English holiday Home work

Instructions
Write in A4 sheet
Write only answers

1) Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:

1. The spread of education in society is at the foundation of success in countries that are
latecomers to development. In the quest for development, primary education is absolutely
essential because it creates the base. But higher education is just as important, for it
provides the cutting edge. And universities are the life-blood of higher education. Islands of
excellence in professional education, such as Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and Indian
Institutes of Management (IIMs), are valuable complements but cannot be substitutes for
universities which provide educational opportunities for people at large. There can be no
doubt that higher education has made a significant contribution to economic development,
social progress and political democracy in independent India. It is a source of dynamism for
the economy. It has created social opportunities for people. It has fostered the vibrant
democracy in our polity. It has provided a beginning for the creation of a knowledge society.
But it would be a mistake to focus on its strengths alone. It has weaknesses that are a cause
for serious concern. There is, in fact, a quiet crisis in higher education in India that runs
deep. It is not yet discernible simply because there are pockets of excellence, an enormous
reservoir of talented young people and an intense competition in the admissions process.
And, in some important spheres, we continue to reap and benefits of what was sown in
higher education 50 years ago by the founding fathers of the Republic. The reality is that we
have miles to go. The proportion of our population, in the age group 18-24, that enters the
world of higher education is around 7 per cent, which is only one-half the average for Asia.
The opportunities for higher education, in terms of the number of places in universities, are
simply not enough in relation to our needs. What is more, the quality of higher education in
most of our universities requires substantial improvement.
2. It is clear that the system of higher education in India faces serious challenges. It needs a
systematic overhaul, so that we can educate much larger numbers without diluting
academic standards. This is imperative because the transformation of economy and society
in the 21st century would depend, in significant part, on the spread and the quality of
education among our people, particularly in the sphere of higher education. It is only an
 inclusive society that can provide the foundations for a knowledge society. The challenges
that confront higher education in India are clear. It needs a massive expansion of
opportunities for higher education, to 1500 universities nationwide, that would enable India
to attain a gross enrolment ratio of at least 15 per cent by 2015. It is just as important to
raise the average quality of higher education in every sphere. At the same time, it is
essential to create institutions that are exemplars of excellence at par with the best in the
world. In the pursuit of these objectives, providing people with access to higher education in
a socially inclusive manner is imperative. The realization of these objectives, combined with
access, would not only develop the skills and capabilities we need for the economy but
would also help transform India into a knowledge economy and society.
Answer the following questions :

1. The principal focus of the passage is:

A. Primary education B. Intermediate education C. Higher education D. Entire education system
2. The style of the passage can be best described as:
A. Academic B. Critical and analytical C. Comparative D. None of the above
3. What kind of society can provide the foundation for a knowledge society?
A. Elite society B. Contracted society C. Exclusive society D. Inclusive society
4. According to the passage, which one of the following is INCORRECT?
A. There are no quality institutes providing excellent professional education in India B. Not many
people go for higher education in India C. Education is the basis of success D. All the above options
are correct
5. According to the passage, the current state of affairs of higher education in India is:
A. Satisfactory B. Excellent, and there is no need of any expansion of opportunities for higher
education C. Not good enough, and there is a need of expansion of opportunities for higher
education, besides creating institutions and universities that are models of excellence D. Not
explained in the passage .
6. Universities are the …………………….. of higher education.
A. Life – Blood B. Life – Skill C. Life – challenge D. LiFE – Time
7. According to the passage, which of the following is NOT a challenge that confronts higher
education in India?
A. Expanding opportunities for higher education B. Creating institutions and universities that are
exemplars of excellence C. Substantial improvement in the quality of higher education in most of our
universities D. Getting into World University Rankings
8. According to the passage, which of the following is CORRECT?
A. Primary education is very important B. Universities are the life-blood of higher education C.
 Transformation of economy and society in the 21st century would depend, in significant part, on the
spread and the quality of education among our people, particularly in the sphere of higher education
D. All the above propositions are correct
9. Should the entire university system in India be modeled on premier institutes, such as, IITs and
IIMs, providing professional education?
A. Yes B. For sure C. No D. The passage is silent on this question
10. What is the antonym of the expression ‘cutting edge’?
A. Conventional B. Avant-garde C. Advanced D. Contemporary
11. What is the meaning of the word ‘discernible’?

A. Unobtrusive B. Noticeable C. Unremarkable D. Inconspicuous

12. What is the Antonym of the word ‘enormous’?
A. Huge B. Small C. Massive d. wide

2) Read the passages given below and answer questions :

1. Read the passages given below and answer any 10 questions that follow them:
In the 16th century, when Golconda was the capital of the Qutb Shahi Kingdom, it is believed that a
shepherd boy came across an idol on the hill. It was then that the Kakatiya dynasty's ruler built this
fort. The fort is 120 m high. After it was captured by Aurangazeb, the Mughal emperor, the fort fell
into ruins. The beautiful ruins of the fort have a story to tell. They make you wonder how the fort
may have looked in its days of glory and grandeur. The fort also hosts a sound and light show every
day, and the history of this fort is narrated in such an interesting manner that even a child can
understand and enjoy it.
The next place to visit is the Charminar. The literal meaning of this monument is 'four minaret' is a
mosque on the second floor. It is said that when the state was engulfed by the plague, Sultan
Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, the fifth ruler of the Qutb Shahi dynasty, prayed to end the plague and
promised to build a mosque in the very place where he was praying. Thus, Charminar came into
being. The walk from the bottom to the top of the monument is a little spooky, owing to the
narrowness of the pathway and the steepness of the steps. Make sure you visit the nearby Laad
Bazaar, where there are rows of shops selling the famous Hyderabadi glass bangles and lac bangles.
The Salar Jung Museum is the third largest museum in the country and boasts of owning the biggest
one-man collection of antiques in the world. A visit to the Salar Jung Museum is a must, even if you
are not a fan of antique stuff. You can view the Nizam's collection of textiles, arms, metalware, ivory
carvings, Indian bronzes and carpets. The main attraction is definitely the Musical Clock, made by
Cooke and Kelvey of England. Inside the clock is a timekeeper. Every hour, he comes out and beats a
gong as many times as the time indicates. Another attraction at the museum is the Veiled Rebecca,
an amazing sculpture made by the Italian sculptor, Giovanni Maria Benzoni.

1. Golconda was the capital of the Qutab Shahi kingdom in the

(i) 15th century (iii) 16th century
(ii) 17th century (iv) 14th century
2. The main attraction in the Salar Jung Museum is
(i) Metalware (iii) collection of carpets
(ii) musical clock (iv) ivory carvings
3. ________ ruler decided to build a fort on the hill.
(i) Kakatiya (iii) Aurangzeb
(ii) Sultan Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah (iv)Maria Benzoni
4. The Mughul ruler ________ attacked and captured the fort which led to its ruin.
(i) Akbar (iii)Aurangzeb
(ii) Babur (iv)Sultan Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah
5. Laad Bazaar is in ________ .
(i) Golconda (iii) Salar Jung Museum
(ii) Charminar (iv) Lal Qila
6. Height of Golconda fort is:
(i) 140 m (iii) 120 m
(ii)150 m (iv) 160 m
7. he ________ is the third largest museum in the country.
(i) Salar Jung Museum (iii) Golconda
(ii) Charminar (iv) Lal Qila
8. The main attraction is definitely the Musical Clock, made by ________.
(i) Kakatiya dynasty's ruler (iii) Qutb Shahi dynasty
(ii) Kelvy of England (iv) Nizam
9. Antonyms of word ruins is:
(i) Destroy (iii) spoil
(ii) Wreck (iv) rebuild
10. Synonyms of word glory is:
(i) Fame (iii ) grandeur
(ii) Opulence (iv) shame
11. Antonyms of word attraction is:
(i) Repulsion (iii ) charm
(ii) Glamour (iv) allure
 12. The literal meaning of Charminar:
(i) Char Minaret (iii ) Charminar
(ii) Four minaret (iv)Four minar

3) Answer the following 12 questions:

1) When we _____ the forest, it _____ darker.

1) have arrived / has been getting

2) arrive / has been getting

3) arrive / is getting

4) arrived / was getting

2) The orders were that we ________ the area within hours to prevent further loss of life.

1) were had evacuated

2) have to evacuate

3) will have evacuated

4) had to evacuate

3) Last Saturday, my father __ that his dinner suit was too small, so now he ____ a strict
diet.

1) has discovered / followed

2) discovers / was following

3) Discovered / is following

4) was discovering / has followed

4) He ________ rather have tea than coffee.

1) Would

2) Should
3) Could
4) Might

5) ________ you prepare a cup of tea for me, please?

 1) Could

2) Would
3) Can
4) Will

6) The vocabulary list had been memorized by _______ of the students and each one scored
over 80 percent on the exam.

1) Every

2) A little
3) the whole
4) All

7) Although ______ species of fox are reddish in color, ________ Arctic fox is often pure
white.

1) most / the

2) any / the
3) a great amount of / an
4) none of these

8) We …….. in this city for ten years.

1) lived
2) have lived
3) had lived
4) Were living

9) Nancy said,” I may leave tomorrow .”

Reported speech: ________
1) Nancy said that she might leave the next day.
2) Nancy said that she might leave tomorrow.
3) Nancy asked if she should leave the next day.
 4) Nancy informed me to leave tomorrow.

10) Choose the correct reported speech of a given sentence:

Tina said ,” I may postpone the trip to the next year.”
1) Tina said that she may have to postpone the trip to the next year.
2) Tina said that she might have to postpone the trip to the next year.
3) Tina said that she might postponed the trip to the following year.
4) Tina said that she may postpone the trip to the following year.

11) ____________ is known about her achievements.

1) Little
2) Few
3) A little
4) Much

12) They have always helped ________ .

1) Another
2) Several
3) Many
4) each other

4) 1. You are Sunita / Suraj 4 Grant Road, Dadar. You need accommodation for yourself. Write a letter
to the Manager of paying guest service, 15, Aditya Complex, Laxmi Nagar, Delhi, enquiring about the
details such as type of accommodation, monthly charges, facilities provided etc.

2. Your school has decided to take part in half marathon organised by an NGO in New Delhi. Write a
letter to the Area Manager of the NGO requesting permission to participate in the half marathon on
21 December 2020 starting from National Stadium. Request the NGO to provide your school with
200 T-shirts for boys and girls aged 15-17 years. You are School Captain, Manish Mehta / Manisha
Mehta ,Sarvodaya Vidyalaya, Saket.

5) Write a story in about 120 - 150 words with suitable title .

1. Outside a city mall , I saw a crowd pacifying a lady. She was crying bitterly ………..

2. A little girl was walking down the street. She saw a poor old man shivering on the pavement. She
…………………..