SAMPLE PAPER

ENGLISH (CORE)

(SET-II)

Time allowed : 3 Hours

M.M. : 100

General Instructions :

(i) The Paper is divided into two sections : A and B, both the sections are compulsory.

(ii) Separate instructions are given with each section and question, wherever necessary. Read these instructions very carefully.

(iii) Do not exceed the prescribed limit while answering the questions. Marks will be deducted if this limit is crossed.

SECTION 'A'

Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow it :

Punctuality is a necessary habit in all public affairs of a civilized society. Without it nothing could ever be brought to a conclusion, everything would be in a state of chaos. Only in a sparsely populated rural community is it possible to disregard it. In ordinary living there can be some tolerance of unpunctuality. the intellectual, who is working on some abstruse problem, has everything coordinated and organized for the matter in hand. He is threfore forgiven, if latle for the dinner party. but people are often reproached for unpunctuality when their only fault is cutting things fine. It is hard for energetic, quickminded people to waste time, so they are often tempted to finish a job before setting out to keep an appointment. If no accidents occur on the way, like punctured tyres, diversion of traffic, sudden descent of fog, they will be on time. they are often more industrious, useful citizens than those who are never late. the over-punctual can as much be a trial to others as the unpuncutal. the guest who arrives half an hour too soon is the greatest nuisance. some friends of my family had this irritatig habit. The only thing to do was to ask them to come half an hour later than the other guests. then theyarrived just when we wanted them.

If you are catching a train, it is always better to be comfortably early than even a fraction of a minute too late. although being early may mean wasting a little time, this will be less than if you miss the train and have to wait an hour or so for the next one. and you avoid the frustrationof arriving at the very moment when the train is drawing out of the station and being unable to get on it. An even a harder situation is to be on the platform in good time for a train and still to see it go off without you. such an experience be fell a certain young girl the first time she was travelling alone.

she entered the station twenty minutes before the train was due, since her parents had impressed upon her that it would be unforgiveable to miss it and cause the friends with whom she was going to stay to make two journeys to meet her. she gave her luggage to a porter and showeod him her ticket. To her horror he said that she was two hours too soon. she felt in her handbag for the piece of paper on which her father had written down all the details of the journey and gave it to the porter. He agreed that a train did come into the station at the time on the paper and that it did stop, but only to take on water, not passengers. the firl asked to see a timetable, feeling sure that her father could not have made such a mistake. The porter went to fetch one and arrived back with the station-master, who produced it with a flourish and pointed out a microscopie 'o' beside the time of the arrival of the train at his station. this little 'o' indicated that the train only stopped for water. Just at that moment the train came into the station. the girl, tears streaming down her face, begged to be allowed to slip into the guard's van. But the station-master was adamant : rules could not be broken. and she had to watch that train disappear towards her destination while she was left behind.

What are the dangers of leaving the bare minimum of time for appointments ? (2)

The over -punctual can be as much a trial to others as the unpunctual. why ? (1)

Why, acording to the author, is it better to wait on the platform before the train arrives ? (1)

Find words in the passage which which convey similar meaning as the following : (3)

(i) blamed (ii) hardworking (iii) thinly

Select three appropriate expressions from the above passage to prove that the author wants punctuality to be observed in life. (3)

Read carefully the following passage and answer the questions that follow it :

People tend to amass possessions, sometimes without being aware of doing so. Indeed they can have a delightful surprise when theyfind something useful which they did not know they owned. those who never have to change house become indiscriminate collectors of what can only be described as clutter. They leave unwanted objects in drawers, cupboards and attics for years, in the belief that they may one day need just those very things. As they grow old, people also accumulate belongings for two other reasons, lack of physical and mental energy, both of which are essential in turning out and throwing awya, and sentiment. things owned for a long time are full of associations with the past, perhaps with the relatives who are dead, and so they gradually acquire a value beyond their true worth.

some are collected deliberately in the home in an attempt to avoid waste. among these, I would list string and brown paper, kept by thrifty people when a parcel has been opened, to save buying these two requisites. collecting small items can easily become a mania. I know someone who always cuts out from newspapers sketches of model clothes that she would like to buy, if she had the money. As she is not rich, the changes that she will ever be able to afford such purchases are remote. But she is never sufficiently strong - minded to be able to stop the practice. This is a harmless habit, but it letters up her desk to such an extent that every time she opens it, loose bits of paper fall out in every direction.

Collecting as a serious hobby is quite different and has many advantages. It provides relaxation for leisure hours, as just looking at one's treasures is always a joy. One does not have to go out for amusement, since collection is housed at home. Whatever it consists of, stamps, records, first editions of books, china glass, antique furniture, pictures, model cars, stuffed birds, toy animals, there is always somethings to do in connection with it, from finding the right place for the latest edition to verifying facts in reference books. this hobby educates one not only in the chosen subject, but also in general matters which have some bearing on it. there are also other benefits. One wants to meet like-minded collectors, to get advice, compare notes, to exchange articles, to show off the latest find. so one's circle of friends grows. Soon the hobby leads to travel, perhaps to a meeting in another town, possibly a trip abroad in search of rare specimen, for collectors are not confined to any one country. Over the years, one may well become an authority on one's hobby and will very probably be asked to give informal talks to little gatherings and then, if successful, to larger audiences. In this way, self-confidence grows, first from mastering a subject, then from being able to talk about it. collecting, by occupying spare time so constructively, makes a person contented, with no time for boredom.

On the basis of your reading of the above passage make notes on it, using recooognizable abbreviations wherever necessary. Use a format you consider appropriate. Supply a suitable title. (5)

Write a summary of the above passage in about 80 words. (3)

(a) You are Manoj / Abha of 354, Pitam Pura, New Delhi. You want to sell the first floor of your newly constructed house. Draft an advertisement in not more than 50 words for publication in The Indian Express under their classifed column, marked, 'Property'. Include all relevant details like location, type of accommodation and contact address, including telephone number etc. (5)

The Students' Council of your school has organised an excursion to Ajanta and Elora for the students of classes XI and XII during Winter Break. As President of the council write a notice in not more than 50 words telling the students about this excursion and inviting their names for joining it. (5)

You are Sudarshan / Seema of Rajeev Gandhi Memorial Sr. Secondary School, Allahabad. Your school has just in augurated its new Computer wing, constructed with generous grants from the Rajeev Gandhi Foundation. Write a report in not more than 100 words for your school magazine on the programme orgoanised by the school on this occasion. ( Word limit 100 words) (5)

OR

You are Manav / Manjari of Maharani Laxmi Bai Sr. Secondary School, Gwalior. Your school has recently organised a Blood Donation Camp on the occasion of its Silver Jubilee Celebrations. Now write a report as an editor for your school magazine on this widely acclaimed activity. (5)

You are Akhil / Karishma of 119, Mall Road, simla. You are interested in doing a short-term course in computer programming during your summer vacation. Write a letter to the Director Computer World, Sector - 22, Chandigarh, inquiring about the duration of such a course and the terms and conditions for admission. ( Word limit 200)

or

Raj Rajeshwar of 160, Kesarganj, Calcutta bought a frostfree Godrej Refrigerator of 256 Litres from 'Living Style,' C.R. Das Market, Calcutta. Having used it for about a month, he finds that the freezing section of the refrigerator is not working at all. Now write a letter to the Sales Manager of the firm complaining about it and requesting for the piece to be replaced. The refrigerator has been given two years warranty against any technical fault.

Rajya Laxmi of Hyderabad feels highly disturbed to see that in spite of government legislation against the dowry, cases of bride - burning are on the increase as per the newspaper reporting. she being extremely sensitive decides to write an article on the immediate need for eradicating this social stigma for publication in The Hindustan Times. Write the article in not more than 200 words. (10)

or

The other day the Value Education Club of your school organised a visit to the 'Home for the Blind' in your town. there you got the opportunity of knowing the feelings and problems of the blind from a close angle. On your return from the trip you decide to write an article for The Times of India on the problems of the blind and the Government's role in solving them. Write the article in not more than 200 words. (10)

Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow it :

Looking up at the rearing wall of the side of the vessel, at the tangled skenis of rope dangling downwards, Charlie knew he was not the same man without Nancy. As he could not have Nancy, he must have something - a symbol of her. Nancy to him meant music. If he had music ! If he had .... music ....But how ?

Select words from the above passage which convey the similar meaning as the following : sign (2)

Charlie's love for Nancy is just an ordinary love. do you agree with it ? Give three reasons in support of your thinking. (3)

Why was Indrani Debi worried about the discovery of a new comet by her husband ? (2)

Why did Cassius not ring up his white "millionaire sponsors," ? Give two reasons. (2)

Why were Captain Smith and his officers confident that the titanic would be saved ? (2)

What was the extent of the damage to life and property caused by the atomic explosion ? (2)

Both the men lost their eyesight in the Westbury explosion. However, theri outlook on life was totally diffeent. Mention two points of difference in their outlook. (2)

How did the narrator and his brothers manage to capture the six-ffot cobra ?(2)

Why does Mrs. Packletide decide to shoot a tiger ? Give two reasons. (2)

Why does Mrs. Packletide decide to shoot a tiger ? Give two reasons. (2)

Write a note on Miss Stubbs' character, citing suitable examples from the story in support of your assessment.
(Expected word limit 150 words) (10)

OR

Tailor PAtch is happily settled in married life. But an element of guilt remains at having duped his innocent and trusted friends at Madder. Tailer Patch writes a letter to Shepherd Poose, expressing his gratitude at the support he received. Write a letter in not more than 150 words. (10)

Both Robichon and Quinquart loved Mademoiselle Brouette equally in 'The Judgement of Paris'. Who did she say she would finally marry, and why? (Expected word limit 50 words). (10)

OR

Why did Mikali feel that his life was full of horros ? Write in about 150 words the circumstances that led him to feel like this. (10)