SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT – II (2015-2016)
ENGLISH COMMUNICATIVE
Class - IX
Time: 3 hours
Maximum Marks: 70
Instructions:
The question paper is divided into three sections.
Section A
:
Reading & OTBA
Section B
:
Writing and Grammar
Section C
:
Literature
20 marks
25 marks
25 marks
SECTION A (READING & OTBA: 20 Marks)
1a
Read the following passage.
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GUIDELINES FOR GOOD TALK
It‟s the quality, not the quantity that counts.
What makes a good conversation ? In the first place, it is essentially a mutual research for the
essence of things. It is a zestful transaction, not a briefing or a lecture. Russian poet Alexander
Pushkin correctly identified the willingness to listen as one of the vital ingredients of any
exchange. When two people are talking at the same time, it is not conversation-it‟s collision.
Conversation need not always be purposeful, but it must at least be for pleasure. It should be
congenial, aiming, joyful and amiable, for, as essayist Joseph Addison put it, „Good nature is
more agreeable in conversation than wit.‟
It is true that strangers meeting for the first time seem to feel uncomfortable if they do not
engage in small talk. Usually this is harmless and even necessary if strangers are to size each
other up. But one needs to follow the elementary rules for general conversation. Certain
subjects should be taboo. Kitchen topics, the best cleansers, business, bus time-tables and
other dull or specialized things should be barred from general discussion. One should stay
encouraged to the pixie of the conversation which can add zest. Our talk too often reflects the
dull things that we do all day. Provocation, whimsy, laughter, mockery and flirtation all have
their place in the art of good conversation, of which it was long ago said, „Be prompt without
being stubborn, refuse without argument, clothe weighty matters in a motley garb.‟
On the basis of your reading of the above passage, answer the following questions :
(1)
What is the quality being talked about here ?
(2)
What quality is essential for a good exchange ?
(3)
Conversation should either be __________ or for __________.
(4)
We can judge a person by his conversation as __________.
(5)
The synonym for „ridicule‟ is __________.
1b
Read the following passage carefully.
I saw a man with a dancing bear. Every time the man hit his tambourine, the bear stood up
and moved around. I know that people kill the mother bears and steal their cubs, so that they
can train them. They torture the young bears while teaching them little tricks. The poor
animals do what the trainers want because they are afraid. This dancing bear, whom the man
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was calling Kallu, was terribly thin. It looked very hungry and thirsty. I telephoned SPCA
(Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals). Luckily Mukul, one of their members, lived
in that area. He arrived very quickly, and told the man that it was illegal to exploit poor bears
in this way. The man with the tambourine promised to treat the animal more kindly, but
Mukul was not satisfied.
“Aren‟t you ashamed of yourself ?” he asked angrily. “Don‟t you know bears have lived on
this earth for 35 million years ? They were there before men and women came. After a little
argument, the man agreed to set the bear free. We all walked to a nearby forest and let the
bear go. Once or twice it looked back at us. I thought it was saying, „Thank you‟.
(1)
On the basis of your reading of the passage, complete the following statements.
(a)
To get the young bears __________.
(b)
The young bears are __________.
(2)
Answer the following questions.
(a)
How was Kallu rescued ?
(b)
Comment on Kallu‟s appearance.
(3)
Find a word from the passage which means the same as „content‟.
(Open Text: 10 Marks)
(* Please ensure that open text of the given theme is supplied with this question paper)
Theme: Let’s Welcome, Accept and Respect
2a
‘Martial arts bring national pride among the young people’. Enumerate.
2b
India is a nation, proud of its secular way of life. Elucidate with reference to the North-Eastern states 5
of India.
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SECTION B (WRITING & GRAMMAR: 25 Marks)
3
Write an article in 100 - 120 words on "No College, No knowledge".
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4
Read the opening line and weave a story around it in 150-200 words.
Col. Vishwanathan, a brave soldier, bought an old mansion though many people in the area
told him it was haunted ………….
10
5
Choose the most appropriate options from the ones given below to complete the following 3
paragraph.
A few months ago, a young man from Punjab (a) __________ to go to Canada. He (b)
__________ an agent in Delhi. The agent (c) __________ him that he would have to pay seven
lakh of rupees for his journey.
(a)
(i)
decides
(ii)
decided
(iii)
thought
(iv)
thinking
(b)
(i)
contacted
(ii)
contracting
(iii)
contacts
(iv)
contact
(c)
(i)
told
(ii)
tell
(iii)
telling
(iv)
tells
6
In the following passage one word has been omitted in each line. Write the missing word
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along with the words before and after against the correct blank number.
Before
Rajan and his friends planning a trip
during the summer vacation. While all them
were keen to get from the heat, no one
could suggest place to visit.
Missing Word After
(a) ______
(b) ______
(c) ______
(d) ______
______ ______
______ ______
______ ______
______ ______
Read the conversation given below and complete the paragraph that follows. Write the 3
answers against the correct blank numbers in your answer sheet. Do not copy the whole
sentences.
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Neela : Hello Suresh. How are you?
Suresh : I am on the lookout for a job.
Neela : What kind of job are you interested in?
Neela, on meeting Suresh, asked him (a) __________ Suresh replied that (b)_______ Neela then
asked Suresh (c) __________.
SECTION C (LITERATURE: 25 Marks)
Read one of the extracts given below and briefly answer the questions that follow:
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Read the passage given below carefully and answer the questions that follow:
Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad
Made to his mistress‟ eyebrow.
(a)
Which stage of life is being referred to in the above extract?
(b)
Why is the poet referring to the furnace in the given extract?
(c) What does „woeful mean?
3
OR
Read the passage given below carefully and answer the questions that follow:
PERSOME. Yes, or meat off the floor I suppose. Oh it‟s coming to that. And as for that old
wretch Mere Gringoire, I wonder she had the audacity to send here again.
(a)
What does Persome mean by, „it‟s coming to that‟?
(b)
Why did Mere Gringoire „send here again‟?
(c) What does 'andacity' mean ?
Answer the following questions in 30 to 40 words each:
3
(2+2+2+2)
9a
Why does the convict sob when the Bishop asks him about his life ?
2
9b
Why can only the „sensitive‟ understand the welcome song of the rain ?
2
9c
Write in brief about the first interaction of the „Professor‟ with Corporal Turnbull.
2
9d
John A. Pescud got off the train at Coketown. What aspect of his character is revealed through 2
this action ?
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Answer one of the following questions in 80-100 words
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„Charity begins at home‟. What do you understand from the given line as said by Persome ? 4
Do you think she was right in saying this ? Discuss the values that we learn from this
statement with respect to the play, „The Bishop‟s candlesticks‟.
OR
Punishment should be proportional to the crime and not out of proportion. Elucidate with 4
reference to the play, „The Bishop‟s Candlesticks‟, reflecting on the values that can help reform
a person.
Answer one of the following questions in 150-200 words
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Glubbdubdrib was a mysterious island. Elaborate.
10
OR
Write a character sketch of the King of Luggnag.
10
OR
Describe the stories people tell about catching the trout to the author. What was the truth ?
10
OR
Bring out the comic aspect of Harris‟ character giving instances from the novel.
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