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ARMY PUBLIC SCHOOL, BATHINDA MIL. STN.

HALF YEARLY EXAMINATION
SUBJECT: ENGLISH
SESSION 2020-21
NAME: ___________________ M.M.: 80
CLASS & SECTION: _________ TIME DURATION: 3 HRS
ADMISSION NUMBER: ____________ NO OF PAGES:10

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS:
 Attempt all Questions
 All answers must be correctly numbered
 Read the questions carefully and follow the instructions

PART-A (READING) (40 MARKS)

Unseen Passages (20 MARKS)

Q1. Read the following paragraph and answer the questions that follow. Do any 10.

(1) Crocodiles have been around for 200 million years, but they’re certainly not primitive. The
early forms of crocodiles are known as Crocodilians. Since they spent most of their life beneath
water, accordingly their body adapted to aquatic lifestyle. Due to the changes formed within their
body shape and tendency to adapt according to the climate they were able to survive when most
of the reptiles of their period are just a part of history. In their tenure on Earth, they’ve survived
the impacts of meteors, planetary refrigeration, extreme movement of the Earth’s tectonic surface
and profound climate change. They were around for the rise and fall of the dinosaurs, and even
65 million years of supposed mammalian dominance has failed to loosen their grip on the
environments they inhabit.

(2) The first crocodile-like ancestors appeared about 230 million years ago, with many of the
features that make crocs such successful hunters already in place: streamlined body, long tail,
protective armour and long jaws. They have long head and a long tail, protective armour and
long jaws. These all help them to change their direction in water while moving. They have four
legs which are short and are webbed. Never underestimate their ability to move on ground. When
they move, they can move at such a speed that won’t give you a second chance to make a
mistake by going close to them especially when hungry. They can lift their whole body within
seconds from ground.
(3) Crocodilians have no lips. When submerged in their classic ‘sit and wait’ position, their
mouths fill with water. The nostrils on the tip of the long snout lead into canals that run through
bone to open behind the valve – allowing the crocodilian to breathe through its nostrils even
through its mouth is under water. When the animal is totally submerged, another valve seals the
nostrils, so the crocodilian can open its mouth to catch prey with no fear of drowning. The thin
skin on the crocodilian head and face is covered with tiny domes, forming a network of neural
pressure receptors that can detect barely audible vibrations in the water.
(4) The crocodile is successful because it switches its feeding methods. It hunts fish, grabs birds
at the surface, hides among the water edge vegetation to wait for a gazelle to come by, and when
there is a chance for a sudden attack, the crocodile lunges forward, knocks the animal with its
powerful tail and then drags it to water where it quickly drowns. The prey remains almost
unaware of the fact that there can be any crocodile beneath water.
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i) One of the major reason why crocodiles didn’t extinct is: (10x1=10 MARKS)
a) Thick skin
b) Ability to adapt
c) Enormous size
d) None of these

ii) The crocodiles faced which of the following disasters and survived:
a) Meteors
b) Planetary refrigeration
c) Climate Change
d) All of the above

iii) The crocodiles move slowly on the ground.

a) True
b) False
c) Not given in passage
d) Can’t say

iv) “They were around for the rise and fall of the dinosaurs” means:
a) Crocodiles only existed before the dinosaurs.
b) Crocodiles existed during the rising and extinction of dinosaurs.
c) Crocodiles got extinct with dinosaurs.
d) Crocodiles came into existence after the extinction of dinosaurs.

v) The classic ‘sit and wait’ position means:

a) To openly attack the prey.
b) To silently wait for the prey to come closer.
c) To catch your prey while flying.
d) To run behind the prey.

vi) What saves the crocodilian from drowning while submerged under water?
a) Long head
b) Long tail
c) Valve
d) Thick skin

vii) Which word in the para 3 means the same as “hearable”?

a) Elongated
b) Submerged
c) Audible
d) Receptors

viii) Which word in the para 2 means the same as “protective covering”?
a) Webbed
b) Armour
c) Streamlined
d) Underestimate

ix) The crocodile is a successful animal because of:

a) Sharp hunting skills.
b) Multiple feeding habits.
c) Thick skin and long body.
d) Absence of lips.
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x) Crocodile hides in the water edge vegetation to _____________.

a) Hunt birds
b) Hunt fishes
c) Suddenly attack antelopes
d) Ambush humans

xi) Why did the crocodile adapt to aquatic lifestyle?

a) Earlier they were fishes.
b) They spent most of their life underwater.
c) They used to hunt fishes.
d) They were afraid of dinosaurs.

xii) The features leading to the dominance of crocodiles are:

a) Streamlined body
b) Long tail
c) Protective armour
d) All of the above

Q2. Read the following passage and attempt the questions that follow. Do any 10.

(1) This year alone, more than 8,600 stores could close, according to industry estimates, many of
them are the brand-name anchor outlets. Already there have been 5,300 retail closings this year
for example, Sears Holdings—which owns Kmart—said in March that there’s “significant
doubt” it can stay in business altogether, and will close 300 stores this year. So far this year, nine
national retail chains have filed for bankruptcy.
(2) Local jobs are a major loss of what analysts are calling the retail downfall. Since 2002,
department stores have lost 448,000 jobs, a 25% decline, while the number of store closures this
year is on pace to surpass the worst depths of the Great Recession. The growth of online
retailers, meanwhile, has failed to offset those losses, with the e-commerce sector adding just
178,000 jobs over the past 15 years.
(3) But those are workplaces, not gathering places. The mall is both. And in the 61 years since
the first enclosed one opened in suburban Minneapolis, the shopping mall has been where a huge
crowd of middle-class America went for far more than shopping. It was the place for family
photos and ear piercings, where children and grandmothers could somehow walk through the
same doors and find something they all liked. Sure, the food was filthy for you and the oceans of
parking lots encouraged car-heavy development, something now hated by modern planners.

i) How many retails were closed this year? (10x1=10 MARKS)

a) 8600
b) 5300
c) 300
d) 448000

ii) The author emphasises the importance of mall because

a) people of all ages and from all walks of life went there.
b) people could shop as well as eat in one place.
c) it was a commercial space as well as a gathering place.
d) All of the above.

iii) The retail downfall led to the decline of _______________.

a) Brand-name anchor outlets
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b) Local jobs
c) Stores
d) Industries

iv) Which of the following statement is true?

a) The number of store closures is equal to that of the Great Recession.
b) The number of store closure is far less than that of the Great Recession.
c) The number of store closure is about to match that of the Great Recession.
d) The number of store closure in much more than that of the Great Recession.

v) What is not liked by modern day planners?

a) Workplaces
b) Gathering places
c) Malls
d) Big parking lots

vi) In 61 years the most visited place by middle-class America is

a) Kmart
b) Shopping mall
c) Parks
d) Workplace

vii) The mall is

a) A workplace
b) A gathering place
c) Both a and b
d) None of the above

viii) The growth of online retailers compromised for the job losses.
a) True
b) False
c) Not given in the passage
d) Can’t say

ix) Nine national retail chains have filed for

a) Closing
b) Bankruptcy
c) Substantial doubt
d) All of the above

x) It’s been 61 years since the opening of first

a) ‘Closed in’ mall
b) Retail chain
c) Unenclosed mall
d) Departmental store

xi) Sears Holdings will close __________’

a) 5300 department stores
b) 8600 stores
c) 300 stores
d) 9 retail chains
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xii) The passage generally talks about

a) Death of retail chains and job losses
b) Benefits of online retail
c) Major aspects of the mall
d) The Great Recession

LITERATURE TEXTBOOKS (10 MARKS)

Q3. Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow: (5x1=5
MARKS)

Nazis came to power in Germany in 1933, Einstein emigrated to the United States.
Five years later, the discovery of nuclear fission in Berlin had American physicists
in an uproar. Many of them had fled from Fascism, just as Einstein had, and now
they were afraid the Nazis could build and use an atomic bomb.

i) Why did Einstein leave for United States?

a) US was a growing economy.
b) Nazis came to power in Germany.
c) For higher studies.
d) None of the above.

ii) What did Einstein fear the Nazis would do?

a) Capture the US.
b) Make an atomic bomb.
c) Kill him.
d) Learn nuclear fission.

iii) What did the German scientists discover in 1938?

a) Nuclear fusion.
b) Nuclear fission.
c) Law of Gravity.
d) None of the above.

iv) Which word in the passage means the opposite of “democracy”?

a) Fission
b) Physicists
c) Fascism
d) Uproar

v) Who were left in confusion by the German discovery?

a) Nazis
b) American Physicists
c) Einstein
d) People of Berlin

OR

“I will put up there,” he cried. “It is a fine position with plenty of fresh air.” So he
alighted just between the feet of the Happy Prince.
“I have a golden bed-room,” he said softly to himself as he looked round, and he
prepared to go to sleep; but just as he was putting his head under his wing a large
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drop of water fell on him. “What a curious thing!” he cried. “There is not a single
cloud in the sky, the stars are quite clear and bright, and yet it is raining.”

i) Who is the speaker and what was he talking about in line 1?

a) The Happy Prince, helping people
b) Author, writing story
c) Swallow, finding shelter on the statue
d) Seamstress, embroidery

ii) Why was it a fine position?

a) It was wrapped in Gold.
b) It was in the centre of the city.
c) It has plenty of fresh air.
d) It has a great view.

iii) “I have a golden bed-room” Why did he say that?

a) Pedestal was made up of gold.
b) The statue was wrapped in gold.
c) He got golden furniture.
d) None of the above.

iv) From where did the drop of water fall upon him?
a) From the sky.
b) From the river.
c) From the eye of the Happy Prince.
d) From the water bottle.

v) Why did he put up between the feet of the Happy Prince?

a) It was golden statue.
b) It had sapphires.
c) It had a shelter to save him from rain.
d) It had a ruby on the sword.

Q4. Read the following extracts and answer the questions that follow: (5x1=5
MARKS)

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveller, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth

i) Why does the poet feel sorry?

a) He took the wrong road.
b) He took the longer road.
c) He could not take both the roads.
d) He saw what was at the end of the road.
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ii) What choice did the narrator have to make?

a) He has to travel abroad.
b) He has to choose one road.
c) He has to write a poem.
d) He has to look down the road.

iii) What is the rhyme scheme of the given stanza?

a) abaab
b) aabba
c) abbaa
d) ababa

iv) What does the poet mean by “And looked down one as far as I could”?
a) To look at the condition of the road.
b) To look at the destination as to where this road leads.
c) To look at the diversion of the road.
d) To look at the fellow traveller.

v) Who is the poet of the poem from which the above lines are taken?
a) William Blake
b) W.B. Yeats
c) Robert Frost
d) T.S. Eliot

‘OR’

And he said, “You are far too selfish

To dwell in a human form,
To have both food and shelter,
And fire to keep you warm.

Now, you shall build as the birds do,

And shall get your scanty food
By boring, and boring, and boring,
All day in the hard, dry wood.”

i) Who said this to whom?

a) Poet said this to the reader.
b) St. Peter said this to the selfish lady.
c) St. Peter said this to bird.
d) The lady said this to St. Peter.

ii) Who is selfish and why?

a) St. Peter, because he asked for a cake.
b) The bird, because he collects food by boring.
c) The poet, because he wrote the poem.
d) The baker lady, because she didn’t give St. Peter a cake.

iii) What benefits did he want her to forego?

a) Food
b) Shelter
c) Fire
d) All of the above.
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iv) What would she build?

a) She would build a cottage in the woods.
b) She would build a villa in the Northland.
c) She would build a nest in the woods like other birds.
d) She would build a new oven to bake more cakes.

v) How would she get her food?

a) By baking in the new oven.
b) By boring in the dry wood.
c) By keeping the pet birds.
d) From St. Peters.

GRAMMAR (10 MARKS)

Q5. Choose the correct option in the following questions. Do any 10.
(10x1=10MARKS)
I. If a few drops of lemon are put in the milk, it _______ sour.
a) has turned
b) turns
c) turned
d) is turning

II. I ________ my son to swimming practice every week.

a) will have been driving
b) has driven
c) driven
d) drive

III. Major Chaudhry said to the aspirants, “Does everyone understand English?”
a) Major Chaudhry informed the aspirants that everyone understood English.
b) Major Chaudhry asked the aspirants whether everyone understood English.
c) Major Chaudhry told the aspirants that everyone should understand English.
d) Major Chaudhry asked the aspirants whether everyone understands English.

IV. I said to Rahul, “The tyre of my car is punctured.”

a) I told Rahul that the tyre of my car is punctured.
b) Rahul told me that the tyre of my car was punctured.
c) I told Rahul that the tyre of my car was punctured.
d) I told Rahul that the tyre of her car is punctured.

V. Anshul said, “Should we go to the Zoo today?”

a) Anshul told that they should go to the zoo that day.
b) Anshul wondered if they should go to the zoo that day.
c) Anshul asked if we should go to the zoo today.
d) Anshul announced that they would go to the zoo that day.

VI. “I will be twenty five tomorrow”, said Vidushi.

a) Vidushi is saying that she will be twenty five by tomorrow.
b) Vidushi said that she would be twenty five the next day.
c) Vidushi will say that she would be twenty five tomorrow.
d) Vidushi had told that me she would be twenty five the next day.
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VII. She said, “Thanks I shall never forget this kindness.”

a) She thanked that she would never forget that kindness.
b) She thanked and assured that she would never forget that kindness.
c) She thanked that she will never forget that kindness.
d) She thanked and said that she must never forget that kindness.

VIII. After Larry ________ the film on TV, he decided to buy the book.
a) see
b) had seen
c) have seen
d) is seeing

IX. As soon as he _____, tell him to call me back, please.

a) arrives
b) would arrive
c) had arrived
d) will be arriving

X. Paper money _____ for over a thousand years.

a) has used
b) has been used
c) is used
d) used

XI. Up to now, Mary ___________ to the United States.

a) never go
b) has never been
c) did not went
d) not go

XII. "What have you decided to do?" she asked him.

a) She asked him what have you decide to do.
b) She asked him what did he decide to do.
c) She asked him what he had decided to do.
d) She asked him what you have decided to do.

PART – B (40 MARKS)

WRITING (10 MARKS)

Q6. You visited the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort along with your classmates and a teacher.
Write a diary entry in 100-120 words describing the visit. (5x1=5 MARKS)

Q7. Write a story in 100 – 120 words on the basis of given cues. (Any 1) (5x1=5
MARKS)
Once a tailor and an elephant were fast friends……elephant visited the river……stopped
at tailor’s shop……got something to eat……one day tailor was angry……pricked the
needle……the elephant brought dirty water in his trunk……he spoiled everything at
tailor’s shop……Moral

‘OR’
A terrible famine broke out……people gathered in relief camps started by
government……long queues in front of food distribution camp……quite often people
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rushed and broke queues……a girl stood patiently and waited…..every time she waited
patiently…….she was recognized and rewarded for her patience…..Moral

LITERATURE (30 MARKS)

Q8. Write the answers of the following questions in 20-30 words. (Any 4) (2x4=8
MARKS)

(Answer 2 out of 3 from BEEHIVE and 2 out of 3 from MOMENTS)

BEEHIVE
Q1. What should we do to make friends with the wind?
Q2. What is the single major memory that comes to the poet? Who are the “darling
dreamers” he refers to?

Q3. When was Evelyn’s deafness first noticed? When was it confirmed?

MOMENTS
Q4. “Toto was a pretty monkey.” In what sense is Toto pretty?

Q5. Why does the disciple decide to stay in the Kingdom of Fools? Is it a good idea?
Q6. Why did the swallow not leave the prince and go to Egypt?

Q9. Write the answers of the following questions in 40-50 words. (Any 4) (3x4=12
MARKS)

(Answer 2 out of 3 from BEEHIVE and 2 out of 3 from MOMENTS)

BEEHIVE
Q1. When and how did Bismillah Khan get his big break?
Q2. What does the poet say the wind god winnows? What do the last four lines of the poem
mean to you?

Q3. Why does the world remember Einstein as a “world citizen”?

MOMENTS
Q4. How does Toto take a bath? Where has he learnt to do this? How does Toto almost boil
himself alive?
Q5. How does the guru manage to save his disciple’s life?

Q6. What are the precious things mentioned in the story ‘The Happy Prince’? Why are they
precious?

Q10. Write the answers of the following questions in 100-120 words. (Any 1) (1x5=5
MARKS)
Q1. Kezia’s efforts to please her father resulted in displeasing him very much. How did this
happen?

‘OR’
Q2. Why did Abdul Kalam want to leave Rameswaram? What did his father say to this? Why
do you think he spoke those words and what do you think his words mean?

Q11. Write the answers of the following questions in 100-120 words. (Any 1) (1x5=5
MARKS)
Q1. Give examples to prove that the king and the minister both were idiots.
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‘OR’
Q2. Toto’s mischiefs are beyond imagination. Support your answer with incidents given in
the story.
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