COMMON HALF YEARLY EXAMINATION - 2024
PART I (14 x 1 = 14)
Answer all the questions.
Choose the appropriate synonyms
- a) normal
- b) strange
- c) abnormal
- d) happy
- a) sick
- b) disappointed
- c) troubled
- d) forced
- a) poor
- b) deprived
- c) old
- d) wealthy
Choose the appropriate antonyms
- a) bonus
- b) bane
- c) blast
- d) block
- a) plentiful
- b) beautiful
- c) hopeful
- d) sorrowful
- a) very quick.
- b) very fast
- c) very nice
- d) very slow
Grammar & Vocabulary
- a) syllabus
- b) syllabum
- c) syllabi
- d) syllables
- a) dis
- b) in
- c) mis
- d) im
- a) Geometric position system
- b) Global positioning system
- c) Global pointing structure
- d) Globe position system
Walking helps to ________ the calories
- a) put on
- b) get through
- c) burn out
- d) burn off
- a) day
- b) light
- c) mark
- d) shine
Peter close the whole ________ his finger
- a) in
- b) with
- c) on
- d) into
After he ________ his lunch he went across to the window
- a) will finish
- b) finish
- c) was finishing
- d) had finished
Women are strong brave, resolute ________
- a) still
- b) but
- c) and
- d) however
PART II
SECTION 1 (Prose Short Answers)
Answer any three of the following questions in a sentence or two. (3 x 2 = 6)
SECTION 2 (Poetry Appreciation)
Read the following sets of poetic lines and answer any three of the following. (3 x 2 = 6)
With forward face and unreluctant soul
a) Whom does the word me refer to?
The word 'me' refers to the poet, Henry Van Dyke.
b) What kind of life does the poet want to lead?
The poet wants to lead a life facing forward with courage and an unwilling soul, without hesitation or fear.
What Happened there is still today unknown
a) What does it refer to?
It refers to the house (The House on Elm Street).
b) What happened inside it?
What happened inside the house is unknown and remains a mystery.
We will serve you four and twenty hours a day
a) Who does the pronoun you refer to?
The pronoun 'you' refers to human beings.
b) Who did we refer to?
'We' refers to the machines.
A symbol of power and strength
a) How is a woman?
A woman is described as having innate beauty.
b) What does she symbolise?
She symbolises power and strength.
SECTION 3 (Grammar Exercises)
Answer any three of the following. (3 x 2 = 6)
You are requested not to use mobile phones here.
"Where are we going, sir?" asked the aero-coachman.
Stand back stand right back he cried
Radha was ill. She was not hospitalized
I am as healthy as you are.
b) these / of / was / the / Ariel / chief
Ariel was the chief of these.
SECTION IV (Compulsory)
1. Go straight along the road.
2. Turn left near the Pharmacy.
3. Walk past the Bus Stand on your left.
4. The Book shop is on your right, opposite the Playground.
PART III
SECTION 1 (Prose Paragraph)
Answer any two of the following in a paragraph. (2 x 5 = 10)
SECTION 2 (Poetry Paragraph)
Answer any two of the following. (2 x 5 = 10)
It sat alone.
What happened there is still today unknown.
It is a very mysterious place.
And inside you can tell it has a ton off space
a) Pick out the rhyming words from the given stanza.
alone - unknown; place - space.
b) Give the rhyming scheme for the given stanza.
aabb
c) Identify the figure of speech employed in the first line of the given stanza.
Personification (The house is described as 'It sat', giving it human-like quality).
d) Pick out the alliteration words in the fourth line.
tell - ton (repetition of 't' sound).
"Strong is she in her faith and belief... She's strong in her faith, firm in her belief!"
SECTION 3 (Supplementary)
- "Make rope of twisted 'straw'" she said.
- The entire province trembled in fear of hearing the order of Emperor.
- On the second day she told him what to do.
- One night, in great distress, the son whispered the news to his hidden mother.
- "Wait" she said, "I will think, I will think".
1. (ii) The entire province trembled in fear of hearing the order of Emperor.
2. (iv) One night, in great distress, the son whispered the news to his hidden mother.
3. (v) "Wait" she said, "I will think, I will think".
4. (iii) On the second day she told him what to do.
5. (i) "Make rope of twisted straw" she said.
(Passage about Francis Bennett waking up in bad temper, wife in France, using phonotelephote...)
i) Who was in a bad temper?
Francis Bennett.
ii) Where was his wife?
She was in France (Champs-Elysees).
iii) What did he switch on?
He switched on his phonotelephote.
iv) Where did the voice lead to?
The voice led to the house he owned in the Champs-Elysees.
v) What was very old?
The transmission of speech by the electric current was very old.
SECTION 4 (Writing Skills)
Homemade taste- Hygiene -Family restaurant- Fresh juice- available -Free home delivery- card accepted.
~ Homemade Taste ~
- 100% Hygienic Preparation
- Fresh Juice Available
- Cards Accepted
FREE HOME DELIVERY
Visit us for a delightful meal!
(Passage about Dragon tales in many cultures...)
1. Origin & Spread:
- Known in many cultures (Americas, Europe, India, China).
- Unclear when stories first emerged.
2. Description:
- Huge, flying serpents described by ancient Greeks & Sumerians.
3. Etymology:
- Word 'dragon' from Greek 'draconta' meaning 'to watch'.
4. Role:
- Responsible for guarding valuables (gold, gems).
- a) I bought an book this morning.
Correct: I bought a book this morning. - b) He has good knowledge of English grammar.
Correct: He has a good knowledge of English grammar. - c) Myself I am Riya.
Correct: I am Riya. - d) As we were late so we apologised.
Correct: As we were late, we apologised. - e) Chennai is one of the biggest city in India.
Correct: Chennai is one of the biggest cities in India.
SECTION 5 (Memoriter)
A woman is beauty.......
........ to see in spring
A symbol of power and strength.
She puts her life at stake,
She's real, she's not fake!
The summer of life she's ready to see in spring.
PART - IV
a) Uncle Philip – cunning- living alone - interest collecting stones - death bed calls Tom - sole heir- hands over iron box - gems –warns- opening –Dynamite- headache- Tom- read books- consults- technicians –doctors- priest –salary- reduce afraid tax- failure –donates- human –vivisection centre.
Uncle Philip was a cunning man who lived alone and had a passion for collecting precious stones. On his deathbed, he called his nephew Tom, his sole heir. He handed over an iron box, claiming it contained valuable gems. However, he warned Tom that the box was rigged with dynamite and would explode if opened incorrectly. This put Tom in a terrible dilemma. He became obsessed with the box, suffering from headaches. He read books, consulted technicians, doctors, and even a priest, but no one could help him open it safely. The fear of the box ruined his life; he had to pay taxes on the inheritance but couldn't use the wealth. Finally, fearing failure and poverty, he donated the box to a human vivisection centre, passing the dangerous burden to someone else.
(OR)
b) Holland-dikes –lie below level - Peter- prevent seawater - walks – besides the cana - I small hole in the dike –put his finger- Holland drowned while I am here. the little fellow- and screamed -next morning -a man - notice Peter - alarm -people mended - brave hero
Holland is a land that lies below sea level, protected by dikes that prevent seawater from flooding the country. One day, a young boy named Peter was walking beside the canal. He noticed a small hole in the dike through which water was trickling. He realized the danger; if the hole expanded, Holland would be drowned. He bravely put his finger into the hole to stop the leak. He stayed there all night, cold and alone, determined that "Holland shall not be drowned while I am here." The little fellow screamed for help, but no one heard him. The next morning, a man walking by noticed Peter. He raised an alarm. The people came, mended the dike, and hailed Peter as the brave hero who saved their country.
(Passage about Olympic Games, Roman stoppage, Pierre de Coubertin, Paralympics, Sir Ludwig Guttmann)
1. Where did the Olympics games begin?
The Olympic games began in Greece about 3000 years ago.
2. Why did the Roman stop the Olympic Games?
The Romans stopped the Greek Olympic Games because they didn't like them.
3. How did the Paralympic for disabled begin?
It began in 1948 when Sir Ludwig Guttmann organized games for disabled soldiers at the Stoke Mandeville hospital.
4. Who was Sir Ludwig Guttmann?
Sir Ludwig Guttmann was a doctor at the Stroke Mandeville hospital in England.
(OR)
A bird came down the walk
He did not know I saw
He bit an Angel worn I halves
And ate the fellow raw
And then he drank a Dew
From a convenient Grass-
And then hopped sidewise to the wall
To let a Beetle pass-
He glanced with rapid eyes
That hurried all abroad
They looked like frightened Beads, I thoughts,
He stirred his Velvet Head,
1. What did the poet see?
The poet saw a bird coming down the walk.
2. How did the bird eat the worm?
The bird bit the worm (Angel) in halves and ate it raw.
3. Did the bird drink water? How?
Yes, the bird drank dew from a convenient grass.
4. What are the eyes compared to?
The eyes are compared to frightened beads.
