2020
ENGLISH
(Second Language)
Time : 3 Hours 15 Minutes
(First 15 Minutes for reading the question paper only, 3 Hours for writing)
Full Marks : For Regular Candidates - 90
For External Candidates - 100
SECTION - A
READING COMPREHENSION (SEEN)
1. Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow :
When the family has finished tea, and gathers round the fire, the cat casually goes out of the room. True life now begins for him. He saunters down his own backyard, springs to the top of the fence, drops lightly down to the other side. He trots across and skips to the roof of an empty shed. His movement becomes lithe and pantherlike. He looks keenly from side to side and moves noiselessly, for he has so many enemies — dogs and small boys with stones.
On top of the shed, the cat arches his back and rakes his claws once or twice through the soft bark of the old roof. He stretches himself a few times to see if every muscle is in full working order. Then, drooping his head nearly to his paws, he sends across a call to his kindred. Before long they come, gliding, graceful shadows. No longer are they the meek creatures who an hour ago were mewing for fish and milk. They are now grim fighters.
Just think how much more he gets out of his life than you do out of yours ! And the sports they have, too ! As they get older they go in for sport to the suburban backyards. These backyards that are dull to us, are to them hunting grounds where they have more gallant adventure than King Arthur's knights ever had.
A. Write the correct alternative in the given space to complete the following sentences: 1 x 5 = 5
(a) When the family gathers round the fire, the cat goes out of the room
(i) cautiously (ii) smartly (iii) casually (iv) noiselessly
Ans: __________________________________________________
(b) Sauntering down his own backyard, the cat jumps to the top of the
(i) fence (ii) roof (iii) other side (iv) shed
Ans: __________________________________________________
(c) The cat looks keenly from side to side and moves
(i) carefully (ii) anxiously (iii) fearfully (iv) noiselessly
Ans: _________________________________________________
(d) On top of the shed the cat
(i) mews (ii) arches his back (iii) goes to sleep (iv) fights
Ans: _____________________________________________________
(e) As the cats get older they go in for sport to the
(i) neighbouring house (ii) old roof (iii) empty shed (iv) suburban backyard
Ans: _____________________________________________________
B. Complete the following sentences with information from the text: 1 x 3 = 3
(i) The family gathers round the fire after _________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
(ii) The cat skips to the roof of an empty shed where his movement becomes
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
(iii) The cat stretches himself a few times to feel if __________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
C. State whether the following statements are true or false. Write 'T' for 'True' and 'F' for 'False' in the
boxes given on the right-hand side. Provide sentences/ phrases/ words in support of your answer: 2x2=4
(i) The cat sends across a call to his kindred by stretching himself a few times.
Supporting sentence: _________________________________________________ □
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
(ii) The cats behave as gallantly as King Arthur's knights.
Supporting sentence: ___________________________________________________ □
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
2. Read the poem and answer the questions that follow :
To grass, or leaf, or fruit, or wall
The snail sticks close, nor fears to fall
As if he grew there, house and all,
Together.
Within that house secure he hides
When danger imminent betides
Of storm, or other harm besides
Of weather.
Give but his horns the slightest touch,
His self-collecting pow'r is such,
He shrinks into his house with much
Displeasure.
Where'er he dwells, he dwells alone,
Except himself has chattels none,
Well satisfied to be his own
Whole treasure.
A. Write the correct alternative to complete the following sentences : 1x4=4
(a) The snail is not afraid to
(i) fight (ii) hide (iii) fall (iv) touch
Ans :______________________________________________________
(b) The snail faces imminent danger when there is
(i) storm (ii) rain (iii) thunder (iv) lightning
Ans :_______________________________________________________
(c) With the slightest touch the snail shrinks into his house with much
(i) delight (ii) displeasure (iii) defiance (iv) pain
Ans :_______________________________________________________
(d) In the house the snail lives
(i) alone (ii) with others (iii) with chattels (iv) with family
Ans : ______________________________________________________
B. Answer the following questions : 2 x 2 = 4
(i) What does the snail stick close to ?
Ans:_________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
(ii) What does the snail do when it faces danger ?
Ans : ________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
READING COMPREHENSION (UNSEEN)
3. Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow :
Mother nature has been very generous to us by giving us so many resources of water — rain water, rivers, lakes,
melting glaciers and ground water. The demand for water is ever increasing but the supply is far from adequate.
Given the lack of water in rivers, people have been resorting to pumping out ground water for personal
consumption and for farming. As a result, ground water table has fallen to alarming levels. Moreover, harmful
fertilisers used for growing crops have contaminated ground water so that in many places it is not fit for drinking.
It is time to wake up. Every drop of water is a source of life. It is high time we realise that water resources are
not permanent. Soon, we as a family, society and nation will be struggling to get a drop of clean potable water. We
have to focus on water conservation and stop polluting our water resources.
Each one of us also needs to do our bit by avoiding use of plastic, recycling waste products and keeping our
surroundings clean. Every town, every village should have an eco-friendly garbage sorting and disposal system.
Every school and college should initiate programmes educating youngsters about the importance of our natural
resources, especially water and air. We have ,to train new generations to adopt an eco-friendly way of life.
[Adapted from an article published in The Times of India dated June 26, 2019]
A. Tick the right answer : 1 x 6 = 6
(i) The demand for water is increasing but the supply of water is
(a) adequate □ (b) surplus □ (c) inadequate □ (d) plentiful □
(ii) People have been resorting to pumping out ground water due to
(a) lack of water in the rivers □
(b) scanty rainfall □
(c) drying up of wells □
(d) melting glaciers □
(iii) The ground water table has
(a) risen □ (b) dropped □ (c) increased □ (d) remained stable □
(iv) Ground water is contaminated by
(a) irrigation □ (b) construction of roads □
(c) harmful fertilisers □ (d) pumping out of water □
(v) It is high time we realise that water resources are
(a) permanent □ (b) portable □
(c) impermanent □ (d) abundant □
(vi) Each one of us must avoid the use of
(a) copper □ (b) paper □
(c) jute □ (d) plastic □
B. Each of the following statements is either 'True' or 'False'. Write 'T' for 'True' and 'F' for 'False' in the
boxes on the right-hand side. Also pick out suitable line(s) or phrase(s) from the passage in support of
your answers : (1+1) x3 = 6
(i) People have been resorting to pumping out ground water for construction work. □
Supporting sentence: __________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
(ii) Water is valuable because it is a source of life. □
Supporting sentence :_________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
(iii) Soon, it will be easy for us to get clean potable water. □
Supporting sentence: _______________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
C. Answer the following questions : 2 x 4 = 8
(i) How has mother nature been generous to us ?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
(ii) What should be our immediate focus regarding water ?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
(iii) What should every town and every village have to keep the surroundings clean ?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
(iv) What kind of programmes should every school and college initiate ?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
SECTION - B
GRAMMAR AND VOCABULARY
4. Write the correct alternative to fill in the blanks : 1 x 3 = 3
Rina who ______________ (have been / has been / is being) ill for a month
_________________ (will visit / visited / had visited) the doctor last Monday.
The doctor ______________ (advised / had advised / will advise) her complete bed rest.
5. Do as directed :
A. Fill in the blanks with appropriate articles and prepositions : 1 x 3 = 3
Wrestling is one of ________ oldest sports in the world. Ancient cave drawings of people wrestling with one another have been found ______ Europe. It is ____ serious sport.
B. (i) The authorities postponed the cricket match (Change the voice) 1 x 3 = 3
Ans : ________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
(ii) "Is there anybody there ?" said the traveller. (Change into Indirect Speech)
Ans : _______________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
(iii) We should not show cruelty to animals.
(Rewrite using adjective form of the word underlined)
Ans : ____________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
C. Choose the correct phrasal verbs from the list given below to replace the words underlined.
Write the correct phrasal verbs in the boxes on the right- hand side changing the form where
necessary. There is one extra phrasal verb in the list: 1 x 3 = 3
(i) The dog followed the thief. |¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨|
(ii) Have you read this book ? |¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨|
(iii) The chief guest distributed the prizes. |¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨|
[take back, go through, give away, go after]
6. Given below are the meanings of four words which you will find in the passage in Question No. 3.
Find out the words and write them in the appropriate boxes on the right-hand side : 2 x 4 = 8
(i) kind |¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨|
(ii) disturbing |¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨|
(iii) polluted |¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨|
(iv) process of getting rid of something |¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨|
SECTION - C
WRITING
7. Write a newspaper report (within 100 words) about an accident that took place yesterday. Write the
report on the basis of the points given below: 10
Date and time — place — cause of the accident — consequences — measures taken.
8. Write a letter (within 100 words) to your friend describing a cultural programme you have attended
recently. Your letter should include the following points : 10
Name of the programme — venue — date — description of performances — your feelings.
9. Write a paragraph (within 100 words) on 'The Most Memorable Day in Your Life', based on the following
points : 10
Date / Day — a description of the day — your role on that day — why is the day memorable to you ?
SECTION - D
(SUPPLEMENTARY)
[FOR EXTERNAL CANDIDATES ONLY]
1. Frame nominal compounds from the meanings given below : 1 x 5 = 5
(i) A wall made of stone _________________________________________________
(ii) A ground for playing _________________________________________________
(iii) A pool for swimming _________________________________________________
(iv) Mill driven by wind __________________________________________________
(v) A palace made of marble _____________________________________________
2. Write the opposites of the following words : 1 x 5 = 5
(a) Wise ______________________________________________________
(b) Honest ____________________________________________________
(c) Strict _____________________________________________________
(d) Cool _____________________________________________________
(e) Humble __________________________________________________
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