Written as per the revised syllabus prescribed by the Maharashtra State Board
of Secondary and Higher Secondary
Education, Pune.
STD. X
Kumarbharati
Fourth Edition: March 2016
Salient Features
• Exhaustive coverage of syllabus in a simple and easy to learn Format.
• Based on the latest paper pattern of Std. X.
• Covers answers to all Textual Questions and provides additional questions
as per the new paper pattern.
• Paraphrases of all poems and Summary of all lessons.
• Glossary providing meanings of all difficult words.
• Adequate practice of Grammar and Vocabulary.
• Separate Section on Writing Skills.
• Model Question Papers according to the latest paper pattern of State Board.
• Includes Board Question Papers of 2014, 2015 and March 2016.
Printed at: Repro India Ltd., Mumbai
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, C.D. ROM/Audio Video Cassettes or electronic, mechanical
including photocopying; recording or by any information storage and retrieval system without permission in writing from the Publisher.
P.O. No. 11721
10213_10380_JUP
PREFACE
In the case of good books, the point is not how many of them you can get through, but rather how many can get
through to you.
“Std. X: English (Kumarbharti)” is a complete and thorough guide critically analysed and extensively drafted to
boost the student’s confidence. The book makes learning easy for the student by segregating each chapter in two
sections: ‘Aids to Comprehension’ and ‘Textual Activities’. Paraphrases of the poems and Summary of lessons are
provided for quick understanding alongwith answers to all the textual questions. Exhaustive practice for Grammar and
Vocabulary will enhance the language skills of the student. Moreover, a glossary containing all the difficult words
explained in a simple way is provided to help the student to grasp the lessons and poems fast and well. A separate
section of Writing Skills has been provided for additional practice. The book also includes two Model Question Papers
as per the latest paper pattern of State Board.
The journey to create a complete book is strewn with triumphs, failures and near misses. If you think we’ve
nearly missed something or want to applaud us for our triumphs, we’d love to hear from you.
A book affects eternity; one can never tell where its influence stops.
Best of luck to all the aspirants!
From,
Publisher
paper Pattern AND MARKING SCHEME
Time: 3 Hours
Total Marks: 80
Section I: (Reading Skills, Vocabulary, Grammar)
Q.1. (A)
A.1 Activity for testing factual understanding
Textual Passage
A.2 Activity for testing comprehension / question/s
A.3 Activity for testing language skills
A.4 Activity for testing grammar in context
A.5 Personal response / Thinking skill based question
2 Marks
2 Marks
2 Marks
2 Marks
2 Marks
10 Marks
(B)
B.1 Activity for testing factual understanding
Textual Passage
B.2 Activity for testing comprehension / question/s
B.3 Activity for testing language skills
B.4 Activity for testing grammar in context
B.5 Personal response / Thinking skill based question
2 Marks
2 Marks
2 Marks
2 Marks
2 Marks
10 Marks
Q.2. (A)
A.1 Activity for testing factual understanding
Non-Textual Passage
A.2 Activity for testing comprehension / question/s
A.3 Activity for testing language skills
A.4 Activity for testing grammar in context
A.5 Personal response / Thinking skill based question
2 Marks
2 Marks
2 Marks
2 Marks
2 Marks
10 Marks
(B)
B.1 Activity for testing factual understanding
Non-Textual Passage
B.2 Activity for testing comprehension / question/s
B.3 Activity for testing language skills
B.4 Activity for testing grammar in context
B.5 Personal response / Thinking skill based question
2 Marks
2 Marks
2 Marks
2 Marks
2 Marks
10 Marks
Section II: Poetry
Q.3. (A)
A.1 Activity for testing factual understanding
Extract from a Textual Poem
A.2 Question on understanding Interpretative / Complex factual / Inference
A.3 Activity for testing meaning of a word/s in context. Poetic Devices
2 Marks
2 Marks
1 Mark
5 Marks
(B)
B.1 Activity for testing factual understanding
Extract from a Textual Poem
B.2 Question on understanding Interpretative / Complex factual / Inference
B.3 Activity for testing meaning of a word/s in context. Poetic Devices
2 Marks
2 Marks
1 Mark
5 Marks
Section III: Rapid Reading
Q.4. A.1 Activity for testing factual understanding
Extract from Rapid Reading Section
A.2 Comprehension activity
A.3 Question testing Personal Response / Thinking Skills
1 Mark
2 Marks
2 Marks
5 Marks
Section IV: Writing Skills
Q.5. (A)
A1.
A.2
(B)
B.1
B.2
Letter writing
Informal
Formal
OR
= 4 Writing + 1 Grammar
5 Marks
= 4 Writing + 1 Grammar
5 Marks
Q.6. (A)
A.1 Information Transfer (Non-verbal to Verbal)
OR
A.2 Verbal to Non-verbal
= 4 Writing + 1 Grammar
5 Marks
(B)
B.1
B.2
Report writing
Dialogue writing
OR
Speech
OR
View and Counter-view
Q.7. (A)
A.1 Expansion of Ideas
A.2 Developing a Story
= 4 Writing + 1 Grammar
5 Marks
= 4 Writing + 1 Grammar
5 Marks
OR
Total: 25 Marks
Grand Total 80 Marks
Sr. No
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Skill
Reading Skills
Vocabulary
Grammar
Writing Skills
Oral Skills
Total
Weightage
37 Marks
10 Marks
13 Marks
20 Marks
20 Marks
100 Marks
No.
Topic Name
Page
UNIT SEVEN: PEOPLE AND
No.
PERSONALITIES
UNIT ONE: WIT AND HUMOUR
7.1
To My Grown-up Son
217
1.1
Television
1
7.2
You Moved My Life
224
1.2
The Tie that Does Not Bind
10
7.3
I’m Watching You Grandpa
234
1.3
The Night The Ghost Got In
19
7.4
The Human Touch
244
UNIT EIGHT: INDIA AND
UNIT TWO: NATURE AND
NEIGHBOURS
ENVIRONMENT
2.1
The Alchemy of Nature
31
2.2
The Garden of Sacred Plants
42
2.3
Bright Morning
58
2.4
Sahyadri
64
8.1
Tracking India
258
8.2
Summer Holidays
280
8.3
Food for Thought
292
8.4
Salute to R-Day
304
RAPID READING
UNIT THREE: SPORTS AND
ADVENTURE
Rex
312
3.1
A Letter to a Coach
77
02
The Doctor’s Word
317
3.2
That’s Success
85
03
If I were You
323
3.3
A Long Rally Ahead
93
WRITING SKILLS
UNIT FOUR: SCIENCE AND
01
Unseen Passages
327
TECHNOLOGY
02
Expansion Of Idea!
336
4.1
Rising with the Sun
102
03
Letter Writing
340
4.2
Shaping Young Minds
115
04
Dialogue Writing
349
4.3
Scientific Spirit in Daily Life
125
05
Report Writing
353
4.4
Pollution
138
06
Speech Writing
357
07
Views and Counterviews
360
08
Information Transfer
362
UNIT FIVE: FOOD AND HEALTH
5.1
The Science of Being Nice
147
5.2
Wonder Spice
158
5.3
Eat by Colour
168
5.4
Whining and Dining
179
UNIT SIX: ART AND CULTURE
01
6.1
Our Treasure
186
6.2
Photography is My Conversation
194
6.3
A Shade of Red
205
MODEL QUESTION PAPER
Model Question Paper – I
367
Model Question Paper – II
374
Board Question Paper : March 2014
381
Board Question Paper : October 2014
389
Board Question Paper : March 2015
397
Board Question Paper : July 2015
405
Board Question Paper : March 2016
413
Note: Textual questions are represented by * mark.
1.1 Tar
get Publications Pvt. Ltd.
Television
Chapter 1.1 : Television
-- Roald Dahl
Paraphrase
Poet’s Introduction
Roald Dahl was a British novelist, poet, a short story
writer, screen writer and a fighter pilot. He is
referred to as one of the greatest story tellers for
children of the 20th century. His short stories are
known for their unexpected endings, affecting the
sentiments of children and often very dark humour.
His notable works include – Charlie and chocolate
factory, Matlilunchda, Fantastic Mr. Fox, etc.
Glossary
absolutely
drunk (adv/v)
cannibals (n)
clogs and
clutters (v)
clutter (v)
concern (v)
foul (adj)
galore (adj)
gape (v)
totally engrossed
those who eat human flesh
gets blocked and filled with too
many things
mess
worry
unclean or stinking
in large quantity
stare with mouth wide open in
amazement
ghastly (adj)
horrible or frightening
gracious (adj)
polite
hypnotise (v)
to dominate the mind or will of
install (v)
place or fix an equipment in
position
isles (n)
islands
junk (n)
garbage or rubbish
keen (adj)
eager and enthusiastic
loll (v)
lie back
lounge (v)
lie in a lazy way
monster (n)
giant
muffled (adj)
silenced
nauseating (adj) disgusting or upsetting
pirates (n)
sea thiefs
repulsive (adj)
unpleasant
ridiculous (adj) absurd or silly
rot (v)
decay or decompose
rump (n)
remains or left over
slop (v)
feeling lazy
tot (n)
a small child
wondrous (adj) amazing
This poem is a candid confession of the poet Roald
Dahl with respect to children being addicted to
watching television. It serves as an eye opener for all of
us. He begs us to not allow the children to watch
television. He goes a step ahead and advises us not to
have a television set at home. It is almost everybody’s
observation that children get engulfed by the idiot box
and remain glued to it until they lose their senses. On
the other hand, we elders are comfortable with this
situation as it refrains them from indulging in any kind
of misbehaviour and wrong doings or fun fights.
The idiot box makes the children inactive. This
inactivity makes them less imaginative, dull and
thoughtless. Now, the question arises how to keep
these children busy and occupied in the absence of a
television set. The poet Roald Dahl reminds the
readers that the time when the idiot box was
nowhere in the picture, books were their best friends.
The books made them curious, inquisitive,
thoughtful and imaginative. The poet enlists here a
number of imaginary characters from the fairy tales
that tickle the young minds to visualize and learn.
It is at this point, the poet gives a piece of advice to
his readers. He pleads us to do away with the T.V. set
and replace it with a bookshelf. The children may not
accept the change easily. But he is sure that having no
other source of entertainment, they will slowly and
gradually begin to read books. And it will not be long
before they get attracted and addicted to reading. The
wonderful books would fill their hearts with keenness
to read more. And finally they would thank us for our
responsible behaviour and love us even more.
Aids to Comprehension
Extract I
E1.
1.
Pre-listening activity
Fill in the blanks in the given below
sentences from the extract.
i.
The poet calls T.V. as an _______.
ii.
The poet sees dozens of _______ on the floor.
iii. Children kept themselves busy by reading
_______ before T.V. was invented.
iv. Books cluttered up the _______ floor.
Ans: i.
idiotic thing
ii.
eye balls
iii. books
iv. Nursery
1
Std. X : English 2.
i.
Complete:
Books were found on the _______ and
_______.
[Mar 14]
Ans: nursery shelves and nursery floor
3.
Read the following extract and do the given
activities:
[Mar 15]
Two activities that mother was free to do:
a.
_______.
b.
_______.
i.
ii.
Two activities that children avoided doing
because of televisions:
a.
_______.
b.
_______.
Ans: i.
a.
Cook Lunch.
b.
Wash the dishes in the sink.
ii.
a.
They don’t climb out the window
sill.
b.
They never fight or kick or punch.
Read the poem from line 1 to 49 on page 4 of
your textbook and answer the following questions
(A5)
[The most important thing..........................
..........................up the nursery floor!]
E2.
1.
i.
Ans:
ii.
Ans:
iii.
Ans:
iv.
Ans:
2.
Global Understanding Questions
State whether the following sentences are
true or false.
The poet recommends to install T.V.
False
According to the poet, T.V. kills children’s
imagination.
True
The poet says T.V. makes children bright.
False
The poet says that the nursery shelves held up
books galore.
True
Find out from the extract what the T.V does
to the children and complete the following
web.
Ans:
It kills the
imagination. It rots the sense
in the head. Effects of T.V.
on children
It clogs and
clutters up the
mind. 2
It hampers the
capability to
understand.
E3. Comprehension Questions
*1. How long do children watch T.V.?
Ans: Children watch T.V. till their eyes pop out,
until they are hypnotised or absolutely drunk.
*2.
Why shouldn’t we install a T.V. according
to the poet?
Ans: According to the poet, we should not install a
T.V. as it spoils the children. It makes them
busy whole day hypnotising them and forcing
them to forget all other modes of
entertainment or the knowledgeable activities
which may help them in their personal growth.
*3.
What are the activities avoided by the
children while watching T.V.?
OR
Name the activities avoided by the children
while watching T.V.
[Mar 15]
Ans: Activities avoided by the children while
watching T.V. are climbing the window sill,
fighting, kicking and punching like a child.
*4.
What happens usually when children spend
most of their time watching T.V.?
OR
How are the children who spend most of the
time watching T.V. affected?
Ans: When children spend most of their time
watching T.V., it kills the imagination and
thinking power, blocks their minds, makes the
child dull and blind, their brain stops reacting
instantaneously and ultimately they can only
see but cannot think on the stuff going on
around them.
*5.
Which power is lost due to excessive
watching of T.V.?
OR
Name the power lost due to excessive
watching of T.V.
Ans: By watching excessive T.V. power of thinking
and imagination is lost.
*6. How does one’s brain turn out to be?
Ans: One’s brain turns out to be as soft as cheese.
*7.
It makes the
children dull
and blind.
What suggestion does the poet offer to stop
the children from watching T.V.?
Ans: The poet suggests to insist upon children to
read books in order to stop them from
watching T.V.
Chapter 1.1: Television
*8.
Why does the poet use the word ‘monsters’
for T.V.?
Ans: The poet uses the word ‘monsters’ for T.V.
because it has killed the modes of
entertainment and knowledge which was given
by books earlier.
3.
E4.
1.
E6. Grammar
Explain the figures of speech for the following:
1.
They loll and slop and lounge about.
Ans: Tautology: Two words of same meaning are
used ‘Loll’ and ‘Lounge’.
Personal Response Questions
Do you agree with the poet that television is
a curse?
Ans: No, I don’t agree with the poet that television
is a curse because everything has its own pros
and cons, whether it be television, cinema or
science. The advantages or disadvantages of
television will depend upon the timings, the
quality, the content, the approach and
freshness of programme on one hand and
attitude of the viewers on the other. If this is
achieved, nobody will complain against its
negative role of influencing children. It will
prove to be a great audio visual and
communication device.
2.
According to the poem, why is excessive
watching of TV harmful?
[Mar 15]
Ans: Excessive watching of T.V. is harmful
because it tends to develop various health
issues like eye irritations, headache, issues
related to brain. Also it is waste of time and
makes one addicted to it thereby creating
ignorance towards rest of the world. It also
creates ignorance to other activities like
reading, writing, thinking, playing, loitering
with friends, enjoying rest of world, etc.
Children after continuously watching T.V.
tend to just see rather than think about the
various stuff happening around them.
E5. Vocabulary
1.
Write any five pairs of rhyming words.
Ans: i.
learned – concerned
ii.
let – set
iii. punch – lunch
iv. mind  blind
v.
cheese – freeze
2.
Fill in the blanks with appropriate words
from the extract.
i.
It is better to keep oneself _______ with
what one has.
ii.
We must try to find out productive ways
and means to _______ ourselves.
Ans: i.
contented
ii.
entertain
Read the extract and complete the words.
i.
This is through which we can see.
ii.
This is in what you eat.
iii. This is what you read.
Ans: i.
Eyes
ii.
Dish
iii. Books
2.
And stare until their eyes pop out.
Ans: Hyperbole: An exaggerated statement.
3.
They sit and stare and stare and sit.
Ans: Repetition: Words ‘sit’ and ‘stare’ are
repeated for poetic effect.
4.
It clogs and clutters up the mind.
Ans: Alliteration: The sound of ‘cl’ is repeated to
create a pleasing musical effect.
5.
His brain becomes as soft as cheese.
[Mar 15]
Ans: Simile: The softness of brain is compared with
the softness of cheese.
6.
We’ll say it very loud and slow.
Ans: Antithesis: Two opposite words are used
‘loud’ and ‘slow’.
7.
They….used….to read!
They’d read and read,
and read and read, and then proceed.
[Mar 14]
Ans: Repetition: The words ‘they’ and ‘read’ are
repeated.
Extract II
E1.
1.
i.
Ans:
Pre-listening activity
Complete the following sentences.
In the bedroom, by the bed; more _______.
In the bedroom, by the bed; more books were
waiting to be read.
ii.
The tales are described as _______ and
_______.
[Mar 14]
Ans: The tales are described as wondrous and fine
(fantastic).
iii.
Where smugglers rowed with muffled oars,
and pirates _______.
Ans: Where smugglers rowed with muffled oars,
and pirates wearing purple pants.
3
Std. X : English iv.
Go throw your T.V. set away, and in its place
you can install _______.
Ans: Go throw your T.V. set away, and in its place
you can install a lovely bookshelf on the wall.
*2.
Ans: The poet promises that within a week or two
children will develop interest in reading books
giving less importance to T.V.
v.
Fear not, because we promise you that in
about a week or two of having nothing else to
do, _______.
Ans: Fear not, because we promise you that in
about a week or two of having nothing else to
do, they’ll begin to feel the need of having
something to read.
Read the poem from line 50 to 93 on page 5 of
your textbook and answer the following questions
(A5)
[And in the bedroom ...............................
............…………….for what you did]
E2.
1.
Global Understanding Questions
State whether the following sentences are
true or false. Correct the false sentences.
i.
The poet says that the tales are wondrous, fine
and fantastic.
Ans: True
ii.
According to the poet, the elder ones had
Beatrix Potter.
Ans: False. The younger ones had Beatrix Potter.
iii.
The poet tells us to not to ignore the dirty looks
of children when we throw away the T.V. set.
Ans: False. The poet tells us to ignore the dirty looks
of children when we throw away the T.V. set.
iv. The television screen is repulsive.
Ans: True
2.
OR
How would throwing away a T.V. have a
positive effect on children?
Ans: According to the poet, children will develop
the habit of reading when the T.V. is thrown
out and replaced with bookshelves having
lots of books. After a few days of ignorance,
children would divert their minds towards
books and start developing interest in
reading.
4.
How would children feel after converting
their interest from T.V. to reading?
Ans: After converting their interest from T.V. to
reading, children would feel the need to
read. They would realize that they were
wasting their time in watching T.V. which
was more harmful and useless. Later on,
they would also feel happy for what their
parents did for them by giving books as a
new companion.
E4.
Personal Response Questions
*1.
What other activities can be given to the
children, other than watching T.V. so that
they are occupied?
Mention some other activities, apart from
watching T.V. that will keep the children
occupied.
E3.
1.
Comprehension Questions
What kind of books does the poet mention?
[Mar 14]
Ans: The poet mentions books of stories and tales
of dragons, gypsies, queens and whales. He
also mentions the books of adventures of
distant shores and treasure islands, of stories
of smugglers and pirates, sailing ships and
elephants.
4
When will children start developing the
habit of reading, according to the poet?
OR
Column ‘B’
a. pants
b. cannibals
c. oars
d. ships
Ans: (i  c); (ii  a); (iii  d); (iv  b)
*3.
Match the columns.
Column ‘A’
i.
muffled
ii. purple
iii. sailing
iv. crouching
What does the poet promise?
Ans: Other activities that can be given to children
other than watching T.V. are asking them to
read books, go out and play outdoor games,
encouraging them to play indoor games too,
enriching their hobbies and interests.
*2.
What type of books do you read in your
free time?
Ans: I like to read books giving scientific
information and general knowledge, jokes and
poems, novels, autobiography, etc. in my free
time.
Chapter 1.1: Television
*3.
Why is excessive watching of T.V. harmful?
[Mar 15]
OR
‘Excessive watching of T.V. is harmful’.
Justify this statement.
Ans: Excessive watching of T.V. is harmful because it
tends to develop various health issues like eye
irritations, headache, issues related to brain. Also
it is waste of time and makes one addicted to it
thereby creating ignorance towards rest of the
world. It also creates ignorance to other activities
like reading, writing, thinking, playing, loitering
with friends, enjoying rest of world, etc.
Children after continuously watching T.V. tend
to just see rather than think about the various
stuff happening around them.
E5.
1.
Vocabulary
Write all the adjectives used to describe the
idiot box in the extract.
Ans: i.
Ridiculous
ii.
Nauseating
iii. Foul
iv. Unclean
v.
Repulsive
2.
Give the rhyme scheme of the following lines.
“And once they start…….ridiculous machine”
Ans: aa bbb
3.
Read the extract and complete the words.
i.
This is on what you sleep.
ii.
This is what sails in the sea.
iii. This is where books are arranged and
kept.
Ans: i.
Bed
ii.
Ship
iii. Bookshelf
E6. Grammar
Explain the figures of speech for the following:
1.
And pirates, wearing purple pants.
Ans: Alliteration: The sound of ‘p’ is repeated for a
pleasing effect.
2.
Go throw your T.V. set away, and in its place
you can install a lovely bookshelf on the wall.
Ans: Climax: The ideas are arranged in ascending
order of importance. Throwing of T.V. and
installation of bookshelf.
3.
And in its place you can install.
Ans: Inversion: Words are not in proper order to
give poetic effect. Correct formation – you can
install in its place.
4.
The screams and yells, the bites and kicks.
Ans: Tautology: Two words of same meaning are
used ‘screams’ and ‘yells’.
Textual Activities
*A1. Look, Observe, See…..
Discuss with your partner and find out the
different words for “look” and refer to a
dictionary to get their meanings.
Ans:
gaze
appear
seem
watch
eyes
stare
observe
peep
glance
*A2. Television
Discuss with your partner and point out all the
advantages and disadvantages of the idiot box
‘Television’.
Ans:
Television
Advantages
Entertainment
Gives
knowledge
through
scientific
channels
Updates about the daily
activities across the
world through news
channels.
Helps keeping abreast
with information and
technology
Gives knowledge about
religions
through
religious channels
Disadvantages
Wastes time
Affects eye sight
Distracts from studies
May lead to physical
disabilities
May mislead through
wrong advertisements
and information
With influence of
action films or serials it
Messenger to pass on
gives rise to violent
the messages across the
acts in the thoughts of
globe
common man (both
children and adults)
*A3. T.V.
Discuss with your partner and answer the
following questions orally.
1.
Why should you keep away from T.V.?
Ans: I should keep away from T.V. because it
would hypnotise me and would involve me
totally in it in such a manner that I would not
find interest in any other thing.
5
Std. X : English 2.
What should you do instead of watching T.V.?
Ans: I should read books of great people, great
inventions, general knowledge or even read
the newspaper instead of watching T.V.
Who, which, how often, how long, why, where
from, what
Ans: 1.
Why
2.
Which
3.
Which
4.
Who
3.
*A7. Jumbled Up
The words are jumbled up. Put them in proper
order to frame questions.
What will you do if you are not allowed to
watch T.V.?
Ans: I would go out and play with my friends if I
am not allowed to watch T.V.
4.
What other things do we do while watching
T.V.?
Ans: We eat, we play indoor games, do household
tasks while watching T.V.
5.
Why is T.V. also called an ‘idiot box’?
Ans: T.V. is also called an ‘idiot box’ because those
who are watching T.V. are idiots since they
flow with the T.V. programme in such a
manner that they ignore rest of the world.
6.
Who invented T.V.?
Ans: Philo Farnsworth invented T.V. in the year 1928.
*A4. Listen
Listen to the poem and answer the following
questions.
1.
Who is the poem addressed to?
Ans: The poem is addressed to the parents whose
children are addicted to television .
2.
What is the message of the poem?
Ans: The message of the poem is to give up
watching T.V.
3.
What is the poet in favour of?
Ans: The poet is in favour of books.
4.
What makes the poem interesting?
Ans: A solution to the problem, a direct comparison
between books and television in a simple and
lucid language and in a rhythmic way makes
the poem interesting.
1.
Poet/what/does/the/tell/poem/in this/?
Ans: What does the poet tell in this poem?
2.
Why/poet/fear/does/not/the/ask us/to/?
Ans: Why does the poet ask us not to fear?
3.
Replace/will/the/television/what/?
Ans: What will replace the television?
4.
Why/children/start/loving/you/will/?
Ans: Why will children start loving you?
5.
Invented/television/the/who/?
Ans: Who invented the television?
*A8. Advantages and Disadvantages
Discuss with your partner and write the two sides
of watching T.V. as presented in the poem.
Ans:
Advantages
Children forget to climb
window sill.
Children do not fight,
kick or punch while
watching T.V.
They leave their parents
free to cook lunch and do
other household activities.
They get entertained by
the songs, dances, movies,
etc. shown on T.V.
*A5. Read the poem from line number 1 to 21
and after discussing with your partner
answer the following questions.
Ans: Refer page nos. 2 and 4.
*A6. Complete
Complete the following with a question word or
phrase. Use the words from the box given below:
1.
2.
3.
4.
6
______ do you watch Television?
______ is your favourite television serial?
______ channel do you like very much?
______ is your favourite television actor or
actress?
Disadvantages
It rots the senses of the
head.
Children are hypnotised
by television.
They just slop and loll
and
lounge
about
without any activity.
It blocks their mind and
freezes their power of
thinking.
It makes a child dull
and blind.
Since
children
are
addicted to watching
T.V. they fail to
inculcate the habit of
reading books.
*A9. Vocabulary
Read the poem and working in pairs complete the
words.
1.
2.
3.
This is what you watch when you switch on
the T.V.
This is where we walk on
This is where dishes are washed
Chapter 1.1: Television
4.
5.
6.
7.
Ans:
You often do this in the kitchen
An act of fighting with fists
You do this with your books
A room to sleep
1.
Screen
2.
Floor
3.
Sink
4.
Cook
5.
Punch
6.
Read
7.
Bedroom
*A12. Repetition
Read the line again and again and discuss with
your partner the following questions.
“They sit and stare and stare and sit”. Discuss:
1.
What is the arrangement of words?
Ans: Arrangement of words is back to back in
reverse order.
2.
Which are the words that are repeated?
Ans: The words ‘sit’ and ‘stare’ are repeated.
*A10. Hating T.V.
Glance through the poem and find out:
1.
The poet’s reasons for hating T.V.
Ans: The poet hates T.V. because it steals away the
innocence of children and kills their
imagination and thinking power.
2.
Behaviour of children while watching T.V.
Ans: While watching T.V. they are glued to one
place till their eye balls do not pop out.
3.
The reason why the parents allow their
children to watch T.V.
Ans: Parents allow their children to watch T.V.
because they can do their household work
without any disturbance.
4.
The suggestions made by the poet.
Ans: Poet suggests that instead of watching T.V.
children can read books.
5.
By watching T.V. the children are deprived
of.
Ans: By watching T.V. the children are deprived of
going out and playing outdoor sports and games.
6.
More joy, according to the poet is in.
Ans: More joy according to the poet is in reading
books of different authors.
*A11. As --------- As
Look at the following lines and discuss
His brain becomes as soft as cheese!
1.
What is compared to what?
Ans: Brain is compared to cheese.
2.
What is common between them?
Ans: Both brain and cheese are soft.
3.
What is the effect of such comparisons?
Ans: This comparison is done to show similarity
between two different things.
4.
What is the figure of speech called?
Ans: Figure of speech is called “Simile”.
3.
What is the effect of such repetition?
Ans: Repetition enhances the musical quality of
poem and the effect of the lines.
4.
What message does the poet want to convey?
Ans: The poet wants to convey that children are
getting addicted to T.V. and ultimately get
isolated from the rest of the world.
5.
What happens when the words are
arranged differently?
Ans: If words are arranged differently, the meaning
or the message to be conveyed gets emphasized.
6.
Find more instances of this type from the
poem.
Ans: i.
Is never, never, never let,
ii.
Until they’re hypnotised by it
Until they’re absolutely drunk.
iii. ‘All right!’ you’ll cry. ‘All right!’ you’ll
say.
iv. They used to read! They’d read and read,
v.
And once they start—oh boy, oh boy!
*A13. Questions and Exclamations
Glance through the poem and you will find that
there are interrogative sentences and exclamations.
1.
Make a list of interrogative sentences and
exclamatory sentences.
Ans:
Interrogative
Exclamatory
To wonder just exactly It rots the sense in the
what this does to your head!
beloved tot?
But if we take the set It kills imagination
away, what shall we do dead!
to entertain our darling
children?....
‘What used the darling It clogs and clutters up
ones to do?’
the mind!
‘How used they keep His brain becomes as
themselves contented. soft as cheese!
Before this monster was
invented?’
7
Std. X : English Have you forgotten?
Don’t you know?
It smells so good, what
can it be?
His power of thinking
rust and freeze!
He cannot think …… he
only sees!
They ….. used ….. to
….. read!
One half their lives was
reading books!
The nursery shelves held
books galore!
And in the bedroom, by
the bed, More books
were waiting to be
read!
2.
Discuss with your friend why the poet has
used these two constructions quite often?
Ans: The poet has used these two constructions
quite often as both interrogative and
exclamatory sentences make the poem more
interactive and interesting even if it is read
alone.
3.
When do you ask questions?
Ans: We ask questions for effectiveness.
4.
When do you use exclamatory sentences?
Ans: Exclamatory sentences are used when we want
to add beauty to the sentence and increase the
poetic effect.
5.
Why has the poet not used plain sentences?
Ans: The poet has not used the plain sentences in order
to make poem more effective and rhythmic.
*A14. Observing a Poem
Just look at the poem from different angles.
1.
Arrangement of the lines
Ans: The whole poem has been arranged in left
alignment.
2.
Use of capital and small
Ans: As per the rule, poet has used the beginning of
lines with capital letter. Moreover, wherever
he feels like to emphasize the words he has
used capital letters in between.
3.
Stanzas
Ans: There are no stanzas in the poem.
4.
Line in brackets
Ans: Through line in brackets, poet has given
examples supporting his thoughts in nonpoetical lines.
8
5.
References
Ans: Poet has given various references in the
poem to make the reader understand who the
characters are in the poem and what they
did?
6.
Use of words
Ans: Keeping children as readers (target audience)
in his mind, poet has used words which are
easy to grasp and understand.
7.
Use of punctuation marks
Ans: Wherever applicable poet
punctuation marks.
has
used
*A15. Rhyming Words
Go through the poem quickly and read it aloud.
1.
Write down the pairs of the rhyming
words.
2.
Try to compose lines of your own with the
same rhyming words.
Ans: 1.
The pairs of rhyming words in the poem
are:
i.
learned  concerned
ii.
let  set
iii. drunk  junk
iv. punch  lunch
v.
sink  think
vi. head  dead
vii. mind  blind
viii. cheese  freeze
ix. tales  whales
x.
shores  oars
xi. pot  hot
xii. hump  rump
xiii. books  looks
xiv. kicks  sticks
xv. boy  joy
xvi. keen  seen
2.
Some of the rhyming lines that can be
created using two sets of words are:
i.
head  dead.
After the children ate his head
He appeared dead.
ii.
pot  hot
Tea was in the pot
But it appeared to be too hot.
Chapter 1.1: Television
*A16. Agree, Disagree, Can’t Say
The poet has made various statements regarding
the children and their parents. Discuss with your
partner and decide whether you agree, disagree
or can’t decide. Put a tick mark in the right
column.
Ans:
Sr.
Statements
Agree Disagree Can’t say
No.
1. The
children

should
be
allowed
to
watch T.V. in
their free time.
2. Children enjoy 
watching T.V.
3. Watching T.V.

affects
imagination
power
of
children
4. T.V.
affects

thinking
capacity
of
children
5. Books
offer

more wonderful
things
6. Replace T.V.
set
by
a
bookshelf
7. The
children
enjoy reading
books more than
watching T.V.


*A17. Be a Poet
The overuse of computer these days deprives us
of a lot of live things of information and
entertainment. Discuss with your partner and
together frame a small poem on ‘Computer’.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Collecting points
Composing lines
Uses and misuses of a
computer
Functions
of
a
computer
Problems created by a
computer
Remember the poem
that you studied in Std.
IX
Consider the use of
rhyming words
Consider the use of
the figures of speech
Put the words in
different order
Try to think of a
message to be given
Ans:
Computers
Computer is a huge pool of information,
Brought humanity ahead with great transformation.
It provides the details that you need,
Isn’t it really very fast indeed!
It can be a real friend and a guide,
If the clicks you make are really wise.
A selection on the screen makes information
unfurled
And here you are abreast with the world.
We can shop online the moment we think
And just like a miracle wish appears in a blink
Ensure it doesn’t make you overindulged
Constantly observing the screen makes your eyes
look bulged.
*A18. Watching T.V. or Reading
Discuss with your partner and decide whether
watching T.V. gives you lot of enjoyment or
reading books.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Ans:
Watching gives you exact picture
Watching T.V. relieves stress
Reading allows you to imagine
You can read at your leisure
Reading takes lot of time to comprehend
Reading books give me a lot of enjoyment.
Apart from providing knowledge, books help
me to visualize and imagine. Though it takes a
little more time to comprehend, I enjoy
unfurling the meanings and sense of the
expressions given in the book. I can read the
books at my convenience, since reading is not
bound to any time limit. Also, it does not need
any additional connections or settings. I am
sure my reading habit will not disturb others. I
feel books are my best and true friends.
9
Model Question Paper ‐ I
MODEL QUESTION PAPER  I
ENGLISH Time: 3 Hours
Total Marks: 80
SECTION ‘I’
(Prose)
(Reading Skills, Vocabulary, Grammar)
Q.1. (A) Read and understand the following passage and complete the following activities.
A1. Complete the following statements with the correct responses:
i.
Henna was introduced in India by the __________.
ii.
The mixture of henna is applied through ___________ in intricate patterns.
iii. Muslims hold the application of henna to be a __________ act.
iv. Henna comes from the leaves of the plant __________.
[10]
(2)
Generally, it is held that Henna was introduced in India by the Mughals in the 12
century AD. The plant is renowned for its medicinal as well as its natural dyeing properties.
Henna is a popular cosmetic used to beautify hands, feet, and the other parts of the body
especially during weddings and festivals. Hindus consider the plant sacred since it is believed
to be dear to Goddess Lakshmi. Muslims hold the application of henna to be a meritorious
act.
Henna comes from the leaves of the plant Lawsonia inermias. The plant grows in hot
and dry climes, and is native to North Africa, the Indian sub-continent and Middle East. The
leaves of the plant are dried and crushed to powder. Various additives such as coffee
decoction, tea, lime juice, mehendi and eucalyptus oil are mixed with the henna powder to
increase the potency of the dye; this also helps to bind the powder to a paste like consistency.
The mixture is applied through cones in intricate patterns depending on the region of use.
A2. Complete the following web describing the things added to henna to increase the
potency of the dye.
(2)
Things added
to Henna
A3. Read the passage and find out the words of similar meaning
i.
colouring
ii.
famous
iii. indigenous
iv. grind
(2)
A4. Frame two sentences of your own using ‘hence’ and ‘for’.
(2)
A5. Why do you think Henna is a popular cosmetic?
(2)
(B)
Read and understand the following passage and complete the following activities.
B1.
State whether the following statements are true or false.
i.
The author’s teacher motivated her to read more.
ii.
The author is in awe of her teacher’s knowledge.
iii. Tha author’s Marathi and Hindi teacher made the subjects boring.
iv. The author did not like her teachers.
[10]
(2)
367
Std. X : English In a way, one of the greatest gifts any teacher can give a student, I think, is to inculcate
a curiosity to learn.
I have been incredibly lucky to have at least one such teacher at every stage in my life.
The first was Mrs. Rowlands who taught me in primary school. She taught me to read without
ever pushing me. She made me want to read more by giving me some of the most interesting
children’s books available. And although I still love to go back to those books from time to
time, it was only because of her that I was able to read Shakespeare by the time I was ten, and
Chaucer a year later.
In later years, it was Mr. A.N. Patil, my Marathi and Hindi teacher who made a huge
impression on me. Every lesson he took, was spiced with half a dozen or more anecdotes
from a wide variety of subjects: among them history, politics, religion and sociology. I was,
and still am in awe of his knowledge, which despite rather desperate attempts, I doubt I’ll
ever be able to match.
There have also been other teachers who helped me to try to become independent: to
think and act for myself using my own judgement, which to my mind has been just as, if not
more important, than actually learning anything. After all, it’s much too easy to become a
completely useless repository of facts and little else.
B2.
Fill in the blanks with appropriate words from the passage.
i.
She taught me to read without ever __________ me.
ii.
B3.
There have also been other teachers who helped me to become ________.
Match the words in column A with the description in column B.
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
Column ‘A’
awe
repository
anecdotes
inculcate
(2)
Column ‘B’
a.
b.
c.
d.
to teach persistently
short stories
fear mingled with respect
a place where a large number of things can be kept or stored
B4.
Combine the following sentences using subordinating conjunctions.
i.
Teachers are next to God. They mould our life.
ii.
My friend told me. We have holiday due to heavy rain.
(2)
B5.
Write your opinion about ‘School is a temple.’
(2)
Q.2. (A) Read the passage and complete the activity given below.
A1. Choose the correct alternative and complete the sentences.
i.
To starch my collar, I had used more ___________ than necessary.
a.
blue
b.
soap
c.
starch
ii.
368
(2)
[10]
(2)
The washerman was by no means noted for his ____________.
a.
work
b.
punctuality c.
cleanliness
The washerman’s bill was heavy and he was also by no means noted for his
punctuality; even two or three dozen shirts and collars proved insufficient for me. Collars had
to be changed daily and shirts, if not daily, at least every alternate day. This meant a huge
expense, which appeared to me unnecessary. So I equipped myself with a washing outfit to
save it. I bought a book on washing, studied the art and taught it to Ba, my wife as well. This
no doubt added to my work, but its novelty made it a pleasure.
I shall never forget the first collar that I starched. I had used more starch than
necessary, the iron had not been made hot enough and for fear of burning the collar, I had not
pressed it sufficiently. The result was that, though the collar was fairly stiff, the superfluous
starch continually dusted the jacket.
I went to court with the collar on, thus inviting the ridicule of brother barristers, but
even in those days I could be impervious to ridicule.
Model Question Paper ‐ I
A2. Provide a meaningful and catchy title to the given passage and justify it.
(2)
A3. Write from the passage the words of similar meaning.
i.
more than required
ii.
not influenced by (something)
(2)
A4. i.
ii.
(1)
(1)
Collars had to be changed daily.
(Change the voice)
I had used more starch than necessary. (Change into positive degree)
A5. What are your impressions of the writer from reading this extract?
(B)
B1.
Read the passage and complete the activity given below.
Choose the correct option and complete the sentence.
i.
One day the horse escaped ________
a.
into the forest
b.
into the hills
c.
ii.
(2)
[10]
(2)
into the valleys
The army forced all the youth to join the army those who were ________
a.
strong and stout
b.
brave
c.
able bodied
There is a story about a chinese farmer who used an old horse to till his field. One day
the horse escaped into the hills. The farmer’s neighbours sympathized with the old man over
his bad luck. The farmer just said, “Bad Luck? Good Luck? Who knows?”
A week later the horse returned with a herd of horses from the hills. This time the
neighbours congratulated the farmer on his good luck. His reply was “Good luck? Bad luck?
Who knows?”
One day the farmer’s son attempted to tame one of the wild horses. He fell off its back
and broke his leg. Every-one thought this was very bad luck. However the farmer’s only
reaction was “Bad luck? Good luck? Who knows?”.
Some weeks later the army marched into the village and forced all the able-bodied
youth they found there to join the army. When they saw the farmer’s son with his broken leg,
they let him off. When the neighbours commented on the good luck of the boy and the
farmer, the farmer only said, “Good luck? Bad luck? Who knows?”
So what do we learn from the farmer’s story? Everything that seems on the surface to
be an evil may be a good thing in disguise. And everything that seems to be good on the
surface may really be evil. However, ignoring external factors like luck and fortune, one must
persevere.
B2.
B3.
Complete the sentences using suitable responses.
i.
The neighbours congratulated the farmer because __________
(2)
ii.
The farmer only said __________
i.
Choose a word from the passage opposite in meaning to the given word.
a.
return
b.
foolish
(1)
ii.
Write the adjectives from the passage which are used for the following nouns.
a.
youth
b.
leg
(1)
B4.
Prepare two ‘Wh’ questions to get the underlined parts as answers.
i.
The army marched into the village.
ii.
The neighbours congratulated the farmer.
(2)
B5.
Do you believe in luck? Give your reasons.
(2)
369
Std. X : English SECTION ‘II’ (Poetry)
Q.3. (A) Read the following extract and attempt the given activities.
A1. Choose the correct alternative and complete the sentence.
i.
We should make money but _________.
a.
hold smile
b.
hold friends
ii.
We should look forward and think __________.
a.
high
b.
low
[5]
(2)
c.
do nothing
c.
always
It’s doing your job the best you can,
And being just to your fellow man;
It’s making money  but holding friends,
And being true to your aims and ends.
It’s figuring how and learning why,
And looking forward and thinking high;
And dreaming a little and doing much,
It’s keeping always in closest touch.
With what is finest in word and deed,
It’s being through, yet making speed;
It’s daring blithely the field of chance,
While making labour a brave romance.
(B)
A2. How do you look upon success?
(2)
A3. Write the pairs of rhyming words from the first stanza.
(1)
Read the following poem and complete the activities.
B1.
Match the words from column ‘A’ with words in column ‘B’.
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
Column ‘A’
soup
apple
grapes
corns
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
[5]
(2)
Column ‘B’
bunches
cold
hot
sauce
choke
I always so enjoy to dine
With whining, little brats;
Who won’t eat half you give them,
they’re persnickety as cats.
The soup’s too hot, the corns too cold,
The pickles make them choke;
They won’t eat meat nor apple sauce,
And naught they’ll drink but coke.
They won’t eat peas, don’t like your bread 
For something in it crunches;
They gag on fat, the gravy’s gross,
They won’t eat grapes in bunches.
370
B2.
Convey a suitable message for children through this poem.
(2)
B3.
Write down the rhyme – scheme of the poem.
(1)
Model Question Paper ‐ I
SECTION ‘III’ (Rapid Reading)
Q.4. Read the given passage and attempt the given activities.
A1. Write down the activities done by the children.
[5]
(1)
I saw the boy one more time.
It was about 8 p.m. on a wet night in August. Our parents had gone out. Mother had
kept our dinner on the dining table. It was too early for us to eat. Akhil and I played carrom.
Neel was reading a comic, Rex whined. He wanted to go out. Neel opened the door for him.
Rex slipped out into the drizzle. We knew he would be somewhere close by, he would come
when called. A good fifteen minutes must have passed when we heard Rex bark. The sound
came from the passage that led to the house.
“Rex,” Neel called, “come here, boy.”
The barking stopped.
Suddenly I became aware of the fact that there was one more person in the room. The
boy. He was standing at the door. He was looking at me with a strange urgency. “Come,’ he
seemed to say. Then he turned and went out of the door.
“Rex!” I said quickly, ‘he is in danger.”
“Naah,” Neel said. “What danger?”
“I do not know. But he needs us.”
Neel stayed where he was. Akhil came with me. We peered out of the net door that
opened into the long passage leading to the kitchen. The passage was lit by a dim bulb that
cast more shadows than light. Rex stood in the passage facing us. A low, deep growl emerged
from his throat. His hackles were up. He was staring fixedly at something just outside the
door.
At first I did not see it. Then a slight swaying movement caught my eye. A low savage
hiss. A black hooded head, raised to attack. My blood turned cold. It was a cobra!
I backed off, slowly.
“Go, tell Neel,” I whispered to Akhil. “Tell him to get help.”
While I waited, I prayed that Rex would not make any sudden move. The cobra would
lash out in swift, sure revenge. I do not know how long I stood there, riveted by the horrifying
tableau being enacted before me. At last I heard footsteps coming along the passage. It was
Mataprasad, the mali, with a solid reassuring stick.
At the sound of his approach, the cobra lowered its head and glided out of a hole in the
wall.
The next day, masons came to seal the hole through which the cobra had slid in. And men in
gumboots armed with scythes and grass-cutting swords cleaned up the compound. They
hacked away at the tall grass.
And what had lain hidden for years surfaced.
For instance we discovered that someone had laid out a badminton court many years ago.
A2. Quickly read the passage and decide on the following.
i.
Characters in the passage
ii.
Non – human characters in the passage
iii. Place of the story
iv. Time of the story
(2)
A3. Write about the climax of the story.
(2)
371
Std. X : English SECTION ‘IV’ (Writing Skills)
Q.5. (A)
Attempt any one of the following letters with the help of given advertisement:
[5]
Club Fitness
Club inauguration on 1st February, 2016, at
Delhi’s Malvia Nagar
Sign up for your annual membership by 10th Feb, 2016 and get
flat 20% off.
For more details contact: +91 22 2548 7325/26/27/28
A1. Write to your friend about the importance of fitness, advising him to take membership
of the gym given in the above advertisement.
OR
A2. Write a letter to the manager of the gym, asking for more details of the membership.
(B)
Attempt any one of the following:
[5]
Adult Literacy Programme
From: 1 January, 2016 to 31st March, 2016
Timings: 06:00 p.m. to 09:00 p.m. – Monday to Saturday
Objective: To improve the Literacy rate in the city and to encourage students
participation in social service activities.
st
B1.
Report Writing
Your school has begun an Adult Literacy Programme on its premises every evening.
Write a report based on the details given in the above notice.
OR
B2.
Dialogue Writing
Develop a dialogue between you and your mother, discussing about the benefits of
the Adult Literacy Programme that has been organized by your school.
Q.6 (A) Attempt any one of the following:
A1. Information Transfer (Non verbal to Verbal)
Look at the following web showing ‘Uses of the trees’. Write a paragraph using the
information.
Flowers
Rain
Uses of Trees
Cosmetics
372
Wood
Fuel
Fruits
Medicine
Furniture
[5]
Model Question Paper ‐ I
OR
A2. Read the given information and fill the table provided: (Verbal to Non verbal)
Sinhagad or Sinhgad meaning Lion Fort, is one of the famous forts in Maharashtra of the
Chatrapati Shivaji's period. It is a fortress located roughly 30 kilometres away from the city
of Pune. It is a popular tourist attraction and many city buses and private vehicles are
available which take visitors regularly, especially in weekends and holidays. Government
buses and pre-paid taxies also ply regularly. It is only 30 km from Pune railway station. The
journey takes one and half hour. The accommodation is not a serious problem at Sinhagad.
Many private hotels and lodges are available at the foot of the fort. The cost of
accommodation is affordable. The statue of Tanaji is the main attraction for the tourists.
Given natural protection by its very steep slopes, the walls and bastions were constructed at
only key places; it has two gates – the Kalyan Darwaza in the south-east and the Pune
Darwaza in the north-east. You can see various fields of rice from the Kalyan Darvaja.The
curd and 'zunka bhakar' is the speciality of this place. Shiv Jayanti and Tanaji's birth
anniversary are celebrated on a grand scale.
Name of the place:
Mode of transport:
Food:
Sightseeing:
Accomodation:
Speciality:
Events:
(B)
Attempt any one of the following:
[5]
World Health Day
When it’s about Global Health, there is no ‘THEM’; it’s only ‘US’
Eat Vegetables, Live Longer!
April 7, 2016
B1.
B2.
Speech
Your school has organised an elocution competition on World Health Day. Prepare a speech
on based on the above notice.
OR
View and Counter view.
Express your counterviews about ‘Television - An Idiot Box’. Give arguments for the below
views.
*
It is a waste of time.
*
Studies of children are affected.
*
Unreasonable content is shown.
Q.7. Attempt any one of the following:
A1. Expand the ideas contained in any one of the following.
i. Value of Time in Life.
ii. Are we happier than our forefathers?
OR
A2. Develop a story in about 80-100 words with the following ending. Give a suitable title:
_______ It was amazing how she caught the thief. She was indeed a very brave girl.
[5]
373
Board Question Paper : March 2016
BOARD QUESTION PAPER : MARCH 2016 Time: 3 Hours
Q.1. (A)
A1.
Max. Marks: 80
(ACTIVITY SHEET)
SECTION  I
(Reading Skills, Grammar and Vocabulary (Prose))
Read the following passage carefully and complete the activities given below:
Complete
Complete the web with words given in the passage:
[10 marks]
(2)
Effects of Floods
During the devastating July 2005 floods that hit Mumbai, Rajen Dutia received an urgent
call from a relative, Lopa Vyas, late in the evening, “A friend’s mother is stranded near your
home, Rajen. Can you please take her home? Her name is Rashmi,” Vyas told him.
Mumbai had come to a halt and people were trapped everywhere. Despite power failure and
raging rain, Dutia stepped out and made his way to the spot, where he found Rashmi as well as a
dozen other people. They were stranded in the dark, shivering in the rain. They all lived far away
and had no place to go for the night.
Rajen took all of them to his one-bedroom flat, where he served them dinner and invited
them to spend the night.
“By doing so,” says Rajen, “I was simply fulfilling my karma, paying the universe back for
the good it had done for me.”
“God is kind. My daughter had just started her new job that day, and had gone for her
training. She was stranded too. While she was trying to get to our relatives, she almost drowned,
but a young stranger saved her. He and his friends even dropped her to my relative’s place and
phoned me to say she was safe. One good turn deserves another.”
A2.
Order
Look at the following sentences from the passage and put them in the correct sequence:
(a)
He took them to his one-bedroom flat.
(b)
Rajen found Rashmi as well as a dozen other people shivering in the rain.
(c)
Mumbai had come to a halt and people were trapped everywhere.
(d)
Rajen Dutia received an urgent call.
A3(i) Fill in the blanks:
Select the words given in the passage:
(1) Thousands of pilgrims were _______ due to the cloud burst in Uttarakhand
(2) The tiger was _______ by the hunter.
(ii) Antonyms:
Select the correct antonyms for the given words from the alternatives:
(1) Please:
(a)
unplease
(b) displease (c) misplease
(2) Safe:
(a)
insafe
(b) safeless
(c) unsafe
A4(i) Tags:
Select the correct tag from the alternatives given below:
One good turn deserves another.
(a) doesn’t it?
(b) don’t it?
(c) does it?
(2)
(1)
(1)
(1)
413
Std. X : English (ii) Guess:
Choose the correct answer:
Rajen can you please take her home? ‘Can’ indicates:
(a) obligation
(b) ability
(c) permission
(1)
A5.
Personal Response:
‘One good turn deserves another.’
Explain with an example of you own.
(2)
(B)
B1.
Read the following passage carefully and complete the activities given below:
[10 marks]
Select
Look at the balloons. Which are the qualities inculcated in the author by her teacher? Write
them.
(2)
Hard
work
Fairness
Kindness
Regularity
Justice
Tolerance
Qualities
B2.
B3.
Sister Monica, however, wasn’t quite as lenient as that, and spent most of the time telling
me about the importance of regularity and hard work. She made me realise that success is, like
genius, 99 per cent perspiration and 1 per cent inspiration. It’s a lesson that had stood me in good
stead.
The teachers I’m most grateful to, though, are not those who have taught me the most, but
those who have simply been friends to me, believed me and believed in me. Prominent among
them is Sudha Ramasubramanium  Rambo, as we used to call her. I didn’t know her too well.
She taught me in college, and apart from being incredible in class unless one missed class, she
also believed that I actually had a problem when I developed an injury (which several doctors
found difficult to diagnose). Despite my missing an exam  the HSC, of all exams  she was the
only person who told me to concentrate on my health and assured me that I could take the exam
off the top of my head any time I wanted to.
I’m not even certain she remembers it, but at the time, it felt like one of the only rays of
hope in an extremely dark tunnel. Perhaps few teachers realize how far their influence extends or
how much of a difference their actions and words can make. A number of my teachers have
unfortunately taught me kindness and tolerance and patience by being precisely the opposite, and
quite obviously, they aren’t the people I like to think about. But many of my teachers have been
extraordinary people, who have not only taught me in class but also helped mould me and my
character in every other way. I only hope that I live up to what their endeavours were undoubtedly
meant to create.
Answer:
(1) What kind of teachers are disliked by the author?
(2) What was Sudha Ramasubramanium’s advice to the author when she was going to miss her
HSC exam.?
(1)
Match:
Match the words with their appropriate meanings:
(2)
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
414
‘A’
Prominent
Incredible
Diagnose
Endeavours
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
‘B’
Treatment
Natural
Unbelievable
Noticeable
Efforts
Identify a disease
(1)
Board Question Paper : March 2016
B4. (i) ‘Wh question’
She made me realize that success is, like genius.
(Frame a ‘Wh’ question to get the underlined part as an answer).
(ii) She taught me in college.
(Begin the sentence with ‘I’ and rewrite).
B5. Personal Response
Do you agree that a teacher should also be your good friends?
Q.2. (A)
A1.
(1)
(2)
Read the following passage carefully and complete the activities given below:
Guess
Select the correct alternatives from the boxes:
(1) The Olympic Games were originally held in honour of:
(a)
The Priests
(b)
The Greeks
(c)
The Spartans
(d)
Zeus
(2)
(3)
(4)
A2.
(1)
The Olympics were held after every:
(a)
Year
(b)
Four years
(c)
Two years
Three years
(d)
All came to know of Olympia from the:
(a)
Olympics
(b)
Spartans
(c)
(d)
Athenians
Altis was the name of a:
(a)
God
(b)
Race
(c)
(d)
Enclosure
Syracusans
Festival
[10 marks]
Olympia, the original site of Olympic Games in ancient Greece is situated in a quiet,
beautiful valley. The old ruins are shaded by evergreen oaks, pines and poplars, as well as olive
trees. Olympia was never a city but a sacred ground occupied by temples and dwellings for the
priests. At the centre was the enclosure known as Altis, dedicated to Zenus, the god of gods. It
was in honour of Zeus that the quadrennial festival and the games were held.
The fame of Olympia rests largely upon Olympic Games. They were a great national
festival of the entire Greek race. During the week of the festival the Athenians, the Spartans, the
Syracusans and other groups, all forgot their narrow identities. They regarded an Olympic victory
as the highest honour. The simple reward of a twig of wild olive immortalized the victor and his
family.
The Olympic Games were held regularly in peace and in war at an interval of four years for
over a thousand years from 776 B.C. till 393 A.D.
Originally, men who spoke Greek as their mother tongue were allowed to compete in the
Olympic Games. No married women were allowed to be present. The athletic programme was
varied by the presence of historians, orators and writers. After each event a herald announced the
victor’s name and handed him a palm. On the last day the successful competitors were each given
a garland of wild olive.
Select
Select one word each from the circle which mean the following:
(1) Occurring at the interval of four years
(2) Wreckage
ancient
ruins
(3) Take part in a game
quadrennial
(4) One who wins.
enclosure
valley
victor
palm
(2)
(2)
compete
415
Std. X : English A3.
Complete:
Complete the table and frame your sentence with any one word:
Noun
A4.
(i)
(ii)
Verb
The old ruins are shaded by evergreen oaks, pines and poplars as well as olive trees.
(Insert not only _______ but also and rewrite).
No married women were allowed to be present. (Remove ‘No’ and rewrite the sentence
without changing its meaning)
(1)
(1)
A5.
Personal Response
How are the winners in Olympics rewarded today?
(B)
B1.
Read the following passage carefully and complete the activities given below:
[10 marks]
Choose
Choose the correct alternatives and complete the sentences
(2)
(1) The narrator is:
(a) an astronaut (b)
an engineer studying in BITS Pilani
(c) in the team of astronauts.
(2) Armstrong said, “That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind which means:
(a) one step on the moon means, many steps on the earth.
(b) he felt like a giant on the moon.
(c) one moon mission had opened up many avenues in science and technology for mankind.
It was late evening of July 20, 1969, when we turned up the hostel radio. I was an
engineering student at BITS, Pilani. I still remember the feverish excitement that gripped up from
July 16 when Apollo 11, the US space rocket, took off from Cape Kennedy, Florida. Neil
Armstrong and his team of astronauts, Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin and Michael Collins, were to land on
moon, for the first time in human history. We listened with rapt attention when Armstrong
declared: “That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.”
His death on Saturday, August 25, is a moment to salute the romance of space science that
Apollo 11 unleashed. It has changed forever the way we look at our planet Earth and its satellite,
the moon.
Standing on powdery moondust, Armstrong put up his thumb, shut one eye and found his
thumb blotting out the Earth. “It suddenly struck me that that tiny pea, pretty and blue, was the
Earth,” he said later. “I felt very, very small.” But behind that humbling realization stood a giant
truth: The effort to explore the universe united mankind in technology and knowledge. Each moon
mission, about 110 till date, provided more confidence to take on bolder projects.
Complete
(2)
(1) Armstrong describes the earth as _______
(2) The effort to explore the universe has _______
(3) Apollo 11 unleashed and changed forever _______
(4) The author came to know about Apollo 11 mission when he _______
B2.
B3.
Solve
Solve the crossword with the clues given below. Refer to the passage for your answers:
U
416
Adjective
beautiful
(2)
N
I
V
E
R
1
S
3
A
E
2
A
(2)
(2)
Board Question Paper : March 2016
Down:
(1)
(2)
Across: (3)
(4)
B4.
B5.
The area beyond the earth’s atmosphere.
The name of the spacecraft that Armstrong travelled.
A person trained to travel in space.
A natural satellite of the earth.
Begin the Sentence
(i)
With  For the first time _______ and rewrite
Neil Armstrong, Edwin Aldrin and Michael Collins were, to land on the moon for the first
time.
(ii) Insert ‘that’ appropriately and rewrite.
Armstrong found his thumb blotting out the Earth.
Personal Response
Would you like to be an astronaut? Give reasons.
(1)
(1)
(2)
(SECTION  II : Poetry)
Q.3. (A)
A1.
Read the following extract carefully and complete the activities given below:
Saving Motherland
I can save my motherland by putting an end to ….
[5 marks]
(2)
Republic Day ! We grow aware
That nothing can be wrought by prayer
– Prop of the credulous – until
It is supported everywhere
By an all-powerful people’s will !
We have been witness in the past to sights impossible to bear:
A2.
A3.
Famine and drought and dread and doom
Continue still to spread the gloom
Of humans turned to skeletons, to shriveled bags of naked bones …..
MAY EVERY Indian’s heart become
An unafraid announcing drum
Echoing and re-echoing a new hope and a new desire
To burn up rubbish-heaps of hate,
Once and for all. Time cannot wait!
Burn up all selfish aims and ends in a great nation’s cleansing fire!
Let India’s millions chant in chorus:
A mighty future stands before us–
Down with all ruthless tyranny, down with all exploitation which
Renders the poor the poorer–and renders the bloated rich, more rich!
How does the poet express the condition of people during famines and droughts?
(2)
Match:
Match the line with the figure of speech:
(1)
(i)
(ii)
‘A’
Drought and dread and doom
Time cannot wait
(a)
(b)
(c)
‘B’
Personification
Alliteration
Metaphor
417
Std. X : English (B)
B1.
Read the following extract carefully and complete the activities given below:
What does the poet want us to do in the following situation?
(a) While struggling _______
(b) While making money _______
(c) While dreaming _______
(d) While losing _______
[5 marks]
(2)
It’s doing your job the best you can,
And being just to your fellow man;
It’s making money–but holding friends,
And being true to your aims and ends.
It’s figuring how and learning why,
And looking forward and thinking high;
And dreaming a little and doing much,
It’s keeping always in closest touch.
With what is finest in word and deed,
It’s being through, yet making speed;
B2.
B3.
Q.4. (A)
A1.
418
It’s daring blithely the field of chance,
While making labour a brave romance.
It’s going onward despite defeat
And fighting staunchly, but keeping sweet;
It’s struggling on with the will to win,
But taking loss with a cheerful grin.
Achieving Success
Hints given by the poet to become successful are:
(a) doing your job the best
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
Poetic Device
Select the appropriate rhyme scheme for the 3rd stanza.
(1) abab
(2) aabb
(3) aaba
(2)
(1)
(SECTION  III : Rapid Reading)
Read the passage carefully and complete the activities given below:
[5 marks]
True or False
State whether the following statements are true or false:
(1)
(1) The author’s new house was situated at Bangalore.
(2) The writer was delighted because their new house, was the biggest they ever lived.
One of the advantages of growing up in an Army household was the frequency with which
we move. ‘Postings’ came with predictable regularity every three years. What was unpredictable
and therefore exciting was the suspense. Where would we go this time? Ambala, Pune, Dehradun,
Allahabad, Tejpur, Bangalore, Yo! … In my short span of thirteen years we had moved lock,
stock and barrel eleven times!
Every move meant a change. New journeys, new places, new schools, my new books, new
uniforms, new friends and new houses. We lived in tents, bashas, Nissen huts, flats and
bungalows. No matter what the shape and size of the dwelling, mother soon put her own special
stamps on it and transformed it into a familiar place  our home  complete with bright yellow
curtains, coffee-brown carpet, assorted pictures, hanging ferns and potted palms  providing a
comforting sense of continuity in our essentially nomadic life.
I was thirteen, the year we moved to the Cantonment at Allahabad. In stark contrast to the
razzle-dazzle of the city’s commercial areas like Katra and Chowk, the cantonment was a quiet,
orderly place with broad tree-lined roads that still carried the names of long-dead Britishers. Our
bungalow was on a sleepy by-lane called MacPherson Road. When we first saw it, my brothers
and I were delighted. It was by far the biggest house we had ever lived in. The task of furnishing
those huge, echoing rooms daunted Mother.
Board Question Paper : March 2016
A2.
Compare
(1) The broad tree-lined roads were named after _______.
(2) Katra and Chowk are _______.
(3) Mother was daunted with the task of _______.
(4) The suspense was exciting because the posting was _______.
A3.
Personal Response
What do you think are the problems faced by those who change households frequently?
(2)
(2)
(SECTION  IV : Writing Skills)
Q.5. (A)
A1.
Do any one of the following activities:
Letter Writing
Look at the notice issued by the Supervisor of your school.
[5 marks]
Picnic To Lonavale
Contribution ` 500
Spots to be visited : Wax Museum, Narayanidham, Dams, Duke’s Nose
Enjoy scenic beauty, pleasant weather.
Need to carry : Water bottle, proper clothing, caps, essential medicines, snacks for your taste.
Start : 7.30 a.m. from school
Return : 9.30 p.m. to school.
A2.
You stay in a Hostel. Write a letter to your daddy asking permission to go for the picnic. Also,
request him to give you the necessary amount.
OR
30% Water cut
Mumbai: Due to major repairs of pipeline in Dadar and nearby areas, 30% water cut will be
implemented for G (N) and (S) wards. Citizens are requested to use water carefully and store
water for a day. Water supply will resume on Sunday night. Do not panic.
Write a letter to the Secretary of your Housing Society informing him about the news and drawing
his attention to the problem. Request him to take the necessary steps.
(B)
B1.
Do any one of the following activities:
[5 marks]
Report Writing
Human Rights department had arranged a programme to save the rights of a child in your
locality. Write a report for the newspaper using the hints.
HINTS
Free
Education
Insurance
B2.
Facilities for
the parents
Equal rights
Free text-books,
note-books etc.
Free medical
treatment
OR
Dialogue writing
Look at the following News Headline and develop a dialogue between you and your friend. Use
the points given in the call-outs.
MASTER-blaster’s last innings.
Bharat
Ratna
Versatile
player
Records broken
Awards piled
Teenage
icon
Mixed feelings
Citizen’s pride
419
Std. X : English Q.6. (A)
A1.
DO any one of the following activities:
Information Transfer (Non-verbal to verbal)
[5 marks]
Transfer the following information into a paragraph form.
Manuscripts collected from both students and teachers.
Throughly screened, necessary additions, alterations, omissions are made.
Preparing a rough draft
Manuscripts along with a dummy sent to the printer.
Proof correction
Sent for final printing
A2.
(B)
B1.
OR
Here are some tips about keeping healthy as given in a science magazine. Read and write in
the form of Do’s and Don’ts (table):
You must include vegetables and fruits in your diet and drink a lot of water. You should
avoid junk food and aerated water. You shouldn’t sit for long periods of time. Rather you should
exercise regularly. You shouldn’t ignore the importance of good breathing habits. Try breathing
deeply whenever you think of it. See to it that you sleep for at least 7 hours a day. In fact, you
should avoid irregular timings.
Do any one of the following activities:
[5 marks]
Speech
Prepare a speech to be delivered by you on ‘Environment Day’ Celebration in your school, laying
stress on conserving the environment.
Excessive use
of nature
Neglecting the
threat of nature
Imbalance
environment
B2.
Q.7. (A)
A1.
A2.
420
Deforestation
Tsunami the best
example
OR
View and Counterviews
View: Progress of mankind depends on deforestation.
Counterview:
(a) Rising population
(b) wild-life affected
(c) Global warming
(d) Flora and fauna endangered.
Do any one of the following activities:
[5 marks]
Expansion of ideas (any one)
(1) Dishonesty never pays in the long run. (2) Time and tide wait for none.
OR
Develop a story having one of the above ideas as a moral. Give a suitable title to your story.