WINTER ASSIGNMENT OF ENGLISH
GRAMMAR
CLASS –IX going to X
SECTION-A(READING)
1. Read the passage given below:
8 marks
The Perfect Dog
1. In the summer of 1967, when I was ten years old, my father caved into my persistent pleas and took me
to get my own dog. Together we drove in the family station wagon far into the Michigan countryside to a
farm run by a rough-hewn woman and her ancient mother. The farm produced just one commodity –
dogs. Dogs of every imaginable size and
shape and age and temperament. They had only two things in common: each was a mongrel of unknown
and distinct ancestry, and each was free to a good home.
2. I quickly decided the older dogs were somebody else’s charity case. I immediately raced to the puppy
cage. ‘‘You want to pick one that’s not timid,’’ my father coached. ‘‘Try rattling the cage and see which
ones aren’t afraid.’’
3 .I grabbed the chain-link gate and yanked on it with a loud clang. The dozen or so puppies reeled
backward, collapsing on top of one another in a squiggling heap of fur. Just one remained. He was gold
with a white blaze on his chest, and he charged at the gate, yapping
fearlessly. He jumped up and excitedly licked my fingers through the fencing. It was love at first sight.
4. I brought him home in a cardboard box and named him Shaun. He was one of those dogs that gives
dogs a good name. He effortlessly mastered every command I taught him and was naturally well-behaved.
I could drop a crust on the floor and he would not touch it until I gave the okay.
5. Relatives would visit for the weekend and returned home determined to buy a dog of their own, so
impressed were they with Shaun – or ‘‘Saint Shaun’’, as I came to call him. Born with the curse of an
uncertain lineage, he was one of the tens of thousands of unwanted dogs in America. Yet by some stroke
of almost providential good fortune, he became wanted. He came into my life and I into his – and in the
process, he gave me the childhood every kid deserves.
6. The love affair lasted fourteen years, and by the time he died I was no longer the little boy who had
brought him home on that summer day. I was a man, out of college and working across the state in my
first real job. Saint Shaun had stayed behind when I moved on. It was where he belonged. My parents, by
then retired, called to break the news to me.
My mother would later tell me, ‘‘in fifty years of marriage, I’ve only seen your father cry twice. The first
time was when we lost Mary Ann’’ – my sister, who was still-born. ‘‘The second time was the day Shaun
died.’’
7 .Saint Shaun of my childhood. He was a perfect dog. At least that’s how I will always remember him. It
was Shaun who set the standard by which I would judge all other dogs to come.
(Marley and Me by John Grogan)
1.1 Based on your reading of the passage, complete the following
statements :
6 marks
(a) The dog farm was run by ________________ .
(b) The author did not want an old dog because _______________ .
(c) He fell in love with the dog the moment the latter __________ .
(d) Shaun became so obedient that he __________________ until
the author allowed him.
(e) After visiting them, their relatives wanted _______________ .
(f) When Shaun died even _____________________ .
1.2 Find words from the passage which mean the same as the following : 2 marks
(a) urgent requests (para 1)
(b) falling (para 3)
Q2. Read the passage given below and answer the questions: 8 marks
1. We readily admit the importance of character building in education. But we take the word “Character”
lightly and treat the concept casually. So, we pay scant attention to “character” in recruiting teachers, who
are to serve as character builders. Character building seems to be just about the only task that we expect
to be accomplished by those whose suitability for it is presumed to be immaterial. This indifference to
character bedevils education at all levels.
2. No one familiar with the practice of education will doubt if there is a synergy between character and
excellence in education. This is true at all levels. From the lowest to the very highest. “Most people say
that it is the intellect which makes a great scientist,” Albert Einstein said, “they are wrong. It is character.”
All earnest students have been young men and women of character. Our hearts swell with pride as we
favour the prospect of India
becoming a global economic giant.
3. Sure, it is not beyond our reach for we have the required resources. But if we are to reach there, we
need to mind our national character. We covet ,say , Olympic laurels but we could not persuade our best
tennis players to play together for the country at the London Olympics 2012. Between our promise and
our performance, opens up a yawning gulf that swallows our future.
4. The well spring of character is self worth. If you value the person that you are, you will take care of
yourself. As a rule, impurity ruins worth. The most exquisitely, flavored and enchantingly fragrant cup of
tea loses its worth ,the moment a fly falls in to it. What it loses is not taste, aroma or color but it purity.
“The real ornament of a Man”, said Gandhiji ‘is his character, his purity”.
5. Purity expresses itself as positivity to what is good and worthwhile. Impurity breeds a contrary
disposition. It makes a person turn against himself, against his own best interests. Purity- rooted
positivity is a student’s greatest asset. Positivity enables her to enter into the full scope of every
educational facility and opportunity. Purity sustains concentration and
fortifies patience. The impure are restless. Academic or intellectual impurity implies a state of being
pulled in opposite directions. Patience is the power to stay focused overtime.
6. Peer- pressure is, almost always, in the direction of compromising their purity. It is robbing you of your
‘immortal jewel ‘the integrity and felicity of your inner being. No agenda for character building can,
hence, side step the issue of peer pressure.
7. Purity – based patience embodies the dynamism of being positive towards oneself. Men and women of
character are found, therefore, hospitable to discipline, hard work, austerity and struggle. The shallow, on
the other hand, resent and rebel against all of these.
(A )Complete the sentences
(i) Four essential qualities for building a good character.
(a) ………………… (b) …………….
(c )………………… (d) …………….
(2 marks)
(ii)A virtue that helps one to stay focused is ……..
(1 mark)
(iii) Two factors that work against the building of a good character
(a) ……………….. (b) ……………… (1 mark)
(iv) Being positive helps a student to………………… (1 mark)
(B ) Pick out words that mean the same as the following
(i) long to possess (para -3)
(ii) Severe or strict in appearance (para 7)
(iii) Produce a profitable combined effort (para -2) (3 marks)
Q3. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow: (12 marks)
Men and their activities have affected nature in a very significant manner.
1. Melting ice and warming waters have raised average sea level worldwide by more than an inch since
1995 new data from space satellites and robotic submarines have revealed
2. That s twice as fast as the rate the oceans rose during the previous 50 years ocean experts said If the
current rate continues or accelerates as they say is likely the world s seas will rise at least a foot by the
end of this century causing widespread flooding and erosion of islands and low-lying coastal areas.
3. “Even a small change will matter to a whole lot of coastal people. If 15 percent of the Greenland ice
sheet were to melt, much of South Florida would be underwater,” said Richard Alley, a geoscientist. The
rise in the sea level was caused by a recent speed-up in the melting of glaciers and ice sheets, especially in
Greenland and Antarctica, due to global warming, another serious man-made problem threatening the
world with severe consequences.
4. Humans have significantly affected the flow of half of the world’s major rivers by building dams
according to the first detailed global assessment of the activity s impact.
5. Another study shows that dam building among other human actions has altered the amount of
sediment that rivers carry to the coast with implications for marine ecology fisheries and coastal erosion.
6. The first study led by Christer Nilsson of the Landscape Ecology Group at Umea University Sweden
assessed the extent to which dams affect 292 large river systems. These rivers drain 54 percent of the
world’s land area and carry 60 percent of the planet’s river-water.
7. Previous surveys had only looked at rivers in the northern hemisphere. Nilsson and colleagues added
to this collection new data from Africa, Asia, Latin America and Australasia.
8. The team found that river flow has been strongly affected in four of the world’s ten largest river
systems and moderately affected in the other six.
9. Fragmenting river systems and controlling their flow with dams has well-known potential impacts on
the ecology of rivers. Among other effects, dams disrupt the migration of animals up- and downstream, an
impact that has been linked to the extinction of species of freshwater fish.
10. While areas upstream of dams are flooded to create reservoirs, wetlands downstream can dry out and
the fertility of flood plain soil can decline.
11. Geoscientists insist that the severe ecological effects of building dams need to be accounted for in
global planning for sustainable river management. They note that large dams are planned or under
construction in 46 large river systems, 40 of which are in developing countries which need to take
precautionary steps.
12. Almost half of these new dams will be on just four rivers: China’s Chang Jiang (also known as the
Jangtze River), where 49 new dams are planned, the Rio de Ia Plata in Latin America (29 new dams), the
Shatt Al Arab in the Middle East (26 new dams), and the Ganges-Brahmaputra in South Asia (25 new
dams).
1.1 On the basis of your reading of the passage answer the following questions: (8 marks)
a. Which two factors have caused the rise in the average sea level? (1)
b. How is this rise being monitored? (1)
c. What will happen if this is not checked? (1)
d. How is man responsible for this rise in the sea level? (1)
e. How has the construction of dams affected rivers? (1)
f. Which two negative effects of dams are mentioned in the text? (2)
g. Which of the dams being planned can affect India? (1)
1.2 Find words in the passage which mean the same as the following from the paragraphs
indicated? (4 marks)
i. To make something empty or dry by removing all the liquid from it (Para 6) (1)
ii. An investigative general study (Para 7) (1)
iii. Breaking into small pieces or parts (Para 9) (1)
iv. Connected with the relation of plants and living creatures to each other and to their environment
(Para11) (1)
4. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:
We live in an age of great hurry and great speed. Men have lost their inward resources. They
merely reflect, like a set of mirrors, opinions which they get from outside. When they get a little
leisure, they turn to material diversions from outside rather than to inward resources. In other
words, this internal vacuum is responsible for mental and nervous troubles. The cure for this is
not so much treatment by medicine and surgery but a recovery of faith in the ultimate goodness,
truth and the decency of things. If we are able to recover that faith, if we are able to live in this
world with our consciousness centred in the ultimacy of the spirit, many of the problems to
which we are subject today may be overcome. Our people were regarded as aspiring after
metaphysical insight and religious bliss, but we seem to forget that it never occurred to them to
equate eternal life with either the surrender of the mind or the sacrifice of the body. When the
Upanishad writer was asked to define what is meant by spiritual life or life eternal, he gave the
answer that it consists of the play of the vital organism, the satisfaction of the mind, the
abundance of tranquility of the spirit. Body, mind and spirit must be integrated and they must
lead to a harmonious developed life. If we get that, we have life eternal.
A.1. Complete the following statements:
(i) We live in an age of great ____________.
(ii) The author suggests that the cure for this is ____________.
(iii) „Life eternal‟ means _______________.
(iv) Our internal emptiness is responsible for ________________.
A.2. Complete the summary using one word in each blank :
In this age of great hurry and speed men have lost (i) ____________resources. This is responsible for
their mental and (ii) ____________troubles. If we recover our faith in the goodness of life we can
overcome many of our (iii) ____________. Our people tried to seek (iv) ____________ insight and
religious bliss. For spiritual life, there should be a proper integration of body, mind and spirit.
5.Read the given passage:
Born in 1775 in Steventon, Rectory, Hampshire, Jane Austen belonged to an upper middle class
family and enjoyed all comforts. She and her sister Cassandra had their first lessons from their
mother. Schooling in Oxford, South Hampton and at Abbey School. Jane at the age of nine and
Cassandra at the age of 11 were back home. Both enjoyed reading poetry and great works of
Shakespeare. At the age of 12, Jane Austen looked better than a tomboy. Initially she started
writing short humorous stories. Her first full length novel titled „ Elinor and Marianne‟ started in
her late teens. At the age of 22, she wrote „ First Impressions‟ and later „Pride and Prejudice‟.
Jane Austen has portrayed in her novel things like niceties of decorum, petty jealousies, vanity
and affection. She has dealt with the superficialities of life. „Pride and Prejudice‟ is the most
interesting novel and the most popular because of its interesting plot, a rich comedy, supreme
theme, the sparkling life of characters, a freshness of the scenery. A year or two later, she
completed “Susan‟ which was retitled “Northanger Abbey‟. Family circumstances made her leave
Steventon and go to Bath. But the memories of her widowed Sister, her friends and relatives, the
family rectory and the countryside haunted her and she could not be happy at Bath. Like
Casandra, Jane also had a love affair with a doctor but it ended in a tragedy. After her father’s
death in 1805, she got support of her brother Edward and began a comfortable life with a
renewed interest. At the age of 41 she died and her two novels „Persuasion‟ and „Northanger
Abbey‟ were published after her death.
A.1. Based on reading of the passage, choose the correct option to answer the questions
that follow:
(i) How do you know that Jane was born with the spark for literary writing? (a) she wrote short
humorous stories.
(b) she used to read poetry and great works of Shakespeare at an early age.
(c) „Pride and Prejudice‟ is the most interesting novel.
(ii) Why could Jane not be happy at Bath?
(a) she missed everything about her life at the countryside.
(b) two of her books were published after her death.
(c) after her father’s death, her brother was supporting her.
A.2. Complete the following:
(i) After Austen’s father died, her brother Edward _____________.
(ii) Jane had to face two tragedies when she was at Bath.
Those were (a) ______________ (b) ______________
A.3. Find the words from the passage which mean the same as:
(i) superb ______________ (ii) shallowness of things ______________
A.4. Find the antonyms of
(i) comedy ______________ (ii) staleness ______________
6. Read the following article based on a report by health experts in England.
Most teenage girls in England are smokers. They believe cigarettes help keep them slim, make
them look grown-up, and control stress. And even though they know the risks to their health,
they would still rather smoke. The habit is on the increase among teenage girls while it is falling
in all other groups of the population. Now almost one in three girls of school-leaving age are
smokers. Health experts are puzzled as to why the anti-tobacco message is not reaching them. Dr
Anne Charlton says: „ We do not really know why they are taking up smoking when everyone is
giving up. They seem to be more influenced by advertisements, which are increasingly aimed at
women.‟ Teenage girls are more likely to start smoking if one of their parents is a smoker. They
probably have a best friend who smokes, and parents who do not disapprove of their habit of
smoking. Fifty percent of girls who leave school to start a career in hairdressing are smokers. In
nursing, the figure is 44 per cent and around 34 per cent in clerical jobs. DrCharltong says, “The
percentage is less among those who go to university. The smokers are usually the ones who do
not do well at school and don’t even want to.” They mistakenly believe it helps to keep their
weight down, although they have no weight problem in the first place. This message of needing to
be thinner than thin has come over very strongly and they would rather risk their health than
risk putting on weight. “One of the most effective methods of getting girls to stop smoking is to
point out how much they smell”, says Dr. Charlton.
A.1. Choose the best answer:
(i) Teenage girls in England smoke
(a) even if they know smoking is unhealthy
(b) because smoking helps them lose weight
(c) because they are leaving school
(ii) Health experts
(a) really have no idea why girls smoke.
(b) do not understand why girls give up smoking
(c) do not understand the anti-tobacco message
==============================================
7.Read the given passage very carefully.
Balanced Personality
Often students who are very fond of reading books are labelled by their comrades as bookworms.
Those disparagements generally come from the mouths of students who consider themselves as
being‟ gamesters‟. Boys who shine in athletics or in the playing of some game- particularly
cricket, consider that the games field is a better or nobler arena for their activities and the
expenditure of their energies than the classroom or the reading desk. The idea is born out of an
inferiority complex inherent in the „games- minded‟ students who actually envy their fellow who
shine academically. Academic honors have a glamour which is unique. It is not to be denied that
the playing of games is a worthy activity; it is worthy in the sense that the team spirit can be
encouraged in the individual only if he has learnt to participate in the playing of games. It is also
true that the player does much for society and for his country on the playing field. It is true that
the feeling of co-operation can be cultivated in a person only through group activity. But studies
should not be sacrificed in order that students devote their time only to the playing of games. It is
my observation that those boys who become obsessed with the playing, particularly of cricket,
begin to ignore their studies and then their academic ability suffers, as it must. Let each type of
activity have its own place in our daily round and then only will the balanced division of interests
produce the individual with a proper perspective of things. Then will we have the student who is
both academically good and who can hold his own on the games field. That is the personality that
we want our educational system to produce.
A.1. Complete the following:
(i) According to the author the main goal of education is _______________ (ii) Gamesters‟ tend to call
academically sound students bookworms because ______________.
(iii) The two qualities that we can acquire through playing games are
(a) ______________ (b) ______________
A.2. Pick and write the phrases which indicate the importance of academic achievement.
A.3. Find out a word from the passage which means the same as
(i) a companion who shares one’s activities ______________
(ii) developed ______________
A.4. Match the words with its correct meaning.
Cultivated
Belittle
Perspective
Understanding of importance
Disparage
Developed
8.Read the passage carefully:
English is the most widely read language in the world. One in every seven human beings can
speak it. English has the largest vocabulary – perhaps as many as two million words. English is
also a crazy language. There is no egg in eggplant. Neither pine nor apple in pineapple and no
ham in hamburger. Sweetmeats are candy, while sweetbreads, which are not sweet, are meat.
Quicksand works slowly, boxing rings are square, and a guinea pig is neither a pig nor from
Guinea. And why do writers write but fingers do not fing, grocers do not groce and hammers do
not ham? If vegetarians eat vegetables, what do humanitarians eat? Perhaps all English speakers
should be sent to an asylum for the verbally insane. In which language do people recite at a play
and play at a recital? Have noses that run and feet that smell? How do “a wiseman” and “a wise
guy‟ differ in meaning? Why are „overlook‟ and „oversee‟ antonyms? Why are quite a lot and
quite a few alike? Don’t you marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in which your house can
burn up as it burns down, in which you fill in a form by filling it out and in which your alarm clock
goes off by going on! English was not invented by computers. It has the creativity of the human
race (which is not a race at all). That is why, when stars are out they are visible, but when lights
are out they are invisible. And why, when I wind up my watch I start it, but when I wind up this
essay I end it.
A.1. Write four points in praise of English. Write your answer in the answer sheet against
the correct blank numbers.
(i) ________________
iii) _________________
(ii) _________________
(iv) _________________
A.2. Find words from the passage as instructed below. Write your answers in the answer
sheet against the correct blank numbers.
(i) Find the two meanings of wind up
(a) _____________
(b) ____________
(ii) Find any synonyms for the same
(a) _____________
(b) ____________
(iii) Find another expression for shining _____________
(iv) Find another word for insane _____________
==============================================
9.Read the poem carefully and answer the questions that follow.
Of all the meals that glad my day
My morning one’s the best;
Purveyed me on a silver tray,
Immaculately dressed.
I rouse me when the dawn is bright;
I,leap into the sea,
Returning with a rare delight
To honey, toast and tea.
My appetite was razor edged
When I was in my prime;
To eggs and bacon I was pledged…
Alas! the March of time;
For now a genial old gent
With journal on my knee,
I sip and take with vast content
My honey, toast and tea.
So set me up for my delight
The harvest of the bee;
Brown, cristoast with butter bright,
Ceylon- two cups or three.
Let others lunch or dinner praise,
But I regale with glee,
As I regard with grateful gaze
Just honey, toast and tea.
A2.1 Answer the following questions by choosing an appropriate option from those given below:(4)
(i) For the poet the best meal is
(a) dinner(b) supper
(c) lunch(d) breakfast
(ii) Before taking his breakfast, the poet would
(a) have a walk (b) have some routine exercises
(c) swim in the sea (d) run a race
(iii) The phrase „March of Time‟ suggests
(a) The month of March (b) The season of spring
(c) The passage of Time (d) None of the above
(iv) In his youth, the poet’s appetite was
(a) weak(b) poor
(c) sharp(d) less
A2.2 Given below is a summary of the poem. Fill in the blanks with suitable words to complete
the summary:- (4)
Of all the meals in a day, the poet’s favorite is his (i) __________. He likes it to be served on a (ii)
_________. The poet enjoys taking a (iii) __________ before his breakfast consisting of (iv) __________. In
his youth the poet’s favorite breakfast consisted of (v) __________, but as an (vi) __________ he relishes
having (vii) ___________. While others might enjoy their (viii) ___________ more, the poet’s favorite
meal is his breakfast.
10.Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow: (7 marks)
The Sparrow’s Nest
1. Hey, only look what I have found!
2. A Sparrow’s nest upon the ground;
3. A Sparrow’s nest as you may see,
4. Blown out of yonder old elm tree.
5. And what a medley thing it is!
6. I never saw a nest like this,
7. Not neatly wove with decent care,
8. Of silvery moss and shining hair
9. But put together, odds and ends,
10. Picked up from enemies and friends
11. See, bits of thread, and bits of rag,
12. Just like a little rubbish bag!
13. Here is a scrap of red and brown,
14. Like the old washer-woman’s gown;
15. And here is muslin, pink and green,
16. And bits of calico between;
17. O never thinks the lady fair,
18. As she goes by with mincing air,
19. How the pert Sparrow over-head,
20. Has robbed her gown to make its bed!
21. See, hair of dog and fur of cat, 22. And rovings of a worsted mat,
23. And shreds of silks, and many a feather,
24. Compacted cunningly together.
25. Well, here has hoarding been and hiving,
26. And not a little good contriving,
27. Before a home of peace and ease
28. Was fashioned out of things like these!
2.1 Answer the following questions based on the poem above: (5 marks)
a. What did the poet find on the ground one day (1)
b. Where did the poet think it had come from? (1)
c. Why does the poet compare it to a ‘little rubbish bag’? (1)
d. Pick out a simile from the poem. (1)
e. What is the sparrow nest made up of ? (1)
2.2 Write down what the sparrow picked up to make its nest: Find four other things and number them (b)
to (e).
The first one has been done as an example. (1/2 x 4 = 2 marks)
(a) Silvery moss and shining hair.
(b)
11.Read the following poem carefully:
School of Fantasy
I am a boy from a very nice school
And you’ll see why it’s so cool
There are no teachers but just books
More than books it has good looks
You get many prizes In different sizes
It all depends on your will
And most of all on your skill
All this and more Is really in store
For all the rest As this school is the best
There are no examinations
All they want is your imagination
Your many creations
Are their expectations
I am having such an experience
In this superb institution
I like to share it with you all
This place is so nice
It’s just a kid’s paradise
A.1 Complete the summary of the poem:
Rachit’s school of (i) ______________ is very interesting. It’s a (ii) ______________ school because it lacks
(iii) ______________ but is rich in books and (iv) ______________. A student here can (v) ______________
many prizes depending on his (vi) ______________ and (vii) ______________ The only qualification
required here is (viii) ______________. The best thing is that you don’t have to sit for any (ix)
______________. This superb institution just wants you to be (x) ______________.
A.2 Answer the following:
i) The poet used several expressions to say that school is very good
e.g. a very nice school.
Find out two others in the poem.
(a) _______________ (b) _______________
(ii) “All they want is your imagination”. Here „they‟ refers to whom?
(a) authorities(b) teachers
(c) students(d) none of the above
(iii) How do you think the school described here encourages its students to excel in the field of
their liking?
(a) by not studying other subjects
(b) by studying only the subject of their liking
(c) by giving them the incentive of awards
A.3 Find the synonyms for:
(i) heaven ______________
(ii) learning academy ______________
(iii) talent ______________
(iv) something that is made by someone ______________
SECTION- B (WRITING)
FORMAL/INFORMAL LETTERS
1.The following visual makes you think of the gravity of natural calamities like storms, cyclones
and floods which are mostly caused due to our neglect and misuse of natural resources.Write a
letter to the editor of a newspaper, highlighting the need for the conservation of ecology to
prevent the fury of nature. You may take clues from value points given below.Do not exceed
the word limit of 120-150 words.
VALUE POINTS
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Natural calamities-a big concern
Earthquakes all over the world
Tsunami in Japan
Need to conserve ecology to prevent the fury of nature
Increasing the green cover-the greatest need of the time
2. The level of noise pollution is alarming in urban area. When you come across this item ,you decide to
write a letter to the editor of ‘The Hindustan Times’ highlighting the harmful effect of noise pollution.(120
words)
NOISE HARMS KIDS
EXCESSIVE NOICE, such as jet aircraft flying overhead impairs children’s reading ability and long-term
memory loss, concludes a study of school children living near airports conducted by Cornell University
.”This is the first long-term study of the same children before and after airports near them opened and
closed. It nails down that an expert on environmental stress. The good news, says Evans, is the some of
the reading and memory problems caused by jet noise are reversible in a quieter environment.
3. In recent time some daring women have showed their sister a new hope by sending back their dowry
hungry bridegrooms and baratis empty-handed. Write a letter In about words to the editor of a leading
newspaper lauding the courage of these women and emphasizing the need to root out this evil thought
education and economic independent of women. Conclude your letter with the remark that women must
be given an honorable place In society. You are Vama/Vyomesh of 17 Padmini Apartments, Kumbhakonam,
Tamil Nadu.
SPEECH/DEBATE-WRITING
1.A class debate is being organized on the motion : “A Radio Show can be as interesting as a TV Show”
Prepare a speech opposing the motion. You may take the clues from the given input.
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A radio show beat a TV show.
It is dependent only on our auditory faculty.
It fails to appeal to us the way a TV show does.
A TV show with colorful visuals as well as auditory appeal is better
than a radio show.
A radio show appeal only to a few people – the incapacitated or
those who are on the move
2. You are Sumit/kanta. You have been asked to speak on the topic : ‘Life is in itself an adventure’ in the
morning assembly of your school. Prepare your speech in about 150-175 would. You may also make use of
the information given in the following verbal input.
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3.
Human life, full of thrill and excitement
Challenging at every step
New experiences at every step
Raising a family, looking after it, full of adventure
Difficulties and hurdles in the ways of success also
forms of adventure
You feel depressed to find that common people in India are not rational and scientific. Anything
mysterious makes them superstitious and fearful. Talking clues from the verbal input given bellow prepare
your speech for a declamation contest, supporting the motion : ‘A Mystery in only an Unexplained
Occurrence’.




A mysterious event, unexplained occurrence
Does not cause undue fear or panic
Rational approach to unravel a mystery
Most of the mysteries turn out to be very ordinary
things, some times even laughable.
4. An inter- school debate competition is being organized by the local D.A.V school on the motion “Flattery
is Must for Success” . Prepare a speech, opposing/supporting the motion in not more than 150-175 words.
For
1.
2.
3.
4.
Flattery is a fine art.
Everybody likes to be flattered
A flatterer is a diplomat.
Flatter earns one the goodwill of those who
matter.
5. All successful lovers, business men ,officers
and leaders have been flatterers.
essential for success.
Against
1. It is evil ‘and a curse.
2. A flatterer is a hypocrite.
3. Only a less competent person resorts to
flatter.
4. A flatterer deceives other by this sweet
tongue.
5. Honesty, hard work and boldness are
5.
Today tobacco consumption among teens is on the increase and has become a weightier problem
because teens think smoking is cool and help them stay thin. The findings give below of a school-based
survey conducted among early teen (13 and 15-years-old studying in class VII to X in Delhi and Mumbai only
add to our fears.
Lighting up Young
A school based survey among early
Teens in Delhi and Mumbai found :
8% of students regularly use some form of tobacco (4.5% in 2001)
3% of tobacco users are girls (same in 2001)
2% students smoke regularly (1.1% in 2001)
6% eat pan masala and gutka regularly (3.4% in 2001)
5% smock occasionally (4.2% in 2001)
1in12 students are regular tobacco users of which one – third are girls.
Articles
1. Using information from the given value points given below write an article on ‘How to improve our
sport and games’ in about 120 words.
VALUE POINTS







Launch nation –wide talent hunt.
Tap the raw talent
Make sports compulsory in school
Provide all incentives to promising sportsmen
Do not promote only one/two games
Delink sports from politics
Ensure strict discipline
2. Life on other planets is a great mystery. Scientists are trying to their best to solve the mystery. Talking
clues from the verbal input given below, and using your ideas, write an article for your school magazine on
the topic “Life on other Planets : A mystery” in not more than 150-175 words.
VALUE POINTS

Life on the Mars is a great possibility:evidences of water and
oxygen.
 Evidences of U.f.Os. marks on the surface of moon,discovered by
the astronauts.
 Appearance of U.F.Os. on the earth.
 The concept of aliens from other planets-not a mere myth now.
 Still many doubts about extra terrestrial life persist.
 Delink sports from politics
Shobita/ShobitArya recently came across several news reports regarding the acute water shortage that
 Ensure strict discipline
the country is likely to face during summer. On the occasion of World Water Day, she/he decides to express
her/his views on the grave situation, the causes behind this crisis and also her/his suggestions in an article
for publication in a magazine. Using the inputs given below and your own ideas, write Shobita’s/Shobit’s
article in about 100-120 words.
3.
Country faces worst every water crisis-Water
table sinking-residents gets water only for half
an hour a day-parched summer a head!
Conservation water- Remember every
drop is precious
WaterSecurity
Day?Achieve




must
we
celebrate
World
Water
World
Water
Harvest water
Use less water
Store in ponds, Tanks & Aquifers
Recycle
WaterSecurity
Day?Achieve




How
How
must
we
celebrate
Harvest water
Use less water
Store in ponds, Tanks & Aquifers
Recycle
STORY WRITING
1. Based on the following input write a story in about 80-10 words
VALUE POINTS
Two political parties ………Naples………Uberto Leader of People’s
party…………..good
man………….Nobles
party
came
in
power………..Adorno………….. the judge………; banished Uberto ………
Uberto left ……….Settled in near by country saw a slave…… was
Adorno’s son……..sold as slave,Uberto bought him……….sent to his
family.Forgivess better than revenge
2.Write a short story with the lines that begins : “For the past one year Gabriel had been coming to No. 1
platform……..” You may take account the following value points:
VALUE POINTS
Gabriel – coming to No . 1 platform for one year – frantically
searching someone from among the passengers alighting
from the evening subway – his master never came back – the
visit continued – weak and tired, Gabriel made a bench his
home – found dead one day…………
3. Write a story in about 150-175 words with the beginning-“we have seen him moving from platform to
platform……….” You may take help from the hints given below :
An old beggar at the railway station – lived in misery – had a
steel trunk lying in one corner – died one day - a young man
in tears – took away the steel trunk, claiming the beggar to be
his father – a middle aged man came and said the beggar was
his father and that he was his only son.
1.You are Concerned about the shortage of water in the country. You decided to express your views in
your diary. Keeping in view the information given blow, write the diary entry in 150-175 words.
2. You have recently visited Darjeeling. After returning home you decide to record you impressions in your
diary, Talking clues from the information given below write the diary entry in 150-170 words.
Darjeeling – Himalayan town – most beautiful spot on the earth – 2,134mts above Sea level – hill
station on mountain ridge – pleasing forest scenery – Lepchas, Bhotias, Tibetans,Nepalese crowd –
669 km away from Kolkata by train.
Flowering trees, Toy Train, Botanical Gardans.
DhirDham temple, Ghoon Buddhist Monastery.
Tea Plantation
3. You are Manasi. You visited “the Green Garden Resort” during the Holidays. Record your feelings in a
diary entry in about 150-175 words, Talking into account the points given below





Accessibility
Reasonable charges
Hygienic surroundings
Scenic beauty
Facilities available
SECTION-C( GRAMMAR)
EDITING ERRORS
The following passages has not been edited. There is one error in each of the lines.The incorrect line
has been underlined. Replace the underlined word choosing the most appropriate option from those
given below.
I )Gandhiji was a prolific writer who (a) spend several hours (b) in day writing. He (c)
writes for the journals, he edited. He wrote letters, speeches (d) with reports. He used the
print medium (e) for spread his message. He personal (f) letter were even more powerful.
He used (g) a powerful medium to reinforce his views (h) for life.
(a) (i) spending (ii) spent (iii) has spent (iv) will spent
(b) (i) an (ii) the (iii) a (iv) one
(c) (i) wrote (ii) write (iii) written (iv) had written
(d) (i) or (ii) along (iii) and (iv) many
(e) (i) of (ii) on (iii) in (iv) to
(f) (i) lettered (ii) letters (iii) will letter (iv) have letters
(g) (i) that (ii) these (iii) this (iv) those
(h) (i) on (ii) about (iii) in (iv) over
II )The “Golden Age” (a) have opened new values (b) among intellectual property. Five
years ago, the phase (c) isn’t even in the vocabulary (d) with many companies. The
knowledge of economy has (e) gave rise to a new ecology of competition, in (f) whose
intellectual assets are (g) a principal wellsprings of a shareholder’s wealth (h) for
competitive advantage.
(a) (i) would have (ii) had (iii) will have (iv) has
(b) (i) in (ii) for (iii) on (iv) of
(c) (i) am not (ii) wasn’t (iii) aren’t (iv) won’t
(d) (i) for (ii) on (iii) of (iv) in
(e) (i) give (ii) given (iii) gives (iv) will give
(f) (i) where (ii) what (iii) which (iv) when
(g) (i) an (ii) the (iii) them (iv) their
(h) (i) and (ii) or (iii) to (iv) of
(III). The following passage has not been edited. There is an error (mostly Conjunction) in
each line. Underline the error and write the correction in the space provided.
Music is said to be the food for the soul.
Not only does it soothe or delight the
_________________________
mind and also makes us forget our
_________________________
joys or sorrows. People are
_________________________
asenamoured by it
_________________________
so there is no aspect of
_________________________
life when we don’t find it.
_________________________
It is a must for any Indian
________________________
_ film unless it wants to
_________________________
be a box-office hits. There is
_________________________
no marriage and any important
_________________________
function while music is not played.
___________________________
(4).
Rama was the boy from Tenali.
He loves to play pranks and didn’t take (i) ______________
nothing seriously. His mother didn’t (ii) ______________
know what to do on him. She was sure (iii) ______________
he could be unable to do well in life. (iv) ______________
She hear that there was a wise man
(v) ______________
in the village. She told an holy man
(vi) ______________
she was fed up with her son. She ask (vii) ______________
him to drill any sense into Rama.
(viii) ______________
(5).
Incorrect Correct
The Davis Cup is an beautiful silver punch e.g
. __an__ __a___
bowl of engravings in gold. This trophy was
(a) ______ ______
gifted in the United States Lawn Tennis Association by the (b) ______ ______
well known American tennis player, D.F. Davis on 1990. (c) ______ ______
The Davis Cup is a world championship who
(d) ______ ______
go on practically throughout the year. The top
(e) ______ ______
16 tennis nation form the World Group
(f) ______ _______
and compete among one another. The losing teams
(g) ______ ______
is eliminated like in any other normal championship.
(h) ______ ______
(6.)
The giraffe is the taller of all living animals
but scientists are unable to explaining how
they got its long neck. A famous French zoologist
J.B. de Lamarck had a theory that in one time
the giraffe’s neck was much short than
it is now. He thought the neck grew with its
present length because of a animal’s habit of
reaching for the tender leaves in the upper
Incorrect Correct
e.g. __taller__ _tallest__
(a) ________ ________
(b) ________ ________
(c) ________ ________
(d) ________ ________
(e) ________ ________
(f) ________ ________
(g) ________ ________
Proverb Time:
P.1. An ounce of prevention is – It is easier to prevent something from worth a pound of cure.
happening than to repair the damage or cure the
disease later.
P.2. April showers bring May – Something bad or unpleasant today may
flowers
bring good things in the future.
==============================================
OMISSIONS
Points to Remember:
(a) Read the passage carefully and identify the tense in which the passage
has been written.
(b) Use a pencil to identify the missing word.
(c) Look for the following missing words:
􀂾 Determiners
􀂾 Nouns
􀂾 Verbs
􀂾 Adverbs, Adjectives
􀂾 Pronouns
􀂾 Connectors
􀂾 Prepositions
􀂾 Subject-Verb agreement
􀂾 Articles
􀂾 Modals
(1). In the following paragraph, one word has been omitted from each line. Mark the place
where you think a word has been omitted with a ‗/‘.Write the omitted word in the space
provided.
The holy man / to Rama’s mother (i) ______________
that / her son prayed sincerely
(ii) ______________
to Kali, / village goddess,
(iii) ______________
he / be blessed by her.
(iv) ______________
This would / his fortune and
(v) ______________
she would be free / worries.
(vi) ______________
(2). Listening intently someone
_intently__ ___to___ someone
(i) one of the best ways
_______ ________ ________
(ii) to honor person and
__________ ________ ________
(iii) forge deep human connection, __________ ________ ________
Iv) but only a few of us are good listening. __________ ________ ________
(v) Most people’s idea listening is
__________ ________ _______
(vi) waiting until the other person
__________ ________ ________
(vii) finished speaking answering.
__________ ________ ________
(viii) The fact is, one person is talking,
________ ________ ________
most of us are rehearsing our replies.
(3).
One the greatest advances in
one __of_ _the_
(i)
modern technology has been the invention computers. _____ _____ _____
(ii) They capable of doing extremely complicated work ______ _____ _____
(iii) in all branches of learning. They can even solve most _____ _____ ____
(iv) complex mathematical problems put thousands of
_____ _____ _____
(v)
unrelated facts in order. They can be put varied
______ _____ _____
(vi) uses. They can also provide information the
______ _____ ____
(vii) best way prevent traffic accidents or count
______ _____ _____
(viii) the number times the word „and‟ has
_______ _____ _____
(ix) been used in the Bible
Fill in the blanks
I )Fill in the blanks choosing the most appropriate option from those given in the brackets
(4 Marks)
Many hunters (a) ______________ (am, in, of , over) Africa say that (b)________
(the, some, one, many) leopard is the most dangerous of all the cats, (c) __________
(most, much, more, many) dangerous than even the lion. One reason is (d) __________
(the, these, those, that) the leopard doesn’t (e) __________ (seem, like, likely, seemed) to
be particularly afraid of men. A leopard (f) _________ (like, likes, liked, likely) to eat
baboons but if a man comes by (g) _________ (if, as, when, where) the leopard is
hungry, then the leopard is as likely to attack him (h) _______ (as, when, whose, which)
he would a monkey.
II) Sachin Tendulkar, one of India’s (a) _______ (good, better, best, the best) known
cricketer, (b) _____ (am, are, is, was) leaving for the U.S.A. (c) _________ (on, in at,
for) Saturday night for an operation of (d) _____ (their, theirs, his, him) left hand ring
finger. Tendulkar has to undergo (e) _____ (an, the, a, or) operation at a hospital in
Baltimore (f) _____ (for, and, or, if) would be away for six weeks
.
(III) The use of water as (a) ________(a, the, an, or) agent in the treatment of disease
is known (b) ________ (as, to, according, by) hydrotherapy. The beneficial effect of
water (c) _____ (could, would, can, will) be used in the treatment of many diseases.
Water is (d) _______ ( one, many, other, some) of the heaven`s choicest blessings. Water
acts on the body in various ways according (e) ______ (on, in, to from) its temperature. It
helps to remove toxins (f) _____ (for, from, away, in) the body. It also helps to bring (g)
_____ (up, over, above, down) the temperature in case of fever. The Egyptians used
heating- cooling bath (h) ________ (of, for, to, over) various treatments.
(IV) The successors of Feroz Shah Tuglaq were weak and incapable (a) ________ (for,
over, from, of) resurrecting the Delhi Sultanat. The wealth of India was (b) _______ (in,
over, for, above) a state of confusion and anarchy prevailed here. (c) ______ (these, this,
that, those) encouraged Timur (d) ______ (for, to, towards, in) invade India. After
Capturing several places(e) ________ (across, over, on, above) his way and massacring
thousands of (f) ___________ (mob, people, mass, civilization ) he captured Loni on the
banks of river Yamuna. Sultan Mahmud (g) ______ (from, of, in, over) Delhi tried to
opposeTimur (h) _____ (beside, with, besides, along) a huge army of 10,000 cavalry,
40,000 infantry and 120 elephants.
(V) In the state of Kerala, it (a) ________ (is, am, was, were) a practice (b) _______
(of, for, to, in) use Jack fruit leaves for making (c) ________ (a, an, it, the) improvised
spoon. The jackfruit leaf was folded (d) _______ (to, and, instead, or) sealed at one end
(e) _______ (with, without, across, over) a small stick taken from the coconut leaf. This
was used (f) _______ (for, as if, because) a spoon for drinking the gruel. (g) _______
(for, of, in, about) India, especially in the South, the banana leaves are also (h) ________
(common, commonly, most, mostly) used instead of plates on auspicious occasions.
English is Fun- 1
Form compound words using the clues provided. Follow the example. * Opposite of tall =
short To grow old/era = age Answer : = shortage
(i)
(a) to pluck or gather one by one = _______________ (b) small bag inserted in garment to
carry small articles = _____________ Answer : _______________
(ii) (ii) (a) present tense of „broke‟ = _______________
(b) opposite of slow = _______________ Answer : ____________
(iii) (a) circular frame whit spokes that revolves on axle = _______________ (b) a pushcart, usually
wooden, with short wooden extensions as handles, used by street vendors = _____________ Answer :
____________
(iv) (a) a paper invitation or a greeting = _______________
(b) a wooden plank = _____________ Answer : ____________
(v) (a) sweet sticky yellow fluid made by bees = _______________
(b) an instrument with numerous „teeth‟ used to set one’s hair = _____________ Answer : ____________
Proverb Time :
P.5. Fool me once, shame on you; – Once should learn from one’s mistakes.
fool me twice, shame on me.
P.6. Hatred is as blind as love. – A person who feels hatred does not see any
qualities in the person he/she hates.
=============================================
CLOZE-GAP FILLING (one word)
(a) Read the paragraph before attempting to fill in the blanks.
(b) Form a general idea about the paragraph.
(c) Generally the blanks are filled up with an article, preposition, modals, verb,
noun, relative pronoun, adjectives, conjunction, auxiliary, pronouns,
determinations etc.
(d) An idea about the tense of the paragraph also helps in filling the blanks.
(e) After filling the blanks, check the subject-verb concord.
(I) One hot day in December I (a) ______ been standing perfectly still for a few
minutes (b) _______ dry weeds, (c) ________ a slight rustling sound (d) ______ from
near my feet. Glancing down I saw the head (e) _______the neck of a large serpent (f)
____ slowly passed by me. In a moment, the flat head was lost (g) _______ sight among
the weeds (h) _______ the long body continued to be seen moving slowly by.
a) (i)had (ii) has (iii) have (iv) will have
(b) (i) beside (ii) among (iii) between (iv) middle
(c) (i) where (ii) which (iii) what (iv) when
(d) (i) come (ii) came (iii) will come (iv) have come
(e) (i) and (ii)or (iii) as (iv) along with
(f) (i) this (ii) that (iii) those (iv) these
(g) (i) of (ii) for (iii) from (iv) but
(h) (i) as (ii) because (iii) so (iv) but
(II) On 20 May, 1818 the British explorer Sir Stamfor Raffles, reported the finding of
a giant flower (a) _____ Sumatra. It was named Rafflesia( b) ______ him. Measuring
almost a meter across and (c) _________ up to 11 kgs, the Rafflesia is (d) _______
world’s largest flowers. It is (e) _________ called “Stinking Lily” (f) ______ of the
unpleasant smell it emits. (g) ________ people, who have been fortunate to see it, agree
that they are (h) _______ by its beauty.
a) (i)of (ii) in (iii) over (iv) inside
(b) (i) for (ii) after (iii) by (iv) above
(c) (i) weigh (ii) weighing (iii) weighed (iv) tot
(d) (i) the (ii) a (iii) one (iv) an
(e) (i) almost (ii)also (iii) so (iv) sometime
(f) (i) for (ii) as (iii) because (iv) due
(g) (i) many (ii) this (iii) that (iv) those
(h) (i) overwhelming (ii) over-whelmed (iii) whelmed (iv) overwhelm
III. The second (a) ______ mountain in the world after Mt. Everest is K-2, also (b)
_____ as Mt. Godwin Austen. It is 8616 mts (c) ________ and has been named (d) _____
Henry Godwyn Austen an Englishman (e) _______ surveyed it in the late 1950s. K-2 is
generally considered (f) _______ difficult to climb than the Everest which was first
scaled in 1953. The first to (g) ______ the top of K-2 was an Italian expedition (h) _____
byArditoDeslo in 1954.
a) (i)high (ii) highest (iii) higher (iv) the highest
(b) (i) well known (ii) know (iii) knew (iv) known
(c) (i) high (ii) higher (iii) the highest (iv) highest
(d) (i) over (ii) after (iii) by (iv) above
(e) (i) whom (ii)which (iii) whose (iv) who
(f) (i) more (ii) much (iii) most (iv) the most
(g) (i) reached (ii) reach (iii) reaching (iv) well reach
(h) (i) lead (ii) leading (iii) led (iv) heading
IV). A man saw a thief breaking into a house. Instead (a) ______ raising a cry, he decided
to catch (b) _______ thief red-handed. He entered the house (c) ______ the window and
moved stealthily (d) ________ the door. The room was pitch dark and he could not hear
anything. (e) _______ he approached the door, it then suddenly (f) ______ open from the
other side. The other man asked, “What (g) _____ you doing in (h) ______ house?”
a) (i)for
(ii)of
(iii) in
(iv) on
(b) (i) a
(ii) an
(iii) the
(iv) are
(c) (i) from (ii) for
(iii) in
(iv) into
(d) (i) toward (ii) towards (iii) to
(iv) in
(e) (i) so
(ii)since
(iii) because (iv) as
(f) (i) flew
(ii)flow
(iii) flown
(iv) flowing
(g) (i) is
(ii) am
(iii) are
(iv) were
(h) (i) our
(ii) my
(iii) his
(iv) mine
English is Fun-2
Fill in the blanks with the correct idioms. Make the necessary changes.
fair-weather friend
rain cats and dogs
under the weather
lovely weather
for ducks as right as rain
rain or shine
(i)
Grandpa is _________________ after the operation.
(ii) I have a headache. I am feeling _________________. I don’t think I’ll go to the office today.
(iii) All the roads are blocked. It has been _________________ all night.
(iv) Don’t worry. I won’t let you down. I will be there, _________________.
(v)A _________________ isn’t much help in times of adversity.
(vi) I find this weather very depressing, but it’s _________________.
Proverb Time:
P.7. If you chase two rabbits, you
not catch either one.
P.8. In the land of the blind, the
one-eyed man is king.
P.9. It takes all sorts to make a
world.
P.10. Learning is a treasure that will
follow its owner.
=======================
– If you try to do two things at the same will
won't succeed in doing either of them.
– A man of even limited ability has an
advantage over a person who is less able.
– People vary in character and abilities
this is a good thing.
– Education is something you keep forever.
SENTENCE RE-ORDERING
POINTS TO REMEMBER
• Always look for the subject first and then the predicate part which contains the verb.
• Also look for the object, the helping verbs, adjectives etc. and try to place them
meaningfully.
Note : (a) Jumbled words in a re-ordering exercise to test syntax will involve sentence in a context.
(b) Each sentence is split into sense groups (not necessarily into single words) and then jumbled up.
REARRANGE THE FOLLOWING:
1.Rearrange the following to form meaningful sentences. The first one has been done as an
example. Write the answers against the correct numbers.
put into / as the / at low / baby can / he is / as soon / water / toddle / tide /
As soon as the baby can toddle he is put into water at low tide.
(a) water / the baby / in the / here / plays / sits and /
(b) long enough / the mother / him / does not / to weary / there / leave him /
(c) older / at low tide / as / wade about / allowed to / he is / he grows /
2. Rearrange the following to form meaningful sentences. Write the correct sentences in your
answer sheet.
one / fell / day / a / farmer's / will / donkey / into / down / a
One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well.
(a) the / farmer / know / to / didn't / do / cried / animal/the / and / what
(b) invited / he / neighbors / all / help / his / to / him
(c) what / donkey / the / didn't / at first / realize / was / happening
3. Rearrange the following words/phrases to form meaningful sentences. The first one has been
done for you. (3 Marks)
is familiar \ properties \ most \ the neem \ medicinal \ to \ people \ for its
The neem is familiar to most people for its medicinal properties.
a) \ it is \ distinctive curled \ star-shaped \ recognized \ leaves \ by its \ flowers \ and
b) are pale \ tinge of rust \ the young \ and green \ with a \ leaves
c) New Year’s day \ to ward off \ are eaten \ leaves \ the \ on \ sickness
4. Rearrange the following jumbled words to make meaningful sentences and write the same in
the answer sheet.
(a) in/other animals/elephant/an/excels/ intelligence
(b) displays/ he/ his intelligence/little actions/in his
(c)one/the/of/loved/most/animals/world/in/the
5. Rearrange the following words and phrases to form meaningful sentences :
(a) your destiny / right hand / it is said / your / that / is in /
(b) the problems / determine / how / our personalities / of life / we deal with /
(c) than others / can cope / some people / better / hardships / with /
English is Fun- 3
Here is a game based on anagrams. Some variation have been introduced to make it more
interesting and sharpen your word-building skills.
First study the examples. * only rearrange letters editing = set fire (past tense) Answer : ignited
* add a letter overeat + n = to make new
Answer : renovate *
subtract a letter caper – r = step
Answer : pace
Now solve the following carefully. You may refer to a thesaurus or a dictionary for help.
(i)
voter – v
= memoriser_____t_____
(ii) Refining
= violate
i_____f_____ _____ng_____
(iii) Counters
= interpret
c_____n_____t_____ _____e
(iv)
drive + t
= to redirect
d_____v_____ _____t
(v)
dieter + u
= learned
e_____ _____d_____ _____e
(vi)
lines + a
= salty
s_____l_____ _____ _____
(vii) scale + o
= consolation
s_____ _____a_____e
(viii) bromide – e = gloomy
m_____ _____b_____ _____
(ix)
entrails – r
= most important
s_____l_____ _____ _____t
(x)
mailing – I
= to insult
m_____l_____ _____n
Proverb Time:
P.11. Loose lips sink ships.
– Disclosing important information (to the
enemy or a competitor) could result in large losses.
P.12. Need teaches a plan. – Necessity will make you find a solution.
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Reported Speech
Points to Remember :
(a) The given dialogue/direct speech is to be changed into indirect speech.
(b) Keep in mind the reporting verb; the change of pronouns; the removal of all inverted commas.
(c) Use the tense of the reporting verb.
(d) Identify the type of sentence being changed-Assertive, Interrogative, Exclamatory and Imperative.
(e) For a close ended question (answer is either Yes of No) use “if” or “whether”.
(f) Use a (.) full stop after completing every sentence.
(g) Read the passage again to check the tense and the conversion of sentence.
PRACTICE EXERCISES
Read the following CONVERSATIONS between two speakers. The complete the given
exercises in reported speech by choosing the correct options given below the exercises.
(I) Judge : What are you charged with?
Prisoner : Sir , for doing my Diwali shopping early.
Judge : But that’s not an offense! And how early were you
exactly doing it?
Prisoner : Well Sir! To avoid the rush, I thought it would be better
if I completed it before the store opened.
The judge being in a good wood before the Diwali festivals asked the prisoner
(a_________________.The prisoner, sensing his good mood, politely replied
(b)_________________. The surprised judge declared that it wasn’t an offence.
He further inquired (c)_________________. Humbly the prisoner replied that to avoid the rush,
he had thought it would be better (d)___________________.
(II) Father :Good Morning, Sir,. I have come to get my child admitted in
your school.
Principal : In which class do you wish to get your child admitted?
Father : In class II, Sir?
Principal : Sorry, we do not have any vacancy in that class..
Father : Sir, my son is very intelligent. You will be proud to have him
in your school.
Principal : What has he learnt till now?
Father : To walk and to talk, Sir.
The father of a child met the Principal of a school and told him that (a)____________. The
principal enquired about the class for admission and the father told him that it was class II.
The principal then informed him that (b)______________________ in that class. The father
told him that his son was very intelligent and them (the principal / school)
(c)______________. .The principal, further, asked him (d)_____________________. The
father proudly replied that he had learnt to walk and to talk.
(III) Mother :Sonal, what are you drawing?
Sonal : I am nit drawing. I am writing to my friend.
Mother : But you can’t write!
Sonal : It doesn’t matter. My friend can’t read either.
The mother asked sonal(a)______. Sonal replied that she wasn’t drawing but (b)____.
The mother remarked with surprises that (c)______. Sonal Calmly replied that (d)______
read either.
(IV) Patient : Can I have an appointment with the doctor this
evening?
Receptionist :I’m sorry. I can’t fit you in for at least two weeks.
Patient :But I could be dead by then
Receptionist :No problem. If your wife informs me I will cancel the
appointment.
A patient went to his doctor’s clinic and requested the receptionist for an
appointment with the doctor that evening. The receptionist apologized saying that
(a)_______________________ in for at least two weeks. The disappointed
patient said that (b)_________________________________ by then. The
receptionist calmly replied that (c)_______________________ and reassured
him that (d)_______________________ cancel the appointment.
(V). Read the following conversation. Complete the conversation by choosing the correct
option from the ones given below: (4 Marks)
Ramesh : What are you doing this weekend Shyam?
Shyam : I do not have any specific plan
Ramesh : How do you like the idea of (a) _________________?
Shyam : Great, but I (b) ____________________ of my parents
Ramesh : I can also request them on your behalf.
Shyam : That’s a good idea. How about (c) _______________?
Ramesh : So what time do I drop in?
Shyam : I think (d) _______________ as they are at home then.
Ramesh : Good, then I’ll see you all in the evening.
English is Fun- 4
In the sentences below, special names given to people have been mixed up. Write the
correct names in the blanks. You may consult a dictionary.
(i) A sentinel carries golf clubs while providing advice to the golfer______________
ii)A swindler makes, trims and sells women’s hats. ______________
iii)An arbitrator supervises a groups of workers. ______________
iv)A connoisseur keeps watch and gives warming of danger. ______________
v) A plaintiff is a person who has good taste and judgment. ______________
vi) A caddie makes money by cheating others. ______________
vii) An overseer is qualified to prescribe and sell glasses and contact lenses. ______________
viii) A milliner brings a legal case another in a court of law. ______________
ix)An optician is appointed to settle disputes. ______________
Proverb Time:
P.13. One man’s meat is another – People don’t always like the same things.
Man’s poison.
P.14. One swallow doesn’t make a – A single satisfactory event does not mean
summer.
that all the others will be as good.
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NEWSPAPER HEADLINES
POINTS TO REMEMBER
• Headlines must he written in the Passive simple present form.
• Should be brief and self explanatory.
• Relevant new information can be added but do not add irrelevant information.
• While expanding the headlines, they should be properly connected with the whole sentences.
Look at the newspaper items below. Then use the information in the headlines to complete the
report. Complete the headlines by choosing the correct answer from the options below:
I)
(A) Dengue claims season’s first victim
A 10 year old boy ____________ late on Wednesday night at the Holy Family Hospital
(a) Become Dengue’s first victim (b) Will become Dengue’s first victim
(c) Became Dengue’s first victim (d) Becomes Dengue’s first victim
(B) Govt. to frame policy for the Disabled soon
The centre ___________________ for persons with disability.
(a) Will decide to frame a policy (b) Had decided to frame a policy
(c) Have decided to frame a policy (d) Has decided to frame a policy
(C) Technical Fault this Metro services
Metro services on the busy. Tis-Hazari- Sahadra section _______________ on Wednesday morning due to an
electric failure causing inconvenience to daily commuters
(a) Are hit
(b) Is hit
(c) Were hit
(d) Was hit
(D) Water Park coming up near Pragati Maidan
The DDA on Saturday announced that _________________ near the Pragati Maidan
(a) A water park is being built
(b) A water park are being built
(c) A water park was being built (d) A water park were being built
II
(A) Local Artist Exhibits in augurated
An exhibit of the local artists ________________ by the Lt. Governer today in the Delhi Haat.
(a) Were inaugurated b) Will be inaugurated (c) Is inaugurated (d) Was inaugurated
(B) 24 Miners die in mine-blast
According to Reuters 24 miners _______________ at a blast in a coal mine in eastern Ukraine
(a) Have died
(b) Has died
(c) Had died
(d) Will have died
(C )Ladakh Festival ends
The six-day Ladakh festival ________________ with the rendition of the traditional 4ak dance by artists here
(a) Has ended
(b) Had ended
(c) Have ended
(d) Is ended
(D) Rain and power play havoc in city
Weekend revelers and shoppers ________________ unaware with a sudden shower on Sunday evening. The
rain lashed most parts of the city, leading to massive traffic jams.
(a) Was caught
(b) Were caught (c) Will caught
(d) Had been caught
III (A) 1400 Vehicles challaned for traffic violation, driving licenses cancelled
According to DCP (traffic) nearly 1400 vehicles ________________ for violating traffic rules during the first
four days of the enforcement drive.
(a) Have been challaned
(b) Were challaned
(c) Was challaned
(d) Are challaned
(B) Black Hole spotted near Earth
According to some Australian scientists in Canberra, a black hole ________________ in space close to the earth
(a) Has been (b) Have been spotted (c) Is been spotted (d) Were been spotted
(C) Mysore Zoo welcomes new guest
A female giraffe calf ____________________ in Mysore Zoo on Saturday to five-year old Khushi and her male
companion Krishnaraja.
(a) Is born
(b) Was born
(c) Had born
(d) Will be born
(D) Bus crushes a girl to death
A three- year- old girl ____________to death when a bus ran over her in patparganj.
(a) Was crushed
(b) Is crushed
(c) Has been crushed
(d) Had been crushed
IV (A) 5 lakh jobs to be created by 2010……….. Planning Commission
Mr. A.R. Sahni, member of the Planning Commission said yesterday that ________________ by the year 2010
(a) 5 lakh jobs will be create
(c) 5 lakhs jobs will be create
(b) 5 lakh jobs will be creates
(d) 5 lakh jobs will be created
(B) KhelRatna for Sania recommended
SaniaNehwal’s growing stature in sports arena had led her name _________________ for the KhelRatna
Awarded
(i) Being recommended
(ii) been recommending
(iii) Been recommended
(iv) have been recommended
(C ) Kids fall ill after eating mid-day meal
09 kids of a MCD school in South-Delhi ___________________ after having mid-day meal on Friday
(i) fell ill
(ii) fallen ill
(iii) fall ill
(iv) have fell ill
(D) More swine Flu cases on the rise
Nearly II new swine flu cases ______________ from the capital on Friday, bringing the total number of
positive cases to 74 in the last two months
(a) Was reported
(b) Were reported
(c) Has been reported (d) Had been reported