ByAtulSir

_9415123238

PRE COMPARATIVE EXAM-I -2024/25

CLASS X
Max Marks: 80 ENGLISH LANGUAGE Time: Two hrs
Question 1. [20]
Write a composition (300-350 words) on any one of the following:
(i) Write an original short story that begins with the words: I have always resisted change, but.. …….
(ii) Narrate your experiences with your family at breakfast in a restaurant on a Sunday morning.
(iii) The indiscriminate use of credit cards is the reason for the financial mess most families are in.' Give
your views either for or against the topic.
(iv) Describe the joys of summer.
(v) Study the picture given below. Write a story or a description or an account of what it suggests to you.
Your composition may be about the subject of the picture or you may take suggestions from it; however,
there must be a clear connection between the picture and your composition.

Question 2 (Do not spend more than 20 minutes on this question)

Select any one of the following: [10]
(i)Write a letter to the Manager of a local convenience store about the lack of amenities for differently-
abled people Give suggestions that can be implemented.
(ii)You represented your school in a prestigious Quiz tournament and won the first place. Write a letter to
your uncle giving the details of the tournament and the prize you received.
Question 3.
(a)You are the president of the service club of your school. You want to begin a drive to collect warm
clothes from students, to be distributed among the needy. Make a notice regarding the same. [5]
b)Write an e-mail to the Principal of your school seeking permission to display the notice and requesting
that the neighbouring schools also be invited to take part in the charity drive. [5]

Question 4.
Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:
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Today I wanted to discourse on the philosophy of brown coffee, but there were other breakfasters,
holding their trays, standing behind me inexorably, to secure their coffee and race for a table space. They
were too well-mannered push, but I knew that they were fretting inside; each must have had a dozen
things to do after breakfast, and how dare I block their business? Still I was in a communicative mood; I
smiled at those behind me and said, 'Sorry". I aid the coffee server, 'When you have more time, come to
me, I'll tell you all about brown coffee." I bore away my and sat at a secluded table and began to work my
way through cornflakes and milk, marmalade and toast, which are to be my main diet for the next ten
months. A man in a sports-jacket came over and asked, 'Do you mind?" Not at all,' I said. He set his tray
on the table, and said, 'I overheard your remark about coffee. You know of any special trick in making
it ?’God-given opportunity for me to start off a lecture on coffee, its place in South India( in the North
they favour tea), its place in our social life, how the darkest condemnation of a family would be a
warning uttered at their back, "Their coffee is awful', how at wedding parties it was the responsibility of
the bride's father to produce the best coffee and keep it flowing all day for five hundred at a time; how
decoction drawn at the right density, on the addition of fresh warm milk turned from black to sepia, from
which ultimately emerged brown akin to the foaming edge of a river in flood, how the whole thing
depended upon one's feeling for quality and eye colour, and then the ding of sugar, just enough to
mitigate the bitterness but without producing sweetness. Coffee making is a task of precision at every
stage. I could not help mentioning our mother who has maintained our house reputation for coffee
undimmed for half a century. She selects the right quality of seeds almost subjecting every bean to severe
scrutiny, roasts them slowly over charcoal fire, and knows by the texture and fragrance of the golden
smoke emanating from the chinks in the roaster whether the seeds within have turned the right shade and
then grinds them into perfect grains; everything has to be right in this business. A daughter-in-law who
comes into the family will have to go through several weeks of initiation before she may dare to make the
family coffee. 'Three spoons for six persons. Place the powder at the bottom of a stainless steel vessel and
pour boiling water over it and then strain it slowly through a piece of cloth'. She is a fanatic and insists on
straining coffee only through thin cloth; no power on earth can ever make her change over to a percolator
or the more common brass coffee filter. She considers all such contraptions inimical to her coffee ideals.
She gleefully boasted once, 'I have made over a hundred persons throw away their coffee filters and use
the cloth for straining. I shall persuade many more before long. Ultimately coffee filters should cease to
have a market...
(i) For each word given below, choose the correct meaning (as used in the passage) from the options
provided. [3]
1. Scrutiny (a) inspection (b) clarify (c) correct (d) detail
2. Gleefully (a) gracefully (b) excitedly (c) joyfully (d) forcefully
3. Cease (a) rest (b) stop(c) pull (d) push
(b) Answer the following questions briefly and in your own words. [9]
(i) Why did the narrator apologize to the people waiting in line behind him?
(ii) Describe the selection and roasting of coffee seeds by the narrator's mother.
(iii) What was the procedure for making coffee after grinding coffee beans?
(iv) How can you guess that the narrator was a vegetarian?
(v) Give an example to show that the narrator's mother was extremely old-fashioned and rigid in her
ways.
(c) In not more than 50 words, describe how coffee making is a task of precision at every stage. [8]
Question 5.
(1) Fill in each of the numbered blanks with the correct form of the word given in brackets. [4]
Example: Templeton (0) ………………….(creep) into the crate and buried himself in the straw.
Answer: crept
He (1)…………(get) out of sight just in time. Lurvy and John Arable and Mr. Zuckerman came along at
that moment, (2)(follow)……… by Mrs. Arable and Mrs. Zuckerman and Avery and Fern. Wilbur had
already decided how he (3)…………(carry) the egg sac. There (4)…….. (be) only one way possible. He
carefully took the little bundle in his mouth and (5)……………(hold) it there on top of his tongue. He
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remembered what Charlotte (6)……. (tell) him--- that the sac was waterproof and strong. It felt funny on
his tongue and made him drool a bit. And of course, he couldn't say anything. But as he (7) …..(shove)
into the crate, he looked up at Charlotte and gave her a wink. She knew he (8)………..(say)good bye in
the only way he could. And she knew her children were safe.
(ii) Fill in the blanks with an appropriate word. [4]
(a) They went………. the restaurant for dinner.
(b)…………. being a doctor, he is the author of many medical journals.
(c) My mother prefers tea ,,,,,,,,,coffee.
(d) The construction company has encroached……. his property in the countryside.
(e) The monitor is worthy ………praise.
(f) The boy parted……….his family at the airport.
(g) The quality of this umbrella is inferior…… that one.
(h) This forest abounds …………deer.
(iii) Join the following sentences to make one complete sentence without using and, but or so.
Choose the option. [4]
(a) He cannot afford to buy a car now. He is not employed.
1. He cannot afford to buy a new car now as he is employed.
2. He can afford to buy a new car now as he is not employed.
3. He cannot afford to buy a new car now that he is not employed.
4. He cannot afford to buy a new car now as he is not employed.
(b)He cultivates orchids. He displays them at the flower show.
1. He cultivates orchids for display them at the flower show.
2. He cultivates orchids since display them at the flower show.
3.He cultivates orchids to display them at the flower show.
4. He cultivates orchids when display them at the flower show
(c) This is the confectionery. The best cupcakes are sold here.
1. This is the confectionery where the best cupcakes are sold.
2. This is the confectionery which the best cupcakes are sold.
3. This is the confectionery that the best cupcakes are sold.
4. This is the confectionery for the best cupcakes are sold.
(d) He is an excellent playwright. He is a great director.
1. He is an excellent playwright with a great director.
2. He is an excellent playwright as well as a great director.
3. Beside an excellent playwright he is a great director.
4. Aside he is an excellent playwright as well as a great director.
(iv) Do as Directed. Choose the correct options. [8]
(a) I believe that God exists. (Use: existence)
1. I believe at the existence of God.
2. I believe in the existence of God.
3. I believe about the existence of God.
4. I believe of the existence of God.
(b) Platinum is more precious than any other metal in the world. (Begin: No.......)
1. No other metal in the world is precious as platinum.
2. No other metal in the world is precious to platinum.
3. No other metal in the world is so precious as platinum.
4. No other metal in the world is precious than platinum.
(c) As soon as I reached school, it began to rain. (Begin: Merely).
1. Merely did I reached school when it began to rain.
2. Merely I had reached school when it began to rain.
3. Merely had I reached school when it began to rain.
4. Merely I reached school when it began to rain.
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(d) Rachel was adjudged the best actress as well as the best singer. (Begin: Not only.........................)
1. Not only was Rachel adjudged the best actress and the best singer.
2. Not only Rachel adjudged the best actress as well as the best singer.
3. Not only is Rachel adjudged the best actress as well as the best singer.
4. Not only was Rachel adjudged the best actress but also the best singer.
(e) He must save money now, or he will not be able to buy a house. (Begin:
Unless...........................).
1. Unless he saves money now, he will not be able to buy a house.
2. Unless he saves money now, he did not be able to buy a house.
3. Unless he saves money now, he is not be able to buy a house.
4. Unless he saved money now, he will not be able to buy a house.
(f) The pizza was so delicious that nobody could stop eating. (Use: too..............)
1. The pizza was too delicious for anybody for stop eating.
2. The pizza was too delicious for anybody to stop eating.
3. The pizza was too delicious for anybody for eating.
4. The pizza was too delicious for nobody to stop eating.
(g) The Welcome Address will be given by the Principal. (Begin: The Principal............................)
1. The Principal will gave the Welcome Address.
2. The Principal gives the Welcome Address.
3. The Principal should give the Welcome Address.
4. The Principal will give the Welcome Address.
(h) "I am happy with the outcome of this debate," said the teacher to the student . (Use: Reported
speech)
1. The teacher said that (he/she) is happy with the outcome of that debate.
2.The teacher said that (he/she) were happy with the outcome of that debate.
3. The teacher said that (he/she) was happy with the outcome of that debate.
4. The teacher said that (he/she) will be happy with the outcome of that debate.

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