Blog

MARCH 2023

ENGLISH (FIRST LANGUAGE)

(REVISED COURSE)

SECTION I : LANGUAGE STUDY

Q. 1. (A) A1. Do as directed (any four) :

(i) Punctuate the following given sentence :

he will not be able to stop them

(ii) Pick out an infinitive from the given sentence :

The sun began to sink.

(iii) Give a new blending word, after combining two words :

(a) Breakfast + lunch

(b) Smoke + fog

(iv) Fill in the blank with the proper form of the verb as per the subject :

Stephen Hawking continued to write at a prolific rate. (has/have)

(v) Write the ‘root word’ after dropping the prefix or suffix relationship.

A2. Do as directed (any two) :

(i) Change the following sentence into indirect narration :

“Will you buy my hair ?” asked Della.

(ii) Make a word register of four words related with :

‘Universe’

(iii) Change the voice of the following sentence :

Don’t make any mistake.

(B) Do as Directed (any one) :

(i) Use the given words into one meaningful sentence :

afraid, admires.

(ii) Change the given simple sentence into complex sentence :

He took me to a gramophone room.

Ans. (A) (A1) (i) He will not be able to stop them.

(ii) to sink

(iii) (a) brunch (b) smog

(iv) Stephen Hawking has continued to write at a prolific rate.

(v) relationship relation

(A2) (i) Della asked if she would buy her hair.

(ii) Universe Space Stars Planets, Satellites, Moon.

(iii) Let no mistake be made.

(B) (i) He always admires his mother, but is afraid to open up himself publically.

(ii) He took me to a room where the gramophone was placed.

SECTION II : TEXTUAL PASSAGES

(Reading Skills, Vocabulary and Grammar)

Q. 2 (A) Read the following passage and do the given activities :

A1. State whether the following statements are ‘True or False’ :

(i) Steve Jobs was diagnosed with cancer.

(ii) We should be trapped by dogma.

(iii) Have the courage to follow our heart and intuition.

(iv) Our time is unlimited.

About a year ago I was diagnosed with cancer. My doctor advised me to go home and get my affairs in order, which is doctor’s code for ‘prepare to die’. I lived with that diagnosis all day. Later that evening I had a biopsy. It turned out to be a very rare form of pancreatic cancer that is curable with surgery. I had the surgery and I’m fine now.

This was the closest I’ve been to facing death, and I hope its the closest I get for a few more decades. Having lived through it, I can now say this to you : Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.

Don’t be trapped by dogma-which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice.

And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become.

When I was young, there was an amazing publication called The Whole Earth Catalogue. In the final issue, on the back cover they put a photograph of an early morning country road. Beneath it were the words : Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish. It was their farewell message as they signed off. I have always wished that for myself. And now, as you graduate to begin anew, I wish that for you. Stay Hungry, Stay foolish.

(A2) Complete the following web :

(A3) Fill in the blanks using the phrases given in the brackets :

[Signed off, drown out, turned out, trapped by]

(i) We should not be ………………………. superstitions.
(ii) The movie ……………………………. to be a disappointment.

(iii) ………………………. with a very important message for all of us.

(iv) We should not let the opinion of others …………………………..

(A4) Do as directed :

(i) It was their farewell message.

[Add a question tag]

(ii) I lived with that diagnosis all day.

[Underline the verb and state its tense]

(A5) Personal Response :

What is your opinion regarding the farewell message ‘Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish’?

(B) Read the following passage and do the given activities :

(B1) Complete the following sentences from the passage :

(i) He was only fifteen and ………………………

(ii) Her apartment was not big but ……………………….

(iii) Whenever they came to Bombay ……………………….

(iv) He was already able to compose his own tunes …………………………

Smita bit her lip in self-reproach. She had been so excited at seeing the announcement that she had not remembered that her brother was very ill. She had seen how the doctors had shaken their heads gravely and spoken words that neither she nor even her parents could understand. But somewhere deep inside Smita had known the frightening truth that Anant was going to die. The word cancer had hung in the air her brother was dying of cancer even though she pretended that all would be well and they would return together, a small family of four, to their home in Gaganpur. And he was only fifteen and the best table-tennis player in the school’ and the fastest runner. He was learning to play the sitar; they were both taking sitar lessons, but Anant was better than her as in many other things. He was already able to compose his own tunes to the astonishment of their guru. Then cancer had struck and they had come to Bombay so that he could be treated at the cancer hospital in the city.

Whenever they came to Bombay they stayed with Aunt Sushila. Her apartment was not big but there was always room for them.

(B2) Why did Smita become nervous?

(B3) Match the pairs with proper antonyms from the passage :

(B4) Do as directed :

(i) He was learning to play the sitar.

[Frame ‘Wh’ question to get the underlined part as an answer]

(ii) He could be treated at the cancer hospital in the city.

[Pick out the modal auxiliary and state its function]

(B5) Personal Response :

What would you prefer : music or sports ? Give reasons to support your answer.

Ans. (A)

(A1) (i) True (ii) False (iii) True (iv) False

(A2)

(A3) (i) We should not be trapped by superstitions.

(ii) The movie turned out to be a disappointment.

(iii) He signed off with a very important message for all of us.

(iv) We should not let the opinion of others drown out.

(A4) (i) It was their farewell message, wasn’t it?

(ii) I lived with that diagnosis all day. lived – Simple Past tense.

(A5) According to my opinion, one should never be content with what one is, nor consider oneself an expert. There is always more to do and more to Learn. Never consider oneself a fool. It urges people to maintain a sense of curiosity.

(B)

(B1) (i) He was only fifteen and was best table tennis player in the school and the fastest runner.

(ii) Her apartment was not big but there was always room for them.

(iii) Whenever they came to Bombay they stayed with Aunt Sushila.

(iv) He was already able to compose his own tunes to the astonishment of their guru.

(B2) Smita became nervous because, she had been knowing the frightening truth that Anant was going to die. The word cancer had hung in the air her brother was dying of cancer.

(B3) (i) Forgotten – remembered

(ii) Misunderstand – understand

(iii) Separate – together

(iv) Shallow – deep

(B4) (i) Which instrument was he learning to play?

(ii) could – possibility

(B5) Choosing a hobby or passion completely depends on our choice. For some music is better and some like to play and watch sports. Most people like both. For me, I like to listen music. Whenever I feel to regain my energy, I prefer to listen to my favourite tunes. It makes me calm and brings peace to my mind.

SECTION III : POETRY

Q. 3. (A) Read the following extract and do the given activities :

(A1) Complete the web :

A thing of beauty is a joy for ever : Its loveliness increases; it will never Pass into nothingness; but still will keep A bower quiet for us, and a sleep Full of sweet dreams and health and quiet breathing. Therefore, on every morrow, are we wreathing A flowery band to bind us to the earth, Spite of despondence, of the inhuman dearth Of noble natures of the gloomy days, Of all the unhealthy and o’er-darkened ways Made for our searching : yes in spite of all, Some shape of beauty moves away the pall From our dark spirits. Such the sun, the moon, Trees old, and young, sprouting a shady boon For simple sheep; and such are daffodils With the green world they live in; and clear rills That for themselves a cooling covert make Gainst the hot season; the mid forest brake, Rich with a sprinkling of fair musk-rose blooms :

(A2) List down two impacts of beautiful things on us :

(i)

(ii)

(A3) Write down the Rhyme-scheme of the first four lines.

(B) Read The following poem and write an appreciation of it with the help of the given points in a paragraph :

Unwillingly to school. And then the lover,

Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad

Made to his mistress’ eyebrow. Then a soldier,

Full of strange oaths and bearded like the pard,

Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel,

Seeking the bubble reputation

Even in the cannon’s mouth. And then the justice,

In a fair round belly with good capon lined

With eyes severe and beard of formal cut,

Full of wise saws and modern instances;

And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts

Into the lean and slippered pantaloon,

With spectacles on nose and pouch on side;

His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide

For his shrunk shank, and his big manly voice,

Turning again toward childish treble, pipes

And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all,

That ends this strange eventful history,

Is second childishness and mere oblivion,

Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.

– Willam Shakespeare

You can use the following points while appreciating the given poem :

• Title
• Poet
• Rhyme scheme
• Figures of speech
• Central idea/Theme

Ans. (A) (A1)

(A2) (i) a joy for ever

(ii) Full of sweet dream and health and quiet breathing.

(A3) .

(B) Appreciation :

The poem tittled ‘All the Word’s a Stage’ has been written by famous English poet William Shakespeare. There is no fixed rhyme scheme in this poem as it is a free verse poem.

The figure of speech used in the poem are alliteration, hyperbole, inversion, metaphor, repetition, simile.

The central idea of this poem is that everyone has various roles to play throughout his life and has their definite exit and entrance. The poem is a metaphor for life. It shows that our life is planned in a particular sequence and each individual plays his portion of role in different phases.

SECTION IV : NON-TEXTUAL PASSAGE

(Reading Skills, Vocabulary, Grammar and Summary)

Q.4. (A) Read the following passage and do the given activities :

(A1) Match the columns A with B correctly :

The humble son of a farmer from Sarakkalvilai village in Tamil Nadu’s Kanyakumari district, Dr. K. Sivan as Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) chairman was leading the Chandrayaan- 2 mission to moon. Sivan studied in a Tamil medium government school. After graduating from S.T. Hindu College in Nagercoil, Sivan completed a Master’s in Engineering from IISC in 1982. In 2006, he received Ph.D in Aerospace Engineering from IIT Bombay.

Sivan is the first graduate in his family. His brother and, two sisters were unable to complete higher education due to their poverty. “When I was in college, I used to help my father in the field. That was the reason he got me admitted in a college, near our house.” Sivan told TOI, Only when I had completed my B.Sc. (Mathematics) with marks his mind changed.” Sivan said he had spent his childhood days without a shoe or sandal. “I continued wearing vesti (dhoti) till college. I wore pants for the first time when I entered MIT.” He joined ISRO in 1982 and worked on almost all rocket programmes. Before taking charge as an ISRO chairman in January, 2018, he was the director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) which develops rockets. He is known as ISRO’s ‘Rocket Man’.

(A2) Answer the following questions in few words. (One or two words) :

(i) What is Dr. Sivan known as?

(ii) In which subject Dr. Sivan scored marks in B.Sc. ?

(iii) When did Dr. Sivan join ISRO ?

(iv) In which space centre Dr. Sivan was the director?

(A3) Match the word connectors from the passage and use one of the connector in your own sentence :

(A4) Do as Directed :

(i) Sivan is the first graduate in his family.

(Rewrite as a negative sentence)

(ii) His brother and two sisters were unable to complete higher education due to their poverty.

(Rewrite the above sentence using ‘neither nor’).

(A5) Personal Response :

What inspiration can we draw from Dr. Sivan’s success?

(B) Summary Writing :

Read the passage given in Q. No. 4(A) and write a summary of it in a paragraph. Suggest a suitable title.

Ans. (A)

(A1) (i) (b)
(ii) (c)
(iii) (d)
(iv) (a)

(A2) (i) Rocket man
(ii) Maths
(iii) January, 2018
(iv) Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC)

(A3) (i) (b)
(ii) (a)

(A4) (i) Sivan is not the first graduate in his family.

(ii) Neither his brother nor his two sisters were able to complete higher education due to their poverty.

(A5) From rags to riches story. This short biography of Dr. K. Sivan is truly inspirational. For most of the poverty ridden it is very difficult to even dream of rising up in life and even more impossible to become a highly respectable scientist in the frontiers of technology. To remain humble even at the height of success and be forthright about humble background is another side of greatness. To find a man who wore a vesti till college and helped his father in the field is truly inspirational. For a farmer’s son, to work on almost all rocket programmes, since 1992 with ISRO is truly inspirational and fills up everyone with determination to do better in life. We are proud of Dr. Sivan. He holds an iconic status as the present chief of ISRO since 2018.

(B) Dr K. Sivan is a prominent space scientist from Tamil Nadu and is a recent chairperson of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Although, this achievement didn’t come straight to him. He had to confront a lot of struggles in his life before cherishing success. He was a farmer’s son and belonged to a poor family. Despite a lot of struggles, he was the only member of his family who could complete graduation. He wore pants for the first time when he entered MIT and from there he never looked back. He joined ISRO in 1982, and then in January 2018, he became took charge as chairman at ISRO. Before ISRO, he also worked as director of VSSC which develops rockets. Dr K. Sivan is also known as ‘Rocket Man’.

SECTION V : WRITING SKILLS

Q. 5. (A) Letter writing :

A1 or A2. Do any one of the following :

Read the following instructions given by Mumbai Police Department before the celebration of Holi; and write a letter based on the same.

DON’T LET HOLI LOSE ALL ITS COLOURS

Mumbai Police urges you to avoid the following for a safe Holi :

Throwing water/coloured water or rubber balloons containing water at passersby.

Colouring people without their consent.

Eve-teasing

Drink and drive

Using dirt and chemicals instead of natural colours.

Triple-riding on two-wheelers.

Riding without a helmet.

You are Raj/Rajani Malhotra, residing at 101, Shivsiddhivinayak Apartment, Vileparle, Mumbai-400057.

Ans. (A) (A1)

Raj Malhotra,

101, Shivsiddhivinayak Apartment

Vileparle,

Mumbai-400057

25th March, 20XX

To

The Commissioner of Police,

Police Line,

Mumbai

Subject : Appreciation for Smooth Holi Arrangements.

Respected Sir,

I am writing to your kind self to express my appreciation and gratitude for ensuring smooth celebration of the Holi Festival.

The proactive measures such as putting up advertisement to sensitise people to celebrate Holi safely without using unwanted things such as paints, balloons, eggs and mud.

The police had put an extra personnel on duty to ensure no violation of orders are caused. I am grateful towards the responsible attitude of police. I, on behalf of all the people of my locality, express sincerest thanks and gratitude for making this festival safe and smooth.

Your’s truly

Raj/Rajni Malhotra

(A2)

101, Shivsiddhivinayak Apartment

Vileparle,

Mumbai-400057

Dear Rohini/Rohan,

I hope this letter finds you in the pink of health. You know Holi is about to approach and it’s an amazing festival of colours. It brings families close together but when I see the effect of using harmful colours, I feel disappointed.

Using low grade water colours and throwing water filled rubber balloons not only affect humans but animals too. This year we have planned for a safe and an amusing festival. I hope you will have safe Holi, my dear friend.

Your friend

Raj/Rajni

Q. 6. (A) Informal Transfer :

(Al or A2) Do any one of the following :

(A1) Verbal to Non-Verbal :

Read the following information and write it into Do’s and Don’ts. Give a suitable title for it :

Outside ‘The Central Library’ there is a board displaying smile rules and regulations for the members.

They are as follows :

1. You should enter your name and registered number in the register, before entering in the library.
2. You should pay your monthly/annual membership on time.
3. You are not allowed to write anything on the book/magazine you have taken.
4. You should not take any book or magazine out of the library without prior permission and registration.
5. You should maintain pin-drop silence in the library.
6. You are not allowed to eat, drink, chat or smoke inside the library.
7. You should return the books or magazines you have taken on time.
8. You should not disturb other members and the librarian, when you are in the library.

OR

(A2) Non-Verbal to Verbal :

Write a paragraph of 100 words based on the following table and give a suitable title for it :

(B) Drafting a speech/view-counterview :

Attempt any one of the following B1 or B2.

(B1) Speech writing :

Prepare a speech to be delivered in the school assembly on ‘Save Nature’. Use the following points :

• We survive only if nature survives.
• All our resources directly or indirectly come from nature.
• Prevent deforestation.
• Balancing nature by saving plants, animals and birds.
• Add your own points.

(B2) View-Counterview :

Dog: Man’s Best Friend

Prepare a paragraph of counterviews on the given topic. Use the following viewpoints to express your counterviews :

Viewpoints :

Friendly and playful.

Safeguard our homes.

Stress busters.

Honest and faithful to their masters.

Create liveliness in the family.

Add your own points.

Ans. (A) (A1)

OR

(A2) In the table two types of forests have been mentioned along with their particular flora and fauna mentioned in brief. The prominent type of trees found in the Equatorial Evergreen forest are: Mahogany, Rosewood, Ironwood and Oil palm. On the other hand the plants mentioned growing in the marshes are mangrove, creepers, and some common tall trees like Mahogany. The common animals found in the Evergreen Equatorial forests are monkeys, snakes, lizards, bats, tse-tse flies . Even in the marshes the common fauna are, insects, snakes, crocodiles, tse-tse and other flies. The wide variety of flora and fauna can be attributed to the climatic conditions and support from these forests.

(B) (B1) Speech writing:

Topic : Save Nature

There is a Chinese proverb, “The miracle is not to fly in the air or to walk on water, but to walk on the earth.”

A heartfelt welcome to each one present here. Have you ever wondered how blessed each one of us are? Earth is the only planet that has the characteristics of survival. It is the only planet which has life, environment and nature. We all are fortunate that we are surrounded by such an eco-system and we need to understand that we will continue to survive only if nature survives. It is a hidden fact that our environment is affected largely due to human activities. It is facing a threat at an alarming rate. We have overexploited nature due to our greed. This has caused a nature imbalance. However, we have a scope to still do something and protect our nature from all damages. We must plant more and more trees, throw garbages in the dustbins, avoid using plastic bags, etc. It is important to educate people about how the nature is getting damaged. Then only we can have green earth to live in.

(B2) View-Counterview :

Dogs, Man’s Best Friend

Although dogs in general are friendly and playful yet few people know that sometimes they can be extremely dangerous. Pit Bulls and Labrador can be deadly. Their loyalty may serve us but can endanger the lives of our guests. Their love and devotion can be stress busters but keeping them well-maintained is a hugely tedious job. While their honesty and faithfulness can be a good quality for the owner but their false move and incorrect behaviour can land us in raking up enmity with our neighbours. Their playfulness can keep the family in good mood yet dog hairs can cause a potential harm to your lungs. All in all, keeping a dog as a pet comes with lot of risk factors too.

SECTION VI : CREATIVE WRITING

(Expansion of the me/News Report)

Q. 7. (A) Do any one of the following (A1 or A2) :

(A1) Expand the theme :

Expand the given quote into a paragraph of 100 words.

“Education is the most powerful weapon to change the World.

(A2) News Report :

“Air pollution is question of life and death.”

Says Supreme Court, Delhi.

(B) Developing a story/Narration :

Do any one of the following :

(B1 or B2).

(B1) Developing a story.

Develop a story suitable to the conclusion/end given below. Give a suitable title.

…………………………………… and I realised I must never ignore the words of the wise.

OR

(B2) Narrate an experience :

Narrate an experience of your own. Write it in about 100 words (Beginning is given below) :

After the recess, we were chatting and fighting in the class………………………

Ans. (A) (A1)

“Education is the most powerful weapon to change the World.”

The most illiterate man can at best be a beast of burdensome work. Education makes him aware of overcoming lot many drawbacks in his life. In pre-independent India the educated money-lender always kept the illiterate farmer in debt. Such stories of exploitation abounded in India. Education empowered the illiterates to overcome these drawbacks and overcome their helplessness in the hands of moneylenders. Lot many success stories of people are there for us, who overcame poverty through the powerful tool of education. Education has enabled us to close in the gender inequality as well social inequality. People from relatively poor backgrounds got empowered through awareness of their political rights and brought about great improvement through better educational accessibility to those who were hampered by lack of education. Science and technology and its better dissemination through technical education has improved productivity manifold. Mobile technology has ushered in educating people through its lateral entry, educating them to become tech smart. Even enough education of medical science has made common people smart enough to combat common illnesses and ailments. Thanks to the education we receive from Google. Truly education through different platforms has emerged as the most potent weapon to combat poverty and is bringing a parity between the poor and the rich.

(A2)

“AIR POLLUTION IS THE QUESTION OF LIFE AND DEATH.”

Says Supreme Court, Delhi.

Reported by XYZ, Media Correspondent, New Delhi

In a major verdict given out by the Judge of The Supreme Court, the judge gave a scathing comment of the alarming deterioration of the quality of air in the capital. The court has ordered the Delhi government to impose a fine of on polluting vehicles. It extended the order to curb stubble burning in Punjab to reduce air pollution in Delhi. The Air Quality Index (AQI) has been worsening every year. So it has put a great danger on the residents of Delhi. An AQI level above 400 is considered ‘severe’. The NSR region has crossed the mark. This has endangered the life of even healthy people in the capital region.

Meanwhile the CM of Delhi has declared that all primary schools in Delhi will remain close from the month of November. He urged the schools, colleges, government private offices to go virtual in order to protect the life of people at large. Even the Central Government is mulling over a plan to join hands with the State government to resolve the matter in the soonest possible time.

This is during my early college days when we were getting to know the real meaning of freedom away from the strictness of school. We were a group of five friends and were ready to go anywhere and do anything in spite of the elders wishes.

It was a weekend and we planned to visit the Hundred Street situated in Luz colony. My parents and elders told me not to go as we were not sure of what might happen or what we might encounter there. Still, I agreed to go and I regretted this decision for a long time.

When we reached, the light of the street started blinking and we got terrified. We had also sent away our transport which we had used to reach the place and had nowhere else to go. Suddenly we heard a shriek and started to run blindly without seeing where we were going.

A car was using the same street and hit one of my friends who was running with his eyes closed and then we had to take him to the hospital. After this incident, I decided always to value what my elders tell me and I realised I must never ignore the words of the wise.

Moral : Always attend the words of the wise.

(B2)

Narrate an experience: After the recess, we were chatting and fighting in the class. Suddenly, we heard a loud noise outside, and our teacher rushed to the window. We all followed her, curious to know what was happening. To our horror, we saw a car on fire in the school parking area. Panic set in as we saw smoke coming out from the car and we heard people shouting and running towards it. Our teacher immediately instructed us to evacuate the classroom and move to a safe place. It was scary but thankfully, the fire was put out before it could spread and cause more harm. It taught us the importance of being alert and quick in emergency situations.