SECTION – A
1. Answer any Two of the following in about 100 words each.
2 × 4 = 8
a) Such was the Indian concept of hospitality once upon a time.
This line refers to the traditional Indian custom of hospitality, which has been deeply ingrained in the cultural fabric of the country for centuries. The phrase “Atithi Devo Bhava” (Guest is God) highlights the reverence with which guests were treated. In ancient times, Indian hospitality was not just about providing food and shelter but also extending warmth, respect, and honor to guests. This concept was reflected in various epics and scriptures, where offering shelter and care to guests was considered a sacred duty, regardless of their social or economic status.
b) Individual liberty would have become social anarchy.
This statement reflects the delicate balance between individual freedom and social order. If individual liberty were taken to an extreme without any social constraints, it could result in chaos or anarchy. Individual liberty allows people to act according to their own will, but unchecked, it can infringe upon others’ rights and disrupt social harmony. Therefore, the concept of individual liberty must coexist with social responsibilities, ethical values, and the rule of law to ensure that freedom does not lead to societal breakdown.
c) You’re planning a gratuitous double, so to speak.
In this phrase, “gratuitous double” suggests an unnecessary or excessive repetition of something. The speaker is likely pointing out that a particular action, decision, or gesture is redundant or lacks necessity. A “double” refers to repeating something that has already been done or planned, and “gratuitous” emphasizes that this repetition serves no significant purpose. In a broader sense, it could reflect a critique of over-complicating a situation where simplicity or a single action would have sufficed.
2. Answer any Two of the following in about 100 words each.
2 × 4 = 8
a) ____I slowly took out the least little grain of corn and gave it to thee.
This line reflects an act of selflessness and generosity. The speaker describes offering a very small amount—”the least little grain of corn”—to someone else, indicating humility and a sense of giving despite limited resources. The act, though modest, could symbolize the value of small gestures in relationships or life. It could also imply that true generosity does not require grand gestures but is rooted in the intention behind the act, showing that even a little can be meaningful if offered with care.
b) If it dies, we die as well!
This phrase speaks to the interconnectedness of life. It could represent a metaphor for the bond between humanity and the natural world or other living beings. The speaker is emphasizing that the death or destruction of something vital—be it the environment, a cause, or a relationship—would lead to the downfall of humanity as well. It conveys the idea that everything in life is interconnected, and the harm caused to one part can have catastrophic consequences for the whole.
c) What I am, and what I ought to be,
This phrase reflects the tension between one’s current state and the ideal version of oneself. It suggests an internal struggle or reflection about the difference between personal reality and moral or aspirational standards. The speaker may be grappling with the expectations placed upon them or contemplating their potential versus their present circumstances. This line touches on themes of self-improvement, societal roles, and the desire to fulfill one’s true purpose.
3. Answer any Two of the following questions in about 100 words each.
2 × 4 = 8
a) Narrate two memories of Kalam, related to eating.
Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, in his autobiography, recalls two significant memories related to food. First, he talks about his childhood in Rameswaram, where his mother would cook food with love and care, making simple meals like “sambar” and rice. Another memory is when he visited a village in the desert and was given food by the locals. Despite being poor, they shared what little they had. Kalam cherished these moments, seeing them as a reflection of the deep cultural respect for hospitality and sharing.
b) Describe some of the major achievements of Saina Nehwal in badminton.
Saina Nehwal is one of India’s greatest badminton players. She achieved a major milestone by becoming the first Indian woman to win a bronze medal at the Olympics (2012 London Olympics). Saina has also won numerous titles, including 24 international titles and reaching as high as World No. 1 in the Badminton World Federation (BWF) rankings. Her victory at the 2010 Commonwealth Games and her consistent performance in major tournaments have made her an icon in Indian sports and an inspiration for young athletes.
c) Why does Shaw assert that it is absurd to say that all native speakers of English speak correctly?
George Bernard Shaw asserts that it is absurd to claim that all native speakers of English speak correctly because the English language itself is highly irregular and inconsistent. There are numerous dialects, accents, and variations in pronunciation and grammar across different regions, even among native speakers. For example, the British and American variations of English differ significantly in vocabulary, spelling, and pronunciation. Shaw emphasizes that the concept of “correct” English is subjective and depends on context, region, and social conventions rather than a universal standard.
4. Answer any Two of the following questions in about 100 words each.
2 × 4 = 8
a) How does the beauty of Golconda queens kindle the pomegranate groves?
The beauty of the Golconda queens is described as being so profound that it has a lasting impact on nature. The imagery of the queens’ beauty is linked to the flourishing of pomegranate groves, suggesting that their grace and charm are so powerful that they inspire nature itself to bloom. This could be symbolic of how beauty and art can inspire life and creativity in all forms, including the natural world. The pomegranate groves may represent fertility, abundance, and the enduring influence of the queens’ legacy.
b) ‘To stop all this mess…’ What does the poet mean by ‘all this mess’? Explain in a paragraph.
In this line, the poet is expressing frustration or a desire to end the confusion, chaos, or disorder surrounding a situation. “All this mess” could refer to any kind of turmoil, whether it is a societal issue, personal conflict, or emotional turmoil. The poet might be calling for a resolution to the confusion or an end to a situation that is making life difficult. It emphasizes the need for clarity, peace, or order in the midst of overwhelming circumstances. The phrase underscores the human desire for simplicity and peace amidst chaos.
c) ‘My little horse must think it queer’. What does ‘it’ refer to?
In this line from Robert Frost’s “Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening,” “it” refers to the “harness” that the speaker’s horse is wearing. The horse is accustomed to traveling on familiar roads and paths, but the situation described in the poem—stopping in the woods, at night, in the snow—seems unusual and out of place for the horse. The horse likely finds the setting strange, which is why the speaker imagines it thinking that the situation is “queer,” meaning odd or unusual.
5. Answer any Two of the following questions in about 100 words each.
2 × 4 = 8
a) Describe the approach of the mother to the old man, who requested them to help him.
In the story, the mother approaches the old man with empathy and kindness. When he asks for help, she does not hesitate but immediately offers him assistance. Her approach is one of warmth and compassion, reflecting her nurturing nature. Even though the family may not have much, she understands the importance of helping those in need. Her willingness to help the old man highlights the values of generosity and selflessness, which are central to the moral lessons of the story.
b) Describe how Pahom became more and more greedy as the story progresses.
In the story “How Much Land Does a Man Need?” by Leo Tolstoy, Pahom starts as a man dissatisfied with his life and desiring more land. Initially, he believes that acquiring land will bring him happiness, but as he acquires more, his greed grows. He is never content with what he has and continuously seeks to expand his holdings. His greed becomes insatiable, leading him to make foolish decisions, including taking on more land than he can manage. Ultimately, his greed leads to his downfall, showing that the pursuit of wealth can lead to destruction if unchecked.
c) What did Suren find in Sudhir’s hands? Describe it in detail.
In the story, Suren finds a small, intricately crafted idol in Sudhir’s hands. The idol is a representation of a deity, made with great care and attention to detail. It is symbolic of Sudhir’s deep devotion and religious faith. Suren’s discovery of the idol reveals Sudhir’s inner spirituality and the sincerity with which he practices his faith. The idol may also serve as a metaphor for Sudhir’s character—pure, humble, and deeply connected to his beliefs. This discovery has a profound impact on Suren, who gains insight into his friend’s true nature.
SECTION – B
V. Answer ANY ONE of the questions in about 25-30 lines. 1 x 8 = 8
a) Did Bob and Wells value their friendship? How do you know?
Yes, Bob and Wells did value their friendship, as demonstrated by their actions throughout the story. Despite facing difficult circumstances, they both show care and concern for each other. Bob is deeply attached to Wells and is willing to go to great lengths to ensure Wells’ happiness and well-being. Their friendship is built on mutual respect, trust, and shared experiences. When Bob is in a position of power, he doesn’t hesitate to use it for Wells’ benefit. Their friendship is not just based on surface-level interactions but reflects a deeper emotional bond that holds strong even in challenging situations. This is evident when Bob expresses feelings of guilt and regret over the way he had treated Wells, which reveals how much he values their relationship. The sacrifices made by each friend for the other’s happiness further emphasize their commitment to the friendship. In conclusion, Bob and Wells’ actions clearly show that they value their friendship deeply, as they prioritize each other’s welfare and emotional needs.
b) How did Datta know that the photograph was very valuable to the customer? Why did he have to reject many of the photographs from his collection while looking for a substitute photograph?
Datta knew that the photograph was valuable to the customer because of the way the man reacted upon seeing it. The customer’s immediate and intense interest in the photograph gave Datta the clue that it had a special significance, possibly a personal or emotional attachment. As Datta went through his collection, he understood that only a photograph with the right qualities—whether in subject, composition, or emotional resonance—could serve as a suitable substitute. He had to reject many of the photographs because they didn’t meet the specific requirements or qualities that the customer seemed to seek. The photographs he rejected likely lacked the emotional value or the artistic elements that would resonate with the customer’s needs. Datta’s rejection of these photographs showed his understanding of the unique nature of the customer’s request and his attempt to find something truly valuable and meaningful.
c) How did Bepin Babu normally react when Chunilal came to see him? What made him change his mind about meeting Chunilal this time? What was the result of the meeting?
Normally, Bepin Babu would react coldly and dismissively when Chunilal came to see him. He would often treat Chunilal with indifference, not showing much interest in his visits. However, this time, Bepin Babu changed his mind about meeting Chunilal because of a strange incident. Chunilal’s persistence and his mention of a shared past—a time when Bepin Babu was in a different town—prompted Bepin to reconsider his usual behavior. He became curious about why Chunilal seemed to know so much about him. When they finally met, Bepin Babu was shocked by the revelations and realized that his memories were not as clear as he had thought. This led to a surprising twist in the story, where Bepin Babu discovered that he had been suffering from amnesia and had forgotten important parts of his past. The meeting forced Bepin Babu to confront the truth about his own memory loss and reassess his relationship with Chunilal, who had been more than just a casual acquaintance.
VI. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:
5 x 1 = 5
Fathers may have a bigger role in their children’s language development than was previously suspected. A study was conducted in North Carolina, USA, on 67 toddlers whose (both) parents were working. The tots whose fathers used a bigger vocabulary with them at age two scored higher on a language test a year later. The study did not find that the mother vocabulary significantly affected the results.
- According to the study, which parent played a bigger role in the development of the child’s vocabulary?
The father played a bigger role in the development of the child’s vocabulary according to the study. - Where was the study conducted?
The study was conducted in North Carolina, USA. - Pick out 2 words in the passage which mean ‘small children.’
The two words are “toddlers” and “tots.” - Write the antonym of ‘bigger.’
The antonym of “bigger” is “smaller.” - Write True or False: The study showed that mothers played a more important role than the father in the development of the child’s vocabulary.
False.
VII. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:
5 x 1 = 5
Variety may be the spice of life, but it can also lead to overeating. When you have a lot of choices for a meal, it’s easier to slip out of good eating habits and into bad ones. When you sit down at a dinner and are presented with a menu that’s the size of a phone book, it’s easy to give in. One way to help: Eliminate the choices for at least one meal a day. No one wants to get bored with food. But if you make this a habit for at least one meal a day, it will decrease your temptations and help you to stop thinking about food so often.
- What method is suggested here to avoid overeating?
The method suggested to avoid overeating is to eliminate the choices for at least one meal a day. - Write True or False: When we see a wide variety of food we are tempted to eat more.
True. - Write the antonym of ‘decrease.’
The antonym of “decrease” is “increase.” - Pick the word in the passage which means ‘get rid of” or ‘remove.’
The word is “eliminate.” - It is easy to give in. In this context the sentence means (choose the best answer):
b. It is easy to yield to temptation and overeat.
VIII. Fill in the blanks with ‘a’, ‘an’ or ‘the’ :
6 x 1/2 = 3
a) I waited for an hour at the station.
Explanation: “Hour” begins with a vowel sound, so “an” is used.
b) The Musi river has become polluted.
Explanation: “The” is used before the name of a specific river.
c) Aditya wanted to study in a university that offered a variety of courses.
Explanation: “University” begins with a consonant sound “y”, so “a” is used.
d) The earth is round.
Explanation: “The” is used before unique things, like “earth.”
e) Raghu saw a yellow umbrella at the shop.
Explanation: “Yellow” begins with a consonant sound, so “a” is used.
f) Sheela offered an apple to each of her guests.
Explanation: “Apple” begins with a vowel sound, so “an” is used.
IX. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions:
6 x 1/2 = 3
a) My friend was angry with me.
Explanation: “Angry” is followed by the preposition “with.”
b) Renu saw a cockroach in the kitchen.
Explanation: “In” is used for something inside a place.
c) All, except Seenu, went to the picnic.
Explanation: “Except” is used to indicate exclusion.
d) Venkat is fond of mangoes.
Explanation: “Fond” is followed by the preposition “of.”
e) As it was raining, Sneha rushed into the house.
Explanation: “Into” is used when entering a place.
f) Vanaja left the sweets for her brother.
Explanation: “For” is used to indicate the recipient of something.
X. Fill in the blanks with suitable forms of the verbs given in brackets:
5 x 1 = 5
a) When Prabhu reached the airport he found that the plane had left. (leave)
Explanation: The past perfect tense is used to indicate that the action happened before another action in the past.
b) The children are sleeping, so do not talk loudly. (sleep)
Explanation: “Are sleeping” is the present continuous form, as it refers to something happening right now.
c) Last year at this time we were enjoying ourselves in Ooty. (enjoy)
Explanation: “Were enjoying” is the past continuous tense, indicating an ongoing action in the past.
d) There is a nice hotel in our town. (be)
Explanation: “Is” is the correct form of the verb “be” for a singular subject.
e) The doctor advised the lady to go for a walk every day. (advise)
Explanation: “Advised” is the correct past tense form of the verb “advise.”
XI. Rewrite the sentences as directed :
5 x 1 = 5
a) The boy bought a blue shirt in the shop. (Rewrite starting with ‘A blue shirt…**)
Answer: A blue shirt was bought by the boy in the shop.
Explanation: Passive voice is used here.
b) Balu said, “I am reading a book now.” (Change to indirect speech)
Answer: Balu said that he was reading a book then.
Explanation: In indirect speech, the tense changes from present continuous to past continuous.
c) Few other leaders are as famous as Nehru. (Rewrite using ‘most famous’)
Answer: Nehru is the most famous leader.
Explanation: “Most famous” is used to compare Nehru to all other leaders.
d) Sita is pretty. She is intelligent. (Combine the sentences using ‘Not only…but also’)
Answer: Sita is not only pretty but also intelligent.
Explanation: The sentence is combined using the structure “Not only…but also.”
e) Abdul can swim. (Add question tag)
Answer: Abdul can swim, can’t he?
Explanation: The question tag for a positive sentence in the present tense is “can’t he?”
XII. Rewrite the following sentences correcting the underlined part. The entire sentence must be written.
5 x 1 = 5
a) The books has been kept on the table.
Corrected: The books have been kept on the table.
Explanation: “Books” is plural, so “have” should be used instead of “has.”
b) The old man was died yesterday.
Corrected: The old man died yesterday.
Explanation: The verb “die” is intransitive and does not require “was.”
c) Kavita is the more intelligent girl in the class.
Corrected: Kavita is the most intelligent girl in the class.
Explanation: “Most” is used for the superlative form, not “more.”
d) I asked him that why he was upset.
Corrected: I asked him why he was upset.
Explanation: The word “that” is unnecessary before “why.”
e) When the Minister will go to Delhi?
Corrected: When will the Minister go to Delhi?
Explanation: In direct questions, the auxiliary verb comes before the subject.
XVIII. Read the following transcriptions and write any five words in ordinary spelling.
Words are typically transcribed phonetically in IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet). Unfortunately, the specific transcriptions weren’t provided, but I’ll answer the second part regarding words with similar spellings and sounds.
1. Find the word that is different from the other words in the group with regard to sound:
- Excess
- Arch
- Chaos
- Kick
- Cough
Answer: The word that is different based on its sound is “Kick” because it does not have the same pronunciation pattern as the others. The words “Excess”, “Arch”, “Chaos”, and “Cough” all contain vowel sounds that are not typically found in “Kick.” The other words involve some silent letters or vowel sounds, while “Kick” follows a more consistent hard “k” sound.
XIX. Write the number of syllables for any SIX of the following words:
- Pansy
- Congregate
- Delightful
- Knit
- Scoff
- Spurious
- Retribution
- People
- Stumping
- Collateral
Answers:
- Pansy — 2 syllables: Pan-sy
- Congregate — 3 syllables: Con-gre-gate
- Delightful — 3 syllables: De-light-ful
- Knit — 1 syllable
- Scoff — 1 syllable
- Spurious — 3 syllables: Spur-i-ous
- Retribution — 4 syllables: Re-tri-bu-tion
- People — 2 syllables: Peo-ple
- Stumping — 2 syllables: Stump-ing
- Collateral — 4 syllables: Col-lat-er-al
XX. Complete the following dialogue:
- Ramesh: Good morning, Doctor. How are you today?
- Doctor: Good morning, Ramesh. What brings you here today?
- Ramesh: I’m feeling a bit under the weather.
- Doctor: Ok. Let me take a look.
Explanation: The missing parts are common conversational phrases when greeting a doctor. “How are you today?” is a standard way to ask how someone is feeling. The doctor would then inquire about the reason for the visit (“What brings you here today?”), and the patient explains they’re feeling unwell. The doctor then proceeds to examine.
XXI. Convert the given information into a table:
Scenario: Sales of a Magazine
| Month | Sales (in Copies) |
|---|---|
| January | 200 |
| February | 500 |
| March | 530 |
| April | 600 |
| May | 380 |
Explanation: This table organizes the sales data month by month, clearly showing the fluctuations in the number of copies sold.
OR Convert the given bar diagram into a paragraph.
Since a bar diagram isn’t provided, I can explain how to do it:
- Interpret the Bar Diagram: The bar diagram shows the sales of cars during the months of June, July, August, and September.
- Summarize the data: The paragraph could read something like this:
“In June, the sales of cars were relatively low. However, there was a significant rise in July, with sales increasing sharply. The trend continued upward in August, but a slight drop occurred in September. Overall, the data indicates a strong performance in the middle months of summer, with a decrease towards the fall.”