Madhyamik Examination (WBBSE) - 2020 ENGLISH (Second Language)

Submitted by avimanyu pramanik on Tue, 04/14/2020 - 19:40

2020

ENGLISH

(Second Language)

Time : 3 Hours 15 Minutes

(First 15 Minutes for reading the question paper only, 3 Hours for writing)

Full Marks : For Regular Candidates - 90

                    For External Candidates - 100

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 pantherlike. 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 x 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

         Ans: __________________________________________________       

    (b) Sauntering down his own backyard, the cat jumps to the top of the

         (i) fence        (ii) roof         (iii) other side        (iv) shed

         Ans: __________________________________________________

    (c) The cat looks keenly from side to side and moves

          (i) carefully        (ii) anxiously         (iii) fearfully        (iv) noiselessly

          Ans: _________________________________________________

   (d) On top of the shed the cat

        (i) mews         (ii) arches his back         (iii) goes to sleep        (iv) fights

        Ans: _____________________________________________________

   (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

       Ans: _____________________________________________________

B. Complete the following sentences with information from the text:    1 x 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: 2x2=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 :     1x4=4

      (a) The snail is not afraid to

            (i) fight         (ii) hide         (iii) fall        (iv) touch

           Ans :______________________________________________________     

     (b) The snail faces imminent danger when there is

           (i) storm        (ii) rain        (iii) thunder      (iv) lightning

           Ans :_______________________________________________________

     (c) With the slightest touch the snail shrinks into his house with much

          (i) delight        (ii) displeasure        (iii) defiance     (iv) pain

          Ans :_______________________________________________________        

      (d) In the house the snail lives

             (i) alone       (ii) with others        (iii) with chattels        (iv) with family

          Ans : ______________________________________________________

B.  Answer the following questions :      2 x 2 = 4

      (i) What does the snail stick close to ?

      Ans:_________________________________________________________

       ____________________________________________________________

       ____________________________________________________________

     (ii) What does the snail do when it faces danger ?

      Ans : ________________________________________________________

       ____________________________________________________________

       ____________________________________________________________

 

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 x 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) x3 = 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 x 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 x 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 x 3 = 3

        Wrestling is one of ________ oldest sports in the world. Ancient cave drawings of people wrestling with one another have been found ______ Europe. It is ____ serious sport.

   B. (i)  The authorities postponed the cricket match (Change the voice)         1 x 3 = 3

              Ans : ________________________________________________________ 

             ____________________________________________________________

        (ii)  "Is there anybody there ?" said the traveller. (Change into Indirect Speech)

             Ans : _______________________________________________________

            ____________________________________________________________

        (iii)  We should not show cruelty to animals.

               (Rewrite using adjective form of the word underlined)

               Ans : ____________________________________________________________

               _________________________________________________________________        

  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 x 3 = 3

       (i)  The dog followed the thief.                             |¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨|

      (ii) Have you read this book ?                               |¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨|

      (iii) The chief guest distributed the prizes.         |¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨|

            [take back, go through, give away, go after]

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 x 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 ?

 

SECTION - D

(SUPPLEMENTARY)

[FOR EXTERNAL CANDIDATES ONLY]

1.  Frame nominal compounds from the meanings given below :      1 x 5 = 5

     (i)  A wall made of stone _________________________________________________

     (ii) A ground for playing  _________________________________________________

     (iii) A pool for swimming _________________________________________________

     (iv) Mill driven by wind  __________________________________________________

     (v) A palace made of marble _____________________________________________

2.  Write the opposites of the following words :        1 x 5 = 5

     (a) Wise ______________________________________________________

     (b) Honest ____________________________________________________

     (c) Strict _____________________________________________________

     (d) Cool _____________________________________________________

     (e) Humble __________________________________________________

                                                                            ****************

Comments

Related Items

Madhyamik Examination (WBBSE) - 2020 History (Bengali version)

১। সঠিক উত্তরটি বেছে নিয়ে লেখ : ১ x ২০ = ২০ ১.১ 'বিশ্বপরিবেশ দিবস' পালিত হয় — (ক) ৮ই জানুয়ারি (খ) ২৪শে ফেব্রুয়ারি (গ) ৮ই মার্চ (ঘ) ৫ই জুন ১.২ ভারতীয়রা আলুর ব্যবহার শিখেছিল যাদের কাছ থেকে — (ক) পর্তুগিজ (খ) ইংরেজ (গ) মুঘল (ঘ) ওলন্দাজ ১.৩ প্রথম সরকারি শিক্ষা কমিশন (হান্টার কমিশন) গঠিত হয় — (ক) ১৮৭২ খ্রিঃ (খ) ১৮৭৮ খ্রিঃ (গ) ১৮৮২ খ্রিঃ (ঘ) ১৮৯০ খ্রিঃ

Madhyamik Examination (WBBSE) - 2020 Geography (Bengali version)

১। বিকল্পগুলির থেকে সঠিক উত্তরটি নির্বাচন করে লেখো : ১x১৪=১৪ ১.১ যে প্রক্রিয়ায় অভিকর্ষের টানে উচ্চভূমির ঢাল বরাবর মাটি ও শিলাস্তর নেমে আসে তাকে বলে — (ক) আবহবিকার (খ) পর্যায়ন প্রক্রিয়া (গ) অন্তর্জাত প্রক্রিয়া (ঘ) পুঞ্জক্ষয় প্রক্রিয়া

Madhyamik Examination (WBBSE) - 2020 Bengali (First Language)

সঠিক উত্তরটি নির্বাচন করো : ১৭ x ৭ = ১৭ ১.১ পুলিশ সেজে হরিদা দাঁড়িয়েছিলেন — (ক) জগদীশবাবুর বাড়ি (খ) চকের বাসস্ট্যান্ডে (গ) দয়ালবাবুর লিচুবাগানে (ঘ) চায়ের দোকানে ১.২ নদেরচাঁদের বয়স — (ক) পঁচিশ বছর (খ) ত্রিশ বছর (গ) পঁয়ত্রিশ বছর (ঘ) চল্লিশ বছর

Madhyamik Examination (WBBSE) - 2017 Bengali (First Language)

১. সঠিক উত্তরটি নির্বাচন করো: ১ x১৭=১৭ ১.১ গিরীশ মহাপাত্রের সাথে অপূর্বর পুনরায় কোথায় দেখা হয়েছিল ? (ক) পুলিশ স্টেশনে (খ) জাহাজ ঘাটে (গ) রেল স্টেশনে (ঘ) বিমান বন্দরে

Madhyamik Examination (WBBSE) - 2018 Bengali (First Language)

১. সঠিক উত্তরটি নির্বাচন করো: ১ x ১৭ = ১৭ ১.১ সপ্তাহে হরিদা বহুরূপী সেজে বাইরে যান— (ক) একদিন (খ) দুদিন (গ) চারদিন (ঘ) পাঁচ দিন ১.২ তপনের মেসোমশাই কোন পত্রিকার সম্পাদককে চিনতেন ? (ক) শুকতারা (খ) আনন্দমেলা (গ) সন্ধ্যাতারা (ঘ) দেশ