10th English Quarterly Exam 2024-25 Answer Key
PART-I (14 x 1 = 14)
Choose the appropriate synonyms for the underlined words:
1. The land was bifurcated among the brothers.
2. The climber fell over a precipice.
3. She became hysterical when she heard the news.
Choose the appropriate antonyms for the underlined words:
4. Replenishment of the dog's food and water bowls is my sister's job.
5. A portion of a wall of the attic had crumbled.
6. The seagull even gnawed at the dried pieces of eggshells.
Grammar & Vocabulary
7. Choose the correct plural form of 'radius' from the following.
8. Form a derivative by adding a suitable suffix to the word 'establish'.
9. Choose the correct expansion of the abbreviation 'INWTC'.
10. Choose the suitable option to pair with 'Wall' to form a compound word.
11. Complete the following sentence with the most appropriate phrasal verb given below.
Venkat felt happy to ______ the neighbours in the new locality.
12. Fill in the blank by choosing the most appropriate prepositional phrase.
She is learning Chinese....... Japanese.
13. Fill in the blank choosing the right connector.
We went out ........ the weather turned pleasant.
14. Complete the following sentence using the most appropriate tense form of the verb given below.
Mani ________ in this school for five years.
PART-II (Section - I) (3 x 2 = 6)
Answer any three of the following questions in a sentence or two:
15. Why did the seagull fail to fly?
16. Who were the narrator's neighbours?
17. How long were they trained to undertake this voyage?
18. Where was Nagen uncle's shop?
Section - II (Poetry) (3 x 2 = 6)
Read the following sets of poetic lines and answer any three of the following:
19. My heart was so light
That I sang day and night.
(a) Whose heart was so light?
(b) What did the cricket do day and night?
(a) The cricket's heart was so light.
(b) The cricket sang day and night.
20. They growl at that and they growl at this;
Whatever comes, there is something amiss;
(a) What does the word 'growl' mean here?
(b) Why do they find everything amiss?
(a) Here, the word 'growl' means to complain or grumble constantly.
(b) They find everything amiss because they have a habit of complaining and are never satisfied with anything.
21. She is today's woman, Today's woman dear
Love her, respect her, keep her near
(a) How should women be treated?
(b) Why does the poet call woman today's woman?
(a) Women should be treated with love and respect, and they should be kept near and dear.
(b) The poet calls her "today's woman" to highlight her strength, resilience, and inherent power in the modern world.
22. My heart will keep the courage of the quest,
And hope the roads last turn will be the best.
(a) What kind of quest does the poet seek here?
(b) What is the poet's hope?
(a) The poet seeks the quest of life's journey, filled with challenges and experiences.
(b) The poet's hope is that the final phase of his life's journey will be the most fulfilling and best part.
Section - III (Grammar) (3 x 2 = 6)
Answer any three of the following:
23. Change the following statement in other voice.
That portrait was painted by my grandmother.
24. Rewrite the sentence in Reported speech.
Anu said to her mother, "I have to attend the party tomorrow".
25. Punctuate the following sentence.
were you not a good student i asked
26. Transform the following sentence into a compound sentence.
If Ryan reads more, he will become proficient in the language.
27. Rearrange the words in the correct order to make meaningful sentences.
a) Want/exhibition/ him /science/ I / to /the/display/in
b) Mother/ with/the / tender/ poor/his/ reverence / farmer/ loved
a) I want him to display in the science exhibition.
b) Mother loved the poor farmer with his tender reverence.
Section - IV (1 x 2 = 2)
28. A stranger wants to go to the post office. Guide him to reach his destination.
PART-III (2 x 5 = 10)
Section - I (Answer any two)
29. Describe the struggles underwent by the young seagull to overcome its fear of flying.
Answer: The young seagull was terrified to fly. He believed his small wings would never support him over the vast sea. While his family flew away, he was left alone on the ledge, starving for 24 hours. His parents and siblings taunted him for his cowardice but he couldn't muster the courage. Maddened by hunger, he cried for food. His mother cleverly tempted him by flying close with a piece of fish in her beak. Unable to resist, the seagull dived for the fish, and in that moment of desperation, his wings spread out automatically. He flapped them, felt the wind beneath them, and finally overcame his fear, making his first flight joyfully with his family.
30. Highlight the factors responsible for all women Indian Navy crew to carry out their expedition.
Answer: Several factors were responsible for the success of the all-women Indian Navy crew's expedition, Navika Sagar Parikrama.
- Rigorous Training: The crew underwent nearly three years of extensive theoretical and practical training, covering navigation, communication, seamanship, and emergency management.
- Skill Development: They honed their skills by sailing on smaller vessels like INSV Mhadei, completing voyages from India to Mauritius and back, and to Cape Town.
- 'Make in India' Initiative: The voyage was carried out on INSV Tarini, an indigenously built vessel, which was a source of national pride and confidence.
- Government Support: The project was supported by the Indian government to empower women and showcase their capabilities in a male-dominated field.
- Teamwork and Leadership: The excellent leadership of skipper Vartika Joshi and the strong coordination and trust among the crew members were crucial for overcoming the challenges of the long and arduous journey.
Section - II (Answer any two)
33. How does the poet Henry Van Dyke lead his life?
Answer: In the poem 'Life', the poet Henry Van Dyke wants to lead a life with a "whole and happy heart." He wants to live courageously, neither rushing nor turning away from his goals. He is prepared to face life's journey, whether it is smooth or difficult ('up the hill or down'), with cheer. He does not dwell on the past ('In the dim past') nor fear the future. He seeks new friendships, high adventures, and a crown (symbolizing achievement). His ultimate hope is to travel on with cheer, maintaining a positive and forward-looking attitude until the very end of his life's journey.
35. Read the following stanza and answer the questions given below:
There's a family nobody likes to meet ;
They live, it is said, on Complaining Street
In the city of Never- Are- Satisfied,
The River of Discontent beside.
a) Pick out the rhyming words from the above lines.
b) Give the rhyme scheme for the given stanza.
c) Identify the figure of speech employed in the fourth line of the given stanza.
d) Pick out the alliterating words in the second line.
a) Rhyming words: meet - Street, Satisfied - beside.
b) Rhyme scheme: aabb
c) Figure of speech: Metaphor. "The River of Discontent" is a metaphor for a state of unhappiness. (Personification is also acceptable).
d) Alliterating words: The words with the repeated 's' sound are said - Street.
Further Sections (Summary of Answers)
Section - III (1 x 5 = 5)
37. Rearrange the following sentences in coherent order (Mulan).
Correct Order:
- (iv) The emperor said that one man from each Chinese family must join the army.
- (iii) Mulan, a teenage girl who lived in a faraway village of China heard the news.
- (i) Mulan went into her room and cut off her long black hair.
- (v) She climbed on a horse and went to join the Emperor's army.
- (ii) In the army, Mulan proved to be a brave soldier.
38. Read the passage (about Zigzag) and answer the questions.
a) How did Zigzag look, after it entered Dr. Krishnan's clinic?
Zigzag looked happy and alert.
b) By whom was Zigzag trained before?
Zigzag was trained by the African witch doctor and then by Dr. Somu.
c) How did Dr. Krishnan's clinic transform into?
It transformed into a calm, orderly place.
d) Whom did Zigzag scold in the clinic?
Zigzag scolded the naughty patients.
e) Did Zigzag sleep again? Why?
No, Zigzag never slept or snored again because it was happily and efficiently engaged in the work it was trained for.
Section - IV (Creative Writing - 4 x 5 = 20)
42. Look at the following picture and express your views on it in about five sentences.
Answer: This picture depicts a vibrant and busy library or bookstore, teeming with knowledge and curious minds. A young boy is completely engrossed in a book, showcasing the timeless joy of reading. The shelves are packed with countless books, representing an ocean of stories and information waiting to be explored. The atmosphere seems quiet yet full of intellectual energy, a true haven for book lovers. This image beautifully illustrates that books are windows to other worlds and powerful tools for learning and imagination.
PART-IV (2 x 8 = 16)
Comprehension
47. (a) Read the paragraph about Pollution and answer the questions.
(i) What is pollution?
Pollution is an undesirable change in the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of our land, air, and water caused by the excessive accumulation of pollutants.
(ii) Name a few pollutants.
A few pollutants are carbon-di-oxide and Sulphur-di-oxide.
(iii) What is global warming?
Global warming is the average increase in the temperature of the atmosphere, also known as the green house effect.
(iv) What is the significance of July 1998?
July 1998 was the hottest month ever recorded in the world.
47. (b) Read the poem about the park and answer the questions.
(i) What is the open space called?
The open space is called a park.
(ii) What is not possible even after dark?
It is not possible to do what one likes in the park, even after dark.
(iii) Who do you think is forbidden from running freely in the park?
"We", referring to the children or the general public, are forbidden from running freely in the park.
(iv) Whose statue is in the park?
There is a statue of a huge man made of stone in the park.