English
English
English
Sample Paper 9
Class X Exam 2023-24
English Language and Literature (184)
Time Allowed : 3 Hrs. Maximum Marks: 80
General Instructions:
1. The Question Paper contains THREE sections READING, GRAMMAR & WRITING and LITERATURE.
2. Attempt question based on specific instructions for each part.
i. Many species are bred in zoos and reintroduced in their natural habitats. The word ‘reintroduced’
means. 1
(a) sent back to their original surroundings.
(b) introduced to animals.
(c) familiarized with the jungle.
(d) introduced to humans
ii. List the reason why zoos offer a large vista of possibilities to the multitudes. Rationalise your response
in about 40 words. 2
iv. The passage includes some words that are related to each other in functionality. From the sets (a)-(e)
below, identify two such sets. 1
(a) famine and epidemic
(b) television and play stations
(c) zoos and zoological parks
(d) conservation and research
(e) healthy and well-fed
v. Use information from the passage to complete the sentence given below appropriately. 1
The author advocates that even ill-maintained zoos should not be closed or banned; instead _____.
vi. Based on the reading of the passage, examine, in about 40 words, what makes the author say that the link
between man and nature has been broken. 2
viii. Some activists have suggested banning zoos. Why is this not a viable scenario according to the author? 1
3. According to the data, 20,390 samples of the 85,729 sent to the agency were found to be non-conforming
to prescribed standards. While agency officials maintain that Food Safety Officers in each state regularly
test samples to check for compliance and also take recourse in cases of violations according to the
Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, experts claim that poor enforcement on the ground and a lack of
awareness plague the process.
4. Consumer activist Bijon Mishra said the lengthy legal procedure involved in penalizing violators
provides an opportunity to the accused to keep doing business. “Law enforcement is very poor. It takes
years to finalise a case and by that time, sellers keep on making profits. Moreover, people are also not
aware. Hardly anybody complains about adulteration,” he added.
5 Umesh Sharma, an advocate, said enforcement of rules is very poor on the ground. “The issue is directly
related to public health and the government should take serious initiatives to implement food safety
rules,” he said. Data from the agency shows an abysmal conviction rate.
6. In 2017, the Law Commission issued a set of recommendations regarding the issue. The panel had
recommended that IPC Sections 272 (dealing with adulteration of food and drinks) and 273 (dealing
with the sale of noxious food and drinks) be amended to make adulteration a serious crime. It was also
recommended that depending on the gravity of the offence, punishment can include life imprisonment
and the minimum sentence should be six months in jail term.
7. The panel, headed by former Supreme Court judge BS Chauhan, also wanted amendments to Section
357 of the Criminal Procedure Code so that courts can order compensation for victims.
Answer the following questions, based on the passage above.
v. Substitute the word ‘punishing’ with ONE WORD similar in meaning, in the following, sentence from
Paragraph 4. 1
The lengthy procedure involved in punishing violators provides an opportunity to the accused to keep
doing business.
vi. Based on your understanding of the passage, choose the option that lists the punishments set for
offenders. 1
(a) Life imprisonment
(b) Public shaming
(c) Sentence of 6 months
(d) Both (a) and (c)
vii. Which samples were tasted by FSSAI and why? Also, what did the data suggest? 2
viii. Which of the following recommendations were made by the law commission regarding the issue? 1
(a) Minimum sentence should be six months’ jail term.
(b) Depending on the gravity of the offence, punishment can include life imprisonment.
(c) Adulteration became a serious crime.
(d) All of the above
GRAMMAR 10
i. Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option to complete the sentence. 1
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. 1
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. 1
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 : 1
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 : 1
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. 1
According to the news, the shower _____ (were) to take place.
vii. Report the dialogue between Meena and Neha, by completing the narration : 1
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. 1
Dawn’s favorite activity is draw sketches of her family.
x. Identify the error in the given sentence and supply the correction. 1
There must have been something wrong with the cooker today.
xi. Select the correct option to complete the narration of the dialogue between Tanmay and Astha. 1
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. 1
We can expect few more mosquitoes after continued falls of rain.
WRITING 10
Note : All details presented in the questions are imaginary and created for assessment purpose.
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.
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
6. Read the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of the two, given. 5
A. “He knows that I am lost”, I thought ‘He’s trying to help me.” He turned his aeroplane slowly to the
north, in front of my Dakota, so that it would be easier for me to follow him. I was very happy to go
behind the strange aeroplane like an obedient child. After half an hour the strange black aeroplane was
still there in front of me in the clouds. Now, there was only enough fuel in the old Dakota’s last tank to
fly for five or ten minutes more. I was starting to feel frightened again. But then he started to go down
and I followed through the storm.
(Two Stories about Flying—Black Aeroplane)
ii. The author says, “But then he started to go down and I followed through the storm.” What happened
after this? Answer in about 40 words. 2
iii. Which figure of speech has been used in the given statement: “I was very happy to go behind the strange
aeroplane like an obedient child”? 1
iv. If this extract were to be filmed, what would be required to bring out the dramatic effect of this
moment? 1
O
B. “We have an Indian legend too. Bodhidharma, an ancient Buddhist ascetic, cut off his eyelids because
he felt sleepy during meditations. Ten tea plants grew out of the eyelids. The leaves of these plants when
put in hot water and drunk banished sleep.”
“Tea was first drunk in China,” Rajvir added, “as far back as 2700 B.C.! In fact, words such as tea,
‘chaff’ and ‘chini’ are from Chinese. Tea came to Europe only in the sixteenth century and was drunk
more as medicine than as a beverage.” The train clattered into Mariani Junction. The boys collected their
luggage and pushed their way to the crowded platform.
(Glimpses of India)
i. In the statement, ‘The boys collected their luggage and pushed their way to the crowded platform’ the
meaning of ‘pushed their way’ means _____. 1
(a) to remove physical obstacles
(b) to ward away rules and restrictions
(c) to shove someone
(d) to make way for yourself
ii. Why did Rajvir have to convince Pranjol with an Indian legend about the origin of tea too? Answer in
about 40 words. 2
iii. Below are given some sentences with the word ‘legend.’ Which of these has expressed the same meaning
as in the passage? 1
(a) The football superstar, Messi is a living sports legend of our times.
(b) The Legend of Rama also has an animated version very popular even in Japan.
(c) The arrogance of some world politicians cum dictators is legendary.
iv. Which word in the extract is similar in meaning to a ‘short loud repeated sound’? 1
7. Read the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of the two, given. 5
A. Belinda embraced him, Mustard licked him,
No one mourned for his pirate victim.
Ink and Blink in glee did gyrate
Around the dragon that ate the pirate.
(The Tale of Custard the Dragon)
ii. What is the reason for this sudden show of affection? Which words indicate this change in behaviour and
mood in the extract? 1
iii. Which of the following best describes the way the dragon drove fear into the heart of the pirate? 1
(a) He whistled like an engine.
(b) He snorted like an engine.
(c) He cluttered, clinked, and jingled.
(d) He clashed and crushed the pirate.
O
B. “The way a crow
shook down on me
The dust of snow
From a hemlock tree.”
(Dust of Snow)
i. In what way does the language used in this poem challenge traditional ideas of what poetry should be? 1
ii. What is the significance of an uncommon bird like a crow and a poisonous tree in the poem? What do
they reflect about the poet and his overall mood and tone of the poem? Answer in about 40 words. 2
iv. Identify how has Frost used contrast in the given lines of the poem. 1
8. Answer ANY FOUR of the following five questions, in about 40-50 words. 4 # 3 = 12
i. What does Chubukov at first suspect Lomov had come to his house for ? 3
(The Proposal)
iii. ‘Money is external.’ What does the poet John Berryman mean by these words? 3
(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”. 3
v. How far would you agree that one’s positivity can bring in a spark of brightness even in adverse
circumstances.? 3
(A Letter to God)
9. Answer ANY TWO of the following three questions, in about 40-50 words. 2#3 = 6
i. Was there any balcony outside the window? What role does it play in the story, ‘The Midnight
Visitor’? 3
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? 3
(The Making of a Scientist)
10. Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions, in about 100-120 words. 1#6 = 6
A. 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
B. How does Amanda tackle the nagging nature of her parents? Explain with examples from the poem
‘Amanda!’. What values does it portray about Amanda?
11. Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions, in about 100-120 words. 1#6 = 6
A. “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
B. “A lawless scientist is a curse to the society.”
Discuss with reference to the story ‘Footprints without Feet’.
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