English Language and Literature: 2015: CBSE: [Delhi] : Set – I

Read the passage given below:

Kausani is situated at a height of 6,075 feet in the central Himalayas. It is an unusually attractive little town. It covers just about 5.2 sq. kms. It lies to the north of Almora in Uttarakhand’s picturesque Kumaon region.

Kausani provides the 300-km wide breathtaking view of the Himalayas. It is the most striking aspect of this place. Snow-capped peaks are spread in a stately row. They stare at you in silvery white majesty. The most famous peak on view is Nanda Devi, the second highest mountain in Indian. It is situated at a height of 25,645 feet and 36 miles away as the crow files. The other famous peaks on view are Choukhamba (23,420feet) and Trishul (23,360 feet). Then there are also Nilkanth, Nandaghunti, Nandaghat and Nandakot. On a clear day, the blue of the sky makes a splendid background to these peaks. At sunrise and at sunset, when the colour of the sky changes to a golden orange, the scene gets etched in your memory.

When Gandhiji visited this place in 1929, its scenic beauty held him spellbound. He named it the ‘Switzerland of India’. He prolonged his two-day stay to fourteen days, making time to write a book, ‘Anashakti Yog’. The place where he was staying was originally a guest house of a tea estate. It was renamed ‘Anashakti Ashram’ after the book.

Kausani is the birthplace of Sumitranandan Pant, India’s poet laureate. Its natural surroundings inspired many of his poems. Its tea gardens mingle with dense pine forests and fruit orchards. The area is also host to many fairs and religious ceremonies. If Uttarkhand is the abode of gods, Kausani is God’s own backyard. There is no traffic, no one is in a hurry. If serenity could be put on a canvas, the picture would resemble Kausani.

On the basis of your reading of the above passage, answer the following questions:

(a) Where is Kausani situated?                              1

(b) What is the most striking aspect of Kausani? 1

(c) Which is the most famous peak on view from Kausani?     1

(d) How did Kausani influence Sumitranandan Pant? 1

(e) When does the view of peaks become so memorable?       1

(f) How can we say that Gandhiji was greatly charmed by the natural beauty of Kausani?   1

(g) What makes Kausani a calm and quiet place?1

(h) Why is Kausani’s guest house of the tea estate known as ‘Anashakti Ashram’?          1

Read the passage given below :                            12

1. I rested for a moment at the door of Anand Bhawan, on Market Road, where coffee-drinkers and tiffin-eaters sat still at their tables, uttering low moans on seeing me. I wanted to assure them, “Don’t mind me, you hugging the cash box – you are a coward, afraid even to breathe. Go on, count the cash, if that is your pleasure. I just want to watch, that’s all. If my tail trails down to the street, if I am blocking your threshold, it is because, I’m told, I’m eleven feet tip to tail. I can’t help it. I’m not out to kill – I’m too full. I found a gree pasture full of food on my way. I won’t attack until I feel hungry again. Tigers attack only when they feel hungry, unlike human beings who slaughter one another without purpose of hunger.”

2. To the great delight of children, schools were being hurriedly closed. Children of all ages and sizes were running helter-skelter, screaming joyously, “No school, no school. Tiger, tiger, tiger!” They were shouting and laughing and even enjoying being scared. They seemed to welcome me. I felt like joining them, at which they cried, the tiger is coming to eat us; let us get back to school!”

3. I followed them through their school gate while they ran up and shut themselves in the school hall securely. I climbed up the steps of the school, saw an open door at the far end of a veranda, and walked in. It happened to be the headmaster’s room. I noticed a very dignified man jumping on the table and heaving himself up into an attic. I walked in and flung myself on the cool floor, having a special liking for cool stone floors.

4. As I drowsed, I was aware of cautions steps and hushed voices all around. I was in no mood to bother about anything. All I wanted was a little moment of sleep; the daylight was very bright.

On the basis of your reading of the above passage answer the following questions:

(a) How did the diners at Anand Bhawan react on seeing the tiger?   

(b) When do tigers attack? In this context, how are human beings different from tigers?       2

(c) Why were children happy and even enjoying being scared?                                                       2

(d) What was the tiger’s opinion about the man at the cash counter? What did the tiger assure him?                                                             2

(e) Identify the word which means the same as ‘hugging’. (para1) 1

(i)   counting

(ii) hiding

(iii) rubbing
(iv) holding tightly in the arms

(f) Identify the word which means the same as ‘delight’ (para2)         1
(i)   pleasure
(ii)  fear
(iii) sorrow
(iv) nervousness

(h) Identify the word which means the same as ‘dignifed’ (para3) 1
(i)   tall
(ii)  honourable
(iii) terrified
(iv) tired

(i) Identify the word which means the same as ‘heaving up’ (par 3)    1
(i)   hiding
(ii)  running away
(iii) climbing
(iv) raising

The recent increase in crimes against people of the Northeast, especially in the cities, has highlighted the growing problem faced by the community. Fear of violence continues to worry them. Write a letter in 100-120 words to the Editor of The Times of India expressing your concern over the recent death of a young student resulting from a racial comment against people from Northeast. Suggest what steps the government should take to solve this problem. You are Aanchal/Aryan, resident of A-12, East of Kailash, New Delhi.    5

Hints: racial comments, attacks – rude behavior, hurt feelings of our own fellow citizens – disharmony – dents the image of our country – steps to solve this problem.

                                                                      or

One of the key massages of the Prime Minister’s Independence Day speech was ‘Clean India’. The Government has taken an initiative for cleaning the rivers especially ‘The Ganges’. The Government has also urged the people of India to realize the dream of “Clean India’, Write an article in 100-120 words mentioning the measures people can take for a cleaner and greener India.

Complete the story in 150-200 words which starts like this :

“It was a quiet, cold and dark night like it usually is in winter when all retire to bed early. Suddenly at the dead of night, a shriek jerked the people in the building out of their beds. It was distinctly the voice of ….”         10
 

OR

You have been preparing for the National Talent Search Examination for the last one year and have got a very good rank. Write your story in 150-200 words using the following cues.

Humble family background – ambition to be something – scholarship, a means to that – preparation – help from the teachers – use of library – examination – result.

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

Today a good (a) …… varieties of tea and tea brands are available in the market. Green tea is popular (b) …….. China and the Far East. In Japan, the tea ceremony is a traditional way of greeting guests, (c) ……. is a social occasion.

(a)

(i) Very
(ii)  many
(iii) much
(iv) more

(b) (i)on

(ii) at
(iii) in
(iv) for

(c) (i) and
(ii) it
(iii)  both
(iv) this

The following passage has not been edited. There is an error in each line against which a blank 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.

Error     Correction

Most trees has single woody stem called e.g.             

has               have

A trunk who supports a mass of branches     

(a)  ……….   …………

Carrying leaves. Trees clean an air                 

(b)  ……….   …………

To removing tiny airborne particles. The       

(c)  ……….   …………

Leaves of trees give in oxygen                 

(d)  ……….   …………

Rearrange the following words and phrases into meaningful sentences.

One has been done for you as an example.                  3

Beach vacations/was/ an attraction/ coconut water/ long ago/ during

Example- : Long ago coconut water was an attraction during beach vacations.

(a) These days/of trade/ Delhi/ for/ has become/ but/ a centre/ tender coconuts/

(b) Its demand /value/ due to/has increased/ of the fruit/ the food
(c) Has been fuelled/ by growing awareness/ the demand/ health benefits/ coconut water’s / of

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.  1X3=3

“Don’t you want to have a look at the sights, now that you’re here?

“All by myself? Oh, I’ d be much too afraid.”

Greatly amused by the girl’s way of speaking, the conductor said, “But you weren’t afraid to come in the bus.”

“Nothing to be afraid of about that,” she answered.

(a) Who is the ‘girl’ mentioned in the passage?          1

(b) Why didn’t she get off the bus when she reached her destination? 1
(c) Write the meaning of the word, “amused.”                 

OR

So I rejoiced one day when they sent me out forty miles in the country, to a town called New Mullion, to serve summons on a man called Oliver Lukins.
(a) Who is’I’ ?
(b) Why was ‘I’ sent to New Mullion?
(c) What does the word, rejoiced’ mean?

Answer the following question in 30-40 words each.               2X4=8
(a) Why was Kisa Gotami sad? What did she do in her hour of grief?
(b) What special characteristic of Mijbil did Maxwell learn after he took him to the bathroom?
(c) For what unusual reasons was Bholi sent to school?
(d) Do you think M. Loisel had an enjoyable evening at the ball? Give reasons for your answer.

Answer the following in 80-100 words.                 4

“Never mind,” she said,” I can get on by myself.” You don’t have to help me,” said Valli to the conductor. She shows extraordinary courage in making the bus journey all alone. Taking inspiration from Valli’s character, write how ability and courage to take risk are essential to fulfill one’s dream.

OR

“Put the fear out of your heart and you will be able to speak like anyone else.” These words of encouragement from the teacher highlight that change of social attitude and encouragement can help a child like Bholi to become confident and face the world bravely. Taking help from the lesson, ‘Bholi’ write how the social attitude towards Bholi made her an introvert. What should be done to help such children to face the world bravely?