English Language & Literarture 2009 [Delhi] Set 1

Reading the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:               12 marks

1.    Bhutan is the most appropriate place to visit if one is seeking peace, one’s youth and discovery. October-November is the right time to pay a visit to this beautiful neighbour. Its blue skies, magnificent snow views, crisp mountain air and remarkably well preserved centres of Buddhist culture are worth enjoying.

2.    Thimpu is the capital of Bhutan. It is spread along a willow lined river, Wang chhu. All buildings here are built in the traditional style and adorned with beautiful paintings. Thimpu has no traffic lights, something we Indians are not used to. Traffic is directed by policemen, standing on highly decorated boxes. They use exaggerated but elegant gestures to guide it. The main street, Norzim Lam, Leads to the town centre and the clock tower with its adjoining hotels, shops and restaurants.

3.    Here there are many places worth seeing. One can visit Telecom Tower situated at the height of 8,807 ft. On your way down you can stop at the mini zoo, where you can see goat-antelope, known as Takin. It is Bhutan’s national animal. According to legend this large and certainly strange-looking animal was created by the 15^th century saint, Lame DrukpaKinleyn to prove his magical prowess.

4.    In Thimpu, National Memorial Chorten is the most public religious place in the country. This white-domed building with its golden spires was built in 1974 in memory of the third king. TrashiChhoeDzong is the seat of the government as well as religious order. Built in the thirteenth century, it was renovated in 1962 when Thimpu became the capital.

5.       Here archery is favoured sport which can be witnessed on weekends. Thimpu is the base for several walks into the stunning country side. Indian nationals do not need visas to travel to Bhutan (302 words)
(a) When is the right time to visit Bhutan ?
(b) Mention any two objects of nature which are worth enjoying there.
(c) How is the traffic in Thimpu managed without traffic lighes ?
(d)  Name the national animal of Bbhutan. Where can you see it ?
(e)  What is the legend associated with its creation ?
(f)  When and why was the National Memorial Chortenbuilt ?
(g)  Find out from the passage the adjective forms of words given below ?
(i)   appropriately     (Para1)
(ii)  beauty         (Para2)
(h)  Find out from the passage the words which mean the same as the following :
(i)   movements of the part of body to convey meaning (Para 2)
(ii)  Pointed parts of a tower (Para 4)

Reading the passage given below and answer the questions that follow :  8 marks
Florence Chadwick was the first woman to swim the English Channel in
both directions. At age 34, her goal was to become the first woman to swim from Caltalinaisland to the California coast.
On the 4^th of July morning in 1952 the sea was like an ice bath. The fog was so dense she could hardly see her support boats. She struggled on – hour after hour – while millions watched on television.
Alongside Florence in one of the boats, her mother and her trainer offered encouragement. They told her the goal wasn’t  much farther. But all she could see was fog. They urged her not to quit. But with only a half mile to go, she asked to be pulled out. Several hours later she told a reporter that it was not fatigue or even the cold water that defeated her. It was the fog. She was unable to see her goal.
Two months later she tried again. It was the same dense fog. But she swam with her goal clearly pictured in her mind. She became the first woman to swim the Cataline channel, eclipsing the men’s record by two hours. (210 words)
(a) What was Florence Chadwick’s goal at the age of 34 ? 1
(b) How did the people witness her performance ?         1
(c) How did her mother and her trainer encourage Florence?2
(d) What made her quit when she had only a half mile to go?1
(e) In spite of the same fog, what made her to succeed the second time? 2
(f) What record did she set ?           1

You are Arun/Aruna, living at 537, D.D.A Flats, Prashant Vihar, Delhi. You have come to know that your cousin often misses his classes in his new school. Since he is very intimate with you, write a letter advising him to avoid the company of those students who bunk off classes.                     8 marks

OR

Injuries and death taking place due to underage driving are being reported almost every day. Write a letter to the Commissioner of Traffic Police asking him to be very strict in such cases and also take necessary steps to stop this practice. You are Abha/Abhinav, P-37, Suman Apartments, New Delhi.

Eating of fast food, lack of exercise and activity have been causing life style diseases such as obesity, heart disease, etc. even among children. Write an article, in about 125 words on the rising tendency of life style diseases among school children and how to prevent them.           8 marks

Yamuna in Delhi has become extremely polluted. It has been reduced almost to a drain. Using the hints given below write a paragraph, in about 125 words, on the causes of the pollution of the Yamuna river and how to bring it to its old glory.

Once an overflowing clean river – now polluted – all garbage, industrial and domestic waste thrown into it – animals bathe – rituals performed – throwing of garbage and waste to be banned – separate proper places to be allocated for rituals.

You are Deepak/Deepika, Secretary of Ahimsa Club of Rishabh Public School, Delhi. On 2nd October your school observed “International Day for Peace and Non-violence,” organizing various activities such as visit to Raj Ghat, charkha spinning, lectures by eminent Gandhians etc. Write a report in about 60 words for your school magazine.4 marks

OR

Yoga camp was organized in your school. Mentioning the activities such as presentation of yogasans by the students of senior and junior wing. Lectures delivered by experts on yogasans, pranayam, meditation, food etc., write a report in about 60 words. You are Pranav/Prerna, Head Boy/ Head Girl of SarvodaysaBalMandir School, GaganVihar, Delhi.

The following passage has not been edited. There is one error in each line. Write the incorrect word and the correction in your answer sheet as given below against the correct blank number. Remember to underline the word that you have supplied.    [ ¹/₂X6=3marks]

Robinson was shipwreck on        eg.shipwreck – shipwrecked

A island. It was inhabited                   (a)

Only by animals or birds. There        (b)

Was not a single human beings         (c)

On an island. He saw a                        (d)

Large number of multicolored bird. (e)

Footmarks in the ground made him   (f)

Fear the presence of dangerous animals.

Fill in the following blanks with suitable non-finites : [¹/₂X4=2 marks]

Three tourists from Delhi decided (a) ….. (visit) Goa last year. They went there. While (b) …….. (stand) at the Calangute beach, two of them decided  (c) ……. (have) a dip in the sea. While (d) ….. ( play ) in the water they were swept away by the current.

Reading the dialogue and complete the passage given below. Write the correct answers in your answer sheet against the correct blank numbers. Do not copy the whole sentences. [1X3=3]

Son              :      Mummy, I am very hungry. Is there anything for me to eat?

Mother :      I am preparing your lunch.

Son       :      When will it be ready ?

Mother  :      In just 10 minutes.

The son told his mother that he was very hungry and asked (a) ______For him to eat. The mother told him (b)  __________ The  son inquired when it would be ready. The mother replied that (c) ______.

Look at the words and phrases given below. Rearrange them to firm meaningful sentences. The first one has been done as an example. Write the correct sentences in your answer sheet. Remember to number the answers correctly.   [1X2=2 marks]
Example :
Birthday /22^nd/is/August/of/Ishita’s
22^nd of August is Ishita’s birthday.
a. On that/made/her/a big/ mother/ cake/ occasion
b. Friends/party/invited/many/the /to/Ishita

Look at the sentences given below and complete the paragraph that follows. Write the correct answers in your answers sheet against the correct blank numbers. Do not copy the whole sentences.                                                        1X3=3

(a)  Brutus allowed Antony to speak.

(b) Antony addressed the public.

(c)  his speech aroused them to revolt.

Roman general Caesar was killed by Brutus and his friends. His friend, Antony came to express his grief. He (a)  …_________The public (b)___________________Hearing his speech they (c)____________.