Practice Paper 2 ENGLISH LANGUAGE & LITERATURE – X

(2023-24)
Time allowed: 3 Hrs. Maximum Marks: 80
General Instructions:
1. The Question Paper contains THREE sections – READING, GRAMMAR & WRITING and LITERATURE.
2. Attempt questions based on specific instructions for each part.

SECTION A – READING SKILLS (20 Marks)

READING COMPREHENSION THROUGH UNSEEN PASSAGES

1. Read the following text. (10 Marks)

1. In a major breakthrough, scientists have created an entirely new material with plastic and
metal properties that 'can't be explained'. Though the material can be made like plastic, it
conducts electricity like a metal. The discovery goes against what scientists would expect to
see, and could lead to new kinds of breakthroughs, researchers say.
2. In the past, scientists have created conductive materials of all kinds, and the differences
between them have allowed us to create a variety of electronic devices that work across
conditions.
3. "In principle, this opens up the design of a whole new class of materials that conduct
electricity, are easy to shape, and are very robust in everyday conditions," said John
Anderson, an associate professor of chemistry at the University of Chicago and the senior
author on the study, in a statement.
4. But across all of those dissimilarities, the conductive materials share similarities. They are
made up of atoms or molecules that run in straight, densely packed lines, which scientists
thought was required to make sure they could effectively conduct electricity.
5. In the new study, however, scientists say they have created a new kind of material in which
those fragments are messed up, and not in order. It is still able to conduct electricity very well,
however.
6. "From a fundamental picture, that should not be able to be a metal," said Professor Anderson.
"There isn't a solid theory to explain this."
7. The material can withstand being bent around, squashed and formed into a variety of
different formations, researchers say. Its creators liken it to "conductive Play-Doh", in that it
can be shaped in various ways and will still continue to allow electricity to flow through it.
8. The discovery should allow for electronics to be made in new ways, its creators say. For
instance, current chip or device design is limited by the fact that metal must be melted into the
right shape, which can cause problems for other components – but the new material can be
made at room temperatures, and so poses less risk.
 2 English (Language & Literature) 10

9. Similarly, the material's ability to withstand heat, humidity or extreme acidity or alkalinity
means that it could be used to create devices that can work in conditions where traditional
materials would be destroyed.
10. The finding is reported in a new article, 'Intrinsic glassy-metallic transport in an amorphous
coordination polymer', published in Nature recently.
Andrew Griffin (Source:https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/techandscience/scientists-create-entirely-new-material-with-plastic-and-metal-
properties-that-can-t-be-explained/ar-AA13qprL?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=daea2d64d78549328ac3900370d5e1e5)

Answer the following questions, based on the passage above. (10 Marks)

(i) Which of the following statements best explains what a "breakthrough" is? (1 Mark)
(a) It involves a lot of undoing and destruction.
(b) It is a sudden, dramatic and important development.
(c) It totally defies all principles of science.
(d) It is an explanation of an established theory.

(ii) What is Professor Anderson's tone in the following line from paragraph 6? Rationalise your
response in about 40 words. (2 Marks)
"From a fundamental picture, that should not be able to be a metal,” said Professor Anderson,
"There isn't a solid theory to explain this."

(iii) Complete the sentence appropriately. (1 Mark)

An assumption about conductive materials that the new material has proved wrong is that...

(iv) The passage includes some words that are synonymous. From the sets (a) – (e) below, identify
two sets of synonyms. (1 Mark)

(a) robust and conductive (d) squashed and shaped

(b) withstand and resist (e) differences and dissimilarities
(c) densely and effectively

(v) Based on the reading of the passage, examine in about 40 words, the two ways in which the
new material promises to revolutionise electronics. (2 Marks)

(vii) What message does the paragraph convey regarding the traditional materials hitherto used
in manufacturing products? (1 Mark)

(vii) 'Play-Doh' is a brand name of clay that children use to create things with. The author has
used the expression 'conductive Play-Doh' in paragraph 7 to emphasize which of the following
qualities of the new invention? (1 Mark)
(a) Playfulness (c) Elasticity
(b) Strength (d) Conductivity
English (Language & Literature) 10 3

(viii) State whether the following lines from a poem display some qualities of the new material
being described in the passage? (1 Mark)
I bend but do not break
I may fall hard but get up again.
I may be close to destruction but I will rebuild.
I may come close to breaking; I'll just continue to bend.

2. Read the following text. (10 Marks)

1. According to a recent report by the United Nations Population Fund, the population of citizens
over 60 years of age in India will double from 10.5% in 2022 to 20.8% in 2050. The report
“Caring for Our Elders Institutional Responses India Ageing Report 2023” has projected that
by 2046, the elderly population in the country will pass the population of children aged
between 0 and 14. This means that one in every five persons will be elderly in India by 2050,
the report said.
2. It said that the ageing population in the country poses three significant challenges – feminisation
which is when women live longer than men resulting in higher levels of widowhood and
further resulting in economic deprivations and dependencies, high proportion of rural
population among the elderly also known as ruralisation and the ageing of the old persons.
3. Between 2000 and 2022, the total population of the country grew by 34%, while the population
of people aged over 60 grew by 103%, the report said. During this period, the growth in the
population of older persons more than 80 years has been even higher at 128%. The report
projected that between 2022 and 2050, the overall population of India will grow by 18% while
the older population will grow by 134%.
4. The study said that 71% of older persons live in rural areas. This is marked by significant
interregional variation ranging from 62% to 63% in the West and South to 78% to 80% in the
East, North and Northeast.
5. However, across the country, income insecurity was one of the major causes of vulnerability in
old age, according to the report. It said that ageing had a direct relation with economic
dependency due to loss of income and increased healthcare expenditure. Nearly 33% of the
older females have never worked and do not have any income.
6. The report also focused on the lack of formal welfare systems for old people. It noted that over
the years, Indian family systems that are traditionally expected to take care of the old people
have also undergone a change.
7. Drop in fertility rate, increased life expectancy at old ages, migration of younger generation to
urban areas for employment and better economic achievements have contributed to this
change, the report said.
Source: https://scroll.in/latest/1056724/indias-ageing-population-to-double-by-2050-says-un-report
 4 English (Language & Literature) 10

Answer the following questions, based on the passage above. (10 Marks)

(i) Fill in the blanks with the appropriate option from those given in brackets, based on your
understanding of paragraph 2. (1 Mark)
In paragraph 2, the author has ................................. (defined/concluded) what 'feminisation' and
'ruralisation' respectively mean in terms of .............................. (growing/declining) population of
women and the elderly in India.
(ii) In the given sentence taken from paragraph 2, select the option that correctly replaces the
underlined word, with its most likely antonym. (1 Mark)
Women live longer than men resulting in higher levels of widowhood and further resulting in
economic deprivations and dependencies.....
(a) reforms (c) projections
(b) gains (d) shortcomings

(iii) Which of the following can be inferred from Paragraph 3? (1 Mark)

(a) The rate of the growth of the overall population fell between 2000 and 2022.
(b) The rate of the growth of the overall population is expected to fall in the future.
(c) The rate of the growth of the elderly population will see a three-fold increase by the mid of
the twenty-first century.
(d) The rate of the growth of the elderly population will see a huge fall by the middle of
twenty-first century.

(iv) Justify the following, in about 40 words. (2 Marks)

The projected growth in the population of the aged in India by the mid of the twenty-first
century is not a good sign for the country.

(v) Which of the following is valid in the context of paragraph 4 of the passage? (1 Mark)
(a) Only 29% of the older population live in rural areas of India.
(b) The ratio of the elderly population across all the regions of India varies only marginally.
(c) East, North and Northeast have higher ratio of the older population compared to other
regions of India.
(d) The number of older people in the population of the West and the South regions of India is
greater than that in any other region.

(vi) Infer from the passage why the elderly women are the most vulnerable group in the context of
the adverse effect of the rapid rise in the population of the elderly people in India. Answer in
about 40 words. (2 Marks)

(vii) Infer how the information in paragraph 7 is related to the information in paragraph 6. (1 Mark)
English (Language & Literature) 10 5

(viii) Which of the following is the main takeaway from the report mentioned in the passage? (1 Mark)
(a) By 2050 there will be fewer children in India than old people and there is an urgent need
to increase the average family size in the country.
(b) By 2050, there will be two-fold increase in the population of elders if the mortality rate of
this age group is brought down considerably through better medical care, a nutritional
diet and fitness regime.
(c) By 2050 the population of the old people will outnumber the population of younger people
and it will pose certain problems both for the government and the general public.
(d) By 2050, there will be more women than men in the elderly population of India and that
will result in a gender imbalance in this segment of the population.

SECTION B – WRITING SKILLS & GRAMMAR (20 Marks)

GRAMMAR (10 Marks)

3. Attempt ANY TEN of twelve of the following tasks, as directed. (1 × 10 = 10 Marks)

(i) Given below is an extract from a letter. Fill in the blank by using the correct form of the word in
the bracket.

Subject: Your Application for the Post of Associate Technician

Dear Sir
Thank you for your interest in working for Indigo, India's topmost airline. You .............................
(request) to give us your availability for a phone interview on any working day in the coming week.

(ii) Identify the error in the given sentence taken from a school report and supply the correction in
the sentence.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Guest praise the performance of the students and announced a cash
prize of Rupees 50,000/-.

(Use the given format for your response.)

ERROR CORRECTION

(iii) Ahmad talked to a journalist about his experience at the T-20 World Cup. Report the journalist's
question to Ahmad in indirect speech.
"How do you feel about winning the Player of the Match Award?"

(iv) Read the dialogue between Kitty and her father.

KITTY : Daddy, will you still be there for me when I grow up?
DAD : Of course, Kitty. I'll be there for you forever and forever.
 6 English (Language & Literature) 10

Select the correct option to complete the reporting of the above dialogue.
Kitty asked her dad ............................... and her dad reassured her by saying that he would be
there for her forever and forever.
(a) if you will still be there for me when I grow up
(b) whether he will still be there for her when she grew up
(c) if he would still be there for her when she grew up
(d) if he would still be there for her when she has grown up

(v) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option to complete the following slogan.
You ............................... surely choke, if you take pollution as a joke!
(a) may (c) will
(b) should (d) must

(vi) Identify the error on the hoarding of a medicine shop and supply the correction.

Gupta and Daughters Chemists

Bindraban Road, Mathura
15% discount on MRP of selected medicines for every customers who have any health
insurance policy.

(Use the given format for your response.)

ERROR CORRECTION

(vii) Select the option that identifies the error and supplies the correction for the following line,
from a newspaper.
Virat Kohli has bounce back to good form.

OPTION NO. ERROR CORRECTION

(a) has had
(b) bounce bounced
(c) to from
(d) good better

(viii) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option.

I ......................... this word in the dictionary but unfortunately it is not there. You must have
invented it.
(a) looked up (c) look up
(b) have looked up (d) am looking up

(ix) Report the dialogue between a girl and her father, by completing the sentence.
English (Language & Literature) 10 7

DAUGHTER : Dad, who is your favourite sportsperson?

DAD : I like Lionel Messi the most because he is a great player and a noble human being.

In response to his daughter's question about his favourite sportsperson, Dad replied .............
....................... and a noble human being.

(x) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option to complete the given narrative.
I had a feeling that I had overcome all my grief but I ............................... .
(a) am mistaken (c) was mistaken
(b) had mistaken (d) will be mistaken

(xi) Select the correct option to fill in the blank in the sentence below:
We have already got your application in our database. You .............. apply again. It's not necessary.
(a) need not (c) must not
(b) will not (d) dare not

(xii) Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option, to complete the following sentence from a
circular issued by a company to its managers.

It has been noticed that ......................... (little/some/any) employees do not comply with the
safety guidelines mandatory for any onsite work.

WRITING (10 Marks)

Note : All details presented in the questions are imaginary and created for assessment purpose.

4A. As Bindyu Motwani, a resident of Rameshwaram Apartments, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, write
a letter to the President of the Residents' Welfare Association (RWA), in about 120 words,
requesting for 24×7 security guards at the society's gates. Give reasons in support of your
recommendation. OR (5 Marks)

4B. You are Prakash Jacob, the School Pupil Leader of Gauravshali Vidyalaya, Guwahati, Assam.
You have recently noticed several posters in the vicinity of your school conveying an alarming
message.

Pass 10+1 and 10+2 without Attending School!

GUARANTEED SUCCESS
Exams at the Study Centre
No need to attend School.
Prepare for Competitive Examination.
Best Coaching!
SEPARATE HOSTEL FACILITY AVAILABLE FOR BOYS AND GIRLS
Quick Way Learning Institute, Guwahati (Assam)
Contact: +91-99152-94xxx (9 AM to 6 PM. All days)
 8 English (Language & Literature) 10

Write a letter to the Editor of The Eastern Express, Guwahati, in about 120 words, drawing
his/her attention to the dangers of such advertisements. Demand a strict ban on such
institutions and call for a strict action against schools that accept 'dummy' admissions to
classes XI and XII. Support your views with reasons. (5 Marks)

5A. Animesh is a promising student who is interested in Robotics and Artificial Intelligence. He is
in a fix whether to continue his studies in India or go abroad for higher studies.
He is a brilliant student and the only child of his parents. However, the financial condition of
his family is not very strong although his father has a regular government job and his mother
runs a boutique of her own.
Analyze his SWOT notes below and write a paragraph in about 120 words to recommend
whether he should choose to study in India or he should decide to go abroad for his further
studies. (5 Marks)

STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES
u Brilliant student u Family's financial condition not affluent enough to
u Better quality of education abroad afford foreign education expenses
u Latest curriculum/courses u Competition in India too tough
u World renowned faculty u Admission to Government/Government-funded
u College-Industry tie-ups institutions extremely difficult
u Student work-permit
u Scholarships available

OPPORTUNITIES THREATS
u Employment in MNCs u Separation from parents (in case of foreign education)
u Better remuneration in Foreign exchange u Job opportunities inadequate
u Research projects u Lower salaries in India
u Own enterprise (later on) u Loss of cultural/family values
u Government jobs u Racialism/discrimination
u Defence jobs
u Better lifestyle
u Employment opportunities in India likely
to increase manifold soon

OR
5B. Read the following excerpt from an online post of a website of a parenting consultancy.

Money management is perhaps one of the most critical skills you can pass on to your children. By
teaching them how to handle and work with money from a young age, you'll be setting them up for
financial success in every stage of their life.
(Source: https://www.24cash.ca/blog/helping-kids-understand-the-value-of-money/)
English (Language & Literature) 10 9

Write a paragraph in about 120 words to analyze the given argument.

You could think about what alternative explanations might weaken the given conclusion and
include rationale/evidence that would strengthen/counter the given argument. (5 Marks)

SECTION C – LITERATURE TEXTBOOK AND SUPPLEMENTARY READING TEXT (40 Marks)

6. Read the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of the two, given. (5 Marks)
A. IOTA : I can’t figure it out, Captain. (holding up a book) I’ve counted two thousand of these peculiar
items. This place must be some sort of storage barn. What do you think, Sergeant Oop?
OOP : I haven’t a clue. I’ve been to seven galaxies, but I’ve never seen anything like this. Maybe
they’re hats. (He opens a book and puts it on his head.) Say, maybe this is a haberdashery!
OMEGA : (bowing low) Perhaps the Great and Mighty ThinkTank will give us the benefit of his thought on
the matter.

(i) State one inference about the level of advancement of the Martian civilization, as is
evident from the given extract. (1 Mark)

(ii) State TRUE or FALSE. (1 Mark)

None of the terms (a) – (d) can be applied to the statement – "Say, maybe this is a
haberdashery."
(a) A PROOF – evidence or argument establishing a fact or the truth of a statement
(b) A CONJECTURE – an opinion or conclusion formed on the basis of incomplete information
(c) A PREMISE – a proposition that forms the basis of an argument
(d) A THEORY – a well-substantiated explanation for some phenomenon

(iii) The Great and Mighty ThinkTank holds a very important position in the Martian race.
Elaborate in about 40 words, with reference to the extract. (2 Marks)

(iv) Which word or phrase would correctly substitute the word 'peculiar' in the given sentence
from the extract? (1 Mark)

I've counted two thousand of these peculiar items.

OR
B. During our childhood in Goa, the baker used to be our friend, companion and guide. He used to come at
least twice a day. Once, when he set out in the morning on his selling round, and then again, when he
returned after emptying his huge basket. The jingling thud of his bamboo woke us up from sleep and we ran
to meet and greet him. Why was it so? Was it for the love of the loaf? Not at all. The loaves were bought by
some Paskine or Bastine, the maid-servant of the house! What we longed for were those bread-bangles
which we chose carefully. Sometimes it was sweet bread of special make.

(i) Select the option that correctly captures the feeling that the baker's arrival evoked in
children's mind. (1 Mark)
10 English (Language & Literature) 10

(a) irritation (c) fascination

(b) optimism (d) indifference

(ii) Why is it fair to say that the narrator belonged to a well-to-do family? (1 Mark)

(iii) Read the following descriptions (a) – (d) and identify which one correctly corresponds to
the extract. (1 Mark)
(a) A FANTASY – a story that is imaginary, unlikely to happen or a wishful account of
something.
(b) A MEMOIR – a piece of writing that is based on the writer's personal knowledge of
famous people, places, or events
(c) A FABLE – a short story that often has animal characters and tells a general truth, fact
or moral lesson.
(d) A PARABLE – a short, simple story that teaches or explains an idea, especially a moral
or religious idea

(iv) If an actor were to enact the role of the baker in this extract, what would he be required to
focus on, in terms of his manner of speech and other mannerisms? (2 Marks)

7. Read the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of the two, given. (5 Marks)
A. He stalks in his vivid stripes
The few steps of his cage,
On pads of velvet quiet,
In his quiet rage.

(i) Fill in the blank with ONE word. (1 Mark)

In this extract the chief reason of the tiger's anger is his ................................. .

(ii) The expression 'the few steps' is suggestive of the tiger's condition as depicted in the
extract. Elaborate. (1 Mark)

(iii) Which of the following literary devices have been used in the expression 'quiet rage'?
(Choose two correct answers.) (1 Mark)
(a) Oxymoron (c) Analogy
(b) Transferred epithet (d) Metaphor

(iv) Comment on the use of the word 'quiet' in this extract. (2 Marks)
OR
B. But presently up spoke little dog Mustard,
I'd have been twice as brave if I hadn't been flustered.
And up spoke Ink and up spoke Blink,
We'd have been three times as brave, we think,
English (Language & Literature) 10 11

And Custard said, I quite agree

That everybody is braver than me.

(i) Comment on the significance of the repetition of the inverted phrase 'up spoke' in this
extract. Answer in about 40 words. (2 Marks)

(ii) Complete the sentence with the appropriate option. (1 Mark)

The extract reveals the trait of ........................ in the characters of Mustard, Ink and Blink.
(a) loyalty (c) boastfulness
(b) bravery (d) toughness

(iii) What is ironical about Custard's comment, "I quite agree/That everybody is braver than
me"? (1 Mark)

(iv) Apart from the use of the inverted phrase 'up spoke' and the element of drama, what else
makes the extract poetic? (1 Mark)

8. Answer ANY FOUR of the following five questions, in about 40-50 words each. (4 × 3 = 12 Marks)
(i) Why do you think the poet Carolyn Wells has used words like 'dyin', 'lept', 'lep' and
'nonplus' in her poem "How to Tell Wild Animals"? What effect do they create in the poem?
(ii) Justify whether Kisa Gautami was 'selfish' in her grief'? (The Sermon at Benares)
(iii) Validate the statement that the action in the play 'The Proposal" comprises of a string of
episodes that follow a pattern of conflict and resolution.
(iv) If the poet so wanted, he could have easily compensated the boy for the loss of his ball in
the poem called "The Ball Poem". Why do you think he does not do so?
(v) Mijbil was a slave of his habits. Comment. Support your answer with reasons.
(Mijbil the Otter)

9. Answer ANY TWO of the following three questions, in about 40-50 words each. (2 × 3 = 6 Marks)
(i) Do you think that more than Tricki it was Mrs Pumphery who needed medical treatment?
Why/Why not? (The Triumph of Surgery)
(ii) Do you think the midnight visitor to Ausable's room would have survived the fall from the
window? Say 'Yes' or 'No' and give reasons in support of your view.
(iii) Validate the statement that Griffin was a lawless person.

10. Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions, in about 100-120 words. (1 × 6 = 6 Marks)
A. You have been asked to present an evaluation of the statement "This is not an age to think of
helping others out of kindness and generosity" in the context of the story 'A Letter to God'
Write this presentation draft including your views on the importance of helping the people in
need, in about 120 words.
12 English (Language & Literature) 10

You may begin like this:

The moral of the story 'A Letter to God' apparent is that this is not an age to think of helping others out of
kindness and generosity but…
OR
B. You have been chosen to address a gathering of students on the topic 'The Importance of
Freedom as a Fundamental Human Right'. Prepare the speech draft, in not more than 120
words, especially with reference to the account "Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom".

You may begin this way:

My dear Brothers and Sisters
Freedom is an inalienable human right that must be granted to all at all times.

You may end this way:

In the end, I would like to reiterate that…
Thank you.

11. Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions, in about 100-120 words. (1 × 6 = 6 Marks)
A. Imagine you are one of the residents of Bholi's village. Write a diary entry, in about 120 words,
briefly describing how Bholi has paved the way for the emancipation of women and girl
children in the village through education.
OR
B. A noodle is a 'a stupid or silly person'. Cite at least four pieces of evidence from the play "The
Book that Saved the Earth" to prove that Noodle is a contradiction of this definition.
English (Language & Literature) 10 13

SECTION A – READING (vii) While paragraph 6 talks about the change in

1. (i) (b) It is a sudden, dramatic and important the traditional Indian family system and how
development. it affects the elderly population, paragraph 7
(ii) Professor Anderson's tone here is one of lists some reasons for that change.
disbelief and surprise. It is difficult for him to (viii) (c) By 2050, the population of the old people
believe that the molecules of the new will outnumber the population of younger
materials do not run in straight, densely people and it will pose certain problems
packed lines but are messed up and yet, quite both for the government and the general
surprisingly, conduct electricity remarkably public.
well.
SECTION B – GRAMMAR
(iii) a conductive material has to have atoms or
3. (i) are requested
molecules that run in straight and densely
packed lines (ii) ERROR CORRECTION

(iv) (b) and (e) praise praised

(v) One, the new materials can facilitate the (iii) The journalist asked Ahmad how he felt about
manufacture of electronic components in a winning the Player of the Match Award.
variety of shapes and sizes at room (iv) (c) if he would still be there for her when she
temperatures. Two, components made from grew up
this material will be much more durable as (v) (c) will
they will be able to withstand much more
(vi) ERROR CORRECTION
heat, humidity, acidity and alkalinity.
every all
(vi) Traditional materials may soon become
obsolete or redundant because unlike the new (vii) (b) bounce – bounced
materials they are unable to withstand heat, (viii) (b) have looked up
humidity or extreme acidity or alkalinity. (ix) that he liked Lionel Messi the most because
(vii) (c) Elasticity the latter was a great player
(viii) These lines suggest the quality of elasticity (x) (c) was mistaken
and resilience that the new materials have. (xi) (a) need not
2. (i) defined; growing (xii) some
(ii) (b) gains
(iii) (b) The rate of the growth of the overall SECTION C – LITERATURE

population is expected to fall in the future. 6A. (i) Although the Martian civilization has

(iv) This growth will result in greater expenditure advanced a lot in inter-planetary travel, they

on the healthcare of the elderly population are ignorant about printed books and

and economic deprivation (loss of income and libraries, which happened to be the earthlings'

dependence) of the old people, especially women. way of preserving and disseminating
knowledge.
(v) (c) East, North and Northeast have higher
ratio of the older population compared to (ii) (b) A CONJECTURE – an opinion or conclusion

other regions of India. formed on the basis of incomplete

information
(vi) It is because at least one third of women in this
age group have never engaged in an income (iii) It is true that the Great and Mighty Think

generating work and are therefore totally Tank holds a very eminent position in the

dependent on their families for economic Martian race. It is evident from the way

support, which may not always be available to Omega bows before him and addresses him

them. reverentially. The very name suggests that

14 English (Language & Literature) 10

the Great and Mighty ThinkTank is an is in utter contrast with the wide expanse of
omnipotent and omniscient individual of the night sky, and the jungle where the tiger
power and eminence in the Martian race. in reality should be living freely.
(iv) unique/unusual/strange (or any other suitable (iii) (a) and (b)
substitute) (iv) The first 'quiet' emphasizes the stealth and
B. (i) (c) fascination the silence with which a tiger walks, and the
(ii) The extract seems to suggest that the second 'quiet' underscores his 'helplessness'
narrator's family was affluent as is evident with regards to his confinement in the zoo
from presence of servants in the house. cage.
(iii) (b) A MEMOIR – a piece of writing that is based B. (i) The inverted phrase 'up spoke' brings out the
on the writer's personal knowledge of spiritedness with which Mustard, Ink and
famous people, places, or events Blink boast about their supposed bravery and
(iv) First of all he would dress in the style of courage. Their boastfulness contrasts with
typical Goan baker or pader. Next, he will and highlights the simplicity, naivety and
develop and perfect a 'cry' as seller of bakery humility of Custard, the dragon.
products. Next, he will learn to walk in a (ii) (c) boastfulness
peculiar way and produce the jingling thud of (iii) While all others are cowards, Custard is truly
his bamboo stick. He will also have to develop brave but unlike others he does not boast
an affectionate way of talking to children. about it.
7A. (i) confinement/captivity (iv) The unique rhythm of the lines and the
(ii) The expression hints at the cramped space in rhyming pairs – Mustard–flustered, Blink–
the cage in which the tiger is kept. This space think, and agree–me.
SECTION B – WRITING brought back to life. She and could not accept
1. 29 Rameshwaram Apartmentss, that death is the ultimate reality and comes to
Madurai all sooner or later. She should have her son's
Tamil Nadu death a will of God and should not have
grieved too much.
17.10.2023
(iii) It is true that the script of the play 'The
Proposal' is nothing but a sequence of heated
The President
exchanges between the main characters
Residents' Welfare Association
'Lomov' and 'Natalya' and 'Lomov and
Rameshwaram Apartments
'Chubokov'. One time it a quarrel over their
Madurai
respective claims to the property 'Oxen
Tamil Nadu
Meadows', another time it is about who owns a
Dear Madam better dog the Chubolovs or Lomov. In each of
the episodes, the spat seems to take a nasty
Subject: Request for 24x7 Security Guardes at
turn but then better sense prevails and there
the Society's Gates
is reconciliation, which, however, remains
My name is Bindyun Motwani, a resident of flat short lived.
number 29 of the society. I am writing to request the
(iv) It it true that the poet of 'The Ball Poem' could
RWA to consider deploying security guards at all
have easily compensated the boy for the loss of
the three gates round the clock. At present guards
his ball by gifting him another, but he does not
are available only during night at gate number 1
do so simply for the reason that he wanted the
only.
boy to experience and understand what 'loss'
Round the clock security is now absolutely and 'grief' mean in human life. Thus by not
necessary in view of the recent incidents of chain compensating the boy, the poem ensures that
snatching, and unrestricted entry of unauthorised the boy learns an important lesson for life.
vendors and workers, which can be a potential
(v) There is no doubt that Mijbil, like most animal
security risk to the residents, especially women and
pets, was a slave of his habits. For example he
children.
could not sit stillhe was always up to some
Can I request you to please call an emergency mischief or the other, which put him and his
meeting of the RWA and pass a resolution for an owner in a spot of bother. He was very fond of
immediate allocation of funds for the enhanced playing, bathing and going on long walks
security measures? regularly and he hated to be confined.
Thank you. 9. (i) Yes, I do believe that more than Tricki, it was
Sincerely yours his owner who needed medical intervention,
Bindyu Motwani for she indulges Tricki to the extent of a
mania. For example when Tricky was at the
(Resident)
surgery she sent generous supplies of fresh
8. (i) In her poem “How to Tell Wild Animals”
eggs, wine and brand to tone up his health,
Carolyn Wells has used words 'dyin' and
whereas the pet needed none of these. Clearly
'nonplus' to force rhyme them with 'Lion' and
the way she fussed over Tricky, there was
'thus' respectively. He has changed the
something wrong with the owner, not the pet,
spelling of 'leapt' and 'leaped' and 'leap' to 'lep'
for which she needs some kind of psychiatric
just for the sake of changing the spelling.
counselling.
These changes help create humour, rhyme
(ii) No, I don't think the visitor would have
and rhythm in the poem.
survived the fall from the 'supposed' balcony.
(ii) Kisa Gautami was 'selfish' in that she could
He must have fallen on the ground floor with a
not bear her grief and wanted her son to be
thud and died of trauma and haemorrhage.
 Even if he survived the fall, it would have In the end, I would like to reiterate that
inflicted fatal injuries to him which would freedom is a fundamental human right and no
have left him paralysed him for life. race, nation or country should squander it
(iii) Griffin was, indeed, a lawless person. He come what may! That is the message of
breaks laws on many occasions and gets away Mahatama Gandhi, Nelson Mandela and
with it. For example, he burns downs his Martin Luther King, Jr.
landlady's house and steals food from the Thank you.
store. Then, he attacks a shopkeeper selling 11. A. Dear Diary
costumes and steals a false nose, bandages,
Did you know the so called dumb cow, the
glasses and whiskers. At Iping, he steals cash
youngest daughter of Numberdar Ram Lal,
from the vicar's cash box and even attacks the
today created history in the village by bluntly
village constable Mr. Jaffers. These instances
refusing to marry greedy groom Bishamber
are enough to prove that Griffin was a lawless
Nath because he had dared to demand of five
person.
thousand rupees to marry the 'pock-marked'
10. A. The moral of the story 'A Letter to God' girl. Although her parents and all the
apparently is that this is not an age to think of onlookers were shocked to hear of her
helping others out kindness and generosity announcement, I think she did the right thing.
but an age of being weary of being good In fact she has paved the way for the
Samaritans. This is the lesson that the emancipation of other girls and women in the
Postmaster and his colleagues learnt the hard village. She has become a champion of their
way. They raised 70 pesos to help farmer rights, especially their right to education and
Lencho but he accuses them of stealing 30 dignity. What is more, she declared her
pesos from the 100 he had requested God to aspiration of becoming a teacher and
sent. promised to take of her parents in their old
The situation in the modern times is no age.
different. Philanthropy and kindness are lofty Now this is what becomes possible by
virtues but people often view any act of educating girls!
kindness and generosity with suspicion. They
Well done, Bholi!
are so thankless that they don't even
OR
acknowledge kind gestures of others.
B. According to the Webster's Dictionary, a
However, I'm of the view selfless service is the
'noodle' is someone who is stupid or a
greatest human virtues and we must continue
simpleton. However, it is ironical that the
to help others as best as we can without
most intelligent and wise Martian in the play
expecting anything in return.
'The Book that Saved the World' should be
Or
called a noodle. There are enough instances in
B. My dear Brothers and Sisters the play to prove his intelligence. One, he
Freedom is an inalienable human right that keeps his calm and cool and never invalidates
must be granted to all at all times without any his boss The Great and Might Think Tank.
prejudice and partiality. No country or race or Rather he uses his intelligence to bring the
nation now has the right to rule over another truth to light. Two, it is Noodle who arrives at
under any pretext. This is the message that the conclusion that the sandwich like thing is
the freedom of nations like India and South actually a communication device used the
Africa has given us and freedom is the very Earthlings. Three, it is he who suggests that
basis of universal human rights that the UN Iota and Omega be asked to take their
Charter of Human Rights upholds. vitamins so that they could decipher what the
Only the slave knows the value of freedom and code of the message that the book contained.
countless people in many parts of the world, Fourth, he succeeds the Great and Might
especially in Africa and Asia have sacrificed Think Tank as the wise ruler of Martian
their lives so that their descendents could live civilization.
free and equal in the eyes of the law.
(ix) Read the conversation between a teacher and her student. Complete the sentence by reporting
the student's reply correctly.
TEACHER : Have you submitted your notebook, Nilanjana?
NILANJANA : Yes, Madam, I've already submitted it.

When the teacher asked Nilanjana if she had submitted her notebook, Nilanjana confirmed .... .