SECTION A (READING)
Al. Read the following poem carefully.
A GREEN CORNFIELD
The earth was green, the sky was blue;
I saw and heard one sunny morn
A skylark hang between the two,
A singing speck above the corn.
A stage below in gay accord,
White butterflies danced on wing,
And still the singing skylark soared,
And silent sank and sotired to sing.
The cornfield stretched a tender green
To right and left beside my walks;
I knew he had a nest unseen
Somewhere among the million stalks.
And as I paused to hear his song
While swift the sunny moments slid,
Perhaps his mate sat listening long,
And listened longer than I did.
Al.l Read the following summary. Complete it by writing, the missing words against the correct blank number in your answer sheet.
The poet's intense (a) ………….. for nature is (b) ……….. in the poem. She looked (c) ……..
from a cornfield and saw a (d) ……….. soaring in the sky and (e) ……….. The butterflies (f) ……… about in the cornfield. The poet knew that the skylark's (g) ………….. was hidden (h)…….. the stalks. She (i) ………… that its (j) ……….. too was listening intently to the song.
A1.2 Complete the following statements on the basis of your reading of the poem. Write your answers in the answer sheet against the correct blank number:
(a) The colours mentioned in the poem are
(b) One sunny morning the poet
(c) The phrase 'gay accord' in the second stanza means
A2. Read the passage given below:
Why is it that there are very few women players in our orchestras? If one could reply flatly—sex discrimination: they don't want women in orchestras—that would be a definite answer. But one can't say that. As a matter of fact there are, if not many, a few women playing today in symphony orchestras. Nevertheless, it is true that male orchestral players are in an overwhelming majority. Why is that? I'm afraid, there is no one answer. There are physical reasons why women don't perform well on certain instruments. The average woman is not likely to possess sufficient lung power and sheer muscular strength to play the tuba just as an average woman's hands are not likely to be large enough to finger a double bass satisfactorily. But what about the other instruments?
I think social and family pressures have been very strong in keeping women out of
orchestras. Think of the prejudice that existed half a century ago against the so-called
'nice' girls going on stage. The stage was won out for the simple reason that it had to
have women to play feminine roles in plays and operas, and was willing to offer a young woman more money than she could make in any other profession. Moreover, on stage, she was appearing as an individual, as a center of attraction. This was gratifying to both her and her family. To this day, while the average parents are reconciled to seeing their daughter become an opera singer or concert artist, they don't like the idea of seeing her submerging her personality to become the member of a chorus of the orchestra.
Another reason why we have so few women orchestral musicians is that so few of them play wind instruments well enough. They don't play well enough because they haven't had^the proper training; and the reason for that lies in the history of orchestral music. You will find that famous European families of bassoon players or clarinetists taught their sons to play the family instrument. Their sons; but never their daughters. If they had any other pupils, those were also boys; not girls. And to this day, while women vote, hold public office and practise many other professions, without shocking our sensibilities, in this particular field, the orchestra, our attitude towards women still remains the same.
However, this prejudice is rapidly crumbling, and is likely to disappear entirely in a few
years. For this we have to thank our high-school bands and orchestras, which offer
instruction, practice and experience in playing all orchestral instruments to boys and girls
alike.
A2.1 Complete the following sentences. Write the answers in your answer sheet against the correct blank number:
I. The reason why there are only very few women orchestra players—
(a) Physical reasons
(i) ………………………………………. (ii) ………………………………
(b) Social reasons
(i) ……………………………………… (ii) ……………………………….
(c) Women won out on stage because
(i) ……………………………………… (ii) ………………………………
II. The high school bands have to be thanked because …………………………...
III. Lack of training has resulted in …………………………………………………..
A2.2 Find words from the passage which mean the same as the phrases given below. Write your answers in the answer sheet against the correct blank number:
(a) make a distinction / a difference …………………………… Para 1
(b) breaking / falling off …………………………… Para 4
(c) satisfying / to please …………………………… Para 2
(d) learning …………………………… Para 3
SECTION B (WRITING)
Bl. You are Rekha/Rahul of National Public School, Bilaspur. Being incharge of the cultural committee of your school, you are given the following letter by your Principal about an Inter-school Cultural Fiesta your school has to take part in. Write a notice, in not more than 50 words, including relevant details from the letter, asking students to appear for selection. Do not give extra information. Put the notice in a box.
Hill Mount School, Bilaspur.
20 February, 2005
The Principal,
National Public School,
Bilaspur.
Madam,
Our school is conducting a cultural fiesta on the 26th of this month. The events for competition include music, dance and skit. We would appreciate if the students of your prestigious institution participate and make our show a grand success. Attractive prizes will be awarded to the winners. Thank you very much, Yours faithfully, Gayathri Sundaram Principal
B2. Mr. Ujwal, the Managing Director of Ceramics India Ltd. asks his P.A. to draft a message for Mr. Ramesh, the P.R.O. of his company. Use the following information in the M.D.'s note-pad to draft the message. Put the message in a box.
Your answer should be in not more than 50 words.
• Two dignitaries arriving from Delhi on 4th April.
• Accommodation to be booked in a five-star hotel.
• Show them around the factory.
• Book return tickets on the 6th April.
B3. You are Ravi / Reshma. You happened to see the following lines in a newspaper.
"We all mourn and groan about the loss of the quality of life through the destruction of
our ecology, and yet each one of us, in our comfortable little ways contribute daily to that
destruction. It is time now to awaken in each one of us the respect and attention our
beloved mother deserves." Says Ed Asner, an Environmental supporter.
You decide to write an article in the school magazine titled "Save the Planet, Earth". Using ideas from the unit of 'Environment' and your own ideas, write the article in about 200 words.
B4. The given histogram throws light on India's poor performance in the Athens Olympics. As Rama/ Raju, write a letter in not more than 150 words to be included in the letters to the editor column of the Daily Express. Making use of the hints given below and your own ideas, write the reasons for the poor performance. Give suggestions on how India can perform better.
Hints:
Lack of initiative—satisfied with being mediocre
Government apathy
Dearth of trained personnel
Economic reasons
For Blind Candidates Only
India had to be content with silver in the Athens Olympics.
Making use of the hints above and your own ideas, write a letter to the editor of a local daily on the reasons for India's poor performance.
Give suggestions on how we can perform better.
SECTION C (GRAMMAR)
Cl. Raghu is the reporter of 'The Herald'. He was sent to write a report on a bomb-blast in a shopping complex. Using the information from his note-pad complete the paragraph by writing suitable words or phrases in each space. Do not add any new information.
Write only the correct answer against the correct blank number in your answer sheet.
Shopping complex—destroyed—bomb—7 o'clock—80 people burnt alive—two young men—seen speeding off—police assured immediate arrest of culprits.
The citizens of Kantipur were shocked when one of its (a) ……….. by a (b) ……The place was crowded and about (c) ……….. Witnesses say that (d) …….. on a two wheeler soon after the blast. The police commissioner assured the people that (e) …..
C2. Given below is a conversation between Jacob and Paul. Complete the dialogue below in a suitable way. Write the answer against the correct blank number. Do not copy the whole sentence.
Jacob : Why didn't you reach on time for your music practice?
Paul : I (a) …………………………………………………………………….
Jacob : The instructor is furious. He (b) …………………………………….
Paul : I will (c) …………………………………………………………………
Jacob : You better do it. We don't (d) ……………………………………….
The programme is on the 20th of this month.
C3. The following passage has not been edited. There is one error in each line. Write the incorrect word and the correction in your answer sheet against the correct blank number. The first one has been done for you.
Incorrect Correct
Dance is an art form is e.g. is as.
well known, for dance as a (a) ………..
therapy is not known in many. (b) ………..
Dance therapy involves a synthesis (c) ………..
of the grace and vigour on Indian (d) ……….
classical and folk dance
movements into a innovative (e) ………..
holistic therapy. It brings over the (f) ………..
inner feelings for the participants (g) ……….
and can help them with develop a
healthy personality. (h) ………
C4. Rearrange the following words and phrases to form meaningful sentences. The first one has been done as an example. Write the correct sentences in your answer sheet.
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 /
(d) look out / water / keep a / into deep / sharp / does not stray / so that he / his elders /
(e) permitted to/from which/judgement/he may/make small mistakes/he is/learn to
make better/
(f) are given / to swim / small canoes / the children / they / own / are able / of their / when /
C5. Use the information in the headlines to complete the news items given below. Write the answers in your answer sheet against the correct blank number. Do not copy the whole sentence.
(a) HEAVY RAINS LASH CHENNAI
The heavy rain which (a) ………… threw normal life out of gear.
(b) M.B.A. CLASSES TO BEGIN ON SEPT. 20TH
The center coordinator informed (b) ………….. Sept. 20th.
(c) THEATRE ACTIVIST BAGS TITLE
The 'kalabushan' title (c) ………….. and scholar Utpal Singh.
(d)12 INJURED AS BUSES COLLIDE
About (d) …………. at the K.N.P. junction here today.
SECTION D (LITERATURE)
Dl. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow. Write each answer in your answer sheet in one or two lines only.
'I watched the flame feeding on my mother.
I watched the holy man perform his rites
to tame the poison with an incantation.
After 24 hours
it lost its sting.
(a) Why was the flame feeding on the mother?
(b) Explain 'incantation'.
(c) What do these lines tell us about the attitude of the peasants?
D2. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow. Write each answer in your answer sheet in one or two sentences only.
'Nor dim nor red, like God's own head,
The glorious sun uprist;
Then all averred, I had killed the bird
That brought the fog and mist.
'Twas right, said they, such birds to slay,
That bring the fog and mist.'
(a) Why is the sun described as glorious?
(b) How do the sailors contradict themselves?
(c) Which is the bird referred to here?
D3. How does the poem, 'Ode to the West Wind' reflect the poet's love for liberty? Your answer should not exceed 100 words.
D4. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow. Write each answer in your answer sheet in one or two lines only.
'O judgement! thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason. Bear with me;
My heart is in the coffin there with Caesar,
And I must pause till it come back to me.'
(a) Who is the speaker? Who is he speaking to?
(b) Explain 'brutish beasts'.
(c) What is the speaker trying to do? Is he successful in his attempt?
D5. In the lesson, 'The Ultimate Safari', the little girl says
"In the afternoon the man who led us came to our grandmother and told her the other people must move on."
(a) Why did the others decide to move?
Why were the grandmother and her children left behind?
(b) What decision did grandmother take?
What does this tell us about her character?
Your answer should not exceed 75 words.
D6. You are a scientist and were a member of the team which captured Cutie Pie. Make a diary entry on how excited you were on capturing him and how it upset you when he became sick and was forgotten. Your answ
