These AP 9th Class English Important Questions 8th Lesson will help students prepare well for the exams.
AP Board 9th Class English 8th Lesson Important Questions and Answers
Section – A
Reading Skills
Discursive Passage and Case-based Passage
1. Read the passage given below.
In a new finding, climate change has now become a national issue in America as a recent study has deduced that warming induced drought in the Middle East is leading to increased conflicts over food and water, leading to its consequences on America and the world. The accelerating rate of climate change poses a severe risk to national security and acts as a catalyst for global political conflict. This is the conclusion drawn up by US experts, according to a government report.
At the US Centre for Naval Analyses, the Military Advisor Board found that climate change had induced drought in the Middle East and Africa. The lack of food and water was affecting the populations of these countries to take recourse to extreme measures.
It was escalating long-standing ethnic tensions into violent clashes in the affected countries. In addition, the report predicted that an increase in catastrophic weather conditions worldwide would create more demand for American troops, even as flooding and extreme weather could damage naval ports and military bases.
According to official findings, the report signaled that it would influence American foreign policy as well. The report vitalizes situations causes by the massive dislocation or massive cj/ying up of the waters of the Nile or of the major rivers of India and China Pentagon officials also feel that the reports would affect military of their country as climate change is having an impact on national security, whether by increasing global instability or by opening the Arctic or by increasing sea level and storm surge close to coastal installations.
This is the first major study to draw the link between cljmate change and national Security. Thus, American leaders are delivering major speeches wherein they are linking up climate change with that of national security. New regulations would also be put in place to cut pollution from coal-fired power options.
The report follows a recent string of scientific studies that warn that the effects of climate change are already occurring and that more flooding, droughts, extreme storms, food and water shortages, and damage to infrastructure will occur in the future. There is thus, a link in some quarters between rising sea waters and terrorism. These effects are stress multipliers that will aggravate stressors abroad, such as poverty, environmental degradation, political instability and social tensions.
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below.
i) According to the passage, Which of the following sentences describes the latest finding regarding climate change? (A)
A) Climate change had induced drought in the Middle East; it poses a severe risk to America’s security.
B) Environmental degradation is seen in the Middle East.
C) Political instability and social tensions are common when climate changes.
D) New regulations would also be put in place to cut pollution from coal-fired power options.
Answer:
A) Climate change had induced drought in the Middle East; it poses a severe risk to America’s security.
ii) What was the conclusion drawn up by US experts, according to a government report. Write your response in about 40 words.
Answer:
The accelerating rate of climate change poses a severe risk to national security and acts as a catalyst for global political conflict. This is the conclusion drawn up by US experts, according to a government report.
iii) Complete the sentence appropriately.
The unique thing about the latest report on climate change is _______________
Answer:
that it would influence American foreign and military policy as climate change is having an impact on their national security.
iv) This passage has-some one-word substitutes. Identify the one-word substitute that means or stands for ‘the basic facilities needed for the operation of a society or enterprise’ from the following words. (B)
A) terrorism
B) infrastructure
C) degradation
D) instability
Answer:
B) infrastructure
v) Complete the following sentence appropriately.
The effects of climate change are _______________.
Answer:
flooding, droughts, extreme storms, food and water shortages, and damage to infrastructure
vi) Write in about 40 words about the feelings of China Pentagon officials on the new reports.
Answer:
China Pentagon officials also feel that the reports would affect military of their country as climate change is having an impact on national security, whether by increasing global instability or by opening the Arctic or by increasing sea level and storm surge close to coastal installations.
vii) Increase in catastrophic weather conditions worldwide would create more demand for American troops. Why? (D)
A) Because it will create a link in some quarters between rising sea waters and terrorism.
B) Because climate change has become a national issue.
C) Both (B) and (C)
D) Because flooding and extreme weather could damage naval ports and, military bases.
Answer:
D) Because flooding and extreme weather could damage naval ports and, military bases.
viii) The author means ‘bad feelings between people from different races’ when he says, ‘ethnic tensions’. (True/ False) (T)
Answer:
True
2. Read the passage given below.
Though tobacco is a legal product, governments all over world earn revenues from the industry by levying high deterrent taxes. Tobacco companies, on the other hand, pass on the few to the smokers. The rising prices of cigarettes, along with the anti-smoking awareness measures taken by the public health bodies, have triggered a decline of cigarette sales..
People who smoke are being hounded out of all public places – offices, restaurants, educational institutions, buses, trains, etc. Away from home, now it is becoming nearly impossible to find a place to smoke. Growing restrictions and the fear of various disease caused by tobacco are prompting many smokers to stop smoking.
Taxes on tobacco products are bbing raised. Smoking is banned at several places. Still, the number of smokers is rising in India. More than 25 crore people in India are addicted to tobacco. And according to a WHO report, around half of them will die of tobacco related diseases. Unfortunately, most people in India still need a strict warning based on a test report before they decide to give up smoking. Patients, too seek medical help only after they show serious symptoms of an illness. Some hospitals have set up centres to identify risk factors among the young so that they can take preventive measures like giving up smoking early in life.
Tobacco is the second biggest cause of death in the world. Half of the people who are addicted to tobacco will ultimately be killed by this addiction. Many people get rid of this habit on their own and those who are willing to, but can’t, go to de-addiction centres, use counseling, nicotine replacement therapy and prescriptive drugs to deal with withdrawal problems.
Quitting cold turkey-stopping the use of tobacco at one-works well but only for those who have control and determination to quit.
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below.
i) The passage supports only one statement among the following. Choose that statement. (C)
A) De-addiction centres use drug replacement therapy to deal with withdrawal problems.
B) In India, the situation is unfortunate as people don’t want to quit voluntarily. Only after medical examination and a warning based on a test report will they give up smoking.
C) 25% of the smokers will be killed by this addiction.
D) Taxes on tobacco have triggered an increase in cigarette sales.
Answer:
C) 25% of the smokers will be killed by this addiction.
ii) It is becoming nearly impossible to find a place to smoke. Why? Write your response in about 40 words.
Answer:
People who smoke are being hounded out of all public places – offices, restaurants, educational institutions, buses, trains, etc. Away from home, now it is becoming nearly * impossible to find a place to smoke.
iii) Complete the sentence appropriately.
According to the passage, smokers give up smoking due to _______________
Answer:
high prices and fear of diseases
iv) Select the option that makes the correct use of ‘hounded out’, as used in the passage. (D)
A) Jobs in India has finally …….. me.
B) My job in India …….. me finally.
C) …….. for a job in India has finally left me.
D) I was finally …….. of my job in India.
Answer:
D) I was finally …….. of my job in India.
v) Complete the sentence appropriately.
People those who go to de-addiction centres are willing to get rid of using tobacco but they are not able to do it _________.
Answer:
on their own
vi) The fourth paragraph in this passage tells us about the ways to stop smoking. What are those ways? Write your answer in about 40 words.
Answer:
Many people get rid of this habit on their own. Some people go to de-addiction centres. Some people take counseling. Some people take nicotine replacement therapy and prescriptive drugs.
vii) Two steps were taken in India against smoking. Identify them. (C)
i) India has implemented the measure of quitting cold turkey.
ii) India has made several designated places as ‘No smoke zone’.
iii) India has implemented higher taxes on tobacco products.
iv) India has shown serious diseases caused by tobacco.
A) (i) and (iv)
B) (i) and (iii)
C) (ii) and (iii)
D) (iii) and (iv)
Answer:
C) (ii) and (iii)
viii) The prices of cigarettes are rising (Choose the correct remaining part of the sentence according to the information given in the passage. (B)
A) because of the decline in cigarettes sales
B) because Government put high deterrent taxes on tobacco companies, then the companies pass on the levy to the smokers resulting in higher prices of cigarettes
C) because of the ingredients used in making cigarettes are getting expensive
D) both (A) and (B)
Answer:
B) because Government put high deterrent taxes on tobacco companies, then the companies pass on the levy to the smokers resulting in higher prices of cigarettes
3. Read the passage given below.
The Indian subcontinent consists of a number of separate linguistic communities each of which shares a common language and culture. The people of India speak many languages and dialects which are mostly varieties of about 14 principal languages. Some Indian languages have a long literary history-Sanskrit literature is 3.000 years old and Tamil 2,000. India also has some languages that do not have written forms.
The number of people- speaking each language varies greatly. For example, Hindi has more than 250 million speakers, but relatively few people speak Andamanese. Although some of the languages are called ‘tribal’ or ‘aboriginal’. Their populations may be larger than those that speak some European languages. For example, Bhili and Santali. Both tribal languages, each has more than 1 million speakers, Gondi is spoken by nearly 2 million people.
India’s schools teach 58 different languages. The nation has newspapers in 87 languages, radio programmes in 71, and films in 15.
The Indian languages belong to four language families: Indo-European, Dravidian, Mon-Khmer, and Sino-Tibetan. Indo-European and Dravidian languages are used by a large majority of India’s population. All language families divide roughly into geographic groups. Languages of the Indo-European group are spoken mainly in northern and central regions. The languages of southern India are mainly of the Dravidian group. Some ethnic groups in Assam and other pails of eastern India speak languages of the Mon-Khmer group. People in the northern Himalayan region and near the Burmese border speak Sino-Tibetan languages.
Speakers of 54 different languages of the Indo-European family make up about three- quarters of India’s population. Twenty Dravidian languages are spoken by nearly a quarter of the people. Speakers of 20-Mon-Khmer languages and Sino-Tibetan languages together make up about 2 percent of the population.
Hindi is the principal official language of India. Sanskrit and 16 regional languages are also official languages. English has the status of an ‘associate’ language. Hindi is the native language of more than a third of India’s people, and many others speak Hindi as a second language. Only about 2 percent speak English, but it serves as a common language among most educated Indians, and people use it for many official and administrative purposes.
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below.
i) Choose the statement that supports the idea presented in the passage hy the author? (A)
A) The Dravidian language is spoken in western India.
B) The Indo-European language is mainly spoken in the northern and central regions.
C) Sino-Tibetan language is spoken by people near the Burmese border arid northern Himalayan region.
D) Telangana and Andhra Pradesh speak the Mon-Khmer dialect.
Answer:
A) The Dravidian language is spoken in western India.
ii) What are the facts about English in India ? Write your response in about 40 words.
Answer:
English has the status of an ‘associate’ language. Only about 2 percent speak English, but it serves as a common language among most educated Indians, and people use it for many official and administrative purposes.
iii) Complete the sentence appropriately.
Sino-Tibetan languages are spoken by _______________
Answer:
people in the northerrt Himalayan region and near the Burmese border
iv) Identify the list of three words which make their opposite words by adding the prefix ‘un’. (D)
A) official, regional, status
B) native, principal, regional
C) administrative, status, associate
D) official, educated, common
Answer:
D) official, educated, common
v) Complete the sentence appropriately.
The four language families in India are _______________
Answer:
Indo-European, Dravidian, Mon-Khmer, and Sino-Tibetan.
vi) Which paragraph tells us about the languages of limited people in India? What do you know about them? Write your response in about 40 words.
Answer:
The second paragraph tells us about the languages of limited people in India. Although some of the languages are called tribal’ or aboriginal’. Their populations may be larger than those that speak some European languages. For example, Bhili and Santali. Both tribal languages, each has more than 1 million speakers, Gondi is spoken by nearly 2 million people.
vii) Choose the language from the following that is spoken by almost 2 million people. (B)
A) Santali
B) Gondi
C) Bhili
D) Sanskrit
Answer:
B) Gondi
viii) Teiugu is a Dravidian language. (True / False) (T)
Answer:
True
4. Read the passage given below.
There are a lot of reasons as to why farmer suicides happen in our country. All these reasons come together to make this worrying issue prevalent. One of the main reasons is droughts. When the crops do not get sufficient rainfall they do not yield much produce. This, in turn, poses as a great loss to the farmers as their money gets wasted and they go in debt. Areas that have frequent droughts have higher cases of farmer suicides.
Similarly, floods are also as dangerous as droughts. The crops of the farmers erode away and they do not get any product from those crops. Furthermore, the high debt which the farmers have to pay for the land is another major factor. As they take heavy loans for growing crops and fail to do so, they kill themselves as they do not have money to pay their debt back. In addition, family pressure is too high for farmers. They fail to make ends meet and thus commit suicide because of this failure.
Moreover, capitalization is a very big reason for farmer suicides. Nowadays, people most favor privatization and capitalization. These big firms capitalize on the crops and sell them using marketing strategies. People do not prefer going to a farmer’s market but rather to a supermarket or mall for their vegetables and food, This causes a loss to these farmers moreover these capitalist agencies buy the farmer’s produce at lower rates and they go in loss.
The following pie chart depicts the major causes and their share in farmers’ suicides.
The government must take measures to tackle this issue at the earliest. It must set up exclusive agricultural zones that allow specifically agricultural activities. Moreover, there must be certain programs that teach farmers about modern techniques related to farming. It will help in enhancing the production of crops.
Furthermore, the irrigation facilities for the crops must be enhanced. In addition, there must also be genuine crop insurance policies that cover the loss of these farmers so they don’t go into debt. Moreover, the government must also ensure they learn new skills which will help them get some additional income into the family. This way, they won’t be solely dependent on their crops and will have a backup with them.
Most importantly, the weather risk management system must be introduced. This way the farmers can be told beforehand about the upcoming extreme weather conditions. This will help them become cautious and also minimize the loss to a great extent.
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below.
i) In this passage, the author focussed on two things. Choose the correct option. (D)
A) The status of Indian formers in International market.
B) The relationship between the farmers and banks.
C) Advantages and disadvantages of farming
D) Reasons for farmer suicides and measures to control them
Answer:
D) Reasons for farmer suicides and measures to control them
ii) This passage discusses various, reasons for farmer suicides. Brief them in about 40 words.
Answer:
There are a lot of reasons for farmer suicides in our country. Natural calamities like droughts and floods are a major reason. Similarly, capitalization and privatization are other factors. Moreover, high debts and family pressure also contribute to this issue.
iii) Complete the sentence appropriately.
The major reason for former suicides as mentioned in the pie diagram is _______________
Answer:
Bankruptcy or Indebtedness
iv) The author suggested some measures to prevent farmer suicides. Brief them in about 40 words.
Answer:
Farmers suicides can be prevented by collective effort. The government must teach modern techniques to farmers. Furthermore, they must be given proper irrigation facilities. It should also launch genuine crop insurance policies to cover their losses.
v) On the whole passage, the writer’s tone is _______________
Answer:
informative
vi) Areas that have frequent droughts have higher cases of farmer suicides. How is this true?
Answer:
When the crops do not get sufficient rainfall they do not yield much produce. This, in turn, poses as a great loss to the farmers as their money gets wasted and they go in debt.
vii) They fail to make ends meet and thus commit suicide because of this failure.
Choose the meaning of the underlined idiomatic expression. (B)
A) to read a book thoroughly answer the questions
B) to have enough money to pay for the basic necessities
C) to grow crops and sell in market
D) to meet at certain place regularly
Answer:
B) to have enough money to pay for the basic necessities
viii) Which of the following is correct based on the passage? (C)
A) In this passage the author encouraged farmers to commit suicides.
B) This passage focused on the problems neither villagers nor formers.
C) This passage suggested some measures to prevent former suicides.
D) Some formers commit suicide for bank loans.
Answer:
C) This passage suggested some measures to prevent former suicides.
5. Read the passage given below.
When jobs are scarce, being employed is a blessing. But how many employed Indians have a job that the International labour Organisation (ILO) defines as ‘decent’? In a global comparison of such jobs, India shows up very poorly. One of the constituents of decent employment is percentage of wage and salaried workers in the total workforce. India’s percentage is lower than even its less developed neighbours. This is the fallout of having a large informal sector and still-very-rigid labour laws.
Picture 1 :
Compared with many other countries, India’s share of wage and salaried workers in the overall workforce has been abysmal. While there has been a modest improvement, especially after 2010, it pales next to China’s where the share of formal sector employment has crossed 50%.
Picture 2 :
An explanation for low share of decent employment is the income-employment skew among three sector of the economy- large and fast-growing sectors (services) are not creating enough jobs for people stuck in the small and shrinking agriculture sector.
ILO defines decent jobs as those that ensure dignity, equality, fair income and job safety. Wage and salaried employment is one of the indicators of decent employment. Workers should hold employment contracts with basic remuneration that is no! dependent upon the revenue of the unit for which they work. (Source: The Times of India for educational purpose)
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below.
i) Choose the best possible title for the given passage from the following. (B)
A) Unemployment in India
B) Bad employment is a bigger problem than unemployment
C) China Vs India
D) International Labour Organisation
Answer:
B) Bad employment is a bigger problem than unemployment
ii) What does ILO say about decent employment? Answer this question in about 40 words.
Answer:
ILO defines decent jobs as those that ensure dignity, equality, fair income and job safety. Wage and salaried employment is one of the indicators of decent employment. Workers should hold employment contracts with basic remuneration that is not dependent upon the revenue of the unit for which they Work.
iii) Complete the sentence using the correct option. (B)
The second picture describes _______________
A) how China went up from 14.2 % to 21.7%
B) the growth of India in salaried workers during 1991 and 2018
C) the growth of China in salaried workers in 2010
D) the fall of India in the percentage of salaried, workers during 1991 and 2018.
Answer:
B) the growth of India in salaried workers during 1991 and 2018
iv) Complete the sentence appropriately.
The fast growing sector in India is _______________
Answer:
Services
v) Write any two statements analysing the data given in picture 1.
Answer:
The U.S is on the top in providing wage and salaried employment. Nepal is on the bottom and India is the second from the last.
vi) What is the percentage of salaried workers, in India in 2012? (C)
A) 14.2
B) 31
C) 19.3
D) 53
Answer:
C) 19.3
vii) In 2018 the percentage of salaried workers in China is _______________
Answer:
53
viii) Choose the incorrect statement from the following. (D)
A) ILO stands for International Labour Organisation.
B) In providing the decent job opportunities, Brazil is next to the U.S.
C) In India agriculture is a shrinking sector.
D) During 1991 and 2000, there was a rapid increase in salaried workers in India.
Answer:
D) During 1991 and 2000, there was a rapid increase in salaried workers in India.
6. Read the passage given below.
The National Crime Records Bureau’s (NCRB’s) Accidental Deaths and Suicide in India (ADSI) report 2021 shows student suicides had gone up drastically during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021 and have been steadily rising in the last five years.
The reason a student to commit suicide in India is not just mental disorder or depression, it exceed far beyond that. The societal point of view destroys a person’s thinking ability, which leads in the parents pressuring their children to work harder and achieve the same goal that someone else has already achieved. In India the society acts as a pathway of foul information and limited thinking resources which is the biggest problem that can’t be solved.
The reason for student to commit suicide is not always stress and depression coming from the society but sometimes it also comes from the financial status of their family. There have been also some cases of gender and caste discrimination which lead to students commit suicide as they cannot sustain the constant harassment.
India grapples with infectious diseases, malnutrition, infant and maternal mortality and other major health problems and hence, suicide is accorded low priority in the competition for meagre resources. Currently there is only counselling and stress releasing activities which may help a person who is considering committing suicide. There have been some NGOs who have come forward to support the individual wanting to commit suicide by being friendly and helping in any way possible.
NGOs have undertaken much education of gatekeepers, raising awareness in the public. If you encounter a person who is suffering and willing to commit suicide firstly take to them, listen to their problem, let them understand that you are there and can help them in the process, by these there are high chances of stopping the person from committing suicide. The Indian government and state government both have released helpline number for students who are not feeling mentally well and are coming across these circumstances.
Suicide is a very harmful and dangerous problem for countries like India. Mental illness is a risk factor for suicide, in India, as it is in developed countries. After researching on suicide it can be said that reaching to those who suffering from mental illness like depression and stress and anxiety is very hard, they should be reached very carefully and we should understand there problem. A key step in such an approach involves modifying attitudes toward suicide Via educational efforts and legal levers (e.g. decriminalizing suicide). (Source : Hindustan Times for educational purpose)
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below.
i) Indian social system is also responsible for student suicides. How do you support this statement? Give your reasons in about 40 words.
Answer:
The reason a student to commit suicide in India is not just mental disorder or depression, it exceed far beyond that. The societal point of view destroys a person’s thinking ability, which leads in the parents pressuring their children to work harder and achieve the same goal that someone else has already achieved. In India the society acts as a pathway of foul information and limited thinking resources which is the biggest problem that can’t be solved.
ii) Stress and depression are the major reasons for student suicides. But there are other reasons. What other reasons do you notice? Give your answer in about 30 words.
Answer:
The reason for student to commit suicide is not always stress and depression coming from the society but sometimes it also comes from the financial status of their family. There have been also some cases of gender and caste discrimination which lead to students commit suicide as they cannot sustain the constant harassment.
iii) Complete the sentence appropriately.
The highest number of students committed suicide in the year ……….
Answer:
2021
iv) What is the tone found in the following sentence.
The Indian government and state government both have released helpline number for students who are not feeling mentally well and are coming across these circumstances.
Answer:
Hopeful
v) This passage contains some words which create negative mood. Choose four words that create negative mood from the following list.
i) depression
ii) stress
iii) resource
iv) counselling
v) disorder
vi) harassment
Answer:
i) depression
ii) stress
v) disorder
vi) harassment
vi) Choose the word that means ‘harassment’ from the following. (A)
A) annoyance
B) suitability
C) announcement
D) enrichment
Answer:
A) annoyance
vii) Andhra Pradesh is among the top five states with highest student suicides in 2021. (TRUE/FASLE) (F)
Answer:
False
viii) What do we call the process of modifying attitudes toward suicide via educational efforts and legal levers?
Answer:
Decriminalizing suicide
SECTION – B
GRAMMAR & CREATIVE WRITING SKILLS
A. Grammar
I. The following paragraph has not been edited. There is an error in each line. Write the error along with its correction in the space provided.
1. China will steps up efforts to containing the Corona virus outbreak ahead of the Lunar New Years holidays. 17 new cases of the virus has been confirmed and there are increasing possibility of spread of virus to other countries.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| a) | |
| b) | |
| c) | |
| d) | |
| e) |
Answer:
| Incorrect | Correct |
| a) steps | step |
| b) containing | contain |
| c) New Years | New Year |
| d) has been | have been |
| e) are | is |
2. A sweetest victory is the one that’s most difficult. The one that require you to reach down deep inside, to fighting everything you have got, to be willing to leave every thing out there in the battlefield without knowing to that do-or-die movement.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| a) | |
| b) | |
| c) | |
| d) | |
| e) |
Answer:
| Incorrect | Correct |
| a) A sweetest | The sweetest |
| b) require | requires |
| c) fighting | fight |
| d) in | on |
| e) to | until |
3. A bag containing a explosive, placed near a ticket counter on the Mangaluru International Airport, was triggered an alarm on Monday morning. A bag was later removed and the bomb was defused.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| a) | |
| b) | |
| c) | |
| d) | |
| e) |
Answer:
| Incorrect | Correct |
| a) a explosive | an explosive |
| b) a | the |
| c) on | at |
| d) we triggered | triggered |
| e) A | The |
4. Coffee first arrived at Europe from the Muslim world during the 17th century. It was amazing and it was amazed with a exoticness that charmed Europeans its stimulating effect and the fact that it was made a welcome change with traditional alcoholic beverages.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| a) | |
| b) | |
| c) | |
| d) | |
| e) |
Answer:
| Incorrect | Correct |
| a) at | in |
| b) was amazed | amazed |
| c) a | an |
| d) was made | made |
| e) with | from |
5. When we takes a closer look at the great thinkers throughout history, a willingness to take on fail isn’t a new or extraordinary thought at all. From the stories of business mavericks and sports legends from today, failure is as powerful a tool as any to reaching great success. Failure and defeat are lifes’ greatest teachers.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| a) | |
| b) | |
| c) | |
| d) | |
| e) |
Answer:
| Incorrect | Correct |
| a) takes | take |
| b) fail | failure |
| c) from | of |
| d) to | in |
| e) lifes’ | life’s |
6. The forested mountains were the source of water and the source of rain, so when you deforests, you cause a shortage of water and therefore people are not able to got food and water. Therefore in order for they to have good environment that can sustain their livelihoods. It is important to has a good government.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| a) | |
| b) | |
| c) | |
| d) | |
| e) |
Answer:
| Incorrect | Correct |
| a) were | are |
| b) deforests | deforest |
| c) got | get |
| d) they | them |
| e) has | have |
7. When I was a child, which is almost more than fifty years ago, the environment was very pristine, very beauty and very green. We were a British colony, and a British government at that time started to clear cut the indigenous forests on our forested mountains because they wanted to established commercial plantantion of exotic species of trees.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| a) | |
| b) | |
| c) | |
| d) | |
| e) |
Answer:
| Incorrect | Correct |
| a) is | was |
| b) beauty | beautiful |
| c) a | the |
| d) on | in |
| e) established | establish |
8. Savitri was a prestigious artiste. Eversince she was eight, she evinced interest at learning dance later she was associated herself to the theatre.an explosiveShe had a little difficulty in entering the film field. When Savitri was twelve, she offered a role in the film.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| a) | |
| b) | |
| c) | |
| d) | |
| e) |
Answer:
| Incorrect | Correct |
| a) was | is |
| b) at | in |
| c) was associated | associated |
| d) a little | little |
| e) offered | Was offered |
9. There are many stories in the news about the hole in a ozone layer; scientists has dicovered that ozone layer was getting thinner. Some predict that the sun’s race will cause a sharp increase in death with skin cancer over the next fifty years.
These harmful rays can also damaged the eyes.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| a) | |
| b) | |
| c) | |
| d) | |
| e) |
Answer:
| Incorrect | Correct |
| a) a | the |
| b) has | have |
| c) race | rays |
| d) death | deaths |
| e) damaged | damage |
10. Jagriti Yatra is a 15 days long national train that cover 8000 kilometres across the length and breadth of India. The participants are young people among 20 and 27 years of age and the facilitators are professionals aged over 27. Selection is based on candidates’ ability to creative.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| a) | |
| b) | |
| c) | |
| d) | |
| e) |
Answer:
| Incorrect | Correct |
| a) days | day |
| b) cover | covers |
| c) among | between |
| d) over | above |
| e) creative | create |
II. Answer the following questions by selecting the most appropriate option for each.
1. You _________ visit your mother more often. (B)
A) must
B) ought to
C) can
D) would
Answer:
B) ought to
2. I _________ like a double cheese burger, please. (C)
A) must
B) can
C) would
D) should
Answer:
C) would
3. In our childhood we _________ go sledging and skating. (C)
A) must
B) will
C) would
D) should
Answer:
C) would
4. If you miss the bus, you _________ take a cab to your office. (D)
A) can
B) could
C) should
D) might
Answer:
D) might
5. John is absent today. He _________ be sick. (C)
A) can
B) will
C) must
D) should
Answer:
C) must
6. _________ you help me shovel the snow? (B)
A) Shall
B) Can
C) Would
D) Will
Answer:
B) Can
7. John _________ drive. He doesn’t have a driver’s license. (B)
A) could
B) can
C) shell
D) should
Answer:
B) can
8. It _________ rain tomorrow. (A)
A) might
B) should
C) can
D) could
Answer:
A) might
9. It looks like rain. You _________ take an umbrella with you. (C)
A) would
B) could
C) should
D) might
Answer:
C) should
10. You _________ arrive at the airport at least an hour before your plane departs. (A)
A) should
B) would
C) could
D) might
Answer:
A) should
III. Fill in the blanks With right form of the verbs given in brackets.
1. Yesterday I _________ (send) a long e-mail to my best friend. (C)
A) have sent
B) had sent
C) sent
D) will send
Answer:
C) sent
2. I _________ (wake) up very early this morning. (A)
A) woke
B) waked
C) have woken
D) had woken
Answer:
A) woke
3. After the plane _________ they discovered bullet holes in the wings. (C)
A) landed
B) has landed
C) had landed
D) had been landed
Answer:
C) had landed
4. I _________ (want) to meet you for ages. (C)
A) wanted
B) have wanted
C) have been wanting
D) am wanting
Answer:
C) have been wanting
5. The company has doubled its profits since James _________ as manager. (B)
A) has taken over
B) took over
C) had taken over
D) taken over
Answer:
B) took over
6. We _________ (live) here since we got married. (D)
A) live
B) lived
C) has lived
D) have lived
Answer:
D) have lived
7. I _________ (study) French since last May. (B)
A) am studying
B) have been studying
C) have studied
D) studied
Answer:
B) have been studying
8. The fire started because nobody _________ the electrical wiring for years. (A)
A) had checked
B) checked
C) has checked
D) have checked
Answer:
A) had checked
9. She got ill because she __________ enough. (C)
A) has not slept
B) had not slept
C) had not been sleeping
D) has not been sleeping
Answer:
C) had not been sleeping
10. I shall be sleeping when father __________ home tomorrow. (D)
A) return
B) will return
C) would return
D) returns
Answer:
D) returns
IV. Which of the following sentences is the correct replacement for the given sentence?
1. I don’t have enough money for lunch. (B)
A) I have a little money for lunch.
B) I have little money for lunch.
C) I have a few money for lunch.
D) I have few money for lunch.
Answer:
B) I have little money for lunch.
2. __________ soil samples were taken from construction sites. (C)
A) Much
B) Lots of
C) Several
D) A large amount of
Answer:
C) Several
3. She was busy with her work, so she had __________ time for exercise. (A)
A) little
B) a little
C) few
D) a few
Answer:
A) little
4. The tea was too sweet because she had put too __________ sugar. (B)
A) many
B) much
C) few
D) lots of
Answer:
B) much
5. __________ fish inhabit the Great Barrier Reef. (B)
A) A large amount of
B) Plenty of
C) A large number of
D) Several of
Answer:
B) Plenty of
6. __________ people can speak more than three languages. (A)
A) Few
B) A few
C) Little
D) A little
Answer:
A) Few
7. I earn __________ money than a post man. (C)
A) few
B) fewer
C) less
D) a few
Answer:
C) less
8. The city had __________ traffic due to road construction. (A)
A) a large amount of
B) a number of
C) a great deal of
D) plenty of
Answer:
A) a large amount of
V. Report the following.
1. “Shall I get the candle ?” said Ann when the light went out suddenly.
“I’d rather you got another bulb,” said Mr. Jones.
Answer:
Ann offered to get the candle when the light went out suddenly. Mr. Jones said he’d rather she got another bulb.
2. “Don’t worry about the mistakes,” said Ram. “I make mistakes all the time.”
“Do you learn from your mistakes?” I asked.
Answer:
Ram told me not to worry about the mistakes as he made mistakes all the time. I asked if he learnt from his mistakes.
3. “I am looking for a man called Albert, who drinks in this bar,” I said.
“I should keep away from Albert if I were you,” said the bar man.
Answer:
I said that I was looking for a man called Albert who drank in that bar. The bar man advised me to keep away from Albert.
4. “Could I have a look at your paper for a moment?” said the man. “I just want to see the football results.”
“I haven’t quite finished with it,” 1 said. “Could you wait a moment?”
Answer:
The man asked to have a look at my paper for a moment and said that he just wanted to the football results. I asked him if he could wait for a moment as I had not quite finished with it.
5. “Your licence is out of date,” said the policeman.
“It is,” I said, “but I have applied for new one.”
Answer:
The policeman said that my licence was out of date. I admitted that it was true but I had applied for a new one.
6. “Shall I post the money for next week?” I said.
“Could you keep it in your safe till I can come and collect it?” she said.
Answer:
I asked her whether I would send the money for the following week. She asked me if 1 could keep it in my safe till she could come and collect it.
7. “Why don’t you go and see the film? It may help you to understand the book,” I said.
“But the film is quite different from the book,” she said.
Answer:
I advised her to go and see the film and it might help her to understand the book. She pointed out that the film was quite different from the book.
8. “What caused the ship to sink?” I said.
“She must have struck an iceberg,” said the incharge of the life boat.
Answer:
I asked the incharge of the life boat what had caused the ship to sink. He said that she must have struck an iceberg.
9. “My car won’t start!” said Mani. “The battery is flat again ! Could you please give a push?”
“Why don’t you sell the car?” I said.
Answer:
Mani exclaimed that her car would not start. The battery was flat again and she requested me to give a push. I advised her to sell it.
B. Creative Writing Skills
Question 1.
Write a short descriptive paragraph on the famous hockey player Dhyan Chand in 100 – 150 words on the basis of the following inputs.
Born on 29th August, 1905 in Prayagraj – greatest field hockey player in history – nick names – the Wizard, the Magician – service – British Indian Army – rank – Major – played – international hockey – won three Olympic medals – 1928, 1932,1936 – won 7 out of 8 hockey events from 1928 to 1964 – Padma Bhushan in 1956 – His birthday 29th August – celebrated as National Sports Day – Major Dhyanchand Khel Ratna award is named after him.
Answer:
Dhyan Chand was the famous Indian hockey player.HHe was born on 29th August, 1905 in Prayagraj. He was the greatest field hockey player in history. His nick names are the Wizard and the Magician. He served the British Indian Army as Major. He played international hockey and won three Olympic gold medals in 1928, 1932 and 1936 consecutively. He won seven out of eight hockey events from 1928 to 1964. He was honoured with Padma Bhushan in 1956. His birthday 29th August is celebrated as National Sports Day. The highest Indian sports award Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award is named after him.
Question 2.
Write a descriptive passage about Latha Mangeshkar using the following hints in about 100 – 150 words.
Original name – Hema Mangeshkar – date of birth – 28th September, 1929 – other names – Queen of Melody; Nightingale of India, Voice of the Millennium – parents – Deenanath
Mangeshkan(father), Shevanthi (mother) – later known as Shudhamati – occupation – playback singer; music composer, film producer and philanthropist – Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) between 1999 and 2005 – achievements – career spanned 8 decades – recorded songs in over 36 Indian languages – the most recorded artist in history – wards – National Film Awards; Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback singer – Honours – Padma Bhushan (1969); Dadasaheb Phalke Award (1989); Maharashtra Bhushan (1997); Padma Vibhushan (1999); Bharat Ratna (2001) – death – February 6, 2022.
Answer:
Latha Mangeshkar was a famous Indian playback singer and music composer. Her original name was Hema Mangeshkar. She was born on 28th September, 1929. She was also known as Queen of Melody, Nightingale of India and Voice of the Millennium. Her father was Deenanath Mangeshkar. Her mother was Shevanthi. Later she was known as Shudhamati. Latha Mangeshkar was a playback singer, music composer, film producer and a philanthropist. Thus she was a versatile personality. She was the Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) between 1999 and 2005. Her career spanned 8 decades.
She recorded songs in over 36 Indian languages. She was the most recorded artist in history. She got many National Film Awards and Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer. She was honoured with the Padma Bhushan in 1969. She received Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1989. She was honoured with the Maharashtra Bhushan in 1997. She was honoured with the Padma Vibhushan in 1999. She received the prestigious Bharat Ratna Award in 2001. She died on 6th February, 2022.
Question 3.
You’ve participated in Health and Wellness Club organised recently in your school. These clubs can modify our behaviour towards the attainment of optimum health. Write about the event in 100 -150 words describing the objectives of the programme, activities prescribed for students, etc.
Answer:
Health is a condition in which an individual’s mental and physical function is good. In broader perspective physical education and health education are mutually interdependent. To accomplish individual’s wellness Health and Wellness Clubs are organised in schools. These clubs can favorably influence the habits, attitude and knowledge relating to an individual and community. These clubs can modify our behaviour towards the attainment of optimum health. Schools can also introduce clubs like aerobic club, yoga, swimming, obesity, weight-gain club, wellness, cuisine clubs, etc.
We are suggested seven simple lifestyle habits which can significantly contribute to wellness. We are told that sleeping 7-8 hours every night, eating breakfast every day, not eating between meals, abstaining from sweets and fats and maintaining ideal body weight, etc. Wellness club in our school imbued in children fitness habits and introduced a healthy nutritional system.
Thus Health and Wellness Club has brought awareness about the importance of health and how to attain it in us.
Question 4.
The National Educational Policy – 2020 entails towards a more holistic and multi-disciplinary education to develop all capacities of human beings intellectual, aesthetic, social, physical, emotional and ntoral in an intergrated manner. It is proposed that – ‘Skill hubs’ are to be set up in CBSE affiliated schools.
Write short descriptive paragraph about skill hubs set up in CBSE shcools.
Answer:
The National Educational Policy (NEP) – 2020 entails towards a more holistic and multi disciplinary education to develop all capacities of human beings – intellectual, aesthetic, social, physical, emotional and moral in an integrated manner. Skill hub scheme aims at bringing at least 50% of learners under the exposure skill education by 2025. Under this scheme the school infrasture can be used optimally to the students of 9th to 12th, school drop-outs and out of education candidates. Independent schools affiliated to CBSE can start skill centre / skill hub in the school premises on a free-based model.
The schools running this programme will get better branding. Enrolment of students for regular courses will increase. 100?4 classroom based approach is the mode of training. Theory and practical training shall be conducted. Guest lectures, field visits and internship will be part of the course.
Question 5.
You are Suneeth / Suneetha. You’ve witnessed a road accident recently. Write your feelings in a diary entry.
Answer:
12th May 20xx,
Saturday 9.30 p.m.
Dear Diary,
Every day we read about road accidents in newspapers. But it was only yesterday that I had witnessed an accident. It was 5 p.m. Heavy traffic was there on roads. All the vehicles were running very fast. I was going to the market for bringing vegetables on my scooter. When I reached Benz Circle a blue Maruthi Ciaz passed me speedily. It was going towards Guntur. Suddenly a young boy tried to run across the road. He was unable to calculate the speed of the car. Meanwhile the car ran speedily into the young boy. The driver of the car had no time to apply brakes. The boy was hit and thrown off the road. The car however sped away. Luckily the boy was not badly hurt. He was admitted in a nearby hospital. The boy was under a shock for an hour. Later he got over the shock and after the first aid he was sent home.
Suneeth / Suneetha
Question 6.
Recently you witnessed a chain snatching incident. Describe it in your own words.
Answer:
It was a pleasant spring morning. There was pleasaflt cool air. Very few people were on the road. It was 6 a.m. A woman of 50 was coming back from her morning walk. Sheela a twelve-year-old girl had taken her dog for outing and walking slowly with her dog in opposite direction. She was lean. She was fair. Her bright eyes show her confidence. It ^ appeared that she was ready to face any difficult situation. The woman was at a distance 200 metres, from her and was walking towards her. Two young men on a scooter were riding behind her. As they were coming nearer they were coming closer to her. Sheela who was walking towards them suspected that they were going to do something wrong to the woman. When they were beside her at once they snatched her chain and tried to run away speedily. But the woman who was shocked at first came over her shock and grabbed the hand of the man. But they drove the scooter very fast. She fell down and was dragged along the ground. But she did not leave his hand.
Sheela who watched all this from a distance at once started to act according to demands of the situation. Somehow the man whisked away her hand and drove speedily. When they were coming closer to her, Sheela at once incited her dog on them. The dog sprang over them and caught the driver’s leg and was able to bit him hard running along the scooter. The man who sat behind the driver tried to hit the dog. The driver who was unable to drive any longer slowed down the scooter. Meanwhile Sheela shouted “Help, Help”. The passersby came there, caught hold of the two people and recovered the chain from them and handed it over to the woman who had just reached there with difficulty. Sheela hired an auto and went along with her and helped her into her home.
SECTION – C
LITERATURE
Reference to the Context: Rending Comprehension from Prose
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
1. At Pashupathinath (outside which a sign proclaims ‘Entrance for the Hindus only’)
there is an atmosphere of ‘febrile confusion’. Priests, hawkers, devotees, tourists, cows, monkeys, pigeons and dogs roam through the grounds. We offer a few flowers. There are so many worshippers that some people trying to get the priest’s attention are elbowed aside by others pushing their way to the front. A princess of the Nepalese royal house appears; everyone bows and makes way. By the main gate, a party of saffron-clad Westerners struggle for permission to enter. The policeman is not convinced that they are ‘the Hindus’ (only the Hindus are allowed to enter the temple) (Kathmandu)
i) Why is there confusion at Pashupathinath temple? (A)
A) Because there were large crowds of people.
B) Because there were large number of cows.
C) Because there were large number of monkeys.
D) Because there were large number of pigeons.
Answer:
A) Because there were large crowds of people.
ii) Who gets entry into the Pashupathinath temple? (A)
A) only the Hindus
B) only the Christians
C) only the Arabs
D) only the Jorastrians
Answer:
A) only the Hindus
iii) Why are the westerners denied permission into the temple? (A)
A) Because they are not the Hindus.
B) Because they are not the Muslims.
C) Because they are not the Christians.
D) Because they are not the Arabs.
Answer:
A) Because they are not the Hindus.
iv) Who roam through the temple?
Answer:
Priests, hawkers, devotees, tourists, cows, monkeys, pigeons and dogs.
v) How do people respect the royal family?
Answer:
Everyone bows and makes way for the royal family.
2. At the Baudhnath stupa, the Buddhist shrine of Kathmandu, there is, in contrast, a sense of stillness. Its immense white dome is ringed by a road. Small shops stand on its outer edge many of these are owned by Tibetan immigrants; felt bags, Tibetan prints and silver jewellery can be bought here. There are no crowds; this is a haven of quietness in the busy streets around. (Kathmandu)
i) What kind of atmosphere do we observe at the Baudhnath stupa? (A)
A) A sense of stillness
B) A sense of devotion
C) A sense of salvation
D) A sense of peacefulness
Answer:
A) A sense of stillness
ii) Where do we find small shops at the Baudhnath stupa? (A)
A) At the outer edge around the white dome
B) At the inner edge around the white dome
C) At the vertex around the white dome
D) Around the white dome
Answer:
A) At the outer edge around the white dome
iii) What things are available at the Baudhnath stupa? (D)
A) Felt bags
B) Tibetan prints
C) Silver jewellery
D) All the above
Answer:
D) All the above
iv) What makes the Baudhnath stupa a haven of quietness?
Answer:
There are no crowds at the Baudhnath stupa. That makes it a haven of quietness.
v) Find from the passage a word which means ‘large’.
Answer:
Immense
3. I find it difficult to tear myself away from the square. Flute music always does this to me: It is at once the most universal and most particular of sounds. There is no culture that does not have its flute – the reed neh, the recorder, the Japanese shakuhachi, the deep bansuri of Hindustani classical music, the clear or breathy flutes of South America, the high-pitched Chinese flutes. Each has its specific fingering and compass. It weaves its own associations. Yet to hear any flute is, it seems to me, to be drawn into the commonality of all mankind, to be moved by music closest in its phrases and sentences to the human voice. Its motive force too is living breath: it too needs to pause and breathe before it can go on. (Kathmandu)
i) Who is the speaker of this passage? (B)
A) Gandhi
B) Vikram Seth
C) Bryson
D) Dilip Purushottam
Answer:
B) Vikram Seth
ii) Why does the speaker find it difficult to tear himself away? (A)
A) Beause he was totally immersed in flute music.
B) Because he was totally immersed in Karnatic music.
C) Because he was totally immersed in devotional songs.
D) Because he was totally immersed in classical dance.
Answer:
A) Beause he was totally immersed in flute music.
iii) What is the motive force of flute music? (D)
A) Pause
B) Emotion
C) Melody
D) Living breath
Answer:
D) Living breath
iv) What is the speciality of the flute music according to the speaker?
Answer:
It is at once the most universal and most particular of sounds.
v) How is each flute in the world unique?
Answer:
Each flute has its specific finering and compass. It weaves its own associations.
4. Kathmandu is vivid, mercenary, religious, with small shrines to flower-adorned deities along the narrowest and busiest streets; with fruit sellers, flute sellers, hawkers of postcards; shops selling Western cosmetics, film rolls and chocolate; or copper utensils and Nepalese antiques. Film songs blare out from the radios, car horns sound, bicycle bells ring, stray cows low questioningly at motorcycles, vendors shout out their wares. I indulge myself mindlessly: buy a bar of marzipan, a cornon-the-cob roasted in a charcoal brazier on the pavement (rubbed with salt, chilli powder and lemon); a couple of love story comics, and even a Reader’s Digest. All this I wash down with Coca Cola and a nauseating orange drink, and feel much the better for it. (Kathmandu)
i) What kind of a city was Kathmandu? (B)
A) secular
B) religious
C) educational
D) industrial
Answer:
B) religious
ii) Which of the following is the cry of a cow? (A)
A) low
B) vivid
C) blare
D) shout
Answer:
A) low
iii) Which of the following words mean old and valuable things? (A)
A) antiques
B) utensils
C) wares
D) brazier
Answer:
A) antiques
iv) From different kinds of food and drinks he bought. How can we describe the author? (A)
A) a foodie
B) a bibliophile
C) melomaniac
D) antiquarian
Answer:
A) a foodie
v) Kathmandu having shrines of flower-adorned deities is described as : (A)
A) religious
B) secular
C) vivid
D) mercenary
Answer:
A) religious
5. I look at the flute seller standing in a corner of the square near the hotel. In his hand is a pole with an attachment at the top from which fifty or sixty bansuris protrude in all directions, like the quills of a porcupine. They are of bamboo: there are crossflutes and recorders. From time to time he stands the pole on the ground, selects a flute and plays for a few minutes. The sound rises clearly above the noise of the traffic and the hawkers’ cries. He plays slowly, meditatively, without excessive display.
He does not shout out his wares. Occasionally he makes a sale, but in a curiously offhanded way as if this were incidental to his enterprise. Sometimes he breaks off playing to talk to the fruit seller. I imagine that this has been the pattern of his life for years. (Kathmandu)
i) Where does the fruit seller sell his flutes? (D)
A) near the Pashupathinath temple
B) near the Baudhnath stupa
C) near the bus station
D) near the hotel
Answer:
D) near the hotel
ii) What are the flutes made from? (B)
A) ivory
B) bamboo
C) horns of the animals
D) steel
Answer:
B) bamboo
iii) Which of the following is not a flute? (C)
A) recorder
B) bansuri
C) quill
D) shakuhachi
Answer:
C) quill
iv) What is conipared to quills of a porcupine? (B)
A) bansuris
B) a pole from which fifty or sixty bansuris protrude
C) recorders
D) cross flutes
Answer:
B) a pole from which fifty or sixty bansuris protrude
v) Which word in the above passage means ‘not showing much interest in something’? (B)
A) protrude
B) offhanded
C) porcupine
D) meditatively
Answer:
B) offhanded
6. At Pashupatinath (outside which a sign proclaims ‘Entrance for the Hindus only’) there is an atmosphere of ‘febrile confusion’. Priests, hawkers, devotees, tourists, cows, monkeys, pigeons and dogs roam through the grounds. We offer a few flowers. There are so many worshippers that some people trying to get the priest’s attention are elbowed aside by others pushing their way to the front. A princess of the Nepalese royal house appears; everyone bows and makes way. By the main gate, a party of saffron-clad Westerners struggle for permission to enter.
The policeman is not convinced that they are ‘the Hindus’ (only Hindus are allowed to enter the temple). A fight breaks out between two monkeys. One chases the other, who jumps onto a shivalinga, then runs screaming around the temples- and down to the river, the holy Bagmati, that flows below. A corpse is being cremated on its banks; washerwomens^ at their work and children bathe. Prom a balcony a basket of flowers and leaves, old offerings now wilted, is dropped into the river. A small shrine half protrudes from the stone platform on the river bank. When it emerges fully, the goddess inside will escape, and the evil period of the Kaliyug will end on earth. (Kathmandu)
i) Into which temple only the Hindus are allowed? (A)
A) Pashupathinath temple
B) Baudhnath stupa
C) The small shrine of a deity
D) Benaras temple
Answer:
A) Pashupathinath temple
ii) What cause fibrile confusion at Pashupathinath? (D)
A) roaming of priests
B) roaming of hawkers and devotees
C) roaming of cows, monkeys, pigeons and dogs
D) all the above
Answer:
D) all the above
iii) Which important person visits the temple at that time? (A)
A) The Princess of the Nepalese
B) The Prince of the Nepalese
C) The King of the Nepal
D) The Queen of the Nepal
Answer:
A) The Princess of the Nepalese
iv) Why were the saffron-clad westerners denied admission into the temple? (B)
A) because the western people are not allowed into the temple
B) because the policeman is not convinced that they are the Hindus
C) because they create a lot of noise in the temple
D) because they create chaos by fighting among themselves
Answer:
B) because the policeman is not convinced that they are the Hindus
v) Who is worshipped in the Pashupathinath temple? (A)
A) Shiva
B) Vishnu
C) Krishna
D) Maruthi
Answer:
A) Shiva
7. At the Baudhnath stupa, the Buddhist shrine of Kathmandu, there is, in contrast, a sense of stillness. Its immense white dome is ringed by a road. Small shops stand ort its outer edge: many of these are owned by Tibetan immigrants; felt bags, Tibetan prints and silver jewellery can be bought here. There are no crowds: this is a haven of
quietness in the busy streets around. (Kathmandu)
i) What is considered a haven of quietness? (B)
A) Pashupathinath temple
B) Baudhnath temple
c) The white dome
D) Nepal
Answer:
B) Baudhnath temple
ii) What is English equivalent for stupa? (B)
A) shrine
B) dome
C) ring
D) haven
Answer:
B) dome
iii) Who owns the shops at Baudhnath stupa? (C)
A) Nepalese
B) Indians
C) Tibetan immigrants
D) The saffron-clad westerners
Answer:
C) Tibetan immigrants
iv) Which word in the above passage means “persons who have come to live permanently into a different country’? (A)
A) immigrant
B) haven
C) mercenary
D) deity
Answer:
A) immigrant
v) How is Baudhnath in contrast to Pashupathinath?
i) There is a sense of peace and calmness around Baudhnath.
ii) There is a hurried activity and complete chaos around Pashupathinath.
Which of the following is sufficient for answer? (C)
A) only (i)
B) only (ii)
C) both (i) and (ii)
D) neither (i) nor (ii)
Answer:
C) both (i) and (ii)
Reference to the Context: Reading Comprehension from Poem
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
1. A slumber did my spirit seal—
I had no human fears.
She seemed a thing that could not feel
The touch of earthly years. (A Slumber Did My Spirit Seal)
i) What does the ‘slumber’ hear mean? (B)
A) deep sleep
B) death
C) stillness
D) serenity
Answer:
B) death
ii) How can you say that a person had died? Which sentences or phrases suggest that she had died? (C)
i) She seemed a thing
ii) She could not feel the touch
A) only (i)
B) only (ii)
C) both (i) and (ii)
D) neither (i) nor (ii)
Answer:
C) both (i) and (ii)
iii) What kind of a poem is this? (B)
A) a psalm
B) an elegy
C) ode
D) ballad
Answer:
B) an elegy
iv) “I had no human fears” – What does the phrase ‘human fears’ mean? (B)
A) fear of losing property and belongings
B) fear of losing close relatives with their death
C) fear of losing friends
D) fear of losing one’s soul
Answer:
B) fear of losing close relatives with their death
v) ‘……… that could not feel the touch of earthly years.’ What does this sentence mean? (D)
i) She does not feel the earthly time.
ii) Earthly years have become timeless for her.
iii) She has now become immortal going beyond the earthly years with death.
A) only (i)
B) only (ii)
C) only (iii)
D) All the three
Answer:
D) All the three
2. No motion has she now, no force—
She neither hears nor sees,
Rolled round in earth’s diurnal course
With rocks and stones and trees.
i) Why has she no any motion? (D)
A) because she was unconscious
B) because she lost her legs in an accident
C) because she has no legs and so she can’t move
D) because she is dead and so she can’t move
Answer:
D) because she is dead and so she can’t move
ii) “Rolled round in earth’s diurnal course” – What does this sentence symbolise? (D)
i) mortality of human beings
ii) immortality of nature
iii) eternality of the soul
iv) immortality of the soul
A) only (i) and (ii)
B) only (ii) and (iii)
C) only (i) and (iii)
D) only (iii) and (iv)
Answer:
D) only (iii) and (iv)
iii) “Rolled round in earth’s diurnal course” – To understand the poem in a better way ‘earth’s’ should be replaced by? (B)
A) nature’s
B) life’s
C) man’s
D) human’s
Answer:
B) life’s
iv) What does the last line ‘With rocks and stones and trees” suggest us? (B)
A) She is lifeless.
B) She is in the grave.
C) She is as motionless as rocks and stones and trees.
D) She has attained perfection – a birtless condition.
Answer:
B) She is in the grave.
v) Who is the poet? (A)
A) Wordsworth
B) William Shakespeare
C) Robert Frost
D) Coates Kinney
Answer:
A) Wordsworth
3. A slumber did my spirit seal—
I had no human fears.
She seemed a thing that could not feel
The touch of earthly years.
No motion has she now, no force—
She neither hears nor sees,
Rolled round in earth’s diurnal course
With rocks and stones and trees. (A Slumber Did My Spirit Seal)
i) The theme of the poem is __________ (A)
A) the idea of life, death, and life after death
B) the idea of nature
C) the idea of earth’s diurnal nature
D) the idea of sleep.
Answer:
A) the idea of life, death, and life after death
ii) What is the message of the poem? (C)
i) Death is inevitable in life.
ii) Birth and death are two points of circular life of eternality.
A) only (i)
B) only (ii)
C) both (i) and (ii)
D) neither (i) nor (ii)
Answer:
C) both (i) and (ii)
iii) In this poem the lines don’t end in a comma or a fullstop. This is called (A)
A) Enjambment
B) Alliteration
C) Assonance
D) Consonance
Answer:
A) Enjambment
iv) What is the tone of the poem? (A)
A) etheral and peaceful
B) ironic
C) joyful
D) melancholy
Answer:
A) etheral and peaceful
v) “A slumber did my spirit seal” – What figure of speech is used in this line? (C)
A) Simile
B) Personification
C) Metaphor
D) Hyperbole
Answer:
C) Metaphor
Short Answer Questions from Prose
Question 1.
What is the belief at Pashupathinath temple about the end of Kaliyuga?
Answer:
Beside Pashupathinath temple, the river Bagmati flows. On its bank, there is a half protruding shrine. People believe that the Kaliyuga comes to an end when the shrine comes out completely.
Question 2.
Why couldn’t, the narrator tear himself away from the square?
Answer:
The narrator was impressed by the music of the flute seller. He had a sort of attachment to the flute’s music. So he could’t go away from that place.
Question 3.
Compare and contrast the atmosphere in and around Baudhnath shrine with Pashupathinath temple.
Answer:
The atmosphere around the Baudhnath stupa is entirely different from that near Pashupathinath temple. It is full of stillness and silence around the Baudhnath stupa. Crowds and noise mark the atmosphere near Pashupathinath temple.
Question 4.
Do you want to visit the places like Kathmandu? Why?
Answer:
Yes, I want to see places like Kathmandu. I love to see ancient temples. I am fond of river sides and hills. I am also interested in knowing about different cultures. Hence I want to visit such places.
Question 5.
The writer says, “All this I wash down with Coca Cola.” What does ‘all this’ refer to?
Answer:
Wash down here means ’to drink after eating something’. After eating a corn-on-the-cob and marzipan he drank Coca Cola.
Question 6.
Name five kinds of flutes.
Answer:
The reed neh; the recorder, the Japanese shakuhachi, the deep bansuri, the breathy flutes of South America and the high pitched Chinese flutes.
Question 7.
How is there an atmosphere of ‘febrile confusion’ outside the Pashupathinath temple?
Answer:
There are priests, hawkers, devotees, tourists, cows, monkeys, pigeons and dogs roam through the streets of the Pashupathinath temple. It creates an atmosphere of febrile confusion outside the Pashupathinath temple.
Question 8.
Why are saffron-clad westerners denied the admission into the Pashupathinath temple by the police?
Answer:
Only the Hindus are allowed into the Pashupathinath temple. But policeman is not convinced that they are the Hindus and so they are not allowed into the temple.
Question 9.
How did the author at first want to go back home?
Answer:
At first the author wanted to go back home by bus and train town to Patna then sail up the Ganges past Benaras to Allahabad, then up the Yamuna, past Agra to Delhi.
Question 10.
Why did the author later decide to go by flight?
Answer:
The author was exhausted and homesick and it was the last day of the August. So he wanted to go by flight.
Question 11.
What is the modus operand! of attracting the customers by the flute seller?
Answer:
The flute seller does not shout out his flutes. He plays a flute for a few minutes. He plays slowly, meditatively without excessive display but in a curiously offhanded way.
Question 12.
Why did the author find it difficult to leave the square where the flute seller was playing the flute?
Answer:
Flute music always attracts him. The sound of the flute is always the most universal and the most, particular of all sounds. So he was unable to leave the square where the flute seller was playing the flute.
Question 13.
What difference does the author note between the flute seller and the other hawkers?
Answer:
Whereas other hawkers and vendors shout out their wares continuously and loudly the flute seller, not showing much interest, casually and occasionally plays a flute for a few minutes. The sound rises clearly above the noise of the traffic and the hawkers’ cries. He plays his flute slowly, meditatively without excessive display.
Short Answer Questions from Poem
Question 1.
What does the poem ’A Slumber Did My Spirit Seal’ talk about?
Answer:
The poem ‘A Slumber Did My Spirit Seal’ by William Wordsworth speaks about the death of author’s lover Lucy. This poem reflects on the thoughts and feelings of the author about the death of his lover. Her death has sealed the soul of the author. He began to accept the reality of life, its cycle of birth and death and eternality. The deep sleep he had been in prevented him from being deeply affected by her death.
Question 2.
“I had no human fears.” What did the poet want to say from this sentence?
Answer:
When Lucy was taken away by the earth’s diurnal course (ageing), at first the poet could not bear her loss. Later the poet began to accept the truth that like earth’s diurnal course. It’s life’s course in which one should succumb one day or other. He realised that there would be no use to cry or behave like a normal human being at the death of his love. Because she was going to be assimilated into the earth.
Question 3.
How was his lover after she was dead?
OR
How did the. poet feel when he saw the dead body?
Answer:
When she was dead she appeared like a lifeless thing. There would be no effect of time or ageing on her dead body any longer. There was no movement in her and no force. She could no longer see or hear anything after death.
Question 4.
‘Rolled round in earth’s diurnal course.” Explain this sentence in a philosphical background.
Answer:
The earth always revolves round the sun. It has a circular movement. It begins where it ends. In the same way the journey of a life is also circular. It also begins with birth and ends with death. But the soul, like nature, is infinite. The soul is eternal. Human body is mortal. Hence whenever a person dies we have to understand the body has lost life and the soul will take rebirth again, since the journey of the soul is circular and eternal.
Question 5.
“Rolled round in earth’s diurnal course with rocks and stones and trees.” What did the poet believe to happen to her after death?
Answer:
After death she will be buried deep under the earth. She would also become a part of the earth like, rocks, stones and trees. It (her corpse) would also rotate and revolve along with the earth on its own axis. It means that it / she would be assimilated into the earth arid becomes a part of the nature.
Question 6.
“A slumber did my spirit seal.” How can a deep sleep seal the spirit / soul?
Answer:
‘Slumber’ meams deep sleep. Even after the death of our near and dear we have to continue our life. Deep sleep or slumber means the natural routine of the people. After the death of one’s near and dear people will lament their death for some time but they have to continue their natural routine. Deep sleep – the part of their routine makes them accept the reality of death of their kith and kin and seal their feelings about them.
Short Answer Questions from S.Reader
Question 1.
“My first year of high school felt awkward.” Why?
OR
“It felt strange starting over as a freshman How did the narrator feel so?
Answer:
The high school’s big size and his closest friends’ going away to different schools made his first year of high school felt awkward.
Question 2.
Why was the narrator able to get admission in that high school?
Answer:
His leaving the junior high school ahead of his class with all the seniority and the upper grades he achieved in his previous class helped him to get admission into that high school.
Question 3.
What did his old teachers suggest him to get accustomed to the new school?
Answer:
His old teachers suggested him that he should get involved in school activities so that he could meet new people. They told him he would adjust in time and probably end up loving his new school.
Question 4.
“I understood the psychology in what they were saying.” What was the psychology of his old teachers?
Answer:
His old teachers made him promise that when he started loving his new school he should still visit them sometimes. When they said these words he took comfort in their words. Then the narrator understood the psychology behind their words was to comfort him and make him love his new school.
Question 5.
What were his red tubby cat’s feelings about him?
Answer:
His pet cat thought that the narrator was the one responsible for giving her good life. Because he had rescued her when she was a kitten. So she was never far from him.
Question 6.
“My mother kept stoking the fire to keep the house nice and warm.” What happened after that?
Answer:
Suddenly the narrator smelt something strange. He noticed that smoke pouring in through the seams of the ceiling. When the smoke began to fill the room they all ran out into the front yard. While they were making their way outside the whole roof got engulfed in flames.
Question 7.
“I watched my mother ran back into the house.” Why did she run back into the house?
Answer:
His mother ran back into the house to bring out a meted box which contained important documents.
Question 8.
“In a crazed state the author’s mother ran back into the house again.” Why?
Answer:
His mother did not want to let his father’s pictures and letters go up in flames. They were the mempries of his dead father. That’s why she ran back into the house again in a crazed state. They were only the things she had to remember her husband by.
Question 9.
“But then it struck me.” What thought was struck to him?
Answer:
Their house was almost completely burnt down. At once a thought struck him. He had not seen his cat. To his horror, she was nowhere to be found.
Question 10.
What made him break down in tears?
Answer:
His new school, the fire and the loss of their house and the loss of her cat made him break down in tears.
Question 11.
Why did the author want to stay back home and did not want to go to school?
Answer:
The author was totally embarrassed by everything that had happened. He had lost his backpack in which he had got all his school material. He had no books or homework. His clothes were weird. He had to borrow some tennis shoes from his aunt. So the author did not want to go to school and wanted to stay back home.
Question 12.
What thoughts occupied the author’s mind when he lost everything?
Answer:
The author wondered whether he was destined to be an outcast and a geek all his life. He did not want to grow up, change or have to handle life if it was going to be that way. He just wanted to lie and die.
Question 13.
“It always seems that bad news spread quickly.” In what way was it true in the case of the author?
Answer:
Everyone in his school, including his teachers came to know about his plight – about the fire accident in which he had lost everything. Thus in author’s case it was proved
true.
Long Answer Questions from Prose
Question 1.
The author finds a lot of confusion outside the temple in Kathmandu. What was the confusion about? Is this type of confusion common in our temples?
Answer:
The author found a lot of confusion outside the temple in Kathmandu. There were priests, hawkers, devotees, tourists mingled with the birds and animals. The worshippers pushed one another to be in the front line. Policemen were busy in dealing with the foreigners whom they suspected to be non-Hindus.
Temples should be quiet and peaceful. But the reality is just the opposite. It is a common scenario that we have in our temples. We £an see unruly devotees, mismanagement and chaos all around in some of the prominent religious places. Beggars and other self-proclaimed gods present a miserable scene all around. If we want to be called religious in the true sense, we must maintain and respect the sanity of the temples.
We must be pure and peaceful, both physically and mentally.
Question 2.
Bagmati is file holy river in Kathmandu where some religious and non-religious activities are undertaken. Rivers are considered pious in our country and are worshipped. According to you, what is the best way to show our reverence to the holy rivers?
Answer:
Bagmati is the holy river in Kathmandu. People cremate corpse on its bank. Washerwomen wash their clothes in the river. Children and animals take bath in it. Devotees throw flowers and used garlands in it. All these activities pollute the river.
Rivers are considered pious in our country. Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati, etc. are the rivers that we worship. But in the name of religion, we often pollute them. We throw the garbage and other harmful chemicals in them. At the time of Pooja we submerge the offerings in polybags which not only pollute the river but kill the water animals. The best way to worship the rivers is to keep them clean. They are the life lines of a country. By keeping them clean, we can truly show our reverence towards them.
Question 3.
Describe the Kathmandu bazaar in your own words. Do you think these bazaars are helpful for the locals for developing a social bond?
Answer:
The Kathmandu Bazaar is full of activities. Here we find fruit-sellers, flute-sellers and hawkers of postcards. The bazaar is full of noise and chaos all around. In the bazaar, there are many shops selling Western cosmetics, film rolls and chocolates. There are some shops which sell copper utensils and Nepalese antiques.
The atmosphere is full of music. There is sound of film songs coming out from the rauio. The flute-seller has various types of flutes which have unique appeal. These markets are very helpful to the locals. They get employment and an opportunity to display their talent and values inherent in their culture. Moreover, people from different cultures come there and get acquainted. This develops a special bond among them.
Question 4.
Describe the flute-seller’s pattern of life. Do you feel that such talents are generally ignored and never get opportunity to excel in their life? What should be done for such talents?
Answer:
The flute-seller selects a flute from his collection and plays for a few minutes from time to time. He does not shout to sell the flutes. Rather, he plays meditatively. The author feels fascinated towards the flute-seller. For the seller, playing the flute is more important than selling them.
Yes, these local artists don’t get a platform to show their talent. They are often ignored. Their talent dies in silence. There should be some activities in these fairs or markets where the talent of such artists is highlighted. The world should come to know about them. Once these artists are identified, the government should support them in their growth. The media should give them an opportunity to show their talent.
Long Answer Questions from Poem
Question 1.
How does the poet react to the untimely, sudden and shocking death of his beloved? What does he imagine her to be after her death?
Answer:
The sudden and untimely death of his beloved leaves the poet stunned. It is not easy to express the poet’s feelings in words. Actually, a deep slumber ‘sealed’ his spirit. He fell as if he were in deep sleep. This deep sleep seems to have closed off his body and soul. She is no more and will not be affected by the earthly years as well as by the touch of five physical senses. She will feel no motion, movement or force. Nor will be able to hear or see. Yet she will become an in separable part of nature. Physical death doesn’t mean that will be condemned to an everlasting death. No, she will roll round in earth’s diurrtal course. She will become one with rocks, stones and trees.
Question 2.
Give a brief analysis of the poem ‘A Slumber Did My Spirit Seal’ in your own words.
Answer:
In the poem ‘A Slumber Did My Spirit Seed’ the poet describes his beloved after her death. In the first stanza, the poet says that the death of his beloved made him very depressed. He says that his beloved has now become a non-living thing which cannot feel the touch of anything on the earth. In the second stanza, he says that his beloved has no motion. She can neither hear any sound nor can she see anything. She is trapped under the earth and revolves with rocks, stones and trees.
Long Answer Questions from S. Reader
Question 1.
Write a brief character sketch of the author. What impresses you the most?
Answer:
The author is a bright, loving, affectionate, sensitive and emotional boy. He is aca demically bright and popular among his old teachers and old class fellows. He actively participates in the activities. He feels lonely and lost in the new school. After the fire tragedy, he feels isolated and depressed at the loss of his cat and house. His emotional and sensitive nature makes him cry. He loves his mother too much.
He displays the value of gratefulness. He is grateful to the lady who brought his cat back. He expresses his gratefulness to his class fellows who supported him in school. His love for his mother and his cat, his attachment to his old school and teachers are some values that have impressed me.
Question 2.
Describe the author’s love for his cat. Do you also have the same feelings for your pet?
Answer:
When the narrator lost everything in the fire, he did not cry but when he realised that his cat was missing, he broke down in tears. He used to visit his old house every day hoping to find his missing cat. A month later a woman contacted him and gave him his cat. On seeing the cat, he leapt up ‘and cried into that beautiful orange fur’.
He was very happy. He forgot about the loss caused by the fire. He remarked, ‘My cat was back and so was I’. It reveals the love for animals. Yes, I also have the same feelings for my cat. I can’t live without her. Whenever she is out of sight, I become restless. I take very good care of my pet cat ‘Sunny’.
Question 3.
“This was not the kind of attention I was looking for.” He did not want sympathy, he wanted self-respect and recognition. What kind of attention did the author get in his new school?
AAnswer:
The news of fire reached his school. Everyone was aware of his plight. All the teachers knew about his hardship. His classmates also gave him sympathetic looks. The author felt embarrassed as if somehow he himself was responsible for his plight. He remarked, “This was not the kind of attention I was looking for.” Yes, the author did not want any sympathy.
He had a misconception about his new school and the new teachers. But he was not right. They had selfless love and concern for him. The author realised that he was not under any obligation. It was a true human gesture for him. The story teaches various values that all of us must imbibe in our life. Some of them are consideration and concern for others, cooperation, compassion, friendship/fellow feeling and gratitude.
Question 4.
How did a wonder woman bring happiness back in the life of the author? Making someone happy by our deeds is the best service to God and his creation. Do you agree?
Answer:
Making someone happy by our deeds is the best service to God and his creation. In the story the author lost his cat whom he loved the most. After the fire, he could not find his cat anywhere. He broke down and cried bitterly. In fact, when the fire broke out, the cat was so scared that it had run away about a mile and lost its way home. A kind lady found the cat and tried to contact the author over the phone. But all the phone lines were out of order due to the fire. At last, the lady located the address of the author. She gave him his cat. The author was extremely grateful to the wonder lady who had given him a new lease of life.