1st Terminal Exam

CLASS – 10
SUBJECT – ENGLISH
M.M – 80
PART – A 40

READING COMPREHENSION 20

1. Read the passage given below and answer the questions/complete the 10
statements that follow:
Long, long ago, in a big forest, there were many trees. Among the cluster of trees,
there was a very tall pine tree. He was so tall that he could talk to the stars in the
sky. He could easily look over the heads of the other trees. One day late in the
evening, the pine tree saw a ragged, skinny girl approaching him. He could see
her only because of his height. The little girl was in tears. The pine tree bent as
much as he could and asked her: “What is the matter? Why are you crying ?”
The little girl, still sobbing, replied, “I was gathering flowers for a
garland for goddess Durga, who I believe, would help my parents to overcome
their poverty and I have lost my way”. The pine tree said to the little girl, “It is late
in the evening. It will not be possible for you to return to your house, which is at the
other end of the forest. Sleep for the night at this place.” The pine tree pointed out
to an open cave-like place under him. The little girl was frightened of wild animals.
The girl quickly crept into the cave-like place. The pine tree was happy and
pleased with himself. He stood like a soldier guarding the place. The little girl woke
up in the morning and was amazed to see the pine tree standing guard outside the
cave. Then her gaze travelled to the heap of flowers that she had gathered the
previous night. The flowers lay withering on the ground. The pine tree understood
what was going on in the girl’s mind. He wrapped his branches around the nearby
flower trees and shook them gently. The little girl’s eyes brightened. But a great
surprise awaited her. The pine tree brought out a bag full of gold coins which had
been lying for years in the hole in its trunk and gave it to the girl. With teary eyes
she thanked her benefactor and went away.

(A) Answer the following questions : (1 x 4 = 4 marks)

(a) Why was the girl crying ?
(b) Where did the pine tree want the little girl to sleep for the night ?
(c) Why was the little girl disappointed when she looked at the flowers and what
did the tree do to make her happy ?
(d) What lesson does this short story teach us?

(B) Do as directed: (4 marks)

(e) What is meant by the word ‘cluster’? (Para 1)
(i) group (ii) team (iii) class (iv) party
(f) What is meant by the word ‘approaching’? (Para 1)
(i) calling (ii) touching (iii) coming close (iv) running towards
(g) What is meant by the word ‘wild’? (Para 2)
(i) cunning (ii) dirty (iii) unpolished (iv) dangerous
(h) What is meant by the word ‘withering ‘? (Para 2)
(i) dead (ii) shrunk (iii) colourless (iv) unhappy
 (I) The tall pine tree could talk to sun. (TRUE/FALSE)

(J) The girl was not scared of wild animals. (TRUE/FLASE)

2. PISA COMPREHENSION 10
(A)(NON-CONTINUOUS) 1X 5=5
1) The Histogram below shows the height (in CM) distribution of 30 people.

1. How many people have heights between 159.5 and 169.5 cm?
a) 1 b) 2
c) 7 d) 4

2. _______________ people have heights less than 159.5 cm.

2) The histogram below shows the level of cholesterol (in mg per dl) of
200 people.

3. 160 people have a level of cholesterol between 205 and 220 mg

per dl.
True/false
 4. What percentage of people have a level of cholesterol more than
215 mg per dl?

3) The histogram below shows the efficiency level (in miles per gallons) of 110
cars.

5) How many cars have an efficiency between 15 and 20 miles

per gallon?
a) 23 b) 35
b) 30 d) 40

(B) CONTINUOUS (POEM) 1X5=5

ANIMALS
BY WALT WHITMAN

I think I could turn and live with animals, they are

So placid and self-contained

I stand and look at them long and long

They do not sweat and whine about their condition,

They do not lie awake in the dark and weep for their sins,
 They do not make me sick discussing their duty to God,

Not one is dissatisfied, not one is demented with

The mania of owing things

No one kneels to another, nor to his kind that

Lived thousands of years ago,

Not one is respectable or unhappy over the whole earth.

So they show their relations to me and I accept them,

They bring me token of myself, they evince

Them plainly in their possession

I wonder where they get those tokens,

Did I pass that way huge times ago and negligently drop them?

1) Which animal is being considered ‘Loyal’?

2) What does the poet wish for?
a. Lonely life b. Free life
c. Life like animals d. Miserable life
3) Write the synonym and antonym
a) A synonym of ‘Placid’ is ________.
b) A synonym of ‘whine’ is _________.
4) Which EPIC poem is written by Whitman?

A) B)

LEAVES OF
THE RAPE
GRASS
OF THE
LOCK
 5) What duty do animals have towards God?
a. Worship him day and night b. Recite his
name
c. Love him throughout life d. None of the
above

LITERATURE 20

3. Attempt 1 out of 2 RTC from Prose (First Flight & Footprints without feet) 1X5=5

‘And did you cut down on the sweet things as I told you?’
(a) What sweet things are being referred to in the extract?
(b) Why does the speaker enquire if the sweet things have been cut down?
(c) What is the meaning of the phrase ‘cut down’?
(d) What is the opposite of ‘sweet’?
(e) Does Mrs Pumphrey cut down the sweet things?

OR

It was during the meal that, just as Lencho had predicted, big drops of rain
began to fall. In the North-East huge mountains of clouds could be seen
approaching. The air was fresh and sweet. The man went out for no other
reason than to have the pleasure of feeling the rain on his body.
(a) What could be seen approaching in the North-East?
(b) Why did Lencho go out?
(c) Give an antonym of the word Big.
(d) Which word in the passage is a synonym of ‘forecast’.
(e) Why was Lencho happy with the arrival of rain?

4. Attempt 1 out of 2 RTC from poetry (First flight) 1X5=5

But if it had to perish twice

I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction
ice Is also great And would suffice.
(a) What does ‘it’ refers to in the first line?
(b) What do you mean by ‘perish’?
(c) What does ice stand for?
(d) What would be the cause of destruction?
(e) What does ‘ice’ stand for?

OR

He hears the last voice at night,

The patrolling cars,
And stares With his brilliant eyes
At the brilliant stars.
 (a) What kind of voices does the tiger hear?
(b) Where does the tiger look at in the night?
(c) What do you mean by ‘patrolling’?
(d) What is the effect of the repeated use of the word ‘brilliant’?
(e) find out the rhyme scheme.

GRAMMAR 10

5. Attempt 10 out of 12 questions. 1x10=10

1. How _____ money do you have in the bank? (many/few/much/any)

2. Jack said to Joe, “Are you listening to me? (change into indirect sentence)
Ans – Jack asked ______________________.

3. You _______ pay your all taxes? (may/will/should/could)

4. The girls _________ doing their work ____(for/since) morning. (has/have been)
5. Either Mary or the stewards ______ manning info desk at the conference. (is/are)
6. He says, “I am doing my work.” (change into indirect sentence)
Ans – He says that______________________.

7. He said that he ______ her help. (can/could/will/shall)

8. He worked hard but _______ not pass the exam. (must/need/could/would)
9. Quite _______ teachers from this school give private tuitions.
(few/many/a few/some)
10. None of us _____ to admit to being behind filling. (want/wants)
11. The shopkeeper said to the guard, “Do not sit.” (Change into indirect sentence)
Ans – The shopkeeper ordered the guard _____________.

12. Work hard, lest you _______ fail. (must/would/should/can)

PART – B (SUBJECTIVE QUESTIONS) 40 marks

WRITING SECTION 10

1. Write a letter to the editor of a national daily, expressing your opinion and 5
views on the increased human dependence on technology. Right from a small
child to an adult, or even an old man, everyone wants gadgets only-cell phone,
I-pod, laptop, etc. This also has a negative effect on social relationships.
(100-120 words.)

2. You are Sanjeet of 122, Arjun Nagar, New Delhi. A number of scooters and 5
cars are parked in your locality without any order, causing blockage of the
streets. Write a letter to the local Secretary of the Resident’s Association
complaining against this problem.
(100-120 words.)
 LITERATURE SECTION 30

3. Answer 4 out of 6 short answer type question in 20-30 words from the 2x4=8
book First flight and Footprints without fee.

1. What did the writer, see inside the black clouds?

2. What did Lencho compare the raindrops to and why?
3. What did Mandela realise about his brothers and sisters?
4. Why is Harriot tempted to keep Tricki on as a permanent guest?
5. Why did Hari Singh change his name every month?
6. How does Harriot treat Tricki?

4. Answer 4 out of 6 short answer type question 40-50 words from First flight 3x4=12
and Footprints without feet.

1. Who was Lencho what was his main problem?

2. What did Mandela think for oppressor and oppressed?
3. Describe the first flight of the seagull.
4. Was Mrs Pumphrey really worried about Tricki?
5. How did Hari Singh know that Anil had forgiven him?
6. Why did Mrs Pumphrey make a frantic call to Dr Harriot?
5. Attempt 1 out of 2 long answer type question in 120-150 words from the 1x5=5
book First Flight.

1. Give a character sketch of Lencho.

OR
How did the young seagull get over his fear of sea water and what was his
family’s reaction on it?
6. Attempt 1 out of 2 long answer type question in 120-150 words from Prose 1x5=5
from the book Footprints without feet.

1. Hari Singh didn’t board the express and returned to Amil. Why did he return?
On what values does this incidence put light on?
OR
Who was Tricki? What problem he had? How was his life saved?