English Question Paper of Madhyamik 2020
SECTION – A
READING COMPREHENSION
(SEEN)
1. Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that
follow:
When the family has finished tea, and gathers round the
fire, the cat casually goes out of the room. True life now begins for him. He
saunters down his own backyard, springs to the top of the fence, drops lightly
down to the other side. He trots across and skips to the roof of an empty shed.
His movement becomes lithe and panther like. He looks keenly from side to side
and moves noiselessly, for he has so many enemies - dogs and small boys with
stones. On top of the shed, the cat arches his back and rakes his
claws once or twice through the soft bark of the old roof. He stretches himself
a few times to see if every muscle is in full working order. Then, drooping his
head nearly to his paws, he sends across a call to his kindred. Before long
they come, gliding, graceful shadows. No longer are they the meek creatures who
an hour ago were mewing for fish and milk. They are now grim fighters.
Just think how much more he gets out of his life than you do out of yours ! And
the sports they have, too ! As they get older they go in for sport to the
suburban backyards. These backyards that are dull to us, are to them hunting
grounds where they have more gallant adventure than King Arthur’s knights ever
had.
A. Write the correct alternative in the given space to
complete the following sentences: 1 × 5=5
(a) When the family gathers round the fire, the cat goes
out of the room
(i) cautiously
(ii) smartly
(iii) casually
(iv) noiselessly
(b) Sauntering down his own backyard, the cat jumps to the
top of the
(i) fence
(ii) roof
(iii) other side
(iv) shed
(c) The cat looks keenly from side to side and moves
(i) carefully
(ii) anxiously
(iii) fearfully
(iv) noiselessly
(d) On top of the shed the cat
(i) mews
(ii) arches his back
(iii) goes to sleep
(iv) fights
(e) As the cats get older they go in for sport to the
(i) neighbouring house
(ii) old roof
(iii) empty shed
(iv) suburban backyard
B. Complete the following sentences with information from
the text: . 1×3=3
(i) The family gathers round the fire after
______________________.
(ii) The cat skips to the roof of an empty shed where
his movement becomes ______________.
(iii) The cat stretches himself a few times to feel
if __________________ .
C. State whether the following statements are true or
false. Write ‘T’ for ‘True’ and ‘F’ for ‘False’ in the boxes given on the
right-hand side. Provide sentences/ phrases/ words in support of your answer: 2×2=4
(i) The cat sends across a call to his kindred by
stretching himself a few times. [
]
Supporting sentence:
_________________________________________________
(ii) The cats behave as gallantly as King Arthur’s
knights. [ ]
Supporting sentence:
___________________________________________________
2. Read the poem and answer the questions that follow:
To grass, or leaf, or fruit, or wall
The snail sticks close, nor fears to fall
As if he grew there, house and all, Together.
Within that house secure he hides
When danger imminent betides
Of storm, or other harm besides Of weather.
Give but his horns the slightest touch,
His self-collecting pow’r is such,
He shrinks into his house with much Displeasure.
Where’er he dwells, he dwells alone,
Except himself has chattels none,
Well satisfied to be his own Whole treasure.
A. Write the correct alternative to complete the following
sentences:
1×4=4
(a) The snail is not afraid to
(i) fight
(ii) hide
(iii) fall
(iv) touch
(b) The snail faces imminent danger when there is
(i) storm
(ii) rain
(iii) thunder
(iv) lightning
(c) With the slightest touch the snail shrinks into his
house with much
(i) delight
(ii) displeasure
(iii) defiance
(iv) pain
(d) In the house the snail lives
(i) alone
(ii) with others
(iii) with chattels
(iv) with family
B. Answer the following questions: 2×2=4
(i) What does the snail stick close to?
(ii) What does the snail do when it faces danger?
READING COMPREHENSION
(UNSEEN)
3. Read the following passage and answer the questions that
follow:
Mother nature has been very generous to us by giving us so
many resources of water - rain water, rivers, lakes, melting glaciers and
ground water. The demand for water is ever increasing but the supply is far
from adequate.
Given the lack of water in rivers, people have been
resorting to pumping out ground water for personal consumption and for farming.
As a result, ground water table has fallen to alarming levels. Moreover,
harmful fertilisers used for growing crops have contaminated ground water so
that in many places it is not fit for drinking.
It is time to wake up. Every drop of water is a source of
life. It is high time we realise that water resources are not permanent. Soon,
we as a family, society and nation will be struggling to get a drop of clean
potable water. We have to focus on water conservation and stop polluting our
water resources.
Each one of us also needs to do our bit by avoiding use of
plastic, recycling waste products and keeping our surroundings clean. Every
town, every village should have an eco-friendly garbage sorting and disposal
system.
Every school and college should initiate programmes
educating youngsters about the importance of our natural resources, especially
water and air. We have ,to train new generations to adopt an eco-friendly way
of life.
[Adapted from an article published in The Times of India
dated June 26, 2019]
A. Tick the right answer:
1×6=6
(i) The demand for water is increasing but the supply of
water is
(a) adequate
(b) surplus
(c) inadequate
(d) plentiful
(ii) People have been resorting to pumping out ground water
due to
(a) lack of water in the rivers
(b) scanty rainfall
(c) drying up of wells
(d) melting glaciers
(iii) The ground water table has
(a) risen
(b) dropped
(c) increased
(d) remained stable
(iv) Ground water is contaminated by
(a) irrigation
(b) construction of roads
(c) harmful fertilisers
(d) pumping out of water
(v) It is high time we realise that water resources are
(a) permanent
(b) portable
(c) impermanent
(d) abundant
(vi) Each one of us must avoid the use of
(a) copper
(b) paper
(c) jute
(d) plastic
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 pick out suitable line(s) or phrase(s) from the passage
in support of your answers: (1+1)×3=6
(i) People have been resorting to
pumping out ground water for construction work. [ ]
Supporting sentence: ________________________________________________________________
(ii) Water is valuable because it is
a source of life. [ ]
Supporting sentence
:_______________________________________________________________
(iii) Soon, it will be easy for us to get clean
potable water. [ ]
Supporting sentence: ________________________________________________________________
C. Answer the
following questions: 2×4=8
(i) How has mother nature been
generous to us?
(ii) What should be our immediate focus regarding water?
(iii) What should every town and every village have to keep the
surroundings clean?
(iv) What kind of programmes should every school and college initiate?
SECTION - B
GRAMMAR AND VOCABULARY
4. Write the correct alternative to fill in the blanks: 1×3=3
Rina who ______________ (have been / has been /
is being) ill for a month _________________ (will visit / visited /
had visited) the doctor last Monday. The doctor ______________ (advised /
had advised / will advise) her complete bed rest.
5. Do as directed:
A. Fill in the blanks with
appropriate articles and prepositions: 1×3=3
Wrestling is one
of The oldest sports in the world. Ancient cave drawings of people
wrestling with one another have been found in Europe. It
is a serious sport.
B. Rewrite the following sentences
according to the instructions given in brackets: 1×3=3
(i) The authorities postponed
the cricket match. (Change the voice)
(ii) “Is there anybody there?”
said the traveler. (Change into Indirect Speech)
(iii) We should not show
cruelty to animals. (Rewrite using adjective form of the word underlined)
C. Choose the correct phrasal verbs
from the list given below to replace the words underlined.
Write the correct phrasal verbs in
the boxes on the right- hand side changing the form where necessary. There is
one extra phrasal verb in the list: 1×3=3
[take back, go through, give away, go after]
(i) The dog followed
the thief.
(ii) Have you read this
book?
(iii) The chief guest distributed
the prizes.
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:2×4=8
(i) kind _____________________
(ii) disturbing
_____________________
(iii) polluted ____________________
(iv) process of getting rid of
something __________________
SECTION - C
(WRITING)
7. Write a newspaper report (within 100 words) about an
accident that took place yesterday. Write the report on the basis of the points
given below:
10
Date and time ------- place ------ cause of the accident ------
consequences ------ measures taken.
8. Write a letter (within 100 words) to your friend
describing a cultural programme you have attended recently. Your letter should
include the following points: 10
Name of the programme — venue — date — description of
performances — your feelings.
9. Write a paragraph (within 100 words) on ‘The Most
Memorable Day in Your Life’, based on the following points: 10
Date / Day — a description of the day — your role on that
day — why is the day memorable to you?