ENGLISH LANGUAGE

Paper I [Set-14]
CLASS – X
Time : 2 hrs Maximum Marks : 80
Answers to this Paper must be written on the paper provided separately.
You will not be allowed to write during the first 15 minutes.
This time is to be spent in reading the question paper.
The time given at the head of this Paper is the time allowed for writing the answers.
Attempt all five questions.
The intended marks for questions or parts of questions are given in brackets []. You are advised to spend
not more than 30 minutes in answering Question 1 and 20 minutes in answering Question 2.

Question 1.
(Do not spend more than 30 minutes on this question) [20]
Write a composition (300 - 350 words) on any one of the following.

(a) Write a story of your own including all of the following in any order: A bicycle ride - police arrest -
an ancient treasure - arrival of an uncle.
(b) Imagine that you were all alone at home on a winter night. Suddenly there was thunder, lightning
and heavy rain. There was no electricity and the inverter in your house stopped working. Narrate
how you felt and what you did at that time.
(c) ‘The government should ban all strikes in the country.’ Express your views either for or against this
statement.
(d) Describe how you spend your weekends. Give details of the activities you perform and your feelings
at the end of weekend.
(e) Study the picture given below. Write a short story or a description or an account of what the picture
suggests to you. Your composition may be about the subject of the picture or you may take
suggestions from it; however, there must be a clear connection between the picture and your
composition.
Question 2.
(Do not spend more than 20 minutes on this question)
Select any one of the following. [10]

(a) Write a letter to your friend, informing him about your success in getting a scholarship to study
science in a college of your choice.
(b) Write a letter to the Principal of your school, requesting him to arrange extra classes for students of
Class X, who have missed their classes due to the preparation for the Annual Day Function of your
school.

Question3.
(a) Your school is organising a campaign for creating awareness about the hazards of plastics. Write a
notice for your school informing the students of the campaign and inviting them to participate in it.
[5]
(b) Write an email to a famous environmentalist requesting him to guide the students of your school in
organising this awareness campaign. [5]

Question 4.
Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.

Leadership makes the world go round. The idea of leadership affirms the capacity of individuals to move,
inspire and mobilise masses of people so that they act together in pursuit of an end. The basic concept of
leadership implies that individuals can make a difference. According to William James, "Mankind does
nothing save through initiatives on the part of inventors, and imitation by the rest of us-these are the sole
factors in human progress. Individuals of genius show the way, and set the pattern, which common people
then follow."
Leadership, in general, means leadership in thought as well as in action. In the long run, leaders in
thought may make the greater or lasting difference to the world. But, as Woodrow Wilson once said, "Those
only are leaders of men, in the general eye, who lead in action. It is at their hands that new thought gets its
translation into the crude language of deeds." Leaders in thought often invent in solitude and obscurity,
leaving to later generations the tasks of imitation. Leaders in action have to be effective in their own time.
An effective leader cannot be effective in isolation. He must act in response to the rhythms of the
times. His genius must be adapted to the receptivities of the moment. A leader is useless without followers.
"There goes the mob," said the French politician hearing a clamour in the streets. "I am their leader. I must
follow them." Great leaders turn the inchoate emotions of the mob to purposes of their own.
They seize the opportunities of their time, the hopes, fears, frustrations, crises and potentialities.
They succeed when events have prepared the way for them, when the community is waiting to be aroused,
when they can provide the clarifying and organising ideas. Leadership ignites the circuit between the
individual and the mass and thereby alters history. Leaders have been responsible for the most extravagant
follies and most monstrous crimes that have beset suffering humanity. They have also been instrumental in
such gains as humanity has made in individual freedom, religious and racial tolerance, social justice and
respect for human rights.
In a democratic world, the concept of leadership takes a new form. It is easy to issue commands and
enforce them by the rope and the stake, as well as the concentration camp. It is much harder to use argument
and achievement to overcome opposition and win consent. Government by reflection and choice calls for a
new style of leadership requiring them to be responsive to popular concerns and it requires followers to be
active and informed participants in the process. Democracy does not eliminate emotion from politics;
sometimes it fosters demagogy; but it works on a well-proven principle that you cannot fool people all the
time.
The great benefits which the great leaders confer to us is to live according to our best selves, to be
active, insistent and resolute in affirming our own sense of things. For great leaders attest to the reality of
human freedom against the supposed inevitabilities of history. They attest to the wisdom and power that
may be within us, which is why Abraham Lincoln remains the supreme example of great leadership. "A great
leader,” said Emerson, "exhibits new possibilities to all humanity." We feed on genius.....Great men exist that
there may be greater men.
(a) For each word given below choose the correct meaning (as used in the passage) from the options
provided: [3]
(i) pursuit
(a) chase (b) retreat (c) surrender (d) crave
(ii) save
(a) rescue (b) spend (c) except (d) protect
(iii) rhythms
(a) music (b) needs (c) energy (d) tunes

(b) Answer the following questions briefly in your own words.

(i) With reference to the first paragraph, state what a leader is expected to do in order to
achieve his objective. [2]
(ii) Mention in your own words the difference between leadership in thought and leadership in
action. [2]
(iii) An effective leader cannot be effective in isolation. Who or what does he need to be
effective? [1]
(iv) Compare traditional leadership with democratic leadership. [2]
(v) How can great men produce greater men? [2]
(c) In not more than 50 words, state the qualities of a good leader. [8]

Question 5.
(a) Fill in each of the numbered blanks with correct form of the word given in brackets. Do not copy
the passage, but write in correct serial order the word or phrase appropriate to the blank space.
[4]
Example: (0) worked
Years ago, the Clark family in Scotland had a dream. Clark and his wife …………(0)………… (work) and
saved, making plans for their children and themselves …………(1)………… (travel) to the United States.
It …………(2)………… (take) years, but they had finally saved enough money and had got passports and
reservations for the family on a new ship to the United States.
The family was filled with excitement at the thought of going to the US. However, seven days before
their departure, the youngest son …………(3)………… (bit) by a dog. The doctor …………(4)………… (hang)
a yellow sheet on the Clarks' front door to warn people of the possibility of rabies. The Clarks
…………(5)………… (quarantine) for fourteen days.
 The family's dreams …………(6)………… (shatter). They could not make the trip to America as they
…………(7)………… (plan). The father shed tears of disappointment and cursed both his son and the dog
for their misfortune.
Five days later, the tragic news spread throughout Scotland-the mighty Titanic in which the Clarks
were to travel, …………(8)………… (sink), taking hundreds of lives with it.

(b) Fill in each blank with appropriate words. [4]

(i) He no longer counts her …………………… his friend.
(ii) The horse was walking ……………………… behind its master.
(iii) His beliefs do not coincide ………………………… those of his wife.
(iv) The death of the chief cast a gloom …………………… the village.
(v) The award-winning novel has been translated ………………………… many languages.
(vi) By evening he had got ……………………… his excitement.
(vii) His conduct has always been …………………… suspicion.
(viii) His irresponsible actions will be held ……………………… him.

(c) Join the following sentences to make one complete sentence without using 'and', 'but' or 'so'.
Choose the correct option. [4]
(i) Rita met her teacher on the road. She stopped to talk to her.
a) Rita stopped to talk to her teacher that she met on the road.
b) Rita stopped to talk to her teacher whom she met on the road.
c) When Rita met her teacher on the road she stopped to talk to her.
d) Rita stopped to talk to her teacher when she met her on the road.
(ii) She gave up her job. Her purpose was to look after her children.
a) She gave up her job as she wants to look after her children.
b) She gave up her job for looking after her children.
c) She gave up her job to look after her children.
d) She gave up her job looking after her children.
(iii) He is the most efficient worker. No other worker can be compared to him.
a) Other workers cannot be compared to him as he is the most efficient worker.
b) Since he is the most efficient worker, none of the workers are compared to him.
c) He is the most efficient worker without any comparison.
d) He is the most efficient worker to be compared to him.
(iv) Hina has been in the hospital. She has been so since last week.
a) Hina was in the hospital for last week.
b) Hina has been in the hospital since last week.
c) Hina had been in the hospital since one week.
d) Hina had been in the hospital from a week.
(d) Rewrite the following sentences according to the instructions given after each. Make other
changes that may be necessary, but do not change the meaning of each sentence. Choose the
correct options. [8]

(i) We could not finish our plantation drive as it began to rain. (Use: prevented)
a) The rains prevented the completion of our plantation drive.
b) The rains prevented the finishing of our plantation drive.
c) The rains prevented us from finishing our plantation drive.
d) We could not finish our plantation drive as the rains prevented us.
(ii) Because of his busy schedule, he could not attend the meeting.
(Begin: His busy schedule ....)
a) His busy schedule could not let him attend the meeting.
b) His busy schedule did not let him attend the meeting.
c) His busy schedule prevented him from attending the meeting.
d) His busy schedule prevented him to attend the meeting
(iii) The result surprised everybody in the country. (Begin: The result took ....)
a) The result took everybody in the country to a surprise.
b) The result took everybody in the country with a surprise.
c) The result took everybody of the country to a surprise.
d) The result took everybody by a surprise.
(iv) Besides keeping a watch on his movements, the police tapped his phones.
(Begin: The police not only ……)
a) The police not only kept a watch on his movements but also tapped his phones.
b) The police not only watched his movements but also tapped his phones.
c) The police not only tapped his phones and watched his movements.
d) The police not only watched his moves to also hear all that he did.
(v) She was left with a big fortune by her uncle. (Use: inherit)
a) She had inherited a big fortune from her uncle.
b) She inherited a big fortune from her uncle.
c) She had a big fortune to inherit from her uncle.
d) She was left a big fortune as inheritance by her uncle.
(vi) She regretted her inability to join us for the party. (Begin: She told us, "………)
a) She told us, "I am unable to come for the party."
b) She told us regretfully that she would not be able to attend the party.
c) She told us, "Regretfully I would not attend the party."
d) She told us, "Sorry, I may not be able attend the party.”
(vii) Dimple eats only fruits and vegetables. (Begin: Dimple lives ......)
a) Dimple lives to eat only fruits and vegetables.
b) Dimple lives with only fruits and vegetables.
c) Dimple lives only on fruits and vegetables.
d) Dimple lives by only fruits and vegetables.
(viii) No sooner did he go to bed than he fell asleep. (Begin: As soon as .....)
a) As soon as he go to bed, he fell asleep.
b) As soon as he went to bed, he fall asleep.
c) As soon as he go to bed, he was falling asleep.
d) As soon as he went to bed, he fell asleep.