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VIBGYOR HIGH First Term Examination 2020-2021 ENGLISH LITERATURE Grade: X Max. Marks Date : 22/09/2020 : 80 Time Allowed : 2 hours INSTRUCTIONS: Answers to this paper must be written on the paper provided separately. You will not be allowed to write during the first 15 minutes. This time is to be spent in reading the question paper. The time given at the head of this paper is the time allowed for writing the answers. Attempt five questions in all. You must attempt at least one question from each of the Sections A, B and C and not more than two other questions from the same books you have already compulsorily chosen. The intended marks for questions or parts of questions are given in brackets [ ]. ________________________________________________________________________ Section A Drama The Merchant of Venice: Shakespeare Q.1 Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: I cannot tell; I make it breed as fast: But note me, signior. (i) Who is the speaker? Who is he addressing these lines to? What was it that he could make breed as fast ? (ii) Explain the Biblical reference made to Jacob and Laban by the speaker. Why did he refer to this story? (iii) [3] What were the conditions included in the bond by Shylock in a merry sport ? Why was the bond signed by Antonio? (iv) [3] [3] Why did Bassanio warn Antonio against the signing of the bond? What was the speaker s response to Bassanio s suspicions? [3] 1 (v) The Jews were a hated race because of their practice of usury. Elaborate on the hostility that existed between the Christians and the Jew, with reference to instances from this scene. [4] Q.2 Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: I ll not be made a soft and dull-eyed fool, To shake the head, relent, and sigh, and yield To Christian intercessors. (i) Who is being referred to as the Christian intercessor ? Where is he at this moment? Who had escorted him there? (ii) Why will the speaker not be made a soft and dull-eyed fool ? What did he remind the Christian intercessor of? (iii) [3] Bringing out the effect of these griefs and losses on the Christian , state what did he wish in the end. What does this portray of him? (v) [3] What was Salarino sure of? What reason did the Christian give to thwart all hopes of Salarino? (iv) [3] [3] While in Belmont, Portia draws up a plan to save the Christian from the clutches of the Jew. Describing the plan conceived by her, state what light does it throw on her character. [4] Q.3 Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: You hear the learn d Bellario, what he writes: And here, I take it, is the doctor come. (i) Who is the speaker of the given lines? Who is the doctor who has just arrived? Where are they? [3] (ii) What had Bellario revealed in his letter about the young doctor ? [3] (iii) How did Shylock react when he lost his wealth as a consequence of the justice demanded by him? What was the mercy rendered to Shylock by the defendant? [3] (iv) How had Gratiano strongly expressed his dislike for the Jew, when the latter had refused to yield and continued to seek justice? (v) [3] Antonio appears passive and resigned to his fate against the Jew s rage. Provide relevant examples from this scene to substantiate the above statement. [4] 2 Section B Poetry Treasure Trove: A Collection of ICSE Poems and Short Stories Q.4 Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: And you see my harvest, what I reap This very day, now a year is run. (i) The Patriot, Robert Browning What do the expressions harvest and reap refer to? What were the circumstances that had led to a feeling of regret in the speaker now? (ii) Describe the public acclaim that the speaker had experienced a year ago on this very day . (iii) [3] How did the people who had a mind express their disapproval of the speaker s actions? (iv) [3] [3] Where was the speaker being taken? Who watched him go from the house tops and windows? Which aspect of human behaviour has been projected in this poem? (v) [3] Bring out the note of hope and positivity seen in this poem. Highlight two character traits of the speaker that you greatly appreciate in the poem The Patriot . [4] Q.5 Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: The angel wrote, and vanished. The next night It came again with a great wakening light (i) Abou Ben Adhem, Leigh Hunt When had Abou Ben Adhem seen the angel in his room? What had been the impact of the angel s presence in his room? (ii) What had Abou asked the angel on seeing its presence in his room? How had the angel reacted and responded to him then? (iii) [3] How had Abou Ben Adhem reacted on knowing that his name was not in the list? What request did Abou Ben Adhem make to the angel then? (iv) [3] [3] What was the great wakening light that the angel came with the next night? How had the love of God blessed Abou? Why did the poet say may his tribe increase ? (v) [3] Bring out the true principles of devotion that have been highlighted in this poem. [4] 3 Q.6 Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: He plants the forest s heritage; The harvest of a coming age; The joy that unborn eye shall seeThese things he plants who plants a tree. (i) The Heart of the Tree, Henry Cuyler Bunner Who is referred to as the unborn eye ? What are the joys that the unborn eye shall gain from the tree? (ii) [3] What is meant by the expression mother-croon of bird ? When is it heard? How does it complement the beauty of nature? [3] (iii) How does he who plant a tree plant the forest heritage ? [3] (iv) What stirs in his heart who plants a tree? What are the values that are ascribed to the act of planting trees? (v) [3] Mention any two phrases used by the poet to refer to the tree at the beginning of the poem. Bringing out the aptness of the title The Heart of the Tree , state what it inspires you to do. [4] Section C Prose Treasure Trove: A Collection of ICSE Poems and Short Stories Q.7 Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: They were all nine years old, and if there had been a day, seven years ago, when the sun came out for an hour and showed its face to the stunned world, they could not recall. (i) Naming the stunned world where the story is set, explain why had the rocket men and women come there? [3] (ii) Describe the various activities, they had done in class the previous day. [3] (iii) What happened as soon as the sun came out? What was the immediate reaction of the nine year olds when they saw the sun? (iv) [3] Why did one of the girls in the midst of their running begin to cry? What happened as the sun faded behind a stir of mist ? [3] 4 (v) Children generally tend to become mean and insensitive when they are confronted with someone different from themselves. How did Margot s classmates express their meanness and insensitivity towards her? What was the change seen in her classmates at the end of the story? [4] Q.8 Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: I wasn t too worried about all this. I d trained, sweated and disciplined myself for six years, with the Games in mind. (i) Where were the Games being held? What had Jesse aimed to win at the Games ? What was he not too worried about ? (ii) What had made Jesse Owens angry and what mistake did he make as an angry athlete ? What were the bitter thoughts that flashed upon his mind then? (iii) [3] [3] Describe the man who helped ebb out the tension of Jesse ? Why did he assist Jesse? [3] (iv) Describe the happenings at the final day of the Games . [3] (v) What was the greatest prize that Jesse won at the Games ? How does he describe the greatest prize at the end of the story? What are the life lessons you have learnt after reading this autobiography? [4] Q.9 Answer the following questions with reference to Ernest Hemingway s short story, Old Man at the Bridge : (i) Describe in detail the activities noticed on the pontoon bridge while the old man sat by the side of the road. What was the role of the young soldier? (ii) How far had the old man travelled? Why was he the last one to leave the town of San Carlos? What do the old man and the bridge in the story symbolise? (iii) [4] [4] There was nothing to do about him. Describing him mention the compassion that the speaker showed to him . Bringing out the ironic contrasts revealed in this story, state what was all the good luck that old man would ever have ? [8] ***** 5
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