Class 10 Shiv Das

2021-22
CBSE
Term 1
(Nov-Dec)
Chapterwise
QUESTION BANK
MC Q s
ENGLISH
(Language and Literature)

Competency Based Questions

• Case Based Factual Passage
• MCQs Based on Extracts from Text
• Stand-alone MCQs

Chapterwise
• Story Highlights & Analysis of Poems
• Questions & Answers

OMR Based
Sample Question Paper

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 CBSE BOARD EXAM 2021-22

NEW PATTERN
(CBSE Circular no. Acad-51/2021) dated 5th July, 2021

TERM-1
50% Syllabus for Nov-Dec. 2021
Questions Types (90 Minutes)

CASE BASED MULTIPLE CHOICE ASSERTION-REASON

MCQs QUESTIONS TYPE MCQs

✰ CBSE to send Question Papers with marking scheme.

✰ Exams will be conducted in the school.
✰ OMR sheet to be used for Evaluation.
✰ Term-1 marks will add to the final result.

Internal Assessment
✰ 3 Periodic Tests
✰ Student Enrichment
✰ Portfolio
✰ Practical
✰ Speaking listening activities
✰ Projects
✽ • •• • ✽

(iv)
C ontents
Term–1

Latest Syllabus (Issued by CBSE) ... (vii)

Competency Based Questions (CBQs)
... C-1
Case Based Factual Unseen Passeges
... C-9
Letter Writing
... C-11
Grammar
FIRST FLIGHT (PROSE)
1. A Letter to God ... C-19
2. Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom ... C-23
3. Two Stories About Flying
(i) His First Flight ... C-27
(ii) Black Aeroplane ... C-31
4. From the Diary of Anne Frank ... C-35
5. The Hundred Dresses-I ... C-39
6. The Hundred Dresses-II ... C-43
FIRST FLIGHT (POETRY)
1. Dust of Snow ... C-48
2. Fire and Ice ... C-50
3. A Tiger in the Zoo ... C-52
5. The Ball Poem ... C-55
FOOTPRINTS WITHOUT FEET
1. A Triumph of Surgery ... C-58
2. The Thief’s Story ... C-62

(v)
 5. Footprints Without Feet ... C-65
6. The Making of A Scientist (For Term-II) ... C-69

Chapterwise CBSE Examination Questions

Reading Comprehension ... 1
Writing Skills—Letter Writing
... 101
Grammar ... 27

LITERATURE TEXTBOOK & SUPPLEMENTARY READING TEXT

First Flight (Prose)
1. A Letter to God G.L. Fuentes ... 42
2. Nelson Mandela:
Long Walk to Freedom Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela ... 47
3. Two Stories About Flying
(i) His First Flight Liam O’ Flaherty ... 53
(ii) Black Aeroplane Frederick Forsyth ... 57
4. From The Diary of Anne Frank Anne Frank ... 61
5. The Hundred Dresses-I Eleanor Estes ... 67
6. The Hundred Dresses-II Eleanor Estes ... 72
First Flight (Poetry)
1. Dust of Snow Robert Frost ... 77
2. Fire and Ice Robert Frost ... 79
3. A Tiger in the Zoo Leslie Norris ... 81
5. The Ball Poem John Berryman ... 85
Footprints Without Feet
1. A Triumph of Surgery James Herriot ... 88
2. The Thief’s Story Ruskin Bond ... 93
5. Footprints without Feet H.G. Wells ... 97
OMR Based Sample Question Paper ... OMR-1

✽ • •• • ✽

(vi)
 Latest Syllabus (Issued by CBSE) (24th July 2021)
ENGLISH LANGUAGE & LITERATURE (184)
COURSE STRUCTURE—CLASS X
TERM-I
READING
uestion based on the following kinds of unseen passages to assess inference, evaluation, vocabulary,
Q
analysis and interpretation.
1. Discursive passage (400–450 words)
2. Case-based Factual passage (with visual input/statistical data/chart etc. of 300-350 words).

WRITING SKILL
1. Formal letter based on a given situation
• Letter to the Editor
• Letter to Complaint (Official)
• Letter to Complaint (Business)

GRAMMAR
1. Tenses
2. Modals
3. Subject-Verb Concord
4. Determiner
5. Reported Speech
6. Commands and Requests
7. Statements
8. Questions

LITERATURE
uestions based on extracts/texts to assess interpretation, inference, extrapolation beyond the text and
Q
across the texts.
First Flight:
1. A Letter to God
2. Nelson Mandela
3. Two Stories About Flying
4. From the Diary of Anne Frank
5. The Hundred Dresses I
6. The Hundred Dresses II
Poems:
1. Dust of Snow
2. Fire and Ice
3. A Tiger in the Zoo
4. The Ball Poem
Footprints Without Feet:
1. A Triumph of Surgery
2. The Thief’s Story
3. Footprints Without Feet
(vii)
EACH SEMESTER
Section Weightage (In marks)
Reading 10
Writing & Grammar 10
Literature 20
Total 40
Internal Assessment 10
Grand Total 50

✽ • •• • ✽

(viii)
 English X : Chapterwise
Case Based Factual Unseen Passages

COMPETENCY BASED
Competency Based Questions
Q.1. Read the passage given below:
1. While coronavirus cases continue to rise at an alarming
rate in north America and Europe, one of the creators of
the Covid-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer and Germany’s
BioNTech says normal life will return by next winter.

s
2. BioNTech CEO Ugur Sahin said he was “very confident

iv D a
that transmission between people will be reduced by such a
highly effective vaccine, may be not 90% but may be 50%”.

Sh
3. It’s essential that all immunisation programmes are finished
before the autumn, he said on Sunday on the BBC’s Andrew
Marr Show.
4. North Dakota earlier became the 35th US state to require face
coverings be worn in public as governors across the country are grappling with a surge in coronavirus
infections. North Dakota joined 38 other states this month in reporting record daily jumps in new cases.
5. New cases nationwide rose on Friday to a daily record of over 1,77,000 the fourth straight day an all-
time high was set, according to a Reuters tally of figures from US public health agencies.
6. The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended mask wearing, and a widely cited
model estimated that a nationwide mandate could save 68,000 lives by next spring.
7. In France, the number of confirmed new cases and deaths rose sharply in the last 24 hours. France
registered 32,095 new cases and deaths in hospitals from Covid-19 rose by 359.
8. Ten people died on Saturday in a fire at a Romanian hospital treating coronavirus patients the country
agency for emergency situations said. The blaze broke out in the ICU of the Piatra Neamt country
hospital and spread to an adjoining room.
On the basis of your understanding of the passage, answer ANY TEN questions from the twelve that
follow.
(a) Ugur Sahin is confident that the vaccine will reduce transmission between people by:
(i) 90% (ii) 50% (iii) 38% (iv) 35% [Ans. (ii)
(b) North Dakota is the 35th US state to:
(i) see a surge in coronavirus infections. (ii) witness a grapple among governors.
(iii) require face coverings be won in public. (iv) record daily jumps in new cases. [Ans. (iii)
(c) The number of cases in Brazil are less than that of India and deaths in India are ................. than
Brazil.
(i) more (ii) higher (iii) lower (iv) decreasing [Ans. (iii)
(d) Choose the option that lists the statement that is NOT TRUE:
(i) Coronavirus cases are increasing in north America.
Competency Based Questions (CBQs) C-1
 C-2 Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

(ii) It is necessary to complete immunisation programmes after autumn.

(iii) New cases and deaths have risen significantly in France.
(iv) The deaths in hospitals in France rose by 359. [Ans. (ii)
(e) Reuters tally of figures reported:
(i) an all time spike in cases on the fourth straight day.
(ii) a rise in new cases nationwide.
(iii) mandatory mask wearing.
Case Based Factual Unseen Passages

(iv) 68,000 lives could be saved. [Ans. (i)

(f) The word ‘grappling’ in Para 4 DOES NOT mean the same as:
(i) struggling (ii) strenuous attempt (iii) laboured effort (iv) managing [Ans. (iv)
(g) Ten people died at a Romanian hospital:
(i) while treating coronavirus patients (ii) due to fire
(iii) due to coronavirus (iv) none of the above  [Ans. (ii)
(h) Brazil is at the ............ position among the worst nations superceding France and Russia.
(i) second (ii) fifth (iii) fourth (iv) third  [Ans. (iv)
(i) The word ‘ recommended’ in Para 6 means the same as:
(i) proposed (ii) advised (iii) advocated (iv) all the above  [Ans. (iv)
(j) There is not too much difference between the number of Covid cases in France and Russia but the
number of deaths are .............. in France.
(i) higher (ii) lower (iii) decreasing (iv) increasing [Ans. (i)
(k) According to the passage normal life will return by:
(i) before autumn (ii) next winter (iii) next year (iv) next spring [Ans (ii)
(l) The word ‘blaze’ in Para 8 does not mean the same as:

s
(i) shine (ii) fire (iii) raging flames (iv) inferno  [Ans (i)

iv D a
Q.2. Read the passage given below:
TOXIC EFFECT—What colours in crackers do to you?

Sh
RED: Strontium + Lithium
Strontium replaces calcium in body, lithium produces toxic, irritating fumes
when burned.
ORANGE: Calcium
Inhaling calcium chloride can cause cough, sore throat. Contact can cause dry
skin.
GREEN: Barium
Poisonous, fumes can irritate respiratory tract.
BLUE: Copper
Can bio-accumulate in the body and raise cancer risk.
PURPLE: Strontium + Copper
Same as above
SILVER: Aluminium
May cause skin inflammation bio-accumulation.
BLACK POWDER: Carbon dioxide, Nitrogen oxides and Sulphur oxides
Potential to cause asthma attacks, heart attack, stroke, lung diseases and
cancer.
On the basis of your understanding of the passage, answer ANY TEN questions from the twelve that
follow.
(a) The red colour in crackers:
(i) causes irritation. (ii) replaces calcium in body.
(iii) causes sore throat. (iv) produces toxic fumes in body. [Ans. (ii)
(b) The snake tablet and the flower pot have the .......... duration of effect.
(i) same (ii) different (iii) alternate (iv) unlikely [Ans. (i)
(c) Inhalation of calcium chloride cannot cause the following:
(i) Dry skin (ii) Sore throat (iii) Cough (iv) Both (ii) and (iii) [Ans. (i)
(d) The cumulative levels of .......... and .......... are almost the same.
(i) flower poet and ground spinner (ii) sparklers and ground spinners
(iii) pulpul and garland (iv) sparklers and pulpul [Ans. (ii)
 Competency Based Questions (CBQs) C-3

(e) Based on your understanding of the passage choose the options that are NOT TRUE:
1. The green colour in crackers is poisonous.
2. Garland (ladi of 1000) has the highest cumulative levels.
3. Flower pot has the lowest cumulative levels.
4. The silver colour in crackers can cause dry skin.
(i) 1 and 3 (ii) 2 and 3 (iii) 2 and 4 (iv) 1 and 4 [Ans. (iii)
(f) The word in the above passage which means the same as ‘pile-up’ is:
(i) inflammation (ii) irritating (iii) inhaling (iv) accumulation [Ans. (iv)
(g) The black powder in crackers contains:
(i) Sulphur oxide (ii) Nitrogen oxide (iii) Carbon dioxide (iv) All the above [Ans. (iv)
(h) The .......... colour in crackers raises the risk of cancer.

COMPETENCY BASED
(i) blue and purple (ii) blue and green (iii) red and green (iv) purple and silver
 [Ans. (i)
(i) The maximum duration of effect is seen in:
(i) garland (ii) ground spinner (iii) pulpul (iv) sparkers [Ans. (i)
(j) The word ‘ potential ’ in the passage means the same as:
(i) Quality (ii) Symptom (iii) Possibility (iv) Ideal [Ans. (iii)
(k) The permissible cumulative levels of crackers is:
(i) 60 µg/m3 (ii) 5 µg/m3 (iii) 2.5 µg/m3 (iv) none of the above
 [Ans. (i)
(l) The word ‘toxic’ in the passage does not mean the same as:
(i) poisonous (ii) harmful (iii) deadly (iv) safe [Ans. (iv)
Q.3. Read the passage given below:

s
Global weather is warming leading to Arctic meltdown. This is

a
primarily a result of the greenhouse effect caused by too much

iv D
carbon dioxide in the atmosphere which acts as a blanket,

Sh
trapping heat and warming the plant. Burning of fossil fuels like
coal, oil and natural gas for energy cutting down and burning
forests to create pastures and plantations leads to carbon
accumulation. Refrigeration and air conditioning and certain
agricultural practices also aggravate the problem by releasing
additional potent global warming gases such as methane and
nitrous oxide. Over the last century, global average temperature
has increased by more than 1.0º F.
A warming would also have the potential to change rainfall and snow patterns, increase droughts and severs
storms, reduce lake ice cover, melt glaciers, increase sea levels and change plant and animal behaviour. The
impact of global warming on our planet is extremely serious and if this problem is not talked on an urgent
basis it will lead to melting of polar ice caps leading to an increase in sea level drowning coastlines and
slowly submerging continents. Our generation needs to give a healing touch to the earth which we have
ourselves made sick.
On the basis of your understanding of the passage, answer ANY TEN questions from the twelve that
follow.
(a) Global warming is a result of:
(i) warm planet. (ii) trapped heat.
(iii) greenhouse effect. (iv) carbon dioxide. [Ans. (iii)
(b) The cause of greenhouse effects is:
(i) global warming. (ii) burning of coal.
(iii) cutting down trees. (iv) too much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
 [Ans. (iv)
(c) Carbon accumulation is caused by:
(i) burning of fossil fuel. (ii) burning forests.
(iii) burning natural gas. (iv) all the above [Ans. (iv)
(d) The word in the passage which means the same as ‘to make worse’ is:
(i) potent (ii) severe (iii) aggravate (iv) accumulation [Ans. (iii)
 C-4 Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

(e) According to the pie chart the main greenhouse gas emissions is by:
(i) power stations. (ii) industries. (iii) transportation fuel. (iv) land use. [Ans. (i)
(f) A warming world DOES NOT:
(i) increase droughts. (ii) reduce lake ice cover.
(iii) create pastures. (iv) melt glaciers. [Ans. (iii)
(g) Gases like methane and nitrous oxide are released by:
(i) greenhouse effect. (ii) fossil fuel burning.
Case Based Factual Unseen Passages

(iii) some agricultural practices. (iv) changing snow patterns. [Ans. (iii)
(h) On the basis of the pie chart choose the option that is NOT TRUE:

(1) Transportation fuel (2) The treatment of waste

emits more gases than disposal and treatment
industries emits the least gases

(3) There is a stark differ- (4) The gases emitted by

ence between gases emitted agricultural by products
by land use and residential/ is more than that by fossil
commercial sources fuels
(i) Option 2 and 4 (ii) Option 1 and 3 (iii) Option 3 and 4 (iv) Option 1 and 2 [Ans. (ii)
(i) The word ‘submerging’ in the passage DOES NOT mean the same as:
(i) sinking (ii) drown (iii) go over (iv) go under [Ans. (iii)
(j) It is evident from the pie chart that almost 40% of greenhouse gas emissions are caused by:
(i) Power stations and industries.
(ii) Agriculture and fossil fuel retrieval.

a s
(iii) Water disposal and treatment and industries.

iv D
(iv) Agricultural and water disposal. [Ans. (i)
(k) If global warming is not tackled on an urgent basis it will lead to:

Sh
(i) melting of polar ice caps. (ii) submergence of continents.
(iii) drowning coastlines. (iv) all the above [Ans. (iv)
(l) The word ‘tackled’ in the passage DOES NOT mean the same as:
(i) undertaken (ii) dealt with (iii) accepted as challenge ( iv) to avoid [Ans. (iv)
Q.4. Read the passage given below:
Business activities can be classified as under:
Business
Commerce Industry

Trade Subsidiaries of Trade

Internal International

Wholesale Retail Import Export

Banking Transport Insurance Warehousing Packing Advertisement

Statistical methods play a vital role in major business activities. Commerce and industry in the modern age
require a great deal of planning and forecasting of various kinds. Statistics comes to the aid of the business
planner in many ways.
1. The producer or the manufacturer has to estimate demand for his goods in the immediate as well
as distant future. This is done by market research for which all the steps of statistical methods have
to be followed. A cost accountant uses statistical tools to help the producer fix the prices of various
commodities.
 Competency Based Questions (CBQs) C-5

2. Similarly, the trader—wholesaler or retailer—depends heavily on methods of statistical analysis for

finding out solutions to problems regarding buying and selling activities. For profitable trade he must
know what the customers want and also how long the demand would last. This is very important for
international trade. For this purpose statistics of export-import for various commodities and regions are
collected and analysed for decision making
3. Statistics is equally important for subsidiaries of trade. The banker plays an important role in commerce
and industry. He provides finances to the producer and trader. There fore, he has to forecast when the
demand would be high and accordingly decide what amount of reserves he must have. Similarly, he
must estimate what amounts would be required by his depositors, otherwise his bank would fail. For
this, detailed analysis of money transactions is required where statistical tools are indispensable.
4. Insurance companies function on the basis of estimations of mortality rates, that is life expectations

COMPETENCY BASED
and on this basis of calculated insurance premiums. Accordingly, they decide what proportion of their
capital can be invested and what proportion can be kept ready for payments of matured policies.
5. Other public utility bodies, such as the Road transport Companies, the Railways, Advertising concerns,
Warehouses, etc., which contribute to commerce in a significant way, also make use of statistical data
for their efficient functioning. For instance, they have to determine the extent of demand that would be
made on their services and the rates they might fix for the same. In fact, no modern organisation can
survive and efficiently function without analysis of the complex factors that influence commerce. For
systematic business analysis statistical tools are absolutely essential.
Modern business management, therefore, is an activity that requires a great deal of analysis or making
proper decisions in the face of a large number of uncertainties.
 Source: Statistics for Economics—M.N. Shah
On the basis of your understanding of the passage, answer ANY TEN questions from the twelve that

s
follow.

iv D a
(a) Commerce and industry require:
(i) planning (ii) forecasting

Sh
(iii) statistics (iv) (i) and (iii) [Ans. (iv)
(b) Prices of various commodities are fixed by:
(i) statistical tools (ii) wholesaler (iii) costing (iv) producers [Ans. (i)
(c) To find solution to problems related to buying and selling, traders depend on:
(i) profit making (ii) statistical analysis
(iii) customer satisfaction (iv) decision making [Ans. (ii)
(d) Based on your understanding of the passage choose the option that is NOT TRUE:

(1) Statistics are (2) The banker has no

important for subsi- role to play in commerce
diaries of trade. and industry.

(3) Statistical methods (4) The banker provides

can be ignored during finances to the producer
market research. and trader.

(i) Option 1 & 2 (ii) Option 3 & 4 (iii) Option 2 & 3 (iv) Option 1 & 3 [Ans. (iii)
(e) The word in Para 5 which means the same as ‘endure’ is:
(i) analysis (ii) efficient (iii) contribute (iv) survive [Ans. (iv)
(f) A bank fails when:
(i) bankers cannot provide finances to traders.
(ii) bankers cannot estimate the amounts of deposits.
(iii) bankers cannot forecast the amount of reserves required.
(iv) All the above [Ans. (iv)
(g) Insurance companies calculate premiums on the basis of:
(i) mortality rates (ii) matured policies
(iii) life expectations (iv) (i) and (ii) [Ans. (iv)
(h) On the basis of the chart trade Subsidiaries DO NOT include:
(i) warehousing (ii) import (iii) advertisement (iv) insurance [Ans. (ii)
 C-6 Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

(i) The word ‘indispensable’ in Para 3 mean:

(i) essential (ii) unncessary (iii) avoidable (iv) unimportant [Ans. (i)
(j) It is evident from the chart that trade DOES NOT pertain to:
(i) Export (ii) Retail (iii) Import (iv) Transport [Ans. (iv)
(k) Public utility bodies DO NOT include:
(i) Road transport (ii) Warehouses
(iii) Advertising concerns (iv) Insurance [Ans. (iii)
Case Based Factual Unseen Passages

(l) The phrase ‘mortality rate’ in Para 4 means the same as:
(i) birth rate (ii) death rate
(iii) state of being mortal (iv) life-span [Ans. (iv)
Q.5. Read the passage given below:
HUNGER PANGS IN INDIA MAY HAVE JUST GOTTEN WORSE
1. Dire straits. Despite improvements in sanitation and access to water, which could be the reasons for
nutritional deficiency, child malnutrition levels have in fact increased in several states over the past 5
years. Thus, economic reasons may be at the root of the decline.
Proportion of Stunted Children Under 5 Years (in %)
48.3
42.9
38.5 39.0
34.4 35.2 33.1 32.5 33.8
28.0
2015–16

2019–20

a s
iv D
Gujarat Maharashtra Telangana West Bengal Bihar
2. What do the NFHS findings indicate? In a number of large states, the proportion of children under 5

Sh
who are underweight has risen, compared to the previous National Family Health Survey (NFHS) round
in 2015-16. Even relatively advanced states like Gujarat and Maharashtra have recorded a slide in the
nutritional well-being of their children since 2015. This is contradictory to what should ideally happen
in a growing economy, since rising prosperity should improve access to food. The ground situation in
22 states and union territories was captured in phase-I of the survey—which was interrupted by the
pandemic and the subsequent lockdown.
3. Could this be a fallout of the pandemic? The NFHS surveyors had started fanning out to households
across the country since mid-2019. The exercise of reaching out to over 6,00,000 households was likely
to last a year, but those plans were disrupted in March. Thus, the phase-I results have nothing to do
with covid-19 and are an indication of India’s nutritional state before March. If anything, the prevalence
of hunger is only expected to have shot up in subsequent months. The first official glimpse of covid’s
economic impact may thus get captured in phase-II, which will cover key states like Uttar Pradesh and
Madhya Pradesh. The results will be out by May 2021.  —By Ajai Sreevatsan
On the basis of your understanding of the passage, answer ANY TEN questions from the twelve that
follow:
(a) Malnutrition and hunger among children in India is:
(i) increasing (ii) decreasing (iii) improving (iv) marginal  [Ans. (i)
(b) Nutritional deficiency is caused by:
(i) lack of sanitation (ii) low birth weight
(iii) no access to portable water (iv) both (i) and (iii)  [Ans. (iv)
(c) Based on the graph, which state had the highest proportion of stunted children in the year 2015-16:
(i) Telangana (ii) Bihar (iii) Maharashtra (iv) Gujarat  [Ans. (ii)
(d) Contradictory to an ideal growing economy, nutritional well-being of children has seen a .................
since 2015.
(i) decline (ii) rise (iii) growth (iv) no movement [Ans. (i)
(e) Nutritional deficiency among children should have improved because of:
(i) rising prosperity (ii) improved sanitation
(iii) economic expansion (iv) less access to water  [Ans. (i)
 Competency Based Questions (CBQs) C-7

(f) The word ‘interrupted’ in Para 2 does not mean the same as:
(i) obstructed (ii) disrupted (iii) hindered (iv) continuous [Ans. (iv)
(g) On the basis of graph, there is not much difference in the proportion of stunted children in 2019-20,
in the states of:
(i) Bihar and Telangana (ii) Gujarat and Maharashtra
(iii) West Bengal and Telangana (iv) Gujarat and Bihar  [Ans. (ii)
(h) The exercise to reach out to 6,00,000 homes was likely to last:
(i) 12 months (ii) 8 months (iii) 2 years (iv) 6 months  [Ans. (i)
(i) The phase-I results indicate India’s nutritional status:
(i) after March (ii) before March (iii) post covid-19 (iv) gradual rise [Ans. (ii)
(j) The prevalence of hunger seems to have ................. post the covid-19 months.

COMPETENCY BASED
(i) remained the same (ii) gone up
(iii) come down (iv) improved  [Ans. (ii)
(k) Choose the option that lists the statement that is NOT TRUE.
(i) The proportion of children under 5 who are underweight has risen in many states.
(ii) Phase-I of the survey was interrupted by the pandemic.
(iii) The economic impact of covid is visible in phase-I of the survey.
(iv) The results of phase-II are likely to be out by May 2021. [Ans. (iii)
(l) The word ‘subsequent’ means the same as:
(i) thereafter (ii) prior (iii) previous (iv) former  [Ans. (i)
Q.6. Read the passage given below:
Why The government has finally managed to spark interest
in the strategic disinvestment of Air India, having received Go Air Others 0.7%

s
multiple expressions of interest, according to the secretary of 5.5%

a
the department of investment and public asset management

iv D
Spicejet
(DIPAM). 13.4%

Sh
1. Why is Air India seeing greater interest now? The union Domestic
government has sweetened the deal for investors as the Air market Indigo
Tata group share
India Ltd. sale evoked no response initially. This could have 13.5% (in %) 55.5%
possibly encouraged interested buyers. For one, 100% of
Air India is up for grabs, compared to just 76% earlier. The
Air India
Government also made a change in the terms of bidding by 9.4%
allowing potential investors to bid on the basis of enterprise
value, which is equity value plus net debt. As a result,
investors can detemine the amount of Air India’s debt that
they would want to take on, rather than being saddled with a fixed quantum of debt determined by the
government.
2. Who are the potential bidders for the airline? The names of the bidders have not been officially
disclosed. Reports have said the Tata Group and a Section of Air India’s staff, along with the US-based
firm Interups Inc. are among the suitors for the airline. Some reports suggest that low-cost carrier
SpiceJet Ltd has also expressed interest. Getting hold of Air India will give the Tata Group and SpiceJet
a strong domestic presence, with the second highest market share by far, after Indigo. Vistara can
catch up on network coverage if it buys Air India’s operations and can leverage its image of being an
aspirational airline, said analysts at Kotak Institutional Equities.
3. What all does debt-laden Air India bring to the table? Air India’s international operations and slots
are the most coveted by potential acquirers, noted Kotak Institutional Equities analysts. The airline also
has reasonable reach and network coverage in domestic market, which will help potential acquirers
gain Considerable scale. The airline brings a lot of debt too but most of it is likely to be borne by the
government.
4. What will be the likely impact of AI-Tata deal? If the Tata group bags Air India, it could pave way for
consolidation in the aviation sector, say analysts Tata Sons holds a 51% stake in Vistara and a majority
stake in AirAsia India. Air India, AirAsia and Vistara accounted for a combined domestic market share
of 22.9% in October according to data of the DGCA. The deal could make Tatas the second largest
player in the sector after Indigo, which enjoys a market share of 55.5%. However, the Tatas would have
to first simplify structures with partners in existing airlines.
 C-8 Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

5. Are there any hurdles for potential bidders? Every asset is valuable only at a certain price. If the
eventual bids are high relative to the asset value, turning the airline around could be challenging. In
any case, the acquirer will need to make radical operational changes and cut costs to make the business
viable. A group such as the Tatas, with deep pockets and a love for the aviation business, could well
be willing to incur losses for longer than others. However, unless it streamlines its various aviation
operations, it may only be setting up for a bigger failure with Air India acquisition. 
 —By Pallavi Pengonda
Case Based Factual Unseen Passages

On the basis of your understanding of the passage, answer any ten questions from the twelve that
follow:
(a) To evoke response in Air India Ltd.’s sale the government has:
(i) given more incentives to investors. (ii) given investors more lucrative offers.
(iii) further sweetened the deal. (iv) all the above [Ans. (iv)
(b) The changed bidding terms:
(i) offers 76% of Air India’s shares.
(ii) does not allow investors to bid an the basis of enterprise value.
(iii) allows investors to decide the debt they want to take on.
(iv) saddles the investors with a fixed amount of debt. [Ans. (iii)
(c) The word ‘potential’ in Para 1 DOES NOT mean the same as:
(i) possible (ii) impractical (iii) prospective (iv) likely  [Ans. (ii)
(d) The suitors for Air India does not include:
(i) Tata group (ii) US-based firm (iii) Spice jet (iv) Indigo  [Ans. (iv)
(e) On the basis of the pie chart the highest market share in domestic business is of:
(i) Tata Group (ii) Go Air (iii) Air India (iv) Indigo  [Ans. (iv)

s
(f) The word ‘suitors’ in Para 2 means the same as:

a
(i) suppliant (ii) opponent (iii) benefactor (iv) donor  [Ans. (i)

iv D
(g) Air India debt is likely to be borne by:

Sh
(i) Tata Group (ii) The government (iii) Indigo (iv) Vistara  [Ans. (ii)
(h) By bagging the Air India deal Tata Sons will:
(i) get consolidation in the aviation sector.
(ii) get reasonable reach and network leverage in the domestic market.
(iii) get of being an aspirational airline leverage.
(iv) all the above  [Ans. (i)
(i) To make business viable the acquirer will need to:
(i) cut costs. (ii) increase asset value.
(iii) make radical operational changes. (iv) both (i) and (iii).  [Ans. (iv)
(j) Choose the option that lists statements that is NOT TRUE.
(i) The investors are not allowed to bid on the basis of enterprise value.
(ii) Air India has reasonable reach in the domestic market.
(iii) Tata Sons holds 51% stake in Vistara.
(iv) Every asset is valuable at a certain price. [Ans. (i)
(k) The word ‘coveted’ in Para 3 means the same as:
(i) Sought after (ii) Unenviable (iii) Unwanted (iv) Ineligible [Ans. (i)
(l) Tatas will set up for bigger failure with Air India acquisition if:
(i) it does not simplify structures. (ii) it does not streamline its aviation operations.
(iii) its assets are not valuable. (iv) they agree to incur losses.  [Ans. (ii)


 Letter Writing

COMPETENCY BASED
After going through the following formats the students would be able to answer the MCQs.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Value Points:
❑ Use polite and formal language.
❑ REMEMBER - The newspaper is merely a medium to address an issue.
❑ The Editor should not be asked to resolve the issue.
❑ Word limit must be kept in mind

FORMAT
1. Sender’s Address To be written on the left side of the page, next to the margin.
........................................
........................................

2. Date ................

3. Salutation The Editor

........................................ (Name of Newspaper)
........................................ (City)

4. Subject of the letter Subject: ...............................

5. Body of the letter Through the medium of the coloumns of your esteemed newspaper, I wish to
draw the attention of the concerned authorities towards.................................
...................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................

6. Concluding Paragraph I hope you will publish my letter in your newspaper so that the concerned
authorities can take necessary action regarding ....................................................
.....................................................................................................................................

7. Complimentary Closing Thankyou/Thanking You

Yours sincerely/ Yours faithfully
8. Sender’s Details Name [If given]

Competency Based Questions (CBQs) C-9

 C-10 Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

LETTER OF COMPLAINT
Value Points:
❑ Formal language must be used.
❑ Repetition of ideas must be avoided.
❑ Clearly state the purpose of writing the letter.
❑ Provide details regarding the product or service that is the subject of the complaint.
❑ State how you would want to resolve the issue.
❑ Indicate list of documents enclosed.

FORMAT
1. Sender’s Address To be written on the left side of the page, next to the margin.
........................................
........................................

2. Date ................

3. Receiver’s Address Address of the receipient

........................................
Letter Writing

........................................

s
4. Subject of the letter Subject: ...............................

5. Salutation

v Da
Respected Sir/Respected Madam/ The Manager

i
Sh
6. Body of the letter 1. Introduction and Purpose of the letter
2. Details of product or service (of complaint)
3. Suggestions to resolve the issue
4. Conclude the letter

7. Complimentary Closing Thankyou/Thanking You

Yours sincerely/ Yours faithfully

8. Sender’s Details Name and designation [If given]

9. Attachments List of documents enclosed: 1.

2.
3.

✽ • •• • ✽
 Grammar

COMPETENCY
Competency Based Questions
Q.1. Choose the correct options to fill in the blanks to complete the note about the Wangala Festival of
Meghalaya.
The Wangala (a) ................. festival for the Garo in Meghalaya, Assam and Nagaland. It is a post-harvest
festival (b) .................. the end of the agricultural year. It is popularly known as ‘The Hundred Drums’
festival. During the signature dance, the leading warrior (c) .................. with synchronised dance steps and

s
specific hand-head movements.

iv D a
(a) (i) is important (ii) are an important (iii) was the important (iv) is an important [Ans. (iv)
(b) (i) being celebrated for marking (ii) celebrated to mark

Sh
(iii) celebrated to marking (iv) being celebrated for mark [Ans. (ii)
(c) (i) leads the youngsters (ii) is lead the youngsters
(iii) was leading the youngsters (iv) had leads the youngsters [Ans. (i)
Q.2. Choose the correct options to fill in the blanks to complete Venu’s narration.
I saw Supanddi standing in the field. When I (a) .............. doing there, he (b) .............. he was trying to win a
Nobel prize. I was confused and enquired how standing in the rice field would help him do so. He stumped
me by saying that he (c) .............. won Nobel prizes had all been outstanding in their fields!

BASED
(a) (i) exclaimed what he was (ii) told him what he was
(iii) asked him what he was (iv) says to him about what [Ans. (iii)
(b) (i) ordered that (ii) refused that (iii) questioned that (iv) replied that [Ans. (iv)
(c) (i) has heard that people who has (ii) was hearing that people who were
(iii) had heard that people who had (iv) did hear that people who had [Ans. (iii)
Q.3. Fill in the blanks by choosing the correct options for ANY FOUR of the six sentences given below.
(a) You .......... consult the Thesaurus if you need groups of synonyms for those words.
(i) had to (ii) need to (iii) used to (iv) might [Ans. (ii)
(b) Everybody .......... keen to participate in the upcoming nukkad natak.
(i) are (ii) has (iii) is (iv) were [Ans. (iii)

Competency Based Questions (CBQs) C-11

 C-12 Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

(c) The good news is that .......... volunteers dropped out this month than the last two.
(i) fewer (ii) less (iii) few (iv) a little [Ans. (i)
(d) It was .......... historic day for the organisation when .......... honour was bestowed upon its employees.
(i) a; an (ii) an; the (iii) the; a (iv) an; a [Ans. (i)
(e) At this time tomorrow we .......... our project details to ma’am.
(i) are presenting (ii) shall be presenting
(iii) have been presenting (iv) will have presenting [Ans. (ii)
(f) The Komodo dragon .......... follow its prey till it eventually dies due to its venomous bite.
(i) must (ii) will (iii) could (iv) may [Ans. (ii)
Q.4. Choose the correct options to fill in the blanks with help of the given options.
There is a general belief (a) .................. students that those who write long sentences get (b) .................. marks
in (c) .................. exams.
(a) (i) in (ii) of (iii) among (iv) between [Ans. (iii)
(b) (i) more (ii) many (iii) most (iv) much [Ans. (i)
(c) (i) his (ii) her (iii) their (iv) your [Ans. (iii)
Q.5. Choose the correct options to fill in the blanks and complete the narration.

Yes, it is! Did you I will ask father

buy it from the Did you see my to buy me one also. No, our father
Mall? new umbrella? has bought it
Is’nt it fine? for me.
Grammar

a s
iv D
Marie asked her brother Tony if he had seen her new umbrella and she wanted to know whether it was a
fine one. Tony agreed and asked his sister (a) ................ . His sister replied in the negative and added that

Sh
(b) ............... . Tony further said that (c) ................ .
(a) (i) if he had bought it from the Mall (ii) did she buy it from the Mall
(iii) if she had bought it from the Mall (iv) that she had bought it from the Mall [Ans. (iii)
(b) (i) their father had bought it from her (ii) their father had bought it for him
(iii) their father had bought it for her (iv) their father had bought it from him [Ans. (iii)
(c) (i) he would ask father to buy him one also
(ii) he will tell father to buy him one also
(iii) she will tell father to buy him one also
(iv) I will tell father to buy me one also [Ans. (i)
Q.6. Fill in the blanks by choosing the correct options for ANY FOUR of the six sentences given below.
(a) The modern student .................. the importance of physical exercise.
(i) understand (ii) had understand
(iii) understands (iv) understood [Ans. (iii)
(b) Dental hygiene .................... be inculcated in children.
(i) should (ii) could (iii) can (iv) might [Ans. (i)
(c) Trees clean the air .................... tiny airborne particles.
(i) to remove (ii) by removing (iii) on removing (iv) for removing [Ans. (ii)
(d) Summer camps ..................... children to do things on their own.
(i) encourages (ii) are encouraged
(iii) encourage (iv) had been encouraging [Ans. (iii)
(e) Illiteracy .................. one of the biggest evils of the Indian society.
(i) are (ii) was (iii) had been (iv) is [Ans. (iv)
(f) An honest person .................. and respected everywhere.
(i) was admired (ii) admired (iii) is admired (iv) are admired [Ans. (iii)
Q.7. Choose the correct options to fill in the blanks and complete the paragraph given below.
Elephants are the largest land mammals. Three species of elephants (a) ............. today. Elephants (b) .............
other Elephantidae were once classified with other thick skinned animals. The elephant’s gestation period
is 22 months, (c) ............. longest for any land animals.
 Competency Based Questions (CBQs) C-13

(a) (i) are living (ii) have been living (iii) had been living (iv) will be living [Ans. (i)
(b) (i) with (ii) also (iii) and (iv) but  [Ans. (iii)
(c) (i) a (ii) an (iii) which (iv) the  [Ans. (iv)
Q.8. Choose the correct options to fill in the blanks and complete Anup and Atul’s conversation.

COMPETENCY
Anup asked Atul (a) ................ the next day. Atul replied (b) ............... the next day. Anup asked if he was
going to be busy. Atul said that he was as (c) ................ .
(a) (i) where they were to meet (ii) where they could meet
(iii) where they had to meet (iv) where can they meet  [Ans. (ii)
(b) (i) he would not be able to meet him (ii) That he might not be able to meet him
(iii) That he could not meet him (iv) That he may not be able to meet him [Ans. (ii)
(c) (i) he will be travelling (ii) He might be travelling
(iii) He was going to travel (iv) He would be travelling [Ans. (iv)
Q.9. Fill in the blanks by choosing the correct options for ANY FOUR of the six sentences given below.
(a) Butterfiles are abundant ........... the Central African Republic.
(i) in (ii) from (iii) for (iv) into [Ans. (i)

s
(b) It ........... home to nearly 600 identified species.

iv D a
(i) has (ii) is (iii) was (iv) are [Ans. (ii)
(c) Many butterflies are brilliantly coloured and small ........... some are as big as saucers.

Sh
(i) if (ii) therefore (iii) so (iv) while [Ans. (iv)
(d) Farmer Phillippe ........... solace in collecting butterfly wings from his fields and turning them into
works of art.
(i) find (ii) to find (iii) finding (iv) finds [Ans. (iv)
(e) My favourite hobby, since my childhood, is ........... butterflies.
(i) catch (ii) caught (iii) catching (iv) has been catching
 [Ans. (iii)
(f) Many people in India lack ........... proper sanitation and hygiene
(i) in maintaining (ii) to maintain (iii) for maintaining (iv) maintenance [Ans. (i)

BASED
Q.10. Choose the correct options to fill in the blanks and complete the paragraph given below. (3×1)
No matter how old you are, drink at least a glass of milk everyday (a) ........... you want to sharpen your
mental skill. A new study has claimed that drinking (b) ........... glass of milk daily not only boosts one’s
intake of much needed nutrients, but it also positively impacts one’s brain power. Milk is good for the
bones (c) ........... it offers a rich source of calcium.
(a) (i) that (ii) if (iii) then (iv) how [Ans. (ii)
(b) (i) a (ii) and (iii) an (iv) the [Ans. (i)
(c) (i) when (ii) for (iii) because (iv) of [Ans. (iii)
Q.11. Choose the correct options to fill in the blanks and complete Mrs. and Mr. Bhalla’s conversation.

I can’t believe it! That’s great! Your diet I hope you have not I promise I have not
I’ve lost 10 pounds. seems to be working. disturbed the scales. touched anything.
 C-14 Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

Mrs. Bhalla expressing surprise told her husband she could not believe that she had lost 10 pounds. Mr.
Bhalla exclaimed that that was great and added (a) ............. working. Mrs. Bhalla commented that she
hoped (b) ............. . Mr. Bhalla promised that (c) ............. .
(a) (i) that her diet seemed to be (ii) that his diet seemed to be
(iii) that her diet seems to be (iv) that his diet seems to be [Ans. (i)
(b) (i) he did not disturb the scales (ii) she had not disturbed the scales
(iii) she did not disturb the scales (iv) he had not disturbed the scales [Ans. (iv)
(c) (i) she did not touch anything (ii) he had not touched anything
(iii) he did not touch anything (iv) she had not touched anything [Ans. (ii)
Q.12. Fill in the blanks by choosing the correct options for ANY FOUR of the six sentences given below.
(a) The Konark temple is in the form of ........... chariot.
(i) an (ii) a (iii) the (iv) some [Ans. (ii)
(b) The poor and illiterate people ........... cheated by others.
(i) is easily (ii) were easily (iii) are easily (iv) was easily [Ans. (iii)
(c) There ........... of employment opportunities in rural areas.
(i) are lack (ii) is lacking (iii) are lacking (iv) is lack [Ans. (iv)
(d) Winter sports ........... more and more popular in India.
(i) is becoming (ii) having become
(iii) have been becoming (iv) are becoming [Ans. (iv)
(e) Reading books ........... a good hobby.
(i) has (ii) was (iii) are (iv) is [Ans. (iv)
(f) One ........... go from Delhi to Jaipur by bus.
(i) can easily (ii) may easily (iii) should easily (iv) might easily [Ans. (i)
Grammar

s
Q.13. Choose the correct options to fill in the blanks and complete the notes.

a
Delhi is the capital of India. People from all parts (a) .................. the country and world come to visit Delhi.

iv D
There (b) .................. many historical buildings here. Last year I, (c) .................. Delhi. I also watched the

Sh
Village Games 2020.
(a) (i) of (ii) from (iii) for (iv) at [Ans. (i)
(b) (i) being (ii) are (iii) been (iv) were [Ans. (ii)
(c) (i) visit (ii) visiting (iii) visited (iv) will visit [Ans. (iii)
Q.14. Choose the correct options to fill in the blanks and complete the dialogue between a stranger and a
policeman.
They have come Why have the
here to watch the The film is called
people gathered Which film is
shooting of a film. ‘The Thief’s Story’.
here? being shot here?

The stranger asked the policeman why had the people gathered there. The policeman replied that they
(a) .................. the shooting of a film. The stranger asked him which film (b) .................. . The policeman
replied that the film (c) .................. .
(a) (i) has come there to watch (ii) had gone here to watching
(iii) have come here to watch (iv) had come there to watch [Ans. (iv)
(b) (i) is being shot here (ii) was being shot there
(iii) being shooting here (iv) has been shot there [Ans. (ii)
(c) (i) was called ‘The Thief’s Story’ (ii) is called ‘The Thief’s Story’
(iii) has been called ‘The Thief’s Story’ (iv) will have to be called ‘The Thief’s Story’ [Ans. (ii)
Q.15. Fill in the blanks by choosing the correct options for ANY FOUR of the six sentences given below.
(a) He would .................. beg than leave school.
(i) not (ii) rather (iii) no longer (iv) nor [Ans. (ii)
(b) I have not met him .................... he has left school.
(i) as (ii) for (iii) when (iv) since [Ans. (iv)
 Competency Based Questions (CBQs) C-15

(c) He was .................... sad yesterday.

(i) very (ii) to (iii) more (iv) fairly [Ans. (i)
(d) The earth ..................... around the sun.
(i) moved (ii) has moved (iii) is moved (iv) moves [Ans. (iv)
(e) He usually .................. breakfast before he goes to school.
(i) is eating (ii) has eaten (iii) eats (iv) ate [Ans. (iii)
Q.16. Choose the correct options to fill in the blanks with the help of the given options.
Serai Lashkari Khan is located on the Grand Trunk Road (a) ................ Khanna and Ludhiana. Serai-fort
(b) ................ by Mughal chieftain Lashkari Khan in the 16th century. Most of the structure is in ruins
(c) .................. has been vandalised.
(a) (i) in (ii) from (iii) between (iv) on

COMPETENCY
[Ans. (iii)
(b) (i) built (ii) was built (iii) is built (iv) has been built [Ans. (ii)
(c) (i) but (ii) therefore (iii) yet (iv) and [Ans. (iv)
Q.17. Choose the correct options to fill in the blanks and complete the narration.

s
Martha asked her husband (a) ............. wax on the car tyres. Jhumru explained that it made the rubber

iv D a
last longer and (b) ............ . Martha was amused and asked if it was like putting lotion on his skin. Jhumru
agreed and commented that then he could see that (c) ............. . Martha then amusingly replied then why

Sh
she had to fight with him every summer to get him to wear sunscreen.
(a) (i) why he was spraying (ii) why did he spray
(iii) why he is spraying (iv) why he sprayed [Ans. (i)
(b) (i) prevents it from drying (ii) prevents drying
(iii) prevented it from drying (iv) prevented drying [Ans. (iii)
(c) (i) she is beginning to get to the point
(ii) she was beginning to get to the point
(iii) she had began to get the point
(iv) she was beginning to get the point [Ans. (iv)

BASED
Q.18. Fill in the blanks by choosing the correct options for ANY FOUR of the six sentences given below.
(a) Some people feel that the best way to take a vacation is to go ................. a cruise.
(i) on (ii) in (iii) at (iv) into [Ans. (i)
(b) Communication .................... become very effective due to smart phones.
(i) is (ii) had (iii) has (iv) have [Ans. (iii)
(c) Today a good .................... varieties of tea brands are available in the market.
(i) very (ii) many (iii) more (iv) much [Ans. (ii)
(d) At this time tomorrow we ..................... for Mumbai.
(i) are leaving (ii) have been leaving
(iii) shall be leaving (iv) will have left [Ans. (iii)
(e) Cacti flowers are big ..................... some of them bloom at night.
(i) yet (ii) and (iii) but (iv) so [Ans. (ii)
(f) A man’s manners .................. a mirror in which he shows his portrait.
(i) is (ii) was (iii) are (iv) were [Ans. (iii)
Q.19. Choose the correct options to fill in the blanks.
The modern student (a) ................ the importance of physical exercise. He spends one to two hours in open
air (b) .............. he takes part in different sports. However, care should (c) ................ not to overstrain the
body.
(a) (i) understood (ii) understand (iii) have understand (iv) understands [Ans. (iv)
 C-16 Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

(b) (i) how (ii) when (iii) where (iv) why [Ans. (ii)
(c) (i) be taken (ii) took (iii) takes (iv) has taken [Ans. (i)
Q.20. Choose the correct options to fill in the blanks and complete Mike and Liz’s dialogue.

What are you doing I love Ireland.

here, Liz? I haven’t I’ve just come back Did you enjoy
And the Irish people
seen you since June. from my holiday it?
were so friendly.
in Ireland.

Mike asked Liz (a) ................ and said he hadn’t seen her since June. Liz explained that (b) ............... in
Ireland. Mike wondered if she had enjoyed it. Liz told him that (c) ................ very friendly.
(a) (i) what was he doing there (ii) what she was doing here
(iii) what was she doing there (iv) what are you doing here  [Ans. (iii)
(b) (i) I have just come back from my holiday
(ii) she had just come back from her holiday
(iii) she had returned from her holiday
(iv) she have just come back from her holiday  [Ans. (ii)
(c) (i) she loved Ireland and the Irish people were
(ii) I love Ireland and the Irish people are
(iii) she loves Ireland and the Irish people are
(iv) she had loved Ireland and the Irish people were [Ans. (i)
Grammar

s
Q.21. Fill in the blanks by choosing the correct options for ANY FOUR of the six sentences given below.

a
(a) Most birds and animals live .................. the lap of nature.

iv D
(i) on (ii) under (iii) in (iv) for [Ans. (iii)

Sh
(b) The teeth are one of the .................... neglected parts of our body.
(i) many (ii) most (iii) much (iv) few [Ans. (ii)
(c) Deserts like Sahara .................... dry for years.
(i) remain (ii) remained (iii) are remaining (iv) had remained [Ans. (i)
(d) Religion ..................... us to be honest in our dealings.
(i) is teaching (ii) taught (iii) teach (iv) teaches [Ans. (iv)
(e) People of diverse cultures .................. together in India.
(i) live (ii) lives (iii) had lived (iv) were living [Ans. (i)
(f) Children .................. be encouraged for outdoor activities.
(i) were (ii) have (iii) should (iv) are [Ans. (iii)
Q.22. Choose the correct options to fill in the blanks.
The drink of Asia (a) ................ hundreds of years, tea is believed to have been brought to Europe by the
Dutch. Today, (b) .............. the remotest corner of Ladakh to Buckingham Palace, tea is (c) ................ name
of cheer.
(a) (i) for (ii) at (iii) in (iv) of [Ans. (i)
(b) (i) to (ii) at (iii) from (iv) in [Ans. (iii)
(c) (i) other (ii) another (iii) so (iv) that [Ans. (ii)
Q.23. Choose the correct options to fill in the blanks and complete the conversation.

Do you know how In this school every

Never had a student has to Give me a chance
to play cricket? chance learn it. and I shall learn it.
to learn it.

The captain asked Amit (a) ................ cricket. Amit replied that he (b) ............... it. The captain told him that
in that school every student had to learn it. Amit requested him (c) ................ it.
(a) (i) did you know how to play (ii) do you know how to play
 Competency Based Questions (CBQs) C-17

(iii) if he knew how to play (iv) if you knew how to play [Ans. (iii)
(b) (i) never had had a chance to learn (ii) never would had a chance to learn
(iii) never have a chance to learn (iv) never was a chance to learn [Ans. (i)
(c) (i) to give me a chance and I would learn
(ii) to give him a chance and I will learn
(iii) to give him a chance and he would learn
(iv) to give me a chance and I will learn [Ans. (iii)
Q.24. Fill in the blanks by choosing the correct options for ANY FOUR of the six sentences given below.
(a) I .................. have to report against you.
(i) should (ii) shall (iii) can (iv) could [Ans. (ii)
(b) I .................... never tasted this dish before.

COMPETENCY
(i) have (ii) will (iii) am (iv) did [Ans. (i)
(c) The school .................... last year.
(i) is built (ii) was build (iii) was built (iv) is build [Ans. (iii)
(d) The meeting ..................... held tomorrow.
(i) to be (ii) would be (iii) will be (iv) is [Ans. (iii)
(e) Morning walk is a tonic .................. both the body and the mind.
(i) for (ii) to (iii) on (iv) at [Ans. (i)
(f) It is always a pleasure .................. from you.
(i) hearing (ii) heard (iii) to hear (iv) having heard [Ans. (iii)
Q.25. Choose the correct options to fill in the blanks.
In a novel approach, drug-eluting stents are now being used (a) ................ cure chronic sinusitis, which is
not treatable with medicines. The technique (b) .............. also advisable for diabetics and those suffering

s
(c) ................ hypertension.

a
(a) (i) are (ii) were (iii) is (iv) to [Ans. (iv)

iv D
(b) (i) are (ii) is (iii) has (iv) have [Ans. (ii)

Sh
(c) (i) with (ii) for (iii) of (iv) from [Ans. (iv)
Q.26. Choose the correct options to fill in the blanks and complete the conversation.

Did you talk to Yes, but it is Nothing.

Dr. William? important for you What is it? Keep quiet.
to rest.

Ok.

BASED
The husband asked his wife (a) ............ Dr. William. The wife replied that she had but (b) ............ rest. The
husband asked her (c) ............ . The wife replied that it was nothing and told him to keep quiet.
(a) (i) did she talk to (ii) if she had spoken to
(iii) did you talk to (iv) if you have spoken to [Ans. (ii)
(b) (i) it was important for you to (ii) it is important for him to
(iii) it was important for him to (iv) it is important for you to [Ans. (iii)
(c) (i) what is that (ii) if what is that
(iii) if what was that (iv) what was that [Ans. (iv)
Q.27. Fill in the blanks by choosing the correct options for ANY FOUR of the six sentences given below.
(a) Communication .................. become very effective due to smart phones.
(i) has (ii) is (iii) have (iv) had [Ans. (i)
(b) Reading books .................. a good hobby.
(i) are (ii) was (iii) is (iv) has [Ans. (iii)
(c) Medicinally, the bark of the Kadam tree is used .................. an antiseptic.
(i) by (ii) in (iii) as (iv) with [Ans. (iii)
(d) There is a general belief .................. students that long answers fetch more marks.
(i) in (ii) between (iii) of (iv) among [Ans. (iv)
(e) Flax seeds are a good source .................. fiber.
(i) of (ii) to (iii) on (iv) at [Ans. (i)
 C-18 Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

(f) I have not met her .................. she left college.

(i) as (ii) since (iii) for (iv) when [Ans. (ii)
Q.28. Choose the correct options to fill in the blanks.
In England Gandhiji, at first, did not give his time entirely (a) ................ his studies. Instead, he tried to
copy fashionable English gentlemen in (b) .............. way. Like so many young men of his age he (c) ................
attracted by what was new and foreign.
(a) (i) to (ii) on (iii) at (iv) in [Ans. (i)
(b) (i) every (ii) on (iii) many (iv) very [Ans. (i)
(c) (i) is (ii) are (iii) was (iv) were [Ans. (iii)
Q.29. Choose the correct options to fill in the blanks and complete the conversation.

Why were you There was a friendly Why didn’t you

late from school football match between inform us earlier? I rang home but
yesterday? our school and A.B. nobody picked up
Public School. the phone.

Father asked Ravi (a) ................... . Ravi replied that (b) ................... and A.B. Public School. Father asked why
hadn’t he informed them earlier. Ravi replied that he (c) ................... up the phone.
(a) (i) why were you late from school yesterday
(ii) why he had been late from school the previous day
(iii) why you were late from school the day before
Grammar

s
(iv) why was he late from school yesterday [Ans. (ii)

a
(b) (i) there was a friendly football match between our school

iv D
(ii) there had been a friendly football match between our school

Sh
(iii) there was a friendly football match between their school
(iv) there had been a friendly football match between their school [Ans. (iv)
(c) (i) had rang home but nobody had picked
(ii) had rung up but nobody picked
(iii) rang home but nobody picked
(iv) had rung home but nobody had picked [Ans. (iv)
Q.30. Fill in the blanks by choosing the correct options for ANY FOUR of the six sentences given below.
(a) Unconsciousness is a state ............. a person appears to be in deep sleep.
(i) where (ii) which (iii) that (iv) from [Ans. (i)
(b) Mrs. Das ............. well for the past few days.
(i) is not been keeping (ii) was not keeping
(iii) had not kept well (iv) has not been keeping  [Ans. (iv)
(c) An American study ............. that a cup of coffee cuts the risk of diabetes by 6%.
(i) is showing (ii) has shown (iii) was showing (iv) have shown [Ans. (ii)
(d) A blast ............. two and wounded 20 yesterday.
(i) kills (ii) had killed (iii) killed (iv) will kill [Ans. (iii)
(e) Helicopters ............. to assess the damage caused by floods tomorrow.
(i) will be dispatched (ii) are dispatched
(iii) will get dispatched (iv) are dispatched [Ans. (i)
(f) More than 50 dinosaur eggs ............. in South Eastern Spain.
(i) are discovered (ii) will be discovered
(iii) were discovered (iv) was discovered [Ans. (iii)


 H T
I
L EG Lesson : One

T F
S O S A Letter to God
R
F PR
I

COMPETENCY
Competency Based Questions
 Questions on the Extracts from the Lesson
Q.1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
The house-the only one in the entire valley -sat on the crest of a low hill. From this height one could see

s
the river and the field of ripe corn dotted with the flowers that always promised a good harvest. The only

iv D a
thing the earth needed was a good downpour or at least a shower. Throughout the morning Lencho -who
knew his fields intimately- had done nothing but see the sky towards the north-east.

Sh
(a) Based on the detail of the house’s location, how can it best be described?
(i) majestic (ii) imposing (iii) solitary (iv) unique [Ans. (iii)
(b) The field of corn dotted with flowers means that
(i) not a single flower was bigger than a dot (ii) the flowers were scattered across
(iii) the flowers were shaped like dots (iv) the flowers had shrunk in size. [Ans. (ii)
(c) Lencho wished for a downpour or a heavy shower. Pick the option that correctly lists the correct
match for the kinds of rain.
1. heavy rain A. light rain that falls in very fine drops
2. Thunderstorm B. very heavy rain, tropical rain

BASED
3. drizzle C. It’s coming down quite strong and you get very wet very quickly
4. torrential rain D. really heavy rain that comes very suddenly
5. downpour E.
is a violent, short-lived weather disturbance associated with lighthing,
thunder and strong, gusty winds.
(i) 1-B, 2-D, 3-E, 4-A, 5-C (ii) 1-D, 2-A, 3-C, 4-E, 5-B
(iii) 1-E, 2-C, 3-D, 4-B, 5-A (iv) 1-C, 2-E, 3-A, 4-B, 5-D [Ans. (iv)
(d) Based on the given extract, what is Lencho NOT likely to think while looking at his field.
I. Such a blessing God Just a downpour,
II.
Thank You God, And everything
will be perfect,

III. All set for the grand IV. I wish we have enough food
harvest. to eat after this harvest.
I am going to be rich!

(i) Option I (ii) Option II (iii) Option III (iv) Option IV [Ans. (iv)

Competency Based Questions (CBQs) C-19

 C-20 Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

(e) Which quote supports the idea in the given extract?

(i) “Farming is a profession of hope.”
(ii) “I would rather be on my farm than be emperor of the world.”
(iii) “Farming looks mighty easy when your plough is a pencil, and you’re a thousand miles from the
corn field.”
(iv) “Those too lazy to plough in the right season will have no food at the harvest.” [Ans. (i)
Q.2. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
‘‘It’s really getting bad now,’’ exclaimed the man. “I hope it passes quickly.” It did not pass quickly. For an
hour the hail rained on the house, the garden, the hillside, the cornfield, on the whole valley. The field was
white, as if covered with salt. Not a leaf remained on the trees. The corn was totally destroyed. The flowers
were gone from the plants. Lencho’s soul was filled with sadness. When the storm had passed, he stood in
the middle of the field and said to his sons, “A plague of locusts would have left more than this. The hail
has left nothing. This year we will have no corn.’’
That night was a sorrowful one.
“All our work, for nothing.”
‘‘There’s no one who can help us.”
“We’ll all go hungry this year.”
(a) What does ‘it’ in the above passage refer to?
(i) flowers (ii) hail (iii) cornfield (iv) valley  [Ans. (ii)
(b) Why was Lencho’s heart filled with sadness?
A Letter to God

(i) His cornfield was completely destroyed. (ii) The hail had left nothing in the field.
(iii) Their hard work had been in vain. (iv) All of the above.  [Ans. (iv)
(c) Pick the option that correctly classifies fact/s (F) and opinion/s (O) of the students below.

a s
Oh, come on! Lencho I think there was no

iv D
is exaggerating his one to help Lencho.
Let’s not forget the
plight.

Sh
hail devastated I feel Lencho
Lencho's field. is unnecessarily
anxious.

1 2 3 4

(i) F—1, 2, 3 and O—4 (ii) F—1, 3 and O—2, 4

(iii) F—1, 4 and O—2, 3 (iv) F—2, 3, 4 and O—1  [Ans. (ii)
(d) Which word does ‘plague’ not correspond to?
(i) gratification (ii) invasion (iii) pest (iv) infestation  [Ans. (i)
(e) Choose the characteristic displayed by Lencho when he says, “There’s no one who can help us”.
(i) desperate (ii) anger (iii) despair (iv) sympathy [Ans. (iii)
Q.3. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
He wrote ‘To God’ on the envelope, put the letter inside and, still troubled, went to town. At the post
office, he placed a stamp on the letter and dropped it into the mailbox. One of the employees, who was a
postman and also helped at the post office, went to his boss laughing heartily and showed him the letter
to God. Never in his career as a postman had he known that address. The postmaster—a fat, amiable
fellow—also broke out laughing, but almost immediately he turned serious and, tapping the letter on his
desk, commented, “What faith! I wish I had the faith of the man who wrote this letter. Starting up a
correspondence with God!”
(a) Lencho was ‘still troubled’ because:
(i) his problem had not been solved. (ii) he had not posted his letter.
(iii) he did not trust the post office employees. (iv) he and his family were hungry. [Ans. (i)
(b) The word ‘amiable’ does not mean the same as:
(i) cordial (ii) good-natured (iii) unsocial (iv) friendly  [Ans. (iii)
(c) The postman was amused:
(i) on seeing Lencho’s faith in God. (ii) as the letter was addressed to God.
 Competency Based Questions (CBQs) C-21

(iii) as Lencho had written a wrong address. (iv) as he did not know what to do with the letter.
 [Ans. (ii)
(d) The postmaster was impressed:
(i) on seeing the address on the envelope. (ii) by Lencho’s courage.
(iii) by Lencho’s faith in God. (iv) All of the above [Ans. (iii)
(e) The extract uses the word ‘correspondence’. Which of the following expressions is incorrect with
respect to the word?
(1) Communication

COMPETENCY
(4) Conversation Correspondence (2) Mail

(3) Letter
(i) option (1) (ii) option (2) (iii) option (3) (iv) option (4)  [Ans. (iv)
Q.4. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
The following Sunday Lencho came a bit earlier than usual to ask if there was a letter for him. It was the
postman himself who handed the letter to him while the postmaster, experiencing the contentment of a man
who has performed a good deed, looked on from his office. Lencho showed not the slightest surprise on
seeing the money; such was his confidence—but he became angry when he counted the money. God could
not have made a mistake, nor could he have denied Lencho what he had requested. Immediately, Lencho
went up to the window to ask for paper and ink. On the public writing-table, he started to write, with much
wrinkling of his brow, caused by the effort he had to make to express his ideas. When he finished, he went

s
to the window to buy a stamp which he licked and then affixed to the envelope with a blow of his fist.

a
(a) Why did the postmaster look contented?

iv D
(i) Seeing Lencho at the post office (ii) A postman handed the letter to Lencho

Sh
(iii) He had been able to help Lencho (iv) Seeing Lencho’s faith in God  [Ans. (iii)
(b) Why was Lencho angry when he counted the money?
(i) The amount was less than he had asked. (ii) God had denied Lencho his request.
(iii) His confidence was shaken. (iv) God had made a mistake.  [Ans. (i)
(c) Pick the option that correctly classifies fact/s (F) and opinion/s (O) of the students below.
I feel Lencho
Let’s not forget should have shown
Lencho’s faith some restraint.
in God was shaken.
I think Lencho Oh, C’mon! He is

BASED
is ungrateful. just a simple person.

1 2 4
3
(i) F—2, 3 and O—1, 4 (ii) F—2, 4 and O—1, 3
(iii) F—2 and O—1 (iv) F—4 and O—2, 4  [Ans. (ii)
(d) Which word does ‘wrinkling’ NOT correspond to?
(i) Pursue (ii) Scrunch (iii) Contract (iv) Crease  [Ans. (i)
(e) Choose the characteristic displayed by the postmaster when he decided not to shake Lencho’s faith
in God:
(i) Encouragement (ii) Goodness (iii) Liberality (iv) Sympathy [Ans. (ii)
Q.5. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
When he finished, he went to the window to buy a stamp which he licked and then affixed to the envelope
with a blow of his fist. The moment the letter fell into the mailbox the postmaster went to open it. It said:
“God: Of the money that I asked for, only seventy pesos reached me. Send me the rest, since I need it very
much. But don’t send it to me through the mail because the post office employees are a bunch of crooks.
Lencho.”
 C-22 Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

(a) ‘…bunch of crooks.’ Pick the option that DOES NOT collate 1. keys
with ‘bunch of’, correctly
(i) Option 1 4. islands bunch of 2. grapes
(ii) Option 2
(iii) Option 3
3. owers
(iv) Option 4  [Ans. (iv)
(b) What was the most likely response that the postmaster expected in Lencho’s second letter?
1. sorrowful 2. gratitude 3. disappointment 4. elation 5. shock 
(i) 2 and 5 (ii) 1 and 3 (iii) 2 and 4 (iv) 3 and 5  [Ans. (iii)
I

(c) Pick the option that lists the option corresponding to—‘with a blow of his fist.’
(i) Option I (ii) Option II IV II
(iii) Option III (iv) Option IV [Ans. (iv)

III
(d) Lencho’s letter included
(i) Request for some money (ii) Description of the post office
(iii) Belief of being looted (iv) List of further demands.  [Ans. (iv)
A Letter to God

(e) Pick the most suitable quote for this extract.

(i) “It is easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled.”–Mark Twain
(ii) “Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance.”- Confucius
(iii) “You see a person’s true colours when you are no longer beneficial to their life.”-Anonymous

s
(iv) “True generosity means accepting ingratitude.”-Coco Chanel  [Ans. (iv)

iv D a
 Stand-Alone Multiple Choice Questions

Sh
1. Why does Lencho compare the rain drops to coins?
(i) The weather had become pleasant. (ii) He had a feeling of immense satisfaction
(iii) The rain would ensure a good harvest (iv) His hard work had been rewarded  [Ans. (iii)
2. Why did the postman laugh heartily on seeing Lencho’s letter?
(i) He did not know what to do with it (ii) The letter was without an address
(iii) He had never known that address (iv) He lacked that kind of faith in God  [Ans. (iii)
3. Lencho was not surprised on receiving money from God. This reveals his:
(i) Apprehension (ii) Anxiety (iii) Conviction (iv) Courage  [Ans. (iii)
4. Where was the house situated?
I. in a valley II. in the plains III. on the crest of a hill IV. by the seaside 
(i) I and II (ii) II and III (iii) I and III (iv) III and IV [Ans. (iii)
5. They are new coins. The big drops are ten cent pieces and the little ones are fives. What are these coins made of?
(i) Gold (ii) Silver (iii) Nickel (iv) Raindrops  [Ans. (iv)
6. But in the hearts of all who lived in that solitary house in the middle of the valley, there was a single
hope? What hope is being discussed?
(i) Help from the neighbours (ii) Help from the post office employees
(iii) Help form the postmaster and his colleagues (iv) Help from God  [Ans. (iv)
7. Lencho wrote a letter and
(i) gave to the postman (ii) sent his son to post it
(iii) dropped it into the mailbox (iv) sent it to the postmaster  [Ans. (iii)
8. To answer the letter the postmaster needed something more than goodwill, ink and paper. What was it
that he needed?
(i) Seventy pesos (ii) One hundred and ten pesos
(iii) Eighty pesos (iv) One hundred pesos [Ans. (iv)
9. On receiving the letter, Lencho became
(i) Surprised (ii) angry (iii) happy (iv) felt normal [Ans. (ii)
10. What kind of a person would you say Lencho is?
(i) greedy (ii) naive (iii) stupid (iv) ungrateful [Ans. (ii)

 Lesson : Two
Nelson Mandela:
Long Walk to Freedom

COMPETENCY
Competency Based Questions
 Questions on the Extracts from the Lesson
Q.1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
“We, who were outlaws not so long ago, have today been given the rare privilege to be host to the nations
of the world on our own soil. We thank all of our distinguished international guests for having come to

s
take possession with the people of our country of what is, after all, a common victory for justice, for peace,

a
for human dignity.”

iv D
(a) The guests at the spectacular ceremony are being called distinguished because

Sh
(i) they have been invited as guests to attend it.
(ii) they are eminent world leaders witnessing it.
(iii) they are visiting the country for this purpose.
(iv) they have resumed diplomatic relations with the country. [Ans. (ii)
(b) It is a victory for ‘human dignity’. Pick the option that lists the correct answer for what ‘human dig-
nity’ would include
(i) I. equality; II. liberty; III. indecency (ii) I. liberty; II. indecency; III. self-respect
(iii) I. immorality; II. self-respect; III. equality (iv) I. equality; II. liberty; III. self-respect [Ans. (iv)
(c) Why does the speaker say that it is a ‘rare privilege’?

BASED
He says this as they have
(i) been deprived of this honour. (ii) seldom been given this honour.
(iii) experienced it for the first time. (iv) been chosen over other countries, for this honour.
 [Ans. (iii)
(d) How do you think the speaker feels? Choose the option that best fits his state of mind.
(i) I. emotional; II. elated; III. unmindful
(ii) I. elated; II. unmindful; III. overwhelmed
(iii) I. overwhelmed; II. elated; III. honoured I feel ...
(iv) I. elated; II. honoured; III. unmindful      [Ans. (iii)

(e) Pick the option that showcases the usage of ‘host’ as in the extract.
(i) He was praised for his hospitality as the host of the party.
(ii) She was able to host the event without any hindrance.
(iii) She met the host and apologised for her friend’s misbehaviour.
(iv) He is the best host that one can ever come across. [Ans. (ii)
Q.2. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
The policy of apartheid created a deep and lasting wound in my country and my people. All of us will
spend many years, if not generations, recovering from that profound hurt. But the decades of oppression
Competency Based Questions (CBQs) C-23
 C-24 Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

and brutality had another, unintended, effect, and that was that it produced the Oliver Tambos, the Walter
Sisulus, the Chief Luthulis, the Yusuf Dadoos, the Bram Fischers, the Robert Sobukwes of our time—men
of such extraordinary courage, wisdom and generosity that their like may never be known again. Perhaps
it requires such depths of oppression to create such heights of character. My country is rich in the minerals
and gems that lie beneath its soil, but I have always known that its greatest wealth is its people, finer and
truer than the purest diamonds.
Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

(a) The ‘profound hurt’ was created by:

(i) apartheid policy (ii) oppression (iii) brutality (iv) captivity  [Ans. (i)
(b) The ‘unintended effect’ that Mandela refers to is:
(i) giving people great heights of character. (ii) making his country rich in minerals.
(iii) producing men of courage and wisdom. (iv) giving his country a lot of wealth. [Ans. (iii)
(c) The extract uses the phrase, ‘profound hurt’. Which of the following expressions is incorrect with
respect to the word ‘profound’?
(1) Superficial

(4) Acute Profound (2) Intense

(3) Complete
(i) option (1) (ii) option (2) (iii) option (3) (iv) option (4)  [Ans. (i)
(d) Choose the option that lists the set of statements that are not True according to the given extract.
1. The people of South Africa faced decades of oppression and brutality.
2. The adverse circumstances created some great people.

a s
3. South Africa is not rich in minerals.

iv D
4. The country lacks in fine and pure diamonds.
5. It will take many years for people to recover from the brutality.

Sh
6. People are not the greatest wealth of a country.
(i) 1, 3, 5 (ii) 2, 4, 6 (iii) 3, 4, 6 (iv) 2, 3, 5  [Ans. (iii)
(e) The word in the extract which means the same as ‘cruelty’ is:
(i) oppression (ii) hurt (iii) wound (iv) brutality [Ans. (iv)
Q.3. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
The policy of apartheid created a deep and lasting wound in my country and my people. All of us will
spend many years, if not generations, recovering from that profound hurt. But the decades of oppression
and brutality had another, unintended, effect, and that was that it produced the Oliver Tambos, the Walter
Sisulus, the Chief Luthulis, the Yusuf Dadoos, the Bram Fischers, the Robert Sobukwes of our time’ — men
of such extraordinary courage, wisdom and generosity that their like may never be known again. Perhaps
it requires such depths of oppression to create such heights of character. My country is rich in the minerals
and gems that lie beneath its soil, but I have always known that its greatest wealth is its people, finer and
truer than the purest diamonds.
(a) The ‘twin obligations’ that Mandela refers to are:
(i) social and national (ii) emotional and rational
(iii) communal and regional (iv) racial and sensational [Ans. (i)
(b) A ‘man of colour’ was unable to fulfill both obligations because he was:
(i) secluded (ii) rebellious (iii) incorporated (iv) inaccessible  [Ans. (i)
(c) Pick the option that correctly classifies fact/s (F) and opinion/s (O) of the students below.
Oh, come on! Mandela was
I feel obligations prevented from fulfilling
are based on one’s his filial responsibility.
I think racial discrimi- capability.
nation greatly hampers Let’s not forget that
equality. Mandela strived hard
against all odds.

1 2 3 4
 Competency Based Questions (CBQs) C-25

(i) F—1, 3 and O—2, 4 (ii) F—2, 3 and O—1, 4

(iii) F—1, 2, 3 and O—4 (iv) F—2, 3, 4 and O—1  [Ans. (iv)
(d) Which word/phrase DOES NOT correspond to the word ‘ripped’?
(i) torn-apart (ii) separated (iii) defended (iv) slashed out [Ans. (iii)
(e) Choose the trait Mandela displayed when he decided to place his country-men above his family.
(i) patriotism (ii) partisan (iii) nationalism (iv) All of the above [Ans. (iv)
Q.4. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
It was only when I began to learn that my boyhood freedom was an illusion, when I discovered as a
young man that my freedom had already been taken from me, that I began to hunger for it. At first, as a
student, I wanted freedom only for myself, the transitory freedoms of being able to stay out at night, read

COMPETENCY
what I pleased and go where I chose. Later, as a young man in Johannesburg, I yearned for the basic and
honourable freedoms of achieving my potential, of earning my keep, of marrying and having a family —
the freedom not to be obstructed in a lawful life. But then I slowly saw that not only was I not free, but my
brothers and sisters were not free. I saw that it was not just my freedom that was curtailed, but the freedom
of everyone who looked like I did. That is when I joined the African National Congress, and that is when
the hunger for my own freedom became the greater hunger for the freedom of my people.
(a) Mandela began to hunger for freedom when he realised that his freedom was a:
(i) misconception (ii) deception (iii) delusion (iv) All of the above[Ans. (iv)
(b) The phrase 'transitory freedom’ means freedom that is:
(i) short lived (ii) habitual (iii) perpetual (iv) permanent  [Ans. (i)
(c) The statement that is NOT TRUE about Mandela according to the passage is:
(i) he did not want freedom only for himself. (ii) his freedom was never an illusion.
(iii) he wanted freedom for his country-men (iv) he joined the African National Congress [Ans. (ii)

a s
(d) The extract uses the phrase ‘achieving my potential’? Which of the following words is incorrect with

iv D
respect to the word potential?

Sh
(1) Capability

(4) Competence POTENTIAL (2) Prospect

(3) Actuality
(i) Option 1 (ii) Option 2 (iii) Option 3 (iv) Option 4  [Ans. (iii)
(e) What kind of freedom did Mandela aspire for as a young man?
(i) to stay out at night (ii) to go where he wanted to
(iii) to read what pleased him (iv) to earn his keep [Ans. (iv)

BASED
Q.5. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
“It was only when I began to learn that my boyhood freedom was an illusion, when I discovered as a
young man that my freedom had already been taken from me, that I began to hunger for it. At first as a
student I wanted freedom only for myself, the transitory freedoms of being able to stay out at night, read
what I pleased and go where I chose. Later, as a young man in Johannesburg, I yearned for the basic and
honourable freedoms...”
(a) The title that best suits this extract is
(i) Freedom for everything (ii) Knowledge about Freedom
(iii) Significance of Freedom (iv) Realisation of Freedom  [Ans. (iii)
(b) Why do you think the speaker mentions some freedoms as ‘transitory’?
(i) The freedoms are momentary and keep changing with time.
(ii) The definition of freedom is constant but perspectives differ.
(iii) Freedom means different things to different people.
(iv) Freedom is not that important after a certain age. [Ans. (i)
(c) Choose the option that best fits the usage of the word ‘illusion’ as used in the extract
(i) He was never able to get past the illusion.
(ii) The illusion I experienced was quite intriguing.
(iii) A large mirror in the room creates an illusion.
(iv) I was living under the illusion that this is possible. [Ans. (iv)
 C-26 Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

(d) The speaker says, ‘at first as a student I wanted freedom only for myself.’
Why do you think he only thought about himself?
(i) He didn’t want to think about the freedom denied to others.
(ii) He was being selfish and was only bothered about himself.
(iii) He didn’t think that freedom denied to him was important for others.
(iv) He was too young to realise that freedom was denied to others as well. [Ans. (iv)
Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

(e) A part of the extract has been paraphrased. Choose the option that includes the most appropriate
solution to the blanks in the given paraphrase of the extract.
The speaker’s belief about freedom, since childhood proved false. It was not until the speaker grew up
to be a young man when it (I) __________________ on him that he was (II) ________________ of free-
dom. Then he began (III) __________________ it.
(i) I. desired; II. dawned; III. depriving (ii) I. dawned; II. deprived; III. desiring
(iii) I. dawned; II. arrived; III. desiring (iv) I. arrived; II. deprived; III. dawned [Ans. (ii)

 Stand-Alone Multiple Choice Questions

1. According to Mandela, a truly brave man is one who
(i) is unafraid (ii) is courageous (iii) vanquishes his fear (iv) yields to his fear
 [Ans. (iii)
2. Why does Mandela say that freedom is ‘indivisible’?
(i) it cannot be quantified
(ii) it has to be common to all
(iii) both the oppressor and oppressed must be liberated
(iv) All of the above  [Ans. (iv)

s
3. What according to Mandela, was the positive effect of oppression and brutality?

a
(i) it produced men of great wisdom

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(ii) it made the country rich

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(iii) it gave wealth and power to the people who needed it
(iv) it created a feeling of empathy among people. [Ans. (i)
4. Apartheid is a political system. Which of the given countries had this political system until very recently.
(i) South America (ii) United states of America
(iii) South Africa (iv) Australia [Ans. (iii)
5. In the extract Long Walk to Freedom, Mandela speaks about a historic occasion. What is this occasion?
(i) Mandela became the first black Prime Minister
(ii) Mandela took over as the leader of African National Congress
(iii) African National Congress took over the government forcefully.
(iv) Nelson Mandela became South Africa’s first black President. [Ans. (iv)
6. In Column A an expression is given. Match the expression with an appropriate meaning from Column B.
Column A Column B
A rainbow gathering of different colours and (i) A great ability to remain unchanged by suffering
nations. (no-losing hope, goodness or courage).
(ii) A sign of human feeling (goodness,kindness,
pity, justice etc.)
(iii) A beautiful coming together of various peoples,
like the colours in a rainbow.
(iv) Remembering and understanding all the past
colourful events that led to the moment.
[Ans. (iii)
7. Who was the first black vice-president of South Africa?
(i) Mr. De Klerk (ii) Nelson Mandela (iii) Oliver Tambo (iv) Thabo Mbeki [Ans. (iv)
8 A man who takes away another man’s freedom is a prisoner of __________, fill in the blank.
(i) love (ii) enmity (iii) hatred (iv) jealousy [Ans. (iii)


 Lesson : Three
Two Stories About Flying
I. His First Flight

COMPETENCY
Competency Based Questions
 Questions on the Extracts from the Lesson
Q.1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
The young seagull was alone on his ledge. His two brothers and his sister had already flown away the
day before. He had been afraid to fly with them. Somehow when he had taken a little run forward to the

s
brink of the ledge and attempted to flap his wings he became afraid. The great expanse of sea stretched

iv D a
down beneath, and it was such a long way down—miles down. He felt certain that his wings would never
support him; so he bent his head and ran away back to the little hole under the ledge where he slept at

Sh
night. Even when each of his brothers and his little sister, whose wings were far shorter than his own, ran
to the brink, flapped their wings, and flew away, he failed to muster up courage to take that plunge which
appeared to him so desperate. His father and mother had come around calling to him shrilly, upbraiding
him, threatening to let him starve on his ledge unless he flew away. But for the life of him he could not
move. That was twenty-four hours ago. Since then nobody had come near him. The day before, all day
long, he had watched his parents flying about with his brothers and sister, perfecting them in the art of
flight, teaching them how to skim the waves and how to dive for fish.
(a) Why had the young seagull not flown with his siblings?
(i) He was scared. (ii) His wings were shorter.

BASED
(iii) He was not desperate to fly. (iv) His wings were not supporting him.  [Ans. (i)
(b) Choose the option that lists the set of statements that are NOT TRUE according to the given extract.
1. The young seagull had one brother and two sisters.
2. His siblings had flown away the previous day.
3. His wings were not supporting him.
4. He became afraid when he reached the brink’s edge.
5. He had shorter wings than his siblings.
6. Nobody from his family had come near him since twenty four hours.
(i) 1, 2, 4 (ii) 2, 4, 5 (iii) 1, 5, 6 (iv) 1, 3, 5  [Ans. (iv)
(c) Pick the option that correctly classifies the fact/s [F] and opinion/s [O] of the students below.
Let’s not forget I feel his family
he is very scared just leaves him alone.
I think the young on his first flight.
seagull will eventually Oh, Come on!
conquer his fear. Eventually he will
learn to fly.

1 2 3 4

Competency Based Questions (CBQs) C-27

 C-28 Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

(i) F—1, 2 and O—3, 4 (ii) F—1, 4 and O—2, 3

(iii) F—3 and O—1, 2, 4 (iv) F—2, 4 and O—1, 3  [Ans. (iv)
(d) Which phrase does the word ‘expands’ not correspond to?
(i) Wide area (ii) Open space (iii) Vast stretch (iv) Enclosure  [Ans. (iv)
(e) Choose the trait displayed by the seagull’s parents when they threatened to starve him.
(i) anger (ii) frustration (iii) indulging (iv) reprimanding [Ans. (iv)
Q.2. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
The day before, all day long, he had watched his parents flying about with his brothers and sister, perfecting
them in the art of flight, teaching them how to skim the waves and how to dive for fish. He had, in fact,
seen his older brother catch his first herring and devour it, standing on a rock, while his parents circled
around raising a proud cackle. And all the morning the whole family had walked about on the big plateau
midway down the opposite cliff taunting him with his cowardice.
(a) The young seagull uttered a joyful scream because:
‘while his parents circled around raising a proud cackle.’ What does it mean?
(i) Well done! (ii) Oh no! (iii) Ready! (iv) Really!  [Ans. (i)
(b) Which option lists the image nearest to ‘skim the waves’?
I. His First Flight

I II III IV

a s
(i) Image I (ii) Image II (iii) Image III (iv) Image IV [Ans. (iii)

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(c) Imagine that the young gull attended a workshop on inspiration and confidence building and
received a couple of pieces of advice.

Sh
Choose the option that reflects these pieces of advice, most relevant to his situation.

       I II III IV
(i) Image I (ii) Image II (iii) Image III (iv) Image IV [Ans. (iv)
(d) Which of the following feelings did the young gull, NOT feel according to the given context?
“…all day long, he had watched his parents flying about with his brothers and sister…”
1. sad 2. incompetent 3. excluded 4. ungrateful
5. inspired 6. jealous 7. anxious
(i) 1, 3, 6 (ii) 2, 5, 7 (iii) 2, 3, 7 (iv) 4, 5, 6 [Ans. (iv)
(e) Select the most appropriate option for the following:
devour : guzzle; nibble : _______
(i) chew (ii) savour (iii) peck (iv) gulp [Ans. (iii)
Q.3. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
“Ga, ga, ga,” he cried begging her to bring him some food. “Gaw-col-ah,” she screamed back derisively.
But he kept calling plaintively, and after a minute or so he uttered a joyful scream. His mother had picked
up a piece of the fish and was flying across to him with it. He leaned out eagerly, tapping the rock with
his feet, trying to get nearer to her as she flew across. But when she was just opposite to him, she halted,
her wings motionless, the piece of fish in her beak almost within reach of his beak. He waited a moment
in surprise, wondering why she did not come nearer, and then, maddened by hunger, he dived at the fish.
With a loud scream he fell outwards and downwards into space. Then a monstrous terror seized him and
his heart stood still. He could hear nothing.
(a) The young seagull uttered a joyful scream because:
(i) he thought his mother was bringing him food.
 Competency Based Questions (CBQs) C-29

(ii) to get his mother’s attention.

(iii) he was hungry.
(iv) All of the above.  [Ans. (i)
(b) The word ‘plaintively’ means the same as:
(i) piteously (ii) wistfully (iii) pathetically (iv) All of the above [Ans. (iv)
(c) Pick the option that correctly classifies fact/s (F) and opinion/s (O) of the students below.
Let’s not forget he is I feel his family just
very scared on his leaves him alone
I think his mother first flight
was being harsh Oh, C’mon! He will
on the young seagull. learn to fly

COMPETENCY
1 2 3 4

(i) F—1, 2 and O—3, 4 (ii) F—3, 4 and O—1, 2

(iii) F—1, 3 and O—2, 4 (iv) F—3, and O—1, 2, 4 [Ans. (iii)
(d) Why did the young seagull make the dive?
(i) He wanted to go to his mother. (ii) He was left all alone.
(iii) He could not bear his hunger. (iv) He had overcome his fear of flying. [Ans. (iii)
(e) The extract uses the word ‘derisively’. Which of the following expressions is incorrect with respect
to the word?
(1) Mocking

a s
(4) Contemptuously Derisively (2) Ridiculing

Sh iv D
(3) Respectfully
(i) option (1) (ii) option (2) (iii) option (3) (iv) option (4) [Ans. (iii)
Q.4. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
He just felt a bit dizzy. Then he flapped his wings once and he soared upwards. “Ga, ga, ga, Ga, ga, ga,
Gaw-col-ah,” his mother swooped past him, her wings making a loud noise. He answered her with another
scream. Then his father flew over him screaming.
He saw his two brothers and his sister flying around him curveting and banking and soaring and diving.
Then he completely forgot that he had not always been able to fly, and commended himself to dive and

BASED
soar and curve, shrieking shrilly.
(a) Pick the most appropriate reason why the young gull felt dizzy.
(i) He hadn’t eaten anything for a day. (ii) He was dizzy with excitement
(iii) He was wary of heights. (iv) He was flying for the first time. [Ans. (iv)
(b) How would you describe the screams of the young gull in the given extract?
(i) elation (ii) bewilderment (iii) shock (iv) protection [Ans. (i)
(c) The line “he completely forgot that he had not always been able to fly” implies the
(i) great confidence the young gull had in his skills.
(ii) naturalness of the act of flying for the young gull.
(iii) satisfaction and joy of flying together as a family.
(iv) desire of the young gull to leave his fears behind. [Ans. (ii)
(d) The extract refers to the many movements of the young gull’s brothers and sister. Choose the option
that correctly sequences these movements.
(i) The young gull’s brothers and sister flew by tilting their wings, rose high, made darting move-
ments and plunged headfirst.
(ii) The young gull’s brothers and sister flew by plunging headfirst, making darting movements, titled
their wings and rose high.
(iii) The young gull’s brothers and sister flew with darting movements, titled their wings, rose high
and plunged headfirst.
 C-30 Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

(iv) The young gull’s brothers and sister flew by rising high, plunging headfirst, making darting move-
ments and tilting their wings. [Ans. (iii)
(e) Which of the following mirrors the use of the literary device in “shrieking shrilly”?
(i) sparkling saga (ii) singing soft
(iii) slippery sloppily (iv) sneeze silently [Ans. (iv)

 Stand-Alone Multiple Choice Questions

1. The young seagull was afraid to fly because:
(i) he was alone on the ledge. (ii) he felt certain his wings would never support him.
(iii) he was unable to flap his wings. (iv) he had short wings. [Ans. (ii)
2. ‘The sight of food maddened him’. The young seagull’s mother was using the piece of fish as a:
(i) bait (ii) threat (iii) compulsion (iv) guarantee [Ans. (i)
3. What makes the young seagull conquer his fear?
(i) his deep desire to fly (ii) his longing for the family
(iii) his hunger for fish (iv) his fear of falling from the ledge [Ans. (iii)
4. The young seagull has
(i) a sister and two brothers (ii) two sisters and a brother
(iii) one sister and one brothers (iv) two brothers and two sisters [Ans. (i)
5. But he was tired and weak with hunger and he could not rise,exhausted by the strange exercise what
I. His First Flight

happened next?
(i) the seagull made his first flight (ii) the seagull drowned in the sea
(iii) the seagull floated on the water (iv) the seagull dived into the sea [Ans. (iii)



a s
Sh iv D
 Lesson : Three
Two Stories About Flying
II. Black Aeroplane

COMPETENCY
Competency Based Questions
 Questions on the Extracts from the Lesson
Q.1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
Paris was about 150 kilometres behind me when I saw the clouds. Storm clouds. They were huge. They

s
looked like black mountains standing in front of me across the sky. I knew I could not fly up and over them,

iv D a
and I did not have enough fuel to fly around them to the north or south.
“I ought to go back to Paris,” I thought, but I wanted to get home. I wanted that breakfast.

Sh
‘I’ll take the risk,’ I thought, and flew that old Dakota straight into the storm.
Inside the clouds, everything was suddenly black. It was impossible to see anything outside the aeroplane.
The old aeroplane jumped and twisted in the air.
(a) How far had the pilot travelled before he saw the clouds?
(i) 150 kms ahead of Paris. (ii) Paris was 150 kms ahead.
(iii) 150 kms towards Paris. (iv) 150 kms behind Paris.  [Ans. (i)
(b) Why does he compare the storm clouds to black mountains?
(1) They were huge. (2) They were black.
(3) He could not tell the difference. (4) They seemed to touch the sky.

BASED
(i) (2) and (3) (ii) (3) and (4) (iii) (1) and (2) (iv) (1) and (4)  [Ans. (iii)
(c) Pick the option that correctly classifies fact/s [F] and opinion/s [O] of the students below.
I feel it was a
Let’s not forget decision which could
the pilot wants have cost him his life.
I think the pilot to go home.
should have flown Oh, Come on! He was
back to Paris. just desperate to have
that breakfast.

1 2 3 4

(i) F—(1), (2) and O—(3), (4) (ii) F—(1), (4) and O—(2), (3)
(iii) F—(2), (4) and O—(1), (3) (iv) F—(3), (4) and O—(1), (2) [Ans. (iii)
(d) Why did the pilot think he should go back to Paris?
(i) He had enough fuel to fly back.
(ii) He could not fly up over the clouds.
(iii) He could not fly in the north to south direction.
(iv) He wanted to take a risk. [Ans. (ii)

Competency Based Questions (CBQs) C-31

 C-32 Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

(e) Choose the option that lists the set of statements that are NOT TRUE according to the given extracts.
1. The pilot saw the storm clouds 150 kms towards Paris.
2. The storm clouds were huge.
3. The pilot could fly over the clouds.
4. The pilot flew around the clouds.
5. An English breakfast was beckoning him.
6. The pilot did not fly back to Paris.
(i) 1, 2, 3 (ii) 2, 4, 6 (iii) 1, 4, 5 (iv) 1, 3, 4  [Ans. (iv)
Q.2. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
Everything was going well — it was an easy flight. Paris was about 150 kilometres behind me when I saw
the clouds. Storm clouds. They were huge. They looked like black mountains standing in front of me across
the sky. I knew I could not fly up and over them, and I did not have enough fuel to fly around them to the
north or south. “I ought to go back to Paris,” I thought, but I wanted to get home. I wanted that breakfast.
‘I’ll take the risk,’ I thought, and flew that old Dakota straight into the storm.
(a) Based on the given extract,, choose the option that lists the meme which would be the most appro-
priate response to “…it was an easy flight”?
II. Black Aeroplane

I II III IV

s
(i) Option I (ii) Option II (iii) Option III (iv) Option IV [Ans. (iii)

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(b) How would you describe the “risk” the narrator took?
(i) calculated (ii) impetuous (iii) unavoidable (iv) navigable [Ans. (ii)

Sh
(c) In what way might the reference to the Dakota as “old” be relevant?
(i) Its antique value made it expensive and precious to the narrator.
(ii) It is employed by the narrator as a term of endearment.
(iii) It did not have enough fuel to fly around the storm clouds.
(iv) Its ability to negotiate the storm clouds might have been suspect.  [Ans. (iv)
(d) Read the statements given below, and then select the option that best describes the given statements.
Statement I – The narrator’s desire to reach home and see his family made him complacent.
Statement II – The narrator was unaware of the threat that the adversarial storm clouds presented.
Statement III – The narrator’s decision making was quick but irresponsible as well as dangerous.
(i) Statement I is False, Statement II is True, Statement III cannot be inferred .
(ii) Statement I and III are True, Statement II cannot be inferred.
(iii) Statement I cannot be inferred, Statement II is False, Statement III is True.
(iv) Statement I and II are False, Statement III is True.  [Ans. (iii)
(e) Select the correct option to fill in the blanks below:
risk: risky :: ______ : _______
(i) danger: dangerously (ii) hazard : hazardous
(iii) peril : imperiled (iv) caution : precaution  [Ans. (ii)
Q.3. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
Then, in the black clouds quite near me, I saw another aeroplane. It had no lights on its wings, but I could
see it flying next to me through the storm. I could see the pilot’s face—turned towards me. I was very glad
to see another person. He lifted one hand and waved.
“Follow me,” he was saying. “Follow me.”
‘He knows that I am lost,’ I thought. ‘He’s trying to help me.’
He turned his aeroplane slowly to the north, in front of my Dakota, so that it would be easier for me to
follow him. I was very happy to go behind the strange aeroplane like an obedient child.
After half an hour the strange black aeroplane was still there in front of me in the clouds. Now there was
only enough fuel in the old Dakota’s last tank to fly for five or ten minutes more. I was starting to feel
frightened again. But then he started to go down and I followed through the storm.
 Competency Based Questions (CBQs) C-33

(a) What was the pilot’s feeling on seeing another aeroplane?

(i) relief (ii) happiness (iii) elation (iv) All of the above [Ans. (iv)
(b) Pick the option that correctly classifies fact/s (F) and opinion/s (O) of the students below.
I feel there was definitely
Let’s not forget the another aeroplane that
I think the other aeroplane pilot could see the guided the pilot.
was a figment of the other pilot’s face.
pilot’s imagination. Oh, come on! The black
aeroplane was leading
the Dakota aeroplane
for half an hour.

1 2 3 4

COMPETENCY
(i) F—1, 4 and O—2, 3 (ii) O—1, 3 and F—2, 4
(iii) F—1, 2, 3 and O—4 (iv) F—1 and O—2, 3, 4  [Ans. (ii)
(c) Why did the pilot follow the strange black aeroplane like an obedient child?
(i) He knew the other pilot. (ii) He wanted to reach England for breakfast.
(iii) He had no other choice. (iv) The aeroplane was in front of his Dakota.[Ans. (iii)
(d) The pilot started to feel frightened again because:
(i) the dark clouds were getting thicker. (ii) the aeroplane’s fuel tank was getting empty.
(iii) visibility was very poor. (iv) he could not see the strange black aeroplane.
 [Ans. (ii)
(e) The pilot, following the black aeroplane, diligently reveals his sense of ................ .
(i) anxiety (ii) fear (iii) trust (iv) confusion  [Ans. (iii)
Q.4. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

s
I was safe! I turned to look for my friend in the black aeroplane, but the sky was empty. There was nothing

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there. The black aeroplane was gone. I could not see it anywhere. I landed and was not sorry to walk
away from the old Dakota near the control tower. I went and asked a woman in the control centre where I

Sh
was and who the other pilot was. I wanted to say ‘Thank you’. She looked at me very strangely, and then
laughed. “Another aeroplane? Up there in this storm? No other aeroplanes were flying tonight. Yours was
the only one I could see on the radar.” So, who helped me…
(a) Select the option that correctly tracks the progression of emotions experienced by the narrator in the
given extract.
(i) excited – surprised – relieved – grateful – perplexed
(ii) relieved – confused – curious – dejected – panic-stricken
(iii) optimistic – lonely – calm – elated – appreciative
(iv) triumphant – reassured– inquisitive – thankful – uncertain [Ans. (i)

BASED
(b) Why do you think the woman in the control centre laughed?
(i) She found the narrator funny. (ii) She thought his question preposterous.
(iii) She thought he was teasing her. (iv) She was relieved the narrator was safe. [Ans. (ii)
(c) Filled with questions, the narrator decides to place an advertisement in the local newspaper to look
for his “friend”.
Read the advertisement given below and select the option that includes the most appropriate solu-
tions for the blanks:
Looking for a pilot of a black aeroplane who (I) _______ an old Dakota out of storm clouds late last
night, but (II) _______ before the Dakota pilot could express his gratitude after landing. Though control
centre and radar did not (III) _______ its presence, the Dakota pilot would really appreciate if his friend
reached out. Please contact the Dakota pilot at 5200100110.
In deep gratitude and eager (IV) ______, XXX
(i) (I) guided; (II) disappeared; (III) register; (IV) anticipation
(ii) (I) took; (II) landed; (III acknowledge; (IV) appreciation
(iii) (I) brought; (II) went away; (III) confirm; (IV) expectation
(iv) (I) helped; (II) vanish; (III) make note; (IV) excitement [Ans. (i)
(d) The narrator exclaimed that he was “safe”. Which of the following represented the most immediate
threat to the narrator’s safety?
(i) The black mountain-like storm cloud
 C-34 Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

(ii) The depletion of fuel in the last fuel tank

(iii) Being lost due to non-functioning equipment
(iv) The old rattling Dakota aeroplane [Ans. (ii)
(e) Choose the option that correctly matches the idioms in Column A to the story’s events in column B:
Column A Column B
1. Every cloud has a silver lining. A. The narrator really wanted to have a hearty
English breakfast, even though he really
ought to have turned back
2. To be on cloud nine B. The man in the other plane waved at the
narrator and asked him to follow, closely
drawing him out.
3. To have your head in the clouds. C. The compass and other instruments stopped
working. The radio was dead too
4. Gathering clouds D. And there it was – the well-lit runway. An
airport. The narrator could safely land.
(i) 1-D; 2-C; 3-B; 4-A (ii) 1-C; 2-A; 3-D; 4-B
II. Black Aeroplane

(iii) 1-A; 2-B; 3-C; 4-D (iv) 1-B; 2-D; 3-A; 4-C [Ans. (iv)

 Stand-Alone Multiple Choice Questions

1. The woman at the control centre looked at the narrator strangely because:
(i) she could see only one plane on the radar (ii) the pilot was talking about another aeroplane

s
(iii) no other planes were flying that night (iv) all of the above [Ans. (iv)

a
2. The moon was coming in the east behind me, and stars were shining in the clear sky above me. Who

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is ‘me’ refered to here?

Sh
(i) Lencho (ii) Nelson Mandela (iii) The pilot of Dakota (iv) Anne [Ans. (iii)
3. I was happy to be alone high up above the sleeping countryside. Who is I and where is he?
(i) I am the seagull who is diving towards the sea.
(ii) I am the pilot in the Dakota aeroplane.
(iii) I am the pilot of the black aeroplane weathering the storm.
(iv) I am the woman sitting in the control tower. [Ans. (ii)
4. “I’ll take the risk”. What is the risk?
(i) to try to fly by jumping from the ledge (ii) to go back and land in Paris
(iii) to follow the black aeroplane (iv) to fly the dakota straight into storm [Ans. (iv)
5. What did the pilot encounter 150 kilometers from Paris?
(i) black mountains (ii) bright lights of a city
(iii) the black aeroplane (iv) huge stormy clouds [Ans. (iv)
6. What are the long straight lines of light?
(i) bright city lights of Paris (ii) lights of the runway of the airport
(iii) lights on both the sides of city road (iv) lights of the highway. [Ans. (ii)
7. Match the phrases given under column A with their meanings given under column B.
Column A Column B
1. Fly a flag A. Escape from a place
2. Fly into rage B. Be successful
3. Fly high C. Become suddenly very angry
4. Fly the coop D. Display a flag on a long pole
(i) 1-D, 2-C, 3-B, 4-A (ii) 1-A, 2-B, 3-C, 4-D
(iii) 1-B, 2-C, 3-D, 4-A (iv) 1-D, 2-B, 3-C, 4-A [Ans.(i)


 Lesson : Four
From The Diary of
Anne Frank

COMPETENCY
Competency Based Questions
 Questions on the Extracts from the Lesson
Q.1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
WRITING in a diary is a really strange experience for someone like me. Not only because I’ve never written
anything before, but also because it seems to me that later on neither I nor anyone else will be interested

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in the musings of a thirteen-year-old schoolgirl. Oh well, it doesn’t matter. I feel like writing, and I have an

a
even greater need to get all kinds of things off my chest. ‘Paper has more patience than people.’ I thought

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of this saying on one of those days when I was feeling a little depressed and was sitting at home with my

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chin in my hands, bored and listless, wondering whether to stay in or go out.
(a) Writing a diary is strange for Anne because:
(i) she has never written before. (ii) she does not feel like writing.
(iii) no one is interested in reading a diary. (iv) both (i) and (iii) [Ans. (i)
(b) What finally prompted Anne to write a diary?
(i) to share her distress (ii) no one listened to her
(iii) she liked to talk too much (iv) none of the above [Ans. (i)
(c) Choose the option that lists the set of statements that are NOT TRUE according to the given extract.
1. Writing a diary was not a strange experience for Anne.

BASED
2. Anne had written a diary before.
3. Anne knew no one will be interested in her thoughts later.
4. People have less patience than paper. 5. Anne had an urge to write a diary.
6. Paper does not have as much patience as people.
(i) 1, 2, 6 (ii) 2, 3, 5 (iii) 1, 3, 5 (iv) 2, 4, 6 [Ans. (i)
(d) Which word does ‘listless’ not correspond to:
(i) spiritless (ii) lethargic (iii) lively (iv) inactive [Ans. (iii)
(e) Choose the characteristic displayed by Anne when she decided to write a diary.
(i) unconcerned (ii) disinterest (iii) indifference (iv) resolute [Ans. (iv)
Q.2. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
“’Paper has more patience than people’ I thought of this saying on one of those days when I was feeling a
little depressed and was sitting at home with my chin in my hands, bored and listless, wondering whether
to stay in or go out. I finally stayed where I was, brooding: Yes, paper does have more patience, and since
I’m not planning to let anyone else read this stiff-backed notebook grandly referred to as a ‘diary’, unless
I should ever find a real friend, it probably won’t make a bit of difference.”
(a) ‘Paper has more patience than people.’ What does this imply?
This implies that Anne:
(i) believed in the power of writing more than speaking to people.
Competency Based Questions (CBQs) C-35
 C-36 Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

(ii) felt that she could pour her heart out on paper without any hindrance.
(iii) had more faith in sharing her thoughts and feelings with paper.
(iv) felt that she could share her feelings openly on paper. [Ans. (ii)
(b) Pick out the emotion which clearly brings out the meaning of ‘listless’ as used in the extract?

I II III IV
(i) Option I (ii) Option II (iii) Option III (iv) Option IV [Ans. (iii)
From The Diary of Anne Frank

(c) Pick the option that is ODD one out with reference to the meaning of ‘patience’.
I. indolence

IV. grit patience II. perseverance

III. tolerance

(i) Option I (ii) Option II (iii) Option III (iv) Option IV [Ans. (i)
(d) If the diary were a ‘real friend’, what qualities would Anne expect it to have?
Pick the options that list these correctly
1. optimistic 2. good listener 3. confidant 4. energetic
5. non-judgemental 6. outgoing 7. ambitious

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(i) 1 & 4 (ii) 5, 6 & 7 (iii) 2, 3 & 5 (iv) 3 & 7 [Ans. (iii)

a
(e) Pick out the sentence that brings out the meaning of ‘brooding’ as used in the extract?

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(i) The mysterious house on the hill is still brooding above the village.

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(ii) The people at the stock market always keep brooding about the gains.
(iii) He was brooding over the matter and took a long time to decide.
(iv) Suspense and drama were brooding at the site of the investigation. [Ans. (iii)
(f) Anne doesn’t plan to let anyone else read her diary as
(i) she is secretive about her life.
(ii) it’s about her intimate feelings
(iii) she is unwilling to share it with anyone.
(iv) she wants to cherish these moments herself. [Ans. (ii)
Q.3. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
My father, the most adorable father I’ve ever seen, didn’t marry my mother until he was thirty-six and she
was twenty-five. My sister, Margot, was born in Frankfurt in Germany in 1926. I was born on 12 June, 1929.
I lived in Frankfurt until I was four. My father emigrated to Holland in 1933. My mother, Edith Hollander
Frank, went with him to Holland in September, while Margot and I were sent to Aachen to stay with our
grandmother. Margot went to Holland in December, and I followed in February, when I was plunked
down on the table as a birthday present for Margot. I started right away at the Montessori nursery school.
I stayed there until I was six, at which time I started in the first form. In the sixth form my teacher was
Mrs Kuperus, the headmistress. At the end of the year we were both in tears as we said a heartbreaking
farewell.
(a) Choose the option that lists the set of statements that are NOT true according to the given extract.
1. Anne’s mother married at the age of 36. 2. Margot was born in 1926.
3. Anne went to Holland in December. 4. Margot and Anne went to stay with their grandfather.
5. Anne adored her father. 6. Anne’s father emigrated to Holland in 1933.
(i) 1, 2, 3 (ii) 3, 4, 5 (iii) 1, 3, 4 (iv) 1, 5, 6 [Ans. (iii)
(b) There was a difference of ............ years between Anne’s father and mother.
(i) 7 (ii) 9 (iii) 11 (iv) 10 [Ans. (iii)
(c) Anne lived in Frankfurt till:
(i) the age of 6 (ii) The age of 4 (iii) The year 1933 (iv) The year 1926 [Ans. (ii)
(d) Which term does the word ‘plunked’ NOT correspond to?
(i) Displace (ii) Place down (iii) Clumped (iv) Laid down [Ans. (i)
 Competency Based Questions (CBQs) C-37

(e) Choose the emotion displayed by Mrs. Kuperus when she and Anne parted.
(i) anger (ii) Bitterness (iii) Sadness (iv) Ecstasy [Ans. (iii)
Q.4. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
“Mr Keesing had a good laugh at my arguments, but when I proceeded to talk my way through the next
lesson, he assigned me a second essay. This time it was supposed to be on ‘An Incorrigible Chatterbox’. I
handed it in, and Mr Keesing had nothing to complain about for two whole lessons.
However, during the third lesson, he’d finally had enough. “Anne Frank, as a punishment for talking in
class, write an essay entitled-‘Quack, Quack, Quack, said Mistress Chatterbox’.”
(a) What convincing argument was made by Anne?
(i) She was talkative just like any other student in the class.
(ii) She had the right to be talkative, as it was a classroom and not a prison.

COMPETENCY
(iii) She had inherited the trait from her mother, so couldn’t stop being talkative.
(iv) She found it impossible to be quiet like the others as she couldn’t change herself. [Ans. (iii)
(b) What does ‘had a good laugh’ imply, in the context of Mr. Keesing?
It means that he
(i) celebrated his ability to make Anne write the essay.
(ii) ridiculed Anne in front of the whole class.
(iii) pulled up Anne for her arguments in the essay.
(iv) realised how funny it was and was amused. [Ans. (iv)
(c) Based on this extract, pick the option with the list of words that best describe Mr. Keesing.
(i) jovial and creative (ii) strict and innovative
(iii) tolerant and strict (iv) innovative and jovial  [Ans. (ii)
(d) Why do you think Mr. Keesing chose the title - ‘An Incorrigible Chatterbox’ - for Anne, to write on?

s
This was so because he expected

a
(i) Anne to express her inability to elaborate on such a topic

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(ii) that this would embarrass Anne and would check her indiscipline

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(iii) her to apologise and not repeat her talkative behaviour.
(iv) Anne to explore her creative writing skills. [Ans. (ii)
(e) How did Anne feel when she was punished the third time by Mr. Keesing?
She
(i) was happy as she had to write three essays on the same topic.
(ii) enjoyed making fun of Mr. Keesing in her own way.
(iii) was worried as she had run out of original ideas for her essay
(iv) was thrilled at another opportunity to showcase her writing abilities [Ans. (iii)
Q.5. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:

BASED
The class roared. I had to laugh too, though I’d nearly exhausted my ingenuity on the topic of chatterboxes.
It was time to come up with something else, something original. My friend, Sanne, who’s good at poetry,
offered to help me write the essay from beginning to end in verse and I jumped for joy. Mr Keesing was
trying to play a joke on me with this ridiculous subject, but I’d make sure the joke was on him.
I finished my poem, and it was beautiful! It was about a mother duck and a father swan with three baby
ducklings who were bitten to death by the father because they quacked too much. Luckily, Mr. Keesing
took the joke the right way.
(a) When Anne says “I’d nearly exhausted my ingenuity on the topic of chatterboxes”, she means that:
(i) she wanted to write something original.
(ii) she now wanted to write a poem.
(iii) she wanted to write on some other topic.
(iv) she had already written too much on the topic. [Ans. (iv)
(b) The statement that is TRUE with regard to the baby ducklings is:
(i) they were ugly. (ii) their mother bit them to death.
(iii) they quacked too much. (iv) their father was a duck [Ans. (iii)
(c) Why did Anne want to make the joke on Mr. Keesing?
(i) To reiterate the necessity of talking. (ii) To teach him a lesson.
(iii) To justify her talkativeness. (iv) All of the above  [Ans. (iv)
(d) The extract uses the phrase ‘exhausted my ingenuity’. Which of the following expressions is incor-
rect with respect to the word ‘ingenuity’?
 C-38 Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

1. Creativity

4. Originality Ingenuity 2. Incapacity

3. Imaginative
(i) Option 1 (ii) Option 2 (iii) Option 3 (iv) Option 4  [Ans. (ii)
(e) The statement that is true in regard to Anne is:
(i) she was an incorrigible chatter box. (ii) she did not like Mr. Keesing.
(iii) she wrote a bad poem.
From The Diary of Anne Frank

(iv) she did not want to attend Mr. Keesing’s class.  [Ans. (i)

 Stand-Alone Multiple Choice Questions

1. What prompted Anne to write a diary in the first place?
(i) She was bored and listless.
(ii) She did not have a real friend.
(iii) She feels people have more patience than paper.
(iv) She was keen to write the musings of a 13 year old. [Ans. (i)
2. What did Anne write about talking in her first essay?
(i) She came up with convincing arguments about the necessity to talk.
(ii) She argued talking was a student’s trait.
(iii) She had inherited the habit of talking from her mother.

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(iv) All of the above. [Ans. (iv)

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3. Why was Mr. Keesing annoyed with Anne?
(i) He was an ‘old fogey’ who was impatient with his students.

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(ii) She did not adhere to his warnings.
(iii) She talked too much.
(iv) He did not get along with her. [Ans. (iii)
4. ____________ has more patience than people. Fill in the blank from the choices given below:
(i) Mr. Keesing (ii) Anne (iii) Paper (iv) Kitty [Ans. (iii)
5. “ I‘m not planning to let anyone else read this stiff-backed notebook.” What is the notebook called:
(i) Textbook (ii) Journal (iii) Diary (iv) Logbook [Ans. (iii)
6. Which language was the Diary originally written in?
(i) French (ii) German (iii) English (iv) Dutch [Ans. (ii)
7. Who was plunked down on the table as a birthday present and for whom?
(i) Margot as a present for the grandmother (ii) Anne as a present for Margot
(iii) Anne as a present for the grandma (iv) Anne as a present for Edith [Ans. (ii)
8. What does the idiom ‘Quaking its boots’ mean?
(i) to be scared (ii) to be relaxed
(iii) to be calm (iv) to be settled [Ans. (i)
9. What does the team ‘old fogey’ mean?
(i) Classy old gentleman (ii) Old fashioned old gentleman
(iii) Neat and clean old man (iv) bright old gentleman [Ans. (ii)


 Lesson : Five
The Hundred Dresses-I

COMPETENCY
Competency Based Questions
 Questions on the Extracts from the Lesson
Q.1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
She sat in the corner of the room where the rough boys who did not make good marks sat, the corner of

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the room where there was most scuffling of feet, most roars of laughter when anything funny was said,

a
and most mud and dirt on the floor. Wanda did not sit there because she was rough and noisy. On the

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contrary, she was very quiet and rarely said anything at all. And nobody had ever heard her laugh out

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loud. Sometimes she twisted her mouth into a crooked sort of smile, but that was all. Nobody knew exactly
why Wanda sat in that seat, unless it was because she came all the way from Boggins Heights and her feet
were usually caked with dry mud.
(a) Where did Wanda sit?
(i) on the last seat (ii) in the corner of the room
(iii) with the boys who got good marks (iv) where the floor was wet  [Ans. (ii)
(b) Why did she sit there?
(i) she was a quiet girl (ii) she was rough and noisy
(iii) no one knew the exact reason (iv) no one disturbed her there  [Ans. (iii)

BASED
(c) Pick the option that correctly classifies fact/s (F) and opinions/s (O) of the students given below.
Let‘s not forget it can
I feel she suffered be quite embarrassing
from a complex. to be ridiculed.
I think Wanda
was a quiet girl. Oh come on ! Wanda was
not a rough and noisy girl

1 2 3 4

(i) F - 1 and 3, O - 2 and 4 (ii) F - 1 and 4, O - 2 and 3

(iii) F - 1 and 2, O - 3 and 4 (iv) F - 1, 2 and 3, O - 4  [Ans. (ii)
(d) The extract uses the phrase ‘crooked sort of smile’. Which of the following words is incorrect with
respect to the word ‘crooked’?
(i) twisted (ii) distorted (iii) curved (iv) straight  [Ans. (iv)
(e) The above extract reveals Wanda’s:
(i) Seclusion (ii) indifference (iii) isolation (iv) segregation [Ans. (ii)

Competency Based Questions (CBQs) C-39

 C-40 Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

Q.2. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
Peggy was the most popular girl in school. She was pretty, she had many pretty clothes and her hair was
curly. Maddie was her closest friend. The reason Peggy and Maddie noticed Wanda’s absence was because
Wanda had made them late to school. They had waited and waited for Wanda, to have some fun with her,
and she just hadn’t come. They often waited for Wanda Petronski—to have fun with her.
(a) Peggy was popular because she was:
(i) attractive (ii) witty (iii) intelligent (iv) lively [Ans. (i)
(b) Peggy and Maddie noticed Wanda‘s absence because:
(i) she had made them wait (ii) she was never late
(iii) they wanted to make fun of her (iv) they were late because of her  [Ans. (iv)
(c) Choose the option that lists the set of statements that are NOT TRUE according to the given extract
1. Maddie had curly hair.
2. Maddie and Peggy were close friends.
3. Maddie and Peggy wanted to have fun with Wanda.
4. Wanda was never late to school.
The Hundred Dresses-I

5. Maddie and Peggy often waited for Wanda.

6. Wanda had many pretty clothes.
(i) 1, 4, 6 (ii) 2, 3, 4 (iii) 1, 3, 5 (iv) 1, 5, 6  [Ans. (i)
(d) The phrase ‘to have fun with’ in the above extract means:
(i) mock (ii) taunt (iii) jeer (iv) all of the above [Ans. (iv)
(e) Which of the following words is incorrect with respect to the word ‘popular’?
(1) Famous

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(4) Approved Popular (2) Obscure

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(3) Favoured
(i) Option (1) (ii) Option (2) (iii) Option (3) (iv) Option (4) [Ans. (ii)
Q.3. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
She always wore a faded blue dress that didn’t hang right. It was clean, but it looked as though it had
never been ironed properly. She didn’t have any friends, but a lot of girls talked to her. Sometimes, they
surrounded her in the school yard as she stood watching the little girls play hopscotch on the worn hard
ground.
“Wanda,’’ Peggy would say in a most courteous manner, as though she were talking to Miss Mason.
“Wanda,” she’d say, giving one of her friends a nudge, “tell us. How many dresses did you say you had
hanging up in your closet?”
(a) The ‘most courteous manner’ here means that Peggy was
(i) on her best behaviour. (ii) teasing Wanda.
(iii) trying to impress Wanda. (iv) respectful to Wanda. [Ans. (ii)
(b) Peggy gave her friend a nudge because
(i) she wanted to push her away from the scene.
(ii) she disliked her friend being distracted then.
(iii) she was teasing Wanda and wanted her to make others pay attention.
(iv) she was teasing Wanda and didn’t want anyone to miss the ‘fun’.  [Ans. (iv)
(c) Pick the option having the words that DO NOT loosely match the word, ‘closet’, from those given.
1. wardrobe 2. loft 3. cabinet
4. cupboard 5. porch 6. cellar
(i) 1, 3 and 4 (ii) 3, 4 and 5 (iii) 1, 2 and 6 (iv) 2, 5 and 6 [Ans. (iv)
(d) Why was Wanda’s answer to Peggy’s question always the same? Pick the LEAST probable reason.
This was so because she knew that
(i) she was being picked on and it was probably her defence
(ii) confessing the truth would probably worsen the situation
(iii) she didn’t know how else to get out of that situation.
(iv) sticking to an unexpected answer would get her the attention she needed. [Ans. (iv)
 Competency Based Questions (CBQs) C-41

(e) Regarding Wanda being teased, Miss Mason was

(i) in denial that such behaviour was possible by her students.
(ii) aware, but didn’t want to discuss it with the students.
(iii) unaware that the students were frequently teasing Wanda.
(iv) of the belief that such behaviour was a normal part of growing up.  [Ans. (iii)
(f) Which of the following images showcases ‘hopscotch’?

(i) (ii) (iii) (iv)

 [Ans. (iv)
Q.4. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

COMPETENCY
The next day it was drizzling. Maddie and Peggy hurried to school under Peggy’s umbrella. Naturally,
on a day like this, they didn’t wait for Wanda Petronski on the corner of Oliver Street, the street that far,
far away, under the railroad tracks and up the hill, led to Boggins Heights. Anyway, they weren’t taking
chances on being late today, because today was important. “Do you think Miss Mason will announce the
winners today?” asked Peggy. “Oh, I hope so, the minute we get in,” said Maddie. “Of course, you’ll win,
Peg.” “Hope so,” said Peggy eagerly. The minute they entered the classroom, they stopped short and
gasped. There were drawings all over the room, on every ledge and windowsill, dazzling colours and
brilliant, lavish designs, all drawn on great sheets of wrapping paper. There must have been a hundred of
them, all lined up.
(a) Why did Maddie and Peggy not wait for Wanda?
(i) it was drizzling (ii) they were already late for school
(iii) they knew Wanda was not coming (iv) all of the above [Ans. (i)
(b) Why was ‘today‘ important?

a s
(i) Peggy was going to win the contest. (ii) The girls were keen to see the drawings.

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(iii) The winners were to be announced. (iv) Wanda was leaving the school  [Ans. (iii)
(c) Which of the following words does not correspond to the word lavish?

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(1) Opulent

(4) Posh Lavish (2) Luxuriant

(3) Economical
(i) Option (1) (ii) Option (2) (iii) Option (3) (iv) Option (4) [Ans. (iii)
(d) Choose the emotion displayed by Maddie and Peggy when they entered the classroom?
(i) Curiosity (ii) Shock (iii) Eagerness (iv) Excitement [Ans. (ii)

BASED
(e) Choose the option that lists the set of statements that are NOT TRUE according to the given extract:
1. Maddie and Peggy hurried to school under one umbrella.
2. The girls decided to wait for Wanda.
3. They were late for school on that day.
4. They were not keen to know about the winner.
5. There were a hundred designs in the classroom.
6. The drawings were in vibrant colours.
(i) 2, 3, 4 (ii) 1, 5, 6 (iii) 1, 3, 5 (iv) 2, 4, 6  [Ans. (i)
Q.5. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
“In the opinion of the judges, any one of the drawings is worthy of winning the prize. I am very happy to
say that Wanda Petronski is the winner of the girls’ medal. Unfortunately, Wanda has been absent from
school for some days and is not here to receive the applause that is due to her. Let us hope she will be back
tomorrow. Now class, you may file around the room quietly and look at her exquisite drawings.”
(a) Pick the statement that is TRUE, according to the information given in the extract.
(i) Wanda won the prize because she had submitted a variety of entries.
(ii) Wanda would have still won the prize even if she had submitted just one entry.
(iii) Wanda won the prize because the majority of judges were women.
(iv) Wanda would have still won the prize if she had drawn something else. [Ans. (ii)
 C-42 Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

(b) Miss Mason says, “I am very happy to …”. Which phrase DOES NOT replace the underlined phrase
correctly from those given below?
(i) It gives me great pleasure to… (ii) I am sure you’ll be surprised to…
(iii) I am delighted to… (iv) It fills me with joy to…  [Ans. (ii)
(c) When the teacher wants them to ‘file around’, she wants the students to
(i) put the files in their proper places. (ii) gather around her table to discuss the designs.
(iii) file the designs properly in their folders. (iv) walk in a line to admire the designs. [Ans. (iv)
(d) Choose the emotion displayed by Maddie and Peggy when they entered the classroom?
(i) curiosity (ii) shock
(iii) eagerness (iv) excitement [Ans. (i)
(e) The teacher refers to Wanda’s designs as ‘exquisite’ because
(i) each one of the hundred designs was different.
(ii) each one of them was very beautiful.
(iii) each of them was a copy of the latest fashion trend.
(iv) each one had the same colour theme as the other.  [Ans. (ii)
The Hundred Dresses-I

 Stand-Alone Multiple Choice Questions

1. Where did Wanda sit in the classroom?
(i) On the front benches
(ii) With Peggy and Maddie
(iii) in the last seat of the last row
(iv) next to the last seat in the last row [Ans. (iv)
2. Peggy and Maddie waited for Wanda, because ________ .

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(i) they really liked her (ii) they were best friends

a
(iii) they wanted to have fun with her

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(iv) they didn’t want to go to school without her [Ans. (iii)

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3. What kind of dresses did Wanda wear to school?
(i) Many dresses (ii) A Hundred dresses
(iii) A faded blue dress (iv) School uniform  [Ans. (iii)
4. Where did the children with good marks sit in the classroom?
(i) in the front rows (ii) in the middle rows
(iii) in the corner of the room (iv) wherever they wanted [Ans. (i)
5. How many pairs of shoes, Wanda claimed to own?
(i) 100 (ii) 60 (iii) 50 (iv) 80 [Ans. (ii)
6. Who was the winner amongst boys in the class?
(i) Mr. Keesing (ii) Mr. Mason (iii) Mr. Jack Beggles (iv) Mr. Boggins [Ans. (iii)
7. Peggy was not really a cruel girl because:
(i) She cried if an animal was ill-treated.
(ii) She protected small children from bullies.
(iii) She felt bad for the way she treated Wanda.
(iv) All of the above. [Ans. (iv)
8. Maddie herself was poor as:
(i) She lived in Boggins Heights (ii) She wore hand-me-down clothes
(iii) She did not have a hundred dresses (iv) All of the above  [Ans. (ii)
9. Why did Maddie not write a note to Peggy regarding the number of dresses Wanda had?
(i) She felt she would then be targetted herself.
(ii) She wanted Peggy to become Wanda’s friend.
(iii) She did not want Wanda to leave the school.
(iv) Peggy was very popular in school. [Ans. (i)


 Lesson : Six
The Hundred Dresses-II

COMPETENCY
Competency Based Questions
 Questions on the Extracts from the Lesson
Q.1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
Dear Teacher

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My Wanda will not come to your school anymore. Jake also. Now we move away to big city. No more

a
holler ‘Pollack’. No more ask why funny name. Plenty of funny names in the city.

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 Yours truly,

Sh
 Jan Petronski
(a) Jan’s tone in the writing of the letter IS NOT
(i) distressing (ii) spiteful (iii) hurt (iv) painful  [Ans. (ii)
(b) What, according to the letter, was the primary reason that prompted Mr. Petronski to take the deci-
sion to move to a big city?
(i) His wish to achieve success in the big city.
(ii) His urge to join his relatives who mostly lived in the big city.
(iii) His anxiety over their poverty in the small city.
(iv) His agony about his children being viewed as ‘outsiders’ by their schoolmates. [Ans. (iv)

BASED
(c) The dictionary says the following about ‘migration’.
Migration involves the movement of people (birds, fish etc.) from one place to another with intentions
of settling, permanently or temporarily, at a new location (geographic region).
Which of the following options INCORRECTLY uses ‘migration’?
(i) After gold was found in the uninhabited region, there was a migration to that area.
(ii) Bears sleep through winters. This migration helps bears to use their stored energy much more slowly.
(iii) There was a mass migration of youngsters to the tagged locale, to assist the cause for charity.
(iv) Scientists have studied the migration of fish over long distances in the river.  [Ans. (ii)
(d) The phrase ‘Pollack’ reveals a discrimination on the basis of
(i) race (ii) gender (iii) religion (iv) wealth  [Ans. (i)
(e) The line-- Plenty of funny names in the city—suggests that the city
(i) is a melting pot of people from different parts of the world.
(ii) has foreign people willing to give opportunities to the poor.
(iii) is a safe haven for immigrants if they have funny names.
(iv) has a special status for all who are willing to be funny. [Ans. (i)
Q.2. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
The two girls hurried out of the building, up the street toward Boggins Heights, the part of town that wore
such a forbidding air on this kind of a November afternoon, drizzly, damp and dismal.

Competency Based Questions (CBQs) C-43

 C-44 Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

“Well, at least,” said Peggy gruffly, “I never did call her a foreigner or make fun of her name. I never
thought she had the sense to know we were making fun of her anyway. I thought she was too dumb. And
gee, look how she can draw!”.
Maddie could say nothing. All she hoped was that they would find Wanda. She wanted to tell her that they
were sorry they had picked on her, and how wonderful the whole school thought she was, and please, not
to move away and everybody would be nice. She and Peggy would fight anybody who was not nice.
(a) Peggy had thought that:
(i) Wanda had less sense.
(ii) Wanda wouldn’t know they were making fun of her.
(iii) Wanda was dumb.
(iv) All of the above  [Ans. (iv)
(b) Choose the option that lists the set of statements that are NOT TRUE according to the given extract.
1. The November afternoon was gloomy and dull.
2. Peggy had called Wanda a foreigner.
3. Maddie hoped they apologised to Wanda.
The Hundred Dresses-II

4. Maddie hoped they would find Wanda.

5. Maddie did not praise Wanda’s drawings.
6. Maddie thought she and Peggy would fight with Wanda.
(i) 1, 3, 5 (ii) 2, 5, 6 (iii) 2, 4, 6 (iv) 2, 4, 5  [Ans. (ii)
(c) The above extract reveals that Maddie was feeling:
(i) regretful (ii) relieved (iii) worried (iv) tense  [Ans. (i)
(d) The extract uses the phrase ‘forbidding air’. Which of the following expressions is incorrect with
respect to the word ‘forbidding’?
(i) menacing (ii) harsh (iii) inviting (iv) grim  [Ans. (iii)

s
(e) The word ‘picked on’ in the extract means the same as:

iv D a
(i) blame (ii) select (iii) bully (iv) choose  [Ans. (iii)
Q.3. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

Sh
There was no doubt about it. The Petronskis were gone. How could they ever make amends? They turned
slowly and made their way back down the hill.
“Well, anyway,” said Peggy, “she’s gone now, so what can we do? Besides, when I was asking her about
all her dresses, she probably was getting good ideas for her drawings. She might not even have won the
contest, otherwise.” Maddie turned this idea carefully over in her head, for if there were anything in it she
would not have to feel so badly. But that night she could not get to sleep. She thought about Wanda and
her faded blue dress and the little house she had lived in. And she thought of the glowing picture those
hundred dresses made — all lined up in the classroom. At last Maddie sat up in bed and pressed her
forehead tight in her hands and really thought. This was the hardest thinking she had ever done. After a
long, long time, she reached an important conclusion.
(a) Why were Maddie and Peggy unable to make amends?
(i) Wanda did not want to meet them. (ii) Wanda had left for Boggins Heights.
(iii) There was no one at Wanda’s house. (iv) All of the above. [Ans. (iii)
(b) How according to Peggy did Wanda win the contest?
(i) She got ideas by describing her dresses to Peggy.
(ii) She had a knack for designing.
(iii) She wanted to get back at them by winning the contest.
(iv) She was a creative person. [Ans. (i)
(c) Pick the option that correctly classifies fact/s (F) and opinion/s (O) of the students below:
Oh, come on! Wanda
I think they did would never have
not want to make forgiven them.
Let’s not forget Peggy amends.
and Maddie were I feel Peggy and
unable to make amends. Maddie deserved this
predicament.

1 2 3 4
 Competency Based Questions (CBQs) C-45

(i) F—1 and 2, O—3 and 4 (ii) F—1, O—2, 3 and 4

(iii) F—1 and 4, O—2 and 3 (iv) F—2, O—1, 3 and 4 [Ans. (ii)
(d) Why was Maddie unable to Sleep?
(i) Because of her sense of guilt (ii) She was thinking about Wanda
(iii) She was feeling bad for her behaviour (iv) All of the above.  [Ans. (iv)
(e) The extract uses the phrase ‘make amends’. Which of the following words is incorrect with respect
to the word ‘amends’?
(1) Compensate

(4) Penalty MAKE AMENDS (2) Apology

COMPETENCY
(3) Redress
(i) Option (1) (ii) Option (2) (iii) Option (3) (iv) Option (4) [Ans. (iv)
Q.4. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
On Saturday Maddie spent the afternoon with Peggy. They were writing a letter to Wanda Petronski. It was
just a friendly letter telling about the contest and telling Wanda she had won. They told her how pretty
her drawings were. And they asked her if she liked where she was living and if she liked her new teacher.
They had meant to say they were sorry, but it ended up with their just writing a friendly letter, the kind
they would have written to any good friend, and they signed it with lots of X’s for love. They mailed the
letter to Boggins Heights, writing ‘Please Forward’ on the envelope.
Days passed and there was no answer, but the letter did not come back, so maybe Wanda had received it.
Perhaps she was so hurt and angry she was not going to answer. You could not blame her.
Weeks went by and still Wanda did not answer. Peggy had begun to forget the whole business, and Maddie

s
put herself to sleep at night making speeches about Wanda, defending her from great crowds of girls who

iv D a
were trying to tease her with, “How many dresses have you got?”
(a) What did Maddie and Peggy NOT write in their letter to Wanda?

Sh
(i) About the contest (ii) Telling her she had won
(iii) Praising her drawings (iv) Apologising to her  [Ans. (iv)
(b) Why, according to the girls will Wanda not reply to their letter?
(i) She was busy. (ii) She was hurt.
(iii) They had blamed her. (iv) All of the above [Ans. (ii)
(c) They mailed the letter to Boggins Heights because:
(i) They did not have their new address. (ii) She would eventually return their letter.
(iii) They knew it would be forwarded to her. (iv) Both (i) and (iii). [Ans. (iv)
(d) Why did Maddie imagine she was defending Wanda from the crowds?

BASED
(i) To put herself to sleep (ii) To appease her guilt
(iii) As she was being teased (iv) All of the above  [Ans. (ii)
(e) Which of the following words is incorrect with respect to the word ‘defending’?
(1) Attacking

(4) Securing Defending (2) Guarding

(3) Protecting
(i) Option 1 (ii) Option 2 (iii) Option 3 (iv) Option 4  [Ans. (i)
Q.5. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
Weeks went by and still Wanda did not answer. Peggy had begun to forget the whole business, and Maddie
put herself to sleep at night making speeches about Wanda, defending her from great crowds of girls who
were trying to tease her with, “How many dresses have you got?” And before Wanda could press her lips
together in a tight line, the way she did before answering, Maddie would cry out, “Stop!”
(a) Which primary feelings of Maddie does the extract reveal?
(i) guilt, regret and righteousness (ii) guilt and shame
(iii) shame, regret and courage (iv) courage and righteousness [Ans. (iii)
 C-46 Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

(b) Which of the following is most likely to be a part of Maddie’s speech?

(i) Stop! I think it’s about time we asked her a new question. This is not fun anymore. How about
her faded dress?
(ii) Stop! Don’t you know that I’m the one who had to lead in Peggy’s absence? This is unacceptable.
(iii) Stop! How dare you all join in without Peggy’s permission? Don’t you know she’d be angry?
(iv) Stop! Aren’t you all ashamed of yourself? Why do you trouble her? She means no harm to any-
one.  [Ans. (iv)
(c) Choose the declaration which is likely to be received with the pressing of lips together in a tight
line.
Hello mom, just wanted to Hello mom, just wanted to
inform you that I have qualified inform you that Dad would be
for the final round of malkhamb taking me for the music class
 (2) today. (3)

Hello mom, just wanted to

Hello mom, just wanted to
The Hundred Dresses-II

inform you that I forgot to do

my Biology H.W. yesterday & inform you that my online class
have been given a diary note for English has been rescheduled.
for you to sign.  (1)  (4)

(i) Option 1 (ii) Option 2 (iii) Option 3 (iv) Option 4  [Ans. (i)

s
(d) Pick the option with a cause-effect relation, with reference to the given extract.

a
(i) Wanda’s absence— Peggy missing Wanda

iv D
(ii) Maddie’s need to make amends – Confessing publicly

Sh
(iii) Wanda’s absence – Maddie’s need to make amends
(iv) Peggy teasing Wanda— Maddie’s stand against it [Ans. (iii)
(e) Wanda didn’t reply to the letter for weeks.
Pick the option that DOES NOT supply a possible reason for this, from those given below.
(i) The letter took more than a couple of weeks reaching her as it didn’t have an address and needed
to be forwarded.
(ii) She needed time to forgive Maddie and Peggy and think her reply through.
(iii) Peggy had second thoughts after mailing the letter and reclaimed it from the post office, to mail
weeks later.
(iv) She was occupied with settling in at the new school in the city.  [Ans. (iii)

 Stand-Alone Multiple Choice Questions

1. According to Mr. Petronski’s letter, Why did Wanda and Jack leave school?
(i) they were expelled
(ii) they were made fun of
(iii) they wanted to join a school in the big city
(iv) Wanda was the winner of the contest [Ans. (ii)
2. Maddie was upset during the first period, because
(i) she did not know the lesson
(ii) she was wearing Peggie’s old dress
(iii) Peggy had made fun of her
(iv) both she and Peggy had been mean to Wanda. [Ans. (iv)
3. What does Maddie want to do after knowing the reason of Petronkis’ departure?
(i) she wanted to apologise and make up with Wanda
(ii) she wanted to please Peggy
(iii) she wanted the blue dress
(iv) she just wanted to go to Boggins Heights [Ans. (i)
 Competency Based Questions (CBQs) C-47

4. What important conclusion did Maddie reach after a long hard thinking?
(i) that she would make Wanda her best friend
(ii) that she would not be friendly with Peggy
(iii) that she would not accept anybody’s unfair remarks silently
(iv) that she would not make fun of anybody [Ans. (iii)
5. Whose faces were used in the paintings of green and blue dresses?
(i) Wanda and Maddie (ii) Peggy and Maddie
(iii) Wanda and Peggy (iv) Peggy and Ms. Mason [Ans. (ii)
6. Which meaning of the word ‘stolidly’ is correct?
(i) unemotional (ii) active (iii) animated (iv) energetic [Ans. (i)
7. Why could Maddie not put her mind on her work?

COMPETENCY
(i) She knew she had been mean to Wanda.
(ii) She was feeling sick.
(iii) She missed making fun of Wanda.
(iv) All of the above.  [Ans. (i)
8. ‘So Peggy had had the same idea!’. Maddie glowed. This reveals that Maddie too was feeling a sense of:
(i) relief (ii) curiosity (iii) happiness (iv) guilt  [Ans. (iv)
9. What important decision did Maddie make?
(i) She would continue to look for Wanda.
(ii) She would never make anyone feel unhappy.
(iii) She would not be friends with Peggy.
(iv) She would make things right with Wanda. [Ans. (ii)

a s


Sh iv D

BASED
 H T
I
L YG Poem : One
T F R
S E T Dust of Snow
I R
F PO

Competency Based Questions

 Questions on the Extracts from the Poem
Dust of Snow

Q.1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
The way a crow

s
Shook down on me

iv D a
The dust of snow
From a hemlock tree

Sh
Has given my heart
A change of mood
And saved some part
Of a day I had rued.
(a) Of the many symbols the hemlock tree represents, choose the one that Frost drew upon in all like-
lihood, for this poem.
Symbol of
(i) longevity. (ii) togetherness. (iii) healing. (iv) protection. [Ans. (iii)
(b) Choose the option that lists the possible feelings of the poet prior to the experience shared in the poem.
1. reassured 2. disappointed 3. curious 4. demotivated
5. thankful 6. disheartened 7. impulsive
(i) 1, 3 & 7 (ii) 2, 4 & 6 (iii) 5 & 7 (iv) 1 & 3 [Ans. (ii)
(c) Identify the option that DOES NOT use the word ‘rue’ correctly.
(i) The film was a disaster and he rued his decision to act in it.
(ii) I am sure she rued the day she listened to a fortune-teller.
(iii) It wasn’t long before I rued my disobedience and my deceit.
(iv) Others finally rue the one who is dishonest and heartless.  [Ans. (iv)
(d) Synecdoche is a poetic device that uses a part to represent the whole. e.g., That’s a great set of
wheels! (Set of wheels has been used for car.)
Pick an example of synecdoche from the poem.
(i) Has given my heart/A change of mood (ii) The way a crow/ Shook down on me
(iii) The dust of snow / From a hemlock tree (iv) And saved some part / Of a day I had rued
 [Ans. (i)
(e) Choose the option showing the reason NOT corresponding with “… a crow / Shook down on me /
The dust of snow”.
(i) The crow’s landing on the branch of the tree.

C-48 Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)
 Competency Based Questions (CBQs) C-49

(ii) The shivering of the crow, due to the cold.

(iii) The readjustment of position of the crow on the branch.
(iv) The cawing of the crow hidden in the foliage. [Ans. (iv)

 Stand-Alone Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is the dust of snow?
(i) It is the dust on the trees. (ii) It is the snow-flakes fallen on the hemlock tree.
(iii) It is the flowers on the tree. (iv) It is the feathers of a crow. [Ans. (ii)
2. What has changed the poet’s mood?
(i) The bird flying over the tree

COMPETENCY
(ii) The snow-flakes on the hemlock tree
(iii) A crow shaking down on him snowflakes from the hemlock tree
(iv) Flowers falling from the hemlock tree [Ans. (ii)
3. What is a Hemlock tree?
(i) It is a tree with flowers.
(ii) It is a very beautiful tree with big leaves.
(iii) It is a poisonous plant with small white flowers.
(iv) It is a plant with beautiful flowers. [Ans. (iii)
4. What does the ‘dust of snow’ that the crow shakes off a hemlock tree stand for?
(i) The dust of snow stands for dusty winds.
(ii) The dust of snow stands for hope and joy in the midst of sorrow.
(iii) The dust of snow stands for dusty days.
(iv) The dust of snow stands for gloomy times. [Ans. (ii)

a s
5. Name the poetic device used in the line “And saved some part”.

iv D
(i) alliteration (ii) metaphor (iii) oxymoron (iv) simile [Ans. (i)
6. What is the emotion that the crow and the hemlock tree symbolize?

Sh
(i) celebration (ii) death (iii) sorrow (iv) happiness [Ans. (iii)
7. In what mood was the poet before the dust of snow fell on him?
(i) unpleasant (ii) helpless (iii) elated (iv) angry [Ans. (i)
8. What part of nature do the ‘crow’ and ‘hemlock tree’ symbolise?
(i) joyful (ii) vibrant (iii) dark (iv) dull  [Ans. (ii)
9. The poet says, ‘...of a day I had rued’. What does the word ‘rued’ mean?
(i) had spent (ii) to ruin (iii) had passed (iv) held in regret  [Ans. (iv)

BASED

 Poem : Two
Fire and Ice

Competency Based Questions

 Questions on the Extracts from the Poem
Q.1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
Fire and Ice

Some say the world will end in fire,

Some say in ice.

s
From what I’ve tasted of desire

iv D a
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,

Sh
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.
(a) Choose the CORRECT statement about the given poem.
(i) Fire and ice are images—they help the readers visualise the power of nature over man.
(ii) Fire and ice are symbols—not of natural disasters, but of humanity’s ability to create disasters of
its own.
(iii) Fire and ice are elements—not of Nature but man-made and possess the ability to create havoc
for mankind.
(iv) Fire and ice are agents—they change the thinking of mankind from negative to positive and bring
harmony.  [Ans. (ii)
(b) Select the option that correctly classifies the connotations for fire and ice, as suggested in the poem.
1. rage 2. violence 3. indifference 4. hate
5. greed
(i) Fire- 3, 4; Ice- 1, 2, 5 (ii) Fire- 2, 5; Ice-1, 3, 4
(iii) Fire-1, 3, 5; Ice- 2, 4 (iv) Fire- 1, 2, 5; Ice- 3, 4  [Ans. (iv)
(c) The poem is a _________, put across by the poet.
(i) powerful warning (ii) heart-felt apology
(iii) earnest appeal (iv) vengeful threat  [Ans. (i)
(d) The poet uses the phrasal verb - hold with.
Choose the option that DOES NOT indicate a valid phrasal verb.
(1) off (2) back

Hold

(3) on (4) into

C-50 Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)
 Competency Based Questions (CBQs) C-51

(i) Option 1 (ii) Option 2 (iii) Option 3 (iv) Option 4 [Ans. (iv)
(e) Pick the option that is NOT TRUE about the poet according to the extract.
The poet
(i) is inclined to believe that the world would most likely end with fire.
(ii) has heard divided opinions about the way the world would end in all likelihood.
(iii) preaches love and kindness to combat the spread of hate among all.
(iv) declares the power of ice to be as destructive as that of fire. [Ans. (iii)
(f) Identify the most likely tone of the poet in the lines-
‘To say that for destruction ice/Is also great’.
(i) sarcastic (ii) serious (iii) amused (iv) celebratory [Ans. (i)

COMPETENCY
 Stand-Alone Multiple Choice Questions
1. What do fire and ice stand for?
(i) They stand for hot and cold.
(ii) Fire and ice stand for desires of a person.
(iii) Fire stands for lust and endless desires, cruelty and fury and ice stands for hatred, insensitivity and
coldness and intolerance.
(iv) Fire and ice stand for destruction and coldness. [Ans. (iii)
2. What does Robert Frost confess in the poem ‘ Fire and Ice’?
(i) He has experienced injustice.
(ii) He has written the poem without any agenda.
(iii) He has himself tasted desires.
(iv) He could have written a better poem. [Ans. (iii)

s
3. What is the rhyme scheme of the poem?

iv D a
(i) ab ab (ii) aba abc bcb (iii) ababa (iv) abc ab [Ans. (ii)
4. What is the underlying theme of the poem?

Sh
(i) The theme is goodness and virtues in the world.
(ii) The poem revolves around the peace and serenity in the world.
(iii) The poem revolves around the theme that human emotions are destructive and will bring the world
to an end.
(iv) The theme of the poem is the difference between the elements of fire and ice. [Ans. (iii)
5. How does Robert Frost caution the common man?
(i) He cautions the common man that the world will burn.
(ii) He cautions the common man that the world will drown in desires.
(iii) He cautions him that everything in the world is transitory and that death is inevitable.

BASED
(iv) He cautions by saying that the world is permanent in nature. [Ans. (iv)
6. Given meaning of the world “suffice”.
(i) complete (ii) appropriate (iii) abundant (iv) sufficient [Ans. (ii)
7. For the poet what does ‘ice’ stand for?
(i) For the poet nature of ice stands for the hatred of humans.
(ii) For the poet ice stands for cold weather.
(iii) Ice stands for cold icy winds. (iv) Ice stands for odd behaviour. [Ans. (i)
8. Explain the word perish.
(i) to flourish (ii) to sustain (iii) to die (iv) to love [Ans. (iii)
9. Why does Robert Frost ‘hold with those who favour fire’?
(i) fire spreads rapidly. (ii) it cannot be controlled.
(iii) greed and avarice completely engulf one’s life. (iv) all of the above. [Ans. (iii)
10. ‘Fire and Ice’ symbolise:
(i) the hot and cold contrast (ii) self-destructive human emotions
(iii) difference between good and bad (iv) dissatisfied people  [Ans. (ii)
11. Why does the poet think that the world will end in ‘ice’?
(i) effect of global warming (ii) people have become sad and sorrowful
(iii) due to the greed of people (iv) people have become cold and insensitive [Ans. (iv)

 Poem : Three
A Tiger in the Zoo

Competency Based Questions

A Tiger in the Zoo

 Questions on the Extracts from the Poem

Q.1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
He should be lurking in shadow,
Sliding through long grass

s
Near the water hole

iv D a
Where plump deer pass.
(a) According to the extract, the poet wishes for the tiger to be ‘sliding’ through the foliage as this would

Sh
(i) assist in keeping the prey unsuspecting of the predator’s sound.
(ii) aid in camouflaging the presence of the predator before it rushes in.
(iii) help the predator pounce on the prey comfortably without getting tired.
(iv) support the predator’s vision as it eyes its prey.  [Ans. (i)
(b) Which fact DOES NOT connect with the significance of the water hole for the tiger?
(i) Many tigers chase prey into the water and hold the victim’s head under water until it drowns.
(ii) Prey feed in the water on water-lilies, and often wander into the middle of the water hole, where
they are vulnerable and easy for the tiger to kill.
(iii) Prey that has quenched its thirst ensures consumption of hydrated meat for the tiger.
(iv) Chasing the panicked prey from shallow to deep water where the tiger grabs it.  [Ans. (iii)
(c) Pick the option that DOES NOT use ‘lurking’ correctly to fill in the blank.
(i) The thug was _________ in the alley late evening, for unsuspecting passers-by.
(ii) The hyena was __________ in its den after a good meal.
(iii) The detective cautioned her team about the _________ dangers likely to impact the case.
(iv) The prejudices __________beneath the surface create misunderstandings.  [Ans. (ii)
(d) ‘shadow’ here, refers to the shadow of
(i) the tiger (ii) long grass (iii) water hole (iv) deer  [Ans. (ii)
(e) Pick the phrase that DOES NOT suggest that the forest in the extract is lush.
(i) long grass (ii) the water hole (iii) plump deer (iv) lurking in shadow
 [Ans. (iv)
Q.2. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
But he’s locked in a concrete cell,
His strength behind bars,
Stalking the length of his cage,
Ignoring visitors.
He hears the last voice at night,
The patrolling cars, …
C-52 Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)
 Competency Based Questions (CBQs) C-53

(a) Choose the image that best describes the condition of the tiger based on the given extract.

(1) (2) (3) (4)

(i) Option (1) (ii) Option (2) (iii) Option (3) (iv) Option (4) [Ans. (ii)

COMPETENCY
(b) Which option correctly lists the reason for the tiger ‘stalking the length of his cage’?
(i) Animals tend to cover large distances and burn a lot of their energy by hunting for prey, in their
natural habitat. Zoos deprive them of such stimulation and they are restless and bored.
(ii) Animals are scared of visitors gazing at them in their unnatural surroundings. Zoos are places
where animals are far removed from the privacy of their natural habitat.
(iii) Animals dislike human noises in the city and react to them aggressively. Zoos are often located
in cities or outskirts.
(iv) Animals require human love and care and miss this when in captivity. Zoos are places where they
walk around mechanically to attract human attention.  [Ans. (i)
(c) Which option identifies a patrolling car correctly?

a s
iv D
(1) (2) (3) (4)

Sh
(i) Option (1) (ii) Option (2) (iii) Option (3) (iv) Option (4) [Ans. (ii)
(d) The main contrasting idea suggested by the extract is that of
(i) strength and weakness (ii) nature and culture
(iii) beasts and mortals (iv) confinement and freedom  [Ans. (iv)
(e) Choose the option listing the most likely reason for the tiger to ignore visitors, according to the
extract.
(i) He is scared of their constant stares.
(ii) The visitors don’t provide him with any food.
(iii) He knows that none would help him out of captivity.

BASED
(iv) The visitors don’t speak to him kindly.  [Ans. (iii)

 Stand-Alone Multiple Choice Questions

1. Mention the words that describe the movement and action of the tiger in the cage and in the wild.
(i) Stalking and lurking in shadow
(ii) Hiding and fierce
(iii) Subdued and wild
(iv) Aggressive and violent [Ans. (i)
2. What according to the poet should the tiger be doing?
(i) Tiger should be sitting in the cage.
(ii) Tiger should be snarling at jungle’s edge terrorising villagers.
(iii) Tiger should be sad and lonesome.
(iv) Tiger should be angry. [Ans. (ii)
3. How does the tiger feel inside the cage?
(i) The tiger is ecstatic with joy.
(ii) The tiger is angry and displeased.
(iii) The tiger is feeling victorious.
(iv) The tiger is scared. [Ans. (ii)
 C-54 Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

4. How does the caged tiger react to the visitors?

(i) The tiger is roaring scaring the visitors.
(ii) The tiger is sitting quietly.
(iii) The tiger is hungry and is looking for food.
(iv) The tiger is ignoring the visitors. [Ans. (iv)
5. In which two places has the poet tried to contrast the tiger?
(i) In the city and in the museum.
(ii) In the cage in zoo and in the forest.
(iii) In the wild and near the water hole.
(iv) In the sanctuary and in the city.  [Ans. (ii)
6. Name the poetic device used in the line. “ In his quiet rage”.
(i) metaphor (ii) oxymoron (iii) consonance (iv) simile  [Ans. (ii)
7. Name the poetic device used in the line “He stalks in his vivid stripes”.
(i) metaphor (ii) oxymoron (iii) consonance (iv) assonance  [Ans. (iii)
8. How are the tiger’s pads?
(i) rough and hard (ii) velvety and soft (iii) hard and dirty (iv) dark and dirty  [Ans. (ii)
9. Where is the tiger locked?
(i) In the jungle (ii) In the water hole (iii) In a concrete cell (iv) In a dark room  [Ans. (iii)
A Tiger in the Zoo

10. What sound does the tiger hear at night?

(i) Flowring water (ii) Truck horns (iii) Patrolling cars (iv) Birds chirping  [Ans. (iii)
11. Leslie Norris uses the phrase ‘quiet rage’ to describe the tiger’s temperament. The poetic device used in
‘quiet rage’ is:
(i) Oxymoron (ii) Simile

s
(iii) Imagery (iv) Metaphor [Ans. (i)

iv D a
12. The tiger ignores visitors because:
(i) they do not interest him (ii) they do not treat him kindly

Sh
(iii) he considers them devoid of feelings (iv) they are not friendly  [Ans. (iii)
13. On pads of velvet quiet.,
In his quiet rage.
Why does the poet use repetition for the word ‘quiet’?
(i) to bring out the contrast in the tiger’s real nature
(ii) to show the intensity of the tiger’s rage and his helpless silence
(iii) to give a unique quality to the tiger
(iv) to reveal the nature of the tiger in a confined area. [Ans. (ii)


 Poem : Five
The Ball Poem

COMPETENCY
Competency Based Questions
 Questions on the Extracts from the Poem
Q.1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
What is the boy now, who has lost his ball,
What, what is he to do? I saw it go

s
Merrily bouncing, down the street, and then

iv D a
Merrily over - there it is in the water!
(a) The extract suggests that the poet is

Sh
(i) an onlooker observing (ii) a parent recounting the incident
(iii) the boy talking about himself (iv) imagining the incident  [Ans. (i)
(b) The poet seems to have indicated the merry bouncing of the ball to
(i) create a sense of rhythm in these lines.
(ii) support the happiness of the experience of playing.
(iii) contrast with the dejected feeling of the boy.
(iv) indicate the cheerful mood of the boy.  [Ans. (iii)
(c) Choose the situation that corresponds to the emotion behind the exclamation mark in the poem.

BASED
1. 2.

3. 4. 

(i) Option 1 (ii) Option 2 (iii) Option 3 (iv) Option 4 [Ans. (iii)
(d) The poem begins with a question. Based on your reading of the poem, the speaker
(i) wants the boy to answer the question. (ii) expects the passers-by to respond.
(iii) is looking for answers in a self-help book. (iv) is thinking to himself.  [Ans. (iv)
(e) Alliteration is a literary device that occurs with the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent
or closely connected words.
Pick the option that showcases an example of alliteration from the extract.
(i) What is the boy now (ii) who has lost his ball
(iii) I saw it go (iv) and then/ Merrily over  [Ans. (ii)

Competency Based Questions (CBQs) C-55

 C-56 Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

Q.2. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
An ultimate shaking grief fixes the boy
As he stands rigid, trembling, staring down
All his young days into the harbour where
His ball went. I would not intrude on him;
(a) The poet uses the word ‘ultimate’ to describe the boy’s reaction.
Pick the meaning that DOES NOT display what, ‘ultimate’ means in the context given.
(i) consequent (ii) final (iii) conclusive (iv) fateful [Ans. (iv)
(b) The boy is very young in this poem. As a mature, balanced grown-up, he might look back and think
that his reaction of ‘ultimate shaking grief’ was
1. disproportionate to the loss.
2. pretension to procure a new toy.
3. according to his exposure and experience then.
4. a reaction to the failure of retrieving the toy.
5. justified and similar to what it would be currently.
(i) 5 & 2 (ii) 1 & 3 (iii) 2 & 4 (iv) 3 & 5 [Ans. (ii)
(c) Pick the option that lists the boy’s thoughts, matching with the line - As he stands rigid, trembling,
staring down.
The Ball Poem

a s
iv D

Sh
(i) Option 1 (ii) Option 2 (iii) Option 3 (iv) Option 4 [Ans. (iv)
(d) Why does the speaker choose not to intrude?
This is so because the poet
(i) knows that it would embarrass the boy in his moment of grief.
(ii) feels that it’s important that the boy learn an important life lesson, undisturbed.
(iii) realises that he doesn’t have sufficient funds to purchase a new ball for the boy.
(iv) Experiences a sense of distress himself, by looking at the boy’s condition.  [Ans. (ii)
(e) Choose the option that lists the meaning of ‘harbour’ as used in the extract.
Noun:
(1) a place on the coast where ships may moor in shelter.
(2) a place of refuge.
Verb:
(3) keep (a thought or feeling, typically a negative one) in one’s mind, especially secretly.
(4) shelter or hide (a criminal or wanted person).
(i) Option 1 (ii) Option 2 (iii) Option 3 (iv) Option 4 [Ans. (i)

 Stand-Alone Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is the Boy’s reaction at the loss of the ball?
(i) The boy is least affected.
(ii) The boy is trembling and devastated at the loss of the ball which was valuable to him.
(iii) The boy is searching for the ball.
(iv) The boy gets another ball. [Ans. (ii)
2. Where had the boy’s ball gone?
(i) In the dark waters of the harbour. (ii) In the deep forest.
(iii) In the flowring river. (iv) In the basement of the building. [Ans. (i)
3. What according to the poet, the boy has to realize?
(i) The boy has to realize what it means to lose a thing that is most dear to him.
(ii) The boy has to realize the value for money.
 Competency Based Questions (CBQs) C-57

(iii) The boy has to realize not to be upset.

(iv) The boy should realize the importance of time. [Ans. (i)
4. What does “in a world of possessions” mean?
(i) It means possessing various items.
(ii) It means a world full of artificial things.
(iii) ‘In the world of possessions’ means a world full of material things valued, owned and priced because of
their worth.
(iv) The world where everyone is materialistic. [Ans. (iii)
5. “He senses first responsibility”—what responsibility is referred to here?
(i) The responsibility to cope with or bear the loss through self understanding on losing the ball.
(ii) The responsibility to take charge of his feelings.

COMPETENCY
(iii) The responsibility to not lose your things.
(iv) The responsibility to be happy in every situation. [Ans. (i)
6. What does the poet mean by epistemology of loss?
(i) It means that loss is transient.
(ii) It means that loss is painful.
(iii) It means to understand the nature of loss.
(iv) It means to cope with life. [Ans. (iii)
7. The poet does not offer a new ball to the boy because he wants him to learn the value of _________ .
(i) responsibility (ii) loss (iii) money (iv) ability  [Ans. (ii)
8. While recovering from the loss, what does the boy in the ‘The Ball Poem’ realize?
(i) We must learn to move on.
(ii) Loss is a part and parcel of life.

s
(iii) It was just a playing ball.

a
(iv) Both (i) and (ii) [Ans. (iv)

iv D
9. What does the poet mean by saying ‘money is external’?

Sh
It means that money can __________ .
(i) Lead to peace and prosperity.
(ii) Only buy emotions.
(iii) Only materialistic things and not emotions and attachments.
(iv) Buy all the happiness in the world. [Ans. (iii)
10. The poet does not offer to buy the boy another ball because:
(i) it would be worthless
(ii) he should understand the meaning of loss
(iii) he does not have the money

BASED
(iv) he will lose the other ball also [Ans. (i)

 T S T
I N EE Lesson : One
R
P T F
O T U
O O A Triumph of Surgery
F TH
I
W
Competency Based Questions
A Triumph of Surgery

 Questions on the Extracts from the Lesson

Q.1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
Mrs. Pumphrey hastened to explain, “He was so listless, Mr Herriot. He seemed to have no energy. I thought he

s
must be suffering from malnutrition, so I have been giving him some little extras between meals to build him

iv D a
up, some malt and cod-liver oil and a bowl of Horlicks at night to make him sleep — nothing much really.”
“And did you cut down on the sweet things as I told you?” “Oh, I did for a bit, but he seemed to be so weak I

Sh
had to relent. He does love cream cakes and chocolates so. I can’t bear to refuse him.”
(a) What did Mrs. Pumphrey hasten to explain to Dr. Herriot?
(i) that Tricki was rather listless
(ii) the reason Tricki had gained weight
(iii) that Tricki was suffering from malnutrition
(iv) why Tricki seemed to have no energy  [Ans. (i)
(b) Why did Mrs. Pumphrey overfeed Tricki?
(i) she felt he was under-nourished (ii) she could never refuse Tricki a meal
(iii) because of her love and over-pampering (iv) all of the above  [Ans. (iv)
(c) Why did Mrs. Pumphrey feel that Tricki was suffering from malnutrition?
(i) he looked sad (ii) she was not giving him extra food between meals
(iii) she felt he was devoid of energy (iv) he was not exercising  [Ans. (iii)
(d) The word ‘listless’ in the above extract DOES NOT mean the same as:
(i) vivacious (ii) lifeless (iii) passive (iv) lethargic [Ans. (i)
(e) The statement that is NOT TRUE with respect to Tricki is:
(i) He was over-pampered. (ii) His fault was his greed.
(iii) He could resist sweet things. (iv) He could never refuse food. [Ans. (iii)
Q.2. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
They were days of deep content, starting well with the extra egg in the morning, improved and sustained
by the midday wine and finishing luxuriously round the fire with the brandy. It was a temptation to
keep Tricki on as a permanent guest, but I knew Mrs. Pumphrey was suffering and after a fortnight, felt
compelled to phone and tell her that the little dog had recovered and was awaiting collection.
(a) Why does Dr. Herriot refer to the days as that of ‘deep content’?
(i) Mrs. Herriot sent the best food at the surgery
(ii) Tricki’s health was improving
(iii) everyone was having a good time because of Tricki
(iv) both (i) and (iii)  [Ans. (iv)

C-58 Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)
 Competency Based Questions (CBQs) C-59

(b) What does Mrs. Pumphery’s extravagance reveal about her nature?
(i) she was a foolish lady (ii) her behaviour was rather silly
(iii) she was brashly indulgent (iv) all of the above  [Ans. (iv)
(c) The word ‘compelled’ in the above extract means the same as:
(i) tempted (ii) obliged (iii) convinced (iv) obstruct  [Ans. (ii)
(d) Mrs. Pumphery was suffering because:
(i) Tricki was not being fed the food she was sending
(ii) she was not sure how Tricki was progressing
(iii) she was missing Tricki
(iv) Tricki’s recovery was rather slow  [Ans. (iii)

COMPETENCY
(e) Why did they want to keep Tricki as a ‘permanent guest‘?
(i) he was a well-behaved dog
(ii) they were enjoying the best food because of him
(iii) Mrs. Pumphrey was over-indulgingTricki
(iv) they knew Tricki’s recovery would be slow  [Ans. (ii)
Q.3. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
The entire staff was roused and maids rushed in and out bringing his day bed, his night bed, favourite
cushions, toys and rubber rings, breakfast bowl, lunch bowl, supper bowl. Realising that my car would
never hold all the stuff, I started to drive away. As I moved off, Mrs Pumphrey, with a despairing cry,
threw an armful of the little coats through the window. I looked in the mirror before I turned the corner
of the drive; everybody was in tears. Out on the road, I glanced down at the pathetic little animal gasping
on the seat by my side. I patted the head and Tricki made a brave effort to wag his tail. “Poor old lad,” I
said. “You haven’t a kick in you but I think I know a cure for you.”

a s
(a) What might the atmosphere of the household in the above extract signify?

iv D
(i) Mrs. Pumphrey’s status in society reflected in Tricki’s lifestyle.
(ii) The staff’s love for Tricki, which matched that of Mrs. Pumphrey.

Sh
(iii) The grand life of comforts and luxuries that Tricki enjoyed.
(iv) Mrs. Pumphrey’s indulgence and anxiety acted upon by the staff. [Ans. (iv)
(b) Given below are emotions reflecting various expressions and reactions. Choose the option that cor-
rectly describes the narrator’s mindset in the given extract.

(I) (II) (III) (IV) (V)

(i) Options (I) and (III) (ii) Options (II) and (IV)

BASED
(iii) Options (III) and (V) (iv) Options (II) and (V)  [Ans. (ii)
(c) Given below are some well-known quotes shared by the staff to console Mrs. Pumphrey, after
Tricki’s departure.
Choose the option that correctly identifies the quote that IS NOT appropriate to the consolation
offered.

I II III IV
(i) Options (I) (ii) Options (II)
(iii) Options (III) (iv) Options (IV)  [Ans. (iv)
(d) As the extract indicates, Mrs. Pumphrey indulged Tricki and bought him many things.
Choose the option that best describes the kinds of advertisement/s that seem likely to persuade
Mrs. Pumphrey to buy something for Tricki.
I. Statistics Appeal. Such advertisements use facts and data to convince consumers to buy products.
II. Scarcity Appeal. Such advertisements create a feeling of exclusivity and are often used to con-
vince people to take advantage of a sale or limited period offer.
 C-60 Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

III. Personal Appeal. Such advertisements focus on evoking emotions to convince consumers and
often relate to family or other inter-personal interactions.
IV. Fear Appeal. Such advertisements focus on inspiring some kind of fear to convince consumers to
take action in order to avoid certain negative or undesirable consequences.
(i) Options (I), (II) and (IV) (ii) Options (III) and (IV)
(iii) Options (I), (III) and (IV) (iv) Options (II) Only  [Ans. (ii)
(e) The narrator describes Tricki as a “pathetic little animal”. The use of the word ‘pathetic’ indi-
cates that the narrator
(i) was very fond of Tricki. (ii) thought Tricki was contemptible.
(iii) pitied Tricki’s condition. (iv) believed Tricki’s health was deteriorating.
 [Ans. (iii)
Q.4. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
He discovered the joys of being bowled over, tramped on and squashed every few minutes. He became an
accepted member of the gang, an unlikely, silky little object among the shaggy crew, fighting like a tiger
for his share at mealtimes and hunting rats in the old henhouse at night. He had never had such a time in
his life. All the while, Mrs Pumphrey hovered anxiously in the background, ringing a dozen times a day
A Triumph of Surgery

for the latest bulletins.

(a) Select the option that captures the essence of the extract correctly.
Statement I. It highlights the kind of comforts and luxuries that Tricki was used to at home.
Statement II. It brings out a contrast between Tricki and Mrs. Pumphrey’s state of being.
Statement III. It reflects that Tricki was happier at the surgery, and loved being with other dogs.
Statement IV. It shows Tricki’s journey with his peers at the surgery, and documents his recovery.
(i) Statements I and II (ii) Statements III and IV

s
(iii) Statements I and III (iv) Statements II and IV  [Ans. (iv)

a
(b) What does the reference to Tricki as a “silky little object” signify?

iv D
(i) Tricki was a very small and rather pampered dog.

Sh
(ii) Tricki was comfortably attired in fine silks and warm coats.
(iii) Unlike the other dogs, Tricki had lived in the lap of luxury with care and grooming.
(iv) The narrator’s mockery of Tricki’s life and treatment with Mrs. Pumphrey. [Ans. (iii)
(c) Why does the narrator describe being “tramped on and squashed” as joys?
(i) To suggest the irony about the strange ways of dogs.
(ii) To mention the simple pleasures of canine life.
(iii) To compare it to Tricki’s earlier play-time at the house.
(iv) To direct attention towards Tricki’s successful recovery.  [Ans. (ii)
(d) “All the while, Mrs Pumphrey hovered anxiously in the background”.
Given below are different types of pet parenting styles described in Country Living, an e-magazine.
Choose the option that best reflects the kind of pet owner Mrs. Pumphrey was.
I. Traffic Light pet owners have a healthy balance of rules and freedom and give clear and consistent
signals for ‘yes’ and ‘no’.
II. Entranced pet owners have the best intentions, but as soon as their pet locks eyes with them and
gives their command, they are at their pet's beck and call.
III. The Goose pet owners go all-out in protecting their pet. They often limit their time away from
their pet, especially puppies.
IV. The Baggage Handler pet owners love being close to their pets and going on adventures together.
They are always mindful of the pet's comfort and security .
(i) Option I (ii) Option II (iii) Option III (iv) Option IV [Ans. (ii)
(e) Pick the option that reveals Tricki’s characteristics in the context of ‘fighting like a tiger for his
share at mealtimes and hunting rats in the old henhouse at night.’
1. selfish 2. happy 3. greedy 4. confident
5. sturdy 6. cruel
(i) 2, 4 and 5 (ii) Only 2 (iii) 1 and 5 (iv) 3, 4 and 6  [Ans. (i)
 Competency Based Questions (CBQs) C-61

 Stand-Alone Multiple Choice Questions

1. ’The expected call came within a few days.’ Why had Dr. Herriot expected the call?
(i) Mrs. Pumphrey was not adhering to his advice
(ii) Dr. Herriot knew Tricki’s was suffering
(iii) Tricki was not going for his walks
(iv) Dr. Herriot wanted Tricki to be hospitalised [Ans. (i)
2. Why did Mrs. Pumphrey send bottles of wine at the surgery?
(i) to enrich Tricki’s blood
(ii) for the staff members who were looking after Tricki
(iii) to build Tricki’s strength

COMPETENCY
(iv) for Tricki’s constitution [Ans. (i)
3. Mrs. Pumphrey referring to Tricki’s recovery as a ‘triumph of surgery’ is:
(i) respectful (ii) courteous (iii) ironical (iv) complimentary [Ans. (iv)
4. What ailment was Tricki suffering from:
(i) malnutrition (ii) he had no energy
(iii) he was greedy (iv) he had fever [Ans. (iii)
5. ________ was tottering along in his little tweed coat.
Fill in the blank from the given choices.
(i) Mr. Pumphrey (ii) Tricki
(iii) Mr. Herriot (iv) Mrs. Pumphrey’s gardner [Ans. (ii)
6. What is not the meaning of the word ‘convalesence’?
Choose the correct meaning from the given choices.
(i) to have fits

a s
(ii) Recuperate

iv D
(iii) Rehabilitation
(iv) To rest and get better (over a period of time) [Ans. (i)

Sh
7. What did Mrs. Pumphrey send to enrich Tricki’s blood?
(i) two dozen eggs (ii) cream cakes (iii) bottles of wine (iv) chocolates [Ans. (iii)
8. Who enjoyed two eggs each at the breakfast?
(i) Dr. Herriot and colleagues (ii) Mrs. Pumphrey’s staff
(iii) All the dogs at the surgery (iv) Only Tricki [Ans. (i)
9. Within minutes, about thirty feet of gleaming black metal drew up outside the surgery? What is this
object?
(i) Mr. Herriot’s car (ii) Mr. Pumphrey’s car

BASED
(iii) Taxi (iv) the big black van [Ans. (ii)


 Lesson : Two
The Thief 's Story

Competency Based Questions

The Thief’s Story

 Questions on the Extracts from the Lesson

Q.1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
Anil was watching a wrestling match when I approached him. He was about 25 – a tall, lean fellow – and

s
he looked easy-going, kind and simple enough for my purpose. I hadn’t had much luck of late and thought

iv D a
I might be able to get into the young man’s confidence.
‘You look a bit of a wrestler yourself,” I said. A little flattery helps in making friends.

Sh
(a) According to the extract, the young boy was watching the wrestling match because he
(i) had been invited there by the wrestlers. (ii) was supposed to meet someone there.
(iii) was looking for simple people to dupe.
(iv) loved wrestling and followed it very closely.  [Ans. (iii)
(b) ‘I hadn’t had much luck of late’ means that the boy hadn’t
(i) ever conned people successfully.
(ii) been successful in duping people lately.
(iii) understood the consequences of thievery till date.
(iv) considered the role of fate in deceiving others.  [Ans. (ii)
(c) ‘I might be able to get into the young man’s confidence.’
Choose the option that DOES NOT display what the statement means.
(i) He wanted to win his trust.
(ii) He wanted him to share his thoughts without caution.
(iii) He wanted him to feel comfortable revealing more details about himself.
(iv) He wanted to be able to spend quality time with him.  [Ans. (iv)
(d) Anil looked easy-going, kind and simple to the narrator.
Which of the given characteristics would NOT fit in with this description?
(i) compassionate (ii) suave (iii) uncomplicated (iv) carefree [Ans. (ii)
(e) Based on the line, “A little flattery helps in making friends.”, choose the option that displays the
quote closest in meaning.
(i) Imitation is the best form of flattery; people generally understand that my comedy is not intended
to hurt anybody.
(ii) I know imitation is the highest form of flattery, but stealing one’s identity is totally different.
(iii) Nothing is so great an example of bad manners as flattery. If you flatter all the company, you
please none; If you flatter only one or two, you offend the rest.
(iv) One may define flattery as a base companionship which is most advantageous to the flatterer.
 [Ans. (iv)

C-62 Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)
 Competency Based Questions (CBQs) C-63

Q.2. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
I think he knew I made a little money this way but he did not seem to mind. Anil made money by fits and
starts. He would borrow one week, lend the next. He kept worrying about his next cheque, but as soon as
it arrived, he would go out and celebrate. It seems he wrote for magazines—a queer way to make a living!
(a) Anil made money ‘by fits and starts’ means that he
(i) deemed it fit to start investing money.
(ii) started earning money in the recent past
(iii) received money intermittently.
(iv) put his money to use frequently. [Ans. (iii)
(b) The information in the extract suggests that Anil could be a
(i) salaried professional (ii) freelancer

COMPETENCY
(iii) business man (iv) volunteer  [Ans. (ii)
(c) If borrow: lend is the right pair, then pick the ODD pair from the options below
(i) give : : take (ii) lose : : find (iii) hop : : skip (iv) buy : : sell [Ans. (iii)
(d) The reference to making a little money ‘this way’ refers to a way that is viewed by most people as
(i) sensible (ii) inappropriate (iii) charitable (iv) Aggressive [Ans. (ii)
(e) Based on your understanding of Anil in the extract, choose the option that synchronises with his
thinking.
(i) So what if I don’t have much money? Giving it to the others is important as they could do with
a helping hand.
(ii) I better learn how to protect my money. I think I’m being looted.
(iii) I earn money with such tremendous effort. Where does it all go?
(iv) When I become rich, I can begin to help friends then. Right now, I will spend only on myself.

a s
 [Ans. (i)

iv D
Q.3. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
I had been working for Anil for almost a month and, apart from cheating on the shopping, had not done

Sh
anything in my line of work. I had every opportunity for doing so. Anil had given me a key to the door,
and I could come and go as I pleased. He was the most trusting person I had ever met. And that is why
it was so difficult to rob him. It’s easy to rob a greedy man, because he can afford to be robbed; but it’s
difficult to rob a careless man — sometimes he doesn’t even notice he’s been robbed and that takes all the
pleasure out of the work. Well, it’s time I did some real work, I told myself; I’m out of practice. And if I
don’t take the money, he’ll only waste it on his friends. After all, he doesn’t even pay me.
(a) What does Hari Singh mean when he says that he had not done anything in his line of work?
(i) he had only cheated on the shopping (ii) he had learnt how to cook
(iii) he had abstained from stealing (iv) he had not made any money

BASED
[Ans. (iii)
(b) Why was it difficult for Hari Singh to rob Anil?
(i) Anil was a trusting person (ii) Anil was careless
(iii) Anil was not greedy (iv) All of the above  [Ans. (iv)
(c) The phrase ‘real work’ in the above extract does not refer to:
(i) stealing (ii) to rob someone
(iii) making an honest living (iv) to pilfer  [Ans. (iii)
(d) What, according to Hari Singh, ‘takes all the pleasure out of the work’?
(i) When one robs a trusting person.
(ii) when one fails to realize he has been robbed.
(iii) when one steals from a person who can afford to be robbed.
(iv) when one robs a greedy person. [Ans. (ii)
(e) How did Hari Sigh justify his decision to rob Anil?
(i) Anil did not pay him. .
(ii) Hari Singh knew Anil would not notice that he had been robbed.
(iii) Anil had allowed him an easy access to his house.
(iv) Anil was at fault to trust him. [Ans. (i)
Q.4. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
When the train had gone, I found myself standing alone on the deserted platform. I had no idea where to
spend the night. I had no friends, believing that friends were more trouble than help. And I did not want to
 C-64 Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

make anyone curious by staying at one of the small hotels near the station. The only person I knew really
well was the man I had robbed. Leaving the station, I walked slowly through the bazaar. In my short career
as a thief, I had made a study of men’s faces when they had lost their goods. The greedy man showed
fear; the rich man showed anger; the poor man showed acceptance. But I knew that Anil’s face, when he
discovered the theft, would show only a touch of sadness. Not for the loss of money, but for the loss of
trust.
(a) Hari Singh believed that friends were more trouble than help. This reveals that he was:
(i) Practical (ii) Agreeable (iii) Unsocial (iv) Approachable [Ans. (iii)
(b) If Hari Singh stayed in the small hotel near the station, people would become
(i) indifferent (ii) invasive (iii) inquisitive (iv) interested [Ans. (iii)
(c) Why, according to the thief, would Anil be sad when he discovered the theft?
(i) for loss of money
(ii) for not verifying the thief’s identity
(iii) for his inability to never trust a stranger again
(iv) for his trust had been betrayed [Ans. (iv)
(d) The statement that is incorrect with respect to the extract is:
(i) The rich man was fearful on losing his goods.
(ii) The poor man showed acceptance on being robbed.
(iii) The greedy man was scared on losing his goods.
The Thief’s Story

(iv) Anil would be sad on discovering the theft. [Ans. (i)

(e) The word ‘deserted’ in the above extract DOES NOT mean the same as:
(i) lonely (ii) forlorn (iii) uninhabited (iv) crowded [Ans. (iv)

 Stand-Alone Multiple Choice Questions

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1. Why did the thief take on a new name every month?

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(i) to keep himself ahead of the police

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(ii) he did not want to reveal his true name
(iii) to keep himself ahead of his former employees
(iv) both (i) and (iii) [Ans. (iv)
2. How did Hari Singh know the meal he had cooked was terrible?
(i) Anil told him never to cook again (ii) Anil gave it to a stray dog
(iii) Anil cooked another meal for himself (iv) Anil refused to pay him  [Ans. (ii)
3. Anil did not hand over Hari Singh to the police because:
(i) He realised that Hari Singh had learnt his lesson.
(ii) Anil wanted to give him another chance.
(iii) Anil hoped that he would become a better person.
(iv) All of the above.  [Ans. (iv)
4. Anil talked about the well-oiled _________ who were grunting, lifting and throwing each other about.
(i) the boys on the street (ii) the street urchins
(iii) the wrestlers (iv) the thieves [Ans. (iii)
5. I knew that once I could write like an educated man there would be no limit to what I could achieve.
Whose thoughts are these?
(i) Anil (ii) Hari Singh (iii) Jumna (iv) Ruskin Bond [Ans. (ii)
6. What is Hari Singh ‘a fairly successful hand’, at?
(i) stealing (ii) cooking (iii) wrestling (iv) writing [Ans. (i)
7. I had been working for Anil for almost a month and had not done anything in my line of work. What
work is being mentioned?
(i) wrestling (ii) cooking (iii) making tea (iv) stealing [Ans. (iv)
8. The only person Hari Singh knew well in the town is ________ ?
(i) Ruskin Bond (ii) the wrestler
(iii) the coolie at the station (iv) Anil [Ans. (iv)


 Lesson : Five
Footprints Without Feet

COMPETENCY
Competency Based Questions
 Questions on the Extracts from the Lesson
Q.1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
The two boys started in surprise at the fresh muddy imprints of a pair of bare feet. What was a barefooted
man doing on the steps of a house in the middle of London? And where was the man? As they gazed, a
remarkable sight met their eyes. A fresh footmark appeared from nowhere!

a s
Further footprints followed, one after another, descending the steps and progressing down the street. The boys

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followed, fascinated, until the muddy impressions became fainter and fainter, and at last disappeared altogether.
(a) Why were the boys surprised to see a barefooted man in London? The boys were surprised as

Sh
(i) it was an unusual sight to see someone this way.
(ii) everybody in London moved around in shoes.
(iii) it was pretty cold to move around bare feet.
(iv) only a person who is homeless and wandering does so. [Ans. (iii)
(b) Pick out the option that is NOT related to ‘started’ as used in the extract
Started

BASED
1. Flinched 2. Jerked 3. Recoil 4. Pointed
(i) Option 1 (ii) Option 2 (iii) Option 3 (iv) Option 4 [Ans. (iv)
(c) Pick the option that best describes how the boys are feeling based on the extract.
(i) enchanted, curious, puzzled (ii) captivated, curious, puzzled
(iii) repulsed, curious, captivated (iv) enchanted, repulsed, curious [Ans. (ii)
(d) The boys felt that the footprints were
(i) seen due to some magic trick. (ii) a figment of imagination.
(iii) of a man who was invisible. (iv) those of a mysterious man. [Ans. (iv)
(e) Pick the option that best matches synonyms of the word ‘gazed’.
(i) (I) gaped (II) gawked (ii) (I) admired (II) disbelieved
(iii) (I) overlooked (II) stared (iv) (I) surveyed (II) overlooked [Ans. (i)
(f) Pick the option that lists the correct direction of the footprints on the stairs, as noticed by the boys.

1. 2. 3. 4. 

(i) Option 1 (ii) Option 2 (iii) Option 3 (iv) Option 4 [Ans. (ii)

Competency Based Questions (CBQs) C-65

 C-66 Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

Q.2. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
Brilliant scientist though he was, Griffin was rather a lawless person. His landlord disliked him and tried
to eject him. In revenge Griffin set fire to the house. To get away without being seen he had to remove
his clothes. Thus it was that he became a homeless wanderer, without clothes, without money, and quite
invisible — until he happened to step in some mud, and left footprints as he walked! He escaped easily
enough from the boys who followed his footprints in London. But his adventures were by no means over.
He had chosen a bad time of the year to wander about London without clothes. It was mid-winter. The air
was bitterly cold and he could not do without clothes. Instead of walking about the streets he decided to
slip into a big London store for warmth.
(a) Why did Griffin set the landlord’s house on fire?
(i) as an act of revenge (ii) because his landlord disliked him
(iii) he had ejected his landlord (iv) all of the above [Ans. (i)
(b) When did Griffin become quite invisible?
(i) when he had his clothes on (ii) when he left behind footprints in mud
(iii) after he removed his clothes (iv) when he became a homeless wanderer [Ans. (iii)
Footprints Without Feet

(c) How do we know that Griffin was a lawless person?

(i) the landlord did not like him (ii) he had no money
(iii) he had set fire to the landlord’s house (iv) he had to escape to London [Ans. (iii)
(d) Why does the narrator say that it was ‘a bad time of the year’?
(i) It was very cold (ii) Griffin had to wander in the streets
(iii) It was the end the winter season. (iv) all of the above [Ans. (i)
(e) The word ‘eject’ DOES NOT mean the same as:
(i) throw out (ii) oust (iii) expel (iv) admit [Ans. (iv)

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Q.3. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

a
The arrival of a stranger at an inn in winter was in any case an unusual event. A stranger of such uncommon

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appearance set all tongues wagging. Mrs Hall, the landlord’s wife, made every effort to be friendly. But

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Griffin had no desire to talk, and told her, “My reason for coming to Iping is a desire for solitude. I do not
wish to be disturbed in my work. Besides, an accident has affected my face.” Satisfied that her guest was
an eccentric scientist, and in view of the fact that he had paid her in advance, Mrs Hall was prepared to
excuse his strange habits and irritable temper. But the stolen money did not last long, and presently Griffin
had to admit that he had no more ready cash. He pretended, however, that he was expecting a cheque to
arrive at any moment.
(a) Which event is referred to as ‘unusual’?
(i) a stranger arriving at an inn in winter
(ii) a stranger having no money
(iii) a stranger with an uncommon appearance
(iv) the stranger’s desire for solitude [Ans. (i)
(b) Mrs. Hall made ‘every effort to be friendly’ with the stranger. Her act reveals that she was being:
(i) sympathetic (ii) civil (iii) understanding (iv) thoughtless [Ans. (iii)
(c) What was Griffin’s actual motive of coming to Iping?
(i) a desire for solitude
(ii) not to be disturbed in his work
(iii) to recover from an accident
(iv) to get away from the crowded London city  [Ans. (iv)
(d) Why did Mrs. Hall ignore her guest’s strange habit?
(i) she was an eccentric (ii) he had paid the room rent in advance
(iii) she respected his desire for solitude (iv) she did not want to disturb him [Ans. (ii)
(e) The word ‘eccentric’ means the same as?
(i) abnormal (ii) unconventional (iii) weird (iv) all of the above [Ans. (iv)
Q.4. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
As she and her husband turned away in terror, the extraordinary chair pushed them both out of the room
and then appeared to slam and lock the door after them.
Mrs. Hall almost fell down the stairs in hysterics. She was convinced that the room was haunted by spirits,
and that the stranger had somehow caused these to enter into her furniture.
 Competency Based Questions (CBQs) C-67

“My poor mother used to sit in that chair,” she moaned! To think it should rise up against me now!
The feeling among the neighbours was that the trouble was caused by witchcraft.”
(a) Mrs. Hall felt that the room was haunted by spirits because
(i) she could see evil spirits. (ii) she heard strange noise.
(iii) uncanny things happened there. (iv) the door slammed shut.  [Ans. (iii)
(b) Pick the option that best describes how Mrs Hall must be feeling at the moment described in the
extract.
(i) stunned and furious (ii) shocked and outraged
(iii) outraged and nervous (iv) stunned and agitated [Ans. (iv)
(c) Pick the sentence that brings out the meaning of ‘hysterics’ as used in the extract.
(i) My friend and I were in splits when we saw the clown’s antics.

COMPETENCY
(ii) I don’t know why I suddenly felt worried about flying home.
(iii) The sight of blood put the old man in a frenzy.
(iv) The people who had witnessed the accident were spellbound.  [Ans. (iii)
(d) Pick the option that displays a cause -> effect relationship.
(i) pushed and locked out -> hysterical (ii) rising of the chair -> moaning
(iii) troubled neighbours -> witchcraft (iv) stranger -> haunted spirits [Ans. (i)
(e) The neighbours thought it was ‘witchcraft’. This tells us that neighbours were
(i) suspicious (ii) superstitious (iii) nervous wrecks (iv) gossip-mongers [Ans. (ii)
(f) Pick the option that includes the correct matches of Column A with Column B.
Column A Column B
I. The stranger was (i) eccentric, lonely and callous
II. He had escaped (ii) eccentric, callous and short-tempered

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III. He had an uncommon appearance (iii) from London to Iping

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(iv) as he wore bandages round his forehead
(i) I-(ii); II-(iv); III-(iii) (ii) I-(i); II-(iii); III-(iv)

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(iii) I-(iii); II-(ii); III-(i) (iv) I-(ii); II-(iii); III-(iv)  [Ans. (iv)
(g) Given are different meanings of ‘haunt’. Pick the option that DOES NOT correspond to its meaning
(i) to be conscious of a strange phenomenon.
(ii) be persistently and disturbingly present in (the mind).
(iii) (of something unpleasant) continue to affect or cause problems for.
(iv) a place frequented by a specified person.  [Ans. (i)

 Stand-Alone Multiple Choice Questions

BASED
1. When did everyone become suspicious of the scientist?
(i) after the theft at the clergyman’s house
(ii) when the scientist admitted he had no money
(iii) when they felt the house was haunted
(iv) when they suspected the scientist to be responsible for witchcraft [Ans. (i)
2. What was the “Extraordinary affair !” that the clergyman referred to?
(i) The appearance of an invisible man.
(ii) The money was missing though none could be seen.
(iii) The room appeared to be occupied.
(iv) There was no one under the desk.  [Ans. (ii)
3. How was Mr. Jaffers knocked unconscious?
(i) He was struggling with something he could not see
(ii) By the blows that seemed to come from nowhere.
(iii) As he attempted to hit the unseen scientist.
(iv) As he tried to get hold of an invisible man.  [Ans. (ii)
4. Where did Griffin find clothes and food in the evening?
(i) In his landlord’s house (ii) a big London store
(iii) Drury lane (iv) the theatrical company [Ans. (ii)
5. How did Griffin go to village of Iping?
(i) Express Train (ii) Local Train (iii) Goods Train (iv) Lorry [Ans. (ii)
 C-68 Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

6. At the local inn, how many rooms did Griffin book?

(i) 1 (ii) 2 (iii) 3 (iv) 4 [Ans. (ii)
7. Who did Griffin rob for some money in London?
(i) the clergy man (ii) the shopkeeper
(iii) the owner of the grocery store (iv) Mrs. Hall [Ans. (ii)
8. Springing into the air the chair charged straight at Mrs. Hall. Who caused this attack?
(i) Jaffers (ii) The Clergyman (iii) Griffin (iv) Mr. Hall [Ans. (iii)


Footprints Without Feet

a s
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 Lesson : Six
The Making of a Scientist
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COMPETENCY
Competency Based Questions
 Questions on the Extracts from the Lesson
Q.1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
So he did, and did he ever! Beginning in kindergarten, Ebright collected butterflies with the same

s
determination that has marked all his activities. He also collected rocks, fossils, and coins. He became an

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eager astronomer, too, sometimes star-gazing all night. From the first he had a driving curiosity along with
a bright mind. He also had a mother who encouraged his interest in learning. She took him on trips, bought

Sh
him telescopes, microscopes, cameras, mounting materials, and other equipment and helped him in many
other ways. “I was his only companion until he started school,” his mother said. “After that I would bring
home friends for him. But at night we just did things together. Richie was my whole life after his father
died when Richie was in third grade.” She and her son spent almost every evening at the dining room
table. “If he didn’t have things to do, I found work for him — not physical work, but learning things,” his
mother said. “He liked it. He wanted to learn.”
(a) What did Ebright collect as a child?
(i) butterflies (ii) fossils (iii) coins (iv) all of the above [Ans. (iv)
(b) The phrase ‘driving curiosity’ means the same as:

BASED
(i) keen desire to obtain information (ii) intelligence
(iii) apathy towards knowledge (iv) concern about something  [Ans. (i)
(c) How did Ebright’s mother encourage him?

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(i) by taking him on trips (ii) by bringing him a companion

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(iii) by bringing home friends for him (iv) by finding work for him 

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[Ans. (i)
(d) What kind of work did his mother find for him?

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(i) group activities with friends (ii) work through which he could learn

For
(iii) physical work (iv) entertaining work [Ans. (ii)
(e) Ebright’s mother bought him equipments which ................ him in his learning.
(i) aided (ii) helped
(iii) benefited (iv) all of the above [Ans. (iv)
Q.2. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
“I didn’t get any real results,” he said. “But I went ahead and showed that I had tried the experiment.
This time I won.” The next year his science fair project was testing the theory that viceroy butterflies copy
monarchs. The theory was that viceroys look like monarchs because monarchs don’t taste good to birds.
Viceroys, on the other hand, do taste good to birds. So, the more they look like monarchs, the less likely
they are to become a bird’s dinner. Ebright’s project was to see whether, in fact, birds would eat monarchs.
He found that a starling would not eat ordinary bird food. It would eat all the monarchs it could get.
Competency Based Questions (CBQs) C-69
 C-70 Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

(a) Choose the option listing Ebright’s qualities as depicted by the above extract.
1. persevering 2. visionary 3. determined
4. liberal 5. conceited
(i) 1, 2 (ii) 3, 5 (iii) 1, 3 (iv) 4, 5 [Ans. (iii)
(b) According to the dictionary, ‘fair’ as a noun, shows the following meanings.
Choose the option that lists the meaning similar to the usage to that in the extract.

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(i) A gathering of stalls and amusements for public entertainment.

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(ii) A competitive exhibition showcasing products or ideas

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(iii) A periodic gathering for the sale of goods.

Te
(iv) An annual exhibition of livestock, agricultural products, etc., held by a town, county, or state.

For
 [Ans. (ii)
(c) Choose the option that is true for the two statements given about the information in the extract.
Statement 1. Starling feeds on viceroys.
Statement 2. Starling does not eat seeds and insects.
The Making of a Scientist

(i) Both statements are clearly mentioned in the extract.

(ii) Statement 1 cannot be clearly inferred from the text and statement 2 is true.
(iii) Statement 1 is false and statement 2 cannot be clearly inferred from the extract.
(iv) Both statements need to be inferred from the given extract.  [Ans. (iii)
(d) Choose the statements that are TRUE for the given extract contextually.
1. Ebright didn’t get any results for the experiment he conducted on butterflies.
2. Monarchs tasted awfully to the birds.
3. Ebright wanted to explore the possibility of monarchs getting eaten by birds.
4. He wanted to prove that viceroys are lookalikes of monarchs.

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(i) 1, 2 (ii) 2, 3 (iii) 1, 3 (iv) 2, 4 [Ans. (ii)

D a
(e) Four friends bring their pets to a pet show. Choose the option that mentions the friend with a

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starling as a pet
Friend 1 has a turtle named Missy.

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Friend 2 has a dragonfly named Majesty.
Friend 3 has a rabbit named Molly.
Friend 4 has a bird named Mitch.
(i) Friend 1 (ii) Friend 2 (iii) Friend 3 (iv) Friend 4 [Ans. (iv)
Q.3. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
When he saw those photos, Ebright didn’t shout, ‘Eureka!’ or even, ‘I’ve got it!’ But he believed that, along
with his findings about insect hormones, the photos gave him the answer to one of biology’s puzzles: how
the cell can ‘read’ the blueprint of its DNA. DNA is the substance in the nucleus of a cell that controls
heredity. It determines the form and function of the cell. Thus, DNA is the blueprint for life. Ebright and
his college room-mate, James R. Wong, worked all that night drawing pictures and constructing plastic
models of molecules to show how it could happen. Together they later wrote the paper that explained the

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theory.

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(a) Choose the option that shows the picture of the type of task Ebright and Wong were engaged in, as
per the extract.

r Te
Fo
(I) (II) (III) (IV)
(i) Option I (ii) Option II (iii) Option III (iv) Option IV [Ans. (iii)
(b) Ebright was perhaps expected to shout ‘Eureka!’ because he had
(i) realised that he needed a partner to work with to finalise his findings
(ii) discovered something new and ‘Eureka!’ was a cry to announce it.
 Competency Based Questions (CBQs) C-71

(iii) worked hard and was relieved at nearing the end of his project
(iv) given shape to the teachings of his teachers by choosing this field of science. [Ans. (ii)
(c) “Thus, DNA is the blueprint for life”, is another way of saying that the DNA contains a genetic
__________.
(i) experiment (ii) ultimatum (iii) takeaway (iv) plan [Ans. (iv)
(d) Four newspapers published a headline about Ebright and Wong. Choose the option that published

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a factually correct headline, as per the extract.

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Newspaper 1 Newspaper 2 Newspaper 3 Newspaper 4

e
WONG DENIES EBRIGHT WONG AND EBRIGHT AND

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CONTRIBUTING TO COLLABORATES EBRIGHT WONG’S THEORY

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COMPETENCY
EBRIGHT’S WITH EXAGGERATE PROVED WRONG
THEORY ROOM-MATE THEIR THEORY DEFY
WONG LOGIC
(i) Newspaper 1 (ii) Newspaper 2 (iii) Newspaper 3 (iv) Newspaper 4 [Ans. (ii)
(e) Compound words are those words which are formed by joining two separate words to create a new
word with an entirely different meaning.
Choose the option that lists the compound words from the above extract.
1. determines 2. blueprint 3. nucleus 4. heredity
5. room-mate
(i) 1, 3 (ii) 2, 4 (iii) 1, 4 (iv) 2, 5 [Ans. (iv)
Q.4. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
“Richard was competitive,” Mr Weiherer continued, “but not in a bad sense.” He explained, “Richard
wasn’t interested in winning for winning’s sake or winning to get a prize. Rather, he was winning because

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he wanted to do the best job he could. For the right reasons, he wants to be the best.” And that is one of

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the ingredients in the making of a scientist. Start with a first-rate mind, add curiosity, and mix in the will
to win for the right reasons. Ebright has these qualities. From the time the book, The Travels of Monarch

Sh
X, opened the world of science to him, Richard Ebright has never lost his scientific curiosity.
(a) Richard was not competitive in a ‘bad sense’. This implies:
(i) he wanted to give his best (ii) his motive was not just to win
(iii) he did not want to win to get a prize (iv) all of the above [Ans. (iv)
(b) According to Mr. Weiherer, the ingredients in the making of a scientist include:
(i) a keen sense of inquisitiveness (ii) the sole desire to win
(iii) to excel and win despite the odds (iv) to be awarded for achievements [Ans. (i)
(c) The statement that is NOT TRUE with respect to Ebright is:

BASED
(i) He was competitive
(ii) He had the ingredients to become a scientist
(iii) He was only interested in winning

I
(iv) He won because he did the best job [Ans. (iii)

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(d) ‘Richard Ebright has never lost his scientific curiosity’. This means:

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(i) he is satisfied with the work he does (ii) he continues to be a keen learner

e
(iii) he has a first-rate mind (iv) he has won all scientific competitions

T
[Ans. (ii)

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(e) The word ‘Competitive’ does not mean the same as:
(i) to be better than others (ii) to compete with others
(iii) to put in one’s best (iv) to be ruthless while competing [Ans. (iv)

 Stand-Alone Multiple Choice Questions

1. What did Ebright learn when he lost at the county science fair?
(i) it was important to do real projects
(ii) science was not just about neat display
(iii) conducting experiment was imperative
(iv) all of the above [Ans. (iv)
2. How many tiny gold spots does a monarch pupa have?
(i) 12 (ii) 10 (iii) 14 (iv) 8 [Ans. (i)
 C-72 Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

3. Why does Richard call Mr, Weiherer ‘the perfect person’?

(i) Richard admired him (ii) He opened Richard’s mind to new ideas.
(iii) He supported Richard (iv) He loved Richard.  [Ans. (ii)
4. At the age of twenty-two, a former ‘scout of the year’ excited the scientific world with a new theory on
how cells work. Who is this scientist?
(i) Richard H. Ebright (ii) Dr. Frederick A Urquhart

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(iii) Mr. Robert (iv) Peterson [Ans. (i)

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5. ‘I was his only companion until he started school’. Who is this companion?

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(i) Ebright’s brother (ii) his room-mate at college

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(iii) Ebright’s mother (iv) Mr. Weiherer [Ans. (iii)

For
6. By the time he was in second grade, how many species of butterflies Ebright had collected?
(i) twelve (ii) twenty five (iii) sixteen (iv) twenty four [Ans. (ii)
7. How long does the butterfly collecting season last around Reading?
(i) twelve weeks (ii) four weeks (iii) six weeks (iv) eight weeks [Ans. (iii)
The Making of a Scientist

8. Ebright found that a __________ would not eat ordinary birdfood. It would eat all the ______ it could get.
Fill in the blanks with the right set of words.
(i) Viceroy, monarchs (ii) starling, monarchs (iii) starling, viceroy (iv) monarchs, viceroy
 [Ans. (ii)
9. Start with a first-rate mind, add _________, and mix in the will to win for the right reasons. Fill in the
missing word from the given choices as per the text book:
(i) hard work (ii) intelligence (iii) curiosity (iv) perseverance [Ans. (iii)

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

D a
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- I I
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 Reading Comprehension

KEY VALUE POINTS

Step 1 : Skim once as rapidly as possible to determine the main idea before you look at the questions. Do
not worry about words you do not know at this stage.
Step 2 : Underline the words that you do not understand to facilitate a complete understanding of the
passage. This will enable you to solve the vocabulary questions quicker.
Step 3 : Look through the words carefully. You are advised to maintain the order in which the questions
appear in the question paper. Read intensively the portion relevant to the answer.
Step 4 : Concentrate on the vocabulary items and puzzle out from the context the meanings of those
words you do not know.
IDEAS TO FOLLOW WHILE SKIMMING
1. Read the title of the passage/poem very carefully, if given. Determine what clues it gives you about
the passage/poem.
2. Watch for keywords like causes, results, effects etc. Do not overlook signal words such as those
suggesting controversy (e.g., versus, pros and cons), which indicate that the author is intending to
present both sides of an argument.
3. Concentrate on the main ideas and ignore details. Most passages require at least two readings.
Before writing the answer, check the questions again to be sure you have understood them.
GUIDELINES TO ATTEMPT COMPREHENSION PASSAGE
1. First of all read the passage quickly study the questions given at the end of your passage.
2. Start your second reading of the passage. This reading should be thorough. Underline key sentences
or words related to the given questions.
3. An alternate method could be to go through the questions first, which gives a rough idea about the
content or subject of the passage. It becomes easier to underline the keywords while going through
the passage and will help to reach to the answers faster.
4. While answering the questions, try not to give vague or general answers; be specific; sometimes
students use one general description when four or five points have to be made. Avoid general answers.
5. Write in short , simple sentences unless required to do otherwise.
6. Do not repeat yourself. This is a waste of time. Avoid using slang. Do not use vague words when a
precise one will do.
7. Make sure that you use your own words as far as possible. This means that you must summarise and
interpret information; never copy whole ‘chunks’ from the passage.
8. When answering factual questions. i.e., questions that involve words like ‘what’, ‘when’, ‘how’ and
‘why’, do not include information not given in the passage. While answering the ‘why’ question, you
may begin your answer with ‘This is because……….’ or a similar phrase.
9. While answering vocabulary questions, determine the part of speech of the word. Your answer
should have the same part of speech.

READING COMPREHENSION „ 1
2 „ Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

PREVIOUS YEARS’ CBSE BOARD EXAM QUESTIONS

U nseen Passages
Q.1. Read the following passage carefully. 2012 D, 2012 OD
ROMANCING THE RAIL
1. A couple of weeks ago, while detailing the many ways in which coping with the bleak economy can
actually better our lives, I touched upon the romance of train travel and suggested that we would do well
to introduce our children to its charms.
I have to confess that I was surprised by the kind of response this triggered from readers with stories to tell
of their own rail adventures.
2. Browsing through them reminded me yet again why trains have such a special place in our lives. Well,
perhaps not in the lives of a generation brought up on the dubious pleasure of cheap air travel.
3. I still vividly recall every detail of my first such excursion, taking a train from Sealdah station in Calcutta
to visit my aunt’s tea garden in Assam. I settled down at my window seat and even before the train had
pulled out, I was burrowing deep into the pleasures of Indian mythology.
4. But as the scene outside grew more rustic, even picturesque, my attention wandered to the marvellous
moving display outside my window. There were gentle rolling fields, green and lush, more palm trees
than I could count and endless expanse of bright blue sky.
5. Just then, a man entered my peripheral vision. Scythe in hand, he was intently cutting down some tall
grass in the fields. “Oh look,” I cried out to my mother, “It’s a farmer, a real-life farmer!” A city-bred child,
I hadn’t realized until then that farmers actually had an independent existence outside of my story books.

as
6. That wasn’t the only discovery I made in the course of that first train journey or the many others to follow.

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Gazing out of the train window as I travelled across the country, I was introduced to a new India that was

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far removed from the bland boundaries of my middle-class urban existence. And I like to believe today

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that this made me more aware of the complexities of the society that we live in.
On the basis of your reading of the above passage answer the following questions:
(a) Readers’ response to her suggestions made the writer realize .................. .
(b) The pleasure/joys of travelling by train would not be appreciated by .................. .
(c) The writer was lured away from the pleasures of Indian mythology when ............. .
(d) The two discoveries made during the train journey were .................. .
(i) .................. (ii) ..................
(e) Travelling by train, enhanced the writer’s awareness of .................. .
(f) While travelling by train, the writer’s time was spent
(i) .................. (ii) ..................
Ans. (a) the reason why trains have such a special place in our lives.
(b) a generation brought up on the dubious pleasures of cheap air travel.
(c) the scene outside grew more rustic, even picturesque.
(d) (i) Farmers had an independent existence outside story books.
(ii) Introduction to a new India that was far removed from the bland boundaries of middle-class
urban existence.
(e) the complexities of the society that we live in.
(f) (i) reading books on mythology.
(ii) appreciating the rustic picturesque scene outside.
Q.2. Read the following passage carefully. 2013 D, 2016 OD
We sat in silence in the dark of the night as the large head appeared from the large foliage. The female was
young, healthy and alert. Seconds later, she walked confidently to the edge of a waterhole followed by not
one, not two, but three beautiful young cubs. Like works of art on display, all four tigers bent low at the
waterhole that had been created for them and for the myriad creatures that shared their troubled kingdom.
The Goshri tigers had come visiting and we watched them with rapt attention on our closed-circuit TV
screens, in the conservation retreat of Harsh and Poonam Dhanwatey, a husband and wife team whose life
had been dedicated to the protection of tigers in and around Maharashtra’s Tadoba-Andhari Tiger
Reserve. Their son Nikhil carefully positioned the cameras and cabled them 40 metres from their
conservation retreat, near the waterhole that had turned into a magnet for every conceivable animal found
 READING COMPREHENSION „ 3

in the Tiger Reserve itself. We were making preparations to set up one of the first Community
Conservation Reserves in Central India. Originally into business, the Dhanwateys changed tracks
midstream by shutting down a thriving interior design business in response to just one meeting they had
with Dr. Ullas Karanth and Valmik Thapar, two of India’s finest tiger people, in Nagpur. In their own
words: “From admirers of wildlife we became passionate defenders and we launched our non-
governmental organization called Tiger Research and Conservation Trust (TRACT).” The Dhanwateys
lived for years in a small hut that was their field camp near the famous Tadoba Lake and they discovered
the secrets of the forest in the best way possible, by walking its trails, and generally learning all they could
about the magical mix of life that comprised this tropical, dry deciduous forest.
Based on your reading of the passage, complete the following sentences with appropriate words/phrases:
(a) The narrator and the others watched with rapt attention as the .............. .
(b) Harsh and Poonam Dhanwatey had dedicated their lives to the cause of .............. .
(c) Before taking up the cause of tigers the Dhanwateys were .............. .
(d) The waterhole is referred to as a magnet because .............. .
(e) The narrator had gone to the Tiger Reserve to ................. .
(f) The meeting with Dr. Ullas Karanth and Valmik Thapar changed the lives of .............. .
(g) The Dhanwateys discovered the secrets of the forest by .............. .
(h) TRACT stands for .............. .
Ans. (a) the four Goshri tigers, the mother and the three cubs had come visiting the waterhole.
(b) protection of tigers in and around Maharashtra’s Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve.
(c) managing an interior design business.
(d) all the animals in the tiger reserve were attracted to it.

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(e) set up the first Community Conservation Reserve.

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(f) the Dhanwateys.

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(g) walking the trails of the forest and generally learning all they could about the deciduous forest.

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(h) Tiger Research and Conservation Trust.
Q.3. Read the passage given below carefully. 2011 D
School used to be all about writing, whether it was the exercise books we wrote in, the notes we passed
round, or the lines we stayed in to do. But not any more. Now it’s all about typing. My six year old
daughter is part of the first generation that is truly computer literate and I really didn’t want her learning
copperplate writing. I could see that spelling, grammar, syntax and punctuation were important, but
handwriting? By the time she’s at university, handwriting may not be as relevant as needlepoint. So when
my daughter came home last year with cursive handwriting homework, I was nonplussed. Cursive was
originally developed to make it easier for children to write with a quill. By joining up the letters, it kept the
quill on the parchment and minimized ink blots. But my daughter writes with a laptop. I explained as
much to her teacher at the next parents’ day. But her teacher explained something to me. Research suggests
that the process of writing information down on paper, by hand, has a more direct effect on the formation
of memories in the learning process than typing. Taking notes in class is still the most effective way to
learn. It’s a better way to store the skills for written language in a child’s brain than pressing keys. There’s
nothing old-fashioned about handwriting. Handwriting is where it’s at.
On the basis of your reading of the above passage fill in the blanks with appropriate words/phrases:
(a) School used to be all about .............. and now it is all about .............. .
(b) According to the narrator his daughter is .............. .
(c) .............. was developed to make writing with a quill easier.
(d) The writer was puzzled when his daughter .............. .
(e) Writing information down on paper is .............. typing in the learning process.
(f) The most effective way to learn is .............. .
(g) Skills for written language can be stored better in a child's brain by .............. rather than .............. .
(h) Writing by hand is ………… .
Ans. (a) writing; typing
(b) computer literate
(c) cursive writing
(d) came home the year before with a cursive handwriting homework
(e) a more direct effect on the formation of memories than
(f) by taking down notes in class
4 „ Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

(g) writing; pressing keys

(h) not old fashioned
Q.4. Read the passage given below and answer the questions/complete the sentences that follow: 2012
It’s not “cool” to be fat, but that has not prevented an obesity epidemic from occurring among America’s
youth. Childhood obesity increased from 5 per cent in 1964 to about 13 per cent in 1994. Today, it is about
20 per cent and rising. Excessive time spent watching television, using the computer and playing video
games is partly to blame for this escalating rate. Children, on an average, spend up to five to six hours a
day involved in these sedentary activities. Perhaps it wouldn’t matter if they were sufficiently active at
other times, but most of them aren’t.
To make matters worse, children are bombarded with well-crafted TV ads from fast-food chains and other
purveyors of high-fat, high-sugar meals and snacks. A recent study reported that two-to-six-year olds who
watch television are more likely to choose food products advertised on TV than children who do not watch
such commercials. These highly effective advertising campaigns, combined with a physically inactive life-
style, have produced a generation of kids who are at high risk for obesity-associated medical conditions.
The major health threat is the early development of Type 2 diabetes (adult onset), particularly in children
with a family history of disease. Doctors are reporting a surge in young adolescents developing Type 2
diabetes—which can lead to heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney disease, stroke, limb amputations
and blindness. People who develop diabetes in adolescence face a diminished quality of life and shortened
life span, particularly if the disease progresses untreated. It’s a scary prospect for our children but, in many
cases, obesity and diabetes are preventable.
When children are spending most of their free time sitting in front of televisions and computers, they are
not outside running, jumping or engaging in team sports that would keep their weight down. Parents need

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to set limits on the time their children are engaged in passive activities. Pediatricians recommend

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restricting children to one to two hours per day on TV and computers combined-though older children

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may need additional time for learning activities.

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Parental involvement remains the most important key to our children’s healthy diets. Programs to educate
parents about nutrition are essential. Fast foods should be consumed only in moderation. Caregivers, who
are often busy and harried, must avoid the temptation to whisk their kids into fast-food restaurants or to
pick up fast food for dinner at home. Changing eating habits and lifestyle is not easy, but the health benefit
for our children is a wonderful payoff for parents willing to take on the task.
(a) One of the major reasons behind obesity among children is the .............. .
(b) Type 2 diabetes is normally found in the children .............. .
(c) Type 2 diabetes can lead to .............. .
(d) In order to keep children’s weight in check, the parents need to .............. .
(e) Pediatricians suggest that .............. .
(f) The most important factor to improve our children’s diet is .............. .
(g) Even though parents and caregivers are often busy and in a hurry they must .............. .
(h) The word from the passage which means the same as ‘inactive’ is .............. .
Ans. (a) physically inactive lifestyle.
(b) with a family history of the disease.
(c) heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney disease, stroke, limb amputations and blindness.
(d) set limits on the time their children are engaged in passive activities and encourage them to play
outdoors, run, jump and engage in team sports.
(e) children should be restricted to one to two hours per day on T.V. and computers.
(f) parental involvement.
(g) not be tempted to take their children to fast food restaurants or buy fast food meals for home.
(h) inactive—sedentary.
Q.5. Read the passage given below and answer the questions/complete the sentences that follow: 2012
CHIRP FOR THE SPARROW; TWEET FOR THE SPARROW
They were once everywhere? Chirping and flapping their wings at the window sills, on top of cupboards
and on the branches of trees. Where have all the little sparrows gone? This is the most frequently asked
question about sparrows these days.
The association between humans and the house sparrow dates back to several centuries and no other bird
has been associated with humans on a daily basis like the house sparrow. It is a bird that evokes fond
memories of childhood and adds freshness to households through its presence. Many bird watchers and
 READING COMPREHENSION „ 5

ornithologists recall with fondness how the house sparrow gave flight to their passion for observing birds.
The nests of sparrows dotted almost every house in the neighbourhood as well as public places like bus
stands and railway stations, where they lived in colonies and survived on food grains and tiny worms.
Unfortunately, the house sparrow has now become a disappearing species. Like all other plants and
animals which were once abundant and are now facing an uncertain future, their numbers are also
declining across their natural range. A study conducted by the Andhra University, Visakhapatnam
highlighted that population of house sparrows fell by over 60 per cent even in rural areas of coastal
Andhra Pradesh. A survey conducted by the British Trust for Ornithology showed that house sparrow
population in Britain has declined by about 58 per cent since 1970 .
Certainly, there is no one single reason for the decline of the house sparrow. Scientists and experts say that
severe changes in the urban ecosystem in recent times have had tremendous impact on the population of
house sparrows whose numbers are declining constantly. Mobile tower radiation and excessive use of
chemical fertilizers are aggravating the problem and have been identified as potent sparrow killers.
There have been many theories put forward for the almost worldwide decline of the house sparrow. It is
said that sparrow chicks, which require insect food for their survival in their early days, have not been
getting adequate supply from their parents. This has triggered large scale deaths of chicks leading to
gradual decline of their population.
Urban landscape too, has been dramatically altered over the years. Old houses, with courtyards in front
and backyards, have made way for concrete multi-storeys, with little greenery. No longer are sparrows
able to find the tiny nooks, crannies and holes where they used to build their nests.
Typically, sparrows were never an issue of concern for us with their diminutive presence in our
households. Perhaps, it is this diminutive presence because of which even their gradual disappearance has

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gone unnoticed. Mohammed Dilavar is rightly called the ‘sparrow man of India’ as he has been successful

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in drawing the attention of the world towards the declining number of house sparrows.

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House sparrows are important bio-indicators and their decline is a grim reminder of the degradation of

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urban environment and the danger from it to the humans in the long run.
(a) According to the passage, the sparrows survived on .............. .
(b) The main reason for the decline in the house sparrow population has been the .............. .
(c) The potent sparrow killers could be .............. .
(d) The reason for large scale deaths of chicks has been .............. .
(e) The sparrows used to build their nests in the old houses in .............. .
(f) The gradual disappearance of sparrows has gone without being noticed because .............. .
(g) The decline of the house sparrows brings forth the harsh reality of .............. .
(h) The words ‘grim’ in the passage means .............. .
Ans. (a) food grains and tiny worms.
(b) severe changes in the urban ecosystem in recent times.
(c) mobile tower radiation and excessive use of chemical fertilizers.
(d) an inadequate supply of insect food, which they require for their survival in their early days, from
their parents.
(e) the nooks, crannies and holes in the courtyards in front and backyards.
(f) of their diminutive presence.
(g) the degradation of urban environment and the dangers from it to the humans in the long run.
(h) grim—gloomy.
Q.6. Read the following passage: 2014 D
It’s Beginning to Bite
In these trying times, when buying ordinary food stuff can burn a hole in your pockets, comes the news
that can actually help us save some hard cash when we go out to shop the next time. According to a
Stanford University study, the first of its kind in the world, there is no evidence to suggest that there are
more nutritional benefits from expensive organic food than those grown by conventional methods. The
researchers add that there is no difference in protein and fat content between organic and conventional
milk and the vitamin count is similar in both types. The only benefit is that organic foods are not
contaminated with pesticides but then before you chew on that plate of organic okra with roti made from
organic wheat, they are not 100% pesticide free either. In India, organic food has been growing at 20-22%
and the export market is valued at `1,000 crore. Obviously, the study is not good news for that sector and
for people who are big on organic food.
6 „ Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

In India, eating organic food is more of a style statement than due to health worries because the stuff is
expensive. But people who can, do indulge in not only organic vegetables but even organic eggs laid by
‘happy hens’, who are allowed to roam around freely whereas ‘unhappy hens’ are kept in coops. Then
there are companies that have installed music channels in their cowsheds and the milk from those sheds is
sold at a marked up price since it has more nutritional value because the animals are happy thanks to
lilting 24 × 7 music. We don’t know yet any farmer using music to improve his crop quality, but then you
never know: plants are known to respond to music.
Why such pickiness about food? These days, the huge number of TV shows and articles that we see and
read on food provide bread and butter for the specialist. But instead of decoding food, its sources and what
has gone into growing it, isn’t it much better to enjoy what’s on the plate?
(Adapted from The Hindustan Times)
On the basis of your reading of the above passage complete the following statements with suitable
words/phrases:
(a) Buying ordinary food stuff can ............. in these trying times.
(b) Organic and conventional milk has the ............. and ............. content and the vitamin count is also
similar in both.
(c) According to a Stanford University study, organic food in relation to conventional food is ............. .
(d) One benefit of organic food is that ............. .
(e) Milk from cows which have music channels installed in the cowshed is ............. .
(f) In India, eating organic food is a ............. .
(g) The growth rate of organic food market in India is ............. and the export market is valued
at ............ .

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(h) According to the author it is much better to ............. the food on one’s plate rather than ............. it.

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Ans. (a) burn a hole in our pockets

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(b) protein; fat

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(c) as nutritious
(d) it is less contaminated with pesticides
(e) sold at a higher price
(f) style statement
(g) 20-22%; `1,000 crore
(h) enjoy; decoding
Q.7. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow: 2016, 2017 D
I was born in the small but beautiful mountain village of Nakuri near Uttarkashi in Garhwal, with the
gurgling, playful Bhagirathi river flowing nearby. My parents were a hard-working and extremely self-
contained couple. Even though our family was poor, barely managing the essentials, my father taught us
how to live and maintain dignity and self respect—the most treasured family value till today. At the same
time my parents also practised the creed, “Kindness is the essence of all religions.” They were large-
hearted, inviting village folk passing by to have tea at our home, and gave grain to the sadhus and pandits
who came to the house. This characteristic has been ingrained in me so deeply that I am able to reach out
to others and make a difference in their lives—whether it is in my home, in society or at the work place.
I was the third child in the family—girl, boy, girl, girl and boy in that order—and quite a rebel. I developed
a tendency to ask questions and was not satisfied with the customary way of life for a girl-child. When I
found my elder brother, Bachchan, encouraging our youngest brother, Raju, to take up mountaineering I
thought, why not me? I found that my brothers were always getting preferential treatment and all
opportunities and options were open to them. This made me even more determined to not only do what
the boys were doing, but to do it better.
The general thinking of mountain people was that mountaineering as a sport was not for them. They
considered themselves to be born mountaineers as they had to go up and down mountain slopes for their
daily livelihood and even for routine work. On the other hand, as a student, I would look curiously at
foreign backpackers passing by my village and wonder where they were going. I would even invite them
to my house and talk to them to learn more about their travels. The full significance of this came to me later
when I started working. The foreigners took the trouble to come all the way to the Himalayas in order to
educate themselves on social, cultural and scientific aspects of mountaineering, as well as to seek peace in
nature’s gigantic scheme of things.
 READING COMPREHENSION „ 7

Based on your reading of the passage, complete the following sentences with appropriate words/
phrases:
(a) Where was the author born?
(b) Explain ‘self-contained’.
(c) Give an example to show that the author’s parents were very hospitable.
(d) What kind of girl was the author?
(e) How do you know that the author’s parents discriminated between sons and daughters?
(f) Why do the mountain people consider themselves to be born mountaineers?
(g) Why would the author invite foreign mountaineers to her house?
(h) Why were foreigners drawn to the Himalayas?
Ans. (a) The author was born in a small but beautiful mountain village of Nakuri near Uttarkashi in Garhwal.
(b) Self-contained means independent or self-reliant.
(c) The author’s parents were very hospitable. They invited the village folk passing by to have tea at their
home.
(d) The author is a rebel who developed a tendency to ask questions. She is not satisfied with the
customary way of life.
(e) The fact that the author’s brothers were always getting preferential treatment and all opportunities
and options were open to them reveals that her parents discriminated between sons and daughters.
(f) The mountain people considered themselves to be born mountaineers as they had to go up and down
mountain slopes for their daily livelihood and even for routine work.
(g) The author invited foreign mountaineers to her house to talk to them and learn more about their travels.
(h) The foreigners were drawn to the Himalayas as they were keen to educate themselves on social,

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cultural and scientific aspects of mountaineering and to seek peace in natures gigantic scheme of

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things.

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Q.8. Read the following passage and answer the questions given below: 2017 OD

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As they went in, someone observed, ‘Why, today’s Saturday! Always like Saturday because the next day is
Sunday. Don’t you?’ He answered, ‘Yes!’ He thought, Saturday; no day like it. Even a class on Saturday
was not as bad as on the other days, and everyone, including the teacher, seemed happier with the
prospect of the evening and the next day.
For him, it was mainly the evening and fun at home with his mother—he had lost his father. On other days
there was always homework to do and dinner to prepare. But on Saturdays, they both were free; he did
only a little of the homework; and his mother finished cooking early. Saturday evening meant a lot to him.
And then there was, of course, the matinee on Sunday, about the only excitement of a rather quiet day.
They passed the dining room. The boarders were still at breakfast and they could hear the boys talking and
the clatter of plates and knives, forks, spoons, cups and saucers. There was such a noise. ‘They’re having
Plantains this morning’, Peter said, creeping up to one of the entrances. ‘Hey, Whisky! Let’s have a
plantain, ‘he called out to the boy sitting at the table nearest to him. ‘Whisky’ scowled, but on second
thoughts threw him a skin, instead of the banana. It looked so funny that all laughed.
Class began at half-past eight. And since it was Saturday, it began with reading, and Miss Moss reminded
the boys, of three coloured action postcards on her desk that went every Saturday to the first three boys
who read best. It was an exciting period, always looked forward to. After Reading, came Arithmetic which
did not fare well with him; he was always falling asleep and then having to write fifty lines.
Today, Miss Moss did not assign him a task and only asked someone to rouse him; but he wondered why.
Then they had English and that brought an end to the Saturday morning.
Based on your reading of the passage, complete the following sentences with appropriate words/
phrases:
(a) All the students as well as teachers like Saturdays because .............. .
(b) For him Saturday was different because .............. .
(c) Sunday, being a rather quiet day became exciting because .............. .
(d) They had .............. in the morning for breakfast.
(e) Whisky made everybody laugh as he .............. .
(f) Reading was an exciting period because .............. .
(g) The three periods they had on Saturday morning were .............. .
(h) The word from the passage which means ‘to move quietly and stealthily’ is .............. .
8 „ Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

Ans. (a)they seemed happier with the prospect of the next day being Sunday, a holiday.
(b)on Saturday evening he got to spend time with his mother as they both were free on that day.
(c)of the matinee.
(d)plantains
(e)threw him a skin, instead of a banana.
(f)
the boys were eager to get the three coloured action postcards which were given to the first three boys
who read best.
(g) Arithmetic, English and the Reading class.
(h) To move quietly and stealthily—creeping
Q.9. Read the passage given below and complete the sentences that follow: 2012 D
My peers always thought of me as a dull boy when I was in school and my teachers never thought
differently. That was because I was indeed a dull boy. I was a backbencher, after all.
I could never have been a frontbencher for obvious reasons. I had a persistent paranoia of being under the
watchful eyes of the teacher. It used to make me self conscious and I hated being under supervision right
from childhood. I wanted to be my own boss.
I have no regrets about having been a backbencher. It is true that I used to occupy one of the seats in the
last row of the class but that does not mean that I did not listen to the teacher or that I cheated on
homework.
In England, there used to be a dunce’s corner for students who were slow learners. A student in the
dunce’s corner was supposed to be the rough equivalent of a backbencher in our country. Some eminent
personalities from whom teachers didn’t have very high expectations early on in life included the inventor,
Thomas Alva Edison as well as entrepreneurs, Steve Jobs and Bill Gates. I feel honoured to be in their

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company!

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There are others, of course, who prefer to make funny sounds, complete pending homework and throw

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chalks at other students—all sitting on those ‘privileged seats.’

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Believe me, it feels great! Because you not only learn whatever is taught but also get a back-eye-view of
everything that happens in the class.
On the basis of your reading of the above passage fill in the blanks with appropriate words/phrases:
(a) The paragraph describes ......................... .
(b) Although the author sat in the last row of the class, it did not mean .................... .
(c) The backbencher is considered a .......................... .
(d) The backbencher feels great because he/she .......................... .
(e) In England, the dunce’s corner was assigned to .......................... .
(f) The expression, ‘privileged seats’ refers to .......................... .
(g) The author preferred to sit in the last row because .......................... .
(h) Some personalities who were weak students yet succeeded in life are ................... .
Ans. (a) the simple joys of the backbenchers
(b) that he did not listen to the teacher or cheated on homework
(c) dull student
(d) can have a back-eye-view of everything that happens in the class
(e) students who were slow learners
(f) the last seats meant for the dull students
(g) he hated to be under the watchful eye of the teacher
(h) Thomas Edison, Steve Jobs and Bill Gates.
Q.10. Read the passage given below and complete the sentences that follow: 2013 D
The tree is worshipped as the earth mother in tribal India. It provides food, air, occupation, materials for
housing, fodder for animals and fuel. Without the trees there is neither soil nor water. There is nothing to
prevent the soil from being washed away; there is nothing to prevent the water from evaporating. In the
great tribal regions of India which are home to the Bhils, the Santhals, the Nagas, the Bishnois, whenever a
child is born a tree is planted in the child’s name. It forges a relationship between child and tree closer than
the one between child and family. Naturally so because that tree is specially the child’s own. The trees are
all slow growing. By the time the child reaches adolescence, his tree has just come into fruit. It starts its life
as provider to the tribal and the tribal’s life as guardian of the tree.
Nearly three hundred years ago, men and women of the Bishnoi tribe died in an attempt to stop the felling
of trees. The Bishnoi faith prohibits the cutting of green trees. It demands absolute protection of the
 READING SECTION „ 9

‘Khejri,’ the shade and fodder tree of the area. As a result, their lands are still fertile, while all around them
fields have been reclaimed by the Thar Desert of Rajasthan.
On the basis of your reading of the above passage fill in the blanks with appropriate words/phrases:
(a) The tribals worship trees because trees provide them with ................ .
(b) Trees are essential for soil and water as ......................... .
(c) Some of the important tribal communities of India are ......................... .
(d) The common practice adopted by the tribals at the time of a child’s birth is ........ .
(e) The advantage of the custom is that a mutual bond develops between ................ when the child
becomes an adult.
(f) The land of the Bishnois hasn’t become a desert because ................ .
(g) The Bishnoi faith provides absolute protection to ................ .
(h) The word in the passage which means the same as ‘areas/regions’ is ................ .
Ans. (a) food, occupation, materials for housing, fodder and fuel.
(b) trees prevent soil from being washed away and water from evaporating
(c) the Bhils, the Santhals, the Nagas and the Bishnois
(d) to plant a tree in the child’s name
(e) the adolescent and the tree
(f) they died in an attempt to stop the cutting down of trees
(g) the ‘Khejri’ trees, the shade and fodder tree of the area
(h) tracts
Q.11. Read the passage given below and complete the sentences that follow: 2014 D
Cheraw is the most colourful Mizo dance. Bamboos are used in this dance. Hence the dancer moves by

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stepping alternately in and out from between and across a pair of horizontal bamboos, held against the

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ground by people sitting face to face at either side. They tap the bamboos open and close in rhythmic beats.

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Two bases support the bamboos, placed horizontally, one at each end. The bamboos, when clapped,

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produce a sharp sound, which forms the rhythm of the dance. It indicates the timing of the dance as well.
The dancers step in and out to the beats of the bamboos with ease and grace. The patterns and stepping of
the dance have many variations. Sometimes the steppings are made in imitation of the movements of
birds, sometimes the swaying of trees and so on.
Little is known about the origin of Cheraw. It may be possible that the forefathers of the Mizos brought it
with them when they left home in far–east Asia. Cheraw is performed on any occasion these days. But, so
goes the legend. It used to be performed in earlier times only to ensure a safe passage for a dead child to
paradise. Cheraw is, therefore, a dance of sanctification and redemption performed with great care,
precision and elegance.
On the basis of your reading of the above passage fill in the blanks with appropriate words/phrases:
(a) According to the passage, Cheraw is ................ .
(b) People who hold the bamboos against the ground sit ................ .
(c) The rythm of the dance is formed by ................ .
(d) The dance pattern has several ................ .
(e) Cheraw is performed for ................ .
(f) The dancers in Cheraw dance to ................ .
(g) Steppings of Cheraw are made in imitation of movement of ................ .
(h) The word ‘redemption’ in the passage means ................ .
Ans. (a) a form of dance
(b) facing each other
(c) the clapping of bamboos
(d) variations
(e) for sanctification and redemption
(f) the beats of bamboos
(g) birds
(h) deliverance from evil ways
Q.12. Read the passage given below and complete the sentences that follow: 2014 OD
1. The hopping kangaroo is a familiar sight in every snapshot relating to Australia. Members of the kangaroo
family can be as small as a rat or as big as a man. Kangaroos are found mainly in Australia, Tasmania and
New Guinea. Kangaroos which are big-footed marsupials that evolved in Australia use their short front
10 „ Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

legs like arms. The man-sized kangaroos of Australia are capable of speeding up to 88 km/hr for short
distances, their means of locomotion being their powerful hind legs, which carry them over the ground in
jumps of 9 m or more at a time.
2. Weighing around 70 kg they have an average life-span of around six to eight years and a maximum
lifetime of 20 years. When bothered by predators kangaroos often head for the water, standing submerged
to the chest, and attempting to drown the attacker by holding him under water. Another defensive
technique is to get their back to a tree and kick at their adversary with their clawed hind feet, sometimes
with sufficient force to kill a man. Normally shy animals, they alert other kangaroos to danger by beating
on the ground with their hind feet. This loud alarm signal carries over a long distance.
3. The tail is important for kangaroos. It holds them in balance and supports them when they sit or fight
against other kangaroos. The kangaroo uses its short legs as arms. With them it scratches itself, cleans its
fur and holds branches when it eats leaves. Kangaroos are marsupials and the females carry newborns in a
pouch in front of their abdomens. The babies are born small and climb up into the safety of the pouch.
There for the next 225 days or so, they eat, sleep and grow. Once they reach full development they leave
the pouch. A young kangaroo that leaves the pouch is called a ‘Joey’. To keep from getting too hot the
kangaroos take naps in the afternoon and do most of their grazing at night. But the best stay-cool secret of
these creatures is the spit bath! Kangaroos drool and lick saliva all over their faces and bodies to cool
down.
On the basis of your reading of the above passage, complete the following sentences with appropriate
words/phrases.
(a) When followed by predators kangaroos submerge ............. and ............. .
(b) The powerful hind legs help kangaroos to ............. .

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(c) Kangaroos are mainly found in Australia and are ............. .

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(d) They use their front legs to ............. .

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(e) Kangaroos warn others of danger by ............. .

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(f) The secret of kangaroos to stay cool is ............. .
(g) They use their tails to ............. .
(h) Before becoming ‘Joeys’ the young ones stay in the ............. and ............. .
Ans. (a) chest-deep in water and attempt to drown the attacker by holding him under water.
(b) kick at their adversary as a defensive technique.
(c) big-footed marsupials who use their short front legs like arms.
(d) scratch themselves, clean their fur and hold branches when they eat leaves.
(e) by beating on the ground with their hind feet.
(f) is the spit bath wherein they drool and lick saliva all over their faces and bodies to cool down.
(g) balance and support them when they sit or fight against other kangaroos.
(h) safety of the pouch of their mothers and eat sleep and grow there, for the next 225 days.
Q.13. Read the passage given below: 2015 D
Kausani is situated at a height of 6,075 feet in the central Himalayas. It is an unusually attractive little town.
It covers just about 5.2 sq. kms. It lies to the north of Almora in Uttarakhand’s picturesque Kumaon region.
Kausani provides the 300 km wide breathtaking view of the Himalayas. It is the most striking aspect of this
place. Snow-capped peaks are spread in a stately row. They stare at you in silvery white majesty. The most
famous peak on view is Nanda Devi, the second highest mountain in India. It is situated at a height of
25,645 feet and 36 miles away as the crow flies. The other famous peaks on view are Choukhamba (23,420
feet) and Trishul (23,360 feet). Then there are also Nilkanth, Nandaghunti, Nandaghat and Nandakot. On
a clear day, the blue of the sky makes a splendid background to these peaks. At sunrise and at sunset,
when the colour of the sky changes to a golden orange, the scene gets etched in your memory.
When Gandhiji visited this place in 1929, its scenic beauty held him spellbound. He named it the
‘Switzerland of India’. He prolonged his two-day stay to fourteen days, making time to write a book,
‘Anashakti Yoga’. The place where he was staying was originally a guest house of a tea estate. It was
renamed ‘Anashakti Ashram’ after the book.
Kausani is the birthplace of Sumitranandan Pant, India’s poet laureate. Its natural surrounding inspired
many of his poems. Its tea gardens mingle with dense pine forests and fruit orchards. The area is also host
to many fairs and religious ceremonies. If Uttarakhand is the abode of gods, Kausani is God’s own
backyard. There is no traffic, no one is in a hurry. If serenity could be put on a canvas, the picture would
resemble Kausani.
 READING SECTION „ 11

On the basis of your reading of the above passage, answer the following questions:
(a) Where is Kausani situated?
(b) What is the most striking aspect of Kausani?
(c) Which is the most famous peak on view from Kausani?
(d) How did Kausani influence Sumitranandan Pant?
(e) When does the view of peaks became so memorable?
(f) How can we say that Gandhiji was greatly charmed by the natural beauty of Kausani?
(g) What makes Kausani a calm and quiet place?
(h) Why is Kausani’s guest house of the tea estate known as ‘Anashakti Ashram’?
Ans. (a) Kausani is situated at a height of 6,075 feet in the central Himalayas. It lies to the north of Almora in
Uttarakhand’s picturesque Kumaon region.
(b) The most striking aspect of Kausani is the 300 km wide breathtaking view of the Himalayas. The
snow capped peaks stare at you in silvery white majesty.
(c) The most famous peak on view from Kausani is Nanda Devi, the second highest mountain in India.
(d) The natural surroundings of Kausani inspired Sumitranandan Pant to write many of his poems.
(e) The view of peaks becomes memorable on a clear day, when the blue of the sky makes a splendid
background to Nilkanth, Nandaghunti, Nandaghat and Nandakot peaks. At sunrise and at sunset,
when the colour changes to a golden orange the scene gets etched in one’s memory.
(f) When Gandhiji visited Kausani in 1929, its scenic beauty held him spellbound. He named it the
‘Switzerland of India’. He prolonged his two day stay to fourteen days, making time to write a book,
‘Anashakti Yoga’.
(g) Kausani is a calm and quiet place because there is no traffic, no one is in a hurry.

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(h) The place where Gandhiji wrote a book, ‘Anashakti Yoga’ was a guest house which was renamed

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‘Anashakti Ashram’ after the book.

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Q.14. Read the passage given below and complete the sentences that follow: 2015 OD

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One of the greatest advances in modern technology has been the invention of computers. They are widely
used in industries and in universities. Now there is hardly any sphere of human life where computers have
not been pressed into service of man. We are heading fast towards the day when a computer will be as
much part of man’s daily life as a telephone or a calculator.
Computers are capable of doing extremely complicated work in all branches of learning. They can solve
the most complex mathematical problems or put thousands of unrelated facts in order. These machines can
be put to varied uses. For instance, they can provide information on the best way to prevent traffic jams.
This whole process by which machines can be used to work for us has been called ‘automation’. In the
future automation may enable human beings to enjoy more leisure than they do today. The coming of
automation is bound to have important social consequences.
Some years ago an expert on automation, Sir Leon Bagrit, pointed out that it was a mistake to believe that
these machines could ‘think’. There is no possibility that human beings will be “controlled by machines”.
Though computers are capable of learning from their mistakes and improving on their performance, they
need detailed instructions from human beings to operate. They can never, as it were, lead independent
lives or “rule the world” by making decisions of their own.
Sir Leon said that in future, computers would be developed which would be small enough to carry in the
pocket. Ordinary people would then be able to use them to obtain valuable information. Computers could
be plugged into a national network and be used like radios. For instance, people going on holiday could be
informed about weather conditions. Car drivers can be given alternative routes when there are traffic jams.
It will also be possible to make tiny translating machines. This will enable people who do not share a
common language to talk to each other without any difficulty or to read foreign publications.
On the basis of your reading of the above passage, answer the following questions:
(a) What is the greatest advancement in modern technology?
(b) What complicated works are computers capable of doing?
(c) Write one use of computers.
(d) Explain automation.
(e) Why can’t computers lead independent lives or rule the world?
(f) How would computers as translating machines help people?
(g) What was the prediction of Sir Leon about computers in future?
(h) How can computers help people going on holiday?
12 „ Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

Ans. (a) The greatest advancement of modern technology has been the invention of computers.
(b) Computers are capable of solving the most complex mathematical problems and putting thousands of
unrelated facts in order.
(c) Computers provide information on the best way to prevent traffic jams, they can carry out
complicated work in all branches of learning, they are used in industries, universities etc.
(d) Automation refers to the process by which machines can be used to work for us.
(e) Computers cannot lead independent lives or rule the world because they need detailed instructions
from human beings to operate. They cannot make decisions of their own.
(f) As translating machines, computers will enable people who do not share a common language to talk
to each other without any difficulty and to read foreign publications.
(g) Sir Leon’s prediction about computers was that computers ’which would be small enough to carry in
the pocket’ would be developed and ordinary people would be able to use these pocket computers to
obtain valuable information. He also predicted that computers could be plugged into a national
network and be used like radios.
(h) People going on holidays can use computers to be informed about weather conditions.
Q.15. Read the passage given below and complete the sentences that follow: 2016 D
If you are addicted to coffee, and doctors warn you to quit the habit, don’t worry and just keep relishing
the beverage, because it’s not that bad after all! In fact, according to a new study, the steaming cup of Java
can beat fruits and vegetables as the primary source of antioxidants. Some studies state that coffee is the
number one source of antioxidants in American diet, and both caffeinated and decaf versions appear to
provide similar antioxidant levels.
Antioxidants in general have been linked to a number of potential health benefits, including protection

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against heart diseases and cancer, but Vinson, a dietitian said that their benefits ultimately depend on how

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they are absorbed and utilized in the body. The research says that coffee outranks popular antioxidant

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sources like tea, milk, chocolate and cranberries. Of all the foods and beverages studies, dates actually have

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the most antioxidants based solely on serving size, but since dates are not consumed anywhere near the
level of coffee, the drink comes as the top source of antioxidants, Vinson said.
Besides keeping you alert and awake, coffee has been linked to an increasing number of potential health
benefits, including protection against liver and colon cancer, type 2 diabetes, and Parkinson’s disease,
according to some recently published studies.
The researchers, however, advise that one should consume coffee in moderation, because it can make you
jittery and cause stomach pains.
On the basis of your reading of the above passage fill in the blanks with appropriate words/phrases:
(a) What do doctors advise us about the habit of drinking coffee?
(b) What are the two versions of coffee that are drunk in America?
(c) State any two benefits of antioxidants.
(d) What does Vinson say about the consumption of antioxidants?
(e) Name any two popular sources of antioxidants.
(f) How does coffee outrank dates in the level of antioxidants?
(g) Mention any two benefits of coffee.
(h) What do researchers warn us about the excessive use of coffee?
Ans. (a) Doctors advise us to quit the habit of drinking coffee so that we should not get addicted to it and spoil
our health.
(b) The two versions of coffee drunk in America are caffeinated and decaf.
(c) Antioxidants are beneficial in protection against heart diseases and cancer.
(d) Vinson says the benefits of antioxidants ultimately depend on how they are absorbed and utilised in
the body.
(e) Two popular sources of antioxidants include milk and tea.
(f) Dates actually have more antioxidants than coffee, but since coffee is consumed more it outranks
dates in the level of antioxidants.
(g) Coffee keeps one alert and awake. It protects us against liver and colon cancer, type 2 diabetes and
Parkinson’s disease.
(h) Researchers warn to consume coffee in moderation as its excessive consumption can make one jittery
and cause stomach pains.
 READING SECTION „ 13

Q.16. Read the passage given below and complete the sentences that follow: 2017 D
Then all the windows of the grey wooden house (Miss Hilton used to live here. She expired last week.),
were thrown open, a thing I had never seen before.
At the end of the day a sign was nailed on the mango tree : FOR SALE.
Nobody in the street knew Miss Hilton. While she lived, her front gate was always locked and no one
ever saw her leave or saw anybody go in. So even if you wanted to, you couldn’t feel sorry and say that
you missed Miss Hilton.
When I think of her house I see just two colours. Grey and green. The green of the mango tree, the grey of
the house and the grey of the high iron fence that prevented you from getting at the mangoes.
If your cricket ball fell in Miss Hilton’s courtyard you never got it back. It wasn’t the mango season when
Miss Hilton died. But we got back about ten or twelve of our cricket balls.
The house was sold and we were prepared to dislike the new owners even before they came. I think we
were a little worried. Already we had one resident of the street who kept on complaining about us to our
parents. He complained that we played cricket on the pavement; and if we were not playing cricket he
complained that we were making too much noise anyway.
One afternoon when I came back from school Pal said, “Is a man and a woman. She pretty pretty, but he
ugly like hell”. I didn’t see much. The front gate was open, but the windows were shut again. I heard a
dog barking in an angry way.
One thing was settled pretty quickly. Whoever these people were they would never be the sort of people
to complain that we were making noise and disturbing their sleep.
A lot of noise came from the house that night. The radio was going at full volume until midnight when

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the radio station closed down. The dog was barking and the man was shouting. I didn’t hear the woman.

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On the basis of your understanding of the above passage complete the following statements:

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(a) Nobody went into Miss Hilton’s house because her front ___________ .

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(b) Her house had only two colours, (i) ______ and (ii) _______.
(c) High iron fence did not let the boys get ____________.
(d) They never got it back if their ______ fell into her courtyard.
(e) The boys were ready to dislike the __________ .
(f) One resident of the street always ___________ .
(g) New owners of Miss Hilton’s house were (i) ___________ and (ii) __________ .
(h) A man was shouting, a dog was barking, only ____________ .
Ans. (a) gate was always locked.
(b) (i) grey and (ii) green.
(c) at the mangoes.
(d) cricket ball.
(e) new owners even before they came.
(f) kept on complaining.
(g) (i) a man and (ii) a woman
(h) the voice of the woman was not heard/the woman was quiet.
Q.17. Read the passage given below: 2018
1. Tourists to Jammu and Kashmir have another attraction—a floating post office on the Dal Lake in Srinagar,
the first in the country. ‘Floating Post Office, Dal Lake’—claimed to be the only one such post office in the
world—is built on an intricately carved maroon houseboat, fastened on the western edge of the Dal Lake.
2. This post office lets you avail of all the regular postal services available in the country while being afloat.
The seal used on everything posted from Floating Post Office is unique—along with the date and address,
it bears the design of a boatman rowing a shikara on the Dal Lake. The special feature of this post office
is that letters posted from here carry a special design which has the picturesque scenery of Dal Lake and
Srinagar city. These pictures reach wherever these letters are posted to and hence promote Kashmir as a
tourist destination across the world.
3. This is actually a heritage post office that has existed since British times. It was called Nehru Park Post
Office before 2011. But then the chief postmaster John Samuel renamed it as ‘Floating Post Office.’
4. The post office’s houseboat has two small rooms—one serves as the office and the other a small museum
that traces the philatelic history of the state postal department. It has a shop that sells postage stamps and
other products.
14 „ Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

5. But for the locals, floating Post Office is more than an object of fascination. `1-2 crore is deposited per
month in Floating Post Office by communities living in and around the Dal Lake. The lake has several
islets that are home to more than 50,000 people.
6. The greatest fear is the recurrence of 2014 like floods in which the houseboat had gone for a toss
uncontrollably pushed by the flood. Rescue teams had to anchor it using special mechanism in a nearby
highland. Then it was brought back on the Dal after the water receded. The biggest boon is that at no time
of the year do you need a fan in this post-office!
Attempt any eight of the following questions on the basis of the passage you have read:
(i) What is the location of the Floating Post Office in Srinagar?
(ii) What is special about the seal used in the post office?
(iii) How is the post office helpful in promoting tourism?
(iv) Who renamed the post office as ‘Floating Post Office’?
(v) What are the two rooms of the post office used for?
(vi) How is the post office beneficial to the locals?
(vii) What is the greatest fear that the post office has?
(viii)How is the post office a big boon to the people?
(ix) Find the word from the passage which means the same as ‘attraction’. (para 5)
Ans. (i) The Floating Post Office is on the Dal Lake in Srinagar.
(ii) The seal used on everything posted from Floating Post Office is unique—along with the date and
address, it bears the design of a boatman rowing a Shikara on the Dal Lake.
(iii) The special feature of this post office is that letters posted from here carry a special design which has
the picturesque scenery of Dal Lake and Srinagar City. These pictures reach wherever these letters

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are posted to and hence promote Kashmir as a tourist destination across the world.

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(iv) The chief postmaster John Samuel renamed it as ‘Floating Post Office’.

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(v) The post office’s houseboat has two small rooms—one serves as the office and the other a small

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museum that traces the philatelic history of the state postal department.
(vi) For the locals, Floating Post Office is more than an object of fascination. `1-2 crore is deposited per
month in Floating Post Office by communities living in and around the Dal Lake.
(vii) The greatest fear that the Post Office has is the recurrence of 2014 like floods in which the houseboat
had gone for a toss uncontrollably pushed by the flood. Rescue teams had to anchor it using special
mechanism in a nearby highland.
(viii) The biggest boon of the post office is that at no time of the year do you need a fan in the post office.
(ix) attraction—fascination.
Q.18. Read the passage given below: 2018 Comptt.
For millions of people in India, river Ganga is the most sacred river. It is considered as mother and
goddess. It is also a lifeline to millions of Indians who live along its course and depend on it for their
daily needs. River Ganga is the third largest river in the world by the amount of water that flows through
it. It is the longest river in India. The river water of Ganga is used for irrigation, transportation and
fishing. The Gangetic plain formed by river Ganga is one of the most fertile lands on earth. This is why
almost 10% of the world population lives here and earns its livelihood. The Ganga, in India is the most
worshipped body of water. The irony here is that in spite of being the most worshipped river, it is also the
dirtiest one. It carries some metals thrown out by tanneries, waste produced by industries and urban
waste from different cities. All this has made river Ganga the fifth most polluted river in the world.
Another major reason that adds to the Ganga river pollution is the coal based power plants on its banks
which burn tons of coal every year and produce tons of fly ash. This ash mixed with domestic waste
water is released in the river. This bad situation calls for an urgent need to make efforts to reduce
pollution and revive river Ganga. To achieve these objectives, Government of India has started a
programme named “Namami Gange Programme”. The main pillars of this programme are sewage
treatment, river surface cleaning, afforestation, river front development and public awareness. The
importance of the success of ‘Namami Gange Programme’ can be seen through the following lines:
“If Ganga dies, India dies. If Ganga thrives, India thrives. No Ganga, No India.”
On the basis of your understanding of the above passage, answer any eight of the questions that
follow:
(a) For whom is river Ganga a lifeline?
(b) For what purposes is the Ganga river water used?
 READING SECTION „ 15

(c) Why does almost ten percent of the world population live in the Gangetic Plain?
(d) What are the pollutants that make river Ganga very dirty?
(e) How do the coal based power plants pollute river Ganga?
(f) Which two purposes will be served by the programme named “Namami Gange”?
(g) Write any two main pillars of the “Namami Gange Programme”.
(h) Most people in India consider the Ganga as _________ .
(i) What is the irony of the Ganga being a most worshipped river?
Ans. (a) River Ganga is a lifeline to millions of Indians who live along its course and depends on it for their
daily needs.
(b) The river water of Ganga is used for irrigation, transportation and fishing.
(c) The Gangetic plain formed by river Ganga is one of the most fertile lands on earth. This is why
almost 10% of the world population lives here and earns its livelihood.
(d) Heavy metals discharged by tanneries, effluents from industries and urban waste from different
cities.
(e) The coal based power plants on its banks burn tons of coal every year and produce tons of fly ash.
This ash gets mixed with domestic waste water and is released in the river.
(f) The programme “Namami Gange” aims to reduce pollution and revive river Ganga.
(g) The two main pillars of the programme are—sewage treatment, river surface cleaning, afforestation,
river front development. (any two)
(h) Mother and Goddess.
(i) The irony here is that in spite of being the most worshipped river, it is also the dirtiest one.

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U nseen Passages (Discursive)
(Discursive)
Q.1. Read the passage given below carefully:

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A 92-year-old lady who is fully dressed each morning by eight o’clock with perfect makeup, even though
she is blind, moved to an old age home. Her husband recently passed away making the move necessary.
After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby she smiled sweetly when she was told her room was
ready. She was provided a visual description of her tiny room.
“I love it,” she stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new
puppy.
“But .... but Mrs. Jones, you haven’t seen the room,” said the attendant. “That doesn’t have anything to do
with it,” she replied. “Happiness is something you decide. I have already decided to love it. It’s a decision
I make every morning when I wake up. I can spend the day in bed, recounting the difficulty I have with
the parts of my body that don’t work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do. Each day is a
gift, and as long as I am alive I’ll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I’ve stored away, just
for this time in my life.” The attendant was greatly touched by the elderly woman’s sense of cheer and
boundless enthusiasm.
I. On the basis of your reading of the passage answer the following questions briefly:
(a) Why did the old woman move to an old age home?
(b) How did she react when the attendant gave a description of the room she had to live in?
(c) What resolution was she used to making when she woke up every morning?
(d) What does the story tell about the old woman?
Ans. (a) The old woman moved to an old age home because her husband had recently passed away making
the move necessary.
(b) Mrs. Jones showed enthusiasm of an eight-year-old and exclaimed that she loved it, when the
attendant gave a description of the room she had to live in.
(c) She had resolved to wake up every morning and be thankful for the parts of her body that work. As
long as she was alive she would focus on the new day and all the happy memories stored away.
(d) The old woman has a positive approach towards life. She had a great sense of cheer and boundless
enthusiasm and wanted to lead her life full of happiness.
II. Choose the most appropriate meaning of the given word from the options provided:
(a) The words ‘passed away’ means ................. .
(i) to die (ii) to live
(iii) to cry (iv) to succeed
16 „ Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

(b) The word ‘enthusiasm’ means ................. .

(i) sudden shock (ii) extreme sadness
(iii) eager enjoyment (iv) loud noise
(c) The word ‘visual’ means ................. .
(i) relating to sense (ii) relating to smell
(iii) relating to sound (iv) relating to sight
(d) The word ‘boundless’ means ................. .
(i) with light (ii) without limit
(iii) with limit (iv) without light
Ans. (a) (i) to die (b) (iii) eager enjoyment
(c) (iv) relating to sight (d) (ii) without limit
Q.2. Read the passage given below: 2013 OD
The Perfect Dog
1. In the summer of 1967, when I was 10 years old, my father caved into my persistent pleas and took me to
get my own dog. Together we drove in the family station wagon far into the Michigan countryside to a
farm run by a rough-hewn woman and her ancient mother. The farm produced just one commodity—dogs.
Dogs of every imaginable size and shape and age and temperament. They had only two things in common:
each was a mongrel of unknown and distinct ancestry and each was free to a good home.
2. I quickly decided the older dogs were somebody else’s charity case. I immediately raced to the puppy
cage. “You want to pick one that’s not timid,” my father coached. “Try rattling the cage and see which ones
aren’t afraid.”
3. I grabbed the chain-link gate and yanked on it with a loud clang. The dozen or so puppies reeled

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backward, collapsing on top of one another in a squiggling heap of fur. Just one remained. He was gold

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with a white blaze on his chest, and he charged at the gate, yapping fearlessly. He jumped up and

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excitedly licked my fingers through the fencing. It was love at first sight.

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4. I brought him home in a cardboard box and named him Shaun. He was one of those dogs that gives dogs
a good name. He effortlessly mastered every command I taught him and was naturally well behaved. I
could drop a crust on the floor and he would not touch it until I gave the okay.
5. Relatives would visit for the weekend and returned home determined to buy a dog of their own, so
impressed were they with Shaun—or “Saint Shaun,” as I came to call him. Born with the curse of an
uncertain lineage, he was one of the tens of thousands of unwanted dogs in America. Yet by some stroke of
almost providential good fortune, he became wanted. He came into my life and I into his—and in the
process, he gave me the childhood every kid deserves.
6. The love affair lasted fourteen years and by the time he died I was no longer the little boy who had
brought him along on that summer day. I was a man, out of college and working across the state in my first
real job. Saint Shaun had stayed behind when I moved on. It was where he belonged. My parents, by then
retired, called to break the news to me. My mother would later tell me, “In fifty years of marriage, I’ve only
seen your father cry twice. The first time was when we lost Mary Ann”—my sister, who was stillborn.
“The second time was the day Shaun died.”
7. Saint Shaun of my childhood. He was a perfect dog. At least that’s how I will always remember him. It was
Shaun who set the standard by which I would judge all other dogs to come. (Marley and Me by John
Grogan)
I. On the basis of your reading of the passage, answer the following questions briefly:
(a) What commodity did the farm produce? Which two things were common in each of these
commodities?
(b) How did the author decide which puppy he wanted to take home from the dog farm?
(c) Why was Shaun one of those dogs that give dogs a good name?
(d) On what two instances did the author’s father cry?
Ans. (a) The farm produced just one commodity and that was dogs of every shape size, age and temperament.
All these dogs had two things in common, each dog was a mongrel of unknown and distinct ancestry
and each was free to a good home.
(b) On his father’s advice, the author took the chain-linked puppy cage and yanked on it loudly. This
action scared all the puppies but only one charged at the gate, yapping fearlessly. He was a gold
puppy with a whiteblaze on his chest. The author automatically fell in love with this puppy as he
excitedly jumped up and licked the author’s fingers and decided to take him home.
 READING SECTION „ 17

(c) Shaun was an extremely obedient dog. He mastered every command taught to him by the author and
was naturally well behaved. He was so obedient that even if a crust would fall on the floor, he did not
touch it till he got an okay from his master.
(d) The author’s father first cried when they lost his sister Mary Ann, who was stillborn. And the second
instance was when the author’s dog ‘Shaun’ died.
II. Choose the most appropriate meaning of the given word from the options provided:
(a) The word ‘pleas’ means .......................... .
(i) to please someone (ii) noticeable
(iii) urgent request (iv) a command
(b) The word ‘collapsing’ means .......................... .
(i) falling (ii) lying
(iii) climbing (iv) declining
(c) The word ‘lineage’ means .......................... .
(i) lining up (ii) descent from an ancestor
(iii) forefathers (iv) move forward
(d) The word ‘retired’ means .......................... .
(i) to get tired (ii) withdraw from one’s work
(iii) to get hurt (iv) join work
Ans. (a) (iii) urgent request (b) (i) falling
(c) (ii) descent from an ancestor (d) (ii) withdraw from one’s work overselling
Q.3. Read the passage given below carefully: 2014 D
Himalayan valley is the geographical guard of Indian territory against any foreign invasion keeping enemy

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at bay from western to the eastern subcontinent of the Asian sphere. The valley abounds with a classified

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variety of different glaciers, wildlife, peaks and thick vegetation liable to support the homo sapiens.

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Pindi glacier is a range of four glaciers, namely Sunderdunga, Namik, Pindari and Kafni. To go to Pindi

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glacier it is a 54 km trek and the walking part is normally covered in four days. In this trek, we cross many
mountains and forests and see a lot of wildlife. We were eight members in the team. The whole trip took us
ten days in the mountains. Throughout the way, our guide and my father explained to us the various
features of the Himalayas we were passing through. We had to face bad weather for two days. There was
a steep climb at some places and as we climbed up we were affected by high altitude sickness and lack of
oxygen and we felt very tired.
Pindi glacier is surrounded on all sides by snow-covered peaks such as Nanda Devi, Nandakot,
Nandaghat, Bailiuri and many more. This glacier is a frozen river of ice and settled in such a way that it
looks like a huge staircase. There I saw all physical features such as gorges, moraines, hanging valleys, etc.
I. On the basis of the reading of the passage, answer the following questions briefly:
(a) What purpose does the Himalayan valley serve for the Indian territory?
(b) Describe any two characteristics of the Pindi glacier.
(c) What difficulties did the climbers face on the way to the Pindi glacier?
(d) What beautiful sights did the narrator see at the glacier?
Ans. (a) The Himalayan valley is the geographical guard of the Indian territory against any foreign invasion
keeping away the enemy from the western to the eastern subcontinent.
(b) The Pindi glacier is a range of four glaciers namely Sunderdunga, Namik, Pindari and Kafni. It is a 54
km trek to go to the Pindi glacier.
(c) The climbers had to face bad weather for two days and were also affected by high altitude sickness
and lack of oxygen.
(d) The narrator saw snow-covered peaks such as Nanda Devi, Nandakot, Nandaghat and many more.
He also saw many physical features such as gorges, moraines, hanging valleys, etc.
II. Choose the most appropriate meaning of the given word from the options provided:
(a) The word ‘invasion’ means ................. .
(i) to conquer (ii) to create
(iii) to challenge (iv) to confuse
(b) The word ‘wildlife’ means ................. .
(i) to live wildly (ii) poisonous plants
(iii) wild animals (iv) zoo animals
18 „ Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

(c) The word ‘features’ means ................. .

(i) fragrance (ii) weather
(iii) characteristics (iv) ability
(d) The word ‘altitude’ means ................. .
(i) width (ii) depth
(iii) height (iv) weight
Ans. (a) (i) to conquer (b) (iii) wild animals
(c) (iii) characteristics (d) (iii) height
Q.4. Read the passage given below: 2014 OD
1. It is rare to find someone with good technical and communication skills. You can get far ahead of your
colleagues if you combine the two early in your career. People will judge, evaluate, promote or block you
based on your communication skills. Since habits form by repeating both good and bad forms of
communication, learn to observe great communicators and adopt their styles and traits—in written and
verbal forms. The art of listening and learning from each and every interaction, is another secret recipe.
Develop the subconscious habit of listening to yourself as you speak and know when to pause.
2. Learning what not to say is probably more important than learning what to say. As your career develops,
you will realize that the wise speak less. Speak when you have value to add, else refrain. Poorly
constructed e-mails with grammatical errors are acceptable between friends, but they should be seriously
avoided while communicating formally with your seniors. Avoid any communication in an emotional state
when you might say things you will regret later. One unnecessary word uttered at the wrong time or place
can ruin a relationship, career or even your life. Such is the power of words. If such a thing happens, you
should immediately apologise, else it may haunt you for life.

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3. Another problem to overcome is speaking too fast. Since our minds are working faster than our speech, we

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are inclined to speak fast. This does not necessarily mean that the person hearing it will get it any faster.

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On the contrary, it is always the reverse. So slow down, think before you speak. “When I get ready to

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speak to people,” Abraham Lincoln said, “ I spend two-thirds of the time thinking what they want to hear
and one-third thinking what I want to say.” Adding humour and wit is also essential. But realize that not
all jokes are funny and observe certain boundaries. Never say anything that could offend. Remember you
are not a comedian who must offend as many people as you can to be witty.
I. Answer the following questions briefly.
(a) Why is it necessary to have good communication skills?
(b) How can communication skills be developed?
(c) What according to the writer should be avoided while communicating?
(d) Why should you be careful when you tend to be humorous?
Ans. (a) It is necessary to have good communication skills because they are the basis for people to judge,
evaluate, promote or block you.
(b) Communication skills can be developed by learning to observe great communicators and adopting
their styles and traits and by the art of listening and learning from each and every interaction.
(c) According to the writer learning what not to say is more important than learning what to say. One
must speak only when he has value to add or else one should refrain from speaking.
(d) You should be careful when you tend to be humorous because you need to observe certain
boundaries as not all jokes are funny and certain jokes can be offensive.
II. Choose the most appropriate meanings of the given words from the options provided:
(a) evaluate
(i) estimate (ii) assume
(iii) punish (iv) evolve
(b) trait
(i) treaty (ii) trail
(iii) quality (iv) liberty
(c) utter
(i) flatter (ii) speak
(iii) rot (iv) unique
(d) haunt
(i) hunt (ii) chant
(iii) trouble (iv) avoid
 READING SECTION „ 19

Ans. (a) (i) estimate (b) (iii) quality

(c) (ii) speak (d) (iii) trouble
Q.5. Read the passage given below: 2015 D
1. I rested for a moment at the door of Anand Bhawan, on Market Road, where coffee-drinkers and tiffin-
eaters sat still at their tables, uttering low moans on seeing me. I wanted to assure them, “Don’t mind me,
you hugging the cash box—you are a coward, afraid even to breathe. Go on, count the cash, if that is your
pleasure. I just want to watch, that’s all. If my tail trails down to the street, if I am blocking your threshold,
it is because, I’m told, I’m eleven feet tip to tail. I can’t help it. I’m not out to kill—I’m too full. I found a
green pasture full of food on my way. I won’t attack until I feel hungry again. Tigers attack only when they
feel hungry, unlike human beings who slaughter one another without purpose or hunger.”
2. To the great delight of children, schools were being hurriedly closed. Children of all ages and sizes were
running helter-skelter, screaming joyously, “No school, no school. Tiger, tiger !” They seemed to welcome
me. I felt like joining them. So I bounded away from the restaurant door. I walked along with them, at
which they cried, ‘The tiger is coming to eat us; let us get back to school!”
3. I followed them through their school gate while they ran up and shut themselves in the school hall securely. I
climbed up the steps of the school, saw an open door at the far end of a veranda, and walked in. It happened
to be the headmaster’s room. I noticed a very dignified man jumping on the table and heaving himself up
into an attic. I walked in and flung myself on the cool floor, having a special liking for cool stone floors.
4. As I drowsed, I was aware of cautious steps and hushed voices all around. I was in no mood to bother
about anything. All I wanted was a little moment of sleep; the daylight was very bright.
I. Answer the following questions briefly.
(a) How did the diners at Anand Bhawan react on seeing the tiger?

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(b) When do tigers attack? In this context, how are human beings different from tigers?

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(c) Why were children happy and even enjoying being scared?

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(d) What was the tiger’s opinion about the man at the cash counter? What did the tiger assure him?

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Ans. (a) The diners at Anand Bhawan, the coffee-drinkers and tiffin-eaters sat still at their tables and uttered
low moans on seeing the tiger.
(b) The tigers attack when they are hungry. Human beings on the other hand slaughter one another
without purpose or hunger.
(c) The children were happy as the schools were being hurriedly closed. They were screaming joyously,
‘No school’. They seemed to welcome the tiger in their joy and were shouting and laughing.
(d) The tiger thought the man to be a coward, afraid even to breathe and assured him to continue
counting the cash as he just wanted to watch.
II. Choose the most appropriate meanings of the given words from the options provided:
(e) Identify the word which means the same as ‘hugging’. (para 1)
(i) counting (ii) hiding
(iii) rubbing (iv) holding tightly in the arms
(f) Identify the word which means the same as ‘delight’. (para 2)
(i) pleasure (ii) fear
(iii) sorrow (iv) nervousness
(g) Identify the word which means the same as ‘dignified’. (para 3)
(i) tall (ii) honourable
(iii) terrified (iv) tired
(h) Identify the word which means the same as ‘heaving up’. (para 3)
(i) hiding (ii) running away
(iii) climbing (iv) raising
Ans. (e) (iv) holding tightly in the arms
(f) (i) pleasure
(g) (ii) honourable
(h) (iii) raising
Q.6. Read the passage given below carefully: 2015 OD
Healthy eating at home prepares kids mentally and physically for their day. Creating a healthy home
environment by offering kids nutritious options for meals and snacks, is very important. But just eating
healthy at home is not always enough. Educating families about why healthy eating is vital instills lifelong
healthy behaviours kids can rely on.
20 „ Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

Eating right does not mean having to give up good food. One of the best ways to teach kids better eating
habits is including them in the process. Kids should help choose healthy foods at the grocery store and be
a helping hand when cooking nutritious meals in the kitchen. Cooking with kids can help picky eaters
learn to like more foods and help build a unique family cookbook with healthy homemade recipes.
Physical activity should be made a part of a family’s healthy lifestyle. Less than sixty per cent of adults are
physically active and this trend is being passed on to our next generation. Parents are the healthy role
models kids need to develop the active habits that decrease risk for heart disease, diabetes, high blood
pressure and obesity. There is nothing more important than giving kids the gift of wellness. The results
will last a lifetime.
I. Answer the following questions:
(a) How can lifelong healthy behaviour in kids be developed?
(b) How can better eating habits be taught to kids?
(c) How is cooking with kids helpful?
(d) Why should parents be a role model for kids to develop active habits?
Ans. (a) Lifelong healthy behaviour can be developed in kids by eating healthy at home as well as educating
families about why healthy eating is vital.
(b) Kids can be taught better eating habits by including them in the process of cooking. Kids should help
choose healthy food at the grocery store and participate in the cooking of nutritious meals in the
kitchen.
(c) Cooking with kids helps picky eaters learn to like more foods and also helps build a unique family
cookbook with healthy recipes.

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(d) Parents should be the healthy role models for kids to develop physically active habits as these

a
decrease the risk of heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity.

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II. Find meanings of the words given below with the help of the options that follow:

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(a) The word ‘vital’ means ................. .
(i) elastic (ii) efficient
(iii) expensive (iv) essential
(b) The word ‘obesity’ means ................. .
(i) very tall (ii) very short
(iii) overweight (iv) underweight
(c) The word ‘grocery’ means ................. .
(i) items of food (ii) items of gold
(iii) items of cleaning (iv) items of exercise
(d) The word ‘unique’ means ................. .
(i) very common (ii) one of its kind
(iii) affordable (iv) highly priced
Ans. (a) (iv) essential
(b) (iii) overweight
(c) (i) items of food
(d) (ii) one of its kind
Q.7. Read the following passage carefully: 2016 D
Gandhiji As a Fund Raiser
1. Gandhiji was an incurable and irresistible fund raiser. He found special relish in getting jewellery from
women. Ranibala of Burdwan was ten years old. One day she was playing with Gandhiji. He explained to
her that her bangles were too heavy for her delicate little wrists. She removed the bangles and gave them
away to Gandhiji.
2. He used to talk jokingly to small girls and created distaste for ornaments and created a desire in them to
part with the jewellery for the sake of the poor. He motivated them to donate their jewellery for social
usage.
3. Kasturbai didn’t appreciate this habit of Gandhiji. Once she stated calmly, ‘You don’t wear jewels, it is easy
for you to get around the boys. But what about our daughters-in-law ? They would surely want them.
4. “Well,” Gandhiji put in mildly,” our children are young and when they grow up they will not surely
choose wives who are fond of wearing jewellery”, Kasturbai was very upset with the answer.
 READING SECTION „ 21

5. Gandhiji was determined to keep the jewels to raise community fund. He was of the opinion that a public
worker should accept no costly gifts. He believed that he should not own anything costly, whether given or
earned. Kasturbai was a female with desire to adorn. But Gandhiji moved towards renunciation and
donated every penny earned in South Africa to the trustees for the service of South African Indians.
I. Answer the questions given below:
(a) How did Gandhiji create a distaste for jewellery in Ranibala?
(b) What was Kasturbai’s apprehension about their daughters-in-law?
(c) What solution did Gandhiji suggest for the problem posed by Kasturbai?
(d) How did Gandhiji serve the community?
Ans. (a) Gandhiji created a distaste for jewellery in Ranibala by telling her that her bangles were too heavy for
her delicate little wrists.
(b) Kasturbai knew that their daughters-in-law would like to have ornaments and they would not
appreciate Gandhiji’s attitude towards jewellery.
(c) Gandhiji’s suggestion to Kasturbai’s problem was that when their sons grew up they would prefer
and choose wives who were not fond of jewellery.
(d) Gandhiji served the community by motivating the rich to donate their jewellery for social usage. He
worked hard to inspire the people to raise community fund and donated his earnings for the service
of South African Indians.
II. Find meanings of the words given below from the options that follow:
(e) incurable (para 1)
(i) unreliable (ii) untreatable (iii) disagreeable (iv) unbeatable
(f) motivated (para 2)

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(i) encouraged (ii) emboldened (iii) incited (iv) softened

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(g) upset (para 4)

iv
(i) puzzled (ii) furious (iii) confused (iv) distressed

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(h) renunciation (para 5)
(i) giving up (ii) disagreement (iii) opposition (iv) termination
Ans. (e) (iv) unbeatable (contextual meaning)/untreatable
(f) (i) encouraged
(g) (iv) distressed
(h) (i) giving up
Q.8. Read the following passage carefully. 2016 OD
“Mum!” I shouted. “Are you okay?” I saw her little tent shuddering in the gale and listened closely for her
response. Her voice was almost casual: “Oh, yes, I’m fine.” That ‘s my mother. It was the first night of our
cycling trip through the interior of Iceland—a region so remote and inhospitable that for centuries,
according to legend, it was abandoned. The weather was decidedly hurricane-like, but Mum wasn’t
concerned. Months ago, I told her about my plan to pedal across Iceland. “It will be really difficult,” I said.
“The roads are unpaved and often washed out, and the wind is blowing constantly—sometimes so hard
that it pushes you off the road.” There was silence for a moment. Then she asked, “Can I come?” “Sure,” I
replied. “But like the rest of us, you have to train to do two 160 kilometres a day back-to-back,” “Wow,”
she said, “I could never do that.” I had more faith in my mother’s physical abilities than she did. I’d seen
her raise six children and put in long hours doing physical labour on our small farm. “Sure you can,” I told
her, “Start tomorrow.” What really concerned me was what I perceived to be her frustrating humility: I
thought her too self-depreciating about her intellect just because she had not completed college. I felt she
underestimated her attractiveness just because she was not the type to wear makeup or fancy clothes. As I
had grown into adulthood, the life I’d chosen seemed light-years away from Mum’s quiet existence, still
caring for her children and her children’s children. Sometimes, on a visit home, I’d describe some recent
trip I’d taken, and her blue eyes would shine with interest. So I couldn’t help thinking this trek might
revitalize Mum, who had started to slow down in her 50s. It might spice up what I saw as her humdrum
life. And it might be a boost to her tentative and retiring persona. Mum trained furiously, months in
advance. As the trip roster was pared down to Mum, my good friend Allen and me, she stood as the most
dedicated. Soon she was riding 80-100 kilometres per day, and was as strong a rider as Allen or I.
I. On the basis of your reading of the passage, answer the following questions briefly:
(a) How does the narrator describe the weather and road conditions in Iceland?
22 „ Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

(b) What training did the adventure cycling trip require? Why did the narrator have faith in his
mother’s physical ability to undertake the trip?
(c) In what way did the narrator think the trip would help his mother?
(d) When were the narrator and his friend sure about his mum’s preparation?
Ans. (a) The weather in the interiors of Iceland is decidedly hurricane-like and the roads are mostly unpaved
and washed out. The wind blows constantly and sometimes so hard that it pushes one off the road.
(b) The training included doing two 160 kilometers a day back-to-back. The narrator had faith in his
mother’s physical abilities as he had seen her raise six children and seen her put in long hours doing
physical work on their small farm.
(c) The narrator thought that the cycling trip would revitalize his mum who had started to slow down in
her 50s. He thought that it would spice up her humdrum life and boost her tentative and retiring
persona.
(d) The narrator’s mother trained furiously for the cycling trip months in advance. His mother stood as
the most dedicated when the trip roster was pared down to him, his friend Allen and her and was
soon riding 80-100 kilometers per day.
II. Choose the most appropriate meaning of the given word from the options provided:
(a) The word ‘perceived’ means .......................... .
(i) associate (ii) acknowledge
(iii) pressurize (iv) notice/become aware of
(b) The word ‘revitalize’ means .......................... .
(i) to pause (ii) to enjoy
(iii) to give new life (iv) to end something

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(c) The word ‘tentative’ means .......................... .

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(i) hesitant/not certain (ii) sure/certain

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(iii) tense (iv) tempted

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(d) The word ‘abandoned’ means .......................... .
(i) to give up/leave behind (ii) to choose
(iii) to accept something (iv) to enjoy
Ans. (a) (iv) notice/become aware of (b) (iii) to give new life
(c) (i) hesitant/not certain (d) (i) to give up/leave behind
Q.9. Read the passage given below: 2017 D
During our growing up years we as children were taught—both at home and school—to worship the
photos and idols of the gods of our respective religions. When we grow a little older, we were to read
holy books like The Bhagwad Gita, Bible and Quran; we were told that there are a lot of life lessons to be
learnt from these holy books. We were then introduced to stories from our mythologies which taught us
about ethics and morality–what is good and what is bad. I also learnt to be respectful towards my parents
who made my life comfortable with their hard work and love and care, and my teachers who guided me
to become a good student and a responsible citizen.
Much later in life, I realised that though we learn much from our respective holy books, there is a lot to
learn from our surroundings. This realisation dawned upon me when I learnt to enquire and explore.
Everything around us–the sun, the moon, the stars, rain, rivers, stones, rocks, birds, plants and animals–
teach us many valuable life lessons.
No wonder that besides the scriptures in many cultures nature is also worshipped. The message that we
get is to save our environment and maintain ecological balance. People are taught to live in harmony with
nature and recognise that there is God in all aspects of nature.
Nature is a great teacher. A river never stops flowing. If it finds an obstacle in its way in the form of a
heavy rock, the river water fights to remove it from its path or finds an alternative path to move ahead.
This teaches us to be progressive in life, and keep the fighting spirit alive.
Snakes are worshipped as they eat insects in the field that can hurt our crops, thus protecting the grains for
us. In fact, whatever we worship is our helper and makes our lives easy for us. There are many such examples
in nature, but we are not ready to learn a lesson. Overcome with greed, we are destroying nature. As a result
we face natural disasters like drought, flood and landslides. We don’t know that nature is angry with us.
However, it is never too late to learn. If we learn to respect nature the quality of our life will improve.
I. On the basis of your reading of the passage, answer the following questions briefly:
(a) What are we taught in our childhood and growing up years ?
 READING SECTION „ 23

(b) Why should we respect our parents and teachers ?

(c) What message do we get when we worship nature ?
(d) How does a river face an obstacle that comes in its way ?
Ans. (a) During our growing up years we are taught to worship the photos and idols of gods of our
respective religions.
We are taught to read holy books like, The Bhagwad Gita, Bible and Quran.
(b) We should respect our parents as they made our lives comfortable with their hardwork, love and
care. Our teachers guided us to be good students and responsible citizens.
(c) When nature is worshipped, we get the message to save our environment and maintain ecological
balance. We also learn to be progressive in life and live in harmony with nature. We also recognize
that there is God in all aspects of nature.
(d) If the river faces an obstacle like a heavy rock in its way, it fights to remove it from its path or finds an
alternate path to move ahead.
II. Choose meanings of the words given below with the help of options that follow:
(e) guided
(i) answered (ii) advised (iii) fought (iv) polished
(f) explore
(i) search (ii) frequent (iii) describe (iv) request
(g) valuable
(i) proper (ii) desirable (iii) available (iv) useful
(h) harmony
(i) beauty (ii) friendship (iii) discomfort (iv) honesty

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Ans. (e) (ii) advised

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(f) (i) search

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(g) (iv) useful

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(h) (ii) friendship.
Q.10. Read the following passage carefully. 2017 OD
1. Summer vacation offers families dilemmas and opportunities. For too many kids it becomes a period of
intellectual passivity and stalled personal growth. For others — and their parents — it’s a time of overload
and frantic scheduling.
2. “Summer is a great time for parents to build a relationship with their children,” says a renowned child
psychologist. And it’s an opportunity both for the kids to learn and for the family to grow together. To make
this a reality, educators and psychologists point to several simple strategies that parents can start planning
before summer gets under way.
3. “Summer’s a perfect time for kids to take skills they’ve learnt in a classroom and use them in new ways,”
notes a well known educator. Comparing prices in a grocery shop can sharpen children’s mental maths
skills. Taking measurements to build a new tree house or design a simple plaything teaches geometry. Car
trips provide opportunities to study maps and learn geography. Some libraries offer free summer reading
programmes for children.
4. Sometimes kids will need a small push in the right direction. Victoria encouraged her seven-year old son,
Philip, to take part in their local library’s summer reading club. For every book report a child wrote, he
received a raffle ticket. At the end of the summer sports prizes were raffled off. Philip, who’d
painstakingly produced seven book reports won an autographed picture of a hockey star and had his
name and one of his reports printed in the local newspaper. (If that’s not possible, encourage children to
write letters to editors on current affairs, or about school-related issues.) “Philip moaned and groaned
about writing the reports, but in the end, he was happy he put the effort in,” notes his mother. “And his
ability to express himself really improved.”
5. It’s the daily doses of stimulation — intellectual, creative, esteem-building—that parents can give their
children that have the greatest impact,” says an eminent researcher. In an informal study conducted in
1998 other researches surveyed successful college students about how they spent their free time from ages
five to 12, then compared their activities with those of troubled youngsters. They found that the successful
ones were more likely to play spontaneous games, more involved in household chores and more likely to
engage in playful activities with their parents. Troubled youngsters spent far less time on chores or family
games and more time on their own, planted in front of the TV or a video game.
6. Often, when parents are drawing up their summer plans, their focus is on entertaining and enriching their
24 „ Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

children. But experts agree that a summer built completely around a child’s self-fulfillment won’t help a
youngster mature into a high thinking, caring member of his family or community. Truly successful kids,
say educators, are those who’ve learnt to budget time to help others—whether it’s helping an invalid
neighbour or preparing their own family’s meals a couple of nights a week. Where parents fail, say experts,
is in the way such responsibilities are presented. Too often, they’re trotted out as punishments instead of
challenges. To make matters worse, parents often nag the child about the task, rather than simply setting a
completion deadline and allowing the youngster to decide when and how he will meet it.
7. For most parents of school-age kids, the largest block of time they’ll have with their children is in the
summer. With a little advance preparation, parents can use the summer to help develop their youngsters
into smarter, more creative, more caring human beings.
I. On the basis of your reading of the passage, answer the following questions briefly:
(a) How can parents give the kids a special summer vacation?
(b) In what new ways can kids use the skills they learn in the classroom during the summer?
Mention any two.
(c) What advantages did Philip have on writing the book reports?
(d) Why should a summer vacation not be built completely around a child’s fulfillment?
Ans. (a) Parents can give the kids a special summer by:
(i) building a relationship with their children
(ii) stimulating them intellectually, creatively and by building their esteem.
(b) During the summer vacations, kids can use skills they learn in the classroom in new ways. They can
compare prices in grocery shops and sharpen their mental maths skills. They can take car trips to
study maps and learn geography.
(c) The advantages Philip had on writing the book reports were—

as
(i) he won an autographed picture of a hockey star

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(ii) he had his name and one of his reports printed in the local newspaper.

iv
(d) A summer vacation should not be built around a child’s fulfillment because just focussing on

Sh
entertainment does not help a youngster mature into a high thinking, caring member of his family or
community. A successful kid is one who budgets time to help others.
II. Choose the most appropriate meaning of the given word from the options provided:
(e) The word ‘frantic’ means .......................... .
(i) well planned (ii) done quickly/not organised
(iii) meticulous (iv) fearless
(f) The word ‘strategies’ means .......................... .
(i) plans (ii) layers (iii) rules (iv) schedules
(g) The word ‘moaned’ means .......................... .
(i) to look at the moon (ii) to feel happy
(iii) to shout loudly (iv) to make a low cry
(h) The word ‘stimulation’ means .......................... .
(i) to stop (ii) to aggravate
(iii) to excite or invigorate (iv) to put an end to
Ans. (e) (ii) done quickly/not organised (f) (i) plans
(g) (iv) to make a low cry (h) (iii) to excite or invigorate
Q.11. Read the passage given below: 2018
1. It is an indisputable fact that the world has gone too far with the innovation of new technologies such as
mobile phones, the internet and so on, due to which people are able to tour the cosmos virtually sitting at
one place using their smart devices or other technological gadgets. Though mobile internet access is
oftentimes hurried and short, it can still provide common internet features like alerts, weather data,
emails, search engines, instant messages, and game and music downloading.
2. Due to the easy access of smart phones, communication has been very effective and instant. People are
able to convey their message all around the globe to their loved ones without spending hefty sums of
money. Adults are always fond of such gadgets and they always welcome and adopt such new
technology readily. Further, young people have been able to broaden their minds and improve their skills
by doing research on the Internet. For instance, they use smart phones to look up any new word they
come across. As we know that most of the universities have online teaching provision and smart phones
assist the students to complete their assignments on time.
3. The mobile phone has been a lifesaver for a lot of people in case of an emergency. Likewise, use of smart
 READING SECTION „ 25

phones can be of vital importance in preventing crimes in the society by providing information to the
security forces in time.
4. Nonetheless, for the young the use of mobile phone can be like an addiction and they can misuse it.
Young people are also prone to getting involved in undesirable activities on the Internet. This might have
adverse effect on their academic performance. Therefore, young people should always be monitored and
made aware of its bad outcomes.
5. Also a major contributor to its popularity is the availability of prepaid or pay as you go services from a
phone shop or an online store. This allows subscribers to load text or airtime credits to their handsets by
the use of their credit cards, debit cards or by buying a prepaid card from the network they subscribe to.
This plan also doesn’t commit a particular customer to a contract. If prepaid card is not that appealing to
you, then you can opt to subscribe using the pay by month plan.
I. On the basis of your reading of the passage, answer any four of the following questions in 30-40 words each:
(i) How are smart phones helpful in communication?
(ii) What are the benefits of mobile phones for the young generation?
(iii) How can mobile phones be considered ‘lifesavers’?
(iv) Mention any two demerits of mobile phones.
(v) How is a prepaid card useful to mobile phone users?
Ans. (i) Easy access of smart phones has made communication very effective and instant. People are able to
convey their message all around the globe to their loved ones without spending hefty sums of money.
(ii) The young generation has been able to broaden their minds and improve their skills by using their
mobile phones to do research on the internet. They use smart phones to look up any new word they
come across. Smart phones assist the students to complete their assignments on time.

s
(iii) The mobile phone has been a lifesaver for a lot of people in case of an emergency. Also, the use of

Da
smart phones can be of vital importance in preventing crimes in the society by providing

v
information to the security forces in time.

Shi
(iv) Two demerits of mobile phones are that—
(i) For the young the use of mobile phone becomes like an addiction and they can misuse it.
(ii) Young people are also prone to getting involved in undesirable activities on the internet which
might have an adverse effect on their academic performance.
(v) A prepaid card allows subscribers to load text or airtime credits to their handsets by the use of their
credit cards, debit cards or by buying a prepaid card from the network they subscribe to. This also
doesn’t commit a particular customer to a contract.
II. On the basis of your reading of the passage, answer any four of the following:
(i) In para 1, synonym of ‘innovation’ is ................. .
(i) production (ii) sincerity (iii) invention (iv) prevention
(ii) Mobile internet can provide access to:
(i) telegram (ii) emails (iii) schools (iv) university
(iii) Grown-ups should ................. the use of new technology by the young people.
(i) reject (ii) criticize (iii) monitor (iv) accept
(iv) Meaning of the word ‘adverse’ in para 4 is:
(i) positive (ii) negative (iii) admirable (iv) unguided
(v) According to the passage, one can opt for ................. plan if prepaid plan doesn’t suit.
(i) yearly (ii) weekly (iii) monthly (iv) daily
Ans. (i) (iii) invention (ii) (ii) emails (iii) (iii) monitor (iv) (ii) negative
(v) (iii) monthly
Q.12. Read the passage given below: 2018
Great people are born to produce an influence on society. One such personality, who was so humble and
lived his complete life with determination and purpose to achieve certain aims was Ishwar Chandra
Vidyasagar. He was a great social reformer, writer, educator and worked endlessly to transform the
society. He strongly protested against polygamy and child marriage. He favoured widow remarriage and
women’s education in India. The Widow Remarriage Act was passed in 1856 making the marriage of
widows legal because of his efforts to solve these problems.
Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar refined the way Bengali language was written and taught. His book ‘Borno
Porichoy’ (Introduction to the Alphabet) is still used as the introductory text to teach Bengali alphabet.
Thus, he brought about a revolution in the Bengali Education System. Vidyasagar is credited with the role
26 „ Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

of completely changing the old method of teaching which prevailed in Sanskrit College. As a professor in
Sanskrit College, he brought modern outlook into the method of teaching. He included English and
Bengali as mediums of learning, besides Sanskrit. He, also, introduced courses in European History,
Philosophy and Science alongside Vedic scriptures. He encouraged students to study these subjects and
make the best of both the worlds.
Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was a strong advocate of women education. He rightly viewed education as
the primary way for women to achieve emancipation from the society’s oppression they had to face at
that time. He exercised his power to open schools for girls and even outlined suitable curriculum to
educate them. He went from door to door, requesting heads of families to allow their daughters to be
enrolled in schools.
Ishwar Chandra was a man who defined his own path of action. He never listened to what others said
about his work and made decisions based on his own judgement. He was famous for all these qualities.
He was also known for his great courage. Vidyasagar had a very soft heart that sympathised with those in
trouble. He was easily moved to tears when he saw someone in pain and was always the first one to offer
his help to colleagues and friends in distress. After his death, Rabindranath Tagore said, “One wonders
how God, in the process of producing forty million Bengalis, produced a man!”
I. Answer briefly the following questions: (any four)
(a) What kind of life did Ishwar Chandra lead?
(b) What changes did Vidyasagar bring about in the method of teaching at Sanskrit college?
(c) What was Vidyasagar’s contribution as a professor in the Sanskrit college?
(d) How did Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar promote women education?
(e) How can we say that Vidyasagar was a soft-hearted man?

s
Ans. (a) Ishwar Chandra was so humble and lived his complete life with determination and purpose to

Da
achieve certain aims.

v
(b) Vidyasagar is credited with the role of completely changing the old method of teaching which

Shi
prevailed in Sanskrit College. As a professor in Sanskrit College, he brought modern outlook into the
method of teaching.
(c) He included English and Bengali as mediums of learning, besides Sanskrit. He, also, introduced
courses in European History, Philosophy and Science alongside Vedic scriptures. He encouraged
students to study these subjects and make the best of both the worlds.
(d) He exercised his power to open schools for girls and even outlined suitable curriculum to educate
them. He went from door to door, requesting heads of families to allow their daughters to be
enrolled in schools.
(e) Vidyasagar was a very soft-hearted man who sympathised with those in trouble. He was easily
moved to tears when he saw someone in pain and was always the first one to offer his help to
colleagues and friends in distress.
II. Choose meanings of the words given below with the help of options that follow: (any four)
(f) Influence
(i) income (ii) inside (iii) impression (iv) attraction
(g) Transform
(i) improve (ii) encourage (iii) change (iv) insist
(h) Advocate
(i) caretaker (ii) promoter (iii) neighbour (iv) aggressor
(i) Emancipation
(i) oppression (ii) control (iii) freedom (iv) contribution
(j) Distress
(i) unhappiness or pain (ii) safety
(iii) calmness (iv) joy
Ans. (f) (iii) impression (g) (iii) change
(h) (ii) promoter (i) (iii) freedom
(j) (i) unhappiness or pain

✽ • •• • ✽
 Grammar
PREVIOUS YEARS’ CBSE BOARD EXAM QUESTIONS
Omission Exercises
Q.1. There is a word missing in each line. Write the missing word along with the one that comes before and
the one that comes after it. 2011 D
It been so for generations. The Patil family e.g. It had been
had landowners without being cultivators. (a) ____ ____ ____
One morning while the tenants cultivating (b) ____ ____ ____
the land, there an order from the Deputy (c) ____ ____ ____
Collector that the land was to taken away (d) ____ ____ ____
from the landlord and was to be to the (e) ____ ____ ____
tenants. Ramsa Patil made a poor man by (f) ____ ____ ____
the new law. Ramsa been promised a (g) ____ ____ ____
compensation but never got one. Moreover,
the law did not seem to improved the condition (h) ____ ____ ____
of the farmers.
Ans. (a) had been landowners. (b) tenants were cultivating
(c) was an order (d) to be taken
(e) be given to (f) Patil was made
(g) Ramsa had been (h) to have improved
Q.2. In the following passage, one word has been omitted in each line. Write the missing words along with
the word that comes before and the word that comes after it. 2011 OD
They reached the dam nine e.g. dam at nine
in the morning. Stopped in the (a) ____ ____ ____
garden near dam and left their (b) ____ ____ ____
food in rest room. In the garden (c) ____ ____ ____
there several beehives. The (d) ____ ____ ____
boys girls had their tea and went (e) ____ ____ ____
to the dam. Water flowing (f) ____ ____ ____
over the dam. They the sight. (g) ____ ____ ____
Suddenly, there lightning and it began to rain heavily. (h) ____ ____ ____
Ans. (a) morning. They stopped (b) near the dam
(c) in the rest (d) there were several
(e) boys and girls (f) Water was flowing
(g) They enjoyed the (h) there was lightning

OMISSION EXERCISES „ 27
28 „ Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

Q.3. In the following paragraph, one word has been omitted from each line. Write the missing word along
with the word that comes before and the word that comes after it. Ensure that the word that forms your
answer is underlined. 2012
India a land of great diversity. e.g. India is a
There is diversity only in its (a) ____ ____ ____
geographical features also in the (b) ____ ____ ____
race that its people belong, in (c) ____ ____ ____
the religion that profess and (d) ____ ____ ____
the languages that they. There (e) ____ ____ ____
is however, a unity its diversity (f) ____ ____ ____
and this help to unite its people (g) ____ ____ ____
into one nation. In short India is
the epitome the world. (h) ____ ____ ____
Ans. (a) diversity not only (b) features but also
(c) belong to, in (d) that they profess
(e) they speak . There (f) unity in its
(g) this will help (h) epitome of the
Q.4. In the following paragraph, one word has been omitted from each line. Write the missing word along
with the word that comes before and the word that comes after it. Ensure that the word that forms your
answer is underlined. 2013

s
Not a mood to e.g. Not in a

Da
waste time the University reopens, (a) ____ ____ ____

iv
the Dyal Ram College, affiliated to Delhi

Sh
University is organizing orientation (b) ____ ____ ____
program the Freshers on Monday. (c) ____ ____ ____
The session is organized (d) ____ ____ ____
two days before new (e) ____ ____ ____
session kicks. The college (f) ____ ____ ____
wants organise the orientation session (g) ____ ____ ____
because they want to start off
well prepared the very first day. (h) ____ ____ ____
Ans. (a) time before the (b) organizing an orientation
(c) program for the (d) is being organized
(e) before the new (f) kicks off. The
(g) wants to organise (h) from the very
Q.5. In the passage given below, one word has been omitted in each line. Write the missing word along with
the word that comes before and the word that comes after it. Ensure that the word that forms your
answer is underlined.
Within each the dialect areas, there is considerable e.g. each of the
variation in speech according education (a) ____ ____ ____
and social standing. There is important polarity (b) ____ ____ ____
of uneducated educated speech in (c) ____ ____ ____
which former can be identified with (d) ____ ____ ____
the regional dialect most completely the latter moves (e) ____ ____ ____
away from dialect usage a form of (f) ____ ____ ____
English cuts across dialectical boundaries, so (g) ____ ____ ____
do features of uneducated use; a (h) ____ ____ ____
prominent example is the double negative
as in I don’t want no cake
 OMISSION EXERCISES „ 29

Ans. (a) according to education (b) is an important

(c) uneducated and educated (d) which the former
(e) completely as latter (f) usage to a form
(g) English that cuts (h) do the features
Q.6. In the following paragraph one word has been omitted in each line. Write the missing word along the
word before and the word after against the correct blank number. 2016 OD
Before Missing word After
A large part India’s population is (a) ________ ________ ________
illiterate. Illiteracy is biggest evil (b) ________ ________ ________
of the Indian society. Removal illiteracy (c) ________ ________ ________
is necessary an all-round development of (d) ________ ________ ________
the country.
Ans. Before Missing word After Before Missing word After
(a) part of India’s (b) is the biggest
(c) Removal of illiteracy (d) necessary for an

Editing Exercises
Q.1. The following paragraph has not been edited. There is one error in each line. Write the error and its
correction as shown in the example. 2016 D
Error Correction

s
Overeating is one of the more wonderful e.g. more most

a
practices among those which think that they (a) ____ ____

v D
can afford it. In fact that is said that (b) ____ ____

Shi
near all those who can get as much (c) ____ ____
as he desire, overeat to their (d) ____ ____
disadvantage. This class of peoples could (e) ____ ____
save the great deal more food than ((f)f) ____ ____
they can save by missing one meal (g) ____ ____
per week and also improving their health. (h) ____ ____
Ans. (a) which — who (b) that — it
(c) near — nearly (d) he — they
(e) peoples — people (f) the — a
(g) can — could (h) improving — improve
Q.2. The following paragraph has not been edited. There is one error in each line. Write the error and its
correction as shown in the example. 2016 OD
Error Correction
One day a wonderful plate full in gold e.g., in of
fell from Heaven into a courtyard of (a) ____ ____
a temple at Benaras; so on the (b) ____ ____
plate these words were inscribe. (c) ____ ____
“A gift from Heaven to he who (d) ____ ____
loves better”. The priests at once (e) ____ ____
made a announcement that every- (f) ____ ____
day at noon, all which would like (g) ____ ____
to claimed the plate should come. (h) ____ ____
Ans. (a) a — the (b) so — and
(c) inscribe — inscribed (d) he — him/one
(e) better — best (f) a — an
(g) which — who (h) claimed — claim
Q.3. The following paragraph has not been edited. There is one error in each line. Write the error and its
correction as shown in the example. 2017 D
30 „ Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

Error Correction
The entire household was in the e.g. in under
control for my mother-in-law. She (a) ____ ____
was the majestic figure, very fair and (b) ____ ____
very serious. She was rigid on (c) ____ ____
her orthodoxy. No one dare to (d) ____ ____
argue with her.
Ans. (a) for — of (b) the — a
(c) on — in (d) dare — dared
Q.4. The following passage has not been edited. There is an error in each line against which a blank is given.
Write the incorrect word and the correction in your answer sheet against the correct blank number as
given in the example. Remember to underline the word that you have supplied. 2012 OD
Master Chandgi Ram’s daughter, Deepika Kaliraman have e.g. have has
set up the wrestling centre (a) ________ ________
of girls in village Poochanpur, Dwarka. (b) ________ ________
Deepika is the eldest daughter of
a wrestling guru, Chandgi Ram. (c) ________ ________
After the guru passed on a year ago, (d) ________ ________
Deepika took it upon herself to carry on
the legacy of her father.
Ans. (a) the ... a (b) of ... for
(c) a ... the (d) on ... away

s
Q.5. The following passage has not been edited. There is an error in each line against which a blank is

Da
given. Write the incorrect word and the correction in your answer sheet against the correct blank

iv
number as given in the example. Remember to underline the word that you have supplied. 2013 D

Sh
Incorrect Correct
Have you being criticized by e.g. being been
teachers for shouted in the (a) ________ ________
class room? Here is something
to cheered you up. Now experts (b) ________ ________
have found that impulsive children
that cannot resist shouting (c) ________ ________
in the class score higher in
tests than those who appear to be
better behave and quiet. (d) ________ ________
Ans. (a) shouted ... shouting (b) cheered ... cheer
(c) that ... who (d) behave ... behaved
Q.6. The following passage has not been edited. There is an error in each line against which a blank is
given. Write the incorrect word and the correction in your answer sheet against the correct blank
number as given in the example. Remember to underline the word that you have supplied. 2013 OD
Incorrect Correct
The famed, Jaisalmer Fort, who e.g. who which
has withstood a destruction of time (a) ________ ________
for near 1000 years, is today (b) ________ ________
a world-famous monument. It is
known like Sonar Kella or the Golden (c) ________ ________
Fort. It was coming undone due to (d) ________ ________
sewage lines and illegal constructions.
Ans. (a) a ... the (b) near ... nearly
(c) like ... as (d) was ... is
Q.7. The following passage has not been edited. There is an error in each line against which a blank has
been given. Write the incorrect word and the correction in your answer sheet against the correct blank
number as given in the example. Remember to underline the word that you have supplied. 2014 D
 EDITING EXERCISES „ 31

Error Correction
Boys who have never fight e.g. fight fought
each other in the class is today (a) ________ ________
bitterly annoyed or fearful. (b) ________ ________
Even during a Holi festival (c) ________ ________
the school have been peaceful. (d) ________ ________
Ans. (a) is ... are (b) or ... and (c) a ... the (d) have ... has
Q.8. The following passage has not been edited. There is an error in each line against which a blank has
been given. Write the incorrect word and the correction in your answer sheet against the correct blank
number as given in the example. Remember to underline the word that you have supplied. 2014 OD
Error Correction
If your children is overweight, e.g. children child
avoids fruit but vegetables, (a) ________ ________
and prefers computer games than real (b) ________ ________
ones, you should being concerned. You (c) ________ ________
should encourages outdoor activities. (d) ________ ________
Ans. (a) but ... and (b) than ... to
(c) being ... be (d) encourages ... encourage
Q.9. The following passage has not been edited. There is an error in each line against which a blank has
been given. Write the incorrect word and the correction in your answer-sheet against the correct blank

s
number as given in the example. Remember to underline the word that you have supplied. 2015 D

a
Error Correction

v D
Most trees has a single woody stem called e.g. has have

Shi
a trunk who supports a mass of branches (a) ________ ________
carrying leaves. Trees clean an air (b) ________ ________
to removing tiny airborne particles. The (c) ________ ________
leaves of trees give in oxygen. (d) ________ ________
Ans. (a) who ... which/that (b) an ... the
(c) to ... by (d) in... out/us
Q.10. The following passage has not been edited. There is one error in each line against which a blank has
been given. Write the incorrect word and the correction in your answer sheet against the correct blank
number as given in the example. Remember to underline the word that you have supplied. 2015 OD
Error Correction
Summer camps develop a child confidence. e.g. child child’s
They also encourages children (a) ________ ________
to do things by their own. (b) ________ ________
The camps is beneficial to (c) ________ ________
aggressive children as we promote (d) ________ ________
mutual understanding.
Ans. (a) encourages ... encourage (b) by ... on (c) is ... are (d) we ... they
Q.11. The following paragraph has not been edited. There is one error in each line against which a blank has
been given. Write the error and the correction in your answer sheet against the correct blank number as
given in the example. Remember to underline the word that you have supplied. 2016 D
Error Correction
Research is an detailed study of a e.g. an a
subject undertaking on a systematic (a) ________ ________
basis in order to increase a stock of (b) ________ ________
knowledge, including knowledge for man, (c) ________ ________
culture and society, that the use of this stock (d) ________ ________
of knowledge to devise new applications.
Ans. (a) undertaking ... undertaken (b) a ... the (c) for ... of (d) that ... and
32 „ Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

Q.12. The following paragraph has not been edited. There is one error in each line. Write the error and its
correction as shown in the example. 2017 D
Error Correction
The entire household was in the e.g. in under
control for my mother-in-law. She (a) ____ ____
was the majestic figure, very fair and (b) ____ ____
very serious. She was rigid on (c) ____ ____
her orthodoxy. No one dare to (d) ____ ____
argue with her.
Ans. Error Correction
(a) for of
(b) the a
(c) on in
(d) dare dared
Q.13. The following paragraph has not been edited. There is one error in each line. Write the error and its
correction as shown in the example. 2017 OD
Neil Armstrong was the commander for Apollo 11. e.g., for of
He was the first to walk over (a) ____ ____
the moon. What many people do not knew (b) ____ ____
is that unlike most of their fellow (c) ____ ____
astronauts, he was the civilian (d) ____ ____

s
and not part of the military.

Da
Ans. (a) over ... on

iv
(b) knew ... know

Sh
(c) their ... his
(d) the ... a
Q.14. The following paragraph has not been edited. There is an error in each line. Write the error as well as
the correction as shown in the example. Do any four. 2018
Error Correction
In the prisoner’s room a candle is e.g., is was
burning dimly. A prisoner himself (a) ____ ____
sat by the table. Only him back, (b) ____ ____
the hair by his head, and his (c) ____ ____
hands are visible from outside (d) ____ ____
through any window. (e) ____ ____
Error Correction
Ans. (a) A ... The
(b) him ... his
(c) by ... on
(d) are ... were
(e) any ... the
Q.15. The following paragraph has not been edited. There is one error in each line. Write the error and its
correction. (any four) 2018 Comptt.
Error Correction
People of diverse cultures lives (a) ____ ____
together in India. There is many (b) ____ ____
people who exhibit unity on diversity. (c) ____ ____
They celebrated different festivals (d) ____ ____
together. I love being an citizen of India. (e) ____ ____
Error Correction Error Correction
Ans. (a) lives ... live ((b) is ... are
(c) on ... in (d) celebrated ... celebrate
(e) an ... a
 GAP FILLING „ 33

Gap Filling
Q.1. Read the passage given below and fill in the blanks by choosing the most appropriate options from the
ones that follow: 2014, 2015 OD
Alaska’s size and climate make transportation (a)..................... challenge. Long ago, sledges pulled
(b).................. dog teams (c) ........... the best way to travel (d).............. native people.
(a) (i) an (ii) the (iii) a (iv) for
(b) (i) by (ii) with (iii) of (iv) beside
(c) (i) are (ii) is (iii) was (iv) were
(d) (i) by (ii) to (iii) for (iv) with
Ans. (a) (iii) a (b) (i) by (c) (iv) were (d) (iii) for
Q.2. Read the passage given below. Fill in the blanks by choosing the most appropriate words from the
given options. 2013 D
No matter how old you are, drink at least a glass of milk everyday (a) ______ you want to sharpen (b)
______ mental skills. A new study has claimed that drinking (c) ______ glass of milk daily not only boosts
one’s intake of much needed nutrients, but it also positively impacts one’s brain power. Milk is good for
the bones (d) ______ it offers a rich source of calcium.
(a) (i) that (ii) if (iii) then (iv) how
(b) (i) her (ii) his (iii) my (iv) your
(c) (i) a (ii) and (iii) an (iv) the
(d) (i) when (ii) for (iii) because (iv) of
Ans. (a) (ii) if (b) (iv) your (c) (i) a (d) (iii) because

as
Q.3. Complete the paragraph given below by filling in each of the blanks with the help of options that

D
follow: 2013 OD

iv
The butter (a) ..................... melted. Onions and vegetables are (b) .................. in it for 3 minutes. Flour and

Sh
stock are (c) .................. . It is brought to a boil while (d) .............. continuously.
(a) (i) be (ii) is (iii) are (iv) being
(b) (i) fried (ii) fry (iii) fries (iv) frying
(c) (i) add (ii) added (iii) adding (iv) aided
(d) (i) stir (ii) stirring (iii) stirs (iv) stirred
Ans. (a) (ii) is (b) (i) fried (c) (ii) added (d) (ii) stirring
Q.4. Fill in the blanks choosing the most appropriate options from the ones given below. Write the answers
in your answer-sheet against the correct blank numbers. 2014 D
There are four trees in the garden. (a) ................ branches sway in the breeze. The children play (b)
................ the trees. Some of the girls (c) ................ sleeping in the shade (d) ............... the trees.
(a) (i) There (ii) Their (iii) Every (iv) An
(b) (i) under (ii) over (iii) above (iv) in
(c) (i) is (ii) was (iii) are (iv) have
(d) (i) of (ii) off (iii) under (iv) below
Ans. (a) (ii) Their (b) (i) under (c) (iii) are (d) (i) of
Q.5. Read the passage given below and fill in the blanks by choosing the most appropriate words from the
given options. 2015 D
Today a good (a) ............ varieties of tea and tea brands are available in the market. Green tea is popular (b)
............ China and the Far East. In Japan, the tea ceremony is a traditional way of greeting guests, (c) ..........
is a social occasion. Tea is the most commonly (d) ............ beverage in Japan.
(a) (i) very (ii) many (iii) much (iv) more
(b) (i) on (ii) at (iii) in (iv) for
(c) (i) and (ii) it (iii) both (iv) this
(d) (i) drink (ii) drunk (iii) drinking (iv) drank
Ans. (a) (ii) many (b) (iii) in (c) (i) and (d) (ii) drunk
Q.6. Complete the following paragraph by filling in the blanks with the help of given options: 2015 OD
There is a general belief (a) ................ students that (b) ................ who write long sentences get (c) ................
marks in (d) ................. exams.
(a) (i) in (ii) of (iii) among (iv) between
34 „ Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

(b) (i) they (ii) those (iii) all (iv) them

(c) (i) more (ii) many (iii) most (iv) much
(d) (i) his (ii) her (iii) their (iv) your
Ans. (a) (iii)among (b) (ii) those (c) (i) more (d) (iii) their
Q.7. Complete the following paragraph by filling in the blanks with the help of the given options: 2016 OD
Reading a novel (a) ................ short story (b) ..................... second language could dramatically (c) ..................
physiological responses to emotions such (d) .............. smiling.
(a) (i) and (ii) or (iii) with (iv) in
(b) (i) of (ii) in (iii) from (iv) at
(c) (i) reduce (ii) reduces (iii) reduced (iv) reducing
(d) (i) like (ii) similar to (iii) as (iv) alike
Ans. (a) (ii) or (b) (ii) in (c) (i) reduce (d) (iii) as
Q.8. Complete the following paragraph by filling in the blanks with the help of the given options: 2017 D
Medicinally, the bark of (a) ................ Kadam tree is used (b) ..................... an antiseptic and (c) ..................
fevers. The juice of this tree (d) .............. used to kill germs in the sores.
(a) (i) a (ii) an (iii) the (iv) some
(b) (i) by (ii) in (iii) as (iv) with
(c) (i) on (ii) over (iii) for (iv) to
(d) (i) is (ii) was (iii) been (iv) being
Ans. (a) (iii) the (b) (iii) as (c) (iii) for (d) (i) is
Q.9. Complete the following paragraph by filling in the blanks with the help of the given options:
2017 OD

s
During (a) ................ hottest part of the year, many of (b) .................... city streets seem to be on fire

Da
(c)..................... masses of Gulmohar flowers. This (d) .................. one of the most beautiful trees.

v
(a) (i) a (ii) the (iii) an (iv) some

Shi
(b) (i) are (ii) your (iii) their (iv) our
(c) (i) from (ii) by (iii) with (iv) over
(d) (i) is (ii) was (iii) are (iv) be
Ans. (a) (ii) the (b) (iv) our (c) (iii) with (d) (i) is
Q.10. Fill in any four of the blanks in the paragraph given below with the help of options that follow:
2018
The modern student (a) ................ the importance (b) .................... physical exercise. He spends one to two
hours in open air (c)..................... he takes part in different sports. However, care should (d) .................. not
to overstrain (e) .................. body.
(a) (i) understood (ii) understand (iii) have understand (iv) understands
(b) (i) of (ii) by (iii) from (iv) with
(c) (i) how (ii) which (iii) where (iv) why
(d) (i) be taken (ii) took (iii) takes (iv) has taken
(e) (i) a (ii) an (iii) the (iv) some
Ans. (a) (iv) understands (b) (i) of (c) (iii) where (d) (i) be taken
(e) (iii) the
Q.11. Complete the paragraph given below by filling in the blanks with the help of options that follow: (any
four) 2018 Comptt.
Yesterday, a rich woman from West Bengal (a) ................ to Delhi to buy jewellery. She was sitting
outside (b) .................... jewellery shop. Suddenly two young boys came there (c) ..................... snatched the
chain that she was (d) .................. . She called the police (e) .................. the snatchers had run away.
(a) (i) come (ii) comes (iii) came (iv) coming
(b) (i) a (ii) an (iii) the (iv) some
(c) (i) and (ii) or (iii) but (iv) how
(d) (i) wear (ii) wears (iii) wore (iv) wearing
(e) (i) so (ii) because (iii) but (iv) only
Ans. (a) (iii) came (b) (i) a (c) (i) and (d) (iv) wearing
(e) (iii) but
 DIALOGUE REPORTING „ 35

Dialogue Reporting
Q.1. Read the dialogue given below and complete the paragraph that follows. Write the correct answer in
your answer-sheet against the correct blank numbers. 2015 D
Doctor : Have you got the tests done?
Karna : No, I have not.
Doctor : Get them done today itself.
Karna : I will
The doctor asked Karna (a) .............. . He replied that (b) .............. . The doctor asked (c) .............. . Karna
assured the doctor (d) ................ .
Ans. (a) if he had got the tests done
(b) that he had not
(c) him to get them done that day itself
(d) that she would
Q.2. Read the conversation given below and complete the paragraph that follows: 2015 OD
Martha : Why are you spraying wax on your car tyres?
Jhumru : It makes the rubber last longer and prevents it from drying.
Martha (looking amused) : Like putting lotion on your skin.
Jhumru : Yes, Exactly. Now I see you are beginning to get the point.
Martha : Then why do I have to fight with you every summer to get you to wear
sunscreen?
Martha asked her husband (a) _______. Jhumru explained that it made the rubber last longer and

as
(b) _______. Martha was amused and asked (c) ________. Jhumru agreed and commented that then he could

D
see that (d) _______. Martha then amusingly replied then why she had to fight with him every summer to

iv
get him to wear sunscreen.

Sh
Ans. (a) why he was spraying wax on his car tyres
(b) prevented it from drying
(c) if it was like putting lotion on one’s skin.
(d) she was beginning to get the point
Q.3. Read the dialogue given below and complete the paragraph that follows. 2016 OD
Anup : Where can we meet tomorrow?
Atul : I may not be able to meet you tomorrow.
Anup : Are you going to be busy?
Atul : Yes, I will be travelling tomorrow.
Anup asked Atul (a).................... . Atul replied (b) .................. . Anup asked (c) .............. . Atul said that he
was as (d).............. .
Ans. (a) where they could meet the next day
(b) that he might not be able to meet him the next day
(c) if he was going to be busy
(d) he would be travelling the next day
Q.4. Read the following dialogue below and complete the passage that follows. Write the answers in your
answer sheet against the correct blank numbers. Do not copy the whole sentences. 2012 D
Mrs. Bhalla : I can’t believe it! I’ve lost ten pounds.
Mrs. Bhalla : That’s great! Your diet seems to be working.
Mrs. Bhalla : I hope you have not disturbed the scales.
Mrs. Bhalla : I promise I have not touched anything.
Mrs. Bhalla expressing surprise told her husband (a) __________ that she had lost ten pounds. Mr. Bhalla
exclaimed that was great and added (b) __________ working. Mrs. Bhalla commented that she hoped (c)
__________ . Mr. Bhalla promised that (d) ________.
Ans. (a) she could not believe (b) that her diet seemed to be
(c) he had not disturbed the scales (d) he had not touched anything.
Q.5. Read the following dialogue between a mother and her son. Complete the paragraph that follows by
choosing the correct alternative from those given below: 2012 OD
36 „ Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

Marie : Did you see my new umbrella? Isn’t it fine?

Tony : Yes, it is! Did you buy it from the Mall?
Marie : No, your father has bought it for me.
Tony : I will ask father to buy me one also.
Marie asked her son Tony (a) __________ and she wanted to know whether it was a fine one. Tony agreed
and asked his mother (b) __________ . His mother replied in the negative and added that (c) __________ .
Tony further said that (d) __________ .
Ans. (a) if he had seen her new umbrella (b) if she had bought it from the Mall
(c) his father had bought if for her (d) he would ask father to buy him one also
Q.6. Complete the dialogue given below by filling in the blanks with the help of the options that follow:
2014 OD
Stranger : (a) ................ here?
Policeman : They (b) ................ the shooting of a film.
Stranger : Which film (c) ................?
Policeman : The film (d) ................ .
(a) (i) Why are the people gather (ii) Why have the people gathered
(iii) Why did the people gather (iv) Why have the people gather
(b) (i) has come there to watch (ii) had gone here to watching
(iii) have come here to watch (iv) had come there to watch
(c) (i) is being shot here (ii) was being shot there
(iii) being shooting here (iv) has been shot there
(d) (i) was called ‘The Thief’s Story’. (ii) is called ‘The Thief’s Story’.

a s
(iii) has been called ‘The Thief’s Story’. (iv) will have to be called ‘The Thief’s Story’.

D
Ans. (a) (ii) Why have the people gathered

i v
(b) (iii) have come here to watch

S h
(c) (i) is being shot here
(d) (ii) is called ‘The Thief’s Story’.

Sentence Reordering/Sentence Transformation

Q.1. Rearrange the following words and phrases to form meaningful sentences. The first one has been done
for you. 2011 OD
Example:
the body / neglected / the teeth / one of / are / the most / parts of /
The teeth are one of the most neglected parts of the body.
(a) the pain / we go / only when / to the / unbearable / dentist / becomes /
(b) dental hygiene / in kids / be inculcated / should /
(c) solve / dental / brushing / can / the teeth / woes / most /
Ans. (a) We go to the dentist only when the pain becomes unbearable.
(b) Dental hygiene should be inculcated in kids.
(c) Brushing the teeth can solve most dental woes.
Q.2. Rearrange the following words and phrases to form meaningful sentences. The first one has been done
for you. 2012 D
Example: on television / a few / appeared / days ago / an advertisement /
An advertisement appeared on television a few days ago.
(a) of children / a window / it showed / a group / through / staring out /
(b) he had brought / a cartoon character / with a toy / for them / surprised them /
(c) motorised train set / could move / it was a huge / which / in circles /
Ans. (a) It showed a group of children staring out through a window.
(b) A cartoon character surprised them with a toy he had brought for them.
(c) It was a huge motorised train set which could move in circles.
 SENTENCE REORDERING/ SENTENCE TRANSFORMATION „ 37

Q.3. Rearrange the following words and phrases to form meaningful sentences. The first one has been done
for you. 2013 D
Example:
watching TV / on exercise / while you are / the following ways / The American Council / suggests / to
exercise /
The American Council on exercise suggests the following ways to exercise while you are watching TV.
(a) the remote / the channel / to change / get up / from the couch / instead of using /
(b) the room during / Walk up /the stairs / or around / and down / commercial breaks/
(c) a treadmill / use / you watch / while / you can /TV /
Ans. (a) Get up from the couch to change the channel instead of using the remote.
(b) Walk up and down the stairs or around the room during commercial breaks.
(c) You can use a treadmill while you watch TV.
Q.4. Rearrange the following words and phrases to form meaningful sentences. The first one has been done
for you. 2013 OD
Example:
Railway station / my parents / one evening / along with / to the / I went /
One evening I went along with my parents to the railway station.
(a) crowd at / counter / there was / the ticket / a huge /
(b) for the / was alive / train / with passengers / the platform / anxiously waiting /
(c) arrived / started / compartment / the passengers / from one / running / to another / the train / and /
Ans. (a) There was a huge crowd at the ticket counter.

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(b) The platform was alive with passengers anxiously waiting for the train.

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(c) The hawkers were shouting at the top of their voices.

an example.

Shiv
Q.5. Rearrange the following words and phrases into meaningful sentences. The first one has been done as

e.g., came/months/me/for eight/to teach/he

For eight months he came to teach me.
2016 D

(a) algebra and/a week/me/geometry/twice/he taught

(b) very poor/subjects/I was/in these/earlier
(c) very/now/proficient/have become/in them/I
(d) now appear/in/my exams/confidence/can/ I /with
Ans. (a) He taught me algebra and geometry twice a week.
(b) Earlier I was very poor in these subjects.
(c) Now, I have become very proficient in them./I have become very proficient in them now.
(d) I can now appear in my exams with confidence.
Q.6. Rearrange the following words / phrases to form meaningful sentences. 2017 D
The first one has been done as an example.
poverty / the village people / from / most / suffer / of
Most of the village people suffer from poverty.
(a) in rural areas / is / employment opportunities / there / of / lack
(b) come to cities / in / people / so / of work / search
(c) appalling conditions / cities / they /in / live / in
(d) poor wages / They / for / and work / exploited / are
Ans. (a) There is lack of employment opportunities in rural areas.
Or, In rural areas there is lack of employment opportunities.
(b) So people come to cities in search of work.
Or, So in search of work people come to cities
(c) They live in appalling conditions in cities.
Or, They live in cities in appalling conditions.
(d) They are exploited and work for poor wages.
Q.7. Look at the words and phrases given below. Rearrange them to form meaningful sentences as given in
the example. 2012 D
38 „ Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

Example: extremely dry / are places / that are / deserts /

Deserts are places that are extremely dry.
(a) the / in these places / less than / annual rainfall / is / 25 cms /
(b) hot desert / Sahara / the / is the / largest /
(c) deserts / for / like Sahara / remain / years / dry /
(d) burning hot / the day / such deserts / are / during /
Ans. (a) The annual rainfall in these places is less than 25 cms.
(b) The Sahara is the largest hot desert.
(c) Deserts like Sahara remain dry for years.
(d) Such deserts are burning hot during the day.
Q.8. Look at the words/phrases given below. Rearrange them to form meaningful sentences as shown in the
example. 2013 D
For example: the anniversary / death / is / of Mahatma Gandhi’s / Jan 30 /
Jan 30 is the anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s death.
(a) assassinated / Nathuram Godse / he / on this day,/ was / by /
(b) Ambala jail / Godse/ at / was / later hanged /
(c) was / at / the / Mahatma Gandhi / assassinated / 79 / age of /
(d) the anniversary / observed as / Gandhi’s death / of / is / Martyr’s Day /
Ans. (a) On this day, he was assassinated by Nathuram Godse.
(b) Godse was later hanged at Ambala jail.
(c) Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated at the age of 79.
(d) The anniversary of Gandhi’s death is observed as Martyr’s Day.

as
Q.9. Look at the words/phrases given below. Rearrange them to form meaningful sentences as shown in the

D
example: 2013 OD

iv
For example: Flight Lieutenant / is a / in / Sneha Shekhawat / the Indian Air Force /

Sh
Sneha Shekhawat is a Flight Lieutenant in the Indian Air Force.
(a) like Auro / she / non-combat / flies / transport planes /
(b) the Air Force contingent / the 63rd / led / at / she / Republic Day Parade /
(c) pilot / woman / she / was / do so / the / to / first /
(d) the first time / thus / made / history / was / for /
Ans. (a) She flies non-combat transport planes like Auro.
(b) She led the Air Force contingent at the 63rd Republic Day Parade.
(c) She was the first woman pilot to do.
(d) Thus history was made for the first time.
Q.10. Look at the words and phrases given below. Rearrange them to form meaningful sentences as given in
the example. 2014 D
Example: dying from cancer/can help/of/eating/cut the risk/flax seeds/
Eating flax seeds can help cut the risk of dying from cancer.
(a) or salads/sprinkled on cereals/can be/they/
(b) kills/contain/flax seeds/cancer cells/a special compound/which/
(c) are a/micro-nutrients/rich source/flax seeds/
(d) local general stores/all/obtained/flax seeds /may be/ from/
Ans. (a) They can be sprinkled on cereals and salads.
(b) Flax seeds contain a special compound which kills cancer cells.
(c) Flax seeds are a rich source of micro-nutrients.
(d) Flax seeds may be obtained from all local general stores.
Q.11. Look at the words and phrases given below. Rearrange them to form meaningful sentences as given in
the example. 2014 OD
Example: potter/in/once/a/a/lived/there/village/
Once there lived a potter in a village.
(a) innocent/was/a very/and/fellow/simple/he/
(b) for him/a problem/old donkey/his/had become/
(c) sold/it,/the donkey/the potter/fed up with/being/
(d) regretted/he/later/decision/However,/his/
 SENTENCE REORDERING/ SENTENCE TRANSFORMATION „ 39

Ans. (a) He was a very simple and innocent fellow.

(b) His old donkey, had become a problem for him.
(c) Being fed up with it, the potter sold the donkey.
(d) However, he regretted his decision later.
Q.12. Rearrange the following words and phrases into meaningful sentences. One has been done for you as
an example. 2015 D
Example—beach vacations / was / an attraction / coconut water / long ago/ during /
Long ago coconut water was an attraction during beach vacations.
(a) these days /of trade / Delhi / for/has become / but / a centre / tender coconuts /
(b) its demand / value / due to / has increased / of the fruit / the food /
(c) has been / fuelled / by growing awareness / the demand / health benefits / coconut water’s / of /
(d) and calories / low / is / coconut water / in / sugar /
Ans. (a) But Delhi has become a centre of trade for tender coconuts these days.
(b) Its demand has increased due to the food value of the fruit.
(c) The demand has been fuelled by growing awareness of coconut water’s health benefits.
(d) Coconut water is low in sugar and calories.
Q.13. Rearrange the following words and phrases into meaningful sentences. One has been done for you as
an example. 2015 OD
Example: person / physically / a / was / Kitty / handicapped /
Kitty was a physically handicapped person.
(a) sat up / wheelchair / in a / battery driven / every evening, / she /
(b) drove / an / she / her wheelchair / to/ apple orchard /

as
(c) very happy / with apples / the trees / she was / to see / laden /

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(d) one apple / gardener / every day / her / gave / to eat / The /

iv
Ans. (a) Every evening, she sat up in a battery driven wheelchair.

Sh
(b) She drove her wheel chair to an apple orchard.
(c) She was very happy to see the trees laden with apples.
(d) The gardener gave her one apple to eat every day.
Q.14. Rearrange the jumbled words and phrases into meaningful sentences. The first one has been done as
an example. 2016 D
Example: in / the cactus / very hot, / grows / dry places /
The cactus grows in very hot, dry places.
(a) do not / leaves / have / they / but / spiny needles/
(b) flowers / and / bloom / some of them / cacti /at night /are big/
(c) absorb / from fog/ water / in the air / cacti can/
(d) waxy coating / on / stems / their / cacti / some / have/
Ans. (a) They do not have leaves but spiny needles
(b) Cacti flowers are big and some of them bloom at night.
(c) Cacti can absorb water from fog in the air.
(d) Some cacti have waxy coating on their stems.
Q.15. Look at the words and phrases given below. Rearrange them to form meaningful sentences as given in
the example. 2016 OD
Example: curse / a / illiteracy / is /
Illiteracy is a curse.
(a) illiterate / remain / the / and / backward / poor / people /
(b) easily / by / they / cheated / are / others /
(c) our / it is / to help / moral duty / to become / literate / everyone /
(d) a country / literacy / is the / basis / of / main / development / of /
Ans. (a) The poor and backward people remain illiterate.
(b) They are easily cheated by others.
(c) It is our moral duty to help everyone to become literate.
(d) Literacy is the main basis of development of a country.
40 „ Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

Q.16. Rearrange the following words / phrases to form meaningful sentences. 2017 D
(a) reward / its / is / honesty / own /
(b) teaches us / our dealings / honesty / religion / in / to be /
(c) everywhere / and / is respected/honesty man / an / admired /
(d) leads / he / a / and / happy / prospers / life /
Ans. (a) Honesty is its own reward.
(b) Religion teaches us to be honest in our dealings.
(c) An honest man is respected and admired everywhere.
(d) He prospers and leads a happy life.
Q.17. Rearrange the following words / phrases to form meaningful sentences. 2017 OD
The first one has been done as an example.
poverty / the village people / from / most / suffer / of/
Most of the village people suffer from poverty.
(a) in rural areas / is / employment opportunities / there / of / lack /
(b) come to cities / in / people / so / of work / search /
(c) appalling conditions / cities / they /in / live / in /
(d) poor wages / They / for / and work / exploited / are /
Ans. (a) There is lack of employment opportunities in rural areas.
Or, In rural areas there is lack of employment opportunities.
(b) So people come to cities in search of work.
Or, So in search of work people come to cities
(c) They live in appalling conditions in cities.

s
Or, They live in cities in appalling conditions.

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(d) They are exploited and work for poor wages.

iv
Q.18. Rearrange the following words / phrases to form meaningful sentences. Do any four. 2018

Sh
(a) work and play / things / different / parents see / as two
(b) is a / of time / they / waste / think / that playing
(c) important / games / studies /are as / as
(d) a student / to both / proper / should / attention / pay
(e) can / life / only / succeed / he / in / then
Ans. (a) Parents see work and play as two different things.
(b) They think that playing is a waste of time.
(c) Games are as important as studies.
(d) A student should pay proper attention to both.
(e) Only then he can succeed in life.
Or, Only then can he succeed in life.
Q.19. Rearrange the words / phrases given below to form meaningful sentences: (any four) 2018 Comptt.
(a) standing / at the / one day / I / beach / was
(b) number / come / of people / a large / had / there
(c) hawkers / there / eatables /so many / were / selling
(d) wave / suddenly / came / huge / a
(e) road / all the / rushed / towards / the / people
Ans. (a) One day I was standing at the beach.
(b) A large number of people had come there.
(c) There were so many hawkers selling eatables.
(d) Suddenly a huge wave came.
(e) All the people rushed towards the road.

✽ • •• • ✽
Literature Textbooks

✏ First Flight
• Prose
• Poetry
✏ Footprints without Feet
 P rose
1. A Letter to God
—G.L.
G.L. Fuentes
Î STORY HIGHLIGHTS
• Lencho, an ox of a man, a hard working farmer had an unshakable, undaunted faith in
God which remains alive till the end of the story. The hailstorm destroyed his total crops.
He turns towards God for help as he is omniscient i.e., knows everything. He believes God
sees everything, even what is deep within one’s conscience.
• He writes a letter to God demanding hundred pesos and mails it in the letterbox.
• The letter reaches the hands of the Postmaster. The Postmaster goes through it and
expresses his surprise at the letter. He was deeply moved by the writer’s faith in God and
plans to respond to the letter but responding to it demands money other than pen and
paper. He collected the money with the help of the other post office employees and
various other sources. He put it in an envelope and sent it to Lencho on the following
Sunday. He even signed the Letter “God” because he did not want to shake Lencho’s faith
in God.
• Lencho was not surprised to receive the letter as he had full faith that God would surely
help him. However, he was fiercely angry when he counted the money in the envelope. All
together 30 pesos were missing. He knew God could not make such a mistake neither
could He deny him the money he required. The amount must have been misappropriated
by the post office employees who were a bunch of crooks.
• The employees were shocked to hear this accusation. This proves that Lencho had
unshakable faith in God.

PREVIOUS YEARS’ CBSE BOARD EXAM QUESTIONS

I. Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow:
Q.1. Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow. 2013 OD
The house—the only one in the entire valley—sat on the crest of a low hill. From this height one could see
the river and the field of ripe corn dotted with the flowers that always promised a good harvest. The only
thing the earth needed was a downpour or at least a shower. Throughout the morning Lencho—who knew
his fields intimately—had done nothing else but see the sky towards the north-east.
“Now we’re going to get some water, woman.”
The woman who was preparing supper, replied, “Yes, God willing.”
(a) Where was the house situated?
(b) Which two things could one see from this height?
(c) Why did he see towards the north-east?
(d) Which word in the passage means the same as “heavy fall of rain’?

42 „ Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

 1. A LETTER TO GOD „ 43

Ans. (a) The house was situated in a valley, on the crest of a low hill.
(b) From this height one could see the river and the field of ripe corn dotted with flowers.
(c) Lencho saw towards the north-east sky, in the hope of a downpour.
(d) The word ‘downpour’ in the passage means the same as ‘heavy fall of rain’.
Q.2. The house—the only one in the entire valley—sat on the crest of a low hill. From this height one could see the river
and the field of ripe corn dotted with the flowers that always promised a good harvest.
The only thing the earth needed was a downpour or at least a shower. Throughout the morning Lencho—who knew
his fields intimately—had done nothing else but see the sky towards the northeast.
“Now we’re really going to get some water, woman.”
The woman, who was preparing supper, replied: “Yes, God willing.”
The older boys were working in the field, while the smaller ones were playing near the house until the woman called to
them all: “Come for dinner”. It was during the meal that, just as Lencho had predicted, big drops of rain began to fall.
In the northeast huge mountains of clouds could be seen approaching. The air was fresh and sweet. The man went out for no
other reason than to have the pleasure of feeling the rain on his body, and when he returned he exclaimed: “These aren’t
raindrops falling from the sky, they are new coins. The big drops are ten-cent pieces and the little ones are fives”. 2015
(a) What qualities of Lencho’s character are brought out in the passage?
(b) What was peculiar about the house in which Lencho lived?
(c) What did Lencho wish throughout the morning?
(d) What does the word ‘intimate’ in the passage mean?
Ans. (a) Lencho’s deep knowledge of his fields and his faith in himself are the qualities brought out in the
passage.
(b) The peculiarity about Lencho’s house was that it was the only house in the entire valley.

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(c) Throughout the morning Lencho’s only wish was for a downpour or at least a shower.

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(d) The word ‘intimate’ means ‘closely’ or ‘wholly’.

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Q.3. With a satisfied expression he regarded the field of ripe corn with its flowers, draped in a curtain of rain. But

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suddenly a strong wind began to blow and along with the rain very large hailstones began to fall. These truly did
resemble new silver coins. The boys, exposing themselves to the rain, ran out to collect the frozen pearls.
“It’s really getting bad now,” exclaimed the man. “ I hope it passes quickly.” It did not pass quickly. For an hour the
hail rained on the house, the garden, the hillside, the cornfield, on the whole valley. The field was white, as if covered
with salt. 2008
(a) Why did Lencho look satisfied?
(b) What happened all at once?
(c) What did Lencho hope for?
(d) What happened as a result of the hailstorm?
(e) Find out a word in the passage which means the same as ‘to look like’.
Ans. (a) Lencho looked satisfied because his field of corn was ripe with its flowers and he expected a good
harvest and it had started raining.
(b) All at once a strong wind began to blow and along with the rain very large hailstones began to fall.
(c) He hoped that the wind and the hailstorm would pass quickly.
(d) As a result of the hailstorm the corn crop was destroyed as the field was completely covered with ice
from the hailstorm.
(e) The word ‘resemble’ means ‘to look like’.
Q.4. All through the night, Lencho thought only of his one hope : the help of God, whose eyes, as he had been instructed,
see everything, even what is deep in one’s conscience.
Lencho was an ox of a man, working like an animal in the fields, but still he knew how to write. The following
Sunday, at daybreak, he began to write a letter which he himself would carry to town and place in the mail. 2008
(a) What did Lencho think all through the night?
(b) Why did he pin his hopes on God alone?
(c) Why has he been called ‘an ox of a man’?
(d) Which word in the passage means the same as ‘an inner sense of right and wrong’?
(e) Find the word, from the passage, which means ‘good-tempered’.
Ans. (a) All through the night Lencho thought about his one and only hope, the help of God.
(b) He pinned his hopes on God alone because he had been told that God sees everything, even what is
deep in one’s conscience and then helps people in distress.
44 „ Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

(c) Lencho has been called ‘an ox of a man’ because he used to work like an animal in the field.
(d) The word ‘conscience’ means the same as ‘an inner sense of right and wrong’.
(e) The word ‘amiable’ means ‘good-tempered’.
Q.5. It was the postman himself who handed the letter to him while the postmaster, experiencing the contentment
of a man who has performed a good deed, looked on from his office.
Lencho showed not the slightest surprise on seeing the money; such was his confidence — but he became
angry when he counted the money. 2009
(a) Who delivered the letter and to whom?
(b) What did the postmaster do in the meantime?
(c) Which ‘good deed’ is referred to here?
(d) Why was Lencho not surprised on seeing the money?
(e) Find the noun form of the word ‘content’ from the passage.
Ans. (a) The postman delivered the letter to Lencho.
(b) The postmaster meanwhile experienced the contentment of a man who has performed a good deed.
(c) The ‘good deed’ referred to here is providing Lencho with the money he so desperately needed.
(d) Lencho’s faith in God was so strong that he was not surprised on seeing the money.
(e) The noun form of the word ‘content’ is ‘contentment’.
Q.6. The following Sunday Lencho came a bit earlier than usual to ask if there was a letter for him. It was the postman
himself who handed the letter to him while the postmaster, experiencing the contentment of a man who has performed
a good deed, looked on from his office.
Lencho showed not the slightest surprise on seeing the money; such was his confidence—but he became angry when
he counted the money. God could not have made a mistake, nor could he have denied Lencho what he had requested.

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Immediately, Lencho went up to the window to ask for paper and ink. On the public writing-table, he started to write,

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with much wrinkling of his brow, caused by the effort he had to make to express his ideas. When he finished, he went

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to the window to buy a stamp which he licked and then affixed to the envelope with a blow of his fist. The moment the
letter fell into the mailbox, the postmaster went to open it. It said: “God: of the money that I asked for, only seventy
pesos reached me. Send me the rest, since I need it very much. But don’t send it to me through the mail, because the
post office employees are a bunch of crooks. Lencho.” 2000
(a) What does Lencho mean by ‘the rest’?
(b) What was in Lencho’s mind when he was writing the letter? Write two points.
(c) Why did the postmaster open the mailbox immediately?
(d) Find out the word from the passage which means ‘dishonest people’.
Ans. (a) By ‘the rest’ Lencho means the remaining thirty pesos which he had yet to receive from God.
(b) Lencho desperately wanted the rest of the thirty pesos and he was sure that the post office employees
were a bunch of crooks.
(c) The postmaster was extremely eager to know Lencho’s reaction on receiving money from God. So, he
opened the mailbox immediately.
(d) The word ‘crooks’ means ‘dishonest people’.
Q.7. Lencho showed not the slightest surprise on seeing the money; such was his confidence—but he became angry when he
counted the money. God couldn’t have made a mistake, nor could he have denied Lencho what he had requested.
Immediately Lencho went up to the window to ask for paper and ink. On the public writing-table, he started to write,
with much wrinkling of his brow, caused by the effort he had to make to express his ideas. When he finished, he went
to the window to buy a stamp which he licked and then affixed to the envelope with a blow of his fist. 2009
(a) Why did Lencho become angry when he counted the money?
(b) Who sent him the money and why?
(c) What request did he make to God when he wrote another letter after receiving the money?
(d) Use the following phrase in a sentence of your own:
Wrinkling of one’s brow
Ans. (a) Lencho became angry when he counted the money because it was less than what he had requested for.
(b) The postmaster sent him the money because he wanted to cement and further strengthen Lencho’s
faith in God.
(c) He requested God not to send him the remaining money through the mail as he believed that the post
office employees were a bunch of crooks.
(d) By wrinkling his brow he tried to concentrate more on the task at hand.
 1. A LETTER TO GOD „ 45

II. Answer the following questions briefly:

Q.8. Why does Lencho write a letter to God? What does he experience? 2009
Ans. Lencho’s corn crop had been totally destroyed by the hailstorm. Lencho writes a letter to God asking him
to help with a hundred pesos so that he can sow his field again and live until the new crop comes. He puts
this letter in an envelope and addresses the envelope “To God”. He experiences an extreme sense of relief
and satisfaction on posting the letter because he had been told that God helps innocent people in distress.
So, he feels quite confident that God will not turn down his request and will certainly help him in his hour
of crisis.
Q.9. Why did the postmaster send a letter of reply to Lencho? 2003
Ans. The postmaster was very impressed and touched by Lencho’s sincere faith in God. He wished he too had
that kind of faith. So, in order to reconfirm and not to shake Lencho’s faith in God he decided to answer the
letter.
Q.10. How did the post office employees help Lencho? How did Lencho react to their help? 2006
Ans. The post office employees received an unusual letter addressed to God. In order not to shake the faith of
the writer of the letter, they collected 70 pesos and sent it to Lencho. Lencho was not at all surprised when
he got the money. On receiving 70 pesos, he became angry and blamed the post office employees for the
shortfall of 30 pesos. He was sure that God had sent the 100 pesos he had asked for, and thought the post
office employees to be a bunch of crooks.
Q.11. ‘Sympathy and kindness are human virtues’. Write a character sketch of the postmaster with reference
to these human virtues. 2006
Ans. The postmaster is a genuine and God-loving man. He is amazed to read Lencho’s letter and even more amazed
at Lencho’s abundant faith in God. Being a kind person he does not want to shake the writer’s faith in God.

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The postmaster is also a man who sticks to his decision so he is able to collect money for Lencho’s help. Since

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he commands the respect of his juniors and friends they too feel obliged to give him money for an act of charity.

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Q.12. In the lesson ‘A Letter to God’, what moral values does the postmaster display in his behaviour? 2018

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Ans. The postmaster was very impressed and touched by Lencho’s sincere faith in God. In order to reconfirm and
not to shake Lencho’s faith he decided to answer the letter. He is amazed to read Lencho’s letter and even
more amazed at Lencho’s abundant faith in God. The postmaster is thus a very genuine, empathetic and soft
hearted man. The postmaster is also a man who sticks to his resolutions so he is able to collect money for
Lencho’s help. Since he commands the respect of his juniors and friends they too feel obliged to give him
money for an act of charity. He is a generous person and tries to perceive others in a more positive light.
Q.13. Why did Lencho seek help from God? Who received the letter? What did he do? 2001
Or, ‘Faith can move mountains.’ What did the postmaster do in order not to break Lencho’s faith in God.
Explain. 2008
Or, What was the letter to God about? How much did it serve Lencho’s purpose? 2002
Ans. When Lencho’s crop was totally destroyed by the hail, he being a simple-hearted person who had
abundant faith in God, started a correspondence with Him. In a letter he asked God to send him a hundred
pesos to enable him to sow his field again and live until the new crop came. This envelope which was
addressed “To God” greatly intrigued a postman and so he took the envelope containing the letter to the
postmaster. After reading the letter the postmaster was highly impressed and touched by Lencho’s faith in
God. So, in order to cement Lencho’s faith in God, the postmaster decided to collect money and send it to
Lencho. He was able to collect only seventy pesos. He put this money in an envelope along with a letter
containing the sender’s signature ‘God’, and sent it to Lencho.
Q.14. Describe the character of Lencho in the light of his faith and attitude towards God and man. 2004
Or
“I wish I had the faith of the man who wrote this letter.” Describe Lencho’s character is the light of this
statement. Is such devout faith in God possible in today’s practical life? 2008, 2013
Ans. Lencho being a very simple person started a correspondence with God so that he would help him and
make sure that he and his family would not starve. He had an abundant faith in God and therefore with
great confidence he directly appealed to God for help. As for his opinion regarding men, Lencho considers
them dishonest and deceitful. He does not hesitate to write about his contemptuous attitude towards men
in his letter to God and he calls the men at the post-office a bunch of crooks. He knew that God helps
innocent people in distress and therefore does not hesitate in approaching him directly for help and neither
is he bewildered when he does receive a letter signed by God.
 46 „ Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

Faith is an expression of hope for something better. In today’s practical world of cut-throat competition
and demanding lives, such strong faith in God and one’s own self is extremely necessary. It motivates us to
be positive and be successful in what we do.

QUESTIONS FROM THE TEXT

Q.15. What did Lencho hope for?
Ans. When a strong wind began to blow along with rain, very large hailstones began to fall, Lencho hoped the
wind and hail would pass quickly.
Q.16. Why did Lencho say the raindrops were like ‘new coins’?
Ans. The field of ripe corn with its flowers that promised a good harvest needed only a downpour. Thus, when
the raindrops fell from the sky Lencho said they are new coins.
Q.17. How did the rain change? What happened to Lencho’s field?
Ans. Suddenly when a strong wind began to blow, along with the rain came very large hailstones. For an hour
the hail fell on the house, the garden, the hillside, the cornfield and, on the whole valley. Lencho’s field
was white as if covered with salt. The corn was destroyed and the flowers gone from the plants.
Q.18. What were Lencho’s feelings when the hail stopped?
Ans. Lencho’s soul was filled with sadness when the hail stopped. The night was a sorrowful one as he and his
family would have to go hungry that year.
Q.19. Who or what did Lencho have faith in? What did he do?
Ans. Lencho had immense faith in God. He had been told that God’s eyes see everything even what is deep in
one’s conscience. The following Sunday at daybreak, Lencho wrote a letter to God asking for help. He
carried this letter to the town and mailed it himself.

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Q.20. Who read the letter?

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Ans. The postmaster, a fat, amiable fellow, read the letter.

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Q.21. What did the postmaster do then?

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Ans. The postmaster came up with an idea. He decided to answer the letter. But when he opened it, he realized
he needed more than goodwill, ink and paper. He stuck to his resolution. He asked for money from his
employees and himself gave part of his salary. He put the money in an envelope addressed to Lencho
along with a letter containing only a single word, God.
Q.22. Was Lencho surprised to find a letter for him with money in it?
Ans. No, Lencho was not surprised to find a letter for him with money in it, such was his confidence in God.
Q.23. What made him angry?
Ans. On receiving seventy pesos Lencho became angry and blamed the post office employees for the shortfall of
thirty pesos. He was sure that God had sent the hundred pesos he had asked for, and thought the post
office employees to be a bunch of crooks who took away the rest of the money.
Q.24. Why does the postmaster send money to Lencho? Why does he sign the letter ‘God’?
Ans. The Postmaster was moved by Lencho’s complete faith in God. So, he decided to send money to Lencho.
Moreover, the Postmaster did not want to shake Lencho’s faith in God. So, he signed the letter ‘God’. It
was a good ploy to convey a message that God himself had written the letter.
Q.25. Did Lencho try to find out who had sent the money to him? Why/ why not?
Ans. No, Lencho did not try to find out who had sent the money to him. He was not even surprised on seeing
the money, such was his confidence and faith in God.
Q.26. Who does Lencho think has taken the rest of the money? What is the irony in the situation?
Ans. Lencho thinks that the rest of the money has been taken away by the post office employees, who are a
bunch of crooks. The situation is ironical as it was these post office employees who had given money from
their salary and sent it to Lencho. However, the Post master could not gather the hundred pesos, he was
short of thirty pesos and that caused Lencho to consider them to be crooks.

✽ • •• • ✽
 2. Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to
Freedom
—Nelson
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela

Î STORY HIGHLIGHTS
• Nelson Mandela, the first Black president of South Africa, after more than 3 centuries of
white rule, celebrated very vividly the grand ceremony of the first democratic non-racial
government. Being sworn in, he said radiantly that “Never, never again shall it be
that this beautiful land will again experience the oppression of one by another”.
• Nelson Mandela was sworn in as the first black president of South Africa on 10th May
1994.
• The swearing in ceremony took place in the lovely sandstone amphitheater in Pretoria.
• He addressed the rainbow gathering with a zest telling that never, and never again
should it be that beautiful land would experience the oppression of one by another. He
wished that freedom in Africa should reign. The army officials who could have caught and
put him in jail before were saluting him to pay respect to the newly born democracy.
• The two national anthems were sung at the time of his swearing in ceremony. He recalls
the history and pays homage to the national martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the
sake of their motherland. He pays homage to the freedom fighters like Oliver Tambo,
Luthuli, Yusuf Dadoo. They were men of uncommon courage, wisdom and generosity. He
regards the death of thousands of people who sacrificed their lives for the cause of
courage.
• He said that the country of South Africa is rich in minerals and gems but the greatest
wealth of a country is its people. He tells no one is born hating another person because of
the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion. If people learn to hate, they can
be taught to love too.
• In the first decade of the twentieth century and before Mandela’s birth, the whites in
South Africa had erected a system of racial domination known as ‘apartheid’. In the last
decade of the twentieth century, when Mandela was in his eighties, he saw that system
crumbling. So, he was overwhelmed with a sense of victory.
• Mandela described the system of government in his country in the final decade of the
twentieth century as one that recognises the rights and freedom of all people, irrespective
of the colour of their skin.
• For Mandela courage does not mean the absence of fear but a victory over fear.
According to him brave men need not be fearless but should be able to conquer fear.

2. NELSON MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM „ 47

 48 „ Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

• During young age freedom for Mandela meant a freedom on a personal level. The
freedom to raise a family and the freedom to earn a livelihood. After gaining experience
freedom meant a lot more to Nelson Mandela. It was a freedom for everybody. It was
freedom from fear and prejudice. Age and experience made his perspective wider.
• Slowly Nelson Mandela’s hunger for freedom turned from personal level to a broader
mass level. This changed the fearful man to a fearless rebel. He sacrificed the comforts of
a settled family life to fight for a greater cause.
• According to Mandela, in South Africa or in any nation there are two obligations for a
person. One is at the personal level towards his family. Another obligation is towards the
society. Apart from striving for personal goals a person should also work hard to
contribute something to the society.

PREVIOUS YEARS’ CBSE BOARD EXAM QUESTIONS

I. Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow:
Q.1. On the day of the inauguration, I was overwhelmed with a sense of history. In the first decade of the twentieth
century, a few years after the bitter Anglo-Boer war and before my own birth, the white-skinned peoples of South
Africa patched up their differences and erected a system of racial domination against the dark-skinned peoples of their
own land. The structure they created formed the basis of one of the harshest, most inhumane, societies the world has
ever known. Now, in the last decade of the twentieth century, and my own eighth decade as a man, that system had

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been overturned forever and replaced by one that recognized the rights and freedoms of all peoples, regardless of the

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colour of their skin.

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That day had come about through the unimaginable sacrifices of thousands of my people, people whose suffering and

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courage can never be counted or repaid.
(a) Who does ‘I’ in the above passage refer to?
(b) What had happened after the Anglo-Boer war?
(c) What did this structure create?
(d) By what has the old system been replaced?
(e) What does the word ‘overwhelmed’ in the passage mean?
Ans. (a) ‘I’ in the above passage refers to Nelson Mandela.
(b) After the Anglo-Boer war the white-skinned people of South Africa erected a system of racial
discrimination against the dark-skinned people of their own land.
(c) This structure created the basis of one of the harshest, most inhumane societies the world has ever
known.
(d) The old system has been replaced by one that recognizes the rights and freedom of all people,
regardless of the colour of their skin.
(e) The word ‘overwhelmed’ means ‘something that has a strong, emotional effect’.
Q.2. My country is rich in the minerals and gems that lie beneath its soil, but I have always known that its greatest wealth is
its people, finer and truer than the purest diamond.
It is from these comrades in struggle that I learned the meaning of courage. Time and again, I have seen men and women
risk and give their lives for an idea. I have seen men stand up to attacks and torture without breaking, showing a strength
and resilience that defies the imagination. I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The
brave is not he who does not feel afraid but he who conquers that fear. 2009
(a) Choose the correct option for the following statement:
According to Nelson Mandela the greatest wealth of South Africa is
(i) Minerals (ii) Gems
(iii) People (iv) Diamonds
(b) Name at least two comrades of Nelson Mandela, who fought against Apartheid.
(c) On the basis of your reading of the passage find out the word which means the same as the following:
‘The ability to deal with any kind of hardship and recover from its effects’.
(d) What does ‘courage’ mean to Mandela?
 2. NELSON MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM „ 49

Ans. (a) (iii) People.

(b) The two comrades of Nelson Mandela who fought against apartheid were Oliver Tambo and Walter
Sisulu.
(c) The word is ‘resilience.’
(d) Courage to Mandela, means not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.
Q.3. I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel
afraid, but he who conquers that fear.
No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must
learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human
heart than its opposite. Even in the grimmest times in prison, when my comrades and I were pushed to our limits, I
would see a glimmer of humanity in one of the guards, perhaps just for a second, but it was enough to reassure me
and keep me going. Man’s goodness is a flame that can be hidden but never extinguished. 2006
(a) What did Mandela learn?
(b) Who, according to Mandela, is a brave man?
(c) Why is it easy for humans to love?
(d) How does he describe man’s goodness?
(e) Give the meaning of the word ‘triumph’.
Ans. (a) Mandela learnt that courage did not mean an absence of fear but the triumph over it.
(b) According to him a brave man is one who has learnt how to conquer fear.
(c) It is easy for humans to love because love comes more naturally to the human heart.
(d) Mandela describes man’s goodness as ‘a flame which can be hidden but never extinguished’.
(e) The word ‘triumph’ means ‘victory’.

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Q.4. I was not born with a hunger to be free. I was born free—free in every way that I could know. Free to run in the fields

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near my mother’s hut, free to swim in the clear stream that ran through my village, free to roast mealies under the

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stars and ride the broad backs of slow-moving bulls. As long as I obeyed my father and abided by the customs of my

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tribe, I was not troubled by the laws of man or God.
It was only when I began to learn that my boyhood freedom was an illusion, when I discovered as a young man that
my freedom had already been taken from me, that I began to hunger for it. At first, as a student, I wanted freedom
only for myself, the transitory freedoms of being able to stay out at night, read what I pleased and go where I chose.
Later, as a young man in Johannesburg, I yearned for the basic and honourable freedoms of achieving my potential, of
earning my keep, of marrying and having a family—the freedom not to be obstructed in a lawful life. 2007
(a) In what all ways was the author free?
(b) When was the author not troubled by the laws of man or God?
(c) What kind of freedom did the author yearn for as a young man?
(d) Give the meaning of the word ‘illusion’.
Ans. (a) The author was free in every way that he knew—free to run in the fields near his mother’s hut, free to
swim in the clear stream, free to roast mealies and ride the broad backs of slow-moving bulls.
(b) The author was not troubled by the laws of man or God as long as he obeyed his father and abided by
the customs of his tribe.
(c) As a young man the author yearned for the basic and honourable freedoms of achieving his potential,
earning his living, getting married and having a family.
(d) The word ‘illusion’ means ‘something that appears to be real but is not’.
Q.5. But then I slowly saw that not only was I not free, but my brothers and sisters were not free. I saw that it was not just
my freedom that was curtailed, but the freedom of everyone who looked like I did. That is when I joined the African
National Congress, and that is when the hunger for my own freedom became the greater hunger for the freedom of my
people. It was this desire for the freedom of my people to live their lives with dignity and self-respect that animated
my life, that transformed a frightened young man into a bold one, that drove a law-abiding attorney to become a
criminal, that turned a family-loving husband into a man without a home, that forced a life-loving man to live like a
monk. I am no more virtuous or self-sacrificing than the next man, but I found that I could not even enjoy the poor
and limited freedoms I was allowed when I knew my people were not free. Freedom is indivisible; the chains on
anyone of my people were the chains on all of them, the chains on all of my people were the chains on me. 2005
(a) Why was the writer not free?
(b) Why did he join the African National Congress?
(c) What transformed a frightened man into a bold one?
 50 „ Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

(d) Why does he say that freedom is indivisible?

(e) Give the meaning of the word ‘curtailed’.
Ans. (a) The writer was not free because he was a black, a negro.
(b) He joined the African National Congress to gain freedom for the black people of his country.
(c) His desire for the freedom of his people, so that they could live with dignity and self-respect,
transformed him into a bold man.
(d) He says freedom is ‘indivisible’ because the chains on any one of his people were chains on all of them.
(e) The word ‘curtailed’ means ‘reduced’.
II. Answer the following questions briefly:
Q.6. How according to Mandela has apartheid affected South Africa? 2002
Ans. According to Mandela the policy of apartheid has created a deep and lasting wound in his country and his
people. Many generations will be spent recovering from the profound hurt of this policy.
Q.7. What according to Mandela, is true freedom’? 2006
Ans. According to Mandela ‘true freedom’ means when one is not taking away someone else’s freedom and also
when his own freedom is not taken away from him.
Q.8. Which two obligations, according to Nelson Mandela, does every man have in life? How could a man
not fulfill obligations in a country like South Africa? 2008
Ans. According to Nelson Mandela, every man has twin obligations in life—obligations to his family, to his
parents, wife and children ; and he has an obligation to his people, his community and his country. These
obligations could not be fulfilled by a man in a country like South Africa because a man of dark colour
who attempted to just live as a human being was punished and isolated in that country. A who man tried

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to fulfil his duty to his people was inevitably ripped from his family and his home, and forced to live a life

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apart from them all.

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Q.9. What ideals does Nelson Mandela set out for the future of South Africa? 2009

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Or
What ideals does he set out for the future of South Africa?
Nelson Mandela pledged to liberate all the people of South Africa from the continuing bondage of poverty,
deprivation, suffering, gender and other discrimination. He even promised that never-ever again in the
future shall his beautiful land experience the oppression of one person by another. The sun shall never set
on the most glorious human achievement. Freedom shall henceforth reign in South Africa with the country
and its people having also achieved their political emancipation and peace for human dignity.
Q.10. Which twin obligations does Mandela mention? Why was he not able to fulfil those obligations?
2009
What ‘twin obligations’ does Mandela mention?
Or
What are the ‘twin obligations’ referred to by Nelson Mandela? 2005
Ans. According to Nelson Mandela every man has twin obligations—obligations to his family, his parents, wife
and children and he has an obligation to his people, his community and his country. In a civil and humane
society, each man is able to fulfil those obligations according to his own behavioural patterns and abilities.
But in a country like South Africa it was almost impossible for a man of his birth and colour to fulfil these
‘twin’ obligations’. Mandela was unable to fulfil these obligations because in attempting to serve his people
he was prevented from fulfilling his obligations as a son, a brother, a father and a husband.
Q.11. Describe the aerial display from the lesson ‘Long Walk to Freedom’. 2003
Ans. After the swearing-in-ceremony wherein each leader pledged his loyalty to the well-being of the republic,
all eyes were lifted in awe as an impressive display of a series of South African jets, helicopters and troop
carriers roared in perfect formation over the buildings. It was a remarkable display of pinpoint precision
and military force. It was also a demonstration of the military’s loyalty to democracy, to a new
Government that had been fairly and freely elected.

QUESTIONS FROM THE TEXT

Q.12. Where did the ceremonies take place?
Ans. The ceremonies took place in the lovely sandstone amphitheater formed by the Union Buildings in
Pretoria, which for decades had been the seat of white supremacy. It was now the site for the installation of
South Africa’s first democratic, non-racial government.
 2. NELSON MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM „ 51

Q.13. How was 10th May an ‘autumn day’ in South Africa?

Ans. 10th May was an ‘autumn day’ as it was the day of inauguration of South Africa’s first democratic, non-
racial government.
Q.14. At the beginning of his speech Mandela mentions ‘an extraordinary human disaster’. What does he
mean by this? What is the ‘glorious human achievement’ he speaks of at the end?
Ans. By ‘an extraordinary human disaster’ Mandela means the bondage of poverty, deprivation, suffering,
gender and other discrimination and also the oppression of one by another.
‘The glorious human achievement’, refers to political emancipation , a common victory for justice, for
peace, and for human dignity.
Q.15. What does Mandela thank the international leaders for?
Ans. Mandela thanks all international leaders for having come to take possession with the people of their
country of a common victory for justice, for peace, for human dignity.
Q.16. What do the military generals do? How has their attitude changed and why?
Ans. The military generals saluted and pledged their loyalty towards President Nelson Mandela and
democracy. A few years before the generals would have arrested Mandela.
Q.17. Why were two national anthems sung?
Ans. The two national anthems were sung as one had the vision of whites singing ‘Nkosi Sikelel—iAfrika’ and
blacks singing ‘Die stem, the old anthem of the Republic.
Q.18. How does Mandela describe the systems of government in his country— 2000
(i) in the first decade and
(ii) in the final decade of the twentieth century?
Ans. (i) In the first decade of the twentieth century, which was a few years after the Anglo-Boer War and

s
before Mandela’s own birth, the white-skinned people of South Africa patched up their differences

Da
and erected a system of racial domination against the dark-skinned people of their own land. The

v
structure they thus created formed the basis of one of the harshest, most inhumane, societies the

Shi
world had ever known.
(ii) In the last decade of the 20th century when Mandela was himself 80 years old, that system had been
replaced by one that recognized the rights and freedoms of all people, regardless of the colour of their
skin.
Q.19. What does courage mean to Mandela? How did he learn the meaning of courage? 2009
Ans. Mandela has learnt the true meaning of courage from the struggle of the people of his country. Time and
again he has seen men and women risk and give their lives for an idea. He has seen men stand up to attack
and torture without breaking, showing a strength and the ability to deal with any kind of hardship that
defies imagination. He also learnt that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The
brave is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.
Q.20. Which does he think is natural, to love or to hate?
Ans. For Mandela love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite, hate. No one is born hating
another person because of the colour of skin, or his background or his religion. People learn to hate and
they can be taught to love. Love comes naturally as man’s goodness is a flame that can be hidden but not
extinguished.
Q.21. What did being free mean to Mandela as a boy, and as a student? How does he contrast these ‘transitory
freedoms’ with ‘the basic and honourable freedoms’?
Or
What did freedom mean to Mandela at different stages in life? 2009
Ans. During his boyhood freedom to Mandela meant to be free, to be able to run in the fields, free to swim in the
clear stream, free to roast mealies under the stars and ride the broad backs of bulls. Then as a student he
yearned for transitory freedom of being able to stay out at night, read what he pleased and go where he
chose. Later, as a young man he craved for the basic and honourable freedoms of achieving his potential,
of earning, of marrying and having a family. But when he realized his people were not free, his hunger for
his own freedom became the greater hunger for the freedom of his people.
Q.22. Does Mandela think the oppressor is free? Why/why not?
Ans. According to Mandela the oppressor is not free. He must be liberated just as the oppressed. A man who
takes away another man’s freedom is a prisoner of hatred, locked behind the bars of dislike and narrow
mindedness. The oppressed and the oppressor alike are robbed of their humanity.
52 „ Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

Q.23. Why did such a large number of international leaders attend the inauguration? What did it signify the
triumph of?
Ans. A large number of international leaders attended the inauguration for the installation of South Africa’s first
democratic, non-racial government. It signified the triumph of common victory for justice, for peace, for
human dignity. Never will the beautiful land of South Africa again experience the oppression of one by
another.
Q.24. What does Mandela mean when he says he is simply the sum of all those African patriots who had
gone before him?
Ans. By saying that he was ‘simply the sum of all those African patriots’ who had gone before him, Mandela
meant that the newborn liberty had come through the sacrifices of thousands of his people, people whose
suffering and courage can never be counted or repaid.
Q.25. Would you agree that the ‘depths of oppression’ create ‘heights’ of character? How does Mandela
illustrate this?
Or
‘I was not born with a hunger to be free.’ When did Mandela begin to hunger for freedom? 2008
Ans. Mandela’s hunger for freedom began after seeing the brutality and oppression created by the policy of
apartheid. The structure created by this policy formed the basis of one of the harshest, most inhumane
societies the world has ever known. This policy also created a deep and lasting wound in his country and
his people. The decades of oppression created in him a hunger to be free. It required such depths of
oppression to create in him such a craving for freedom.
Q.26. How did Nelson Mandela’s understanding of freedom change with age and experience? 2008
Ans. Mandela was not born with a hunger to be free. He was born free in every way that he knew. As long as he

s
obeyed his father and abided by the customs of his tribe, no laws troubled him. Gradually he began to

Da
realize that his boyhood freedom was mere illusion. Then when he discovered as a young man, that his

v
freedom had already been taken from him, he actually began hungering for it. As a student he had wanted

Shi
transitory freedom but then as a young man he yearned for basic and honourable freedom for the people
of his race, freedom for his brothers and sisters to live with dignity and respect.
Q.27. How did Mandela’s ‘hunger for freedom’ change his life? 2009
Ans. As a young man Mandela realized that his boyhood freedom was an illusion and his freedom had already
been taken from him. Then he began to hunger for it and this led him to join the African National
Congress. It transformed a frightened young man into a bold one, it drove a law-abiding attorney to
become a criminal, it turned a family-loving husband into a man without a home and forced a life-loving
man to live like a monk. He understood that he needed to liberate his people.
Q.28. Nelson Mandela speaks of twin obligations. What are they? 2013
Ans. In South Africa or in any nation there are two obligations for a person. One is at the personal level towards
his family. Another obligation is towards the society. Apart from striving for personal goals a person
should also work hard to contribute something to the society.
Q.29. Mandela had the ‘hunger for freedom’? How did it change his life? 2015
Ans. Mandela longed for freedom since his boyhood. He desperately wanted freedom. But as a student he wished
freedom only for himself. Gradually his hunger for freedom increased manifold. It became the greater
hunger for the freedom of his people. This changed him and he joined the African National Congress.

✽ • •• • ✽
 3. Two Stories about Flying
(i) His First Flight
—Liam
Liam O' Flaherty

Î STORY HIGHLIGHTS
• ‘His First Flight’ by Liam O’ Flaherty is a simple story about conquering fears in life. Every
journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. However, it is most difficult to take
that first step. When we Conquer fear and move forward ; we realize that we were born
with wings.
• The young seagull looked down desperately at the vast expanse of sea that stretched
down beneath his ledge. He was hungry. His parents had flown away along with his
brothers and his little sister, leaving him alone on the rock without food. They could all
fly; and he could not.
• He had tried several times to run forward to the brink of the ledge and flap his wings
but he became afraid. He was certain that his wings would not support him. His parents
had tried countless times to make him fly. But for the life of him he would not make an
attempt.
• He felt that he was going to starve to death on his ledge. Even his mother was not
looking at him. She was tearing a piece of fish with her beak. The sight of food maddened
him. He cried at her but she just screamed back mockingly.
• Suddenly, he felt the joy, seeing his mother approaching him with food. But she halted,
keeping the fish just out of his reach. Maddened by hunger, he dived at the fish. But his
mother flew upward and he started falling. A monstrous terror seized him, but the next
moment he realized that he was flying. He was born to fly and he had made his first
flight.

PREVIOUS YEARS’ CBSE BOARD EXAM QUESTIONS

I. Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow:
Q.1. The young seagull was alone on his ledge. His two brothers and his sister had already flown away the day before. He
had been afraid to fly with them. Somehow when he had taken a little run forward to the brink of the ledge and
attempted to flap his wings he became afraid. The great expanse of sea stretched down beneath, and it was such a long
way down—miles down. He felt certain that his wings would never support him; so he bent his head and ran away
back to the little hole under the ledge where he slept at night. Even when each of his brothers and his little sister,
whose wings were far shorter than his own, ran to the brink, flapped their wings, and flew away, he failed to muster
up courage to take that plunge which appeared to him so desperate. His father and mother had come around to calling
him shrilly, upbraiding him, threatening to let him starve on his ledge unless he flew away. But for the life of him he
could not move. 2003
3. TWO STORIES ABOUT FLYING (I) HIS FIRST FLIGHT „ 53
54 „ Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

(a) Where had his brothers and sister gone?

(b) Why was the young seagull afraid?
(c) What did he do?
(d) What did his parents threaten to do?
(e) Give the meaning of the word ‘upbraiding’?
Ans. (a) His brothers and sister had already flown away the day before.
(b) The young seagull was afraid because he felt certain his wings would never support him and he
would fall in the great expanse of the sea beneath.
(c) He bent his head and ran away back to the little hole under the ledge where he slept at night.
(d) His parents threatened to starve him on his ledge unless he flew away.
(e) The word ‘upbraiding’ means ‘scolding’.
Q.2. That was twenty-four hours ago. Since then nobody had come near him. The day before, all day long, he had watched his
parents flying about with his brothers and sisters, perfecting them in the art of flight, teaching them how to skim the
waves and how to dive for fish. He had, in fact, seen his older brother catch his first herring and devour it, standing on
a rock, while his parents circled around raising a proud cackle. And all the morning the whole family had walked about
on the big plateau midway down the opposite cliff taunting him with his cowardice.
The sun was now ascending the sky, blazing on his ledge that faced the south. He felt the heat because he had not
eaten since the previous nightfall. 2000
(a) Who is ‘he’ in the passage?
(b) Why was his whole family taunting him?
(c) Why was he getting restless?
(d) Why was he unable to reach his parents?

as
(e) Give the meaning of the word ‘gnawed’.

D
Ans. (a) ‘He’ in the passage refers to the young seagull.

iv
(b) His whole family was taunting him for his cowardice at his inability to fly like the rest of them.

Sh
(c) He was getting restless because he had not eaten since the previous night and he could not see a
single scrap of food.
(d) Between him and his parents lay the deep wide sea and since he was unable to fly, he could not reach
them.
(e) The word ‘gnawed’ means ‘bite continuously’.
Q.3. That was twenty-four hours ago. Since then nobody had come near him. The day before, all day long, he had watched
his parents flying about with his brothers and sister, perfecting them in the art of flight, teaching them how to skim
the waves and how to dive for fish. He had, in fact, seen his older brother catch his first herring and devour it,
standing on a rock, while his parents circled around raising a proud cackle. And all the morning the whole family had
walked about on the big plateau midway down the opposite cliff taunting him with his cowardice. 2008
(a) What did the young seagull see his parents doing the day before? Mention any two acts.
(b) For how long had the seagull been alone?
(c) Why had the whole family been taunting the young seagull?
(d) Which word from the passage means the same as ‘to move lightly just above a surface’?
Ans. (a) The day before the young seagull had watched his parents fly about with his brothers and sister,
teaching them how to skim the waves and how to dive for fish.
(b) The seagull had been alone for twenty four hours.
(c) The whole family had been taunting ‘the young seagull for his cowardice’.
(d) The word ‘skim’ means the same as ‘to move lightly just above a surface’.
Q.4. He stepped slowly out to the brink on the ledge, and standing on one leg with the other leg hidden under his wing, he
closed one eye, then the other and pretended to be falling asleep. Still they took no notice of him. He saw his two
brothers and his sister lying on the plateau dozing with their heads sunk into their necks. His father was preening the
feathers on his white back. Only his mother was looking at him. She was standing on a little high hump on the
plateau, her white breast thrust forward. Now and again, she tore at a piece of fish that lay at her feet and then
scrapped each side of her beak on the rock. The sight of the food maddened him. How he loved to tear food that way,
scrapping his beak now and again to whet it.
“Ga, ga, ga,” he cried begging her to bring him some food. “Gaw-col-ah,” she screamed back derisively. But he kept calling
plaintively, and after a minute or so he uttered a joyful scream. His mother had picked up a piece of the fish and was flying
across to him with it. 2002
 3. TWO STORIES ABOUT FLYING (I) HIS FIRST FLIGHT „ 55

(a) Why did he pretend to be falling asleep?

(b) What were his brothers and sisters doing?
(c) What was his mother doing?
(d) Why did he utter a joyful scream?
(e) Give the meaning of the word ‘derisively’?
Ans. (a) By pretending that he was sleeping he thought his family would take notice of him.
(b) His brothers and sisters were lying on the plateau, dozing with their heads sunk into their necks.
(c) His mother was tearing a piece of fish that was lying at her feet.
(d) He uttered a joyful scream because his mother had picked up a piece of the fish and was flying across
to him with it.
(e) The word ‘derisively’ means ‘mockingly’.
Q.5. He waited a moment in surprise, wondering why she did not come nearer, and then, maddened by hunger, he dived
at the fish. With a loud scream he fell outwards and downwards into space. 2018
(a) Who is ‘He’?
(b) Whom was he waiting for?
(c) Why did he dive at the fish?
(d) What happened afterwards?
Ans. (a) ‘He’ is the young seagull.
(b) He was waiting for his mother to give him food.
(c) He was maddened by hunger, so he dove at the fish.
(d) With a loud scream he fell outwards and downwards into space.
Q.6. His parents and his brothers and sister had landed on this green flooring ahead of him. They were beckoning to him, calling
shrilly. He dropped his legs to stand on the green sea. His legs sank into it. He screamed with fright and attempted to

as
rise again flapping his wings. But he was tired and weak with hunger and he could not rise, exhausted by the strange

D
exercise. His feet sank into the green sea, and then his belly touched it and he sank no farther. He was floating on it,

iv
and around him his family was screaming, praising him and their beaks were offering him scraps of dog-fish. 2008

Sh
(a) Where did the young seagull land?
(b) Why did he scream?
(c) What made him tired?
(d) How did his parents, brothers and sister encourage him?
(e) Which word in the passage means the same as ‘attracting by a silent signal’?
Ans. (a) The young seagull landed on the green sea.
(b) He felt his legs sinking into the sea and screamed with fright.
(c) His first flight, a strange exercise, made him tired.
(d) His parents, brothers and sister encouraged him by screaming, praising him and offering him scraps
of dog-fish.
(e) The word ‘beckoning’ means the same as ‘attracting by a silent signal’.
Q.7. His parents and his brothers and sister had landed on this green flooring ahead of him. They were beckoning to him,
calling shrilly. He dropped his legs to stand on the green sea. His legs sank into it. He screamed with fright and
attempted to rise again flapping his wings. But he was tired and weak with hunger and he could not rise, exhausted by
the strange exercise. His feet sank into the green sea, and then his belly touched it and he sank no farther. He was floating
on it, and around him his family was screaming, praising him and their beaks were offering him scraps of dog-fish.
(a) What does the phrase, ‘this green flooring’ refer to?
(b) The seagull thought that the sea was like land. Pick out the phrase that suggests this.
(c) When did the seagull get over his fear of water?
(d) How did the whole family praise and reward the success of the seagull’s flight?
(e) Find out a word from the passage which means the same as ‘pieces’.
Ans. (a) ‘This green flooring’ refers to the green sea.
(b) The phrase that suggests this is ‘He dropped his legs to stand on the green sea’.
(c) The seagull got over his fear of water only when his belly touched it and he sank no farther and was
floating on it.
(d) His whole family was around him screaming, praising him and their beaks were offering him scraps
of dog-fish.
(e) The word ‘scraps’ means the same as ‘pieces’.
II. Answer the following questions briefly:
Q.8. Why did the seagull not go with the rest of his family? 2002
56 „ Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

Ans. The seagull did not go with his family because he had been afraid to fly. He had attempted to flap his wings
but he felt certain his wings would not support him above the vast sea. So he stayed on the ledge alone.
Q.9. Describe the seagull’s first flight. 2012
Ans. The seagull remained alone and hungry for twenty four hours. His mother decided to motivate him by showing
a piece of fish but did not feed him. Maddened by hunger, he tried to snatch it by diving. As the seagull fell into
space, a terror seized him. The next moment he felt his wings spread outwards as the wind gushed against
his breast feathers. He then realized he was gradually soaring. In this way he made his first flight.
Q.10. Describe the methods used by the seagull family to help the young seagull to overcome his fear and fly.
2002
Ans. The young seagull was unable to muster up courage to fly. His father and mother had come around to
calling him shrilly, upbraiding him and threatening to leave him to starve on his ledge unless he flew away
but he did not move. His whole family had even walked about on the big plateau midway down the
opposite cliff all morning taunting him for his cowardice to motivate him to fly. His mother was also
tempting him by tearing a piece of fish lying at her feet so that the sight of food, which was maddening
him, may make him overcome his fear and fly. He was still unable to do so and kept crying and begging
her to bring him some food.
Q.11. How did the mother make the young seagull come out of his fear and teach him the art of flying? 2004
Ans. The young seagull had not eaten since the previous nightfall. His mother was looking at him and knew he
was very hungry. Purposely she began to tear at a piece of fish that lay at her feet and then scrapped each
side of her beak on the rock. She understood that the sight of food was maddening the young seagull. The
young seagull cried begging her to bring him some food but she refused by screaming back mockingly. He
kept calling out plaintively. She came nearer to him with the piece of fish in her beak almost within reach

s
of his beak. He could wait no longer and dived at the fish. His mother swooped upwards and he felt his

Da
wings spread outwards as he fell downwards into space.

iv
Q.12. Why did the young seagull not go with the rest of his family? Why was he afraid to fly? 2006

Sh
Ans. The young seagull did not go with the rest of his family, though his brothers and sister had already flown
away the day before, as he felt afraid to fly with them. Standing alone on his ledge, he had taken a little run
forward to its brink and attempted to flap his wings but he had been scared. The great expanse of the sea
stretched below seemed as if it was miles down and he felt certain that his wings would never support
him, so he bent his head and ran away to the little hole under the ledge where he used to sleep at night.
Though he was desperate to join his family, he failed to muster up enough courage and take a plunge. His
family’s constant encouragement and threatening words could not make him move.
Q.13. How can you tell that the young Seagull was desperately hungry? 2001
Ans. The young seagull was watching his mother as she tore at a piece of fish that lay at her feet. The sight of
the food was maddening him and making him almost crazy. He loved to tear food that way and then scrap
his beak again to whet it. He uttered a cackling sound as if begging his mother to bring him some food.
Earlier, he had searched every inch of the place where he had sat and had even gnawed at the dried pieces
of spotted eggshells from which he and his brothers and sisters had been hatched. Now he was getting
absolutely desperate because he had not eaten since the previous night. Maddened by this hunger, he
dived at the fish that his mother baited at him, and flew outward and downward into space.
Q.14. Why was the young seagull afraid of flying? What compelled the seagull to finally fly? 2009
Or
“The sight of the food maddened him”. What does this suggest? What compelled the young seagull to
finally fly?
Or
Why was the young seagull afraid of fly with his brothers and sister?
Ans. The young seagull was afraid of flying because he felt certain that his wings would not support him above
the vast sea.
The young seagull had not eaten anything since the previous night and the sight of his mother tearing at a
piece of fish that lay at her feet was maddening him, making him almost crazy. He loved to tear food that
way and uttered a cackling sound as if begging his mother to bring him some food but she was ignoring
him. Maddened by hunger, he dived at the fish his mother baited at him and flew outward and downward
into space. Finally his feet sank into the green sea and as his belly touched it he sank no further. He was
floating on it and around him his family was praising him.
✽ • •• • ✽
 3. Two Stories about Flying
(ii) Black Aeroplane
—Frederick
Frederick Forsyth

Î STORY HIGHLIGHTS
• The story begins when the pilot of the old Dakota aeroplane was flying at midnight over
Paris (France) towards England. He was on his way to England hoping to have a good
English breakfast with his family. He was dreaming of spending his holiday with his
family.
• But unfortunately he saw great storm clouds ahead of him.
• There were huge, mountain shaped clouds. The narrator risked to enter in the clouds. No
sooner did he enter the clouds that everything turned black. All the instruments in front
of him stopped working.
• Suddenly he notices a black aeroplane without lights on its wings close to him. The pilot
waved his hand to the narrator and asked him to follow him. The narrator followed the
pilot of the black aeroplane like an obedient child as his compass, radio, radar and all
instruments had gone completely dead. In the meantime his fuel tank also was almost
exhausted and he could fly only for another five to ten miles. The pilot of the Dakota
started to become extremely frightened again but The black aeroplane started going
down and the pilot followed him through the clouds to suddenly see a line of lights which
was a runway at the airport.
• In this way with the help of the pilot of the black aeroplane he landed safely. When he
goes to the control room and asks about the other aeroplane he is shocked to find out
that there was no other plane flying in the sky that night.
• Many questions remain unanswered, mysterious and unsolved. The pilot was puzzled. He
wanted to know who had helped him to arrive there safely without a compass or a
radio, and without any more fuel in his tanks? Who was the pilot on the strange black
aeroplane, flying in the storm, without lights?

PREVIOUS YEARS’ CBSE BOARD EXAM QUESTIONS

I. Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow:
Q.1. The moon was coming up in the east, behind me, and stars were shining in the clear sky above me. There wasn’t a
cloud in the sky. I was happy to be alone high up above the sleeping countryside. I was flying my old Dakota
aeroplane over France back to England. I was dreaming of my holiday and looking forward to being with my family.
I looked at my watch : one thirty in the morning.

3. TWO STORIES ABOUT FLYING (II) BLACK AEROPLANE „ 57

58 „ Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

‘I should call Paris control soon,’ I thought. As I looked down past the nose of my aeroplane, I saw the lights of a big
city in front of me. 2004
(a) Which aeroplane was the pilot flying?
(b) What does the writer mean by the ‘sleeping countryside’?
(c) The pilot was happy for two reasons. Mention both.
(d) Which phrase in the passage means ‘hoping with pleasure’?
Ans. (a) The pilot was flying his old Dakota aeroplane.
(b) By ‘sleeping countryside’ the writer means that the people in the countryside above which he was
flying were sleeping.
(c) The pilot was happy because he was dreaming of his holiday and looking forward to being with his
family.
(d) The phrase ‘looking forward to’ means ‘hoping with pleasure’.
Q.2. The moon was coming up in the east, behind me, and stars were shining in the clear sky above me. There wasn’t a
cloud in the sky. I was happy to be alone high up above the sleeping countryside. I was flying my old Dakota
aeroplane over France back to England. I was dreaming of my holiday and looking forward to being with my family.
I looked at my watch : one thirty in the morning. 2009
(a) Who is ‘I’?
(b) What does ‘the sleeping countryside’ mean?
(c) What was he doing?
(d) What did he think of?
(e) Which phrase in the passage means the same as ‘expecting/ anticipating’?

s
Ans. (a) ‘I’ refers to the plane’s pilot.

a
(b) The ‘sleeping countryside’ refers to all the people who lay asleep at night in the countryside.

v D
(c) He was flying his old Dakota aeroplane over France on his way back to England.

Shi
(d) He thought of his holiday and looked forward to being with his family.
(e) The phrase ‘looking forward to’ means the same as ‘expecting/anticipating’.
Q.3. ‘I should call Paris Control soon,’ I thought.
As I looked down past the nose of the aeroplane, I saw the lights of a big city in front of me. I switched on the radio
and said: ‘Paris Control, Dakota DS 088 here. Can you hear me? I’m on my way to England. Over.’.
The voice from the radio answered me immediately: ‘DS 088. I can hear you. You ought to turn twelve degrees west
now, DS 088. Over.’
I checked the map and the compass, switched over to my second and last fuel tank, and turned the Dakota twelve
degrees west towards England.
‘I’ll be in time for breakfast,’ I thought. A good big English breakfast! Everything was going well—it was an easy
flight.
Paris was about 150 kilometers behind me when I saw the clouds. Storm clouds. They were huge. They looked like
black mountains standing in front of me across the sky. I knew I could not fly up and over them, and I did not have
enough fuel to fly around them to the north or south.
‘I ought to go back to Paris,’ I thought, but I wanted to get home. I wanted that breakfast.
‘I’ll take the risk,’ I thought, and flew that old Dakota straight into the storm. 2000
(a) Who is ‘I’ in the above passage?
(b) Where was he going?
(c) What does he encounter 150 kilometers away from Paris?
(d) Why did the pilot not go back?
(e) Which word in the passage means ‘instantly’?
Ans. (a) ‘I’ in the above passage is the narrator, Frederick Forsyth.
(b) He was going to London.
(c) He encountered huge, stormy clouds which seemed like black mountains, 150 kilometres away from Paris.
(d) The pilot did not go back because he was eager to get home to be with his family.
(e) The word ‘immediately’ means ‘instantly’.
Q.4. ‘Paris Control? Paris Control? Can you hear me?’
There was no answer. The radio was dead too. I had no radio, no compass, and I could not see where I was. I was lost
in the storm. Then, in the black clouds quite near me, I saw another aeroplane. It had no lights on its wings, but I
 3. TWO STORIES ABOUT FLYING (II) BLACK AEROPLANE „ 59

could see it flying next to me through the storm. I could see the pilot’s face — turned towards me. I was very glad to
see another person. He lifted one hand and waved.
‘Follow me,’ he was saying. ‘Follow me.’
‘He knows that I am lost,’ I thought. ‘He’s trying to help me.’
He turned his aeroplane slowly to the north, in front of my Dakota, so that it would be easier for me to follow him. I
was very happy to go behind the strange aeroplane like an obedient child.
After half an hour the strange black aeroplane was still there in front of me in the clouds. Now there was only enough
fuel in the old Dakota’s last tank to fly for five or ten minutes more. I was starting to feel frightened again. But then
he started to go down and I followed through the storm.
Suddenly I came out of the clouds and saw two long straight lines of lights in front of me. It was a runway! An
airport! I was safe! I turned to look for my friend in the black aeroplane, but the sky was empty. There was nothing
there. The black aeroplane was gone. I could not see it anywhere. 2001
(a) How do we know that the pilot was completely lost in the storm?
(b) What was the pilot of the second plane signalling him to do?
(c) How did the second pilot help the lost pilot?
(d) What was “the two long straight lines of lights”?
(e) Give the meaning of the word ‘compass’.
Ans. (a) The pilot had no radio, no compass and he could not see where he was. He was completely lost in the storm.
(b) The pilot of the second plane was signalling him to follow him (the second pilot).
(c) The second pilot made the first pilot follow him and guided him out of the storm.
(d) “The two long straight lines of lights” was the runway.
(e) The word ‘compass’ means ‘an instrument with the help of which one can know directions’.

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Q.5. Suddenly I came out of the clouds and saw two straight lines of lights in front of me. It was a runway! An airport!

a
I was safe! I turned to look for my friend in the black aeroplane, but the sky was empty. There was nothing there. The

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black aeroplane was gone. I could not see it anywhere.

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I landed and was not sorry to walk away from the old Dakota near the control tower. I went and asked a woman in
the control centre where I was and who the other pilot was. I wanted to say “Thank You’. 2008
(a) How did the pilot know that he had landed at the airport?
(b) What makes you sure that there was no other aeroplane in the sky?
(c) Why did he enquire about the other pilot?
(d) Find out a word from the passage which means the same as ‘a hard surface where aeroplanes can
land or take off’?
Ans. (a) As the pilot came out of the clouds he saw two straight lines of lights in front of him. He realized it
was a runway and that he had landed at the airport.
(b) The woman at the control tower confirmed that there was no other aeroplane in the sky.
(c) He wanted to thank the other pilot for his help so he enquired about him.
(d) The word ‘runway’ means the same as ‘a hard surface where aeroplanes can land and take off’.
Q.6. I landed and was not sorry to walk away from the old Dakota near the control tower. I went and asked a woman in
the control centre where I was and who then other pilot was.
I wanted to say ‘Thank you’.
She looked at me very strangely, and then laughed.
“Another aeroplane? Up there in this storm? No other aeroplanes were flying tonight. Yours was the only one I could
see on the radar.”
So who helped me to arrive there safely without a compass or a radio, and without any more fuel in my tanks? Who
was the pilot on the strange black aeroplane, flying in the storm, without lights? 2008
(a) Who is ‘I’?
(b) What did he ask the woman in the control centre?
(c) Why did he want to meet the pilot of the black aeroplane?
(d) Which word in the passage means the same as ‘an instrument that shows directions’?
Ans. (a) ‘I’ is the narrator, Frederick Forsyth.
(b) He asked the woman in the control centre where he was and who the other pilot was.
(c) He wanted to meet the pilot of the black aeroplane to express his gratitude to him.
(d) The word ‘compass’ means the same as ‘an instrument that shows directions’.
II. Answer the following questions briefly:
Q.7. Why did the woman in the control room look at the pilot of Dakota DS 088 strangely? 2009, 2012
60 „ Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

Ans. The woman in the control room looked at the pilot of the Dakota strangely when he was talking about
there being another aeroplane. She knew that there was no other aeroplane as she could see only one
aeroplane on the radar.
Q.8. Describe the first pilot’s experience with the black clouds. How did he get out of these clouds? 2000
Ans. The black clouds appeared after the first pilot had covered 150 kilometers from Paris. They looked like
black mountains standing in front of him across the sky. He knew he did not have enough fuel to fly above
or around them. Once he was inside the clouds, everything was suddenly black. It became impossible to
see anything outside the plane. The old aeroplane jumped and twisted in the air and the instruments in the
plane, including the radio and compass, were dead. The first pilot was totally lost in the storm. Suddenly,
in the black clouds, he saw another plane. Though it had no lights on its wings the first pilot could see the
other pilot’s signalling to follow him. Following him, the first pilot came out of the clouds.
Q.9. Do you agree that the story ‘The Black Aeroplane’ is a mystery? Justify your answer. 2001
Ans. This story is no doubt a mystery because the writer leaves many questions unanswered which not only
puzzle us but also mystify us. We all are extremely eager to know as to who the pilot in the strange plane
was and if there was actually a plane that had guided the first plane, or its pilot had imagined it all in
distress. All this could just be a figment of the imagination of the first pilot or it could actually be a plane
whose pilot had probably crashed in a storm and so his ghost had come to ensure that another pilot did not
meet a similar fate. This mystery remains unsolved and we are left guessing if there is indeed a
supernatural element in the story. All we can do is make our own assumptions and let our own
imaginations run wild.
Q.10. How did the black aeroplane rescue the first pilot? 2004

s
Ans. The first pilot was stuck in the thick black clouds. The compass, radio and other instruments in his plane

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were dead. Then in the black clouds quite near to him, suddenly he spotted another aeroplane. Though he

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could not see the pilot’s face, he understood the pilot was signalling with his hand that he (the first pilot)

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should follow him. He turned his aeroplane slowly towards the black aeroplane and went behind it like an
obedient child. After about half an hour he started going down and suddenly they came out of the clouds
and the first pilot saw the runway in front of him but the aeroplane that he had followed just disappeared.
Q.11. Describe the flight of the Dakota aeroplane till it landed safely at the airport. 2005, 2017
Ans. The Dakota aeroplane took off in a clear sky from France for its journey to England. After flying about 150
kilometres it was suddenly inside thick black clouds and everything was black. The compass, radio and all
other instruments of the plane were dead. The aeroplane jumped and twisted in the air. Then in the black
clouds the pilot saw a black aeroplane. Though he could not see the other pilot’s face he understood that
the pilot was signalling with his hand to follow him. The pilot followed the other plane like an obedient
child. After half an hour the Dakota aeroplane came out of the clouds and saw two long straight lines of
light of the runway in front. But there was no sign of the black aeroplane.
Q.12. The author asked a question at the end of the lesson ‘The Black Aeroplane’, “Who was the pilot in the
strange black aeroplane?” Answer this question. 2006
Ans. It is indeed a mystery as to who the pilot of the strange black aeroplane was. It is quite probable that the pilot
was actually a ghost whose plane might have crashed in a storm so he felt it was his moral duty to avert
another such disaster. That is the reason the ghost seems to appear out of nowhere just to guide the pilot
safely to the airport and once this job is done he just vanishes into thin air and is not seen again. Another
probability is that the pilot of the old Dakota had imagined it all in his distress. No definite explanation can
be given for this mystery as the story has a supernatural element attached to it which is inexplicable.
Q.13. ‘Everything was going well—it was an easy flight.’ Why was the pilot happy? 2006
Ans. The pilot was flying his aeroplane in a clear sky where he could see the moon coming up in the east,
behind him, and the stars were shining above him. He was happy to be alone high up above the sleeping
countryside and was dreaming of his holiday and looking forward to being with his family. He thought
that he would be home in time for breakfast and devour a good big English breakfast. Everything was
going pretty well for him. He was getting fine signals from the Paris Control Room which was giving him
the accurate direction on which he was to proceed. His compass and full tank were also up to the mark. So,
all in all, it was an easy flight for him.
✽ • •• • ✽
 4. From the Diary of Anne Frank
—Anne
Anne Frank

Î STORY HIGHLIGHTS
• A young 13 year old girl Anne wanted to have a very intimate and close friend but she
couldn’t make one. And hence she turned to make her diary, Kitty, her true friend.
Because she feels paper has more patience than people, she writes every bit of the
happenings in her life truthfully in her diary which posthumously became one of the most
important literary contributions to the world.
• She describes in her diary the days of her early childhood. When she was in class 5 she
had been punished by Mr. Keesing, her Mathematics teacher, for being talkative. She was
asked to write an essay on ‘Chatterbox’ but still couldn’t stop talking too much.
• She was punished for the second time and told to write an essay on ‘An Incorrigible
Chatterbox’ with all her arguments. She wrote and submitted it to the teacher. But she
didn’t stop the over-talking.
• She was punished for the third time and again told to write an essay on the same topic.
She submitted her essay in poetic form which described three young ducklings being
bitten to death by the father duck because they quacked too much. This moved Mr.
Keesing and then onwards she was allowed to talk with no more punishment.
• Hence, we find a very intimate and deliberate description of her personal feelings in the
pages of her diary.

PREVIOUS YEARS’ CBSE BOARD EXAM QUESTIONS

I. Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow:
Q.1. Let me put it more clearly, since no one will believe that a thirteen-year-old girl is completely alone in the world. And
I’m not. I have loving parents and a sixteen-year-old sister, and there are about thirty people I can call friends. I have
a family, loving aunts and a good home. No, on the surface I seem to have everything, except my one true friend. All
I think about when I’m with friends is having a good time. I can’t bring myself to talk about anything but ordinary
everyday things. We don’t seem to be able to get any closer, and that’s the problem. Maybe it’s my fault that we don’t
confide in each other. In any case, that’s just how things are, and unfortunately they are not liable to change. This is
why I’ve started the diary. 2009
(a) Anne has thirty people around, yet she feels alone. Why?
(b) What does Anne think about when she is with friends?
(c) What reasons does she give for writing the diary?
(d) Which word in the passage means the same as ‘to trust someone’/ ‘to share a secret’?
4. FROM THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK „ 61
62 „ Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

Ans. (a) Despite having thirty people around Anne feels lonely because she does not have a true friend.
(b) When she is with friends Anne can only think of having a good time.
(c) Anne’s reasons for writing a diary are that when she is with her friends she is not able to talk to them
about anything but ordinary everyday things and they don’t seem to be getting any closer so they are
unable to confide in each other. So she started writing a diary.
(d) The word ‘confide’ means the same as ‘to trust someone’/ ‘to share a secret’.
Q.2. All I think about when I’m with friends is having a good time. I can’t bring myself to talk about anything but
ordinary everyday things. We don’t seem to be able to get any closer, and that’s the problem. May be it’s my fault
that we don’t confide in each other. In any case, that’s just how things are, and unfortunately they’re not liable to
change. This is why I’ve started the diary. 2009
(a) What does Anne think about when she is with friends?
(b) Mention any two problems which she thinks she has in relation to her friends.
(c) What is the reason for her to start writing a diary?
(d) Which word in the passage means the same as ‘to tell personal things privately to a person that
one trusts’?
Ans. (a) When Anne is with friends she can only think of having a good time.
(b) Anne cannot bring herself to talk about anything but ordinary everyday things when she is with
friends and they don’t seem to be able to get any closer than they already are.
(c) Her inability to confide in her friends is the main reason for her to start writing a diary.
(d) The word ‘confide’ means the same as ‘to tell personal things privately to a person that one trusts ’.
Q.3. To enhance the image of this long-awaited friend in my imagination, I don’t want to jot down the facts in this diary

as
the way most people would do, but I want the diary to be my friend, and I’m going to call this friend ‘Kitty’.

D
Since no one would understand a word of my stories to Kitty if I were to plunge right in, I’d better provide a brief

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sketch of my life, much as I dislike doing so.

Sh
My father, the most adorable father I’ve ever seen, didn’t marry my mother until he was thirty-six and she was
twenty-five. My sister, Margot was born in Frankfurt in Germany in 1926. I was born on 12 June 1929. I lived in
Frankfurt until I was four. My father emigrated to Holland in 1933. My mother, Edith Hollander Frank, went with
him to Holland in September, while Margot and I were sent to Aachen to stay with our grandmother. Margot went
to Holland in December, and I followed in February, when I was plunked down on the table as a birthday present for
Margot.
I started right away at the Montessori nursery school. I stayed there until I was six, at which time I started in the
first form. In the sixth form my teacher was Mrs. Kuperus, the headmistress. At the end of the year we were both in
tears as we said a heartbreaking farewell. 2000
(a) What prompted Anne to keep a diary?
(b) Who became Anne’s friend? What was her name?
(c) Who called Anne ‘a birthday present’? Why?
(d) Who was in tears? Why?
(e) What does the word ‘emigrated’ mean?
Ans. (a) Anne needed to have one true friend with whom she could confide about anything, so she decided to
keep a diary.
(b) The diary became Anne’s friend. She decided to name her friend, Kitty.
(c) Anne had followed her sister Margot to Holland two months later her parents plunked her down on
the table as Margot’s birthday present.
(d) Anne and her teacher Mrs. Kuperus, the headmistress, were in tears as they had to bid each other a
heart-breaking farewell.
(e) The word ‘emigrated’ means ‘to leave one’s country to settle in another’.
Q.4. If you ask me, there are so many dummies that about a quarter of the class should be kept back, but teachers are the
most unpredictable creatures on earth.
I’m not so worried about my girlfriends and myself. We’ll make it. The only subject I’m not sure about is maths.
Anyway, all we can do is wait. Until then, we keep telling each other not to lose heart.
I get along pretty well with all my teachers. There are nine of them, seven men and two women. Mr. Keesing, the old
fogey who teaches maths, was annoyed with me for ages because I talked so much. After several warnings, he assigned
 4. FROM THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK „ 63

me extra homework. An essay on the subject, ‘A Chatterbox’. A chatterbox — what can you write about that? I’d
worry about that later, I decided. I jotted down the title in my notebook, tucked it in my bag and tried to keep quiet.
That evening, after I’d finished the rest of my homework, the note about the essay caught my eye. I began thinking
about the subject while chewing the tip of my fountain pen. Anyone could ramble on and leave big spaces between the words,
but the trick was to come up with convincing arguments to prove the necessity of talking. I thought and thought, and
suddenly I had an idea. I wrote the three pages Mr. Keesing had assigned to me and was satisfied. 2001
(a) Why does Anne call teachers as ‘most unpredictable’?
(b) What is all they can do until the results are out?
(c) Why was Mr. Keesing annoyed with Anne?
(d) What was Anne’s trick in writing the essay on ‘A Chatterbox’?
(e) Give the meaning of the word ‘trait’.
Ans. (a) Anne calls teachers as ‘most unpredictable’ because you never know whom they promote or detain in
a class.
(b) All they can do is to tell each other not to lose heart.
(c) Mr. Keesing was annoyed with Anne because she talked too much.
(d) Anne’s trick was to come up with convincing arguments to prove the necessity of talking.
(e) The word ‘trait’ means ‘distinguishing feature in character’ or ‘habit’.
Q.5. Anyone could ramble on and leave big spaces between the words, but the trick was to come up with convincing
arguments to prove the necessity of talking. I thought and thought, and suddenly I had an idea. I wrote the three
pages Mr. Keesing had assigned to me and was satisfied. I argued that talking is a student’s trait and that I would do
my best to keep it under control, but that I would never be able to cure myself of the habit since my mother talked as

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much as I did if not more, and that there’s not much you can do about inherited traits. 2009, 2014

a
(a) What had Mr. Keesing assigned to Anne?

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(b) What, according to her, is a student’s trait?

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(c) Why would she never to able to cure herself?
(d) Which word in the passage means the same as ‘a particular quality’?
Ans. (a) Mr. Keesing had assigned to Anne the task of writing an essay on the subject, ‘A Chatterbox’.
(b) According to her, talking is a student’s trait.
(c) She would never be able to cure herself of this habit since her mother talked as much as she did and
there was not much she could do about this inherited trait.
(d) The word ‘trait’ in the passage means the same as ‘a particular quality’.
Q.6. Mr. Keesing had a good laugh at my arguments, but when I proceeded to talk my way through the next lesson, he
assigned me a second essay. This time it was supposed to be on ‘An Incorrigible Chatterbox’. I handed it in, and Mr.
Keesing had nothing to complain about for two whole lessons. However, during the third lesson he’d finally had
enough. ‘Anne Frank, as punishment for talking in class, write an essay entitled “Quack, Quack, Quack, said
Mistress Chatterbox.”
The class roared. I had to laugh too, though I’d nearly exhausted my ingenuity on the topic of chatterboxes. It was
time to come up with something else, something original. My friend Sanne, who’s good at poetry, offered to help me
write the essay from beginning to end in verse. I jumped for joy. Mr. Keesing was trying to play a joke on me with
this ridiculous subject, but I’d make sure the joke was on him.
I finished my poem, and it was beautiful! It was about a mother duck and a father swan with three baby ducklings
who were bitten to death by the father because they quacked too much. Luckily, Mr. Keesing took the joke the right
way. He read the poem to the class, adding his own comments, and to several other classes as well. 2002
(a) What was the topic of the first essay assigned by Mr. Keesing?
(b) During the third lesson what did Mr. Keesing tell Anne?
(c) How did Sanne help Anne?
(d) What was Mr. Keesing’s reaction after reading the poem?
(e) Give the meaning of the word ‘ingenuity’.
Ans. (a) Mr. Keesing assigned Anne to write an essay on ‘A Chatterbox’.
(b) Mr. Keesing was yet again fed-up of Anne’s consistent talking and told her to write an essay entitled
‘Quack, Quack, Quack, said Mistress Chatterbox’.
(c) Sanne, who was good at poetry, offered to help Anne in writing the essay from beginning to end in
verse.
 64 „ Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

(d) Mr. Keesing read the poem and took the joke it conveyed in the right way. He then read the poem to
the whole class, adding his own comments.
(e) The word ‘ingenuity’ means ‘skill to invent’.
Q.7. I finished my poem, and it was beautiful! It was about a mother duck and a father swan with three baby ducklings
who were bitten to death by the father because they quacked too much. Luckily, Mr. Keesing took the joke the right
way. He read the poem to the class, adding his own comments, and to several other classes as well. Since then I’ve
been allowed to talk in class and haven’t been assigned any extra homework. On the contrary, Mr. Keesing’s always
making jokes these days. 2008, 2015
(a) Why does Anne say that the poem was beautiful?
(b) How did Mr. Keesing react to it?
(c) What changes came in Mr. Keesing’s behaviour towards Anne after he had read the poem?
(d) Which word in the passage means the same as ‘given a particular job to somebody?
Ans. (a) Anne says that the poem was beautiful because it was unique and well written.
(b) Mr. Keesing reacted to it most positively by taking the joke in the right way.
(c) Mr. Keesing’s behaviour towards Anne changed after he had read the poem. He allowed her to talk
and didn’t assign any extra homework to her.
(d) The word ‘assigned’ means the same as ‘given a particular job to somebody’.
Q.8. I finished my poem, and it was beautiful! It was about a mother duck and a father swan with three baby ducklings
who were bitten to death by the father because they quacked too much. Luckily, Mr. Keesing took the joke the right
way. He read the poem to the class, adding his own comments, and to several other classes as well. Since then I’ve
been allowed to talk and haven’t been assigned any extra homework. On the contrary, Mr. Keesing’s always making

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jokes these days. 2009

D
(a) Who wrote the poem?

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(b) What did the father swan do to the ducklings and why?

Sh
(c) How did Mr. Keesing’s taking the joke in the right way affect Anne?
(d) Find out the phrase from the passage which means the same as ‘on the other hand’.
Ans. (a) Anne Frank wrote the poem.
(b) The father swan bit his ducklings to death because they quacked too much.
(c) Mr. Keesing took her joke in the right way and after that Anne was allowed to talk.
(d) The phrase ‘on the contrary’ means the same as ‘on the other hand’.

II. Answer the following questions briefly:

Q.9. What prompted Anne to maintain a diary? 2001
Or, Why does Anne want to keep a diary?
Ans. Anne did not have a real friend to whom she could pour out her thoughts and emotions. She could only
talk with her friends about ordinary, everyday things but couldn’t confide in them. So, she decided to
maintain a diary.
Q.10. Why did Anne say that she is not completely alone in the world? 2001, 2004
Ans. Anne says that she is not completely alone in the world because she has loving parents, a sixteen year old
sister and there are about thirty people whom she can call friends. She has a family, loving aunts and a
good home.
Q.11. Give a character sketch of Anne. 2008
Or, Write a brief sketch of Anne’s character? 2001
Ans. Though Anne was just thirteen years old, she was pretty mature for her age. She was intelligent, witty and
humorous. She understood that no one would be interested in the musings of a young school girl so she
decided to maintain a diary, knowing well that paper had more patience than people. When Mr. Keesing
gave her various assignments as a punishment for being talkative in class, she wrote these with witty
intelligence and finally befriended even Mr. Keesing because of her sensibility.
Q.12. Why was Mr. Keesing annoyed with Anne and what extra homework did he give to her after several
warnings? 2008, 2009
Ans. Mr. Keesing was annoyed with Anne because she talked too much. In spite of giving her several warnings
 4. FROM THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK „ 65

she continued to talk excessively. After this Mr. Keesing assigned her extra homework, to write an essay on
the subject —’A Chatterbox’
Q.13. Why did Mr. Keesing assign Anne extra homework, an essay on “A Chatterbox”? How did she justify
her being a chatterbox. 2009
Ans. Mr. Keesing was annoyed with Anne because of her incessant talking. In spite of his repeated and
numerous warnings he was unable to stop her from her non-stop chattering. So as a form of punishment he
assigned her extra homework, to write an essay on the subject ‘A Chatterbox’. Anne took this up as a
challenge and in her three-page long essay she justified her being a chatterbox by coming up with
convincing arguments to prove the necessity of talking, forcing even Mr. Keesing to have a good laugh at
her arguments.
Q.14. How did Mr. Keesing punish Anne? What was the punishment? 2003
Ans. Mr. Keesing was rather an old teacher who taught Maths and had been annoyed with Anne for a long time
because she talked too much. After several warnings he assigned her extra homework to write an essay on
the subject ‘A Chatterbox’. In her essay Anne argued that talking was a student’s trait and she would do
her best to keep it under control but that she could not cure herself of the habit of talking. Then Mr.
Keesing assigned her a second essay on ‘An Incorrigible Chatterbox’. When Anne proceeded to talk
relentlessly even after submitting her second essay, Mr. Keesing said he had finally had enough of her and
punished her yet again by telling her to write yet another essay entitled, ‘Quack, Quack, Quack’, said
Mistress Chatterbox.’
Q.15. How did Anne finally stop Mr. Keesing from punishing her? Explain. 2005, 2017
Ans. Anne had annoyed Mr. Keesing by her incessant chatting. He assigned her to write an essay each time.

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When Anne wrote her third essay entitled ‘Quack, Quack, Quack, said Mistress Chatterbox’, she wrote the

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whole essay in verse with help from her friend Sanne. She made sure the joke in her poem aimed at Mr.

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Keesing. Luckily Mr. Keesing took the joke in the right way. He read the poem to the whole class and

Sh
finally stopped punishing Anne and allowed her to talk.
Q.16. Was Anne an intelligent girl? Give instances in support of your answer. 2006
Ans. Anne was not only an intelligent girl but she was also pretty mature for her age. She was sensible enough
to understand and realize that no one would be interested in the musings of a young school girl so she
decided to write a diary, knowing well that paper had more patience than people. When Mr. Keesing was
annoyed with her and gave her various assignments on the topic ‘Chatterbox’, she wrote her essays with
witty intelligence and displayed a great sensibility and accuracy in finally befriending Mr. Keesing who
also became more fun-loving and lenient.
Q.17. Why was Anne’s teacher annoyed with her? How was she able to bring about a change in his attitude
towards her? 2007
Ans. Anne’s teacher was annoyed with her because of her incessant chatting. He gave her various assignments
on the topic ‘Chatterbox’ to punish her for being so talkative. She wrote these essays using her humor and
witty intelligence. In her essays she ensured that her jokes aimed at her teacher, Mr. Keesing. He took the
jokes in the right spirit and read her essay written in verse to the whole class and this changed his attitude
towards her.

QUESTIONS FROM THE TEXT

Q.18. What language was the diary originally written in?
Ans. The diary of Anne Frank was originally written in Dutch language.
Q.19. Was Anne right when she said that the world would not be interested in the musings of a thirteen-year-
old girl?
Ans. Writing a diary is a strange experience for a thirteen-year-old school girl as she had never written anything
before. So Anne thought neither she nor anyone else would be interested in the musings of a thirteen-year-
old. But she was wrong as her diary, given to her on her thirteen birthday, chronicles the events of her life
from 12 June 1942 until its final entry of 1st August 1944. It was translated into many languages and
became one of the world’s most widely read books.
66 „ Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

Q.20. What tells you that Anne loved her grandmother?

Ans. When Anne’s grandmother fell ill and had to have an operation, she did not celebrate her birthday. When
her grandmother died, Anne lit a candle for her on her birthday as she often thought of her and still loved
her.
Q.21. Why does Anne need to give a brief sketch about her family? Does she treat ‘Kitty’ as an insider or an
outsider?
Ans. Anne needed to give a brief sketch about her family, as no one would believe that a thirteen year old girl
is completely alone in the world. No one would understand a word of her stories to ‘Kitty’ if she just
started writing. So she thought of providing a brief sketch about her family much to her dislike. Anne had
loving parents and a sixteen year old sister. She had a family, loving aunts and a good home. On the
surface she seemed to have everything except her one true friend. Anne treats ‘Kitty’ as an insider as she
wanted the diary to be her friend and hence she had named it ‘Kitty’.
Q.22. How does Anne feel about her father, her grandmother, Mrs. Kuperus and Mr. Keesing? What do these
tell you about her?
Ans. For Anne, her father was the most adorable man she had ever seen. She thought often about her
grandmother and still loved her. She lit a candle for her grandmother on her birthday celebration. Mrs.
Kuperus the head mistress, was her teacher in the sixth form. Wishing her teacher farewell was
heartbreaking and Anne was in tears. Anne got along well with her teachers. But Mr. Keesing, the old
fogey who taught Maths, was annoyed with Anne the reason that she talked so much. After several
warnings he assigned her extra homework, an essay on the subject, ‘A Chatterbox’. Anne wrote all the
essays on the topic of chatterbox with great intelligence and wit and finally befriended even Mr. Keesing

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because of her sensibility.
Q.23. What does Anne write in her first essay?

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Ans. Mr. Keesing, Anne’s Maths teacher had assigned her extra homework. An essay on the subject ‘A

Sh
chatterbox’. She thought the trick was to come up with convincing arguments to prove the necessity of
talking. After much thinking, Anne wrote three pages. She argued that talking is a student’s trait and that
she would do her best to keep it under control but she would never be able to cure herself of the habit since
her mother talked as much as she did if not more and there’s not much one can do about inherited traits.
Mr. Keesing had a good laugh at her essay.
Q.24. Anne says teachers are most unpredictable. Is Mr. Keesing unpredictable? How?
Ans. Anne calls teachers as ‘most unpredictable’ because you never know whom they promote or detain in
class. Mr. Keesing too appears to be unpredictable as, according to Anne, he did not give any reaction
after reading her second essay. His reaction after reading Anne’s third essay was quite contrary to his
earlier reaction, thus revealing his unpredictable nature.
Q.25. What makes writing a diary a strange experience for Anne Frank?
Ans. Writing a diary was really a strange experience for Anne because she had never written anything before
and she thought that neither she nor anyone else would be interested in the musings of a thirteen-year-old
school girl.
Q.26. Why did Anne think she could confide more in her diary than in people?
Ans. On the surface Anne seemed to have everything, except one true friend. With her friends she could only
think of having a good time. She could talk about only ordinary things. She was not close to them. She
thought it was her fault that she could not confide in her friends. She did not want to just write facts in her
diary just as most people do, but she wanted the diary to be her friend. As paper has more patience than
people, Anne thought the diary would be her friend in whom she could confide.

✽ • •• • ✽
 5. T he Hundred Dresses-I
—Eleanor
Eleanor Estes

Î STORY HIGHLIGHTS
• In “The Hundred Dresses,” Wanda Petronski, is the new girl in Room thirteen. Peggy is
the most popular girl in the class and Maddie is her best friend. Wanda lives in a poor
neighbourhood with her father and brother. She doesn’t have a mother. Wanda is not
readily accepted into the groups of friends and she doesn’t know how to fit in. She wears
the same faded blue dress to school every day. It doesn’t fit well but it’s always clean.
• One day, a student named Cecile arrives with a new crimson dress. Everyone is admiring
the new dress. Wanda stops and becomes part of the group of girls. She shyly whispers to
Peggy that she has 100 dresses lined up in her closet at home. Peggy immediately seizes
on the statement and laughs at Wanda. The other girls follow her lead. They ask why she
never wears any of them to school and she explains that they are party dresses. Soon,
most of the girls are teasing Wanda and laughing about her 100 dresses.
• Meanwhile, the lessons go on. Wanda sits in a corner of Room thirteen where most of the
noisy boys sit. Most of the students in that corner don’t get good grades and there is
usually mud on the floor, tracked in by the students who walk to school from the
country.
• One day, Miss Mason announces that it’s time for the annual drawing contest. The girls
are to draw a dress and the boys are to draw a motorboat. One boy and one girl will be
chosen as winners of the contest. When it’s time to turn in the drawings, the children are
amazed to find that Wanda has turned in 100 drawings. Each is a beautiful dress and
it’s obvious these are the 100 dresses she claimed were lined up in her closet at home.
Everyone agrees that she is a talented artist and it’s no surprise when she wins the prize.
• After Wanda is absent for a few days, her classmates learn that her family has moved
away to the big city where they will not be mistreated for being different. Maddie begins
to wonder about the girl she and her friends used to constantly tease, and realizes that
she knows very little about her.
• Maddie begins to wonder why they started teasing her in the first place and is overcome
with guilt for making fun of her simply because she is poor and has a funny name and is
different from them. Maddie realises that she should have stood up to her friends and
defended Wanda. She feels guilty for not speaking up, for standing by and allowing her
friends to tease Wanda.

5. THE HUNDRED DRESSES-I „ 67

 68 „ Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

PREVIOUS YEARS’ CBSE BOARD EXAM QUESTIONS

I. Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow:
Q.1. Wanda did not sit there because she was rough and noisy. On the contrary, she was very quiet and rarely said
anything at all. And nobody had ever heard her laugh out loud. Sometimes she twisted her mouth into a crooked sort
of smile, but that was all.
Nobody knew exactly why Wanda sat in that seat, unless it was because she came all the way from Boggins Heights
and her feet were unusually caked with dry mud. But no one really thought much about Wanda Petronski, once she
sat in the corner of the room. 2009
(a) Where did Wanda sit?
(b) What type of girl was she?
(c) Why did she sit there among rough and noisy boys?
(d) Which word in the passage means the same as ‘strangely’?
Ans. (a) Wanda sat in that corner of the room where the rough boys who did not make good marks sat, the
corner which had the most mud and dirt on the floor.
(b) Wanda was a very quiet girl who rarely said anything at all.
(c) She sat among rough and noisy boys because she came all the way from Boggins Heights and her feet
were caked with the dry mud.
(d) The word ‘unusually’ means the same as ‘strangely’.
Q.2. Wanda didn’t have any friends. She came to school alone and went home alone. She always wore a faded blue dress
that didn’t hang right. It was clean, but it looked as though it had never been ironed properly. She didn’t have any

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friends, but a lot of girls talked to her. Sometimes, they surrounded her in the school-yard as she stood watching the

a
little girls play hopscotch on the worn hard ground.

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“Wanda,” Peggy would say in a most courteous manner as though she were talking to Miss Mason. “Wanda,” she’d

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say, giving one of her friends a nudge, “Tell us. How many dresses did you say you had hanging up in your closet?”
“A hundred,” Wanda said.
“A hundred!” exclaimed all the little girls incredulously, and the little ones would stop playing hopscotch and listen.
(a) How do you conclude that Wanda had no friends?
(b) Why didn’t Wanda’s dress hang right?
(c) Why would Peggy give her friends a nudge?
(d) Give the meaning of the word ‘incredulously’.
Ans. (a) Wanda had no friends as she came to school alone and went home alone.
(b) Wanda’s dress never hung right because it had never been ironed properly.
(c) Peggy would give her friends a nudge because she wanted their undivided attention before she
started making fun of Wanda.
(d) The word ‘incredulously’ means ‘show unwillingness to believe something’.
Q.3. Peggy was not really cruel. She protected small children from bullies. And she cried for hours if she saw an animal mistreated.
If anybody had said to her, “Don’t you think that is a cruel way to treat Wanda?” She would have been very surprised.
Cruel? Why did the girl say she had a hundred dresses? Anybody could tell that was a lie. Why did she want to lie?
And she wasn’t just an ordinary person, else why did she have a name like that? Anyway, they never made her cry.
As for Maddie, this business of asking Wanda every day how many dresses and how many hats, and how many this
and that she had, was bothering her. Maddie was poor herself. She usually wore somebody’s hand-me-down clothes.
Thank goodness, she didn’t live up on Boggins Heights or have a funny name. 2007
(a) Which two instances show that Peggy was not really cruel?
(b) Why was making fun of Wanda bothering Maddie?
(c) What did Maddie thank God for?
(d) Give the meaning of the word ‘bullies’.
Ans. (a) Peggy was not really cruel as she protected the small children from bullies. She also cried for hours if
she saw a small animal being mistreated.
(b) Maddie was poor like Wanda so making fun of her was bothering Maddie.
(c) Maddie thanked God that she did not live in Boggins Heights and did not have a funny surname like
Petronski.
(d) The word ‘bullies’ means ‘those who use their strength to frighten weak people’.
 5. THE HUNDRED DRESSES-I „ 69

Q.4. If only Peggy would decide of her own accord to stop having fun with Wanda. Oh, well! Maddie ran her hand
through her short blonde hair as though to push the uncomfortable thoughts away. What difference did it make?
Slowly Maddie tore into bits the note she had started. She was Peggy’s best friend, and Peggy was the best-liked girl
in the whole room. Peggy could not possibly do anything that was really wrong, she thought.
As for Wanda, she was just some girl who lived up on Boggins Heights and stood alone in the school yard. She
scarcely ever said anything to anybody. The only time she talked was in the school yard about her hundred dresses.
2006
(a) Why was Maddie feeling bad on teasing Wanda?
(b) What does her running her hand through her hair signify?
(c) Why did Maddie think Peggy could not do any wrong?
(d) When was the only time that Wanda talked?
(e) Give the meaning of the word ‘scarcely’.
Ans. (a) Maddie was poor herself so she felt bad on teasing Wanda.
(b) It signifies her attempt to push uncomfortable thoughts away.
(c) Since Peggy was her best friend and the best-liked girl in the whole class, Maddie thought she could
do no wrong.
(d) The only time Wanda talked was in the school yard about her 100 dresses.
(e) The word ‘scarcely’ means ‘rarely’.
Q.5. For girls, this contest consisted of designing dresses and for boys, of designing motorboats. Probably Peggy would
win the girls’ medal. Peggy drew better than anyone else in the room. At least, that’s what everybody thought. She
could copy a picture in a magazine or some film star’s head so that you could almost tell who it was. Oh, Maddie was

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sure Peggy would win. Well, tomorrow the teacher was going to announce the winners. Then they’d know.

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The next day it was drizzling, Maddie and Peggy hurried to school under Peggy’s umbrella. Naturally on a day like

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this, they didn’t wait for Wanda Petronski on the corner of Oliver Street.

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(a) How was Wanda different from other girls?
(b) What did Wanda mean when she said that she had hundred dresses all lined up in the closet?
(c) Write down the correct option for the following:
They did not wait for Wanda Petronski because:
(i) It was raining heavily.
(ii) They were curious to know the result of the contest.
(iii) Wanda was absent from school for many days.
(d) Who had won the girls’ medal at last? Why? 2009
Ans. (a) Wanda was different from the other girl’s because she had a funny surname and she didn’t have any
friends. She always wore a faded blue dress to school.
(b) Wanda meant to say that she too would like to possess a hundred dresses in her closet.
(c) (i) It was raining heavily.
(d) Wanda had won the girls medal at last because she had drawn one hundred dress designs—all
different and all beautiful.
Q.6. “As for the girls,” she said, “although just one or two sketches were submitted by most, one girl—and Room Thirteen
should be proud of her—this one girl actually drew one hundred designs—all different and all beautiful. In the
opinion of the judges, any one of the drawings is worthy of winning the prize. I am very happy to say that Wanda
Petronski is the winner of the girls’ medal. Unfortunately, Wanda has been absent from school for some days and is
not here to receive the applause that is due to her. Let us hope she will be back tomorrow. Now class, you may file
around the room quietly and look at her exquisite drawings.”
The children burst into applause, and even the boys were glad to have a chance to stamp on the floor, put their fingers
in their mouths and whistle, though they were not interested in dresses. 2006
(a) Why should Room Thirteen be proud of Wanda?
(b) Why was Wanda unable to receive the applause?
(c) What did Miss Mason want the class to do?
(d) What were the boys given a chance to do?
(e) Give the meaning of the word ‘file’.
 70 „ Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

Ans. (a) Room Thirteen should be proud of Wanda as she alone drew one hundred different and beautiful
dress designs.
(b) Since Wanda had been absent from school for some days she was unable to receive the applause.
(c) Miss Mason wanted the class to file around the room quietly and look at Wanda’s exquisite drawings.
(d) The boys were given a chance to stamp on the floor, put their fingers in their mouths and whistle.
(e) The word ‘file’ means ‘to line up one behind the other’.

II. Answer the following questions briefly:

Q.7. When and why do Peggy and Maddie notice Wanda’s absence? 2000
Ans. Peggy and Maddie noticed Wanda’s absence on the third day which was Wednesday. The reason they
noticed her absence was because she had delayed them to school depriving them of having fun with her,
and she just hadn’t come.
Q.8. Why did Wanda’s drawing win the prize? 2004
Ans. Wanda had drawn one hundred designs—all different and all beautiful. So, in the opinion of the judges
each of her drawings was worthy of winning the prize.
Q.9. Where in the classroom does Wanda sit and why? 2009
Ans. Wanda sat in that corner of the classroom where the rough boys who did not make good marks sat, that
corner of the room where there was the most dragging of feet, most roars of laughter and most mud and
dirt on the floor. She sat there because after travelling from Boggins Heights her feet were caked with the
dry mud. So in order to avoid being laughed at by her classmates, she sat there to hide her dirty feet.
Q.10. Why were Maddie and Peggy amazed the minute they entered the classroom? 2003

as
Ans. The moment Maddie and Peggy entered the classroom, they stood still and gasped in amazement. This

D
was because there were drawings all over the classroom, on every ledge and windowsill, dazzling colours

Shiv
and brilliant grand designs, all drawn on great sheets of wrapping paper. There were at least a hundred of
these all lined up. These were the drawings for the contest and everyone who came in stopped, whistled or
murmured admiringly on seeing them.
Q.11. How did the children respond to Wanda’s drawings? 2018
Ans. The children of the class admired Wanda’s drawings. Everybody stopped and whistled or murmured
admiringly. After Miss Mason had announced that Wanda was the winner, they burst into applause, and
even the boys were glad to have a chance to stamp on the floor and whistle. Also, just as Peggy and
Maddie entered the room, they stopped short and gasped. Later they recognized the designs as those
which Wanda had described to them. And in the end, Peggy exclaimed, “…and I thought I could draw.”
This shows that she also realized how good Wanda’s drawings were.
Q.12. In what ways was Wanda different from other children?
Or, In what ways was Wanda different from other children? How did they treat her? 2004, 2008
Ans. Wanda was a very quiet child and rarely said anything at all. She sat in the corner of the room, where the
rough boys who did not make good marks sat. That corner was the noisiest and which also had the most
mud and dirt on the floor. She sat there though she herself was not rough and noisy. Wanda had no friends
and the other children made fun of her. They thought that her name ‘Petronski’ was funny.
Wanda Petronski had a very peculiar name. The other children in her class had names which were easy to
say but no one had a name as funny as Petronski. She did not even have friends. She came to school and
went home alone. She always wore a faded blue dress that did not fit her properly and her dress also
looked as if it had never been ironed properly. Though a lot of girls talked to her, they would burst into
shrieks and peals of laughter as she left.

QUESTIONS FROM THE TEXT

Q.13. Where does Wanda live? What kind of a place do you think it is?
Ans. Wanda lived in Boggins Heights. Her feet were usually caked with dry mud as Boggins Heights was part
of the town that bore a wet and sad look.
Q.14. What do you think ‘to have fun with her’ means?
Ans. ‘To have fun with her’, means that Peggy would make fun of Wanda and her dress which was never
properly ironed.
 5. THE HUNDRED DRESSES-I „ 71

Q.15. Did Wanda have hundred dresses? Why do you think she said she did?
Ans. No, Wanda did not have a hundred dresses. Wanda had a blue dress which she wore everyday. Wanda
said so because Peggy had made it her business of asking Wanda everyday how many dresses and how
many hats she had. Peggy asked these questions in a mocking voice.
Q.16. Why is Maddie embarrassed by the questions Peggy asked Wanda? Is she also like Wanda, or is she
different?
Ans. Maddie was embarrassed by the questions Peggy asked Wanda, not because she felt sorry for Wanda.
Maddie herself was poor but she wasn’t as poor as Wanda. She usually wore somebody’s hand-me-down
clothes. Maddie would not have liked that Peggy teased her about dresses as she teased Wanda.
Q.17. Why didn’t Maddie ask Peggy to stop teasing Wanda? What was she afraid of?
Ans. Maddie was Peggy’s best friend and Peggy was the best liked girl in the whole room. Maggie thought
Peggy could not possibly do anything that was really wrong. Maddie knew she never would have the
courage to speak right out to Peggy to stop teasing Wanda about her dresses. She pictured herself in the
school yard, a new target for Peggy and the girls.
Q.18. Who did Maddie think would win the drawing contest? Why?
Ans. Maddie thought that Peggy would win the drawing contest. Peggy drew better than anyone else in the
room. She could copy a picture in a magazine or some film star’s head so that one could almost tell who it
was.
Q.19. Who won the drawing contest? What had the winner drawn?
Ans. Wanda Petronski was the winner of the girls’ medal. Wanda had drawn one hundred designs of dresses all

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different and all beautiful.

Da
Q.20. How is Wanda seen as different by the other girls? How do they treat her?

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Ans. Wanda is seen as different by the other girls. She is a poor and lonely girl who wore the same blue dress to

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school everyday. The girls made fun of her poverty and teased her by commenting on her dress.
Q.21. How does Wanda feel about the dresses game? Why does she say that she has a hundred dresses?
Ans. Wanda scarcely ever said anything to anybody. Her eyes were dull and mouth closed. She did not show
any feelings. Wanda meant to say that she too would like to possess a hundred dresses in her closet.
Q.22. Why does Maddie stand by and not do anything? How is she different from Peggy?
Ans. Peggy was Maddie’s inseparable friend. Maddie was poor herself though she wasn’t as poor as Wanda.
She usually wore somebody’s hand-me-down clothes. When Peggy asked Wanda questions in a mocking
voice, Maddie felt embarrassed. Maddie wished Peggy would stop teasing Wanda but she never had the
courage to tell Peggy as she feared herself to be the new target for the school. Maggie was in somewhat
awe of Peggy. Peggy was the most liked girl in the classroom and she drew better than anyone else.

✽ • •• • ✽
 6. T he Hundred Dresses-II
—Eleanor
Eleanor Estes

Î STORY HIGHLIGHTS
• Wanda ends up winning the drawing contest. But Wanda isn’t at school to collect her
prize or to receive her congratulations. She has been absent for a couple of days by this
time. Miss Mason reads a letter from Wanda’s father, Jan Petronski, who says he is tired
of his children being teased. He says people have made fun of them, of their name, and
that he is moving them to a larger city where he hopes their name won’t stand out so
much.
• After the contents of the letter were read out by the teacher, the whole class got stunned
and realized their derogatory remarks and attitude towards Wanda. Miss Mason says she
can’t imagine that any of the students in her class teased Wanda.
• Maddie and Peggy feel guilty that they played a role in making Wanda’s life so miserable
that her family moved. Maddie felt so bad that she couldn’t concentrate on her studies
after knowing the facts. She wanted to meet Wanda in person to clarify her stand that
she never meant to hurt her feelings.
• When school got over Maddie and Peggy both went to the neighbourhood where Wanda
lived. But by that time Wanda and her family had already left so their visit was fruitless.
• Then they wrote a friendly letter to Wanda telling her she had won the contest but
Wanda does not respond to their letter.
• On Christmas, Miss Mason, their teacher received a letter from Wanda informing that
she was no more in need of those hundred dresses as she had new hundred dresses in her
new house hence those should be gifted to the girls especially the blue one to Maddie and
the green one to Peggy.
• They accepted and pinned them in their bedrooms. There Maddie gazed at the picture
for a long time and found that the face in the drawing resembled her own. Then she ran
to Peggy’s house to see her drawing also. Peggy was also happy to find the same thing in
the drawing. Peggy consoled herself saying that Wanda really liked them. Maddie agreed
and blinked away the tears which came every time she thought of Wanda Petronski.
Maddie, however, continues to deal with the guilt that she didn’t speak up for someone
who became so unhappy that the family moved to escape the situation.

72 „ Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

 6. THE HUNDRED DRESSES-II „ 73

PREVIOUS YEARS’ CBSE BOARD EXAM QUESTIONS

I. Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow:
Q.1. A deep silence met the reading of this letter. Miss Mason took off her glasses, blew on them and wiped them on her
soft white handkerchief. Then she put them on again and looked at the class. When she spoke her voice was very low.
“I am sure that none of the boys and girls in Room Thirteen would purposely and deliberately hurt anyone’s feelings
because his or her name happened to be a long, unfamiliar one. I prefer to think that what was said was said in
thoughtlessness. I know that all of you feel the way I do, that this is a very unfortunate thing to have happened—
unfortunate and sad, both. And I want you all to think about it.”
The first period was a study period. Maddie tried to prepare her lessons, but she could not put her mind on her work.
She had a very sick feeling in the bottom of her stomach. True, she had not enjoyed listening to Peggy ask Wanda how
many dresses she had in her closet, but she had said nothing. She had stood by silently, and that was just as bad as
what Peggy had done. 2000
(a) Whose letter had Miss Mason read?
(b) How did the teacher describe the incident?
(c) Why would Maddie not put her mind on her work?
(d) Which word in the passage means the same as ‘purposely’?
Ans. (a) Miss Mason had read Wanda’s father, Jan Petronski’s letter.
(b) The teacher described the incident as sad and unfortunate.
(c) Maddie felt guilty for what she had done. She had a very sick feeling in the bottom of her stomach, so
she was unable to put her mind on her work.
(d) The word ‘deliberately’ means the same as ‘purposely’.

Das
Q.2. The first period was a study period. Maddie tried to prepare her lessons, but she could not put her mind on her work. She

v
had a very sick feeling in the bottom of her stomach. True, she had not enjoyed listening to Peggy ask Wanda how many

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dresses she had in her closet, but she said nothing. She was coward. At least Peggy hadn’t considered they were being
mean but she, Maddie, had thought they were doing wrong. She could put herself in Wanda’s shoes. 2009, 2016
(a) Why could Maddie not prepare her lessons?
(b) What had Peggy asked Wanda.
(c) What was her cowardly act?
(d) How was Maddie’s attitude towards Wanda different from that of Peggy?
(e) Which word or phrase in the passage means the same as ‘pay attention to’?
Ans. (a) Maddie could not prepare her lessons because she could not put her mind on her work as she was
thinking about what Peggy had said to Wanda.
(b) Peggy had asked Wanda how many dresses she had in her closet.
(c) Her cowardly act was to stand by silently.
(d) Maddie had thought they were doing wrong with Wanda and Peggy had not considered that they
were being mean.
(e) The phrase ‘put her mind’ means the same as ‘pay attention to’.
Q.3. When school was dismissed in the afternoon, Peggy said, with pretended casualness, “Hey, let’s go and see if that kid
has left town or not.”
So Peggy had the same idea! Maddie glowed. Peg was really all right.
The two girls hurried out of the building, up the street toward Boggins Heights, the part of town that wore such a
forbidding air on this kind of a November afternoon, drizzly, damp and dismal.
“Well, at least,” said Peggy gruffly, “I never did call her a foreigner or make fun of her name. I never thought she had
the sense to know we were making fun of her anyway. I thought she was too dumb. And gee, look how she can draw!”
Maddie could say nothing. All she hoped was that they would find Wanda. She wanted to tell her that they were
sorry they had picked on her, and how wonderful the whole school thought she was, and please, not to move away and
everybody would be nice. She and Peggy would fight anybody who was not nice. 2002
(a) Why did Peggy pretend to be casual?
(b) Why did Maddie think ‘Peg was really all right’?
(c) What were Peggy’s thoughts as they were going towards Boggins Heights?
(d) What did Maddie want to tell Wanda?
(e) Give the meaning of the word ‘dismal’.
 74 „ Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

Ans. (a) Peggy pretended to be casual because she did not want to give any clue to Maddie that she was
disturbed over Wanda.
(b) When Maddie got to know that Peg had the same idea as her about meeting Wanda she thought ‘Peg
was really all right’.
(c) Peggy was glad she never called Wanda a foreigner or made fun of her name. She had thought that
Wanda did not have the sense to know that they were making fun of her.
(d) Maddie wanted to apologise to Wanda for picking on her and also wanted her to know that the whole
school thought she was wonderful.
(e) The word ‘dismal’ means ‘sad’.
Q.4. “Well, anyway,” said Peggy, “she’s gone now, so what can we do? Besides, when I was asking her about all her
dresses, she probably was getting good ideas for her drawings. She might not even have won the contest, otherwise.”
Maddie turned this idea carefully over in her head, for if there were anything in it she would not have to feel so badly.
But that night she could not get to sleep. 2003
(a) Why did the two girls hurry?
(b) What did the Petronskis house look like?
(c) Why was there no doubt that the Petronskis had gone?
(d) Give the meaning of the phrase ‘make amends’.
Ans. (a) The two girls hurried because they wanted to get to the top of the hill before dark.
(b) The Petronskis lived in a little white house. Wisps of old grass stuck up at places. The house and its
yard looked shabby but clean.
(c) Since there was no sign of life about the house and no one answered the door despite the girls

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repeated knocking there was no doubt that the Petronskis had left.

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(d) The phrase ‘make amends’ means ‘to do good to show one is sorry’.

II. Answer the following questions briefly:

Shiv
Q.5. What were Maddie’s thoughts as they were going to Boggins Heights? 2001
Ans. As they were going to Boggins Heights, Maddie could only hope that they would find Wanda. She wanted
to tell her that were sorry they had picked on her and the whole school thought that she was wonderful.
Q.6. Why was Maddie very eager on finding Wanda? 2004
Ans. Maddie’s only hope was that she and Peggy should be able to find Wanda. She wanted to tell her that they
were sorry they had picked on her and how wonderful the whole school thought she was. They also
wanted to request her that she should not move away from there and that everybody would be nice to her.
She also wanted to assure her that she and Peggy would fight anybody who was not nice to Wanda.
Q.7. How did the girls know that Wanda had liked them even though they had teased her? 2005
Ans. Maddie went home, pinned her drawing and gazed at it for a long time. She then noticed that the face and
the head of the drawing looked exactly like hers. Wanda had really drawn that for her. Then they saw
Peggy’s drawing and realized the head and face of that picture looked like Peggy’s. It was then that the
girls came to know that Wanda really liked them even though they had teased her.
Q.8. What was Miss Mason’s reaction after reading Mr. Petronski’s letter? 2006
Ans. Miss Mason was very unhappy and upset after reading Mr. Petronski’s letter. She then spoke to the class in
a very low voice. She said she was sure none of the boys and girls in that class would deliberately and
purposely hurt anyone’s feelings just because their name happened to be a long and peculiar one. She also
said she would prefer to think that what was said had been said in thoughtlessness and it was very
unfortunate and sad that such a thing had happened. She now wanted the class to think about it again.
Q.9. What did the letter from Wanda’s father say? 2008
Or
What did Mr. Petronski’s letter say? 2005
Ans. The letter from Wanda’s father stated that his daughter and son would not come to the school any more
since they were moving to a big city where no one would make fun of their name as there were plenty of
funny names in the big city.
 6. THE HUNDRED DRESSES-II „ 75

Q.10. Describe Peggy’s and Maddie’s thoughts as they went to Boggins Heights to say sorry to Wanda.
2008
Ans. Peggy and Maddie went to Boggins Heights to say sorry to Wanda. At that time Peggy convinced herself
that she had never called Wanda a foreigner or made fun of her name.
Q.11. Describe Wanda’s letter to Miss Mason. What was the reaction of Peggy and Maddie to the special gifts
from Wanda for them? 2009
Ans. In her letter to Miss Mason, Wanda requested her teacher to tell the girls that they could keep the hundred
dresses because in her new house she had a hundred new ones in her closet. She gifted Peggy the drawing
of the green dress and for Maddie the blue one. She ended her letter by wishing everyone a Merry
Christmas. After receiving their gifts Peggy and Maddie realized that Wanda really liked them. They now
knew she had got their letter and this was her way of saying that everything was all right.
Q.12. What did Mr. Petronski’s letter to Miss Mason say? 2013
Or, What did Mr. Petronski’s letter say?
Ans. Miss Mason told the class that she had received a letter from Wanda’s father that she wanted to read out to
them. This letter from Mr. Petronski was a matter of great importance. It was a brief note that stated that
Wanda and Jake would not be coming to school anymore. They were moving away to big city. There
would be no more teasing for Wanda as to why she had a funny name as there were plenty of funny names
in the big city.

QUESTIONS FROM THE TEXT

Q.13. What are Maddie’s thoughts as they go to Boggins Heights?

s
Ans. Maddie could only hope that they would find Wanda. She wanted to tell her they were sorry they had

Da
picked on her, and how wonderful the whole school thought she was. She also wanted to request her not

iv
to go away and ensure her that everybody would be nice to her. She also wanted to convince her that she

Sh
and Peggy would fight anybody who was not nice to her.
Q.14. How does Maddie feel after listening to the note from Wanda’s father?
Ans. Maddie felt guilty for listening to Peggy asking Wanda how many dresses she had in her closet and saying
nothing she felt she was as bad as Peggy for she had stood silently. She was a coward. She had a sick
feeling in the bottom of her stomach and was unable to put her mind on work.
Q.15. What does Maddie want to do?
Ans. Maddie wanted to tell Wanda that she hadn’t meant to hurt her feelings. She wanted to find Wanda and
tell her that she had won the contest, that they thought she was smart and the hundred dresses she had
drawn were beautiful.
Q.16. What excuses does Peggy think up for her behaviour? Why?
Ans. Peggy convinced herself that she had never called Wanda a foreigner or made fun of her name. Peggy
thought that Wanda never had the sense to know that they were making fun of her. She thought Wanda
was too dumb. Also Peggy gives credit to herself for putting forward the good ideas for Wanda’s drawings
by asking her about the dresses which ultimately led Wanda to win the contest.
Q.17. Why does Wanda’s house remind Maddie of Wanda’s blue dress?
Ans. Wanda’s little white house with little old grass along the pathway with its sparse little yard looked shabby
but clean just like her faded blue dress which was shabby but clean.
Q.18. What does Maddie think hard about? What important decision does she come to?
Ans. Maddie thought about Wanda and her faded blue dress and the little house she lived in. She thought of the
glowing picture those hundred dresses made all lined up in the classroom. On thinking hard Maddie
reached an important decision that she was never going to stand by and say nothing again. It she ever
heard anybody teasing someone because they were funny looking or because they had strange names she
would speak up. Even if it meant losing Peggy’s friendship. She would never make anybody else unhappy
again and not let injustice happen to anyone.
Q.19. What did the girls write to Wanda?
Ans. The girls wrote a friendly letter to Wanda telling her about the contest and that she had won it. They told
76 „ Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

her how pretty her drawings were. They asked her if she liked where she was living and if she liked her
new teacher. They wanted to say that they were sorry and they signed the letter with lots of X’s for love.
Q.20. Did they get a reply? Who was more anxious for a reply, Peggy or Maddie? How do you know?
Ans. No, the girls did not get a reply. Maddie was more anxious for the reply. Peggy had begun to forget the
whole business but Maddie put herself to sleep at night making speeches about Wanda, and defending her
from girls who were trying to tease her. This shows that Maddie was more anxious for a reply.
Q.21. How did the girls know that Wanda liked them even though they had teased her?
Ans. The girls realised that Wanda liked them even though they had teased her as she had asked Miss Mason in
her letter to give Peggy the drawing of the green dress with red trimmings and her friend Maddie to have
the blue one. Later when Maddie looked at the drawing carefully, she realised that the face and the head of
the drawing looked exactly like her own self. The head and face in the drawing given to Peggy looked just
like Peggy. That is how the girls knew that Wanda liked them.
Q.22. Why do you think Wanda’s family moved to a different city?
Ans. Wanda’s family moved to a different city because nobody in the big city asked and teased anyone about
their funny names. There were plenty of funny names in the big city.
Q.23. Maddie thought her silence was as bad as Peggy’s teasing? Was she right?
Ans. Yes, Maddie was right when she thought that her silence was as bad as Peggy’s teasing because her silence
encouraged Peggy to tease her.
Maddie was too afraid to say anything because she did not want to lose Peggy’s friendship. Also, she was
poor herself, so she feared that everybody would make fun of her too.

s
Q.24. What led Peggy to believe that Wanda was dumb? Did she change her opinion later?

Da
Ans. Peggy thought that Wanda did not have the sense to know that they were making fun of her because

iv
Wanda scarcely ever said anything to anybody. Yes, Peggy changed her opinion later. She and Maddie

Sh
wrote a friendly letter to Wanda telling her about the contest and that she had won it.
Q.25. What important decision did Maddie make? Why did she have to think hard to do so?
Ans. The important decision that Maddie made was that she would never stand by and say nothing again. If
she ever heard anybody picking on someone because they had strange names, she would speak up. She
did not even mind losing Peggy’s friendship over it. She knew she could not make things right with
Wanda. However, she had decided that in the future, she would never make anybody else unhappy again.
But Peggy had to think hard to do so. She was unhappy that she could not find Wanda at her home. She
could not sleep that night. She thought about Wanda, her faded blue dress, and the little house she lived
in. She also thought about the hundred glowing pictures, which were all lined up in the classroom.
Q.26. Why do you think Wanda gave Maddie and Peggy the drawings of the dresses? Why are they
surprised?
Ans. Wanda gave Maddie and Peggy the drawings of the dresses because they made fun of her hundred
dresses. They believed her to be a liar. They were surprised because they always made fun of her dresses
and insulted her, but she had gifted them with those beautiful designs.
Q.27. Do you think Wanda really thought the girls were teasing her? Why or why not?
Ans. Yes, Wanda really thought that the girls were teasing her because she understood that they were making
fun of her because she was poor and were deliberately asking her the number of dresses she had. So she
replied that she had a hundred dresses lined up in her closet.

✽ • •• • ✽
 P oetry
1. Dust of Snow
—Robert
Robert Frost
The way a crow
Shook down on me
The dust of snow
From a hemlock tree

Has given my heart

A change of mood
And saved some part
Of a day I had rued.

Î ANALYSIS OF POEM:
Dust of snow is a beautiful poem written by the famous poet Robert Frost. Though the
poem is very brief it has a significant meaning. This poem is about guiding a person who
has lost all hope and is very sad. The snow falls like cotton flakes and settles on trees.
When fresh it has a powdery consistency. The dust of snow falls on the poet as a crow
shakes the branch. This pleasant snow shower changes the poet’s mood. The poet was
feeling negative because of some reasons and after the snow dust he is feeling happier.
The falling of dust of snow changes the mood of the poet. The very small act of falling
snow changed his sad mood into a happy one. The poet’s initial mood can be compared
to that of a hemlock tree, and the later mood is like that of a flower. The poem thus
teaches us that we should not be hopeless and there is always an opportunity and hope
to change sadness into happiness.

PREVIOUS YEARS’ CBSE BOARD EXAM QUESTIONS

Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow:
Q.1. The way a crow
Shook down on me
The dust of snow
From a hemlock tree
Has given my heart
A change of mood
And saved some part
Of a day I had rued. 2008
(a) What is ‘the dust of snow?
(b) What has changed the poet’s mood?

1. DUST OF SNOW „ 77
78 „ Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

(c) How do we know that there is a change in the poet’s mood?

(d) What is the rhyme scheme of the first stanza?
Ans. (a) ‘The dust of snow’ refers to the snowflakes that have fallen on the hemlock tree.
(b) A crow shaking down on him a dust of snow from the hemlock tree has changed the poet’s mood.
(c) We know that there is a change in the poet’s mood because he has got a change of heart which has
saved some part of the day as he was not happy earlier.
(d) The rhyme scheme in the stanza is : a, b, ab.
Q.2. The way a crow
Shook down on me
The dust of snow
From a hemlock tree. 2000
(a) Name the poet.
(b) What is unusual about the bird mentioned in the poem.
(c) What is a ‘hemlock’ tree?
Ans. (a) The poet is Robert Frost.
(b) A crow is usually not mentioned in a poem because the image that comes to the mind when one
thinks of a crow is an ugly and coarse creature who has a thick and hoarse voice.
(c) A ‘hemlock’ tree is a poisonous plant with small white flowers.
Q.3. The way a crow
Shook down on me
The dust of snow

s
From a hemlock tree 2009

Da
(a) What is ‘the dust of snow?

iv
(b) Who shook it down?

Sh
(c) What does ‘the dust of snow’ stand for?
(d) What is a “hemlock tree”?
Ans. (a) Dust of snow refers to the snow flakes.
(b) A crow shook it down.
(c) ‘The dust of snow’ stands for hope and joy in the midst of sorrow.
(d) A “hemlock tree” is a poisonous plant with small white flowers. 2001
Q.4. What unusual beings of nature does Robert Frost talk about in his poem?
Or, What do ‘crow’ and ‘hemlock’ represent, joy or sorrow.
Ans. Robert Frost talks about a crow, a bird that is generally not mentioned in poems. He then talks about a
hemlock tree, which is a poisonous plant and not about a beautiful tree.
Q.5. What are the ideas about how the world will end? 2006
Ans. The ideas of the poet about how the world will end are extremely opposite to each other. Some people say
the world will end due to very hot conditions and some others say that it will end because of extreme cold
conditions.
Q.6. What is a ‘dust of snow’? What does the poet say has changed his mood? How has the poet’s mood
changed.
Ans. ‘The dust of snow’ refers to the snowflakes that have fallen on the hemlock tree. A crow shaking down on
him dust of snow from the hemlock tree has changed the poet’s mood. We know that there is a change in
the poet’s mood because he has got a change of heart which has saved some part of him which he had held in.
Q.7. How does Frost present nature in this poem?
Ans. The poet Robert Frost presents nature in a depressed and gloomy manner. It portrays sorrow.
Q.8. What does the dust of snow that the crow shake off a hemlock tree stand for?
Ans. ‘The dust of snow’ stands for hope and joy in the midst of sorrow.
Q.9. In the poem ‘Dust of Snow’, how does the poet’s mood get changed?
Ans. A crow shaking down dust of snow on the poet from the hemlock tree has changed the poet’s mood. This
dust of snow stands for hope and joy in the midst of snow.

✽ • •• • ✽
 2. Fire and Ice
—Robert
Robert Frost

Some say the world will end in fire

Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favour fire.

But if it had to perish twice,

I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.

Î ANALYSIS OF POEM:
The word ‘desire’ in the poem indicates all type of greed and lust. In today’s world also
humankind’s greed is endangering the very existence of the planet earth. Desire propels
us in hot pursuit of something, hence a good comparison with fire.
The word ‘hate’ in the poem indicates towards hatred and indifference which is as cold
as ice. If we compare this with people’s attitude towards each other in modern times we
can see the hate for each other among different communities. Hate between two nations
is a sureshot way to hasten the end of this world. Hate makes us cold towards others'
progress and we try to shut our eyes towards that progress. The coldness of ice can numb
your senses; that is why hate has been compared with ice.

PREVIOUS YEARS’ CBSE BOARD EXAM QUESTIONS

Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow:
Q.1. Some say the world will end in fire some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire I hold with those who favour fire. 2009
(a) What do ‘fire’ and ‘ice’ stand for?
(b) What is the rhyming scheme of this stanza?
(c) Why does the poet hold with those who favour fire?
Ans. (a) ‘Fire’ stands for hatred, cruelty, fury and avarice and ‘ice’ stands for insensitivity, coldness and
intolerance.
(b) The rhyme scheme of this stanza is a, b, a, a.
(c) The poet’s taste of his desires have made him hold with those who favour fire.

2. FIRE AND ICE „ 79

80 „ Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

Q.2. Some say the world will end in fire

Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favour fire. 2008
(a) According to some people how will the world end in fire?
(b) How will it end in ice?
(c) Why does the poet side with those who believe that the world will end in fire?
Ans. (a) ‘Fire’ here stands for hatred, cruelty, fury and avarice that some people feel the world will end in.
(b) ‘Ice’ stands for insensitivity, coldness and intolerance, which too can end the world.
(c) The poet’s taste of his own desires has made him side with those people who believe that the world
will end in fire.
Q.3. ‘Some say the world will end in fire
Some say in ice!’ 2009
What is the underlying idea which the poet wants to convey?
Ans. The poet wants to convey that today’s world is filled either with ‘fire’ which stands for hatred, lust, cruelty,
fury and avarice or ‘ice’ which stands for insensitivity, coldness, indifference and intolerance.
Q.4. ‘But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
to say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice,

as
(a) Explain the word ‘perish’.

D
(b) Of the two ‘hate’ and ‘ice’, which one is better known to the poem?

iv
(c) For the poet which out of the two ‘hate’ and ‘ice’ would be greater for destruction and why?

Sh
(d) Give meaning of the word ‘suffice’.
(e) What is the rhyme scheme of the poem? How does it help in bringing out the contrasting ideas in
the poem?
Ans. (a) The word perish means ‘die’.
(b) The poet Robert Frost thinks that he knows enough about hate.
(c) For the poet Robert Frost ice would be great for destruction as he knows enough of hate.
(d) The word ‘suffice’ means sufficient.
(e) The rhyme scheme of the poem is.
a, b, a, a
a, b, a, b, a
In the first stanza the poet, Robert Frost wants to convey that today’s world is filled either with ‘fire’
which stands for hatred or ‘ice’ which stands for insensitivity and intolerance and he stands with
those who are in favour of fire as cause of the end. But in the second stanza the poet feels that
qualities of ice are sufficient to bring destruction because insensitivity breeds hatred. The rhyme
scheme shows that the poet is inconsistent in his thoughts in the second stanza.
Q.5. To say that for destruction ice
Is also great’.
For the poet, what does ‘ice’ stand for? How is it sufficient to bring destruction? 2009
Ans. ‘Ice’ stands for insensitivity, coldness, indifference and intolerance. These qualities are sufficient to bring
destruction because insensitivity and coldness breed hatred and indifference and intolerance breeds
resentment which are instrumental in bringing about destruction.

✽ • •• • ✽
 3. A T iger in the Zoo
—Leslie
Leslie Norris

Î ANALYSIS OF POEM:
Stanza 1: He stalks in his vivid stripes
The few steps of his cage,
On pads of velvet quiet,
In his quiet rage.
In this stanza, the poet describes the appearance of the tiger in the zoo and its daily
movements. He says that the stripes stand out distinctly, even when seen from a dis-
tance. He moves very softly and steadily. The tiger can only walk the length of its cage,
and it covers that distance in a few mere steps only. The underside of the tiger’s paws is
as smooth as velvet and so they do not create any sound as he walks. It seems as if all the
anger that the tiger feels at being caged is also suppressed in the same way.
Stanza 2: He should be lurking in shadow,
Sliding through long grass
Near the water hole
Where plump deer pass.
In this stanza, the poet imagines an alternate life for the tiger that is currently living in
a zoo. He imagines what it would be like if the tiger was living in the wild. He says that
normally, a tiger should not be moving about in clear day light, but only in the darkness
among shadowy places in a forest. The tiger should be hiding itself behind long grass so
that its prey will not be able to detect its movement. In this way, the tiger should ap-
proach the water hole where all the animals including the plump deer come to drink
water. In other words, the tiger should be left in the wild to hunt and gather its own
food, rather than be fed by zoo authorities.
Stanza 3: He should be snarling around houses
At the jungle’s edge,
Baring his white fangs, his claws,
Terrorising the village!
In this stanza, the poet says that even though he would prefer the tiger to live in the
wild, it is not as if it would lose all touch with human civilization. Once in a while, its day
to day movements would lead it towards the outer boundary of the forest, where a few
human residences can be found. The tiger would growl in its low and intimidating voice
as it walked at the periphery of those houses showing its fangs or claws, with the inten-
tion of scaring all the inhabitants of that village.
Stanza 4: But he’s locked in a concrete cell,
His strength behind bars,
Stalking the length of his cage,
Ignoring visitors.

3. A TIGER IN THE ZOO „ 81

 82 „ Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

In this stanza, the poet stops imagining the tiger’s alternate life and returns to its real
one. He says that the tiger is locked up, like a prisoner in a jail, within a small cell made
up of concrete. All the strength that resides in its body is locked behind bars of metal
that make up the gate of its cell. Hundreds of people come to see the tiger every day at
the zoo, but it does not pay any heed to these visitors. Instead the tiger prefers to walk
stealthily all over its cage.
Stanza 5: He hears the last voice at night,
The patrolling cars,
And stares with his brilliant eyes
At the brilliant stars.
In this stanza, the poet describes how the day ends for the tiger. It stays awake till the
very last voice of the zookeeper locking up and going home can be heard. Even after that
it does not go to sleep. All night, park rangers keep a watch over the surroundings of the
zoo while driving around in their official vehicles. The tiger stays awake and hears the
sounds made by the cars of the patrolmen. He stares at the stars in the night sky which
twinkle bright like his eyes.

PREVIOUS YEARS’ CBSE BOARD EXAM QUESTIONS

Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow:

as
Q.1. “On pads of velvet quiet,

D
In his quiet rage.”

Shiv
(a) Why does he express his anger quietly? 2009
(b) Why does the tiger express his anger quietly? 2008
(c) Who is referred to here? Why does he express his anger quietly? 2009
Ans. (a) He expresses his anger quietly because he is held captive in a cage and so he feels quite helpless in his
present position.
(b) Since the tiger is in the confines of his cage, he feels subdued and restricted, so he expresses his anger
quietly inside his cage.
(c) A tiger in the zoo is referred to here. He expresses his anger quietly because he is in the confines of his
cage, restricted and quite helpless and he is unable to do anything about it so he expresses his anger
quietly.
Q.2. He should be lurking in shadow,
Sliding through long grass
Near the water hole
Where plump deer pass. 2004
(a) Who does ‘He’ refer to?
(b) Where should he ideally be?
(c) Why does he slide through the long grass?
Ans. (a) ‘He’ refers to the tiger.
(b) The tiger should ideally be in his natural habitat in the jungle, sliding through the long grass, near the
water hole where he can find easy prey in the deer who come there.
(c) He slides through the long grass so that he can catch his prey without being seen or without making
any noise.
Q.3. He should be lurking in shadow,
Sliding through long grass
Near the water hole
Where plump deer pass. 2008
(a) Who does ‘He’ refer to?
(b) Why is ‘he’ lurking in shadow?
(c) Why does ‘he’ expect the deer to come there?
 3. A TIGER IN THE ZOO „ 83

Ans. (a) ‘He’ refers to the tiger.

(b) He should be lurking in shadow to skillfully catch his prey without being noticed and without
making even the slightest of noise.
(c) He expects the deer to come there because he is near the water-hole where the deer are most likely to
come for water.
Q.4. He should be lurking in shadow,
Sliding through long grass
Near the water hole
Where plump deer pass. 2009, 2012
(a) Who is ‘He’?
(b) Mention two words which describe movement?
(c) Why is the animal hiding?
(d) Why does he go near the water hole?
Ans. (a) ‘He’ refers to the tiger.
(b) The words ‘lurking’ and ‘sliding’ describe movement.
(c) The tiger is hiding because he doesn’t want to be seen by the deer whom he intends to hunt.
(d) He goes near the water hole because that is where the healthy deer whom he intends to prey on come.
Q.5. He should be snarling around houses
At the jungle’s edge,
Baring his white fangs, his claws,
Terrorising the village! 2001

as
(a) Name the poet.

D
(b) Who is the ‘He’ referred to?

iv
(c) What should he be doing?

Sh
Ans. (a) The poet is Leslie Norris.
(b) ‘He’ is referred to the tiger.
(c) He should be walking around the houses located at the edge of the jungle and terrorising the villagers
by baring his fangs and claws.
Q.6. But he is locked in a concrete cell,
His strength behind his bars,
Stalking the length of his cage,
Ignoring visitors. 2009, 2016
(a) Who does ‘he’ refer to in the stanza?
(b) Why is ‘he’ locked?
(c) Explain: ‘stalking the length of his cage’.
(d) Why is he ignoring visitors.
Ans. (a) ‘He’ in the stanza refers to the tiger.
(b) He is locked in a cage in the zoo for the entertainment of the visitors.
(c) He is walking to and fro in the limited space of his cage.
(d) He is ignoring visitors because he does not like being where he is forced to be.
Q.7. Stalking the length of his cage,
Ignoring visitors.
What is the tiger doing? Why is he ignoring the visitor.
Ans. The tiger is moving inside his confined cage. He is ignoring visitors because he does not like to be in his
present abode. He would rather be in his natural habitat, the jungle.
Q.8. He hears the last voice at night,
The patrolling cars,
And stares with his brilliant eyes
At the brilliant stars. 2005, 2015
(a) Who is he?
(b) What is the last voice he hears at night?
 84 „ Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

(c) Why does the poet use the word ‘brilliant’ for the tiger’s eyes and the stars?
(d) What is his framework of mind in these lines?
Ans. (a) ‘He’ is the Tiger.
(b) The last voice, he hears at night is of patrolling cars.
(c) The tiger’s eyes shine in the dark like the stars in the night sky. To show the similarity between the
two shiny objects the poet uses the word ‘brilliant’.
(d) The tiger is rather subdued and disinterested in his surroundings at the moment.

QUESTIONS FROM THE TEXT

Q.9. Where, according to the poet should the tiger be?
Ans. The poet feels the tiger should be in the jungle, sliding through the long grass, near the water hole where
he can see and prey on the plump deer passing by.
Q.10. In which two places has the poet tried to contrast a tiger.
Ans. The poet contrasts a tiger in the zoo with the tiger in its natural habitat, the jungle.
Q.11. Mention the words that describe the movement and action of the tiger in the cage and in wild?
Ans. The tiger in the cage is stalking whereas the tiger in the wild is lurking in shadow and snarling and
terrorising the village.
Q.12. Are zoos necessary for the protection or conservation of endangered species? Are they useful in
educating the public? Are there alternatives to zoos?
Ans. Yes, zoos are necessary for the protection or conservation of endangered species and to some extent extinct
species. Zoos help in educating public by making people sensitive and respectful towards animals. People

s
learn and understand that animals too have an important role to play in the ecological system. Biodiversity

Da
parks, national parks and wild life sanctuaries are best alternatives to zoos.

iv
Q.13. What according to the poet should the tiger be doing?

Sh
Ans. According to the poet, Leslie Norris, the tiger should be snarling around houses at the jungle’s edge
showing his fangs and claws and terrorising the villagers.
Q.14. “But he’s locked in a concrete cell”.
Who is he and what does concrete cell imply?
Ans. He refers to the tiger and concrete cell means the cage in the zoo.
Q.15. (i) On pads of velvet quiet,
In his quiet rage
(ii) And stares with his brilliant eyes
At the brilliant stars.
What do you think is the effect of this repetition?
Ans. (i) The poet uses the word ‘quiet’ to show the similarity between the zoo where the tiger is kept caged
and his movement restricted, and his anger which the tiger has subdued.
(ii) The tiger’s eyes shine in the dark like the stars shine in the night sky. To show the similarity between
the two shiny objects the poet uses the word ‘brilliant’.

✽ • •• • ✽
 5. T he Ball Poem
—John
John Berryman

Î ANALYSIS OF POEM:
This poem, by John Berryman, is about losing something that you love, and learning to
grow up.
It is about a little boy, who for the first time in his young life, is learning what it is like
to experience grief at the loss of a much beloved possession—his ball.
To us, the loss of a ball is of minor consequence, and our reaction to it is to say ‘O there
are other balls’. But to a little boy, this is not so. A dime, another ball, is worthless.
Money is external, it cannot buy back our love, nor replace the things that we love: the
things that really matter.
In this poem, the boy’s ball personifies his young days and happy innocence. In this world,
people will take balls just as they will take away our innocence and force us to grow up.
And once we lose this innocence, we can never get it back. The message conveyed to the
little boy is that balls will be lost always, but no one buys a ball back.
Through this poem we learn how, throughout our life, we will be forced to do things that
we don’t want to do; and will lose or have to give up the things that we love. But,
despite this, we have to learn to stand up—to be strong and get on with our life—no
matter how much it hurts inside. The only way one can survive; is by learning to accept
and letting go.

PREVIOUS YEARS’ CBSE BOARD EXAM QUESTIONS

Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow:
Q.1. ........... I saw it go
Merrily bouncing down the street, and then
Merrily over - there it is in the water! 2001
(a) What does ‘it’ refer to?
(b) Where did it go?
(c) What reaction did it’s going have on its owner?
Ans. (a) ‘It’ refers to the ball.
(b) It bounced down the street and rolled over to where the water was.
(c) The boy was filled with grief as he lost his ball.
Q.2. No use to say ‘O there are other balls’: 2008
What do the words in inverted commas mean? Why does the poet think that it is useless to give this
suggestion to the boy?
Ans. These words suggest that the loss of the ball is not important enough to worry about. The poet knows that
the boy is sad and grieved over the loss of his ball and knows it is useless to make the boy understand how
unimportant the loss of the ball is.

5. THE BALL POEM „ 85

86 „ Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

Q.3. As he stands rigid, trembling, staring down

All his young days into the harbour where
His ball went. 2002
(a) Name the poet.
(b) What is the boy’s reaction at the loss of the ball?
(c) What is his thought?
Ans. (a) The poet is John Berryman.
(b) The boy stands stiff and trembling. He stares down vaguely trying to figure out where his ball has
gone.
(c) His only thought is as to where his ball has gone.
Q.4. “...... staring down/All his young days into the harbour where/His ball want.......”
Do you think the boy has had the ball for a long time? It is linked to the memories of days when he
played with it?
Ans. Yes, the boy has had the ball for a long time. The ball is linked to the memories of days when he played
with it. Losing the ball has upset him. It is of much value to him.
Q.5. I would not intrude on him;
A dime, another ball, is worthless. Now
He senses first responsibility
In a world of possessions.
(a) Name the poet. 2004
(b) What does the phrase ‘not intrude on’ in the first line mean?

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(c) What, according to the poet, does the boy realize?

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Ans. (a) The poet is John Berryman.

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(b) The phrase ‘not intrude on’ in the first line means ‘not to enter or interfere in a situation where he is

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not welcome or needed’.
(c) According to the poet the boy has to realize what it means to lose a thing that is most dear to him.
Q.6. Money is external.
He is learning, well behind his desperate eyes,
The epistomology of loss, how to stand up
Knowing what every man must one day know
And most know many days, how to stand up. 2013
(a) Who is ‘he’ in the above lines?
(b) What is he learning?
(c) Explain ‘epistomology of loss’.
(d) Why is this learning important?
Ans. (a) ‘He’ is the young boy who loses his ball.
(b) The boy is learning how to cope up with life even after losing something.
(c) ‘Epistomology of loss’ means to understand the nature of loss, what it means to lose something that is
very dear to a person.
(d) This learning is important because the boy has to learn from the experience of losing something. Only
then will he be able to stand up like a confident man.
Q.7. “And no one buys a ball back. Money is external”.
What does the poet imply by this expression? 2009
Ans. Through this expression the poet implies that a lost ball cannot be bought back even with money. Money
can only be used to buy valuable things but not to restore or compensate for a thing that is lost.
Q.8. ‘He is learning, well behind his desperate eyes’.
What is the boy learning from the loss of the ball? 2009
Ans. The boy is learning the epistemology of loss from the loss of the ball. He is understanding what it means to
lose something he greatly admires.
 5. THE BALL POEM „ 87

QUESTIONS FROM THE TEXT

Q.9. Why does the poet say that he will not offer the boy money to buy another ball?
Or
Why does the poet say, ‘I would not intrude on him? Why doesn’t he offer him money to buy another
ball.
Ans. The poet says that he will not offer the boy money to buy another ball because balls are anyway worthless
and also because he wants the boy to understand what it means and how it feels to lose something.
Q.10. “Money is external”. What does the poet mean by this expression taken from ‘The Ball Poem’? 2009
Ans. By this expression the poet intends to make us realize the mere material value of money which in no way
helps us to understand the essential worth of a commodity. In this world of possessions, the value of
money is only to buy things and this does not make us understand the true value of things.
Q.11. What does ‘in’ the world of possessions” mean?
Ans. The above line ‘in’ the world of possessions means a world of material things. Things of value are owned
and priced because of their worth.
Q.12. Do you think the boy has lost anything earlier? Pick out the words that suggest the answer?
Ans. No, the boy has not lost anything earlier. The line, he senses his first responsibility, suggests so.
Q.13. ‘He senses first responsibility’—What responsibility is referred to here? (The Ball Poem)
Ans. The responsibility referred to here is of losing a ball by a little boy and how he learns to grow up. The ball
is a much loved possession and the boy experiences grief at the loss of his ball which personifies his
young and happy innocent days. The losing of the ball is losing his innocence and he is forced to grow up,

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and become responsible.

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 Footprints W ithout Feet
1. A Triumph of Surgery
—James
James Herriot

Î SUMMARY OF THE LESSON

• Tricki was a small dog and was excessively loved by his mistress, Mrs. Pumphrey who was
a rich and emotional lady and loved him so much that she overfed him.
• As a result Tricki became fat but Mrs. Pumphrey believed that he became lazy because he
suffered from malnutrition.
• Tricki had put on a lot of weight which made him lethargic. When Dr. Herriot saw the
fat dog like a bloated sausage he was shocked. He advised her to cut down on the sweet
things.
• He made a plan and told Mrs. Pumphrey that Tricki needed treatment for an ailment
which was possible only in hospital. He told her that Tricki needed immediate
hospitalization for keeping him under observation at his surgery for a fortnight.
• The doctor knew that Mrs. Pumphrey would not be able to keep the dog on a proper
diet. When the greedy dog went to the hospital he had to remain hungry. He was given
food at fixed intervals. Soon he shed a lot of his body weight and became quite active. He
recovered completely and was transformed into a hard muscled dog.
• James Herriot treated the dog without medicine or surgery.
When Tricki was at home he was pampered by Mrs. Pumphrey. He had a luxurious life
when he was served with cream cakes, chocolate and horlicks. But when he came to the
doctor he became all right. When Mrs. Pumphrey saw her active dog she thanked the
doctor. She was happy and filled with gratitude. She felt that it was a triumph of
surgery.

PREVIOUS YEARS’ CBSE BOARD EXAM QUESTIONS

Q.1. Why was Tricki an uninteresting object for other dogs at the surgery? 2008
Ans. At the surgery, the household dogs surged around Dr. Herriot to see Tricki. Tricki looked down at the
noisy pack with dull eyes and when put down, lay motionless on the carpet. The other dogs sniffed around
for a few seconds and then deciding he was an uninteresting object and ignored him.
Q.2. What immediate steps did Dr. Herriot take to save Tricki? 2000
Ans. Dr. Herriot knew that the only way to save Tricki was to get him out of the house for some time. So, he
suggested that Tricki be hospitalised for about a fortnight as he had to be kept under observation.
Q.3. What were Mrs. Pumphrey’s queries when she called to enquire about Tricki in the hospital? 2001
Ans. Mrs. Pumphrey rang a dozen times for the latest bulletins on Tricki. Her queries were whether Tricki’s
cushions were being turned regularly or was he wearing the correct coat according to the weather.
88 „ Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)
 1. A TRIUMPH OF SURGERY „ 89

Q.4. What was Mrs. Pumphrey’s reaction when Dr. Herriot suggested Tricki’s hospitalisation?
Ans. Mrs. Pumphrey almost swooned when Dr. Herriot told her that Tricki would have to be hospitalised. She
was sure he would pine and die if he did not see her everyday. Mrs. Pumphrey wailed when Dr. Herriot
took Tricki away.
Q.5. How did Tricki become an accepted member of the gang and start enjoying company of other dogs?
2003
Ans. Tricki was cured of his habit of overeating. He was given meals at fixed intervals with other dogs. So he
lost weight. Now he started moving with the other dogs and joined in their friendly fights. Finally, he
became an accepted member of the gang.
Q.6. Describe the ‘parting scene’ between Tricki and Mrs. Pumphrey’s household. 2004
Ans. The entire staff was roused and maids were rushed in and out bringing Tricki’s day bed, night bed,
favourite cushions, toys and bowls. As Dr. Herriot drove away with Tricki, Mrs. Pumphrey, with a
despairing cry, threw an armful of little coats through the window.
Q.7. How do you know that Tricki had an affluent life? 2004
Ans. Tricki led an affluent life which included extravagant meals of horlicks, cream cakes, chocolates etc. His
beds, cushions, toys, bowls and coats were of premium quality and rather expensive.
Q.8. What did Mrs. Pumphrey do to bring Tricki back to normal health? Was she successful? 2009
Ans. To bring Tricki back to normal health Mrs. Pumphrey gave him some extra eatables between meals to
build him up, some malt and cod liver oil and a bowl of horlicks at night. She was unsuccessful in her
attempt.

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Q.9. What was Mrs. Pumphrey’s reaction when Tricki showed little enthusiasm for exertion? 2008

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Ans. When Tricki showed little enthusiasm for exertion Mrs. Pumphrey assumed he had no energy and thought

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he was suffering from malnutrition. She decided to give him some little extras between meals to build him up.

Sh
Q.10. Tricki was more a member of the family than a mere dog. Explain by giving examples from the text?
2008
Ans. Tricki was indeed more of a family member than a mere dog. He had his day and night beds, favourite
cushions, toys, rubber rings, breakfast bowl, lunch bowl, supper bowl. He had numerous little coats. To
eat, he was given things like malt, cod-liver oil and Horlicks. He was also fed cream cakes and chocolates.
When Dr. Herriot was taking Tricki to the hospital, the entire staff was roused to bring in all his things.
Mrs. Pumphrey and the rest of staff were in tears when Tricki was driven away.
Q.11. Which two suggestions did Mr. Herriot give to Mrs. Pumphrey at the initial stage? Did she follow? 2004
Ans. At the initial stage Dr. Herriot told Mrs. Pumphrey to cut down Tricki’s food and to give him more
exercise or he would become really ill. No, she did not follow his advice.
Q.12. How did Mrs. Pumphrey and her servants behave when Tricki was being sent to the surgery? 2018
Ans. Mrs. Pumphrey began to cry loudly when Dr. Herriot carried Tricki in a blanket to his car. She gave out a
despairing cry when the doctor moved off with Tricki. The entire staff was roused and maids were rushed
in and out bringing Tricki’s day bed, night bed, favourite cushions, toys and bowls. As Dr. Herriot drove
away with Tricki, Mrs. Pumphrey, with a despairing cry, threw an armful of little coats through the window.
Q.13. Every one at Mr. Herriot’s surgery was tempted to keep Tricki as a permanent guest. Why give reasoned
answer? 2009
Ans. When Tricki was at Dr. Herriot’s surgery those were days of deep content for Dr. Herriot and his partners.
Their day started well with an extra egg in the morning, improved and sustained by the midday wine and
finishing luxuriously around the fire with brandy. Mrs. Pumphrey used to send two dozen fresh eggs to
build Tricki’s strength, the wine was sent by her to enrich Tricki’s blood and the brandy came to put final
edge on Tricki’s constitution. So everyone at Dr. Herriot’s surgery was tempted to keep Tricki as a
permanent guest. So that they could continue to enjoy the goodies sent for Tricki.
Q.14. What evidence do you get of Tricki’s affluent living from the text? 2000
Ans. Tricki is thoroughly pampered by his rich mistress. She overfeeds him by giving him extra food between
meals like some malt, cod-liver oil and a bowl of horlicks. Tricki loves cream cakes and chocolates so his
mistress could not bear to refuse him those. Tricki’s only fault was his greed, he had never been known to
refuse food. He could tackle a meal at any hour of the day or night. He possessed a whole wardrobe of
90 „ Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

clothes—coats of premium quality for the cold weather and a raincoat for the wet days. When Dr. Herriot
was carrying the little dog to the hospital, the entire staff was roused and maids were rushed in and out to
bring his various beds, cushions, toys and bowls so that he would not feel even the slightest of discomfort.
Q.15. ‘Over-pampering is not only bad for humans but also for animals’. Prove this statement in the light of
the lesson ‘A Triumph of Surgery’. 2002
Ans. Tricki, a small dog, was pampered by his rich mistress. He was overfed by her to such an extent that he
became hugely fat, like a bloated sausage. Since he was never refused food, he became greedy and could
tackle a meal at any hour of the day and night. Inspite of repeated warnings of Dr. Herriot, Mrs. Pumphrey
could not help pampering him. Finally, Tricki became very ill. He would eat nothing, even refused his
favourite dishes and had bouts of vomiting. He spent all his time lying on a rug, panting. It was only after Dr.
Herriot got him out of Mrs. Pumphrey’s house and kept him away from his over-pampering mistress that the
little dog recovered and was transformed into a lithe, hard-muscled animal.
Q.16. What was the narrator’s cure for the lad?
Or, “I think I know a cure for you.” What was Dr. Herriot’s ‘cure’ for Tricki? 2003
Ans. Dr. Herriot knew that the only way to ‘cure’ Tricki was to get him out of Mrs. Pumphrey’s house for a
period. For two days, Dr. Herriot gave him no food, but plenty of water. Gradually, Tricki was seen
jostling his way towards his feeding bowl and trying to follow the other dogs, rolling slightly with his
surplus fat. Later his progress became rapid. He had no medicinal treatment of any kind but all day he ran
about with the dogs and discovered the joys of being bowled over and tramped on. He even learnt to fight
like a tiger for his share at meal times and hunting rats in the old hen house at night. In two weeks Tricki

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had been transformed into a lithe, hard-muscled animal.

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Q.17. Give a brief character sketch of Tricki. 2003

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Ans. Tricki was a very pampered and spoilt dog. In fact, he had gotten very used to being pampered and

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enjoyed it. He was greedy and could tackle a meal at any time of the day so he was very overweight too.
With the result he fell sick and Dr. Herriot had to take him away from Mrs. Pumphrey’s house. In Dr.
Herriot’s care, Tricki gradually recovered and became friendly with the other dogs. He ran about with
them and discovered the joys of being bowled over and tramped on. He became physically fit and
transformed into a lithe, hard-muscled animal.
Q.18. Mrs. Pumphrey is a very loving and caring mistress for Tricki. Explain. 2004
Ans. Though Mrs. Pumphrey was Tricki’s loving and caring mistress, her love and care did more harm than
good for Tricki. She pampered him incessantly and overfed him making him fat like a bloated sausage. She
did not realise that her over-caring and over-loving attitude towards Tricki was making him sick. She felt
she was looking after him not realising that she was pampering him. It is ironical that in her loving care
Tricki became sick and it was only after he was taken away from her, did he recover. This goes to prove
that excess of any emotion can be extremely harmful for anyone.
Q.19. What advice did the doctor give to Mrs. Pumphrey? Why did she not follow it? What excuses did she
make? 2005, 2017
Or, What was Mr. Herriot’s strict advice? Did Mrs. Pumphrey pay heed to his advice? What excuses did she
make? 2008
Ans. The doctor told Mrs. Pumphrey that she should control Tricki’s diet. She should cut down on the sweet
things. He had to be given plenty of exercise or he would really become very ill. He advised her to harden
her heart and keep Tricki on a very strict diet. But Mrs. Pumphrey found it rather difficult to follow the
doctor’s advice. She felt that Tricki was rather listless and seemed to have no energy. She assumed he was
suffering from malnutrition so she gave him little extras between meals. She told the doctor that Tricki
could not exercise as the gardener was unwell, so there could be no ring-throwing lately.
Q.20. Mrs. Pumphrey said, ‘This is a triumph of surgery.’ Did she know what Tricki’s ailment was? 2006
Ans. Mrs. Pumphrey had thoroughly pampered and spoilt Tricki. She had made him greedy and he could eat at
any time of the day and night. Despite Dr. Herriot’s consistent warnings, she overfed him until he became
sick. When Dr. Herriot took the dog under his care, he merely restricted his diet and made him do plenty
of exercise and transformed him into a lithe, hard-muscled animal. When Mrs. Pumphrey saw him, she
 1. A TRIUMPH OF SURGERY „ 91

thought that Tricki had recovered miraculously because of the medical treatment he had received at ‘the
surgery’. She actually didn’t even understand and realise what Tricki’s ailment was and that he had
received no medical treatment of any kind.
Q.21. Why did the dogs at the surgery reject Tricki as “an uninteresting object”? How did he become an
accepted member of the gang? 2007
Ans. At the surgery the household dogs surrounded Dr. Herriot when he entered with Tricki. Tricki looked at
the noisy pack with dull eyes and when he was put down, he lay motionless on the carpet. The other dogs
sniffed him for a few seconds and then rejected him after deciding that he was “an uninteresting object.”
Later as he was progressing, he gradually lost weight and became more active. Slowly he discovered the
joys of being bowled over, tramped on and squashed every few minutes. He then became an accepted
member of the gang and joined the household dogs in their various feats.
Q.22. Mr. Herriot, a veterinary surgeon is tactful as well as full of common sense. Do you agree? Justify your
answer giving instances from the story you have read. 2008
Ans. Mr. Herriot has a lot of tact and common sense. He understands that Tricki’s only ailment is being over-
pampered by his rich mistress. He also knows that Tricki has to be kept away from Mrs. Pumphrey if he is
to become healthy again. So, very tactfully Mr. Herriot gets him out of Mrs. Pumphrey’s care to keep him
away from her over-pampering and over feeding. Using his common sense he is able to help the little dog
recover from his illness and transform him into a lithe, hard-muscled animal.

QUESTIONS FROM THE TEXT

Q.23. Why was the narrator worried about Tricki? What shocked him about Tricki’s appearance?

as
Ans. The narrator was worried and shocked when he saw Tricki in the street with his mistress. He had become

D
fat, like a swelled up sausage with a leg at each corner. His eyes were, bloodshot and watery with his

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tongue lolling from his jaws.

Sh
Q.24. Why was Mrs. Pumphrey worried about Tricki?
Ans. Mrs. Pumphrey was worried about Tricki as he seemed listless with no energy. She thought he was
suffering from malnutrition.
Q.25. What does Mrs. Pumphrey do to help Tricki? Is she wise in this?
Ans. Mrs. Pumphrey thought Tricki was suffering from malnutrition, so she started giving him some little extras
between meals to build up his health. She would give him some malt and cod-liver oil and a bowl of
Horlicks at night to make him sleep. Mrs. Pumphrey is not wise as this would only make Tricki really ill.
Q.26. ‘ I was really worried about Tricki this time’. Who does ‘I’ refer to this story?
Ans. ‘I’ refers to the narrator, James Herriot.
Q.27. What was Tricki’s fault according to the narrator?
Ans. Tricki’s only fault according to the narrator was greed. He had never been known to refuse food, he would
tackle a meal at any hour of the day or night.
Q.28. What new regime had the narrator advised Mrs. Pumphrey to put into practice for Tricki?
Ans. The narrator advised Mrs. Pumphrey to cut down Tricki’s intake of sweets, give him plenty of exercise and
keep him on a very strict diet and harden her heart to be able to do so.
Q.29. Why did Mrs. Pumphrey not follow the advise given by the narrator?
Ans. Mrs. Pumphrey thought Tricki looked weak, so she gave him cream cakes and chocolates which he loved
very much. She could not bear to refuse him. Tricki’s exercise had been on hold as Hodgkin, the gardener,
had been down with muscular pain in the lower back so there had been no ring-throwing for Tricki lately.
Q.30. From whom did the narrator get the expected call? What was it about?
Ans. The narrator got the expected call from Mrs. Pumphrey. She was worried as Tricki would not eat nothing.
He even refused his favourite dish and he had bouts of vomiting. He spent all his time lying on a rug,
didn’t go for walks and didn’t want to do anything.
Q.31. “Poor old lad” I said. “You haven’t a kick in you but I think I know a cure for you?
(i) Who is ‘I’ referred to in the above lines and who is the lad?
(ii) Why did the lad need cure?
92 „ Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

Ans. (i) ‘I’ in the above lines is the narrator and the lad is Tricki.
(ii) Tricki needed cure because he was overfed. He had become fat, bloated with bloodshot eyes and
tongue lolling from his jaws. Since few days he had been vomiting and spent all his time lying on the
rug, panting, doing nothing.
Q.32. Is the narrator as rich as Tricki’s mistress?
Ans. No, the narrator is not as rich as Tricki’s mistress.
Q.33. How does he treat the dog?
Ans He kept an eye on the dog for two days and gave him no food but plenty of water. At the end of the second
day he started to show some interest in his surroundings. On the third day the doctor saw Tricki licking
the supper bowls of other dogs. Next day he was happy to see that Tricki had run to the separate bowl that
had been kept for him to eat his food. From that day onwards Tricki’s progress was rapid and he recovered
quite well.
Q.34. Which question did the narrator try to dodge and why?
Ans. The narrator tried to dodge the questions about whether Trick’s cushions were being turned regularly or if
he wore the correct coat according to the weather. The narrator did so because Mrs. Pumphrey rang a
dozen times a day for the latest bulletins and none of her instructions were being followed. Also Tricki was
doing fine and had discovered joys of being bowled over, tramped on which was important for him to get
well.
Q.35. When and how did the real possibilities of the situation begin to dawn on the household?
Ans. When the bottles of wine began to arrive after fresh eggs, the real possibilities of the situation began to
dawn on the household at the surgery. The narrator and his partners realised that the wine was being sent

as
to enrich Tricki’s blood.

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Q.36. How was lunch a ceremonial occasion for the whole household?

Shiv
Ans. Lunch at Dr. Herriot’s surgery became a ceremonial occasion with two glasses of wine served for everyone
before and several during the meal for the staff.
Q.37. Which days were considered full of deep content for the whole household and why?
Ans. The days when Tricki was at Dr. Herriot’s surgery. The days started with the extra egg in the morning,
improved and sustained by the midday wine and finished round the fire with the brandy. All these things
were sent by Mrs. Pumphrey for Tricki, but were being consumed by Dr. Herriot and his staff.

✽ • •• • ✽
 2. T he T hief's Story
—Ruskin
Ruskin Bond

Î SUMMARY OF THE LESSON

• Anil was a young writer. He was living his life very carelessly. He was writing for
magazines and earning money to run his life.
• Hari Singh took up a job with Anil and began to stay with him. Anil promised him that
he would teach him how to write and add numbers. He also taught him how to cook
tasty food. Hari Singh would go to buy things of daily need and made a profit of one
rupee each day. Anil was aware of this but he did not mind it. Both continued to live
together happily.
• A month passed. One day he saw Anil had bought a bundle of notes. He saw him put
them under the mattress. As Hari saw the bundle of notes, the evil spirit in him
awakened and he decided to rob Anil that night. After finishing his dinner, Anil went to
sleep peacefully. Hari could not sleep, he woke up. He crept to the bed and slipped his
hand under the mattress. He found the notes and ran away on the road. Hari Singh
made up his mind that he would directly go to the railway station and would catch the
Lucknow Express. He thought that Anil would not be able to catch him if he ran away
from the city. Hari Singh reached the railway station, when Lucknow Express was about
to depart.
• Suddenly the good human being in him called out to him. The inner voice told him not
to betray the faith of Anil. The train was moving but Hari did not dare to catch it. He
remembered the innocent face of Anil and shuddered to think what Anil would think
about him. Anil would not worry about the money but he might feel bad that a man who
he had done so much for had broken his faith. There was conflict in the mind of Hari
Singh. He did not want to lose Anil’s faith. He knew that Anil was a simple man.
Moreover Anil was teaching him how to write and add numbers which could change his
life. He could become a respectable person in the society.
• He left the railway station. He came to the maidan and sat on the bench. Just then it
started raining heavily. It was the month of November and chilly wind started blowing.
• Then he went to the Clock Tower to save himself from the rain. He sat there under the
tower. Suddenly he remembered his notes. He touched the notes held by the string of his
pyjamas and found that all the notes were wet. He crept back again into Anil’s house and
secretly put back the money under the mattress. The next day Anil woke up, prepared
tea for Hari and himself. He handed over fifty rupee note to Hari and told him that he
would be regularly paid now. Hari took the note and found that it was still wet. He
understood that Anil knew about the last night's episode.

2. THE THIEF'S STORY „ 93

94 „ Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

PREVIOUS YEARS’ CBSE BOARD EXAM QUESTIONS

Q.1. In which queer way did Anil make a living? 2018
Ans. The queer way in which Anil made a living was by writing for magazines. Also, his money management
skills were really odd. One week he would be borrowing money and the next week he would be lending
money to others. He thus made money by fits and starts.
Q.2. What did Hari Singh get from Anil in return for his work? 2008
Ans. Hari Singh usually made a profit of about a rupee a day when Anil sent him to buy the supplies for the
day. Anil knew this but did not seem to mind it.
Q.3. What was Anil’s job? How did he usually spend the money he earned? 2004
Ans. Anil made money by fits and starts. He would borrow one week and would lend the next. He wrote for
magazines to earn his living. As soon as he got a cheque he would go out and have a great time
celebrating.
Q.4. Why, according to Hari Singh, is it easier to rob a greedy man than a careless person like Anil? 2004
Ans. According to Hari Singh it is easier to rob a greedy man because he can afford to be robbed but a careless
person like Anil doesn’t even notice that he has been robbed and that takes the pleasure out of the work.
Q.5. How, according to Hari Singh, would the greedy man, the rich man and the poor man react when they
had lost their goods? 2008
Ans. According to Hari Singh on losing their goods—a greedy man’s face would show fear, the rich man’s face
would show anger and the poor man’s face would show acceptance.
Q.6. What was the thief’s immediate reaction when he stole Anil’s money? 2002

as
Ans. After stealing Anil’s money the thief quickly crawled out of the room. When he was on the road, he began

D
to run. He had the notes at his waist, that were held there by the string of his pyjamas. He counted that he

iv
had 600 rupees and could live like an oil-rich Arab for a week or two.

Sh
Q.7. At the station, why did the thief lose his chance to get away with the money? 2004
Ans. When the thief reached the railway station, the ‘Lucknow Express’ was just moving out. He would have
been able to jump into one of its carriages but for some inexplicable reason he hesitated to board the train
and lost his chance to get away.
Q.8. What did Hari Singh do with the money he stole from Anil? 2009
Ans. After stealing Anil’s money, Hari Singh ran to the station to escape, but did not board the train. Realising his
mistake he came back to Anil’s house with the stolen money and slipped the notes under Anil’s mattress.
Q.9. How did Hari Singh know that Anil had forgiven him? 2009
Ans. Hari Singh knew Anil had forgiven him when he gave Hari Singh a fifty-rupee note next morning, also
adding that from henceforth he would pay Hari Singh regularly. He then told Hari Singh that from that
day he would teach him to start writing sentences confirming to Hari Singh that he had been forgiven.
Q.10. What kind of life was the thief leading with Anil? 2003
Ans. Anil had taken the thief to his room and told him he could sleep in the balcony. Anil told the thief that he
would teach him how to cook. He also taught the thief how to write his name. For the thief it was quite
pleasant working for Anil. He made the tea in the morning and then would buy the day’s supplies, usually
making a profit of about one rupee every day. Anil had also told him that he would soon teach him to
write whole sentences and add numbers. The thief was grateful because he knew that once he could write
like an educated man there would be no limit to what he could achieve. Anil was a trusting person who
had given the thief a key of his house also.
Q.11. What impression do you form of Hari Singh after reading the lesson ? 2001
Ans. Hari Singh was a thief and though he was only fifteen years old, he was fairly experienced and successful
in his job. He was very eager to learn to read and write because he knew that once he could write, there
would be no limit to what he could achieve. He was very grateful to Anil and quite liked working for him.
He found it difficult to rob him since Anil was also the most trusting person he had ever met. The thief
could not bring himself to cheat him. Even though the thief finally managed to rob Anil, his conscience did
not allow him to run away with the money. He understood that Anil’s face would show only a touch of
sadness when he discovered the theft—not for the loss of money, but for the loss of trust. So, he hurried
back to Anil and was now a reformed and better person.
 2. THE THIEF'S STORY „ 95

Q.12. ‘A thief in Hari Singh changed into a good human being’. How far was Anil’s considerate nature
responsible for this transformation? 2008
Ans. Anil’s trust and compassion brought about a change in Hari Singh. The thief had come to Anil’s house
with the sole intention of robbing him. But gradually he began to realise that Anil was one of the most
trusting persons he had ever met and it became difficult for the thief to rob him. Anil’s compassionate and
sincere attitude reformed the thief to such an extent that he was willing to give up stealing altogether only
to remain with Anil. Even though the thief tried hard, he could not betray Anil’s trust.
Q.13. ‘Trust and compassion can reform a person.’ Justify this statement in the light of the lesson ‘The Thief’s
Story’. 2000
Ans. There is no doubt about the fact that trust and compassion can indeed reform a person. The thief had come
to live in Anil’s house with the sole intention of robbing him. But gradually began to realise that Anil was
one of the most trusting people he had ever met and it became difficult for the thief to rob him. Even when
the thief had robbed him, he could not bring himself to cheat a good and respected man like Anil. He
decided that he should go back to him because he had started to like living and working with Anil. Anil’s
trusting, compassionate and sincere attitude reformed the thief to such an extent that he was willing to
give up stealing altogether only to remain with Anil. Even though the thief tried to, he could not betray
Anil’s trust and deceive him.
Q.14. How did Hari Singh steal Anil’s money? What justification did he give? 2000
Ans. One evening Hari Singh saw Anil tuck a bundle of notes under his mattress. That was the time Hari Singh
decided to get down to some real work and steal the money for Anil had been out of practice for long. As
Anil lay asleep, Hari Singh slid his hand under the mattress and drew out the notes without a sound. He

as
justified his act by thinking that if he did not take Anil’s money, he would only waste it on his friends and

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the fact that Anil did not even pay him proved another incentive for Hari Singh to rob him of this money.

Shiv
Q.15. “The Thief’s Story” is a study of the complexities of the human mind. 2000
Ans. “The Thief’s Story” is indeed a study of the complexities of the human mind. More than often a man
himself fails to understand his own mind. The human mind is rather vulnerable to outside influences. The
young boy, who is a thief, picks up a job with Anil with the sole intention of robbing him. But when he
does get an opportunity to rob him, he does so and then makes a retreat. He cannot cheat Anil who has
been quite good and kind to him. Anil seems to him the fulfillment of his hope. He feels, with Anil he can
learn, lead an honest life and finally become a big man.
Q.16. If you were Anil, would you have pardoned the thief ? If yes/no, why? 2004
Ans. I would definitely have pardoned the thief if I was Anil. It is remarkable that the thief himself realised his
mistake and even though he had the opportunity to escape he came back. It would be wrong to rebuke or
punish a person who attains self-realisation of the mistake he has committed and decides to reform it. Anil had
trusted the thief and even though the thief had the chance to run away, Anil could not bring himself to
betraying Anil’s trust. I feel such a person deserves admiration and should be pardoned as he has taken the first
step for becoming a better human being and, therefore, we should encourage him in this positive direction.

QUESTIONS FROM THE TEXT

Q.17. Who does ‘I’ refer to in ‘The Thief’s story’?
Ans. ‘I’ in ‘The Thief ‘Story’, refers to Hari Singh.
Q.18. Why did Hari Singh lie about his name?
Ans. Hari Singh took a new name every month. That kept him ahead of the police and his former employers.
Hence Hari Singh lied about his name as he was a thief.
Q.19. Why did Hari Singh find it pleasant working for Anil?
Ans. Hari Singh found it pleasant working for Anil as he taught him how to cook, to write his name and would
also teach him to write whole sentences and add numbers. Hari Singh could buy the day’s supplies and
make a profit of about a rupee a day. Anil knew that Hari made a little money but did not seem to mind.
Q.20. Why did Hari Singh find it difficult to rob Anil?
Or, Why was it not easy for the thief to rob Anil? 2001
Ans. Anil was one of the most trusting people the thief had ever met so it was not easy to rob him. It was easy
96 „ Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

for a thief to rob a greedy man because he could afford to be robbed. But robbing a careless man like Anil
was difficult because he wouldn’t notice the robbery and that would take the pleasure out of the work.
Q.21. How did Hari Singh justify to himself his intention of robbing/stealing Anil’s money? 2005, 2014
Ans. The thief ‘Hari Singh’ thought it was high time he did some real work. He had been out of practice as a
thief. If he didn’t take the money, Anil would only waste it on his friends. He realised that Anil did not
even pay him so his intention to steal Anil’s money was justified.
Q.22. How does the thief think Anil will react to the theft?
Ans. He knew that when Anil would realise that he had been robbed, his face would only show a touch of
sadness. This sad reaction would not be for the loss of his money but only for the loss of trust that had been
betrayed by the thief. Thinking about Anil’s reaction added to the thief’s discomfort.
Q.23. Does Anil realise that he had been robbed?
Ans. Anil realised that he had been robbed. He gave a wet fifty-rupee note to Hari Singh the next morning
assuring him that now he would be paid regularly as he had made some money. But neither Anil’s lips nor
his eyes showed anything.
Q.24. What are Hari Singh’s reactions to the prospect of receiving an education? Do they change over time?
Ans. Hari Singh knew that once he could write like an educated man there would be no limit to what he could
achieve. Whole sentences, could one day bring him more than a few hundred rupees. It was a simple
matter to steal and sometimes just as simple to be caught. But to be a really big man, a clever and respected
man, was something else.
Q.25. Why does Anil not hand over the thief to ‘the police’?

s
Ans. Anil did not hand the thief over to ‘the police’ as he had influenced Hari Singh’s life quite positively. In

a
fact, Hari Singh found it difficult to rob Anil. Even when Hari Singh had the opportunity to run away with

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the money stolen from Anil, he decided to return to him.

Shi
Q.26. What makes Hari Singh return to Anil?
Or, Why did Hari Singh decide to return the stolen money? What light does it throw on his character?
2004, 2001
Ans. After stealing the money when Hari Singh reached the station, he just could not board the train. He stood
alone on the deserted platform and thought about Anil who he knew would feel only sadness for the loss
of trust when he discovered the theft. When the train had gone, he did not know where to go. The only
place he could think of going to, was the house of the person he had robbed. As he sat down to think
deeply sitting under the clock tower, he realised that he would actually miss being with Anil — cooking
his meals and running to the bazaar. He felt that he should go back to Anil if only to read and write. So he
decided to return to Anil feeling very nervous. The thief was very grateful to Anil and quite liked working
for him. Since Anil was the most trusting man he had met, he could not cheat him. The thief was indeed a
person whose conscience was alive and he realised the difference between right and wrong.
Q.27. What does he say about the different reactions of people when they are robbed?
Or, What did he think would be Anil’s reaction?
Or, What does the thief say about the reactions of the people whom he had robbed? What did he think
would be Anil’s reaction? 2002
Ans. After stealing Anil’s money, when the thief was standing alone on a deserted platform, he got an
opportunity to analyse the reactions of the people whom he had robbed. He had made a study of men’s
faces when they had lost their goods. The greedy man showed fear, the rich man showed anger and the
poor man showed acceptance. But he knew that when Anil would realise that he had been robbed, his face
would only show a touch of sadness. This sad reaction would not be for the loss of his money but only for
the loss of trust that had been betrayed by the thief. Thinking about Anil’s reaction added to the thief’s
discomfort.
✽ • •• • ✽
 5. Footprints without Feet
—H.
H. G. Wells

Î SUMMARY OF THE LESSON

• Griffin, a Scientist discovers a rare drug which can make a person invisible.
• He was not liked by his landlord and the landlord wanted to eject him. Griffin decided to
take revenge on the landlord. He swallowed the drug and put the house on fire. He took
his clothes off and became invisible and ran away.
• Now, he could see everyone but no one could see him. He was safe from being caught. But
he was without clothes and it was very cold. He passed the night in a London store. He
stole goods and money from the store. He had a meal there and slept overnight.
• The next morning two attendants came into the store found him and chased him away.
He was again homeless and without clothes.
• He then loots the shopkeeper of a theatrical company and catches a train to a village
called Iping. He stayed at an in. He stole money from the clergy man’s desk.
• Suspicion falls on the scientist when he pays the rent. Mrs. Hall finds the room of the
scientist opened. She wants to look into the room. A hat springs up and hits on her face.
The chair of the room comes to life and forces Mr. and Mrs. Hall out of the room.
• Suddenly Griffin appears from nowhere. When Mr. and Mrs. Hall enquire about the theft
Griffin gets angry. He removes the bandages and his nose falls. Now he was headless.
• A policeman named Jaffers was called to arrest the headless man but he is wounded by
the invisible scientist. A strange fight took place. Griffin took off his bandages, his glasses
and his hat. People were horrified. Griffin hits the policeman. He manages to free himself
and runs away.

PREVIOUS YEARS’ CBSE BOARD EXAM QUESTIONS

Q.1. What experiments did Griffin carry out? What was the final result of these experiments? 2017
Ans. Griffin had carried out many experiments to prove that the human body could become invisible. Finally he
swallowed certain rare drugs and his body became as transparent as a sheet of glass—though it also
remained as solid as glass.
Q.2. How did Griffin enjoy himself at the big London store?
Ans. Griffin gave himself the pleasure of clothing and feeding himself without thinking of the expenses. He
broke open boxes and fitted himself with warm clothes. In the kitchen of the store he found food and had
a hearty meal before sleeping on a pile of quilts.
Q.3. What happened when Griffin didn’t wake up in time? 2007
Ans. Griffin did not wake up in time and when he saw the assistants at the shop approaching the next morning,

5. FOOTPRINTS WITHOUT FEET „ 97

98 „ Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

he just panicked and ran. They gave him a chase and he could escape only after he took off his clothes. So,
he was once again out in the open without clothes in the chilly air of January.
Q.4. Mr. Griffin entered the shop of the theatrical company. What did he do there? 2003
Ans. Mr. Griffin entered the shop to find clothes. He covered himself above his shoulders with bandages. He
then wore dark glasses, a false nose and a large hat. He hit the shopkeeper and robbed him.
Q.5. Why did Mrs. Hall ignore Griffin’s strange habits? 2003
Ans. Mrs. Hall was satisfied that her guest was an eccentric scientist and in view of the fact that Griffin had paid
her in advance, Mrs. Hall was prepared to ignore and excuse his strange habits and irritable temper.
Q.6. What did the scientist do when he became furious? What happened to the constable and the people in
the bar? 2007
Ans. When the scientist became furious he would get very violent. He used to take advantage of his invisibility
and start attacking the people around him. A remarkable scene was witnessed when the constable tried to
get hold of a man who was getting more and more invisible by the second. The people at the bar who tried
to help the constable, found themselves being hit by blows that seemed to come from nowhere. Finally, the
constable was knocked unconscious and Griffin was free as no one knew where to lay a hand on him.
Q.7. Why does Mrs. Hall find the scientist eccentric? What curious episode takes place in the study? 2008
Ans. Despite Mrs. Hall’s repeated attempts to be friendly, the scientist made it clear to her that he had no desire
to talk. He also told her that he had come to Iping because of his desire for solitude and did not wish to be
disturbed in his work. Besides an accident had affected his face. All these things satisfied Mrs. Hall about
the scientist’s eccentricity.
Q.8. How would you assess Griffin as a scientist? 2008

s
Ans. Griffin was indeed a good scientist who had successfully discovered how to make the human body

a
transparent. He had carried out experiment after experiment laboriously to prove that the human body

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could become invisible. Finally, he had himself been brave enough to swallow certain rare drugs and his

Shi
own body became as transparent as a sheet of glass, but had also remained as solid as glass. So, there is no
denying that Griffin was a brilliant scientist. He had the ability to make great inventions and discoveries.
But being a rather lawless and eccentric person, he could never utilise his discovery in the right way and
became a homeless wanderer, that too without clothes.
Q.9. “Discoveries of science can be used for welfare as well as for destruction”. How is this applicable to
Griffin’s scientific discovery? Explain giving examples from the text.
Ans. There is no doubt that discoveries of science can be used for welfare as well as destruction. But in the case
of Griffin he used his discovery to suit his own selfish purpose. He was not a true scientist and did not
miss an opportunity to misuse his scientific discovery. He uses his invisibility to get away from trouble and
also to evade arrest by the village constable, Jaffers. After becoming invisible Griffin knocks Jaffers down
and manages to escape easily. Griffin being a rather lawless person does not have the least hesitation or
qualms in using his discovery to suit himself and to evade a situation that can be troublesome.
Q.10. “Griffin indeed made a great discovery, yet we do not sympathise with him”. Why? 2006
Ans. There is no doubt about the fact that Griffin had indeed made a great discovery. He was a brilliant scientist
who had discovered how to make the human body transparent. But inspite of his great achievement we do
not sympathise with him because he was a rather lawless person. He does not use his discovery for a
fruitful and constructive purpose but continues to misuse it at every stage. On the contrary we sympathise
with the people whom Griffin troubles and harasses after becoming invisible. Griffin loses even the basic
moral values and has no inhibitions and limitations about making a complete nuisance of himself at any
point of time.
Q.11. Griffin was not a true scientist as he misused his scientific discovery. Illustrate this point by giving two
incidents from the story. 2009
Ans. Griffin was indeed not a true scientist and he did not miss an opportunity to misuse his scientific discovery
of making the human body transparent. Since Griffin was a rather lawless person, his landlord in London
disliked him and tried to eject him. In revenge Griffin set fire to his house. At this time he misused his
discovery, which enabled him to become invisible, to get away without being seen. On yet another
occasion Griffin used his invisibility to evade arrest by the village constable Jaffers, whom Mr. Griffin’s
landlady, had called for, when he did not pay her the rent of the room. After becoming invisible, Griffin
knocked down the constable who became unconscious and managed to escape easily.
 5. FOOTPRINTS WITHOUT FEET „ 99

Q.12. Science is a good servant but a bad master. How is this applicable to Griffin’s scientific discovery?
Give examples from the text. 2003
Ans. Griffin’s scientific discovery was misused by him. Being a lawless person he used his discovery to trouble
other people. When his landlord in London tried to eject him he set fire to the landlord’s house in revenge
and then he became invisible so that he could get away without being seen. He never used his discovery
for a constructive purpose but always misused it to escape after committing an unlawful act. He troubled
and harassed people after becoming invisible. He evades arrest, after knocking down the village constable
Jaffers by becoming invisible. So the saying—’Science is a good servant but a bad master’ is truly
applicable to Griffin’s scientific discovery.
Q.13. How did the invisible scientist first become visible? What compelled him to become invisible again in
the chilly air of January? 2009
Ans. The invisible scientist first became visible when he slipped into a big London store for warmth from the
bitterly cold weather. There he broke open boxes and wrappers and fitted himself into warm clothes. Fully
dressed he was now also a fully visible person. Finally he settled down to sleep. He did not manage to get
up on time the next morning, before the shop assistants arrived. Seeing them approach Griffin panicked
and began to run. The shop assistants began chasing him and he could only escape by quickly taking off
his newly found clothes. So once more he became invisible in the chilly January air.
Q.14. How did the scientist look when he came to the inn? Give examples to show that he was a man of
irritable temperament. 2012
Ans. The scientist came to the inn with an uncommon appearance. He had bandages around his forehead. He
had put on dark glasses and had also put a false nose with big bushy side whiskers and was wearing a

s
large hat. The scientist was indeed a man with an irritable temper because he foiled all of Mrs Hall’s

Da
attempts to be friendly with him and told her that he had no desire to talk. His irritable temper also forced

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him to tell Mrs Hall that he wanted solitude and did not wish to be disturbed in his work.

Sh
Q.15. Describe Griffin’s activities in the village of Iping. 2010
Ans. Griffin dissuaded all efforts of his landlady, Mrs. Hall to be friendly. He told her he wished to be alone and
did not wish to be disturbed. He stole housekeeping money from the clergymen’s desk as he had already
spent all the earlier stolen money. He terrorised the landlord and his wife by charging and hurling the
household furniture at them. Mrs. Hall was convinced that the room was haunted by spirits and the
neighbours believed all the trouble was caused by witchcraft. Finally, when Mrs. Hall confronted him,
Griffin became a headless man and knocked Jaffers, the constable, unconscious.
Q.16. How did Griffin’s invisibility come to his help whenever he found himself in trouble?
Ans. Griffin was a rather lawless and rash fellow and, therefore, his invisibility proved an easy and convenient
way for him to get away whenever he got into trouble. After Griffin had set his landlord’s house on fire, he
got away by becoming invisible and escaped. He even managed to get away when the assistants at the
restaurant, in which he was hiding, found him sleeping and gave him a chase. Here too, his invisibility
helped him to get away from the hands of the restaurant assistants. When Griffin callously attacked the
shopkeeper and robbed him of all his money, he again managed to escape by becoming invisible. Finally,
in the end, the constable Jaffers, who came to Mrs. Hall’s house to arrest Griffin, also had to give up trying
to catch him as he became more and more invisible.
Q.17. Describe the scene which took place after the arrival of Mr. Jaffers, the constable, in the story
‘Footprints Without Feet’. 2003
Ans. When Mr. Jaffers, the constable, arrived, he was quite surprised to find that he had to arrest a man without
a head. But that did not prevent Mr. Jaffers from carrying out his duty. Then ensued a remarkable scene as
Mr. Jaffers tried to get hold of a man who was becoming more and more invisible. Finally a shirt flew into the
air and the constable found himself struggling with someone who he could not see. Though some people
attempted to help him, they were hit by blows from nowhere and ultimately Jaffers was also knocked
unconscious.
Q.18. What ‘curious episode’ took place in the clergyman’s study? 2003
Ans. One day, very early in the morning, the clergyman and his wife were awakened by noises in the study.
Creeping downstairs, they heard the chink of money being taken from the clergyman’s desk. Without
making even the least noise and with a poker clasped firmly in his hand the clergyman flung open the door
 100 „ Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

of his study. He ordered the thief to surrender to him. But to his utter amazement he found the room to be
empty. He and his wife looked under the desk, behind the curtains and even up the chimney. There was no
sign of anybody and yet the desk had been opened and the housekeeping money was missing. This
‘curious episode’ took place in the clergyman’s study.

QUESTIONS FROM THE TEXT

Q.19. How does the invisible man first become invisible?
Ans. The scientist Griffin conducted various experiments. He then discovered a rare drug. Swallowing this rare
drug made him as invisible as a glass of sheet.
Q.20. Why were the two boys surprised?
Ans. The two boys were surprised when they saw fresh muddy imprints of a pair of barefeet. They wondered
what was a barefooted man doing on the steps of a house in the middle of London and where was the man
himself.
Q.21. What remarkable sight met the boys and why were they fascinated?
Ans. The boys saw fresh footmarks appear from nowhere. Further footprints followed, one after another,
descending the steps and going down the street. The boys were fascinated and followed until the muddy
impressions become fainter and at last disappeared.
Q.22. What was the simple explanation of the mystery?
Ans. The explanation of the mystery was that the boys had been following a scientist who had just discovered
how to make the human body transparent.
Q.23. Why were Griffin’s adventures by no means over inspite of escaping the boys who followed his
footprints in London?

s
Ans. Griffin had chosen a bad time of the year to wander about London without clothes. It was mid-winter and

Da
the air was very cold and he could not do without clothes.

v
Q.24. How did Griffin save himself from the cold weather?

Shi
Ans. Instead of walking about the streets Griffin decided to step into a big London store for warmth.
Q.25. Why does Mrs. Hall find the scientist eccentric?
Ans. Mrs. Hall tried her level best to befriend Griffin. But he had no desire to talk. He told her that he came to
Iping for solitude. He did not wish to be disturbed in his work.
Q.26. What curious episode occurs in the study?
Or, Why did the clergyman keep on saying ‘extraordinary affair’ for the rest of the day?
Ans. A clergyman and his wife were awakened by noises in the study very early in the morning. Creeping
downstairs, they heard the chink of money being taken from the clergyman’s desk. He and his wife looked
under the desk and behind the curtains, and even up the chimney. There wasn’t a sign of anybody. Yet the
desk had been opened and the housekeeping money was missing.
Q.27. What opportunity did the landlord and his wife not want to miss and why?
Ans. The landlord and his wife were surprised to see the scientist’s door open. Usually it was shut and locked
and he would get angry if anyone entered his room. They did not want to miss the opportunity as they saw
nobody and decided to investigate.
Q.28. Which incidents led to the neighbours becoming suspicious of the strange scientist?
Ans. When the news of the burglary (robbery) at the clergyman’s home became known the strange scientist was
strongly suspected of having a hand in it. Suspicion grew stronger when he suddenly produced some
ready cash, though he had admitted not long before that he had no money.
Q.29. “Person had to be arrested with or without his head”. What does the statement mean?
Ans. Mr. Jaffers, the constable was surprised to find that he had to arrest a man without a head. But Jaffers was
not easily prevented from doing his duty. If the magistrate’s warrant ordered a person’s arrest, then that
person had to be arrested, with or without his head.
Q.30. Describe the remarkable scene when the village constable came to arrest the invisible scientist?
Ans. The scene was remarkable as the policeman tried to get hold of a man who was becoming more and more
invisible as he threw off one garment after another. Finally when a shirt flew, the constable found himself
struggling with someone he could not see at all. Some people tried to help him, but found themselves hit
by blows coming from nowhere. In the end the constable, Mr. Jaffers was knocked unconscious as he
made a last attempt to hold on to the unseen scientist.

✽ • •• • ✽
 Writing Skills
PREVIOUS YEARS’ CBSE BOARD EXAM QUESTIONS
Letter Writing
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Q.1. You are Prabhu Kumar/ Parvati of 17E, Ravi Dass Road, Kochi. Write a letter in 100-120 words to the
editor of a newspaper about the nuisance caused by loudspeakers in the city during examination days
drawing attention of the concerned authorities to the problem.
Ans. 17E
Ravi Dass Road
Kochi
28th July, 2021
The Editor
The Daily Tribune
Kochi
Subject: Nuisance caused by loudspeakers in the city.
Sir
Through the medium of columns of your esteemed newspaper, I wish to draw the attention of the
concerned authorities towards the nuisance caused by the loudspeakers in the city during examination
days.
The blaring sound of the loudspeakers especially at night has become a source of disturbance for the
students as the exams are approaching. The students are already stressed and the noise pollution caused
by the loudspeakers makes it worse. The disturbance does not allow the students to focus and concentrate
on their studies and causes headaches.
The problems caused by the nuisance of loudspeakers needs immediate attention of the authorities. Rules,
regarding timing and decibel of noise levels should be fixed by the authorities. Heavy fines should be
imposed on those breaking the rules. We must understand that the students need the support of both
family and society to perform stress free in their exams.
I hope you will publish my letter in your newspaper so that the concerned authorities can take necessary
action with regards to the nuisance caused by loudspeakers.
Yours sincerely
Prabhu Kumar/Parvati
Q.2. You are Rahul/Rohini, a resident of J–Block, Rajouri Garden, New Delhi. The water pipe that supplies
drinking water to your area is damaged and there has not been any water supply for two days now.
Write a letter, in about 120 words, to the editor of a local daily drawing the attention of the authorities
towards the difficulties of the residents and asking for immediate repair of the pipe. Demand the
supply of the drinking water through tankers.

WRITING SKILLS „ 101

102 „ Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

Ans. J-Block
Rajouri Garden
New Delhi
17th January, 20xx
The Editor
The Jag Bharat Times
Delhi
Subject: No water supply due to damaged water pipe
Sir
Through the medium of the columns of your esteemed newspaper I would like to bring to the attention of
the concerned authorities a problem that the residents of J-Block, Rajouri Garden are facing due to a
damaged water pipe.
The water pipe that supplies drinking water to our area is damaged and there has been no water supply
for the last two days. Due to this the residents are facing numerous difficulties. The authorities too have
turned a deaf ear to our complaints. It is our request to them to undertake repair work of the pipe
immediately. Until the time the water pipe is repaired, we residents also request the supply of drinking
water through tankers.
I sincerely, hope after reading my grievance letter in your esteemed newspaper the concerned authorities
will take notice of our woes and take immediate steps to rectify the damaged water pipe.
Yours sincerely
Rohini
Q.3. The recent increase in crimes against people of the Northeast, especially in the cities, has highlighted

as
the growing problem faced by the community. Fear of violence continues to worry them. Write a letter

D
in 100-120 words to the Editor of The Times of India expressing your concern over the recent death of a

iv
young student resulting from a racial comment against people from Northeast. Suggest what steps the

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government should take to solve this problem. You are Aanchal/Aryan, resident of A-12, East of
Kailash, New Delhi.
Hint—racial comments, attacks—rude behaviour, hurt feelings of our own fellow citizens—disharmony—
dents the image of our country—steps to solve this problem.
Ans. A-12
East of Kailash
New Delhi
15th July, 2021
The Editor
The Times of India
New Delhi
Subject: Increasing crimes against people of North-East
Sir
Through the medium of your esteemed newspaper I wish to express my concern over the recent death of a
young student resulting from a racial comment against people from the Northeast.
India is a land of diverse cultures, customs and traditions. This diversity strengthens our nation and
teaches us to be tolerant and respect each other. But the recent increase in crimes against the Northeast
community is a major cause of worry. The fear of violence and racial discrimination has made them feel
alienated from the mainstream in life especially in the cities.
The concerned authorities, especially the government should enforce laws to prohibit racial discrimination.
The Northeast region, its culture, diversity, language should be brought to the mainstream by including it
in the text of school curriculum. Government should take steps to popularize the rich handicraft of
Northeast which is also eco-friendly.
I hope you will publish my letter in your reputed newspaper so that the concerned authorities can take
necessary steps to solve the problem.
Your sincerely
Aanchal/Aryan
 WRITING SKILLS „ 103

Q.4. Floods in Uttarakhand in June 2013, wiped out hundreds of villages; people have been left homeless;
sources of liveliness gone, no roads. In this hour of their need, all the countrymen must come forward
to help. As a responsible citizen, write a letter in about 100-120 words to the Editor, The Times, New
Delhi, expressing your concern about the miserable condition of those who have been uprooted. Make
an appeal to the people to donate generously to the Uttarakhand Relief Fund.
Ans. ABC Lane
New Delhi
29th July, 20xx
The Editor
The Times
New Delhi
Subject. Appeal to donate generously to the Uttarakhand Relief Fund
Sir
Through the medium of the columns of your esteemed newspaper I wish to express my concern regarding
the misplaced condition about those whose lives have been uprooted due to the devastating floods in
Uttarakhand.
As we all are aware the floods in Uttarakhand have wiped out hundreds of villages, leaving numerous
people homeless and without any source of livelihood. In their hour of crisis it is the duty of each one of us
to come forward to help these unfortunate people in an effort to rebuild their lives. I would like to appeal
to the responsible citizens of our country to donate generously to the Uttarakhand Relief Fund. Your

s
invaluable help in cash and kind will help these people at a time when they are direly in need.

Da
I hope you will publish my letter in your newspaper so that people are inspired to donate generously to

v
the Uttarakhand Relief Fund.

Shi
Your sincerely
XYZ

LETTER OF COMPLAINT
Q.5. You bought a flat from PQR Builders, Sector 55, NOIDA. Within a period of two months you have
started facing a lot of problems like seepage in the walls and ceilings, wall paint peeling off, leaking
sanitary fittings, lift getting stalled etc. Write a letter of complaint in 100-120 words to the Works
Manager. You are Karuna/Karan, A9D Apoorva Apts., NOIDA.
Ans. A9D, Apoorva Apts.
Sector 55, Noida
16th January, 20xx
The Works Manager
PQR Builders
Noida
Subject: Letter of complaint for problems in new flat
Sir
I moved into my flat that I had bought from your company in Apoorva Apartments, Sector-55, Noida two
months back. It is most unfortunate that within two months of moving into this brand new flat we have
started facing a lot of problems.
There is problem of seepage in the walls and ceilings. The wall paint has started peeling off, there is
leakage in the sanitary fittings and the lift gets stalled to name a few. Keeping in mind the reputation that
your company enjoys in the market I had never imagined that a flat built by your reputed company would
have such poor construction. The least you could do now is to rectify the faults at the earliest to avoid us
further inconvenience.
I hope to hear from your end soon and also hope repair work is initiated at the earliest.
Yours sincerely
Karan
104 „ Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English Language & Literature X)

Q.6. Write a letter in 100-120 words to the Manager, Furniture World, Chennai, complaining about the poor
quality of office furniture you recently purchased from them. Give details of the nature of complaint, date
of purchase, details of invoice, etc. and seek immediate repair/replacement. You are Mr. S. Reddy,
Principal, P.S. Public School, Chennai.
Ans. P.S. Public School
Chennai
7th March, 20xx
The Manager
Furniture World
Chennai
Subject: Letter of Complaint against poor quality of office furniture
Sir
We had purchased office furniture from your showroom on 17th January vide Invoice No. FWC/2051. I am
sorry to say that most of these items sent by you are of poor quality and very non-durable. Not even two
months have passed and the chairs are already creaking as the springs used in them are of inferior quality.
The wood on the tables too has started chipping off at different places. Four of the seven wooden almirahs
are defective as their handles are loose and they are not even stable. It is most disgusting that a reputed
shop like yours has been unable to maintain the quality of its products. I would request you to have this
faulty lot replaced by a new one, with the best quality at the earliest and would appreciate if you initiated
action in this matter fast.
Yours sincerely
S. Reddy

s
(Principal)

Da
Q.7. You are Arman/Arpita of 14, MG Road, Pune. You had bought the text book, ‘First Flight’ for Class X

v
from a neighbourhood bookstore. After browsing through the book, you realized that a few pages were

Shi
missing and the print overlapped on a few pages. Write a complaint letter in 100-120 words to the
Manager, Dawn Books, Lawrence Road, Chennai requesting him for a replacement or refund.
Ans. 14, MG Road
Pune
22nd July, 20xx
The Manager
Dawn Books
Lawrence Road
Chennai
Subject: Letter of complaint over missing pages in book.
Sir
I had bought the text book ‘First Flight’ for class X from a neighbourhood book store last week. After
browsing through the book, I realized that a few pages (numbered 61–76) were missing from the book and
the print overlapped on a few pages. It will not be possible for me to retain this book. So it is my request to
you to either replace the book that I am enclosing with this letter or to send me a refund for the book. I
hope to receive a reply from your end soon as my academic session has already started and I need this text
book urgently. Awaiting prompt action so that I am not inconvenienced any further.
Thank you
Yours sincerely
Arman

✽ • •• • ✽
 OMR Based
Sample Question Paper

Time Allowed : 90 minutes Maximum Marks : 40

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS:
(i) Question paper comprises three Sections—A, B and C. There are 40 questions in the question paper. All questions
are compulsory.
(ii) Section A – Reading
(iii) Section B – Grammar
(iv) Section C – Literature Text Book & Supplementary Reading Text
(v) The Answer sheet is inside this Test Booklet. When you are directed to open the Test Booklet, take out the
Answer Sheet and fill in the particulars on SIDE-2 carefully with Blue/Black ball point pen only. In no case
pencil is to be used. Read “General Instructions for Candidates” on SIDE-1 carefully.
(vi) The candidate should ensure that the Answer Sheet is not folded. Do not make any stray marks on the Answer

s
Sheet. Do not write your Roll Number anywhere else except in the specified space in the Test Booklet/Answer

iv D a
Sheet.

Sh
SECTION-A (Reading)
I. Read the passage given below:
The choices we make on a daily basis—wearing a seatbelt, lifting heavy objects correctly or purposely
staying out of any dangerous situation—can either ensure our safety or bring about potentially harmful
circumstances.
You and I need to make a decision that we are going to get our lives in order.
Exercising self-control, self-discipline and establishing boundaries and borders in our lives are some of the
most important things we can do. A life without discipline is one that’s filled with carelessness.
We can think it’s kind of exciting to live life on the edge. We like the image of “Yeah! That’s me! Living on
the edge! Woo-hoo!” It’s become a popular way to look at life. But if you see, even highways have lines,
which provide margins for our safety while we’re driving. If we go over one side, we’ll go into the ditch.
If we cross over the line in the middle, we could get killed. And we like those lines because they help to
keep us safe. Sometimes we don’t even realize how lines help to keep us safe.
I’m not proud of this, but for the first 20 years of my life at work, I ignored my limits. I felt horrible,
physically, most of the time. I used to tell myself “I know I have limits and that I’ve reached them, but I’m
going to ignore them and see if or how long I can get by with it.” I ran to doctors, trying to make myself
feel better through pills, vitamins, natural stuff and anything I could get my hands on. Some of the doctors
would tell me, “It’s just stress.” That just made me mad. I thought stress meant you don’t like what you do
or can’t handle life, and I love what I do. But I kept pushing myself, traveling, doing speaking engagements
and so on— simply exhausting myself.
Finally, I understood I was living an unsustainable life and needed to make some changes in my outlook
and lifestyle.
You and I don’t have to be like everyone else or keep up with anyone else. Each of us needs to be exactly
the way we are, and we don’t have to apologize for it. We’re not all alike and we need to find a comfort
zone in which we can enjoy our lives instead of making ourselves sick with an overload of stress and
pressure.

OMR Based Sample Question Paper n OMR–1

 OMR–2 n Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English X)

On the basis of your understanding of the passage, answer the questions that follow.
1. The reason why living on the edge has become popular, is because of the
(i) constant need for something different.
(ii) population being much younger.
(iii) exhausting effort to make changes.
(iv) strong tendency to stay within our limits.
2. Choose the option that best captures the central idea of the passage from the given quotes.
It’s all about quality of To go beyond is as Life is like riding a bi- Balance is not some-
life and finding a hap- wrong as to fall short. cycle. To keep your thing you find, it’s
py balance between —Confucius balance you must keep something you create.
work and friends. moving. —Jana Kingsford
—Philip Green —Albert Einstein
(A) (B) (C) (D)
(i) Option (A) (ii) Option (B) (iii) Option (C) (iv) Option (D)
3. Which of the characteristics are apt about the writer in the following context: “I know I have limits
and that I’ve reached them, but I’m going to ignore them and see if or how long I can get by with
it.”?
A. negligent B. indecisive C. spontaneous D. reckless
E. purposeless F. patient
(i) B and E (ii) C and F
(iii) A and D (iv) B and C
4. Which of the following will be the most appropriate title for the passage?

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(i) Much too soon (ii) Enough is enough

iv D a
(iii) How much is too much? (iv) Have enough to do?
5. The phrase “potentially harmful circumstances” refers to circumstances that—

Sh
(i) certainly be dangerous. (ii) be fairly dangerous.
(iii) be possibly dangerous. (iv) seldom be dangerous.
6. Select the option that makes the correct use of “unsustainable”, as used in the passage, to fill in the
blank space.
(i) In the long run, the ............... officials followed emergency procedures.
(ii) Emergency procedures were ............... by the officials.
(iii) Officials admit that ............... set of events during the emergency.
(iv) Officials admit that the emergency system is ............... in the longer run.
7. The author attempts to ............... the readers through this write-up.
(i) rebuke (ii) question
(iii) offer aid to (iv) offer advice to
8. The author uses colloquial words such as “yeah” and “Woo-hoo!”. Which of the following is NOT
a colloquial word?
(i) hooked (ii) guy
(iii) stuff (iv) stress
9. What does the author mean when he says, “to get our lives in order”?
(i) To resume our lives.
(ii) To organize our lives.
(iii) To rebuild our lives.
(iv) To control our lives.
10. Choose the option that correctly states the two meanings of ‘outlook’, as used in the passage.
A. A person’s evaluation of life
B. A person’s experiences in life
C. A person’s point of view towards life
D. A person’s regrets in life
E. A person’s general attitude to life
(i) (A) and (D) (ii) (B) and (C)
(iii) (C) and (E) (iv) (D) and (E)
 OMR Based Sample Question Paper n OMR–3

SECTION-B (Grammar)
II. Choose the correct options to fill in the blanks to complete the note about the Wangala Festival of
Meghalaya.
The Wangala 11. ................. festival for the Garo in Meghalaya, Assam and Nagaland. It is a postharvest
festival 12. .................. the end of the agricultural year. It is popularly known as ‘The Hundred Drums’
festival. During the signature dance, the leading warrior 13. .................. with synchronised dance steps and
specific hand-head movements.
11. (i) is important (ii) are an important
(iii) was the important (iv) is an important
12. (i) being celebrated for marking (ii) celebrated to mark
(iii) celebrated to marking (iv) being celebrated for mark
13. (i) leads the youngsters (ii) is lead the youngsters
(iii) was leading the youngsters (iv) had leads the youngsters
III. Choose the correct options to fill in the blanks to complete Venu’s narration.
I saw Supanddi standing in the field. When I (14.) .............. doing there, he (15.) .............. he was trying to
win a Nobel prize. I was confused and enquired how standing in the rice field would help him do so. He
stumped me by saying that he (16.) .............. won Nobel prizes had all been outstanding in their fields!

a s
14. (i) exclaimed what he was
(iii) asked him what he was
15. (i) ordered that
Sh iv D (ii) told him what he was
(iv) says to him about what
(ii) refused that
(iii) questioned that (iv) replied that
16. (i) has heard that people who has (ii) was hearing that people who were
(iii) had heard that people who had (iv) did hear that people who had
IV. Fill in the blanks by choosing the correct options for sentences given below.
17. You .......... consult the Thesaurus if you need groups of synonyms for those words.
(i) had to (ii) need to
(iii) used to (iv) might
18. Everybody .......... keen to participate in the upcoming nukkad natak.
(i) are (ii) has
(iii) is (iv) were
19. The good news is that .......... volunteers dropped out this month than the last two.
(i) fewer (ii) less
(iii) few (iv) a little
20. It was .......... historic day for the organisation when .......... honour was bestowed upon its employees.
(i) a; an (ii) an; the
(iii) the; a (iv) an; a
SECTION-C (Literature Text Book & Supplementary Reading Text)
V. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
“Mr. Keesing had a good laugh at my arguments, but when I proceeded to talk my way through the next
lesson, he assigned me a second essay. This time it was supposed to be on ‘An Incorrigible Chatterbox’. I
handed it in, and Mr. Keesing had nothing to complain about for two whole lessons.
 OMR–4 n Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English X)

However, during the third lesson, he’d finally had enough. “Anne Frank, as a punishment for talking in
class, write an essay entitled-‘Quack, Quack, Quack, said Mistress Chatterbox’.”
21. What convincing argument was made by Anne?
(i) She was talkative just like any other student in the class.
(ii) She had the right to be talkative, as it was a classroom and not a prison.
(iii) She had inherited the trait from her mother, so couldn’t stop being talkative.
(iv) She found it impossible to be quiet like the others as she couldn’t change herself.
22. What does ‘had a good laugh’ imply, in the context of Mr. Keesing?
It means that he
(i) celebrated his ability to make Anne write the essay.
(ii) ridiculed Anne in front of the whole class.
(iii) pulled up Anne for her arguments in the essay.
(iv) realised how funny it was and was amused.
23. Why do you think Mr. Keesing chose the title - ‘An Incorrigible Chatterbox’ - for Anne, to write on?
This was so because he expected
(i) Anne to express her inability to elaborate on such a topic.
(ii) that this would embarrass Anne and would check her indiscipline.
(iii) her to apologise and not repeat her talkative behaviour.
(iv) Anne to explore her creative writing skills.
24. How did Anne feel when she was punished the third time by Mr. Keesing?
She
(i) was happy as she had to write three essays on the same topic.
(ii) enjoyed making fun of Mr. Keesing in her own way.

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(iii) was worried as she had run out of original ideas for her essay.

a
(iv) was thrilled at another opportunity to showcase her writing abilities.

iv D
VI. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

Sh
But he’s locked in a concrete cell,
His strength behind bars,
Stalking the length of his cage,
Ignoring visitors.
He hears the last voice at night,
The patrolling cars, …
25. Choose the image that best describes the condition of the tiger based on the given extract.

(A) (B) (C) (D)

(i) Option (A) (ii) Option (B)
(iii) Option (C) (iv) Option (D)
26. Which option correctly lists the reason for the tiger ‘stalking the length of his cage’?
(i) Animals tend to cover large distances and burn a lot of their energy by hunting for prey, in their
natural habitat. Zoos deprive them of such stimulation and they are restless and bored.
(ii) Animals are scared of visitors gazing at them in their unnatural surroundings. Zoos are places
where animals are far removed from the privacy of their natural habitat.
(iii) Animals dislike human noises in the city and react to them aggressively. Zoos are often located in
cities or outskirts.
(iv) Animals require human love and care and miss this when in captivity. Zoos are places where they
walk around mechanically to attract human attention. 
 OMR Based Sample Question Paper n OMR–5

27. Which option identifies a patrolling car correctly?

(A) (B) (C) (D)

(i) Option (A) (ii) Option (B)
(iii) Option (C) (iv) Option (D)
28. Choose the option listing the most likely reason for the tiger to ignore visitors, according to the
extract.
(i) He is scared of their constant stares.
(ii) The visitors don’t provide him with any food.
(iii) He knows that none would help him out of captivity.
(iv) The visitors don’t speak to him kindly. 
VII. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
The arrival of a stranger at an inn in winter was in any case an unusual event. A stranger of such uncommon
appearance set all tongues wagging. Mrs Hall, the landlord’s wife, made every effort to be friendly. But
Griffin had no desire to talk, and told her, “My reason for coming to Iping is a desire for solitude. I do not
wish to be disturbed in my work. Besides, an accident has affected my face.” Satisfied that her guest was
an eccentric scientist, and in view of the fact that he had paid her in advance, Mrs Hall was prepared to
excuse his strange habits and irritable temper. But the stolen money did not last long, and presently Griffin
had to admit that he had no more ready cash. He pretended, however, that he was expecting a cheque to
arrive at any moment.

a s
29. Which event is referred to as ‘unusual’?

iv D
(i) a stranger arriving at an inn in winter
(ii) a stranger having no money

Sh
(iii) a stranger with an uncommon appearance
(iv) the stranger’s desire for solitude
30. Mrs. Hall made ‘every effort to be friendly’ with the stranger. Her act reveals that she was being:
(i) sympathetic (ii) civil
(iii) understanding (iv) thoughtless
31. What was Griffin’s actual motive of coming to Iping?
(i) a desire for solitude
(ii) not to be disturbed in his work
(iii) to recover from an accident
(iv) to get away from the crowded London city 
32. The word ‘eccentric’ means the same as?
(i) abnormal (ii) unconventional
(iii) weird (iv) all of the above
VIII. Choose the Most Appropriate Options from the following Stand-Alone Multiple Choice Questions.
33. But in the hearts of all who lived in that solitary house in the middle of the valley, there was a single
hope? What hope is being discussed?
(i) Help from the neighbours (ii) Help from the post office employees
(iii) Help form the postmaster and his colleagues (iv) Help from God 
34. Why does Mandela say that freedom is ‘indivisible’?
(i) it cannot be quantified
(ii) it has to be common to all
(iii) both the oppressor and oppressed must be liberated
(iv) All of the above 
35. What important conclusion did Maddie reach after a long hard thinking?
(i) that she would make Wanda her best friend
(ii) that she would not be friendly with Peggy
(iii) that she would not accept anybody’s unfair remarks silently
(iv) that she would not make fun of anybody
 OMR–6 n Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English X)

36. ‘The sight of food maddened him’. The young seagull’s mother was using the piece of fish as a:
(i) bait (ii) threat
(iii) compulsion (iv) guarantee
37. What according to the poet, the boy has to realize?
(i) The boy has to realize what it means to lose a thing that is most dear to him.
(ii) The boy has to realize the value for money.
(iii) The boy has to realize not to be upset.
(iv) The boy should realize the importance of time.
38. Springing into the air the chair charged straight at Mrs. Hall. Who caused this attack?
(i) Jaffers (ii) The Clergyman
(iii) Griffin (iv) Mr. Hall
39. Start with a first-rate mind, add _________, and mix in the will to win for the right reasons. Fill in the
missing word from the given choices as per the text book:
(i) hard work (ii) intelligence
(iii) curiosity (iv) perseverance
40. Anil did not hand over Hari Singh to the police because:
(i) He realised that Hari Singh had learnt his lesson.
(ii) Anil wanted to give him another chance.
(iii) Anil hoped that he would become a better person.
(iv) All of the above. 



a s
Sh iv D
 OMR Based Sample Question Paper n OMR–7

mÙkj if=kdk / ANSWER SHEET i`"B&1 / SIDE-1

uhps fn, x, fjDr LFkkuksa dks osQoy i`"B&2 ij mÙkj vafdr djus osQ fy;s vuqns'k
uhys@dkys ckWy IokbaV isu ls Hkjsa INSTRUCTIONS FOR MARKING ON SIDE-2
FILL IN THE FOLLOWING ENTRIES
WITH BLUE/BLACK BALL POINT
PEN ONLY 1. mi;qDr xksys dks xgjs fu'kku ls Hkjus osQ fy, osQoy uhys@dkys
ckWy IokbaV isu dk iz;ksx djsaA
iathdj.k la[;k / Registration No. Use Only Blue/Black Ball Point Pen to Darken the
appropriate Circle.
        /             /         2. Ñi;k iwjs xksys dks xgjs fu'kku ls Hkfj,A
Please darken the complete circle.
vH;FkhZ dk uke (cM+s v{kjksa esa)
Candidate’s Name (IN CAPITAL LETTERS) 3. izR;sd iz'u dk mÙkj osQoy ,d gh xksys esa xgjk fu'kku
yxkdj nhft, tSlk uhps fn[kk;k x;k gS %

Darken ONLY ONE CIRCLE for each Question as shown
below:
firk dk uke (cM+s v{kjksa esa) xyr xyr xyr xyr lgh
Father’s Name (IN CAPITAL LETTERS) Wrong Wrong Wrong Wrong Correct
2 3 ✘  2  3   ✘  2  3  ✔   2  3  4 1   2  3  
     
4. fdlh mÙkj osQ fy, ,d ckj xksys esa fu'kku yxkus osQ i'pkr~
dksbZ ifjorZu vuqekU; ugha gSA
fo|ky; dksM / School Code No change in the Answer once marked is allowed.
5. izR;sd iz'u dk mÙkj] mÙkj if=kdk esa ml iz'u osQ laxr Øekad
osQ lkeus fn, x, mi;qDr xksys esa fu'kku yxkdj nhft,A
Mark your answer only in the appropriate space in the

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fo|ky; dk uke (pyrs gkFk ls fy[ksa) Answer sheet against the number corresponding to the

a
School Name (in running hand)

iv D
question.
6. mÙkj if=kdk ij vU; dgha dksbZ fu'kku u yxk,aA

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Please do not make any stray marks on the Answer Sheet.
7. bl mÙkj if=kdk ij dPpk dke djuk euk gSA
Rough work must not be done on the Answer Sheet.
8. mÙkj if=kdk ij lisQn @ la'kks/u rjy dk iz;ksx u djsaA
Do not use white/correction fluid on the Answer Sheet.

mnkgj.kµi`"B&2 dks Hkjus dh fof/ (osQoy uhys@dkys ckWy IokbaV isu ls Hkfj,)
EXAMPLES—HOW TO FILL AND MARK ON SIDE-2 (WITH BLUE/BLACK BALL POINT PEN ONLY)
vxj vkidk iathdj.k la[;k vxj vkiosQ fo|ky; vxj vkidh iz'u vxj vkidh vxj iz'u uaú 08
A252/73552/7356 gS dk dksM 11266 gS iqfLrdk la[;k 1353646 gS p;fur Hkk"kk osQ fy, vkidk
If your Registration No. is If your School If your Test Booklet fgUnh gS mÙkj (2) gS
A252/73552/7356 Code is 11266 No. 1353646 If language If your Response
fo|ky; dksM iz'u iqfLrdk la[;k attempted is to Question No.
iathdj.k la[;k @ Registration No. School Code Test Booklet No. Hindi 08 is (2)
p;fur Hkk"kk
A 2 5 2 / 7 3 5 5 2 / 7 3 5 6 1 1 2 6 6 1 3 5 3 6 4 6 Language
attempted
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
B 1 2 1 2 2 2 2 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
C 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
D 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
4 4 4 4 4
4 4 4 4 4 4
G 5 5 5 5 5 5 5
5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5
Q.No. Response
M 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6
6 6 6 6 6 Hindi
English 08 1 3 4
P 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7
7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7
R 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8
8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8
9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9
9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

vH;FkhZ bl ckr dk è;ku j[ksa fd iz'u iqfLrdk esa Nik gqvk dksM mÙkj iqfLrdk osQ Nis gq, dksM osQ leku gksuk pkfg,A blesa dksbZ folaxfr
gksus ij vH;FkhZ iz'u iqfLrdk vkSj mÙkj iqfLrdk dks cnyokus osQ fy, rqjar fujh{kd dks lwfpr djsaA
The candidate should check carefully that the Test Booklet Code printed on Side-2 of the Answer Sheet is the same as printed on
Test Booklet. In case of discrepancy, the candidate should immediately report the matter to the invigilator for replacement of both
the Test Booklet and the Answer Sheet.
OMR–8 n Shiv Das Chapterwise Question Bank (English X)

i`"B&2 / SIDE-2 osQoy uhys@dkys ckWy IokbaV isu dk iz;ksx djsa /  mÙkj if=kdk la[;k/
USE BLUE/BLACK BALL POINT PEN ONLY Answer Sheet No.

p;fur Hkk"kk iz'u iqfLrdk dksM

Test Booklet Code
fo|ky; dksM iz'u iqfLrdk la[;k Language
iathdj.k la[;k @ Registration No. School Code Test Booklet No. attempted

/ / A1

A 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
B 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

C 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

D 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 Hindi

G 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5
5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

M 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6
6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 English

P 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7
7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7

R 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8
8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8
9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9
9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Q.No. Response Q.No. Response

01 i ii iii iv 21 i ii c iv

02 i ii iii iv 22 i ii iii d

03 i ii iii iv 23 i b iii iv

a s
04 i ii c iv 24 i ii c iv

D
05 i ii iii iv 25 i b iii iv

i v
06 i ii iii iv 26 a ii iii iv

S h
07 i ii iii d 27 i b iii iv

08 i ii iii d 28 i ii c iv

09 i ii iii iv 29 a ii iii iv

10 i ii c iv 30 i ii c iv

11 i ii iii iv 31 i ii iii d

12 i ii iii iv 32 i ii iii d

13 a ii iii iv 33 i ii iii d

14 i ii iii iv 34 i ii iii d

15 i ii iii d 35 i ii c iv

16 i ii c iv 36 a ii iii iv

17 i ii iii iv 37 a ii iii iv

18 i ii c iv 38 i ii c iv

19 a ii iii iv 39 i ii c iv

20 a ii iii iv 40 i ii iii d

mÙkj if=kdk fujh{kd dks lkSaius ls igys vH;FkhZ ;g tk¡p dj ysa fd iathdj.k la[;k] fo|ky; dksM] iz'u iqfLrdk la[;k vkSj
p;fur Hkk"kk lgh <ax ls Hkj fn;s x, gSa vkSj fpfUgr dj fn;s x, gSaA
Before handling over the Answer Sheet to the invigilator, the candidate should check that Registration No., School Code,
Test Booklet No. & Language Attempted have been filled in and marked correctly.

vH;FkhZ dk uke
Candidate’s Name

vH;FkhZ osQ gLrk{kj (pyrs gkFk ls fy[ksa)

Candidate’s Signature (in running hand) fujh{kd osQ gLrk{kj@Invigilator’s Signature