SHIVASHISH WORLD SCHOOL

PREBOARD ASSESSMENT (2024-25)

CLASS :X SUB: ENGLISH L&L (184) DATE : 16/12/2024
TIME : 3 HOURS. (Answer key- Set 2) MM: 80

SECTION A: READING SKILLS (20 marks)

1. Read the following text.

i. In paragraph 1, how do crows sometimes show their friendship with humans?

• By bringing gifts.

ii. Crows are known for being intelligent because:

• (b) They can recognize human faces and share information with other crows.

iii. How do American crows interact with their surroundings and other crows, as explained in paragraph 3?

• American crows have a family and territory they protect and interact with bigger groups of unfamiliar
crows, similar to human social systems.

iv. Select the option that best describes the similarities between the crow’s brain and the human brain:

• (b) Crows, like humans, have brain areas that handle emotions and fear.

v. State whether the following statement is True or False:

• False. Crows have specific tastes in food and may choose their favorites but are not picky eaters to the
extent of eating only one kind of food.

vi. The writer mentions in paragraph 6 that feeding crows can become a problem. What could happen if too
much food is left out for them?

• (B) Crows might gather in large numbers and disturb the neighborhood.

vii. List two things humans should keep in mind when feeding crows, as mentioned in the passage.

1. Not to leave too much food out to avoid large gatherings of crows.

2. Ensure the food is safe and that feeding does not negatively impact human neighbors.

viii. The passage suggests that being friends with crows also means:

• (A) Taking responsibility for how your actions affect your neighbors.

2. Read the following text.

i. What does the use of the phrase “growing rapidly” by the writer, in paragraph 1, suggest about India’s
healthcare sector?
 • (B) The writer is emphasizing the fast expansion of the healthcare sector.

ii. Select the option that is true for the assertion and reason given below:

• (A) Both the assertion and reason are true, and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.

iii. Identify the percentage of healthcare expenses paid out of pocket by individuals in India, as mentioned in the
passage.

• Over 62%.

iv. According to the passage, what are two major government initiatives aimed at improving healthcare access in
India?

• Ayushman Bharat and Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY).

v. The Ayushman Bharat scheme aims to provide health insurance coverage for millions of Indian citizens,
reducing their out-of-pocket healthcare expenses. Ayushman Bharat covers up to:

• 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care.

vi. What are some of the strategies mentioned in the passage that the Indian government is using to address
healthcare challenges?

• Expansion of medical education, investment in healthcare infrastructure and technology, and initiatives
like Ayushman Bharat.

vii. The shortage of healthcare workers remains a critical issue in India, with only:

• 1 doctor for every 1,445 people.

viii. Experts believe that continued investment in healthcare infrastructure is necessary because:

• It provides better access to quality care for all citizens.

ix. In the context of paragraph 5, why is investing in healthcare workforce development crucial for the future of
India’s healthcare system?

• It is necessary to produce more healthcare professionals to meet the WHO-recommended doctor-to-

patient ratio.

SECTION B: WRITING SKILLS & GRAMMAR (20 marks)

3. Complete ANY TEN of twelve of the following tasks, as directed.

i. I will be following you in the evening today.

• (B) will be

ii. While walking back from school, Anu and Radha were discussing their day, when Anu asked Radha about her
day at school and Radha replied:

• that she thought it was a fun day.

iii. In India, the death toll due to road accidents has increased drastically. Wider road awareness among road
users:

• (C) should be taught to all the people.

iv. Select the option that identifies the error and supplies the correction for the following line, from a news
report:

• (D) Has / have

v. I tried the new dish to see how it:

• (C) tasted

vi. High-fat diets and ‘life in the fast lane’ have long:

• been known (know) to contribute to the high incidence of heart failure.

vii. In response to the question about submitting a blank sheet, the student respectfully answered:

• that he had drawn the diagram of bacteria, but it was not visible to the naked eye.

viii. Identify the error in the given sentence from an article and supply the correction:

• Error: knew / Correction: know

ix. Mohit shared some information with Jyoti about a visit to a circus. Report Jyoti’s question:

• Jyoti asked Mohit if he had seen the clowns in the circus.

x. Identify the error in the given sentence and supply the correction:

• Error: road / Correction: way

xi. Sarita told Gayatri that she was really looking forward to the class picnic the next day. Gayatri agreed that
after a long time:

• (B) they would be meeting their friends and teachers.

xii. Identify the error in the given sentence and supply the correction:

• Error: change / Correction: changes

4A. You are Abhimanyu Sikri... Write a letter of complaint.

[Answer may vary. MS- Format – 1M, Content – 2, Expression-1M, Accuracy – 1M)

5A. Interpret the histogram.

[Refer to the Question paper for the specific data .MS- Content-2M, Organisation of Ideas-2M, Accuracy-1M]

SECTION C: LITERATURE TEXTBOOK AND SUPPLEMENTARY READING TEXT (40 Marks)

6. Read the given extracts and answer ANY ONE of the two questions given below.

A. From the Diary of Anne Frank

i. C. N and Jacques staking their entire holiday savings on their bet implies:

• They are very confident and serious about their bet.

ii. Anne says that there were so many dummies in the class that about a quarter of them shouldn’t be promoted.
Is she being rude or brutally honest?

• She is being brutally honest, indicating that many students are not competent enough to pass.
iii. What effect does the upcoming meeting, as described in the lines below, have on the class?

• The upcoming meeting causes significant anxiety and fear among the students.

iv. Which emotion is portrayed in the expression ‘quaking in their boots’?

• C) frightness

OR

B. The Necklace

i. Why did she need the jewels?

• (A) To go to a party of rich people

ii. What did Matilda’s husband suggest her?

• To borrow jewelry from her friend, Madame Forestier.

iii. Fill in the blank with the correct word from the bracket:

• Elated

iv. What kind of a person is Mme Loisel and why is she always unhappy?

• Mme Loisel is materialistic and always unhappy because she feels she deserves a life of luxury.

7. Read the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of the two, given.

A. Amanda!

i. The extract shows that the speaker, Amanda’s mother is:

• Concerned

ii. How does the use of metaphor impact this extract?

• It emphasizes the contrasting emotions Amanda experiences.

iii. Why is Amanda imagining being an orphan?

• She is imagining being an orphan to escape her mother’s constant nagging and control.

iv. What is the poet estimating by making silence golden?

• (C) The value of independence

OR

B. A Tiger in the Zoo

i. What is the significance of the use of the phrase “quiet rage” to describe the mood of the tiger in the poem and
how does this word choice contribute to the overall mood and tone of the poem?

• The phrase “quiet rage” signifies the tiger’s suppressed anger and frustration at being caged,
contributing to a mood of sympathy and sadness.

ii. Complete the sentence with the appropriate option:

• (B) aid in camouflaging the presence of the predator before it rushes in

iii. Where should the tiger be lurking according to the poem “A Tiger in the Zoo”?

• In the shadow, sliding through long grass near the water hole.

iv. The poetic device used in the first line of the given extract is personification because the poet:

• Attributes human-like emotions to the tiger.

(Following questions, only value points given. Students need to explain it as per the word limit)

8. Answer ANY FOUR of the following five questions, in about 40-50 words.

Value points

i. Why did the woman in the control centre give a strange look to the narrator?

• Because the narrator had unexpectedly landed on a runway not visible to others.

ii. When did the baker collect his bill usually? Where was his account recorded?

• The baker usually collected his bill at the end of the month. His account was recorded on a wall with
pencil marks.

iii. How can one obtain peace of mind after a dear one’s death?

• By accepting death as a natural part of life and cherishing the memories of the loved one.

iv. How is divine love different from human love? (The Sermon at Benares)

• Divine love is eternal and unconditional, while human love is often conditional and temporary.

v. The ending of the poem indicates a celebration of victory. Discuss. (The Trees)

• The poem ends with the trees breaking free from the constraints of the human-made environment,
symbolizing victory over oppression.

**9. Answer ANY TWO of the following three questions, in about 40-50 words.**

Value points

i. How does “A question of Trust” include elements of crime or detective fiction?

• The story involves a clever theft, a detective character, and elements of suspense and investigation.

ii. Who was Griffin? What did he want to prove through his repeated experiments? (Footprints without Feet)

• Griffin was a scientist who wanted to prove that humans could become invisible.

iii. What subject did Richard Ebright choose for next year’s science fair? (The Making of a Scientist)

• Richard Ebright chose to study the purpose of the twelve tiny gold spots on a monarch pupa.

10. Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions, in about 100-120 words.

Value points
i. The courage showed by both Valli from “Madam Rides the Bus” and Custard from “The Tale of Custard the
Dragon” were quite unexpected from the perspective of the readers. Examine the similarities.

• Both Valli and Custard displayed unexpected bravery. Valli’s courage to travel alone on a bus and
Custard’s bravery in fighting the pirate showed their hidden strengths and determination.

ii. In the poem “Fire and Ice”, Frost subtly mocks the human propensity for both intense passion and cold
detachment. Similarly in the poem, “The Trees”, through the depiction of the trees, the poet mocks societal
constraints placed on women. Evaluate the similarities.

• Both poems critique human tendencies. “Fire and Ice” addresses destructive emotions like desire and
hatred, while “The Trees” highlights the struggle for freedom against societal norms.

11. Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions, in about 100-120 words.

Value points

i. Ausable knew Fowler was very disappointed on seeing him. What did Ausable say to him and how did he
console him? (The Midnight Visitor)

• Ausable explained the importance of appearances in their line of work and assured Fowler of his
competence by cleverly handling a dangerous situation.

ii. Bholi has multiple handicaps. She is a girl. She has pock-marks, she stammers. How can we change the social
attitudes towards the differently abled? (Bholi)

• Social attitudes can be changed through awareness, education, and inclusive policies that promote the
abilities and potential of differently-abled individuals, rather than focusing on their limitations.

***