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Page 1 of 8

SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT I (2012)

ENGLISH (LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE)

EL2-018

Class - X
Time : 3 hours

Maximum Marks : 90

Instructions :
The question paper is divided into four sections.
Section A

Reading Comprehension

20 marks

Section B

Writing

20 marks

Section C

Grammar

15 marks

Section D

Text Books

35 marks
SECTION - A
(Reading 20 Marks)

1.

Read the passage given below and complete the statements that follow by
choosing the options that you consider the most appropriate.

1x5=5

Both alcohol and tobacco are injurious to health. In cold regions, people generally
like alcohol. But one can live without alcohol. It is not necessary in any way to
anybody. Millions of people have changed their habit and can do without it
entirely. The regular use of alcohol even in small quantities tends to cause harm in
many ways to various organs of the body. It affects our liver and weakens the
mental powers. It even lessens the general energy of the body. Side by side people
use tobacco. It is the most common bad habit. Tobacco is now smoked or chewed
by people almost all over the world. It was brought to Europe from America four
centuries ago and it has spread everywhere. It is of no good to all of us. Even all
the packets contain statutory warning Smoking is injurious to health. But no one
cares about it. If a habit of smoking is developed, one can not get rid of it easily.
(a)
The disadvantages of taking alcohol are that it __________.
(i)
affects our liver
(ii)
weakens the mental powers
(iii)
lessens the energy
(iv)
all of the above
(b)
People use tobacco by __________ .
(i)
smoking
(ii)
chewing
(iii)
smoking and chewing(iv)
none of the above
(c)
Smoking is injurious to health signifies that ___________.
(i)
we should smoke only one time in a day
(ii)
we should not smoke
(iii)
we should not smoke because it is not good for health
(iv)
smoking is a status symbol.
(d)
The thing /things which is/are harmful to all of us is /are __________
(i)
tobacco and alcohol (ii)
alcohol
(iii)
tobacco
(iv)
none of the above
Page 2 of 8

(e)

2.

tobacco

Read the passage given below and complete the sentences that follow by writing
the options that you consider the most appropriate in your answer sheet.
Like other regions, Mewat is one of the most socio economically backward region
in Harayana. It is already suffering from the effect of the shortage of water. There
is acute water scarcity in the area, with only a small percentage of its villages
possessing potable water sources. Haryana has committed itself to enfore the
Supreme Court's ban order on mining , and it must ensure that there is no laxity in
this regard. Stone quarries pose other challenges as well. The unscrupulous among
the quarry owners have been known to employ bonded labour at extremely low
pay. There have been many deaths from serious lung disorders, and young
children continue to be employed on them. The government needs to act against
the prevailing cocktail of complicity , cynicism and apathy, or the region will be
irretrievably ruined.
(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

3.

The word in the passage that means power is __________

(i)
energy
(ii)
organ (iii)
alcohol
(iv)

1x5=5

Mewat is the most backward area in Haryana because of ----------(i)

mining
(ii)
shortage of water
(iii)
serious lung disorders
(iv)
all of the above
Only a few villages in Mewat have --------------(i)
adequate water
(ii)
potable water sources
(iii)
low water level
(iv)
water supplied by the Govt.
The hon'ble Supreme Court had ordered the govt. of Haryana ------------(i)
to help the poor people
(ii)
to provide the fund to the Gram Panchayats
(iii)
to ban the mining
(iv)
to provide medical facilities
Many people working on stone crushing machines die of -------------(i)
cholera
(ii)
dehydration
(iii)
lung disorders
(iv)
all of the above
The word from the passage that means " indifference" is ------------(i)
apathy
(ii)
complicity
(iii)
cynicism
(iv)
irretrievably

Read the poem given below and answer the questions that follow :

1x5=5

CONSERVATION PIECE
The country side must be preserved
Preferably miles away from me
Neat hectares of the stuff reserved
For those in need of flower or tree.
I'll make do the landscape painting
Film documentaries on T.V
And when I need to escape, painting,
Then open mouthed I'll head for the sea.
Let other stroll and take their leisure,
In grasses wade up to their knees
For I derive no earthly pleasure
From the green green rash that makes me sneeze.
Page 3 of 8

(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)

4.

According to the poet whom should the countryside he preserved

for ?
What would the poet like to do when he wants an escape from
painting?
Why doesn't the poet like the countryside ?
Why do the people go to the countryside, according to the poet?
Which word in the stanza means the same as 'to walk in a slow
relaxed way'?

Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow :
At 3;40 pm, the cage doors open and the air is suddenly full of the pigeons. Not
just your average gray pigeons. But the pigeons of red, black, blue and white
colour, each one different from the next. Some of these pigeons are the envy of the
neighbourhood. Some of them have been in training for years. All of them are
Faqir Mohammed's pigeons, and they know it.
Mohammed is a 41 year old shopkeeper with steely blue eyes and a haggard face
who, like many Afghans of his generation, looks older than he is. He has been
flying pigeons all his life. In Afghanistan , it is a popular way to pass the afternoon.
It is also a fiercely competitive sport, with owners vying for one another's birds.
Mohammed learned how to train pigeons from his dad, who used to fly them on
this very roof in the capital's oldest neighbourhood, where the only colour on the
palette is brown. "The roofs are the same. The cages are the same. They are all
made of mud, says Mohammed Ismail, 32, as he watches his older brother work .
"But somehow , the birds know as well as we do which one is theirs ".
(a)
Why is the sky suddenly full of pigeons ?
(b)
The writer says " But somehow , the birds know. " What does it show about
the birds ability ?
(c)
Mohammed learned how to train pigeons from ----------(d)
Who is Mohammed ? How does he look ?
(e)
Which word in the passage is the adverbial form of sudden ?

1x5=5

SECTION - B
(Writing 20 Marks)
5.

You are the secretary of PTA , ABC Sr. Sec. School Chennai . You have noticed that
there are no proper facilities of drinking water, toilets, transport , library etc in the
school while the school management charges a huge amount in the name of
providing these facilities. write a letter to the Director of Education , Chennai
drawing his/her attention to this problem and requesting for remedial action.
( 120-150 words )

OR
In an opening ceremony of a school , you got an opportunity to meet the film
actress, Kareena Kapoor. During the meeting , you felt that the actress was not
only a good human being but also a good social worker. Write a letter to your
father informing him about the ceremony and your impression of the actress. You
are Shreya/ Shrestha , student of class X , Govt. Sarvodaya school Seemapuri.
( 120- 150 words)
6.

The young generation is inclined to earn more money in a very short period of
time. For this they work day and night without caring for their health. They take
their breakfast in the cab and have no time schedule for rest. They depend on junk
food which harm their health. Write an article in about 120 words on "the hectic
life of the young generation".

Page 4 of 8

OR
You feel that moral values and life skills should be made a part of curriculum in
the schools. Write a speech in about 120 words to be delivered in the morning
assembly of the school emphasizing upon the importance of these values for the
students.
7.

Your school celebrated "NO Tobacco Day " in your school. On this occasion a
number of activities were performed by the students and the teachers. Write a
report in about 60 words
OR
Complete the following story in about 60 words.
Yesterday in the morning , when I was going to school, I saw an old man standing
on the road . He wanted to cross the road but ---------------------SECTION - C
(Grammar 15 Marks)

8.

Choose the most appropriate options from the ones given below to complete the
following passage. Write the answers in your answer sheet against the correct
blank numbers. Do not copy the whole passage.
If there is (a) ------------ (an/the/a/few) hole in our clothes, we (b) ----------( should/will/would/may) get it stitched in time. (c) ------------ ( What/If/So/That
) we fail to do so , nine or more stitches will be necessary. What the proverb means
is (d) -----------(if/that/when/but) a small piece (e) ------------- (at/of/on/to) work
done now may save a lot of work later.
We should act (f) ----------(with/to/by/upon) prudently.

x6=3

9.

Complete the following passage by choosing the correct forms of the verbs
given in the brackets from the alternatives given below the passage. Write the
correct answers in the answer sheet against the correct blank numbers.
The class was ready for the play because the story (a) --------------- (select) for the
stage show and Mohinis classmates (b) ----------- (divide) into reading groups. The
views (c) -------------- (exchange) and final decision was made by the director.
(a)
(i)
was selected
(ii)
were selected
(iii)
had selected
(iv)
are selected
(b)
(i)
was divided
(ii)
were divided
(iii)
are divided
(iv)
is divided
(c)
(i)
are exchanged
(ii)
has been exchanged
(iii)
should be exchanged (iv)
were exchanged

1x3=3

10.

Read the following dialogue and complete the report that follows. Write your
answers in your answer sheet against the correct blank numbers. Do not copy
the dialogue and report.
Principal : How much time will you take to finish this lesson ?
Teacher : I need two more periods sir.
Principal : Finish the same at the earliest.
In a class room , the principal enquired of the teacher (a) ----------- that lesson. The
teacher respectfully replied (b) ------------ . Principal ordered him (c) --------------

1x3=3

11.

The following passage has not been edited. There is an error in each line against
which a blank has been given. Write the incorrect word and the correction in
your answer sheet against the correct blank number as given in the example.
Remember to underline the word that you have supplied.

x6=3

Page 5 of 8

Gandhiji's great strength was his belief in

God. He fought to the freedom of India
because he used to say what the best
way to serve God was to serve their people
and therefore , when he works for the
welfare of his countryman he was also
serve God .
12.

13.

e.g.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)

great -- ------ greatest

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Look at the words and phrases given below Rearrange them to form meaningful
sentences as given in the example.
Example : the/of/ants/all insects/are/interesting/most
Ants are the most interesting of all the insects.
(a)
in many/they/human beings/are/like/ways.
(b)
in families/and/own/their/they/houses/live/build.
(c)
and/a king/they/a queen/have.

(A)

(B)

1x3=3

SECTION - D
(Text-Books 35 Marks)
Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:
1x4=4
Writing in a diary is a really strange experience for someone like me.
Not only because I have never written anything before, but also
because it seems to me that later on neither I nor anyone else will be
interested in the musing of a thirteen year old school girl. Oh well, it
does not matter .I feel like writing and I have an even greater need to
get all kind of things off my chest. 'Paper has more patience than
people ' .I thought of this saying on one of those days when I was
feeling a little depressed and was sitting at home with my chin in my
hands, bored and listless , wondering whether to stay in or go out.
(i)
Who is' I ' in the passage ?
(ii)
How old is she ?
(iii)
In what condition did Anne decide to write a diary ?
(iv)
Find a word in the passage that means too tired to show interest or
do anything.
Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow :
1x4=4
At last Maddie sat up in bed and pressed her forehead tight in her
hands and really thought. This was the hardest thinking she had ever
done. After a long , long time ,she reached an important conclusion. She
was never going to stand by and say nothing again. If she ever heard
anybody picking on someone because they were funny looking or
because they had strange names. She had speak up. Even if it meant
losing Peggy's friendship. She had no way of making things right with
Wanda , but from now on she would never make anybody else that
unhappy again.
(i)
Why did Maddie think deeply ?
(ii)
At what important decision did Maddie reach ?
(iii)
What risk was she prepared to take ?
(iv)
Trace a word from the passage that means " decision ".

Page 6 of 8

14.

Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow by choosing
the most appropriate options from those given. Attempt any two.
I.

II.

III.

15.

3x2=6

Has given my heart

A change of mood
And saved some part
Of a day I had rued
(a)
The crow has changed the mood of the poet by -----------(i)
singing a song
(ii)
flying around the poet
(iii)
shaking the snow from the tree
(iv)
his melodious voice
(b)
The poet is trying to suggest that
(i)
small things bring big changes in life
(ii)
the dust of snow is very useful
(iii)
a crow is significant bird
(iv)
a hemlock tree has lot of importance
(c)
The rhyme scheme of this passage is --------(i)
aa,bb
(ii)
ab, ab
(iii)
ab, aa
(iv)
ab, bc
Some say the world will end in fire
Some say in ice
From what I've tasted of desire
I hold with those who favour fire.
(a)
The poet's opinion is that -----------------(i)
the world will end in ice
(ii)
the world will end in fire
(iii)
the world will never end
(iv)
the world will never end in fire or ice
(b)
The fire signifies ------------(i)
deep love
(ii)
anger
(iii)
greed
(iv)
cruelty
(c)
The rhyme scheme of the passage is ---------(i)
ab,aa
(ii)
ab, ab
(iii)
ab, bb
(iv)
ab, ac
Did you finish your homework, Amanda ?
Did you tidy your room , Amanda ?
I thought I told you to clean your shoes,
Amanda
(a)
According to the narrator, Amanda is a very ------------- girl.
(i)
sensitive
(ii)
careless
(iii)
punctual
(iv)
laborious
(b)
What the narrator asks Amanda is to --------------(i)
finish the homework
(ii)
clean the room
(iii)
clean the shoes
(iv)
all of the above
(c)
___________ is talking to Amanda
(i)
Father
(ii)
Mother
(iii)
One of the parents
(iv) Elder brother

Answer any three of the following questions in 30 -40 words each:

(a)
Why did Maddie feel guilty of herself ?
(b)
How did the pilot of Dakota 088 land safely ?

2x3=6

Page 7 of 8

(c)
(d)

What is the dream of Nelson Mandela for the future of South Africa ?
What were Lencho's feelings when the hail storm stopped ?

16.

Answer the following question in about 80 words.

Compare and contrast the young seagull in the beginning and at the end of the
lesson ?
OR
Why did Anne Frank think that she could confide more in her diary than in the
people ?

17.

Answer the following question in about 80 words.

'He was the most trusting person I had ever met ' Do you agree with the remark of
Hari Singh about Anil? Give a reasoned answer.
OR
Although Horace Danby was not the real culprit yet he was caught by the police .
Why ?

18.

Answer any two of the following questions in 40-50 words each :

(a)
What did Ausable tell Max, when there was a knock at the door ?
(b)
Mrs. Pumphery was responsible for the aliment of Tricki. How ?
(c)
What did Griffin the scientist do to escape after setting the fire to the house
of his landlord ?

3x2=6

- oOo-

Page 8 of 8