English Question Paper of Madhyamik 2024
SECTION-A
READING COMPREHENSION (SEEN)
1. Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that
follow:
As he entered the school gate, an idea occurred to him. He
would deliver the letter to the headmaster 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.
A. Write the correct
alternative in the given space to complete the following sentences: 1×5=5
(a) Swami decided to deliver the letter to the headmaster...............
(i) in the lunch
break
(ii) after the
assembly
(iii) at the end of
the day
(iv) as soon as
possible
(b) Samuel got most
angry while he...............
(i) taught the class
(ii) checked the homework
(iii) corrected mistakes in the classwork
(iv) checked the handwriting
(c) When Swami stood
at the entrance of his class, Samuel was teaching……………
(i) Mathematics
(ii) History
(iii) English
(iv) Geography
(d) Swami gave the excuse of headache for..............................
(i) being absent from class the previous day
(ii) his irregularity in attendance last week
(iii) protecting his father from Samuel's anger
(iv) arriving in school half an hour late that day
(e) "We want more
parents like him." Here "him" refers to...............
(i) The headmaster
(ii) Samuel
(iii) Swami's father
(iv) Samuel's father
B. Complete the following sentences with information from
the text: 1×3=3
(i) An idea occurred
to Swami when.................................................................................
(ii) Swami decided to deliver the letter to the headmaster
at the end of the day because ..........................................................................................................................................
(iii) Samuel was impressed with Swami's father for
..........................................................
C. State whether the following statements are 'True' or
'False'. Write 'T' for 'True' and 'F' for 'False' in the boxes on the
right-hand side. Also provide sentences/phrases from the passage in support of
your answers: 2×2=4
(i) Swami felt
sympathy for Samuel when he appreciated Swami's father for sending Swami to
school. [ ]
Supporting sentence:………………………………………………………………………………..
(ii) Samuel appeared very angry as he was inspecting the
home lessons on the day Swami came late to his class. [ ]
Supporting sentence: :……………………………………………………………………………
2. Read the poem 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?
Whenever you see an oak-tree felled, swear now you will
plant two.
Unless you swear the black oak bark will wrinkle over you
And root you among the oaks where you were born but never
grew
This was my dream beneath the boughs, the dream that
altered me
When I came out of the oakwood, back to human company,
My walk was the walk of a human child, but my heart was a
tree.
A. Tick the correct alternative to complete the following
sentences: 1×4=4
a) The poet crept in
(i) a garden
(ii) a burrow
(iii) an orchard
(iv) an oakwood
(b) The old woman appeared to be
(i) unjust
(ii) unsteady
(iii) unmindful
(iv) unfortunate
(c) "You do not
blink an eye" the expression suggests that human beings are
(i) indifferent
(ii) caring
(ii) aggressive
(iv) alert
(d) The poem explores
the theme of
(i) conservation of forest and wild animals
(ii) dreams and
realities in the life of modern human beings
(iii) the integral relationship between human beings and
nature
(iv) insecurities and ailments of an old
B. Answer the following questions: 2×2=4
(i) How did the oak trees threaten the poet if he failed to
promise to plant two oak-trees in place of every felled oak-tree?
Ans: …………………………………………………………………………………………
(ii) How did the dream alter the poet?
Ans: …………………………………………………………………………………………
READING COMPREHENSION (UNSEEN)
3. Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that
follow:
The neglected irrigation canal passing through the heart of
the Champdani town has become a matter of great concern for the residents. It
is posing a threat to the environment of the town. The heavily-silted
irrigation canal with practically noflow of water except during monsoons, is
full of weeds, dirt and filth. Stagnation of water at different pockets of the
irrigation canal has become a favourable breeding ground for mosquitoes, flies
and rodents.
Moreover during the high tide and monsoons/when the Hooghly
river is in a spate, the lock gates of the DVC irrigation canal are opened to
allow back flow of water. The heavily-silted irrigation canal, with no capacity
to hold excess flow of water, overflows, inundating a large part of Champdani
town.
The drainage system fails to empty since the irrigation
canal water finds its way into the residential areas through drains. The local
civic body Chairman. Mr. Suresh Mishra, said, "The canal has been
neglected for years. Intensive dredging must be conducted to restore the
irrigation canal to its original depth. The dense layer of weeds, filth and
dirt needs to be cleared off to stop stagnation of water. The DVC needs to pay
attention towards the repairing and maintenance of the canal and lock gates to
that they can withstand the massive water pressure during monsoons when the
Hooghly river is in a spate."
(Adapted from an article published in the Statesman dated
17th July 2023)
A. Tick the right answer:
(i) The passage is
about
(a) a neglected irrigation canal of DVC
(b) the town Champdani and its residents
(c) the drainage system of Champdani
(d) the impact of a neglected canal on Champdani
(ii) Residents of the
town are concerned that the canal is becoming
(a) useless for transportation within the town
(b) a threat to the environment of the town
(c) dry throughout the year irrespective of seasons
(d) more useful for irrigation only during the monsoons
(iii) The canal has
become a favourable breeding ground for mosquitoes, flies and rodents because
(a) there is no water in the canal
(b) the canal is full of dirt and filth
(c) the canal overflows during monsoons
(d) there is stagnant water in different pockets
(iv) The canal was dug
for the purpose of
(a) drainage
(b) irrigation
(c) drinking water
(d) transportation
(v) The siltation at the canal-bed caused
(a) increased capacity to hold water
(b) loss of capacity to hold water
(c) breeding of mosquitoes and flies
(d) back flow of water during monsoons
(vi) An appropriate
title for the passage would be
(a) A canal losing its flow due to filth and dirt
(b) Neglected irrigation canal posing health hazards
(c) Irrigation canal inundating towns in monsoon
(d) Stagnant water causing health hazards
B. Each of the following statements is either 'True' or
'False". Write 'T' for "True" and 'F' for "False" in
the boxes on the right-hand side. Also write suitable line(s) or phrase(s) from
the passage in support of your answers: 2×3=6
(1) The lock gates of the DVC irrigation canal are opened
during monsoons only. [ ]
Supporting sentence: ……………………………………………………………………………… (ii)
The canal disrupts the drainage system in the residential areas during
monsoons. [ ]
Supporting sentence:
(iii) According to the Chairman of DVC the canal has been
neglected for years. [ ]
Supporting sentence: ………………………………………………………………………………
C. Answer the following questions:
2×4=8
(i) What causes the inundation of a large part of Champdani
town?
Ans: …………………………………………………………………………………………
(ii) Who is Suresh Mishra? Whose responsibility is it to
maintain this irrigation canal?
Ans: …………………………………………………………………………………………
(iii) What is needed to increase the depth of the canal and
stop stagnation of water?
Ans: …………………………………………………………………………………………
(iv) Why does DVC need to pay attention towards repairing
and maintenance of the irrigation canal and the lock gates?
Ans: …………………………………………………………………………………………
SECTION-B
GRAMMAR AND VOCABULARY
4. Write the correct alternatives to fill in the
blanks: 1×3=3
As the temperature _________________ (had soured/soars/has
been soaring) so high, it _________________ (is advised/advised/advises) to
take cool showers many times a day. People _____________________
(drink/drank/should drink) plenty of water.
5. Do as directed:
A. Fill in the blanks with appropriate articles and
prepositions: 1×3=3
We must consider ___________ and try to solve it
________________ unemployment problem with great seriousness the earliest
opportunity. This would be beneficial ________________ our younger generation.
B. (i) I am too tired to walk: (Turn into a complex
sentence)
(ii) The students are staging a play. (Change the voice)
(iii) The mother said to the boy, "Do not waste time on
mobile phone.” (Turn into indirect speech)
C. Choose the correct phrasal verbs from the list given
below to replace the words underlined. Write the correct phrasal verb in the
bases on the right-hand side changing the form where necessary. There is one
extra phrasal verb in the list:
1×3=3
(i) The robbers escaped with the ornaments.
(ii) The old man died in his sleep.
(iii) You must not hide anything front the police.
[ pass away, keep away, hold back, make off ]
6. Given below are the meanings of four words which you
will find in the passage in Question No. 3. Find out the words and write them
in the appropriate boxes on the right-hand side:
(i) nak or hazard: ____________________
(ii) a sudden forceful flow: ________________
(ii) flooding: ____________________________
(iv) removal of sediment from the bottom of a river:
________________
SECTION-C
WRITING
7. Write a letter (within 100 words) to your friend who
stays far away, describing your most favourite festival in West-Bengal:
8. Write a newspaper report (in about 100 words) about a
train accident that took place in Balasore, Orissa, when Koromondal Express
rammed into a goods train on 2nd June, 2023. You may use the following points
to write your report:
Date: 12nd June, Time-7.15 p.m.
Place: Bahanaga near Balasore
Cause: Error in signal
Casualties: 285 death and 1000 injured. Relief work by
locals and NDRF along with army.
Compensation: Announced by Government
9. Your school is going to organise a sit-and-draw
competition for students of Class VII-X. As the Secretary of the Student
Council, write a notice (in about 100 words) informing students about this
competition. Your notice must mention date and time of the competition, the
last date to register students' name and the theme of the drawing.