10th CBSE English Pre Board (2018-19)

10th English Pre Board Examination (2018-19) VGS, Rohini, New Delhi

School Name: Venkateshwar Global School, Sector 13, Rohini, Delhi 110085 India
Time: 3 hours
M.M: 80
Subject: English
Class: X
Date: 08/02/2019

General Instructions:

• The question paper is divided into three sections:
• Section A (Reading) 20 marks
• Section B (Writing & Grammar) 30 marks
• Section C (Literature Text Book & Long Reading Tex) 30 marks
• Please check that the question paper contain 11 questions.
• All questions are compulsory.
• You may attempt any section at a time.
• All questions of a particular section must be attempted in the correct order.

Section A (Reading)

Question: 1. Read the following passage carefully. [8]

Thornfield Hall was a large gentleman’s house in the country, near a town called Millcote. There, after my sixteen-hour journey, I was welcome by Mrs. Fairfax. She was a little old lady, dressed in black, who seemed glad to have some else to talk to, apart from the servants. Although the house was dark and frightening, with its big rooms full of heavy furniture, I was excited at being in a new place, and looked forward to may new life there, working for kind Mrs. Fairfax. But I was surprised to discover on may first full day at Thornfield that Mrs. Fairfax was not in fact the owner, as I had assumed, but the housekeeper, and that my new master was a Mr. Rochester who was often away from home. My pupil was a girl called Adele seven or eight years old, who was born in France and could hardly speak English. Luckily I had learn French very well at Lowood, and had no difficulty in communicating with your Adele, a pretty, cheerful child. It appeared that Mr. Rochester, who had known Adele and her mother very well, had brought Adele back to England to live with him after her mother had died. I taught her for several hours every day in the library, although it was easy to make her concentrate on anything for long, as she was clearly not used to the discipline of lessons. One day I took the opportunity of asking Mrs. Fairfax a few questions about Mr. Rochester, as I was curious about him, and the little housekeeper seemed happy to talk. ‘Is he liked by most people?’ was my first question. ‘Oh yes, his family have always been respected here. They’ve owned the land around here for years,’ she replied. ‘But do you like him? What is his character like?’ ‘I have always like him, and I think he’s a fair master to his servants. He’s a little peculiar, perhaps. He’s travelled a lot, you know. I expect he’s clever, but I can’t tell, really.’ ‘What do you mean, peculiar?’ I asked, interested. It’s not easy to describe. You’re never sure whether he’s serious or joking. You don’t really understand him, at least I don’t. But that doesn’t matter, he’s a very good master.’

Question: 1.1: On the basis of your reading of the above passage answer brief any eight questions.

1. Why was Mrs. Fairfax glad to receive the narrator?
2. Why was the narrator excited?
3. What wrong assumption was made by her?
4. Why had she come to Thornfield Hall?
5. How do we know that Mr. Rochester was a man of noble nature?
6. Why was it difficult make Adele study for long hours?
7. Why was Mr. Rochester liked by most people?
8. What was peculiar about the nature of Mr. Rochester?
9. How does the narrator describe Adele?

Question: 2. Read the following passage carefully: [12]

1 People who smoke are being hounded out of all public places-offices, restaurants, educational institution, buses, trains etc. Away from home now it is becoming nearly impossible to find a place to smoke. Growing restrictions and the fear of various diseases caused by tobacco are prompting many smoke to stop smoking. 19 states in the U.S. have made laws against smoking. Taxes on tobacco products are beings raised. Smoking is banned at several places. Still the number of smokers is rising in India. More than 25 crore people in India are addicted to tobacco. And according to a WHO report around half of them will die of tobacco related diseases. Unfortunately most people in India still need a strict warning based on a test report before they decide to give up smoking. Patients too seek medical help only after they show serious symptoms of an illness. Some hospitals have set up centers to identify risk factors among the young so that they can take preventive measures like giving up smoking early in life.

Tobacco is the second biggest cause of death in the world. It is responsible for the death of five crore people each year all over the world., Half of the people who are addicted to tobacco will ultimately be killed by this addiction. Many people get rid of this habit on their own and those who are willing to, but can’t go to de-addiction centers. These centers use counselling, nicotine replacement therapy and prescriptive drugs to deal with withdrawal problems.

Quitting cold turkey-stopping the use of tobacco at once-works well but only for those who have control and determination to quit.

Question: 2.1: On the basis of your reading of the passage, answer any four following questions in about 30 – 40 words each: [2×4 = 8]

(a) For which two reasons do smokers give up smoking?
(b) Name two steps taken in India against smoking.
(c) Why is the situation unfortunate in India?
(d) How do people get rid of smoking?
(e) What does ‘cold turkey’ mean?

Question: 2.2: Complete any two of the following statements: [1×2 = 2]

(f) In the U.S. ______ states have passed laws against smoking.
(g) In India one can’t smoke at a
(h) Tobacco is the ________ biggest killer in the world.

Question: 2.3: Choose the meanings of the given word/phrases from options that follow each word / phrase: (any two) [1×2 = 2]

(i) hounded out
(i) driven out                 (iii) washed
(ii) give out                     (iv) endangered

(j) restrictions
(i) checks                       (iii) failures
(ii) limitations             (iv) defeats

(k) Prompting
(i) abusing                   (iii) empowering
(ii) initiating               (iv) encouraging

Section B (Writing & Grammar)

Question: 3. You are Arun / Anita, 22 New Light Colony, Guwahati. The park in your colony has not been maintained properly for quite some time. Write a letter in 100-120 words to the Chief Officer, Horticulture Dept. complaining against the park in-charge for not doing his duty properly. You may use the following points: [8]

(i) boundary wall broken
(ii) flower beds but no flowers
(iii) no proper cutting of hedges

OR

You are Ms. Alka rao, librarian S.J. Public School, Guntur. Place an order in 100-120 words with Janatha Book Store, Station Road, Chennai for 5 copies each of 4 books (name any four) which students of class X need for reference. Ask for a discount and an early delivery. [8]

Question: 4. Write a short story, in about 200-250 words, with any one of the cues given in the boxes below.

A house full of rats – happy – a cat comes – rats in danger – how to warm – a small rat – tie a bell – bell ringing – warning – an elder rat – who will bell the cat?

OR

It was a dark night. We had lost our way among the fields. Then I saw a light in the distance. We started walking in that direction.

Question: 5. Complete the paragraph given below by filling any four of the blanks with the help of options that follow: [1×4 = 4]

Rakesh  (a)  not quarrel with anyone in (b) jail. Then one day I saw him (c) his cool. In his ward (d) was a youngman (e) did not look like a criminal.

Question: 6. The following paragraph has not been edited. There is an error in each line. Identify the error, write it and its correction as shown in the example: (any four) [1×4 = 4]

Question: 7. Rearrange any four of the following word clusters to make meaningful sentences. [4]
(a) Were / on the / Ram / studying / and / beach / Sham
(b) at boat / a waves / were / rising and falling / they / looking
(c) a boat / a wave / they / top of / saw / on the
(d) the wave / up and down / was / with / it / going
(e) in the / two men / there / sitting / were / boat

Section C (Literature and Long Reading Text)

Question: 8. Read the lines given below and answer the questions that follow. [4]

Naresh Dutt cast an appraising look at Patol Babu and gave a nod. ‘Oh yes’, he said. ‘There is no doubt about that. By the way, the shooting takes place tomorrow morning’.

(a) Who is Naresh Dutt?
(b) Why has he come to meet Patol Babu?
(c) What do his words ‘Oh yes’ mean?
(d) What is meant by ‘shooting’?
OR
But I am constant as the northern star, Of 
whose true – fix’d and resting quality There
is no fellow in the firmament.
(a) Who is the speaker?
(b) What is the northern star?
(c) What is special about it?
(d) What is firmament?

Question: 9. Answer any four of the following questions in about 30-40 words. [2×4 = 8]

(a) Why didn’t Luigi, the driver, approve of Nicola and Jacopo?
(b) Who was Ali? Why did he go daily to the post office?
(c) “My name is Ozymandias, king of kings.” What does Ozymandias mean by ‘king of kings’?
(d) Why did the narrator feel sorry after throwing a stick at the snake?
(e) How does Mrs. Slatter plan to outshine the Jordons? Why?

Question: 10. Attempt any one out of the two following long answer type questions in 100-120 words. [8]

To lead a happy married life there must be trust between husband and wife. Why did Lavinia decide to leave her husband and why did later on change her decision?
OR
Animal life is as sacred as human life. Describe how ancient mariner and other sailors suffered because the ancient mariner had killed the albatross.

Question: 11. A. Answer the following question based on prescribed novel text for extended reading in about 200-250 words. [10]

The Diary of a young Girl

Question: 11. A.(i) What opinion does Anne form of herself in the chapters?
OR
Question: 11.(ii). Draw a character sketch of Anne’s friend Lies.
OR
Question: 11. B. Answer the following question based on prescribed novel text for extended reading in about 200-250 words.

The Story of My Life

Question: 11. B.(i) Describe Helen Keller’s experience at Radcliffe.
OR
Question: 11. B. (ii). Attempt the character sketch of Gilman.