CBSE Board Question Paper 2009
Class - 10th (Foreign)
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, Umang, successfully completed her long trekking in the Himalayas along with a group of her school-mates. Write a letter congratulating her on her success and asking her to write about her first hand experience of trekking. You are Pulkit/Parul, 29, Vikas Colony, Hyderabad.
OR
It is pitch dark at night in the internal roads of your colony due to lack of streetlight. It provides opportunity to unsocial elements to become active. Write a letter to the General Manager of the Electrical Supply Undertaking requesting him to take immediate remedial action in this matter. You are Rohit/Rachna, 26, Surya Colony, Kanpur.
4. Mobile phone is a useful item if it is used sensibly. Making use of it in schools just for the sake of displaying its brand, for chatting, for . photographs etc. is simply a means of showing off, causing loss of studies, time and energy. Write an article, in about 80 words, on the need for putting. a ban on the use of mobile phones in schools. 8
OR
Shortage of water is being felt throughout the country. There is great need for its conservation. Using the hints given below write a paragraph in about 80 words on `Conservation of Water'. water level getting lower and lower - in villages traditional ponds filled up - rain water not seeping into earth - in cities misuse of water - traditional methods of conservation to be revived - conservation to be made mandatory by law - awareness to be created for its careful use.
5. The scouts and guides of your school attended a week long camp at Pachmarhi, Madhya Pradesh. Mentioning the dates, the number of participants, skill based activities such as tent pitching, knot making, preparation of food, camp fires, cleanliness etc. practised in the camp, write a report in about 60 words for your school magazine. You are Rahul/Rosy, Troop Leader of Adarsh Scout Guide Crew. 4
OR
Science Education Centre of your school organized a two-day workshop to popularize the study of science. Mentioning the arrangements, the number of participants, display of kits developed for nursery children, other working models prepared by senior students, appreciation of work by the guests etc., write a report in about 60 words. You are Rishabh/Rani, Secretary of the Centre.
SECTION C (Grammar)
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. (1/2)x6=3
Robinson used to spent e.g. spent - spend
hours gazing on merchant ships. (a)
His father wanted him to being (b)
a lawyer but he wanted to exploring (c)
the world in one of that (d)
sailing ships. And one days (e)
he disappears. (f)
7. Fill in the blanks with suitable non-finites : (1/2)x4=2
Four persons escaped death narrowly while …………………… (go) to Gurgaon (b) …………………… (attend) their office. On their way they saw a heavy iron girder (c) ………………… (hang) downwards. To save themselves they tried (d) ………………… (drive) fast but it fell down on the rear of the car and fortunately they were saved.
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
Sanjeev : Where are you coming from ?
Deepak : I am coming from the market.
Sanjeev : What have you brought from there ?
Deepak : A few items of stationery.
On way to his office Sanjeev saw Deepak coming. He asked him (a) ………………… Deepak replied (b) …………… Sanjeev inquired (c) ……………… Deepak replied that he had brought a few items of stationery.
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 :
part of/in/are/the Himalayas/the northern / country / our
The Himalayas are in the northern part of our country.
(a) highest / in / the world / the / Mount Everest / peak / is / mountain
(b) covered / snow / is / it / throughout / with / the year
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) To send messages to far off places people beat drums.
(b) Other drummers at a distance picked up that sound.
(c) They repeated the drum beats to convey the message further.
In ancient times drums (a) …………………… to far off places. That sound (b) ……………………………… Then the drum beats (c) ………………………… to convey the message further.
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. (1/2)x4=2
The fastest method of voice (a) communicate is the telephone. There are (b) telephonic exchanges throughout the country which (c) connection people within seconds. We can (d) talkative to people in any part of the world over a telephone.
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
Maddie tried to prepare her lessons, but she could not put her mind on her work. She had a very sick feeling in the bottom of her stomach. True, she had not enjoyed listening to Peggy ask Wanda how many dresses she had in her closet, but she had, said nothing. She had stood by silently, and that was just as bad as what Peggy had done. Worse. She was a coward. At least Peggy hadn't considered they were being mean but she, Maddie, had thought they were doing wrong. She could put herself in Wanda's shoes.
(a) How did Maddie feel after listening to the note from Wanda's father ? 1
(b) Why did she feel repentant ? 1
(c) What did she think of herself ? 1
(d) What did she think of her and Peggy's behaviour with Wanda ? 1
(e) Which word in the passage means the same as ‘cupboard’? 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
Somehow when he had taken a little run forward to the brink of the ledge and attempted to flap his wings he became afraid. The great expanse of sea stretched down beneath, and it was such a long way down - miles down. He felt certain that his wings would never support him; so he bent his head and ran away back to the little hole under the ledge where he slept at night.
(a) Who is he? 1
(b) What did he see beneath ? 1
(c) What impact did that sight have on him ? 1
(d) Where did he sleep at night ? 1
(e) Which word in the passage means the same as ‘a narrow horizontal shelf projecting from a wall / a cliff’? 1
14. Answer the following question in about 80 words : 6
Was Lencho surprised to find a letter for him with money in it ? Why ? What made him angry ?
OR
What are the legends associated with the discovery of tea ?
15. Answer any two of the following questions in 30 - 40 words each : 4
(a) Who is Chubukov ? Why does he suspect Lomov when he comes to his house ?
(b) How did Valli plan her bus ride ?
(c) What did the bakers wear in the Portuguese days and in the days when the author was young ?
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. 4
"But I can get a hair-dye
And set such colour there,
Brown, or black, or carrot,
That young men in despair
May love me for myself alone
And not my yellow hair."
(a) Who is ‘I’ in the passage ?
(b) What colour is her hair ?
(c) Why would she want to change the colour of her hair ?
OR
If strolling forth, a beast you view,
Whose hide with spots is peppered,
As soon as he has lept on you,
You'll know it is the Leopard.
'Twill do no good to roar with pain,
He'll only lep and lep again.
(a) How does a Leopard look when you see it while walking ?
(b) When will you know that it is Leopard for sure ?
(c) Why does the poet say that it is no use roaring with pain ?
(d) What is the rhyming scheme in the stanza ?
17. Answer any two of the following questions in 30 - 40 words each, on the basis of the lines given below : 6
(a) Clashed his tail like irons in a dungeon. What comparison has been made here ? Explain. 3
(b) A dime, another ball, is worthless.
Who is the speaker ? Why doesn't he offer the boy money to buy another ball ? 3
(c) And stares with his brilliant eyes
At the brilliant stars.
Whose eyes are referred to here ? What is common between his eyes and the stars ? 3
18. Answer the following question in about 100 words : 8
What impression does Hari Singh form of Anil ? Substantiate your answer giving examples from the text.
OR
What guesses are made by Think-Tank about the books found on earth ?
19. Answer the following question in 30 - 40 words. 4
Why was Mr. Herriot really worried about Tricki ?
OR
What story did Ausable tell about the unwelcome guests that entered his room ?
20. Answer the following question in 20 - 30 words : 3
What advice did the lady give Horace regarding his hay fever ? Did she really intend to help him ? Give reasons.
OR
How did the people at the law firm receive the narrator ?
(‘The Hack Driver’)
CBSE Board Question Papers Class 10th 2009