Q.2. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow. 8
One should pour tea into the cup first. Then stir in the milk as it is poured. In this way one can exactly regulate the amount of milk. If one does it the other way round, one is likely to put in too much milk. Tea - -unless one is drinking it in the Russian style -should be drunk without sugar. I know very well that I am in a minority here. But still, how can you call yourself a true tea-lover if you destroy the fl avour of your tea by putting sugar in it? Tea is meant to be bitter. If you sweeten it, you are no longer tasting the tea, you are merely tasting the sugar. You could make a very similar drink by dissolving sugar in plain hot water. Some people would answer that they don’t like tea in itself, that they only drink it in order to be warmed and stimulated, and they need sugar to take the taste away. To those people I would say, try drinking tea without sugar, say for a fortnight and it is very unlikely that you will ever want to spoil your tea by sweetening it again.
(a) How do the Russians drink tea? 1
(b) Who, according to the author, is a true tea-lover? 1
(c) Why should one fi rst pour tea into a cup and then add milk? 2
(d) Why does the author say he is in a minority? 2
(e) What advice does the author give to those who drink tea only for warmth and add sugar to it? 2
Ans. (a) Russians drink tea with sugar.
(b) According to the author, a true tea lover is one who does not destroy the fl avour of his tea by putting sugar in it.
(c) In this way one can exactly regulate the amount of milk that needs to be added into a cup of tea.
(d) The author says he is in a minority because majority of people like to drink their tea with sugar.
(e) He advises such people to try drinking tea without sugar for a fortnight and then they will never want to spoil their tea by sweetening it.
SECTION B - Writing (20)
Q.3. Write a short paragraph on ‘Bihu Festival’ in about 60 words using the hints given below: 4
Bihu - a festival of Assam - the word ‘Bihu’ derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Biswa’
pomp and show - express joy - welcoming Spring
first day spent in prayers - goes on for a week
dance, song, feast and entertainment etc.
Ans. Bihu Festival Bihu, a festival of Assam, is celebrated with great pomp and show to express joy in welcoming Spring. The word ‘Bihu’ is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Biswa’. The celebrations go on for a week. The fi rst day is spent in prayers. Then on, dance, song, feast and entertainment take over the festivities.
Or
Under the Guest Speaker Programme, your school invited Suneeta Williams, a renowned Space-walker, to meet the students. You are Shobha/Shivam, the School Head Girl/Boy. Write a brief report, in about 60 words, on the meet, making use of the following hints together with your own ideas.
Suneeta - a famous astronaut of Indian origin invited - the date
interacted with students - her impressions of India
her experience in space - weightlessness - no gravity - floating in the air - a fun
a childhood dream come true
first few hours as she landed on the Earth
thanks giving
