English Eduspot : SSLC English Exam 2021

Tuesday, February 16, 2021

SSLC English Exam 2021 - Model Question Paper

English Eduspot

SSLC Examination March, 2021 Model Question Paper

Maximum Scores: 80 English Time: 2 ½ hours

_______________________________________________________________________

Instructions:

. 20 minutes is given as cool-off time

. Use cool-off time to read the questions and plan your answers

. Attempt the questions according to the instructions

. Keep in mind the score and time while answering the questions

. The maximum scores for questions from 1 to 45 will be 80

________________________________________________________________________

Questions 1 – 5: Read the following passage from ‘Adventures in a Banyan Tree’ and answer the questions that follow:

Then the squirrel started building a nest. At first she tried building it in my pockets, and when I went indoors and changed my clothes I would find straw and grass falling out. Then one day Grandmother's knitting was missing. We hunted for it everywhere but without success. Next day I saw something glinting in the hole in the banyan tree. Going up to investigate, I saw that it was the end of Grandmother's steel knitting-needle. On looking further, I discovered that the hole was crammed with knitting. And amongst the wool were three baby squirrels-all of them white!

1. Where did the squirrel try to build a nest at first? 1

2. What did they hunt for everywhere without success? 1

3. What was glinting in the hole in the banyan tree? 1

4. On looking further, what did the narrator saw in the hole? 1

5. ‘The squirrel started building a nest’. Identify the subject Noun Phrase and the Verb Phrase. 2

Questions 6 – 9: Read the lines from the poem ‘Lines Written in Early Spring’ and answer the questions that follow:

I heard a thousand blended notes,
While in a grove I sate reclined,
In that sweet mood when pleasant thoughts
Bring sad thoughts to the mind.

To her fair works did Nature link
The human soul that through me ran;
And much it grieved my heart to think
What man has made of man.

6. When did the poet hear a thousand blended notes? 1

7. What does the expression ‘I sate reclined’ indicate about the poet’s state of mind? 1

8. What did Nature link to her fair works? 1

9. Identify the poetic device used in the opening line, and pick out an example of 2

Alliteration from these stanzas.

Question 10: Read the lines from the poem ‘Lines Written in Early Spring’ and 6 prepare a note of appreciation focusing on the theme, imagery and other poetic devices.

Through primrose tufts, in that green bower,
The periwinkle trailed its wreaths;
And 'tis my faith that every flower
Enjoys the air it breathes.

        The birds around me hopped and played,
        Their thoughts I cannot measure:-
         But the least motion which they made
         It seemed a thrill of pleasure.

The budding twigs spread out their fan,
To catch the breezy air;
And I must think, do all I can,
That there was pleasure there.

        If this belief from heaven be sent,
        If such be Nature's holy plan,
        Have I not reason to lament
        What man has made of man?

Question 11: Read the lines from the poem ‘The Ballad of Father Gilligan’ and 6 prepare a note of appreciation focusing on the theme, imagery and other poetic devices.

'I have no rest, nor joy, nor peace,
For people die and die;
And after cried he, 'God forgive!
My body spake not I!‘

He knelt, and leaning on the chair
He prayed and fell asleep;
And the moth-hour went from the fields,
And stars began to peep.

They slowly into millions grew,
And leaves shook in the wind
And God covered the world with shade
And whispered to mankind.

Question 12 – 17: Read the passage and answer the questions that follow: (1x 6 =6)

One great defect of our civilization is that it does not know what to do with its knowledge. Science, as we have seen, has given powers fit for the gods, yet we use them like small children.

For example, we do not know how to manage our machines. Machines were made to be man’s servants, but because of his over-dependence on them, they have become his masters. The machines are very stern masters. They must be fed with coal, and given petrol to drink, and oil to wash with, and must be kept at the right temperature. And if they do not get their meals when they expect them, they refuse to work, or burst with rage and blow up, and spread ruin and destruction all round them. So we have to wait upon them attentively and do all that we can to keep them in a good temper. Already we find it difficult either to work or play without the machines, and a time may come when they will rule us altogether, just as we rule the animals.

12. What is the one great defect of our civilization?

13. What caused for the machine to become man’s master?

14. In what sense are machines very stern masters?

15. What can we do to keep machines in a good temper?

16. What will happen if we do not wait upon machines attentively?

17. The passage talks about a time that may come. What may happen at that time?

Question 18 – 22: Answer in about 120 words (7 scores each)

18. The boy was thrilled with the fight between the cobra and the mongoose. You may

also have the same feeling. Narrate the fight scene in your own words.

19. The first unit of your textbook ‘Glimpses of Green’ celebrates the perfect harmony

and coexistence in Nature. Prepare a write-up on the theme ‘Nature is for all living

beings’.

20. The story ‘The Snake and the Mirror’ is a First Person narrative. Retell the story in

the Third Person narrative using the third person pronouns.

21. Prepare a Review of Dr. A. J Cronin’s anecdote ‘The Best Investment I Ever Made’.

22. C N Adichie cites many examples of what she calls single stories from her own life.

Write about them in a paragraph of not more than 120 words.

Questions 23 – 27: Answer in about 80 words (6 scores each)

23. The English Club of your school has decided to conduct an awareness programme on

the topic ‘Save Our Planet’. Prepare a notice to announce the programme and invite

all teachers and students.

24. After escaping from the cobra, the homeopath reached his friend’s house safely. He

wrote a letter to his mom explaining the snake incident. Prepare the likely letter.

25. Imagine that the tiger brought for Ray’s film shooting turned violent and a few

villager got injured in the commotion. Prepare a news report about the incident.

26. Imagine that the Youth Welfare Club of your locality conducts a programme to

honour Mr. John for his unique services in the field of charity. You are the secretary

of the club and deliver a short speech in the ceremony. Prepare the likely speech.

27. Narrate the story Martha’s winning the award highlighting her initial struggles and

final victory.

Questions 28 – 36: Answer in about 60 words (5 scores each)

28. The boy in the story ‘Adventures in a Banyan Tree’ is very much thrilled when he got

a white rat and surprised when he found three white squirrel babies. He wrote in his

diary about the wonderful creatures in nature. Prepare the likely diary entry.

29. Prepare a character sketch of the homeopath in the story ‘The Snake and the

Mirror’.

30. Satyajith wants to get permission from the Chairman of Animal Welfare Board to use

a tiger in his film shooting. He writes to the chairman seeking the permission. Prepare

the likely letter.

31. Ali reaches back home without Zahra’s shoes. Prepare the possible conversation

between Ali and Zahra.

32. Prepare a character sketch of Martha’s grandfather based on your reading about him

in the story ‘The Scholarship Jacket’.

33. Prepare a character sketch of Aunt Jane based on your reading of the one-act play

‘The Never-Never Nest’.

34. Prepare a conversation between Kiran and Nilkanta as it occurred when they met for

the first time.

35. Imagine you meet Satyajith Ray and ask him many questions to know about the

shooting and the release of his film Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne. Write six questions

you may ask him.

36. Imagine that the homeopath in the story ‘The Snake and the mirror’ sends an email to

the Police Inspector requesting him to register a complaint on the theft happened in

his room. Prepare the likely email message.

Question 37 – 42: Given below are some news headlines. Read them and answer the questions that follow: (1x6 =6)

Nasal Covid-19 vaccine will be easy to give to children: AIIMS doctors

Two cops die in Chennai road mishap

Petrol price burning high

Kerala schools, colleges to reopen partially from New Year

Kerala to reopen cinemas from tomorrow

Kerala now stares at drought as temperature soars

37. Which headline warns us about road safety?

38. Which headlines upsets vehicle owners?

39. Which headline makes theatre goers happy?

40. Identify a health related headline.

41. Which headline indicates a possible natural disaster?

42. Which headline is related to the directions of the Education Department?

Question 43: Complete the conversation suitably. (1x 6= 6)

Mr. Thorat: Good morning sir; I heard you were looking for me, .......(a).......?

Ray: Yes Mr. Thorat. I’m in need of your help again.

Mr. Thorat: Always with pleasure. What happened sir?

Ray: All our last efforts went in vain as the camera didn’t work properly.

...............(b)...............?

Mr. Thorat: Yes, sure. I can bring the tigers again. ......................(c)..................?

Ray: The new location is very near. It’s in Boral village.

Mr. Thorat: We had better..............(d)...............

Ray: Okay, I’ll arrange a lorry to take the tiger to the location.

Mr. Thorat: The location should be quiet and free from the crowd. If there is noisy

crowd, .......................e........................ .

Ray: Yes, you’re right. The tiger may turn violent.

Mr. Thorat: I would rather you ...............f...............

Ray: Yes, of course. I’ll call police to control the crowd.

Question 44: Replace the underlined words in the following passage with suitable

phrasal verbs given in brackets. (1 x 4= 4)

Ray and his team travelled (1) to the shooting location. Mr. Thorat arrived (2) there in a lorry with the tiger. He explained (3) to Ray why he brought two tigers. All of them were frightened (4) by the misbehaviour of the tiger.

(taken aback, set out, turned up, put across)

Questions 45: There are certain errors in the passage given below. They are underlined. Edit them. (1 x5 = 5)

If the wire was enough thin (1), perhaps it would remain invisible to the camera. But it was likely that the hairs (2) on the tigers (3) neck would be flattened by the wire, whom (4) would give the hole (5) thing away.