CBSE English X

Sample Paper 9 Page 1

Sample Paper 5
Class X Exam 2022-23
English-Language and Literature (184)
Time Allowed : 3 Hrs. Maximum Marks: 80
General Instructions:
1. 15-minute prior reading time allotted for Q-paper reading.
2. The Question Paper contains THREE sections READING, GRAMMAR & WRITING and LITERATURE.
3. Attempt question based on specific instructions for each part.

SECTION A- READING SKILLS 20

I. Read the passage given below. 10
1. Economist, ethicists and business experts persuade us that honesty is the best policy, but their evidence
is weak. We hoped to find data that would support their theories and thus, perhaps, encourage higher
standards of business behaviour. To our surprise, their pet theories failed to stand up. Treachery, we
found, can pay. There is no compelling economic reason to tell the truth or keep one’s word. Punishment
for the treacherous in the real world is neither swift nor sure.
2. Honesty is, in fact, primarily a moral choice. Business people do tell themselves that, in the long run,
they will do well by doing good. But there is little factual or logical basis for this conviction. Without
values, without a basic preference of right over wrong, trust based on such delusion would crumble in
the face of temptation. Most of us choose virtue because we want to believe in ourselves and because
others respect and believe us.
3. And due to this, we should be happy. We can be proud of a system in which people are honest because
they want to be, not because they have to be. Materially, too, trust based on morality provides great
advantages. It allows us to join in great and exciting enterprises that we could never undertake if we
relied on economic incentives alone.
4. Economists tell us that trust is enforced in the market place through retaliation and reputation. If you
violate a trust, your victim is apt to seek revenge and others are likely to stop doing business with you, at
least under favourable terms. A man or woman with a reputation for fair dealing will prosper. Therefore,
profit maximisers are honest. This sounds plausible enough until you look for concrete examples. Cases
that apparently demonstrate the awful consequences of trust turn out to be few and weak, while evidence
that treachery can pay seems compelling.
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below.

i. According to the passage, what do economists and ethicists, want us to believe?

(a) Businessmen should always be honest
(b) Businessmen cannot always be honest
(c) Businessmen turn dishonest at times
(d) Businessmen are honest only at times
ii. What did the author find out about the theory that ‘honesty is the best policy’?
(a) It is correct on many occasions
(b) It is correct for all businesses
(c) It is a useless theory
(d) It is a theory which seems to be correct only occasionally
iii. Infer one reason for the following, based on information in paragraph 2:
Businessmen are honest in their dealings.
iv. According to the author, which of the following, is the reason for being honest in business?
(a) It gives no immediate benefits
(b) It gives no long-term benefits
(c) It makes a person self-seeking
(d) None of these

v. Supply one point to justify the following:

The author says that one can be proud of the present situation.

vi. Suppy one material advantage which the author sees in being honest.
vii. Which of the following phrases is most nearly the same in meaning as the word ‘persuade’ as it has been
used in the passage?
(a) Give an assurance
(b) Give an opinion
(c) Try to convince
(d) Cheat

viii. State whether the following statement is TRUE or FALSE:

Economists believe that all businessmen are dishonest.

ix. Substitute the word ‘conviction’ with ONE WORD similar in meaning, in the following sentence from
paragraph 2:
Business people do tell themselves that, in the long run, they will do well by doing good. But there is
little factual or logical basis for this conviction.

x. Which of the following best describes what the author is trying to point out through the last sentence of
the passage, “Cases that…..compelling”?
(a) The consequences of business
(b) The contradictions in the real world
(c) Economists predict incorrectly
(d) The contradictions is unreal
II. Read the passage given below. 10
1. The ocean is one of the most unexplored parts of our planet, with a magnitude of undiscovered species and
mysteries. It turns out from the studies conducted over the last few decades, this magnificent environment
is under serious threat from human intervention, with plastics set to outnumber fish by 2050.
2. Marine life, as we know it, is suffering irreparable damage from the chemical pollution of the waters and
the millions of tons of mismanaged waste dumped in the oceans each year. The result is a planetary crisis
with over 100 million marine animal’s lives get lost every year, and the decay of the ocean’s ecosystem.
Shocking Ocean Pollution Statistics

• 100 melon marine animals die each year from plastic waste alone.
• 100000 marine animal die from getting entangled in plastic yearly - this is just the creatures
we find
• 1 in 3 marine mammal species get found entangled in litter, 12-14000 tons of plastic are
ingested by North Pacific fish yearly.
• In the past 10 years, we’ve made more plastic than the last century. By 2050, the pollution
of fish will be outnumbered by our dumped plastic.
• The largest trash site on the planet is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, twice the surface
area of Texas, it outnumbers sea life there 6 to 1.
• Chine is ranked #1 for mismanaged waste and plastics. However, the US is in the top 20
with a more significant waste per person contributions.
• 300 Million tons of plastic gets created yearly, and this weighs the same as the entire human
population, and 50% is single-use only.
• There are 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic waster estimated to be in our oceans. 269000 tons
float, 4 billion microfibers per km2 dwell below the surface.
• 70% of our debris sinks into the oceans’s ecosystem, 15% floats and 15% lands on our
beaches.
• In terms of plastic, 8.3 million tons are discarded in the sea yearly. Of which, 236000 are ingestible
microplastics that marine creatures mistake for food.
• Plastics take 500-1000 years to degrade; currently 79% is send to lands or the oceans, while
only 9% is recycled, and 12% gets incinerated.
• 1950-1998 over 100 nuclear blast tests occurred in our oceans.
• 500 marine locations are now recorded as dead zones globally, currently the size of the
United Kingdom’s surface (245000 km2)
• 80% of global marine pollution comes from agriculture runoff, untreated sewage, discharge
of nutrients and pesticides.
• 90% of the worldwide ocean debris comes from 10 rivers alone.
3. Almost 1,000 species of marine animals get impacted by ocean pollution, and we now have over 500
locations recorded as dead zones where marine life cannot exist. How did this happen, what is causing
the most damage, find out everything above in the marine pollution statistics roundup.
4. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a floating island of debris, accumulated in the North Pacific Ocean by an
extensive system of currents called gyres. It is built up from two other waste patches, the western garbage
patch near Japan and the eastern garbage patch near America’s west coast near California and Hawaii.
5. The North Pacific Subtropical Convergence Zone links the east and western garbage patches, acting as
a highway for waste to move from one to the other. Because of this, a small item of debris dropped near
California can travel across to Japan, then eventually get sucked up by these swirling garbage patch
vortexes.
6. The great pacific garbage patch size is quite shocking. These patches of trash are said to be twice the size
of Texas and float on the surface but do drop several meters into the ocean in places, which makes the
correct size challenging to measure. The world’s largest garbage site is mainly made up of microplastics
creating a vast cloud, with newer items of debris that haven’t broken down as much floating around like
chunks in a soup. The great pacific garbage patch effects on marine life are extremely significant.
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below.
i. In the ocean what is set to outnumber the fish by the year 2050?
(a) pollution (b) plastics
(c) human waste (d) garbage
ii. List any two reasons for the following, based on information in paragraph 2
Marine life is suffering from irreparable damage.
1. __________
2. __________
iii. The largest trash site on the planet, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, is twice the size of which city ?
(a) Arizona (b) Colorado
(c) Texas (d) Florida
iv. Which country is ranked number one for mismanaged waste and plastics ?
(a) China (b) USA
(c) India (d) France
v Complete the following analogy correctly with a word from paragraph 3:
slug : land :: shark : _____
(Clue : Just like a slug lives on land, similarly a shark lives in...)

vi. Which of the following is NOT a place from where 80% of global marine pollution comes ?
(a) untreated sewage
(b) agriculture run-off
(c) discharge of nutrients and pesticide
(d) factory waste disposal

vii. List one reason for the following, based on informatin in paragraph 5:
A small item of debris dropped near California can travel across to Japan.

viii. State whether the following statement is TRUE or FALSE;

700 marine locations are now recorded as dead zones globally.
ix. Substitute the word ‘irreparable’ with ONE WORD similar in meaning, in the following sentence from paragraph 2:
Marine life, as we know it, is suffering irreparable damage from the chemical pollution of the waters...

x. An extensive system of currents in the North Pacific Ocean is called :

(a) vortex
(b) convergence
(c) gyres
(d) debris

III. SECTION B- GRAMMAR 10

Attempt ANY TEN of the following questions. 10

i. Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option to complete the sentence.
The mechanic _____ the vehicle since the morning.
(a) repaired
(b) repairing
(c) has been repairing
(d) will be repairing

ii. Read the conversation between customer and shopkeeper. Complete the sentence by reporting
shopkeeper’s reply correctly.
Customer : Can I have a bottle of juice?
Shopkeeper : Sorry, we only have milk bottles.

The customer asked the shopkeeper if he could have a bottle of juice. The shopkeeper apologized and
said _____.
iii. Select the correct option to fill in the blank for the given line.
Genius does what it must, and talent does what it _____.
(a) can
(b) would
(c) may
(d) should

iv. Select the option that identifies the error and supplies the correction for the following line:
There are not some buses because the drivers have gone on a strike.
Option No. Error Correction
(a) are is
(b) the a
(c) some any
(d) have has
v. Complete the given sentence, by filling in the blank with the correct option:
I have _____ Lakshmi for the past twelve years.
(a) know
(b) knew
(c) known
(d) knows
vi. Fill in the blank by using the correct form of the word in the bracket.
According to the news, the shower _____ (were) to take place.
vii. Report the dialogue between Meena and Neha, by completing the narration:
Meena : Tomorrow is your birthday, what do you want as a gift?
Neha : That is a lovely thought but I don’t want anything.

Meena asked Neha since the next day was her birthday, _____. Neha replied that that was a lovely
thought but she did not want anything.
viii. Identify the error in the given sentence and supply the correction.
Dawn’s favorite activity is draw sketches of her family.

Use the given format for your response.

Error Correction

ix. Transform the following direct speech into reported speech:

He said, “Has anybody been unkind to you ?”

x. Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option, to complete the sentence.
There _____ something wrong with the cooker today.
(a) must be
(b) should have been
(c) must have been
(d) None of these
xi. Select the correct option to complete the narration of the dialogue between Tanmay and Astha.
Tanmay : How did you spend your vacation?
Astha : I visited Kashmir with my parents.

Tanmay asked Astha how she had spent her vacation. Astha replied that _____.
(a) she has visited Kashmir with her parents
(b) she had visited Kashmir with her parents
(c) she have visited Kashmir with her parents
(d) she hadn’t visited Kashmir with her parents
xii. Identify the error in the given sentence and supply the correction.
We can expect few more mosquitoes after continued falls of rain.

Use the given format for your response.

Error Correction

IV. SECTION B- CREATIVE WRITING SKILLS 10

All the names and addresses used in the questions are fictitious. Resemblance, if any, is purely coincidental.

1. Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below. 5

A. You are Arihant/Ananya of Ashok Vihar. Write a letter of complaint to Cabinet World regarding the
faulty cabinet that they have sold to you. Invent the necessary details on your own.

O

B. You are Mohammad Ali/Sahiba Ali, residing in 1545, Kirti Nagar, New Delhi. Write a letter to the
Deputy Commissioner of Police, drawing his attention to the deteriorating law and order situation in the
city.

2. Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below. 5

A. The following line graph shows the average monthly temperatures in three major cities. Write an
analytical paragraph on the basis of the line graph reporting the important information and making
comparisons where relevant.

O

B. The graph below shows fast food consumption among men and women in 2015. Write an analytical
paragraph in 100-120 words by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where
relevant.
 SECTION C- LITERATURE 40

V. Reference to the Context 10

1. Attempt ANY ONE of two extracts given. 5
1.A Inside the clouds, everything was suddenly black. It was impossible to see anything outside the aeroplane.
The old aeroplane jumped and twisted in the air. I looked at the compass. I couldn’t believe my eyes : the
compass was turning round and round and round. It was dead. It would not work! The other instruments
were suddenly dead, too. I tried the radio.
(Two Stories About Flying)

i. What was causing the plane to jump and twist in the air ?
(a) air pressure
(b) wind currents
(c) black stormy clouds
(d) dead engine

ii. Infer one reason for the following, based on information in the extract:
The compass was turning round and round.

iii. The narrator couldn’t see outside the aeroplane because :

(a) it was too bright to look outside.
(b) he was too high in the clouds to see anything clearly.
(c) everything was black inside the storm clouds.
(d) there was too much lightening.
iv. State whether the following statement is TRUE or FALSE:
It was impossible to see anything outside the aeroplane.

v. Over which country was the pilot flying at this moment ?

(a) Germany (b) Spain
(c) United Kingdom (d) France

O

1.B It was green, green everywhere. Rajvir had never seen so much greenery before. Then the soft green
paddy fields gave way to tea-bushes.
It was a magnificent view. Against the backdrop of densely wooded hills a sea of tea bushes stretched
as far as the eye could see. Dwarfing the tiny tea plants were tall sturdy shade-trees and amidst the
orderly rows of bushes busily moved doll-like figures. In the distance was an ugly building with smoke
billowing out of tall chimneys.
“Hey, a tea-garden !” Rajvir cried excitedly.
Pranjol, who had been born and brought up on a plantation, didn’t share Rajvir’s excitement.
(Glimpses of India)

i. Supply one reason for the following, based on information in the extract:
Pranjol did not share Rajvir’s excitement about the view outside.

ii. Why has the building been called ugly ?

(a) because it was an old building
(b) because the construction was bad
(c) because smoke was coming out of its tall chimneys
(d) because it didn’t have a good history

iii. Why did Rajvir cry excitedly ?

(a) because he saw too much greenry
(b) because he saw a tea-garden
(c) because he saw a plantation
(d) because he saw an ugly building

iv. What has been called ‘magnficent’ in the extract?

v. Which of the following options tells the meaning of the word ‘billowing’ ?
(a) aggressively shooting upwards
(b) rolling outward
(c) moving at a great speed
(d) gathering at a place
2. Attempt ANY ONE of two extracts given.
2.A Now the name of the little black kitten was Ink,
And the little grey mouse, she called him Blink,
And the little yellow dog was sharp as Mustard,
But the dragon was a coward, and she called him Custard.
(The tale of Custard the Dragon)

i. Who is ‘she’?
(a) Amanda (b) Belinda
(c) Wanda (d) Peggy

ii. What was the little kitten called?

(a) Mustard (b) Blink
(c) Ink (d) Custard

iii. Supply one characteristic of the dragon according to the extract.

iv. Infer one reason for the following, based on information in the extract:
The little dog was called Mustard.

v. Choose an option that is an antonym of the word ‘coward’.

(a) weakling (b) scaredy cat
(c) aggressor (d) master

O
2.B The way a crow
Shook down on me
The dust of snow
From a hemlock tree
(Dust of Snow)

i. Complete the following analogy correctly with a word from the extract:
eider : duck :: cedar : _____
(Clue : Just like an eider is a type of duck, similarly a cedar is a type of...)

ii. Which literary device has been used throughout the poem?
(a) Simile
(b) Personification
(c) Alliteration
(d) Enjambment
iii. Where is the poet sitting in the poem Dust of Snow?
(a) Under a laburnum tree
(b) Under a hemlock tree
(c) Under a peepal tree
(d) None of these

iv. State whether the following statement is TRUE or FALSE:

hemlock tree is a a poisonous tree with white flowers.

v. What makes the fine particles of snow fall from the tree?
(a) Frog
(b) Crow
(c) Snake
(d) Goldfinch

VI Answer ANY FOUR of the following in about 40-50 words each. 4 # 3 = 12

i. What does Chubukov at first suspect Lomov had come to his house for ?
(The Proposal)

ii. How did Valli manage to leave her house?

(Madam Rides the Bus)

iii. ‘Money is external.’ What does the poet John Berryman mean by these words?
(The Ball Poem)

iv. The “yellow hair” is a symbol in the poem. Briefly support the statement with reference to the poem “For
Anne Gregory”.

v. How far would you agree that one’s positivity can bring in a spark of brightness even in adverse
circumstances.?
(A Letter to God)

VII Answer ANY TWO of the following in about 40-50 words each. 2#3 = 6

i. Was there any balcony outside the window? What role does it play in the story, ‘The Midnight Visitor’?

ii. ‘If the theory proves correct, it will be a big step towards understanding the processes of life.’ What is
the theory and who proposed it?
(The Making of a Scientist)

iii. What happened at the ball ? Was Matilda’s dream fulfilled?

(The Necklace)
VIII Answer ANY ONE of the following in about 100-120 words. 6

i. According to Nelson Mandela, every man in life has twin obligations. What are these obligations ? Do
you agree with Nelson Mandela’s opinion about the ‘twin obligations’?
(Nelsom Mandela : Long Walk to Freedom)

O

ii. How does Amanda tackle the nagging nature of her parents? Explain with examples from the poem
‘Amanda!’. What values does it portray about Amanda?

IX Answer ANY ONE of the following in about 100-120 words. 6

i. “Oh I will, Mr Herriot. I’m sure you are right, but it is so difficult, so very difficult.”
Above statement easily shows that Mrs Pumphrey is a very loving and caring mistress for Tricki. Explain
the truth with instances from the story ‘A Triumph of Surgery’.

O

ii. “A lawless scientist is a curse to the society.”

Discuss with reference to the story ‘Footprints without Feet’.

******
CBSE English X Sample Paper 9 (Solved) Page 1

Sample Paper 5 (Solved)

Class X Exam 2022-23
English-Language and Literature (184)
Time Allowed : 3 Hrs. Maximum Marks: 80
General Instructions:
1. 15-minute prior reading time allotted for Q-paper reading.
2. The Question Paper contains THREE sections READING, GRAMMAR & WRITING and LITERATURE.
3. Attempt question based on specific instructions for each part.

SECTION A- READING SKILLS 20 Based on your understanding of the passage, answer

the questions given below.
I. Read the passage given below. 10
1. Economist, ethicists and business experts persuade i. According to the passage, what do economists and
us that honesty is the best policy, but their evidence ethicists, want us to believe?
is weak. We hoped to find data that would support (a) Businessmen should always be honest
their theories and thus, perhaps, encourage higher
standards of business behaviour. To our surprise, their (b) Businessmen cannot always be honest
pet theories failed to stand up. Treachery, we found, (c) Businessmen turn dishonest at times
can pay. There is no compelling economic reason to (d) Businessmen are honest only at times
tell the truth or keep one’s word. Punishment for the Ans : (a) Businessmen should always be honest
treacherous in the real world is neither swift nor sure.
2. Honesty is, in fact, primarily a moral choice. Business ii. What did the author find out about the theory that
people do tell themselves that, in the long run, they ‘honesty is the best policy’ ?
will do well by doing good. But there is little factual (a) It is correct on many occasions
or logical basis for this conviction. Without values, (b) It is correct for all businesses
without a basic preference of right over wrong, trust
(c) It is a useless theory
based on such delusion would crumble in the face of
temptation. Most of us choose virtue because we want (d) It is a theory which seems to be correct only
to believe in ourselves and because others respect and occasionally
believe us. Ans : (b) It is correct for all businesses
3. And due to this, we should be happy. We can be
proud of a system in which people are honest because
they want to be, not because they have to be.
Materially, too, trust based on morality provides great
advantages. It allows us to join in great and exciting
enterprises that we could never undertake if we relied
on economic incentives alone.
iii. Infer one reason for the following, based on information
4. Economists tell us that trust is enforced in the market
in paragraph 2:
place through retaliation and reputation. If you
violate a trust, your victim is apt to seek revenge and Businessmen are honest in their dealings.
others are likely to stop doing business with you, at Ans : Businessmen choose to be honest.
least under favourable terms. A man or woman with
iv. According to the author, which of the following, is the
a reputation for fair dealing will prosper. Therefore,
reason for being honest in business?
profit maximisers are honest. This sounds plausible
enough until you look for concrete examples. Cases (a) It gives no immediate benefits
that apparently demonstrate the awful consequences (b) It gives no long-term benefits
of trust turn out to be few and weak, while evidence (c) It makes a person self-seeking
that treachery can pay seems compelling. (d) None of these
Ans : (d) None of these
v. Supply one point to justify the following: II. Read the passage given below. 10
The author says that one can be proud of the present
situation. 1. The ocean is one of the most unexplored parts of our
planet, with a magnitude of undiscovered species and
Ans : People are honest without compulsion. mysteries. It turns out from the studies conducted over
the last few decades, this magnificent environment is
vi. Suppy one material advantage which the author sees under serious threat from human intervention, with
in being honest. plastics set to outnumber fish by 2050.
Ans : It permits one to make a lot of profit in various
2. Marine life, as we know it, is suffering irreparable
areas.
damage from the chemical pollution of the waters and
vii. Which of the following phrases is most nearly the the millions of tons of mismanaged waste dumped in
same in meaning as the word ‘persuade’ as it has been the oceans each year. The result is a planetary crisis
used in the passage? with over 100 million marine animal’s lives get lost
every year, and the decay of the ocean’s ecosystem.
(a) Give an assurance
Shocking Ocean Pollution Statistics
(b) Give an opinion
• 100 melon marine animals die each year from
(c) Try to convince
plastic waste alone.
(d) Cheat
• 100000 marine animal die from getting entangled
Ans : (c) Try to convince
in plastic yearly - this is just the creatures we find
• 1 in 3 marine mammal species get found entangled
viii. State whether the following statement is TRUE or
in litter, 12-14000 tons of plastic are ingested by
FALSE:
North Pacific fish yearly.
Economists believe that all businessmen are dishonest.
• In the past 10 years, we’ve made more plastic
Ans : FALSE.
than the last century. By 2050, the pollution of
fish will be outnumbered by our dumped plastic.
• The largest trash site on the planet is the Great
Pacific Garbage Patch, twice the surface area of
Texas, it outnumbers sea life there 6 to 1.
• Chine is ranked #1 for mismanaged waste and
plastics. However, the US is in the top 20 with a
more significant waste per person contributions.
• 300 Million tons of plastic gets created yearly,
and this weighs the same as the entire human
population, and 50% is single-use only.
ix. Substitute the word ‘conviction’ with ONE WORD
• There are 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic waster
similar in meaning, in the following sentence from
estimated to be in our oceans. 269000 tons float,
paragraph 2:
4 billion microfibers per km2 dwell below the
Business people do tell themselves that, in the long
surface.
run, they will do well by doing good. But there is little
• 70% of our debris sinks into the oceans’s ecosystem,
factual or logical basis for this conviction.
15% floats and 15% lands on our beaches.
Ans : faith.
• In terms of plastic, 8.3 million tons are discarded
in the sea yearly. Of which, 236000 are ingestible
x. Which of the following best describes what the author
microplastics that marine creatures mistake for food.
is trying to point out through the last sentence of the
passage, “Cases that…..compelling”? • Plastics take 500-1000 years to degrade; currently
79% is send to lands or the oceans, while only 9%
(a) The consequences of business
is recycled, and 12% gets incinerated.
(b) The contradictions in the real world
• 1950-1998 over 100 nuclear blast tests occurred in
(c) Economists predict incorrectly our oceans.
(d) The contradictions is unreal • 500 marine locations are now recorded as dead
Ans : (b) The contradictions in the real world zones globally, currently the size of the United
Kingdom’s surface (245000 km2)
 • 80% of global marine pollution comes from iii. The largest trash site on the planet, the Great Pacific
agriculture runoff, untreated sewage, discharge of Garbage Patch, is twice the size of which city ?
nutrients and pesticides. (a) Arizona (b) Colorado
• 90% of the worldwide ocean debris comes from 10 (c) Texas (d) Florida
rivers alone. Ans : (c) Texas
3. Almost 1,000 species of marine animals get impacted
by ocean pollution, and we now have over 500 iv. Which country is ranked number one for mismanaged
locations recorded as dead zones where marine life waste and plastics ?
cannot exist. How did this happen, what is causing (a) China (b) USA
the most damage, find out everything above in the (c) India (d) France
marine pollution statistics roundup. Ans : (a) China
4. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a floating island
of debris, accumulated in the North Pacific Ocean by v Complete the following analogy correctly with a word
an extensive system of currents called gyres. It is built from paragraph 3:
up from two other waste patches, the western garbage slug : land :: shark : _____
patch near Japan and the eastern garbage patch near (Clue : Just like a slug lives on land, similarly a shark
America’s west coast near California and Hawaii. lives in...)
5. The North Pacific Subtropical Convergence Zone Ans : ocean.
links the east and western garbage patches, acting as
a highway for waste to move from one to the other. vi. Which of the following is NOT a place from where
Because of this, a small item of debris dropped near 80% of global marine pollution comes ?
California can travel across to Japan, then eventually (a) untreated sewage
get sucked up by these swirling garbage patch vortexes. (b) agriculture run-off
6. The great pacific garbage patch size is quite shocking. (c) discharge of nutrients and pesticide
These patches of trash are said to be twice the (d) factory waste disposal
size of Texas and float on the surface but do drop Ans : (d) factory waste disposal
several meters into the ocean in places, which makes
the correct size challenging to measure. The world’s
largest garbage site is mainly made up of microplastics
creating a vast cloud, with newer items of debris that
haven’t broken down as much floating around like
chunks in a soup. The great pacific garbage patch vii. List one reason for the following, based on informatin
effects on marine life are extremely significant. in paragraph 5:
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer A small item of debris dropped near California can
travel across to Japan.
the questions given below.
Ans : The North Pacific Subtropical Convergence
i. In the ocean what is set to outnumber the fish by the Zone.
year 2050?
(a) pollution (b) plastics viii. State whether the following statement is TRUE or
(c) human waste (d) garbage FALSE;
700 marine locations are now recorded as dead zones
Ans : (b) plastics
globally.
ii. List any two reasons for the following, based on Ans : FALSE.
information in paragraph 2
Marine life is suffering from irreparable damage. ix. Substitute the word ‘irreparable’ with ONE WORD
1. __________ similar in meaning, in the following sentence from
2. __________ paragraph 2:
Ans : Marine life, as we know it, is suffering irreparable
1. The millions of tons of mismanaged waste dumped damage from the chemical pollution of the waters...
in the oceans each year. Ans : unrecoverable.
2. The chemical pollution of the waters.
x. An extensive system of currents in the North Pacific iv. Select the option that identifies the error and supplies
Ocean is called : the correction for the following line:
(a) vortex There are not some buses because the drivers have
(b) convergence gone on a strike.
(c) gyres Option No. Error Correction
(d) debris
(a) are is
Ans : (c) gyres
(b) the a
(c) some any
III. SECTION B- GRAMMAR 10 (d) have has
Attempt ANY TEN of the following questions. 10 Ans : (c)

i. Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option to v. Complete the given sentence, by filling in the blank
complete the sentence. with the correct option:
The mechanic _____ the vehicle since the morning. I have _____ Lakshmi for the past twelve years.
(a) repaired (a) know
(b) repairing (b) knew
(c) has been repairing (c) known
(d) will be repairing (d) knows
Ans : (c) has been repairing Ans : (c) known

vi. Fill in the blank by using the correct form of the word
ii. Read the conversation between customer and in the bracket.
shopkeeper. Complete the sentence by reporting According to the news, the shower _____ (were) to
shopkeeper’s reply correctly.
take place.
Customer : Can I have a bottle of juice?
Ans : is.
Shopkeeper : Sorry, we only have milk bottles.
vii. Report the dialogue between Meena and Neha, by
The customer asked the shopkeeper if he could have completing the narration:
a bottle of juice. The shopkeeper apologized and said Meena : Tomorrow is your birthday, what do you
_____. want as a gift?
Ans : they only had milk bottles Neha : That is a lovely thought but I don’t want
anything.

Meena asked Neha since the next day was her birthday,
_____. Neha replied that that was a lovely thought
but she did not want anything.
Ans : what she wanted as a gift

viii. Identify the error in the given sentence and supply the
correction.
Dawn’s favorite activity is draw sketches of her family.
iii. Select the correct option to fill in the blank for the
given line. Use the given format for your response.
Genius does what it must, and talent does what it
_____. Error Correction
(a) can
(b) would
Ans :
(c) may
(d) should Error Correction
Ans : (a) can draw drawing
ix. Transform the following direct speech into reported IV. SECTION B- CREATIVE WRITING SKILLS 10
speech:
All the names and addresses used in the questions are
He said, “Has anybody been unkind to you ?”
fictitious. Resemblance, if any, is purely coincidental.
Ans : He asked me if anybody had been unkind to me.
1. Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below. 5
x. Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option, to
A. You are Arihant/Ananya of Ashok Vihar. Write a
complete the sentence.
letter of complaint to Cabinet World regarding the
There _____ something wrong with the cooker
faulty cabinet that they have sold to you. Invent the
today.
necessary details on your own.
(a) must be Ans :
(b) should have been
4, Ashok Vihar, Phase I
(c) must have been New Delhi
(d) None of these 19th May, 20....
Ans : (a) must be The Manager
Cabinet World
xi. Select the correct option to complete the narration of Delhi
the dialogue between Tanmay and Astha. Subject : Complaint about faulty television cabinet
Tanmay : How did you spend your vacation? purchased at Cabinet World
Astha : I visited Kashmir with my parents. Sir,
I am unhappy with the quality of a television cabinet
Tanmay asked Astha how she had spent her vacation. I bought from your shop on 5th May and I am writing
Astha replied that _____. to seek a replacement.
(a) she has visited Kashmir with her parents The cabinet doors do not open and shut properly,
(b) she had visited Kashmir with her parents and the stain on the cabinet is uneven, with one half
darker than the other. The cabinet was delivered on
(c) she have visited Kashmir with her parents
15th May and I noticed this problem as soon as I
(d) she hadn’t visited Kashmir with her parents unpacked it from the box.
Ans : (b) she had visited Kashmir with her parents The cabinet is not of acceptable quality and does
not match the sample cabinet I was shown in the
store. I would like you to replace it with one of the
same quality and finish as the sample, and arrange
for return of the faulty cabinet at no additional cost.
I have attached a photocopy of my receipt as a proof
of purchase. I would like to have this problem fixed
as early as possible. If I do not hear from you within
10 days, I will have to lodge a formal complaint with
xii. Identify the error in the given sentence and supply the Consumer Affairs in my state. You can contact me on
correction. 1234 5678 to discuss this matter further.
Looking forward to your cooperation.
We can expect few more mosquitoes after continued
Yours sincerely
falls of rain.
Arihant/Ananya
Use the given format for your response.
Or
Error Correction
B. You are Mohammad Ali/Sahiba Ali, residing in 1545,
Kirti Nagar, New Delhi. Write a letter to the Deputy
Ans : Commissioner of Police, drawing his attention to the
deteriorating law and order situation in the city.
Error Correction Ans :
1545, Kirti Nagar
few some
New Delhi
5th January, 20..
The Deputy Commissioner of Police
Delhi
 Subject : Deteriorating law and order situation in the making it the coldest month of the year. As for Dubai,
city it has a temperature of just below 20c C and is the
Sir/Madam, coldest month of the year. Meanwhile, Sydney has a
Through this letter, I wish to bring your kind attention temperature of just below 25c C in January, which
towards the deteriorating law and order situation in remarkably is the hottest month of the year of this city.
the city. Many incidents of daylight thefts and killings Now, the temperature of Paris slowly increases over
have been reported during the recent days. Incidents the year and reaches as high as 20c C in the month of
of chain snatching, kidnapping, rape and murder are July and August. At the same time, the temperature
also on the rise these days. It seems everybody is of Dubai is also on the rise, reaching just above 35c C
unsafe, whether it is a person walking on the street or in the month of August. In contrast, the temperature
a person at home. of Sydney keeps on falling over the year till it reaches
Everyone is susceptible to fall prey to the evil as low as 13c C in July, making it the coldest month
intentions of the antisocial elements in the society. of the year of this city. In the latter half of the year,
There is no peace, and disquiet has become a norm. we notice that the temperature of Paris and Dubai
Even terrorists are seen wandering fearlessly in broad is on the fall, while the temperature of Sydney is on
daylight. the increase. From August, the temperature of Paris
None of these criminals have been arrested so keeps on falling till it reaches 5c C in December. At
far. If arrested, many of them go scot-free, those the same time, the temperature of Dubai also keeps
not arrested, are seen roaming freely on roads. It falling till it reaches around 22c C in December. On
seems there is no law and order to control this kind the other hand, the temperature of Sydney is on a
of incidents. It is time that laws are applied more rise in the latter half of the year. From July, we see
effectively to curb the menace. I request you to look a steady increase in temperature till it reaches 23c C
into this matter and take necessary action immediately in December. Overall, we can conclude that the line
to enable the residents to live in peace. graph shows that Paris is the coldest city and Dubai
Thanking you is the hottest city among the three. As for Sydney,
Yours sincerely it maintains a moderate temperature throughout the
Mohammad Ali/Sahiba Ali year.

2. Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below. 5

A. The following line graph shows the average monthly
Or
temperatures in three major cities. Write an analytical
paragraph on the basis of the line graph reporting B. The graph below shows fast food consumption among
the important information and making comparisons men and women in 2015. Write an analytical paragraph
where relevant. in 100-120 words by selecting and reporting the main
features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Ans :
Monthly Average Temperature
of Three Cities
The line graph shows the monthly average
temperature of three major cities- Paris, Dubai and
Sydney throughout a year. As the graph illustrates, in
January the temperature in Paris is just below 5c C
 Ans : iii. The narrator couldn’t see outside the aeroplane
because :
Average Percentage of Daily Calories from
Fast Food : 2015 (a) it was too bright to look outside.
The bar graph shows how much fast food men and (b) he was too high in the clouds to see anything
women of different age groups consumed every day in clearly.
2015. In both groups, the percentage of daily calories (c) everything was black inside the storm clouds.
from fast food decreased as age increased. According (d) there was too much lightening.
to the graph, men consumed less fast food as they
Ans : (c) everything was black inside the storm clouds.
got older. The 18-34 age group had the highest
rate, getting around 17% of daily calories from fast
food. There was a significant drop, to just over 10%,
between this group and the next, age 35-49. Then,
there was a smaller drop, to around 9%, in the 50-64 iv. State whether the following statement is TRUE or
age group. The oldest age group, age 65 and over, had FALSE:
a much lower consumption rate, with just over 4% of It was impossible to see anything outside the aeroplane.
daily calories coming from fast food. Among women, Ans : TRUE.
there was similar decrease in fast food consumption
with age increase. Women age 18-34 got 16% of their v. Over which country was the pilot flying at this
daily calories from fast food. Like men, there was a moment ?
significant drop between this and the next age group, (a) Germany (b) Spain
to a little under 10% and then a smaller drop to the (c) United Kingdom (d) France
next age group. The oldest age group consumed far Ans : (d) France
less, under 4%, than the other age groups. There was
a similar decrease in fast food consumption with age
Or
increase for both men and women, although women
tended to consume slightly less than men across all 1.B It was green, green everywhere. Rajvir had never seen
age groups. so much greenery before. Then the soft green paddy
fields gave way to tea-bushes.
SECTION C- LITERATURE 40 It was a magnificent view. Against the backdrop of
densely wooded hills a sea of tea bushes stretched as
V. Reference to the Context 10 far as the eye could see. Dwarfing the tiny tea plants
were tall sturdy shade-trees and amidst the orderly
1. Attempt ANY ONE of two extracts given. 5 rows of bushes busily moved doll-like figures. In the
1.A Inside the clouds, everything was suddenly black. It distance was an ugly building with smoke billowing
was impossible to see anything outside the aeroplane. out of tall chimneys.
The old aeroplane jumped and twisted in the air. I “Hey, a tea-garden !” Rajvir cried excitedly.
looked at the compass. I couldn’t believe my eyes : the Pranjol, who had been born and brought up on a
compass was turning round and round and round. It plantation, didn’t share Rajvir’s excitement.
was dead. It would not work! The other instruments (Glimpses of India)
were suddenly dead, too. I tried the radio.
(Two Stories About Flying) i. Supply one reason for the following, based on
information in the extract:
i. What was causing the plane to jump and twist in the Pranjol did not share Rajvir’s excitement about the
air ? view outside.
(a) air pressure Ans : He was born and brought up in that area.
(b) wind currents
(c) black stormy clouds ii. Why has the building been called ugly ?
(d) dead engine (a) because it was an old building
Ans : (c) black stormy clouds (b) because the construction was bad
(c) because smoke was coming out of its tall chimneys
ii. Infer one reason for the following, based on information
in the extract: (d) because it didn’t have a good history
The compass was turning round and round. Ans : (c) because smoke was coming out of its tall
Ans : Because it was dead. chimneys
iii. Why did Rajvir cry excitedly ? Or
(a) because he saw too much greenry 2.B The way a crow
(b) because he saw a tea-garden Shook down on me
(c) because he saw a plantation The dust of snow
From a hemlock tree
(d) because he saw an ugly building
(Dust of Snow)
Ans : (b) because he saw a tea-garden
i. Complete the following analogy correctly with a word
iv. What has been called ‘magnficent’ in the extract? from the extract:
Ans : The green green view of Assam’s tea gardens. eider : duck :: cedar : _____
(Clue : Just like an eider is a type of duck, similarly a
v. Which of the following options tells the meaning of cedar is a type of...)
the word ‘billowing’ ? Ans : tree.
(a) aggressively shooting upwards
(b) rolling outward ii. Which literary device has been used throughout the
(c) moving at a great speed poem?
(d) gathering at a place (a) Simile
Ans : (b) rolling outward (b) Personification
(c) Alliteration
2. Attempt ANY ONE of two extracts given. (d) Enjambment
2.A Now the name of the little black kitten was Ink, Ans : (d) Enjambment
And the little grey mouse, she called him Blink,
And the little yellow dog was sharp as Mustard, iii. Where is the poet sitting in the poem Dust of Snow?
But the dragon was a coward, and she called him
(a) Under a laburnum tree
Custard.
(b) Under a hemlock tree
(The tale of Custard the Dragon)
(c) Under a peepal tree
i. Who is ‘she’ ? (d) None of these
(a) Amanda (b) Belinda Ans : (b) Under a hemlock tree
(c) Wanda (d) Peggy
iv. State whether the following statement is TRUE or
Ans : (b) Belinda
FALSE:
hemlock tree is a a poisonous tree with white flowers.
ii. What was the little kitten called?
Ans : TRUE.
(a) Mustard (b) Blink
(c) Ink (d) Custard
Ans : (c) Ink

iii. Supply one characteristic of the dragon according to

the extract.
Ans : He was a coward.

iv. Infer one reason for the following, based on information

in the extract:
v. What makes the fine particles of snow fall from the
The little dog was called Mustard.
tree?
Ans : He was as yellow and sharp as mustard.
(a) Frog
(b) Crow
v. Choose an option that is an antonym of the word
‘coward’. (c) Snake
(a) weakling (b) scaredy cat (d) Goldfinch
(c) aggressor (d) master Ans : (b) Crow
Ans : (c) aggressor
VI Answer ANY FOUR of the following in about 40-50 v. How far would you agree that one’s positivity
words each. 4 # 3 = 12 can bring in a spark of brightness even in adverse
circumstances.?
i. What does Chubukov at first suspect Lomov had (A Letter to God)
come to his house for ? Ans :
(The Proposal) It is absolutely true that optimism can bring about a
spark of brightness even in adverse situations. It was
Ans : Lencho’s innocent optimism that eventually led to his
Seeing Lomov in an evening dress at his house, getting seventy pesos. In fact, it was his positivity
Chubukov at first thought that Lomov had come to despite the hailstorm that he even wrote a letter to
borrow some money from him. In his mind Chubukov God in first place. His hope finall triumphed.
had decided not to lend him any money, but still he
talked quite politely to him
VII Answer ANY TWO of the following in about 40-50
ii. How did Valli manage to leave her house? words each. 2#3 = 6
(Madam Rides the Bus)
Ans : i. Was there any balcony outside the window? What
Everyday after lunch Valli’s mother would take a nap role does it play in the story, ‘The Midnight Visitor’ ?
from one to four or so. Valli usually used this time to Ans :
indulge in her excursions as she stood looking from When Ausable saw Max holding a pistol aimed at
the doorway of her house or venturing out into the him, he made up a story that there was a balcony
village. She used the same hours for her first excursion through which it was the second time in a month that
outside the village. an intruder had entered his room. When there was a
knock at the door and Max feared that he would be
caught by the police, he jumped down on the balcony
and met his end.

ii. ‘If the theory proves correct, it will be a big step

towards understanding the processes of life.’ What is
the theory and who proposed it?
(The Making of a Scientist)
Ans :
iii. ‘Money is external.’ What does the poet John Richard Ebright’s new theory was about cell life. It
Berryman mean by these words? came to him while he was looking at X-ray photos
(The Ball Poem) of the chemical structure of a hormone. The photos
Ans : gave him an answer as to how the cell can ‘read’ the
Money is external. It cannot be used to replace blueprint of its DNA. DNA is the substance in the
everything. Money cannot buy happiness. It cannot nucleus of a cell that controls heredity. It determines
buy memories. We must learn to be responsible and the form and function of the cell. Thus, DNA is the
take care of our possessions. The things we possess blueprint for life. Ebright proposed this theory with
have memories attached to them, hence they must the help of his roommate James R. Wong.
be taken care of. Money cannot replace everything
because it cannot compensate for the sense of loss iii. What happened at the ball ? Was Matilda’s dream
suffered by a person. fulfilled?
(The Necklace)
iv. The “yellow hair” is a symbol in the poem. Briefly Ans :
support the statement with reference to the poem At the ball, Matilda was drunk with pleasure and
“For Anne Gregory”. filled with joy. She danced joyfully and excitedly.
Ans : Fascinated with her charm and beauty, all the men
In some countries, yellow or blonde hair is considered wanted to be introduced to her. The officials of the
appealing in contrast to dark hair. Girls with lighter ministry even desired to dance with her. She danced
hair colour are portrayed as beautiful in movies and with passion and forgot everything in the victory of
stories. So the yellow hair of Anne Gregory in the her glory.
poem emphasises her beautiful outlook.
VIII Answer ANY ONE of the following in about 100-120 IX Answer ANY ONE of the following in about 100-120
words. 6 words. 6
i. According to Nelson Mandela, every man in life has i. “Oh I will, Mr Herriot. I’m sure you are right, but it
twin obligations. What are these obligations ? Do you is so difficult, so very difficult.”
agree with Nelson Mandela’s opinion about the ‘twin Above statement easily shows that Mrs Pumphrey is
obligations’ ? a very loving and caring mistress for Tricki. Explain
(Nelsom Mandela : Long Walk to Freedom)
the truth with instances from the story ‘A Triumph
Ans :
of Surgery’.
Nelson Mandela believed that in life, every man
Ans :
had twin obligations. These were obligations to his
Mrs. Pumphrey was a very loving and caring mistress
family, to his parents, to his wife and children, and
of Tricki. She looked after her pet Tricki with great
his obligation to his people, his community and his
love and pampered him a lot. But due to her immense
country. He said that in a civil and humane society,
love and affectionate nature, she did not realize that
each man was able to fulfil these obligations. But,
too much indulgence was proving harmful for him.
in South Africa, previously, it was impossible for a
When Tricki was listless and seemed to have no energy,
dark-skinned man to fulfil both of these obligations.
the first thought that came to her mind was that it
Because a man of colour who attempted to live as
must be due to malnutrition. Like a caring mother,
a human being in South Africa was punished and
she started giving him a little extra food between the
isolated.
meals to build him up. Out of sheer love and concern,
I fully agree with Nelson Mandela because in any
she gave him some malt, cod liver oil and bowl of
country where people are being oppressed, anyone
Horlicks. She couldn’t even cut out on sweets because
who wishes to fulfil his duty to his people is bound
he appeared to be so weak and moreover, she found
to be prevented from fulfilling his obligations as a
it very difficult to keep Tricki on a very strict diet.
son, as a brother, as a father and as a husband. To
She wasn’t wise but she was very loving. She almost
serve the cause of his people Nelson Mandela had to
swooned when Mr. Herriot suggested that Tricki
spend thirty years in prison like many Indian freedom
should be hospitalised. She even wailed when Tricki
fighters who struggled for the sake of the freedom of
was being taken away by Mr. Herriot while her entire
their beloved country.
staff carried all of Tricki’s favourite things to the car.
Or She, with a despairing cry and tears in her eyes, threw
ii. How does Amanda tackle the nagging nature of an armful of the little coats through the window of the
moving car when Tricki was being taken away. Later,
her parents? Explain with examples from the poem
Mrs. Pumphrey called up a dozen times a day for the
‘Amanda!’. What values does it portray about
latest bulletins on Tricki’s health. On being told that
Amanda? Tricki was convalescing, she sent fresh eggs, wine and
Ans : brandy for him. She loved Tricki so much that when
Amanda is a small girl who is termed as moody for he got well, she thanked Mr. Herriot by saying that-
her careless behaviour. But it is very surprising to ‘This is triumph of surgery.’
know that this is her defence mechanism to shield her
self against her nagging parents. Amanda is getting
instructions from her parents, which become too much
to handle for the small girl. She is told not to eat her Or
nails and sit in a proper position. Amanda’s response
to it is her work of imagination where she is a mermaid ii. “A lawless scientist is a curse to the society.”
drifting effortlessly by the languid river. Further, she Discuss with reference to the story ‘Footprints without
is asked about cleaning her room and finishing her Feet’.
homework to which she reacts by imagining herself Ans :
being an orphan roaming in the street and making A true scientist is always dedicated and concerned
patterns with her bare feet. Amanda then faces the about the welfare and well-being of the society as
heat for eating a chocolate, which had once caused her a whole. A scientist should never be selfish but use
acne. This time in her imagination, she takes the form his inventions and discoveries for the benefit of the
of Rapunzel and wishes to live on top of a tower away entire mankind. His goal should be to see the people
from everyone. Amanda’s parents are upset over her of the world happy, prosperous and leading their lives
behaviour and casualness, but she stays in her own comfortably.
world. All these portray Amanda in a positive light But a scientist, if he is lawless, is a curse to the
while her parents in a negative light. society. For instance, Griffin in the story ‘Footprints
without Feet’ was a brilliant scientist, who made a
rare discovery of making the human body invisible.
But he was selfish, lawless and concerned more about
his own petty gains. He was a lawless scientist who
misused his discovery by setting his landlord’s house
on fire, stealing from the London store, attacking a
shopkeeper and robbing him of his money, while he
was in London. At Iping also, he stole the clergyman’s
money, hit Mrs. Hall by hurling a chair at her and
knocked down the constable after becoming invisible.
This shows that a scientist like him is a curse to the
society and rather than causing benefit, he causes
more harm to the people around him.