BANGALORE SAHODAYA SCHOOLS COMPLEX ASSOCIATION

PRE-BOARD EXAMINATION (2023-2024)

ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE

SET 2 ANSWER KEY

I. READING COMPREHENSION
i. Both a and b

ii. Zoos also carry out important research, for example, on the best conditions for rare
species to produce. If zoos were forced to close, it would be disastrous for world
conservation, zoo supporters say. And most animals in captivity would have to be
killed.

iii. Animals bred are closely related to each other.

iv. Reproduce and breed

v. prevent inbreeding-breeding from closely related animals. If animals that are closely
related to one another mate there is a danger that they will produce deformed offspring.

vi. Various disadvantages of zoos are- running conservation programme is very costly,
captive animals are kept in poor conditions, children are getting inaccurate
information about animal behaviour.

vii. Poor, needy

viii. No, because such programmes are minute solutions to the world wide conservation of
wild animalse.
II. READING COMPREHENSION
i. Web based banking
ii. Almost 50% of home stay guests travel for leisure
iii. Guests stay with the homeowners of the house
iv. 1.3.5
v. Those who travel for fun or education
vi. 1. Homely atmosphere 2. Location of the stay 3. Affordable
vii. 11
viii. Home stays are often in far corners and therefore difficult to locate

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 ix. 10%

III. Complete ANY TEN of twelve of the following tasks, as directed. (1X10=10)

GRAMMAR
i. Had taken
ii. Where he had gone the day before
iii. Should
iv. to--- for
v. plays
vi. she prefers watching movies in her free time.
vii. Mentions
viii. on ------- at
ix. works
x. has been staying
xi. A little
xii. many------- any

IV. LETTER WRITING

Format – 1 [full credit if all aspects included. Partial credit (½ mark) if one-two aspects
are missing. No credit if more than two aspects are missing]
Content -2 [ ½ mark for each content point area addressed - suggestion, importance,
implication, recommendation]
Organisation of ideas -1 [effective style, orderly sequence, paragraphed structure and
formal tone and vocabulary] Accuracy 1
V. ANALYTICAL PARAGRAPH WRITING
Content -2
Organisation of ideas -2
Accuracy 1
NOTE FOR GIVEN DESCRIPTORS
---Dedicated marks at a level are to be awarded only if ALL descriptors match. If one or
more descriptors do not match, the marks are awarded at a level lower.
CONTENT – 2 marks
All points included– Well-developed with sustained clarity
11⁄2 marks — Almost all points incorporated
—Reasonably well-developed
1 mark — Some points incorporated
—Fair attempt at developing ideas with some impact on the clarity of response
1⁄2 mark — Most of the points of the given task not incorporated

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 — Limited awareness of task development

ORGANISATION OF IDEAS -2 marks

— Highly effective style capable of conveying the ideas convincingly
— Carefully structured content within organised single paragraph, presented cohesively.
— Highly effective register (formal tone and vocabulary), relevant and appropriate
sentences for conveying the
ideas precisely and effectively.
1 1⁄2 marks — Frequent clarity of expression most of the time.
— Ideas are generally well sequenced and related to the given topic maintaining overall
cohesion of
ideas. The range of vocabulary is mostly relevant and conveys the overall meaning and
the purpose of the
writing.
1 mark — Inconsistent style, expression sometimes awkward.
— Sequencing of ideas is somewhat clear and related to the given topic attempting to
maintain a
general overall cohesion. The range of vocabulary is limited but manages to convey the
overall meaning and the
purpose of the writing.
1⁄2 mark — Expression unclear.
— Poor sequencing of ideas but ideas related to the given topic in a disjointed manner
exhibiting a lack of coherence of ideas. Very limited vocabulary or copying from the
question.
ACCURACY
1 mark — Spelling, punctuation, and grammar consistently/largely accurate, with
occasional
minor errors, that do not impede communication.
1⁄2 mark — Spelling, punctuation, and grammar display some errors spread across,
causing minor impediments
to the message communicated.
No credit Frequent errors in spelling, punctuation, and grammar, impeding
communication.

VI. Read the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of the two, given:
A.
i. They were able to help Kisa at least in some way.
ii. unfortunate
iii. solemn
iv. It throws light on the numerous loved ones the villagers had lost over time. Only few
are left to lament for them.
B.
i. We missed our teacher at the picnic as she could not go out with us.

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 ii. irritated
iii. The invitation was only for a few selected.
iv. M. Loisel could have insisted to wear whatever good dress she has or Matilds could
not gone at all

VII. Read the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of the two, given:
5
A.
i. iron chains holding the prisoners captive.
ii. It is to emphasize on the might and boldness of Custard.
iii. Custard attacked the pirate without delay.
iv. Absolutely, Custard could be the poster boy for the belief that the real nature of a
person is revealed at times of the greatest difficulty. All believed Custard was coward.
He also considered Mustard, Ink and Blink were braver than him. However, when a
pirate attacked them, it was he who rescued everyone
B.

i. it is primarily descriptive, as the depiction of Amanda as "a mermaid” and enhances

the meaning behind the "languid emerald sea".
ii. It shows the frustration of the speaker.
iii. The moon and the shimmering stars watched over us
iv. Yes, Amanda can say this because the last part of all the stanzas show up that she is
selective about her life. She is not denying things but she wants to choose things as
per her wish. Like most teenagers, she does not want to receive instructions for her
routine work.
VIII. Answer ANY FOUR of the following five questions, in about 40-50 words.
(4x3=12)
(Content-1 ; Organisation -1 ; ½ mark to be deducted for Accuracy from the overall credit of a
response, if error density is high -more than a total of 2 spellings and/or grammatical errors)
i. Emancipation refers to the act of being set free from something, usually a form of
oppression or bondage. In the context of the story "Nelson Mandela Long Walk to
Freedom," political emancipation refers to the process of gaining freedom and equality
for the black South Africans against years of discrimination.

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 ii. Crow’ is a black, harsh-voiced bird and ‘hemlock’ is a tree with poisonous bitter fruit.
Both are not beautiful. They represent the dark, depressive, sorrowful and bitter side of
nature. However, these dark aspects of nature brought about a positive change in the poet.
iii. Then the bus passed through a busy shopping street and came on a wide thoroughfare
with glittering shops on either side of it. Valli was fascinated and awestruck to see the
displays of clothes and the big crowd. It was the last destination of the bus.
iv. In London, Mij played for hours with his toys. He had a ping pong ball, marbles, rubber
fruit and a terrapin shell to play with. With a ping pong ball, he had invented his own
game.
v. The poetic device of imagery is very effectively used in the poem. The fog is converted
into a cat and the cat is morphed back into the fog. The silent arrival of the fog is like a
little cat. The fog stays there sitting like the cat on its haunches. We picture the movement
of the fog on a city.
IX. Answer ANY TWO of the following three questions, in about 40-50 words. (2x3=6)
(Content-1 ; Organisation -1 ; ½ mark to be deducted for Accuracy from the overall credit of a
response, if error density is high -more than a total of 2 spellings and/or grammatical errors)
i. After not giving him food for two days, on the third day Tricki wanted to go outside and
there he started playing with the bigger dogs. During the feeding time all the other dogs
rushed to have their lunch. But he had to lick the bowls of other dogs to eat the remaining
food.
ii. Mrs Hall was prepared to excuse her guest’s strange habits and irritable temper because
she was satisfied that her guest was an eccentric scientist, who had a strange accident.
Moreover, Griffin had already paid her in advance.
iii. Think Tank feels that Martians are more beautiful than the people on the Earth. The
Earthlings have a smaller head when compared to the Martians who have great and
mighty balloon brain which has made them more cleverer and intelligent than the
Earthlings.
X. ANY ONE of the following in about 100-120 words. (1x6=6)
Content 3
Expression 2
Accuracy 1
A. The set of dialogue must include
Lencho- describing his bitter experience with the post office employees- made him briefly
doubt the power of God- no man is worthy of his trust

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 Pilot- describes his experience- wonders if it’s God or a person who helped him- the
mysterious pilot risked his own life to save him- humanity is very much alive

B. – From the play, we get a glimpse of nineteenth-century upper-class Russian society.

- society of the time placed great importance on wealth and social status.
- society was highly patriarchal, with women being expected to conform to certain ideals
and expectations.
- rigid class structure
XI. Answer ANY ONE of the following in about 100-120 words. (1x6=6)

Content 3
Expression 2
Accuracy 1
A. – as the Woman in red, describe your preparation,
- why did you choose that house
- what are your motivation
- nervousness
- strategies if you are caught

B. - Education can play a vital role in changing people like Hari Singh for good.
- he finally got the opportunity to steal his money and run away his inner voice stopped
him from breaking the trust of a simple man who taught him to read and write.
-Hari Singh realized that through education he can also lead a respectable life with no
fear of being caught.
-Through Education, one can have unlimited opportunities to flourish.
- People like Hari Singh lead a life in isolation as they break people’s trust and make
money temporarily.
-Education provides one with stability and leads an individual on the path of truth and
rational thinking.

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