English Language and Literature : 2014 [Delhi] Set I

Read the passage given below and complete the statements that follow choosing the most appropriate options from those given below.                           [1 X 5=5]
Cheraw is the most colourful Mizo dance. Bamboos are used in this dance. Hence the dancer moves by stepping alternatively in and out from between and across a pair of horizontal bamboos, held against the ground by people sitting face to face at either side. They tap the bamboos open and close in rhythmic beats. Two bases support the bamboos, placed horizontally one at each end. The bamboos, when clapped, produce a sharp sound, which forms the rhythm of the dance. It indicates the timing of the dance as well. The dancers step in and out to the beats of the bamboos with ease and grace. The patterns and stepping of the dance have many variations. Sometimes the steppings are made in imitation of the movements of birds, sometimes the swaying of trees and so on.
Little is known about the origin of Cheraw. It may be possible that the forefathers of the Mizos brought it with them when they left home in far east-Asia. Cheraw is performed on any occasion these days. But so goes the legend. It used to be performed in earlier times only to ensure a safe passage for a dead child to paradise. Cheraw is, therefore, a dance of sanctification and redemption performed with great care, precision and elegance.
(a)  According to the passage, Cheraw is :
(i)    a form of art
(ii)   a festival of lights
(iii)  a form of dance
(iv)  a Mizo animal
(b)  Cheraw is performed :
(i)    to show respect the state
(ii)   for sanctification and redemption
(iii)  to please the goddess of dance
(iv)  to earn money

(c)  The dancers in Cheraw dance to :
(i) The beats of bamboos
(ii) The beats of drums
(iii) The clappings of thesingers
(iv) The sound of a whistle

(d)  The statement - ………………………is correct :
(i)    Four bases support the bamboos
(ii)   Cheraw is a solo dance
(iii)  Cheraw is a dull stepping pattern
(iv)  The sound of bamboos forms the rhythm of the dance

(e)  The word ‘redemption’ in the passage means :
(i)    Performed with great care
(ii)   Solution
(iii)  Deliverance from evil ways
(iv)  Compensation

Read the passage given below and complete the statements that follow by choosing the most appropriate options.                                                     1X5=5

Himalayan valley is the geographical guard of Indian territory against any foreign invasion keeping enemy at bay from western to eastern subcontinent of Asian sphere. The valley abounds with the classified variety of different glaciers, wildlife, peaks and thick vegetation liable to support the homosapiens.

Pindari glacier is a range of four glaciers, namely Sunderdunga, Namik, Pindari and Kafni. To go to Pindari glacier it is a 54 km. trek and the walking part is normally covered in four days. In this trek, we cross many mountains and forests and see a lot of wildlife. We were eight members in the team. The whole trip took us ten days in the mountains. Throughout the way, our guide and my father explained to us the various features of the Himalayas we were passing through. We had to face bad weather for two days.  There was a steep climb at some places and as we climbed up we were affected by high altitude sickness and lack of oxygen and we felt very tired.

Pindari glacier is surrounded on all sides by snow-covered peaks such as Nanda Devi, Nanda Kot, Nanda Khat, Bailiuri and many more. This glacier is a frozen river of ice and settled in such a way that it looks like a huge staircase. There I saw all physical features such as gorges, moraines, hanging valleys etc.

(a)  Pindari glacier is :

(i)   a glacier range of four mountains namely Sunderdunga, Namik, Pindari and Kafni

(ii)  a mountain peak surrounded by Sunderdunga, Namik and Kafni

(iii) a forest in the Himalayan region

(iv) a range of four glaciers  namely Sunderdunga, namik, Pindari and Kafni

(b)  A trip to Pindari glacier :

(i)   is very informative

(ii)  helps in understanding the natural geography

(iii) is an adventurous experience as one has to face bad weather and difficult treks

(iv) is all of the above

(c)  …………… made the members to suffer while trekking to their destination.

(i)   Steep climb and lack of oxygen

(ii)  High altitude sickness, lack of oxygen and steep climb

(iii) Lack of oxygen and tiredness

(iv) Lack of oxygen and snow-covered peaks

(d)  The temperature in the area is :

(i)   Normal

(ii)  Below zero degree

(iii) Very high

(iv) Warm

(e)  The word in the passage which means the same as, ‘characteristics’ is :

(i) Features

(ii)  Altitude

(iii) Treks

(iv) gorges

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

A nightingale, that all day long

Had cheered the village with his song,

Nor yet at eve his note suspended,

Nor yet when eventide was ended,

     Began to feel as well he might,

     The keen demands of appetite,

     When, looking eagerly around,

     He spied for off, upon the ground,

A something shining in the dark,

And knew the glow-worm by his spark;

So, stooping down from hawthorn top,

He thought to put him in his crop.

     The worm, aware of his intent,

     Harangued him thus, right eloquent

     ‘Did you admire my lamp, ‘quoth he’

     ‘As much as I your minstrelsy,

You would abhor to do me wrong,

As much as I to spoil your song;

For ‘twas the self-same power divine,

Taught you to sing, and me to shine.

                           (William Cowper)

(a)  How was the nightingale busy for the whole day?

(b)  How did nightingale recognize the glow-worm?

(c)  Why did the glow worm feel scared?

(d)  With what words of wisdom did the glow-worm persuade the nightingale not to do him any wrong?

(e)  Find word from the poem which means the same as ‘loudly appealed to persuade.’

You are Anmol/Anamika, living away from home, for the first time in your life, in a boarding school in Gwalior(M.P). Write a letter to your mother explaining how you are feeling, the food you eat and the way it is served in the hostel. Describe your experience in about 120 words; and request your mother to admit you to a day school back at home.

OR

Floods in Uttarakhand in June 2012, wiped out hundreds of villages; people have been left homeless; sources of liveliness gone, no roads. In this hour of their need, all the countrymen must come forward to help. As a responsible citizen, write a letter in about 120 words to the Editor, The Times, N. Delhi, expressing your concern about the miserable condition of those who have been uprooted. Make an appeal to the people to donate generously to the Uttarakhand Relief Fund.

Prices of food articles are increasing day by day and there is a wide gap between the wholesale prices and retail prices. Common man is suffering. The government is trying to control the prices. Write an article in 120-150 words on “Rising Prices” and give suggestions on how to control them. You may use the hints given below :

Hints -  (40 per cent below poverty line, incomes of lower middle class very low, prices of food articles risen high, difficult to make both ends meet; steps taken by the government; causes of rising prices; your suggestions).

OR

India needs energetic and healthy youth to serve her but the school going children are turning lazy, obese and disease prone these days. You are Shobhit/Shobhna. Write a speech on the topic ‘School Going Children – why lazy ? in 120-150 words. You may use the hints given below :              

5

Hints –(no physical activities, - instead of sports prefer video games, chatting on internet, TV watching,- food habits – used to junk food, soft drinks; effects – obesity, high blood pressure, over-weight;  - need to live a disciplined life).

“That day my father came home with a kitten …… “ . Complete this story in 120-150 words. You may use the following hints :

(cute animal – named Dumpy – become very friendly – gave him milk – my mother angry – food disappeared – scratches on furniture – socks torn into shreds – mother gave away Dumpy to a neighbour )

OR

You are Pranav/Parnita of Sarvodya Co-ed. Senior Secondary School, N. Delhi. You visited a Science Exhibition organized by the Directorate of Education, N.Delhi. Write a brief report, in 120-150 words, for your school magazine on what you saw, the exhibits you liked most and other features of the exhibition. You may use the hints given below:                                     

5

(organized by  - date and venue – inauguration by – number of schools participated – stall for each school – working models, charts, interesting projects put up by students – ‘Science in the Service of Man’- the theme the best model got the prize).

Read the passage given below and fill in the blanks by choosing the most appropriate words from the given options.                                                      

1X3=3

I have been (a)  ………. to learn English for the last three years. But, I haven’t

(b) ………… yet. My teacher is very patient with me and he (c) ………. me every time I fail.

(a)   

(i) tried

(ii) try

(iii) Tries

(iv) Trying

(b)

(i) succeeded

(ii) succeed

(iii) succeeds

(iv) succeeding

(c)

(i)    Encouraging

(ii)   Encourage

(iii)  Encourages

(iv)  Encouraged

Complete the dialogue.                       1X3=3

Shivani :      When did you arrive in Delhi, Mr. Shiv?

Shiv : I (a) ……… yesterday.

Shivani:       Did you (b)  ……..  on the way ?

Shiv      :Nothing much, but someone  (c) ……… my bag while I was sleeping in the train.

Shivani :      It is very sad news.

(a) 

(i) arrived

(ii) have arrived

(i) was arrived 

(iv)had arrived

(b) 

(i) had any difficulty

(ii) have a difficulty

(iii) have any difficulty

(iv)had a difficulty  

(c) 

(i) Ran away with

(ii)  Runs away with

(iii) Has run away with

(iv) Had run away

Look at the words and phrases given below. Rearrange them to form meaningful sentences as given in the example. 1X3=3

Example : dying from cancer/can help/ of/ eating/ cut the risk / flax seeds/

Eating flax seeds can help cut the risk of dying from cancer.

(a)  Or salads/ sprinkled on cereals/can be/ they/

(b)  Kills / contain/ flax seeds/ cancer cells/ a special compound/ which/

(c)  Local general stores/all/ obtained/flax seeds/ may be / from/

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

1X3=3

Error Correction

Boys who have never fight  

e.g. fight fought

Each other in the class is today

(a)-------- ---------

Bitterly annoyed or fearful 

(b)-------- ---------

Even during a Holi festival

(c) -------- ---------

The school has been peaceful.