CBSE ENGLISH CORE: 2014 [Delhi] Set II
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Q1
Read the passage carefully.
1. I remember my childhood as being generally happy and can recall experiencing some of the most carefree times of my life. But I can also remember, even more vividly, moments of being deeply frightened. As a child, I was truly terrified of the dark and getting lost. These fears were very real and caused me some extremely uncomfortable moments.
2. Maybe it was the strange way things looked and sounded in my familiar room at night that scared me so much. There was never total darkness, but a street light or passing car lights made clothes hung over a chair take on the shape of an unknown beast. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw curtains move when there was no breeze. A tiny creak in the floor would sound a hundred times louder than in the daylight and my imagination would take over, creating burglars and monsters. Darkness always made me feel helpless. My heart would pound and I would lie very still so that 'the enemy' wouldn't discover me.
3. Another childhood fear of mine was that I would get lost, especially on the way home from school. Every morning, I got on the school bus right near my home - that was no problem. After school, though, when all the buses were lined up along the curve, I was terrified that I would get on the wrong one and be taken to some unfamiliar neighbourhood. I would scan the bus for the faces of my friends; make sure that the bus driver was the same one that had been there in the morning, and even then ask the others over and over again to be sure I was in the right bus. On school or family trips to an amusement park or a museum, I wouldn't let the leaders out of my sight. And of course, I was never very adventurous when it came to taking walks or hikes because I would go only where I was sure I would never get lost.
4. Perhaps, one of the worst fears I had as a child was that of not being liked or accepted by others. First of all, I was quite shy. Secondly, I worried constantly about my looks, thinking people wouldn't like me because I was too fat or wore braces. I tried to wear 'the right clothes' and had intense arguments with my mother over the importance of wearing flats instead of saddled shoes to school. Being popular was very important to me then and the fear of not being liked was a powerful one.
5. One of the processes of evolving from a child to an adult is being able to recognise and overcome our fears. I have learnt that darkness does not have to take on a life of its own, that others can help me when I am lost and that friendliness and sincerity will encourage people to like me. Understanding the things that scared us as children helps to cope with our lives as adults.
(a) On the basis of your reading of the above passage, make notes using headings and subheadings. Use recognisable abbreviations wherever necessary.
(b) Make a summary of the passage in not more than 80 words using the notes made and also suggest a suitable title.
Marks:8View AnswerAnswer:
(a)
Title: Note-making
1. Memories of Childh’d
1.1 generally happy and carefree
1.2 but always deeply fright’ned
2. fear of darkness
2.1 Saw
2.1.1 Clothes hanging
2.1.2 Curtains moving
2.1.3 Heard loud sounds
2.2 felt
2.2.1 helpless
2.2.2 heart pounding
3. Fear of getting lost
3.1 while walking home
3.2 taking a wrong bus
3.3 of being left alone
4. Worst fear
4.1 of not being accepted
4.2 of not looking good
4.3 tried to wear it
4.4 clothes watched wt.
5. Evolving as an adlt/ Growing up
5.1 to recognise and overcome fear
5.2 realise that
5.2.1 others will help
5.2.2 being fondly and sincere will pay
5.2.3 underst’ng the childh’d fears
Abbreviations used
Childh’d – Childhood
Fright’nd – frightened
Wt – weight
Adlt – adult
Underst’g -understanding
(a) Summary: Memories of Childhood
My childhood was generally happy and carefree, but I was always deeply frightened. In my fear of darkness, I saw clothes hanging, curtains moving, heard loud noises and felt helpless. While walking home, I feared getting lost or take a wrong bus, or fear of being left alone.
My worst fear was of not being accepted. I was conscious of not looking good, so I tried to wear the right clothes and watched my weight.
While evolving as an adult, I learnt to recognise and overcome fear. I learnt to realize that others would help. Being friendly and sincere would definitely pay. All this helped me in understanding the childhood fears and this helped in coping with life as an adult.
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Q2
Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow: (12 marks)
1. Too many parents these days can't say no. As a result, they find themselves raising 'children' who respond greedily to the advertisements aimed right at them. Even getting what they want doesn't satisfy some kids; they only want more. Now, a growing number of psychologists, educators and parents think it's time to stop the madness and start teaching kids about what's really important: values like hard work, contentment, honesty and compassion. The struggle to set limits has never been tougher - and the stakes have never been
higher. One recent study of adults who were overindulged as children, paints a discouraging picture of their future: when given too much too soon, they grow up to be adults who have difficulty coping with life's disappointments. They also have distorted sense of entitlement that gets in the way of success in the work place and in relationships.
2. Psychologists say that parents who overindulge their kids, set them up to be more vulnerable to future anxiety and depression. Today's parents themselves raised on values of thrift and self-sacrifice, grew up in a culture where no was a household word. Today's kids want much more, partly because there is so much more to want. The oldest members of this generation were born in the late 1980s, just as PCs and video games were making their assault on the family room. They think of MP3 players and flat screen TV as essential utilities, and they have developed strategies to get them. One survey of teenagers found that when they crave for something new, most expect to ask nine times before their parents give in. By every measure, parents are shelling out record amounts. In the heat of this buying blitz, even parents who desperately need to say no find themselves reaching for their credit cards.
Today's parents aren't equipped to deal with the problem. Many of them, raised in the 1960s and '70s, swore they'd act differently from their parents and have closer relationships with their own children. Many even wear the same designer clothes as their kids and listen to the same music. And they work more hours; at the end of a long week, it's tempting to buy peace with 'yes' and not mar precious family time with conflict. Anxiety about future is another factor. How do well intentioned parents say no to all the sports gear and arts and language lessons they believe will help their kids thrive in an increasingly competitive world? Experts agree: too much love won't spoil a child. Too few limits will. What parents need to find, is a balance between the advantages of an affluent society and the critical life lessons that come from waiting, saving and working hard to achieve goals. That search for balance has to start early. Children need limits on their behaviour because they feel better and more secure when they live within a secured structure. Older children learn self-control by watching how others, especially parents act. Learning how to overcome challenges is essential to becoming a successful adult. Few parents ask kids to do chores.
They think their kids are already overburdened by social and academic pressures. Every individual can be of service to others, and life has meaning beyond one's own immediate happiness. That means parents eager to teach values have to take a long, hard look at their own.
(a) Answer the following:
(1) What values do parents and teachers want children to learn?
(2) What are the results of giving the children too much too soon?
(3) Why do today's children want more?
(4) What is the balance which the parents need to have in today's world?
(5) What is the necessity to set limits for children?
(b) Pick out words from the passage that mean the same as the following:
(1) a feeling of satisfaction (para 1)
(2) valuable (para 3)
(3) important (para 4)
Marks:12View AnswerAnswer:
(a)
(i) Parents want their children to learn values like hard work, contentment, honesty and compassion.
(ii) The result of giving the children too much too soon is that they grow up to be adults who have difficulty in coping with life’s disappointments.
(iii) Today’s children want more because there is much more to want.
(iv) The balance which the parent needs to have in today’s world is the balance between the advantages of an affluent society and the critical life lessons that come from waiting, saving and working hard to achieve goals.
(v) The necessity to set limits for children is to teach them that life has meaning beyond one’s own immediate happiness.
(b)
(1) Contentment
(2) Precious
(3) Essential -
Q3
You are Smrithi Saran of Victoria Public School, Hyderabad. Your school has organized a Science Exhibition in connection with the death anniversary of Ramanujam'. Write a notice in not more than 50 words inviting students to participate in it. Provide all the necessary details.
Marks:5View AnswerAnswer:
Victoria Public School, Hyderabad
NOTICE
Science Exhibition
Date: 20th Oct., 2014
A Science Exhibition in connection with the death anniversary of Ramanujan is being organized on 30th Oct, 2014 at 10.00 am in the school Auditorium.
Students are invited to participate by making exhibits, models and charts. Only Science students are eligible. Last date for registration of names is 27th Oct. 2014. For other details, contact the undersigned.
Smrithi Saran
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Q4
You want to sell off your motorbike which you have been using for five years, as you have decided to buy a car. Write an advertisement, in not more than 50 words, to be published under the classified columns of a national daily. Furnish all the necessary details.
Marks:5View AnswerAnswer:
For Sale
MOTORBIKE
Latest Honda, black beauty, single owner, 2 years old, good mileage, excellent condition. Fitted with special gears,disc-brakes expected price Rs 50,000.
Interested buyer may contact immediately.
Mobile: 9977546320
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Q5
Incessant rain has caused irrecoverable damage in your area. As an active participant in the flood relief programme, write a report in 125-150 words on the different flood relief measures carried out. You are Krishan/Krishna.
Marks:10View AnswerAnswer:
Flood Relief Programme
By: Krishna
15th July, 2014
In the first week of July 2014, unprecedented floods created severe havoc and devastation in Lakhimpur village in Uttarakhand, evacuating thousands of people. In the wake of floods, large areas of cultivated plots were washed away; families were scattered leaving victims to face unparalleled tragedy. Volunteers from the neighbouring villages and districts were sent to support flood victims and reduce the trauma of the affected.
NGOs of the area, government bodies, the local people and volunteers came forward to carry out the flood relief operation. Evacuation of civilians, pets and animals was carried out. Food packets, medical aid, and shelter were provided to the affected victims. The supply of safe drinking water to the inhabitants was taken care of. The central government immediately rushed a medical team for the rehabilitation centers. As per the latest information, the villages that were badly affected by the incessant rain will be considered for development work and permanent rehabilitation centers shall soon built here.
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Q6
You have visited a book exhibition in your neighbourhood. Write a report in 125 – 150 words on the exhibition. You are Rohan/Rohini.
Marks:10View AnswerAnswer:
Book Exhibition
By: Rohini
Sahibabad
24th June, 2014
Oxford University Press recently organized a book exhibition in our neighbourhood. It was a weeklong exhibition that ended on the 15th of June, 2014. Display of books by local publishers, national publishers and international publishers was the main attraction. The stalls were attractively decorated. Books of all types wer on display: Children’s Story books, books of Arts, Science, Literature, books on Hardware and Software, Banking and Finance, Management and Marketing etc. In addition to this, there was a huge collection of dictionaries. Chetan Bhagat came presided over the function as the chief guest and there was a surprise visit by Ruskin Bond, the eminent author. A heavy discount was offered on purchase of books.Students and teachers from different schools , businessmen, people from the corporate world and even housewives attended the book fair. Response of the public was overwhelming.
This book fair was an opportunity to select books published by different publishers every year. The new releases were easily available.
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Q7
You are the librarian of Amla Public School. You had placed an order for text books with Dhanpati & Sons. Since the books did not arrive on time, you have decided to cancel the order. Write a letter to the Manager, Dhanpati & Sons, Chennai, cancelling the order.
Marks:10View AnswerAnswer:
Librarian
Amla Public School
Amla
25th August, 2014
Manager,Dhanpati & Sons,
Chennai
Subject: Cancellation of order/request for refund
Sir,
This is to request facilitate my request for refund of my money due to non-delivery of the books on time. An order for forty books of Mathematics was placed with your concern in the month of June with P.O. no. 122453. Your inability to complete the order has left us with no choice but to cancel the entire order. This delay was not expected and we regret that we cannot increase our deadline.
Kindly, consider this as final and also refer to the order for the text books for class XII placed with you in the month of July, first week.
Thank you
Sincerely yours,
Priya Verma (Librarian)
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Q8
You are interested in doing a short-term course in computer graphics during your holidays. Write a letter to the Director, Easy Computers, enquiring about their short term courses and asking for all the necessary details. You are Naresh/Nandini.
Marks:10View AnswerAnswer:
12, Mall Road Delhi Cantt.,
29th April, 2014
Director
Easy Computers
Delhi
Subject: Enquiry about short-term courses
Sir,
This is to enquire about a short-term course in computers.I have just finished my class XII examinations and I am interested in doing a short-term course in computer graphics during my holidays. I would like to know about the admission criteria and the eligibility conditions for it . Kindly, send the details of the course, regarding its duration, whether it is recognized or not, and the prospects of placement. I would also like to know if there is any concession for the students and if there is hostel facility. Please let me know the commencement of the course.
Kindly send a brochure and prospectus of your organization.
Thank you
Sincerely yours,
Naresh
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Q9
You are Sampreet, an educationist. You have noticed that the youth of today are often unable to cope with stress and become frustrated and bitter. Write a speech in 125 - 150 words to be delivered at a college function on 'Youth, their problems and solutions'.
Marks:10View AnswerAnswer:
Youth, their problems and solutions
By: Sampreet
In the fast paced world of information and communication technology , the youth is restive, impatient with hypocrisy of the past and eager to make the best of every passing minute .The desire to encompass the sky itself within the confines of their world, the young plunge into action before they have planned anything. In spite of their qualities like enthusiasm, vigour and will to eradicate ills and injustice from the society, the youth fail in their mission because of the lack of proper planning. Without a fixed purpose, a goal, a programme, the vision of a personal and collective future will ever remain blurred and vague.
Three things together give rise to the basic problems of the youth: Freedom, Vitality, and Ignorance. Freedom is inherent in all. Ignorantly they believe they can make the best of their life without an aim. As a result, emotional disorders like frustration, bitterness, depression and mood swings, etc. ensure, which affect the physical, mental and emotional health of the individual.
To alleviate this situation, he must learn to control his mind. This will give him the capacity to think properly, to have a view on life, to fix an aim, to plan to achieve it, the dexterity to execute the plan, the capacity to control, regulate, and use his vitality for the purpose. Developing confidence and knowing one’s own potential, cultivating interest, setting priorities also helps. Being realistic in life, trying to achieve a balance through meditation and yoga and pursuing a hobby are the most effective ways of overcoming feelings of emptiness and leading a fulfilling life.
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Q10
After Independence, India has seen a steep upward trend in the graph of corruption. The public has often become disgusted and disappointed. As Venkat, a well known journalist, write a speech in 150-200 words on 'Corruption, its Causes and Solutions'.
Marks:10View AnswerAnswer:
Corruption, its Causes and Solutions
By: Venkat (Journalist)
The fast growing economy of India is held back by one shackle and that is corruption. Etymologically, corruption is an act of omission or commission for one’s own benefit by misusing one’s official position, power or authority. In India, the epidemic of corruption is spreading rapidly in every field and department. Contractors and builders construct weak and low standard roads, bridges and houses. Students are engaged in mass copying. Teachers and examiners indulge in leaking out question papers. Doctors prescribe unnecessary medicines and pathology examinations. Traders are engaged in overcharging, adulteration and under weighing. Government officials take bribe for doing or sanctioning any work or contracts. Scams in banks, financial institutions, sports, defence department, religious places and government projects are the order of the day. Hence, it has become the biggest threat to the social and economical development of India. There is tremendous loss of national wealth due to various scams.
Due to public apathy the greed of a few, mismanagement and disorganization, the government is hard put to controlling various departments and their working. This uncontrolled and unsupervised administration gives rise to corruption on a large scale. Appointment of inefficient and incapable managers and executives on various levels of hierarchy also leads to mismanagement and disorganization. Lack of effective leadership is another cause. A country cannot survive without honest and sincere leaders. Good leaders play a significant role towards the growth, development and progress of the nation.
Due to rapid modernisation and globalisation, people are becoming more and more selfish. They are only concerned with self enrichment and wealth accumulation. The only objective of many Indians is to become rich as soon as possible. The true meaning of patriotism is forgotten.
Strict action should be taken against lazy and corrupt officials. Number of agencies and officials should be increased. Government should supervise and monitor these agencies. It should be made mandatory for political leaders and government officials to declare their wealth and assets. Investigation agencies should strictly and properly check their claims and declaration. It is essential for every citizen to perform his duties faithfully and to the best of their abilities. Every citizen should strive hard to eradicate corruption.
