English

S.S.C. Preliminary Examination  1 
ENGLISH 
Time: 3 Hours Total Marks: 80

Section – I
(Prose)
(Reading Skills, Vocabulary, Grammar)
Q.1. (A) Read and understand the following passage and complete the activities given below. [10 marks]
A1. Order (2)
Arrange the following sentences in the chronological order as they appear in the
passage:
(i) The reader is transported back to the old world colonial charm of Mumbai and its
surroundings.
(ii) After the initial sail boat race at Khadakvasla, the scene shifts to the mountain forts of
Sahyadri with a bit of Shivaji Maharaj’s history added to the trekking adventure.
(iii) The reader is transported to the mist-clad mountains surrounding Khadakvasla dam
near Pune.
(iv) The author is successful in recreating the charm and spirit of a rainy day on the
Khadakvasla lake beautifully.

In the book Anirudh’s dream, the reader is transported to the mist-clad mountains
surrounding Khadakvasla dam near Pune. The initial part of the adventure is set in the
sprawling and green campus of National Defence Academy (NDA). The author is successful
in recreating the charm and spirit of a rainy day on the Khadakvasla lake beautifully. There is
action, emotion, courage, presence of mind and friendship that are depicted in this tale of
adventure. After the initial sail boat race at Khadakvasla, the scene shifts to the mountain
forts of Sahyadri with a bit of Shivaji Maharaj’s history added to the trekking adventure. The
observations of the author pertaining to the flora, fauna and culture of the place are very
minute. Dialogues throughout the book are lively. Suddenly there is a twist in the storyline
and the characters and locations change in flashback that is shown as a dream sequence. The
reader is transported back to the old world colonial charm of Mumbai and its surroundings
that were teeming with greenery and wildlife in those times (probably 150 years ago). The
main protagonist  Anirudh (Irfan in the dream sequence, which sounds like the past birth of
Anirudh) is a mixed personality, daring in some situations and afraid in others. His band of
friends completes a youthful spirit of adventure.
A2. Supply (2)
Supply the information from the passage:
(i) The initial part of the adventure is set in _______.
(ii) The tale of adventure depicts _______.
(iii) The author minutely observes the _______.
(iv) The personality of Anirudh is _______.
A3. Synonyms (2)
Read the passage and find out words of similar meaning:
(i) change (ii) animals
(iii) daring experience (iv) reconstructing
A4. Language Study (2)
Do as Directed
(i) The author is successful in recreating the charm.
(Rewrite the sentence by using the verb form of the underlined word)
(ii) His band of friends completes a youthful spirit of adventure.
(Pick out the collective noun from the sentence)
A5. Personal Response (2)
Do you like trekking? Why?
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(B) Read and understand the following passage and complete the activities given below: [10 marks]
B1. Name the following with reference to the passage: (2)
(i) The person who was watching cartoons.
(ii) The person who went to buy vegetables.
(iii) The person who was trying to save paper and the planet.
(iv) The person who learnt the lesson to save the environment.
The next morning was unnaturally uneventful. We lazed around all day, my sister
watching cartoons on the idiot box and I reading a Jeffrey Archer. Throughout, my mind kept
wandering back to that morning.
At around noon, Grandma left home with my sister in town, to buy vegetables. The
moment the door banged shut, Grandpa abandoned his newspaper, and called me to his room.
“Beta”, he called out, “help me with these… sort these papers out. One-Side-used over here,
both-sides-used here, and blank papers here.” The work was easy, but time-consuming.
“What are you going to do with these, Grandpa?” I asked him, trying my best to sound
non-accusatory.
“These computer people don’t respect paper. Everyday, they throw away all these
sheets. They’ve given me the keys to open the gate for the sweeper when he comes at 6 am.
He takes and gives them to the kabadiwala, who disposes them carelessly. So, instead, I do
half his job for him.”
I was amazed by how much importance he was giving to such a trivial matter.
Everyday, my friends and I would waste hundreds of sheets at the drop of a hat.
Pointing to the ‘used up pile’, which was the smallest, he said, “These, I’ll give to the
moori wala downstairs. I’ll use the one-side-used papers for my accounts, and also give some
to the poor children at the NGO. They practice maths on them.”
I was shocked. I learned that the old man had been doing this for months now. This
wasn’t any spying mission, but a real, concrete, genuine effort to save paper and the planet.
I stared at the septuagenarian in awe. No school education on the environment had ever
made an impression on me or my classmates or anyone, so to speak. But his lone endeavour
made me realize it all. For the first time, I truly understood.

B2. Order (2)

Look at the following sentences from the passage and put them in the correct sequence.
(i) The writer was shocked and learned that his grandfather had been trying to save paper
for months.
(ii) The writer's grandfather called him to sort papers in one-side-used, both-sides-used and
blank.
(iii) No school education on the environment had ever made an impression on the writer or
his classmates or anyone.
(iv) The writer's grandfather would give the used up papers to the moori wala downstairs.
He would use the one-side-used papers for his accounts, and also give some to the poor
children at the NGO who practiced maths on them.
B3. Match (2)
Match the words in Column A with the description in Column B.
Column ‘A’ Column ‘B’
(i) paper truly what it is said to be
(ii) pile a sudden upsetting or surprising experience
(iii) shocked material manufactured in thin sheets from wood pulp
(iv) genuine a number of things lying on top of one another.
B4. Language Study (2)
Do as directed.
(i) He gives them to the kabadiwala, who disposes them carelessly.
(Identify and name the clauses)
(ii) He said, "I’ll use the one-side-used papers for my accounts."
(Rewrite the sentence in Indirect Speech)
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B5. Personal Response (2)
Write your opinion about ‘Saving paper’.
Q.2. (A) Read the passage and complete the activities given below. [10 marks]
A1. Types of Guides (2)
Mention the types of guides in the following diagram:

Types of
Guides

rude

Quite often, it is not the names of places, but people who are responsible for
misguiding the new arrivals, making them end up at wrong places. I have come across
different types of such ‘guides’ – well intentioned, overfriendly, rather confused, reticent and
even rude.
The overfriendly type most of the time is not very helpful. “Where is Banyan Tree
Street?” you ask him. He takes a long look at you, “Are you new to this place?” he asks. You
nod. The overfriendly type asks more questions of a personal nature. “Oh you are going to
meet Govindaswamy. I know his cousin’s brother-in-law who went to college with my elder
brother’s second cousin.”

A2. Complete (2)

Choose the correct option and complete the sentence:
(i) The overfriendly type most of the time is ____________.
a. not very useful b. not very helpful c. not very caring
(ii) The overfriendly type asks more questions of ____________.
a. a political nature b. a religious nature c. a personal nature
A3. Find from the passage
(i) Choose a word from the passage opposite in meaning to the given word (1)
a. demonstrating b. polite
(ii) Write the adjective from the passage which are used for the following nouns. (1)
a. places b. guides
A4. Language Study (2)
Do as directed:
(i) He takes a long look at you, “Are you new to this place?” he asks.
(Rewrite in Indirect Speech)
(ii) The overfriendly type asks more questions of a personal nature. (Change the voice)
A5. Personal Response (2)
What do you know about guides? Have you ever come in contact with a guide? How was
your experience?
(B) Read the passage and complete the activities given below. [10 marks]
B1. Choose (2)
Choose the correct alternative and complete the sentences.
(i) Properly speaking, they were not _________ at all.
a. temples b. rocks c. caves
(ii) They continued for the next _________ hundred years.
a. seven b. eight c. six

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S.S.C. Question Paper

The Ajanta caves, we were told, lay in the side of a ravine in wild and desolate country
some 350 miles to the north-west, at the extreme tip of Hyderabad state where it touches the
Bombay Province. Properly speaking they were not caves at all, but temples which had
excavated from the living rock by Buddhist monks. These monks had first come to the ravine
somewhere in the second century before Christ and they had begun by hacking out the rock
by hand and hurling it down into the river below. Then, probably with large mirrors to reflect
the sunshine from the ravine outside, they set about the decoration of walls, the doorways and
the ceilings. They continued for the next eight hundred years, always painting and sculpturing
Lord Buddha, but setting him against an idyllic background of folk tales and the everyday life
of their own time. In much the same way as in the Italian Renaissance which over a thousand
years later, the work was subsidised by wealthy merchants and the princes of the surrounding
countryside.
B2. Complete (2)
(i) The Ajanta caves, we were told, lay in the side of a ravine in wild and desolate country
some 350 miles to the north-west, _______.
(ii) Then, probably with large mirrors to reflect the sunshine from the ravine outside,
_______.
(iii) They painted and sculptured Lord Buddha, setting him against _______.
(iv) The work done in the Ajanta caves has been compared to the _______.
B3. Synonyms (2)
Write from the passage the words of similar meaning.
(i) bleak and empty
(ii) remove earth from an area to find buried remains.
B4. Language Study (2)
Do as Directed
(i) They had begun by hacking out the rock by hand and hurling it down into the river
below. (Change the Voice)
(ii) The work was subsidised by the wealthy merchants and the princes of the surrounding
countryside. (Rewrite using ‘not only ………. but also’)

B5. Personal Response (2)

What do you understand by reading this passage?
Section – II
(Poetry)
Q.3. (A) Read the following extract and attempt the given activities. [5 marks]
A1. Choose the correct alternative and complete the sentences. (2)
(i) There was a roaring in the wind ___________.
a. all day b. all evening c. all night
(ii) The birds are __________ in the distant woods.
a. dancing b. singing c. cooing
There was a roaring in the wind all night;
The rain came heavily and fell in floods;
But now the sun is rising calm and bright,
The birds are singing in the distant woods;
Over his own sweet voice the Stock-dove broods;
The Jay makes answer as the Magpie chatters;
And all the air is filled with pleasant noise of waters.
All things that love the sun are out of doors;
The sky rejoices in the morning’s birth;
The grass is bright with raindropson the moors
The hare is running races in her mirth;
And with her feet she from the plashy earth
Raises a mist; that, glittering in the sun,
Runs with her all the way, wherever she doth run.

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A2. Describe the bright morning. (2)
A3. Poetic Device (1)
Name the two figures of speech used in the following sentence:
There was a roaring in the wind all night.
(B) Read the following extract and complete the given activities. [5 marks]
B1. Find Out (2)
Find how the poet describes the following:
(i) Rivers : _______ (ii) Clouds : _______
(iii) Valleys of Earth : _______ (iv) World : _______

Tell me is it right
That we sleep well at night
Replenishing ourselves
For tomorrow’s greedy fight
There lie abundant rivers with pollution
There fly multiple clouds with contamination
And when good food goes to waste
The valleys of the earth bury their paste
Our world is an institution
Of environmental pollution
We choose not to care
For our future generations

B2. The poet is giving the message that, we should care for protecting the environment. Justify. (2)
B3. Poetic Device (1)
Pick out the rhyming words from the extract.
Section – III
(Rapid Reading)
Q.4. Read the given passage and attempt the activities given below: [5 marks]
A1. Who said to Whom? (1)
(i) “Why couldn’t you have come a day earlier?”
(ii) “Father is ill….”
People came to him when the patient was on his last legs. Dr. Raman often burst out,
“Why couldn’t you have come a day earlier?” The reason was obvious-visiting fee twenty-five
rupees, and more than that, people liked to shirk the fact that the time had come to call in Dr.
Raman; for them there was something ominous in the very association. As a result, when the big
man came on the scene it was always a quick decision one way or another. There was no scope
or time for any kind of wavering or whitewashing. Long years of practice of this kind had bred
in the doctor a certain curt truthfulness; for that very reason his opinion was valued; he was not
a mere doctor expressing an opinion but a judge pronouncing a verdict. The patient’s life hung
on his words. This never unduly worried Dr. Raman. He never believed that agreeable words
ever saved lives. He did not think it was any of his business to provide comforting lies when as
a matter of course nature would tell them the truth in a few hours. However, when he glimpsed
the faintest sign of hope, he rolled up his sleeve and stepped into the arena: it might be hours or
days, but he never withdrew till he wrested the prize from Yama’s hands.
Today, standing over a bed, the doctor felt that he himself needed someone to tell him
soothing lies. He mopped his brow with his kerchief and sat down in the chair beside the bed.
On the bed lay his dearest friend in the world: Gopal. They had known each other for forty
years now, starting with their kindergarten days. They could not, of course, meet as much as
they wanted, each being wrapped in his own family and profession. Occasionally, on a Sunday,
Gopal would walk into the consulting room and wait patiently in a corner till the doctor was
free. And then they would dine together, see a picture and talk of each other’s life and activities.
It was a classic friendship, which endured untouched by changing times, circumstances and
activities.

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S.S.C. Question Paper

In his busy round of work, Dr. Raman had not noticed that Gopal had not called in for
over three months now. He only remembered it when he saw Gopal’s son sitting on a bench
in the consulting hall one crowded morning. Dr. Raman could not talk to him for over an
hour. When he got up and was about to pass on to the operating room, he called up the young
man and asked, “What brings you here, sir?” The youth was nervous and shy. “Mother sent
me here.”
“What can I do for you?”
“Father is ill….”

A2. Compare (2)

Compare the behaviour of Dr. Raman in the following situations:
(i) With his patients: _______.
(ii) With Gopal: _______.

A3. Personal Response (2)

What is your opinion about doctor's like Dr. Raman?
Section – IV
(Writing skills)

Q.5. (A) Attempt any one of the following letters: [5 marks]

A1. Look at the below pamphlet you received in today's newspaper.

Summer Camp 2016

Art & Craft Singing & Dancing Games & Sports & Lots more....

Organized by:
Ms. Jigna Parikh
Age group: 5 to 12 years Dates: 1st May to 30th June
Address: 51, Shanti Park, Garodia Nagar, Ghatkopar (E). Mumbai - 400 075.
For more details call: +91 22 2548 8452 / +91 98335 53389

You stay at a hostel. Write a letter to your younger sister, who is 10 years old,
encouraging her to join the summer camp. Share your past experiences with her.

A2. Residents take BMC to task for the unbearable Garbage stink in Dadar
Hindu Colony, a residential colony in Dadar, faced serious garbage issues. The
colony is an old locality situated between Dadar and Matunga on the East side of the
Central Railway Line. Apart from garbage issues, the colony also faces poorly
maintained roads & footpaths and clogged drains. Garbage was the biggest issue in the
ward. There was a huge mound of garbage in a nearby playground. The stink was
unbearable and kids played right there. There were many cases of dengue reported in the
locality due to this issue.
To site one instance (complaint raised by residents of Hindu Colony, Dadar):
The society after filing the complaint and the news being highlighted in the local
newspaper, the BMC officials were taken to task for cleaning the mess on an immediate
basis and providing a clean environment to the residents.
The pile of garbage has not been collected from your locality since a long time. Write a
letter to the secretary of your society suggesting to lodge a complaint for the issue
quoting the above instance as a reference.
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(B) Write any one of the following: [5 marks]
B1. Report Writing
Several issues of driving by school students without licenses are being highlighted these days.
Write a report for the newspaper using the below points:

Trend and status

Speeding Irresponsible Violating
symbol for
Vehicles parents the law
teenagers

Several Strict rules

Accidents and strong
action

OR
B2. Dialogue
Write a dialogue between two friends discussing about a subject as their exams are fast
approaching.
Include the below points in the dialogue:

Maths sums Time table Trigonometry

sums

Remaining
Practice is exercises and
the key revision

Q.6. (A) Attempt any one of the following: [5 marks]

A1. Observe the below given graph carefully and write a short report describing the general
movement of the gold prices:
Price of gold in U.S. Dollars
25

20
Hundreds

15

10

5
1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990

OR
A2. Read the given information and fill the table provided below.
The Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park, located on the Pune Satara Highway is a famous and
unique attraction of Maharashtra. The park is close to Katraj Bus depot and 8 kms from Pune
by Road along the Pune Satara highway. Private vehicles, 6 seater rickshaws from Swargate,
Buses etc. are the various modes of transport available to reach this location. A vast collection
of snakes, birds and turtles can be seen at this park. The park remains open throughout the
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S.S.C. Question Paper
year, but summer is the best time to visit. The park houses various species of snakes which is
a major attraction of the place. It can be said that, the park facilitates the conservation of these
species. The uniqueness of this park lies in the fact that it is a zoo along with snake park.
(i) Name
(ii) Location
(iii) Distance from important places
(iv) Modes of transport
(v) Uniqueness
(vi) Best time of the year to visit the place
(vii) What to see?
(viii) Importance
(ix) Speciality

(B) Attempt any one of the following: [5 marks]

B1. Speech
Prepare a speech to be delivered by you during the school assembly on ‘Conservation of
Electricity’.

Use of Gadgets &

appliances Limited resources Decline in the availability
that work on electricity of the resources

Conservation Alternate sources Betterment

of electricity of energy of future generation

OR
B2. Write your counterviews about - “Digitisation at workplace” on the basis of the points
given below:
i. Unemployment
ii. Dependence
iii. Breakdown or failure
iv. People from older generations
Q.7. A1. Expand the ideas contained in any one of the following topics: [5 marks]
1. A Day without Newspaper 2. Problem of Child Labour in India
OR
A2. Develop a story with the following ending. Give a suitable title and a moral, in about
80-100 words:
..... and that day she understood the importance of sharing.

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S.S.C. Preliminary Examination  1 
ENGLISH 
Model Answer Paper 
Section – I
(Prose)
(Reading Skills, Vocabulary, Grammar)
Q.1. (A) Read and understand the following passage and complete the activities given below:
A1. (i) The reader is transported to the mist-clad mountains surrounding Khadakvasla dam [½]
near Pune.
(ii) The author is successful in recreating the charm and spirit of a rainy day on the [½]
Khadakvasla lake beautifully.
(iii) After the initial sail boat race at Khadakvasla, the scene shifts to the mountain forts of [½]
Sahyadri with a bit of Shivaji Maharaj’s history added to the trekking adventure.
(iv) The reader is transported back to the old world colonial charm of Mumbai and its [½]
surroundings.
A2. (i) the sprawling and green campus of National Defence Academy (NDA). [½]
(ii) action, emotion, courage, presence of mind and friendship. [½]
(iii) flora, fauna and culture of the place. [½]
(iv) a mixed personality, daring in some situations and afraid in others . [½]
A3. (i) twist [½]
(ii) fauna [½]
(iii) adventure [½]
(iv) recreating [½]
A4. (i) The author succeeds in recreating the charm. [1]
(ii) band of friends [1]
A5. Yes. I like trekking. I take it as a personal challenge. It is an adventurous activity and brings [2]
me closer to nature. Trekking is also beneficial in increasing the stamina of our body. It also
teaches an important lesson of life – survival.
(B) Read and understand the following passage and complete the activities given below:
B1. (i) The writer’s sister [½]
(ii) The writer’s grandmother [½]
(iii) The writer’s grandfather [½]
(iv) The writer [½]
B2. (i) The writer’s grandfather called him to sort papers in one-side-used, both-sides-used [½]
and blank.
(ii) The writer’s grandfather would give the used up papers to the moori wala downstairs. [½]
He would use the one-side-used papers for his accounts, and also give some to the poor
children at the NGO who practiced maths on them.
(iii) The writer was shocked and learned that his grandfather had been trying to save paper [½]
for months.
(iv) No school education on the environment had ever made an impression on the writer or [½]
his classmates or anyone.
B3.
Column ‘A’ Column ‘B’ [½]
(i) paper material manufactured in thin sheets from wood pulp [½]
(ii) pile a number of things lying on top of one another.
(iii) shocked a sudden upsetting or surprising experience [½]
(iv) genuine truly what it is said to be [½]
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S.S.C. Model Answer Paper
B4. (i) He gives them to the kabadiwala, – Main Clause [1]
who disposes them carelessly. – Subordinate Adjective Clause
(ii) He said that he would use the one-side-used papers for his accounts. [1]
B5. Papers are made from wood pulp which is obtained from trees by cutting them. Excessive use [2]
of paper has led to immense felling of trees which has given rise to many problems. Trees are
one of the most important factors in maintaining the oxygen level in the atmosphere. They
absorb the carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and release oxygen that is the most essential
component for survival of human beings. Use of papers deplete the number of trees.
Therefore, limited usage of paper would help save trees and provide a healthy atmosphere.
Saving papers would save the environment. Subscribing to e-bills, printing on both sides of
the paper and using the old papers for rough work are some of the measures that can be
adopted to save paper.
Q.2. (A) Read the passage and complete the activities given below:
A1. (i) well intentioned [½]
(ii) overfriendly [½]
(iii) rather confused [½]
(iv) reticent [½]
A2. (i) b. not very helpful [1]
(ii) c. a personal nature [1]
A3. (i) a. reticent [½]
b. rude [½]
(ii) a. wrong [½]
b. well intentioned, overfriendly, rather confused, reticent, rude. [½]
A4. (i) He took a long look at you and asked if you were new to that place. [1]
(ii) More questions of a personal nature are asked by the overfriendly type. [1]
A5. Guides are the people who help out people who are new to a place. Many people opt for the [2]
profession of a guide at tourist places. Yes, I have come across a guide several times. We had
gone to Kashmir for a family trip and there we had hired a guide whose name was Adil
Qureshi. He was very polite, soft-spoken and helpful. He made us feel comfortable in the
strange land where we had come for the first time. He was a guide-cum-student. He worked
during day time to support his family and studied during night to fulfill his dream of
becoming a chartered accountant. The time our family spent with him is unforgettable. I still
remember his ever-smiling face saying salaam saab!
(B) Read the passage and complete the activities given below.
B1. (i) c. caves [1]
(ii) b. eight [1]
B2. (i) at the extreme tip of Hyderabad state where it touches the Bombay Province. [½]
(ii) they set about the decoration of walls, the doorways and the ceilings. [½]
(iii) an idyllic background of folk tales and the everyday life of their own time. [½]
(iv) Italian Renaissance. [½]
B3. (i) desolate [1]
(ii) excavate [1]
B4. (i) It was by hacking out rock by hand and hurling it down the river that they started. [1]
(ii) The work was subsidised not only by the wealthy merchants but also by the princes of [1]
the surrounding countryside.
B5. Reading the passage, I get the impression that the writer loves history. The passage is giving [2]
information about history and historical monuments. The writer is keen in giving intellectual
knowledge enhancing information, especially about history.

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Section – II
(Poetry)
Q.3. (A) Read the following extract and attempt the given activities.
A1. (i) c. all night [1]
(ii) b. singing [1]
A2. After the heavy rains throughout the night, the calm and bright morning sun has given new [2]
life to nature and filled the atmosphere with freshness. The birds are singing and the Stock
and dove are brooding in their sweet voices. The Jay bird is answering the chatters of the
Magpie bird. The air is filled with pleasant noise of water. The sky is clear and bright.
A3. The figures of speech used in the sentence are Personification and Onomatopoeia. [1]
(B) Read the following extract and complete the given activities.
B1. (i) polluted [½]
(ii) contaminated [½]
(iii) filled with paste of wasted food [½]
(iv) Institution of environmental pollution [½]
B2. The poet is conveying the apologetic state of the environment through this poem by [2]
highlighting the state of the polluted rivers, contaminated clouds and the earth. We get the
things of our basic needs such as air, water and food from the environment. Contaminated air
and water will cause health issues for us. Hence, it is very important for us to protect the
environment for the present as well as future generations.
B3. right – night  fight; pollution  contamination; waste  paste. [1]
Section – III
(Rapid Reading)
Q.4. Read the given passage and attempt the activities given below.
A1. (i) Dr. Raman said to his patient. [½]
(ii) Gopal's son said to Dr. Raman. [½]
A2. (i) Direct, truthful and upfront; never gave any false assurances; but when there was the [1]
slightest hope, he would not give up till he cured the patient.
(ii) Nervous; emotional; felt the need of a false assurance from someone. [1]
A3. Dr. Raman was an experienced doctor who was direct and truthful to his patients. At the same [2]
time, when there was the slightest hope, he would not give up. I think this is the right attitude
to deal with patients, because if one is aware of the situation, it may be shocking, but gives
time for the patient's family to prepare for the circumstances. The dedication to cure the
patient even when there is the slightest hope is also commendable on part of Dr. Raman. I
appreciate such honesty on part of doctors.
Section – IV
(Writing Skills)
Q.5. (A) Attempt any one of the following letters: [5]
A1. Aarti Walia
A- 108, Pragati Girls Hostel,
J.V.P.D. Scheme, Vile Parle (W)
Mumbai – 400 056
25th April, 2016
Dear Shruti,
I hope you are doing well. I heard from mother that your vacation is beginning soon. I
would suggest that you learn something new instead of spending your days simply watching
television.
I came across a pamphlet in today’s newspaper that was about a summer camp. It is
going to be held in Ghatkopar, Mumbai. You can refer to the pamphlet enclosed with this
letter for further details.
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S.S.C. Model Answer Paper
I had attended a summer camp when I was of your age and the whole experience
helped me to explore my hidden talents. I am aware of your creative abilities and hence, I can
assure you that you will enjoy attending this summer camp. It includes various activities
related to art and craft as well as singing and dancing. Fun games and competitive sports are a
part of the camp too. These activities help to develop team spirit and confidence. You will
also get a chance to meet new people and to make friends, who share the same interest as you.
It will be a memorable and a learning experience for you as an individual.
Register for it well in advance. Ask your friends too if they are interested. Do let me
know if you require any help. Give my warm regards to mother and father.
Your loving sister,
Aarti
OR
A2. Hrishikesh Khanna,
B - 13, Neha Co-op Housing Soc.,
Devidyal Road, Mulund (W).
Mumbai- 400 080
23rd June, 2016-08-27
To,
The Secretary,
B- 13, Neha Co-op Housing Soc.,
Devidayal Road, Mulund (W).
Mumbai- 400 080
Subject: Raise a complaint for the pile of garbage in the locality
Hello Sir,
This is to inform you that the pile of garbage has not been cleared from our locality since the
past few weeks. The unclean surrounding is leading to various health issues in the neighbourhood.
People are falling sick every other day.
Today’s local newspaper talks about a similar issue, which the residents of Hindu Colony in
Dadar were facing. They had filed a complaint with the BMC about the huge mound of garbage in a
nearby playground. The residents had been insightful enough to raise the issue in the local
newspaper and the matter was addressed immediately.
I would suggest that we should also take a call together as a society and raise this particular
issue in the local newspaper. It would also help if we file a complaint with the BMC, as this would
help to resolve the issue at the earliest.
Thanking you.
Yours sincerely,
Hrishikesh Khanna
(B) Write any one of the following: [5]
B1. Reckless Driving on Increase
Mumbai, 20th May
It is a common sight nowadays to see teenagers speeding off on roads. It has turned
into a trend and status symbol for the youngsters to own a sports bike. However, allowing
their children to drive at such a young age without a license is a serious irresponsibility on the
parents’ part.
Driving before one has reached the legal age and without a certified license is a
violation of law. Laws have been formed for the safety of the citizens and the ones, who
break the laws, not only cause harm to others, but also bring it upon themselves. Reckless
driving results in several accidents and even a few spot deaths.
Making the safety rules more stringent might help to stop the raging bikers on the road.
Strong action should be taken against the ones, who break the rules and put the lives of many
at risk.
OR
B2. Aditya : Hi, Arun! How much have you prepared for the approaching Math exam?
Arun : Hi! Don’t ask! I am still stuck with the revision! And Trigonometry sums are so
difficult. How much have you progressed with your revision?
Aditya : I have completed practising most of the sums because of the time table that I have
set. You know, it really helps.
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Arun : Yes, you’ve told me so before. I’m just plain lazy to make one.
Aditya : Don’t worry! Practice is the key. Keep practising the sums that we solved in the
Trigonometry class. You’ll get a hang of it.
Arun : Yes that is what I have decided do, today. I’ll complete the remaining exercises
and the final revision by tomorrow afternoon. You’ll be done with the revision
today itself, right?
Aditya : Yes, for sure!
Arun : Okay then, bye! See you tomorrow.
Aditya : Bye!
Q.6. (A) Attempt any one of the following: [5]
A1. Gold has always been an expensive metal. It has been noted by the experts that the price of
gold has been rising consecutively after the year 1985. The graph shows that the value of gold
drastically fell down in the year 1988, but rose again in between 1988-1989 and then finally
came down in 1989. After the fall, the graph line is seen moving upwards and there is no
fluctuation in its course.
OR
A2. Read the given information and fill the table provided below.
(i) Name The Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park
(ii) Location Pune Satara Highway.
Close to Katraj Bus depot.
(iii) Distance from important places 8 kms from Pune.
(iv) Modes of transport By Road along Pune Satara highway.
Private vehicle, 6 seater rickshaw from
Swargate, Bus.
(v) Uniqueness Vast collection of snakes, birds and turtles.
(vi) Best time of the year to visit the place. Summer.
(vii) What to see? Various species of snakes.
(viii) Importance Conservation of many species of snakes.
(ix) Speciality Zoo along with Snake Park.
(B) Attempt any one of the following: [5]
B1. Good morning to all the teachers and my dear friends. Today, I, Ananya Rao would
like to speak on the topic ‘Conserving Electricity’.
Electricity is a part and of our daily activities, without it, our life comes to a standstill.
The reason is that all the gadgets and the appliances, which make our work easy, run on
electricity. For instance; the mixer grinder helps us to grind the spices within a few moments,
thus, helping us to save on time. Tube lights act as a source of artificial light in the dark.
The resources that are used to generate electricity are limited in nature and
unfortunately, excessive use of electricity has led to its decline. Electricity is an essential
resource and thus, conservation becomes necessary.
Saving electricity should begin with switching off the lights and fans when not in use.
Use of electrical appliances should be minimised to conserve electricity for the use of future
generation. We should look for other possibilities such as alternate sources of energy in order
to conserve electricity. One example could be of solar energy, which is available in plenty for
all of us.
It has become the need of the hour to save electricity. Hence, let us all come together and
take a pledge towards the conservation of electricity for the betterment of our future generation.
OR
B2. Digitisation at workplace is a boon for some and a bane for a few others. We rely heavily on
computers for our work. It has even led to a cut down on the number of employees in most of
the organisations, as use of computers and other digital devices reduces the work load. It has
resulted in unemployment, as human beings are being replaced by computers.
Digitisation has indeed made our work easy by increasing our dependency on it, but the end
result is not always good. Breakdown or failure of the system leads to the loss of data and we
end up doing the whole task once again. Also, people from older generations find it difficult
to adapt to the new technology that increases the work pressure on them. Thus, we can say
that digitisation is not necessarily a blessing.
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Q.7. A1. Expand the ideas contained in any one of the following topics: [5]
1. A Day without Newspaper.
Newspapers have been an integral part of our lives since the time when printing came
into existence. It is a bundle of information that is collected from all around the world
and then printed on papers for people to read. It makes us aware of the happenings in
nearby places and afar.
Nowadays, in the age of gadgets and devices, we get access to newspapers in digital
form; nonetheless, they form an important part of our mornings. We begin our days
with the news from around the globe as it makes us mindful of our surroundings. Along
with that, the entertainment section helps us to refresh our minds.
Whether the newspaper is in print as a hard copy or a soft copy, it forms an essential
part of our society. A day without a newspaper would seem like we are not connected
to the rest of the world. It would lead to an absence of important information on the
global level, the political front and sports. New technological innovations and
entertainment would also go unnoticed. A day without a newspaper is difficult to think
of as it would leave us with a feeling of withdrawal from society.
2. Problem of Child Labour in India.
Child labour continues to be an obstacle in the growth of our country. It diminishes the
power of the youth to take the country forward, on the road of rapid progress. Lack of
opportunities and facilities tend to force young children to begin work at an early age.
Any child under the age of twelve, who has been employed, is termed as a child
labourer. There are around 12 million children, who have been compelled to earn their
living either by their parents or hostile circumstances in their lives. Lack of education is
also a major reason that is both a cause and an effect of child labour. Even government
aid in the education sector is not helping much to reduce the practice of child labour in
India. NGOs too have come up with financial aid for the betterment of the children,
who belong to poor class of the society, but the end effect remains bleak.
Child labour is cheaply available in our country and that calls for more factories to
employ them to lower the cost of production. Children can be easily fooled to work for
low wages. India is a hub of child labour. The government has passed legislation in
1986 to prevent children from being employed, but the implementation of the same has
not been put into effect so far. Even though child labour is a crime, the employers
escape any harsh punishment. The need of the hour is to come up with strict laws to
stop this cruel practice.
A2. The Importance of Sharing
Shruti was 10 and a very sweet girl, but she seldom shared anything with her friends.
She had a habit of refusing people whenever they wanted to borrow something from
her. Shruti’s teacher noticed this behaviour in her and came up with a solution to help
her learn the value of sharing.
So, one day, the class teacher organised a game where the students were asked to
borrow a stationery item and then deposit it on the teacher’s desk. Each student was
asked to bring something or the other from the other students. Shruti was asked to bring
crayons, but the problem arose when nobody wanted to lend her their crayons. She
became upset and went up to her teacher. That is when the teacher explained the reason
to her and Shruti understood her classmates’ behaviour towards her. She learnt that
sharing leads to getting help from people. Thus, the teacher was successful in teaching
Shruti the importance of sharing. Shruti was sorry because of her past conduct and that
day she understood the importance of sharing.
Moral: Sharing is caring.

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