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Question 1
(Do not spend more than 30 minutes on this question.)
Write a composition (300 - 350 words) on any one of the following: [20]
(i) Write an original short story in which two children and their school teacher
are the main characters.
(ii) Imagine a situation where you get an opportunity to change one thing in your
school. What would it be? Why do you want to change it? How would you
bring about the change?
(iii) ‘School examinations do not test intelligence.’
Express your views either for or against this statement.
(iv) You are a regular visitor to your school library. Describe your library. Give
details of the familiar sights. What do you see and feel as different students
come in and check out the books? Why is this place so important?
Study the picture given below. Write a story or a description or an account of
what it 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]
(i) You have had to shift to a new house recently. Write a letter to your
grandmother telling her what you miss about your old house. Tell her also
what you like about your new house and what you plan to do to make it
comfortable for yourself.
(ii) A certain book / chapter has been included in your syllabus. You have heard
that a film version is now available. Write a letter to the Manager of a film
theatre near your school, requesting that the film be shown. Tell him / her why
it will be beneficial to the students.
Question 3
(i) Write a notice to be put up in your school informing the pupils of Classes IX
and X about the Remedial Classes to be held after the school hours and asking
them to register their names for it.
[5]
(ii) Write an email to the Principal of a neighbouring school inviting their pupils
to attend the classes if they so wish. Give all details of the classes to be held.
Question 4
Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:
That huge bell never stopped ringing. It got us out of bed, it summoned us for
meals, it rang between class periods, it sent us unwillingly to bed.
One morning it failed to ring, or rather, there was no bell to ring. Someone had
removed it, and it wasn’t found till late in the afternoon.
What a glorious day! As there was no bell to rouse us, everyone got up late,
and there was no morning PT. Some of us missed breakfast too. The teachers
got confused and mixed up their classes. How could the school manage
without it? Confusion reigned.
Of course, no one owned up. It could have meant expulsion. Some suspicion
fell on the Sports Captain because of our aversion to morning PT, but nothing
could be proved.
No one was very anxious to find the bell – we were quite happy without it –
but it was finally discovered hanging from a branch of one of the trees.
‘It may have been Mr. Sharma,’ surmised Brian. Mr. Sharma, our Maths
teacher, was known to walk in his sleep. And sleepwalkers did funny things
sometimes.
‘It could be Mool Chand himself,’ suggested Cyrus Satralkar.
Mool Chand was the school chowkidar, who also had the job of banging the
brass bell at appointed times.
‘Why would he throw it away?’
‘He must be as fed up with ringing it as we are of hearing it.’ This was my
theory. ‘Perhaps he wants a rise in salary.’
The identity of the culprit remained a mystery. Happily, the senior Hockey
team went on a winning spree against all corners, and our month-end exits
were restored.
But soon there was another sensation.
A girl was admitted to our class!
The boys were scandalized. No girl had ever studied in our school before. We
protested.
‘What’s the problem?’ asked Mr. Knight, our class master. ‘Haven’t you seen
a girl before?’
10
20
30
T23 011 4
‘But – but. Sir…’ Tata was our spokesman. ‘How will we concentrate on our
studies?’
‘When did you ever concentrate on your studies, Tata?’
‘Are we going co-ed, sir?’ Adams wanted to know.
‘Not at all,’ said Mr. Knight. ‘This is a special case. She is the school accounts
manager’s daughter, and he can’t afford the Girls school fees. So, I’m sure
you’ll make her feel very welcome.’
The accountant was a popular man who also ran the school’s tuck shop and
allowed most of us a certain amount of credit. All our objections faded away.
At first, Sunita, our new entrant, was a bit of a distraction because, although
she was very shy and demure, she had lovely curly hair, bright eyes, pink
cheeks and a smile for everyone. All the boys were very polite and attentive
to her and Brian in particular was always ready to help her.
— Collection of Stories, Ruskin Bond
40
(i) For each word given below choose the correct meaning (as used in the
passage) from the options provided:
Question 4
Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:
That huge bell never stopped ringing. It got us out of bed, it summoned us for
meals, it rang between class periods, it sent us unwillingly to bed.
One morning it failed to ring, or rather, there was no bell to ring. Someone had
removed it, and it wasn’t found till late in the afternoon.
What a glorious day! As there was no bell to rouse us, everyone got up late,
and there was no morning PT. Some of us missed breakfast too. The teachers
got confused and mixed up their classes. How could the school manage
without it? Confusion reigned.
Of course, no one owned up. It could have meant expulsion. Some suspicion
fell on the Sports Captain because of our aversion to morning PT, but nothing
could be proved.
No one was very anxious to find the bell – we were quite happy without it –
but it was finally discovered hanging from a branch of one of the trees.
‘It may have been Mr. Sharma,’ surmised Brian. Mr. Sharma, our Maths
teacher, was known to walk in his sleep. And sleepwalkers did funny things
sometimes.
‘It could be Mool Chand himself,’ suggested Cyrus Satralkar.
Mool Chand was the school chowkidar, who also had the job of banging the
brass bell at appointed times.
‘Why would he throw it away?’
‘He must be as fed up with ringing it as we are of hearing it.’ This was my
theory. ‘Perhaps he wants a rise in salary.’
The identity of the culprit remained a mystery. Happily, the senior Hockey
team went on a winning spree against all corners, and our month-end exits
were restored.
But soon there was another sensation.
A girl was admitted to our class!
The boys were scandalized. No girl had ever studied in our school before. We
protested.
‘What’s the problem?’ asked Mr. Knight, our class master. ‘Haven’t you seen
a girl before?’
10
20
30
‘But – but. Sir…’ Tata was our spokesman. ‘How will we concentrate on our
studies?’
‘When did you ever concentrate on your studies, Tata?’
‘Are we going co-ed, sir?’ Adams wanted to know.
‘Not at all,’ said Mr. Knight. ‘This is a special case. She is the school accounts
manager’s daughter, and he can’t afford the Girls school fees. So, I’m sure
you’ll make her feel very welcome.’
The accountant was a popular man who also ran the school’s tuck shop and
allowed most of us a certain amount of credit. All our objections faded away.
At first, Sunita, our new entrant, was a bit of a distraction because, although
she was very shy and demure, she had lovely curly hair, bright eyes, pink
cheeks and a smile for everyone. All the boys were very polite and attentive
to her and Brian in particular was always ready to help her.
— Collection of Stories, Ruskin Bond
(i) For each word given below choose the correct meaning (as used in the
passage) from the options provided:
(ii) Answer the following questions briefly in your own words:
(a) Why did no one confess to having removed the missing bell?
(b) Why did suspicion fall on the Sports Captain?
(c) What made Brian think that it was Mr. Sharma?
(d) Which sentence in the passage tells you that Mr. Knight thought poorly
of Tata’s academic performance?
(e) Why was the accountant a popular man?
