Class 10 English
Second Mid Term Test - November 2023
Solutions
PART - I SECTION - I (10x1=10)
Choose the appropriate synonyms for the italicized words:
1. The spoilt child of affluent parents.
Answer: d) wealthy
2. They continue to grapple with the changes.
Answer: b) fight
Choose the appropriate antonyms for the italicized words:
3. India's disabled are deprived by attitudinal barriers.
Answer: d) privileged
4. The whole school seemed so strange.
Answer: d) normal
Grammar & Vocabulary
5. Choose the correct plural form of 'loaf' from the following.
Answer: c) loaves
6. Choose the correct expansion of the abbreviation 'GPS'
Answer: b) Global Positioning System
7. Choose the correct idiom that means 'competent'
Answer: b) on the ball
8. Join the sentence using 'Relative Pronoun'.
Give me a pen to write a letter.
It was gifted to you on your birthday.
Answer: Give me the pen, which was gifted to you on your birthday, to write a letter.
9. Fill in the blank with the correct participles:
We wish she continues _____ healthy. {being / be}
Answer: We wish she continues being healthy.
10. Spot the error in the following sentence and rewrite them correctly.
My son is fond to music
Error: The preposition 'to' is incorrect.
Correct Sentence: My son is fond of music.
PART - II (2X2=4)
Answer the following questions in a sentence or two:
11. Who is Kim?
Kim Phuc is a Vietnamese woman who became famous as the nine-year-old child depicted in a Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph taken during the Vietnam War. Despite suffering severe burns, she survived and became a symbol of peace and forgiveness.
12. What was Frank sorry for?
Frank was sorry for having to pick on the children, particularly for being stern and critical about their behaviour and studies while they were all hiding in the annexe. He felt guilty for not being a better, more patient father under such stressful circumstances.
Read the following set of poetic lines and answer the following: (2X2=4)
13.
And now, if you will set us to our task,
We will serve you four and twenty hours a day!
a) Who does the pronoun 'you' refer to here?
'You' refers to mankind, the human masters who created and operate the machines.
b) Whose task is referred to as 'our task' here?
'Our task' refers to the work assigned to the machines by human beings.
14.
Our hells of fire and dust outrage the innocence.
Of air that is everywhere our own.
a) What outrages the innocence?
The 'hells of fire and dust', which symbolise wars and the pollution they cause, outrage the innocence of the pure air.
b) Who are not foreign?
According to the poem "No Men Are Foreign," no human beings are foreign. All people are the same and share the common earth.
Quote from memory. (1X5=5)
15. "Remember, no .................. and water"
Remember, no men are strange, no countries foreign
Beneath all uniforms, a single body breathes
Like ours: the land our brothers walk upon
Is earth like this, in which we all shall lie.
They, too, aware of sun and air and water.
Answer the following in a paragraph. (2X5=10)
16. "Technology is a boon to the disabled" Justify.
Technology has emerged as a transformative force, acting as a great equaliser for people with disabilities. It has opened up a world of possibilities, enabling them to overcome physical and social barriers. For instance, screen-reading software and Braille displays empower the visually impaired to access digital information. Assistive devices like advanced prosthetic limbs and wheelchairs enhance mobility and independence. Speech recognition technology allows those with motor disabilities to control computers and communicate effectively. Moreover, applications like GPS help visually challenged individuals navigate safely, while social media platforms provide a space for connection and community. Technology not only aids in daily tasks but also provides opportunities for education and employment, proving it is an undeniable boon that fosters inclusivity and improves the quality of life for the disabled.
(OR) Give an account of the last day of M.Hamel in school.
The last day of M. Hamel's school was a solemn and poignant affair. M. Hamel, dressed in his finest clothes which he wore only on special occasions, was unusually kind and patient. The atmosphere in the classroom was somber, with the usual hustle and bustle replaced by a profound silence. The village elders were seated quietly at the back, their presence a silent tribute to the forty years of faithful service M. Hamel had given. The lesson was on the French language, which he called the most beautiful language in the world. He spoke with immense passion and patriotism, urging his students and the villagers to hold on to their language as it was the key to their freedom. The day concluded with an emotional farewell as M. Hamel, too choked up to speak, wrote "Vive La France!" (Long Live France!) on the blackboard, signaling the end of an era.
Poetry Appreciation / Stanza Comprehension
17. Write an appreciation of the poem "The Secret of the Machines".
Rudyard Kipling's "The Secret of the Machines" is a powerful poem that personifies machines, giving them a collective voice. The poem explores the creation, power, and limitations of machines. The central theme is that machines, despite their immense strength and capability, are ultimately the creations and servants of mankind ("children of your brain"). The poem uses a simple AABB rhyme scheme, giving it a rhythmic, almost mechanical, quality. Personification is the dominant figure of speech, as the machines speak throughout the poem. Metaphors are used effectively, such as comparing the raw materials to a mine and a pit. The tone shifts from a description of their power to a humble admission of their dependence on humans and a final warning that they are unemotional and can cause destruction if misused. The poem's enduring message is a cautionary one about the master-servant relationship between humanity and its technological creations.
(OR) Read the following stanza and answer the questions given below:
Though our smoke may hide the Heavens from your eyes,
It will vanish and the stars will shine again,
Because, for all our power and weight and size,
We are nothing more than children of your brain!
a) Pick out the rhyming words from the above lines. (2)
The rhyming words are: eyes - size, again - brain.
b) Write the rhyme scheme of the given stanza. (1)
The rhyme scheme is aabb.
c) Pick out the alliterating words in the first line. (1)
There are no alliterating words in the first line ("Though our smoke may hide the Heavens from your eyes"). However, in the second line, "stars will shine" has alliteration with the 's' sound.
d) Write the figure of speech employed in the last line.
The figure of speech is a Metaphor. The machines are directly compared to "children of your brain," without using 'like' or 'as'. It also employs Personification as inanimate machines are speaking and describing themselves.
Grammar (2X1=2)
18. Rewrite the sentence in reported speech:
Anu said to her mother, "I have to attend the party tomorrow".
Answer: Anu told her mother that she had to attend the party the next day.
PART - III
Write a paragraph of about 150 words by developing the following hints: (1X5=5)
Francis Bennett - managing editor of Earth Herald - lonely and in bad mood - wife in Paris - she speech to him - gets dressed - goes to office - visits reporters - next visits broad gallery - gigantic screens on clouds - publicity rakes in 3 million dollars.
Francis Bennett, the powerful managing editor of the Earth Herald, found himself in a state of loneliness and a foul mood. His day began with a telephotic conversation with his wife, who was in Paris. Her speech to him, broadcast over the wires, did little to lift his spirits. After getting dressed by a mechanical valet, he went to his office. There, he visited a series of reporters who delivered their news aurally through phonographic devices. His next stop was the broad gallery, the heart of the newspaper's publicity department. Here, gigantic screens projected advertisements and news onto the clouds for the entire population to see. This innovative form of atmospheric publicity was a massive success, raking in an impressive three million dollars for the Earth Herald that day, a testament to Bennett's influential media empire.
Read the following paragraph and answer the questions given below: (1X5=5)
One afternoon in the early fall, when Peter was eight years old, his mother called him from his play. "Come, Peter", she said 'I want you to go across the dike and take these cakes to your friend, the blind man. If you go quickly, and do not stop to play, you will be home again before dark". The little boy was glad to go such an errand, and started off with a light heart. He stayed with the poor blind man a little while to tell him about his walk along the dike and about the sun and the flowers and the ships far out at sea. Then he remembered his mother's wish that he should return before dark and, bidding his friend goodbye, he set out for home.
Questions:
1. What did Peter's mother want him to do?
Peter's mother wanted him to go across the dike and take some cakes to his friend, the blind man.
2. What did Peter's mother advise him to do?
She advised him to go quickly, not stop to play, and to be home before dark.
3. Why was the little boy glad?
The little boy was glad to go on such an errand.
4. What did the little boy tell his friend?
He told his friend about his walk along the dike, the sun, the flowers, and the ships far out at sea.
5. What did the little boy remember?
He remembered his mother's wish that he should return home before dark.
Letter Writing (1X5=5)
20. You are Raja. The street lights of your area do not work properly. As a responsible citizen, write a letter to the newspaper enlightening them about the problem and also suggest ways to brighten the area.
From,
Raja,
15, Gandhi Street,
Anna Nagar,
Chennai - 600040.
15 November 2023
To,
The Editor,
The Hindu,
Chennai - 600002.
Sir/Madam,
Subject: Poor maintenance of street lights in Anna Nagar - Reg.
Through the columns of your esteemed newspaper, I wish to draw the attention of the concerned authorities to the poor condition and non-functioning of street lights in our locality, Anna Nagar.
For the past several weeks, most of the street lights in our area have not been working. As soon as darkness falls, the entire area is plunged into darkness, making it very difficult for residents to walk on the roads. The situation poses a significant threat to the safety of women, children, and senior citizens. The darkness has also led to an increase in petty crimes and has made the roads accident-prone.
We have lodged several complaints with the local municipal office, but no action has been taken so far. I suggest that the authorities immediately repair or replace the faulty lights. Furthermore, installing energy-efficient LED lights could be a long-term solution to brighten the area and conserve energy. Regular maintenance checks must be scheduled to prevent such issues in the future.
I hope this letter will awaken the concerned authorities from their slumber and they will take the necessary steps to rectify the problem at the earliest.
Thank you.
Yours faithfully,
Raja