DPS – MODERN INDIAN SCHOOL, DOHA- QATAR

ENGLISH-Language and Literature (Code No. 184)

FIRST PRE-BOARD EXAMINATION (2021–22)
CLASS: X (Rationalised Syllabus)

Subject: ENGLISH
Date: 21.10.2021
Time: 90 Minutes
Max. Marks: 40

General Instructions:

1. The Question Paper contains THREE sections.

2. Section A-READING has 18 questions. Attempt a total of 14
questions, as per specific instructions for each question.
3. Section B-WRITING & GRAMMAR has 12 questions. Attempt
a total of 10 questions, as per specific instructions for each
question.
4. Section C-LITERATURE has 30 questions. Attempt 26
questions, as per specific instructions for each question.
5. All questions carry equal marks.
6. There is no negative marking.
7. Please check that this question paper contains 18 pages.

READING

I. Read the passage given below.

1. The painstaking memorisation of mathematical tables,

historical dates, capitals of countries and even poems leaves
an indelible mark on every adult who has attended school.
However, all educators deprecate this rote system of learning
by orally reciting and consigning lessons to memory as
mindless and mechanical, which goes against critical thinking
and creativity. But is this dichotomy between creativity and
rote learning part of a lazy binary thinking?

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2. We often hear about people who can repeat the entire
telephone directory or memorise the entire dictionary. Indians
have a history of highly developed systems of memorisation,
perfected through centuries of Vedic learning. From a
typically Western perspective, the permanency of the written
word has been pitted against the ‘unconscious operation of
memory’ of oral cultures, and held to be more reliable in
cultural transmission. However, refuting this thesis, Fritz Stall,
an Indian scholar observes that the oral tradition in India is
remarkable, “because it has led to scientific discoveries that
are of enduring interest”. Of course, this mugging up can be
aural (i.e. chanting aloud) or visual—mentally storing images
in a visual map.
3. The advantages of rote memorisation—like it expands
areas of the mind to great possibilities—are now becoming
evident to the world. Various accounts from ancient India,
including those from travellers like I-tsing, point to the fool-
proof system of oral memorisation and the capacity to absorb
volumes of data.
4. A parallel dimension of transmission of knowledge also
existed in India, with a flexible mode of oral communication
through which knowledge was disseminated. One instance is
the narrative-performative tradition of recitation, which
extended basic story through interpolations, conscious
extensions and embedding of sub narratives. Many Indian
myths, legends, epics, and fables such as Kathasaritsagara
and Jataka stories were spread through this process. While
the story remains the same, the interpretation changes
according to who says it, where it is said and how it is said.
While communicating mathematics, philosophy and other
scientific disciplines, cryptic text forms were created, that
facilitated memorisation.
5. A related question pertains to cognition—how can we
transmit principles using memorisation as a creative tool
rather than as a mechanical process of repetition? Bhaskara’s
Lilavati, the seminal 12th century book illustrates how
memorisation and creativity go together.
6. The fact that Bhaskara’s methods still figure in Indian
pedagogic consciousness was recently brought home in a
news report on the Ramanujan School of Mathematics in
Patna, which trains youngsters from poor families to clear the

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 Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) entrance test. This year, all
the 30 students of the school got through IITs. Anand Kumar,
the school’s founder, called it the “sheer power of practice to
break the so called IIT code” and a student attributed the
success to his teacher’s ability to teach differential calculus
through a “thrilling story of a daring robber”.

On the basis of your understanding of the passage,

answer ANY EIGHT questions out the ten that follow.

Q1. All educators condemn rote learning because

…………………..
A. it is a feat of memory
B. it is mindless and mechanical
C. it is against critical thinking and creativity
D. All the above

Q2. Which of the following will be an apt title for this passage?
A. a parallel culture
B. the relevance of rote learning.
C. oral communication
D. the permanence of written word

Q3. The phrase “enduring interest” refers to circumstances that

can be
A. of a long impact
B. of temporary in effect
C. invalid due to many circumstances
D. of mindless interventions
Q4 What does the author mean when he says, “absorb
volumes of data”?
A. to use the data in day to day life
B. to value the information with great respect
C. to learn and store a lot of information
D. to create new fact and figures

Q5. Select the option that makes the correct use of “refute”,
as used in the passage, to fill in the blank space.
A. I insured my property with an established, _ company.

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 B. Even though Jake knew he was guilty of the crime, he
still hired a lawyer to the charges
C. The criminal neither _____the accusations nor denied it.
D. Toddlers and pre-schoolers need a lot of to keep
them cool and consistent.

Q6.The author attempts to the readers through this write-

up.
A. extend his advice to
B. offer aid to
C. narrate his experience to
D. question the common belief of

Q7.Cryptic texts were created for mathematics, philosophy,

etc. because…………………..
A. these are very simple
B. these are easy to remember
C. these are short and easy
D. they are easy to interpret

Q8. Rote learning has its own advantages as…………………..

A. it promotes learning without understanding
B. it does not add pressure to the mental faculties
C. mugging up can be aural as well as visual
D. it expands areas of the mind to greater possibilities

Q9.Choose the option that correctly states the two meanings of

‘observe’, as used in the passage.
1 to remark about something
2 to obey a law or rule
3 celebrate a holiday or religious event in a traditional way
4 To maintain silence or a period of silence, as out of respect
for someone who has died.
5 To arrive at a conclusion after study.

A. (1) and (5)

B. (2) and (3)
C. (3) and (5)
D. (4) and (5)

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Q10.What does Bhaskara’s Lilavati illustrate?
A. how memorisation and creativity go together
B. how rote learning benefits students
C. how cryptic text forms were created
D. advantages of rote memorization

II. Read the passage given below.

1.Tourism is a thriving business for earning valuable foreign

exchange as well as providing an opportunity for cultural
exchange and generating employment. India has a rich
heritage of art, sculpture, music, dance and drama. Many
European countries have promoted tourism as a trade. In
some countries, it is run like an industry. We in India, are
running it in a non-professional or amateurish manner as is
evident from the pie chart of domestic as well as foreign
tourists. Tourism in India is important for the country’s
economy and is growing rapidly. The World Travel and
Tourism Council (WTTC) calculated that tourism generated ₹
16.91 Lakh Crore or 9.2 % of India’s GDP in 2018 and
supported 42.673 million jobs. Over one Crore foreign
tourists arrived in India in 2019. Domestic tourists visited all
states and union territories numbered about 155 Crore in
2019.
2.It is high time we must regard travel and tourism as an
industry and launched action plans to accelerate the growth
in tourism. A nodal financial institution catering to the
specific needs of the tourism industry should be established.
The main stumbling blocks in the development of the
tourism industry at present are lack of infrastructure,
inadequate ways of reaching hotels, tourist sites, gateways
etc, paucity in the number of coaches and cars (specially air
–conditioned ones), ill maintained roads. Conferences,
cultural exchanges, tourism exchanges, leisure trips, holiday
trips and business trips should be segregated and facilities
available be published as an attractive package.
3.The need and aspiration for the various categories of
tourists should be carefully analysed and adhered to in the
sphere of accommodation, food, entertainment and guided

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 tours. Last but not least the hotel industry should adopt a
business like attitude in greeting and sending off the visitors
with a smile. Give them a pleasant experience and prompt
them to undertake a repeat visit soon.

On the basis of your understanding of the passage,

answer ANY SIX questions out of EIGHT that follow.

Q11.According to WTTC, in 2018, tourism generated was……

A. 5.5 % of India’s GDP
B. 9.2% of India’s GDP
C. 10.6 % of India’s GDP
D. 12.8% of India’s GDP
Q12.In 2018, tourism was responsible for creating ……. number
of jobs.
A. about 42.67 million
B. about 40 million
C. about 50 million
D. about 60 million
Q13.In the line, “… a thriving business for earning”, the word
thriving does not refer to
A. flourishing
B. dying
C. progressing
D. expanding
Q14.Based on your understanding of the passage, choose the
option that lists the benefits of a booming tourism industry.
1 Help to earn valuable foreign exchange.
2 Increase credits
3 Provide opportunity for cultural exchange
4 Contributes to the rise in population.
5 Generate employment

A. 1,2,4 and 5
B. 2,3 and 4
C. 1,4 and 5

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 D. 1,2,3 and 5

Q15.What are the main stumbling blocks in the development of

tourism at present?
A. lack of infrastructure
B. inadequate ways of reaching hotels, tourist sites etc
C. insufficient coaches and cars
D. all of these

Q16.Choose the statement that is NOT TRUE according to the

given passage.
A. Publicity of the available facilities should be
discouraged.
B. Special attention to the needs of the tourists should be
given.
C. Tourism is important for a country’s economy.
D. WTTC stands for World Travel and Tourism Council.

Q17. Which of these countries have promoted tourism as a

trade?
A. African countries
B. South American countries
C. European countries
D. All of these

Q18.How is tourism perceived in India?

A. as an ordained institution
B. in an amateur and non-professional manner
C. as an industry
D. as a nodal financial institution

GRAMMAR and WRITING

GRAMMAR
III. Answer any five out of the six questions by selecting
the most appropriate option for each.

Q19.Which option displays the correct change of the following to

reported speech? He said to her, ‘ Are you taking the test ?’

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 A. He asked her if she was taking the test .
B. He told her if she was taking the test.
C. He asked her if she will be taking the test.
D. He asked her if she would be taking the test.

Q20.Not only George’s sisters but also his aunt ______in his house
.
A. live
B. lives
C. are living
D. have lived

Q21. Which option displays the correct change of the following to

reported speech? The officer said to the clerk, ‘File these
papers immediately.’

A. The officer ordered to the clerk to file those papers

immediately.
B. The officer ordered the clerk to file those papers
immediately.
C. The officer ordered the clerk to file these papers
immediately.
D. The officer ordered the clerk to file the papers
immediately.

Q22. I'm sorry, but you __ bring your pet in here. It's forbidden.
A. don't have to
B. shouldn’t
C. can’t
D. couldn’t

Q23. __________public gardens that we have are not maintained

properly.
A. Few
B. A few
C. The few
D. Enough

Q24. While John ________ last night, someone __ his car.

A. was sleeping, was stealing

B. had been stealing , was stealing
C. was sleeping, stole
D. was sleeping, had stolen

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 WRITING
IV. Answer any five out of the six questions given, with
reference to the context below.
Cash starved state governments in their bid to earn money
promote tourism in a big way, for it yields a lot of revenue.
Thoughtless promotion of tourism can be very harmful and
can have an adverse impact all around. Write a letter to the
Editor of a national daily highlighting the issue and
suggesting some solutions to the problem. You are
Nishit/Nishita, 22 Conclave Street, Bhubaneshwar.

Q25.What is the right order of the information to be given in the

above-mentioned letter:

1.Subscription
2.Salutation
3.Signature
4.Solutions
5.Receiver’s address
6.Date

A.6,2,5,4 1,3 B. 6,5,2,4,1,3 C. 5,6 2,4,1,3 D. 6, 2,5,

4,1,3

Q26. The letter should be addressed to

A.The Editor C. The

Editor
National Daily Gulf
Times

B. The Editor D. Mr.

Editor
The Indian Express Star
Tribune

Q27.What can be the most appropriate subject for this letter

A. Drawing Attention towards Inconsiderate Promotion of

Tourism
B. Thoughtless Promotion of Tourism can be Useless
C. Drawing Attention Towards Importance of Tourism

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 D. Tourism and State Revenue

Q 28. Which of the following can be taken as a negative impact of

tourism-based economy?
A. Job opportunities
B. Culture Exchange
C. Massive development to cope up with the needs of tourist
D. Both a and b

Q29. Nishit /Nishita shares some suggestions to address the

issue:

I believe eco-tourism can play an important role ________ a

sustainable tourism as it encourages travellers ________ and
contribute to local communities on a much deeper level than
the tourists just passing through.

A. in developing /to help protect the environment

B. in preserving/to enjoy their trip
C. in regenerating/to utilize the resources
D. in choosing/to educate the authorities

Q30.The most appropriate concluding statement for the letter is

A. Kindly inform the authorities about the issue.
B. Kindly publish the letter in your newspaper
C. I appreciate your newspaper as it highlights societal
issues.
D. Kindly coordinate with the central government and inform
them about the issue.

LITERATURE
This section has sub-sections – V, VI, VII, VIII & IX. There are a
total of 30 questions in this section. Attempt 26 questions from
the sub-sections V to IX as instructed with each question:

V. Read the given extract to attempt the questions that

follow and answer ANY FOUR out of the Five questions
given:

That was twenty-four hours ago. Since then nobody had come
near him. The day before, all day long, he had watched his
parents flying about with his brothers and sister, perfecting
them in the art of flight, teaching them how to skim the waves
and how to dive for fish. He had, in fact, seen his older brother

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 catch his first herring and devour it, standing on a rock, while
his parents circled around raising a proud cackle. And all the
morning the whole family had walked about on the big plateau
midway down the opposite cliff taunting him with his
cowardice.

Q 31. Why was he taunted ?

…… whole family had walked about on the big plateau midway
down the opposite cliff taunting him with his cowardice.

1 He tried to muster up courage to take that plunge into the

sea.
2 He helplessly accepted his flaws when his parents upbraided
him.
3 Despite having shorter wings than him, his siblings learnt the
art of flight and achieved.
4 He felt certain that his wings will never support him.
5 He had no confidence and had developed fear , excuses,
hesitation, doubts and reluctance.
Choose the correct option from the following:
A. (1) and (5)
B. (1), (3) and (4)
C. ( 3) and (5)
D. (2), (4) and (5)
Q 32. Select the most appropriate option for (1) and (2)
1. ..….. all day long, he had watched his parents flying about
with his brothers and sister, perfecting them in the art of
flight.
2. It’s not like that he had not seen the ABC of flight.

A. (1) is true and (2 )is false.

B. (2) is the opposite of (1)
C. (1) furthers the meaning of (2)
D. Both (1) and (2)cannot be inferred from the extract.

Q 33. From the options given below, identify the little seagull’s
plight in the extract.
A. shyness
B. fear
C. disappointment
D. sadness

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Q34. Select the option which displays an example of ‘devour it’.
1.She got 2. A series of
engrossed in every devastating
golf magazine she storms hit the beach
could find on the south side of the
island

4.The industry is very

3. Most earthworms
live in the soil, which much a jungle, and
they consume as they the small and weak
burrow through it. animals often get
destroyed.
A. Option 1
B. Option 2
C. Option 3
D. Option 4
Q 35. The adult seagulls circled around his older brother raising a
proud cackle because ….
A. to encourage the older brother
B. to motivate the young seagull
C. to hurt the feelings of young seagull
D. both A and B

VI. Read the given extract to attempt the questions that

follow and answer ANY FOUR out of the Five questions
given:
Today, even though they had been late to school, Maddie was
glad she had not had to make fun of Wanda. She worked her
arithmetic problems absentmindedly. “Eight times eight — let’s
see…” She wished she had the nerve to write Peggy a note,
because she knew she never would have the courage to speak
right out to Peggy, to say, “Hey, Peg, let’s stop asking Wanda
how many dresses she has.” When she finished her arithmetic
she did start a note to Peggy. Suddenly she paused and
shuddered.

Q36. Select the option which displays the thought process of

Maddie.
1.To survive in peace and harmony, united and strong, we must
have one people, one nation, one flag.

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2.I don’t respect those who don’t respect me. You call it ego. I call
it
self-respect.

3.Life is ten percent what you experience and ninety percent

how you respond to it.

4.Judging a person does not define who they are.It defines who
you are.”

A. Option 1
B. Option 2
C. Option 3
D. Option 4
Q37. The phrase ‘had a nerve ‘ DOES NOT correspond to
1 You have a nerve to tell me what to do!
2 The virus remains dormant in nerve tissue until activated.
3 She has a lot of nerve.
4 You have a sensitive nerve which can create a problem.

A. Option 1
B. Option 2&3
C. Option 2&4
D. Option 1&4
Q38. Select the suitable word from the extract to complete the
following: start : stop : : Soothed : __________
A. nerve
B. shuddered
C. absentminded
D. pictured
Q39. Maddie worked her arithmetic problem absentmindedly
because
A. She was trying to express her penitence to herself for
what she had done.
B. She was in a deep reverie of thoughts if Wanda really
possessed a hundred dresses.
C. She was waiting for Peggy’s help.
D. She was trying to recall eight times eight .

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Q40. Maddie couldn’t write a note to Peggy because
A. She didn’t want to hurt Peggy’s feelings.
B. She felt Peggy and the other girls would target her next.
C. She assumed that Peggy was destitute and all other girls
will not spare her.
D. Peggy gave attention to all the girls.

VII. Read the given extract to attempt the questions that

follow and answer ANY FOUR out of the Five
questions given:

What is the boy now, who has lost his ball,

What, what is he to do? I saw it go
Merrily bouncing, down the street, and then
Merrily over-there it is in the water!
No use to say ‘O there are other balls ‘:

Q 41. The extract suggests that the poet is

A. an onlooker observing
B. a parent recounting the incident
C. the boy talking about himself
D. imagining the incident

Q42. Why is it useless to say, ‘O there are other balls ‘?

A. For the boy wants the same one he has lost
B. For the boy wants the different one from he lost
C. For the boy is no longer interested for that ball
D. None of these
Q43. What does the ball represent in ‘The Ball Poem’?
A. It represents dream.
B. It represents hope.
C. It represents the sweet memories of his childhood.
D. It represents responsibility.

Q44. Choose the situation that corresponds to the emotion

behind the exclamation mark in the poem.

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 A. Option 1
B. Option 2
C. Option 3
D. Option 4

Q45. What’s the rhyme scheme of the poem?

A. abbc
B. abcb
C. blank verse
D. abca
VIII . Read the given extract to attempt the questions that
follow and answer ANY FOUR out of the Five
questions given:

All the while, Mrs Pumphrey hovered anxiously in the

background, ringing a dozen times a day for the latest
bulletins. I dodged the questions about whether his cushions
were being turned regularly or his correct coat worn
according to the weather; but I was able to tell her that the
little fellow was out of danger and convalescing rapidly. The
word ‘convalescing’ seemed to do something to Mrs
Pumphrey.

Q46. Select the most appropriate option based on (1) and (2).
1. Mrs Pumphrey had arrived to the surgery as she was very
apprehensive about Tricki.
2. Although Tricky being healthy , Dr Herriot had to be very
heedful regarding Tricki’s wardrobe and other outfits.

A. (2) is true and (1) is false.

B. (2) is the result for (1).
C. (2) is the cause for (1).

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 D. (2) is false and (1) is true.

Q47. The word ‘convalescing’ DOES NOT ‘correspond to

1. no hopes of 2. back at home after

living for longer a serious health issue
days
CONVALESCING

4. Leg had to be
3. ailing day by day amputated

A. Option 1,3 & 4

B. Option 1 only
C. Option 2 only
D. Option 2&3
Q48. Dr Harriot was convinced with Tricki’s treatment because
A. Tricki was pampered with more care .
B. He discovered Tricki getting bowled over or tramped with
other dogs happily.
C. He received all the advices from Mrs Pumphrey regarding
Tricki’s care.
D. None of the above.

Q49 . For Mrs Pumphrey , the word ‘ convalescing ‘meant

A. Triciki was getting better
B. Tricki needed more nutritious things to eat
C. She wanted to reduce Tricki’s favourite food
D. She became more placid.

Q50 Later , Tricki became -------

1 selfish
2 happy
3 rapacious
4 confident
5 robust
6 cruel

A. 2,4 and 5
B. Only 2
C. 1 and 5

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 D. 3,4 and 6

IX. Attempt the following.( ALL 10)

Q51 The postmaster asked for money from his employees and
he himself gave part of his salary. This shows that he was
________
A. benevolent
B. retaliatory
C. economical
D. avaricious
Q52 “A man who takes away another man’s freedom is a
prisoner of
hatred.” Nelson Mandela means that ___________

A. A man who takes away another man’s freedom ceases to

be termed reverential.
B. A person's freedom is so insignificant if he takes the
freedom of another man.
C. An oppressor’s freedom is bounded by the chain of
detestation.
D. The oppressor has achieved everything when he takes the
freedom of another man.
Q53 The symbols ‘ crow & hemlock tree ‘ DID NOT act as a/
create _______ in the mindset of the poet.
A. silver lining
B. catalyst
C. stimulant
D. bleakness
Q54 The boys felt that the footprints of the scientist were
________

A. seen due to their illusion

B. a figment of imagination
C. of a man who was genius
D. those of a mysterious man.

Q55 What happened when Mr Keesing read Anne Frank’s

essays ?

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 1. It took some time for Mr Keesing to understand Anne’s
feelings.
2. He rebuked Anne Frank.
3. The whole class became serious and silent.
4. He allowed Anne Frank to talk.

A. Option 2
B. Option 1 and 4
C. Option 4
D. Option 2 and 3

Q56. In the lesson ‘The Black Aeroplane’ when the narrator says,
“I was very glad to see another person, he means that

A. He was happy to see that another pilot had lost his way in
the storm clouds.
B. The pilot of the other plane was known to the narrator,
and he was happy to see him.
C. The pilot of another aeroplane might help him land safely.
D. The narrator was bored of flying alone. The other pilot
would give him good company.

Q57. Miss Mason took time to adjust her glasses slowly and
deliberately before reading Jan Petronski’s letter

A. She wanted everybody to gather in the classroom

B. She wanted the students to know the seriousness and
importance of the matter
C. She was extremely angry and as she didn’t expect it to
happen
D. She wanted to read the letter properly since it had come
from the principal’s office

Q58. Read the following statements and choose the right option
Assertion: The tiger stalks in his vivid stripes.
Reason: He is confined to a cage.

A. Both assertion and reason are correct and reason is the

correct cause of assertion.
B. Both assertion and reason are correct and reason is not
the correct cause of assertion.
C. Assertion is true but reason is false.
D. Assertion is false but reason is true.

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Q59. The poet ‘Robert Frost’ sides with those who favour fire as

A. hatred is increasing in the world

B. lust for materialistic things is increasing in the world
C. the world has to come to an end one day
D. all of the above

Q60.‘His lips not his eyes showed anything ……which of the

following quotes best describes Anil’s attitude here

A. Live and let live

B. Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.
C. Forgiveness is the attribute of strong.
D. Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge
the future.

**********GOOD LUCK************

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