PRACTICE PAPER (2019-20)

ENGLISH (Language & Literature)

CLASS X

Time allowed: 3 Hours 80 Marks

SECTION A (Reading) 20 Marks

Q.1 Read the passage.

“I had ambitions not only to go farther than any man had been before; but as far as it was
possible for man to go,” wrote James Cook, the explorer, who added Australia and New Zealand
to the British Empire.

James Cook, the father of Antarctica exploration, was born in Marton village, Cleveland, On
October 28, 1728. From his boyhood, he was interested in seafaring. One day the lad made up
his mind; he too, was going to sea in order to visit glamorous lands. At the age of 27, Cook had
risen to the proud position of first mate. The first service that Cook saw was in Canada, where
he was employed in the dangerous task of surveying the St. Lawrence.

When Cook, on August 25, 1768, with a company of 83 men (including a party of scientists,
among who was the great Sir Joseph Banks) set sail in the Endeavour, they had before them the
possibility of filling in a substantial area of the globe’s surface. They reached Tahiti in the spring
of 1769. Cook sailed south on his quest for the unknown continent, and skirting the society
islands, at length reached new Zealand. The tattooed natives met them. Cook greeted these
Maori warriors with friendly signs and eventually prevailed on them to lay down their spears in
sign of truce. After circumnavigating the North and South Islands, Cook surveyed the coastline
and landed at Queen Charlotte’s Sound. He then hoisted the Union Jack and informed his
company that he had taken possession of the islands on behalf of His Majesty George the Third.

Choose the correct option to answer the following: 8 marks

A. James Cook’s desire was to:

(a) Discover Australia (b) to discover New Zealand
(c) Travel long and far (d) do something for the British empire
B. Cook was interested in travelling:
(a) By road (b)by train (c) by air (d) by boat
C. In 1755, Cook took the first challenging job:
(a) to visit glamorous lands (b) when he became the first mate
 (c) when he surveyed St. Lawrence (d) when he went to Canada

D. Sir Joseph Banks was a:

(a) A sailor (b) friend of Cook (c) master of St. Lawrence (d) a scientist

E. The Endeavour was the name of :

(a) the group which accompanied Cook (b) the ship in which James Cook travelled
(b) a scientist who was with cook (d) a country discovered by Cook

F. Cook discovered:
(a) New Zealand (b) Society islands (c) Canada (d) North & South islands

G. “Substantial” is the opposite of:

(a) Little (b) much (c) great (d) low

H. The word “surveyed” in this passage means:

(a) Served (b) inspected (c) found (d) desired

Q.2 Read the passage carefully: 12 Marks

1. Every time a child takes a soft drink, he is laying the ground work for a dangerous bone
disease. No, fizzy and sugary drinks don’t cause osteoporosis. But, because they are often a
substitute for a glass of milk, kids are not getting calcium and vitamin D they need to build a
strong skeleton. Many of them also lead a sedentary lifestyle, so they are not getting the bone
building benefits for vigorous exercise either. These children aren’t just in jeopardy for brittle
bones and fractures decades down the road. They could be at a risk of osteoporosis at a
younger age than ever before.

2. The Indian society for Bone and Mineral Research, a body of osteoporosis experts is trying to
spread awareness about this bone crippling disease. Osteoporosis starts in childhood but has
consequences later in life. The condition causes bones to become riddled with holes, like the
framework of a house that’s been attacked by termites. That can lead to broken bones, which
in turn can cause deformity, chronic pain or disability. Osteoporosis can be fatal: up to 25% of
older people who suffer a broken hip die within a year. Osteoporosis isn’t just your
grandmother’s health threat. Although it causes loss of height, pain in joints and back, fractures
and a fear of fractures, and can be very depressing. So, it is important that we adopt preventive
measures, to save millions of people.
3. There is a new medical understanding of the best ways to protect ourselves and our children.
“Simple lifestyle changes and nutrition will help save your bones,” says Dr. Mittal. To get us
moving in the right direction, he says, “It’s never too late to adopt bone friendly habits –
exercise, get enough sunlight, and have adequate calcium. This way we can keep our bones
healthy and prevent osteoporosis.”

Answer the following questions briefly: 1x12=12 Marks

(a) Why are fizzy and sugary drinks blamed for osteoporosis? 1
(b) How do bones get weak? 1
(c) When does osteoporosis become apparent? 1
(d) Why osteoporosis is called fatal? 1
(e) How does osteoporosis affect us? 1
(f) Which society is spreading awareness about this bone crippling disease? 1
(g) What happens to our bones when they are affected by osteoporosis? 1
(h) What are the bone friendly habits? 1
(i) Which word in the passage means the same as ‘inactive’? 1
(j) Find the word in the passage which means ‘at risk’. 1
(k) Find the word in the passage which is a synonym of ‘alternative’. 1
(l) Find an antonym from the passage for ‘insufficient’. 1

SECTION B (WRITING & GRAMMAR) 30 Marks

Q.3 Write an article in about 100-150 words on: 8 marks

Every child is a potential achiever

Hints: Hafeez Contractor’s life is a perfect example for under-achievers at school. Afraid of
Mathematics, Interested in games, playing pranks on others, passed exams only by copying,
detested mechanical learning, finally found his dream career in architecture. There are so many
such examples……..
OR
You are Subroto Roy. You intend to take your parents as well as your wife for a 5 day trip to Singapore
from 29th Dec to 2nd Jan. Write a letter to the Manager -Thomas Cook and Company to enquire about
the tour package for 4 adults.
Hints: round trip flights, 4/5 star hotel stay, transportation etc….

Q.4 Write a story in about 150-200 words using the hints given underneath. Give your story a
suitable title and moral. 10 marks

 The doorbell rang

  Sunil opened the door
 Tall well-dressed man stood before him
 All of a sudden ……………………………….

Q.5 The following passage has not been edited. There is one error in each line. Write the
incorrect word and its correction in your answer sheet against the correct question number.

1 x 4=4marks

Incorrect word Correction

Dr Gauri Mishra the famous dentist opines a. ___________ ___________

that professional teeth cleaning followed on b. ____________ ___________
bleaching must enhance one’s smile. Dental c. ____________ ___________
jewellery can also add sparkle with people’s smile. d. ____________ ____________

Q.6 Fill in the blanks choosing the correct option from the given connectors: 1/2 x 8 =4 marks

A few weeks ago, I did some ironing and (a)________ went out to do some shopping.
(b)________ I was out, I realized (c)_______ I couldn’t remember(d)__________ I had switched
the iron off (e)_________ left it on. I was really worried. (f) ________ I ran home at once. I was
shocked to (g)___________ two fire extinguishers outside my house busily (h)________ to a
roaring fire.

a. (i) and (ii) while (iii) because (iv) then

b. (i) although (ii) or (iii) while (iv) however
c. (i) that (ii) as (iii) since (iv) when
d. (i) whether (ii) lest (iii) else (iv) though
e. (i) so (ii) if (iii) or (iv) but
f. (i) although (ii) then (iii) otherwise (iv) so
g. (i) seen (ii) seeing (iii) saw (iv) see
h. (i) attending (ii) attend (iii) attended (iv) attends

Q.7 Use the information of the news headlines to complete the sentences meaningfully. 4marks
(a) HIGH COURT DISMISSES PETITION
(b) Spent/ had/many/ happy years/ they/ together

SECTION C (LITERATURE) 30 Marks

Q.9 Read the extracts given below and answer the questions which follow: 8 Marks
A. When I returned from Lyonnesse 1 x 4 = 4 marks
with magic in my eyes,
all marked with mute surmise
my radiance rare and fathomless,

(a) What did the poet bring in his eyes?

(i) Tears (ii) Magic (iii) Charisma (iv) Nothing
(b) What did everybody notice in the poet?
(i) Magic in his eyes (ii) Radiance rare and fathomless (iii) mute surmise (iv) both i & ii
(c) Why had the poet gone to Lyonnesse?
(i) For restoration of church (ii) to see snowfall (iii) to visit his parents (iv)None of these
(d) Which word in the stanza is the opposite of ‘dullness’?
(i) surmise (ii) fathomless (iii) rare (iv) radiance

B. “You told me you’d come home by Christmas, dearest,” she said. 4 marks

(a) Who said this and to whom? 1

(b) Why was the author visiting the speaker of this sentence? 1
(c) Whose identity did the speaker mistake the visitor’s for? 1
(d) ) Did the person come home for Christmas as promised? Why/ Why not? 1

Q.10 Answer any three of the following questions: 3 x2 =6 marks

(a) How was Ernest different from others in the valley?
(b) Why did the grandmother tell the children not to kill chhuchhunders?
(c) The writer expresses his gratitude to Stephen Hawking. What is the gratitude for?
(d) What preparations did the duck make to keep the kangaroo warm from her wet and cold
feet in their journey together?
(e) How did Jody come to know that the fawn is a male?

Q.11 Answer any five of the following: 5x2= 10 marks

(a) Why According to Indrani Debi the Comet has not been disastrous?
(b) What was the consequence of buying jalebis with the fee money?
(c) What had happened in the Sappleton family as narrated by the neice?
(d) Which of the two boys – Ranji or Suraj was superior? Why?
(e) Why had Velu run away from home?
(f)How can you say that Hafiz Contractor’s becoming an architect was a matter of chance?

Q.12 (a) Imagining yourself as Tilly Smith, write a diary page narrating what you had seen on the
sea beach to realize that a tsunami was coming. 6 marks
 DIARY ENTRY
Sunday, 26December2004 10:30 pm

Today morning at about 7:00 am I along with my parents were at the sea beach near our hotel
when we saw that the water was swelling…………………

OR

(b)Imagining yourself as Velu, write a diary page expressing your regret at having run away from
home. The life at home was much better than the one in Chennai.