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St. Xaviers School , Purulia Subject : English Literature(Half Yearly Exam) Class : X Date : 12/10/2020 F.M. 80 Answer any five questions. All questions carry equal marks . SECTION A - DRAMA The merchant of Venice - Shakespeare Question 1 ( 16 marks ) Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow : How many then should stay cover that stand bare! How many be commanded that command! How much low peasantry would then be glean'd From the true seed of honour! And how much honour Pick'd from the chaff and ruin of the times To be new varnish'd ! Well, but to my choice Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves'. (a) In which context does the prince speak these words? [3) (b) What did he say about ruin?(3] (c) Who should cover? What does it mean? [3] (d)What is the meaning of low peasantry glean'd and ' the chaff and the ruins of times'? (3) (e) What does the speaker think of himself in this scene? What does he realises at the end of this scene? (4) Question 2. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: I am a tainted wether of the flock, Meetest for death: the weakest kind of fruit ( 16 marks ) Drops earliest to the ground, and so let me. (a)Under what circumstances does this dialogue take place? [3] (b) The listener has been given a task by the speaker. What is it? Why does he say that? [3) (c) Why is the speaker willing to die? (3) (d) What feelings does this piece of dialogue arouse in your heart ?(3) (e) Who enters the scene next ? What news does this person bring ?What do you mean by the words , I am a tainted wether of the flock ? (4) SECTION B - POEMS Treasure Trove Poems Question 3 (16 marks ) Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow "Now tell us what t was all about Young Peterken, he cries; And little Wilhelmine looks up With wonder waiting eyes; Now tell us all about the war . And what they fought each other for , (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) What did Peterken want to know ? To whom was he speaking ?(3) Why does Wilhelmine look up with wonder waiting eyes ? What is the relevance of the adjective little in the above extract ?(3) To whom was Kaspar narrating about the war ?How did the listeners react to it ?(3) Comment on the casual attitude of Kaspar and of the public towards war .(4) State three examples from the poem which depict man s cruelty to man.(3) Question 4 ( 16 marks ) Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow : The black man s face bespoke revenge As the fire passed from his sight. For all he saw in his stick of wood Was a chance to spite the white. (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) Whose face bespoke of revenge in the extract ?On whom did he want to take the revenge ?(3) What did the man in the extract see in his stick of wood ?What did he do with his log of wood ?(3) How was the man in this extract treated earlier by the one on whom he wanted to take revenge ? (3) What was the final outcome of the attitude of the six men in the group ?What caused their destruction ?(3) Expalin briefly how the poem portrays the theme of lack of warmth and compassion in human beings .(4) SECTION C - SHORT STORIES Treasure Trove Short Stories Question 5 ( 16 marks ) Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: The snowflakes fell on her long golden hair which curled so prettily about her neck, but she did not think of her appearance now Lights were shining in every window , and there was a glorious smell of roast goose in the street, for this was New Year's Eve and she could not think of anything else . She huddled down in a heap in a corner formed by two houses, one of which projected further out into the street than the other, but though she tucked her little legs up under her she felt colder and colder, she did not dare to go home. i )a)What can one gather about the weather from the above lines ?(1.5x2=3) b)What was special about the particular evening in the story? ii) The girl had slippers on, but they were of no use . Why?(3) iii) What did she carry in her apron? How was she the very picture of misery?(3) iv) Why was the girl out in the cold? What prevented her from going back home?(3) v )What was the best vision seen by the little girl? What happened to the little girl in th end ?(4) Question 6 ( 16 marks ) (a) What does the story reveal about the character of Joe Thompson ?(4) (b) How does Maggie bring about a change of heart in Mrs Jane Thompson ?(4) (c) State how the story , an angel in disguise begin in a melancholy tone but end in a joyous note . (8)
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