CLASS 10 ENGLISH 1 FM: 80

Batch 2 TIME: 2HRS

1. Attempt any one of the following: (350 to 400 words) (20)
a. ‘Success depends on opportunity not on character’. Argue for or against
the statement
b. Write a short story with the title ‘Me and my big mouth!
c. Narrate a friendship in your life you cherish and your reasons for doing so.
d. Describe two joys and two frustrations in the life of a teenager.
2. Attempt any one of the following: (10)
a. Write a letter to the District Commissioner of Police, Traffic Department
requesting him to appoint police constables to be on duty at the
crossroads near your school, especially during the school hours in the
morning and late afternoon. Tell him the problems all face as well as
suggest some ways to get out of the chaos created during this time.
b. You and your friends decide to play truant from school to a morning show
film instead. In the cinema hall you are spotted by a relative, who promptly
informs your parents. Write a letter to a friend who lives in another town,
expressing your feelings on being discovered, the punishment you
received from your parents and what you have learnt from this
experience.
3.
a. Your school is hosting an Inter-School Quiz Competition. Write a notice for
the students of classes IX and X, to be displayed in your school notice
board, giving details of the event. (5)
b. Write an email to the Principal of a neighbouring school requesting him
to send a team of four students to participate in this competition.
(5)
4. Comprehension:
Read the passage and answer the questions in your own words and as briefly
as possible. (20)

It was the night before the day fixed for the coronation, the young King was
sitting alone in his beautiful chamber. He was only a lad of sixteen years of age.
What had occupied his thought the most was the robe he was to wear at his
coronation, the robe of tissued gold and the ruby- studded crown and the
sceptre with its rows and rings of pearls. Lost in his thoughts as he slept, he saw
a dream.
He saw himself standing amidst the whir and clatter of many looms. He had a
vision of the gaunt figures of weavers bending over their looms. Pale, sickly-
looking children were crouched on the huge crossbeams. Their faces were
pinched with famine and their thin hands shook and trembled. The young King
asked one of the weavers, “Who is thy master?”

“He is a man like myself,” said the weaver. “Indeed, there is but this difference
between us--- that he wears fine clothes while I go in rags and that while I am
weak from hunger, he suffers much from overfeeding.” And a great terror seized
upon him and he said to the weaver, “What robe is this that thou art weaving?”

”It is the robe for the coronation of the young King,” he answered. And the
young King gave a loud cry and woke.

He slept again and saw another dream. He saw himself lying on the deck of a
huge boat that was being rowed by a hundred slaves. The one slave crept wearily
down the ladder and disappeared into the sea. After some time, he rose up out
of the water and brought a pearl in his right hand. The other slaves seized it from
him and thrust him back. Again and again, he came up and each time that he did
so, he brought with him a beautiful pearl. Then the diver came up for the last
time, he brought with him, the pearl of Ormuz, which was whiter than the
morning star. And the master of the ship laughed and said,” It shall be, for the
sceptre of the young King.” When the young King heard this, he gave a great cry
and woke up.

The next day, he remembered his dreams and he said to his lords: “Take these
things away, for I will not wear them.”

“For on the loom of Sorrow and by the white hand of Pain, has this my robe been
woven and there is Death in the heart of the pearl.” And he told them his
dreams.

During the coronation ceremony, there entered suddenly the nobles with drawn
swords. “Where is this dreamer of dreams?” they cried. “Where is this King who
is apparelled like a beggar--- this boy who brings shame upon our state? Surely
we will slay him for he is unworthy to rule over us.”

It was the day of the coronation. The young King bowed his head and prayed
and when he had finished his prayer the sunbeams wove around him a tissued
robe that was fairer than the robe that had been fashioned for him. He stood
there in the robes of a king. He came down from the high altar and passed home
through the midst of the people. But no man dared to look upon his face for it
was like the face of an angel.

i. For each word given below choose the correct meaning (as used in
the passage) from the options provided: (3)

1. Gaunt

a. Lean

b. Sickly

c. Starving

d. Chubby

2. Apparelled

a. Dressed

b. Unclothed

c. Surprised

d. Expected

3. What is the opposite of the word crouched?

a. Kneeled

b. Hovered

c. Straightened
d. Depressed

ii. Answer the following questions briefly in your own words.

a. Why was the King called ‘young’? What thoughts was the King lost
in? (2)

b. How did the weaver describe his tiny master? (2)

c. How did the nobles refer to the young King? What did they mean
by that phrase? (2)

d. What do you think is the difference when the King gives a ‘loud cry’
and a ‘great cry’? (2)

e. ‘No man dared to look upon his face’. Why? (1)

iii. In about 50 words, state why did the King refuse to wear the robe and
to have the pearls on his sceptre as per the plan? (8)

5. i. Fill in each of the numbered blanks with the correct form of the word
given in brackets. Do not copy the passage but write in correct serial
order the word or phrase appropriate to the blank space.
(4)

One morning I ......(0) (see) (ans: saw) the python curled up on the
dressing table. It.....(1) (gaze) at its own reflection in the mirror. I .....(2)
(go) for grandfather and by the time we......(3) (return) to the room, the
python.....(4) (move) on. He was seen in the garden and once the cook
saw him.....(5) (crawl) up the ladder to the room. Then we.....(6) (find) him
on the dressing table again, ......(7) (admire) himself in the mirror. He’s
trying to look better for Aunt Mabel” I said. I ......(8) (regret) this remark
immediately because grandmother overheard and held up my pocket
money for the rest of the week!

ii. Fill in the blanks with appropriate words. (4)

a. They hid the money..... the carpet.

b. The leader counted..... the cooperation of his colleagues.
c. The path was beset...... difficulties, yet they succeeded.
d. He persists..... teasing the other children in the class.
e. Rock climbing is fraught..... danger.
f. The train is running..... time.
g. The rocket was launched.... space.
h. Our flight is bound..... Delhi.
iii. Join the following sentences to make one complete sentence without
using and, but or so. Choose the correct option. (4)
1. She is stubborn. She will not listen to anyone.
a. Being stubborn, she will listen to anyone.
b. She will not listen to anyone being stubborn.
c. Being stubborn, she will not listen to anyone.
d. Because she is stubborn, she will not listen to anyone.
2. Saira called the police immediately. It was smart of her.
a. It was smart of Saira to call the police immediately.
b. Saira smartly called the police immediately.
c. The police was called immediately because Saira was smart.
d. The smartness of Sara made her call the police immediately.
3. I found my green coat. I thought I had lost it.
a. I thought I found my lost green coat.
b. I found my green coat, which I thought I lost.
c. I found my green coat, which I thought I had lost.
d. I thought I had lost my green coat but I found it.
4. She was listening to the radio. A moth fell on her head.
a. A moth fell on her head when she was listening to the radio.
b. She was listening to the radio and a moth fell on her head.
c. When she was listening to the radio, a moth fell on her head.
d. She was listening to the radio while a moth fell on her head.
e. Choose the correct option to rewrite the following according to the
instructions given after each sentence. (8)
1. He is kind and generous. (B: Not only.....)
a. Not only he is kind but also generous.
b. Not only is he kind but also generous.
c. Not only he is kind but also he is generous.
d. Not only is he kind but he is generous also.
2. The chief of police showed mercy to the boy. (B: The chief of police
was....)
a. The chief of police was merciful to the boy.
b. The chief of police was showing mercy to the boy.
c. The chief of police was full of mercy to the boy.
d. The chief of police was merciless to the boy.
3. He is not happy. (remove ‘not’)
a. He is too happy.
b. He is unhappy.
c. Happy he is.
d. He is very unhappy.
4. As soon as Bunny saw the police, he ran away. (B: No sooner....)
a. No sooner Bunny saw the police, he ran away.
b. No sooner did Bunny saw the police than he ran away.
c. No sooner did Bunny see the police when he ran away.
d. No sooner did Bunny see the police than he ran away.
5. We did not have a good time at the picnic because it was too hot. (B:
If....)
a. If it was not too hot, we would have had a good time at the picnic.
b. If it would not have been too hot, we would have had a good time at
the picnic.
c. If it was not too hot, we would not have a good time at the picnic.
d. If it had not been too hot, we would have had a good time at the picnic.
6. Jenny is the girl with blue eyes.. (Add a question tag)
a. Jenny is the girl with blue eyes, isn’t it?
b. Jenny is the girl with blue eyes isn’t she?
c. Jenny is the girl with blue eyes, is it?
d. Isn’t Jenny the girl with blue eyes?
7. Jerry is cleverer than Tom. (B: Tom is....)
a. Tom is as clever as Jerry.
b. Tom is not as clever as Jerry.
c. Tom is not more cleverer than Jerry.
d. Tom is not clever but Jerry is.
8. All the girls were wearing blue dresses. B: Each of.....)
a. Each of the girls were wearing blue dress.
b. Each of the girls was wearing blue dresses.
c. Each of the girls were wearing a blue dress.
d. Each of the girls was wearing a blue dress.