VikasBharati Public School

Periodic Test -II(2017-18)

Subject- English

Class-X (Set –B)

(Time : 3 hrs.) (M. M: 80)

______

General Instructions:

(i)This Question Paper is divided into three sections:

Section A : Reading ,Section B: Writing and Grammar and Section C: Literature textbooks

(ii) All the Questions are compulsory.

(iii) Adhere to the word limit mentioned.

(iv)This Question paper contains 4 printed pages.

______

SECTION A – READING (20 MARKS)

1. Read the following passage carefully. (8 Marks)

Fish keeping has benefits that make it an attractive hobby for millions of people. Aquariums can bring a bit of nature, a living ecosystem, into any home, including apartments that do not allow other pets, like tending a furry animal, helping to maintain a fish tank can teach a child the responsibility of caring for other living creatures.
As pet fish have distinct advantages: they are quiet, they do not chew or scratch the furniture, and with a few slow -release feeders in their tank, they can safely be left alone for a week or two.
But it is likely the documented benefit to human health that has helped make aquariums so popular. Like petting a dog or cat, gazing at an aquarium at the end of a long, hard day can reduce stress and lower blood pressure. Likewise, research shows that people waiting to see a doctor or undergo medical procedure were less anxious after watching fish swimming in a tank. Watching fish also has a significant calming effect on children with attention deficit as well as on elderly people with Alzheimer's disease.
Today, home aquariums became popular as commercial fish breeding operations and air transport made it easy and affordable. More durable tanks and improved filtration system enabled hobbyists to sustain fish for longer periods.Today, home aquariums range from child’s goldfish bowl to elaborate tanks holding several hundred gallons of water and dozens of exotic fish. More adventurous hobbyists opt for saltwater tanks, which take more work and equipment to maintain a stable environment. Saltwater fish are costlier and more susceptible to changes in temperature and water quality than freshwater species. On the positive side, they are spectacularly colourful and turn a tank into a dramatic focal point.
Modern aquariums have evolved far beyond the boring rectangular tank. Today's models come in almost any shape imaginable -round hexagonal, bow front. Concave, free form and flat to hang on the wall. They also have become key elements in home and office decor. They are built into walls and incorporated into tables, lamps, desks and even bath tubs. Almost any object it seems can be turned into a fish tank.

1.1 Answer the following questions briefly. (1x8=8 marks)

a. Why do people prefer to keep fish as a pet?

b. What are the special advantages of petting fish?

c. How does fish-keeping control high blood pressure?

d. Why is salt water tank used sometimes for keeping fish?

e. What is the main reason for the popularity of aquariums?

f. Why are aquariums available in different shapes?

g. How have modern aquariums evolved?

h. How can aquariums be used as key elements in decoration?

2. Read the following passage carefully. (12 marks)

  1. Tourism is travel for recreation, leisure, religious, family or business purposes, normally for a limited duration. Tourism is generally associated with International travel, but may also refer to travel to another place within the same country. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people “travelling to and staying at places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes.”
  2. Tourism has become a popular global leisure activity. Tourism can either be domestic or international and international tourism can be classified as either inbound or outbound tourism. Today inbound tourism is a major source of income for many countriesspecially in terms of foreign exchange earned by the country as a whole. It also has a substantial impact on the local economy and employment of a place frequently visited by tourists.
  3. India is a country with a rich cultural heritage which has always fascinated travelers. It is a unique land of diversities where all kinds of natural beauty including desert, sea, forests, mountains, flowers, wildlife is present within a single geographical boundary of a country. Anybody visiting India will have experience of different dresses, culture, flora and fauna in different states. Thus, India has always been a destination for tourists who want to enjoy this combination of culture, tradition and rich heritage. Not only this, foreign tourists act as “Ambassadors of Indian Culture” and take the message further across the world.
  4. Indian government has made various efforts to take advantage of these unique possessions to promote tourism. One such big initiative is the scheme of e-Tourist Visa. The measure has been introduced to make travelling to India easier and simpler for foreign tourists. The entire scheme began with the demand by the tourism industry to liberalize the visa regime for foreign tourists to give a boost to tourism in the country. In response, “Visa-On Arrival” was initiated by the government and is now made available to forty-four countries. “Visa-On-Arrival” means that you need a visa to enter but it is possible to apply for and receive the visa only when you show up in the country of visit itself.

2.1 Answer the following questions in about 30-40 words. (2x4=8 marks)

a. What do you understand by ‘tourism’?

b. How is the economy of a country affected by tourism?

c. Can India be a popular tourist destination? Give 2 reasons.

d. Give any 2 factors that help boost tourism in India.

2.2Find the word from the passage which means the same as: (1x4=4 marks)

a. diplomat(para3)

b. open to new ideas (para 4)

c. leisure(para 1)

d authority(para 4)

SECTION B – WRITING AND GRAMMAR (30 MARKS)

3..You are Apoorva/Arpit. You bought a refrigerator from Ganesh Electronics and electricals, Gandhi Marg, Nagpur. It does not function properly. Write a letter to the Sales Manager of the shop, complaining about the defect and asking for immediate replacement or repair, as necessary. (100-120 words) (8 marks)

4.You are Patol Babu who has just returned after hectic and hot day ,shooting for Buren Mullick’s film.Write a diary entry about your experience after 20 long years. (10 marks)

5. Readthe following sentences and complete the given passage: (1x4=4 marks)

(A) The British established the East IndiaCompany.

(b) They ruined the business of the artisans.

(c) They took advantage of the rivalries.

(d) The British officers levied heavy taxes.

The East India Company(a)______.The business(b)______by them. The rivalries(c)______(d)______by the British officers.

6. The following passage has not been edited. There is one error in each line. Write both the correct and incorrect word in the space provided. (1/2x8=4 marks)

Incorrect Correct

  1. Trying to achieving your goals without an ………..………
  2. action plan is like trying for drive across………..……….
  3. the country within a map. The wasted………..……….
  4. time, energy or money will probably………..………
  5. make you give in travelling before you………..……….
  6. go very far. Such goals is not goals at all.………..……….
  7. they are merely fantasies. Success people………..……….
  8. find out what it costs to make his dream come true.………..………. ______

7. Rearrange the following words to make meaningful sentences. (4 marks)

a. artisans /displays / artists /DilliHaat/ and /at one place/of /works

b. from all/ Craftsmen/ over India /come to/ at stalls here/ their wares/ sell

c. food court /can try/ different/ food /One/ from/ regions in India/ at the

d.is /melting pot/rich/of/a/it/heritage/Indian.

SECTION C – LITERATURE AND LONG READING TEXT (30 marks)

8. Read the following lines and answer with reference to the context.(1x4=4marks)

‘The living record of your memory.

‘Gainst death and all oblivious enmity

Shall you pace forth;your praise shall still find room

(a)What does the poet mean by ‘the living record of your memory’?

(b)Whose praise is referred here?

(c)How a living record has been compared to destructive forces in the above extract?

(d)Mention the underlying idea of poet behind these lines?

OR

And as he put his head into that dreadful hole,

And as he slowly drew up, easing his shoulders, and entered farther,

A sort of horror, a sort of protest against his withdrawing into that horrid black hole,

Deliberately going into the blackness, and slowly drawing himself after,

Overcame me now his back was turned.

a)Name the poem and the poet.

b)Where did the snake put his head into?

c)Why did a sort of horror or protest overpower the poet?

d)What is the synonym of ‘fearful’ in the passage?

9. Answer the following questions in about 30-40 words each. (2x4=8)

(a) ) Describe the loneliness of Ali in The Letter.

(b)Justify the title ‘The Dear Departed’.

(c) Why does Patol Babu’s wife tell him that he is counting his ‘chickens before they’re hatched’?

(d)What was ‘Writer’s Inspiration Bureau’? Describe its mode of working.

10. Answer the following question in about 100-120 words. (8 marks)

Is the title of the story ‘The Shady Plot’appropriate? Substantiate your answer with instances from the story.

OR

The materialistic things do not last forever. What lasts is our moral values we possess. Elaborate in the light of the play ‘The Dear Departed’.

11. The Diary of a Young Girl – Anne Frank(200-250 words) (10 marks)

The adults are not portrayed by Anne in a sympathetic manner. Why does she criticize them?

OR

Enumerate the character of Mrs Van Daan.

1