CBSE Board Question Paper 2009
Class - 10th (Outside Delhi)
Subject – English (Language and Literature)
[Time allowed: 3 hours] [Maximum marks: 100]
General Instructions:
(i) This paper consists of four sections:
Section A Reading 20 marks
Section B Writing 20 marks
Section C Grammar 15 marks
Section D Text Books 45 marks
(ii) All questions are compulsory.
(iii) Marks are indicated against question.
SECTION – A (Reading) [20]
Q1. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow: 12
1. Bhutan is the most appropriate place to visit if one is seeking peace, one’s youth and discovery. October – November is the right time to pay a visit to this beautiful neighbor. Its blue skies, magnificent snow views, crisp mountain air and remarkably well preserved centers of Buddhist culture are worth enjoying.
2. Thimpu is the capital of Bhutan. It is spread along a willow lined river, Wang Chhu. All
buildings here are built traditional style and adorned with beautiful paintings. Thimpu has no traffic lights, something we Indians are not used to. Traffic is directed by policemen, standing on highly decorated boxes. They use exaggerated but elegant gestures to guide it. The main street, Norzim Lam, leads to the town centre and the clock tower with its adjoining hotels, shops restaurants.
3. Here there are many places worth seeing. One can visit Telecom Tower situated at the height of 8,807 ft. On your way down you can stop at the mini zoo, where you can see goat-antelope, known as Takin. It is Bhutan’s national animal. According to legend this large and certainly strange-looking animal was created by the 15th century saint, Lame Drukpa Kinleyn to prove his magical prowess.
4. in Thimpu, National Memorial Chorten is the most public religious place in the country. This white-domed building with its golden spires was built in 1947 in memory of the third king. Trashi Chhoe Dzong is the seat of the government as well as religious order. Built in the thirteenth century, it was renovated in 1962 when Thimpu became the capital.
5. Here archery is a favoured short which can be witnessed on weekends. Thimpu is the base for several walks into the stunning country side. Indian nationals do not need visas to travel to Bhutan. (302 words)
(a) When is the right time to visit Bhutan? 1
(b) Mention any two objects of nature which are worth enjoying there. 1
(c) How is the traffic in Thimpu managed without traffic lights? 2
(d) Name the national animal of Bhutan. Where can you see it? 1
(e) What is the legend associated with its creation? 1
(f) When and why was the National Memorial Chorten built? 2
(g) Find out from the passage the adjective forms of words given below: 2
(i) appropriately (Para 1)
(ii) beauty (Para 2)
(h) Find out from the passage the words which mean the same as the following: 2
(i) Movements of the part of body to convey meaning (Para 2)
(ii) Pointed parts of a tower (Para 4)
Q2. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow: 8
Florence Chadwick was the first woman to swim the English Channel in both directions. At age 34, her goal was to become the first woman to swim from Catalina Island to the California coast. On the 4th of July morning in 1952 the sea was like an ice bath. The fog was so dense she could hardly see her support boats. She struggled on – hour after hour – while million s watched on television.
Alongside Florence in one of the boats, her mother and her trainer offered encouragement. They told her the goal wasn’t much farther. But all she could goal see was fog. They urged her not to quit. But with only half mile to go, she asked to be pulled out. Several hours later she told a reporter that it was not fatigue or even the cold water that defeated her. It was the fog. She was unable to see her goal.
Two moths later she tried again. It was the same dense fog, but she swam with her goal clearly pictured in her mind. She knew that somewhere behind fog was land. And this time she succeeded. She became the first woman to swim the Catalina channel, eclipsing the men’s recurred by tow hours. (210 words)
(a) What was Florence Chadwick’s goal at the age of 34? [1]
(b) How did the people witness her performance? [1]
(c) How did her mother and her trainer encourage Florence? [2]
(d) What made her quit when she had only a half mile to go? [1]
(e) In spite of the same fog, what made her to succeed the second time? [2]
(f) What record did she set? [1]
SECTION – B (Writing) [20]
3. Your sister has just got engaged and will get married during the summer holidays. Write a letter to your friend, Sharad, who is in Shimla, informing him about the ceremony and insisting upon him to keep himself entirely free at least for a week, for the occasion. You are Kamal/Kamla, of 132, Vijai Complex, Mayur Vihar, Delhi.
OR
The road of your colony was repaired a few months back. It gave way to the first spell of rains resulting in deep pits at several places. Write a letter to the Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department asking him to get it urgently repaired to prevent risk to the people. You are Kamna/Kartik living at 15, Mansarovar Apartments, Delhi.
4. Cars, motorbikes and other vehicles have been increasing day by day. They, along with industrial development, are causing a lot of air pollution, not only in big cities but also in small towns and even on hills. Write an article, in about 80 words, on air pollution. 8
OR
Morning Assembly is one of the most important parts of school activities. The day in school begins with it. Using the hints given below, write a paragraph in about 80 words on `The Importance of Morning Assembly in Schools'.
School begins with it - presence of all students and teachers brings dignity - inculcates discipline, punctuality, good conduct, cleanliness etc. - activities such as speeches, cultural items lead to participation of all students - sets the tone/atmosphere for the whole day
5. N.C.C. cadets of your school participated in a training camp. Mentioning the number of participants, activities of the camp, qualities such as discipline, self-confidence, spirit of adventure developed during the training, write a report in about 60 words for your school magazine. You are Raman/Rama, Senior Cadet, N.C.C. of Arunodaya Sr. Sec. School, Guwahati. 4
OR
On the World Child Labour Day, your school worked for the cause of those children who labour as cleaners on roads, at roadside eateries, in hazardous industries etc. Mentioning the efforts made by the students in identifying such children in your area and getting them freed from there, write a report in about 60 words. You are Manoj/Manju, Head Boy/Head Girl of Mamta Sr. Sec. School, Sarojini Nagar, Delhi.
6. The following passage has not been edited. There is one error in each line. Write the incorrect word and the correction in your answer sheet as given below against the correct blank number. Remember to underline the word that you have supplied.
Robinson and his friend lived at eg. at - in
peace for near a year. They (a)
had everything that he needed. (b)
They had so much to learning (c)
that the time passed very quick. (d)
Soon they knew how to dig a (e)
soil, grind the corn etc. They
learned not to being afraid of guns. (f)
7. Fill in the following blanks with suitable non-finites :
Yesterday the police came (a) ………………… (know) about a person who was involved in (b) ………………… (print) and (c) ………………… (sell) of pirated best-sellers. He had been involved in this activity for several years. Around twenty thousand (d) ………………… (pirate) books were recovered from him.
8. Read the dialogue and complete the passage given below. Write the correct answers in your answer sheet against the correct blank numbers. Do not copy the whole sentences. 1x3=3
Sumit : My father has decided to gift me a bike on my birthday.
Vipul : 0 ! It is a wonderful news.
Sumit : We will go on a long ride the day I get the bike.
Sumit informed his friend Vipul (a) …………………… c,n his birthday. Vipul was very happy and said that for him (b) ……………… Sumit told Vipul (c) ………………… on a long ride the day he got the bike.
9. Look at the words and phrases below. Rearrange them to form meaningful sentences. The first one has been done as an example. Write the correct sentences in your answer sheet. Remember to number the answers correctly. 1x2=2
Example :
revered / all over / Dalai Lama / world / the / is
Dalai Lama is revered all over the world.
(a) lives / as a / very / simple / he / monk / life / a
(b) six / for about / a day / sleeps / hours / he
10. Look at the sentences given below and complete the paragraph that follows. Write the correct answers in your answer sheet against the correct blank numbers. Do not copy the whole sentences. 1x3=3
(a) People sent messages by reflecting light.
(b) People also used smoke for this purpose.
(c) Sometimes they made fire signals to send messages.
People used several methods to communicate messages in ancient times. Sometimes messages (a) ………………… by reflecting light. Smoke (b) ………………… Sometimes fire signals (c) ………………… to send messages.
11. The underlined words in the following passage have been used inappropriately. Replace them with their appropriate forms. Write your answers in your answer sheet against the correct numbers. Do not copy the whole passage.
We celebrate certain events because they are (a) importance in our life. These are the days of (b) funny and laughter, joy and gaiety. Festivals are (c) main of two kinds. Some are (d) nation festivals and some are religious festivals.
SECTION D (Text Books) 45
12. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow. Write the answers in your answer sheet in one or two lines only. Remember to number the answers correctly. 5
It was the postman himself who handed the letter to him while the postmaster, experiencing the contentment of a man who has performed a good deed, looked on from his office. Lencho showed not the slightest surprise on seeing the
money; such was his confidence - but he became angry when he counted the money.
(a) Who delivered the letter and to whom ? 1
(b) What did the postmaster do in the meantime ? 1
(c) Which `good deed' is referred to here ? 1
(d) Why was Lencho not surprised on seeing the money ? 1
(e) Find the noun form of the word `content' from the passage. 1
13. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow. Write the answers in your answer sheet in one or two lines only. Remember to number the answers correctly. 5
All I think about when I'm with friends is having a good time. I cant bring myself to talk about anything but ordinary
everyday things. We don't seem to be able to get any closer, and that's the problem. Maybe it's my fault that we don't confide in each other. In any case, that's just how things are, and unfortunately they're not liable to change. This is why I've started the diary.
(a) What does Anne think about when she is with friends ? 1
(b) Mention any two problems which she thinks she has in relation to her friends. 2
(c) What is the reason for her to start writing a diary ? 1
(d) Which word in the passage means the same as ‘to tell personal things privately to a person that one trusts’ ? 1
14. Answer the following question in about 80 words : 6
The is lost in storm clouds. How does he reach safely ?
OR
Describe Coorgs weather, main crops and the sports which fascinate the visitors.
15. Answer any two of the following questions in 30 - 40 words each. 4
(a) What is the play, ‘The Proposal’ about ?
(b) Where in the classroom does Wanda sit and why ?
(c) Why was the young seagull afraid to fly with his brothers and sisters ?
16. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow. Write the answers in your answer sheet. Remember to number the answers correctly.
Now the name of the little black kitten was Ink,
And the little grey mouse, she called him Blink,
And the little yellow dog was sharp as Mustard,
But the dragon was a coward, and she called him Custard.
(a) Who are the characters in this stanza ? 2
(b) Who is `she' ? 1
(c) What does she call the dragon ? 1
OR
The way a crow
Shook down on me
The dust of snow
From a hemlock tree
(a) What is the dust of snow ? 1
(b) Who shook it down ? 1
(c) What does ‘the dust of snow’ stand for ? 1
(d) What is a "hemlock tree" ? 1
17. Answer any two of the following questions in 30 - 40 words each, on the basis of the lines given below 6
(a) On pads of velvet quiet,
In his quiet rage.
Who is referred to here ? Why does he express his anger quietly ? 3
(b) (I am an orphan, roaming the street. .. .)
Who is ‘I’ ? Is she an orphan ? Why does she say so ? 3
(c) long-cramped boughs shuffling under the roof like newly discharged patients Why does the poet compare branches with patients ? 3
18. Answer the following question in about 100 words : 8
Science is a good servant but a bad master. How is this applicable to Griffin's scientific discovery ? Give examples from the text.
OR
Mrs. Pumphrey is a very loving and caring mistress for Tricki. Do you agree ? Give a reasoned answer.
19. Answer the following question in 30 - 40 words : 4
How did Hari Singh know that Anil had forgiven him ?
OR
What lesson did Ebright learn when he did not win anything at a science fair ?
20. Answer the following question in 20 - 30 words : 3
Why did Monsieur Loisel go out into the cold night minutes after returning from the ball ? Was he successful in his errand ?
OR
Why was the twentieth century called the ‘Era of the Book’ ?
CBSE Board Question Papers Class 10th 2009