ROYAL INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

AFFILIATED TO CBSE BOARD

MANAGED BY DOMBIVLI YUVAK EDUCATION TRUST
Gandhi Nagar , P& T Colony , Dombivli(E)
Contact - +91(0251) 2820388/99
Email Id:- [email protected]
Websitewww.royalinternational.co.in
ACADEMIC YEAR 2019-20
Roll No. QP Code-20/03
CLASS: PREBOARD EXAMINATION-2 MARKS: 80
X ENGLISH ( SUBJECT CODE- TIME : 3 Hrs
0184) DATE : 21/01/2020
General Instructions :
(i) The Question paper is divided into three sections :
Section A — Reading 20 marks
Section B — Writing and Grammar 30 marks
Section C — Literature 30 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) 20marks

Q1. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow
08 marks
The largest of Egypt’s many ancient pyramids is situated 16 kilometers East of
Cairo in the Giza . The base of the pyramid is 70 square meters in area and is
leveled to a fraction of a centimeter. The sides are aligned to the four cardinal
points, North, South, East and West; that is, each side faces one of these
points. The side slope at an angle of 51 degrees 51 inches from the base and
the present height of the pyramid is over 137 meters. However, the apex is
missing ,and there is no historical record of one having ever existed.
There is no surviving record as to when, how or by whom the great pyramid
was constructed . It has usually been accepted that it was built sometime in the
third millennium BC, but many modern scholars maintain that, at that time the
engineering skills of the Egyptians were inadequate for such a gigantic
undertaking . Moreover ,the design of the pyramid incorporates certain
mathematical formulate that were unknown at that time.
 Some people believe that the pyramid was built much earlier by or with the
assistance of survivors of a lost civilization that was intellectually,
technologically ,probably and morally superior to the society that has existed
since. But this theory involves much speculation and little concrete evidence.
Apart from the mystery of its origin ,the great pyramid also possesses
mysterious properties .Modern noticed the mummified remains of small
animals which had evidently wandered into it; despite the strangely humid
atmosphere of the king’s chamber, the bodies had not decayed but had been
preserved through dehydration. This observation gave rise to the idea that the
pyramid shape itself had played a part in the marvelous preservation of the
mummified bodies of the pharaohs discovered in some of the pyramids.
Recently much research has been done on the physical properties of the
pyramid shape. The most amazing result have been recorded ;food is
preserved ,milk turns to yoghurt ,plants grow more quickly, blunt razors are
sharpened ,toothache is cured ,and those who meditate entered exalted state
of consciousness .It seems that a special energy field was created by the
pyramid shape and this energy accumulates towards the apex.
A. Answer of the following questions on the basis of the passage you have read.
(4 marks)

i Give a brief description of the largest of ancient Egyptian pyramids .

ii When was the great pyramid built?
iii What did the modern visitors find inside the pyramids?
iv Write down the results which the research on the physical properties of the
pyramid brought.
B. Read the passage and choose the correct option. (4marks)
i What happened to the mummified bodies of pharaohs?
a)They decayed b)Preserved
c) Shape of the pyramid helped in preservation d)Both ‘b’& ‘c’
ii How does the shape of the pyramid play an important part?
a) Special energy field created b)Energy accumulates towards the apex c)
Preservation is at its best d) All of the above
iii How does shape of pyramid helps in meditation ?
a) Sit for a long time b) Gets fully energized
c) Person reaches into exalted state of consciousness d) All of these
iv Which word in the last Para is antonym of the word ‘lessens’?
a) Grow quickly b) Accumulates c) Exalted d) Sharpened
Q2. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:-
The new generation is breaking out of the traditional mould and is ready to
take risks and opt for offbeat careers. Think out of the box ,achieve new
heights, question conventional wisdom and live your dreams ,this seems to be
the mantra of the new generation. Yes, we are talking about pursuing careers
requiring creative inputs and not confining to run-of-the –mill options. Today’s
generation is ready to take risks and opts for offbeat careers for themselves
like graphic designing, sculpting, fashion designing, film making, tourism and
travel and much more. Gone are the days when children were forced to
crack engineering or medical entrance tests to bag a plum job. With increasing
competition, good degree from a good institute does not guarantee a good job
and there are some students who have creative bent of mind . Take the case of
Anirudh Thorat ,a mechanical engineer ,who completed his course but then
chose to make his career in photography.
He says, “The mechanical engineering course was simply out of family pressure
.I would like to see myself as a famous photographer rather than a good
mechanical engineer.’’ The world of fashion offers opportunities as fashion
designers ,textile designer, jewelry designers, etc. A creative person can
certainly succeeded as a creative artists , commercial artists, animation expert,
film maker, graphic artists, professional photographer ,copywriter, to name a
few. In case a student has taken up graphic designing , he can easily find a
place in advertising , animation and printing technology.
Says Chavi Swaroop, a career councilor , “ As world globalizes ,the need for the
formal degree or certificate is no longer considered the basic requirement for
success . What is needed is an inherent talent, liking for the job ,motivation an
commitment”. No other industry exemplifies this better the media industry .
One could work and succeed illustrator if one is good at art ,sketching or
cartooning . Purvesha Pitale a placement co-coordinator, says , “ Globalization
is bringing a lot of opportunities to India and has made youngsters opt for a
career as per their interests. Career PR and event management firms, creative
writing advertising and fashion journalism are attracting bright talented
youngsters. Bold attitude, courage to accept challenges ,and risk –taking are
some of the features of the youth of today who are moving to off beat
careers”.
A. On the basis of your reading of the passage answer of the following
questions in about 30-40 words each. (8marks)
I Differentiate as to how today’s generation is different from earlier generations.
 ii How does the world of fashion provide an excellent platform to showcase
iii creativity?
iv Why does a good degree not guarantee a good job?

B. On the basis of your reading of the passage answer any four of the following:
(4 marks)
I Which word is a synonym of word ‘conventional’ as used in the passage?
ii The word …….. is the opposite of ‘not-for-profit’.
a) commercial b)animation c) expert d)artist
iii What does the word ‘ innovative ‘ mean?
iv The word …….. is the antonym of word ‘breach’.
a)commitment b)split c)break d)basic

SECTION B –(WRITING & GRAMMAR) 30marks

Q3. Nobel Laureates like Rabindranath Tagore ,CV Raman ,Mother Teresa and
Amartya Sen have made our country proud. However ,greatness confined to a
country or to a political territory. Such people work selflessly for humanity and
inspire us also to follow their path . Write a letter to the Editor of a local
newspaper on how the true work of man is to serve humanity and how citizens
should be more human and be good human beings. (100-150 words)
(8 marks)
Or

“A man’s manners are a mirror in which he shows his portrait.”

This quote highlights the importance of good manners in life. Write
an article for your school magazine on “Good Manners.’ (100-150 words)
(8 marks)

Q4. Write the story based on the visual clue in about 150-200 words
(10 marks)
Beginning with I was reading a book when I looked up ,there in the window I
saw….
 Or
Anuj Mishra decided to write a story to be published in a magazine for children
but unfortunately he could not complete his story . Complete the story.
Once in a jungle there lived a lion . It was a very cruel lion………

Q5. Complete the paragraph given below by filling in the blanks with the help of
options that follow : 4 marks

Yesterday, a rich woman from West Bengal (a) _____ to Delhi to buy jewellery.
She was sitting outside (b) ______ jewellery shop. Suddenly two young boys
came there (c) ______ snatched the chain that she was (d) _________.
a (i) come (ii) comes (iii) came (iv) coming
b (i) a (ii) an (iii) the (iv) some
c (i) and (ii) or (iii) but (iv) how
d (i) wear (ii) wears (iii) wore (iv) wearing

Q6. The following paragraph has not been edited. There is one error in each line.
Write the error and its correction. . 4marks
Error Correction
People of diverse cultures lives (a) _______ _______
together in India. There is many (b) _______ _______
people who exhibit unity on diversity. (c) ______ ______
They celebrated different festivals (d) _______ _______
Together
Q7. Rearrange the following words/phrases to form meaningful sentences
(4 marks)
i) their great/a lot of/street boys/there/seeing/luggage/came over
ii) a man/used to/make me/I/myself/packing
iii) to/sun/be/it/allergic/you’re/must/cream/the
iv) on my/pride/rather/I/myself/packing
 SECTION C –(LITERATURE) 30marks
Q8. Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow:
(4marks)
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.
Questions:-
i) Who is ‘he’ here referred to?
a) The poet b) Father c)The boy d)Boy’s friend
ii) The body is learning ………
a)to accept loss b)to cope up with loss
c)to stop crying for lost things d) All of these
iii) Why are the boy’s eyes desperate?
a)His ball was lost b)He was scolded
c) He was not allowed to play d)He was hungry
iv) What does the expression ‘epistemology of loss’ mean?
a) Causes of loss b) Nature and origin of loss
c)Grief of loss d) All of these
OR
The Buddha preached his first sermon at the city of Benares, most holy of the
dipping places on the River Ganga ;that sermon has been preserved and is
given here. It reflects the Buddha’s wisdom about one inscrutable kind of
suffering.
Questions:-
i) Where did Buddha preach his first sermon ?
a) Patna b)Ranchi c) Banares d)Tibet
ii) The sermon preached by Buddha reflect ………..
a) wisdom about suffering b)wisdom about enlightenment c)how to reach
exalted state of consciousness d) None
iii) Why Benares as a City is significant for the Indians?
a) It is a city full of temples b)Buddha preached here c)the most holy city on
banks of river Gangas d)All of these
iv) Find the exact word from the extract which means ‘Impossible to understand’
a) Reflect b)In securable c)Sermon d)Preserve
 Q9. Answer any five of the following questions in 30-40 words each:
( 2x5=10 marks)
i) Hari Singh is both a thief and a human being. Explain
ii) Explain the line ‘Clashed his tail like iron in a dungeon’.
iii) Why did the thief, Hari Singh change his name every month?
iv) What did Fowler expected Ausable to be like? Did Ausable fit that expectation?
v) How did Valli react when she saw the dead cow by the roadside?
vi) Why would you not agree with Lencho calling them „a bunch of crooks‟?

Q10. Answer any one of the following questions in about 100-150 words:
(1x8=8marks)
i) Do you think over-pampering by Mrs Pumphrey was the main reason for
Tricki’s ailment ?Explain how excess of everything is bad.
ii) 20th century was often called the ‘Era of the Book’. Books taught people how
to, when to, where to and why to. However, now they are being replaced by
the electronic media .Do you think we can do away with books altogether?

Q11. Answer any one of the following questions in about 100-150 words:
(1x8=8marks)
i) What impression do you form of Griffin after reading the lesson ‘Footprints
without Feet’.
ii) What issues does the story ‘The Hundred Dresses’ raises? How should we
tackle them.