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 (10 marks)

Reading Comprehension

i. Read the following text. 10 m

(1) As a high school student, studying poetry can be a rollercoaster ride. This
journey is punctuated by moments of profound appreciation for simpler
pieces and intermittent frustration with more complex works. Let's be real
here - some poems are just plain confusing and no amount of re-reading
seems to help decipher the intended meaning. The puzzlement that results
from such instances can be both vexing and demotivating. If solving a riddle
is what was intended, then playing Sudoku is a better option. One is led to
ponder if obscurity was the goal.
(2) Conversely, some pieces resonate with the reader's soul. stirring feelings of
warmth, happiness, and connection to the world. Often, these compositions
centre on themes that are universally understood, such as love, nature, or
faith. Being able to actually understand what the poet is trying to say can
feel like a little victory and is a welcome relief after grappling with more
perplexing poetry.
(3) Then there are poems that are emotionally charged; the ones that make
the reader curl up in a ball and cry or jump up and down with joy. One is
left in awe of the poet's ability to convey emotion through words. Let’s not
forget the downright weird poems. These are the ones that defy
categorization and leave the reader to their own devices in attempting to
interpret meaning. The author's use of figurative language and
unconventional imagery can create a sense of bewilderment that is either
intriguing or off-putting. Regardless, the reader can appreciate the
uniqueness of the work.
(4) Despite the wide range of emotions and reactions that come with
studying poetry, it can be a rewarding pursuit. Not only does reading poetry
allow one to appreciate the artistic beauty of the written word but also
enables one to develop crucial critical thinking and analytical skills. The
process of unlocking a poem's meaning can feel like cracking a code or
solving a puzzle but the sense of accomplishment derived from mastering a
challenging piece can be deeply gratifying. Finally, impressing an English
teacher with a well-analysed poem can be a source of pride and validation.
(5) Overall, studying poetry is like a box of mixed chocolates, you never know
what you're going to get. But whether it's complex, emotional, simple, or just
downright weird, there's always something to be gained from the
experience. So, let's applaud all the poets out there, for making us laugh,
cry, scratch our heads, and occasionally feel like a genius.

Answer the following questions, based on the passage above.

1. Which of the following statements best describes the author's attitude
towards studying poetry?
A. Finds poetry to be a frustrating and meaningless endeavor.
B. Believes that the emotional rollercoaster of studying poetry is not worth the
effort.
C. Recognizes the challenges of studying poetry but also acknowledges the
rewards it
offers.
D. Feels that poetry is too obscure and abstract for the average person to
appreciate.

2. What is the tone of the writer in the given lines from paragraph? Rationalise
your response in about 40 words. (2 marks)

If solving a riddle is what was intended, then playing Sudoku is a better

option. One is led to 2. The tone of the writer in the given lines is critical/sceptical.
He compares comprehending a poem to being even tougher
ponder if obscurity was the goal. than solving a sudoku. Through the second part of the line,
the writer hints that the poems are intentionally written in a
3. Complete the sentence appropriately.complex way to confuse the reader.

The author's use of vivid imagery in the paragraph (3), such as "curl up in a
ball and cry" and
"jump up and down with joy", greatly affects the reader because
____________. 3. it creates a visual effect that can be easily
imagined by the reader and in the right magnitude or
intensity.
4. The passage includes some words that are opposites of each other.
From the sets (a)-(e) below, identify two sets of antonyms:

(a) intriguing and off-putting

(b) deciphering and interpreting 5. The author analyses that some poems put the
(c) appreciate and applaud readers in a state of bewilderment due to the use of
unconventional use of imagery and figure of speech.
(d) simple and challenging But later he says that the reader can appreciate their
(e) emotions and feelings uniqueness.

5. Complete the sentence appropriately.

We can say that the author's tone becomes more neutral and objective
when discussing weird poems, compared to other types of poetry because
__________.

6. Based on the reading of the passage, examine, in about 40 words, how

studying poetry can be like exploring a new city. (2 marks)

7. What is the message conveyed by Hina's experience, in the following

case?
6. Just as exploring a new city requires an open mind and a sense of curiosity, studying poetry requires a willingness
to engage with different styles and interpretations of the text, and to approach the subject matter with an open and
receptive attitude.
Hina spends hours trying to analyze a poem for her assignment and finally
feels a sense of accomplishment and pride, once she understands.

A. Only those with natural talent for poetry should engage with it.
B. Persistence makes studying poetry a rewarding pursuit.
C. Study of poetry is guaranteed to impress others.
D. The efforts of studying poetry is inversely proportional to the rewards
gained.

8. State whether the following lines display an example of a simple / complex

/ emotionally / charged / downright weird poem.

The sun rises in the east,

A new day begins, a fresh start.
Birds chirp, nature wakes up,
A peaceful feeling in my heart.

SECTION B: GRAMMAR & WRITING (30 MARKS)

i) Choose the best word from the options given below to fill the gaps. (½ X 8
marks = 4 marks)

Puppets (a) ________ among the oldest man-made objects that (b)
________known to the

world Archaeologists in Egypt and India have (c) __________ jointed clay
models that (d) ________
tell us that puppets (e) _______ operated by pulling their
strings, which date back to 4,000 years. Historians tell created by nearly all
peoples at all times. The first puppets (f)_________ probably used mostly by
adults. Tribal peoples, such as Native Americans, (g)_________ the puppets to
represent people or animals in their religious rituals. People all over the world
(h) _________ fascinated by them.

a) i. is ii. am iii. are iv. were

b) i. is ii. am iii. are iv. was

c) i. find ii. Found iii. finding iv. fond

d) i. is ii. am iii. are iv. was

e) i. has been ii. is iii. was iv. Have been

f) i. was ii. were iii. are iv. had

g) i. using ii. Were using iii. used iv. Had used.

h) i. were ii. was iii. will iv. are

ii) Rearrange any three of the following words/phrases to make meaningful

sentences (3 X 2 marks = 6 marks)

a) that he/to the finish/fight/he says/will

he said that he will fight to the finish.
b) a couple of days/the money in/that he/he has promised/will return
he has promised that he will return the money in a couple of days.
c) he/though/finished late/he started/early
though he started early, he finished late.
d) his/where/he hid/could not find/pursuers
his pursuers could not find where he hid.
WRITING (4 x 5 marks = 20 marks)

ii. G20 leaders committed to the key goal of limiting global warming in
the recent G20 Summit held. Draft a poster in not more than 50
words with the theme 'Global Warming' for the 'Environment Week'
to be observed by your school. You are Mohit/Mridula of Shyaml al
Vidyalaya, Delhi.

iii. Ragging has raised its ugly head again. A recent incident at a
prestigious school has shown that this evil has not yet come to an
end Write a speech for the morning assembly in school in 120-150
words on Ragging, an Evil. You are Navtej/ Navita. You may use the
following points 5 marks

• a practice from the British era

• original aim, respect for hierarchy
• enforcing traditions, discipline
• Prefect a teacher substitute
• misuse of authority
• vulgar aspect
• fatalities
• solution

iv. You are Manan/Manya, running a restaurant in the Central Market,

Bhopal. Give a suitable advertisement for a Sous-chef in the
‘Situations Vacant’ column of ‘Bhopal Times’, offering attractive
remuneration.

v. Prepare a graceful poster for the Inter-School Poetic Recitation

contest that the Hindi Sahitya Sabha of your school is organising to
celebrate the birthday of Munshi Prem Chand.
a. Grandmother's disapproval of the New English School in "The Portrait of a Lady" is rooted in her desire to uphold
traditional values, preserve cultural identity, resist change, and challenge social divisions. Her concerns reflect a
generational clash and a fear of losing touch with Indian traditions. It is important to recognize and respect her perspective,
even as society evolves, and new educational approaches emerge.
b. We can say that Mourad had a special liking for animals because of the way he behaves with animals whenever he
comes across them, he has a simple and honest way with any animal.
SECTION C: LITERATURE (30 marks)

i. Short questions (3 x 3 marks = 9 marks)

a. Why does the grandmother disapprove of the English speaking school

education? And how does she express this disapproval?
b. Justify with examples that Mourad had a deep connection with
animals.

c. State how historically Tut remedied the aftermath of the rule of

Akhenaten.

ii. Long questions ( 2 x 6 marks = 12 marks)

a. Enumerate the ways in which the narrator shows pragmatism during
and after the storms of the 2nd and 5th of January.
b. The Summer of the White Horse is an example of the ways in which the
values and desires of a new generation face friction with orthodox
values and traditions of their society or tribe.
a. the sea holiday was when the poet's mother and
her sisters had gone to the beech when they were
iii. RTC children. b. her past refers to the mother's past i.e.
the sea holiday and mine refers to the poet's past
(5 marks) i.e. watching the laugh at the picture.
… The sea holiday c. The word wry means ironic or mocking and wry
can have a connotation of bittersweetness. If you
Was her past, mine is her laughter. Both wry smile wryly about something, it is with mixed
With the labored ease of loss. emotions. Wry can also mean twisted or bent. So
we could also say the memories are twisted by the
a. What “sea holiday” is the poet referring too? sense of loss. d. "Labored ease" is a contradiction
b. Distinguish between “her past” and “mine”. or oxymoron, and expresses a paradox, or seeming
c. What does the use of the word “wry” suggest? contradiction, that turns out on examination to have
some truth
d. “Labored ease” employs the use of oxymoron. Explain. (2 marks)

(4 marks)
Then sleek as a lizard, and alert and abrupt,
She enters the thickness, and a machine starts up
Of chitterings and a tremor of wings, and trilling
The whole tree trembles and thrills.

e. What movements make the goldfinch comparable to a lizard?

f. Justify the use of “a machine starts up” as a metaphor to express the goldfinch
animating the laburnum tree.
g. The excessive use of onomatopoeia contrasts with what former state of the tree,
identify the words used by the poet in stanza 1.
h. What do you believe is the purpose of the goldfinch entering the laburnum top?
e. The goldfinch's movement is compared to that of a lizard. The basis of the comparison is the sleek, abrupt and alert
movements of a lizard. The same kinds of movements are observed when the goldfinch arrives on the laburnum tree.
f. The poet creates the imagery of a machine starting up when the goldfinch arrives in the tree. The sudden noise and
movements produced by the young ones are like the starting of a machine. The stoking of the engine is actually the act of
feeding the young ones and imparting energy and life into them. g. The words such as “chirrup”, “chitterings”, and “trillings”
resonate with the sound of the birds. h. The laburnum appears dormant until the goldfinch arrives to feed her offspring
nesting in the tree. The tree reawakens with and is fueled by the bird’s song and movements.