Madhyamik Class 10 English Question Paper 2014
ENGLISH (Second Language)
Time : 3 Hours 15 Minutes
(First 15 Minutes for reading the question paper only, 3 Hours for writing)
Full Marks : For Regular Candidates – 90
For External Candidate – 100
Roll ____ No ____
Name ____
Registration No. ____ of ____
Answer all the questions in the space provided. There is enough space for the answers. However, the extra sheet will be supplied by the invigilator, if required.
Special credits will be given for the answer which are brief and to the point. Marks will be deducted for spelling mistakes, untidiness and bad handwriting.
- Section – A: Reading Comprehension – 20 marks (Seen)
- Reading Comprehension – 20 marks (Unseen)
- Section – B: Grammar and Vocabulary – 20 marks
- Section – C: Writing – 30 marks
- Section – D: Supplementary: 10 marks for external candidates only
Section – A
Reading Comprehension (Seen)
1. Read the following paragraphs and answer the questions that follow :
The boy was twelve or thirteen, judging by his face, but he had the height of an eight or nine year old. His legs Were thick, short and bowed. He had a small chest but his arms were long, making him rather ape-like in his attitude. His forehead and cheeks were pitted with the scars of smallpox. He was ugly by normal standards, and the gibberish he spoke did nothing to discourage his tormentors. They threw mud and stone at him while keeping well out of his reach. ‘Few can be more cruel than a gang of schoolboys in high spirits.
I was an uneasy observer of the scene. I felt that I ought to do something to put a stop to it, but lacked the courage to interfere. It was only when a stone struck the boy on the face, cutting open his cheek. that I lost my normal discretion and ran in amongst the boys, shouting at them and clouting those I could reach. They scattered like defeated soldiers.
I took the frightened, angry boy by the hand and asked him where he lived. He mumbled something incoherent and pointed down a narrow lane. I led him away from the bazaar
I said very little to the boy because it was obvious that he had some defect of speech. When he stopped outside a door set in a high wall, I presumed that we had come to his house. The door was opened by a young woman The boy immediately threw his arms around her and burst into tears. I had not been prepared for the boy’s mother. Not only did she look perfectly normal physically, but she was strikingly handsome.
A. Complete the following sentences with information from the text above : [2×3=6]
- The boy had the height of an eight or nine year old but his face suggested ____.
- His tormentors were ____.
- The narrator lost his normal discretion when ____.
B. Answer the following questions in a sentence or two : [2×3=6]
- What made the boy look ape-like ?
- How did the boy respond when the narrator asked him where he lived ?
- What was surprising about the boy’s mother ?
2. Read the poem and answer the questions that follow:
Expanding like the petals of young flowers
I watch the gentle opening of your minds.
And the sweet loosening of the spell that binds,
Your intellectual energies and powers,
That stretch (like young birds in soft summer hours)
Their wings, to try their strength, how the winds
Of circumstances and freshening April showers
Of early knowledge and unnumbered kinds
Of new perceptions shed their influence;
And how you worship truth’s omnipotence.
What joyance rains upon me, when I see
Fame in the mirror of futurity,
Weaving the Chaplets you have yet to gain,
Ah then, I feel I have not lived in vain.
A. Answer the following questions : [2×4=8]
- Name the poet in full.
- Whose minds does the poet refer to in the second line ?
- What comparison does the poet use to describe early knowledge?
- What does the poet mean by ‘truth’s omnipotence’ ?
Reading Comprehension (Unseen)
3. Read the following text and answer the questions given below :
A reputed school for girls has thrown its doors open for girls from the neighbourhood to train in martial arts.
More than 70 girls have enrolled for lessons in Wushu-a traditional Chinese martial art form that combines features of kung fu, kickboxing, judo and tai chi. Training will be free for the fast six months.
“With the recent spurt in atrocities against women, it is good to see that some girls have decided to face the challenge,” said Dharam Singh, the founder and CEO of Sign World Training Institute and Sports for Positive Change, which is conducting the workshops. He emphasized that the focus is on girls from the middle class and poorer sections of our society as they are more likely to use public transport.
The self-defence programme was launched with a Wushu drill under the guidance of a martial art exponent who is training the girls.
Wushu is not just a physical exercise. It relaxes the mind as well. The martial art exponent has conducted Wushu workshops and training camps in various districts of Bengal. The response has been overwhelming, which is why he decided to introduce it in the city.
[Based on a report in ‘The Telegraph’ dated 30th July 2013]
A. Answer the following questions in one or two sentences : [2×5=10]
- What is Wushu?
- Why have some girls decided to take up martial arts training?
- How was the programme launched?
- Where did the martial art exponent conduct the Wushu workshop?
- Why did he decide to introduce it in the city?
B. Complete the following sentences with information from the given passage : [2×4=8]
- A reputed girls’ school has introduced ____.
- Dharam Singh is ____.
- The training was focused on girls from middle class and poor families because ____.
- Wushu develops the physique and ____.
C. Tick against the most appropriate title for the text in the box on the right-hand side : [2]
- Increasing violence against women
- Self-defence programme for girls
- Wushu a Chinese martial art form
Section – B
[Grammar and Vocabulary]
4. Fill In the blanks with appropriate articles and prepositions [1×4=4]
All ___ girls ___ this Village have promised to fight ___ the ___ curse ___ child marriage.
5. Do as directed : [1×4=4]
- The boy said to his friend, “I went to school yesterday.” (Rewrite in Indirect Speech)
- Please maintain silence in this room.b(Change the voice)
- Tell me what your name is. (Tum into a Simple Sentence.
- It Is not necessary for you to come tomorrow. (Rewrite using ‘need’)
6. Choose the correct phrasal verb from the list given below to replace the words underlined. Write the correct phrasal verbs, changing the form, where necessary. There is one extra phrasal verb in the list : [1×4=4]
- How could you tolerate such rude words ?
- The girl continued practising the song.
- The boy resembles his father.
- The great leader died last week.
[List of phrasal verbs: keep on, bear with, take after, pass away, put away]
7. Given below are the meanings of four words that you will find in the passage in Question No. 3. Find out the words and write them in the appropriate boxes on the right-hand side : [2×4=8]
- a sudden Increase
- terrible, violent and cruel acts
- a person who performs a particular activity with skill
- having a strong emotional effect
Section – C
[Writing]
8. Write a paragraph in about 120 words on a sportsperson you admire most. You may use the following points : [12]
[Points: Name of the sportsperson－the game he/she has associated with－his/her achievements－the reasons for your admiration.]
9. Develop the following points into a story in about 100 words and add a title: [10]
[Point : A soldier－prisoner of war for several year－war ends－returns home－sees a bird－seller－buys all the birds－sets them free-his feelings. ]
10. A reputed doctor of your locality has agreed to visit your school and deliver a lecture on ‘Safe Drinking Water’. Suppose you are the captain of your school. Write a notice inviting the students to attend the lecture. You may use the following points : [8]
[Points : date, time, venue-name of the doctor-necessity of this type of lecture－compulsory attendance].
