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PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION 2021 ENGLISH LITERATURE Grade: 10 Time: 2 hours Date: 08.02.2021 Max. Marks: 80 GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS An additional time of 15 minutes will be given at the start of the examination. You will not be allowed to write during this time. This time is to be spent in reading the paper. The time given in the paper is the time allotted for writing the answers. All answers should be written in the answer booklet provided. The paper consists of three sections. Each section consists of THREE questions. YOU MUST ANSWER FIVE QUESTIONS IN ALL. You must answer at least one question from each of the sections A, B, C and not more than two other questions from the books you have already compulsorily chosen. The intended marks for questions, or parts of questions, are given in brackets ( ). SECTION A THE MERCHANT OF VENICE (DRAMA) Question 1 Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: Antonio: Content, I faith : I ll seal to such a bond And say there is much kindness in the Jew. Bassanio: You shall not seal to such a bond for me: Page 1 of 5 I ll rather dwell in my necessity. i. What are the terms and conditions of the bond? [3] ii. What necessity is Bassanio speaking about? Why did he find himself in such a predicament? [3] iii. What personal and financial loss does the Jew suffer later in the play? [3] iv. How had Antonio treated the Jew? [3] v. Why is Antonio confident about sealing the bond ? What traits of Bassanio and Antonio are highlighted through this conversation? [4] Question 2 Bassanio: i. So may the outward shows be least themselves The world is still deceived with ornament. Where is Bassanio? What has Portia instructed about the kind of music to be played depending on Bassanio s choice of caskets? ii. What are the inscriptions on the three caskets? iii. Why does Bassanio reject the silver casket? Who had chosen the silver casket earlier? Why had he chosen it? iv. Which mythological hero does Portia compare Bassanio to? Explain how is this comparison appropriate to the task Bassanio will perform? What examples does Bassanio give to prove, The world is still deceived with v. ornament ? Question 3 Shylock: i. So can I give no reason nor I will not, More than a lodg d hate and a certain loathing I bear Antonio that I follow thus A losing suit against him. Are you answer d? Who is he speaking to? Where are they at the moment? What is Shylock giving a reason for? ii. Earlier in this extract, Shylock has given reasons for insisting on executing the bond state the reasons he has outlined. Page 2 of 5 iii. Explain the line, lodg d hate and a certain loathing . Contrast it with the actual reasons Shylock has a hatred for Antonio. iv. What was Shylock s condition at the end of the trial? v. What role does Portia play in this scene? What does this reveal about her character? SECTION B POETRY Question 4 Old Kaspar took it from the boy; Who stood expectant by; And then the old man shook his head. And with a natural sigh Tis some poor fellow s skull, said he, Who fell in the great victory. After Blenheim - Robert Southey i. Where was Kaspar? Briefly describe the setting. Who was the boy? ii. What did Kaspar take from the boy? Where had he found it? Describe the object. iii. What did the old man say about his experience in finding such things himself? iv. What did Kaspar know about the great victory ? v. How had Kaspar s father been affected by the war? What was Kaspar s attitude towards the war? Question 5 The eight other athletes stopped in their tracks The ones who had trained for so long to compete One by one they turned round and came back to help him And lifted the lad to his feet. - Nine Gold Medals- David Roth i. Where had the runners come from? What event were they participating in? How long had they trained for this event? [3] ii. Describe the scene around the field before the race. [3] iii. What had happened to the young boy? How did he react? [3] iv. What change was seen in the race? [3] Page 3 of 5 v. How does the action of the eight athletes highlight the true spirit of sportsmanship? Comment on the title of the poem. [4] Question 6 I wandered lonely as a cloud That floats on high o'er vales and hills, When all at once I saw a crowd, A host, of golden daffodils; Beside the lake, beneath the trees, Fluttering and dancing in the breeze. Daffodils William Wordsworth i. What was the poet doing? In what sense was he floating like a cloud? [3] ii. Where did he see the daffodils? What were they doing? [3] iii. Explain any two poetic devices used in the above extract. [3] iv. To what two elements of nature has the poet compared the beauty of the daffodils? What effect did this beauty have on the poet? v. [3] Later on in the poem what wealth has the poet referred to? When did he realize its worth? With reference to the last stanza of the poem, state the influence that nature can have over an individual s mind. [4] SECTION C PROSE Question 7 What are you doing out here, boy? asked Mr Oliver sharply, moving closer so that he could recognize the miscreant. A Face in the Dark- Ruskin Bond i. Who is Mr. Oliver? Describe his place of work. [3] ii. What was Mr Oliver s habit every evening? [3] iii. What did Mr. Oliver observe as he approached the miscreant? [3] iv. What shocked Mr. Oliver? How did he react? [3] v. What other shock awaited Mr. Oliver? How does the author create the atmosphere that adds to the suspense? Page 4 of 5 [4] Question 8 An angry athlete is an athlete who will make mistakes, as any coach will tell you. I was no exception. My Greatest Olympic Prize Jesse Owens i. Describe Jesse Owens frame of mind and preparation when he set out to take part in the Olympics. [3] ii. Why was Owens in for a surprise? [3] iii. How did Owens mistake affect his performance? Who coached him and why? [3] iv. What advice was given by the person? What was the result of the advice given? [3] v. What did Pierre de Coubertin say about the Olympics? How was this epitomized at the Berlin Olympics? [4] Question 9 Answer the following questions with reference to R.K Narayan s short story, A Horse and Two Goats . i. Why was Muni scared to see the red faced foreigner and how did he react? [4] ii. Comment on the elements of humour and comedy used by the author in the story. iii. [4] What miscommunication comes to light between Muni and the foreigner at the end of the story? How did this impact the three main characters? Page 5 of 5 [8]
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