2024
English
Time – 3 Hours 15 Minutes
(First 15 minutes for reading the question paper)
Full\ Marks =\begin{cases} \ \ 90\ - For\ Regular\ Candidates\\ 100\ - For\ External\ Candidates\end{cases}
Special credit will be given for answers which are brief and to the point.
Marks will be deducted for spelling mistakes, untidiness and bad handwriting.
SECTION-A
READING COMPREHENSION (SEEN)
PART-A (MARKS:40)
1. Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:
As he entered the school gate, an idea occurred to him. He would deliver the letter to the headmaster at end of the day. There was a chance Samuel might do something during the course of the day to justify the letter.
Swami stood at the entrance to his class. Samuel was teaching arithmetic. He looked at Swami. Swami hoped Samuel would scold him severely.
“You are half an hour late”, Samuel said.
“I have a headache, sir.” Swami said.
“Then why did you come at all?”
This was an unexpected question from Samuel. Swami said, “Mv father said I shouldn’t miss school, sir.”
Samuel looked impressed. “Your father is quite right. We want more parents like him.”
“Oh, you poor man!” Swami thought, “You don’t know what my father has done to you.”
“All right, go to your seat.”
Swami sat down, feeling sad. He had never met anyone as good as Samuel.
The teacher was inspecting the home lessons. To Swami’s thinking, this was the time when Samuel got most angry. But today Samuel appeared very gentle.
“Swaminathan, where is your homework?”
“I have not done my homework, sir,” Swami said.
A. Write the correct alternative in the given space to complete the following sentence:
(a) Swami decided to deliver the letter to the headmaster ………………
(i) in the lunch break
(ii) after the assembly
(iii) at the end of the day
(iv) as soon as possible
Answer
(iii) at the end of the day
(b) Samuel got most angry while he …………
(i) taught the class
(ii) checked the homework
(iii) corrected mistakes in the classwork
(iv) checked the handwriting
Answer
(ii) checked the homework.
(c) When Swami stood at the entrance of his class, Samuel was teaching ………………
(i) Mathematics
(ii) History
(iii) English
(iv) Geography
Answer
(i) Mathematics
(d) Swami gave the excuse of headache for
(i) being absent from class the previous day
(ii) his irregularity in attendance last week
(iii) protecting his father from Samuel’s anger
(iv) arriving in school half an hour late that day
Answer
(iv) arriving in school half an hour late that day
(e) “We want more parents like him. “Here “him” refers to ……………
(i) The headmaster
(ii) Samuel
(iii) Swami’s father
(iv) Samuel’s father
Answer
(iii) Swami’s father
B. Complete the following sentences with information from the text:
(i) An idea occurred to Swami when
Answer
he entered the school gate.
(ii) Swami decided to deliver the letter to the headmaster at the end of the day because
Answer
there was a chance Samuel might do something during the course of the day to justify the letter
(iii) Samuel was impressed with Swami’s father for
Answer
sending Swami to school inspite of having headache.
C. State weather the following statements are True’ or ‘False’. Write T for True’ and ‘F’ for ‘False’ in the boxes on the right-hand side. Also provide sentences/phrases from the passage in support of your answers: 2×2=4
(i) Swami felt sympathy for Samuel when he appreciated Swami’s father for sending Swami to school.
Answer
 [T]
Supporting Sentence: “Oh you poor man!” Swami thought, “You don’t know what my father has done to you.”
(ii) Samuel appeared very angry as he was inspecting the home lessons on the day Swami came late to his class. [F]
Answer
[F]
supporting Sentence: But today Samuel appeared very gentle.
2. Read the poem and answer the question that follow:
Once I crept in a oakwood – I was looking for a stag,
I met an old woman there – all knobblv stick and rag,
She said: “I have your secret here inside my little bag.”
Then she began to cackle and I began to quake.
She opened up her little bag and I came twice awake-
Surrounded by a staring tribe and me tied to a stake.
They said: “We are the oak-trees and your own true family.
We are chopped down, we are torn up, you do not blink an eye.
Unless you make a promise now – now you are going to die.’
“Whenever you see an oak-tree felled, swear now you will plant two.
Unless you swear the black oak bark will wrinkle over you
And root you among the oaks where you were born but never grew”.
This was my dream beneath the boughs, the dream that altered me.
When I came out of the oakwood, back to human company,
My walk was the walk of a human child, but my heart was a tree.
A. Tick the right answer: 1×4=4
(a) The poet crept in
(i) a garden
(ii) a burrow
(iii) an orchard
(iv) an oakwood
Answer
(iv)an oakwood
(b) The old woman appeared to be
(i) unjust
(ii) unsteady
(iii) unmindful
(iv) unfortunate
Answer
(ii) unsteady
(c) “You do not blink an eye” – the expression suggests that human beings are
(i) indifferent
(ii) caring
(iii) aggressive
(iv) alert
Answer
(i) indifferent
(d) The poem explores the theme of
(i) conservation of forest and wild animals
(ii) dreams and realities in the life of modern human beings
(iii) the integral relationship between human beings and nature
(iv) insecurities and a ailments of an old woman
Answer
(iii) the integral relationship between human beings and nature
B. Answer the following questions : 2×2=4
(i) How did the oak-trees threaten the poet if he failed to promise to plant two oak-trees in place of every oak-tree?
Answer
The oak-trees threatened the poet by saying the black oak bark would wrinkle over him and root him with the oats.
(ii) How did the dream alter the poet ?
Answer
The dream enabled the poet to feel the inter-relationship between the human beings and trees by flourish together.
READING COMPREHENSION (UNSEEN)
Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow:
The neglected irrigation canal passing through the heart of the Champdani town has become a matter of great concern for the residents. It is posing a threat to the environment of the town. The heavily-silted irrigation canal with practically no flow of water except during monsoons, is full of weeds, dirt and filth. Stagnation of water at different pockets of the irrigation canal has become a favourable breeding ground for mosquitoes, flies and rodents.
Moreover during the high tide and monsoons, when the Hooghly river is in a spate, the lock gates of the DVC irrigation canal are opened to allow back flow of water. The heavily-silted irrigation canal, with no capacity to hold excess flow of water, overflows, inundating a large part of Champdani town.
The drainage system fails to empty since the irrigation canal water finds its way into the residential area through drains. The local civic body Chairman, Mr. Suresh Mishra, said, “The canal has been neglected for years. Intensive dredging must be conducted to restore the irrigation canal to its original depth. The dense layer weeds, filth and dirt needs to be cleared off to stop stagnation of water. The DVC needs to pay attention towards the repairing and maintenance of the canal and lock gates so that they can withstand the massive water pressure during monsoons when the Hooghly river is in a spate.”
[Adapted from an article published in Statesman dated 17th July 2023]
A. Tick the right answer:
(a) The passage is about
(i) a neglected irrigation canal of DVC
(ii) the town Champdani and its resident
(iii) the drainage system of Champdani
(iv) the impact of a neglected canal on Champdani
Answer
(iv) the impact of a neglected canal on Champdani
(b) Residents of the town are concerned that the canal is becoming
(i) useless for transportation within the town
(ii) a threat to the environment of the town
(iii) dry throughout the year irrespective of seasons
(iv) more useful for irrigation only during the monsoons
Answer
(ii) a threat to the environment of the town
(c) The canal has become a favourable breeding ground for mosquitoes, flies and rodents because
(i) there is no water in the canal
(ii) the canal is full of dirt and filth
(iii) the canal overflows during monsoons
(iv) there is stagnant water in different pockets
Answer
(iv) there is stagnant water in different pockets
(d) The canal was dug for the purpose of
(i) drainage
(ii) irrigation
(iii) drinking water
(iv) transportation
Answer
(i) drainage
(e) The siltation at the canal-bed caused
(i) increased capacity to hold water
(ii) loss of capacity to hold water
(iii) breeding of mosquitoes and flies
(iv) back flow of water during monsoons
Answer
(ii) loss of capacity to hold water
(f) An appropriate title for the passage would be
(i) A canal losing its flow due to filth and dirt
(ii) Neglected irrigation canal posing health hazard
(iii) Irrigation canal inundating towns in monsoon
(iv) Stagnant water causing health hazards
Answer
(ii) Neglected irrigation canal posing health hazards
B. Each of the following statement is either True’ or ‘False’. Write ‘T’ for True’ and ‘F’ for ‘False’ in the boxes on the right-hand side. Also pick out suitable line(s) or phrase(s) from the passage in support of your answers:
(i) The lock gates of the DVC irrigation canal are opened during monsoons only.
Supporting Sentence: ______________________________________
Answer
Moreover during the high tide and monsoons, when the Hooghly river is in the lock gates of the DVC irrigation canal are opened to allow back flow of water.
(ii) The canal disrupts the drainage system in the residential areas during monsoons.
Supporting Sentence: ____________________________________
Answer
The drainage system fails to empty since the irrigation canal water finds its way to the residential areas through drains.
(iii) According to the Chairman of DVC the canal has been neglected for years.
Supporting Sentence: _______________________________________
Answer
The local civic body Chairman, Mr. Suresh Mishra, said, “The canal has been neglected for years.
C. Answer the following questions:
(i) What causes the inundation of a large part of Champdani town?
Answer
The heavily-silted irrigation canal, with no capacity to hold excess flow of water, overflows, inundating a large part of Champdani town.
(ii) Who is Suresh Mishra? Whose responsibility is it to maintain this irrigation canal?
Answer
Mr. Suresh Mishra, is the local civic body Chairman. DVC’s responsibility to maintain this irrigation.
(iii) What is needed to increase the depth of the canal and stop stagnation of water?
Answer
Intensive dredging must be conducted to restore the irrigation canal to its original depth. The dense layer weeds, filth and dirt needs to be cleared off to stop stagnation of water.
(iv) Why does DVC need to pay attention towards repairing and maintenance of the irrigation canal and the lock gates?
Answer
The DVC needs to pay attention towards the repairing and maintenance of the canal and lock gates so that they can withstand the massive water pressure during monsoons when the Hooghly river is in a spate.
SECTION-B GRAMMAR AND VOCABULARY
4. Write the correct alternatives to fill in the blanks: 1×3=3
As the temperature has been soaring  (had soared /soars/has been soaring) so high, It is advised (is advised / advises) to take cool showers many times a day. People should drink (drinks /drank /should drink) plenty of water.
Answer
has been soaring, advised, should drink.
5. Do as directed:
A. Fill in the blanks with appropriate articles and prepositions: 1×3=3
We must consider the unemployment problem with great seriousness and try to solve it at the earliest opportunity. This would be beneficial to our younger generation.
Answer
the, at, to.
B. (i) I am too tired to walk. (Turn into a complex sentence)Â Â 1×3=3
Answer
I am very tired that I can’t walk.
(ii) The students are staging a play. (Change the voice)
Answer
A play is being staged by the students.
(iii) The mother said to the boy, “do not waste time on mobile phone.” (Turn into indirect speech)
Answer
The mother advised the boy not to waste time on mobile phone.
C. Choose the correct phrasal verbs from the list given below to replace the words underlined. Write the correct phrasal verbs in the boxes on the right-hand side changing the form where necessary. There is one extra verb in the list: 1×3=3
(i) The robbers escaped with the ornaments.
(ii) The old man died in his sleep.
(iii) You must not hide anything from the police.
[ pass away, keep away, hold back, make off ]
Answer
(i) kept away (ii) passed away (iii) hold back
D. Given below are the meaning of four words which 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
(i) risk or hazard
(ii) a sudden forceful flow
(iii) flooding
(iv) removal of sediment from the bottom of a river
Answer
(i) threat (ii)spate (iii)inundate (iv)dredging
SECTION-C
WRITING
 Write a letter (within 100 words) to your friend who stays far away, describing your most favourite festival of West Bengal: 10×1=10
Write a newspaper report (in about 100 words) about a train a accident that took place in Balasore, Orissa, when Coromandel Express rammed into a goods train on 2nd June, 2023. You may use the following points to write your report: 10×1=10
Date : 2nd June, Time – 7.15 p.m.
Place : Bahanaga near Balasore
Cause : Error in signal
Casualties : 285 death and 1000 injured. Relief work by locals and NDRF along with army.
Compensation : Announced by Government.
Your school is going to organise a sit-and draw competition for students of Class VII – X. As the Secretary of the student Council, write a notice (in about 100 words) informing students about this competition. Your notice must mention date and time of the competition, the last date to register students’ name and the theme of the drawing. 10×1=10