📖 Standard 10 English - First Mid Term Test 2024 - Solved Paper | Virudhunagar (VNR)

Standard 10 English - First Mid Term Test 2024 - Solved Paper

Standard 10 ENGLISH

Virudhunagar District | Common First Mid Term Test - 2024

Time: 1.30 Hrs. | Marks: 50

Question Paper & Solutions

Part I: Synonyms 3 x 1 = 3 Marks
Choose the appropriate synonyms for the italicized words:
  1. It was the gaunt face staring from the bed that brought chill to my heart.
    1. fat
    2. round
    3. lean
    4. sad
  2. He was delirious.
    1. sick
    2. troubled
    3. disappointed
    4. forced
  3. The attic has always been a favourite with children.
    1. left
    2. terrace
    3. apartment
    4. strong room
Solutions:
  1. c) lean - 'Gaunt' means very thin, especially from hunger, illness, or cold.
  2. b) troubled - 'Delirious' means being in a state of confusion, often due to fever or illness. 'Troubled' captures this sense of mental disturbance.
  3. c) apartment - An 'attic' is a room at the top of a house. Among the given choices, 'apartment' (a room or set of rooms) is the closest, though not perfect, synonym.
Part II: Antonyms & Vocabulary 5 x 1 = 5 Marks
Choose the appropriate antonyms for the italicized words:
  1. The picked up a shoe and whammed it through the window.
    1. tapped
    2. threw
    3. struck
    4. pulled
  2. 'Nothing' he said gruffly.
    1. happily
    2. roughly
    3. sadly
    4. plainly
  3. Then a monstrous terror seized him.
    1. grasped
    2. released
    3. snatched
    4. conquered
7) Form a derivative by adding the right prefix to meter:
  1. super
  2. re
  3. dia
  4. semi
8) Choose the correct expansion of the abbreviation 5G:
  1. Fifth Group
  2. Fifth Generation
  3. Fifth Gender
  4. Fifth Gear
Solutions:
  1. a) tapped - 'Whammed' means to hit forcefully. The opposite is a gentle action like 'tapped'.
  2. a) happily - 'Gruffly' means in a rough, low voice. The opposite tone is 'happily'.
  3. b) released - 'Seized' means to grab or take hold of. The opposite is to let go, which is 'released'.
  4. c) dia - The correct derivative is 'diameter'.
  5. b) Fifth Generation - 5G stands for the fifth generation of wireless technology.
Part III: Short Answers Answer ANY TWO (2 x 2 = 4 Marks)
  1. What prompted the young seagull to fly finally?
  2. How was the young seagull's first attempt to fly?
  3. Who used the zither and how?
Solutions:
  1. The young seagull was finally prompted to fly by extreme hunger. He had not eaten for twenty-four hours. When he saw his mother tearing a piece of fish just out of his reach, he was maddened by the sight of food. In his desperation, he dived for the fish, fell from the ledge, and instinctively started flapping his wings to save himself, thus making his first flight.
  2. In his first attempt to fly, the young seagull ran to the brink of the ledge and tried to flap his wings. However, he became terrified of the vast, green sea stretching beneath him. He was convinced that his small wings would not support him, so he lost his courage, bent his head, and ran back to his hole to hide.
  3. (Note: This question appears to be erroneous or from a text not typically in the syllabus, as the 'zither' is not prominently mentioned.)
    If this question refers to the story "Zigzag", it might be a misunderstanding. Mrs. Krishnan was a talented artist who painted, but the story does not mention her using a zither. A zither is a stringed musical instrument. A character who is artistic might own one and play it skillfully in their leisure time.
Part IV: Poetry Comprehension Answer ANY TWO (2 x 2 = 4 Marks)
  1. The growl at that and they growl at this:
    Whatever comes, there is something amiss
    1. What does the word 'growl' mean here?
    2. Why do they find everything amiss?
  2. In fact, thin growling is never done
    And if everything pleased them, there isn't a doubt.
    1. What do they do, if everything pleased them?
    2. Does thin growling end?
  3. My heart will keep the courage of the quest
    And hope the road's last turn will be the best
    1. What does 'quest' mean?
    2. What is the poet's hope?
Solutions:
    1. Here, the word 'growl' means to complain or grumble constantly and angrily.
    2. They find everything amiss because it is in their nature to be discontented and to find fault in every situation. They belong to the "Grumble Family" and are never satisfied.
    1. The poem suggests that if everything pleased them, they would grumble that they had nothing to grumble about.
    2. No, the "thin growling" (constant, low-level complaining) never ends.
    1. 'Quest' means a long search or journey to find something. In the context of the poem, it refers to the journey of life.
    2. The poet's hope is that the final phase of life's journey ('the road's last turn') will be the most rewarding and best part of his entire life.
Part V: Grammar & Road Map 2 x 2 = 4 Marks
  1. Rewrite the following sentence to the other voice:
    You are making a cake now.
  2. A stranger wants to visit the post office. Guide him with directions.
    Road map to the post office
Solutions:
  1. A cake is being made by you now.
  2. Directions to the Post Office:
    Go straight along Gandhi Road. You will pass a school on your right side. The Post Office is located just after the school, on your left side.
Part VI: Paragraph Questions Answer ANY ONE (1 x 5 = 5 Marks)
  1. Explain the experience of the young seagull in "His First Flight" written by Liam O' Flaherty.
  2. Narrate the extensive search operation made by the policemen in the house.
Solution (Choice 1):

17. The Young Seagull's First Flight

In Liam O' Flaherty's "His First Flight," the young seagull's first flying experience is a dramatic journey from terror to triumph. Initially, he is paralyzed by fear, believing his wings are too weak to support him over the vast sea. For 24 hours, he watches his family fly and eat, while he starves alone on the ledge. His hunger becomes unbearable. The turning point comes when his mother, in a clever act of motivation, flies towards him with a piece of fish but stops just out of his reach. Maddened by hunger, the seagull dives for the food, tumbling into the open air. A moment of sheer terror is followed by an instinctual reaction: he starts flapping his wings. To his amazement, he finds himself soaring. His fear vanishes, replaced by the joy and confidence of flight. His family joins him, cheering and celebrating his achievement. This experience transforms him from a timid, fearful fledgling into a confident bird, capable of surviving on his own.

OR
Solution (Choice 2):

18. The Police Search Operation

In James Thurber's "The Night the Ghost Got In," the police search operation is a chaotic and comical event. Aroused by the narrator's mother, who hysterically believes burglars are in the house, a squad of policemen arrives. They break down the front door and begin a frantic search. They ransack the downstairs, looking under beds and in closets, finding nothing. Their investigation becomes even more bizarre when they go upstairs. There, they encounter the narrator's grandfather in the attic, who mistakes them for deserters from General Meade's army. In his delusion, he grabs a policeman's gun, shoots another officer in the shoulder, and sends them retreating in panic. The defeated and bewildered policemen finally leave the house, concluding in their report that they were likely sent to a house full of "drunks or something." The entire "extensive" search yields no burglars but creates a legendary family story of utter confusion and mayhem.

Part VII: Poetry Comprehension 1 x 5 = 5 Marks
19) Read the following stanza and answer the questions given below:

The worst thing is that if anyone stays
Among them too long, he will learn their ways,
And before he dreams of the terrible jumble
He's adopted into the family of Grumble.

  1. Identify the rhyming words of the given lines.
  2. Identify the rhyme scheme of the given lines.
  3. Identify the figure of speech in the fourth poetic line.
  4. Pick out the alliterating words in the second poetic line.
Solutions:
  1. The rhyming words are stays / ways and jumble / Grumble.
  2. The rhyme scheme is aabb.
  3. The figure of speech in the fourth line ("He's adopted into the family of Grumble") is Metaphor. The community of complainers is being compared to a family without using 'like' or 'as'.
  4. The alliterating words in the second line ("Among them too long, he will learn their ways") are long and learn (repetition of the 'l' sound).
Part VIII: Writing Skills Answer ANY TWO (2 x 5 = 10 Marks)
  1. Prepare an attractive advertisement using the hints given below:
    Service camp - Get exciting - discount in spare parts - avail free service - visit your nearest laptop world.
  2. Write a report on the Annual Sports Day of your school.
  3. Look at the following picture and express your views on it in about five sentences:
    Marathon runners
Solutions:

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21. Report on Annual Sports Day

ANNUAL SPORTS DAY CELEBRATED WITH GREAT ZEAL

By [Your Name], School Pupil Leader

Chennai, August 15, 2024: Our school, XYZ Higher Secondary School, celebrated its 25th Annual Sports Day yesterday at the school grounds with great enthusiasm. The chief guest for the day was Mr. K. Selvam, a renowned national-level athlete. The event began with the ceremonial lighting of the torch, followed by an impressive march past by all four houses. The Headmaster delivered the welcome address and the chief guest officially declared the sports meet open.

The day was filled with exciting track and field events like the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relays, as well as long jump and shot-put. Students participated with immense spirit and sportsmanship. The highlight of the day was the fierce competition for the overall championship trophy. The event concluded with the prize distribution ceremony, where the chief guest awarded medals and certificates to the winners and congratulated them on their success. In his speech, he emphasized the importance of sports in a student's life. The day ended with a vote of thanks and the national anthem.

22. Picture Comprehension

  • This picture captures the intense and energetic atmosphere of a marathon race.
  • The runners show great determination and focus on their faces, pushing their physical limits to reach the finish line.
  • It highlights the importance of perseverance and endurance, as success in such events requires months of dedicated training.
  • The scene also reminds us of the value of physical fitness and leading an active lifestyle for good health.
  • Overall, the image is a powerful symbol of human spirit, competition, and the will to achieve one's goals.
Part IX: Quote from Memory 1 x 5 = 5 Marks
23) Quote from memory:
Let me but live .................... back in fear.
Solution:

Let me but live my life from year to year,
With forward face and unreluctant soul;
Not hurrying to, nor turning from the goal;
Not mourning for the things that disappear
In the dim past, nor holding back in fear.

Part X: Paragraph from Hints Answer ANY ONE (1 x 5 = 5 Marks)
24) Write a paragraph about 150 words by developing the following hints:

a) There was an island - Prospero and his daughter Miranda - Ariel was the chief - Ferdinand and Miranda - Prospero ungentle - kings of Naples - Ariel dismissed.

(OR)

b) Dr. Somu requested - Alaska - exhibition - blades of the fan - the servant maid - papayas - to his clinic - zigzag - Dr. Krishnan's family - for another week.

Solution (Choice a):

a) The Story of Prospero and Miranda

Long ago, there was an island where the magician Prospero lived with his beautiful daughter Miranda. They were exiled there years ago. Prospero commanded many spirits, and Ariel was the chief among them. Using his magic, Prospero created a storm that shipwrecked his enemies, the kings of Naples, on the island. Among the survivors was the prince, Ferdinand. As soon as Ferdinand and Miranda met, they fell in love. To test Ferdinand's love and character, Prospero acted ungentle and made him perform difficult tasks. Ferdinand proved his worthiness. In the end, Prospero forgave his enemies, restored their titles, and prepared to return to his dukedom. Having achieved his goals, he fulfilled his promise to Ariel. The loyal spirit was finally dismissed and set free, bringing the tale to a happy conclusion.

OR
Solution (Choice b):

b) The Story of Zigzag

Dr. Somu requested his friend, Dr. Krishnan, to take care of his pet bird, Zigzag, as he was leaving for Alaska. Dr. Krishnan's family was initially excited, but their joy faded when Zigzag arrived. The bird, brought by the servant maid, was a silent, sleepy creature that snored loudly. It created a mess by dropping pieces of papayas and guavas on the blades of the fan, which then splattered all over Mrs. Krishnan’s painting exhibition piece. Frustrated, Dr. Krishnan took Zigzag to his clinic. There, the bird's strange, quiet nature had a surprisingly calming effect on the noisy patients. Realizing Zigzag's unique value, Dr. Krishnan's family had a change of heart. When Dr. Somu called to take Zigzag back, they insisted on keeping the wonderful bird for another week.