SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT – II, 2012
EC 2044
ENGLISH COMMUNICATIVE
Class - X
Maximum Marks : 80
Time : 3 hours
Instructions :
The question paper is divided into four sections.
Section A
:
Reading
20 marks
Section B
:
Writing
20 marks
Section C
:
Grammar
20 marks
Section D
:
Literature
20 marks
SECTION - A
(READING – 20 Marks)
1.
Read the following poem carefully :
1x5=5
THE THOUGHT – FOX
I imagine this midnight moment‟s forest:
Something else is alive
Beside the clock‟s loneliness
And this blank page where my fingers move.
Through the window I see no star:
Something more near
Though deeper within darkness
Is entering the loneliness:
Cold, delicately as the dark snow,
A fox‟s nose touches twig, leaf;
Two eyes serve a movement, that now
And again now, and now, and now
Sets neat prints into the snow
Between trees, and warily a lame
Shadow lags by stump and in hollow
Of a body that is bold to come
Across clearings an eye,
A widening deepening greenness,
Brilliantly, concentratedly,
Coming about its own business
Till, with a sudden sharp hot stink of fox
It enters the dark hole of the head.
The window is starless still; the clock ticks,
Page 2 of 10
The page is printed.
Based on the poem answer the questions that follow by choosing the answers
from the given options.
(a)
What is the poet actually doing ?
(i)
dreaming
(ii)
sketching
(iii)
writing a poem
(iv)
enjoying the beauty of the night
2.
(b)
The figure of speech used in the „midnight moment‟s forest‟ is :
(i)
Simile
(ii)
Alliteration
(iii)
Metaphor
(iv)
Personification
(c)
What is entering the poet‟s loneliness ?
(i)
the dark night
(ii)
the ticking of the clock
(iii)
the image of a fox
(iv)
the thought of a fox
(d)
„sets neat prints into the snow‟ refers to :
(i)
words written with ink on paper
(ii)
the footprints of the poet
(iii)
the footprints of the fox
(iv)
the thoughts of the poet
(e)
Pick out the word which means the same as „marked by keen caution‟
___________
(i)
lame
(ii)
stink
(iii)
warily
(iv)
lags
Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow by
choosing the answers from the given options.
5
Mahmood, the kite-maker, had been well known throughout the city in
the prime of his life. Some of his more elaborate kites sold for as much as three or
four rupees. At the request of the Nawab he had once made a very special kind of
kite, unlike any that had been seen in the district. It consisted of a series of small,
very light paper discs, trailing on a thin bamboo frame. To the extremity of each
disc he tied a sprig of grass for balance. The surface of the foremost disc was
slightly convex, and a fantastic face was painted on it, with the two eyes made of
small mirrors. The discs, decreasing in size from head to tail, gave the kite the
appearance of a crawling serpent. It required great skill to raise this cumbersome
device from the ground, and only Mahmood could manage it.
Everyone had, of course heard of the „dragon kite‟ that Mahmood had
built, and word went round that it possessed supernatural powers. A large
crowd assembled on the maidan to watch its first public launching in the
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presence of the Nawab. At the first attempt it did not budge from the ground.
The disc made a plaintive, protesting sound, and the sun was trapped in the little
mirrors, making the kite a living, complaining creature.
Then the wind came from the right direction and the dragon kite soared
into the sky, wriggling its way higher and higher, with the sun still glinting in its
devil-eyes. When it went very high, it pulled fiercely on the twine, and
Mahmood‟s young sons had to help him with the reel. But still the kite pulled,
determined to be free, to live a life of its own.
And then it happened. The twine snapped, the kite leapt away toward
the sun, sailed on until it was lost to view. It was never found again, and
Mahmood wondered afterwards if he had made too vivid, too living a thing of
the great kite. He did not make another like it, but instead presented the Nawab
with a musical kite, one that made a sound like the veena.
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
Mahmood made the „dragon kite‟ for _____________
(i)
his sons
(ii)
the villagers
(iii)
the Nawab
(iv)
the ministers
The kite was named „dragon‟ because _____________
(i)
Mahmood wanted to highlight his creation
(ii)
his son named it
(iii)
Nawab wanted it to look like a dragon
(iv)
the kite looked like a dragon
Finally the dragon kite _____________
(i)
won appreciation among everyone
(ii)
flew away into the sky
(iii)
was liked by many
(iv)
was liked by the Nawab
Mahmood finally presented the king _____________
(i)
with another dragon kite
(ii)
with a kite with devil eyes
(iii)
with a kite that made a sound like veena
(iv)
with a kite that made a sound like flute
Pick out the word from the paragraph which means „difficult to handle
because of weight‟: _____________
3.
(i)
Determined
(ii)
Cumbersome
(iii)
Fierce
(iv)
Glinting
Read the passage carefully :
1x5=5
A man-eating tiger is a tiger that has been compelled, through stress of
Page 4 of 10
circumstances beyond its control, to adopt a diet alien to it. The stress of
circumstances is, in nine cases out of ten, wounds, and in the tenth case old age.
The wound that has caused a particular tiger to take to man-eating might be the
result of a carelessly fired shot and failure to follow up and recover the wounded
animal, or be the result of the tiger having lost his temper while killing a
porcupine. Human beings are not the natural prey of tigers, and it is only when
tigers have been incapacitated through wounds or old age that, in order to live,
they are compelled to take to a diet of human flesh.
A tiger when killing its natural prey, which it does either by stalking or
lying in wait for it depends for the success of its attack on its speed and, to a
lesser extent, on the condition of its teeth and claws. When therefore, a tiger is
suffering from one or more painful wounds, or when its teeth are missing or are
defective and its claws worn down, and it is unable to catch the animals it has
been accustomed to eating, it is driven by necessity to killing human beings. The
change-over from animal to human flesh is, I believe, in most cases accidental.
Based on the above passage answer the questions that follow :
(a)
(b) (1)
(c) (2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
4.
What is a man-eating tiger ?
Pick out two reasons from the passage that compel a tiger to hunt humans.
The writer refers to two types of wounds, what are they ?
How does the tiger kill its natural prey ?
Pick out the word which means the same as, „deprived of strength‟ :
__________
Read the passage carefully :
Therapeutic oil of the Gods
Jeanne Calment of France, who had the longest confirmed life span (122 years)
for any human being, credited her longevity to among other things, a diet rich in
olive oil. But why ?
1x5=5
It‟s healthful: olive oil is high in monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA). “MUFAs
help cut bad cholesterol and increase good cholesterol in our bodies, thereby
reducing the risk of coronary diseases,‟ says Priya Jain, dietitian at Mumbai‟s
Hinduja Hospital. “It also improves insulin sensitivity, lowers blood sugar levels
and lowers insulin requirement in diabetics.”
One US study suggests that oleic acid, the main MUFA in olive oil, reduces the
expression of the gene associated with cancer. Phenols present in olive oil also
protect against cancers of the colon, stomach and skin.
Good Nutrients: Olive oil is an excellent source of Vitamin E, a powerful
antioxidant. “Vitamin E in olive oil fights age-related problems by keeping a
check on any deterioration of muscular control and mental faculties,” says Jain.
Page 5 of 10
“And it‟s a concentrated source of other antioxidants”.
Pure Olive oil is obtained by refining and the methods used here (heat, chemical
solvents, high pressure and filtration) do not lead to alterations in the initial
structure. It is later mixed with virgin olive oil to enhance aroma and flavour.
This unlike the virgin oils is better for frying or cooking.
Based on your reading of the above passage complete the following
statements:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
Jeanne Calment credits her long life to ___________
Vitamin E in olive oil helps to ___________
Phenols present in olive oil ___________
The aroma of olive oil is enhanced by ___________
Pick out the word from the passage which means “to increase or improve
in value”
SECTION - B
(Writing – 20 Marks)
5.
Recently you participated in the painting competition conducted by the postal
department. You have won the competition and your painting will be released as
a stamp. Add necessary details and write a brief description of the competition in
about 80 words.
4 Marks
6.
You have noticed a rise in the traffic congestion and vehicular pollution in your
locality. Write a letter to the editor of the newspaper expressing your concern
about the problem in about 120 words. Sign yourself as Sujith/Shanthi.
8 Marks
7.
Recently you came across riots and violence in the city. You would like to
contribute an article for your school magazine on the topic „United we stand and
8 Marks
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divided we fall”. Write the article as Rahul/ Rini in about 150 words.
SECTION - C
(GRAMMAR – 20 Marks)
8.
Complete the passage given below choosing the correct alternatives.
½x8=4
The idea that a healthy plate of food (a) ________ feature several different colours
is a (b)________ example (c) ________ an old wive‟s tale (d)________ turns out to
be good science. The colours of (e) ________ vegetables reflect the (f) ________
antioxidants they contain. They (g) ________ to protect (h) ________ chronic
diseases like cancer.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
9.
(i)
(i)
(i)
(i)
(i)
(i)
(i)
(i)
would
bad
of
what
most
enough
helped
for
(ii)
(ii)
(ii)
(ii)
(ii)
(ii)
(ii)
(ii)
will
good
for
who
many
some
help
against
(iii)
(iii)
(iii)
(iii)
(iii)
(iii)
(iii)
(iii)
may
clear
in
that
less
different
is helping
in
(iv)
(iv)
(iv)
(iv)
(iv)
(iv)
(iv)
(iv)
might
dry
to
it
some
same
had helped
by
Using these notes complete the paragraph describing the famous writer
Kushwant Singh by choosing from the given options.
Birth
2nd February 1915
Occupation
-
Journalist, writer, historian
Father
-
a prominent builder
Notable works
-
A Mark of Vishnu and other stories
1950, The Potrait of a Lady.
Honours and awards
-
Padma Bhushan 1974, Sahitya Academy
award 2010
1x4=4
The famous journalist, writer and historian Kushwant Singh (a) __________. His
father (b) __________. His (c) __________ A Mark of Vishnu and other stories, The
Portrait of a Lady etc. He (d) __________ the Padma Bhushan and Sahitya
Academy award in 2010.
(a)
(i)
born on 2nd February 1915
(ii)
were born on 2nd February 1915
(iii)
was born on 2nd February 1915
(iv)
was born at 2nd February 1915
(b)
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
is a notable builder
will be a notable builder
was a notable builder
were a notable builder
Page 7 of 10
(c)
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
notable works were
notable works are
notable works will be
notable work is
(d)
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
will be awarded
were awarded
was awarded
should be awarded
10.
Rearrange the following to form meaningful sentences. The first one has been
done as an example for you.
Ex :
we/ language /have /in /had /always / an interest.
We have always had an interest in language.
(a)
fellings/the day /born /our /were /we /to /attempted/express/we
(b)
words/we /developed /definite /into /the sounds /made
(c)
thoughts/sounds /representing /these /symbols /were /our
(d)
learned/we /some /difficulty /with /read /to
1x4=4
11.
The following passage has not been edited. There is one error in each line.
Write the incorrect word and the correction against the correct blank number in
your answer sheet. The first one has been done for you as an example.
Incorrect
Correct
The Chinese were the first to made gun powder.
made
make
About 2000 year ago they made
(a) ________ _________
gunpowder with mixing sulphur and saltpeter.
(b) _______
_________
The mixture explodes when set on fire.
(c) ________ _________
They also invented the art of print.
(d) ________ _________
Before this invention books was written
(e) ________ _________
with hand. Through a art of printing with
(f) ________
________
movable types, reading and learning becomes
(g) ________
________
open to ordinary people as they are able to
(h) ________
________
print the books in large numbers.
½x8=4
Marks
12.
Read the conversation given below between a grandmother and daughter.
Complete the paragraph that follows :
1x4=4
Marks
Granddaughter
Grandma
Granddaughter
Grandma
Granddaughter
Grandma
Granddaughter
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
Hi grandma, would you like to join me?
Where are you going my dear?
My regular aerobics class.
Can I do aerobics?
Why do you think that you can‟t?
My muscles are not so flexible.
To make them flexible join my aerobics class.
The granddaughter asked her grandma (a) _____________. Grandma asked
Page 8 of 10
where she was going. Granddaughter replied that to her regular aerobics class.
Grandma enquired (b) _____________. Granddaughter asked (c) _____________.
Grandmother replied that (d) _____________. Granddaughter replied that to
make them flexible she should join her aerobics class.
SECTION - D
(LITERATURE – 20 Marks)
13.(A) Read the passages given below
choosing the correct options :
“You know I bought the loveliest
them.”
(a)
Who is the speaker?
(i)
Helen
(iii)
Jenkins
(b)
What did she / he buy?
(i)
jewellary
(iii)
fancy items
and answer the questions that follow by
3
Marks
thing this afternoon. Everybody‟s wild over
(ii)
(iv)
Gladolia
Lavinia Hallock
(ii)
(iv)
Ouija board
clothes
(c)
What characteristics of the speaker is revealed here?
(i)
jealous
(ii)
miser
(iii)
spendthrift
(iv)
loves novelty and thrills
OR
“I looked round, I put down my pitcher,
I picked up a clumsy log
And threw it at the water – trough with a clatter.
I think it did not hit him,”
(a)
Why did the narrator pick up the clumsy log?
(i)
to break the water trough
(ii)
to kill the snake
(iii)
to drive away the snake
(iv)
to hit the bird
(b)
(c)
13B.
What made the clattering sound?
(i)
The log hit another log.
(iii)
The log hit the pitcher.
(ii)
(iv)
The log hit the water trough.
The log hit the wall.
What happened to the snake?
(i)
The snake got hurt
(ii)
The snake died
(iii)
The snake twisted violently
(iv)
The snake twisted violently and disappeared
They that have done this deed are honourable :
What private griefs they have, alas, I know not,
That made them do it:
(a)
Who are „they‟?
1x3=3
Page 9 of 10
(b)
(c)
What deed have they done?
What private griefs did they have?
14.
Answer any four of the following questions in 30-40 words each:
(a)
Why is Antony‟s speech more effective than that of Brutus ?
(b)
“My name is Ozymandias, king of kings” Why does Ozymandias refer to
himself as king of kings?
(c)
How does the poet describe the day and the atmosphere when he saw the
snake?
(d)
What was Michael‟s theory about how Sebastian Shultz had entered the
games?
(e)
What were the special touches that Patol Babu gave to his role to make it
more authentic?
2x4=8
Marks
15.
John Hallock writes a letter to his friend, describing to him how Helen, the ghost
had almost ruined his domestic life, at the same time provided him with a plot
for writing a ghost story. (120 words)
OR
Imagine Ozymandias comes back to life as he sees the condition of his statue,
realization dawns on him and he pens his thoughts in a diary. (120 words)
6 Marks
-oOo-
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