VISHWA VENKATESHWARA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

REVISION TEST – 05

CLASS: X (CBSE) Subject: ENGLISH (184) Max Marks: 80 marks

DATE: 07/11/2023 Duration: 3 hours
General Instructions:
Read the instructions very carefully and strictly follow them:
i. The question paper comprises of 11 questions. All the questions are compulsory.
ii. The question paper contains THREE sections –
Section A – Reading skills
Section B – Grammar and Creative Writing Skills
Section C - Literature
iii. Attempt questions based on specific instructions for each part.
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Section A – Reading Skills [20 marks]

Reading Comprehension Through Unseen Passages
I. Read the following text. [10]

1. In the summer of 1967, when I was ten years old, my father caved into my persistent pleas
and took me to get my own dog. Together we drove in the family station wagon far into the
Michigan countryside to a farm run by a rough-hewn woman and her ancient mother. The
farm produced just one commodity-dogs. Dogs of every imaginable size and shape and age
and temperament. They had only two things in common: each was a mongrel of unknown
and distinct ancestry, and each was free to a good home.
2. I quickly decided the older dogs were somebody else’s charity case. I immediately raced to
the puppy cage. “You want to pick one that’s not timid,” my father coached. “Try rattling the
cage and see which ones aren’t afraid.”
3. I grabbed the chain-link gate and yanked on it with a loud clang. The dozen or so puppies
reeled backwards, collapsing on top of one another in a squiggling heap of fur. Just one
remained. He was gold with a white blaze on his chest, and he charged at the gate, yapping
fearlessly. He jumped up and excitedly licked my fingers through the fencing. It was love at
first sight.
4. I brought him home in a cardboard box and named him Shaun. He was one of those dogs
that give dogs a good name. he effortlessly mastered every command I taught him and was
naturally well-behaved. I could drop a crust on the floor and he would not touch it until I
gave the okay.
5. Relatives would visit for the weekend and return home determined to buy a dog of their
own, so impressed were they with Shaun – or “Saint Shaun,” as I came to call him. Born
with the curse of an uncertain lineage, he was one of the tens of thousands of unwanted
dogs in America. Yet by some stroke of almost providential good fortune, he became
wanted. He came into my life and I into his – and in the process, he gave me the childhood
every kid deserves.
6. The love affair lasted fourteen years, and by the time he died, I was no longer the little boy
who had brought him along on that summer day. I was a man, out of college and working
across the state in my first real job. Saint Shaun had stayed behind when I moved on. It
was where he belonged. My parents, by then retired, called to break the news to me. My
mother would later tell me, “In fifty years of marriage, I’ve only seen your father cry twice.
The first time was when we lost Mary Ann” – my sister, who was stillborn. “The second time
was the day Shaun died.”
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 7. Saint Shaun was the companion of my childhood. He was a perfect dog. At least that’s how
I will always remember him. It was Shaun who set the standard by which I would judge all
other dogs to come.

Answer the following questions, based on the passage above:

1. Why does the writer say that he ‘grabbed the chain-link and yanked on it with a loud clang’?
i. Because he wanted to see which of the dogs in that cage were timid.
ii. Because all the other dogs didn’t attract him.
iii. Because he wanted to pick the dog who was afraid of him.
iv. Because that was the standard procedure to select a dog

2. “It was Shaun who set the standard by which I would judge all other dogs to come.” What is
the writer’s tone in the given lines from paragraph (7)? Rationalise your response in about
3- - 40 words. (2)
3. Complete the sentence appropriately.
The author’s anointing his dog as ‘Saint Shaun’ is the ultimate honour he could bestow on
his pet because …………………………..

4. The passage includes some words that occur as companions with each other. From the
sets (i) – (v) below, identify two sets of word-companions.
i. Unknown and distinct ancestry iv. Dozen or so
ii. Size and shape v. Stayed behind and moved on
iii. Age and temperament

5. Complete the sentence appropriately.

For the author, Shaun became a benchmark for a good pet. It is evident from this statement
- ……………………………………………………………….

6. Based on the reading of the passage, examine, in about 30-40 words, how the passage is
as much a tribute to the author’s dog as is to his father too. (2)
7. Select the option that corresponds to the underlined phrasal verb in the statement.
“In the summer of 1967, when I was ten years old, my father caved into my persistent pleas
and took me to get my own dog.” (Paragraph 1)
i. He consistently requested his father
ii. He made persistent demands on his father for his pet.
iii. He made his father succumb to his demand.
iv. His father withstood his pleas.

8. Complete the given lines from a famous poem by supplying the missing word/words taking
cue from the word given in brackets.
…..Among the laurel bushes
And snagging goose-grass and rabbit holes,
I found what I ………..(forget), hidden
Under a wide oak.

II. Read the following text. [10]

1. The present generation is well-updated with the use of internet and computers. The rapid
development in technology and increase in accessibility of the internet for academic
purposes has changed the face of education for everyone associated with it. Let’s look at
the data arising out of a recent survey that was done to ascertain the time spent on
utilisation of the computer.
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 2. At present, many schools and universities have been implementing internet-based learning,
as it supplements the conventional teaching methods. The internet provides a wide variety
of references and information to academics as well as scientific researchers. Students often
turn to it to do their academic assignments and projects.

3. However, research on the Internet is very different from traditional library research, and the
differences can cause problems. The Internet is a tremendous resource, but it must be
used carefully and critically.

4. According to a 2018 Academic Student e-book Experience Survey, conducted by LJ’s

research department and sponsored by EBSCO, when reading for pleasure, almost 74% of
respondents said they preferred print books for leisure whereas, 45% of respondents chose
e-books rather than printed versions, for research or assignments.

5. When asked what e-book features make them their favourite for research, the respondents
were clear. Having page numbers to use in citations, topped the list (75%); followed by the
ability to resize text to fit a device’s screen (67%); the ability to bookmark pages, highlight
text, or take notes for later reference (60%); downloading the entire e-book (57%; and
allowing content to be transferred between devices (43%) were the varied responses.
Answer the following questions, based on the passage above:

1. Rearrange the following features of an e-book from the most favourite to the least favourite.
i. Downloading the entire e-book.
ii. Using page numbers in citations
iii. Highlighting text
iv. Transferring content between devices
v. Resizing text to fit the screen of a device.

2. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate option from those given in brackets, based on your
understanding of paragraph 2.
At present, many schools and universities have been implementing internet-based learning,
as it supplements the conventional teaching methods in assignments and projects with
information and references is …………………….. a fact/ an opinion because it is …………..
a/an subjective judgement/ objective detail.

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 3. Justify the following, in about 30 – 40 words. (2)
People have marked preferences when it comes to reading for pleasure or for research.

4. Based on the survey results, which two features have changed the face of education in
recent times?
i. ……………………………………… ii. …………………………………………

5. State any one inference that can be drawn from the following statement.
“The present generation is well-updated with the use of the internet and computers”

6. Select at least two options that correctly display what ‘citation’ signifies. (Reference –
Paragraph 5).

Image (i) Image (ii) Image (iii)

Image (iv) Image (v)

7. Infer one benefit and one drawback of using the internet as specified by the author in the
passage. Answer in about 30 – 40 words. (2)

8. Which of the following is the main takeaway from the study mentioned in the passage?
i. About three-quarters of the respondents preferred print books for recreational reading.
ii. A little less than 50% of the respondents voted for e-books for research or assignments.
iii. More than 50% of respondents stated enjoyed both versions of books for leisure reading.
iv. The survey was intended to understand the e-book experience among students.

Section B – (Writing Skills and Grammar) [20 marks]

Grammar [10]

III. Complete ANY TEN of twelve of the following tasks, as directed. [1×10=10]
1. Fill in the blank by choosing the correct form of the word in the bracket, for the given portion
of a letter.
Dear sir
Subject: Limiting the number of vehicles.

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 Through the columns of your esteemed newspaper, I ………………(highlight) the problem
of an ever-increasing number of vehicles on the roads of the cities in our country.

2. Read the given sentence from a recipe review article. Identify the error and supply the
correction in the sentence.
Most fast-food items also fall under the category of junk food because they
would be harmful to your health.

Use the given format for your response.

Error Correction

3. Mahima told Tanvi that the violence in the movie had scared her and that’s why she looked
gloomy. Report the question asked by Tanvi.

4. Read the dialogue between a teacher and his student, by completing the sentence.
Teacher: Sahil, what happened to you? You look upset.
Student: I lost my Exercise Book.
The teacher asked Sahil ……………………to him as he looked upset, to which Sahil answered that
he had lost his Exercise Book.
i. What had happened iii. What has happened
ii. If anything had happened iv. If anything has happened

5. Correct the following concluding paragraph of a report on a lunar mission.

The 2019 mission which was originally scheduled for launch on July 15 went aborted due to
technical anomalies detected in the final hours.

6. Identify the error and supply correction for the given sentence from an article by an
economist in a national daily.
India’s strong economic fundamental amid a weak global growth outlook is
a key rallying point for investors.

Use the given format for your response.

Error Correction

7. Select the option that identifies the error and supplies the correction for the following line,
from a story.

The older boys were working on the field, while the smaller ones were playing
besides the house when the storm struck with full force.

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 Option no. Error Correction

i. on in

ii. ones boys

iii. besides near

iv. with by

8. Complete the given narrative, by filling in the blank with the correct option.
My younger brother ……………… the wall when his friends came to call him for the match.
i. has been whitewashing iii. had been whitewashing
ii. was whitewashing iv. was being whitewashed

9. Report the dialogue between a father and son. Choose the correct option to complete the
narration of the dialogue between Abeer and his father.
Father: Have you revised all the sample papers in English?
Abeer: Yes, I am sure that I will get the highest marks in English.
Father asked Abeer ……………. all the sample papers in English. Abeer replied that he was
sure that ……………………...the highest marks in English.

10. Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option to complete the live feed on a popular news
channel.
In Punjab, a thousand hands …………………………. to plug a breach that flooded 3
dozen villages working on repairing the Bandh.

i. converge iii. had converge

ii. converged iv. were converging

11. Complete the line from a popular English song, by filling in the blank with the correct option.
I followed the signs, and I
……. Getting nowhere.
Oh! Why did I follow you?
Follow you? Follow you?
i. wind up iii. wound up
ii. wounded up iv. winds up

12. Identify the error and supply correction, for the following note on a company’s website.

Khatri & Sons Pvt. Ltd. Sonepat, Haryana

The South Point Group of Institutions offers discounts on all its courses for the
deserving and meritorious candidates.

Use the given format for your response.

Error Correction

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 Writing (10)
Note: All details presented in the questions are imaginary and created for assessment purposes
IV. Attempt any one from A and B given below [5
marks]
A. Suppose you are Manav/Manaswita of 176, D block, Sector-9, Rohini, New Delhi. You are a
student of Class XII. You happen to see the following advertisement regarding the coaching
classes for IIT-JEE. You are interested in joining the classes. Write a letter in about 100 –
120- words to the Director of the institute seeking information about the same.
Golden Opportunity for IIT-JEE aspirants!
Hurry! Hurry! Hurry!
*Limited seats* *Crash Course for 6 months* *Reasonable fee*
100% Selections! Conspicuous Result!
Highly reputed and recommended institute by the Toppers
WRITE YOUR OWN DESTINY WITH SUNRISE
Contact Today; P-21, Sunrise Coaching Institute, 217, First Floor, Shiromani Complex, Lajpat Nagar, New
Delhi, 98 XXX XXXXX

OR
B. Our rivers are polluted to a great extent. Domestic sewage and industries are the main
sources of pollution. The contaminated water is very harmful for health. Write a letter in
about 100-120 words to the Editor of a national daily describing the problem and suggesting
solutions to it. You are Romit/ Romita of 914, Model Town, New Delhi.
V. Attempt any one from A and B given below [ 5 marks]
A. Based on the following pie-chart depicting the Trend Analysis of the UPSC Preliminary
Examination, 2019. Write an analytical paragraph in about 100-120 words describing the
same.

OR
B. The given line graph provides information about changes in births and deaths in Australia
between 1901 and 2101. Write an analytical paragraph in about 100-120 words
summarizing the information given in the paragraph.

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 Section C – (Subjective Questions) [40 Marks]
VI. Read the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of the two, given.
(5)
A. Belinda giggled till she shook the house,
And Blink said Weeck! which is giggling for a mouse,
Ink and Mustard rudely asked his age,
When Custard cried for a nice safe cage.
Suddenly, suddenly they heard a nasty sound,
And Mustard growled, and they all looked around.
i. What can you infer from the repetition ’suddenly, suddenly’ in the above extract? (2)
ii. Why has the poet used the word ‘weeck’ to signify the giggling of the mouse? (1)
The poet
a. uses it to add suspense in the poem
b. has imagined how the mouse would sound in this mood
c. has mocked at the mouse for giggling at custard.
d. uses it to create a scary effect for readers.
iii. Which belief about the dragons is in contrast to Custard’s behaviour in the extract? (1)
a. Dragons are brave and feared.
b. Dragons can grant wishes.
c. Dragons can become invisible at will.
d. Dragons are soft-hearted and kind.
iv. A hyperbole is a literary device where the poet/ writer/ speaker purposely and obliviously
exaggerates to an extreme. Give a hyperbole from the extract. (1)
OR
B. “But I can get a hair-dye
And set such colour there,
Brown, or black, or carrot,
That young men in despair
May love me for myself alone
And not my yellow hair.”
i. Name the poetic device used in line 3. (1)
ii. What causes the young men to ‘despair’, according to the extract ? (2)
iii. Identify the reason for the speaker’s need to colour her hair, as per the extract . (1)
a. her control over what makes her look beautiful
b. her desire to be loved for inner beauty
c. her need to change people’s perception about beauty
d. her conviction that she is beautiful inside.
iv. Complete the analogy about the speaker’s hair. (1)
Yellow: blonde:: ___________ : carrot
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VII. Read the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of the two, given.
(5)
A. Max was a slender, a little less than tall, with features that suggested slightly the crafty,
pointed countenance of a fox. There was about him – aside from the gun – nothing especially
menacing. “The report,” he murmured. “The report that is being brought to you tonight
concerning some new missiles. I thought I would take it from you. It will be safer in my hands
than in your.” Ausable moved to an armchair and sat down heavily. “I’m going to raise the
devil with the management this time, and you can bet on it,” he said grimly. “This is the
second time in a month that somebody has got into my room through that nuisance of a
balcony!”
i. Owning a gun gave a menacing impression to Max’s character because (1)
a. a gun is only used by police officials.
b. he was carrying it without any official license.
c. a gun has a threatening implication.
d. the gun was particularly huge.
ii. Choose the option that displays the correct analogy. (1)
a. Crafty : fox :: menacing : gun
b. Report : missile :: management : devil
c. Crafty : fox :: management : balcony
d. armchair : grim :: balcony : nuisance
iii. Ausable thought Maxwell entered his room through a ___________________ (1)
iv. Who was Max? Which words describe his physique? (2)
OR
B. "Day after day she watched the bus and gradually a tiny wish crept into her head and grew
there: she wanted to ride on that bus, even if it was just once. This wish became stronger
until it was an overwhelming desire. Valli would stare wistfully at the people who got on and
off the bus when it stood at the street corner. Their faces would kindle in her longings,
dreams and hopes. If one of her friends happened to ride the bus and tried to describe the
sights of the town to her, Valli would be jealous to listen and would shout, in English: "Proud!
Proud!"
i. Valli would stare wistfully at the people as she had a ______________ to take a bus. (1)
ii. Pick the option that shows the list of words that collate with ‘overwhelming’. (1)
1. response 3. support 5. pets
2. lies 4. majority 6. places
a. 1, 5 and 6 c. 2 and 5
b. 1, 3 and 4 d. 3, 5 and 6
iii. A part of the extract has been paraphrased. Choose the option that includes the most
appropriate solution to the blanks. (1)
The desire became so (i) ________ that it transformed into an (ii) _______ one. Valli
would look (iii) ___________ at people who boarded the bus and got off.
a. (i) active (ii) overt (iii) longingly
b. (i) vigorous (ii) overpowering (iii) cheerfully
c. (i) staunch (ii) overt (iii) joyfully
d. (i) vigorous (ii) overpowering (iii) longingly
iv. What does the line ‘gradually a tiny wish crept into her head and grew there’, mean? (2)

VIII. Answer ANY FOUR of the following five questions in about 40 – 50 words: (4×3=12)

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 1. What is the significance of the Buddha’s request for a handful of mustard seeds and the
addition of a condition to it?
2. What was the most fascinating thing that Valli saw on the street?
3. Discuss briefly, the reasons owing to which Fowler was interested in meeting Ausable.
4. “A Question of Trust” is a story about the robbery of the robber. Expound.
5. Evaluate the poem in the context of the given quote.
‘If only our eyes saw souls instead of bodies, how very different our ideals of beauty would
be.” You may begin like this:
The poet shares that God loves us unconditionally, for who we are and not our appearance.
This quote ……….(continue)…………………
IX. Answer ANY TWO of the following three questions in about 40 – 50 words: (2×3=6)

1. “Society must be protected from men like you.” Comment on the irony of the given quote.
2. The “yellow hair” is a symbol in the poem. Briefly support the statement with reference to the
poem “For Anne Gregory”
3. The poem ‘The tale of Custard, the Dragon’ is a light-hearted ballad with a powerful
message. If the poem was written in any other style, do you think it would have created the
same effect on readers? Justify your response with reason(s).

X. Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions in about 100 – 120 words: (1×6 =6)

1. Life is full of trials and tribulations which can be overcome by a human being through his own
efforts. Explain with reference to Kisa Gotami’s life.

2. Valli shows extraordinary courage in taking a bus journey all alone. Explain how ability and
courage are essential to fulfil one’s dream.

XI. Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions in about 100 – 120 words: (1×6 =6)

1. A new secret agent has asked Ausable’s opinion on the traits they should be looking for in a
person filling in his shoes. Create a conversation between Ausable and the new agent about
indispensable traits that a secret agent must have.

2. Horace opened the safe and gave her the jewels believing they belonged to her. Why could
he not guess the true identity of the lady? What values could have helped him detect the true
identity of the lady? Write in about 80 – 100 words.
*******

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