XAM IDEA English Sample Papers Class 10 2023

Syllabus
CLASS–X (2022-23)
ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE (Code No. 184)
SECTION–WISE WEIGHTAGE
Sections
AReading Skills (40 periods)

BWriting Skills with Grammar (40 periods)
CLiterature Textbooks and Supplementary Reading Text (50 periods)
Total
SECTION–A (READING SKILLS)

Reading Comprehension through Unseen Passage
20 Marks
I. Discursive passage of 400-450 words.
(10 marks)
II. Case-based passage (with visual input- statistical data, chart, etc.) of 200-
250 words.
(10 marks)
(Total length of two passages to be 600-700 words)

Multiple Choice Questions/Objective Type Questions will be asked to assess
inference, analysis,
interpretation, evaluation and vocabulary.
SECTION–B
III. Grammar 10 Marks u Tenses

u Modals
u Subject – verb concord
u Reported speech
o Commands and requests o Statements
o Questions o Determiners
The courses at the secondary level seek to cement high professional grasp of
grammatical items
and levels of accuracy. Accurate use of spelling, punctuation and grammar in
context will be
assessed through Gap Filling/Editing/Transformation exercises. Ten out of 12
questions will have to
be attempted.
IV. Creative Writing Skills 10 Marks
This section will have short as well as long writing tasks including compositions.
(i) Formal Letter based on a given situation in 100-120 words. One out of two
questions is to be
answered. (5 marks)
(ii) Writing an Analytical Paragraph (100-120 words) on a given Map / Chart / Graph
/ Cue/s . One
out of two questions is to be answered. (5 marks)
SECTION–C 40 Marks
V. Reference to the Context

(i) One extract out of two from Drama/Prose.
(ii) One extract out of two from poetry. (5 + 5 = 10 Marks)
Multiple Choice Questions/Objective Type Questions will be asked to assess
inference,
analysis, interpretation, evaluation and vocabulary.
VI. Short & Very Long Answer Questions 30 marks
(i) Four out of Five Short Answer Type Questions to be answered in 40-50 words from
the
book FIRST FLIGHT (4 x 3 = 12 marks)
(ii) Two out of Three Short Answer Type Questions to be answered in 40-50 words
each from
FOOTPRINTS WITHOUT FEET. (2 x 3 = 6 marks)
(iii) One out of two Long Answer Type Questions from FIRST FLIGHT to be answered in
about
100-120 words each to assess creativity, imagination and extrapolation beyond the
text
and across the texts. This can be a passage-based question taken from a
situation/plot
from the texts. (6 marks)
(iv) One out of two Long Answer Type Questions from FOOTPRINTS WITHOUT FEET on
theme or plot involving interpretation, extrapolation beyond the text and inference
or
character sketch to be answered in about 100-120 words. (6 marks)
Prescribed Books: Published by NCERT, New Delhi
First Flight
Prose
1. A letter to God 2. Nelson Mandela - Long Walk to Freedom
3. Two Stories About Flying 4. From the Diary of Anne Frank
5. Glimpses of India 6. Mijbil the Otter
7. Madam Rides the Bus 8. The Sermon at Benares
9. The Proposal (Play)
Poems
1. Dust of Snow
3. A Tiger in the Zoo
2. Fire and Ice

4. How to Tell Wild Animals
5. The Ball Poem
6. Amanda!
7. The Trees
8. Fog
9. The Tale of Custard the Dragon
10. For Anne Gregory
FOOTPRINTS WITHOUT FEET

1. A Triumph of Surgery
3. The Midnight Visitor
5. Footprints Without Feet
7. The Necklace
9. The Book That Saved the Earth
2. The Thief’s Story
4. A Question of Trust
6. The Making of a Scientist
8. Bholi
WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS – II (WORKBOOK FOR CLASS X) – Units 1 to 4 and Units 7 to 11
NOTE: Teachers are advised to:
(i) encourage interaction among peers, students and teachers through activities
such as role
play, discussions, group work etc.
(ii) reduce teacher-talking time and keep it to the minimum,
(iii) take up questions for discussion to encourage pupils to participate and to
marshal their
ideas and express and defend their views, and
(iv) follow the Speaking and Listening activities given in the NCERT books.
Besides measuring learning outcome, texts serve the dual purpose of diagnosing
mistakes
and areas of non-learning. To make evaluation a true index of learners’ knowledge,
each
language skill is to be assessed through a judicious mixture of different types of
questions.
INTERNAL ASSESSMENT
Listening and Speaking Competencies
30 Periods
Assessment of Listening and Speaking Skills will be for 05 marks.

It is recommended that listening and speaking skills should be regularly
practiced .
Art-integrated projects based on activities like Role Play, Skit, Dramatization,
etc. must be used.
Please refer to the Circular no. Acad-33/2020 dated 14th May 2020 at the
http://cbseacademic.
nic.in/web_material/Circulars/2020/33_Circular_2020.pdf. for details.
The changes for classes IX-X (2022-23) internal year-end/

Board Examination are as detailed:
(Classes IX-X)
Year End
Examination/
Board
Examination
(Theory)
(2021-22) Existing
(As per Special Scheme of Assessment
for Board Examination – Circular No.
Acad-51/2021 dated 05.07.2021)
(2022-23)
Modified
(Annual Scheme)
u Competency Based Questions would be

Termminimum
I – Multiple
Choice Question including
40%
case based and assertion reasoning
These can be in the form of Multiple Choice
type MCQs – 100% (30% questions
Questions, Case based Questions,
competency based)
Source based Integrated Questions or
II –other
Casetypes.
based/ Situation based,
u Termany
Open Ended- short answer/long answer
u Objective Type Questions will be 20%
questions (30% questions competency
u Remaining 40% short answer/long answer
based)
questions (as per existing pattern)
u
Composition
Internal Assessment : No change

Internal Assessment : End of year examination = 20:80
Design of Question Paper
English Language and Literature (Code No. 184)
CLASS – X (2022-23)
Max. Marks: 80
Sections
Reading
Comprehension
Competencies
Conceptual understanding, decoding, analyzing,
inferring, interpreting and vocabulary
Total
Marks
20
Creative expression of an opinion, reasoning,

Writing Skill and
Grammar
justifying, illustrating, appropriacy of style and tone,

using appropriate format and fluency. Applying
conventions, using integrated structures with
accuracy and fluency
Recalling, reasoning, appreciating, applying literary

conventions, illustrating and justifying, etc. Extract
Language through relevant information, identifying the central theme
Literature
and sub-theme, understanding the writers’ message
and writing fluently.
Total
20
40
80
CBSE
SAMPLE
QUESTION PAPER–2023
(SOLVED)
Time allowed: 3 hours Max. Marks: 80 General Instructions:

1. 15-minute prior reading time allotted for Q-paper reading.
2. The Question Paper contains THREE sections–READING, GRAMMAR & WRITING and
LITERATURE.
3. Attempt questions based on specific instructions for each part.
SECTION–A
(Reading Skills)
(20 Marks)
I. Read the passage given below:

(10 marks)
(1) Mountains have always been held in great awe by mankind. They have been a
challenge
to humans. Those brave among us have always wanted to conquer them. You see, the
more incredible the mountains, the greater the thrill – a challenge to the bravery
of the
human race. Climbing mountains is an experience that is hard to put into words. You
are in a beautiful environment and, when you reach the top, you feel incredible.
But
you also have to climb down, which is when most accidents happen – people are
tired,
it gets dark, it’s harder. So, mountain climbing is undoubtedly one of the most
popular
adventure sports along with being challenging and risky for the climber.
(2) Without any perceived risk, there can’t be a feeling that any significant
challenge has
been surmounted. Fair, but we have to bear in mind that mountaineering is not a
sport
that can be embraced without preparation. The enthusiasts must develop in
themselves
the spirit of adventure, willingness to undertake hardships and risks,
extraordinary
powers of perseverance, endurance, and keenness of purpose before climbing a
mountain. They should also know how to handle the mountaineering equipment. Then
comes the penance of the rigorous training. This could very well be the lifeline up
there.
It helps inculcate and hone survival instincts that allow the climber to negotiate
perilous
situations. There are numerous institutes in India and abroad that offer such
training.
(3) Mountain climbers are unanimous in agreeing that the unpredictable weather is
what
they fear the most. There may be sunshine one moment and a snowstorm the other. At
higher altitudes, snow is a regular feature and being decisive about setting up
camps or
proceeding further is crucial. The icy sheets after ice storms make walking
treacherous,
while the powdery snow makes a mountaineer sink deep into the snow. Up there, where
the intention is to embrace nature’s wonder, one realises that it cannot be done
without
facing its formidable glory. A true mountaineer may challenge the mountain, yet is
always respectful to the powerful forces of nature.
(4) Summiting mountains carries its own health risks such as oxygen and altitude
sickness
problems, frost bites, swelling of hands and feet, fluid collection in brain or
lungs and
Sample Papers
5
exhaustion. Yet, the gratification mountaineers feel from mastering something that
is so
frightening, urges them to undertake these endeavours. We may think that the
mountaineers are fearless, experts say, “Not at all. It’s fear that keeps them so
intrigued
with such arduous journeys.” Impulse and brazenness can be deadly foes. In the
words
of the Indian mountaineer, Bachendri Pal, “The biggest risk ... is to not to take
the risk at
all. Remember that.”
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below.
(1×10 = 10 marks)
() iWhy1does the writer say that mountains inspire ‘awe’ in humans? (Paragraph 1)
a() They present us with opportunities for exciting sports.
b() They evoke the wish in us, to master them.
c() They inspire in us, deeds of valour.
d() They represent peace and calm to us.
1
(ii) Select the option that corresponds to the following relation below:
The more incredible the mountains—the greater the thrill. (Paragraph 1)
(a) The higher the stamina—the lower the food intake.
(b) The more you laugh—the lesser your illness.
(c) The smaller the car—the bigger the advantage.
(d) The heavier the luggage—the higher the penalty.
(iii) Select the option that displays what the writer projects, with reference to
the
following: 1
So, mountain climbing is undoubtedly one of the most popular adventure sports.
(Paragraph 1)
(a) doubt (b) caution
(c) conviction (d) denial
(iv) Complete the following with a phrase from paragraph 1. 1
Opinion
Reason
_________________Best experienced rather than described

(v) The writer compares training to penance in the line–Then comes the penance of
the
rigorous training. (Paragraph 2) 1
State 1 point of similarity between training and penance.
(vi) Based on your reading of the text, list 2 reasons why the writer says that
“mountaineering is not a sport that can be embraced without preparation”.
(Paragraph 2) 1
(1) _______________________
(2) _______________________
(vii) What connect does the writer draw out between unpredictable weather and
setting
up of camps? (Paragraph 3) 1
(viii) The writer says, “A true mountaineer may challenge the mountain, yet is
always
respectful to the powerful forces of nature.” (Paragraph 3) 1
Select the reason the mountaineer is respectful to the forces of nature, up in the
mountains.
English (Language and Literature)–X

(a) survival (b) experience
(c) tradition (d) directive
(ix) Supply 1 point to justify the following: 1
While mountain climbing, an impulsive mountaineer is either disaster-prone or as
good as
dead.
(x) Evaluate the INAPPROPRIATE reason for the feeling of exhilaration on reaching a
summit, that the mountain-climbers experience. 1
(a) Achievement of a seemingly impossible feat
(b) Spectacular panoramic view
(c) Application of the inculcated survival instincts
(d) Opportunity to use sophisticated mountaineering equipment
II. Read the passage given below: (10 marks)
(1) The North-East of India is a melting pot of variegated cultural mosaic of
people and
races, an ethnic tapestry of many hues and shades. Yet, these states are lesser
explored as
compared to the rest of the country. The new generations of travellers who are
‘money
rich and time poor’ are increasingly looking for unique experiences – a phenomenon
being called the emergence of the ‘experience economy’. For this new and growing
breed
of tourists, the North-East with its variety and uniqueness holds immense
attraction.
(2) A study conducted in 2020 by Dr. Sherap Bhutia, revealed that the foreign
tourist
arrival in the North-East increased from 37,380 persons in 2005 to 118,552 in 2014.
The overall growth rate of tourist (both domestic and foreign) in the North-East
was as
high as 26.44% during 2005-06. A high and positive growth of 12.53% was registered
in
foreign tourist visits to North-East states of India during 2012 from 2011, which
further
rose to register a growth of 27.93% during 2013 from 2012. Foreign tourist arrivals
in
the North-East witnessed a growth of 39.77% during 2014 from 2013, according to
data
provided from the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.
(3) The study recommendations for tourism planners included the need to concentrate
on some key areas like enhancement of tourist facilities, tourism financing, focus
on
community involvement and others for the formulation of a sustainable tourism
strategy
in the North-East states of India.
(1×10 = 10 marks)
i 1 one reason for the following, based on information in paragraph 1.
() Infer
The rate of tourism in the North-East of India puzzles tourism officials.
() Select the appropriate option to fill in the blanks.
ii1
From paragraph 1, we can infer that the ____________ and ____________ of the
North-Eastern states aid attracting the ‘money rich and time poor’ tourists.
1. distinctiveness 2. conventionality
3. diversity 4. uniformity
5. modernity
(a) 1 & 3 (b) 2 & 4
(c) 2 & 5 (d) 1 & 4
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7
(iii) Complete the following analogy correctly with a word/phrase from paragraph 1.
1
aroma: cooking : : ___________________ : painting
(Clue: Just like aroma is integral to cooking, similarly __________ is/are integral
to painting)
(iv) Select the correct option to complete the following sentence. 1
Travellers advocating the ‘experience economy’ seek a holiday package with
___________________ (Paragraph 1)
(a) grand facilities, expensive hotels and excellent services to pamper them.
(b) a wholesome experience within the budget they have planned for.
(c) places and cities to buy things from and opportunities to spend money.
(d) cost-effective services, affordable accommodation and many days of touring.
(v) Select the chart that appropriately represents the trend of foreign tourist
travels in
the North-East, from 2011-2014, as per paragraph 2.
2011
2014
(1)
2011
2014
2011
(2)
(3)
2014 2011
(4)
2014
(a) Option 1 (b) Option 2

(c) Option 3 (d) Option 4
(vi) Fill in the blank by selecting the correct option. 1
The study of tourist travel statistics in the North-East, from 2005 to 2014 showed
___________________ results.
(a) expected (b) encouraging
(c) inconsistent (d) questionable
(vii) Substitute the word ‘witnessed’ with ONE WORD similar in meaning, in the
following sentence from paragraph 2: 1
Foreign tourist arrivals in the North-East witnessed a growth of...
(viii) List any 2 examples of ‘tourist facilities’ as referred to, in paragraph 3.
1
(ix) List one reason why the researchers recommend that the formulation of a
tourism
strategy in the North-Eastern states of India be sustainable. 1
(x) Select the option that titles paragraphs 1-3 appropriately, with reference to
information in the text.
1. Winds of Change 1. Inspecting Trends 1. Cause & Effect
1. Full Speed Ahead
2. Numbers Don’t Lie 2. Statistically Speaking 2. Dynamic Data
2. Ups and Downs
3. Time for Action 3. Let’s Investigate 3. Dependable facts
3. Cause for Concern
(a) (b) (c) (d)

SECTION–B
(Grammar)
(10 Marks)
III. Attempt ANY TEN of the following questions.

i
() Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option to complete an online update. 1
The climate control comment by an activist __________ on social media yesterday.
a b
() blow up () blew up
c d
() is blown () will be blown
(ii) Read the conversation between a doctor and his patient. Complete the sentence
by
reporting the patient’s reply correctly. 1
Doctor: Do you feel down from time-to-time Mr. Gopalan?
Patient: Yes, I do not stay in a good mood.
The doctor, while trying to figure out his patient’s ailment, asked about his
wellbeing, to which, the patient affirmed ________________.
(iii) Select the correct option to fill in the blank for the given line, from a
health magazine.
The advertisement read, ‘If you smoke, statistically your story ___________ end 15%
before it should’. 1
(a) must (b) should
(c) will (d) ought to
(iv) Select the option that identifies the error and supplies the correction for
the
following line, from a news report: 1
Last week, a child was not allowed to board the plane at Ranchi airport.
Option no.
Error
Correction
A.
child
children
B.
last
previous
C.
the
D.
at
in
(v) Complete the given narrative, by filling in the blank with the correct option:
1
As I was standing on the dock, looking out at the lake for the last time, a feeling
of
emptiness ______________ over me like darkness.
(a) will wash (b) had washed
(c) will have washed (d) washed
(vi) Fill in the blank by using the correct form of the word in the bracket, for
the given
portion of a letter: 1
Subject: Request for Approval
Dear Sir
This is to respectfully submit that I ___________________ (seek) approval for
organising a tree plantation drive to be undertaken by the club.
Sample Papers
9
) Report the dialogue between a grandson and his grandfather, by completing the
sentence: 1
Grandson: Grandpa, who are your superheroes?
Grandpa: Anyone who shows kindness and compassion to others.
In response to the question about his superheroes, grandfather says that
_______________________ .
( ) Identify the error in the given sentence, from a school magazine report and
supply
viii
the correction. 1
In order to balancing the sentiments of the Eagles and the Hawks, the Student
Council suggested a rematch between the teams.
Use the given format for your response.
(vii
error
correction
(ix) Sunil shared some information, with Tariq, about a holiday at sea. Report
Tariq’s
question. 1
Did you enjoy travelling by sea?
(x) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option, to complete the slogan by the
Ministry for Child Welfare. 1
____________ WE AFFORD TO NEGLECT CHILDREN? THINK TWICE!!
(a) WILL (b) MAY
(c) NEED (d) CAN
(xi) Select the correct option to complete the narration of the dialogue between
Latha
and her father. 1
Father: Why ask so many questions, Latha?
Latha: I believe that if you don’t know the answer, keep asking till you do!
Father asked Latha the reason for the many questions she was asking. Latha
exclaimed good-humouredly that in event of not knowing the answer one should
____________.
(a) keep asking till one does. (b) kept asking till one does.
(c) keep asking till one do. (d) kept on to ask till one do.
(xii) Identify the error on a shop’s hoarding and supply the correction, for the
following
sales offer: 1
Gumnaam & Daughters Pvt. Ltd. Bindapur, Jharkhand
Massive discount for all senior citizen vaccinated with the precautionary dose.
error
10
correction

SECTION–B
(Creative Writing Skills)
(10 Marks)
(5 marks)
IV. 1. Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below.
You
are
Sunidhi
Prakash,
the
Vice
Captain
of
Brilliant
Vidyalaya,
Barra,
Kanpur.
You have
(A)
recently noticed several posters around your school premises conveying a hazardous
message:
Lose weight in just a month!
“A WONDER DIET comes to your rescue …
A privilege available for only a few!”
Write a letter to the Editor of The DWA, in not more than 120 words, drawing
attention
towards harm caused by such advertising. Propose the implementation of “Wholesome
Lunch Month’ in schools as an idea to address such practices, mention the
advantages
and share suggestions to foster healthy eating routines and develop positive body
image
among youngsters.
OR
You are Zac Skaria, a resident of # 412, Magna Greens Apartments, Gandhi Marg,
(B)
Jonpara, Mumbai. Three students of grade 10 from your residential complex have
rescued and rehabilitated a few old beggars from the neighbourhood. You think that
their work deserves appreciation and recognition. Write a letter to the President
of the
RWA, seeking recommendation for these youth, to be nominated for ‘Serving Citizens’
Award’. Suggest other ways such acts of kindness could be recognised and awarded in
the future.
2. Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below. (5 marks)
(A) Gurmeet Kaur is an aspiring candidate for a public-funded engineering college
in the
suburbs.
She belongs to a nearby village, has minimal technological skills and exposure, has
the
required cut-off percentage and is looking for a complete or partial scholarship.
Write a paragraph, in about 100-120 words, analysing her SWOT notes to support your
stand on whether she should join/not join the college.
STRENGTH
OO
OO
OO
OO
OO
Strong curriculum
Quality faculty
Vibrant activity clubs
Green location
Close proximity to residential areas
WEAKNESS
OO
OO
OO
OO
OO
OO
OPPORTUNITIES
OO
OO
OO
OO
OO
Practice based research
Partnership with professional organisationsOO
OO
Strong alumni
Acclaimed Student Exchange Programme
with European countries
OO
Sample Papers
Lack of diversity
Students’ behavioural problems
No hostel facility
Slow repair and maintenance work
Underutilization of IT services
Lack of targeted advertisements to outstate students
THREAT
Lack of publicity in areas of excellence
Public perception towards funded colleges
Declining students’ interest towards
technical subjects
Low employee morale due to budget cuts
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(B)
OR
Read the following excerpt from an online post of a website on educational
practices.
Kids who appreciate how much effort, time and care goes into growing food will
understand how important farmers are, and why it’s important to take care of our
Earth.
In the world of today, gardening needs to be given more importance than sports,
music
and dance in all schools because it creates environmental stewards and outdoor
learning
laboratories that help the child and community for years to come.
Write a paragraph, in 100-120 words, to analyse the given argument.
You could think about what alternative explanations might weaken the given
conclusion
and include rationale/evidence that would strengthen/counter the given argument.
SECTION–C
(Literature)
(40 Marks)

(10 marks)
1. Attempt ANY ONE of two extracts given.
(5 marks)
(A) “Hey, a tea garden!” Rajvir cried excitedly.
Pranjol, who had been born and brought up on a plantation, didn’t share Rajvir’s
excitement.
“Oh, this is tea country now,” he said. “Assam has the largest concentration of
plantations
in the world. You will see enough gardens to last you a lifetime!”
“I have been reading as much as I could about tea,” Rajvir said. “No one really
knows
who discovered tea but there are many legends.”
(Glimpses of India)
(i) Why was Pranjol not as excited as Rajvir about the tea gardens? 1
(a) He disliked looking at tea gardens.
(b) He had worked in tea gardens himself.
(c) He had grown up in and around tea gardens.
(d) He was bored with tea gardens.
(ii) What does Pranjol mean by saying that Assam has the largest concentration of
plantations in the world? 1
(iii) Fill in the blank with ONE WORD only.
Pranjol’s ____________ comes through clearly when he exclaims, “You will see
enough gardens to last you a lifetime!” 1
(iv) How, according to Rajvir, does the world know about the discovery of tea? 1
(a) Historical places (b) Traditional tales
(c) Authentic anecdotes (d) Popular publications
(v) Select the option that correctly captures the application of the word ‘cried’
as used
in line 1 of the extract. 1
(a) Jaspreet cried a lot in spite of winning second place in a competition.
(b) Jaspreet cried out loud when she saw a white tiger in the sanctuary.
(c) Jaspreet cried for hours when the police were unable to find her lost pet.
(d) Jaspreet has barely cried since she was three years of age.
12
OR
(B)
OMEGA : It shall be done, Sir. Remove vitamins. (Crew takes vitamins from boxes
on their belts.) Present vitamins.
(They hold vitamins out in front of them, stiffly.) Swallow vitamins. (They pop the
vitamins into
their mouths and gulp simultaneously. They open their eyes wide, their heads shake,
and they put
their hands to their foreheads.)
THINK-TANK
:
Excellent.
Now, decipher
that code.
ALL
:
(They
frown
over
the
book, turning pages.)
It shall be done, Sir.
OMEGA : (brightly)
Aha!
IOTA : (brightly)
Oho!
OOP
(bursting into laughter)
Ha,
ha,: ha.
THINK-TANK
: Tell me this instant. Transcribe, Omega.
What does it say?
(The Book that Saved the Earth)
(i) Select the option that correctly captures the usage of the word ‘present’ from
line 1
of the extract. 1
(a) Oops received a nice present from Think-Tank.
(b) Iota needs to present his opinion firmly.
(c) Omega must focus on the present and leave the past behind.
(d) Oops didn’t know anyone even though a crowd was present.
(ii) Complete the analogy by selecting the suitable word from the text.
frown : smile : : gloomily : ____________ 1
(iii) Select the option that displays the reason why all crew members were asked to
have
vitamins.
In order to: 1
(a) boost their physical energies. (b) adapt to their circumstances.
(c) quickly turn all the pages. (d) accomplish a specific task.
(iv) According to the extract, what did THINK-TANK most likely want OMEGA to do
when he said ‘Transcribe…’? 1
1. read aloud 2. translate
3. make notes 4. interpret
5. record reactions
Select the correct option.
(a) 1 & 3 (b) 2 & 4
(a) Only 3 (d) 1, 4 and 5
(v) The playwright places certain words and sentences in brackets in the given
extract.
List any ways these benefit both the director and actors. 1
i) ________________________
ii) ________________________
Sample Papers
13
(A)

The trees inside are moving out into
the forest,
the forest that was empty all these
days
where no bird could sit
no insect hide
no sun bury its feet in shadow
the forest that was empty all these
nights
will be full of trees by morning.
(5 marks)
(The Trees)
1
(i) Complete the sentence appropriately.
It is clear that personification is the poetic device used for ‘No sun bury its
feet….’
because ________________________.
(Clue: explain how personification applies here)
(ii) The poet has used a poetic device in the given lines. What effect does she
wish to
create by its use? 1
…no bird could sit
no insect hide
no sun…
(a) emphasis (b) comparison
(c) rhyme (d) humour
(iii) State whether the following statement is TRUE or FALSE:
The extract uses trees as a symbol for conservative people.
(iv) Select the appropriate option to complete the sentence, according to the
extract.
The idea of a forest that has been ‘empty all these days’ is ____________.
(a) unnatural (b) scary
(c) magical (d) legendary
(v) How does the use of enjambment impact this extract?
(a) It forces frequent pauses. (b) It simplifies the meaning.
(c) It builds momentum. (d) It makes the lines lyrical.
1
1
OR
But I can get a hair-dye
And set such colour there,
Brown, or black, or carrot,
That young men in despair
May love me for myself alone
And not my yellow hair.
(B)
(For Anne Gregory)

14

(i) What is the poet’s tone in the extract? 1
1. thoughtful 2. authoritative
3. agitated 4. insulting
5. argumentative
Select the appropriate option.
(a) 1, 4 (b) 3, 5
(c) 2, 4 (d) 1, 5
(ii) What causes the young men to ‘despair’, according to the extract? 1
(iii) Identify the reason for the speaker’s need to colour her hair, as per the
extract. 1
(a) Her control over what makes her look beautiful
(b) Her desire to be loved for inner beauty
(c) Her need to change people’s perception about beauty
(d) Her conviction that she is beautiful inside
(iv) Complete the analogy about the speaker’s hair. 1
yellow : blonde :: ____________ : carrot
(v) Select the sentence in which the word ‘set’ is used in the similar manner as
line 2 of
the extract.
1
() I want to set him up and get my work done this time.
a () Do you have another set of the books that I can read?
b () The dessert needs to set for two hours before being served.
c () The set for the school play looked quite grand.
d
VI. Answer ANY FOUR of the following in about 40-50 words each. (4×3=12)
i
() Validate the given statement with reference to baby seagull’s fear.

‘Fear doesn’t exist anywhere else other than one’s mind.’
His First Flight—Two Stories about Flying3
()
(ii) Explain why the poet personally holds the conviction that the world Fire
will and
primarily
Ice3
end in fire? ()
(iii) Valli’s unique maiden bus ride experience could be possible because she
belonged
to a small village. Do you agree? Why/Why not? (2 reasons)
(Madam Rides a Bus)
3
(iv) Give one reason why ‘The Tale of Custard the Dragon’ is more a fable than a
ballad.
3
(v) How can we say that Natalya was continuously successful in maintaining an upper
hand during her arguments with Lomov? () ()
Any one exampleThe Proposal3
VII. Answer ANY TWO of the following in about 40-50 words each. (2×3=6)
(i) Dr. Herriot knew his patients as well as their owners really well. Discuss.
(The Triumph of Surgery) 3
(ii) State one likely reason the writer of ‘The Midnight Visitor’ chose to
characterise
Ausable as short and fat. 3
Sample Papers
15
( iii ) Validate the importance of small, fun learning tasks towards successful
careers, in
the context of Richard Ebright in ‘The Making of a Scientist’.
3
(1×6=6)
VIII. Answer ANY ONE of the following in about 100-120 words.
i
() Mijbil and the Tiger, both were looked after by humans. Assume they both meet
each other in the zoo and have a conversation about their lifestyle and feelings.
Write this conversation as per your understanding of ‘Mijbil the Otter’ and ‘A
Tiger
in the Zoo’. 6
You may begin like this
Tiger : Thanks for visiting me, though I don’t usually like visitors.
Mijbil : Oh! I would love visitors, I think.
OR
( ii) “Not from weeping nor from grieving will anyone obtain peace of mind’.
If you had to use the message of the given quote from the Buddha’s sermon (The
Sermon at Benares) to help the boy cope with the loss of his ball and what it
signifies
(The Ball Poem), what would you include in your advice?
Also, evaluate why it might be difficult for him to understand the notion.
6
(1×6=6)
IX. Answer ANY ONE of the following in about 100-120 words.
i
() Fiction writers prefer creating grey characters rather than black and white.
Analyse
6
this in detail, with reference to both the characters of ‘The Thief’s Story’.
OR
( ii) ‘Honour among thieves’ is considered a popular code.
Examine ‘A Question of Trust’ as a story woven around this code.
6
zOzOz
16

SECTION–A: (Reading Skills)
(20 Marks)
I.(i) (b) They evoke the wish in us, to master them.

(ii) (d) The heavier the luggage—the higher the penalty.
(iii) (c) conviction
(iv) Hard to put in words
(v) very difficult / requires perseverance
(vi) (1) Because mountaineering includes difficulties like having to walk on icy
sheets
that cannot be accomplished without proper preparation of equipment
(2) Because mountaineering includes dealing with several health hazards that cannot
be managed without preparation.
(vii) If the weather is unpredictable, it makes it difficult to decide when to set
up camp as
mountaineers would prefer to climb when it’s sunny and camp when it’s snowing.
(viii) (a) survival
(ix) Survival is key in mountain climbing and it can be done with meticulously
planning/
careful decision-making/careful application of training (any one or more). It has
no
room for rash or impulsive decisions/actions— these would lead to accidents or
fatalities.
(x) (d) Opportunity to use sophisticated mountaineering equipment
(i) This is so because these states are lesser explored as compared to the rest of
the
II.
country, in spite of having lots to offer.
(ii) (a)1 & 3
(iii) hues/shades
(iv) (b) a wholesome experience within the budget they have planned for.
(v) (b) Option 2
(vi) (b) encouraging
(vii) observed/ recorded/ showed/ displayed (Any other similar relevant)
(viii) Accommodation—hotels, hostels, camps
Recreation— parks, gardens, museums, shopping areas
Essential—eating outlets, toilets, water points, kiosks for maps / currency
exchange
(if needed), certified travel guide availability
Transport—dedicated shuttle service, sight-seeing buses, cards or passes, car
hiring
stations
Digital upgrades –WiFi availability, websites, ticketing, forums
(Any other relevant)
(ix) (Any one)
To create socio-economic benefits for the local community
To reduce the negative impacts caused on the destination/s
Sample Papers
17
To ensure protection of culture and heritage/ To ensure minimal intervention in the
cultural aspects
To protect natural wildlife and resources
(Any other relevant)
(x) (b) 1. Winds of Change; 2, Numbers Don’t Lie; 3. Time for Action
Section–B: (Grammar)
(10 Marks)
(i) (b) blew up

(ii) that he does not stay in a good mood.
(iii) (c) will
(iv) (c) the–a
(v) (d) washed
(vi) seek
(vii) it is anyone who shows kindness and compassion to others
(viii) balancing–balance
(ix) Tariq asked Sunil if/whether he had enjoyed travelling by sea. (x)
(d) CAN
(xi) (a) keep asking till one does.
(xii) all–each
SECTION–B (Creative Writing Skills)
(10 Marks)
IV. 1. (A) Brilliant Vidyalaya

Barra Kanpur
29 August, 20XX
The Editor
The DWA
K-21, Anjana Pura Kanpur
Subject: Need for Promoting Healthy Eating Routines
Dear Madam
This is with reference to posters bearing the message of ‘crash diet’ being posted
around our school premises. Such posters impact the youngsters negatively and can
be hazardous for their self-esteem.
I would like to propose the idea of implementing ‘Wholesome Lunch Month’ for
all school students to counter the implications of such misleading advertisements.
This initiative is sure to encourage all students to bring nutritious and healthy
lunch daily and develop healthy eating routines. To ensure that this project gains
strength, schools may organise puppet shows, street plays, Ted Talks (by
Nutritionist/
Psychologist), encompassing the theme, to foster healthy eating routines and a
positive body image.
18

I hope that the publishing of my letter in the columns of your renowned Daily,
helps
spread awareness and promotes a healthy lifestyle among students.
Yours truly
Sunidhi Prakash
Vice-Captain
OR
1. (B) 421, Magna Greens Apartments
Gandhi Marg
Jonpara
Mumbai
19 July, 2022
The President
RWA, Magna Greens Apartments
42, Gandhi Marg
Jonpara
Mumbai
Subject: Seeking recommendation for ‘Serving Citizens’ Award’ nominations
Dear Sir
This is with reference to the empathetic social service done by Miss Jiya, Master
Adwait and Master Pranit (residents of our complex), in rescuing and rehabilitating
a few old beggars from our neighbourhood. These students ensured that the beggars
were rehabilitated at ‘Seva Sadan’– an NGO which takes care of the needy of our
city.
This selfless initiative carried out with dedication and responsibility, deserves
due
recognition. I, therefore, request you to issue a letter of recommendation for
these
students to be nominated for ‘Serving Citizens’ Award’ organised by the local
Municipal Corporation.
I would also like to submit that the RWA set up a special committee that looks
into such acts in the future. This would aid dedicated attention and appropriate
screening of nominations. Arrangement of academic sponsorships for such children
would also be an encouraging gesture.
I entreat you to address this at your earliest convenience and issue the
recommendation letters.
Yours sincerely
Zac Skaria
Sample Papers
19
2. (A)
The given information illustrates the options Gurmeet would weigh in order to
take the right decision about her admission in a public-funded engineering college.
With availability of strong curriculum, quality faculty and vibrant Activity Clubs,
she will be assured of an enriching educational journey. Though hostel facility is
unavailable, she may take up accommodation in the suburbs or choose to travel daily
from her village. Good opportunities of practice-based research, partnership with
professional companies and international students exchange program will enhance
her professional and interpersonal skills. Hard work, responsible behaviour and
prudent decision-making could help Gurmeet thrive in the college even though
it has a rigid and conventional culture. The strengths and opportunities work in
favour of Gurmeet. Taking this opportunity will allow her to mend the incorrect
public perception towards public-funded colleges and students’ outlook towards
technical subjects.
Against the decision:
The given information indicates Gurmeet’s dilemma about seeking admission in
a public-funded college. Though equipped with a strong curriculum, engaging
activity clubs and an able faculty, the college lacks diversity and good conduct
among the students, giving rise to concerns of safe environment for a novice like
Gurmeet. Underutilisation of IT services will be further detrimental to the
progress
of Gurmeet’s educational journey and add to extra costs related to research work.
If she does not qualify for a complete or partial scholarship, arrangement of her
own accommodation and additional expense of students exchange programme
will increase her expenditure, too. Such a college environment may dampen her
endeavouring spirit. The weakness and threats outweigh the strengths, in the case
of Gurmeet. So, it is recommended that Gurmeet does not apply for admission to
the said college.
OR
2. (B)Argument FOR the subject of the statement:
In the world of today, gardening needs to be given more importance than sports,
music and dance in all schools. While sports, music and dance contribute towards
personal growth, the current times mandate attention towards an issue that is
global–nature and natural processes. With growing food wastage in many homes
today and the urban young believing that vegetables are grown, harvested at the
super markets, the efforts of the farmers are discredited. Gardening at school will
open a world of first-hand learning experiences of sowing, watering and harvesting
processes. Waiting for the saplings to grow will inculcate sensitivity, patience,
empathy, gratitude and value for one’s hard work. They will feel accountable for
their piece of Mother Earth, resulting in making them efficient and enterprising
environmental stewards. Unlike sports, music or dance, gardening goes beyond just
enjoyment to create awareness and responsible citizens of the future.
Argument AGAINST the subject of the statement:
Gardening, certainly, should not be given precedence over sports, music and
dance in all schools. Gardening at school requires good planning with hands-on
guidance and continued supervision by the teachers. Students tend to lose interest
due to the slow and natural growth progress of plants as well as the investment of
continuous hard work. Small targets or goals would be missing, whereas the danger
of destruction of their work due to rains, intrusion of grazing animals or a pest
20

attack is likely to set in a feeling of defeat. It may be noted that sports, music
and
dance are uplifting activities which display faster results, are enjoyable and
inculcate team spirit, collaboration and confidence. Unlike gardening, setbacks in
these activities can be addressed with some sense of personal control. These
activities help students express and de-stress successfully. So, maintaining their
due importance in the school’s co-curriculum is imperative.
SECTION–C: (Literature)
V.
(40 marks)
1. (A) (i) (c) He had grown up in and around tea gardens.

(ii) Pranjol meant that the cultivation/harvesting of tea is the highest at one
place
namely Assam.
(iii) frustration/irritation/exasperation
(iv) (b) Traditional tales
(v) (b) Jaspreet cried out loud when she saw a white tiger in the sanctuary.
OR
1. (B)
i Iota needs to present his opinion firmly.
() (b)
() iibrightly
()iii(d) accomplish a specific task.
()iv(b) 2 & 4
() v(i) Helps actors and director gain clarity about the emotions and gestures
required while performing/directing
(ii) Helps with understanding stage setting and movements
() the
2. (A)
i sun, which is non-human, is attributed to the human feature of having feet.
() ii(a) emphasis
()iiiFALSE
()iv(a) unnatural
() v(c) It builds momentum.
OR
2. (B)(i) (c) 3, 5
(ii) Being hopelessly in love/the uncertainty in love/unsurity of the return of
their
affections
(iii) (d) Her conviction that she is beautiful inside
(iv) orange/red
(v) (c) The dessert needs to set for two hours before being served.
VI.
(i) The baby seagull could not take his first flight as he was scared that his
wings would
not support his body weight. He longed to soar high into the sky, but his fear
gripped
his mind. While his two brothers and sister had already conquered the sky, his fear
and hesitation stopped him from doing so.
(ii) He was a victim of the fiery aspect of desire. According to him, hate is just
as powerful
as desire. While desire exhausts quickly, hate can occur and linger in people’s
minds
and hearts for ages and sometimes even lifetimes. Desire here represents the
greatest
problem that attributes to the cause of the war.
Sample Papers
21
(iii) Agree:
Yes, Valli was fascinated by the bus and watching the bus filled with a new set of
people every time was a source of unending joy. A bus ride seemed to her like a
fascinating means of recreation and adventure. She had never been to a big city. So
the coming and going of the buses might have fascinated the young mind. She was
not exposed to crowded places unlike cities and bigger towns. It is also evident
that
there was only one bus that Valli observed several times. She might have
reconnected
herself with the adventure and desired to have varied means of transport that might
seem more adventurous.
Disagree:
It is but natural that fascination for riding a bus or an automobile can exist in
children
of Valli’s age even in big cities. Travelling unnoticed is apparently easier in
large
cities than in small towns or villages due to familiarity of the places. The
meticulous
planning of the little girl who was just eight has left the readers gobsmacked. The
fascination to take the ride would have been numerous had she been in the city.
Cities would offer more opportunities for a bus ride due to availability and
frequency
of several buses on the same route.
(iv) Fable is a fictitious narrative usually with animals, birds, etc. as
characters and shares
a strong message, whereas ballad is a narrative verse that can be silly or heroic.
In
fables, much can be learned about a given culture or society by the stories it
tells.
Moreover, a fable is usually an entertaining tale featuring animals that talk,
think
and act as people do, as it offers a firm moral lesson to be learned at the end.
A ballad is a poem that tells a story through its beautiful and attractive verses.
It
narrates all kinds of stories, including histories, legends, fairy tales, animal
fables,
jokes, and tales of outlaws. ‘The Tale of Custard the Dragon’ includes animals, is
surely fictitious and shares a meaningful message. Hence, the poem better qualifies
as a fable.
(v) Natalya has been quite dominating throughout the play. She was able to answer
every query and presented a befitting argument defeating the one presented by
Lomov. We can how she see manipulates him into accepting that Squeezer is better
than Guess, but Lomov, being adamant as he is, refuses to accept it. Chubukov was
just quarrelsome, abusing and insulting who barely managed to handle Natalya
under the pretext of his palpitation.
(i) Dr. Herriot could understand the problems of his patients (dogs) just by
observing
VII.
them. He saw Tricki in the market and understood that the dog was urgently in
need of help.
The vet understood the owner (Mrs. Pumphrey) well and never spoke any harsh and
advising words on the seriously obese dog. He knew them fully well and was
convinced
that Mrs. Pumphrey was solely responsible for the dog’s miserable condition.
(ii) The writer portrayed Ausable as short and fat as he wants to draw attention to
the
spy and expose his wits and mental ability to handle any grave situation. He wants
to acquaint the readers with the expected conduct of a spy agent.
Ausable beautifully narrated a story and was able to successfully plant a non-
existent
balcony in the mind of Max and also made him believe it. The writer proved that
handsome is that handsome does.
22

The writer, perhaps, wanted to give a strong message that the brain is what counts
more than muscle power or brain power is far more potent/effective than any other
type of power-muscle/arms, etc.
( iii) Richard Ebright started the collection and breeding of butterflies as a fun
activity.
He showed his inquisitiveness about the gold spots and the secretion from them.
He dedicated his effort to develop a theory of cell structure and later DNA because
of it. The book gifted to him by his mother also played a very instrumental role.
Fun
learning resulted in a career as a renowned successful scientist.
VIII.
(i) Tiger : Thanks for visiting me, though I don’t usually like visitors.
Mijbil : Oh! I would love visitors, I think.
Tiger : Ithink that’s because you’re putting up with your owner. He must be
taking great care of yours.
Mijbil : Yeah. Actually, my owner lost his pet dog and felt lonely. This is why, he
decided to own me as a pet.
Tiger : I can’t tell you my misery. I always have to face the visitors here in
captivity. You know people were scared of me when I was in my territory.
I happened to be the most ferocious creature in the jungle.
Mijbil : Iam blessed to be with my owner. In fact, I enjoy his company. I wouldn’t
have been so intrepid had I been living alone. I won’t know how to survive
in this materialistic and cruel world.
Tiger : I am happy for you. I find myself in a pathetic state as I have been caged
here. I don’t have my own free will to roam anywhere. I feel astounded to
see human behaviour. I just pray to be in a natural habitat.
Mijbil : I really feel pity for you. May God bless you with what you aspire!
OR
) There is not even a single soul rich enough to avoid his destiny. This life,
given to
( ii
us, is precious. We need to accept the fact that life is not a bed of roses. We’ll
have
to accept whatever it offers us. It’s not that we only lose in life; we gain also.
There
are always two phases of a coin. In this life only, we need to learn to accept the
loss of irreplaceable things that bring grief and sorrows. Learning to stay calm
and
understanding the perishable/mortal nature of things helps in living life normally
and forgetting loss.
To help the boy cope with the loss—It is imperative to note that loss is also an
integral part of life. It’s better if we understand how important it is to learn
from
experience and adapt and move on.
Difficult for the boy to understand the notion—The boy is too young to understand
the depth of these words. He is alone in his loss. In fact, he has just started his
journey where he experiences such losses. He has no one to explain and must learn
from his experience painstakingly. He will take time to realise that there is
always
a dawn after dusk. All he needs to do is muster all courage and gird up his loin to
easily face the situation manfully.
Sample Papers
23
IX.
(i) Morally grey or morally ambiguous characters are those which are not like the
traditional heroes. They do some questionable things too which cannot completely
be put in the bubble of right or wrong as we can see the two characters in the
story
we have read. None of them is completely black or white. Provided that Anil has
been portrayed in the story in such a way that the readers would sympathise with
him. The story unfolds both their characters as grey.
Hari Singh
Hari Singh was a smart thief who is always found on an easy hunt. He is equipped
with extraordinary indifference and could easily befool his victims and police. No
wonder why he always kept his name changing just to avoid getting nabbed. He
made no efforts to confess that he had given in to the temptation of stealing the
notes.
However, Hari Singh mended his ways just because of Anil who reposed his faith
in him. But Hari Singh succumbs to his baser impulse. After stealing money from
Anil, he hurried to the station to catch Lucknow Express. But his conscience didn’t
let him do so. He returns to Anil in order to follow a righteous path and live a
life of
honour and respect. Anil, at the same time, does not reveal that he knew about the
incident and embraces Hari Singh with open arms. Thus, a well-intentioned person
tries to reform a teenager who had diverted from the righteous path.
Anil
Anil is certainly an admirable character in the story. He is helpful and simple,
but
at times he appears to be naive. His modesty was abused for reposing his trust in
Hari Singh so early. He could have easily handed the thief over to the police. But
he
didn’t do so. Instead, he wanted Hari Singh to make amends for his ways. He must
have felt guilty. Anil wanted to give him one more chance and therefore, forgives
him. Although it must be done, such sort of patience and compassion are rarely
found nowadays in this human world.
OR
( ii)It is generally believed that prudent people befriend like-minded types, while
the
profligate hang out among themselves. They strictly follow a code of conduct.
Honour among thieves is believed that thieves never double cross each other/commit
crimes against each other. Rather, they render their helping hands in crisis.
The protagonist, Horace Danby was careful and meticulous in his theft which he
conducted once a year. For two weeks, Horace had studied the house of Shotover
Grange. He had to burgle this house and when he entered the house, he felt allergic
to some flower in the house and started sneezing. Then he heard the voice of a
woman. She told him that she could cure his allergy. He failed to anticipate the
role
of the lady in red.
The lady in red made a fool of him. In spite of being a thief herself, she did not
follow the code of honour normally existing between two thieves.
This resulted in Horace Danby going to prison for the first time in his life. He
felt
betrayed and the phrase rightly coined.
zOzOz
24

1
SAMPLE PAPER
[SOLVED]
Time allowed: 3 hours
Max. Marks: 80
General Instructions: Same as CBSE Sample Question Paper–2023 (Solved

).
SECTION–A
(Reading Skills)
(20 Marks)

(10 marks)
(1) Meditation has become a mainstream activity in many parts of the world. Though
the
main reason to meditate is for spiritual awareness, there are additional benefits
from
learning to focus our attention within. One of these is the healing it brings about
in our
physical bodies. Over the past few decades, doctors and scientists have been
studying
the body-mind connection and its relationship to physical health. Medical research
has
indicated a link between certain illnesses and our state of mind and emotional
condition.
(2) It has been found that when we undergo mental stress, emotional pain or
depression,
our physical resistance to disease drops. We become more susceptible to catching a
disease because our ability to keep our immune system in top working order
decreases.
(3) Science has pinpointed that certain diseases such as digestive problems,
breathing
problems, heart disease, and migraine headaches, to name a few, may sometimes be
caused due to stress. Thus, we arrive at the possibility that by reducing stress in
our lives,
we can improve our physical health and well-being.
(4) To begin to explore this possibility, it is imperative to understand the root
cause of stress
in our lives. In this hectic and fast-paced world, we are constantly being
bombarded with
information, and stimuli.
(5) Life has become increasingly complicated. With competing priorities, family and
social
obligations, increasing responsibilities, and looming deadlines, people seem to
have too
much to do and not enough time to do it. We hold jobs that require long hours and
too
much responsibility.
(6) Medical research has shown that meditation, the process of taking our attention
away
from the stresses and strains of the outer world, and focusing it within ourselves,
can
help reduce stress in our lives. In doing so, it can reduce our chances of
developing a
stress-related illness.
(7) When we meditate on the inner light and sound of God, we come in contact with
God’s
love within us, which fills us with inner peace, joy, bliss and happiness. This
experience
takes our attention away from the stresses and pains of the outer world. As we
spend
time in meditation, we create a calm haven in which we restore equilibrium and
peace
to our mental functioning.
(8) Researchers have recorded that the brain activity in people who meditate
reflects a state
of deep relaxation. Their mind becomes calmer. The tranquil effect of meditation
lasts
Sample Papers
25
beyond the time spent in meditation. The carry-over effect helps us maintain peace
of
mind as we continue our activities throughout the day.
(9) We become more in control of our reactions and maintain an even keel in the
face of
conflict, or in the midst of turmoil and strife. It also gives us a private retreat
of bliss
and peace within us that we can retreat to anytime we wish. This refuge helps take
our
attention away from the pains of the world and gives us another mechanism by which
we can reduce stress in our lives.
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below:
(1×10=10)
i () Why has meditation become a mainstream activity in many parts of the world?
a() Because it helps us maintain peace of mind
b() Because it gives us a private retreat of bliss and peace
c() Because it reduces our chances of developing a stress-related illness
d() All of these
(ii) Select the option that displays what the writer projects, with reference to
the
following:
Researchers have recorded that the brain activity in people who meditate reflects a
state of deep relaxation. (Paragraph 8)
(a) Reflection (b) Meditation
(c) Vexation (d) Both (a) and (c)
(iii) Discuss the main objectives of meditation.
(iv) Based on your reading of the passage, list two reasons why the writer says
that:
We become more in control of our reactions and maintain an even keel in the face
of conflict, or in the midst of turmoil and strife. (Paragraph 9)
(v) What are the findings of doctors and scientists about meditation?
(vi) What are the ill-effects of stress according to the passage you have read
above?
(vii) Supply 1 point to justify the following:
We become more susceptible to catching a disease because our ability to keep our
immune system in top working order decreases.
(viii) How does meditation relieve us from stress? Answer the question with
reference to
paragraph 6.
(ix) Select the option that displays what happens when we come in contact with
God’s
love.
() It fills us with the feeling of resurrection.
a () It fills us with the feeling of pessimism.
b () It fills us with inner peace, joy, bliss and happiness.
c () It fills us with the feeling of prejudice and parochialism.
d () How are the people who meditate significantly different from others?
x
(10 marks)
II. Read
the passage
given below:
(1) Overall
global handset
profits declined 11% YoY to USD 12 billion in Q3 2019 due
to an increased mix of entry to mid-tier products and a fall in revenues for key
smartphone OEMs.
26
(2) Apple dominates the global handset market by capturing 66% of industry profits
and 32% of the overall handset revenue. The loyal premium user base in the major
markets like the USA, EU and Japan is one of the reasons that Apple can still
operate
at a profit level that its competitors can only wish for. Now with a strong service
strategy, Apple’s overall ecosystem is strong enough to guarantee it a steady
inflow
of revenue in the coming years. In the immediate future, we believe that Apple’s
profit for the holiday season will increase with the new line up of iPhones gaining
good traction.
Global Mobile Handset Operating

Profit Share (%) Trends
100%
Global Mobile Handset Operating Profit Share Trends
80%
Apple
60%
40%
Samsung
Huawei
Oppo
Vivo
Xiaomi
20%
0%
2018Q12018Q22018Q32018Q42019Q12019Q22019Q3
(3) Samsung is a distant second, taking 17% of the overall handset Industry
profits.
The increased mix of Galaxy A Series along with the positive start of Galaxy Note
10
Series was the key reason for the growth.
(4) Chinese smartphone brands operate at low-profit margins, but better than in
previous years, even though they are expanding outside China and also penetrating
high-tier price bands. Chinese brands offer attractive propositions to mature
smartphone users with new feature-packed flagships at affordable prices. Some of
these Chinese brands are also now looking at monetizing their userbase by launching
services like financial services, IoT products and others. However, it is becoming
a
challenge for Chinese brands to increase their smartphone ASPs and margins due to
a combination of longer consumer holding periods and Apple lowering pricing on
some key SKUs, which has limited the headroom that Chinese vendors had used to
increase their ASPs.
(5) In coming quarters, the adoption of 5G will drive some upgrades. This will
likely
lead to revenue growth for OEMs which are already preparing themselves ahead of
full 5G commercialisation.
—
Karn Chauhan, Counterpoint Research
(1×10=10)
i() Infer one reason for the following, based on the information given in paragraph
1.
Overall global handset profits declined 11% YoY to USD 12 billion in Q3 2019.
ii () Select the appropriate option to fill in the blank.
From paragraph 2, we can infer that _______________________ is one of the reasons
why Apple can still operate at a profit level.
Sample Papers
27
(a) loyal premium user base in the major markets
(b) revenue growth for OEMs
(c) positive start of Galaxy Note 10 Series
(d) Apple’s overall ecosystem
(iii) Complete the following analogy correctly with a word/a phrase from paragraph
2.
expunge : abolish : : ______________ : income
(iv) Select the correct option to complete the following sentence:
Chinese smartphone brands operate at low-profit margins, and are ______________
outside China. (Paragraph 4)
(a) deteriorating (b) expanding
(c) reducing (d) excelling
(v) What are the overall global handset profits decline in 2019?
(vi) Fill in the blank by selecting the correct option.
The adoption of 5G in the coming quarters will likely lead to ___________________
for OEMs.
(a) revenue growth
(b) operate at low-profit margins
(c) become a challenge for Chinese brands
(d) increase their ASPs
(vii) Substitute the word ‘concept’ with ONE WORD similar in meaning, in the
following,
sentence from paragraph 4.
The new theory rejects the basic concept that humans evolved from apes.
(viii) List any two reasons as reflected for the handset profits decline in Q3
2019.
(ix) List one reason why the writer says Samsung will be at number 2.
(x) Select a reason that displays a challenge for Chinese brands.
(a) To increase their smartphone ASPs and margins
(b) To guarantee a steady inflow of revenue
(c) To gain good traction
(d) To lower the profit margins
SECTION–B
(Grammar)
(10 Marks)
III. 1. Attempt ANY TEN of the following questions.

i
() Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option to complete an online update.
A new understanding of the fundamental connection between mind and body
explains phenomena such as phantom limbs, and _________________ surprising
implications.
(a) have (b) are
(c) is (d) has
28

( ii) Read the conversation between Sudhir and Riya. Complete the sentence by
reporting
Riya’s reply correctly.
Sudhir
: Riya,
what is the reporting time for photoshoot tomorrow?
: IRiya
have no clue as I was not there during the briefing.
Sudhir asked Riya what was the reporting time for photoshoot the following day. In
response to his question, Riya answered that _________________________________.
(
iii ) Select the correct option to fill in the blank for the given line, from a
magazine.
When our cherished ideas are contradicted by the facts, we __________________
avoid the human tendency to double down on those ideas.
( (a) must (b) need
(c) can (d) could
iv) Select the option that identifies the error and supplies the correction for the
following line, from a news report.
As per the report, India will allowed food processors to import duty-free wheat
against a commitment to export flour.
Option no.
()thea
()willwould
()allowedallow
()againstfor
error
correction
The two parks in our locality have virtually _______________ over by undesirable
elements.
(a) been taking (b) take
(c) taken (d) been taken
the given
portion of a letter.
Subject: Request for kind perusal
Dear Sir
This is to respectfully submit that the students of Agatha House ____________
(seek) approval for organising an Inter-house Rangoli Making Competition to be
undertaken by the house.
(vii) Report the dialogue between a father and his son, by completing the sentence.
Father : Why are you late from school, Amit?
Amit : While coming from school to bus stop, I slipped by stepping on a banana
peel.
Father asked Amit ____________________________ late from school. In response to
the question, Amit replied that while coming from school to bus stop, he had
slipped
by stepping on a banana peel.
Sample Papers
29
(viii ) Identify the error in the given sentence, from a school magazine report and
supply
the correction.
Exploring solutions to brought awareness about celebrating festivals without
harming ecology was the second objective of the competition.
error
correction
(ix) Ahmed shared some information with Anmol about his visit to a book fair.
Report
Anmol’s question.
Did you buy any book from the fair?
Ministry for Child Welfare.
____________ we ask our children to reject junk food?
(a) Should (b) Should’t
(c) Can (d) Can’t
Sanskriti
and her friend Pranika.
Sanskriti : I couldn’t find you on the school bus this morning. Did you miss the
school bus?
Pranika : No, my dad was enroute to the school. So, he offered me to drop me to
the school.
Sanskriti told Pranika that she couldn’t see her on the school bus that morning and
further asked ____________________. In response to her question, Pranika replied
that her father was enroute to the school and offered her to drop her to the
school.
(a) that if she had missed the school bus (b) if she had missed the school bus
(c) that if she missed the school bus (d) that if you had missed the school bus
(xii) Identify the error on a shop’s hoarding and supply the correction, for the
following
sales offer.
SUPER SAVER DEALS !!!
With Mom and Me Super Saver Days Offers, got discounts on daily essentials,
personal care, baby care, fashion, kitchen & dining, nutrition, and more.
error
correction
SECTION–B
(10 Marks)

(5 marks)
(A)
Drinking water is becoming a rare commodity. Industrial development is filling our
rivers, seas and oceans with toxic pollutants which are a major threat to human
health. You are deeply saddened to see water pollution as an appalling problem,
30

which is powerful enough to lead the world on a path of destruction.
Write a letter to the Editor of Express News to make the public aware about the
causes of water pollution and also suggest the measures to prevent water pollution.
You are Parul Aggarwal, C-316, Jaswant Lane, New Delhi.
OR
You are Christopher Joanne, a resident of C-216, Margaret Green Avenue, Loni
(B)
Road, Delhi. Three students of grade 10 from your residential complex went
around the city at midnight and covered shelterless people with blankets without
waking them up. You think that their work deserves appreciation and recognition.
Write a letter to the Secretary of your society, seeking recommendation for these
youth, to be nominated for ‘Star Volunteers Award’. Suggest other ways how such
acts of kindness could be recognised and awarded in the future.
(5 marks)
2. Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below.
After
the
birth
of
a
child,
fathers
spend
more
time
in
office,
whereas
mothers
spend
(A)
less. Given below is a graph showing average weekly hours worked by gender and
household type of the year 2014. Write an analytical paragraph by summarising the
information given below.
Men
50
40
41.0
Women
43.1
40.4
36.2
36.8
35.5
30
20
10
0
All
No children
At least one child

less than 6 years old
OR
(B) A group of enterprising young adults conducted a survey on reopening of
educational
institutions in the National Capital.
Sample Papers
31
Can’t say
Should be opened
for all classes
Only for classes
9th to 12th
5%
8%
15%
Only after cases

are less than 0.3%
20
%
24%
After Vaccination
28
%
Open only for exams/

Practical work
Write a paragraph, in about 100–120 words, analysing the listed responses.
SECTION–C
(Literature)
(40 Marks)

(10 marks)
(5 marks)
(A)
Our elders are often heard reminiscing nostalgically about those good old
Portuguese
days, the Portuguese and their famous loaves of bread. Those eaters might have
vanished
but the makers are still there. We will have amongst us the mixers, the moulders
and
those who bake the loaves. Those age-old, time-tested furnaces still exist. The
fire in
these furnaces has not yet been extinguished. The thud and jingle of traditional
baker’s
bamboo, heralding his arrival in the morning, can still be heard in some places.”
(i) The narrator says that the furnaces were ‘time-tested’ because
_________________.
(ii) ‘Those eaters might have vanished but the makers are still there.’ Pick the
option
that expresses the tone of the narrator.
(1) elated (2) morose
(3) nostalgic (4) hopeful
(5) sarcastic (6) critical
(7) celebratory
(a) 1 and 7 (b) 2 and 6
(c) 3 and 4 (d) 4 and 5
(iii) Pick the idiom that brings out the same meaning of ‘reminiscing’ as used in
the
passage.
(a) train of thought (b) commit something to memory
(c) a trip down memory lane (d) jog somebody’s memory
(iv) Why do you think the baker came in with ‘a thud and a jingle’?
(v) The ‘fire in the furnaces has not yet been extinguished’ implies that:
(a) the furnaces are still being used to bake the loaves of bread
(b) the fire is in the process of being reviewed as a respectable method for
heading
furnaces
(c) the furnaces are very strong and cannot be shifted for use in other areas
(d) the fire in the furnaces takes a long time to cease burning, once lighted
32

(B) Natalya
yours?
: Yes,
mine.
Lomov
OR
: Excuse my interrupting you. You say, “my Oxen Meadows”. But are they
Natalya : What are you talking about? Oxen Meadows are ours, not yours!
: No,
mine, honoured Natalya Stepanova.
Lomov
: Well,
I never knew that before. How do you make that out?
Natalya
: How? I’m speaking of those Oxen Meadows which are wedged in between
Lomov
your birchwoods and the Burnt Marsh.
: Yes,
yes... they’re ours.
Natalya
: No,
you’re mistaken, honoured Natalya Stepanova, they’re mine.
Lomov
: Just
think, Ivan Vassilevitch! How long have they been yours?
Natalya
() Select
the option that displays how the author makes very effective use of highlighting
i
how social conflicts develop owing to________________.
a () trivial issues (b) communication failures
c () ordinary spat (d) insolent exchange of conduct
me : mine : : our : _______________
(iii) Select the reason that displays why Natalya interrupted Lomov.
Because:
(a) her father appeared in the scene.
(b) Lomov had just received an attack of palpitation.
(c) Natalya wanted Lomov to rectify himself about his claim for Oxen Meadows.
(d) Natalya wanted Lomov to discuss only about his marriage proposal.
(iv) What was the reason of the spat between the two, according to the extract?
(a) Oxen Meadows (b) Guess and Squeezer
(c) Lomov’s contemptible appearance (d) Chubukov’s derogatory remarks
(v) Based on the extract, recall any two incidents of verbal spat over which the
two
characters indulged into.
(A)

His ball went. I would not intrude on him;
A dime, another ball, is worthless. Now
He senses first responsibility
In a world of possessions.
(5 marks)
(i) The loss of the ball will help the child to understand his:
(a) possessions (b) mood
(c) first responsibility (d) life
(ii) Giving another ball to the child is:
(a) intruding on him (b) worthless
(c) going to make him upset (d) going to make him happy
Sample Papers
33
(iii) The boy is sad because _____________________.
(iv) What do the following lines suggest about the boy?
‘‘Now he senses first responsibility
In a world of possessions”.
(a) It suggests that he is thinking of getting another ball.
(b) It suggests that he now hates life.
(c) It suggests that he wants to transform himself.
(d) It suggests that the boy is nothing now that his ball is gone.
(v) The ball is called worthless because it costs only ______________________.
OR
Pistol in his left hand, pistol in his right,
And he held in his teeth a cutlass bright,
His beard was black, one leg was wood;
It was clear that the pirate meant no good.
(B)
(i) What thought does the stanza evoke in the reader’s mind?
That the pirate was ______________.
(a) coward (b) spooky
(c) scary (d) valiant
(ii) The first line in the given stanza possesses __________________ which is used
to
reuse words, phrases, images, or structures multiple times within a poem.
a b() imagery () repetition
c d() anaphora () simile
(iii) The rhyme scheme of the given stanza is ____________________.
a b() aabb () abab
c d() abcb () acbc
iv () The pirate’s descriptions make it even scarier. Comment.
v () The pirate held a ______________________ in between his teeth since his hands
were
occupied.
VI. Answer ANY FOUR of the following in about 40-50 words each.
(4×3=12)
i () ‘Every journey of a thousand miles begins with but a single step.’ With
reference to
the chapter ‘His First Flight’, analyse the statement and show your acquaintance.
ii
() The poem ‘Fire and Ice’ uses the metaphor of the end of the world to
characterise
this destruction. Do you agree? Support your answer with reasons.
iii
() Valli’s unique maiden bus ride experience was pleasant because the bus conductor
was an affable man. Do you agree? Why/Why not?
iv
() What does the poet want to demonstrate through the poem ‘A Tale of Custard the
Dragon’?
v
() How can we say that Chubukov was continuously trying to reconcile the
differences
between Natalya and Lomov? (Any one example)
34

VII. Answer ANY TWO of the following in about 40-50 words each. (2×3=6) i
(Footprints
without
Feet)
() Griffin had become a scientist just to satisfy his own ego and carry
out satanic
deeds.
Comment.
ii
() The writer has given ample chance to the readers to ridicule the character Max
in
the chapter ‘The Midnight Visitor’. Substantiate your answer with examples from
the text.
(iii) Validate the importance of ‘Try and try until you succeed’, in the context of
Richard
Ebright in ‘The Making of a Scientist’.
(1×6=6)
i
() Matilda goes home after meeting Mme Forestier after ten years and shares the
fact
with M. Loisel that the necklace was a false one. Write the dialogue between
Matilda
and M Loisel.
Matilda : Idon’t know how to tell you this but I met Mme Forestier today and she
told me that her necklace was not a real diamond.
M Loisel : What! I just can’t believe my ears. That huge debt was for nothing!
Matilda : ___________________________________________________________.
M Loisel : ___________________________________________________________.
OR
( ii) Valli’s visit to the town has been disclosed and mother gives her a scolding.
Develop
a conversation between Valli and her mother emphasising how important it is to
follow the instructions given by the elders.
(1×6=6)
()
Mrs
Hall
was
disgraced
solely
because
of
her
sheer
negligence.
Do
you
think
she
i
could have avoided her woes and miseries only if she had been a little vigilant and
more careful? Comment.
OR
)
Horace
might
not
have
ended
up in prison repenting at the way he was deceived
( ii
but by cursing the lady in red. Examine the statement ‘A Question of Trust’ giving
reasons for the same.
zzz
Sample Papers
35
SECTION–A: Reading Skills
(20 Marks)
I. (i) (a) Because it helps us maintain peace of mind.

(ii) (b) Meditation
(iii) The main objective of meditation is to reduce stress and chances of
developing a
stress-related illness.
(iv) 1. Meditation helps in working or progressing on any vocation smoothly and
steadily,
without any sudden changes.
2. It equips us with mechanism by which we can reduce stress from our lives.
(v) The research of doctors and scientists about meditation has indicated a link
between
certain illnesses and our state of mind and emotional condition.
(vi) It causes digestive problems, breathing problems, heart disease, and migraine
headaches.
(vii) We are more likely or liable to be influenced or harmed by stress.
(viii) It reduces our chances of developing stress-related illnesses and helps us
remain
focused.
(ix) (c) It fills us with inner peace, joy, bliss and happiness.
(x) People who meditate reflect a state of deep relaxation.
(i) The profits declined due to an increased mix of entry to mid-tier products and
a fall
II.
in revenues for key smartphone OEMs.
(ii) (d) Apple’s overall ecosystem
(iii) revenue
(iv) (b) expanding
(v) 11% YoY to USD 12 billion
(vi) (a) revenue growth
(vii) proposition
(viii) 1. due to an increased mix of entry to mid-tier products
2. a fall in revenues for key smartphone OEMs
(ix) The writer says so because Samsung recorded 17% of the overall handset
industry
profits after Apple that made a profit of 32%.
(x) (a) To increase their smartphone ASPs and margins
SECTION–B: (Grammar)
(10 Marks)
III. (i) (d) has

(ii) she had no clue as she had not been there during the briefing
(iii) (a) must
(iv) (c) allowed-allow
(v) (d) been taken
(vi) are seeking
36

(vii) why he was
(viii) error–brought, correction–bring
(ix) Anmol asked Ahmed whether he had bought any book from the fair.
(x) (b) shouldn’t
(xi) (b) if she had missed the school bus
(xii) error–got, correction–get
SECTION–B: Creative Writing Skills
(10 Marks)
IV. 1. (A) C-316, Jaswant Lane

New Delhi
13 June, 20XX
The Editor
The Express News
New Delhi
Subject: To prevent water pollution
Sir
Through the columns of your esteemed newspaper, I would like to draw the
attention of the concerned authorities towards our rivers, seas and oceans with
toxic
pollutants which are a major threat to human health.
Our environment, from where we fetch water, is one of the important health
determinants of concern. Safe and readily available water is important for public
health, whether it is used for drinking, domestic use, food production or
recreational
purposes. Chronic water scarcity, hydrological uncertainty, and extreme weather
events (floods and droughts) are perceived as some of the biggest threats to global
prosperity and stability.
We can prevent water pollution by conserving water used in the household chores.
This helps prevent water shortages and reduces the amount of contaminated water
that needs treatment. We shouldn’t throw paints, oils or other forms of litter down
the drain and use environmentally household products, such as washing powder,
household cleaning agents and toiletries.
Therefore, you’re requested to kindly publish this article in your newspaper making
a common appeal meant to bring awareness.
Sincerely yours
Parul Aggarwal
Sample Papers
37
OR
1. (B) C-216, Margaret Green Avenue
Loni Road, Delhi
12 August, 20XX
The Secretary
King Heights Apartment
Delhi
Subject: Seeking recommendation for community service
Sir
This is with reference to our volunteers who came forward and rendered their
services in order to bring smiles on the faces in such a spine-chilling winter.
Let me take this opportunity to draw the attention of the concerned committee of
the society towards the three students of grade X from our residential complex who
went around the city at midnight and covered the homeless people with blankets
without waking them up and showed a warm gesture. I believe this should not go
unheeded and deserves appreciation and recognition.
Volunteering locally on their own free will indeed reflects their kind gesture for
which I would like to recommend ‘Star Volunteers Award’ to be conferred upon
these children and hence, sensitise our younger generation.
Thanking you
Yours sincerely
Nidhi Kamat
2. (A)
The given date as per the graph shows average weekly hours worked by gender.
The three revelations made in the graph are time spent by parents without the birth
of the child, after the birth of the child and time spent by fathers and mothers
with
at least one child less than 6 years old. The significant difference displays
barriers
to paternal involvement in children’s lives. Fatherhood may put some pressure on
fathers’ working behaviours as they tend to be the main household earner. These
statistics clearly show the total amount of time devoted to childcare as a primary
activity differs significantly between mothers and fathers. Fathers spend on
average
a total of 40 minutes per day on childcare, while mothers spend lesser minutes a
day.
OR
2. (B) The survey conducted by a group of enterprising young adults shows parents’
concerns and attitudes toward school reopening. Analysis shows that 28% of
parents have agreed with school reopening but only after vaccination, but 24% have
raised some legitimate concerns adding that the school should be opened only for
experiments and practicals. The data primarily reflects their concerns about their
children’s safety when 20% of parents added that the school should be opened only
if the cases come down to 0.3%. Despite parents’ concerns, it does seem that only
8% of parents were in favour of school reopening and would send their children to
school
38

only if the schools did apply strict precautions and restriction measures. There
was
a significant note from 15% of parents that the schools should be reopened only for
secondary and higher secondary children.
SECTION–C: Literature
(40 Marks)
V. 1. (A) i () they had proved the test of time and were working well
ii
() (c) 3 and 4
iii iv
() (c) a trip down memory lane
v
() He wanted to make people aware that he had come around to sell his goodies. ()
(a) Quarrelled over furnaces are still being used to bake the loaves of bread
OR
1. (B)
i communication failures
() (b)
() iiours
()iii(c) Natalya wanted Lomov to rectify himself about his claim for Oxen Meadows.
()
ivOxen Meadows
(a)
() v1. Quarrelled over the claim of ownership of Oxen meadows
2. Quarrelled over whose dog is the best–Squeezer or Guess
2. (A) i() (c) first responsibility
ii intruding on him
() (a)
()iiihe has lost his ball.
() iv
(c) It suggests that he wants to transform himself.
()v a dime
OR
(B)
i
()2.(c)
scary
ii
() (b) repetition
iii
() (a) aabb
() The iv
pirate had a scary presence and made nasty sounds. He looked scary with
a cutlass in his teeth.
() smallvknife
VI. (i) Yes, it’s absolutely true. This saying teaches us that even the longest and
the most
difficult ventures have a starting point; something which begins with first step.
The
story of his first flight is a very good example of this saying because at the
early
stages the young seagull was afraid of flying. But once he tried and got succeeded,
he started flying with great happiness and enthusiasm. Hence, every great journey
starts with a single step.
(ii) Yes, it is so because fire and ice have a metaphorical sense. Fire is compared
to desire
and ice with cold-heartedness and indifferent behaviour even in the most difficult
situation. It describes how we humans will be the end of our own race.
(iii) Undoubtedly yes, the conductor was a jolly fellow and behaved very well with
Valli. When she boarded the bus, he guided her for the seat and gave her a ticket.
Sample Papers
39
He called her ‘fine madam’ as a comment because she pretended to be a mature
woman. He took Valli’s confident responses in humour. Moreover, when he came to
know that she had no extra money except the bus fare, he offered her a cold drink.
His behaviour towards Valli was positive and cheerful which made Valli’s bus ride
experience pleasant.
(iv) The poem unfolds that everything created whether small or big has its specific
importance. We should never underestimate the talent of a person. It’s not that
if one wants a safe cage means he is a coward. We should never look down upon
anyone. Moreover, right and timely actions are always beneficial.
(v) We can say so to some extent that Chubukov was actually trying to reconcile the
differences between Natalya and Lomov. For example, he tells Natalya that Lomov
had come to propose to her for marriage. He laments that it is a great burden to be
a father of a grown-up daughter.
VII.
(i) Yes, it is true to a large extent because Griffin was irresponsible and
irrational by his
behaviour and disturbed everyone wherever he went. His existence and influence
was destructive. His anger and temperament didn’t help him. He had to face
atrocities of weather and society, and became ruthless to his behaviour. He scared
people. His lawlessness harmed himself and everyone around him.
(ii) Yes, Max has been ridiculed throughout as he has been introduced to the
readers as
a spy who was over-confident and too proud. His pride blinded him and he thought
that simply by wielding a gun would give a further edge over the apparently slow
Ausable. Max lay wait to steal the important paper from him but the story woven
by the smart Ausable saved him. Ausable created an extremely believable story and
convinced Max to jump from the non-existent balcony.
(iii) Ebright was undoubtedly curious, in fact, it was merely his inquisitiveness
that drove
him to become a scientist. Ebright’s journey of becoming a leading scientist
conveys
a strong message to us. It conveys that persistence, dedication and hard work are
the
key ingredients for achieving one’s dreams. He made numerous scientific advances
and became an accomplished scientist.
(i) Matilda : Idon’t know how to tell you this but I met Mme Forestier today and
she
VIII. told me that her necklace was a real diamond.

M Loisel : What! I just can’t believe my ears. That huge debt was for nothing!
Matilda : Idon’t know but I am feeling discouraged and highly downcast. I don’t
even know whether to cry out loud or curse myself.
M Loisel : No, there is nothing to hold you responsible for all such things. I am
equally responsible for your misery because I didn’t check the necklace
on my own. Had I checked, our life today, would have been different.
Matilda : No, you should not blame yourself. It was I who resisted to go to the
ball
without an appropriate jewel. I should have understood that one should
learn to live with his means. I regret that I forgot a person who spends
more than his income soon falls into trouble. This was the trouble that
I deliberately invited.
40

OR
(ii) Mother : I know every teen craves some privacy. But Valli, it’s always
important
to share your confidence with your parents. You should abide by what
your parents instruct. When they advise you, they advise you for the
sake of your well-being.
Valli : But Mamma, I just wanted to explore the town. I wanted to experience
how a bus ride is like. I wanted to meet different people. And one more
thing, I didn’t get into any trouble. I always grew jealous of my friends
who visited the town with their parents riding a bus. And besides, I went
unheeded and returned safe Mamma.
Mother : Child, it’s good that nothing unfortunate happened, but just think, what
if you had been kidnapped or assaulted. This world is unpredictable.
Nobody knows what happens next moment. But I promise I will
shepherd my baby from now to the teen years, and beyond upon this
promise that you will never flout your parents.
Valli : But Mamma, I need to share with you a story of dead cow.
Mother : No Valli, not now. I will listen to your story tomorrow. Go to your room
and prepare yourself for the upcoming test.
IX.
(i) Mrs Hall was responsible for her disgrace to some extent. She should have asked
his
guest to produce his identity. But she just ignored. Consequently, she had to
become
a part of such a brouhaha.
Griffin came to Iping and it was a slack time of the year. When Even Mrs Hall did
not expect a guest in the winter season, as it was bitterly cold. She compromised
with standard operational etiquette. It was vitally important for her to find the
whereabouts of the strange and spooky man who appeared to be covered in
bandages. It is distinctly clear from the story that Mrs Hall was only concerned
about
the payment that she received from the stranger. She should have confirmed the
profession of Griffin and if she smelt anything dubious, she could have outrightly
rejected his request of stay in the hotel. Therefore, we can say that she was
solely
responsible for her disgrace.
OR
( ii ) The lady managed to deceive Horace Danby into thinking that she was the lady
of the
house with her subtle ways; and Horace’s only fault was that he failed to get
enough
information about the real occupants of the house. He seems to be too occupied
with collecting information about the house map, wiring and location of valuable
items. Although he was smart enough to know the dog’s actual name, he overlooked
getting information about the occupants of the house. When he landed in trouble
with the appearance of the young lady, his clever mind gave way to carelessness,
leading him to open the safe without wearing gloves that landed him to jail. What
makes it more ridiculous is that the lady in red even managed to know the name of
the dog which Danby ignored and as a result he could establish a reliable connect
with the dog.
zzz
Sample Papers
41
SAMPLE PAPER
[SOLVED]
12
Max. Marks: 80
(). Question Paper–2023 Solved

General Instructions: Same as CBSE Sample
SECTION–A
(Reading Skills)
(20 Marks)

(10 marks)
(1) It is rare to find someone with good technical and communication skills. You
can get
far ahead of your colleagues if you combine the two early in your career. People
will
judge, evaluate, promote or block you based on your communication skills. Since
habits
form by repeating both good and bad forms of communication, learn to observe great
communicators and adopt their styles and traits—in written and verbal forms. The
art of
listening and learning from each and every interaction, is another secret recipe.
Develop
the subconscious habit of listening to yourself as you speak and know when to
pause.
(2) Learning what not to say is probably more important than learning what to say.
As your
career develops, you will realise that the wise speak less. Speak when you have
value
to add, else refrain. Poorly constructed emails with grammatical errors are
acceptable
between friends, but they should be seriously avoided while communicating formally
with your seniors. Avoid any communication in an emotional state when you might say
things you will regret later. One unnecessary word uttered at the wrong time or
place
can ruin a relationship, career or even your life. Such is the power of words. If
such a
thing happens, you should immediately apologise, else it may haunt you for life.
(3) Another problem to overcome is speaking too fast. Since our minds work faster
than our
speech, we are inclined to speak fast. This does not necessarily mean that the
person
hearing it will get it any faster. On the contrary, it is always the reverse. So
slow down,
and think before you speak. ‘‘When I get ready to speak to people,’’ Abraham
Lincoln
said, ‘‘I spend two-thirds of the time thinking what they want to hear and one-
third
thinking what I want to say.’’ Adding humour and wit is also essential. But realise
that
not all jokes are funny and observe certain boundaries. Never say anything that
could
offend. Remember you are not a comedian who must offend as many people as you can
to be witty.
(1×10 = 10)
(i) What does the author prefer more over what to say? (Paragraph 2)
(a) To listen to the best orators (b) To listen to political leaders
(c) To learn formal communication (d) To prefer what not to say
42

( ii) What idea does the author suggest in order to excel in life? (Paragraph 1)
(a) To get expertise in technical communication
(b) To avoid speaking too fast
(c) To integrate good technical and communication skill
( (d) To be amusing while addressing a formal gathering
iii ) Select the option that displays what the writer projects, with reference to
the
following:
Adding humour and wit is also essential. (Paragraph 3)
It suggests that:
(a) it’s important to incorporate some humour while you speak
(b) it’s imperative to reflect wit when you address the gathering
(c) the speakers should be subconscious when they are to address the gathering
(
(d) Both (a) and (b)
) Complete the following with a phrase from paragraph 2.
iv
Opinion
Reason
If such a thing happens, you should _________________________________

immediately apologise, else it may
haunt you for life.
(v) State 1 factor how you can be way ahead from your friends in your career.
(vi) Based on your reading of the text, list two ways how to form good habits.
(vii) Why should you be careful when you tend to be humorous?
(viii) What restriction has been imposed by the author when you are in an emotional
state? (Pargragph 2)
(a) To make tall claims (b) To make promises
(c) To shed tears (d) To avoid any communication
(ix) Supply 1 point to justify the following:
Speak when you have value to add, else refrain.
(x) Select the correct option to complete the sentence given below.
The closing statement of the passage sounds damn __________________.
a () cautioning () reprimanding
b
c () upbraiding () chiding
d
II. Read the passage given below:
(10 marks)
(1) Our history makes it evident that the Indian Plastics Industry made a vigorous
beginning in 1957, but it took more than 30 years for it to pervade Indian
lifestyles.
In 1979, the market for plastic was just being seeded by the state-owned Indian
Petrochemicals and it was only in 1994 that plastic soft drink bottles became a
visible
source of annoyance.
(2) In the same year, people in other cities were concerned about the state of
public
sanitation and also urged regulatory bodies to ban the production, distribution and
use of plastic bags. However, the challenge was greater than it appeared at first.
Sample Papers
43
(3) The massive generation of plastic waste in India is due to rapid urbanisation,
spread
of retail chains, plastic packaging from grocery to food and vegetable products,
to consumer items and cosmetics. The projected high growth rates of GDP and
continuing rapid urbanisation suggests that India’s trajectory of plastic
consumption
and plastic waste is likely to increase.
Global Plastics Production, 1950 to 2020
Our World
in Data
Annual global polymer resin and fiber production

(plastic production), measured in metric tonnes per year
World
400 million tonnes

350 million tonnes
300 million tonnes
250 million tonnes
200 million tonnes
150 million tonnes
100 million tonnes
50 million tonnes
0 tonnes
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2015
2020
(4) According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Report of 2018,
India stands among few other countries like France, Mongolia and several African
countries that have initiated total or partial national level bans on plastics in
their
jurisdictions. On World Environment Day in 2018, India vowed to phase out singleuse
plastics by 2022, which gave a much-needed impetus to bring this change.
(5) In this context, thereafter, ten states (Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat,
Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, Odisha, Rajasthan
and Tamil Nadu) are currently sending their collected waste to cement plants for
co-processing. Twelve other states/UTs are using plastic waste for polymer bitumen
road construction and still four other states are using the plastic waste for
waste-toenergy plants and oil production. A world of greater possibilities has now
opened
up to initiate appropriate and concrete actions to build up the necessary
institutions
and systems before oceans turn, irreversibly, into a thin soup of plastic.
(6) However, there is no one single masterstroke to counter the challenges
witnessed
by the staggering plastic waste management in the country. The time is now to
formulate robust and inclusive National Action Plans, and while doing so, the
country will establish greater transparency to combat the plastic jeopardy in a
more
sustainable and holistic way.
44

(1×10=10)
i
() Infer one reason for the following, based on the information given in paragraph
6.
The country will establish greater transparency to combat the plastic jeopardy in a
more sustainable and holistic way.
ii() Select the appropriate option to fill in the blanks. (Paragraph 3)
The massive generation of plastic waste in India is due to_________________, spread
of retail chains, _____________________ and vegetable products.
(a) partial national level bans
(b) rapid urbanisation
(c) plastic packaging from grocery to food
(d) both (b) and (c)
(iii) Complete the following analogy correctly with a word/phrase from paragraph 4:
_______________: impulsion : : perseverance : tolerance
(iv) Select the correct option to complete the following sentence. (Paragraph 6)
The time is now to formulate ________________ and inclusive National Action Plans.
(a) concerted (b) muscular
(c) vigorous (d) none of these
(v) With reference to the graph, write one conclusion that can be drawn about the
production of plastic in 2019.
‘The challenge was greater than it appeared at first.’ The challenge was
________________.
(a) to urge the authorities to impose partial ban on plastic
(b) to implement total ban on giving licence to units
(c) to gauge the risk of plastic
(d) to urge regulatory bodies to ban the production, distribution and use of
plastic
bags
(vii) Substitute ‘the path followed by a projectile flying or an object’ with ONE
WORD
similar in meaning, from paragraph 3.
(viii) When did the plastic industry make vigorous beginning?
(ix) Discuss the steps taken to combat the challenges of plastic waste.
(x) Select the option that suggests a suitable title.
(a) Safe Disposal of Plastic
(b) Indian Plastic Industry: Rise and Challenge
(c) Plastic Waste Management
(d) A World of Plastic
Sample Papers
45
SECTION–B
(Grammar)
(10 Marks)
III. Attempt ANY TEN of the following questions.

() The ACC ________________ the date of examination to recruit soldiers and train
i
them to become commissioned officers in the Indian Army.
a b
() will announce () has announced
() to be announced () announcing
c d
ii
() Read the conversation between Amit and Shlok. Complete the sentence by reporting
Shlok’s statement correctly.
Amit
: you going to Delhi today?
Are
Shlok
No,: I am coming with Devendra. He will start day after tomorrow.
Amit rang up Shlok and asked whether he was going to Delhi the following day. In
response to this, Shlok replied _________________________.
(iii) Select the correct option to fill in the blank for the given line, from the
speech of the
school President.
I ____________________ admit, the trek which we thought would be a boring and
term.
exhausting experience was one of the most enjoyable experiences we have had this
(a) must (b) should

(c) need (d) would
the
following line, from a news report:
Every inhabitant of planet Earth depend on water for their survival and their
dayto-day activities.
Option no.
()theirthere
error
correction
()dependdepends b
c
()everyeach
()and or
d
(v) Complete the given narrative, by filling in the blank with the correct option.
If you move around hoping your problems _____________________, they won’t.
(a) will solve (b) will solved
(c) will have solved (d) will be solved
the given
portion of a letter:
Subject: Electricity problem in the locality
Please _________________ (publish) an article in your esteemed daily, so that the
authorities should focus on that and take any action against the situation. So that
we
will be free from the current worst condition of the electricity breakdown.
46

(vii) Report the dialogue between Aman and a confectioner, by completing Aman’s
sentence:
How may I :help you, child?
Confectioner
I am looking
for an eggless cake for my granny’s birthday.
Aman:
The confectioner on noticing a small child Aman, asked him affectionately
_____________________. In response to the question of the confectioner, Aman
replied that he was looking for an eggless cake for his granny’s birthday.
(viii) Identify the error in the given sentence, from an e-magazine report and
supply the
correction.
In the last decade, conservationists and academics have turned his attention to
studying the best ways to install these natural features in the North.
errorcorrection
(ix) The class teacher shared some information, with Prakriti, about the Open
House.
Report class teacher’s question.
Why were your parents absent, yesterday?
local
counselor of your ward.
__________________ we afford to survive without trees? Think twice.
(a) Can (b) Should
(c) Will (d) May
(xi) Select the correct option to complete the conversation between Abhigyan and
Anmol.
Abhigyan : Anmol, why did you not attend the Biology class yesterday?
Anmol : Actually, I was practising for my Physics test.
Abhigyan asked ______________________________. Anmol replied that he had been
practising for his Physics test, actually.
(a) Anmol why he has not attended the Biology class last day.
(b) Anmol that why he has not attended the Biology class last day.
(c) Anmol why he had not attended the Biology class last day.
(d) Anmol why he has not attended the Biology class yesterday.
(xii) Identify the error spotted from a local newspaper and supply the correction
required:
Save Wildlife
Its all part of an effort to find ways to protect coastal communities and make
space for wildlife.
error
Sample Papers
correction
47
SECTION–B
(10 Marks)

(A)
(5 marks)
You are Arnav / Athiya, a resident of Surya Nagar Colony, Vadodara, Gujarat. You
noticed that the curb on wearing masks has been lifted but even then, we, as
sincere
citisen need to be responsible and wear masks religiously.
Write a letter to the editor of The Gujarat Times, drawing attention towards the
same. Explain how such acts impact the health of the community and requesting
immediate intervention and strict action against the violators.
OR
(B) Whenever a child is restless, they are given to play a video on mobile phone.
Children
also use it as bait and they refuse to eat. In no time, your child becomes obsessed
with screens. Mobile phones have become a common fad these days.
Write a letter to the editor requesting to publish an article voicing your opinion
and
concern that the children are being physically inactive while sitting over time
with a
mobile phone.
Assign yourself as Nidhi Kamat, Vasant Kunj Lane, Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh.
(A)
(5 marks)
Habits take time to develop. It doesn’t happen overnight. When you find yourself
engaging in an unhealthy habit, stop as quickly as possible as it leads to obesity.
Analyse the given statement and write a paragraph with the help of points mentioned
below
OOReinforce your new, healthy habits and be patient with yourself.
OOEat only when you’re truly hungry.
OOPlan meals ahead of time.
(B)
OR
Homelessness is not a condition unknown to children in India. Situations like
natural disasters and conflicts render many homeless or force them to live in
unsafe
housing conditions. Living on the streets or in urban slum dwellings, lack of basic
facilities and unhygienic living conditions become a way of life.
In view of the above remarks, write a paragraph analysing the mentioned points
given below.
OOChildren in Especially Difficult Circumstances
OOOrphaned and Abandoned Child
OOMigrant Children
OOChild Labour
OOChild Trafficking
OOChild Suffering from Abuse
48
SECTION–C
(Literature)
(40 Marks)

(10 marks)
(5 marks)
(A)
The moon was coming up in the east, behind me, and stars were shining in the clear
sky above me. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky. I was happy to be alone high up
above
the sleeping countryside. I was flying my old Dakota aeroplane over France back to
England. I was dreaming of my holiday and looking forward to being with my family.
I looked at my watch at one thirty in the morning. I should call Paris Control
soon. I
thought. As I looked down past the nose of the aeroplane, I saw the lights of a big
city in
front of me.
(i) Why did the pilot think of calling Paris Control?
(a) Because he was unable to see anything
(b) Because there were clouds in the sky
(c) Because he wanted to know the weather before the start
(d) Because he wanted to change his plan
(ii) Which direction do you think the pilot was heading to?
The thought of the coming holiday and the time the pilot would spend with his
family made him ________________________.
(iv) ‘I saw the lights of a big city in front of me.’ What is the light the pilot
is referring to?
(a) Lights and bulbs of the city (b) Lights of the high rise
(c) Lights of the runway (d) Both (a) and (b)
(v) How was the weather initially according to the pilot?
(a) Favourable (b) Adverse
(c) Cloudy (d) Full of black clouds
OR
: Excuse my interrupting you. You say, “my Oxen Meadows”. But are they
(B) Natalya
yours?
:Lomov
Yes, mine.
: What are you talking about? Oxen Meadows are ours, not yours!
Natalya
:Lomov
No, mine, honoured Natalya Stepanova.
: Well, I never knew that before. How do you make that out?
Natalya
: How? I’m speaking of those Oxen Meadows which are wedged in between
Lomov
your birchwoods and the Burnt Marsh.
: Yes, yes... they’re ours.
Natalya
: No, you’re mistaken, honoured Natalya Stepanova, they’re mine.
Lomov
:
Just
think,
Ivan Vassilevitch! How long have they been yours?
Natalya
()i Select the option that doesn’t correctly capture the usage of the word ‘make
out’
from the 5th line of the extract.
a I could not make out what the reason of the furore was.
()
b The children didn’t make out what was instructed.
()
Sample Papers
49
(c) She makes herself out to be smarter than she really is.
(d) None of these
(ii) Complete the analogy by selecting the suitable word from the extract.
restricted : proscribed : : respected : _______________
(iii) “How long have they been yours”? What is ‘they’ referred to here?
(a) Burnt Marsh (b) Oxen Meadows
(c) Birchwoods (d) None of these
(iv) Who does the Oxen Meadows actually belong to?
(a) Lomov (b) Chubukov
(c) Natalya (d) Can’t be determined
(v) Based on the extract, recall any two incidents of Mr Chubukov’s welcoming
attitude
when Lomov first appeared in the scene.
All night the roots work
(A)
to disengage themselves from the cracks
in the veranda floor.
The leaves strain toward the glass
small twigs stiff with exertion
long-cramped boughs shuffling under the roof
like newly discharged patients
half-dazed, moving
to the clinic doors.
(5 marks)
(The Trees)
(i) The poet has used ‘The Trees’ signifying their effort, by giving them symbolic
meanings different from their literal meanings. Identify the poetic device used
here.
(ii) It appears that the leaves of the trees strive hard to put immense pressure on
the
glass window, so that ____________________.
(a) it could exhibit its vigour (b) they could break it and go outside
(c) it could heave a sigh of relief (d) none of these
(iii) State whether the following statement is TRUE or FALSE.
The poem shows women as trees because the women have been liberated in the
homes.
(iv) Select the most suitable option to complete the sentence that the extract
demonstrates. The small twigs have become very hard due to applying so much
pressure __________________.
(a) to free themselves
(b) to show their solidarity
(c) to scare the conventional set up of the society
(d) to reunite with the lost boughs and twigs
(v) How does the use of imagery impact this extract?
(a) It evokes a mental image or other kinds of sense impressions.
50

(b) It exploits the different possible meanings of a word that there are words
which
sound alike but have different meanings.
(c) It leads to a conclusion that seems logically unacceptable or self-
contradictory.
(d) It raises an exclamation by addressing to a person (typically one who is dead
or
absent) or a thing.
OR
Never shall a young man
thrown into despair
By those great honey coloured
Ramparts at your ear
Love you for yourself alone And
not your yellow hair
(B)
(i) ‘Never shall a young man’ reminds us of _______________________. (Hint: when

the
structure of a sentence is changed by the poet to create rhyme)
(a) Metaphor (b) Hyperbole
(c) Inversion (d) Oxymoron
(ii) What makes the young men fall in love with her, according to the stanza?
(iii) The poet says that no one can love Anne, for what she is. One can love her
only for
__________________.
(a) her outward beauty
(b) her beautiful yellow hair and her physical beauty
(c) her innocence
(d) her witty nature
(iv) Complete the analogy about the poet’s hair
precise: crisp :: _________: wretchedness
(v) Select the sentence in which the word ‘love’ is used in the similar manner as
line 5
of the stanza.
() The love of his life is be loyal to his beloved.
a () Love thy country and respect your countrymen.
b () Love has always been treacherous to me.
c
() Love knows no boundary, no country, no caste.
d
i
ii
iii
iv
v
(4×3=12)
() ‘Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run.’ How do you think this statement
would
work for the young seagull?
() Discuss what Frost wants to convey through the poem ‘Fire and Ice’.
() Valli’s venture to the town brings an alarm to the parents. Elucidate.
() Give the character sketch of the dragon.
() Chubukov’s attempt to appease Lomov is no strange in context with today’s
scenario
where marriage of Indian daughters is concerned. Comment.
Sample Papers
51
VII. Answer ANY TWO of the following in about 40-50 words each.
(2×3=6)
i
() Do you think Mrs Pumphrey’s overindulgence would not let Tricky lead a healthy
lifestyle? Give reason for your answer.
ii
() Fowler was disappointed to see Ausable. Validate the statement.
() All might have been well, had Griffin woken up on time in the store. Elucidate
the
iii
statement.
(1×6=6)
i
() Imagine that you met Rajvir and discussed with him more about tea plantation.
Develop the conversation.
OR
( ii) One should understand that human beings are mortal and no one can escape
death.
Revelations made by Lord Buddha teach us so.
Share two key opinions from what you learnt from the lesson ‘The Sermon at
Benares’.
(1×6=6)
i
() Hari Singh’s change of heart surprised everyone and a seasoned thief like Hari
Singh was forced to change his ways. Show your acquaintance with the statement
analysing the chapter ‘A Question of Trust’.
OR
( ii) Hari Singh (A Thief’s Story) and the lady (A Question of Trust) in red were
alike.
Validate the statement by giving valid reasons.
zOzOz
52

(20 Marks)
I. (i) (d) To prefer what not to say

(ii) (c) To integrate good technical and communication skill
(iii) (d) Both (a) and (b)
(iv) If one unnecessary word uttered at the wrong time or place
(v) If you are equipped with the good technical and communication skills.
(vi) Repeat both good and bad forms of communication, learn to observe great
communicators and adopt their styles and traits — in written and verbal forms.
(vii) So that you don’t appear to be a comedian and refrain from making any loose
comments.
(viii) (d) To avoid any communication
(ix) Yes, it’s better to be a wise man of one word rather than to be a moron of
more
words.
(x) (a) cautioning
(i) Because plastic can release harmful chemicals into the surrounding soil
II.
(ii) (d) both (b) and (c)
(iii) Impetus
(iv) (b) muscular
(v) It suggests that India’s trajectory of plastic production was increasing.
(vi) (d) To urge regulatory bodies to ban the production, distribution and use of
plastic
bags
(vii) Trajectory
(viii) In 1957
(ix) Mandating scientific sterilization and the use of sealed bags for safe
disposal of
contaminated plastic wastes should be immediately taken care of.
(x) (b) Indian Plastic Industry: Rise and Challenge
SECTION–B: Grammar
(10 Marks)
III. (i) (b) has announced

(ii) in negative and informed him that he was coming with Devendra and further
added
that he would start the day after.
(iii) (a) must
(iv) (b) depend–depends
(v) (d) will be solved
(vi) publish
(vii) how he might help him
(viii) error–his, correction–their
Sample Papers
53
(ix) The class teacher asked Prakriti why her parents had been absent the previous
day.
(x) (a) Can
(xi) (c) Anmol why he had not attended the Biology class last day.
(xii) error– its, correction–it’s
(10 Marks)
IV. 1. (A) B-36, Surya Nagar

Vadodara, Gujarat
13 June, 20XX
The Editor
The Gujarat Times
Vadodara
Subject: Regarding wearing masks and Covid protocols
Sir
attention of the concerned authorities towards the negligence of people for Covid
protocols.
It seems some people have forgotten that there ever was a pandemic. Weddings and
leisure activities are almost back in full-swing, while religious centres are
turning
into potential hotspots. Social distancing isn’t being followed. We have been
careless.
We were maintaining social distance, and wearing masks when the lockdown was in
place. Some people hope that merely trust in God and religion will safeguard them
from the coronavirus, and deem measures including facemasks unnecessary.
Therefore, you’re requested to kindly publish an article in your newspaper making
appeal to the common masses about the same.
Sincerely yours
Arnav Baisoya
OR
1. (B) Vasant Kunj Lane, Ayodhya
Uttar Pradesh
12 August, 20XX
The Editor
The Times of India
Prayagraj
54

Subject: Excessive use of mobile phones and its impact
Dear Sir
attention of the concerned authorities towards increased risk of expressive use of
mobile phones.
The early stage of life plays a critical role in the development of a child. It is
the time
in which most of the essential development takes place, one of it being the
language
or speech development. In this fast-moving world, technology has become an
integral part of our existence. We have enslaved ourselves to this web of
technology,
where most of our activities are somewhere or the other hitched to it.
It is because of this fact when a new life comes into existence before learning
anything, he first acquires the skill of holding a device in his hand. I don’t
think
it’ll be a good idea to offer the cell phones to the young ones just to avoid your
involvement. Hope you’d publish my appeal through a piece of article in your
esteemed newspaper.
Thanking you
Yours Sincerely
Nidhi Kamat
2. (A)
KEEPING THE WEIGHT OFF

Permanent weight loss is a result of making changes to eating habits that become a
long-term part of a healthier lifestyle. Unhealthy eating habits should be analysed
and must be avoided. You should plan when to eat and eat only when you are
truly hungry instead of when you are tired, anxious, or feeling an emotion besides
hunger. If you find yourself eating when you are experiencing an emotion besides
hunger, such as boredom or anxiety, try to find a non-eating activity to do
instead.
You may find a quick walk or a phone call with a friend which will help you feel
better. Plan meals ahead of time to ensure that you eat a healthy well-balanced
meal.
OR
FACTS ABOUT CHILD HOMELESSNESS
2. (B)
Few know child homelessness and regard it as a serious issue. It is certainly an

issue that greatly impacts India. But have you ever thought why the number is so
high and the consequences that stem from it. In order to better comprehend the
epidemic of child homelessness in India, it is important to first understand the
factors
contributing to this continued rise and the impacts stemming from this issue. Young
boys and girls can typically find work doing small jobs. On a daily basis, children
fight for their survival, facing poverty, abuse and exploitation. As the population
continues to grow, the rate of child homelessness in India can expect to grow too.
However, while it is important to recognise the severity of child homelessness in
the
country, it is just as crucial to understand the ways in which varying groups are
already mobilising to tackle this issue.
Sample Papers
55
(40 Marks)
() (c) Because
he wanted to know the weather before the start
V. 1. (A)
i
() Westii
() happy
iii
() (c) Lights
of the runway
iv
() (a)vFavourable
OR
() None
of these
1. (B)
i
() honoured
ii
() (b) Oxen
Meadows
iii
() (d) Can’t
be determined
iv
() 1. vAn angel
2. A darling
() Personification
2. (A)i
() (b) they
ii could break it and go outside
() False
iii
() (a) to
iv free themselves
v() (c) It leads to a conclusion that seems logically unacceptable or self-
contradictory.
OR
() (c) Inversion
2. (B)i
() Her ii
outward appearance
() (b) her
iii beautiful yellow hair and her physical beauty
() despair
iv
() (b)vLove thy country and respect your countrymen.
() Yes, it’s true in the case of the young seagull. Life is full of trials and
tribulations
i
which
can be overcome by a human being through his own efforts. Simply with the
VI.
crutches of excuse and procrastination, no one can reach their destination.
(ii) The poet wants to convey through the poem ‘Fire and Ice’ that everything in
this
world is certain to deplete. The poet says that both fire and ice are destructive.
Fire
of violent desires will put the world to an end. If the world had to perish twice
then it
will be perished by the hatred between humans. Ice has been presented as a symbol
of hatred.
(iii) Yes, it is absolutely true that Valli’s venture to the town has brought an
alarm to
the parents. When it comes to parenting, sometimes the way instructions are given
can be just as important as what you’re trying to communicate. Valli has flouted a
standard norm and has definitely raised a concern for parents.
(iv) Custard was a coward dragon who always kept asking for safe passage. Everyone
else in the house was very brave. Belinda was as brave as a barrel full of bears,
Ink and Blink could chase lions and Mustard as brave as an angry tiger. While the
dragon was the only one, who feared a lot and looked for a nice safe cage for
himself.
(v) The play is indeed a beautiful portrayal of the contemporary society. There are
many girls whose marriage is not solemnised because their parents can’t afford to
pay dowry. Chubukov didn’t give a second thought to the proposal and agreed to
56

what Lomov offered. As a responsible father, he should have thought about his
daughter’s well-being and would have hopped to the decision.
VII. (i) It is evident from the story that Mrs Pumphrey’s overindulgence did not
let Tricky
lead a healthy lifestyle. The doctor knew that Tricki was not ill but just
overweight
and restless due to his mistress. He did not require any medical treatment and
recovered quite well at the end. It can be called a real-life episode for the
people
who take excessive care of their children and hence, spoil their habits.
ii) Fowler was actually taken aback the moment he spotted Ausable. He had a
(
preoccupied notion in his mind about his meeting with Ausable. He had thought
Ausable would have a natural, adaptable and high functioning ability to interact
with others.
iii) Griffin had to face the disgrace because of his own wrong doings. He was
caught
(
because he could not wake up in time. He had been without any sleep for quite some
time. When he found himself comfortable on the quilts there in the store, he forgot
that he was on a run and would be caught any moment if people spotted anything
dubious.
() Hi Rajvir! Hope you had a comfortable stay in Assam.
VIII. i You
: how did you know I was off to Assam.
Well,
:
PranjolRajvir
is my neighbour
who lives next door of my house.
You
:
Oh…..are you Jatin?
Yeah….Rajvir :
YouWell,
:
Pranjol discussed a lot about you that you own acres and acres of land
Rajvir :
in Assam.
Not exactly, but yes, a small piece of land that I inherited from my father.
You : That is right next to his father’s property. But I had wonderful harvest this
time. I would love if you visit sometime in a good season.
Rajvir : Yeah… sure.
OR
( ii) It’s important to learn that life is nothing but a walking shadow. No one in
this world
is rich enough to avoid his or her death. There is no way a living being can avoid
facing death. The only thing we should learn is that this life is the most precious
gift
we have ever got from the almighty. One can avoid death by renouncing selfishness
and all worldly pleasures. We learnt from the chapter that one should not grieve,
weep or lament over the loss of someone close to your heart. Weeping and lamenting
about someone or something only adds miseries and woes, and keeps man away
from obtaining peace of mind. It will only multiply the pain and suffering thus,
leading to physical weakness and moreover, no amount of grief would bring back
the dead.
(i) Hari Singh’s transformation was not a deliberate act to some extent. He was in
fact
IX.
about to board the train, but in the meantime, his inner conscience held him back.
He thought that Anil would feel sad not for loss of money but for the loss of trust
he had reposed in him. Moreover, he did not want to lose the chance of learning.
His inner self was transformed. His heart changed because he preferred to be an
educated man and decided to return back and placed the money back to its place.
So, the sudden change we spotted in Hari Singh who realised that stealing was
Sample Papers
57
completely different to getting educated. The change in him was ideally due to the
prospect of getting education and live in the society with integrity and high
regards.
( ii
OR
) The lady in red was entirely different from Hari Singh of ‘The Thief’s Story’.
She
never showed any glimmer of animation while duping Horace Danby. She beautifully
managed to pose as the wife of the owner with great precision. Danby’s offer to
help
the lady with the safe and his attempt to unlock it speaks much how meticulous he
was. At least, Hari Singh eventually realised that it was unethical to ditch a
simple
man like Anil. But the lady in red didn’t think even once before abusing Danby’s
immense faith that he showed when she appeared in the scene. Her dealing with the
dog is a true specimen of how intelligent and sharp-witted she was. She made the
dog enjoy her company. She subtly told Horace that she wished to wear the jewels to
the night party. She made him open the safe without gloves and sneaked away with
it.
zOzOz
58

3
SAMPLE PAPER
[SOLVED]
Max. Marks: 80

).
SECTION–A
(Reading Skills)
(20 Marks)

(10 marks)
(1) Do you ever feel there’s a greater being inside of you bursting to get out? It
is the voice
that encourages you to really make something of your life. When you act congruently
with that voice, it’s like you are a whole new person. You are bold and courageous.
You
are strong. You are unstoppable. But, then reality sets in, and soon those moments
are history. It is not hard to put yourself temporarily into an emotionally
motivated
state. Just listen to that motivational song for that matter. However, this
motivation does
not stay forever. Your great ideas seem impractical. How many times have you been
temporarily inspired with an idea like, “I want to start my own business.” And then
a
week later it’s forgotten! You come up with inspiring ideas when you are motivated.
But
you fail to maintain that motivation through the action phase.
(2) The problem we ask ourselves is: Why does this happen? You can listen to
hundreds
of motivational speakers and experience an emotional yo-yo effect, but it does not
last.
The problem is that as we are intellectually guided, we try to find logic in
emotional
motivation and as we fail to find logic, eventually it all fizzles out. I used to
get frustrated
when my emotional motivation fizzled out after a while. Eventually, I realised that
being
guided by intellect was not such a bad thing after all. I just had to learn to use
my
mind as an effective motivational tool. I figured that if I was not feeling
motivated to
go after a particular goal, may be there was a logical reason for it. I noted that
when I
had strong intellectual reasons for doing something, I usually did not have any
trouble
taking action.
(3) But when my mind thinks a goal is wrong on some level, I usually feel blocked.
I
eventually realised that this was my mind’s way of telling me that the goal was a
mistake
to begin with. Sometimes, a goal may seem to make sense on one level but when you
look
further upstream, it becomes clear that the goal is ill-advised. Suppose you work
in sales,
and you get a goal to increase your income by 20% by becoming a more effective
sales
person. That seems like a reasonable and intelligent goal. But may be you are
surprised
to find yourself encountering all sorts of internal blocks when you try to pursue
it. You
should feel motivated but you just don’t. The problem may be that on a deeper level
your mind knows you don’t want to be working in sales at all. You really want to be
a musician. No matter how hard you push yourself in sales career, it will always be
a
motivational dead end.
Sample Papers
59
(4) Further when you set goals, that are too small and too timid, you suffer a
perpetual lack
of motivation. You just need to summon the courage to acknowledge your true
desires.
Then you will have to deal with the self-doubt and fear that’s been making you
think
too small. Ironically, the real key to motivation is to set the goals and scare
you. You are
letting fears, excuses, limiting beliefs hold you back. Your subconscious mind
knows that
you are strong, so it won’t provide any motivational fuel until you step up, face
your
fears, and acknowledge your heart’s desire. Once you finally decide to face your
fears
and drop the excuses, then you will find your motivation turning on full blast.
(1×10=10)
(i) What does the author want to convey when he says, “When you look further
upstream, it becomes clear that the goal is ill-advised”?
(ii) According to the passage, the key to motivation is _________________________ .
(iii) Replace the word ‘timid’ with the most suitable one identified from the
passage.
So, he sat there trembling and afraid; for he was a timid, bashful man and did not
like to be noticed.
(iv) Which of the following is the most suitable title for the passage?
(a) Living Life with Success
(b) Why don’t we Feel Motivated?
(c) How to Achieve Intellectual Success?
(d) Feel Motivated, Feel High-spirited
(v) What does the author mean when he says, “It eventually fizzles out.”
(a) We need continuous focus on goals.
(b) It reduces because of lack of practice.
(c) We become self-motivated with time.
(d) It slowly goes away as time passes.
(vi) Which amongst the following is the nearest to ‘congruently’ in meaning?
(a) Periodically (b) In delusion
(c) Progressively (d) In agreement
(vii) According to the passage, the author says about the emotional motivation
that:
(a) it tends to be temporary.
(b) it has the potential to mislead us.
(c) both (a) and (b)
(d) neither (a) nor (b)
(viii) “When you are setting goals that are too small, you ___________.”
(ix) According to the passage, to get true motivation you first have to:
(a) acknowledge your true desires
(b) deal with your self-doubt
(c) not let your fears hold you back
(d) all of these
(x) Complete the sentence as per your understanding of the passage.
“Your subconscious mind knows that you are strong, so it doesn’t let you
___________.”
60

(10 marks)
Carbon Emissions by Countries

1,600,000
1,400,000
1,200,000
197
5
199
0
200
5
1,000,000
800,000
600,000
400,000
In
dia
Ca
na
da
Ch
ina
Un
ite
dK
ing
do
m
US
A
200,000
Ge
rm
an
y
Thousand metric tonnes
1,800,000
(1) This bar chart compares the emission of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere of
six
countries, including two of them coming from emerging nations, for three decades
starting from 1975 to 2005. As an overall assessment, it can clearly be seen that
only
Germany and United Kingdom managed to reduce the carbon emissions compared to
the other countries.
(2) USA being the number one polluter of all, emitted 1,200,000 thousand metric
tonnes in
1975 and this count increased to 1,300,000 and 1,600,000 thousand metric tonnes in
1990
and 2005, respectively. In contrast, the carbon emissions of China was nearly
300,000
metric tonnes in 1975 and it rose by nearly 100% in 1990 and surged dramatically to
just
below1,600,000 thousand metric tonnes in 2005. In terms of percentage increase,
China
was the largest contributor in carbon emissions of all.
(3) The figures for Germany and United Kingdom remained relatively stable
throughout
the period of time, and so were for Canada until 1990. The carbon dioxide emissions
in India increased exponentially from around 100,000 in 1995 to just below 400,000
thousand metric tonnes in 2005.
(1×10=10)
i () 2In terms of percentage increase, I was the largest contributor of CO.
Identify me.
() What do you think could be the possible reason for surging of CO emission in
million
ii2
tonnes?
a
() Lack of sustainable development
b
() Speedy development of large industries to make world’s powerful economy
c
() Both of these
d
() None of these
(iii) In year 2005, I was in India and realised that I should switch the country
and should
go to a place which is the least contributor of CO2. Which country have I landed
to?
Sample Papers
61
(iv) Which country has the lowest emission of CO2 in graph?
(a) Germany (b) United Kingdom
(c) Canada (d) India
(v) Which countries had the same level of CO2 emission in 1975 and 1990?
(a) Germany and Canada (b) United Kingdom and India
(c) India and France (d) USA and China
(vi) What is the highest quantity unit of global emission of CO2 by different
countries?
(a) 1,600,000 (b) 1,570,000
(c) 1,700,000 (d) 1,650,000
(vii) Which country had the minimum CO2 emission during 1975?
(a) India (b) China
(c) Germany (d) United Kingdom
(viii) Find the synonym of the word ‘hysterically’ from paragraph 4.
(ix) Find the antonym of the word ‘influx’ from the given passage.
(x) The bar chart compares the emission of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere of
six
countries, including two of them coming from emerging nations. Identify the two
nations from the given graph.
SECTION–B
(GRAMMAR)
(10 Marks)

i
Noida’s first wild animal rescue centre is likely ________________ end.
a b() by year () on year
c d () at year () of year
ii () Read the conversation between Mannu and Annu. Complete the sentence by
reporting it correctly.
Mannu
: are you going?
Where
Annu
: going to the market. Do you want anything?
I am
Mannu asked Annu ________________. Annu replied she was going to the market
and further asked if she wanted anything.
(iii) Select the correct option to fill in the blank for the given line, from an
article by
Penguin G.G. J who is considered one of the pioneers of the Gujrati short story.
His writing ________________ by a dramatic style, romanticism and powerful
depiction of human emotions.
(a) is characterised (b) has been characterised
(c) is characterising (d) characterises
the
following line, from an article.
Kalpana Chawla was on the top in the newspapers ever.
62

The center’s panel on air quality, CAQM, has directed the agencies ________________
to develop proper gas infrastructure in NCR before the next winter.
(a) was concerned (b) will be concerned
(c) is concerned (d) concerned
the given
portion of a letter.
Subject: Insanitary conditions in the colony
Respected Sir/Madam,
I ________________ (be) a resident of Ankur Enclave, for the past eleven years.
I would like to bring to your notice the sanitary conditions in our colony.
(vii) Report the dialogue, by completing the sentence.
Mr. Harish : Can you polish my shoes?
Cobbler : Yes sir. But I will take 10 Rupees for each shoe.
Mr. Harish : I will not mind as long as it is done.
Mr. Harish asked the cobbler could he polish his shoes. The cobbler replied
affirmatively and added but ______________.
(viii) Identify the error from a magazine report and choose the correct option.
The traffic police has deployed teams at various intersections in the city to issue
challans and impound old and polluting vehicles.
Option no.
()hashave
()onat
()inof
()evernever
error
correction
(ix) Place the correct form of the word in the blank:

While we are loath to place restrictions on language use, oxymoron usually refers
to
a set of ______________ (contradict) words rather than to a contradictory person.
(x) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option, to complete the slogan on
Independence Day.
Countless freedom fighters lost their ______________, and then we got a country to
survive.
(a) lives (b) lifes
(c) life (d) live
(xi) Transform the sentence from affirmative to negative:
As soon as the students saw the teacher, they rushed to their class.
(a) No sooner had the students seen the teacher, than they rushed to their class.
(b) No sooner have the students seen the teacher, than they rushed to their class.
(c) No sooner do the students see the teacher, than they rushed to their class.
(d) No sooner did the students see the teacher, than they rushed to their class.
Sample Papers
63
(xii) Identify the error on a newspaper headline and supply the correction, for the
following sentence:
Ahead of the hearing on Supreme Court where it has to give opinion on according
to Scheduled Caste status to Dalit.
error
correction
SECTION–B
(CREATIVE WRITING SKILLS)
(10 Marks)

(5)
(A)
You are a resident of Kamala Colony. There have been incidents of chain snatching
in your locality in the past 2-3 months. Your resident welfare association took it
up with the local police station requesting patrolling in the area after 6 p.m. and
surprise checks both of which have not happened. Write a letter to the editor of
the
local newspaper highlighting the attitude of the police authorities.
OR
You are Rama/Ramesh of D 105, Lajpat Nagar, New Delhi. You want information
about German Language courses at German Embassy, Chanakyapuri. New Delhi.
Write a letter to the director inquiring about the same.
(5)
The
given
double
bar
graph
shows
the
preferences
of
children
in
a
school
in
playing
(A)
different games over the span of six years. Write an analytical paragraph about the
given information.
(B)
500
Volleyball
Basketball
Number of People
450
400
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
OR
The given bar graph shows the increasing use of skin care products by women over
(B)
the period of three months. Write an analytical paragraph elaborating the given
information.
64

Products used by Women
Number of Times
35
Facewash
Sunscreen
Tonner
30
25
20
10
June
July
August
Products used by Men
Number of Times
35
Facewash
Sunscreen
Tonner
30
25
20
10
June
July
August
SECTION–C
(Literature)
(40 Marks)

(10 marks)
(5 marks)
(A)
The house—the only one in the entire valley—sat on the crest of a low hill. From
this
height one could see the river and the field of ripe corn dotted with the flowers
that
always promised a good harvest. The only thing the Earth needed was a downpour or
at least a shower. Throughout the morning, Lencho, who knew his fields intimately-
had
done nothing else but see the sky towards the north-east. (A letter to god)
(i) Based on the given extract, what is Lencho NOT likely to think while looking at
his
field?
(a) Such a blessing, God! Thank you!
(b) Just a downpour, God. And everything will be perfect.
(c) All set for the grand harvest. I’m going to be rich!
(d) I wish we have enough food to eat after this harvest.
Sample Papers
65
(ii) The field of corn dotted with flowers means that:
(a) not a single flower was bigger than a dot.
(b) the flowers were scattered across.
(c) the flowers were shaped like dots.
(d) the flowers had shrunk in size.
(iii) Based on the details of the house’s location, how can it best be described?
(iv) Lencho wished for a downpour or a heavy shower. Pick the option that correctly
matches.
(1) heavy rain (i) light rain that falls in very fine drops
(2) thunderstorm (ii) very heavy rain, tropical rain
(3) drizzle (iii) it’s coming down quite strong and you
get very wet very quickly
(4) torrential rain (iv) really heavy rain that comes very
suddenly
(5) downpour (v) is a violent, short-lived weather
disturbance associated with lightning,
thunder and strong, gusty winds.
(a) (1)—(ii), (2)—(iv), (3)—(v), (4)—(i), 5—(iii)
(b) (1)—(iv), (2)—(i), (3)—(iii), (4)—(v), 5—(ii)
(c) (1)—(v), (2)—(iii), (3)—(iv), (4)—(ii), 5—(i)
(d) (1)—(iii), (2)—(v), (3)—(i), (4)—(ii), 5—(iv)
(v) In the light of the statement “Man proposes God disposes,” fill the blanks.
Lencho
waited for downpour but received ___________ .
(B)
OR
From then on, his progress was rapid. He had no medicinal treatment of any kind but
all day he ran about with the dogs, joining in their friendly scrimmages. He
discovered
the joys of being bowled over, tramped on and squashed every few minutes. He became
an accepted member of the gang, an unlikely, silky little object among the shaggy
crew,
fighting like a tiger for his share at mealtimes and hunting rats in the old
henhouse at
night. He had never had such a time in his life.
(i) Place the word ‘scrimmages’ in the correct blank.
(a) He heard ________ coming from the hotel lobby.
(b) It is a colourless gas which possesses a characteristic _________ odour.
(c) The two players got into a _________ off the court and got suspended.
(d) He was angry about his ___________________ from the team.
(ii) How did the other dogs behave with Tricki?
(iii) Figurative device used in the expression, ‘fighting like a tiger’ is to
establish:
(a) Sharp comparison between tiger and Tricky
(b) A parallel between Tricky and crew
(c) Sharp contrast between tiger and Tricky
(d) Sharp comparison between crew and Tricky
66

(iv) ‘From then on, his progress was rapid’, What does ‘from then’ refer to here?
(a) Tricki’s surgery (b) Tricki’s medication
(c) Tricki’s fight with other animals (d) None of these
(v) Complete the analogy on preposition,
_______: over : : tramped : on
Has given my heart
(A)
A change of mood
And saved some part
Of a day I had rued.
(5 marks)
(Dust of Snow)
(i) The poet has mentioned that his heart was given a change of mood but its not
only
his heart but his entire self who has been given a change of mood. The poet has
tried to employ _____________________, a poetic technique that represents a part of
something that is substituted for the whole.
(ii) Mood swing is a common phenomenon among humans. Here it is caused due to
____________________ .
(iii) What does the poet mean when he says ‘had saved some part of the day’?
(a) no more regretful (b) still he can fix the damage
(a) situation is under control now (d) both (a) and (b)
(iv) I am the medium to bring change in the thought process of the poet. Guess who
I am?
(a) crow (b) hemlock tree
(c) snow (d) melancholic element
(v) Identify the correct use of ‘rue’ or its form in the following sentences.
(a) Robert heartily rued his abruptness, as the poor young wife sank back in a
deadly swoon.
(b) The rich maroon rue was mixed with a ribbon of black.
(c) People injured in accidents caused by the defective tire have threatened to
rue.
(d) None of these
(B)
OR
My head is full of whispers
which tomorrow will be silent.
Listen. The glass is breaking.
The trees are stumbling forward
into the night. Winds rush to meet them.
The moon is broken like a mirror,
its pieces flash now in the crown
of the tallest oak.
(The Trees)
Sample Papers
67
a
c
a
b
c
d
(i) What are the ‘whispers’ that the poet can hear?
(a) The sounds made by the outgoing trees
(b) The whistling of wind
(c) The soft banging of doors
(d) The stretching arms of tree
(ii) Recognise the intention of the poet and complete the analogy.
____________ : tree : : listen: human
(iii) I try to present Wind as human; I am _______________, a poetic device.
(iv) Match the nouns with its correct verbs:
A. Glass 1. breaking B. Wind 2. stumbling
C. Moon 3. rushing D. Tree 4. flashing
() A—3, B—2, C—1, D—4 () A—1, B—4, C—2, D—3
b
() A—4, B—2,C—1,D—3 () A—1, B—3, C—4, D—2
d
(v) Trees are symbolic to:
() nature and womanhood in particular
() nature and human being
() desires of human being
() barriers of life
i
ii
(4×3=12)
() The role of crow is vital in the transformed vision of the poet. Justify how.
() ‘God helps the ones who help themselves’. Substantiate this with reference to
the
chapter
‘Black Aeroplane’.
iii
() Can writing a diary be a way to vent out anxiety. Briefly explain taking the
reference
from Anne’s habit.
iv
() What terrified the pirate? Who killed him and how?
v
() ‘Will you please look at me when I’m speaking to you’?
Who do you think is speaking to Amanda?
(2×3=6)
i
() How can you say that Horace Danby was good and respectable but not completely
honest?
ii
() Richard’s project on the purpose of the twelve tiny gold spots on a monarch pupa
was highly valuable in two ways. List the two ways.
iii
() How does Think-Tank compare the Earth and Earthlings, with Mars and Martians?
i
(1×6=6)
() Mijbil and Seagull, both liked to be in their comfort zone and wished to be
liked by
their people.
Assume they both met each other at a sea beach of California and shared their
expedition. Write this conversation as per your understanding of the chapters
‘Mijbil the Otter’ and ‘The first Flight’.
68

OR
ii) Though the play revolves around three people, Russian society emerges as
an important character through the ongoings of the play and the thoughts and
interactions of its characters. Imagine yourself to be a historian who has been
invited to speak about nineteenth century upper class Russian society. Based on
your reading of the play, how might you decide it? Support your evaluation with
instances from the text.
(1×6=6)
() “Everyone must have a chance to reform”. How did Anil work upon these values
i
and succeed?
OR
( ii) Sense of insecurity and not understanding the true value can result to
destruction.
What was the cause of Matilda’s ruin? How could she have avoided it?
zzz
Sample Papers
69
(20 Marks)
I. (i) When you analyse your goal closely you realise that it is not what you
thought it
would be
(ii) to gather strength
(iii) scared
(iv) (d) Feel Motivated, Feel High-spirited
(v) (d) It slowly goes away as time passes.
(vi) (d) In agreement
(vii) (a) It tends to be temporary
(viii) suffer a perpetual lack of motivation
(ix) (d) all of these
(x) choose the easy path
II.
(i) China
(ii) (c) Both of these
(iii) Canada
(iv) (c) Canada
(v) (b) United Kingdom and India
(vi) (a) 1,600,000
(vii) (a) India
(viii) exponentially
(ix) emitted
(x) USA and China
SECTION–B: (Grammar)
(10 Marks)
III.(i) (a) by year

(ii) where she was going
(iii) (a) is characterised
(iv) (b) on - at
(v) (d) concerned
(vi) am
(vii) he would take Rs.10 for each shoe.
(viii) has – have
(ix) contradictory
(x) (a) lives
(xi) (d) No sooner did the students see the teacher, than they rushed to their
class.
(xii) on – in
70

(10 Marks)
IV. 1. (A) A/11, Kamala Colony

Howrah
2 April, 20XX
The SHO
Bandipara P.S
Howrah
Subject: Frequent incidents of chain snatching
Sir,
This is to bring to your kind attention that splinter gangs of chain-snatchers are
on
the prowl at the areas like Bandipara, Kali Ghat and its surroundings.
Despite mobile police on bikes as well as in SUVs patrolling the roads round the
clock, the incidents of broad-day-light chain-snatching on the roads like Dalitram
Chowk and S.N. Banarjee Road reflect that the criminals are smarter than the cops
on patrolling duty.
The gang ride up to the victim in their motorcycle and ask for directions. At a
convenient time, they commit the crime and flee the scene. These chain snatchers
use
special tools and customised motorcycles. Special pliers are used to cut chains.
Many
boost the engine power of their bike by fitting imported carburetors and quick
action throttles.
You are requested to bring us relief and take strict action against such hooligans
and
ruffians.
Thanking you in anticipation.
Yours sincerely
ABC
OR
D 105, Lajpat Nagar
(B)
New Delhi
12 April, 20XX
The Director
German Embassy
Chanakyapuri
New Delhi
Subject: Enquiry regarding German Language Course
Sir
This is with reference to your advertisement regarding the courses in German
Language offered by your reputable institute. I want to state that I am currently
Sample Papers
71
in class X and preparing for my final examinations. I am very much interested in
learning a language and want to take it as a career. I’m also given to understand
that
this institute is by far the best as far as German Language learning is concerned
and
I would very much like to be a part of it.
Kindly send me the prospectus and the application form. I would be highly grateful
if you could provide me with the following information:
O the course structures
O scholarships, if any
O admission procedure
O eligibility criteria
Kindly send me the brochure along with the enrollment form for further formalities.
Sincerely yours
Rama Kashyap
2. (A)
(B)
72
The given double bar graph shows the preferences of children in a school in playing
different games over the period of six years i.e., from 2014 to 2019. The graph
shows that the highest number of children interested in playing volleyball is in
the
year 2016, whereas in the year 2019, very smaller number of children preferred
volleyball. The graph shows a hike in the game of volleyball again in the year
2018.
The data shows that the preference of people in basketball is almost constant, like
in the years 2014, 2017, and in 2018 same number of children showed interest in
it. Basketball got a slight hike of interested children in the year 2016, but a
decline
has been seen in it in 2019 which is equal to 2015. If we observe the graph, we can
see that children’s preference related to volleyball is continuously changing every
year. Although initially 200 children were interested in volleyball in 2014. Then
it
reached to 300 in 2015, the greatest hike of 450 in 2016, but it again declined to
250 children in 2017, it again showed a hike of 400 children in 2018 and the lowest
number of children’s i.e., only 150 in 2019. Whereas basketball was much preferred
in 2014 than volleyball. It shows a decline of 100 children in 2015, but again
reached
400 in 2016 and then remained same in 2017 and 2018. To conclude the data
shows that throughout the six years basketball was more preferred in comparison
to volleyball. Although data shows that volleyball has got the highest number of
interested children in 2016 but the numbers are constantly flickering which reached
the lowest and is less preferred by the children in the year 2019 also.
OR
The given bar graph shows the usage of skin care products by men and women over
the time of three months. The products used are facewash, toner and sunscreen.
The bar graph of men shows that the most used product by men is facewash. In
the month of June, the facewash was used around 33 times, in July 30 times and
in August 35 times. The toner was used around 27 times in the month of June, 20
times in July and around 33 times in the month of August. The sunscreen was used
29 times in the month of June, 25 times in July and 32 times in August.
The bar graph of women shows that the most used product is sunscreen. In the
month of June, the facewash was used 25 times, in July 22 times and in August 24
times. The toner was used 22 times in the month of June, in July 25 times and in
August 27 times. The sunscreen being the most used product was used 34 times in
June, 29 times in July and 35 times in August. To conclude the given information,
the usage of facewash by man saw a rise in the month of August and reached its
peak and usage of sunscreen by women saw its rise in the Month of August too,
reaching its peak of 35 times of usage.
V.
(40 Marks)
1. (i)
(A)(d) I wish we have enough food to eat after this harvest.
(ii) (b) the flowers were scattered across
(iii) solitary
(iv) (d) (1)—(iii), (2)—(v), (3)—(i), (4)—(ii), 5—(iv)
(v) hailstorm
OR
(B) (i) (d) He was angry about his ___________________ from the team.
(ii) They accepted him as a member of the gang.
(iii) (a) Sharp comparison between tiger and Tricky
(iv) (d) None of the stated reasons
(v) bowled
(i) synecdoche
2. (A)
(ii) the falling of dust of snow
(iii) (c) situation is under control now
(iv) (d) melancholic element
(v) (a) Robert heartily rued his abruptness, as the poor young wife sank back in a
deadly swoon.
OR
(B) (i) (a) the sounds made by the outgoing trees
(ii) whisper
(iii) personification
(iv) (d) A—1, B—3, C—4, D—2
(v) (a) nature and womanhood in particular
(i) The crow changes the mood of the poet by shaking the dust of snow from the
VI.Hemlock tree by which the poet gets relaxed and was later thankful.
(ii) It should always be your honest intention and the Almighty is with you. The
author
of the Black Aeroplane understands the complexities of life. The pilot dares to
face
the ordeal and then he succeeds. So, it is clear that God helps only those who help
themselves.
(iii) Giving a vent out to one’s emotions makes the body and mind feel light which
is
good for health and works as a healing therapy for the mind and body. Evidently,
she takes the decision of writing her feelings in a diary. It is unusual for her to
write
in a diary, but she is really in need of a true friend.
(iv) When Belinda and all her pets were terrified at the sight of the pirate, it
was Custard
who succeeded in killing them. Those who were making fun of Custard, were then
ready to idolise him for his valour.
(v) Amanda’s mother is just trying to instruct her and expects of her to mend her
ways. She wants her to listen to her properly and must not be ignorant about her
responsibilities.
Sample Papers
73
(i) Horace was undoubtedly a good and respectful fellow but not completely honest.
This description is apt for Horace. His intention was noble but even then, he
cannot
be spared by the critics. It may look good in others’ eyes but cannot be pardoned
at
all, as a crime is always a crime. And guilty has to be punished.
(ii) When Ebright won a prize at the science fair, he learnt that winners do real
experiment,
they don’t simply display slides. Then, he started conducting experiments.
It was definitely a stepping stone towards his success. His competitive nature, his
extra efforts and the will to win for the right reasons made him a successful
scientist.
iii) Think-Tank guessed that the books were sandwiches which the earthlings loved
to
(
eat. He made another guess that the books were some communication devices used
by the earthlings.
(i) Mijbil : Hey, how have you come here?
VIII. Seagull : I earned confidence and hence, I have reached here.
Mijbil : But I heard you were actually encouraged much by your mother. She
was instrumental in making take your first flight. So, hope you must
have learnt that the spark must be there in order to succeed in life.
Seagull : Yes, that’s true.
OR
ii) A general perception about women in Russian society or women in general is that
they have never effectively enjoyed the same rights as their male counterparts. So
(
as a historian, it is crucial to continue raising awareness about women’s rights in
the 19th century Russia. Through the portrayal of the characters in the play ‘The
Proposal’, it is evident that women even in those times were not the rightful owner
of their individual identity. The proposal seems to serve the nuptial proceedings
between Natalya who is only 25, whereas Lomov who is at his critical age of 35.
Such a big gap in marital arrangement was seen nothing unusual. The only criteria
required to engage into such an arrangement was that the grooms should be wellto-do
and hold a reputable social rank. It’s apparent from the way Stepan Chubukov
gets excited when he learnt the precise reason of Lomov’s arrival. A father of 19th
century Russian society always aspires to get a son-in-law of such stature.
VII.
(i) As it is evident that it was merely his teaching ability and the effectiveness
of his
teaching that transformed a seasoned thief into a gentle soul. Anil was a reformer
in
IX.
Hari Singh’s life. He knew that Hari Singh has stolen his money and returned it
safe
back to its place. However, he was focused on the fact that he came back and kept
the money back. He is happy that his conduct and kind gesture at least impacted his
mind who was now ready to transform himself.
OR
( ii ) Matilda Loisel has always been unhappy and fought against her destiny. She
felt that
she was born for all the delicacies and luxuries of life. She never accepted her
true
identity and endeavoured to achieve something that was not meant for her. Had she
embraced her current status and realised that she was merely a wife of a clerk, she
would never have ruined her life. She could have avoided this ruin by being
satisfied
with whatever she had. The sole reason of her distress was due to her longing for
a life of luxury. She suffered from the poverty of her apartment, the shabby walls
and the worn chairs. All these things tortured and angered her. She was always
dissatisfied and unhappy, craving for all the delicacies and luxuries of life.
zzz
74

4
SAMPLE PAPER
[SOLVED]
Max. Marks: 80

).
SECTION–A
(Reading Skills)
(20 Marks)

(10 marks)
(1) Call it a blessing or curse of Mother Nature, we have to breathe in over 10,000
litres
of air in a day (more than four million litres in a year) to remain alive. By
making it
essential for life, God has wished that we try to keep the air we breathe clean.
Everyone
can see the food that is not clean and perhaps, refrain from eating it but one
cannot
stop breathing even if one can feel the air to be polluted. Several harmful and
noxious
substances can contaminate the air we breathe. Generally, much is said and written
about outdoor air pollution, most of which is due to vehicular and industrial
exhausts.
Given the fact that most of us spend over 90% of our time indoors, it is most
important
to recognise that the air we breathe in at home or in offices can be polluted. It
can be a
cause of ill-health. Air pollutants that are generally present in very low
concentrations
can assume significance in closed ill-ventilated places.
(2) The indoor air pollution can lead to allergic reactions and cause irritation to
the skin,
the eyes and the nose. But as is logical to assume, the brunt of insult by
pollutants is
borne by the lungs. It can lead to development of fresh breathing problems,
especially
in those who have allergic tendencies, or it can worsen the existing respiratory
illnesses
like asthma and bronchitis.
(3) There can be several sources of indoor air pollution. Tobacco smoke is one of
the most
important air pollutants in closed places. “Passive smoking” or environmental
tobacco
smoke (ETS) can lead to all harmful effects of tobacco smoking seen in smokers in
their
non-smoking companions. ETS as a health hazard has been unequivocally proven and
is also getting social recognition now. One can occasionally see signs displaying
the allimportant message: “Your smoking is injurious to my health” in offices and
homes. The
children of smoking parents are among the worst affected persons.
(4) The exposure of young children to ETS leads to increased respiratory problems
and
hospital admissions as compared to non-exposed children, several studies, including
those done at the PGI, have shown an increased risk of lung cancer among women
exposed to passive smoking. ETS also worsens existing lung diseases like asthma and
bronchitis, it may be reaped later in the development of asthma in children.
(5) The next most important source of indoor air pollution is allergens. House dust
mites
(HDM) are very small insects not visible to the naked eye and are the commonest
source
of allergy in the house. They are ubiquitous and thrive in a warm and moist
atmosphere.
Sample Papers
75
They bread very fast and are very difficult to eradicate. Modern houses present
ample
breeding spaces for them in the form of carpet, curtains, mattresses, pillows, etc.
(6) Exposure to HDM can be prevented by the frequent washing of linen and by
encasing
the mattresses and pillows in a non-permeable cover. Pets form an important part of
life for some of us. But they can add plenty of allergens to our indoor atmosphere.
Cats are notorious for doing this. Fine particles from feline fur can remain stuck
to the
upholstery and carpets for a long time even after the removal of the animal and
lead
to the worsening of asthma and skin allergies. Fortunately, owing to religious and
social
customs, cats are not very popular pets in India. Dogs, however, are quite popular
and
can be as troublesome. Pets should be kept out of the bedrooms and washed
frequently.
To remove the fur particles, one has to use vacuum cleaners as the ordinary broom
and
mop are not effective.
(7) Moulds, fungi and several other microorganisms thrive in damp conditions and
can
lead to allergies as well as infections. Humidifiers in the air-conditioning plants
provide
an ideal environment for certain types of bacteria and have led to major outbreaks
of
pneumonia. It is important to clean regularly the coolers, air-conditioners and
damp
areas of the house regularly, such as cupboards, lofts, etc., to minimize this
risk.
(8) Toxic gases can also pollute the indoor environment. Biomass fuels (wood, cow
dung,
dried plants) and coal, if burned inside, can lead to severe contamination by
carbon
monoxide (CO). The poor quality of stoves and other cooking or heating appliances
that
cause incomplete combustion of LPG can also lead to the emission of CO or nitrogen
dioxide. Formaldehyde (a gas) can be released from adhesives that are used for
fixing
carpets, upholstery and also in making plywood and particle board.
(9) The gases are very toxic in high concentrations as may be encountered during
industrial
accidents, but even in very minimal amounts as may be prevalent in homes and
offices
can cause irritation to the skin or the eyes, rashes, headache, dizziness and
nausea.
Improving ventilation is an important preventive measure besides trying to
eliminate
the source that may not be always feasible.
(10) Other indoor pollutants are toxic chemicals like cleansing agents, pesticides,
paints,
solvents and inferior-quality personal care products, especially aerosols. Very old
crumbling pipes, boilers, insulation or false roofing can also be important
sources.
Asbestos is a hazardous product that can cause cancer in humans. Thus, it is
important
to realise that the air we breathe at home may not be clean always and we must try
to
eliminate the source of pollution. We should give due consideration to ventilation.
(1×10=10)
i () God wished to keep the air we breathe clean because:
a() we breathe 10,000 litres of air every year
b() we breathe four million litres of air in a day
c() we breathe 10,000 litres of air per day
d() one cannot stop breathing even if the air is polluted
(ii)
The
air
in
offices
and
indoors
can
__________________________. (iii) Allergy is caused by:
(a) dust mites (b) modern houses
(c) mattresses (d) pillows
76
be
polluted
because

(iv) ETS refers to ______________________ .
(v) Pets should be kept out of bedrooms because _________________________.
(vi) Moulds, fungi and bacteria _____________________ .
a () thrive in damp conditions
b () can be controlled by using air conditioners
c () do not cause pneumonia
d () thrive in dry conditions
(vii) Burning of biomass fuel inside homes pollutes the indoor
environment________ .
a () because of the emission of toxic gases
b () because of incomplete combustion
c () because of the emission of formaldehyde
d () none of these
(viii) Cancer can be caused in humans due to:
a () old crumbling pipes
b () old boilers
c () insulation and false roofing
d () asbestos sheet
ix () The antonym of ‘safe’ as used in para 10 is _______________.
x () The synonym of ‘omnipresent’ as used in para 5 is _______________.
(10 marks)
(1) A youngster quit Facebook in December after spending over three years on the
social
networking site. With that one act, he bid a silent adieu to more than 300 contacts
that he had added to his account during the period. Like almost everyone from his
friends’ circle, the 20–year–old was a regular on the service, visiting it every
day
to post photos and update status. But last week, a new feature on Facebook called
‘Timeline’ forced him to reconsider the pros and cons of being on the networking
site.
(2) “Everyone has some skeletons in their closet and I am just not comfortable with
Facebook digging up and displaying all the facets of my life on a bulletin board,”
says this youngster who joined the network in July 2007 while he was in Class 11.
(3) Facebook, you see, had compressed the time he spent on the site and arranged
it in chronological order. And while he initially liked the new, neatly organised
scrapbook–like feature, he wasn’t happy to reveal posts from the past, those that,
until recently, were hidden under layers and layers of recent updates. Just
clicking
on a date on the timeline could transport his friends back in time and enable them
to view every embarrassing comment, link or photo he had posted on his profile.
(4) I think it’s a recipe for disaster, he says, “In 2007, I had some wall posts,
which
seemed appropriate at the time, but now after a lapse of four years, I have moved
on and don’t want them to be openly displayed for all to see.
(5) And he is not alone. Many users, worried about how Facebook activity could
possibly
affect their offline lives, are choosing to commit Facebook suicide. While some
have
privacy concerns, others feel that the site that was meant to bring them closer to
their friends, actually does the opposite; it reduces their friendship to something
superficial.
Sample Papers
77
(6) “Poking and liking are not enough to keep a friendship going”, says a business
analyst. Having quit Facebook three years ago, she prefers meeting her real friends
face–to–face, instead of reading their trite posts online.
(7) “On Facebook, people hype everyday issues including what they ate and where
they
went on a daily basis”, says this analyst who continues to use Twitter.
(8) Similarly, an engineering student, quit Facebook last December, four years
after
joining it. One fine day, he exported all the data from his account into a zip file
and
hit the delete button.
(9) “I realised that when it came to my friends who really mattered, I could
actually
keep in touch with them over the phone or by meeting them in real life”, he wrote
on his blog.
(1×10=10)
i
() The feature of Facebook where one can see the posts, the embarrassing comments
and thoughts, photos and links that a person has put on his profile in the past is
_____________.
(ii) According to the passage, the social media ______________.
(a) can cause more harm than good.
(b) is just a waste of time.
(c) connects one to real life.
(d) provides opportunity to meet people.
(iii) The feature ‘Timeline’ on Facebook, according to the passage, forces the
youngster
to reconsider _______________.
(a) meeting friends face to face.
(b) increasing use of social media.
(c) saving time on social media.
(d) the advantages and disadvantages of being on Facebook.
(iv) Many people are getting out of Facebook as they feel _____________ .
(v) The meaning of the word ‘share’ in para 3 is_______________ .
(vi) Which of the following is OPPOSITE in meaning to the word ‘retained’, as used
in
the passage?
(a) exported (b) delete
(c) account (d) quit
(vii) Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE in the context of the passage?
(a) People love being poked and liked on Facebook.
(b) People visit social media every day to post photos and for status updates.
(c) No one prefers meeting real friends face–to–face, instead of reading their
trite
posts online.
(d) Few think that social media reduces their friendship to something superficial.
(viii) The phrase ‘Facebook suicide’ refers to get someone __________.
(ix) Which of the following statements is TRUE in the context of the passage?
(a) Time spent on social media is better than meeting face-to-face.
(b) Using social media could increase the time teens spend together in person.
78

(c) Stalking, personal attacks, and misuse of information are some of the threats
faced by the users of social media.
(d) Facebook activity does not affect real life.
(x) Select the option that makes the correct use of ‘trite’, as used in the
passage, to fill in
the blank space.
(a) At that moment, his words sounded _______________ to me.
(b) It was either a _______________ or an excellent copy.
(c) Her _______________ powers give life and colour to her paintings.
(d) A little _______________ air might clear some of the cobwebs.
SECTION–B
(Grammar)
(10 Marks)

i
The mystery of why, home ____________ biggest tech cos, can’t solve visa backlog.
a b() for world’s () to world’s
c d () of world’s () on world’s
(ii) Read the conversation and complete the passage given below:
Gardener
: water the plant today?
Did you
Dev No,
: but I will today.
Gardener
:
Then tomorrow
I will get a sapling of sunflower.
The gardener asked Dev whether he had watered the plant that day. Dev replied
negatively but further informed that ____________.
(iii) Select the correct option to fill in the blank for the given line, from an
International
front.
UN World Population Prospects 2022 predict that on November 15, global
population will cross 8 billion, and during 2023, India will take over China’s.
(a) is predicting (b) had predicted
(c) predicts (d) has predicted
the
following line, from an article:
Environment pollution has posed a serious threat not only on man but also among
all living beings.
Sample Papers
Option no.
error
correction
(a)
has
had
(b)
threat
threatened
(c)
on
in
(d)
among
amongst
79
A. J. Cronin was a Scottish novelist and physician whose _____________combining
realism with social criticism won a large Anglo-American readership.
(a) was working (b) will be working
(c) works (d) has been working
the given
Subject: Bullying of a Class X student
With due respect, I bring to your notice that my brother, Ashutosh Roy, of Class X
D,____________ (stay) in dormitory No. 20 for last 6 months.
(vii) Report the dialogue, by completing the sentence:
Reena: Do you know how to swim?
Surbhi: Yes, I know. I have learnt it during this summer vacation.
Reena asked Surbhi whether she knew how to swim. To this, Surbhi replied
_________________.
(viii) Identify the error in the given sentence, from a magazine report and supply
the
correction.
Of all the honours bestowed in Indian Cinema, Dada Sahib Phalke award is a jewel
in the crown.
Error
Correction
_______________________
(ix) Place the correct form of the word in the blank:
A metaphor is a figure of speech that, for ___________ (rhetoric) effect, directly
refers to one thing by mentioning another.
Ministry of Forest.
__________effort towards saving the environment is better than no effort.
(a) A little (b) The little
(c) Little (d) None of these
Umar
and his friend, Lalit.
Umar: Where have you been all these days, Lalit?
Lalit: I was a little occupied with my board’s preparation.
Umar asked Lalit where he had been all those days. In response to the question, he
replied___________________________________.
(a) he has been a little occupied with his board’s preparation.
(b) that he had been a little occupied with his board’s preparation.
(c) if he has been a little occupied with his board’s preparation.
(d) that he has been a little occupied with his board’s preparation.
80

(xii) Identify the error on a newspaper headline and supply the correction.
In 5 years, the web of ropeways could help end Shimla city’s traffic woes.
Error
Correction
___________
____________
SECTION–B
(10 Marks)

(5)
(A)
Your school had organised an educational trip to Fatehpur Sikri and Agra. You
notice the dilapidated condition of some of the monuments. Write a letter to the
Municipal Chairman of Agra mentioning the condition and requesting him to take
urgent steps for the prevention of this valuable heritage. You are Anuj/Anju, 40
Civil
Lines, New Town. (100-120 words)
OR
You are Anshul/ Anshika, a student of Grade X and a resident of 36 D Ring
Road, ITO, New Delhi, wants to be a choreographer. Recently you came across
an advertisement by Set Fire Dance Academy, MG Road, New Delhi, which offers
various forms of dancing. Write an enquiry letter seeking information about the
course and its package. (100–120 words)
(5)
The
given
chart
shows
the
division
of
household
tasks
by
gender
in
Great
Britain.
(A)
Write an analytical paragraph describing the chart, in not more than 100-120 words.
(B)
Division of household tasks by gender in Great Britain

80
70
Minutes pe person per day
60
Sample Papers
50
40
30
20
10
0
Cooking
baking
washing up
Cleaning
house
tidying
GardeningCare of ownMaintenance
pet carechildrenodd jobs
and play
Males
Females
3
0
7
4
1
3
5
8
49.
5
21
2
0
4
5
Clothes
washing
ironing,
sewing
26
9.
5
2
2
5
81
OR
(B) Given below is a tabular statistic showing the quality of life in five
countries, assessed
under specific parameters.
Write an analytical paragraph on the given information by selecting and reporting
the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write in 100-120 words.
(5 marks)
Country
GNP per head

(1982: US
dollars)
Daily calorie
supply per
head
Bangladesh
140
187
13
Bolivia
570
Egypt
690
208
12
Indonesia
580
USA
13160
295
97
87
229
12
SECTION–C
6
(Literature)
365
Life
Infant
expectancy at
mortality
birth (years) (per 1000 live
births)
9
7
(40 Marks)

(10 marks)
3
4
(5 marks)
(A)
Tenth May dawned bright and clear. For the past few days, I had been pleasantly
besieged by dignitaries and world leaders who were coming to pay their respects
before
the inauguration.
The inauguration would be the largest gathering ever of international leaders on
South
African soil. The ceremonies took place in the lovely sandstone amphitheater formed
by
the Union Buildings in Pretoria. For decades this had been the seat of white
supremacy,
and now it was the site of a rainbow gathering of different colors and nations for
the
installation of South Africa’s first democratic, non-racial government.
(Nelson Mandela)
(i) “For decades, this had been the seat of white supremacy”. Here, white supremacy
refers to:
(a) control from white house.
(b) serving by landlords.
(c) white race mass.
(d) people following white flags.
(ii) “The inauguration would be the largest gathering”… inauguration literary means
beginning of something. Was it really an inauguration of something great? What
was it?
(iii) Which word from the passage means the same as placement of person in office
with
ceremony?
82

(iv) Select the option that correctly captures the usage of the word ‘besieged’ as
in the
extract.
(a) The fortress was never captured by the enemy while besieged.
(b) It would have contained a besieged light to guide mariners.
(c) He’s very suave and besieged.
(d) All data stored in a central is besieged.
(v) ‘The site of a rainbow gathering of different colours and nations’. The word
‘rainbow’
refers to:
1. People from different origin
2. Dignitaries from different countries
3. High profile dignitaries from different nations and race
4. Décor of amphitheatre with bright hue
(a) Only 1 (b) 1 and 2
(c) 1, 2, and 3 (d) Only 4
OR
There was no answer, the radio was dead too. I had no radio, no compass, and I
could
(B) not see where I was, I was lost in the storm. Then, in the black clouds quite
near me, I
saw another aeroplane. It had no lights on its wings, but I could see it flying
next to me
through the storm. I could see the pilot’s face–turned towards me. I was very glad
to see
another person. He lifted one hand and waved. (Black Aeroplane)
(i) The narrator expected an answer from:
(A) storm (B) radio
(C) may day (D) compass
(a) (A) and (B) (b) (B) and (C)
(c) (A) and (C) (d) Only (B)
(ii) ‘The black clouds quite near me’. Were the black clouds his hallucination?
State your
answer in Yes or No.
(iii) “He lifted one hand and waved.” What did the pilot want to say?
(a) Lift his spirit and fight the storm. (b) Nothing is in apprehensions
(c) Follow him (d) None of these
(iv) Complete the analogy with the help of the given extract:
Narrator: no radio :: another pilot :_____________ .
(v) Complete the sentence with homophones.
I am __________ sure that the teacher asked the pupil to be __________.
If strolling forth, a beast you view,
(A)
Whose hide with spots in peppered,
As soon as he has lept on you,
You’ll know it is the Leopard.
T’will do no good to roar with pain,
He’ll only lep and lep again.
(5 marks)
(How to Tell Wild Animals)
Sample Papers
83
(i) While walking, how does a leopard’s hide appear to be?
(a) Peppered (b) Struck with spots
(c) Both (a) and (b) (d) Only (a)
(ii) If ‘you’ is Roger, when does he come to know that it is a leopard?
(a) when it leaps on him. (a) when it jumps on him.
(a) when it fetches him. (a) Both (a) and (b)
(iii) Complete the analogy on the basis of your understanding of stanza.
strolling : stagnation :: ______: decline
(iv) Why won’t it do any good to roar with pain?
(a) because leopard’s grip is the toughest one
(b) because leopard is a ferocious animal
(d) none of these
(v) The poet wants to introduce the readers with the _______________ of wild
animals.
OR
Belinda giggled till she shook the house,
And Blink said Weeck! which is giggling for a mouse,
Ink and Mustard rudely asked his age,
When Custard cried for a nice safe cage.
Suddenly, suddenly they heard a nasty sound,
And Mustard growled, and they all looked around.
(B)
(i) What can you infer from the repetition of ‘suddenly, suddenly’ in the above
stanza?
(ii) A cage means captivity. Why is Custard inclined to remain in a cage despite
what it
symbolises?
This is so because he viewed it as a:
(A) sanctuary (B) guardhouse
(C) cubicle (D) refuge
(E) booth
(a) (A), (B) and (E) (b) (A) and (D)
(c) (C), (D) and (E) (d) (C) and (E)
(iii) Why has the poet used the word ‘weeck’ to signify the giggling of the mouse?
(iv) Pick the option with the correct matches for columns A and B.
AB
Word Meaning
1. chuckle A. to smile in a half-suppressed mocking way
2. snigger B. to smile in an irritating, conceited manner
3. smirk C. to let out a quiet and suppressed laugh
D. to let out a laugh heartily and loudly
(a) 1-D, 2-A, 3-C (b) 1-C, 2-A, 3-B
(c) 1-B, 2-D, 3-C (d) 1-A, 2-C, 3-D
84

a
b
c
d
(v) Which belief about dragons is in contrast to Custard’s behaviour in the

extract? ()
Dragons are brave and feared.
() Dragons can grant wishes.
() Dragons can become invisible at will.
() Dragons are soft-hearted and kind.
(i) Chubukov says of Natalya: “… as if she won’t consent! She’s in love; egad,
she’s like
a lovesick cat…” Would you agree? Find reasons for your answer. (The Proposal)
(ii) Why does the poet say that ‘Money is external’? (The Ball Poem)
(iii) How is the fog like a cat? What three things does the poem suggest? (Fog)
(iv) Why did Maxwell call the airhostess “the very queen of her kind”? (Mijbil the
Otter)
(v) ‘Paper has more patience than people.’ Do you agree/disagree? Give reason.
(From the Diary of Anne Frank)
(i) “But there was one thing I could do–collect things”. What collection did
Ebright
make? When did he start making collection? (The Making of a Scientist)
(ii) The best way to defend is to offend, but the same thing is not seen by Noodle.
How
does he manage to do that? (The Book That Saved the Earth)
(iii) “Guilty mind is always conscious”. Do you think the thief was on the contrary
obliged
to Anil? Substantiate your answer. (The Thief’s Story)
(1×6=6)
i
() Imagine a software engineer meets Buddha and communicates the modern age
anxiety and the threat of livelihood. Suggest some philosophical tools which Buddha
must have preached him to handle the same. (The Sermon at Benares)
( ii
OR
) “Not enough can be said to show how important a baker can be for a village”. How
were the services of the baker required on various
occasions?
()
Glimpses
of India
(1×6=6)
i
() Our sins never go unpunished. Horace Danby ultimately had to go to prison. This
shows that in spite of planning a crime intelligently and carefully, a criminal
can’t
escape the law. Explain.
( ii
OR
) Bholi and Matilda, both are distinct characters, wherein one gave importance to
self-instinct and the other gave importance to her beauty. Assume they both meet
each other at Bholi’s wedding and had a conversation over the greed of Bishamber.
Write this conversation as per your understanding of ‘Bholi’ and ‘The Necklace’.
You may begin like this:
Matilda : Are you fine now?
Bholi : Ya! much relieved.
zzz
Sample Papers
85
(20 Marks)
I. (i) (d) one cannot stop breathing even if the air is polluted.
(ii) air pollutants even in very low concentration are harmful.
(iii) (a) dust mites
(iv) passive smoking
(v) allergens on their fur stick to upholstery and carpets
(vi) (a) thrive in damp conditions
(vii) (b) because of incomplete combustion
(viii) (d) asbestos sheet
(ix) hazardous/toxic
(x) ubiquitous
(i) timeline
II.
(ii) (a) can cause more harm than good.
(iii) (d) the advantages and disadvantages of being on Facebook
(iv) that their Facebook activity could affect their real life
(v) reveal
(vi) (a) exported
(vii) (a) People love being poked and liked on Facebook.
(viii) quitting Facebook, as it could affect their real life.
(ix) (d) Facebook activity does not affect real life.
(x) (a) At that moment, his words ____________ sounded to me.
(10 Marks)
III.(i) (c) of world’s

(ii) he would water the plant that day.
(iii) (c) predicts
(iv) (c) on – in
(v) (c) works
(vi) has been staying
(vii) that she knew and she had learnt it during that summer vacation
(viii) (a) a - the
(ix) rhetorical
(x) (a) A little
(xi) (b) that he had been a little occupied with his board’s preparation.
(xii) the – a
86

(10 Marks)
IV. 1. (A) 40. Civil Lines

New town
20 August, 20XX
The Chairman
Municipal Corporation
Agra
Subject: Dilapidated condition of historical monuments
Sir
attention of the concerned authorities towards the dilapidated condition of several
historical monuments.
The monuments in India are slowly being eroded away and they are in a pathetic
state as they have turned hideous. Recently, we visited the monuments and had a
horrible experience. Some of them have lost their shine, some have blackened, some
left ruined in acid rain. We have thousands of big and small monuments spread
across
the length and breadth of the country. But I don’t find anybody who cares for it.
Therefore, the concerned authority is being requested to kindly pay heed to the
issue
mentioned above and take immediate measure conducting awareness camp or so.
Yours sincerely
Anuj Tiwari
OR
(B) 36 D, Ring Road
ITO
New Delhi
20 July, 20XX
The Director
Set Fire Dance Academy
MG Road
New Delhi
Subject: Enquiry regarding course in choreography
Sir
This is with reference to your advertisement regarding the courses in choreography
offered by your reputable institute. I want to state that I am currently in class X
and
preparing for my final examinations.
I am very much interested in dancing and want to take it as a career. I’m also
given
to understand that this institute is by far the best as far as choreography is
concerned
and I would very much like to be a part of it.
Kindly send me the prospectus and the application form. I would be highly grateful
if you could provide me with the following information:
Sample Papers
87
• the course structures
• scholarships, if any
• admission procedure
• eligibility criteria
• hostel facilities
• nearest metro station
Kindly send me the brochure along with the enrollment form for further formalities.
Sincerely yours
Anshul Gupta
The chart provides information about the division of household tasks by gender
2. (A)
in Great Britain and the number of minutes per day spent by both males as well
as females in doing various tasks. On an average, women spend approximately
four hours doing the household tasks, whereas men spend less than two and half
hours for the same. The tasks on which women spend more time than men include
cooking, cleaning the house, taking care of the children and laundry. In doing all
these tasks, women spend approximately 200 minutes which is almost three times
the time spent by men in accomplishing these tasks. On the other hand, men spend
twice the time than women in doing tasks like gardening and maintenance of odd
jobs in the house. Men spend majority of their time, almost 50 minutes, in
gardening
and pet care, whereas women spend only 30 minutes for these tasks. The time spent
by men in washing, ironing and sewing clothes is as low as 2 minutes per day as
opposed to 25 minutes spent by women. In a nutshell, women spend far more time
when it comes to doing household chores than men who prefer to do gardening, pet
care and maintenance of odd jobs.
OR
(B) The table uses four economic indicators to show the standard of living in five
selected countries in 1982. Overall, it can be seen that the quality of life in the
USA
is far higher than the other four countries. The USA, which is a developed country,
had the highest GNP at 13,160 dollars per head. It also has a much higher daily
calorie of 3653 calories, and life expectancy of 74, and the lowest rate of infant
mortality at just 12 of 1000 children born. In contrast, Bangladesh scores the
least
in all the 4 parameters, with GNP at 140, calorie intake as low as 1877, a life
expectancy of 40 and an infant mortality of 132 deaths per 1000 children born. The
other countries Bolivia, Egypt and Indonesia, have GNP’s of 570.690 and 580,
calorie intake at the rates of 2086, 2950 and 2296, and their life expectancy at
birth
stands 50, 56 and 49. While Indonesia and Egypt report an infant mortality of 87
and 97 per 1000 children, Bolivia, is closer to Bangladesh in this particular
indicator,
reporting an infant mortality of around 124 per 1000 children born. In conclusion,
the statistic shows the extreme situations in the quality of life in developed,
underdeveloped and developing countries.
V.
(40 Marks)
1. (A) (i) (a) control from white house.

(ii) It was the installation of first democratic, non-racial government in the
history
of democracy.
88
(iii) Installation
(iv) (d) All data stored in a central is besieged.
(v) (b) 1 and 2
OR
(B) (i) (d) Only (B)
(ii) Yes
(iii) (c) Follow him
(iv) no lights
(v) quite, quiet
2. (i)
(A)(c) Both (a) and (b)
(ii) (a) when it leaps on him.
(iii) leapt
(iv) (c) both (a) and (b)
(v) attributes
OR
(B) (i) It focuses on the hasty attack and the loud noise.
(ii) (b) (A) and (D)
(iii) The poet uses it to create a scary effect for readers.
(iv) (b) 1-C, 2-A, 3-B
(v) (a) Dragons are brave and feared.
(i) Yes, Natalya is in love. This is clear by the way she behaves when she gets to
know
VI.
that Lomov came to propose to her. She starts weeping and asks her father to call
Lomov so that she could confess and express her love for him.
(ii) Money is external because money can only buy all worldly or materialistic
things.
The poet wants to say that it cannot buy emotions, attachment, love, childhood,
etc.
Once these things are lost, they are lost forever and they never come back.
(iii) The fog comes slowly and silently like a cat. It sits on its haunches for
some time
looking around and then moves away as it came. Similarly, the fog spreads over the
harbour and city for some time. Finally, it moves away like a cat.
(iv) Maxwell calls the airhostess ‘the very queen of her kind’ because she was very
sympathetic after listening to Maxwell’s story. She understood how he might be
feeling
and then gave him permission to take the otter out of the box to keep on his knees.
(v) Yes, according to me, Anne is right to perceive so. Paper is more patient than
persons because the diary is a silent recorder of Anne’s thoughts, non-judgmental
and patience. It cannot react to what or how she thinks.
(i) Ebright was inclined towards collecting butterflies, rocks, fossils and coins.
He began
as early as when he was in kindergarten. His mother of course was a driving force
VII.and remained his sole reason for his success.
(ii) Noodle avoided offending Think-Tank, but at the same time he corrected his
mistakes. Whenever he had to say something contrary to what Think-Tank said,
he would present his thoughts by referring to them as being of no particular
importance.
(iii) No, I don’t think Hari Singh was ever grateful to Anil. Rather, he lost no
chance to
dupe him and ditch him of his trust and money, and run away from there.
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89
VIII.
(i) Humans today aren’t chased by predators, we are chased by uncertainty about the
health of our loved ones, whether we’ll have a job next week or next year, whether
our company will go bankrupt — worries that provoke the same neurological and
physical responses. Stress is a response to a threat in a situation. Anxiety is a
reaction
to the stress. Buddha must have preached renunciation. Our basic decency and
sense of humour lies in what we do and how we do. According to Buddha, the basic
view is that people are fundamentally good and healthy. It’s as if everyone who
has ever been born has the same birth right, which is enormous potential of warm
heart and clear mind. The ground of renunciation is realising that we already have
exactly what we need, that what we have already is good. Every moment of time has
enormous energy in it, and we could connect with that.
OR
(ii) Bakers were considered as indispensable and extremely important on any
celebrations there in Goa. They had a unique place among the people. They were
known as ‘Paders’ in Goa. They had a peculiar dress earlier known as the Kabai.
Breads and cakes were an integral part of everyday life in Goa and were also
consumed on special occasions. Thus, the baker was a man whose arrival was always
eagerly anticipated by the adults and children. Bakers were very informal with the
children They were considered as friends and companions, and treated as a family
member.
IX. (i) The passion of Horace Danby was collecting rare and expensive books. To
satisfy
this passion, he needed money and arranged it by robbing one safe every year and
then secretly bought the books through an agent. Though he was an honourable
person but not an honest one indeed. He loved collecting rare and expensive books,
he robbed a safe every year to finance the purchase of these books through an
agent. Thus, he was not completely honest. By stealing other people’s valuables, he
may have become successful but he is actually a criminal. It cannot be justified
that
a person steals things and readers reflect their soft corner for his wrong doings.
He may be efficient in conducting his crimes so that he is successful, but we still
cannot appreciate his work. Ultimately, we need to think of the person who has been
robbed. Who would show their empathy to him?
OR
(ii) Matilda Are
: you fine now?
Bholi :
Ya! much relieved. What about you, Matilda? I heard about your woes
and miseries that you had to undergo. My heart wrenched with pain.
Matilda : No, you should not. Actually, I am to confess that in this singular life
one
should be contented with whatever he/she has. One should not cut his
coat beyond his cloth. But in my case, I always kept grudging against my
destiny and had never been thankful to the Almighty that at least I was
better than many.
: Yes, it can be reflected that way too. You really had to bear what you
Bholi
actually didn’t deserve. I am feeling so blessed that I am now able to
raise my opinion and find my own identity. I wanted you to be feeling
proud of yourself since are my friend.
zzz
90

5
SAMPLE PAPER
[SOLVED]
Max. Marks: 80

).
SECTION–A
(Reading Skills)
(20 Marks)

(10 marks)
(1) Yuri Gagarin was the first man to travel into space. The Russian scientists
were ready to
send up a man into space, and they chose Major Yuri Gagarin to be the first pilot.
(2) He had to go through a long and difficult period of training, since he would
have to
carry out many scientific experiments during his journey, and had also to know as
much
as possible about the rocket in which he was to fly. He would be taking great
risks, for
it was impossible to tell just what the effects of travelling in space would be. If
anything
went wrong with the rocket, Gagarin would be certain to lose his life. However,
Gagarin
was ready for any risk, and quickly learned all that he needed to know. On April
12th,
1961, his spaceship, the Vostok, was ready, and the great adventure began.
(3) Flying a spaceship is not the same as flying an ordinary aircraft. Instead of
sitting at the
controls, the pilot lies flat upon a couch; and the take-off is mainly automatic,
though the
pilot must always be ready in case anything goes wrong. Fortunately, all went well;
the
Vostok was launched by its powerful motors, and before long it was more than 100
miles
up, travelling at a speed of 5 miles a second or 18,000 mph-faster than any man had
travelled before. Gagarin did not feel any sensation of speed, but he could look
through
the porthole of his pressurized cabin and see the Earth far below, looking like a
vast
globe instead of a flat plain. He could make out coastlines, rivers, forests, and
clouds; he
passed over Siberia, then on to South America, and then over Africa.
(4) Gagarin was busy all the time making scientific measurements. Also, as the
Vostok
was equipped with radio, he was able to give the scientists on the ground a running
commentary on everything he saw before long the spaceship passed into the earth’s
shadow. When it came out of the shadow again, the horizon glowed a brilliant orange
colour. In space, the sky looked black even when in the sunlight, as Gagarin had
expected
it to look. It is only from the Earth that the sky looks blue; it is not really
blue.
(5) When Gagarin had been in space for rather over an hour, he had nearly completed
a
journey right round the Earth, and it was time to prepare for the landing. This was
perhaps the most dangerous part of the whole trip. If he came into the air too
quickly,
his ship would rub against the air particles, and the friction would make the ship
so hot
that it would burn up. The speed of the Vostok had to be checked gradually. Again,
all went well. The outer hull of the ship did become hot, but not too hot. The
Vostok
steadily dropped closer and closer to the ground until, when not far from the
ground,
Gagarin’s cabin was separated from the rest of the rocket; a huge parachute opened,
and
Sample Papers
91
the cabin, with Gagarin in it, floated gently down to a safe landing. Two women
working
in the fields saw him, and came running up. As they drew near, Gagarin opened the
door
of his cabin and climbed through, his journey over. He had been up for 108 minutes,
during which time he had flown right round the world.
(1×10=10)
(i) How did Gagarin prepare for the space flight?
(a) By getting physically fit. (b) By collecting enough money.
(c) By going through difficult training. (d) By studying science.
(ii) What is the biggest difference between flying a spaceship and flying an
aircraft?
(a) The pilot has to lie on his back.
(b) The spacecraft is much faster.
(c) Flying the spacecraft is more difficult.
(d) Flying the spacecraft is more dangerous.
(iii) What all did Gagarin experience while sitting in the spaceship Vostok?
(a) He experienced sensation of speed.
(b) He made out coastlines, rivers, forests and clouds.
(c) Both (a) and (b)
(d) He could not look through the porthole of his cabin.
(iv) Complete the following with a phrase from paragraph 5.
Landing was perhaps the most dangerous part of the whole journey as
________________.
(v) Which was the most dangerous part of the trip?
(a) The time of take-off
(b) When the spaceship passed into the earth’s shadow
(c) The time of landing
(d) When the spaceship comes out of the earth’s shadow
(vi) Based on your reading of the text, list two reasons why the writer says that
“Gagarin
was carrying high risk on this great adventure”. (Paragraph 2)
(vii) Which word shows the movement of Vostok as it started to land (para 5)?
(viii) Which word is the opposite of the word ‘sunk’ as used in para 5?
(ix) If anything went wrong with the rocket:
() Gagarin would lose his life
a
() Friction would make the spaceship too hot
b
() The hull of the rocket would burst into flames
c
d () The rocket would crash
x () Gagarin went round the Earth in ________________.
(10 marks)
(1) There are innumerable villages in India which have fewer than 500 residents.
Many
people from the other cities in India head to one of these sanctuaries to wash away
all
the hardships of an ultra-modern life.
92

(2) With a population of just 289, the tribal village of Ha is the smallest named
place in
the country which is located at an altitude of 4,780 ft. in the Kurung Kumey
district of
Arunachal Pradesh. The village is known for its brilliant natural beauty and the
Menga
caves which are dedicated to Lord Shiva.
(3) Located about 27 km from Keylong in Himachal Pradesh, the village of Shansha
has a
population of 320 people in 72 houses. The hamlet is located close to the Tandi
Kishtwar
road which is generally a pit stop for those adventure-seeking individuals who ride
through this dangerous route. The hamlet of Shansha is home to a greenhouse which
is
located at a height of 10,000 ft. and provides aid to the locals living and working
in this
highly challenging terrain.
(4) One might think the entire state of Goa is filled with a bunch of beaches and
shacks, but
there is another side of the tiny state which is known for its isolated villages.
Xelpem,
also known as Shelpem, is an example of one such place which is located on the
banks of
Salaulim river and has a population of just 255.
(5) The village of Sankri in Uttarakhand is the base camp of many treks and is well
known for being the last village which has a market on the way to the Harki Dun
Trek,
Kedarkantha. The hamlet has just 77 homes out of which, three are small guest
houses
and has a population of about 270 people. Most families welcome the trekkers to
stay at
their homes as well.
(6) One amongst the most scenic and hidden gems of Nagaland is the village of
Nitoi. The
village has a population of about 402 people and boasts of an 80% literacy rate
even in
its small population. The small hamlet can be reached from Kiphire which is an 8-
hour
drive from Kohima.
(1×10=10)
i () The purpose of this passage is to provide awareness regarding the
_____________.
a() tiny towns and cities in India
b() small villages and hamlets in India
c() small hamlets and cities in India
d() isolated tribes in India
(ii) Select the option that is true for the two statements given below.
(1) Shansha has a population of 320 people in 72 houses.
(2) The hamlet of Shansha is home to a greenhouse.
(a) (1) contradicts (2). (b) (2) is the reason for (1).
(c) (1) is independent of (2). (d) (2) is the result of (1).
(iii) Select the option that gives the correct meaning of the following statement.
“Most families welcome the trekkers to stay at their homes as well.”
(a) The hamlet consists of only guest houses for trekkers.
(b) People from Sankri village aren’t fond of any visitors.
(c) The hamlet has just 77 homes with a population of about 270 people.
(d) People from Sankri village keep their doors open for guests.
(iv) According to the passage, the greenhouse in Shansha is essential for the
people
because ________________.
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93
(v) Select the option listing what the given sentence refers to. “The village has a
population of about 402 people and boasts of an 80% literacy rate even in its small
population”.
(1) The village has a population of 402 literate people.
(2) The population of the village is 80% illiterate.
(3) The 80% of the population is not illiterate.
(4) The population of the village is limited to 402 individuals.
(5) The village boasts high literacy rate even in its small population.
(a) (1), (2) and (5) (b) (2), (4) and (5)
(c) (1), (2) and (3) (d) (3), (4) and (5)
(vi) The Menga Caves from the village of Ha in Arunachal Pradesh are dedicated to
which deity?
(vii) This passage lists an example of the tiny villages in India where people
______________.
(viii) Choose the correct option to answer the following. According to paragraph 4,
“One
might think the entire state of Goa is filled with a bunch of beaches and shacks”.
This
is so because:
(a) Goa is famous for its small naturally scenic villages.
(b) Goa is generally advertised as such in popular media.
(c) Not much is known about the beaches and shacks of Goa.
(d) People don’t care about the natural diversity in Goa.
(ix) Which word in the passage means ‘distress’?
(x) Which word in the passage is opposite to the meaning of ‘unstimulating’?
SECTION–B
(Grammar)
(10 Marks)

i
Forests remove carbon from the atmosphere ______________ that is roughly 13% of
our total emission.
(a) at a rate (b) on a rate
(c) at the rate (d) on the rate
(ii) Read the conversation between a doctor and his patient. Complete the sentence
by
reporting the patient’s reply correctly.
Passenger 1 : Are you from the software industry sir?
Passenger 2 : Yes, but how do you know?
Passenger 1, tried to recollect some experience and asked passenger 2
________________. On this, passenger 2 nodded his head in affirmation and
inquisitively asked how he knew that.
94

( iii ) Select the correct option to fill in the blank for the given line.
When life is uncertain, our usual responses and coping strategies ______________
not always work.
(a) may (b) might
( (c) can (d) could
following line, from a proceeding in family court.
Courts occasionally make observations on marriage and family that seems out of
step with the times.
Option no.
a
()seemsseem
()outoutside
()thea
error
correction
()observationsobservation
The centre _______________to monetize its prime real estate asset in the heart of
the
national capital to generate funds for redevelopment of seven residential colonies.
(a) was looking (b) will be looking
(c) is looking (d) has been looking
the given
Subject: Appeal for Assam Flood Relief
In the last month, India has witnessed one of the worst manifestations of nature’s
wrath-floods in Assam, which ______________ (wash) away thousands of pilgrims,
resulting in a massive loss of life and property, and leaving millions impoverished
and homeless.
(vii) Report the dialogue between Vivek and Neerja by completing the sentence:
Vivek : Life is so comfortable for homemakers.
Neerja : You are showing your stereotyped mentality.
In response to the idea of Vivek about homemakers, Neerja said that ____________.
(viii)
Identify the error in the given sentence, from a school magazine report and supply
the correction.
A group of students were invited to come on stage and play a drama scene. The
drama they presented was funny and interesting.
error
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correction
95
(ix) Binny shared some information, with Pansy, about her visit to a War Memorial.
Report Pansy’s question.
How much time did you spend at the War Memorial?
Election Commission of India.
______________ you don’t vote for your nation; it goes in the favour of an
undeserving
person. Time to step up!!
(a) Will (b) If
(c) Need (d) Can
(xi) Read the conversation given below and complete the paragraph that follows:
Martha : Why are you spraying wax on your car tyres?
Jhumru : It makes the rubber last longer and prevents it from drying.
Martha : (looking amused) Is it like putting lotion on your skin?
Jhumru : Yes, exactly. Now I see you are beginning to get the point.
Martha asked her husband ______________. Jhumru explained that it made the
rubber last longer and prevented that from dying.
(a) why he was spraying wax on his car tyres.
(b) why was he spraying wax on his car tyres.
(c) why was he spraying wax on his car tyres?
(d) why he was spraying wax on his car tyres?
(xii) Identify the error on a newspaper headline and supply the correction, for the
following
Dispersing through thinning forests, tigers came into conflict with humans.
error
correction
SECTION–B
(10 Marks)

(5)
(A)
Your state government has banned the use of plastic bags. You are highly moved by
the violence of the rule in the weekly markets. You are Amarjeet, a resident of
Wave
City Ghaziabad.
Write a letter to the Editor of The Tribune, in not more than 120 words, drawing
attention towards harm caused by law offence and also aware people about the need
of the hour.
(B)
96
OR
You recently came across an advertisement by A New Dimension, Mehrauli, which
offers various bridge courses in Creative Writing for students of Class X. You are
Prakash/Pratishtha of B 905, Goenka Building, Mansarover Park, New Delhi,
interested in pursuing a course during your summer break. Write a letter enquiring
about the course details. (100-120 words)

(5)
(A)
The following data in the graph indicates the percentage of children in Grade 10
in Model Town who have joined coaching institutes, and which has only increased
further. Describe in 100-120 words how this trend has only changed over the years.
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
1990
1995
2000
2005
2010
OR
(B) Analyse the picture in your own words in 120 – 150 words.
Rising pollution- a serious cause of concern
SECTION–C
(Literature)
(40 Marks)

(10 marks)
(5 marks)
(A)
He stepped slowly out to the brink of the ledge and standing on one leg with the
other
leg hidden under his wing, he closed one eye, then the other, and pretended to be
falling
asleep. Still, they took no notice of him. He saw his two brothers and his sister
lying on
the plateau dozing with their heads sunk into their necks. His father was preening
the
feathers on his white back.
Only his mother was looking at him. She was standing on a little high hump on the
plateau, her white breast thrust forward.
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97
Now and again, she tore at a piece of fish that lay at her feet and then scrapped
each side
of her beak on the rock. (First Flight)
(i) What did the young seagull do out of his ledge?
(ii) What was the young seagull’s father doing?
(a) smoothening the feathers on his white back
(b) grooming the feathers on his white back
(d) neither (a) nor (b)
(iii) Find out the word from the passage which mean the same as ‘to sharpen’.
(iv) Complete this analogy.
father: preening :: mother :_______
(v) Select the option that correctly captures the application of the word
‘pretended’ as
used in the extract.
(a) The court must have pretended innocence until there is proof of guilt.
(b) I pretended he was coming, so I was surprised when he didn’t show up.
(c) He pretended he didn’t mind, but I knew that he did.
(d) I was never pretended for a moment to give her away.
OR
At twelve, he was sent away for schooling in the Hindu sacred scriptures and four
years
(B)
later he returned home to marry a princess. They had a son and lived for ten years
befitting royalty. At about the age of twenty-five, the prince heretofore shielded
from
sufferings of the world, while out hunting chanced upon a sick man, then an aged
than
a funeral procession, and finally a monk begging for alms. These sights so moved
him
that he at once became a beggar and went out into the world to seek enlightenment
concerning the sorrows he had witnessed. (The Sermon of Benares)
(i) Select the option that correctly captures the usage of the word ‘befitting’ of
the
extract.
(a) You will address me in a manner befitting my station, my Lord.
(b) I must know who among us has a track befitting.
(c) He couldn’t come befitting as he was sick.
(d) I would befitting to play for a club like Everton.
sorrow: happiness:: ________: shield
(iii) Select the option that displays the reason why he once became a beggar.
In order to:
(a) realise what he witnessed.
(b) show the world his compassion.
(c) make the lady feel worldly affairs.
(d) accomplish his fantasy.
(iv) According to the extract, what does begging for alms mean?
(v) Hunting showed a true picture of life. Identify from the text how this could
happen?
98

(A)
(5 marks)
He should be lurking in shadow,

Sliding through long grass
Near the water hole
Where plump deer pass.
(A Tiger in the Zoo)
The poet has tried to create an image of tiger’s activities through the expression
____________ .
(ii) The poet has used enjambment in the given lines to narrate about the style of
Tiger
in / among _______________.
(a) visitors (b) zoo
(c) woods (d) water bodies
The extract suggests the poet wants to say that the actual life of a tiger is to
live
around deer.
(iv) Complete the analogy on the basis of your understanding about the text.
tiger in a zoo: tiger in a forest :: concrete cell: ___________
(v) According to the extract, the poet wishes for the tiger to be ‘sliding’ through
the
foliage as this would:
(a) assist in keeping the prey unsuspecting of the predator’s sound.
(b) aid in camouflaging the presence of the predator, before it rushes in.
(c) help the predator pounce on the prey comfortably without getting tired.
(d) support the predator’s vision as it eyes its prey.
OR
(B)
Ink trickled down to the bottom of the household,

And little mouse Blink strategically mouseholed.
But up jumped Custard, snorting like an engine,
Clashed his tail like irons in a dungeon,
With a clatter and a clank and a jangling squirm,
He went at the pirate like a robin at a worm
(A Tale of Custard the Dragon)
(i) Which option lists the quotes that support the ideas in the extract?
(1) Fear makes strangers of people who would be friends.
(2) If you’re brave enough to start, you’re strong enough to finish.
(3) Courage doesn’t mean you don’t get afraid. Courage means you don’t let fear
stop you.
(4) You get in life what you have the courage to ask for.
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99
(5) Fear has a large shadow, but he himself is strong.
(a) (1) and (5) (b) (2), (3) and (4)
(c) (2) and (3) (d) (1), (3) and (5)
(ii) What is the poet’s purpose of using the onomatopoeic words given in the
stanza?
(iii) Pick the option that best fits the usage of the word ‘trickled’ as used in
the stanza.
(a) It is to emphasise on the might and boldness of Custard.
(b) It is to introduce the character Custard to the readers.
(c) It is to impress upon the readers that Custard was ready.
(d) It is to make Custard bold enough to face the situation.
(iv) Complete the given analogy.
Ink : terrified : : Blink : _____________________ .
(v) “He went at the pirate like a robin at a worn”. Why has this comparison been
used
here?
(4×3=12)
() The poet in the poem ‘For Anne Gregory’ conveys that we should give importance
i
to the inner beauty and not to the physical appearance. Explain with reference to
the poem.
(ii) What do the roots do all night? (The Trees)
(iii) Is bread-making still popular in Goa? How do you know? (Glimpses of India)
(iv) What do the ‘Hemlock tree’ and ‘Crow’ represent? What does the dust of snow
metaphorically stand for?
(v) How does Natalaya react when she comes to know that Lomov had come to propose
for her hand?
(i) What changes came into the life of Loisels after the necklace was lost?
(The Necklace)
(ii) Scientists contribute to make the world a better place. Griffin is an
antithesis to this
statement. Justify. (Footprints Without Feet)
(iii) Elaborate on the quality of the book that saved the planet Earth.
(The Book That Saved the Earth)
(1×6=6)
() Valli and Anne Frank, both were independent souls who wished to be what they
are.
Assume they both meet each other in the town and have a conversation about their
passion and curiosity.
100

Write this conversation as per your understanding of ‘From the Diary of Anne
Frank’ and ‘Madam Rides the Bus’.
You may begin like this
Anne : Hey, how are you here?
Valli : Just an adventure to town.
OR
)
“Mandela
mentions
that
every
man has twin obligations. The first is to his family,
( ii
parents, wife and children; the second obligation is to his people, his community
and his country.”
How is the first obligation well performed by mother seagull in the story ‘The
First
Flight’.
(1×6=6)
() Horace Danby represents such people who adopt the wrong ways to fulfil their
i
wishes. What values would you like such people to imbibe to reform themselves?
( ii
OR
) With reference to ‘The Midnight Visitor’, do you think presence of mind should
be developed and to what advantage? Elaborate highlighting the characteristics of
Ausable.
zzz
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101
(20 Marks)
I. (i) (c) By going through difficult training.

(ii) (a) The pilot has to lie on his back.
(iii) (b) He made out coastlines, rivers, forests and clouds.
(iv) the ship turned hot.
(v) (c) The time of landing
(vi) (1) He had to undergo strenuous training.
(2) If anything went wrong, Gagarin would be certain to lose his life.
(vii) Launched
(viii) Floated
(ix) (a) Gagarin would lose his life.
(x) sixty minutes
(i) (b) small villages and hamlets in India
(ii) (c) (1) is independent of (2).
(iii) (d) People from Sankri village keep their doors open for guests.
(iv) it provides aid to the locals at a height of 10,000 ft. in this highly
challenging terrain
(v) (b) (2), (4) and (5)
(vi) Lord Shiva
(vii) people come to escape all the hardships of an ultra-modern life
(viii) (d) People don’t care about the natural diversity in Goa.
(ix) hardships
(x) challenging
II.
(10 Marks)
III.(i) (a) at a rate

(ii) respectfully whether he was from the software industry.
(iii) (a) May
(iv) (b) seems – seem
(v) (c) is looking
(vi) washed
(vii) he was showing his stereotyped mentality.
(viii) were – was
(ix) Pansy asked Binny how much time she had spent at the War memorial.
(x) (b) If
(xi) (a) why he was spraying wax on his car tyres.
(xii) came – come
102

(10 Marks)
IV. 1. (A) B-12, Wave City

Ghaziabad
21 October, 20XX
The Editor
The Tribune
Ghaziabad
Sub: Concerning violence erupted post plastic ban
Sir
Through the columns of your esteemed daily, I would like to draw your attention
towards the violence erupted across the state post ban on single plastic use.
Dozens of supermarket staff in Ghaziabad have been attacked by customers after
single-use plastic bags were banned in supermarkets. One shopper even put his
hands around a worker’s throat. Some customers threw their shopping on the floor,
shouting abuse at staff, and one man even put his hands around a shop assistant’s
throat when he found out that he would not be getting free bags. Other shoppers
vented their anger by shouting slogans and burning effigies.
It was really heart-wrenching to see all that.
But I don’t want to hurt the sentiment of those who protested and would like to
make a humble request that damaging government’s property is actually damaging
our property. This country belongs to us and we need to respect and safeguard
the assets provided to us by the government. But I don’t find any reason to shout
slogans and hurl abuses. Everyone should know that plastics give rise to toxic and
dangerous fumes and gases, which can potentially cause cancer in humans. It is
hazardous to animals as well. So before creating any furore, introspect and react.
Hope you raise my opinion in your esteemed newspaper.
Sincerely yours
Amarjeet Singh
OR
(B) B-905, Goenka Building
Mansarovar Park
New Delhi
23 June, 20XX
The Centre Manager
New Dimensions
Mehrauli
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103
Subject: Enquiry about bridge courses
Sir
This is with reference to your advertisement published in the newspaper on 6 June,
20XX, regarding bridge courses that you have just introduced at your prestigious
institution.
I know I am a little late to make such an enquiry but if there is any scope that I
could
register myself for the same. For that I would appreciate if you could provide
certain
details. I would like to enquire about the charges, duration, class timings,
whether
you are offering weekend / weekdays classes and all other relevant information.
Kindly enlighten me through the admission and other procedures. I shall remain
thankful to you.
Sincerely yours
Pratishtha Mehra
2. (A) The advent of coaching has transformed the education industry by creating a
corresponding industry. The graph shows the percentage of children of class X,
Model Town who have joined coaching institutes, and which has only increased
further. This trend has only changed over the years. As compared to 1990 to 2010,
it
shows that there has been a significant change in the number of students enrolled
for coaching institutes. Nearly 70% of school students enrolled in private tuitions
to
supplement their education in 2010, according to the graph. This is significantly
higher than the levels recorded in 1990. Also, between 2000 and 2005, students
who joined coaching classes increased, regardless of their grade, school type and
gender.
OR
(B) As obvious in picture and as per the report collected from different sources,
people
lose their lives every year due to airborne diseases. Inhaling polluted air
increases
the risk of respiratory and heart diseases, thereby lowering the life expectancy by
3.3 to 6.3 years. As urban air quality declines, the risk of stroke, heart disease,
lung
cancer, and chronic and acute respiratory diseases, including asthma, increases for
the people who live in them. As shown in the image, factories, small scale
industries,
and public and private transports, and their fuels continue to be an important
contributor to air pollution. The risks to public health and the environment from
climate change are substantial and far-reaching. It has risen dramatically in past
years affecting air pollution to cause the greenhouse effect and health problems,
land pollution which causes harm to our environment, and water pollution which
impairs water ecosystems. These obstacles cause harm and distress to plants,
animals and humans.
V.
1. (A)
104
(40 marks)
(i) He pretended to be sleeping, standing on one leg with the other leg hidden
under his wing.
(ii) (c) both (a) and (b)
(iii) scrapped
(iv) staring
(v) (b) I pretended he was coming, so I was surprised when he didn’t show up.
OR
(B) (i) (c) He couldn’t come befitting as he was sick.
(ii) hunting
(iii) (a) realise what he witnessed.
(iv) It means begging for anything ordinary in charity.
(v) He learnt the difference between life and death, happiness and woes.
2. (A) (i) of his movement
(ii) (b) zoo
(iii) False
(iv) jungle
(v) (b) aid in camouflaging the presence of the predator, before it rushes in.
OR
(B) (i) (c) (2) and (3)
(ii) It is to emphasise on the might and boldness of Custard.
(iii) (b) Students trickled into the classroom as the teacher entered.
(iv) petrified
(v) Just like the robin catches the worm, Custard attacked the pirate without
delay.
VI.
(i) Yes, it emphasises that the physical appearance is changeable and hence, it
should
be unimportant. The poet conveys this through a conversation between Anne
and another speaker. Through Anne’s reply, the poet makes clear his preference
for internal beauty to physical appearance.
(ii) All night the roots work to free themselves and leaves transport food to the
roots
in place of its exertion. They strive hard to seek liberty and freedom. They do it
ceaselessly.
(iii) Yes, bread making is still popular in Goa. This is clear from the statement
when the
narrator states that the eaters have gone away leaving the makers behind. There are
mixers, moulders, and the ones who bake the loaves. The time-tested furnaces still
exist there.
(iv) The dust of snow represents natural joy and energy. The dust of snow that the
crow
shakes off a hemlock tree means passing through the sad phase of his life. He feels
restored and revived rising his spirit from gloom to life.
(v) Natalya regrets fighting with Lomov and requests her father to alter his
perspective
about Lomov when she comes to know that Lomov had come to propose her. She
wails, changes her outlook, and asks her father to fetch Lomov.
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105
VII.
(i) The Loisels begin to live a life of crippling poverty. They dismissed their
servant and
had to shift to a cheaper and smaller apartment. She did all the household works
and shipping by herself. She fetched water, washed the floor, utensils, dirty
clothes
by herself.
(ii) Griffin as a scientist, degenerated himself into a lawless person. He
discovered that
the human body could become transparent and invisible. But he misused his great
discovery. He did not use the power of invisibility for the welfare of society and
humanity at large. He misused it to trouble innocent people.
( iii) An old book of rhymes ‘Mother Goose’ was able to avert the disaster and it
saved the
Earth from Martian invasion. Martians could not decode the little lines, squabbles
and dots along the pictures in the book. When they saw the picture of Humpty
Dumpty, it resembled with that of Think-Tank. The rhyme ‘Humpty-Dumpty had a
great fall’ made Think-Tank scream and he prepared to run away.
VIII.
(i) Anne : Hey, how are you here?

Valli :Just an adventure to town.
Anne :Did you inform your parents about your so-called adventure?
Valli :
No, not of course. I perceive I wouldn’t have been allowed to explore the
town on my own. My parents would have made false promises to take me to
the town around. So, I thought of taking the opportunity on my own. You
tell, what are you doing here?
Anne : I just dropped in for shopping. I live in the close vicinity to the town. In
fact,
I have come with my siblings. They are all there in the supermarket. And to
your surprise, I have informed my uncle what we are doing and where we
are off to. So, there is nothing to get inhibited.
OR
( ii
IX.
) Yes, the mother seagull aroused his interest and flew towards him with a piece of
fish in her beak. The young seagull dived at the fish due to hunger. Within a few
moments, he felt his wings spread outwards. Thus, he started flying for the first
time
provided that he pretended to be standing on the brink of the ledge with his eyes
closed, on one leg with other leg hidden under his wing. She reached close to him
and halted just in front of him. The sight of food made him mad. He dived to catch
the food and fell down. In the way, he struggled and learnt to fly. This was the
first
obligation the mother seagull had done to her child which was well performed.
(i) Horace Danby was a successful businessman. He was a respectable citizen, but
had
a habit that led him to do robberies. Danby loved rare, expensive books and to get
them, he used to rob a safe every year. Every year, he planned carefully just to
get
what he wanted. Danby adopted wrong ways to fulfil his wishes and hence, later got
106

trapped in a plot by a thief like him. People should imbibe good values. They
should
learn that hard work is the only key to success. One should work hard to fulfil
their
desires. I think such people should imbibe the values of honesty, responsibility,
hard
work, dedication and self-confidence, in order to reform themselves.
OR
( ii
) Max was waiting for Ausable to steal the important paper from him. As Fowler
observed, apart from the pointed gun, he didn’t look very menacing. Even this
proved useless for him as Ausable outwitted him with his presence of mind and
intelligence. Ausable cleverly found out how Max had entered the room and created
an extremely believable story about a non-existent balcony. He kept calm, and
hearing the waiter knock, declared it to be the police. Max, in an attempt to hide,
fell to his death. Thus, Ausable got rid of Max without moving a muscle.
zzz
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107
SAMPLE PAPER
[UNSOLVED]
16
Max. Marks: 80

SECTION–A
(Reading Skills)
I.
(1)
(2)
(3)
(20 Marks)
Read the passage given below:

(10 marks)
Parenthood has become much more demanding than it used to be. Over just a couple
of generations, parents have greatly increased the amount of time, attention and
money they put into raising children. Too many parents these days can’t say no. As
a
result, they find themselves raising ‘children’ who respond greedily to the
advertisements aimed right at them. Even getting what they want doesn’t satisfy
some
kids; they only want more. Now, a growing number of psychologists, educators and
parents think it’s time to stop the madness and start teaching kids about what’s
really
important: values like hard work, contentment, honesty and compassion. The struggle
to set limits has never been tougher—and the stakes have never been higher. One
recent study of adults who were overindulged as children, paints a discouraging
picture
of their future: when given too much too soon, they grow up to be adults who have
difficulty coping with life’s disappointments. They also have a distorted sense of
entitlement that gets in the way of success in the workplace and in relationships.
Psychologists say that parents who overindulge their kids, set them up to be more
vulnerable to future anxiety and depression. Today’s parents themselves, raised on
values of thrift and self-sacrifice, grew up in a culture where ‘no’ was a
household word.
Today’s kids want much more, partly because there is so much more to want. The
oldest
members of this generation were born in the late 1980s, just as PCs and video games
were making their assault on the family room. They think of MP3 players and flat
screen
TV as essential utilities, and they have developed strategies to get them. One
survey
of teenagers found that when they crave for something new, most expect to ask nine
times before their parents give in. By every measure, parents are shelling out
record
amounts. In the heat of this buying blitz, even parents who desperately need to say
no
find themselves reaching for their credit cards.
Today’s parents aren’t equipped to deal with the problem. Many of them, raised in
the
1960s and 70s, swore they’d act differently from their parents and have closer
relationships with their own children. Many even wear the same designer clothes as
their kids and listen to the same music. And they work more hours; at the end of a
long
week, it’s tempting to buy peace with ‘yes’ and not mar precious family time with
conflict. Anxiety about the future is another factor. How do well intentioned
parents say
no to all the sports gear and arts and language lessons they believe will help
their kids
thrive in an increasingly competitive world? Experts agree: too much love won’t
spoil a
child. Too few limits will.
108

(4) What parents need to find is a balance between the advantages of an affluent
society
and the critical life lessons that come from waiting, saving and working hard to
achieve
goals. That search for balance has to start early. Children need limits on their
behaviour
because they feel better and more secure when they live within a secured structure.
(5) Older children learn self-control by watching how others, especially parents
act. Learning
how to overcome challenges is essential to becoming a successful adult. Few parents
ask kids to do chores. They think their kids are already overburdened by social and
academic pressures. Every individual can be of service to others, and life has
meaning
beyond one’s own immediate happiness. That means parents eager to teach values have
to take a long, hard look at their own.
(1×10=10)
()i To become a successful adult, what do you think is the least essential?
ii
() Children need limits on their behaviour when they live within a secured
structure.
Do you agree? Give a reason.
()iiiState the drawback of giving children too much too soon.
iv () “PCs and video games were making their assault on the family room”. This
implies
that _____________.
v
() Give a synonym for inaccurate from the first para.
vi
() Some parents don’t want their kids to do household work because they think that
the
kids
_____________.
vii
() Older children learn self-control by_____________.
viii
() The passage is about :
a
() teaching manners to children
b
() helping children become independent individuals
c
() helping children grow successful
d
() teaching children to be good human beings
(ix)
a The
b psychologists, educators and parents DO NOT want to teach children:
()c treachery
() discipline
d
() values of life () Etiquette
(x) Some people born in the 1960s and 70s are different from their parents in
dealing
with their own children because:
(a) they do not have interest in music.
(b) they do not wear the same kind of clothes.
(c) they wear the same designer clothes.
(d) none of these
Read the passage given below: (10 marks)
II. India is on the path of greatness. But where will this greatness come from? Is
it only the
(1) government of a country that can lead it to greatness? Is it only the political
leaders that
can shape the future of a nation? No. The true greatness of any nation lies in its
people.
There is capability for greatness in every citizen of the land. For the true owners
of
our nation are its citizens. The government is only the guardian of the nation and
is
(2)
ready to serve the people of the country. This is what a true democracy should be
like.
However, for a true democracy to succeed, the citizens have to play a larger role
and
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109
fulfil their duties towards the nation. The most famous line from the US President
John
F. Kennedy’s inaugural address is, “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask
what
you can do for your country”. What is this but a call for citizens to rise to the
occasion
and do their duty?
(3) In a true democracy, people get the leaders they deserve. If we simply sit in
our drawing
rooms and debate the quality of leadership this country has, we will achieve
nothing.
We have to play an active role in creating a new type of leadership because it is
we, the
people, who own the nation.
(4) We can achieve this kind of leadership firstly by educating the youth of the
country
which is of supreme importance. Secondly, parents need to teach their children the
importance of obeying laws. Children need to learn and be encouraged to express
their
talents and skills, and consider themselves as the real strength of their nation.
We need
to encourage new ideas and creativity.
(5) Whether you start a small business, write an article, teach a child, shop at
local stores,
not pollute your environment, participate in cleanliness drives, create a work of
art,
volunteer for some social cause or another similar effort, you are performing your
duty
as a citizen. You are contributing to the consciousness of the community
development,
and this will begin the process of change. Considering that most young people spend
most of their time at school or at work, it is also important for teachers and
employers to
inculcate a sense of duty in the hearts and minds of young people.
(1×10=10)
i ()Identify the correct order of the information as appeared in the passage given
above.
1. We need to encourage new ideas and creativity.
2. The citizens have to play a larger role and fulfil their duties towards the
nation.
3. The government is only the guardian of the nation and is ready to serve the
people of the country.
4. India is on the path of greatness.
(a) 1, 2, 3, 4 (b) 2, 1, 3, 4
(c) 4, 1, 2, 3 (d) 4, 3, 2, 1
(ii) What should the teachers and employers inculcate in the minds of young people?
(a) A sense of duty
(b) The consciousness of community development
(c) To create a work of art
(d) To start a small business
(iii) Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE, according to the passage?
(a) In a true democracy, people get the leaders they deserve.
(b) The true greatness of any nation lies in its people.
(c) The nation is only the guardian of the government.
(d) Parents need to teach their children the importance of obeying laws.
(iv) What should be the role of children in achieving new type of leadership?
(a) Children need to learn and be encouraged to express their talents and skills.
(b) Children need to consider themselves as the real strength of their nation.
(c) Both (a) and (b)
(d) Neither (a) nor (b)
110

(v) What does the author expect the parents to do?
(a) To teach their children the value of community life
(b) To teach their children the importance of obeying laws
(c) To instil the feeling of love for their country
(d) To inculcate a sense of duty in the hearts and minds of young people
(vi) Select the option that displays what the writer projects, with reference to
the
following:
You are contributing to the consciousness of the community development, and this
will begin the process of change. (Paragraph 5)
(vii) Complete the following with a phrase from paragraph 1.
Opinion
Reason
True greatness of any nation lies in its people.

(viii) Supply 1 point to justify the following:
The government is only the guardian of the nation and is ready to serve the people
of the country. (Paragraph 2)
(ix) Why does the author emphasise on the term ‘true democracy’? (Paragraph 3)
(x) Select the option that displays the correct title for the passage you have read
above.
(a) The Role of Teachers and Employers
(b) How to Achieve Greatness
(c) Role of Political Leaders
(d) India: On the Path of Greatness
SECTION–B
(GRAMMAR)
III.
(10 Marks)
1. Attempt ANY TEN of the following questions. i

a b
The service lanes ________________
able to sustain the large volume of vehicles.
c d
() aren’t being () aren’t been
() will be being () shouldn’t been
(ii) Read the conversation between a patient and a doctor. Complete the sentence by
reporting the patient’s quest correctly.
Doctor: Take this medicine for a week and you’ll start to feel better.
Patient: Are you sure? It’s the best in the market.
The doctor, while trying to figure out his patient’s ailment, prescribed some
medicine, to which the patient asked _________________________.
poster.
If you want to learn to speak English fluently, you _____________________ worry.
We will help you become a fluent speaker but you have to work hard.
(a) could (b) needn’t
(c) will (d) mustn’t
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111
the
Laws are been used in a way to serve the needs of the current regime and its
authoritarian ideology.
Option no.
()athe
()thea
()itsit’s
()are have
error
correction
Grit can be learned to help you ____________________ more successful. One of the
techniques that helps is mindfulness.
(a) have become (b) to become
(c) become (d) became
(vi) Report the dialogue between a biology teacher and Sameer, by completing the
sentence:
Teacher : Iinstructed you to draw the diagram of bacteria. Why did you submit
a blank sheet?
Sameer : Sir, I had drawn the diagram of bacteria, but you can’t see it because it
is not visible to the naked eye.
The biology teacher had instructed Sameer to draw the diagram of a bacteria
and asked him why he had submitted a blank sheet. To this, Sameer respectfully
answered that ___________________________, but he couldn’t see it because it was
not visible to the naked eye.
(vii) Identify the error in the given sentence, from a school magazine report and
supply
the correction.
Falling down or failing is one of the most agonising, embarrassing, and scary human
experience.
error
correction
(viii ) Sunil shared some information, with Sudip, about gardening. Report Sudip’s
question.
Don’t you know that you should trim your roses only in the beginning of winter
when it’s not the flowering season?
(ix) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option, to complete the slogan by
the
Ministry of Education.
_____________________ we allow children with mobile phones in school? Think
twice!!
(a) Will (b) May
(c) Should (d) Must
112

(x) Select the correct option to complete the narration of the dialogue between a
student
and a teacher.
Student : Sir, can you please ask someone to help me with the previous notes?
Teacher : Iwill certainly do but before that, you need to bring an application
from your parents stating the reason of your absence.
A student requested his teacher to ask someone to help him with the previous notes.
The teacher, before going to help him, asked him ______________________________
__________________________________________________________________ .
(a) that he needed to bring an application from his parents having stated the
reason
for his absence.
(b) that he would need to bring an application from his parents stating the reason
for his absence.
(c) that he needs to bring an application from his parents stating the reason for
his
absence.
(d) that he needed to bring an application from his parents stating the reason for
his absence.
(xi) Identify the error on a shop’s hoarding and supply the correction required:
RADHIKA STATIONARY
Buy Office Items and Office Supplies like Diaries, Notebooks, Pens, Notepads,
Calendars and more from India’s best and cheapest shop.
error
correction
(xii) Fill in the blank by using the correct form of the word in the bracket, for
the given
Subject: Request for organising a Blood Donation Camp
Dear Sir
This is to humbly submit that I ___________________ (seek) approval for organising
a Blood Donation Camp to be undertaken by the Lion’s Club, Mussoorie.
SECTION–B
(10 Marks)

(5)
(A)
You are Aditya Purohit, the Head Boy of Rameswaram International School, T.K.
Nagar, Chennai. You have recently noticed several posters around your school
premises from a gymnasium conveying a hazardous message:
Make Muscles
Not Excuses !!!
Write a letter to the Editor of The Tamil Times, in not more than 120 words,
drawing attention towards harm caused by over straining and exercises. Suggest
some measures to fitness enthusiasts how going to the gym and doing physically
tough exercises, such as the ones involving heavy machinery, deadlifts and strength
training ones may injure or strain their muscle and also risk their growth spurt.
Sample Papers
113
OR
(B) Some of the most sought-after values in today’s age is to raise kids with the
sense
of responsibility and empathy. You were moved to see the kindness of one such
child who saved the puppies from cold wave and provided them shelter. Later, you
realised the child should be recognised for his act of kindness.
Write a letter to the Secretary of your society seeking recommendation for the
child
to be nominated for ‘Khula Aasman’. You are Agatha Henfrey, a resident of # 494
A, ABS Advantage Apartments, Curzon Street, Panaji.
(5 marks)
(A) The number of active Internet users has marked a significant rise. But with the
tremendous increase and growth in the Internet fame over the world, there is
always a question hanging around the corner– Is Internet a boon or a bane? Write
a paragraph, in about 100-120 words, analysing the data shown below.
DIGITAL SURGE
Number of active Compared with 2019, the active Rural users’ growth at 45%
continues to internet users who are internet userbase for 12+ has outshine urban
users’ growth at 28%
aged 12 years and shown a growth of 37%
1 in every 3 female users in rural
above
is 592mn
India are actively using the internet
At most 90% access the internet on a daily basis, users aged Mobile phones have
remained the
50 years and above are also not left behind, with 81% key device for all internet
usage
accessing it daily.across sectors
(B)
OR
A feeling of belongingness, love and pride towards your nation and value it highly
while wishing for its well-being is the true meaning of patriotism. No one-line
definition can define patriotism though, but a true sense of patriotism shunning
jingoism can make us feel a proud Indian.
Write a paragraph, in about 100-120 words, analysing the given statement instilling
a sense of pride and patriotism in a child. You are free to share your own thoughts
advocating what you write.
SECTION–C
(Literature)
(40 Marks)

(10 marks)
(5 marks)
(A) Pranjol’s father slowed down to allow a tractor, pulling a trailer-load of tea
leaves, to
pass.
“This is the second-flush or sprouting period, isn’t it, Mr Barua?” Rajvir asked.
“It
lasts from May to July and yields the best tea.”
“You seem to have done your homework before coming,” Pranjol’s father said in
surprise.
“Yes, Mr Barua,” Rajvir admitted. “But I hope to learn much more while I’m here.”
114

(i) “You seem to have done your homework before coming,” Pranjol’s father said in
surprise. Which homework is he talking about?
(a) Holiday homework
(b) Tuition homework
(c) Knowledge about Tea and Tea Plantation
(d) All of these
(ii) Why was Pranjol’s father surprised?
Rajvir ________________ his knowledge when he said, “This is the second-flush or
sprouting period, isn’t it, Mr Barua?”
(iv) Rajvir hopes to learn much more while he is ‘here’? Where is he now?
(a) In his hometown (b) In Assam
(c) On an excursion (d) None of these
(v) Select the option that correctly captures the application of the word ‘yields’
as used
in the extract.
(a) This soil yields good crops.
(b) Our yields of wheat increased this year.
(c) The average yield per tree is about one bushel.
(d) The current interest rate will give a yield of 10% on your investment.
(B)
data.
OR
Think-Tank : It can’t be worth much, but go ahead. Give us your trifling bit of
Noodle : Well, sir, I have seen surveyor films of those sandwiches. I noticed
that the Earthlings did not eat them. They used them as some sort
of communication device.
Think-Tank : (haughtily) Naturally. That was my next point. These are actually
communication sandwiches. Think-Tank is never wrong. Who is
never wrong?
All : (saluting) Great and Mighty Think-Tank is never wrong.
Think-Tank : Therefore, I order you to listen to them.
(i) Select the option that correctly captures the usage of the word ‘order’ from
the last
line of the extract.
(a) All the procedures must be done in the correct order.
(b) Get your ideas into some sort of order before you begin to write.
(c) It is one of the functions of art to bring order out of chaos.
(d) The people sat on their haunches because the magistrate failed to order his
immediate arrest.
courteous : insolent : : haughtily : _______________
Sample Papers
115
(iii) Select the reason that displays the reason why Think-Tank reiterates, “Think
Tank
is never wrong”.
Because:
(a) they are Think-Tank’s subordinates and he likes to be praised for his
intelligence.
(b) Think-Tank wants them to feel superior.
(c) Think-Tank wants to punish them.
(d) Think-Tank never boasts about himself.
(iv) What is Noodle trying to do in the given extract?
(a) Noodle, being a sycophant, is trying to appease his boss.
(b) Noodle is trying to establish his intellect over others.
(c) Noodle is trying to establish a good relationship between the Martians and the
people of Earth.
(d) Both (a) and (c)
(v) The playwright has placed certain words and sentences in brackets in the given
extract. List any ways these benefit both the director and actors.
(A)
(5 marks)
All night the roots work

to disengage themselves from the cracks
in the veranda floor.
The leaves strain toward the glass
small twigs stiff with exertion
long-cramped boughs shuffling under the roof
like newly discharged patients
half-dazed, moving
to the clinic doors.
(The Trees)
It is clear that Simile is the poetic device used for ‘like newly discharged
patients…’
Because ____________________. (Clue: explain how simile applies here)
(ii) What does the poet describe the given stanza?
(iii) Why do the leaves keep straining?
(iv) Identify the poetic device employed in the following lines:
“long-cramped boughs shuffling under the roof
like newly-discharged patients”
(a) Alliteration (b) Metaphor
(c) Simile (d) Onomatopoeia
(v) The poet uses the term ‘long-cramped boughs’ in order to highlight the
appearance
of:
(i) the twigs (ii) the trees
(iii) the branches (iv) a large number of women
116

OR
Never shall a young man
thrown into despair
By those great honey coloured
Ramparts at your ear
Love you for yourself alone And
not your yellow hair
(B)
(i) Who is speaking and to whom in the above stanza?

(a) The poet to the readers (b) Anne Gregory to the readers
(c) The poet to himself (d) The poet to Anne Gregory
(ii) Why is the poet thrown into despair?
(iii) Anne’s gorgeous hair have been compared to __________________, symbolising
outer beauty that prevents anyone from looking inside her soul.
(a) despair (b) a lock
(c) a pitcher (d) parapet
(iv) Find a word from the stanza that means ‘hopelessness’.
(v) Determine the rhyming pattern of the stanza given above.
a b() abcbdb () abdbdb
c d() acbcbc () aabbcc
i
iii
iv
v
() What was the Indian legend about the discovery of tea?

ii(The Ball Poem)
() Why does the poet say, “Balls will be lost always”?
() Kisa compared human life to an inanimate object. What is it and why does she do
(The Sermon at Benares)
so?
() What is the theme of the poem, ‘How to Tell Wild Animals’?
() Mijbil caused a sensation in London. Expound with reference to the chapter
“Mijbil
the Otter”.
i
() Exercise is equally important for the well-being along with nutritious food.
Discuss.
(A Triumph of Surgery)
() Max was
a big moron. Comment.
ii(The Midnight
Visitor)
iii
() How instrumental a teacher’s role is to determine his pupil’s success is evident
from
Richard’s mother in ‘The Making of a Scientist’. Elucidate.
(1×6=6)
i
() You were fortunate enough to meet one of the Coorgis after reading the chapter
‘Glimpses of India’. What will be most likely reaction of yours and how would you
initiate your discussion with him. Develop the conversation.
Sample Papers
117
(ii
OR
) Touched by the torture Nelson Mandela underwent, you’ve decided to write an
article for your school magazine on the topic, ‘Caste, Colour and Communalism’.
Write a paragraph, sharing two key opinions from the article.

(1×6=6)
i
() Herriot seems to be a duty-bound doctor who values other’s ‘emotions’ than his
personal interests. Elucidate the above statement.
OR
(ii ) ‘Success is failure turned inside out’. Prove the above statement with
instances from
the journey taken by Richard Ebright from losing at the science fair to winning at
the international fair.
zzz
118

7
SAMPLE PAPER
[UNSOLVED]
Max. Marks: 80

).
SECTION–A
(Reading Skills)
(20 Marks)

(10 marks)
(1) From renewable energy to food security, to jobs and safe water, nations are
promoting a
more sustainable and prosperous world for everyone. Today, there is a lot of talk
about
the environment. All nations are coming to an agreement to save planet earth. Like
we
pollute the earth, we pollute the water; we also pollute the subtle environment
through
our negative feelings and emotions. We have become a victim of our environment. We
are not in control of our mind. We hear a lot about other things in life, but we
spend
very little time to hear about ourselves. How to handle our mind? How to be in
present
moment? How to be happy and be grateful? This we have not learnt. This is the most
unfortunate thing. Then, what is the solution? This is where we miss a very
fundamental
principle that governs our environment, our mind, our emotions and our life in
general.
(2) Our body has the capacity to sustain much longer the vibrations of bliss and
peace than
it does negative emotions because positivity is in the centre of our existence.
Just like in
the structure of atom, protons and neutrons are in the centre of the atom and
electrons
are only the periphery, same is with our lives; the centre core of our existence is
bliss,
positivity and joy, but it is surrounded by a cloud of negative ions. Through the
help
of the breath, we can easily get over our negative emotions in a short period of
time.
Through meditation and certain breathing techniques, we can clear this negative
cloud.
(3) This life has so much to offer to you. You can see this once you take some time
off,
rejuvenating the soul. Your soul is hungry for a smile from you. If you could give
this,
you feel energized the whole year and nothing, whatsoever, can take the smile away
from you. Everyone wants to be successful in life. But without knowing what is
success,
you want to be successful. What is the sign of success? Just having a lot of money,
is that
success? Why do you think money means success? Because money gives you freedom
so that you can do whatever you want. You may have a big bank balance but you have
stomach aches, ulcers, you may have to go for bypass surgery; can’t eat this, can’t
do this,
can’t do that. We spend half our health to gain wealth and spend half our wealth to
gain
back the health. Is this success? It is very bad mathematics.
(4) Look at those who claim to be successful–are they successful? No, they are
miserable.
Then, what is the sign of success? It is confidence, compassion, generosity and a
smile
that none can snatch away, being really happy and being able to be freer. These are
the signs of a successful person. Smiling is a sign of joy, happiness and
contentment.
People are attracted to and enjoy hanging around people who regularly smile because
Sample Papers
119
these smiling people are seen as happier and more friendly than those who don’t
smile.
Happiness, confidence, and friendliness don’t have an age limit. They can all
improve
your quality of life regardless of whatever age you are.
(5) Smiling is a sign of joy, happiness and contentment. People are attracted to
and enjoy
hanging around people who regularly smile because these smiling people are seen as
happier and more friendly than those who don’t smile. Happiness, confidence, and
friendliness don’t have an age limit. They can all improve your quality of life
regardless
of whatever age you are.
(6) Take some time off to look a little deeper into yourself and calm the mind
down. Thus,
erasing all the impressions that we are carrying in our minds and experience the
presence, the divine that is the very core of our existence. This is feeling the
presence.
(1×10=10)
i () Why does the writer say that nations are coming to an agreement? (Paragraph 1)
b want to bring harmony. () They want to cherish brotherhood.
() aThey
c d
() They want to display their ethics. () They intend to save planet earth.
(ii) Select the option that corresponds to the following relation below:
In spite of being learned, we have not learnt: (Paragraph 1)
(a) To handle our cars (b) To be happy and be grateful
(c) To take advantages (d) To overcome shyness
(iii) Select the option that displays what the writer projects, with reference to
the
following:
Structure of atom, protons and neutrons are in the centre of the atom.
(Paragraph 2)
(a) Hurry (b) Emotions
(c) Positivity (d) Happiness
We can clear this negative cloud through ________________________.
(v) The writer recommends to rejuvenate the soul. How?
(vi) Based on your reading of the text, why does the writer say that, “It is very
bad
mathematics?” (Paragraph 3)
(vii) What difference does the writer draw out between successful people and
unsuccessful
people? (Paragraph 4)
(viii) The writer says, “If you could give this, you feel energised the whole
year.”
(Paragraph 3)
Select what does the writer want to give.
(a) Money (b) Charity
(c) Vacation (d) Smile
(ix) Supply 1 point to justify the following:
People who do not smile are unsuccessful to make friends as ____________________.
(x) Evaluate the INAPPROPRIATE reason to have an age limit.
(a) Adventure trip (b) Sit for exam
(c) Applying for a job (d) Happiness and friendliness
120

II.
(1)

(10 marks)
The UN’s 2017 International Year tells that sustainable tourism is an important
tool for development, most importantly in poor communities and countries. Today,
sustainability – environmental, social, and economic – is increasingly recognised
as the
benchmark for all tourism business. As noted by the UN World Tourism Organisation,
57% of international tourist arrivals will be in emerging economies, by 2030. The
various
‘Tourism Terms’ are defined as follows:
Category
Definition
Ecotourism
Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the

environment, socially and economically sustains the well-being of
local people, and creates knowledge and understanding through
interpretation and education of all involved (including staff,
travellers, and community residents).
Ethical TourismTourism in a destination where ethical issues are the key driver,
e.g., social injustice, human rights, animal welfare, or the
environment.
GeotourismTourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of
a place–its environment, heritage, aesthetics, culture and wellbeing of its
residents.
Pro-Poor TourismTourism that results in increased net benefit for the poor people
in a destination.
Responsible Tourism that maximizes the benefits to local communities,
Tourismminimizes negative social or environmental impacts, and helps
local people conserve fragile cultures and habits or species.
Sustainable Tourism that leads to the management of all resources in such
Tourisma way that economic, social, and aesthetic needs can be fulfilled
while maintaining cultural integrity, essential ecological processes,
biological diversity, and life-support systems.
(2)
Based on data collected by a survey by Travel Bureau, the following market profile
of an
ecotourist was constructed:
Age: 35 - 54 years old, although age varied with activity and other factors such as
cost.
Gender: 50% female and 50% male, although clear differences based on activity were
found.
Education: 82% were college graduates, a shift in interest in ecotourism from those
who
have high levels of education to those with less education was also found,
indicating an
expansion into mainstream markets.
Household composition: No major differences were found between general tourists
and experienced ecotourists.
Party composition: A majority (60%) of experienced ecotourism respondents stated
they prefer to travel as a couple, with only 15% stating they preferred to travel
with
their families, and 13% preferring to travel alone. (experienced ecotourists =
Tourists
that had been on at least one “ecotourism” oriented trip.)
Trip duration: The largest group of experienced ecotourists (50%) preferred trips
lasting 8-14 days.
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121
Expenditure: Experienced ecotourists were willing to spend more than general
tourists,
the largest group (26%).
Important elements of trip: Experienced ecotourists top three responses were:
(a) wilderness setting, (b) wildlife viewing, (c) hiking/trekking.
Motivations for taking next trip: Experienced ecotourists top two responses were
(a) enjoy scenery/nature, (b) new experiences/places.
Based your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below.
(1×10=10)
()In the line “......recognised as the benchmark”, the word ‘benchmark’ DOES NOT
i
refer to:
a() abbasis for something. () the criterion required.
c() the
d ability to launch something new. () a standard point of reference.
(ii) The World Tourism Organisation of the UN, in an observation, shared that
__________________ .
(iii) One of the elements that is important to ecotourists on trip is
_______________ .
(iv) Study the following statements and choose the correct option.
1. Asha Mathew, an NRI, loves animals and wishes to travel to places that safeguard
their rights and inculcate awareness of their rights. What kind of tourist is she?
2. Gurdeep Singh from UK is an environmental scientist and has always chosen to
travel to places that are examples of a symbiotic relationship between man and
nature. What kind of tourist is he?
(a) (1) is an ecotourist and (2) is a geotourist
(b) (1) is an ethical tourist and (2) is a geotourist
(c) (1) is a sustainable tourist and (2) is a pro-poor tourist
(d) (1) is a geotourist and (2) is a responsible tourist
(v) Based on your understanding of the passage, choose the option that lists the
inherent
qualities of geotourist.
1. showcases adventure sports
2. promotes landscape appreciations
3. promises luxurious travel
4. includes being environmentally responsible
5. believes in commercializing forests
6. initiates donations for the underprivileged
(a) 1 and 2 (b) 5 and 6
(c) 2 and 4 (d) 3 and 5
(vi) In the market profile of an ecotourist, the information on gender indicates
that
_______________ .
(vii) The education aspect in the market profile of the ecotourist revealed that
________________ .
(viii) According to the survey conducted by the Travel Bureau, the total percentage
of
experienced ecotourists who DID NOT prefer to travel alone was:
(a) 60% (b) 75%
(c) 15% (d) 13
122

(ix) According to the survey, one of the most powerful driving forces leading
experienced
ecotourism to invest in new trips was:
(a) setting up work stations in new places.
(b) the chance to go camping in the wild.
(c) competing with other ecotourists as frequent travellers.
(d) the opportunity to travel to new places.
(x) Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE, according to the passage?
(a) Economically backward countries will benefit from sustainable tourism.
(b) The tourism business currently recognises sustainability as an important
factor.
(c) Emerging economies will receive negligible international tourists in the near
future.
(d) The sustainability factor in tourism is a significant means for development.
SECTION–B
(Grammar)
III.
(10 Marks)
1. Attempt ANY TEN of the following questions.

i
() Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option to complete the headline
appeared
in a magazine.
The government ___________________ to make six airbags mandatory in eightseater
vehicles for enhanced safety of occupants from October 1.
(a) has now planned (b) has now been planned
(c) had now plan (d) had now planned
(ii) Read the conversation between Rahul and Sakshi. Complete the sentence by
reporting Sakshi’s statement correctly.
Rahul : What’s your plan after the last paper of the term-end examination?
Sakshi : I was planning to take up a crash course for French Language.
Rahul, while coming to school by the school bus asked Sakshi what her plan
was after the last paper of the term-end examination. To this, Sakshi replied
_________________________.
school magazine.
Acknowledging small achievements and positive reinforcement _________________
help you boost your kids’ self-esteem and confidence.
the
Electronic devices and screens are part of our daily lives. However, these screens
have a very harmful affect on both children as well as adults.
Option no.
Sample Papers
error
correction
(a)
have
has
(b)
however
moreover
(c)
affect
effect
(d)
on
over
123
Making simple changes to your life and making good habits a part of your routine
is simpler than it ______________.
(a) sound (b) is sounding
(c) sounds (d) has sounded
the given
Subject: Water Shortage in Indirapuri
Through the columns of your newspaper, I would like to bring to the notice of
the concerned authorities the acute water shortage ________________ (prevail) in
Indirapuri and adjoining areas of West Delhi.
(vii) Report the dialogue between Arya and receptionist, by completing Arya’s
sentence:
Arya : Is it possible to get an appointment with the doctor this evening?
Receptionist : I am sorry but the doctor is already occupied with his prior
appointments. He can address new appointments from Monday.
Arya asked the receptionist _________________________________. To this, the
receptionist replied that the doctor was already occupied with his prior
appointments
and further added that he could address new appointments from Monday.
supply the
correction.
Over time, our work with people have supported community efforts and led to
transformative social and environmental results.
error
correction
(ix) Sanjay’s principal announced something in the morning assembly. His friend,
Arush
was unfortunately absent. Write how he would report the following information to
his friend, Arush.
Our school is planning an excursion for South India during the winter vacation and
only senior wings students are eligible to join the trip.
(x) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option, to complete the quote Amrish
heard
while attending a Ted Talk by a social activist, Ms Majumdar.
___________________ we restore our lost glory? It’s a matter of our integrity and
respect.
(a) Won’t (b) Can’t
(c) Shouldn’t (d) Mustn’t
(xi) Select the correct option to complete the conversation between Radhika and
Atulya.
Radhika : Atulya, did you attend the last class of Biology yesterday?
Atulya : No, I was called by the Physical education teacher for practice.
Radhika asked ______________________________. Atulya replied in negative and
informed that he had been called by the Physical education teacher for practice.
(a) Atulya whether he has attended the previous class of biology last day.
124

(b) Atulya whether he had attended the previous class of biology last day.
(c) Atulya that whether he has attended the previous class of biology last day.
(d) Atulya whether he has attended the previous class of biology yesterday.
required:
Atrocities Against Women
Domestic Violence is yet another term who is common in our country as women
were and are considered to be the inferior strata of human society.
error
correction
SECTION–B
(10 Marks)

(5)
(A)
You are Nitish Nitin, the Head Boy of Arya Public School, Woods Valley, Dehradun.
You recently learnt that your friend is addicted to smoking after you found a
packet
of cigarette from his pocket. You found that the packet contained statutory warning
and even then, the selling of cigarette is on a rise.
Smoking Kills!!!
Write a letter to the Editor of The Doon Times, in not more than 120 words, drawing
attention towards the harm caused by smoking. Suggest some measures to spread
awareness.
OR
Shocked at the news of the death of a whale in Ahmedabad due to consumption of
plastic bags, Protyoy realised that it was a major global environmental problem and
many countries have been grappling with this issue. He decided to write a letter to
the editor seeking his immediate attention and address this problem by making the
people aware about its ill-effects. Write the letter, in not more than 120 words.
(5)
The
majestic
animals
like
tigers
are
on
the
verge
of
extinction
for
they
are
widely
(A)
threatened due to consumer demand for their skins, bones, and other body parts.
Write a paragraph, in about 100-120 words, analysing the data shown below.
(B)
OOToday, fewer than 3,900 live in a mere four per cent of their historic range.
OOWWF-Canada has supported tiger conservation projects in Nepal since 2013
through population monitoring.
OOGlobal leaders and non-governmental organizations met in 2010 to discuss
the future of tigers at the Global Tiger Summit.
OONepal has become the first country on track to achieve the ambitious TX2
goal.
Sample Papers
125
(B)
OR
Our water systems are facing increasing pressure every day. Growing populations
require more clean water. Increasing urbanization and agriculture are encroaching
on freshwater habitats, causing loss and fragmentation. Increased demand for
energy and resources means more pollution and obstructed water flows. A warming
climate is resulting in changes to freshwater habitats.
Write a paragraph, in about 100-120 words, analysing the given statement ensuring
how to safeguard the future of wildlife and habitat, as well as communities that
depend on freshwater ecosystems.
SECTION–C
(Literature)
(40 Marks)

(10 marks)
(5 marks)
(A)
The moon was coming up in the east, behind me, and stars were shining in the clear
sky above me. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky. I was happy to be alone high up
above
the sleeping countryside. I was flying my old Dakota aeroplane over France back to
England. I was dreaming of my holiday and looking forward to being with my family.
I looked at my watch at one thirty in the morning. I should call Paris Control
soon. I
thought. As I looked down past the nose of the aeroplane, I saw the lights of a big
city in
front of me.
(i) Why was the pilot flying his aeroplane over France back to England?
(a) Because he wanted to see the lights of a big city
(b) Because there were clouds in the sky
(c) Because he was dreaming of his holiday and longing to be with his family
(d) Because he wanted to be alone high up in the sky
(ii) What did the pilot see when he looked down past the nose of the aeroplane?
(iii) Fill in the blank with ONE WORD substituting the underlined word given in the
sentence below.
I was dreaming of my holiday and looking forward to being with my family.
(iv) How was the weather when the pilot started flying his aeroplane?
(a) Clear weather (b) Stormy weather
(c) Cool weather (d) Both (a) and (b)
(v) Select the option that correctly captures the application of the word ‘being’
as used
in the extract.
Pick the option that DOESN’T list the usage of the word ‘being’, as in the extract
above.
(a) The rubrics are being prepared in order to carry out the new project.
(b) It was exciting being at the forefront of drug development through the study of
gene sequences.
(c) The seriousness of water crisis in the locality was being discussed in the
meeting.
(d) I was being heard patiently even after the dissent created by the
representative.
126
(B)
OR
All I think about when I’m with friends is having a good time. I can’t bring myself
to talk
about anything but ordinary everyday things. We don’t seem to be able to get any
closer
and that’s the problem. Maybe it’s my fault that we don’t confide in each other. In
any
case, that’s just how things are, and unfortunately they’re not liable to change.
This is
why I’ve started the diary.
(i) What were Anne’s views on friends?
(ii) Explain, ‘unfortunately they’re not liable to change’.
(iii) What is Anne’s fault?
(a) That she is blunt
(b) That she and her friends don’t share secrets
(c) That she makes them feel bad about themselves
(d) That she seems too rigid
(iv) Why did Anne think she could confide more in her diary than in people?
(v) Why did Anne think that ‘paper has more patience than people’?
() Because it never judges
() aBecause it never shows disinterest
() bBecause it is better than people at keeping a secret
() cAll of these
d

(A)
(5 marks)
Or if some time when roaming round,

A noble wild beast greets you,
With black stripes on a yellow ground,
just notice if he eats you.
This simple rule may help you learn
The Bengal Tiger to discern.
(i) The given stanza has been extracted from the poem __________________________.
(ii) Who is the animal being referred to in the above lines?
(iii) How is the animal discussed in the above stanza different from the Asian
Lions?
(a) An Asian lion roars when it falls upon its prey, while the animal discussed in
the
above stanza greets its prey first.
(b) An Asian lion roars when it falls upon its prey, while the animal discussed in
the
above stanza yawns.
(c) An Asian lion roars when it falls upon its prey, while the animal discussed in
the
above stanza attacks silently.
(d) None of these
(iv) Given below is the list of words that show MOVEMENT. Which of the following is
not a movement?
(a) Stumbling (b) Crawling
(c) Staggering (d) Musing
Sample Papers
127
(v) Enlisted below are the synonyms of the word ‘discern’ barring one. Pick the one
out.
(a) Perceive (b) Tepid
(c) Discover (d) Recognise
OR
(I am an orphan, roaming the street.
(B)
I pattern soft dust with my hushed, bare feet. The
silence is golden, the freedom is sweet.)
(i) The tone of the given line is _________________.
(ii) Read the following statements and choose the option that correctly evaluated
these
statements.
Statement A - The figure ‘I’ imagines a less than realistic view of being an
orphan.
Statement B - The figure ‘I’ does not like the speaker.
(a) A is true, B is false, according to the extract.
(b) A is true, B cannot be clearly inferred from the extract.
(c) A cannot be clearly inferred from the extract, B is false.
(d) A is true and can be inferred from the poem, B is true too.
(iii) The golden silence is contrasted with the
____________________________________.
(iv) The rhyme scheme ‘aaa’ in the above extract is followed in all other stanzas
of the
poem that are written in parenthesis, i.e. (). Why?
(1) It shows the simplicity of the child’s thoughts.
(2) It reflects the harmony and rhythm of the child’s inner world.
(3) It mirrors a child’s expression.
(4) It highlights the poet’s aesthetic sensibility.
() 1, 4 () 1, 2
a b
() 2, 3 () 3, 4
c d
(v) Pick the option that lists the usage of the word ‘pattern’, as in the extract
above.
() That is a lovely pattern for a wallpaper.
a
() He decided to wear a patterned shirt to the party.
()b Poetry is a form of pattern making.
()c She patterned hair after her favourite celebrity.
d
VI.
Answer ANY FOUR of the following in about 40-50 words each.
(4×3=12)
i
() Why was Mr Keesing annoyed with Anne? What did he ask her to do?
ii
() ‘Fire and Ice’ projects a pessimistic outlook. Comment.
iii
() There is not a dull moment when pets are around. Explain how this hold true in
case
iv of ‘Mijbil the Otter’.
() The forest undergoes tremendous transformation overnight. Discuss with reference
to
v the poem ‘The Trees’.
() Natalya called Lomov a ‘landgrabber’. Justify the statement.
128

VII.
Answer ANY TWO of the following in about 40-50 words each.

(2×3=6)
()i How did Horace Danby know all the details of the house?
()ii What does he say about the different reaction of people when they are robbed?
(
The Thief’s Story)
()iiiWhat was so strange about the furniture of Mrs Hall?
VIII.
Answer ANY ONE of the following in about 100-120 words.

(1×6=6)
i() Did you find any difference in the behaviour of the young seagull in the very
beginning and at the end of the story? If yes, then explain briefly.
OR
(ii
IX.
) The narrator shares, “Baking was indeed a profitable profession in the old days.”
What do you feel has changed now? Why? State any one way, you feel, the paders
can regain their lost glory.

(1×6=6)
i
() “He had never been known to refuse food; he would tackle a meal at any hour of
the day or night.” Herriot believed that Tricki’s problem was his greed. Did he
lack
tolerance?
(ii
OR
) Bholi’s father was worried about her. Why didn’t Bholi’s parents treat her at par
with other siblings? Parents are the ones who the children look up to. What values
should the parents possess that help their children share a strong bond with them?
zOzOz
Sample Papers
129
SAMPLE PAPER
[UNSOLVED]
18
Max. Marks: 80

SECTION–A
(Reading Skills)
I.
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(20 Marks)

(10 marks)
In the days gone by, heroes emerged when wars broke out and messiahs appeared
when decadence overtook societies. Through the centuries, adversities have inspired
people to rise to the occasion and display special skills which have earned them
the
label of a leader.
The driving force behind a leader’s actions and behaviour is his instinct. It
guides
silently, telling him what to do, which way to go and how to develop skills that
can
enable
him to overcome any challenge that life proposes. Abraham Lincoln failed in almost
all
his endeavours through his life. And yet his instinct urged him to keep trying,
finally
culminating in earning him the highest seat of political leadership in America.
So, what is instinct? Is it genetic, or is it cultivated? Instinct is what drives a
new-born
into sensing that he is hungry or cold, making him cry for help.
It can be best described as a compass of objective observation, although born with
it, we
tend to lose touch with our instinct as we grow older.
If everybody is born with this sense, why is it that some people become leaders and
others don’t? Firstly, external circumstances greatly dictate our evolution. All
people
who are deprived of opportunities to develop their latent abilities, fail to grow
into
leaders.
The second reason relates to internal attitude. There are many people who, despite
being
blessed with all the right opportunities, still fail. This is because they are
insensitive
to their own instincts, ignoring all the signals that can enable them to act
appropriately.
Listening is a critical skill that needs to be evolved over time. While our earlier
experiences enable us to list and put evaluated choices, it is eventually our
instinct that
helps us in determining which one to go for. At such times, people who are tuned in
to their instincts, are more likely to make the right decisions than those who are
not.
Instinct is like a psychometer. When a leader gives his team an emotionally charged
speech in the attempt to motivate them into action, he can invariably tell even
before he
has completed it, whether or not he has succeeded. In fact, right through the
process of
speaking, he is constantly modulating his behaviour.
Leadership is a quest for doing the right things, a quest that is initiated not for
fulfilling
one’s own selfish needs but for the greater good of all concerned.
130

(1×10=10)
i() Leaders are born when:
a
b
() adversities
strike people () wars break out
c() decadence
d
invades societies () all of these
(ii
) Instinct guides a person by telling him:
a
b to do () what to write
() what
c() what
d to say () whom to meet
(iii) Instinct can be best described as a compass of objective observation. This
statement
means that instinct:
(a) gives us the right direction (b) tells us not to be subjective
(c) teaches us how observe (d) guides us in our observations of people
Opinion
Reason
___________________________Energy behind something in motion

(v) Find the factor from the passage that drives a new-born into sensing that he is
hungry or cold.
(vi) List two reasons that inspire people to become a messiah.
(vii) What happens to those who are deprived of opportunities?
(viii) ___________________ appeared when decadence overtook societies.
(a) Heroes (b) Messiahs
(c) Leaders (d) None of these
(ix) Instinct is a driving force as discussed in the passage. Justify.
(x) All the people who are deprived of opportunities to develop their latent
abilities, fail
to grow into:
(a) a leader (b) a good human
(c) a politician (d) none of these
II.
The
education
sector
in
India
is
estimated
to
be worth USD 91.7 billion and is expected
(1)
to witness a major growth in the coming years. The industry in India can be broadly
classified into two categories; the formal education industry comprising schools,
colleges
and universities, and the tutorial industry comprising private tutorials and
coaching
institutes.
A major contribution to the formal education market is the higher education segment
(2)
as shown in the below chart. The university count in India has gone up in the last
two
decades. The number of universities in India has increased at a CAGR (Compound
Annual Growth Rate) of 8.5% from 367 (2010) to 850 (2018). Globally, the nation is
ranked 1st in terms of the number of universities. Most of the schools, colleges
and
universities in the country were operated by the state, union or the local
government.
However, the scenario saw a change in the last two decades. India has seen a surge
in
private universities such as Amity and Sikkim Manipal universities entering the
market.
According to the University Grants Commission (UGC), private universities account
for
34.8% of the total universities in India in 2018 compared to 3.4% in 2008. The
number
of colleges has also increased from 34,852 (2012) to 40,026 (2017).
Sample Papers
131
Education sector in India: market contribution
5%
Pre-School
15%
School Education
Higher Education
Vocational Course
52%
28%
India is a young democracy and a progressing country. The literacy rate was lower
than
30% at the time of independence in 1947 and 72 years after, it presently stands at
more
than 75%. This is a phenomenal growth, considering the fact that the population of
the country has also risen from 33 million to 1.3 billion during the period.
Currently,
29% of the population is under 14 years of age. The government has given special
attention towards education through initiatives such as ‘Right to Education Act’
and
‘Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan’ (education for all). Resultantly, people in the rural areas
have an increased awareness of the importance of education for their children. This
has created a significant increase in the demand for education at all levels. India
is a
developing country, the GDP per capita and the personal disposable income of people
are increasing, and they are now willing to spend more on education than in the
last
millennium. The students’ enrolment in universities has gone up from 29 million
(2012)
to 36 million (2017). These socio-economic factors have created a conducive
ecosystem
for the rise of private players in the education industry.
(3)
(1×10=10)
i
()Infer
one reason why education industry in India is broadly classified into categories
based on information given in paragraph 1.
The industry in India can be broadly classified into two categories.
(ii) Select the appropriate option to fill in the blanks.
From paragraph 3, we can infer that in the developing country like India
___________________ and the _____________________ are increasing.
1. personal disposable income of people
2. awareness of the importance of education
3. the GDP per capita
4. higher education segment
5. several universities entering market
(a) 1 & 3 (b) 2 & 4
(c) 2 & 5 (d) 1 & 4
iii) Complete the following analogy correctly with a word/phrase from paragraph 3:
(
fragrance : smell : : _________: notable
(iv) Globally, the nation is ranked ____________ in terms of the number of
universities.
(a) 2nd (b) 4th
(c) 3rd (d) 1st
132

(v) Most of the schools, colleges and universities in the country were operated by
the:
(a) state (b) union
(c) local government (d) all of these
(vi) India has seen a surge in _____________ universities.
(a) government (b) public
(c) private (d) none of these
(vii) Substitute the word ‘rise’ with ONE WORD similar in meaning, in the following
sentence from paragraph 2:
Some private universities have made a rapid rise in while entering the market.
(viii) List any 2 examples of initiatives made by the government to reform
education
section as referred to, in paragraph 3.
(ix) List one reason why the university count in India has gone up in the last two
decades.
(x) Which statement from the following is NOT TRUE, according to the passage?
(a) The socio-economic factors have created a conducive ecosystem for the rise of
private players in the education industry.
(b) In India, the GDP per capita and the personal disposable income of people are
increasing.
(c) The number of colleges has also increased from 34,852 (2012) to 40,026 (2017).
(d) People in the urban areas have an increased awareness of the importance of
education for their children.
SECTION–B
(Grammar)
III.
(10 Marks)

i
appeared
in a magazine.
India had previously seen a lot of students migrating to foreign countries for
higher education. But over the past few years, a lot of foreign students from the
neighbouring countries _____________________ to India for better education.
(a) have migrated (b) had migrated
(c) have been migrated (d) has been migrated
(ii) Read the conversation between Raj and Sunny. Complete the sentence by
reporting
Sunny’s statement correctly.
Raj : Are you coming to school tomorrow?
Sunny : No, I was planning to stay at home and prepare for my upcoming
examination.
Raj, while coming to school, asked Sunny whether he was coming to school
the following day. To this, Sunny replied in negative and further added that
_________________________.
school magazine.
The spotlight on gender sensitivity _____________________ begin early on from
schools to create and generate an understanding that will stay on.
(a) could (b) should
Sample Papers
133
the
following line, from a Bollywood buzz:
The portrayal of women in Hindi cinema has underwent a sea change compared to
an era gone by.
Option no.errorcorrection
(a)portrayalportrayed
(b)hashave
(c)anthe
(d)underwentundergone
Empowered women ____________________ to the health and productivity of whole
families and communities, and they improve prospects for the next generation.
(a) contribute (b) contributes
(c) contributed (d) is contributing
the given
Subject: Create awareness about health and hygiene.
The villagers are not paying any attention to sanitation and personal hygiene which
_________________ (lead) them towards ill health.
(vii) Report the dialogue between Arya and Geeta, by completing Geeta’s sentence:
Geeta : Arya, kindly inform the students that their practicals for Term-II is to
begin from the 1st week of October.
Arya : Iam really sorry, Ma’am. I have been called by the Arts Department to
collect our grade sheet for the class.
Geeta requested Arya _________________________________. To this, Arya apologised
and further explained that she had been called by the Arts Department to collect
their grade sheet for the class.
supply the
correction.
We’re told breakfast is the most important meal of the day, we’re given lunch
breaks
at work, and than our social and family lives revolve around evening meals.
error
correction
(ix) A psychologist suggested something while addressing a gathering. Write how you
would report the following information to your friend.
Procrastination is more about managing emotions than time.
(x) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option, to complete the quote Amrita
heard
while attending a Ted Talk by a social activist, Ms. Ragini.
Eliminating violence against women and girls is pivotal to achieving gender
equality,
women’s empowerment, and the sustainable development goals. Elimination
______________________ only be done through prevention.
(a) can’t (b) should
(c) mustn’t (d) can
134

(xi) Select the correct option to complete the conversation between Gunjan and
Mayank.
Gunjan : Mayank, I won’t be able to make myself available for the assessment
tomorrow. Can you please inform Ms. Rita?
Mayank : Sure, but I will also not be available in the first half. I hope it’d be
ok.
Gunjan told Mayank she won’t be able to make herself available for the assessment
the next day. She enquired ______________________________. Mayank consented
positively but expressed his hitch that he would also not be available in the first
half.
He asked if that would be ok.
(a) Mayank politely whether he would inform Ms. Rita.
(b) Mayank politely whether he would informed Ms. Rita.
(c) Mayank politely that whether he would inform Ms. Rita.
(d) Mayank politely whether he will inform Ms. Rita.
) Identify the error spotted from a local newspaper and supply the correction
(xii
required:
Girls’ right to life is not respected as much as boys
More boys born have been intentionally carried to full-term and girls die more
frequently before an age of five.
error
correction
SECTION–B
(10 Marks)
(5 marks)
(A) You are Ayaan Hassan, the Head Boy of Dev Samaj International School, Dehradun.
You have just been reminded of your school days after spotting a poster bearing the
following:
School Days are Pleasant Memories
Not Every Child is Fortunate
You feel pity and wish to write a letter to the Editor of The Devbhoomi Times
sensitising the common masses, in not more than 120 words. Draft the letter.
OR
Almost one in five children live in countries affected by conflict and many of
(B)
them are denied education as a result. Provided that there are movements like
‘Sarvashiksha Abhiyan’, ‘Mid-day Meal’ and ‘Mission Blackboard’ and enrolling of
underprivileged children in schools under RTE, there are still many children, who
do not go to school, rather have never seen a school. It is indeed disturbing.
Write
a letter to the editor of a national newspaper expressing your views and the steps
to
be taken.
(5 marks)
We live in a time where social media is an important part of our everyday life, and
(A)
our children are growing up in an environment where social media is unavoidable.
Write a paragraph, in about 100-120 words, analysing the points given below.
Sample Papers
135
l Facebook has tons of data that show how microsites and social media platforms
like Instagram are hampering the mental health of children and teenagers.
l What we fail to understand is the kind of pressure of cyberbullying and peers.
l Sleep disorders caused due to screens.
l Stress and anxiety caused from overuse of social media.
(B)
OR
Protein is an important part of a healthy diet. It is being used these days to
build
and repair muscles and bones and to make hormones and enzymes. But how much
protein should be consumed in our diet varies depending on our weight, gender,
age and health.
Write a paragraph, in 100-120 words, analysing the given statement ensuring how
to consume it and in what quantity.
SECTION–C
(Literature)
(40 Marks)

(10 marks)
(5 marks)
(A) “Kisa Gotami became weary and hopeless, and sat down at the wayside watching
the
lights of the city, as they flickered up and were extinguished again. At last the
darkness
of the night reigned everywhere.
(i) What happened when Kisa Gotami could not find a house where no one has died?
(ii) What did Kisa Gotami realise while watching the city lights?
(a) That suffering is eternal

(b) That loss is not that bad
(c) That God is testing her
(d) That lives are like city lights and they flicker out too
(iii )What was happening to the city lights?
(a) They were fusing. (b) They were glowing.

(c) They were blacked out. (d) They were flickering.
(iv) Why was Kisa Gotami restless?

(v) Which of the following sentence matches the meaning of the word ‘reigned’, as
used
in the extract?
(a) For more than a century, peace reigned undisturbed in Brittany.
(b) He was regarded as the mediator between suffering humanity and the
unknowable and inaccessible God of all beings, who reigned in the ether.
(c) He reigned in society as much by the attraction of his manners as by the
superior
virtue of his thoughts.
(d) The values of justice, equality and brotherhood reigned over the South African
continent on the 10th of May 1994.
OR
(B)
“Down, Sherry,” she said. “Anyone would think I’d been away for a month!” She
smiled
at Horace, and went on, “However, I came back just in time, though I didn’t expect
to
meet a burglar.”
136

Horace had some hope because she seemed to be amused at meeting him. He might
avoid trouble if he treated her the right way. He replied, “I didn’t expect to meet
one of
the family.”
She nodded. “I see what an inconvenience it is for you to meet me. What are you
going
to do?”
Horace said, “My first thought was to run.”
“Of course, you could do that. But I would telephone the police and tell them all
about
you. They’d get you at once.”
(i) Who is Sherry in the above extract?
(ii) “Anyone would think I’d been away for a month!” The statement shows the lady’s
‘________________’.
(a) diffidence (b) arrogance
(c) drudgery (d) grudge
(iii) Pick the option/s that correctly exhibit/s the synonyms of ‘burglar’.
(1) intruder (2) trespasser
(3) picklock (4) sentinel
(5) pilferer (6) purloiner
(7) amateur
() (1), (2), (3), (6) and (7) (b) (1), (2), (3), (4) and (6)
a
() (2), (3), (5), (6) and (7) (d) (1), (2), (3), (5) and (6)
c
(iv) Horace carried out the instructions of the lady because he didn’t want to:
() deceive her (b) mistrust her
a
() face the police (d) please her
c
(v) Why did the lady feel amused to see Horace?
(5 marks)
(A)
Stop that sulking at once, Amanda!

You’re always so moody, Amanda!
Anyone would think that I nagged at you,
Amanda!
____________________ is the major theme of the poem Amanda.
(ii) Amanda, efforts to escape her realities of controlling over her and turns to
daydream.
These daydreams represent ______________________.
(a) her submissive behaviour (b) her insolent behaviour
(c) her sulking behaviour (d) her desire for freedom
After getting a fresh list of instructions from her parents, Amanda wishes to be
away
from her daily routine life.
(iv) ‘I’ in the above extract is __________________.
(a) Amanda (b) Amanda’s mother
(c) The poet’s mother (d) Both (a) and (c)
Sample Papers
137
(v) What does the poet indicate through the last line of the given extract?
(a) The nagging and controlling nature of the adult speaker
(b) Amanda’s sulky behaviour
(c) The nagging and controlling nature of a novice
(d) Sheer negligence and carelessness
OR
The fog comes
on little cat feet.
It sits looking
over harbour and city on silent haunches
and then moves on.
(B)
(i) Choose the option with qualities of the cat that Carl Sandburg applies to the
fog?
1. Cats are independent animals, they don’t follow rules, they slip and slide in
and
out of our lives as they please.
2. Cats are distrustful of strangers and can be jealous and moody.
3. Cats are stealthy, moving in slow motion at times and they appear to be moving
in
a mysterious fashion.
4. Cats often communicate with a combination of a distinctive sound and body
language.
5. Cats like to move on at their own pace and before you know it, they’ve
disappeared.
(a) Only 1 (b) 2, 3 and 4
(c) 1, 3 and 5 (d) Only 4
(ii) The poet has used short lines to compose the given poem. Choose the option
that
lists the most appropriate explanation for the same.
(a) By keeping the lines short, the poet keeps the liberty in stepping away from
rule, traditional form, logic, or fact, in order to produce a desired effect.
(b) By keeping the lines short, the poet wants the reader to omit some parts of a
sentence, which gives the reader a chance to fill the gaps while reading it out.
(c) By keeping the lines short, the poet wants to introduce ambiguity or
contradiction
into an otherwise straightforward sentence.
(d) By keeping the lines short, the poet is controlling the pace to make the reader
slow down thereby reflecting the slow rolling in of the fog.
The intention of the poet in the given extract is to criticise the atrocities of
human
being against nature in a clever and amusing way.
(iv) Stealth is an important aspect of fog. Two instances from the poem ‘Fog’ that
suggest
the same are.
(v) The poem is an extended metaphor, the poet seeing the fog as a cat that comes
on
tiny, silent feet, as cats do when they are stalking.
Pick the most suitable example that supports the statement.
(a) Only a cat can move so visibly, almost perceptibly, and in sheer arrogance.
(b) Only a cat can impersonate like fog and move so gracefully like it.
138

c
d
() Only a cat can move in such a way, almost imperceptibly, and in complete
silence. () Only a cat can create such an image in the minds of the readers.
(4×3=12)
i
() Describe the young seagull’s effort while taking his first flight.
ii () Why do you think the poet feels “fire” is the likely way for humanity to
destroy itself
and the world?
iii
() Why did Valli react strongly when she was called ‘a child’ or ‘ a madam’?
iv () How did Belinda treat with Custard and other members living with her?
v () How can we say that the play ‘The Proposal’ is an elaborate portrayal of the
difference
between practicality and myth of marriage?
(2×3=6)
i
() Mr Herriot’s treatment given to Tricki is likely to be considered as a breach of
trust.
Comment.
ii
() According to Fowler, Ausable was unlike any fictional spy. Validate the
statement
with relevant example.
iii
() What lesson did Ebright learn when he could not win anything at a science fair?
i
(1×6=6)
() Suppose you are one of the visitors there in the cage of the tiger who is
longing for
his freedom and doesn’t approve of the visitors who are taking him to be a matter
of
entertainment. The tiger appears to you quite helpless and yearns to move out of
it.
What would the tiger have told you and how would you have cajoled him? Develop
the conversation.
OR
(ii) The young seagull, who has not yet soared in the sky, is being counselled by
his
siblings. Develop the conversation between them.
Siblings : My dear brother, there is nothing to get apprehensive about. All you
need to do is flap your wings and abide by the instructions. It is that
easy.
……………………………………….
Seagull
:
(1×6=6)
i
() Forgiveness is not about condoning other people’s detrimental behaviour; it is
about developing compassion and accepting others for being imperfect. Analyse the
statement in the light of the chapter ‘The Thief’s Story’.
OR
(ii) ‘When you shower your love to your loved ones, make sure it’s not in excess’.
Analyse
the statement with reference to the love and care Mrs Pumphrey showered on her
pet dog, Tricki.
zzz
Sample Papers
139
SAMPLE PAPER
[UNSOLVED]
19
Max. Marks: 80

SECTION–A
(Reading Skills)
(20 Marks)
I.

(10 marks)
(1) Birds have been building nests for over 10 million years. Dinosaurs, the
ancestors of
birds, also built terrestrial nests over hundreds of millions of years. The
diversity we see
in bird’s nest today is a result of these thousands of bird species, evolving in
different
environments, creating diverse ways to house and protect their families.
(2) We think of architecture as a result of conscious design, purpose and aesthetic
expression there is, precisely, such architecture in avian nests. These are not
unplanned
constructions. These are shaped by a history of selection and functionality. Also,
the
diversity of materials used by birds to build nests is astonishing and birds arrive
at this
independently.
(3) As adults, the birds go out into nature alone and gather materials to construct
their
nests which have very specific structures. They have extraordinary building
capacities
which show both flexibility and an innate way of interacting with the environment.
(4) Interestingly, all nests perform a physical job to house and protect a bird’s
eggs from
bad weather and predators. The nest is also often the location of the development
of
the young. Therefore, knowing the nest’s centrality birds have developed habitat-
based
strategies to meet these needs. Diverse species use sticks, twigs, webs or mud,
handled
in specific ways to create the nest they require. Like human builders, birds choose
materials related to the actual structure they want.
(5) Birds’ nests also have regular styles of construction historically conditioned
by
circumstances, like human communities which use bricks or stones. Birds have a
similar
historical investment in their nests. For instance, a group of land birds, which
includes
kingfishers, hornbills, and woodpeckers, is about 60 million years old. All of
these nests in
holes, from ground burrows to holes in trees, where they can safely keep their
eggs. None
of them has created an alternative way. Nests are, therefore, conservative
structures.
Birds don’t change the designs much, unless they are sure they are improving on the
conditions required for breeding and protecting their young ones.
(6) Now, weaver birds are an extraordinary example of a group that makes impressive
nests. These include an egg chamber suspended from a branch, with a doorway. The
complexity is amazing as the fibres are interlaced, like weaves. This creates very
strong
water-repellent structures. The weaver bird starts with a vertical ring, like a
hoop, and
adds a back hemisphere to this. It then weaves on the front to create a small door.
Some
140

species add a tubular passage to the back chamber which can be up to five times the
length of the nest.
(1×10=10)
()i Different birds build their nests in different ways because:
b want variety. () dinosaurs taught them how to build.
()athey
()c ofdenvironmental differences. () their families wanted variety.
(ii) Birds also have aesthetic sense. They show it through:
b architecture of their nests. () their multi-coloured plumes.
()athe
d they protect their families. () the precision of their nests.
()c how
(iii) When the birds think of building their nests, the most important factor in
their
minds is:
(a) its beauty. (b) its purpose.
(c) its design. (d) its colour.
Opinion
Reason
___________________________Any design which is a result of

observation, impact, connection and
inclusion
(v) Find the factor from the passage which explains why birds don’t change the
designs
of their nests much.
(vi) List any two purposes that determine the building of nests.
(vii) How do the birds construct their nests?
(viii) The materials that birds use for building their nests are:
(a) sticks.
(b) twigs only.
(c) webs or mud.
(d) any of the above, according to their specific needs.
(ix) Birds evolve in different environments. Justify.
(x) The word ‘flexibility’ in para 3 means the same as:
(a) elasticity. (b) adjustability.
(c) stability. (d) fluidity.
II.
(1) Even as the number of recorded COVID deaths crossed a million on Monday,
medical professionals called for balance in the treatment of COVID and nonCOVID
cases pointing to the fact that every year cardiovascular diseases kill more
than 17 million, cancers over 9·5 million and chronic respiratory diseases almost
four million, cancers over 9.5 million and chronic respiratory diseases almost
four million. According to the medical journal, Lancet’s report Global Burden of
Diseases, there are at least 15 different diseases that kill more than a million
people
every year.
Sample Papers
141
WORLD’S BIGGEST KILLERS
DiseaseDeath in 2017 (in million) Cardiovascular diseases
Cancers
Chronic respiratory diseases
Neurological disorders
Digestive diseases
Maternal and neonatal disorders
Enteric infections
Diabetes mellitus
Chronic kidney disease
Tuberculosis
Source: Lancet, Global Burden of disease, 2017
17.8
9.6
3.9
3.1
2.4
2.0
1.8
1.4
1.2
1.1
(2) While the swine flu pandemic in 2009 is estimated to have killed about half a
million
in one year, the 1918 Spanish flu is estimated to have killed about 50 million.
(3) However, COVID-19 stretched the capacity of health systems as no other
pandemic in recent history, as an extraordinary number of patients required
hospitalised care and came in at an unexpected pace. A good section of these needed
prolonged critical care. With the virus being highly infectious, large numbers are
affected in a short time. Just 5 - 6% of total cases becoming critically ill has
meant a
huge burden on the health system.
(4) As health systems geared up for COVID, most other health services were
suspended. Referring to a survey across several countries, that showed regular
health services, were hit in most countries due to COVID. WHO Director General
said that many who needed treatment for diseases like cancer, heart ailments and
diabetes were not getting the required attention.
(5) We have about three to four patients of stroke or heart attack who are brought
dead to the hospital every day. The only difference is that COVID deaths are
being counted and these are not.
(6) A modelling study published in the Lancet Global Health suggested that,
worldwide, one in five people were at an increased risk of severe COVID-19 should
they become infected, mostly as a result of underlying non-communicable diseases.
(7) Unfortunately, hospital systems are designed for average patient loads, not
epidemics, stated a paper on hospital capacity and operations during COVID-19,
published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. It added that most
hospitals prided themselves on minimising empty beds, but this could result in
their
being ill-equipped for an increase in cases. The pandemic brought into focus the
slackness in a system of under-utilised capacities and capabilities, both physical
and
human, which could be put to use in a crisis.
(8) With health systems operating at more than maximum capacity, a Lancet editorial
warned that “healthcare workers unlike ventilators or wards cannot be urgently
manufactured or run at 100% occupancy for long periods.”
(1×10=10)
i
()Infer one reason for the following, based on the information given in paragraph
4.
Many who needed treatment for diseases like cancer, heart ailments and diabetes
were not getting the required attention.
142

(ii) Select the appropriate option to fill in the blanks
From paragraph 7, we can infer that most hospitals prided themselves on
________________.
(a) giving prompt attention to the patients with chronic diseases
(b) minimising empty beds
(c) giving home care to the patients with critical care
(d) none of these
fatal : deadly : : ________________: miraculous
(iv) Study the following statements.
1. A good section of COVID patients required critical care only for a short
duration.
2. Those who fell critically ill became a burden on the health system.
Choose the correct option from the following.
(a) 1 is right and 2 is wrong. (b) 1 is wrong and 2 is right.
(c) Both 1 and 2 are right. (d) Both 1 and 2 are wrong.
(v) A good section of ____________________ needed prolonged critical care.
(a) patients required hospitalised care
(b) health-workers
(c) patients with chronic diseases
(d) patients with covid symptoms
(vi) Substitute the word ‘sluggishness’ with ONE WORD similar in meaning, in the
following sentence from paragraph 7.
The sharp increase in unemployment this year results partly from the sluggishness
of output.
(vii) In 1918 and 2009 respectively, it is estimated that _____________________
killed
about 5.5 million people.
(viii) “As health systems geared up for COVID. . . .” (para 4).
The phrase, geared up, means:
(a) got ready. (b) failed.
(c) got scared. (d) succeeded.
(ix) For COVID-19 treatment, what was found to be most important?
(x) Diabetes is not more dangerous than digestive diseases. (State whether the
statement
is True/False)
SECTION–B
(GRAMMAR)
III.
(10 Marks)

i() Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option to complete the information as
appeared in a magazine.
Coffee has anti-inflammatory properties which ________________________ in
treating skin problems.
(a) helped (b) helps
(c) is helping (d) help
Sample Papers
143
(ii) Read the conversation between Khushi and Saurabh. Complete the sentence by
reporting Saurabh’s statement correctly.
Do you have any plans to participate in the Annual Day of the school?
Khushi :
Yes,
I have confirmed it to my teacher that I would like to participate in
Saurabh :
the Poetry Writing Competition.
Khushi asked Saurabh whether he had any plans to participate in the Annual Day
of the school. To this, Saurabh replied positively and added that he had already
confirmed it to his teacher that ________________________________.
) Select the correct option to fill in the blank for the given line, from a
magazine.
(iii
I shared with her each and every detail. She wondered whether it __________________
be true.
(a) could (b) should
) Select the option that identifies the error and supplies the correction for the
(ivfollowing line, from a Bollywood buzz:
The portrayal of women in Hindi cinema has underwent a sea change compared to
an era gone by.
Option no.
error
correction
a
()isthe
b
()mostmore
c
()whowhich
()weaponweapons d
The pursuit of happiness is many people’s primary goal in life. Taking the first
step
to being happier could be a lot simpler than many people____________________.
(a) has realised (b) realised
(c) realises (d) realise
the given
Subject: To create awareness about rain-water harvesting
Rain-water harvesting is the collection and storage of rain-water that
___________________ (run) off from roof tops, parks, roads, open grounds, etc.
(vii) Report the dialogue between Shoba and Manju, by completing Manju’s statement:
Manju : How are you going to complete your assignment? I am absolutely
clueless and that worries me!
Shoba : I think my father will be a great help as he is an aeronautical engineer.
Manju asked Shoba _________________________________. To this, Shoba replied
that her father would be a great help as he was an aeronautical engineer.
supply the
correction.
Leaving devices on and forgetting about them is one of the biggest energy-wasting
habit at home. And having a device in sleep or standby mode uses less electricity
than having it completely on.
144
correction
error
(ix) A friend suggested something in order to raise the spirit of Mohan. Write how
you
would report the following information of your friend.
We should always try to have enough trust and confidence in ourselves to deal with
things as they come.
(x) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option, to complete the quote of an
environmentalist.
Many household chemicals can be recycled. Your community _____________________
have a recycling center that can take the old paint, used motor oil, and other
chemicals and recycle them.
(a) can’t (b) may
(c) need (d) will
(xi) Select the correct option to complete the conversation between Anjali and
Bhavesh.
Anjali : Will you recommend my name for the position of Head Girl?
Bhavesh : Certainly, I think you’re the most deserving candidate.
Anjali asked Bhavesh ________________________________________. Bhavesh
assured it as he thinks she is the most deserving candidate for the said position.
(a) whether he would recommend her name for the position of Head Girl.
(b) whether you would recommend her name for the position of Head Girl.
(c) whether he will recommend her name for the position of Head Girl.
(d) whether he would recommended her name for the position of Head Girl.
(xii) Identify the error spotted from a magazine and supply the correction
required:
Plant Some Trees
Trees reduces erosion that washes pollution into the water and reduces erosion.
You can also volunteer your time in a local tree-planting effort. If you own land
along a river or pond, plant trees, bushes, or grass along the bank..
correction
error
SECTION–B
(10 Marks)
(5)
(A) Reading has a number of benefits including improving your memory and
vocabulary,
helping you learn new things, and improving focus and concentration. Suppose you
met a student of Class X and realised that the students today don’t read books.
Write
a letter to the editor of a local daily suggesting some interesting ways that can
help
children read more and develop a daily reading habit.
Sample Papers
145
OR
(B) The homeless moved from door-to-door for warm clothes in the major cities and
also
lined up to collect those from government organizations as well as by individuals.
Even then, they could not manage to protect themselves from the hardships. You
were moved to see the plight of these homeless people and decided to write a letter
addressing the problem. You are Namita / Namit of Rewari, Haryana.
(5)
The table given below gives the idea to the consumer to differentiate between
(A)
natural and synthetic milk. Study the table analyzing the data shown and write a
paragraph of 150 words on the characteristics of natural milk and synthetic milk
higlighting the hazards of synthetic milk.
Physical
Natural Milk
Synthetic Milk
Taste
Palatable
Bitter
Colour
White
White
PH (Hydrogen ion
concentration)
6.8
10-11 alkaline
Texture
acidic
No soap feeling if rubbed Gives a soapy feeling
between fingers
Effect of storage
No change in colourTurns yellowish
Presence of Urea
Weekly positiveHighly positive (yellow)
OR
(B) Heart-related ailments among young Indians have become a concern. The issue is
being debated why there has been a surge in heart attack cases in relatively
younger
age groups in India. Write a paragraph, in 100-120 words, on the topic ‘The
burnand-refuel mentality is dangerous’.
SECTION–C
(Literature)
V.
1.
(40 Marks)
Reference to the Context

(10 marks)
Attempt ANY ONE of two extracts given.
(5 marks)
(A) Inside the clouds, everything was suddenly black. It was impossible to see
anything
outside the aeroplane. The old aeroplane jumped and twisted in the air. I looked at
the compass. I couldn’t believ my eyes: the compass was turning round and round
and round. It was dead. It would not work!
(i) Why did it become impossible for the narrator to see?
(a) Due to a sudden rainstorm
(b) Due to poor night vision
(c) Due to the darkness inside the storm clouds
(d) Due to a broken windscreen
146

(ii) Why was the aeroplane twisting in the air?
(iii) Why did the narrator not receive any answer from Parish control station?
(iv) What problem did the narrator face in the storm?
(a) He could not see where he was.
(b) He got lost in the storm.
(c) All his instruments had stopped working.
(d) All of these
(v) What motivated the narrator to keep flying to England despite the storm?
OR
(B) Valli devoured everything with her eyes. But when she started to look outside,
she
found her view cut off by a canvas blind that covered the lower part of her window.
So she stood up on the seat and peered over the blind. The bus was now going along
the bank of a canal and beyond it, palm trees, grassland, distant mountains, and
the
blue, blue sky.
(i) Why could Valli not enjoy the outside scene?
(a) There was a canvas blind that covered her window.
(b) She was too short to look outside.
(c) There was no window.
(d) The bus was moving too fast.
(ii) Which of these elements are used to describe the outside scenery?
()aPalm trees (b) Distant mountains
()c Grasslands (d) All of these
()iiiWhat was the bus moving along?
()ivWhat can you infer about Valli from the above lines?
()v How do we know that Valli was a responsible girl?
(A)
(5 marks)
Did you finish your homework, Amanda?

Did you tidy your room, Amanda?
I thought I told you to clean your shoes,
Amanda!
(I am an orphan, roaming the street.
I pattern soft dust with my hushed, bare feet.
The silence is golden, the freedom is sweet.)
It is clear that Anaphora is the poetic device used for ‘Did you finish your
homework
…. your room’ because _____________________.
(Clue: explain how anaphora applies here)
(ii) The poet has used a poetic device in the following line. What effect does the
poet
wish to create by its use?
Sample Papers
147
“I pattern soft dust with my hushed, bare feet.”
(a) Emphasis (a) Transferred epithet
(a) Rhyme (a) Inference
In ‘silence is golden’, silence is said to be as precious as gold.
extract.
An / A ____________________ is an indirect reference to a person, place, thing, and
idea. In the poem, Amanda briefly refers to becoming a ‘mermaid’ and ‘Rapunzel’.
(a) syntax (b) pun
(c) hyperbole (d) allusion
(v) The tone of the poet in the given stanza is ____________________.
(a) authoritative (b) obnoxious
(c) derogatory (d) unparliamentary
OR
The
way
a
crow
(B)
Shook down on me
The dust of snow
From a hemlock tree
The dust of snow that the crow shakes off a hemlock tree means
________________________.
(ii) Of the many symbols, the hemlock tree represents __________________.
(a) longevity (b) togetherness
(c) healing (d) protection
The poet has heard divided opinions about the way the world would end in all
likelihood.
(iv) Synecdoche is a poetic device that uses a part to represent the whole.
(e.g., That’s a great set of wheels! (Set of wheels has been used for car.)
Pick an example of synecdoche from the poem.
(a) Has given my heart / A change of mood
(b) The way a crow/ Shook down on me
(c) The dust of snow / From a hemlock tree
(d) And saved some part / Of a day I had rued
(v) Choose the option showing the reason NOT corresponding with “… a crow / Shook
down on me / The dust of snow”.
(a) The crow’s landing on the branch of the tree
(b) The shivering of the crow, due to the cold.
(c) The readjustment of position of the crow on the branch.
(d) The cawing of the crow hidden in the foliage.
148

(4×3=12)
i
() Conquer the fear and venture forth; and we realise that we were born with wings.
Justify the given statement with reference to the chapter “His First Flight”.
ii () What traits of human being would be responsible for the destruction of this
world?
(Fire and Ice)
iii () Why do you think Valli refused to accept a free cold drink offered by the
bus
conductor?
iv () Give one reason why Custard chose to steal the scene when the pirate attacked
Belinda and his teammates.
v
() Natalya and Lomov are apparently and terribly practical in terms of accepting
each
other. Validate the statement giving reasons. (Any two reasons)
(2×3=6)
i
() How did Fowler receive the first thrill of the day?
ii
() Why was Mr. Herriot prompted to keep Tricki for a longer period of time?
iii
() What are the prerequisites that determine a successful scientist? Validate your
points
in the context of Richard Ebright in ‘The Making of a Scientist’.
(1×6=6)
i
() The crocodile in the poem ‘How to Tell Wild Animals’ feels highly disparaging on
learning that people are of the opinion that crocodile often lures its potential
prey
by shedding tears and moaning. So, the crocodile decides to change the opinion of
the people by his speech. Write the speech in your own words, in not more than 120
words.
OR
(ii
) The pilot of the Dakota plane was an experienced flier, but he panicked when he
got engulfed by the black storm. He sits one morning with his family narrating the
ordeal and concludes his speech on the topic ‘Courage is Guided by Faith’.
Narrate on behalf of the pilot what kept him going in such an unfavourable weather.
(1×6=6)
i
() The chapter ‘A Triumph of Surgery’ is a true depiction of the silly and
negligent
behaviour of rich people like Ms. Pumphrey whose excessive love may sometimes
harm their near and dear ones. Tricki’s declined heath was the outcome of Ms.
Pumphrey over-caring nature. Suggest some values for such people in your words.
OR
(ii) Hari’s return to Anil proves that despite indulging in criminal acts, he still
had a
practical and pragmatic attitude towards life. Comment.
zzz
Sample Papers
149
SAMPLE PAPER
[UNSOLVED]
110
Max. Marks: 80

SECTION–A
(Reading Skills)
(20 Marks)
I.

(10 marks)
(1) Usually, you would need to visit a national park or sanctuary to sight
beautiful wild
animals such as the wild boar, blue bull (Nilgai), spotted deer, chinkara,
blackbuck,
Indian hare, or monkeys. Today, just go round to any agricultural field and you may
find plenty of wild herbivores roaming on the grounds freely and feeding on the
crops
and natural palatable plants therein.
(2) When forests were abundant, ecologically sound and self-sufficient, the
movement of
wildlife inside the protected areas/forests in search of food would extend no
further
than the buffer zone. Over time, however, the alarming rise in human population
has put immense pressure on forest wealth, leading gradually to large swathes of
the
forest, including the buffer zone and corridors, being converted into agriculture
fields
and industries, and cleared for the construction of urban zones, big dams, railway
tracks, roads and highways, mining corridors, electricity transmission lines and
other
development works that massively reduce forest area and shrink good-quality
wildlife
habitats.
(3) Resultantly, as wild herbivores made to move or migrate, through natural
corridors,
from one forest to another in search of food, they found themselves in agricultural
fields,
which are full of easily accessible feeding material. This has been the gradual
effect of
encroachment into the homes of wildlife by humans, compounding the human-wild
animal conflict to boot. Exposed, such animals also come as easy prey for poachers
or
become roadkill. As per Delhi-based NGO Wildlife Protection Society of India
(WPSI),
over 1,000 tigers have been killed in the country by poachers over the last two
decades.
Over 650 instances of roadkill have been recorded in the last five years.
(4) So, on the one hand, wildlife outside the protected areas is in great peril. On
the
other hand, farmers and locals in and around the forest-fringe areas are at a loss
due
to crop damage and the danger posed to human and livestock lives. The Ministry of
Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEF & CC) estimates that between 2014
and 2017, one death took place every day due to human-animal conflict. It is
observed
that the wild herbivores damage between 15-50% of the standing crops in the field
and
may affect 50-75% of the total agricultural area. Hence, a balanced solution in the
form
of a ‘Special Management Plan’ (SMP) is a need of hour, not only to protect
wildlife
outside protected areas and forests but also to safeguard human lives and
livelihoods.
150

(1×10=10)
() iDiscuss what the alarming rise in human population leads to.
() iiSelect the appropriate option to fill in the blank.
___________________ is the natural habitat of the wild herbivores.
() aPoacher
() bEncroachment
() cForest fringe
() dBuffer zone
expunge : wipe out : : _________: farm animals
(iv) Farmers of which area are mostly affected by straying of wild herbivores into
agricultural fields?
(a) towns
(b) villages
(c) buffer zone
(d) all of these
(v) The Special Management Plan has been suggested in para 4 because the Government
wants:
(a) to extend buffer zone
(b) to protect wildlife outside protected areas and forests but also to safeguard
human lives and livelihoods
(c) to put immense pressure on forest wealth
(d) to disengage the human wild animal conflict
(vi) Where would one find wild herbivores like Nilgai nowadays?
(a) Agricultural fields (b) Forest-fringe areas
(c) Mining corridors (d) National sanctuary
() List two reasons that led to the decrease of animal population especially
tigers, as
vii
discussed
in the given passage.
() Find the factor behind the massively reduced forest area.
()viii
Which statement from the following is NOT TRUE, according to the passage?
(a)ixWild herbivores migrate from one forest to another in search of food.
(b) Over 1,000 tigers have been killed in the country by poachers over the last two
decades.
(c) Electricity transmission lines reduce the forest area and shrink good-quality
wildlife habitats.
(d) None of these.
(x) Infer one reason for the following, based on the information given in paragraph
2.
The movement of wildlife inside the protected Areas/forests in search of food did
not extend any further than the buffer zone.
Sample Papers
151
II.
(1)
(2)
(3)

(10 marks)
Festivals are synonymous with celebration, ceremony and joy. However, festivals
bring to
the fore the flip side of celebrations – pollution – air, water, soil and noise.
This led to the
need of assessing the awareness level among people about ecological pollution
during
festivals. So, a study was conducted by scholars from an esteemed university in
India.
This study was titled, ‘Awareness Towards Impact of Festivals on Ecology’.
There were two main objectives of the study. The first one was to assess the
awareness
level among people about ecological protection during festivities. Exploring
solutions
to bring awareness about celebrating festivals without harming ecology was the
second
objective. The method used to collect data was a simple questionnaire containing 6
questions, shared with 50 respondents across four selected districts of a state in
the
southern region of India.
The research began by understanding the socio-economic conditions of the
respondents
before sharing the questionnaire. Once the responses were received, the data
collected
were tabulated (Table 1), for analysis.
Table-1: Awareness level among respondents
Yes %No %Can’t Say %
Questions
1. Do you feel that bursting crackers is a must 46540
during festivities?
2. Do you think most people abuse environmental 72280

resources during the celebration of festivals?
3. Do you think that celebrations & festivities 64324
result in uniting people?
4. Do you enjoy bursting crackers for amusement?68320
5. Do you feel pressured to burst crackers 82126
during festivals as an expectation of your
social status?
6. Are you aware of waste segregation & disposal 56404
(4)
(5)
guidelines for better ecology?

The study recommended the imposition of strict rules and regulations as opposed to
a total ban on all festive activities which have a drastic impact on our
environment.
The researchers believed that such measures would help in harnessing some ill-
effects
that add to the growing pollution and suggested further studies be taken up across
the
country to assess awareness about ecological degradation.
The observations made in the study pointed to the environmental groups and eco-
clubs
fighting a losing battle due to city traffic issues, disposal of plastics, garbage
dumping
and all sorts of ecological degradation. The researchers stressed that the need of
the
hour is increasing awareness among people to reduce environmental pollution which
can be facilitated by celebrating all festivals in an eco-friendly manner.
(1×10=10)
i to save the
()__________________ does not create awareness among people
environment.
152

Many who needed treatment for diseases like cancer, heart ailments and diabetes
were not getting the required attention.
(a) Traffic issues (b) Growing pollution
(c) Total banning (d) All of these
(ii) ___________________ enjoy bursting crackers for amusement and do not try to
limit
the use of polluting agents.
(a) 64% (b) 72%
(c) 32% (d) 68%
(iii ) We unintentionally pollute our ecology. This statement means that we do so
by:
1. playing loud music
2. understanding the socio-economic conditions
3. bursting crackers in the air
4. throwing leftovers in the water
(a) Option 2 & 4 (b) Option 2 & 3
(c) Option 1 & 4 (d) All, except 2
) Complete the following with a reason from paragraph 5.
(iv
Action desired
Reason
To educate people___________________________
(v) Find the factor why researchers feel that environmental groups and eco-clubs
are
fighting a losing battle in the given scenario.
(vi) Even though a larger number of people say ‘no’ to bursting crackers than those
who
say ‘yes’, festival pollution persists. How does evidence from table 1 support this
statement?
) What purpose does the ‘Can’t Say’ column serve in the questionnaire (table 1)?
(vii
) What do you infer from celebrating all festivals in an eco-friendly manner?
(viii
(a) To use fresh flowers (b) To use hand-made clothes
(c) To advocate ecological degradation (d) Both (a) and (b)
(ix) Justify the researchers’ recommendation for limiting the drastic impact of
festival
pollution on the environment.
(x) Select the option that displays the recommendation of the study, according to
para
4.
(a) To pressurise the offenders who burst crackers during festivals
(b) To sensitise ecological protection
(c) To impose strict rules and regulations against the violators
(d) To analyse the impact of pollution
SECTION–B
(Grammar)
III.
(10 Marks)

i() Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option to complete the headline
appeared
in a magazine.
Sample Papers
153
Act of talking on phone ________________________ major portion of brain and the
smaller part handles the driving skills. This division of brain hampers reaction
time
and ability of judgment.
a () occupied (b) occupies
c () occupy (d) occupying
(ii) Read the conversation between a student and a teacher. Complete the sentence
by
reporting the student’s statement correctly.
: How
much did you pay for this book?
Teacher
: Sir,
I
didn’t buy it. I went to the library and got it issued.
Student
The teacher asked his student how much he had paid for that book. The student
replied respectfully that _________________________.
(iii ) Select the correct option to fill in the blank for the given line, from a
journal.
When you come across a disturbing, hateful message, there are many thoughts,
emotions, reactions that ___________________ suddenly appear.
(a) may (b) need
(c) will (d) must
the
following line, from a journal:
Learning new things are a huge part of life – we should always be striving to learn
and grow. But it takes time, and time is precious.
Option no.
()thingsthing
()areis
()strivingstriven
error
correction
d
()takestake
(v) Complete the following sentence, by filling in the blank with the correct
option.
One of the best ways to usher in joy _______________________ to strengthen bonds
with friends and family.
(a) are (b) is
(c) have (d) is being
the given
Subject: Regarding meditation classes
If you’re open to joy, you have to be _________________ (open) to disappointment.
(vii) Report the dialogue between a conductor and a passenger:
Conductor : Where do you want to go?
Passenger : This is just a fun ride. You can drop me anywhere you wish.
While heading to the city, the conductor on a running bus asked a young boy
______________________.
The young boy replied that it was just a fun ride and added that he could drop him
anywhere he wished.
154

(viii ) Identify the error in the given sentence, from a circular and supply the
correction.
No crackers should be burst on the eve of Diwali, as they only led to air and noise
pollution and also sometimes lead to serious accidents or fire.
correction
error
(ix) Giri’s father wanted to convey something important to his eldest son. But he
was not
at home. Mohit, Giri’s younger brother, received the information and was asked to
convey the same. Assume you’re Mohit, report the information of your father when
Giri comes.
Father : Mohit, ask Giri to collect me from the office sharp at 5 in the evening.
Mohit : Ok father. I will do.
Father asked Mohit to inform Giri ______________________________________ at 5 in
the evening. Mohit replied he would certainly do.
(x) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option, to complete the instruction
given by
Amrit.
There ____________________ be monitoring agency to perform all rituals and
traditions related to particular festival like Diwali. We all must co-operate to
restore
and to protect our environment.
(a) will (b) must
(c) could (d) can
(xi) Select the correct option to complete the conversation between Sukesh and
Sunil.
Sukesh : Sunil, do you know how to make a claim for your lost water bottle?
Sunil : It’s very simple. You just have to go to the Lost and Found section and
give a brief specification of your lost treasure and make a claim for it.
Sukesh asked Sunil ________________________________________ for his lost
treasure. To this, Sunil replied that it was very simple. He just had to go to the
Lost
and Found section and give a brief specification of his lost treasure and make a
claim
for it.
(a) whether he knows how to make a claim for his lost water bottle.
(b) whether he knew how to make a claim for your lost water bottle.
(c) that whether he knew how to make a claim for her lost water bottle.
(d) whether he knew how to make a claim for his lost water bottle.
required:
Fire Broke out at Residential Building
A fire broke out on the 7th floor of a residential building. There was no reports
of
anyone getting injured in the incident.
error
Sample Papers
correction
155
SECTION–B
(10 Marks)
IV. 1.
(A)
Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below. (5)

You are Ananya/Anuj, the Head Girl/Head Boy of Scholar’s Abode School, Indus
Valley,
Ahmedabad. You spotted the following article in a magazine and realised that the
matter
published in the magazine leaves no impression. You decided to write a letter to
the
editor requesting him to publish your letter with the points given below.
Are Vegans Healthier?
(1) Vegetarianism gives way to veganism
(2) Possible protein deficiency
(3) Vegan lifestyle requires more discipline
(4) Bid adieu to the animal foods
Write a letter to the Gujrat Times, in not more than 120 words, drawing attention
towards ill-effects of consuming animal food.
(B)
OR
Travel has helped us to understand the meaning of life and it has helped us become
better people. Each time we travel, we see the world with new eyes. You spotted the
following quote and wish to advocate the saying.
“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.”
EXPLORE. DREAM. DISCOVER.
It’s true when you travel, the whole world opens up. Write a letter to the editor
explaining how travel helps us find our purpose and put focus into our lives.
2. Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below. (5)
(A) In the early months of the Covid-19 crisis, tens of millions of people lost
their jobs. While
employment began to rebound within a few months, unemployment remained high
throughout 2020. Write a paragraph analysing the data shown below.
Hardship Fell After Relief Enacted But Persisted in 2021
Share of adults
Difficulty covering
Not caughtNot enough
usual expenses
up on rent*to eat
42%
35%
28%
21%
14%
7%
0%
20202021
156
AugSepOctNovDecFebMarMarMayJunJulAugSepOct
31282623210101291075161311

(B)
OR
The earth has gone through warming and cooling phases in the past, long before
humans
were around. Forces that contribute to climate change include the sun’s intensity,
volcanic eruptions, and changes in naturally occurring greenhouse gas
concentrations.
Analyse the given statement and write paragraph reflecting how these shifts can
fundamentally transform the entire ecosystems and the intricate webs of life that
depend
on them.
SECTION–C
(Literature)
(40 Marks)

(10 marks)
(5 marks)
(A) “We, who are outlaws not so long ago, have today given the rare privilege to be
host to
the nations of the world on our own soil. We thank all of our distinguished
international
guests for having come to take possession with the people of our country of what
is,
after all, a common victory for justice, for peace, for human dignity.”
(i) The guests of the spectacular ceremony are being called distinguished because
____
___________________________.
(ii) It is a victory for ‘human dignity’. Pick the option that lists the correct
answer for
what ‘human dignity’ would include.
(a) equality, liberty, indecency
(b) liberty, indecency, self-respect
(c) immortality, self-respect, equality
(d) equality, liberty, self-respect
(iii) Why does the speaker say that it is ‘rare privilege’? He says this as they
have ______
__________________________________.
(iv) How do you think the speaker feels?
(a) emotional, elated, unmindful
(b) elated, unmindful, overwhelmed
(c) overwhelmed, elated, honoured
(d) elated, honoured, unmindful
(v) Pick the option that showcases the usage of ‘host’ as in the extract.
(a) He was praised for his hospitality as the host of the party.
(b) She was able to host the event without any hindrance.
(c) She met the host and apologised for her friend’s misbehaviour.
(d) He is the best host that one can ever come across.
OR
He spent hours shuffling a rubber ball round the room like a four-footed soccer
player
(B)
using all four feet to dribble the ball, and he could also throw it, with a
powerful flick of
the neck, to a surprising height and distance. But the real play of an otter is
when he lies
on his back and juggles with small objects between his paws. Marbles were Mij’s
favourite
toys for his pastime: he would lie on his back rolling two or more of them up and
down
his wide, flat belly without ever dropping one to the floor.
Sample Papers
157
(i) Who is ‘he’ referred to in the above lines?
(a) The author (b) Mijbil - the otter
(c) The fellow passenger (d) Mijbil’s caretaker
(ii) The otter played with the ball like a ___________________.
(iii) The above extract is rich with the words that show movement. Match the
columns
with their correct meaning and subsequently choose the correct option that follows.
1. shufflig A. jerk
2. dribble B. trickery
3. flick C. releasing
4. juggle D. spinning
5. rolling E. stumbling
6. dropping F. exude
(a) 1-C, 2-F, 3-A, 4-B, 5-D, 6-E (b) 1-E, 2-F, 3-A, 4-B, 5-D, 6-C
(c) 1-E, 2-C, 3-A, 4-B, 5-D, 6-F (d) 1-D, 2-F, 3-A, 4-B, 5-E, 6-C
(iv) Pick the option that correctly states what the otter DID NOT do according to
the
given extract.
() Mij loved to engage himself with marbles.
a
() The otter took two or more marbles and rolled them on his wide flat stomach.
b
() Mijbil took a little rest after a long flight.
c
() Mijbil spent most of his time playing with a ball, dragging and pushing it
d
throughout the room and going after it.
()v Find the suitable antonym of the word ‘powerful’.
2.
Attempt ANY ONE of two extracts given.
(A)
(5 marks)
If strolling forth, a beast you view,

Whose hide with spots is peppered,
As soon as he has lept on you,
You’ll know it is the Leopard.
’Twill do no good to roar with pain,
He’ll only lep and lep again.
(i) Having read the given stanza, it’s clear that the language used in the poem
generates:
(a) a lot of humour in the minds of the readers.
(b) a sense of contemplation for the well-being of wild animals.
(c) the emergence of visiting a jungle.
(d) the need to take care of the wild animals.
(ii) Who is the animal referred to in the above extract?
(iii) Identify the rhyme scheme employed in the above extract.
(a) ababcc (b) aabbcc
(c) abbaab (d) abcabc
(iv) Complete the analogy about the speaker’s movement.
leap : jump : : _________: rambling
158

(v) Select the sentence in which the word ‘hide’ is used in the similar manner as
in the
stanza.
(a) The accused tried to hide the truth from the public prosecutor.
(b) Why did you hide the truth from the magistrate?
(c) The tiger’s hide was very much in demand in the international market.
(d) The father could not hide the secret from his son.
OR
(B)
Some say the world will end in fire,

Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favour fire.
(Fire and Ice)
It is clear that the poet talks about the discourse going on about which of the two
things i.e. _________________ will destroy the world. (Clue: explain the two things
that can destroy the world)
(ii) The central idea of the given stanza is that____________________________.
(a) only fire is destructive
(b) man’s parochial attitude towards man will destroy the world
(c) only ice is destructive
(d) fire and ice are equally destructive, in their own ways
The poet highlights that mutual understanding and sympathy for one and all can
help in establishing peace on the Earth.
(iv) Select the most suitable option to complete the sentence that the stanza
demonstrates.
Ice probably refers to ________________ in which everything will sink.
(a) melting of glaciers and rising of sea-level
(b) man’s immense faith in nature
(c) culture and civilization since ages
(d) man’s indifferent conduct towards nature
(v) The repetition of ‘some say’ in the two consecutive lines in the stanza shows
that the
poet has _________________ in the given lines.
() simile () metaphor
b
()ametaphor
and anaphora () alliteration and anaphora
c d
VI.
(4×3=12)
i
() Fear exists when you don’t try. Justify the statement with reference to the
chapter
‘His First Flight’.
ii
() How does the poet serve ‘paradox’ through the title ‘Fire and Ice’?
()iiiValli behaved very authoritatively with everyone on the bus. Substantiate and
explain why she behaved like that.
Sample Papers
159
(iv) Critically examine how the poem ‘The Tale of Custard the Dragon’ is a
whimsical
fantasy.
(v) How can we say that marriage is symbolic of economic considerations?
(The Proposal)
VII.
VIII.
(2×3=6)
i
() Mr Herriot deduced that the only way was to get Tricki out of the house for a
period. Why did he think so?
()ii Do you think Ausable’s fabrication of a story of a balcony just below the
window of
his room proved to be his saviour? Justify.
()iiiSacrifices prove to be vital in the making of a scientist. Discuss.
(1×6=6)
() Ausable and Valli, both were meticulous planners. But Ausable failed and Valli
emerged victorious by contemplating the mystery of life and death at a very tender
age. Assume Valli meets Ausable in the jail and have a conversation about where
Ausable went wrong.
Write their conversation as per your understanding of ‘A Question of Trust’ and
‘Madam Rides the Bus’.
(ii
IX.
OR
) There is no one right way to raise a child. It’s important to focus on balancing
priorities, juggling responsibilities, and quickly flipping between the needs of
children. Apparently, Valli flouts her mother and Amanda feels sulky about the
instructions she received from her mother. Compare and contrast the two characters
from the chapter ‘Madam Rides the Bus’ and ‘Amanda’.

(1×6=6)
i
() Resilience and not aggression can help you cope with stress, overcome adversity,
and enjoy the better days to come. How is it true in the case of Ausable in the
story
‘The Midnight Visitor’?
OR
)
How
can
you
say
the
inquisitive
child
Ebright tasted success solely because of his
(ii
mother? Give reasons.
zzz
160

11
SAMPLE PAPER
[UNSOLVED]
Max. Marks: 80

).
SECTION–A
(Reading Skills)
(20 Marks)

(10 marks)
(1) Hobbies help us grow as a person. The best way to have a new hobby is to try
something
new. All of us are unique, and this is the reason why our hobbies and interests are
different. Once we find an activity, we are passionate about, we can explore that
activity
more. When you get hooked, you will realise that your hobby has become an integral
part of your life. Having a hobby that we enjoy brings us joy and refreshes us.
Hobbies
help us manage our leisure and unplanned time more productively. It also affords
you
the opportunity to learn new skills in your work. But these are not the only
benefits of
having a hobby.
(2) It feels great to be skilled and good at something, doesn’t it? And this is
what that makes
you confident. It can take some time to develop your hobby, so that you may be able
to
tell that you are skilled. But, the journey of experiencing your hobby, is very
rewarding
in itself. With the exposure to different types of activities these days, it
doesn’t matter
which activity you choose. Whether you are pursuing a craft, sports, puzzles, or
skill
development, your hobby should be a diversion and a passion. Simultaneously, if
your
hobby gives you a sense of purpose, then you will be more confident about
challenging
yourself in your hobby and help you prepare for learning new things at work.
(3) Hobbies give you an opportunity to enhance your life. Hobbies allow you to
destress
yourself while remaining mentally productive. Having hobbies promotes better health
and may lower the risk of having high blood pressure. Enjoying a few hours of your
hobby a week can also reduce the risk of depression and dementia. Hobbies refocus
your mind on to something that you enjoy doing. Hobbies that include physical
activities
create chemical changes in your body that help to reduce stress.
(4) Even if it doesn’t involve physical activities, you can still reap the benefits
of having a
hobby. Getting a short break from work and doing something you are passionate about
can rejuvenate your mind and help prepare you to handle challenges in the future in
a
better way.
(5) Hobbies may provide an opportunity for you to socialise with people and that
can be an
additional benefit for your overall well-being. You can connect with people who
enjoy
doing the same things that you do. You can meet new people, discuss your hobby and
get connected to a bigger circle that may even help you turn your hobby into your
profession. The internet provides numerous groups and forums to connect with people
that enjoy doing the same things that you want to do.
Sample Papers
161
(6)
Some hobbies require creativity and if you develop creativity through your hobby,
it can
be beneficial. Creativity can help you experience new things at school and work.
The skill
of being creative is essential in today’s world.
(1×10 = 10)
()i When a person gets hooked on a hobby, he realises that:
()ait has become an integral part of our life.
()b it has much more benefits than we realised.
()c it is much more enjoyable to have a hobby.
()dit is quite essential for us to learn some skills through our hobbies.
(ii) Based on your reading of the passage, choose the correct statement from the
following.
(a) Hobbies become instrumental in prosperity.
(b) Hobbies are helpful during our leisure and unplanned time more productively.
(c) Hobbies lower the risk of having high blood pressure.
(d) Internet is way better than having a hobby.
(iii) No matter which sort of hobby you are pursuing, be it a craft, sports,
puzzles, or skill
development, your hobby should be:
(a) useful for you in the long run.
(b) a skill that improves your present circumstances.
(c) a diversion and a passion.
(d) followed through till the end.
(iv) Enlist the blessings of practising your hobby religiously.
(v) How, according to para 4, can you reduce stress?
(vi) Getting a hobby means having a short break from work and doing something you
are passionate about which can:
(a) give you a peace of mind from all the other problems of daily hectic life and
make you feel refreshed.
(b) help you enhance and improve your skills and push you forward on your path
to success.
(c) make you enjoy and appreciate your life much more as you are happy pursuing
what you love.
(d) rejuvenate your mind and help prepare you to handle challenges in the future
in a better way.
) Hobby provides you with an opportunity to socialise with people by making
(vii
_________________.
(viii
) Choose an option that can be considered as an appropriate title for the passage.
(a) The Importance of Having a Hobby
(b) The Usage of Hobby
(c) The Advantages and Disadvantages of Having a Hobby
(d) The Correct Usage of Free Time– A Hobby
(ix) Justify how hobbies are helpful in socialising with people.
162

II.
(1)
(2)
(x) Which of the following is not a way through which hobbies enhance your life?
I. may lower the risk of having high blood pressure
II. reduce the risk of depression and dementia
III. distracts the mind from other useless problems
IV. promotes better health
V. reduces stress
VI. manages the regular balanced exercise
(a) I, II, II and IV (b) I, III, IV and VI
(c) I, II, IV and V (d) I, III, V and VI
Read the passage given below: (10 marks) Though terracotta warriors of Xian
district
in China are one of the most significant
archaeological excavations of the twentieth century. It is believed that Qin
Shihuangdi
(221-207 BC), considered the first emperor of China, ordered the creation of around
7000 life-size clay soldiers in 201 BC to guard his tomb for eternity. The emperor
is
believed to have unified China during his reign and hence, this army is also
considered
to be a commemoration of his victories.
The sculptures were discovered by a group of farmers in 1974 to the east of Xi’an
in
the Shaanxi province. While digging a well, the workers found three pits filled
with the
life-like figures, which were made of a type of terracotta clay. Experts say that
long ago,
Emperor Shihuangdi ordered the creation of the clay army, along with a 20-
squaremile tomb to house it. Apart from life-size statues of soldiers and horses,
weapons
which
were found such as swords, spears, battle-axes, shields, crossbows, and arrowheads
were
found to be sharp, coated with chromium oxide which made them resistant to rust and
corrosion even after being buried for more than 2000 years.
(3)
(4)
(5)
Shen Maosheng, from the Qin Shihuang Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum, said
that archaeologists had located another 11 warriors but had not yet begun to
excavate
or dig up the sculptures.
Today, people from around the world visit China to see these terracotta warriors
each of
whose figures is individually carved. So, they have different hairstyles,
expressions, and
facial features. Inside the pit, the statues are arranged by military rank which
means that
the higher the rank, the taller is the statue. As the lower half of each soldier is
made of
solid clay with the upper half being hollow, the figures remain upright.
The discovery of the terracotta army is significant as it helps us to understand
the
economic and social history of that period along with the military hierarchy that
existed during that time.
Sample Papers
163
(1×10 = 10)
i
() The weapons found in the pits had neither corroded nor rusted in spite of being
buried. Give reason.
ii() Complete the following sentence to make it meaningful by choosing the most
suitable
word from paragraph 1.
They believed that sinners would spend ____________________ in hell.
(a) excavation (b) eternity
(c) significant (d) reign
peril: risk : : social order : ___________________
(iv) Cite a point in evidence, from the passage to name the weapons found in the
Shaanxi
province.
(v) The discovery of the terracotta army is significant because:
(a) it helps us to understand social hierarchy.
(b) it helps us to understand military ranking.
(c) it helps us to understand archaeological structure.
(d) it reminds us of the commemoration of victory.
(vi) Who has ordered for the creation of the clay soldiers and why?
(vii) Qin Shihuangdi is known for his ______________________.
(a) valour and victory (b) facial expression
(c) rebellion nature (d) none of these
(viii) Show your acquaintance with terracotta warriors as mentioned in para 4.
(ix) The statues of the terracotta soldiers have not fallen down. Substantiate.
(x) Find out the word from paragraph 4 which means ‘upended and straight’.
(a) Carved (b) Hollow
(c) Clay (d) Upright
SECTION–B
(Grammar)
III.
(10 Marks)

i Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option to complete the headline
appeared
()
in a magazine.
India will record an increase of 116 per cent in Type 1 diabetes cases by 2040, up
from 2021. Globally, the number of cases __________________ by 106.9 per cent.
(a) will increase (b) has increase
(c) will be increased (d) will be increasing
()iiRead the conversation between Sanjay and Sanjana. Complete the sentence by
reporting Sanjay’s statement correctly.
Sanjay : Hello Sanjana, are you leaving for Coimbatore today?
Sanjana : No, I am down with fever.
164

Sanjay asked Sanjana ____________________________. Sanjana replied negatively as
she was down with fever.
( iii ) Select the correct option to fill in the blank for the given line, from a
school magazine.
Students ___________________ abide by what is instructed by their class teachers.
(c) will (d) must
the
Every year, muslim intellectuals comes out of the woodwork to use the festival to
prove just how tolerant, embracing and respectful they are towards Hindus.
Option no.
error
()everyeach
()outof
()thea
correction
d
()comescome
Making tall promises and not fulfilling it _____________________ unethical.
(a) are (b) is
(c) are (d) has
the given
Subject : Regarding potholes and drainage
The concerned authorities are requested to address the issue at the earliest as it
________________ (cause) problems to the local commuters.
(vii) Report the dialogue between a shopkeeper and a customer, by completing the
customer’s sentence:
Customer : Can you get me a bottle of soda?
Shopkeeper : Sure sir, how many bottles do you want?
The customer asked the shopkeeper _________________________________. To this,
the shopkeeper responded positively and respectfully and further asked how many
bottles of soda he wanted.
(viii) Identify the error in the given sentence, from a newspaper report and supply
the
correction.
The university level textbooks are being translated and published in all the 22
languages of Eighth Schedule of Constitution of India over the scheme
‘Establishment
of Centre for Endangered Languages in Central Universities’.
error
correction
(ix) My mother shared some information, with my younger sister, about her upcoming
test. Report mother’s question.
Are you prepared for the upcoming test?
Sample Papers
165
coach.
________________ you not mind if we lose?
(a) Would (b) Will
(c) Must (d) Could
(xi) Select the correct option to complete the conversation between Savar and his
uncle.
Savar : I need some cash before I leave for the trip.
Uncle : You can ask for some from your teacher, if required. I have already
spoken to her.
Savar said that he needed some cash before he leaves for the trip. His uncle
responded that ______________. He had already spoken to her.
(a) he can ask for some cash from your teacher, if required.
(b) he could asked for some cash from your teacher, if required.
(c) he could be asked for some cash from your teacher, if required.
(d) he can ask for some cash from his teacher, if required.
required:
Girls block highway over fee hike and late session
On Saturday night, the protest against the college administration was
organised by hostel girls from Agatha Hostel in Jaipur.
error
correction
SECTION–B
(10 Marks)

(5 marks)
(A)
You are Tanvi/Shirish of Safdarjung Development Area, New Delhi. You are
extremely disturbed about the attacks on old people living alone. Write a letter,
in 100-120 words, to the editor of The New Indian News making people sensitive
to the problem. Make suggestion to the people living alone and the authorities to
ensure that such attacks do not take place.
OR
(B) Shocked at the news of the death of a whale in Ahmedabad due to consumption of
plastic bags, Praveen realised that it was a major global environmental problem and
many countries have been grappling with this issue. He decided to write a letter to
the editor seeking his immediate attention and address this problem by making the
people aware about its ill-effects. Write the letter in not more than 120 words.
(5)
The majestic animals like tigers are on the verge of extinction for they are widely
(A) threatened due to consumer demand for their skins, bones, and other body parts.
Write a paragraph, in about 100-120 words, analysing the data shown below.
• Today, fewer than 3,900 live in a mere four per cent of their historic range.
166

• WWF-Canada has supported tiger conservation projects in Nepal since 2013
through population monitoring.
• Global leaders and non-governmental organizations met in 2010 to discuss the

future of tigers at the Global Tiger Summit.
• Nepal has become the first country on track to achieve the ambitious TX2 goal.
OR
(B) Our water systems are facing increasing pressure every day. Growing populations
require more clean water. Increasing urbanization and agriculture are encroaching
on freshwater habitats, causing loss and fragmentation. Increased demand for
energy and resources means more pollution and obstructed water flows. A warming
climate is resulting in changes to freshwater habitats.
Write a paragraph, in 100-120 words, analysing the given statement ensuring how
to safeguard the future of wildlife and habitat, as well as communities that depend
on freshwater ecosystems.
SECTION–C
(Literature)
(40 Marks)

(10 marks)
(5 marks)
(A) “Tell me another!” scoffed Pranjol.
“We have an Indian legend too. Bodhidharma, an ancient Buddhist ascetic, cut off
his
eyelids because he felt sleepy during meditations. Ten tea plants grew out of the
eyelids.
The leaves of these plants when put in hot water and drunk, banished sleep.”
“Tea was first drunk in China,” Rajvir added, “as far back as 2700 B.C.! In fact,
words
such as tea, chai and chini are from the Chinese. Tea came to Europe only in the
sixteenth
century and was drunk more as medicine than as beverage.”
(i) The main idea of this extract is:
(a) Tea as a popular beverage in Europe and how it spread.
(b) Origin of tea in India and why it became popular in Europe.
(c) Importance of India in popularising tea and influenced Europe.
(d) Indian legend on tea and how it travelled from China to Europe.
(ii) Why do you think Pranjol ‘scoffed’?
(iii) Pick the option that includes the tea label information that corresponds to
the given
sentence.
“The leaves of these plants when put in hot water and drunk, banished sleep.”
(1) Its calming effects maybe attributed to an antioxidant called apigenin, which
is
found in abundance in chamomile tea. Apigenin binds to specific receptors in
your brain that may decrease anxiety and initiate sleep.
(2) It increases levels of a neurotransmitter called gamma-aminobutyric acid
(GABA) and improves overall sleep quality by shortening the time it takes to fall
asleep and decreasing night-time awakening.
(3) It interferes with REM sleep, has some unwanted side effects, keep sleep away
and allows the possibility of inducing hours of sleeplessness and increased
nighttime awakenings.
Sample Papers
167
(4) It alleviates anxious thoughts and soothes the spirit before bedtime. It
improves
energy levels and helps banish stress and results in a better night’s sleep
naturally.
(a) Option (1) (b) Option (2)
(c) Option (3) (d) Option (4)
(iv) Based on the inference from the extract, which of these is NOT TRUE about tea
drinking in the sixteenth century Europe?
Dr Smith is a doctor of sixteenth century Europe.
(a) Dr Smith encouraged drinking of green tea whenever available to reduce
chances of tooth loss.
(b) Dr Smith prescribed regular tea as refreshment when he has guests, as they all
enjoyed this beverage.
(c) Dr Smith always served tea as refreshment when he has guests, as they all
enjoyed this beverage.
(d) Dr Smith usually recommended black tea to reduce inflammation in the body.
(v) Based on this extract, how do you think Rajvir felt while narrating.
OR
(B) “It was only when I began to learn that my boyhood freedom was an illusion,
when I
discovered as a young man that my freedom had already been taken from me, that I
began to hunger for it. At first as a student, I wanted freedom only for myself,
the
transitory freedoms of being able to stay out at night, read what I pleased and go
where I chose. Later, as a young man in Johannesburg I yearned for the basic and
honourable freedoms . . . “
(i) The title that best suits this extract is:
(a) Freedom for Everything (b) Knowledge about Freedom
(c) Significance of Freedom (d) Realisation of Freedom
(ii) Why do you think the speaker mentions some freedoms as ‘transitory’?
(iii) Choose the option that best fits the usage of the word ‘illusion’, as used in
the
extract.
(a) He was never able to get past the illusion.
(b) The illusion I experienced was quite intriguing.
(c) A large mirror in the room creates an illusion.
(d) I was living under the illusion that this is possible.
(iv) The speaker says, “at first as a student I wanted freedom only for myself.”
Why do
you think he only thought about himself?
(v) A part of the extract has been paraphrased. Choose the option that includes the
most appropriate solution to the blanks in the given paraphrase of the extract.
The speaker’s belief about freedom, since childhood proved false. It was not until
the speaker grew up to be a young man when it (1) __________________ on him that
he was (2) ____________________ of freedom. Then he began (3) __________ it.
(a) (1) desired; (2) dawned; (3) depriving
(b) (1) dawned; (2) deprived; (3) desiring
(c) (1) dawned; (2) arrived; (3) desiring
(d) (i) arrived; (2) deprived; (3) dawned
168

Has given my heart
(A)
A change of mood
And saved some part
Of a day I had rued.
(5 marks)

The continuation of a sentence without a pause beyond the end of a line, couplet,
or stanza is called _________________________. (Clue: Hint at the poetic device you
can draw from the given extract)
(ii) The poet has used a poetic device in the given lines. Identify the poetic
device.
‘Has given my heart
a change of mood’
(a) Assonance (b) Alliteration
(c) Personification (d) Transferred epithet
The way a crow shakes down the dust of snow on the poet disappoints and gives him
obnoxious feelings about nature.
stanza.
The dust of snow is the symbol of natural joy and energy which means passing
through the sad and depressing moments. Here, the poet is entering into the
time________________________.
(a) of uncertainty
(b) of celibacy
(c) full of despondence and dejection
(d) full of joy and optimism
(v) What is the message conveyed by the poet through the given lines in the
extract?
(a) One should see the positive aspect, and one’s response may greatly affect the
outcome of incidents.
(b) One should always contemplate and introspect about his wrong-doings.
(c) One should have immense faith in God.
(d) One should keep looking for a hemlock tree with a black crow.
OR
The fog comes
on little cat feet.
It sits looking
over harbour and city on silent haunches
and then moves on.
(B)
(i) Choose the option with qualities of the cat that Carl Sandburg applies to the
fog.
(1) Cats are independent animals, they don’t follow rules, they slip and slide in
and
out of our lives as they please.
(2) Cats are distrustful of strangers and can be jealous and moody.
Sample Papers
169
(3) Cats are stealthy, moving in slow motion at times and they appear to be moving
in a mysterious fashion.
(4) Cats often communicate with a combination of a distinctive sound and body
language.
(5) Cats like to move on at their own pace and before you know it, they’ve
disappeared.
(a) Only 1 (b) 2, 3 and 4
(c) 1, 3 and 5 (d) Only 4
(ii) The poet has used short lines to compose the given poem. Choose the option
that
lists the most appropriate explanation for the same.
(a) By keeping the lines short, the poet keeps the liberty in stepping away from
rule, traditional form, logic, or fact, in order to produce a desired effect.
(b) By keeping the lines short, the poet wants the reader to omit some parts of a
sentence, which gives the reader a chance to fill the gaps while reading it out.
(c) By keeping the lines short, the poet wants to introduce ambiguity or
contradiction
into an otherwise straightforward sentence.
(d) By keeping the lines short, the poet is controlling the pace to make the reader
slow down thereby reflecting the slow rolling in of the fog.
The intention of the poet in the given extract is to criticise the atrocities of
human
being against nature in a clever and amusing way.
(iv) Stealth is an important aspect of fog. Two instances from the poem “Fog” that
suggest
the same are.
1. _______________________________________________
2. _______________________________________________
(v) The poem is an extended metaphor, seeing the fog as a cat that comes on tiny,
silent
feet, as cats do when they are stalking.
Pick the most suitable example that supports the statement.
() Only a cat can move so visibly, almost perceptibly, and in sheer arrogance.
a
()b Only a cat can impersonate like fog and move so gracefully like it.
() Only a cat can move in such a way, almost imperceptibly, and in complete
silence.
c
()dOnly a cat can create such an image in the minds of the readers.
VI.
(4×3=12)
() The author provides a psychological insight into life’s problems and the ways of
overcoming them. Justify the statement in the light of the chapter ‘His First
Flight’.
ii
() Do you agree with the statement ‘There is no choice between life and death:
there is
only a choice in the method of death’? Enumerate with reference to the poem ‘Fire
and Ice’.
(iii) Why does Valli not approve of her interaction with the ugly old woman on the
bus?
(iv) Describe the dreadful appearance of the pirate.
(v) Marriage is nothing but a worked, crafted and magical togetherness. Comment.
(The Proposal)
i
170

VII.
VIII.

(2×3=6)
i
() It’s likely that you read the story ‘The Midnight Visitor’. Justify the story
referring
the old adage ‘A stich in time, saves nine.’
()ii Dr. Herriot was well acquainted with the kind of disease and its treatment.
Discuss
this with reference to the treatment he gave to Tricki.
()iiiEnumerate the reason why Richard lost interest in tagging butterflies.
i
(1×6=6)
() Kisa Gotami went from house to house, trying to find the mustard seeds. But
finally,
she came to realise that there is no one in the world who had never lost a family
member to death. She was returning and spotted the following:
WE ALL BLEED THE SAME WAY
She correlates the saying with her own agony and now understood that death is
inevitable and cannot be avoided. Putting aside her grief, she comes to Gautam
Buddha and develops this conversation. Complete the conversation on the basis of
your understanding of the text ‘The Sermon at Benaras’.
Buddha : Kisa, could you get mustard seeds from anywhere?
Kisa : ……………………………………………………………………………..
OR
(ii) The crow on the hemlock tree found the poet with a long face and tries to find
out the reason of his gloom. The poet upon insisted, reveals that he feels low and
listless on account of no obvious reason. The crow tells him that happiness takes
work and learning how to live life to the fullest takes dedication and practice.
The
crow initiated the conversation which needs to be completed in your own words.
Complete the conversation.
Dear Frost, life is short, and we only live once. Learning to live life to
the
fullest
Crow
: is an important step in making the most of every day.
…………………………………..
Frost :
IX.
(1×6=6)
i() One should always be realistic in his ambitions, dreams and approach. Examine
‘The Necklace’ as a story woven around this approach.
OR
(ii) People who are overconfident or too arrogant are likely to fail. Discuss this
with
reference to the chapter ‘The Book that Saved the Earth’.
zzz
Sample Papers
171
SAMPLE PAPER
[UNSOLVED]
112
Max. Marks: 80

SECTION–A
(Reading Skills)
(20 Marks)

(10 marks)
(1) Women all over the world in general and Indian women in particular have been
facing
different problems. A recent report titled ‘Women and Children in India’ and a
nearly
simultaneous report on ‘Indian Women–their Health and Economic Productivity’
highlight the international importance given to the problems of the Indian women.
(2) Unfortunately, both the reports fail to either convey a fresh understanding of
the issues
or to suggest innovative and workable approaches for women’s development. The
former
is because the reports restrict themselves to old statistics. We are told, for
example, that
the ratio of women to men remains below its natural level and that it is related to
other
parameters, such as the level of literacy and the availability of primary health
care.
(3) The failure to suggest a fresh approach is less understandable given that a
variety of
approaches to women’s development has been tried out all over the world. In India,
the state has made a strong political and economic commitment to women. In 1990,
the
National Commitment to Women was established. In 1969, two major policy documents
were released. Ever since the sixth Five-year plan, there has been a special
section on
socio-economic programmes for women. Poverty alleviation programmes have a 30%
target for women. Special programmes like development of women and children in
rural
areas have also been started. These government and other approaches have had mixed
results. For example, certain organization’s approach of using bank credit to
organize
self-employed women has worked well. So did women’s literacy programmes in Kerala.
On the other hand, some of the legislated reforms like dowry prohibition have not
worked
well. The issue of whether women should be identified as separate participator in
the
development process is also not free from controversy. In this context, it is
disappointing
to read in one of the reports that one of the government’s targets for 1991-95
ought to
be to foster “an ethos of caring in the community not to let a child go to bed
hungry, be
subjected to a preventable disease or remain without learning opportunity–this
could
not mark the beginning of a social process towards a more humane order”. Is the
report
saying that Indians do not love their children, as a matter of cultural practice?
Both the
reports are likely to be highly influential on opinion leaders and policy makers.
It is very
unfortunate that these reports have become superficial and do not delve
sufficiently
deep into the real problems.
172

(1×10 = 10)
i
() Which of the following would correctly reflect the tone of the author to the two
reports mentioned in the first paragraph?
a () bBiased () Critical
c ()dNeutral () Praiseful
ii) Which of the following is specifically put forward as a reason for the unequal
sex
(
ratio in the population?
(a) Natural causes (b) Economic development
(c) Literacy level and healthcare (d) Socio-economic programmes
(iii) Which of the following is FALSE, according to the passage?
1. The problem of women in general is attracting attention of the world.
2. Indian people do not love their children as much as they should.
3. Right from independence, women have been receiving special attention for
development.
(a) Only 1 (b) Only 2
(c) Only 3 (d) Only 2 and 3
Opinion
Reason
_________________Best experienced rather than described

(v) The writer has highlighted a strong political and economic commitment to women.
Discuss the reason. (Paragraph 3)
(vi) Based on your reading of the passage, list two reasons why the writer says,
“Women
as participator in the development process is also not free from controversy.”
(Paragraph 3)
(vii) Why does the ratio of women to men remain below its natural level? (Paragraph
2)
(viii) The writer says, “Poverty alleviation programmes have a 30% target for
women.”
(Paragraph 3)
Select the correct option from the following that displays the meaning of ‘poverty
alleviation’.
(a) poverty that doesn’t exist (b) poverty eradication
(c) poverty appreciation (d) both (b) & (c)
(ix) Supply 1 objective for the following:
In 1990, the National Commitment to Women was established.
(x) Which of the following is not put forward by the author of the passage as a
defect of
the report?
(a) The reports highlight the problems of Indian women
(b) The reports contain outdated statistical data
(c) The reports have not suggested any new measures
(d) Some of the suggestions in the reports are superficial
Sample Papers
173
(10 marks)
(1) Employment by a big company is, perhaps, the best job a young and educated
aspirant
would look forward to. Government jobs are preferred, in general, to private sector
jobs.
Large companies are usually considered to be the best employers. A proxy for growth
in headcount would be the growth in what the companies spend on compensation to
employees. Growth in this would reflect a growth in the headcount and the growth in
wages paid. We find that this growth rate has been falling. CMIE’s Prowess database
shows a steady fall in the rate of growth of compensation paid by companies to
employees
since 2013-14. The database includes performance information on a large sample of
listed and unlisted companies of all sizes and industries. Compensation to
employees
grew by 25 per cent in 2013-14. The growth rate halved to 12 per cent in 2014-15
and
then it fell further to 11 per cent in 2016-17. In 2017-18, the growth rate fell to
8.4
per cent. From this, it wouldn’t be entirely wrong to infer that the corporate
sector’s
appetite for new hiring has been declining quite sharply. 2017-18 saw the slowest
growth
in the past eight years, or since the year after the Lehman crisis of 2008 when the
compensation to employees grew by only 7.7 per cent. The Prowess database also
shows
that the corporate sector registered a fall in growth in fixed assets to 6.9 per
cent in
2017-18.
(2) Growth of investments into the job-creating plant and machinery part of fixed
assets
was even lower at 5.9 per cent. Both were the lowest since 2004-05. Evidently, the
two
declines in growth rates — plant and machinery, and wages go hand-in-hand. The
lack of investments into fresh capacities is hurting growth in employment. We see
the
same fall in investments in another dataset — capex and the same fall in employment
in yet another dataset — the Consumer Pyramids Household Survey. The evidence
of falling growth in investments and employment during the recent past is
therefore,
overwhelming. Some of the growth in compensation to employees can be explained as
a consequence of inflation and given that inflation has been much lower in recent
years
compared to the past, it would be good to correct the growth numbers for inflation.
We
do this using the consumer price index for recent years and the consumer price
index
for industrial workers for earlier years. Now we see inflation-adjusted
compensation
to employees grow by only 4.6 per cent in 2017-18. This is lower than the already-
low
average growth of 5.5 per cent seen in the preceding three years. The average real
compensation to employees grew at the rate of 5.3 per cent per annum in the four
years between 2014-15 and 2017-18. The industry-wise distribution of this growth in
inflation-adjusted compensation to employees shows some sharp variations between
major sectors. The services sector has seen a very small growth in compensation to
employees in 2017-18 compared to the overall growth of 4.6 per cent, the services
sector
saw a growth of only 2.2 per cent.
(1×10 = 10)
i () What does the sentence “the two declines in growth rates — plant and
machinery,
and wages go hand-in-hand” indicate?
ii () If the term ‘inflation adjusted compensation’ as used in the passage implies
‘compensation adjusted as per inflation’, then which of the following statements
best
refers to the term in the intended context?
inflation.
174
(a) Social security benefits are subject to cost-of-living adjustments based on

(b) Inflation causes the purchasing power of workers that make the minimum wage
to decline over time.
(c) Employers must adjust the wages they pay employees upward over time to
ensure that employees are able to enjoy the same standard of living over time.
(d) If the cost of hiring an additional worker exceeds the revenue that the new
worker will produce, the business will lose profit by hiring the new worker.
(iii) Complete the following analogy correctly with a word/phrase from the passage.
monotonous: tedious :: _________: painting
(Clue: Just like monotonous is similar to tedious, similarly ___________ is/are
similar
to voracity)
(iv) Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the CMIE Prowess
dataset?
(a) Rate of growth of compensation paid by companies to employees has registered
deceleration since 2013-14.
(b) Compensation to employees grew by 35 per cent in 2013-14.
(c) Corporate sector’s appetite for new hiring has been enhancing.
(d) Year 2014-15 witnessed the slowest growth rate in compensation to employees
since the Lehman crisis of 2008.
(v) The services sector has witnessed a very __________________ in compensation to
employees in 2017-18. (Paragraph 2)
(a) moderate growth (b) ideal growth
(c) small growth (d) meteoric growth
(vi) Describe the trend of employees’ growth and compensation, in 2014-15, as per
paragraph 1.
(vii) Fill in the blank by selecting the correct option.
The CMIE’s Prowess database shows a _________________ fall in the rate of growth
of compensation paid by companies to employees since 2013-14.
(a) meteoric (b) fluctuating
(c) shaky (d) stable
(viii) Substitute the word ‘enormous’ with ONE WORD similar in meaning, in the
following sentence from paragraph 2.
The wealthy will get enormous tax cuts under the proposal....
(ix) In 2017-18, the growth rate fell to 8.4 per cent. What do you infer from this?
(x) Which part of speech does the word ‘sharp’ given in para 2 of the passage
belong
to?
(a) Noun (b) Verb
(c) Adverb (d) Adjective
SECTION–B
(Grammar)
(10 Marks)

i
appeared
in a magazine.
Sample Papers
175
India’s government rescued about 130 Indian workers after they
_____________________ by agents for fake job opportunities in the information
technology sector.
(a) had lured (b) were lured
(c) will be lured (d) would be lured
(ii) Read the conversation between Priyanka and Puja. Complete the sentence by
reporting Puja’s statement correctly.
Priyanka : What a pleasant weather it was!
Puja : Do you also suggest me to experience the weather of Badrinath?
On coming back to Delhi, Priyanka exclaimed to her friend Puja that it had been a
pleasant weather. To this, Puja asked _________________________.
) Select the correct option to fill in the blank for the given line, from a
newspaper.
(iii
Some experts think that improving the lives of farm animals ______________________
be an important step not just for farmers and animals but towards feeding and
protecting the planet.
) Select the option that identifies the error and supplies the correction for the
(iv
following line, from a health journal:
At a time when many people are rethinking there jobs; they should also be thinking
about their quality of life away from work.
() aton
Option no.
a
() whenwhich
() theretheir
() theirthere
Error
Correction
Domestic dogs are descended from wolves, which man once ___________________
(take) in and tamed with shelter and food in return for them acting as guard dogs.
(a) take (b) takes
(c) took (d) is taking
the given
Subject: For shelter of stray cows
For cow sanctuaries, the government ___________________ (ask) district magistrates
to identify available forest areas with a provision for water bodies under their
jurisdictions.
(vii) Report the dialogue between Neha and Raj, by completing Neha’s sentence:
Neha : When will you leave for Delhi?
Raj : I have dropped my plan for today. I am planning to leave for Delhi
early in the morning tomorrow.
176

Neha asked Raj _____________________________________________. In response to
the question about his plan, Raj replied that he had dropped his plan for that day.
Instead, he was planning to leave for Delhi early in the morning the following day.
(viii ) Identify the error in the given sentence, from a newspaper report and
supply the
correction.
There is a vested interest in creating a narrative of ‘tigers in danger’ and
besmirching
the government’s image.
error
correction
(ix) The principal addressed the morning assembly and shared some information about
the changed pattern of examination, with the high school students. Report the
principal’s announcement.
The overall idea to address this morning assembly is to acquaint you with the
changed pattern of examination.
(x) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option, to complete the scolding
given to
the students by a teacher.
You have been quite insolent these days. __________________ you mend your ways?
Rashid
and his father.
Father : Why are you looking so low, Rashid?
Rashid : I believe I could not do fairly well in the Annual examination.
Father asked Rashid the reason________________________. Rashid expressed his
concern that he believed he could not do fairly well in the Annual examination.
(a) why he is looking so low (b) why he had been looking so low
(c) why was he looking so low (d) why he was looking so low
required:
Pilgrims Airlifted
A Assam government has made arrangements to get the pilgrims airlifted and
provide all necessary items.
error
correction
SECTION–B
(10 Marks)

(5)
(A)
You are Anuradha, the Head Girl of Aravalli Public School, Jamnagar, Gujarat. You
have volunteered to increase awareness about environmental degradation. You can
include the following points:
Sample Papers
177
OODeforestation for commercial purposes
OOLesser awareness in the mass about the environmental protection around the
world
OOExploiting the nature of the human being.
OOThe neutrality of the environment protection laws all over the world.
Write a letter to the Editor of The Hindu, in not more than 120 words, drawing
attention towards our Mother Earth.
OR
You
are
Atharv
/Ashna,
a
student
of class X, Ramprastha International School, Loni.
(B)
You feel computer classes should be given right from the very beginning but the
unavailability of resources in your school compelled you to write this letter.
Write a
letter to the editor drawing attention of the concerned authorities.
(5)
All living things including plants, animals and human beings need water to live
(A)
and to carry out different cellular activities. Using appropriate message through
the picture shown below, encourage the people making them understand the water
issues.
(B)
OR
The given pie chart shows proportion of people from different households living in
a state of poverty in the UK in the year 2002. Write an analytical paragraph based
upon the information provided in about 100-120 words.
Proportion of people from each household type living in poverty
All householdsSingle aged persons
Aged couples
7%
5%
Couples with children
14%
Single without children
15%
24%
26%
Sole parents
178
9%
Couples without children

SECTION–C
(Literature)
(40 Marks)

(10 marks)
(5 marks)
(A)
The structure they created formed the basis of one of the harshest, most inhumane
societies, the world has ever known. Now, in the last decade of the twentieth
century and
my own eighth decade as a man, that system had been overturned forever and replaced
by one that recognised the rights and freedom of all people, regardless of the
colour of
their skin.
(i) What structure did ‘they create?
(ii) Who are ‘they’ in the above lines?
(a) The white supremacists
(b) People of colour
(c) Government of South Africa
(d) Freedom fighters
(iii) Why did the inauguration ceremony take place in the ampitheatre formed by the
Union Buildings?
(a) Because it was a cultural hub
(b) Because it was the symbol of white supremacy
(c) Because it had been the seat of white supremacy for decades
(d) Because it was a place of utmost peace
(iv) Which decade was this for Mandela since his birth?
(v) How has the new system been described?
(a) One that recognises rights of people
(b) One that recognises freedoms of all
(c) One that recognises people irrespective of their skin colour
(d) All of these
(B)
OR
“Day after day she watched the bus, and gradually a tiny wish crept into her head
and
grew there: she wanted to ride on that bus, even if it was just once. This wish
became
stronger, until it was an overwhelming desire. Valli would stare wistfully at the
people
who got on and off the bus when it stood at the street corner. Their faces would
kindle
in her longings, dreams and hopes. If one of her friends happened to ride the bus
and
tried to describe the sights of the town of her. Valli would be jealous to listen
and would
shout in English: “Proud! Proud!”
(i) Valli would stare wistfully at the people as she ___________________________.
(ii) Pick the option that shows the list of words that collocate with
‘overwhelming’.
(1) Response (2) Lies
(3) Support (4) Majority
(5) Pets (6) Places
(a) 1, 5, 6 (b) 1, 3, 4
(c) 2, 5 (d) 3, 5, 6
Sample Papers
179
a
b
c
d
v
(iii) ‘Valli would be jealous to listen . . .’ This indicates Valli’s:

(a) longing to ride the bus
(b) nature as an envious person
(c) denial to accept her situation
(d) inclination to trouble travellers
(iv) A part of the extract has been paraphrased. Choose the option that includes
the
most appropriate solution to the blanks.
The desire became so (1) _______________ that it transformed into an (2)
___________
one. Valli would look (3) ______________ at people who boarded the bus and got off.
() (1) active; (2) overt; (3) longingly
() (1) vigourous; (2) overpowering; (3) cheerfully
() (1) staunch; (2) overt; (3) joyfully
() (1) vigourous; (2) overpowering; (3) longingly
() What does the line ‘gradually a tiny wish crept into her hand and grew there’
mean?
(A)
(5 marks)
If you should go by chance

Too jungles in the east,
And if there should to you advance
A large and tawny beast,
If he roars at you as you’re dyin’
You’ll know it is the Asian Lion...
(i) The poet here _________________ the readers against the wild beasts found in
the
jungle.
(ii) In the context of the given poem, all of the following are INCORRECT, except
for
one. Which one is it?
(a) The style of the poem is satirical.
(b) The word ‘tawny’ in the given stanza represents the lion’s colour.
(c) The word ‘tawny’ in the given stanza represents the lion’s strength.
(iii) The given stanza from the poem ‘How to Tell Wild Animals’ can be said to
convey
one of the given messages. Take your pick.
(a) It’s very risky to be in such a close proximity to the wild beasts mentioned in
the
poem.
(b) We should frequently pay a visit to the jungle.
(c) We should stay away from lions; specifically, from the Asian Lions.
(d) Only (b) and (c)
(iv) The ‘tawny beast’ in the stanza is referred to the Asian Lion who ROARS. Pick
out
the ODD one/s from the following.
(1) monkeys - chatter (2) horses - neigh
(3) bear - growl (4) crab - moo
(a) 1, 4 (b) 4
(c) 2, 3 (d) 3
180

(v) How is Bengal tiger different from the Asian lions?
(a) Has black stripes (b) Quiet but dangerous
(c) Very huge in size (d) All of these
OR
My head is full of whispers
which tomorrow will be silent
Listen. The glass is breaking.
The trees are stumbling forward
into the night. Winds rush to meet them.
The moon is broken like a mirror,
its pieces flash now in the crown
of the tallest oak.
(B)
a
c
a
b
c
d
(i) What do the first two lines of the stanza reveal about the poet?
(a) Sympathetic state of mind
(b) Engulfed with sorrow and distress
(c) Optimism and craving for freedom
(d) Pessimism and dependence
(ii) What does the ‘breaking of glass’ signify?
(iii) Why does the moon appear to be broken?
(iv) Find a word from the stanza that means the same as ‘shine’.
() Whisper () Stumbling
b
() Rush () Flash
d
(v) Oak tree is described as tallest which means:
() women have defeated the patriarchy and now ruling the space
() only the tallest have right to survive even in the adversity
() the forest decays its beauty without oak tree
() women have not regretted being the supreme creature of the society
i
ii
iii
iv
v
(4×3=12)
() Self-confidence is very much required to live a life of integrity. Validate the
statement
by giving your own opinion referring to the chapter ‘His First Flight’.
() How are fire and ice similar to each other even though the two have
contradictory
traits?
() Valli had to make way with the aspirations of a young child. Discuss with
reference
to the chapter ‘Madam Rides the Bus’.
() Custard was embraced by Belinda. How would you validate the reason?
() In order to live a well-regulated life, one must get married. Substantiate this
statement with reference from the play ‘The Proposal’.
Sample Papers
181
(2×3=6)
i
() Truly speaking, there was no medical treatment given to Tricki. Justify.
ii
() Looking back at the story ‘The Midnight Visitor’, when do you think Ausable
thought of his plan of getting rid of Max?
iii
() Richard’s project on the purpose of the twelve tiny gold spots on a monarch pupa
was highly valuable in two ways. List the two ways.
i
(1×6=6)
() Sometimes there’s danger involved in life, but every reward carries risk with
it. If
you never take risks, you’ll never get anywhere in life, and you certainly won’t
learn
how to live life to the fullest. This way, the young seagull’s father counsels his
child.
Write the conversation between the two on the basis of your understanding of the
text ‘His First Flight’.
Father : Staying in your comfort zone is the fastest way to become discontent.
Seagull : …………………………………….
OR
) Grieving is an intense feeling that we feel when in deep sorrow as in the event
of
losing someone. No one wants to lose a loved one, the resulting emotion could tear
one apart and is hard for every person. No words can take away the pain, we only
say what we can. On a certain occasion, you were expected to address the mourning
of Kisa’s son. The speaker develops the conversation with Kisa Gautami. Complete
the conversation between the speaker and Kisa.
: Iunderstand it’s hard to bear the loss of someone who is close to your
Speaker
heart.
Kisa : …………………………………….
(ii

i
(1×6=6)
() Education is the most powerful force in our hands to ensure significant

improvements
in health, to stimulate economic growth, and sustainable societies.
Examine the statement with reference to the chapter ‘Bholi’ explaining how
education becomes instrumental in her transformation.
OR
(ii) ‘Cut your coat according to your clothes’ is considered a popular maxim.
Examine
‘The Necklace’ as a story woven around this maxim.
zOzOz
182

13
SAMPLE PAPER
[UNSOLVED]
Max. Marks: 80

).
SECTION–A
(Reading Skills)
(20 Marks)

(10 marks)
(1) In a new finding, climate change has now become a national issue in America as
a recent
study has deduced that warming-induced drought in the Middle East is leading to
increased conflicts over food and water, leading to its consequences on America and
the
world. The accelerating rate of climate change poses a severe risk to national
security
and acts as a catalyst for global political conflict. This is the conclusion drawn
up by
US experts, according to a government report. At the US Centre for Naval Analyses,
the Military Advisory Board found that climate change had induced drought in the
Middle East and Africa. The lack of food and water was affecting the populations of
these countries to take recourse to extreme measures. It was escalating long-
standing
ethnic tensions into violent clashes in the affected countries. In addition, the
report
predicted that an increase in catastrophic weather conditions worldwide would
create
more demand for American troops, even as flooding and extreme weather could damage
naval ports and military bases.
(2) According to official findings, the report signalled that it would influence
American
foreign policy as well. The report visualises situations caused by the massive
dislocation
or massive drying up of the waters of the Nile or of the major rivers of India and
China.
Pentagon officials also feel that the report would affect military policy of their
country
as climate change is having an impact on national security, whether by increasing
global
instability or by opening the Arctic or by increasing sea level and storm surge
close to
coastal installations. This is the first major study to draw the link between
climate change
and national security. Thus, American leaders are delivering major speeches wherein
they are linking up climate change with that of national security. New regulations
would
also be put in place to cut pollution from coal-fired power options.
(3) The report follows a recent string of scientific studies that warn that the
effects of climate
change are already occurring and that more flooding, droughts, extreme storms, food
and water shortages, and damage to infrastructure will occur in the future. There
is
thus, a link in some quarters between rising sea waters and terrorism. These
effects are
stress multipliers that will aggravate stressors abroad, such as poverty,
environmental
degradation, political instability and social tensions.
Sample Papers
183
(1×10=10)
() iWhat, according to the passage, is the latest finding regarding climate change?
(1) Climate change poses a severe risk to America’s national security.
(2) Climate change acts as a catalyst for global political conflict.
(3) Climate change has induced flood in the Middle East.
(4) Climate change has created more demand for American troops.
(a) 1 and 2 (b) 1, 2 and 4
(c) 4 (d) 3 and 5
(ii) Select the option that makes the correct use of ‘aggravate’, as used in the
passage, to
fill in the blank space.
(a) The _______________ military intervention will conflict even further.
(b) Military intervention will only _______________ the conflict even further.
(c) _________________ conflict will intervene military even further.
(d) ________________ will intervene the military conflict even further.
(iii) What is unique about the latest report on climate change?
(iv) List the factors that affected the populations of the Middle East and Africa
to take
recourse to extreme measures.
(a) The damaged naval ports (b) The new regulations
(c) The lack of food and water (d) The increase in pollution
(v) Discuss the factor why the catastrophic weather conditions worldwide will
create
more demand for American troops?
(vi) What does the author mean when he says, ‘ethnic text’?
(a) Violent clashes between the people
(b) Catastrophic weather conditions
(c) Tension between the countries
(d) Bad feelings between people from different races
(vii) Discuss the first major study drawing the link between climate change and
national
security.
(viii) Enlist the effects of climate change.
(ix) Select the option that correctly states the two meanings of ‘conflict’ as used
in the
passage.
(1) A noisy disturbance or quarrel
(2) Serious disagreement or argument about something important
(3) Struggle or fight vigorously
(4) Fighting between countries or groups of people
(a) 1 and 3 (b) 1 and 3
(c) 3 and 4 (d) 2 and 4
(x) What do recent scientific studies indicate?
184

(10 marks)
(1) The world now produces more than 380 million tonnes of plastic every year,
which
could end up as pollutants, entering our natural environment and oceans.
(2) Of course, not all our plastic waste ends up in the ocean, most ends up in
landfills:
it’s estimated that the share of global plastic waste that enters the ocean is
around 3%.
In 2010 – the year for which we have the latest estimates – that was around 8
million
tonnes.
(3) Most of the plastic materials we produce are less dense than water and should
therefore,
float at the ocean surface. But our best estimates of the amount of plastic afloat
at sea are
orders of magnitude lower than the amount of plastic that enters our oceans in a
single
year: as we show in the visualization, it’s far lower than 8 million tonnes and
instead in
the order of 10s to 100s of thousands of tonnes.
(4) If we currently pollute our oceans with millions of tonnes of plastic each
year, we must
have released tens of millions of tonnes in recent decades. Why then do we find at
least
100 times less plastics in our surface waters? This discrepancy is often referred
to as the
‘missing plastic problem’. There are several hypotheses to explain the ‘missing
plastic
problem’.
(5) One possibility is that it is due to imprecise measurement: we might either
grossly
overestimate the amount of plastic waste we release into the ocean or underestimate
the amount floating on the ocean surface. Another popular hypothesis is that
ultraviolet
light (UV) and mechanical wave forces break large pieces of plastic into smaller
ones.
These smaller particles, referred to as microplastics, are much more easily
incorporated
into sediments or ingested by organisms.
(6) A study which sampled deep-sea sediments across several basins found that
microplastic
was up to four orders of magnitude more abundant (per unit volume) in deep-sea
sediments from the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea and Indian Ocean than in
plastic-polluted surface waters.
(7) But new research may suggest a third explanation: that plastics in the ocean
break down
slower than previously thought, and that much of the missing plastic is washed up
or
buried in our shorelines.
Sample Papers
185
(1×10=10)
() iWhy do most of the plastics float on the ocean surface?
a() Because most of the plastic materials are less dense than water
b() Because they break down into smaller pieces
c() Because they are not ingested by organisms
d() Because orders of magnitude is lower than the amount of plastic
From paragraph 1, we can infer that plastic materials we produce ______________
and therefore, should________________ ocean surface.
(1) are less dense than water
(2) enters our oceans in a single year
(3) is around 8 million tonnes
(4) float at the
(5) easily incorporated into sediments
(a) 1 and 4 (b) 2 and 4
(c) 1 and 3 (d) 1, 4 and 5
defenestrate: eject :: _____________: plentiful
(iv) The third reason behind the missing plastic problem says that:
(a) they are ingested by organisms.
(b) mechanical wave forces break large pieces of plastic into smaller ones.
(c) missing plastic is washed up or buried in the shorelines.
(d) both (a) and (c)
(v) Describe the popular hypothesis about ultraviolet light (UV) and mechanical
wave
forces.
A study which sampled deep-sea sediments across several basins found that
microplastic was in _____________.
(a) small quantity (b) abundance
(c) meagre quantity (d) unfathomable quantity
(vii) Substitute the word ‘postulation’ with ONE WORD similar in meaning, in the
following sentence from paragraph 4:
The theoretical postulations reveal the data contradictory to what was expected.
(viii) List any two findings of the study that sampled deep-sea sediments across
several
basins.
(ix) List one possibility that overestimates the amount of plastic waste we release
into the
ocean.
(x) How much is the global primary plastic production per year?
(a) 380 million tonnes (b) 270 million tonnes
(c) 8 million tonnes (d) 10,000 million tonnes
186

SECTION–B
(Grammar)
(10 Marks)

i
appeared
in a magazine.
White vinegar ____________________ miracles and can be used for pretty much
every single cleaning task. There is a simple trick to make your floors clean and
shiny like never before.
(a) works (b) worked
(c) is working (d) has been working
(ii) Read the conversation between Rahul and Sakshi. Complete the sentence by
Rahul : What’s your plan after the last paper of the term-end examination?
Sakshi : I was planning to take up a crash course for French Language.
Rahul asked Sakshi what her plan was after the last paper of the term-end
examination. To this, Sakshi replied _________________________.
iii) Select the correct option to fill in the blank for the given line, from a
school magazine.
(
Acknowledging small achievements and positive reinforcement _________________
help you boost your kids’ self-esteem and confidence.
(following line, from a news report:
Electronic devices and screens are part of our daily lives. However, these screens
have a very harmful affect on both children as well as adults.
Option no.
error
correction
a
()havehas
()howevermoreover
b
() affecteffect
c
()onover
d
Making simple changes to your life and making good habits a part of your routine
is simpler than it ______________.
(a) sound (b) is sounding
(c) sounds (d) has sounded
the given
Subject: Water shortage in Indirapuri
Through the columns of your newspaper, I would like to bring to the notice of
the concerned authorities the acute water shortage ________________ (prevail) in
Indirapuri and adjoining areas of West Delhi.
Sample Papers
187
(vii ) Report the dialogue between a mother and her son by completing mother’s
statement:
: Did
you see my new umbrella? Isn’t it fine?
Mother
: Yes,
Son it is! Did you buy it from the mall?
Mother asked her son __________________
____________________ and she wanted to know whether it was a fine one. Son
( agreed and asked his mother if she had bought it from the mall.
viii) Identify the error in the given sentence, from an e-magazine report and
supply the
correction.
Over time, our work with people have supported community efforts and led to
transformative social and environmental results.
error
correction
( ix) Sanjay’s principal announced something in the morning assembly. His friend,
Arush
was unfortunately absent. Write how he would report the following information to
his friend, Arush.
Our school is planning an excursion for South India during the winter vacation and
only senior wings students are eligible to join the trip.
(x) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option, to complete the quote Amrish
heard
while attending a Ted Talk by a social activist, Ms Majumdar.
_____________ we restore our lost glory? It’s a matter of our integrity and
respect.
(xi) Select the correct option to complete the conversation between Radhika and
Atulya.
Radhika : Atulya, did you attend the last class of Biology yesterday?
Atulya : No, I was called by the Physical education teacher for practice.
Radhika asked ______________________________. Atulya replied in negative and
informed that he had been called by the Physical education teacher for practice.
(a) Atulya whether he has attended the previous class of Biology last day.
(b) Atulya whether he had attended the previous class of Biology last day.
(c) Atulya that whether he has attended the previous class of Biology last day.
(d) Atulya whether he has attended the previous class of Biology yesterday.
xii) Identify the error spotted from a local newspaper and supply the correction
(required:
Atrocities Against Women
Domestic violence is yet another term who is common in our country as women
were and are considered to be the inferior strata of human society.
error
188
correction

SECTION–B
(10 Marks)

(5)
(A)
You are an educationist and feel that the environmental education imparted in
schools needs reorientation. The stress should not be their own sake. Write a
letter
to the editor of a national daily and express your views. (100-120 words)
OR
(B) Write a letter to the Manager, City Heights Hotel, Pitampura, Delhi, to find
the
cost of conducting the wedding reception of your sister in their terrace, enquiring
specifically about the catering cost per head, service and decoration charges, and
advance payment. You are Ali/Amina from Delhi. (100-120 words)
(5)
Given
below
is
a
report
on
diabetes
and
its
massive
grip
on
both
urban
and
rural
(A)
population of India. Read the following report and write an analytical paragraph
based on it, in 100-120 words.
Recent studies have shown a rapid conversion of impaired glucose tolerance to
diabetes in the southern states of India, where the prevalence of diabetes among
adults has reached approximately 20% in urban populations and approximately
10% in rural populations. Because of the considerable disparity in the availability
and affordability of diabetes care, as well as low awareness of the disease, the
glycemic
outcome in treated patients is far from ideal.
OR
The bar graph given below illustrates the trends in the average salary of a Graphic
(B)
Designer. Compose an analytical paragraph and summarise the data efficiently, in
100-120 words.
GRAPHIC DESIGN SALARY PEAKS AT 3 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

67k
60k
39k
0
55k
37k
60k
57k
43k
40k
2 3
39k
59k
39k
5+
Years of Experience
 Average Min. Salary
Sample Papers
Average Max. Salary
189
SECTION–C
(Literature)
(40 Marks)

(10 marks)
(5 marks)
(A)
The moment the letter fell into the mailbox the postmaster went to open it. It
said:
“God: Of the money that I asked for, only seventy pesos reached me. Send me the
rest,
since I need it very much. But don’t send it to me through the mail because the
post
office employees are a bunch of crooks. Lencho”. (First Flight)
(i) Why did the postmaster open the mailbox immediately after Lencho had posted his
letter?
(ii) Why did Lencho not want God to send the rest of the money through mail?
(a) Because Lencho thought that the letter could get lost in mail
(b) Because the postmaster seemed lazy to Lencho
(c) Because Lencho believed that post-office employees were all cheats
(d) Because postal service was too slow for Lencho
(iii) What help had Lencho asked for?
(iv) What did Lencho believe would happen to his family if God doesn’t help him?
(v) Why did no leaf remain on the trees?
(a) Because it was fall season
(b) Because the hailstorm left the field bare
(c) Because of a lethal storm
(d) Because there was a plague of locusts
(B)
OR
As she and her husband turned away in terror, the extraordinary chair pushed them
both out of the room and then appeared to slam and lock the door after them.
Mrs Hall almost fell down the stairs in hysterics. She was convinced that the room
was
haunted by spirits, and that the stranger had somehow caused these to enter into
her
furniture.
“My poor mother used to sit in that chair,” she moaned! To think it should rise up
against
me now!
The feeling among the neighbours was that the trouble was caused by witchcraft.”
(Footprints without Feet)
(i) Mrs Hall felt that the room was haunted by spirits because
_____________________________________________________________________ .
(ii) Pick the option that best describes how Mrs Hall must be feeling at the moment
described in the extract.
(a) Stunned and furious
(b) Shocked and outraged
(c) Outraged and nervous
(d) Stunned and agitated
190

(iii) Pick the sentence that brings out the meaning of ‘hysterics’, as used in the
extract.
(a) My friend and I were in splits when he saw the clown’s antics.
(b) I don’t know why I suddenly felt worried about flying home.
(c) The sight of blood put the old man in a frenzy.
(d) The people who had witnessed the accident were spellbound.
(iv) Pick the option that displays a cause -> effect relationship.
(a) pushed and locked out -> hysterical
(b) rising of the chair -> moaning
(c) troubled neighbours -> witchcraft
(d) stranger -> haunted spirits
(v) The neighbours thought it was ‘witchcraft’. This tells us that neighbours were
_____________________________________________________________________ .
(A)
(5 marks)
He should be snarling around houses

At the jungle’s edge,
Baring his white fangs, his claws,
Terrorizing the village!
But he’s locked in a concrete cell.
His strength behind bars,
Stalking the length of his cage,
Ignoring visitors.
(The Tiger in the Zoo)
(i) Study the following statements:
(A) The villagers don’t feel happy that the tiger is caged.
(B) We feel sad that the tiger is caged.
(C) The tiger is happy that he doesn’t have to hunt for his food.
(a) (A) is right and (B) is wrong
(b) (B) is right and (A) is wrong
(c) (C) is right and (A) is wrong
(d) (A) is wrong and (C) is right
ii) We should protect the tigers as:
(
(a) they are majestic to look at
(b) they attract visitors to the zoo
(c) they are ferocious
(d) they are part of our environment
iii) The tiger terrorizes the villagers as:
( (a) they are killing their cattle
(b) he does not like to be hunted
(c) they have cleared his habitat
(d) he has got tired of being in the forest
Sample Papers
191
(iv) ‘A tiger in the zoo ignoring visitors’ is an example of
________________________.
(poetic device)
(v) The tiger is reacting to his imprisonment in the zoo by
_________________________
________________.
OR
Money is external.
He is learning, well behind his desperate eyes,
The epistemology of loss, how to stand up
Knowing what every man must one day know
And most know many days, how to stand up
(B)
(The Ball Poem)

(i) The poet says ‘money is external’. What does it mean in this extract?
(ii) What does the boy learn by losing the ball, according to the extract?
(1) Loss is the unavoidable truth of life.
(2) Material objects can be replaced.
(3) Money buys happiness.
(4) Losses in life can be prevented with care.
(5) Life continues despite losses.
(a) 1, 2, 5 (b) 2, 4
(c) Only 1 (d) 3, 5
(iii) The boy is learning how to stand up . . .
This means that he is learning to be ______________ in the face of difficulties.
(iv)
Which option lists who is speaking these lines?
() An observer () The boy’s parent
a b
() The ball salesman () A friend
c d
() According to the poet, from whom do we mostly learn about loss?
v
(4×3=12)
i
() What made the young seagull finally fly?
ii () What are the thematic ideas the poet highlights through the poem ‘Fire and
Ice’?
iii () Why does find the elderly woman on the bus repulsive?
iv () Merely outer appearances and physical strength don’t make a person brave.
Discuss
the statement with reference to the poem ‘The Tale of Custard the Dragon’.
v
() ‘It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a
good
fortune, must be in want of a wife’. It is an excerpt from Jane Austen’s Pride and
Prejudice. Do you find any relevance of the quote with the play ‘The Proposal’?
(2×3=6)
i
() ‘Affection blinds the reason.’ How far do you think the statement is appropriate
in
terms of Mrs Pumphrey and Tricki?
ii
() ‘And as the light came on, Fowler had his first authentic thrill of the day.’
What was
the ‘thrill’?
192

( iii ) How can you say hobbies played a very important role in Ebright’s life to
become an
acclaimed scientist?
(1×6=6)
i
() The dusting of snow on account of the crow helped make the poet’s day better.
The poet further feels rejuvenated and chooses to draw upon his experience with
the crow and the dusting of snow to share his thoughts on ‘Every cloud has a
silver lining’. As Frost, write the speech in your own words for the school morning
assembly.
OR
ii) You strongly feel that hate is a venom, and it is so strong that it can pollute
your
spirit, poison your soul and seep into all of the relationships that surround you.
Anyone who has found themselves wrapped up in the arms of hate knows how
damaging and mind-consuming it can become.
Referring to the poem ‘Fire and Ice’ you have recently read, you are aspiring to
create a harmonious world through a speech.
Write a speech, for your classmates, expressing your belief/s with respect to the
poem.
(1×6=6)
()
‘Privilege
often
confuses
actual
needs
for
perceived
ones.’
Evaluate
this
statement
i
with reference to Mrs Pumphrey.
(
OR
( ii
) The ability to ask questions is one of the most important lifelong learning
skills a
student can acquire in the course of their education. Write how Richard proved it
to
be true. Justify.
zzz
Sample Papers
193
SAMPLE PAPER
[UNSOLVED]
Time Allowed: 3 hours
114
Max. Marks: 80

).
SECTION–A
(Reading Skills)
(20 Marks)

(10 marks)
(1) Celebrities advertising products are nothing new. In fact, it has been a part
of our lives.
Back in the 2000’s you could not sit through a commercial break without seeing the
teen pop icon of that time, Britney Spears, endorsing Pepsi. The Pepsi legacy was
later
continued by the most famous celebrity we know of, Beyonce. She was paid millions
to
promote the carbonated drink which outraged health advocacy groups. Many concerned
people questioned her ethics as to why she was supporting a drink that plays a
major
role in causing obesity.
(2) With growing importance of social media in a shopper’s purchase journey,
companies
are evolving and stepping up the endorsement game across different channels. With
celebrities vouching for promoting their products, brands can increase awareness,
trust
and familiarity, which are important variables in the purchase making decision
process.
(3) Consumers feel more sympathetic towards a brand, if their products are promoted
by
a celebrity they admire or relate to. It is simple psychological effect. People
believe that
purchasing a product that is promoted by a celebrity they admire, will allow them
to
emulate the celebrity’s desired traits or attract similar people into their lives.
They will
associate the celebrity’s success, beauty aesthetic skills, etc. with a particular
product.
(4) A research by Nelson conducted in 2015 broke down the level of trust in
advertising
formats by different generations. It found that celebrity endorsements resonate
more
strongly with Generation Z (ages 15 to 20) and Millennial (ages 21-34), audiences.
CELEBRITY ENDORSEMENTS
20
15
16%
14%
10
8%
5
0
194
7%
2%
Age
15-20
(Gen Z)
Age
21-34
(Millennials)
Age
35-49
(Gen X)
Age
Age
50-64
65+
(Boomers) (Silent Gen)

(5) Brands are taking advantage of that by increasingly utilizing the social media
communities of celebrities. Social media is away for consumers particular those of
younger demographics to enlarge and build intimate connections with the celebrities
they follow, making the place for these celebrities to plug a company or a product
on
their personal social media accounts.
(6) While celebrity endorsements certainly help to attract consumers, its direct
influence on
the consumers’ purchasing decisions is inconclusive. As consumers are becoming
better
educated and have faster access to information, blind faith in celebrity
endorsement is
beginning to wane. They will be attracted to a brand because of a celebrity but
they will
quickly move away if the product does not perform. It is the quality of your
product that
will keep consumers coming back, not a celebrity link.
(7) A brand needs to tell consumer why a product makes sense for them as
individuals and
what problem they can solve with it, not solely rely on a real-life Barbie doll,
athlete or
pop culture icon. If they can’t endorse their products, they will lose value over
time and
consumers will be the first one to turn their backs.
(1×10=10)
i () According to the passage, why are celebrities questioned for brand
endorsements?
()aFor evasion of tax
()b For increasing health effects
()c For the side effects of using the brand
()dFor using wrong means to advertise the misleading data
(ii) Big brands started hiring big celebrities to endorse their brands because:
()acelebrities have a huge fan following.
()b it increases awareness, trust and familiarity.
()c it increases their profit.
()dit helps in achieving name and fame.
(iii) Select the reason that displays what the writer projects, with reference to
the
following:
It is the quality of your product that will keep consumers coming back, not a
celebrity
link. (Paragraph 6)
(a) Meditation (b) Counseling
(c) Self-realisation (d) Motivation
Opinion
Reason
Blind faith in celebrity endorsement

is beginning to wane.
(v) How does social media help in the endorsement of a brand?
(vi) Based on your reading of the passage, list two reasons why the writer says
that
“consumers will be the first one to turn their backs”.
(vii) What does the writer draw out between consumer’s sympathy and brand?
(Paragraph 3)
Sample Papers
195
(viii) Select the consequence of consumers becoming better educated. (Paragraph 6)
() aCelebrities losing their credibility
() bProduct’s sale getting partially impacted
() cEndorsements disappearing gradually
() dNone of these
() ix
Supply 1 point to justify the following:
With celebrities vouching for promoting their products, brands can increase
awareness.
x () Select the reason that displays why people purchase a product that is endorsed
by
the celebrity they admire.
() aThis way they will be recognised by the celebrity they idolise
() bThe quality of the product must be at par
() cTheir standard will be appreciated in the society
() dIt will allow them to emulate the celebrity’s desired traits
II.
(1)
(2)
Earth's climate has changed throughout history. Just in the last 800,000 years,
there
have been eight cycles of ice ages, and warmer periods, with the end of the last
ice age
about 11,700 years ago, marking the beginning of the modern climate era — and of
human civilization. Most of these climate changes are attributed to very small
variations
in Earth’s orbit that change the amount of solar energy our planet receives.
The current warming trend is different because it is clearly the result of human
activities
since the mid-1800s, and is proceeding at a rate not seen over many recent
millennia.
It is undeniable that human activities have produced the atmospheric gases that
have
trapped more of the Sun’s energy in the Earth system. This extra energy has warmed
the atmosphere, ocean, and land, and widespread and rapid changes in the
atmosphere,
ocean, cryosphere, and biosphere have occurred.
Earth-orbiting satellites and new technologies have helped scientists see the big
picture,
collecting many different types of information about our planet and its climate all
over
the world. These data, collected over many years, reveal the signs and patterns of
a
changing climate.
carbon dioxide level(parts per million)
(3)
(4)
48
0
46
0
44
0
42
0
40
0
38
0
36
0
34
0
32
0
30
0
28
0
26
0
24
0
22
0
20
0
16
0
current level
For millennia, atmospheric carbon dioxide had never been above this line
800,000
700,000
600,000
500,000400,000300,000 years
200,000
1950 level
100,000
before today (0 = 1950)
Scientists demonstrated the heat-trapping nature of carbon dioxide and other gases
in the mid-19th century. Many of the science instruments NASA uses to study our
196

(5)
climate focus on how these gases affect the movement of infrared radiation through
the
atmosphere. From the measured impacts of increases in these gases, there is no
question that increased greenhouse gas levels warm Earth in response.
Ice cores drawn from Greenland, Antarctica, and tropical mountain glaciers show
that
Earth’s climate responds to changes in greenhouse gas levels. Ancient evidence can
also
be found in tree rings, ocean sediments, coral reefs, and layers of sedimentary
rocks.
This
ancient, or paleoclimate, evidence reveals that current warming is occurring
roughly 10
times faster than the average rate of warming after an ice age. Carbon dioxide from
human activities is increasing about 250 times faster than it did from natural
sources
after the last Ice Age.
(1×10=10)
i
() Infer one reason for the following, based on the information given in paragraph
1.
The current warming trend is different and is proceeding at a rate not seen over
many recent millennia.
From paragraph 5, we can understand that ____________________, and
_________________ responds to changes in greenhouse gas levels.
(a) increased greenhouse gas levels
(b) ice cores drawn from Greenland
(c) tropical mountain glaciers
(d) carbon dioxide from human activities
asserted : propounded : : _________: assigned
(iv) Select the correct option to complete the following sentence:
Evidence from the ancient paleoclimate reveals that current warming is occurring
roughly _______________ than the average rate of warming after an ice age.
(a) 7 times (b) 10 times faster
(c) 3 times faster (d) None of these
(v) Describe the study of NASA how the gases affect the movement of infrared
radiation
through the atmosphere. (Paragraph 4)
The climate changes are attributed to very _______________ variations in Earth’s
orbit that change the amount of solar energy our planet receives. (Paragraph 1)
(a) desired (b) moderate
(c) colossal (d) small
(vii) Substitute the word ‘extended’ with ONE WORD similar in meaning, in the
following, sentence from paragraph 2:
There is extended support for the new proposals made by the entire clan.
(viii) Discuss the change of Earth's climate as discussed in paragraph 1.
(ix) List two things that helped scientists to see the big picture about our planet
and its
climate.
Sample Papers
197
(x) Select the option that titles paragraph 2 appropriately, with reference to
information
in the text.
(a) The Trend of Warming
(b) The Greenhouse Impact
(c) Gases in Mid-19th Century
(d) Modern Climate Era Vs Human Civilization
SECTION–B
(Grammar)
III.
(10 Marks)

i
appeared
in a newspaper.
Nearly 20,000 Indian students, studying medicine, were stuck in Ukraine amid the
conflict. The Government and other countries _______________________ efforts to
evacuate the students from the war-torn country.
(a) has made (b) have made
(c) has been made (d) have been made
(ii) Read the conversation between Rajesh and Sakshi. Complete the sentence by
Rajesh : Did you receive your first payment?
Sakshi : Yes, I did. I am planning to throw a party tomorrow.
Rajesh, on meeting Sakshi, asked whether she had received her first payment.
Sakshi was quite jubilant and replied that she had. She further informed him that
_________________________.
journal.
If you find yourself questioning your friendships, a therapist __________________
be
able to guide you towards fostering better friend relationships.
(a) could (b) must
(c) will (d) might
the
following line.
I was walking through the station on my way to work when I heard a huge explosion,
and then all hell breaks loose.
198
Option no.
error
correction
(a)
walking
walked
(b)
through
near
(c)
to
for
(d)
breaks
broke

Uncertainty ______________________ when we’re in new situations, like a move or a
new job, or when we’re in unpredictable situations.
(a) arise (b) arose
(c) arises (d) is arising
the given
Subject : Deteriorating law and order situation in the city
Incidents of theft, kidnapping, molestation and chain snatching ________________
(be) on the rise these days.
(vii) Report the dialogue between Shailaja and Ankita, by completing Shailaja’s
sentence:
Shailaja : Ma’am, when will you return my Geography project file?
Ankita : It is yet to be checked, child. And I am not keeping well these days.
Shailaja rang up her teacher Ms. Ankita and asked ______________________________
project file. Shailaja, in response to her question, replied that it was yet to be
checked
and further added that she was not keeping well those days.
(viii) Identify the error in the given sentence, from a report in a magazine and
supply the
correction.
Peer pressure is a phenomenon wherein we tend to get influence by the lifestyle and
the ways of thinking of our peers.
error
correction
(ix) Ananya shared some information with Dhriti about her visit to a five-star
hotel.
Report Dhriti’s question.
Did you enjoy the pool side party?
(x) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option, to complete the question of
Ms.
Mrinalini at the Mindfulness session.
The practice of mental agility can help us be resilient. _______________ it be
true?
Contemplate and answer!
(xi) Select the correct option to complete the conversation between Danish and
Dhanush.
Danish : We have ultimately proved we’re indefatigable.
Dhanush : Why, do you think we can even qualify in the semi-final?
Danish told Dhanush ______________________________. Dhanush showed his
inhibition and asked if he thought they could even qualify in the semi-final.
(a) that they had ultimately proved they were indefatigable.
(b) that we had ultimately proved we were indefatigable.
(c) that they had ultimately proved they had been indefatigable.
(d) that they had ultimately prove they are indefatigable.
Sample Papers
199
required:
Smoke in cabin, SpiceJet flight makes emergency landing at Hyderabad
A SpiceJet flight operating from Goa to Hyderabad on Thursday made an
emergency landing at it’s destination following smoke in the aircraft.
error
correction
SECTION–B
(10 Marks)

(5)
(A)
The discrimination on the basis of caste and class is a major hurdle for National
Integration of India. The people engaged in weakening the unity of the country
tried desperately to create divisions and rifts in the name of caste, creed and
culture.
Using your own ideas and the clues given below on “National Integration”, write
a letter to the Editor of a leading national daily highlighting the significance of
national integration.
• religions worship without any hindrance

• our unity in diversity
• essential oneness of the nation
• develops a sort of regional patriotism
OR
Women have made countless contributions to society that has literally changed the
(B)
way humans live and think today.
In view of the statement, write a letter to the editor of a national daily proving
your
point by discussing the past prejudices that women suffered, the current role of
women in our society and the ways we can educate children to be less prone to a
sexist philosophy.
(5 marks)
ANY
ONE
from
A
and
B
given
below.
2. Attempt
Deforestation has always been associated predominantly with paper production,
(A) and, by extension, printing. We cut down trees to make paper, right? You will
get to
know more about deforestation after reading points mentioned below:
• 31% of the earth’s surface is covered by forests, approximately 4.06 billion

hectares.
• Only 18% of the world's forests are on land protected from deforestation.
• 2,400 trees are cut down each minute.
• 4.2% of the world’s tree cover loss was between 1990 and 2020.
• Approximately 1,400 tree species are currently listed as critically endangered.
Write a paragraph, in about 100-120 words, analysing the data given and how
deforestation is a threat to ecosystems around the globe.
200

OR
(B) ‘Assured of financial help to meet most of their basic needs perpetually, the
freebies
cult is changing the mindset of people and making them complacent. You’d realise
a flood of negatives come to the fore the moment you start introspecting on the
subject.’
You spotted the headline in the newspaper and decided to write a paragraph on:
‘Poll freebies: Road to economic disaster’.
Write a paragraph, in 100-120 words, analysing the given statement showing how
distribution of freebies of any kind influences all people which is unethical in a
democracy.
SECTION–C
(Literature)
(40 Marks)

(10 marks)
(5 marks)
(A)
“What’s the matter with you, you fool?” Shouted Ramlal. “I am only taking you to
school.” Then he told his wife, “Let her wear some decent clothes today or else
what will
the teachers and other schoolgirls think of us when they see her?
New clothes had never been made for Bholi. The old dresses of her sisters were
passed
on to her. No one cared to mend or wash her clothes. But today, she was lucky to
receive
a clean dress which had shrunk after many washings and no longer fitted Champa. She
was even bathed and oil was rubbed into her dry and matted hair. Only then did she
believe that she was being taken to a place better than her home! When they reached
the
school, the children were already in their classrooms.”
(i) Why did Ramlal call Bholi a fool?
(ii) Pick the sentence that bring out the meaning of ‘decent’ as used in the
extract.
(a) He gets a decent amount of salary.
(b) One must be decent when having a conversation with strangers.
(c) She was dressed in a decent manner for the interview.
(d) It was very decent of him to lend me some money.
(iii) Pick the option that best describes how Bholi felt at the end of her first
day in school.
(a) Lost and scared
(b) Calm and peaceful
(c) Elated and peaceful
(d) Hopeful and elated
(iv) Why was Bholi’s hair matted?
(v) What fear did Bholi have when she was told about being taken to school?
(B)
NOODLE
Sample Papers
OR
: It shall be done, sir. (in a singsong) O Great and Mighty Think-Tank,
Ruler of Mars and her two moons, most powerful and intelligent
creature in the whole universe- (out of breath) what-are-yourorders?
201
THINK-TANK : That’s better, Noodle. I wish to be placed in communication with
our manned space probe to that ridiculous little planet we are going
to put under our generous rulership. What do they call it, again?
NOODLE : Earth, your Intelligence.
THINK-TANK : Earth - of course. You see how insignificant the place is? But first,
something important. My mirror. I wish to consult my mirror.
(i) Who is being addressed as the most powerful and intelligent creature?
(ii) The word ‘singsong’ in the first line of the extract shows that:
(a) the speaker is just trying to be submissive with his master
(b) the speaker has a mesmerising voice
(c) the speaker is a great sycophant
(d) due respect for the king by his courtiers
(iii) What did Think-Tank do with the mirror immediately after this scene?
(iv) Think-Tank calls earth ‘insignificant’ that implies
_____________________________.
(v) Choose the word from the following that suits best to describe Think-Tank.
() Amiable () Conciliatory
a
b
() Boastful () Compliant
c
d
(5 marks)
(A)
“Ink trickled down to the bottom of the household, And

little mouse Blink strategically mouseholed.
But up jumped Custard, snorting like an engine,
Clashed his tail like irons in a dungeon,
With a clatter and a clank and a jangling squirm,
He went at the pirate like a robin at a worm”
(i) Choose the option that displays the central theme of the poem ‘A Tale of
Custard the
Dragon’.
1. Everything whether created big or small has its specific importance.
2. This world admires one who exhibits and brags.
3. Talent is the natural ability to do something well.
4. We should never look down upon others.
5. Every person is unique and capable in his own way.
(a) 1 and 2 (b) 1 and 5
(c) 2 and 5 (d) 3 and 4
(ii) Complete the sentence given below:
The one who had seemed to be the biggest coward is the one
_____________________________.
The true definition of ‘brave’ is when the situation demands it, they are bound to
show their true colours which may surprise us.
(iv) Enlist the physical attributes of Custard, the dragon. (Any two)
202

(v) The simile used in the line ‘Clashed his tail like irons in a dungeon’ also
appears to
be an example of __________ that means ‘an unusual exaggeration’.
(a) Hyperbole
(b) Paradox
(c) Antithesis
(d) Transferred epithet
OR
Stop that sulking at once,
Amanda!
You’re always so moody,
Amanda!
Anyone would think that I nagged at you,
Amanda!
(B)

____________________ is the major theme of the poem Amanda. (Write the theme
appropriately)
(ii) Amanda, efforts to escape her realities of controlling over her and, turns to
daydreams. These daydreams represent ______________________.
(a) her submissive behaviour
(b) her insolent behaviour
(c) her sulking behaviour
(d) her desire for freedom
After getting a fresh list of instructions from her parents, Amanda wishes to be
away
from her daily routine life.
(iv) ‘I’ in the above extract is __________________.
(a) Amanda
(b) Amanda’s mother
(c) The poet’s mother
(v) What does the poet indicate through the last line of the given extract?
(a) The nagging and controlling nature of the adult speaker
(b) Amanda’s sulky behaviour
(c) The nagging and controlling nature of a novice
(d) Sheer negligence and carelessness
Sample Papers
203
i
(4×3=12)
() Life is full of adversity. All we require is the valour to face it manfully.

Validate the
given statement with reference to baby seagull’s fear.
(ii) Which two ideas about how the world will end have been mentioned in the poem?
Which idea does the poet support more?
(iii) Valli at times, appears to be a risk-taker. Enumerate the incidents
supporting the
statement.
(iv) Custard’s exterior was quite formidable. Show your acquaintance with the
statement.
(v) Why do you think Mr Chubukov had to speak out that his daughter is willing to
marry?
(2×6=12)
() What did Fowler envision about Ausable prior to his meeting with him?
ii
() Tricki was transformed from “bloated sausage” to “lithe and hard muscled
animal”.
Show your acquaintance with the statement.
(iii) Discuss the role of Dr Urquhart in Ebright’s growth as a scientist.

i
(1×6=6)
() Lomov and Natalya in the play ‘The Proposal’ appear to be involved in

mudslinging
and raising an irrelevant issue. The core issue of their discussion seems to be
compromised. Once when they realised so, they are ready to exchange polite mental
view. Assume you are Natalya and you are aware why Lomov had visited your father.
Develop the conversation addressing Lomov cajoling him and promising that you
would no longer claim for the Oxen Meadows.
Write this conversation as per your understanding of the play ‘The Proposal’.
Natalya : It’s really very unfortunate of me that we exchanged unpleasantries
like a lay man. I sincerely tender my apology.
Lomov : ………………………………………………………………………………
Natalya : ………………………………………………………………………………
OR
(ii
) Students, at times, deliberately flout and flagrantly disregard the law and
ethics of
the classroom. Suppose Anne realises her mistakes and wants to seek apology from
Mr. Keasing, her Maths teacher. Write the most likely conversation to be observed
between the two.
204

Anne
: Iadmit that the basic etiquette of the classroom was compromised,

and I shouldn’t have argued with you. I am sorry.
Mr. Keesing :
………………………………………….
Anne :
………………………………………….

i
(1×6=6)
() Respecting the reality of the present should be the essence of life. Had Madame
Loisel followed it, she could have easily avoided her miseries and ordeals of life.
Discuss.
(ii
OR
) The practice of accepting or giving dowry is prevalent in Indian society, despite
the spread of education and awareness. The chapter ‘Bholi’ shows that men are
supreme and they have high value in the society. Discuss how this evil practice was
responded rightly by Bholi.
zzz
Sample Papers
205
SAMPLE PAPER
[UNSOLVED]
Time Allowed: 3 hours
115
Max. Marks: 80

SECTION–A
(Reading Skills)
(20 Marks)

(10 marks)
(1) Everyday new careers and professional opportunities emerge. No matter how much
each career option excites you, you will have to prioritise and choose the best
option for
yourself. Your personality, interests, abilities, aspirations, strengths and
weaknesses will
help you to decide the most viable option for you. The following exercises are
important
for career planning, and following these will ensure that you are on the right
track.
(2) Self-assessment: The entire process of career planning should be ideally done
in
conjunction with your career counselor, so that you have professional help at every
step. A trained career counsellor can help you identify a variety of professions in
which
you can excel. Remember to keep your list of possible professions long, so that
your
confidence in yourself does not wane.
(3) When I took my test, the long list of professions included being a florist,
teacher,
counselor, doctor and sales executive. The very idea that I have an aptitude for
several
professions – and not just to be a doctor – was very comforting. I thought to
myself,
“When patients get tired of me, I can always be a salesman!” Do not let anyone ever
tell
you that you are good for nothing. Each one of us has several talents, and it is
important
to first identify them, and then work hard to develop them.
(4) Self-analysis: Another important aspect of self-assessment is self-analysis or
soul
searching. We are the best judge of our abilities, strengths and weaknesses. If you
concentrate and decide to be honest with yourself, self-analysis can help you
understand
your career options better.
(5) Need for planning: If you ask adults around you whether they actually became
what
they had wanted to become when they were young, chances are that very few of them
actually became what they had aspired towards in childhood. This may not
essentially
be a reflection of their failure – but an indication of change. Circumstances
change,
ideas change, and so do people. By the time you grow up, you may end up working
in professions that neither you nor your parents know about today. Of course, some
of you may get to work in traditional professions and move along a well-planned
path.
Whatever the consequence of your planning, the truth about making a plan is that it
may not work. But in the words of Henry C. Link, if “you do make a plan, the
chances
of getting what you want significantly increase.”
206

(1×10=10)
(i) Career planning is an activity that requires:
(a) analysing one’s personality, interests, abilities, aspirations, strengths and
weaknesses
(b) working hard at your studies, acquiring new skills as you move along in life
and
involving yourself in culture/sports activities
(c) following three important steps in consultation with one’s career counselor,
and
making a plan that may work
(d) understanding and being aware of the fact that whatever the consequences of
one’s planning, the truth about asking a plan is that it may not work
(ii) This passage may be summarised as:
(a) ‘In career planning, it is important to involve oneself in cultural/sports
activities
as much as working hard or acquiring new skills.’
(b) ‘Before making a career choice, one should learn to prioritize career options
and
use one’s personality, interests, abilities, aspirations, strengths and weaknesses
to plan and decide the most viable option.’
(c) ‘In choosing a career, it is important not to allow anyone to tell us that we
are good for nothing, because our personality, interests, abilities, aspirations,
strengths and weaknesses will help us decide the most viable career options for
ourselves.’
(d) ‘A good career choice results when you follow traditional professions and move
along a well-planned path.’
(iii) How does a trained career counselor help you in the process of career
planning?
(Paragraph 2)
(iv) Self-analysis is considered an important part of self-assessment because:
(a) soul searching helps us to judge our abilities, honestly and helps us
understand
our career options better.
(b) we are the best judge of our abilities, strengths and weaknesses, and self-
analysis
will enable others to analyse our abilities accurately.
(c) by the time we grow up, we may end up working in professions that neither we
nor our parents know about today.
(d) each one of us has career options, and it is important to first identify them,
and
then work hard to attain them.
(v) A trained career counselor can help us:
(a) do self-analysis, so that we are honest with ourselves.
(b) decide whether to be a florist, teacher, counselor, doctor or sales executive,
so
that we can be a salesman if we cannot be a doctor.
(c) identify our talents, because each one of us has several talents, and it is
important
to first identify them, and then work hard to develop them.
(d) identify different professions that will help us use our abilities, because a
trained
professional can help us prioritise and choose the option that is most viable for
us.
Sample Papers
207
( vi) Complete the following with a phrase from paragraph 2.
Opinion
Reason
Adults may sometime not have reflected ___________________________________

what they had wanted to become when
they were young
(vii) An important point highlighted in the passage is that:
(a) only a trained counselor can help you make the right career choice
(b) it is our abilities, strengths and weaknesses that help us succeed in our
career
(c) there is not much use of making a plan – very few people get their plans
fulfilled
(d) many people do not get to pursue the career of their choice because
circumstances,
ideas and people change
(viii) Based on your reading of the passage, discuss how you can determine that you
are
on the right track.
(ix) According to paragraph 3, does the writer mean one should first decide what
one is
good at? Give reason/s.
(x) Supply 1 point to justify the following:
Remember to keep your list of possible professions long, so that your confidence in
yourself does not wane. (Paragraph 2)
II. Read the passage given below: (10 marks)
(1) Each year nearly 1.2 million people die and millions of others are injured or
disabled as
a result of road traffic crashes. The vast majority (over 90%) of all road traffic
deaths and
injuries occur in low-income and middle-income countries.
(2) In high-income countries, most of those killed or injured in road traffic
crashes are
drivers and passengers of four-wheeled vehicles. In low-income and middle-income
countries, however, “vulnerable road users” –pedestrians, cyclists and
motorcyclists
and users of public transportation – constitute a higher proportion of road users,
and
consequently make up a larger proportion of those injured or killed on the roads.
(3) This report focuses on young road users, defined as those under 25 years of
age. The
document highlights the main risk factors for road traffic injuries, noting how
many of
these risks are elevated in youth. It stresses that successful prevention
programmes can
be put in place to protect young people, and presents examples of interventions
from
different geographic and cultural contexts that have been shown to be effective.
(4) Children and young people under the age of 25 years account for over 30% of
those
killed and injured in road traffic crashes. Of the 3,83,046 road traffic deaths
that were
recorded in this age group around the world, at least half were road users from the
World Health Organization’s African and South-East Asia Regions. However, the
highest
rates of road traffic fatalities in the 0-25 year age range occur among road users
in the
African and the Eastern Mediterranean regions.
(5) Road traffic injuries among those under 25 years rank as the eighth leading
cause of death
around the world. However, when analysed by five-year age groups, the significance
of
road traffic injuries rises dramatically. Among 15-19 year-olds, road traffic
injuries are
the leading cause of death, while among the 10-14 years and 20-24 years age groups
they are the second leading cause of death.
208

(6) Children under five years of age, and in particular infants under one year,
being
especially vulnerable to other diseases and conditions, have the lowest ranking for
road
traffic deaths.
(1×10=10)
i () Where does more than 90% of road traffic accidents and injuries occur?
ii() Passengers of four-wheeled vehicles form the majority of those killed in road
accidents in low- and middle-income countries. (True/False)
iii() ______________ account for 30% of those killed and injured in road traffic
crashes.
iv() Which age group is least affected by road accidents and injuries?
v() Identify the word in para 2 which means the same as ‘to be at risk’.
a() Disabled
b
() Intervention
c() Vulnerable
d
() Killed
(vi) The highest rate of road traffic fatalities in the 0–25 year age range is in
the:
a() low and middle-income countries.
b() african and the Eastern Mediterranean regions.
c() high-income counties.
d() African and South- East Asia Regions.
a(vii)
b Road accidents and injuries is the second leading cause of death in the age group
of:
() 10-14 () 20-24
c c b d
() both () and () () 15-19
(viii) Complete the following analogy correctly with a word/phrase from paragraph
2:
________________ : comprise : : deduce : guess
(ix) Select the correct option to complete the following sentence:
The writer means to say that those injured or killed on the roads are from
_______________ countries.
(a) affluent (b) low-income countries
(c) less populated (d) densely populated
(x) Select the option that displays the age bracket for eighth leading cause of
death
around the world.
(a) 25 years (b) 32 years
(c) 18 years (d) 28 years
SECTION–B
(GRAMMAR)
(10 Marks)

i
appeared
on a school notice board.
The students appearing for Pre-board ___________________ that there will be no
prep leave after the Dussehra break.
(a) are to be informed (b) are hereby informed
(c) is hereby informed (d) were being informed
Sample Papers
209
( ii) Read the conversation between Pranet and Prajwal. Complete the sentence by
reporting Prajwal’s statement correctly.
: The paper was very tiring. I can’t even think to attend the evening class.
Pranet
: Don’t
worry.
I will brief you whatever happens in the class.
Prajwal
Pranet, coming out of the examination hall, admitted that the paper was very tiring
and he could not even think to attend the evening class. Prajwal cajoled him saying
that he _________________.
( iii ) Select the correct option to fill in the blank for the given line, from a
journal.
True friends care about you. They’re able to have concern and respect for your
thoughts and emotions even when they __________________ not agree.
(a) could (b) may
(c) will (d) must
( ) Select the option that identifies the error and supplies the correction for the
iv
following line, from a health report:
When you have a sore throat its important to keep your throat moistened to protect
delicate mucus membranes and prevent your throat from drying out.
Option no.
()havehas
()keep kept
error
correction
()preventprevents c
d
()itsit’s
Mental agility _________________ when we’re facing change, when things don’t go
as expected, or when the future is particularly unpredictable.
(a) has shone (b) is shining
(c) shined (d) shines
the given
Subject: Placement of order for electronics
We have never been given any opportunity to complain and the goods
________________ (reach) as well on time and in excellent condition.
(vii) Report the dialogue between Anil and Shivangi, by completing Anil’s sentence:
Anil : What do you want to do this evening?
Shivangi : I feel like going to the library. I have to cover some important topics.
Anil asked Shivangi _________________________________. In response to the
question about her plan, Shivangi replied that she felt like going to the library
as she
had to cover some important topics.
(viii) Identify the error in the given sentence, from an article and supply the
correction.
The Indian subcontinent consist of a number of separate linguistic communities,
each of which share a common language and culture.
error
210
correction

(ix) Mithilesh’s teacher asked him to inform Sonali about the date of viva-voce as
she was
absent that day. He was told to report the following sentence. Write how he would
have reported the following information to Sonali.
The viva-voce, due for the second semester, is likely to be held on October 6,
20XX.
(x) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option, to complete the quote by a
member
from WHO.
_________________ We Afford To Have Covid Wave-Iii? Wear Mask Religiously.
(a) Will (b) Can
(c) Should (d) Must
(xi) Select the correct option to complete the conversation between Kamal and
Disha.
Kamal : Disha, are you going to attend the concert tomorrow?
Disha : No, I have my assignments pending. I need to submit all the pending
assignments by tomorrow without fail.
Kamal asked Disha whether she was going to attend the concert the next day.
In response to his question, Disha replied in negative and said that she had her
assignments pending and she __________________ without fail.
(a) needs to be submitted all the pending assignments by the next day
(b) needs to submit all the pending assignments by the next day
(c) needs to submit all the pending assignments by tomorrow
(d) needed to submit all the pending assignments by the next day
(xii) Identify the error spotted in a local newspaper and supply the correction
required:
Is Online Schooling helpful for Specially Abled Children?
It turned out to be understandably difficult for the best of students. Yet, even as
‘normal’ children struggled to come to terms with the new arrangements and
online classes, the same also become a huge challenge for the specially-abled
children.
error
correction
SECTION–B
(10 Marks)

(5)
(A)
You are Ansh Sinha, the Environment Club Secretary of Sapphire Public School,
B-62, IndusInd Lane, Kanpur. You feel rapid and uncontrolled tourism development
in the coastal zones has exposed their fragile ecosystems to an ever-increasing
risk of
environmental degradation.
Write a letter to the editor giving suggestions and ending with some suggestions in
the hope of effective transition towards sustainable tourism in coastal areas.
You may use the following points:
l Tourism has impacted on global warming
Sample Papers
211
l Government remains ignorant and don’t give priority to environmental
sustainability
l Disregard the benefit of economic development
OR
Ruining the present and the future of the children is a crime. In spite of the
(B)
government’s strong warning, this evil practice is very much prevalent. Write a
letter to the editor criticising the deep-rooted social issue which in turn has
given
rise to other social issues.
(5)
The
graph
below
shows
India
and
China’s
population
figures
since
the
year
2000
(A)
and predicted population growth up until 2050. Summarize the information by
selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.
Population in India and China, 2000 - 2050
India
China
1.7
1.6
Billions
1.5
1.4
1.3
1.2
1.1
1.0
2000
(B)
2010
2020
2030
2040
2050
OR
Road rage is a form of raging abusive behaviour displayed by drivers to exert
power.
Analyse the image and write a paragraph showing how you would avoid being
tailgated and harassed.
THE FACE OF
ROAD RAGE
The likeliest road rage culprits are

men aged 35-50 driving blue BMW’s.
31
of road rage offenders said that shouting or

swearing was the most common way they
expressed their anger.
of randomly selected sample

of 790 drivers reported that they always
or sometime carried a gun (usually loaded
in their vechicle.
Top 10 offences most likely to have sent the driver into road rage?
49%
44%
39%
35%
Distracted Driving
Getting cut off
Aggressive Drivers
Tailgating
34%
27%
Blocking Merg
Lanes
24%
Heavy Traffic
20%
Construction
Delays and
Detours
Running Late
11
16%
Driving in
a city
%
44%
16%
Having a
bad day
56%
56% of the men surveyed said they experienced rage

on a daily basis versus 44% of the women.
212

SECTION–C
(Literature)
(40 Marks)

(10 marks)
(5 marks)
(A) Let me put it more clearly, since no one will believe that a thirteen-year-old
girl is
completely alone in the world. And I’m not. I have loving parents and a sixteen-
yearold sister, and there are about thirty people. I can call friends. I have a
family, loving
aunts and a good home. No, on the surface I seem to have everything except my one
true friend. All I think about when I’m with friends is having a good time. I can’t
bring
myself to talk about anything but ordinary everyday things.
(i) Why does Anne feel the following?
. . . no one will believe that a thirteen-year-old girl is completely alone in the
world.
(1) People knew she had a family.
(2) People rejected the idea of loneliness.
(3) She had several friends.
(4) She had a cheerful personality.
(5) Her life was comfortable.
Choose the correct option from the following.
(a) 1 and 5 (b) 1, 3 and 4
(c) 2 and 3 (d) 2, 4 and 5
(ii) Select the most appropriate option for (1) and (2).
(1) . . . on the surface I seem to haver everything, except my one true friend.
(2) Anne doesn’t truly connect with anyone.
(a) (1) is true and (2) is false
(b) (2) is the opposite of (1)
(c) (1) furthers the meaning of (2)
(d) Both (1) and (2) cannot be inferred from the extract.
(iii) What is the tone of the speaker in the extract?
(iv) Select the option which displays an example of ‘having a good time’.
(a) He is put for a picnic with his friends and they are laughing and singing
together.
(b) He is studying hard for the periodic test the following day to improve his
scores.
(c) He is trying to convince his father to purchase the latest video games for him.
(d) He just rescued and injured puppy and is tending to its wounds.
(v) What do we get to know about Anne when she says the following?
I can’t bring myself to talk about anything but ordinary everyday things.
(B)
OR
“What should I? You were going to rob me. If I let you go, you’ll only rob someone
else. Society must be protected from men like you.”
Horace smiled. “I’m not a man who threatens society. I steal only from those who
have a lot of money. I steal for a very good reason. And I hate the thought of
prison.”
She laughed, and he begged, thinking that he had persuaded her, “Look, I have no
Sample Papers
213
right to ask you for anything, but I’m desperate. Let me go and I promise never to
do this kind of thing again. I really mean it.”
She was silent, watching him closely. Then she said, “You are really afraid of
going
to prison aren’t you?”
(i) Identify the speaker “Society must be protected from men like you.”
(ii) Horace says “I’m not a man who threatens society.” Which quote from the
following
suits best to counter his statement?
(a) Two and two make four
(b) Fortune favours the brave
(c) All’s well that ends well
(d) Ends do not justify means
(iii) What reason does Horace furnish defending himself?
(iv) Pick the option showing the CORRECT meaning of the word ‘persuaded’.
(a) Dissuaded (b) Chided
(c) Cajoled (d) Discouraged
(v) Choose the statement from the following that the lady speaks to establish her
confidence.
() If I let you go, you’ll only rob someone else.
a () You are really afraid of going to prison.
b () Let me go and I promise never to do this kind of thing again.
c () You were going to rob me.
d
(5 marks)
(A)
I heard an old religious man
But yesternight declare
That he had found a text to prove
That only God, my dear,
Could love you for yourself alone
And not your yellow hair.
(For Anne Gregory)
(i) What does the speaker reply to Anne?
(a) That God only loves even the ugliest
(b) That God never distinguishes between an ugly and a beautiful
(c) About the importance of love for internal beauty and not the external one
(d) About the importance of outward appearance which is of utmost importance
(ii) Anaphora is a rhetorical device that features the repetition of a word or
phrase at
the beginning of successive sentences, phrases, or clauses. Here, the said
definition
goes with _____________________. (Identify the line)
(iii) God is capable of looking beyond external beauty. It contradicts with:
(a) that humans do not have the insight and understanding to look into the soul of
a person.
(b) that God doesn’t approve of the ugliness of human being.
(c) that it is good to be beautiful with the inner soul.
(d) none of these
214

(iv) Complete the analogy about the speaker’s assertion.
candid: frank : : _______________ : solitary
(v) Select the sentence in which the word ‘love’ is used in the similar manner as
in the
stanza.
(a) I love the fact that you always seem to care so much.
(b) To love and to be loved is the greatest happiness.
(c) Love understands love; it needs no talk.
(d) Love makes a wit of the fool.
OR
He is learning, well behind his desperate eyes,
The epistemology of loss, how to stand up
Knowing what every man must one day know
And most know many days, how to stand up.
(B)
(i) What is the boy learning?

(ii) The boy’s eyes look:
(a) frustrated (b) sleepy
(c) happy (d) desperate
(iii) What do you understand by ‘epistemology of loss’?
(iv) The boy is going to know the universal truth that ____________________
_________________________________________________________________.
(v) Which word from the stanza means ‘hopelessness’?
() Desperate () Epistemology
a b
() Loss () Learning
c d
i
ii
iii
iv
v
(4×3=12)
() Every big deal begins with a first small step. Validate the given statement with
reference to baby seagull’s fear.
() What values do you acquire from the two possible causes provided by the poet in
the
poem ‘Fire and Ice’?
() What was Valli’s favourite pastime? How did she live her dream?
() Custard earned his self-respect only after he displayed his valour against the
pirate.
Do you agree with the statement? Why / why not?
() What does the soliloquy suggest when Lomov enters the scene in the opening of
the
play?
i
ii
iii
(2×3=6)
() Who do you think the writer used the metaphorical expression “about thirty feet
of
gleaming black metal” for? Why did he use such an expression?
() How can one emerge successful from the most difficult situation? Answer the
question referring to the chapter ‘The Midnight Visitor’.
() “It was really a sad feeling to sit there and not get anything while everybody
else had
won something.” Show your acquaintance reflecting Ebright’s feeling.
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215
(1×6=6)
i
() Belinda, Mustard, Ink and Blink, everyone in the poem ‘The Tale of Custard the
Dragon’, celebrated the victory and feat of their hero. In fact, Ink and Blink
gyrated
around Custard, the dragon who saved their lives. You, on behalf of the characters
mentioned above, show your gratitude to Custard for he saved your lives. You may
begin your conversation like this:
Ink : Dear Custard, I am relieved and truly indebted to see your valour.
Thanks buddy.
Blink : ………………………………………………………………………………
Belinda : ………………………………………………………………………………
Mustard : ………………………………………………………………………………
( ii
OR
) After having read the lesson on the unshakable and unwavering faith of Lencho,
you were really gobsmacked. You decided to share your experience delivering a
speech in the morning assembly of your school. Relate your own experience and
draft a speech based on the lesson ‘A Letter to God’.

(1×6=6)
i
() Anil could have simply responded coldly and taught Hari Singh a good lesson. But
he opted to keep mum. Why do you think he did so?
Elaborate this based on your reading of ‘The Thief ’s Story’.
OR
) When you decide to let go of the blame and make peace with yourself and others,
( ii
you’ll be rewarded with physical, mental and emotional well-being. Justify with
reference to your understanding of the chapter, ‘The Thief’s Story’.
zzz
216

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Syllabus

AReading Skills (40 periods)

SECTION–A (READING SKILLS)

(Total length of two passages to be 600-700 words)

III. Grammar 10 Marks u Tenses

V. Reference to the Context

2. Fire and Ice

5. The Ball Poem

9. The Tale of Custard the Dragon

10. For Anne Gregory

FOOTPRINTS WITHOUT FEET

Assessment of Listening and Speaking Skills will be for 05 marks.

The changes for classes IX-X (2022-23) internal year-end/

u Competency Based Questions would be

Internal Assessment : No change

Creative expression of an opinion, reasoning,

justifying, illustrating, appropriacy of style and tone,

Recalling, reasoning, appreciating, applying literary

Time allowed: 3 hours Max. Marks: 80 General Instructions:

I. Read the passage given below:

_________________Best experienced rather than described

English (Language and Literature)–X

(a) Option 1 (b) Option 2

(a) (b) (c) (d)

English (Language and Literature)–X

III. Attempt ANY TEN of the following questions.

English (Language and Literature)–X

V. Reference to the Context

(The Book that Saved the Earth)

2. Attempt ANY ONE of two extracts given.

(For Anne Gregory)

English (Language and Literature)–X

() Validate the given statement with reference to baby seagull’s fear.

English (Language and Literature)–X

I.(i) (b) They evoke the wish in us, to master them.

(i) (b) blew up

SECTION–B (Creative Writing Skills)

IV. 1. (A) Brilliant Vidyalaya

English (Language and Literature)–X

English (Language and Literature)–X

1. (A) (i) (c) He had grown up in and around tea gardens.

English (Language and Literature)–X

English (Language and Literature)–X

Time allowed: 3 hours

General Instructions: Same as CBSE Sample Question Paper–2023 (Solved

I. Read the passage given below:

Global Mobile Handset Operating

Global Mobile Handset Operating Profit Share Trends

III. 1. Attempt ANY TEN of the following questions.

English (Language and Literature)–X

IV. 1. Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below.

English (Language and Literature)–X

At least one child

Only after cases

Open only for exams/

Write a paragraph, in about 100–120 words, analysing the listed responses.

V. Reference to the Context

English (Language and Literature)–X

2. Attempt ANY ONE of two extracts given.

English (Language and Literature)–X

I. (i) (a) Because it helps us maintain peace of mind.

III. (i) (d) has

English (Language and Literature)–X

SECTION–B: Creative Writing Skills