Q. 1.

Quite often, it is not the names of places but people who are responsible for misguiding the new arrivals, making them end up at wrong places. I have come across different types of such 'guides': well-intentioned, overfriendly, rather confused reticent and even rude.

The overfriendly type most of the time is not very helpful. "Where is Banyan Tree Street?" you ask him. He takes a long look at you. "Are you new to this place?" he asks. You nod.

"Where do you want to go? Where have you come from?"

You reply to these questions and wait for guidance. The overfriendly type asks more questions of a personal nature. "Oh you are going to meet Govindaswamy? I know his cousin's brother-in-law who went to college with my elder brother's second cousin".

In desperation you remind him about the location of Banyan Tree Street. Suddenly he looks at his watch and exclaims, "Look I have to catch the train. I am also new to the place. Why don't you ask some shopkeeper?"

Questions:

1)

What type of guide most of the time is not helpful?

2)

i)

Who are responsible for misguiding the new arrivals, according to the author?

ii)

What kinds of questions does the overfriendly type ask?

3)

i)

What types of guides has the author come across?

ii)

What does the overfriendly type suggest finally?

4)

What are the overfriendly type guides not helpful?

5)

Find out the other words in the passage with the similar meaning to:

i) meet; ii) hopelessness.

6)

"Are you new to this place?" he asks. (Change into reported speech)

7)

How does the writer show that asking for guidance in rural areas can be quite frustrating?

Q. 2.

The following year there were more blossoms. And suddenly the tree was taller than Rakesh, even though it was less than half of his age. And then it was taller than grandfather, who was older than some of the oak trees.

But Rakesh had grown too. He could run and jump and climb trees as well as most boys and he read a lot of books, although he still liked listening to grandfather's tales.

In the cherry tree bees came to feed on the nectar in the blossoms, and tiny birds pecked at the blossoms and broke them off. But the tree kept blossoming right through the spring, and there were always more blossoms than birds.

That summer there were small cherries on the tree. Rakesh tasted one and spat it out.

"It's too sour", he said.

"They'll be better next year", said grandfather. But the birds liked them - especially the bigger birds, such as the bulbuls and scarlet minivets - and they flitted in and out of the foliage, feasting on cherries.

Questions:

1)

Who were the visitors of the cherry tree?

2)

i)

How old was grandfather?

ii)

What do the bees feed on?

3)

i)

What indicates that Rakesh had grown up?

ii)

What was Rakesh's remark about the taste of the first small cherries?

4)

How were the blossoms destroyed by the birds?

5)

Give the other words from the passage which mean:

i) Strike with the beak; ii) All the leaves of the tree or a plant.

6)

It's too sour. (Remove 'too')

7)

What calamities did the cherry tree have?

Q. 3.

Change in the law of life, spring changes into summer and summer into winter and we come back to spring again. Thus the cycle of seasons moves on. Childhood changes into youth and youth into old age which finally declines into death. It is the law of nature that the old order should change and give place to new one.

"No change" is the sign of death and extinction.

But in spite of this clear lesson from the pages of nature these are people who always insist on conserving the old. What id old is right for them. They would cling to customs, fashions and beliefs as if those were holy.

The reason for this was that they held if they did not do so they would be punished by God. It is these people who have stoned the prophets and thus resisted the will of God. One fails to understand how these people did not understand that one good custom in the long run is bound to make the world miserable. Where there is a great scope for change, prosperity and happiness are bound to exist.

Questions:

1)

What message does this extract give to us?

2)

i)

What lesson do we get from the pages of nature?

ii)

What do people fail to understand?

3)

i)

What do people cling to?

ii)

What is the reason for this clinging?

4)

How does the author show that the change in the law of life?

5)

Write a word/phrase which mean the following:

i) in due course of time; ii) messengers of God.

6)

Change is the law of life. (Make it interrogative)

7)

Write in brief as to why should accept the change.

SECTION - B
(Poetry)

Q. 4.

A)

"Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth

And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;

Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth

Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things

You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung

High in sun-lit silence; hov'ring there

I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung

My eager craft through footless halls of air.

Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue

I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace

Where never lark, or even eagle flew -

And while with silent lifting mind I've trod.

The high untrespassed sanctity of space,

Put out my hand and touched the face of God".

Questions:

1)

What does the poet describe in this poem?

2)

What do you understand by 'burning blue'?

3)

i)

Why does the poet feel superior to the lark and the eagle?

ii)

Which words does the poet use to describe hid flight?

4)

Do you think that the poet has really touched the face of God? Why?

5)

Describe the poet's experiences during the flight.

B)

But friendship is a nobler thing -

Of friendship it is good to sing.

For truly when a man shall end,

He lives in memory of his friends,

Who does his better part recall

And of his faults makes funeral.

Fame is a food that dead men eat,

I have no stomach for such meat,

In little light and narrow room,

They eat it in the silent tomb'

With us kind voice of comrade near

To bid the feaster be of cheer.

Questions:

1)

i)

What two things are mentioned in this poem?

ii)

What does the poet mean by "I have no stomach for such meat?"

2)

Write any two pairs of rhyming words from the poem.

3)

i)

What does the poet want to sing about? Why?

ii)

Mention only two lines which express the loneliness of a deadman.

4)

What does the poet think of friendship?

SECTION - C
(Grammar)

Q. 5.

1)

Make meaningful sentences with any two of the following:

a) to bring up; b) to derive from; c) to be proud of; d) to look on (upon).

2)

The darkness flees. (Name and explain the figure of speech)

3)

I discovered that he ad apparently made several grave mistakes. (Identify and name the clauses)

4)

Ben spent several busy days. (Change the voice)

He had a sparkling sense of humour. (Add a question tag)

5)

6)

They felt it there. They swam off the edge for a while. (Use a present participle)

7)

My friend said to the driver. "Thank you for the ride". Then he said, "Are you a wise guy or something?" (Change into reported speech)

8)

Grandfather was older than some of the oak trees. (Change the degree)

SECTION - D
(Writing)

Q. 6.

1)

Your uncle has sent you a big cash-present on the occasion of your birthday recently. Write a letter thanking him for it and telling him, how you are going to utilise the amount of present.

You have unfortunately lost your original S.S.C. certificate somewhere in transit. Write an application to the Divisional Secretary of the S.S.C. Examination Board of your Division requesting him to issue you a duplicate copy of the certificate.

2)

Your Grampanchayat has made a lot of progress in respect of streets, drainages, water supply, electricity, house and schooling. Prepare a report in about twenty lines for the souvenir to be published by the Grampanchayat in connection with the outstanding village service.

There was a splendid celebration of Republic Day in your school. There were a number of programmes such as flag hoisting, sports competitions, cultural activities etc. Prepare a report in about 20 lines for your school magazine.

Q. 7.

A)

i)

Hobbies;

ii)

If I were a teacher;

iii)

Water shortage - causes and remedies;

iv)

Uses and misuses of Cinema

B)

i)

A visit to a historical place;

ii)

Bazar day in a village;

iii)

An accident you have seen;

iv)

Scene at in examination hall.