Model Questions and Answers for English (Second Language) – Part II

(All answers have been provided by Sukanya Dasgupta, Assistant Teacher, Jadavpur Vidyapith)

1. Read the following passage and answer the question set below:

Surprisingly, Salim Ali had no university degree. Although he joined college, his intense dislike for
mathematics did not allow him to continue his studies. He left for Burma to help his brother in his farm. But here
again he proved a failure. In the jungles of Burma he looked for birds instead of animals.
When he returned home he did a course in zoology and was appointed a guide at the museum of the
Bombay Natural History Society. But, for lack of funds his post in the museum was abolished.
He spent his life threading his way through the obscure regions of the Indian subcontinent, discovering,
studying and identifying about 300 birds in the Indian region.
One of his most noted theories is that birds have their own language. In fact, they communicate with each
other through simple sounds and actions. Moreover, birds react in their own particular way to threat, pleasure and
pain. But according to him the structure of the bird’s brain suggests a comparatively low level of intelligence and
there is no possibility of regular conversation as we know it.
However, says Dr. Ali, the best talker among the Indian birds is the Hill Myna whose articulation of the human
voice is clearer than even the parrot. The best songsters are the Greywinged Blackbird and the Malabar Whistling
Thrush.
Salim Ali was a married man and badly needed a job. But the best he could hope for was a clerk’s post and
that would leave him little time to pursue his interest in birds. Luckily, his wife had a small income and could
support him. They moved to a small house at Kihim, across the harbour.

(a) Rearrange the sentences in their proper order. Put the numbers in the boxes 5

(i) His post was abolished.

(ii) Salim Ali joined college.

(iii) He left for Burma.

(iv) His strong dislike for mathematics made him leave the college.

(v) He was appointed a guide at the museum of the Bombay History Society.

Ans:

(i) 5

(ii) 1

(iii) 3

(iv) 2

(v) 4

(b) Supply the information from the text: 1x3=3

(i) According to Salim Ali the best talker among the Indian birds is ______________
Ans: Hill Myna

(ii) Salim Ali discovered, studied and identified about 300 birds in the ______________
Ans: Indian Region
 (iii) According to Salim Ali Malabar Whistling Thrush is one of the two ______________
Ans: songsters

(c) Fill in the chart :

Cause Effect

(i) Salim Ali badly needed a job.

(ii) The Bombay Natural History Society

suffered from lack of funds.

Ans:

Cause Effect

(i) Being a married man, Salim Ali had a Salim Ali badly needed a job.
family to support.

(ii) The Bombay Natural History Society The post of the guide at the museum was
suffered from lack of funds. abolished.

2. Read the poem and answer the following questions:

BEYOND the East the Sunrise: beyond the West the Sea;
AND East and West the Wander-Thirst that will not let me be;
It works in me like madness to bid me say good-bye,
For the seas call, and the stars call, and oh! the call of the sky!
I know not where the white road runs, nor what the blue hills are,
But a man can have the sun for friend, and for his guide a star;
And there’s no end of voyaging when once the voice is heard,
For the rivers call, and the road calls, and oh! the call of the bird!
Yonder the long horizon lies, and there by night and day
The old ships draw to home again, the young ships sail away;
And come I may, but go I must, and if men ask you why,
You may put the blame on the stars and the sun, the white road and the sky.

(a) Answer the following questions – 1x3=3

(i) Who are the friend and guide of a man on his voyage?

Ans: The sun is the friend and the Pole Star is the guide of a man on his voyage.

(ii) What does not allow the poet to remain at home?

Ans: The ‘Wander-Thirst’, the intense longing for travel does not allow the poet to remain at home.

(iii) “…When once the voice is heard” — What voice is referred to here?

Ans: The voice referred to here is the call of every object of Nature that tempts the poet to set out for a
journey. Actually the poet’s inner urge is reflected in this call.
 (b) State whether the following statements are True or False. Quote relevant portion from the text to
justify your answer. 2x2=4

(i) The poet has no idea where the road will lead him to.

Ans: True; “I know not where the white road runs”

(ii) The poet blames himself for his intense desire for travel.

Ans: False; “You may put the blame on the stars and the sun, and the white road and the sky”

(c) Fill in the chart: 1x3=3

Who Does What

The old ships

Seas and stars

Sail away

Ans:

Who Does What

The old ships draw to home(harbour)

Seas and stars call the poet to start voyaging

Young (new) ships Sail away

3. Read the following text carefully and answer the questions that follow:

For three days they made much of their pet. On the fourth day beings whom they took to be keepers entered
the cage with their nets, immobilized the occupants, and carried off Joe and Hawkins.
When the days passed but Hawkins did not return, his friends began to fear the worst. ‘I’ am afraid it’s
hopeless’, Boyle said, ‘We shan’t see him again.’
‘They‘ll have him stuffed and mounted in some museum’, said Fennet glumly.
‘No’, said the girl. ‘They couldn’t!’.
‘They could’, said the doctor.
Abruptly the hatch at the back of the cage opened. Before the three humans could retreat, a voice called, ’It’s
all right, come on out!’
Hawkins walked into the cage. He was shaved and the beginnings of a healthy tan had darkened the pallor of
his skin. He was wearing a pair of trunks fashioned from some red- material.
 A. Compare the following table with information from the text: 4x3=12

Who said When was it said?

(a) ‘I’ am afraid it’s hopeless’.

(b) ‘No’…’They couldn’t’.

(c) ‘It’s all right, come on out’

Ans:
Who said When was it said?

(a) ‘I’ am afraid it’s hopeless’. Dr. Boyle When the days passed, but
Hawkins did not return.

(b) ‘No’…’They couldn’t’. The girl Fennet apprehended that Hawkins

was stuffed and mounted in some
museum.

(c) ‘It’s all right, come on out’ Hawkins The hatch at the back of the cage
opened abruptly and the three
humans were about to retreat.

4. Read the following passage and answer the questions given below :

One can adopt certain skills to improve one’s personality. First of all one should know that good appearance
and good personality are two different aspects. Apart from portraying a good appearance one should cultivate
good personality traits. Look confident, speak bold, loud and clear so that you can assert yourself in all situations.
Develop creative ability and attempt writing essays, stories, poems, make speeches or hold group discussions.
You should actively participate in extra curricular activities like practising art and craft, listening to music, doing
yoga and meditation. You should have self respect, and respect for elders and teachers. Setting high goals will
give the necessary motivation to work hard. You should be conscious of your bad habits and keep them away.
You should take care of your health and fitness by taking nutritious food, exercising and having sufficient sleep.
You should also develop certain life skills which are very vital to lead a happy and graceful life and to have
meaningful relations with others. One should know that no one has everything perfect and should not feel guilty of
some handicap which is beyond one’s ability to rectify. If anything can be rectified, you should do it.

(a) Complete the sentences with information from the text: 2x5=10

(i) To assert oneself in all situations one must — ________________________________________

Ans: look confident, speak bold, loud and clear.

(ii) One can develop creative ability by — _______________________________________________

Ans: writing essays, stories, poems, making speeches or holding group discussions.

(iii) To give necessary motivation to work hard one must — _______________________________

Ans: set high goals.

 (iv) Bad habits should — _____________________________________________

Ans: be kept away and one should be conscious of them.

(v) The extra-curricular activities mentioned in the text are — ___________________________________

Ans: practising art and craft, listening to music, doing yoga and meditation.

(b) Answer the following questions in one or two sentences: 2x2=4

(i) How can one take care of one’s health and fitness?

Ans: One take care of one’s health and fitness by taking nutritious food, exercising, and having sufficient
sleep.

(ii) Why is it essential to learn certain life skills?

Ans: It is essential to learn certain life skills as they are vital to lead happy and graceful life. They also help to
have meaningful relationship with others.

(c) Study the following statements: Write (T) for true and (F) for false in the boxes provided. Also pick out
relevant statements from the text in support of your answer: 2x3=6

(i) It is possible to improve one’s personality.

Supporting statement: ___________________________________________________

Ans: T

Supporting statement: One can adopt certain skills to improve one’s personality.

(ii) You should be ashamed of yourself if you cannot rectify yourself.

Supporting statement: ___________________________________________________

Ans: F

Supporting statement: If anything can be rectified, you should do it.

(iii) If you speak boldly and clearly you will be able to emphasize your views.

Supporting statement: ___________________________________________________

Ans: T

Supporting statement: Look confident, speak bold, loud and clear so that you can assert yourself in all
situations.
5. Replace and underline words or expressions with suitable words from the unseen passage in question
No. 4. Write the words in the brackets next to the sentence. 2x4=8

(i) I am aware of the possible dangers of air pollutions.

Ans: conscious

(ii) Ravi likes to take part in competitions.

Ans: participate

(iii) The success of a student depends largely on the encouragement that he gets from his parents and
teachers.

Ans: motivation

(iv) before taking an important decision you may discuss the matter with your elder

Ans: vital

6. Read the following stanzas and answer the questions that follow:

“You are old, Father William”, the Young Man said,

“And your hair has become very white;
And yet you incessantly stand on your head —
Do you think, at your age, it is right?”

“In my youth,” Father William replied to his son,

“I feared it might injure the brain;
But now that I’m perfectly sure I have none
Why, I do it again and again.”

“You are old”, said the youth, “as I maintained before,

And have grown most uncommonly fat,
Yet you turned a back-summersault in at the door
Pray, what is the reason of that?”

“In my youth,” said the sage, as he shook his grey locks,

I kept all my limbs very supple
By the use of this ointment one shilling the box—
Allow me to sell you a couple?”

A. Answer the following questions. You need not write full sentences: 2x3=6

(a) What was the funny thing Father William did at his old age? (See stanza-1)

Ans: Father William stood incessantly on his head.

(b) What did he fear in his youth?

Ans: In his youth, he feared that standing on his head constantly might injure his brain.

(c) How did Father William keep his limbs flexible?

Ans: By using an ointment that cost one shilling a box.

 B. Tick (9) the correct alternatives: 1x2=2

(a) In the poem Father William’s son seemed to be –

(i) Inquisitive and caring

(ii) Bold and rude.

(iii) Extremely foolish and ignorant.

Ans: Inquisitive and caring

(b) Father William was –

(i) Not very old.

(ii) Very old and feeble.

(iii) Old but young in mind.

Ans: Old but young in mind

7. (a) Fill in the blanks with correct articles and prepositions: 1x4=4

__ index is generally added at the end of __ textbook as a guide __ the items dealt ____ the book.

Ans: An, a, to, in

(b) Do as directed: 1x8=8

(i) China is still the most populous country in the world.

[Rewrite the sentences, using the adjective in the Positive Degree]

Ans: No other country in the world is still as populous as China.

(ii) His father looked at him angrily.

[Rewrite the sentences, using the underlined word as an adjective]

Ans: His father gave him an angry look.

(iii) Suddenly he could go no more. [Make it affirmative]

Ans: Suddenly he failed to go any more.

(iv) That night an earthquake hit the town. [Change into Passive Voice]

Ans: The town was hit by an earthquake that night.

(v) “Will it be all right?” she asked. [Turn into indirect speech]

Ans: She asked if that would be all right.

(vi) A tree needs the company of other trees. [Turn it into a complex sentence with a Nominal
clause]

Ans: What a tree needs is the company of other trees.

(vii) Father _____ {has come/came} home last night. [Use the correct verb in the blank]
 Ans: came

(viii) We are __________ {looking forward to/looking out for} seeing you again. [Use the correct
phrasal verb in the blank]

Ans: looking forward to

8. Write a letter to the post master of your local office informing him of the change of your residential
address. 10

Ans:

To
The Post Master
Chakdaha Post Office
P.O. Chakdaha, Dist. Nadia
[Sub: Change of address]

Sir,

I take this kind opportunity to inform you that I have recently moved to the address noted hereunder
which falls in your postal jurisdiction. I have shifted from my earlier address which was 14A, Chakdaha
(Block-D), P.O. Chakadaha., Dist. Nadia. I receive letters, parcels and also a few weekly magazines as I
am a regular subscriber of them.

I, therefore, request you to record my present address so that all my postal articles can be delivered to
the new address noted below. Your kind co-operation is solicited.

Yours faithfully,
Namita Das
New Address:
B 11/23, Chakdaha (Block-D)
P.O. Chakadaha.
Dist. Nadia.

Dated 15th January, 2009

9. Write in about 120 words a paragraph on ‘100 years of Kshudiram’s martyrdom’. Use the following points:

Introduction – born on 3rd December, 1889 in Midnapore – lost parents at 6/7 – brought up by elder sister –
education in Tamluk. Hamilton school – courageous and spirited – associated with revolutionary party from school
life – leaving for Mujaffarpur with Prafulla Chaki to kill Kingsford, Kingsford unhurt – Kshudiram arrested, hanged
on august 11, 1908 – his patriotism, a living inspiration for all youths. 12

Ans:

Years have passed, but the burning patriotism of Kshudiram Basu, a pride of West Bengal, is still alive in the
mind of people. He was born on 3rd December, 1889, in Midnapore. When he was a mere boy of 6/7 years, he
lost his parents. He was brought up by his elder sister. He studied at Hamilton School, Tamluk. From his
childhood he was a courageous and spirited boy. While doing school education, he came to be associated with a
revolutionary party of Bengal. He was entrusted with the task of killing Kingsford, a tyrant magistrate. He then left
for Mujaffarpur with Prafulla Chaki, another revolutionary. But they mistook the target and killed Mrs. and Miss.
Kingsford, while Mr. Kingsford remained unhurt. Kshudiram was arrested and hanged on August 11, 1908. His
patriotism never ceases to inspire the youth.
10. Suppose your father has presented a story book on your birthday. Write a page of diary (within 50 words)
about the book and your feeling after getting it. 8

Ans:

2009 JANUARY 15
WEDNESDAY
11:10 P.M.

Today I was really thrilled! I couldn’t believe my eyes even. It was really there on my bed wrapped in a gift
paper. I knew some surprise was waiting for me on my birthday, but this? Oh! I’m so happy. I opened the gift
pack and there was the long-coveted book – ‘Call Of The Wild’ by Jack London.

I ran to my Papa, embraced him as it was a gift from him. My father knows that I am an animal lover and this
book deals with the loving bond between an animal and human beings. But how had he come to know my secret
wish! Oh, really! He is the best Papa in the world and this is my best birthday gift.

11. Make five meaningful sentences matching properly the units of the three columns below: 1x5=5

1. A beautiful painting put the juggler’s tricks.

2. The baby was controlling her child to sleep in its cradle

3. The neighborhood children stood the traffic quite efficiently.

4. The mother were watching soundly the whole day

5. The policeman slept on the easel

Ans:

1. A beautiful painting stood on the easel.

2. The baby slept soundly the whole day.

3. The neighbourhood children were watching the juggler’s tricks.

4. The mother put her child to sleep in its cradle.

5. The policeman was controlling the traffic quite efficiently.

12. Rearrange the sentences to give a proper shape to the story. Write the numbers in the boxes on the right
hand side: 1x5=5

(i) He left the vine sadly.

(ii) A hungry fox was looking for food in a jungle.

(iii) But the grapes were hanging high.

(iv) He noticed a grape vine.

(v) He could not reach the grapes.

Ans:

(i) 5

1
(ii)

(iii) 3

2
(iv)

(v) 4