty and cruel people like Shylock to live freely
and happily, enjoying all rights [1].
He also says that his belief in Christianity is shaken after having met a person like Shylock. [1+1]
iii) Who was Pythagoras? Which’ opinion’ of Pythagoras is Gratiano referring to in the given lines? (3)
Pythagoras was a Greek philosopher. [1]
He believed that souls could migrate from one body to another after death/souls of animals enter into the bodies of
men after death [1+1]
iv) In which aspect does the speaker agree with Pythagoras? (3)
According to Pythogoras, the human soul might enter an animal's body after death and vice-versa. Gratiano agrees
with this theory, saying that Shylock's soul was in a wolf earlier, which transferred into his body when the wolf was
hanged for killing humans. [3]
v) Why does the speaker use such insulting language? Why is he angry? (4)
Gratiano, the speaker of the given lines is desperate and angry with Shylock. [1]
Several people asked Shylock to show mercy but he remained obstinate in wanting to cut off a pound of flesh from
Antonio's body. [1]
When Gratiano asked if he could be persuaded by prayers. Shylock replies that no words can change his mind. As a
result, Gratiano bursts out angrily and uses abusive language, calling Shylock a merciless, stubborn dog.[2]

SECTION C
(Answer one or more questions from this section)
PROSE – SHORT STORIES
(Treasure Trove – A Collection of ICSE Poems and Short Stories)
Question 4
Read the following extract from the short story, ‘An Angel in Disguise’ by T.S. Arthur and answer the
questions that follow:
For a little while the man stood with a puzzled air; then he turned back, and went into the hovel again. Maggie with
painful effort, had raised herself in an upright position and was sitting on the bed straining her eyes upon the door.

i) Who is 'the man' in the extract? Where is he standing? Why has he gone there? (3)
The man in the extract is Joe Thompson.[1]
He is standing ouside Maggie's house.[1]
He had gone there to take part in the burial of Maggie's mother.[1]
ii) What does the phrase 'puzzled air’ mean? Why did the man stand with a 'puzzled air? (3)
to be in a state of confusion. [1]
Joe Thompson stood with a 'puzzled air as nobody was interested in taking Maggie and she was left all alone in the
house after the demise of her mother.
Maggie was bedridden and needed someone to take care of her. [1+1]
iii) Whom did 'the man' meet before this? What did he say to her? What was her suggestion? (3)
Before this, Joe Thompson met the blacksmith's wife who was going away with the rest of the people who had come
at the burial.[1]
He told her that it was a cruel thing to leave Maggie alone. [1]
She suggested that Maggie should be taken to the poorhouse.[1]
iv) Describe 'the man' in your own words. (3)
Joe Thompson was a wheelwright; he looked tough at the exterior but he was a very kind person; compassionate
,sympathetic ; generous ;he liked children and got happy when they came to his shop,(Any three) [3]
v) Why was Maggie straining her eyes upon the door? What was her condition? What did she say to ‘the man’? (4)
Maggie was straining her eyes on the door as all the people who had come for her mother's burial were leaving one
by one and no one had shown interest in taking her. [1]
Hence, she was anxious and frightened and her face turned white.
 PREBOARD 2 EXAMINATION 2022-23
Grade: 10 Total Marks - 80
Subject: English Literature Duration – 2 hours

BHOPAL
She feared that she would be left all alone and helpless in the house. Being bedridden and unable to take care of
herself on her own, added to her misery. [2]
She pleaded Mr. Thompson to not leave her all alone.[1]

Question 5
Read the extract from the short story, ‘The Little Match Girl’ by Hans Christian Anderson given below and
answer the questions that follow:
"She drew another match against the wall: it was again light, and in the lustre there stood the old grandmother, so
bright and radiant, so mil. and with such an expression of love".

i) Describe the condition of the girl. (3)

The little girl was out in the freezing cold to sell the matches; She was bare-headed and barefoot; In order to escape
the freezing cold, she huddled in a corner and had drawn her little feet under her. [1+1+1]
ii) Why had the little girl lit the first match? Why does she not prefer to go back home? (3)
The little girl had lit her first match to escape the cold and get some warmth.[1]
Frightened of her father’s physical abuse/father would beat her since she had not sold the matches.Her house was in a
bad condition and did not provide adequate protection against the cold weather.[2]
iii) What was the girl's reaction upon seeing her grandmother (3)
Upon seeing her grandmother, the little girl cried out in happiness. She did not want her grandmother to leave, so she
lit the entire bundle matches quickly. [1+1=1]
iv) What was the belief associated with a ‘falling star’? Why did the little girl believe it? (3)
When a star falls, a person dies and his or her soul goes up to God. [1+1]
She believed it because her grandmother, the only person who loved her the most, had told her this.[1]
v) The little girl's grandmother loved her the most. Give reasons from the text to justify this statement. (4)
The little girl's grandmother truly loved the little girl because the girl --- remembers the love and warmth of her
grandmother, is delighted to see her vision, lights all the matches to not let her grandmother vanish, prefers to die and
go with her grandmother.

SECTION D
(Answer one or more questions from this section)
POETRY
(Treasure Trove – A Collection of ICSE Poems and Short Stories)
Question 6
Read the extract from the poem ‘Nine Gold Medals’ by David Roth given below and answer the questions that
follow:
The athletes had come from so many countries
To run for the gold, for the silver and bronze
Many weeks and months in training
All building up to the games..

i) What sports event had brought all the athletes from different countries together? What was significant about
these athletes? What was the mood of the spectators? (3)
The Special Olympics [1]
Differently abled contestants compete with each other. [1]
Spectators were cheering and encouraging all the young women and men participants. [1]
ii) What event was going to begin? How many participants were a part of this event? (3)
The final event of the day, the one hundred metre race. [2]
Nine young athletes had gathered and had taken their place.[1]
iii) Why had the athletes' mentioned in the above lines gathered there? What was the intention of the athletes? (3)
The athletes mentioned in the above lines had arrived from different places from all over the world
to run for gold, silver and bronze medals. They had practised for weeks and months and their intention was to find
their place amongst the winners of the games.
iv) What happened to the youngest contestant soon after the race began? Why did he cry? (3)
The youngest contestant had a sharp fall and he lay on the track crying out in pain.[2]
Lost all hope of winning for which he had trained so hard.[1]
v) Do you think that the title of the poem is justified? Give relevant reasons. (4)
 Elaborate- The Special Olympics organised for the differently-abled…in the last event of the day, in a race, one
young participant fell down on his knees….all of the other eight had stopped to help the youngest participant to cross
the finish line together…. The act of compassion is recognized and, each one of the nine participants was awarded a
gold medal… thus referring to the 'Nine Gold Medals.

Question 7
Read the extract from the poem ‘Daffodils’ by Wordsworth given below and answer the questions that follow:
The waves beside them danced, but they
Out did the sparkling waves in glee
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company.
1 gazed and gazed but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought

i) Who outdid the waves in glee? How did ‘they’ outdo the waves? (3)
The daffodils outdid the waves in the lake. [1] The daffodils seemed to be dancing like human beings expressing
their joy and energy when the breeze blew over them. The daffodils danced and fluttered and tossed their heads while
the waves just rippled and sparkled.[2]
ii) Which jocund company is the poet referring to? Why does the poet find it jocund? (3)
Refers to the jocund company of the host of golden daffodils dancing in joy by the side of the lake under the trees.[2]
They all were jocund because they danced merrily without a pause.[1]
iii) What wealth is being referred to by the poet? Explain how the wealth was brought to the poet? (3)
The wealth which is referred to here by the poet means wealth of joy/ happiness and peace;[2] which actually comes
from happy and fond memories of the daffodils.[1]
iv) What is the mood of the poet in the above extract? Which lines tell you so? Why is he in such a mood? (3)
The poet is in a happy mood. [1]
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company [1]
The daffodils and the waves were happy and their happiness was so infectious and powerful that it made him happy
too. [1]
v) What is the message the poet conveys through this poem? (4)
The healing and transformative power of nature, the little moments in life could be the most profound, nature is the
source of peace and joy, harmonious coexistence.