(Bifurcated Syllabus)
2012
Subject: ENGLISH (Second Language)
Time : 3 hours 15 minutes
(First 15 minutes for reading the question paper only, 3 hours for writing)
Full Marks : 90 For Regular Candidates
100 For External Candidates
Answer all the questions in the space provided. There is enough space for the answers. However, extra sheets will be supplied by the invigilator, if required.
Special credit will be given for answers which are brief and to the point. Marks will be deducted for spelling mistakes, untidiness and bad handwriting.
Section-A—Reading : 20 marks (seen)
Reading Comprehension : 20 marks (unseen)
Section-B—Grammar and Vocabulary : 20 marks
Section-C—Writing : 30 marks
Section-D—Supplementary : 10 marks
For External Candidates only.
SECTION—A
READING COMPREHENSION (SEEN)
1. Read the following paragraphs and answer the questions that follow :
Nobody comes to Novastoshnah except on business, and the only people who have regular business there are the seals. They come in the summer months by hundreds and hundreds of thousands out of the cold grey sea; for Novastoshnah Beach has the finest accommodation for seals of any place in all the world.
Sea Catch knew that, and every spring would swim from whatever place he happened to be in —would swim like a torpedo-boat straight for Novastoshnah, and spend a month fighting with his companions for a good place on the rocks as close to the sea as possible. Sea Catch was fifteen years old, a huge grey fur-seal with almost a mane on his shoulders, and long, wicked dog-teeth. He was scarred all over with the marks of savage fights, but he was always ready for just one fight more.
Yet Sea Catch never chased a beaten seal, for that was against the Rules of the Beach. He only wanted room by the sea for his nursery; but as there were forty or fifty thousand other seals hunting for the same thing each spring, the whistling, bellowing, roaring, and blowing on the beach were something frightful.
(a) Complete the following chart with information from the text: 2 x 4 = 8
| What | Why |
| (i) The seals come to Novastoshnah Beach in the summer months | (i) |
| (ii) | (ii) To find a good place on the rocks as close to the sea as possible. |
| (iii) | (iii) Sea Catch fought savagely. |
| (iv) The noise on the beach became frightful | (iv) |
(b) Complete the following sentences with information from the text : 2 x 2 = 4
(i) Sea Catch was a fifteen-year old grey seal who had ——————————————
—————————————————————————————————
(ii) One of the Rules of the Beach was ————————————————————
—————————————————————————————————
2. Read the following lines of the poem and answer the questions given below :
I know not where the white road runs, nor what the blue hills are,
But a man can have the sun for friend, and for his guide a star;
And there's no end of voyaging when once the voice is heard,
For the rivers call, and the road calls, and oh ! the call of the bird !
Yonder the long horizon lies, and there by night and day
The old ships draw to home again, the young ships sail away;
And come I may, but go I must, and if men ask you why,
You may put the blame on the stars and the sun, and the white road and the sky.
(a) Answer the following questions : 2 x 2 = 4
(i) How can the sun and the star help a man in his voyage ? ——————————
————————————————————————————————
(ii) What dp "the old ships" and "the young ships'' stand for ? ——————————
————————————————————————————————
(b) Each of the statements below is either 'True' or 'False'. Write 'T' for 'True' and 'F' for 'False' in the boxes on the right-hand side. Also pick out the relevant line(s) or phrase from the poem in support of your answer: 2 x 2 = 4
(i) The poet knows "the blue hills".
Supporting line(s)/phrase ————————————————————————
——————————————————————————————————
(ii) The poet is not sure of his return from the voyage. Supporting line(s)/phrase ——————
——————————————————————————————————
READING COMPREHENSION (UNSEEN)
3. Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow :
A wonder in the plant kingdom, the Great Banyan Tree of the Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Botanic Garden at Shibpur in Howrah occupies a unique position in the Guinness Book of World Records. It is now regarded as the widest tree in the world in terms of the area of canopy. The present crown of the tree has a circumference of 450 metres and the highest branch rises to 24.5 metres.
The tree was first noticed in 1786, three years before the Royal Botanic Garden, Calcutta, came into existence. The Great Banyan Tree has captured the fancy of many artists across the world, who have both sketched and sculptured it. The government has released postage stamps on the tree. The Great Banyan Tree also holds the distinction of being the emblem of the Botanical Survey of India.
The garden authority is now busy recovering its lost glory. "There were only two living beings which were as old as die city of Kolkata. One was the giant turtle of the Alipur Zoo, which died a few years ago after living for 304 years. Now the only surviving witness of the city's history spanning over 300 years is the Great Banyan," said H. S. Debnath, the Joint Director of the garden.
[ An adaptation of a report published in
The Times of India, dated 26 July, 2011.]
A. Fill in the following chart with information from the text above : 1 x 6 = 6
| (i) Name of the Joint Director of the garden. | ———————————————————— |
| (ii) The year the tree was first noticed. | |
| (iii) Location of the garden. | |
| (iv) Circumference of the tree's crown | |
|
(v) Two living beings as old as the city of Kolkata mentioned by H. S. Debnath. |
|
| (vi) The only living evidence of the city's history. |
.
B. Complete the following sentences with information from the given text: 2x4=8
(i) The Great B any an Tree has been mentioned in ——————————————
(ii) The Great Banyan Tree enjoys the distinction of being considered ———————
(iii) The giant turtle of the Alipur Zoo died a few years ago after it —————————
(iv) The history of the city of Kolkata is. ——————————————————
C. Some of the statements below are 'True' and some are 'False'. Write 'T' for 'True' and 'F' for 'False' in the boxes on the right-hand side: 1 x 4 = 4
(i) The Royal Botanic Garden, Calcutta, came into existence in 1789.
(ii) The garden has a glorious past.
(iii) The government has proposed to release a postage stamp on the Great Banyan Tree.
(iv) The authorities are indifferent to the present condition of the garden.
D. Tick against the most appropriate title for the text in the box on the
right-hand side: 2
(i) Shibpur Botanic Garden—the Glory of Kolkata.
(ii) The Great Banyan Tree —A Timeless Wonder.
(iii) The Giant Turtle and the Banyan Tree.
SECTION—B
GRAMMAR AND VOCABULARY
4. Fill in the blanks with appropriate articles and prepositions : 1 x 4 = 4
——— students from ——— neighbouring school are going ——— an excursion to Darjeeling——— their teachers.
5. Do as directed : 1 x 4 = 4
(i) The girl said, "Hurrah ! I have won the debate competition." (Turn into Indirect Speech.)
Ans : ———————————————————————————————
(ii) He is so proud that he will not apologise for his mistake. (Turn into a Simple Sentence)
Ans : ———————————————————————————————
(iii) I am writing a poem. (Change the Voice)
Ans :———————————————————————————————
(iv) Everest is the highest peak in the world. (Change the Degree)
Ans :———————————————————————————————
6. Choose the correct phrasal verb 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: 1x4 = 4
(i) The army finally surrendered.
(ii) The man rejected our proposal.
(iii) You will soon overcome your problems.
(iv) No one can tolerate such bad manners.
[ List of phrasal verbs : stand against, get over, turn down, give in, put up with. ]
7. 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 : 2x4 = 8
(i) a layer of something that spreads over an area like a roof.
(ii) carved or shaped from wood, stone, clay or metal.
(iii) symbol
(iv) an organi sation having the power to make decisions.
SECTION—C
WRITING
8. Suppose your penfriend wants to know more about you. Write a letter (in about 100 words) to him/her describing yourself, your likes and dislikes. 10
9. Write a paragraph (in about 100 words) on 'A Journey by Train'. You may use the following points : 12
[ Place of visit—name of the train—date of journey—name of the station from where you started
—experience in the train—scenes outside—time of reaching the destination—your feelings.]
10. Suppose you are the captain of your school. Write a notice (in about 80 words)
for the students of your school requesting them to participate in a programme
entitled 'Keep Your School Clean'. You may use the following points: 8
[ Reasons for organising such a programme—date and time—cleaning materials to be used—methods to be applied for the success of the programme.]
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