1.

Read the following paragraphs and answer the questions that follow:
As he entered the school gate, an idea occurred to him. He would deliver the letter to the head-
master at the end of the day. There was a chance Samuel might do something during the course of
the day to justify the letter.
Swami stood at the entrance to his class. Samuel was teaching arithmetic. He looked at Swami.
Swami hoped Samuel would scold him severely.
‘‘You are half an hour late,’’ Samuel said.
‘‘I have a headache, Sir.’’ Swami said.
‘‘Then why did you come at all?’’
This was an unexpected question from Samuel.
Swami Said, ‘‘My father said I shouldn’t miss school, Sir.’’
Samuel looked impressed. ‘‘Your father is quite right. We want more parents like him.’’
‘‘Oh, you poor man!’’ Swami thought, ‘‘You don’t know what my father has done to you.’’
‘‘All right, go to your seat.’’
Swami sat down, feeling sad. He had never met anyone as good as Samuel.
The teacher was inspecting the home lessons. To Swami’s thinking, this was the time when Samuel
got most angry. But today Samuel appeared very gentle.
‘‘Swaminathan, where is your homework?’’
‘‘I have not done my homework, Sir,’’ Swami said.
‘‘Why---headache?’’ asked Samuel.
‘‘Yes, Sir.’’
‘‘All right, sit down,’’ Samuel said.
A) Write the correct alternative to complete the following sentences in the given spaces: 1X5 = 5
a) Swami decided to deliver the letter to the headmaster---
i) at the begining of the day
ii) during the arithematic class
iii) at the end of the day
iv) during tiffin break
b) Samuel was teaching---
i) geometry
ii) algebra
iii) trigonometry
iv) arithmetic
c) According to Samuel, Swami was late by---
i) half an hour
ii) one hour
iii) two hours
iv) quarter of an hour
d) Swami said that he had a---
i) fever
ii) headache
iii) toothache
iv) stomach ache
e) To Swami’s thinking, Samuel used to get most angry when he inspected---
i) home lessons
ii) class work
iii) project work
iv) examination copies
B) Complete the following sentences with information from the text: 1X3 = 3
a) As Swami entered the school gate_______________________________
b) There was a chance Samuel might_______________________________
c) Samuel said they wanted more parents like ________________________
C) a) State whether the following statements are True or False. Write ‘T’ for ‘True’ and ‘F’ for
‘False’ statements. Provide sentences/phrases/words in support of your answer: 2X2 = 4
i) Swami expected that Samuel wouldn’t scold him. ( )
Supporting statement(s):_____________________________________
ii) Swami left that he had never met a person as good as Samuel. ( )
Supporting statement(s):_____________________________________
b) Fill in the chart with informationfrom the text: 2X2=4
Statement Reason
Swami felt sad
Swami could not do the homework

2) Read the extract of the poem given below and answer the questions that follow:
Once I crept in an oakwood---I was looking for a stag.
I met an old woman there---all knobbly stick and rag.
She said: ‘I have your secret here inside my little bag.’
Then she began to cackle and I began to quake.
She opened up her little bag and I came twice awake---
Surrounded by a staring tribe and me tied to a stake.
They said: ‘We are the oak-trees and your own true family.
We are chopped down, we are torn up, you do not blink an eye.
Unless you make a promise now--- now you are going to die.’
A) Write the correct alternative to complete the following sentences: 1X4 = 4
a) The poet was looking for a---
i) lamb
ii) stag
iii) goat
iv) dog
b) The woman whom the poet met in the oakwood was---
i) young
ii) middle aged
iii) very young
iv) old
c) As the woman began to cackle the poet began to---
i) shout
ii) sing
iii) quake
iv) sweat
d) The oak-trees wanted the poet to make a---
i) promise
ii) prayer
iii) wish
iv) contract
B) Answer the following questions: 2X2 = 4
a) What did the old woman say?
________________________________________________________
b) Who introduced themselves as the poet’s own true family?
________________________________________________________
3. Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow :
It is the last time we shall be walking with Bapu. It was an agonizing walk. Thousands silently
watched the procession. Bapu lay on an open truck covered with flowers. Thousands of people
wept, trying to touch Bapu’s feet. It was impossible to move in the thick crowd.
As I moved forward slowly 1 understood I was not merely in the midst of grieving people.This was
even more than the funeral procession of India’s beloved leader. I was among people for whom
walking with Bapu had a special meaning. We had walked with Bapu over the rough and smooth of
India’s recent history. We could not now accept the fact that the man who had led us over many
difficult paths, was never going to walk with us again. Bapu’s slight figure had walked, staff in hand,
over a large part of India. To walk is to make slow progress. It is to think with clarity and closely
look at all that is around you, from small insects to the horizon in the distance. Moreover, to walk
was often the only way open to the average Indian. It required no vehicle except his own body and
cost him nothing but his energy.
A. Write the correct alternative to complete the following sentences : 1X5=5
(a) The last walk with Bapu was
(i) pleasant
(ii) painful
(iii) strange
(iv) delightful
(b) According to the narrator, walking with Bapu was
(i) quite boring
(ii) a usual affair
(iii) not a commonplace affair
(iv) meaningless
(c) While walking, Bapu used to carry a
(i) staff
(ii) flag
(iii) book
(iv) bag
(d) The narrator comments that to walk is to make
(i) a tiresome journey
(ii) no progress
(iii) rapid progress
(iv) slow progress
(e) According to the narrator, walk required
(i) a lot of money
(ii) vehicle
(iii) one’s own body and energy
(iv) a walking stick
B. Complete the following sentences with information from the text: 1×3=3
(a) Bapu was being carried….
(b) Thousands of people were eager to…..
(c) Indian’s recent history was both…
C. Fill in the chart with information from the text : 2×2=4
Statement Reason
The crowd was thick
Walking is making slow progress Because

4. Read the following poem and answer the questions that follow:
The mountain and the squirrel
Had a quarrel:
And the former called the latter ‘Little Prig.’
Bun replied,
‘You are doubtless very big;
But all sorts of things and weather
Must be taken in together,
To make up a year
And a sphere.
And I think it no disgrace
To occupy my place.
If I’m not so large as you.
You are not so small as I,
And not half so spry.
I’ll not deny you make
A very pretty squirrel track;
Talents differ; all is well and wisely put;
If I cannot carry forests on my back,
Neither can you crack a nut.
A. Write the correct alternative to complete the following sentences: 1×4=4
(i) ‘Little Prig’ refers to— (a) The mountain,(b) the squirrel, (c) the forest, (d) a nut.
(ii) The mountain is — (a) very wise, (b) quite lively, (c) very big,(d)very pretty.
(iii) The quarrel was between — (a) the forest and the squirrel, (b) a nut and the squirrel, (c) talent
and wisdom, (d) the mountain and the squirrel
(iv) Unlike the squirrel the mountain can — (a) carry forests on its back, (b) crack a nut, (c) move
about happily, (d) make a sphere.
B. Answer the following questions: 2×2=4
(i) How does the mountain make fun of the squirrel ?
(ii) Mention two qualities of the mountain.