SSLC
EXAMINATION, MARCH - 2021
ENGLISH
Second Language
Time : 2 Hours Total
Score : 80
Instructions:
• 20 minutes
is given as cool off time.
• Use cool
off time to read the questions and plan your answers.
• Attempt the
questions according to the instructions.
• Keep in
mind the score and the time while answering the questions.
• The maximum
score for questions from 1 to 45 will be 80.
Score
Questions
1 - 5 : Read the following excerpt from The Snake and the Mirror' and answer
the questions that follow.
It
was a hot summer night about ten o'clock. I had my meal at the restaurant and
returned to
my room. I heard a noise from above as I opened the door. The sound was a
familiar one.
One could say that rats and I shared the room. I took out my box of matches and
lighted the
kerosene lamp on the table.
The
house was not electrified; it was a small rented room. I had just set-up
medical practice
and my earnings were meagre. I had about sixty rupees in my suitcase. Along
with some
shirts and dhotis, I also possessed one solitary black coat which I was then
wearing.
1. What is the
time referred to in the passage ?
Answer : Night 10 o' clock
2. 'The sound was a familiar one'. What makes
the homeopath say so ?
Answer : The room where the Homeopath staying was infested with rats.
There was a regular traffic of rats on the roof. So the sound made by the
movement of rats was familiar to him
3. Identify
the sentence that tells you the homeopath is not an experienced doctor.
Answer : ‘ I had just set up medical practice
and my earnings were meagre'
4. What were the possessions of the homeopath ?
Answer : His possessions were a suitcase with
sixty rupees in it, some shirts and dhotis and a black coat
5..Pick
out the word that means 'not having enough of something' from the passage.
Answer
: Meagre
Questions
6 - 9: Read the lines from The Ballad of Father Gilligan' and answer the
questions that follow.
Upon
the time of sparrow' chirp
When the moths came once more,
The
old priest Peter Gilligan
Stood upright on the floor.
'Mavrone,
mavrone! The man has died
While I slept in the chair.'
He
roused his horse out of its sleep
And rode with little care.
6. Pick out
the two references in the first stanza that tell you the time is early morning.
Answer : ‘ Sparrow chirp, ‘Moths came once
more'
7. Identify
an instance of alliteration in the first stanza. 1
Answer : The old priest Peter Gilligan
8. How did Peter Gilligan express his
sadness in not performing his duty ?
Answer : He exclaimed ‘Mavrone,
Mavrone the man has died while I slept in Chair'
9. What did Peter Gilligan do once he
realised his mistake ? 1
Answer : He roused his horse and
rode with no care
Question 10: Read the lines from the poem
'Lines Written in Early Spring and prepare a note
of appreciation focusing on its theme, imagery and poetic devices.
I
heard a thousand blended notes,
While
in a grove I sate reclined,
In
that sweet mood when pleasant thoughts
Bring
sad thoughts to the mind.
To
her fair works did Nature link
The human soul that through me ran;
And
much it grieved my heart to think
What man has made of man.
Answer : Appreciation of the poem ‘Lines
written in Early Spring
Question
11: Read the lines from the poem The Ballad of Father Gilligan' and prepare a note of appreciation focusing on its theme,
imagery and other poetic devices.
The
old priest Peter Gilligan
Was weary night and day
For half his flock were in their beds
Or under green sods lay.
Once,
while he nodded in a chair
At the moth-hour of the eve
Another poor man sent for him
And he began to grieve.
Answer
: Appreciation of the poem ‘The Ballad of Father Gilligan
Questions
12 -17: Read the passage and answer the questions that follow.
A
lovely little girl was holding two apples with both hands. Her mom came in and
softly asked her little daughter with a smile, "My sweetie, could you give
your mom
one of your apples ?"
The
girl looked up at her mom for some seconds, then she suddenly took a quick bite on one apple, and then quickly on the other. The smile on mom's face froze. She
tried hard not to reveal her disappointment. Then
the little girl handed one of her bitten apples to her mom. She said,
"Mummy, here you are. Take this apple. This is the sweeter one." No
matter who you are, how experienced you are, and how knowledgeable you think you are, always delay judgement. Give others the privilege to explain
themselves. What you see may not be the reality.
12. What did the
mother ask the little girl for ?
Answer : The mother asked for one of the apples
13. What did the
girl do after hearing the mother's question ?
Answer : She took a quick bite on both apples
14. Pick out the
sentence that tells you the mother was upset.
Answer : The smile on mom’s face
froze she tried hard not to reveal her disappointment
15. The
passage says that we should not_ .
Answer : judge
others immediately
16. The little girl bit both the apples to_ .
Answer : know which is sweeter
17. Which apple
did the girl handover to her mother ?
Answer : One of the
bitten apples
Questions
18 - 22: Answer in about 120 words.
18. The
fight between the cobra and the mongoose in the story 'Adventures in a Banyan Tree'
is an exciting one. Narrate the fight scene in your own words. (HintsCobra
glides out of the clump - mongoose emerges from the bushes - mongoose is a
clever lighter - cobra is skilful - mongoose bites the snake - mongoose wins - drags
the cobra to the bushes)
Answer
: Prepare a narrative about the fight between the cobra and mongoose in
your own words.
19. For compassionate souls helping others is
a means to find happiness. Prepare a write-up
based on the story 'The Best Investment I Ever Made' justifying this statement (HintsNarrator
is a young doctor - a sergeant informs him about a suicide case - tries hard to bring the man back to life - the man comes back to life - tells his story -
narrator gives seven pounds and ten shillings)
Answer : Prepare a write-up
based on the story "The Best Investment I Ever Made".
20. Satyajit
Rav and his team needed a tiger for the film 'Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne . But shooting the scene with the tiger turned
out to be a very difficult task. Prepare
a description
in your own words detailing the difficulties they faced in shooting the scene at Notun Gram.
(Hints
Brings a tiger from the circus company - a lorry arrives with two tigers - the
animal
trainer Mr. Thorat tries to control the tiger - shooting completed - poor
results - second
attempt - shoots the scene)
Answer
: Prepare a description in your own words about the difficulties they faced in
shooting the scene at
Notun Gram.
21. Vaikom
Muhammad Basheer is a master storyteller. The story 'The Snake and the Mirror' is an excellent example of his
writing style blended with humour. Narrate
in your
words the incidents in the story highlighting the elements of humour. (HintsThe
homeopath shares the room with rats earthshaking decisions - wishes to marry a
fat woman - snake admires its own beauty - thief leaves the vest)
Answer : Prepare a narrative in your own words about the humorous
elements in the story "The Snake and the Mirror "
22.Mr.
John in the story, 'The Best Investment I Ever Made', met with unexpected
twists
and turns in his life. Narrate in your own words the events that happened in
the life of
Mr. John.
(HintsA
n advocate's clerk -falls victim to the habits of loose society - steals money
- terrified of
the prosecution - attempts suicide - Cronin helps - works as a social worker)
Answer : Prepare a narrative in your own words about
the events that happened in the life of mr. John from the story "The Best
Investment I Ever Made".
Questions
23 - 27: Answer in about 80 words.
23. Prepare a
profile of Vaikom Muhammad Basheer using the hints given
Born ; 21 January 1908, Thalayolaparambu
Known as : Beypore Sultan
Spouse : Fabi Basheer
Notable works : 'Balyakalasakhi', 'Shabdangal', 'Pathummayude Aadu'
Awards : Padma Shri, Vallathol Award, Muttathu Varkey Award
Death : 1994
Answer : Prepare a profile of vaikom muhammed Basheer.
24. Mr. John in the story, 'The Best Investment I
Ever Made', writes a letter to Cronin thanking
him for his help. Write the likely letter.
Answer
: Mr. Johan wrote a thanking letter to cronin for his help.
25.
The shooting at Notun Gram where Mr. Thorat arrived with two tigers in a lorry
turns
out to be an interesting incident for the onlookers. Imagine that you are a
news reporter
who happened to be at the shooting location. Prepare the likely news report.
Answer
: Prepare a newspaper report about the curious behavior of the tiger at Notun
Gram.
26.
Mr John in the story, 'The Best Investment I Ever Made', decides to dedicate
the rest of
his life for people in need. Attempt a character sketch of Mr. John.
Answer
: Prepare a character sketch of Mr. John.
27. The story 'The Adventures in a Banyan Tree'
describes a boy's close-knit relationship with nature. Based on the story, prepare a write-up on the topic 'Life in
harmony with nature'.
Answer
: Prepare a write-up on the topic"Life in harmony with nature" based
on the story 'The
Adventures
in a Banyan Tree".
Questions
28 - 36 : Answer in about 60 words.
28. Even Mr. Thorat, the animal trainer, was
surprised by the sudden emergence ot the
tiger from the cage in the lorry. Imagine you happened to meet Mr. 1 horat and
talked
about the incident. Prepare the likely conversation between Mr. 1 horat and
you. (A/
least five exchanges)
Answer
: Prepare a conversation between YOU and Mr. Thorat.
29.
The Literary Club of your school has decided to conduct an Online Literary
Fest.
Well-known writer M.T. Vasudevan Nair has consented to inaugurate the fest. As
the
convener of the club you are asked to prepare a notice for the function. Draft
the likely
notice.
Answer
: Draft a Notice (Literary Fest)
30.
Returning home after escaping from the snake, the homeopath was shocked to see
almost everything he had was stolen. He was upset and jotted down his thoughts
in
his diary. Write the likely diary entry.
Answer
: Diary entry of Homeopath doctor.
31. Martha, in the story The Scholarship Jacket'
happened to hear the conversation between
Mr. Schmidt, her History teacher and Mr. Boone, her Math teacher. Write a
paragraph
on the topic of their discussion and the arguments the)' put forward to justify
their
points.
Answer
: Wtite a paragraph based on the arguments and discussion made by mr. Boone and
mr. Schmidt.
32. After reaching home Ali informed his sister
Zahra that he had lost her shoes. Zahra
was disappointed. Write the likely conversation between Ali and Zahra.
Answer
: Prepare a conversation between Zahra and Ali.
33. The bov in the story 'Adventures in a Banyan
Tree' was excited to see the fight between
the mongoose and the cobra. He wrote his thoughts in his diary. Write the
likely diary entry.
Answer
: Diary entry of the boy from the story "The Adventures in a Banyan
Tree"
34
The story 'Vanka' narrates the torturing experiences faced by a boy named Vanka
at
Alyakhin's house. Write a brief paragraph describing Vanka's experiences at
Alyakhin's
house.
Answer
: Write a paragraph about Vanka's experience at Alyakin's house.
35. Imagine that you happened to meet the
Grandfather in the story 'Adventures in a Banvan Tree'.' Prepare a set of five questions you would like to ask him.
Answer
: Questionnire (prepare five questions to ask Grandfather from the
story"The Adventures in a Banyan
Tree"
36. In her speech on the topic The Danger of a
Single Story' Adichie explains how the single story about something is often incomplete. Write a paragraph on how
Adichie shows us an example for this in the case of Fide s family.
Answer : Write a pragraph on"Single story often incomplete"
based an example in the case of Fide's
family.
Questions
37 - 42 : The table given below shows the details of a few Nobel Prize
winners*.
Study the table and answer the questions that follow.
|
Name
|
Literary
Area
|
Year
|
Country
|
|
Dorris
Lessing
|
Novel
|
2007
|
The
UK
|
|
Mario
Vargas Llosa
|
Novel
and Drama
|
2010
|
Peru
|
|
Bob
Dylan
|
Song
writer
|
2016
|
The
USA
|
|
Louise
Gluck
|
Poetry)
|
2020
|
The
USA
|
37.
Identify from the above table the song writer who won the Nobel Prize for
literature.
Answer
: Bob Dylan
38. Dorris Lessing was given the Nobel
Prize in the year- .
Answer
: 2007
39.
Which writer in the above list has two literary areas to his credit ?
Answer : Mario varga Lloss
40.
Who, according to the list above, is the latest winner of the Nobel Prize ?
Answer
: Louise Gluck
41. The country with two Nobel laureates
in the list is
Answer : The USA
42.
Who is the only poet in the list ?
Answer
: Lousise Gluck
43.
Complete the conversation suitably.
Friend You
look really sad, (a). ?
Martha Yeah,
I never thought 1 should pay for the scholarship jacket.
Friend :
(b)......... ?
Martha I
won't get the scholarship jacket this year.
Friend :
(c)......... ?
Martha They
can take such decisions as they please.
Friend :
(d)......... ?
Martha No,
I can't pay the amount they demanded.
Friend Then you can approach
Grandfather. If you ask him (0
Martha : I don't think so.
Friend : Then
you'd better.... (0...........
Martha Yeah,
I'm thinking of complaining to the higher authorities
Answer :
a) don't you?
b) Why are you so sad? / What happened to you?
c) Why do they take such decision?
d) Can you pay the amout they demand?
e) He will give you the money.
f) You had better make a complaint to the higher
authorities
44-
Fill in the blanks using the right phrases from the ones given in the box. put
up with, go on, turn down, go for, turn up
A lot of people______ (a)________ to
watch the shooting of the film. The film crew_________ (b) requesting the people to clear the field. But all the requests were_______________ (c) by the big crowd that
assembled there. But when
the tiger emerged from the cage and (d)______ the crowd, they ran
for their lives.
Answer :
a) turn up
b) Go on
c) Turn down
d) Go for
45.
There are a few errors in the passage given below. They are underlined. Edit
them. In
the case of very famous stars, this job is done over (a) their stand-ins. A
stand-in is usually a person that (b) is physical (c) similar to the real star. The stars
themself (d) arrive only when the lights are ready and it is time to taking (e) a shot.
Answer : a) by b) Who c) Physically d) themselves e)
take
