CBSE Sample Paper-01

SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT II
English Communicative
Class X

Time allowed: 3 hours Maximum Marks: 70

General Instructions:
(i) The Question paper is divided into three sections:
Section A Reading 20 marks
Section B Writing and Grammar 25 marks
Section C Literature 25 marks
(ii) All questions are compulsory.
(iii) You may attempt any section at a time.
(iv) All questions of that particular section must be attempted in the correct order.

SECTION A
(Reading 20 marks)
1. Read the passage given below: 8
(a) The hopping kangaroo is a familiar sight in every snapshot relating to Australia.
Members of the kangaroo family can be as small as a rat or as big as a man. Kangaroos
are found mainly in Australia, Tasmania and New Guinea. Kangaroos, which are big-
footed marsupials that evolved in Australia, use their short front legs like arms. The
man-sized kangaroos of Australia are capable of speeding up to 88 km/hr for short
distances, their means of locomotion being their powerful hind legs, which carry them
over the ground in jumps of 9 m or more at a time.
(b) Weighing around 70 kg, they have an average lifespan of around six to eight years and a
maximum lifetime of 20 years. When bothered by predators, kangaroos often head for
the water, standing submerged to the chest, and attempting to drown the attacker by
holding him under water. Another defensive technique is to get their back to a tree and
kick at their adversary with their clawed hind feet, sometimes with sufficient force to kill
a man. Normally shy animals, they alert other kangaroos to danger by beating on the
ground with their hind feet. This loud alarm signal carries over a long distance.
(c) The tail is important for kangaroos. It holds them in balance and supports them when
they sit or fight against other kangaroos. The kangaroo uses its short legs as arms. With
them it scratches itself, cleans its fur and holds branches when it eats leaves. Kangaroos
are marsupials and the females carry newborns in a pouch in front of their abdomens.
The babies are born small and climb up into the safety of the pouch. There, for the next
225 days or so, they eat, sleep and grow. Once they reach full development, they leave
the pouch. A young kangaroo that leaves the pouch is called a joey. To keep from getting
too hot, the kangaroos take naps in the afternoon and do most of their grazing at night.

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 But the best stay-cool secret of these creatures is the spit bath! Kangaroos drool and lick
saliva all over their faces and bodies to cool down.

1.1 On the basis of your reading of the above passage, complete the following sentences with
appropriate words/phrases :
(a) When followed by predators, kangaroos submerge ___________ and ____________.
(b) The powerful hind legs help kangaroos to _______________.
(c) Kangaroos are mainly found in Australia and are __________.
(d) They use their front legs to __________________.
(e) Kangaroos warn others of danger by _______________.
(f) The secret of kangaroos to stay cool is _____________________.
(g) They use their tails to _____________________.
(h) Before becoming joeys, the young ones stay in the __________ and ____________.

2. Read the passage given below: 12

(a) 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.
(b) Learning what not to say is probably more important than learning what to say. As your
career develops, you will realize 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.
(c) Another problem to overcome is speaking too fast. Since our minds are working 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 realize
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.

2.1 Answer the following questions briefly: 8

(a) Why is it necessary to have good communication skills?

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 (b) How can communication skills be developed?
(c) What, according to the writer, should be avoided while communicating?
(d) Why should you be careful when you tend to be humorous?

2.2 Choose the most appropriate meanings of the given words from the options provided: 4
(a) evaluate (para 1)
(i) estimate
(ii) assume
(iii) punish
(iv) evolve

(b) trait (para 1)

(i) treaty
(ii) trail
(iii) quality
(iv) liberty

(c) utter (para 2)

(i) flatter
(ii) speak
(iii) rot
(iv) unique

(d) haunt (para 2)

(i) hunt
(ii) chant
(iii) trouble
(iv) avoid

SECTION B
(Writing and Grammar 25 marks)

3. The tourism industry can bring valuable income to the country. Using your ideas along with
ideas from the MCB unit, Travel and Tourism, write a letter to the editor of a popular daily
on how the government and the public can boost the development of this industry. Write
the letter in 100-120 words. You are Rama / Ram, 4 Rani Road, Ranchi. 5
OR
The youth of different states should be given a chance to meet one another through national
meets and other programmes. Taking ideas from the MCB unit, National Integration and
your own ideas write an article in 100-120 words on the topic, Youth and National
Integration. You are Rama / Rama.

4. Write a short story in 150 200 words on the basis of the hints provided: 10

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 Ratan was in Goa on a school trip. The teacher asked everyone to play and remain on the
seashore.
OR
Hari drove fast. He was already late for office. He had got up late and it was his first day of
work .

5. Fill in the blanks choosing the most appropriate options from the ones given below. Write
the answers in your answer-sheet against the correct blank numbers. 3
There are four trees in the garden. ____a____ branches sway in the breeze. The children play
___b____ the trees. Some of the girls ____c____ sleeping in the shade of the trees.

(a) (i) there (ii) their (iii) every (iv) an

(b) (i) under (ii) over (iii) above (iv) in
(c) (i) is (ii) was (iii) are (iv) have

6. The following paragraph has not been edited. There is one error in each marked line. Write
the error and its correction as shown in the example.
4
Error Correction
I went to the pool then no one e.g. no not
was there. The place being quiet. (a) ________ ________
A water was still, and the tiled (b) ________ ________
bottom was so white and clean (c) ________ ________
as a bathtub. I was timid for (d) ________ ________
going in alone.

7. Read the dialogue given below and complete the paragraph that follows. Write the correct
answers in your answer-sheet against the correct blank numbers. 3
Doctor: Have you got the tests done?
Karna: No, I have not.
Doctor: Get them done today itself.
The doctor asked Karna (a) _____________. He replied that (b) ___________. The doctor asked.

SECTION C
(Literature 25 marks)

8. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: 3
Were these people pulling his leg? Was the whole thing a gigantic hoax? A meek harmless
man like him and they had to drag him into the middle of the city to make a laughing stock
out of him.

(a) Who is the speaker?

(b) Why does he think that he is being made a laughing stock?

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 (c) What does the word hoax mean?
OR
Caesar shall forth; the things that threatened me
Neer lookd on my back; when they shall see
The face of Caeser, they are vanished.
(a) Where is Caeser planning to go?
(b) What are the things that threaten him?
(c) What does the word vanished mean?

9. Answer any four of the following questions in 30 40 words each: 8

(a) Why did the poet have to wait near the water trough? (Snake)
(b) What did Sebastian write in the final e-mail he sent to Michael?
(c) Why did the wedding guest beat his breast?
(d) What quality of King Ozymandias does the poem reflect?
(e) Why did Cassius tell Brutus not to allow Antony to speak on Ceasers funeral?

10. How does the lesson, A Shady Plot remind us that man has no right to invoke supernatural
powers through Oujja boards, Tarot cards etc to solve his problems and that one should face
life boldly and overcome difficulties using wit and intelligence. Write in 80-100 words. 4
OR
Respect for all forms of life is an essential value. Unmindful destruction of nature and its
creatures deserves just punishment. Write in 80-100 words this essential value as brought
out in the poem, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.

11. Attempt the following in 150-200 words 10

Bring out the importance of the diary in Annes life.
OR
Why does Anne call herself a bundle of contradictions?
OR
What was the incident of the Frost King? How did it affect Helen?
OR
Write a character sketch of Bishop Brooks as he appears in Helen Kellers The Story of My
Life.

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