English Language & Literature 2010 [Delhi] Set 1

Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:  (12 Marks)

1.    The exchange of greetings among people is very common. The most popular medium for this is the greetings card. It is usually sent by post. It is an illustrated message that expresses friendship, love, affection, goodwill, gratitude or some similar sentiment. Greeting cards are also sent to convey congratulations, thanks or get-well messages.

2.    The practice of exchanging these cards between friends is an ancient one. The ancient Egyptians celebrated New Year by giving each other symbolic presents like scent bottles and mud tablets with the inscription “Good luck to you.” In ancient Rome, the medium of expression was a branch of the olive tree. Their leaves were coated with gold.

3.    The practice of sending greetings for the New Year continued in Europe through the early days of the millennium. Then came the printing press. With its commercial use by 18th and 19th centuries, the exchange of New Year cards by merchants and tradesmen became very ordinary and uninteresting. Postal stamps and envelopes were introduced in 1840. They made the process of sending or passing the greetings from one person or place to another very convenient. The modern day greeting card became definite and clear in 1843 when the first Christmas card with season’s greetings was designed in Britain. The commercial product of greeting cards became fully established by 1860.

4.    There are several means of conveying greetings but the public post remains the most popular. In the modern times technology has greatly developed. There is almost a revolution in the field of communication. With the availability of this technology electronic mail is also being increasingly used for sending greetings.

5.    In India, the practice of sending greeting cards was begun by the British. This practice still continues. We send greeting cards on occasions like New Year, Christmas, Diwali, Pongal, Durga Puja, Baisakhi, Bihu and other regional festivals.

Answer the following questions briefly:

(a)  Why do people send greeting cards?       2

(b)  What symbolic presents did the Egyptians send on the eve of New Year?                2

(c)  How did the ancient Romans convey their greetings?                                1

(d)  What effect did the printing press bring on the exchange of New Year cards?             2

(e)  What changes were brought about with the introduction of postal stamps and envelopes?   1

(f)  Who introduced the practice in India?    1

(g)  Find out from the passage the adverb form of the words given below:                 2

i.  usual (Para 1)

ii. great (Para 4)

(h) Find out from the passage the word which means the same as the following:                 1

‘sense of being thankful for forever’ (Para 1)

Read the passage given below and answer the question that follow:    8 marks

A little girl was fond of asking new questions day after day.  One day she asked her mother, “Mummy, which one is good – an apple or a pear, a rose or a jasmine, a ball or a doll?”

The mother answered her questions easily but this time she was confused. How could she definitely say that one thing was good and the other was not? However she evaded the answer somehow.

But after a few days the little girl posed another question, “Mummy, is a story good or a song?”

This time the mother was well prepared and told the little girl that she would ask her a question first to which she should give a thoughtful reply. The mother then asked, “Tell me, is the sun good or the sky?”

The little girl thought and thought but could not find the right answer. She looked at the sky and then at the sun. It was indeed very difficult for her to decide in favour of either of the two since both were stunningly beautiful. Besides both were so close and inseparable.

The little girl now understood the point. Thereafter she never asked which one was good – this or that. Now she began to ask, “What is good in stories? What is good in songs?” And the mother answered her questions happily.

(a)  What was the little girl fond of?   1

(b)  Why did the little girl’s question confuse the mother?             2

(c)  How did the mother solve the problem?  1

(d)  Why could the girl not decide in favour of either the sun or the sky?               2

(e)  What did she understand now? How did she change herself? 2

You are Pulkit / Prachi, a resident of 221, Pocket V, MayurVihar, New Delhi. Your elder sister is suddenly fallen ill just before a competitive examination. Write a letter to your father who is away on a business tour to Mumbai, informing him about her condition. Also ask him to return as early as possible.             8 marks

OR

You recently visited a government hospital. You were shocked to see the poor state of sanitation. Write a letter to the Director of Health Services requesting him to pay urgent attention to this situation and take remedial measures. You are Lokesh / Lalita, D-76, Anandpur, Delhi.

Physical punishment is given to students in various ways all over the country. This practice is very undesirable. Punishment is sometimes so harsh that it almost amounts to cruelty. Write an article, in about 80 words on this bad practice and how it should be totally banned. You are Yash/Yashika. 8 marks

OR

Smoking is the greatest cause of death in the world. Still the people do not give it up. Taking ideas from the hints given below, write a paragraph in about 80 words on the topic, “Smoking is injurious to health and how to control it.”

greatest killer – causes deadly diseases such as cancer, bronchitis, heart attack etc. – shortens life – starts just for fun or for exploring new things - ends up in addiction – requires strong will power – exposure to spiritual practices – effective laws

You are Ambika/Ajay, a reporter. On your visit to countryside you saw the students celebrating Teacher’s Day in a very simple but noble manner by garlanding their teachers, applying sandalwood paste to their foreheads, presenting simple sweets purchased with their pretty collection and displaying cultural items. Write a report in about 60 words for your paper.   4 marks.

OR

You are a reporter. On Diwali you visited the city and saw certain incidents of minor fire. You took the notes which are given below. Using the information write a report in about 60 words.

Minor fire – incidents in the capital – Diwali – seven incidents due to fire crackers – putting out the fire – a dozen fire tenders – deployed – fire extinguished – police alertness seen

The following 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.                   [ ½ X 6=3 mark]

Summers in Delhi are extreme hot.   eg. extreme – extremely

Hot dry winds, know as ‘loo’              (a)

blow over a capital, Monsoon           (b)

showers of the month of July           (c)

and August makes the city look       (d)

greenor beautiful, Delhi is               (e)

full of historically importance         (f)

buildings

Fill in the following blanks with suitable non-finites :       [ ½*4=2 marks]

A bank employee was sent to jail for (a) ________ (deceive) the bank customers. He used (b) _______ (transfer) money from their accounts into his wife’s account. Soon after (c) _______ (discover) his fraud, the bank dismissed him immediately, (d) ________ (hold) him guilty the judge also sentenced him to three years’ jail.

Read 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 marks

Umang  :      Parnika, will you go to the school fete tomorrow?

Parnika :      yes, if you and Aanya go there.

Umang  :      what will you wear?

Parnika :      Blue jeans and orange top.

Umang asked Pernika (a) ________ the day after. Pernika replied that would in case (b) _______ .Umang then enquired (c) _________ .Pernika told her that she would wear blue jeans and orange top.

Look at the words and phrases given below. Rearrange them to form 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:

Is / Tamil / RajniKanth / actor / famous / a

RajniKanth is a famous Tamil actor.

(a)  On / was / December 12, / he / 1950 / born

(b)  ‘Padma Bhushan’ / for his / he / cinema / the Indian / received / to / contribution

Look at the sentences given below and complete the paragraph that follows.

Write the correct answers in your answer sheet against the correct blank numbers. Do not copy the whole sentences.                1X3=3 marks

(a)  Avoid all kind of sweets.

(b)  Body absorbs sugar very quickly.

(c)  It increases energy only for the time being.

Taking sugar is not the best way to increase energy. According to experts all kinds of sweets (a) ________ . Sugar (b) _________ very quickly and energy (c) ___________ only for the time being.