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SECOND PRELIM EXAMINATION 2015-16 Std: X Date: 13/01/16 Subject: English Language Marks: 80 Dur: 2hrs Attempt all four questions. You are advised to spend no more than 35 minutes in answering Question 1 and 20 minutes in answering question 2. Q1 (Do not spend more than 35 minutes on this question) 25 Write a composition (350 400 words) on anyone of the following:a. Looking back at the last two years of your life in school, describe the events that have been significant in shaping your personality. b. A fighter pilot who is believed to be killed in action returns home five years later, narrate what awaits him. c. Write an original short story which has for its beginning: At first glance he seemed a friendly sort of person, yet there was something.... d. Military training should begin in school Give your views for or against the topic. e. Study the picture given below. Write a story or a description or an account of what it suggests to you. Your composition may be about the subject of the picture or may take suggestions from it; however there must be a clear connection between the picture and your composition. Q2. (Do not spend more than 20 minutes on this question.) Select anyone of the following. 10 a. Write a letter to your brother advising him to read the newspaper regularly, impressing upon him the need for doing so. OR b. Write a letter to the Director of Tourism of your state informing him of problems faced by tourists who visit your city. Suggest some measure to promote tourism in your city. Page 1 of 3 Q3. Read carefully the passage given below and answer the questions that follow: The night of 14th April 1912, was very cold. There was no moon, and hardly any wind. The Titanic was in the part of the Atlantic in which icebergs cause trouble. Ice is hard enough to cut holes in steel, and cannot easily be seen at night. The wireless officer of the Titanic, J.G. Phillips, had received several signals telling him that ice was not far away. Most of these important signals were passed on to the officers, but one was not. It was a signal from another ship, the Mesaba, reporting icebergs in front of the Titanic. When it arrived, Phillips was hard at work. Many of the travellers had sent news or information or orders by wireless during the day to their friends in England or America. Phillips was now doing his best to finish off all this work. He was so busy that he did not report the ice immediately. The signal lay on his table, half forgotten. The two men who were watching for icebergs, Fleet and Lee, suddenly saw something dark just in front of the ship. They immediately rang the ship's bell, and Lee telephoned to the officer of the watch to report the iceberg. The necessary orders were given at once, though it is impossible to stop a great ship immediately, especially if it is moving at about twenty-five miles an hour. But the officer did his best. The engines were stopped and then started again to pull the ship backwards. The steel doors were closed. The ship was turned away from its straight course. But it was all too late. Too late! The ship struck the iceberg with its side while it was still moving forwards. It struck the ice again with another part of its side. In a few moments six great holes were made in the steel. Water rushed in, not in one place, but in separate places covering three hundred feet. The steel doors were therefore useless. Captain Smith soon understood that nothing could save his ship. At a quarter past twelve in the early morning he ordered the wireless officer to send out the ship's position and the letters CQD, which is the call for help. It told the world that the Titanic was sinking. The impossible was happening. At first the people on board did not believe that the ship was sinking. They had been told that it could not sink, but they understood the truth when the captain gave the order to prepare the boats. Women and children were ordered into the boats first, but some wives would not leave their husbands and did not go. Some women had to be pushed into the boats and some, had to be thrown in. It was hard to leave the big lighted ship, and to go in a small boat on the dark icy sea. Many brave acts were done that night, but 1,503 people lost their lives. And so the Titanic went down beside the huge iceberg that destroyed it. When day came, another ship, the Carpathia, arrived and picked up all those that could be found. It took to New York only 705 men and women. The wireless officer Mr. Phillips, and Captain Smith were not among them. 25 Adapted from "Behind the Headlines" By G.C. Thornley Qi a. Give the meaning of each word as used in the passage. One word or a short phrase will be accepted: i. Icebergs ii. Enough iii. Immediately . iv. Watch v. Sink Qi b. Answer the following questions in your own words: Page 2 of 3 5 i. ii. iii. iv. v. How did the officers of the Titanic know that there were icebergs in that area? Why was the signal from the Mesaba important? Why was the signal not passed to the officers? Why were the steel doors useless? What impossible thing was happening? Why? c. In not more than 60 words; give an account of The sinking of the Titanic d. Give a title to the summary. Justify your choice of title. 2 2 2 2 2 8 2 Q4. a. Fill in each of the numbered blanks with the correct form of the word given in brackets. Do not copy the passage, but write the correct serial order of the blank space. . Example (0) tore. 4 She ________ (0) open the envelop and read-- A most unforeseen circumstance forces me (1) __________ (left) for the north immediately. So I beg your ladyship s pardon if I do not avail myself of the honour of (2) ______ (bid) you goodbye. My business (3) __________ (may) keep me employed for about a week. So I shall not (4) __________ (has) the privilege of (5) _________ (be) present at your ladyship s party on Wednesday. I (6) ___________ (remain), your ladyship s most humble and obedient servant. Her whole frame (7) _____ (shake) with anxiety at the thought that she might be too late; that he might have (8) ______ (go) without her seeing him and bidding him Godspeed! Q4. b Fill in the blanks with the appropriate word: i. ii. iii. iv. v. vi. vii. viii. They began their journey _________sunset. Divide the bananas ___________the two children. Niti sat _________herself. Courage carries a man ___________difficulties. The aero plane flew ___________the town. The army put __________ the rebellion. Manasvi reconciled _________her brother. Mahek has no taste__________ music. Q4. C Join the following sentences without using and, but, so. i. ii. iii. iv. 4 4. I saw a snake. I ran away. Saif did not succeed. He made every effort. He is ignorant. He fringes it. The boy is my friend. His father is a judge. Q4. D Rewrite each of the following sentences according to the instructions given. Do not alter the meaning. i. ii. iii. iv. v. vi. vii. viii. 8 Show the right path. ( End shown) These windows need cleaning again. (Begin: These windows will ) I said, What a fine place it is! ( change to indirect speech) He escaped several times but was finally caught. (Begin: In spite ) The tree is too high for me to climb. (Use so in place of too.) With your permission I will go away. (Begin If ) He was dismissed for negligence. (Use negligent) Every system of government is imperfect. (Change into a Negative sentence) Page 3 of 3
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