OFFICE OF THE BLOCK EDUCATION OFFICIER

DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION, Bangalore North-2

TALUK LEVEL S.S.L.C PREPARATORY EXAMINATION – JANUARY 2025
Date:_________________________________________ Day:_____________________
Marks:80 Subject: Second Language — ENGLISH (31-E) Time:3Hours
General Instructions to the Candidate:
1. This question paper consists of 38 questions.
2. Question paper has been sealed by reverse jacket. You have to cut on the right side to open the paper at the
time of commencement of the examination. Check whether all the pages of the question paper are intact.
3. Follow the instructions given against the questions.
4. Figures in the right hand margin indicate maximum marks for the questions.
5. The maximum time to answer the paper is given at the top of the question paper. It includes 15 minutes for
reading the question paper.
I. Four alternatives are given for each of the following questions / incomplete statements. Only one
of them is correct or most appropriate. Choose the correct alternative and write the complete
answer along with its letter of alphabet. 4x1=4
1. Choose the appropriate question tag for the statement:
Suguna works hard, ________
(A) did she? (B) doesn't she? (C) does she? (D) didn’t she?
2. Read the given conversation and choose the language function for the underlined sentence:
Natesh : Do you think you could help me?
Diwakar : Of course. Tell me what I can do?
Natesh : Would you arrange these files in order?
Diwakar : Certainly. Take it easy.
(A) Complaining (B) Congratulating (C) Giving direction (D) Request
3. Read the given conversation and fill in the blank choosing the most appropriate words:
Ganesh : Hello Akbar, Have you brought my dictionary?
Akbar : No. If you had informed me earlier, I ____________ brought it.
(A) will have (B) should have (C) would have (D) wouldn’t have
4. Choose the passive form of the given sentence:
Arun has served food.
(A) Food was served by Arun. (B) Food has been served by Arun.
(C) Food had been served by Arun. (D) Food is served by Arun.
II. Do as directed : 12x1=12
5. Which one of the following word has one syllable?
burglar, beautiful, batch, biscuit
6. Combine the word in Column-A with its collocative word in Column-B:
‘A’ ‘B’
melodious [dance, song, film, drama]
7. Fill in the blank with appropriate preposition:
Nowadays, we have regular offline classes. Just concentrate _________________________your studies.
8. Fill in the blank using correct article:
Pushpa was having _________________________________ cup of coffee with Suma in the evening.
9. Fill in the blank using suitable linker:
My uncle missed Mumbai Express ________ He reached the station late.
10. Fill in the blank with appropriate tense form of the verb given in brackets:
Ravi ______ (walk) in the park everyday.

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11. Identify the parts of speech of the underlined word:
Suddenly, doctor rushed into the operation room.
12. Write the correct form of the word given in brackets:
Jaya is the most ______________________________________________ (grace) dancer in the group.
13. Use the word ‘pay’ as a verb in a sentence.
14. Change into superlative degree:
Time is more precious than any other thing in student’s life.
15. Frame a question to get the underlined words as answer:
Kushal's father brings home a white puppy today.
16. Read the following conversation and change the underlined sentence into reported speech:
Mrs. Hema : Hello, is that Mrs.Veena?
Rachana : No, I am her daughter, Rachana speaking. May I know who is speaking?
Mrs. Hema : I am Mrs. Hema from J.P Nagar. I wanted to speak to your mother.
Mrs. Hema told Rachana that _________________________________________________________.
III. The following sentence has two errors. Edit the sentence and rewrite it in the answer book:1x2=2
17. Lost night, my neighbour was talking with me. He talking and laughed loud.
a) Spelling to be corrected
b) Verbal mistake to be corrected.
IV. Answer the following questions in 2 – 3 sentences each: 7x2=14
18. What desperate attempts did Swami make to escape from father's challenge?
19. Why did Nehru choose Dr.B.R.Amedkar to be the first law minister of Independent India?
20. “Smitha and Pandit Ravi Shankar both deserve appreciation”. Justify with your answer?
21. According to the author the scientists are the most practical people in the world. How?
22. Why does the Jazz player feel like a bird when he plays his saxophone?
23. How do you know that Mohan’s mother was supportive of their struggle?
OR
Taking up mountaineering was not a difficult decision for Dicky Dolma. Justify.
24. How did Hema Aziz teach her children the message that ‘one’s duty is the most important thing in
life’?
OR
How did the bird of happiness fulfill Wangjia’s wish?
V. Answer the following questions in 5 – 6 sentences each: 2x3=6
25. Physical disability was not a barrier to success. Justify this statement in the life of Satish Gujral.
26. How does the poet describe that the earth has an ocean of patience in the poem, “I am the land”.
VI. Read the following extracts and answer the questions that follow: 4x3=12
27. “I did not sell them the trees in the Orchard”.
a) Who does ‘I’ refer to?
b) Who does ‘them’ here?
c) What does the word ‘orchard’ mean?
28. “Oh, I couldn't thank him”
a) Whose words are these?
b) Who does ‘I’ refer to?
c) Why he couldn't thank him?
29. “Captain be careful, sometimes they are desperate”
a) Who is the captain?
b) Who does ‘they’ refer to?
c) Why were they desperate?

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30. “There won’t be any calendar there won’t be any clock;
Daylight will be on the switch and winter under lock.”
a) Who is the speaker here?
b) Why does the ‘calendars and clocks’ useless space?
c) What does the expression “winter under lock,” mean?
VII. Given below is a profile. Write a paragraph using the clues given below: 1x3=3
31. Name Vikram Sarabhai
Date of birth 12 August 1919
Birth Place Ahamadabad, India
Education B.A. Ph.D.,(Cambridge University)
Founder ISRO- Indian Space Research Organisation
Known for working in Indian Space Program, Indian Institute of Management
Awards Padma Bhushan (1966), Padma Vibhushan (posthumously, 1972)
Death 30th December, 1971
VIII. Develop the story using the clues given below: 1x3=3
32. A poor woodcutter cutting a tree_______ axe slipped and fell into river _______ a goddess heard
him cry and wanted to help ________ she dived and brought a gold axe for him _______ the honest
woodcutter did not take this axe_____________the goddess again went down _______ river and brought
up a silver axe ________woodcutter refused to accept_________ goddess dived once again brought iron
axe_________ woodcutter accepted__________ goddess pleased and gave him his own axe as well as the
gold and silver axes. Moral.
IX. Study the picture given below: 1x3=3
33. Write a description or an account of what the picture suggests to you in a paragraph.

Alternative question for Visually impaired candidates only. (In lieu of Q. No. 33)
Use the following phrasal verbs in sentences of your own:
a) famous for
b) fond of
c) good at

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 X. Quote from memory: 1x4=4
34.The quality________________________ O say___________________________________
___________________________heaven ____________________________________ enjoy.
OR
It ________________________________ What_____________________________________
_____________________________blest: _______________________________________boy!
XI. Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow: 1x4=4 (2x2)
35. Once upon a time an old man spread rumours that his neighbour was a thief. As a result the young
man was arrested. Days later he was proven innocent. After being released he sued the old man for
wrongly accusing him. In court the old man told the judge, “They were just comments, they did not harm
anyone”. The judges before passing sentence on the case told the old man, “Write all the things you said
about him on a piece of paper, cut it up into little pieces and on the way home throw the pieces of paper
out of your car window: “Tomorrow, come back to hear the sentence”.
The next day, before passing sentence on the case the judge told the old man. Before receiving the
sentence I want you to go out and gather up all the pieces of paper you threw out of your car window
yesterday. The old man said, “I can’t do that! The wind spread all over the place and won’t know where to
find them”.
Then the judge replied in the same way simple words and comments destroy the honour of a person to
such an extent that a person will not be able to fix it. If you can’t speak well of someone, don’t say
anything at all. Let’s all be masters of our mouths, so that we won’t be slaves of our words.
Gossips are worse than thieves because they steal another person’s dignity, honour, reputation and
credibility which are impossible to restore. So, remember this, when your feet slip, you can always
recover your balance but when your tongue slips, you can never recover your words.
a) What did the judge tell the old man before passing sentence?
b) Why are gossips worse than thieves?
XII. Answer the following question in about 8 – 10 sentences: 1x4=4
36. ‘The poet’s grandmother was genius’. Justify
OR
Write the substance of the poet “Balled of the Tempest” in your own words.
OR
How does the poet paint a beautiful picture of mother land in the poem “The Song of India”?
XIII. Write an essay on any one of the following: 1x4=4
37. a) Child Marriage
b) Mobile
c) Air Pollution
XIV. Write a letter using the information given below: 1X5=5
38. Imagine you are Padma / Puneeth, studying in Government High School, Vidyanagara, Haveri.
Write a letter to your father requesting him to send you Rs. 2000/- for educational excursion. Mention
the places to be visited.
OR
Write a letter to the branch manager, State Bank of India requesting to open savings bank account.
Best of Luck