CBSE Board Question Paper 2009
Class – X (Foreign)
ENGLISH (Communicative)
[Time allowed: 3 hours] [Maximum marks: 100]
General Instructions:
(i) This paper consists of four sections:
Section A Reading 20 marks
Section B Writing 30 marks
Section C Grammar 20 marks
Section D Literature 30marks
(ii) Attempt all questions.
(iii) Do not write anything in the question paper.
(iv) All the answers must be correctly numbered as in the question paper and written in the answer sheet provided to you.
(v) Attempt all questions in each section before going on to the next section.
(vi) Read each questions carefully and follow the instructions.
(vii) Strictly adhere to the word limit given with each questions.
SECTION – A (Reading) [20]
Q1. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow: [8]
1. In Belgium newspapers refers to their country as the Kingdom of Chocolates. With hundreds of chocolate factories turning out some 140000 tonnes a year, Belgian chocolate is big business and employs nearly 72000 people. How Belgian became the world’s chocolate capital relates partly to its colonial past in Africa, giving it special ties to cacao producers. According to Dirk Arens, Director of Operations, at the big Nuehaus plant, the secret of their success is that the Belgian taste in chocolate seems to be universal and they are fortunate to posses traditional craftsmanship for making fine chocolate.
2. Most Belgian chocolate makers learn their crafts at vocational schools before being apprenticed to a master chocolatier. Once on their own, they use the cacao beans, roast them longer, and then grind the particles to a miniscule 20 to 35 microns for a super – velvety texture. And they make it rich:
pure cocoa content in Belgian chocolate ranges from 35 to 43% and even higher. It also helps that the Belgian government takes chocolates seriously. In 1975, it decreed that only products made of cacao beans, cocoa butter and sugar could be labeled chocolate. That ruled out the cheaper vegetable used in many countries as a substitute for some of the cocoa butter and spurred Belgian chocoltiers to aim high and pay attention to detail. That simple, elegant, little chocolate box with a little ribbon around it called a ballotin, was invented in 1912 by a meticulous member of the Neuhaus clan to protect packed chocolates.
Complete the following sentence: [8]
The secret of the success of Belgian chocolate is that
(a) ——————————————–
(b) ——————————————–
The processes involved in making Belgian chocolates are
(c) ——————————————–
(d) ——————————————–
(e) The Belgian government maintains quality in the manufacture of chocolates by ——————————————————–
(f) Neuhaus clan protected its packed chocolates by ———————————- Belgium is called The Kingdom Chocolates because
(g) ———————————————-
(h) ———————————————-
Q2. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow: [12]
1. I recently heard a story from a man named Malcolm Dalkoff. He’s 48. For the last 24 years he has been a professional writer, mostly in advertising. Here is what he told me. As a boy, Dalkoff was terribly insecure and shy. He had a few friends and no self – confidence. One day in October 1965, his high – school English teacher, Ruth Brauch gave the class an assignment. The students had been reading To kill a Mocking Bird. Now they were to write their own chapter that would follow the last chapter of the novel. Today he cannot recall any thing special about the chapter he wrote, or what grade Mrs. Brauch gave him. What he does remember – what he will never forge – are the four words Mrs. Brauch wrote in the margin of the paper. “This is good writing.
2. Four words! They changed his life. “Until I read those words, I had no idea of who I was or what I was going to be,” he said, “After reading her note. I went home and wrote a short story something I had always dreamed of doing but never believed I could do.” Over the rest of the year in school, he wrote many stories and always brought them to school for Mrs. Brauch to evaluate. She was encouraging rough and honest. “She was just what I needed,” Dalkoff said.
His confidence grew; his horizons broadened; he started off on a successful, fulfilling life. Dalkoff is convinced that none of this would have happened had that woman not written those words in margin of his paper.’
3. For his 30th high – school reunion, Dalkoff went back and visited Mrs. Brauch, who had retired. He told her what her four words had done for him. He told her that because she had given him the confidence to be a writer, he had been able to pass that confidence on to the woman who would become his wife, who became a writer herself. Hw also told Mrs. Brauch that a woman in his office, who was working in the evenings towards a high – school – equivalency diploma, had come to him for advice and assistance. She had respected him because he was a writer – that is why she turned to him. Mrs. Brauch was especially moved by the story of helping the young woman. “At that moment I think we both realized that Mrs. Brauch had cast an incredibly long shadow,” he said. “This is good writing,” So few words. They can change everything.
2.1 Answer the following in a sentence or two:
(a) What was the assignment given by Ruth Brauch to her students? [1]
(b) When did Dalkoff meet Mrs. Brauch and thank her? [1]
(c) Mention the words which Dalkoff will never forget in his life. Where did he see them? [2]
2.2 Complete the summary given below. Use only a word to fill in each blank. [4]
The encouragement and support provided by Mrs. Brauch was a turning point in the life of Dalkoff.
He found himself writing short stories which were once a (a) ——————- to him. Becoming the co – editor of his high – school newspaper (b) ———————– his confidence. He was (c) ———————– in passing on the confidence, Mrs. Brauch had given, to others also. He (d) ——————– that a few words change everything.
2.3 Find words which mean the same as the following: [4]
(a) To assess Para 2
(b) Completely sure about something Para 2
(c) Unbelievably Para 3
(d) Help / support Para 3
SECTION B - (Writing)
3. The following is a telephone conversation between Sita and Meera. As Meera has to leave for -her dance class, she leaves a message for her mother. Write the message in not more than 50 words.
Sita : Hello. Can I speak to Rani ?
Meera : I'm afraid, mother's not at home. May I know who is speaking ?
Sita : I am Sita. Please tell your mother that I will pick her up at 7 p.m. on Wednesday for the reception. Ask her to call Shalu and enquire whether she is joining us.
Meera : O.K. aunty. I will tell her.
4. You are Kedar / Keya, Sports Captain of your school, A.B.M. Public School, Delhi. You have been asked to form a girl's hockey team in your school. Write a notice in not more than 50 words informing the students that selection will be made on Sunday. Give other necessary details. 5
5. You are Rachana / Raghav, 15 Mall Road, Agra. You happened to see the following news item in a newspaper. Write a letter in 150 - 175 words to the editor of the newspaper about your views on the matter. 10
| New Delhi : The Supreme Court has passed an order that it is the responsibility of every citizen to look after their aged parents. If they fail, they will have no right of inheritance. |
6. You happened to see the following graph showing a significant increase in the number of tourists coming to Kantipur, a holiday resort. You thought of developing your own neighboring village as a hub of tourist activity which would open employment prospects for the village youth. Using the graph, the unit on `Travel and Tourism' and your own ideas. write a speech in 150 - 175 words to be delivered to the village folk convincing them of this idea. 10
(For Blind Candidates Only)
There is a lot of increase in the number of tourists coming to Kantipur, a holiday resort. You thought of developing your own neighbouring village as a hub of tourist activity which would open employment prospects for the village youth. Using the unit on ‘Travel and Tourism’ and your own ideas, write a speech in 150 - 175 words to be delivered to the village folk convincing them of this idea.
SECTION C - (Grammar) 20
7. Look at the notes given below and complete the paragraph that follows. Do not add any new information. Write the answers in your answer sheet against the correct blank numbers. 1x4=4
Egyptians discovered paper - made of stalks of tall reed - from word 'papyrus'- supplies limited - export restricted
The (a) ……………………… Egyptians. It (b) ……………………… reed. The English word ‘paper’ (c) ………………… When supplies were limited a (d) …………………………… imposed on the export.
8. In the passage given below one word has been omitted in each line. Write the missing word along with the word that comes before and the word that comes after it in your answer sheet against the correct blank number. The first one has been done as an example. (1/2)x8=4
One my childhood fears e.g. one of my
was I would get lost (a)
especially the way from (b)
school home. Every morning (c)
I got into the school bus
from stop near my home. (d)
After the school over I was (e)
terrified to think I would (f)
get the wrong bus (g)
and taken to some unfamiliar (h)
neighborhood.
9. 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. The first one is done as an example. 2 x8=4
Incorrect correct
I've been in lots for restaurants e.g. : for of
and they have all seemed to being friendly (a)
places. That's why in a recent Monday (b)
night, I stopped at one to a cup of coffee. (c)
I am returning home after an all day car (d)
trip and needed something for help me travel (e)
the last 45 miles. The place is quiet and (f)
lonely then I entered. After a long wait, a tired (g)
looking waitress approached me and her (h)
order pad.
10. Read the dialogue between a father and son and complete the paragraph that follows. Write your answers against the correct blank numbers in your answer sheet. Do not copy the whole sentences. 1x4=4
Father : Why were you late from school yesterday?
Aswin : There was a friendly football match between our school and G.K. Public School.
Father : Why didn't you inform us that you would be late?
Aswin : I tried ringing up home but nobody picked up the phone.
Father asked Aswin (a) ……………………… Aswin replied that there (b) …………………………… and G.K. Public School. The father wanted to know why (c) ……………………… that he would be late. Aswin said that (d)………………………… but nobody had picked up the phone.
11. Read the following passage and fill in each blank with one word only. Write your answer in your answer sheet against the correct blank number. Do not copy the whole sentence. 2 x8=4
I like comfort when I (a) …………………… camping. My camp van with (b) ……………………… completely equipped kitchen, shower stall, toilet, double bed (c) ………………… television resembles a mobile hotel room. Unlike the poor campers gathered closely (d) ………………………… tents I don't have (e) ……………………… worry about cold, rain, heat or annoying insects. After a hot shower, I (f) ……………………… sit comfortably (g) ……………………… my warm quilt and read the latest bestseller while (h) thunderstorm booms outside.
SECTION D - (Literature) 30
12. Read the extract given below and answer that follow. Write the answers in your answer sheet in only. Number the answers correctly. 3
Ducks had swum and herons waded
To her as she serenaded,
And a solitary loon
Wept, beneath the summer moon.
(a) Who is ‘her’ ? 1
(b) Why did the ducks and herons come to her ? 1
(c) Why did the loon weep ? 1
OR
Now I am a lake. A woman bends over me.
Searching my reaches for what she really is.
Then she turns to those liars, the candles or the moon.
(a) Why are the candles and the moon called liars in these lines ? 1
(b) Why does the woman look into the mirror ? 1
(c) Which poetic device is used in the first line ? 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. Number the answers correctly. 3
Cleave themselves into chasms, while far below
The sea-blooms and the oozy woods which wear
The sapless foliage of the ocean, know
Thy voice, and suddenly grow gray with fear,
And tremble and despoil themselves: oh, hear!
(a) What cleaves into chasms ? 1
(b) Explain : `sapless foliage of the ocean'. 1
(c) What effect does the West Wind have on the ‘sapless foliage’ ? 1
14. Answer the following in 50 - 75 words. 4
How did the mariners get stuck in the land of ice and snow ? How were they saved ?
OR
Which qualities of the mother and the father are highlighted in the poem, `Night of the Scorpion' ?
15. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow. Write the answers in your answer sheet in one or two lines only. Number the answers correctly. 4
This dream is all amiss interpreted
It was a vision fair and fortunate.
(a) Which dream is referred to here ? 2
(b) How does the speaker interpret it ? 2
16. Answer the following in 50 - 75 words. 4
Brutus' decision to allow Mark Antony to speak to the Roman mob was not a wise one. Examine this statement in the light of the play, `Julius Caesar'.
OR
Give two examples, one, before and the other, after the appearance of the ghosts, from the play, `The Christmas Carol' to show Scrooge's character.
17. Answer the following in 50 - 75 words. 4
‘Ali was a clever shikari but in the evening of his life he suddenly took a new turn.' What was the change and what was the reason for it ?
OR
Why does the narrator in `The Ultimate Safari' want to go back to Mozambique ?
18. Answer the following in 150 - 175 words. 8
You are Christopher's mother. You are worried about your son's strange stories of aliens and spaceships. Write a letter to your sister on your feelings and anxieties about Christopher's strange behavior.
OR
As one of Babuli's nephews, write a diary entry on the partition that took place in your house and how Babuli, your uncle, reacted to it.
CBSE Board Question Papers Class 10th 2009