Half Yearly Examination - 2024
Class: X - Standard | Subject: English | Marks: 100
PART - I
i) Answer all the questions. ii) Choose the most appropriate answer from the given four alternatives and write the option code and the corresponding answer. (14 X 1 = 14)
Choose the appropriate synonyms for the italicised words:
1. They were beckoning to him, calling shrilly.
- a) genture (gesture)
- b) suspect
- c) flying
- d) controlling
Answer: a) genture (gesture)
2. He had reached a point where the road bifurcated.
- a) joined
- b) combined
- c) divided
- d) diffrented
Answer: c) divided
3. He was delirious.
- a) doubt
- b) suspicion
- c) dated
- d) euphoric
Answer: d) euphoric
*Note: While 'delirious' usually means confused/disturbed, in the context of "The Night the Ghost Got In", it implies a state of wild excitement or disorder. 'Euphoric' is the closest option representing an intense state of mind.
Choose the appropriate antonyms for the italicised words.
4. Those are the times we have to be active and need to anticipate what could be there ahead
- a) expect
- b) foresee
- c) predict
- d) doubt
Answer: d) doubt
5. The sun was soothing.
- a) irritated
- b) relaxing
- c) comforting
- d) uplifting
Answer: a) irritated
6. I had counted on the commotion to get to my desk without being seen.
- a) confution
- b) fuss
- c) peace
- d) turmoil
Answer: c) peace
7. Choose the correct plural from of 'alga'.
- a) algum
- b) algi
- c) algae
- d) algas
Answer: c) algae
8. Attach a suitable prefix to the word 'accurate'.
- a) cy
- b) ily
- c) ecy
- d) y
Answer: a) cy
*Note: The options provided are suffixes, not prefixes. The question likely intends to ask for a suffix to form 'Accuracy'.
9. Choose the correct expansion of the acronyms 'GPS'.
- a) Global Processing System
- b) Global Positioning System
- c) Globe Processing System
- d) Globe Processing Structure
Answer: b) Global Positioning System
10. Complete the following sentence with the most appropriate phrasal verb given below. Many people ........ for the job.
- a) Put off
- b) Put up
- c) Put on
- d) Put in
Answer: d) Put in
11. Choose the suitable option to pair it with the word 'sun' to form a compound word.
- a) dress
- b) set
- c) wake
- d) law
Answer: b) set (Sunset)
12. Fill in the blank with the most appropriate preposition given below.
Maya was jumping ................... and down all exited.
Maya was jumping ................... and down all exited.
- a) below
- b) up
- c) about
- d) since
Answer: b) up
13. Complete the following sentence using the most appropriate tense form of the verb given below.
Naseera ........................ music classes regularly.
Naseera ........................ music classes regularly.
- a) attended
- b) will attend
- c) had attend
- d) attends
Answer: d) attends
14. Choose the most appropriate linked from the given option.
The car is not only economical................... feels good to drive.
The car is not only economical................... feels good to drive.
- a) and
- b) but also
- c) and also
- d) in case of
Answer: b) but also
PART - II (SECTION - 1)
Answer any three of the following questions in a sentence or two. (3 x 2 = 6)
15. What made the young Seagull go mad?
Answer: The maddening hunger and the sight of his mother tearing a piece of fish made the young seagull go mad.
16. Mention the special features of INSV Tarini.
Answer: INSV Tarini is the second sailboat of the Indian Navy. It is a 55-foot sailing vessel built indigenously in India, reflecting the 'Make in India' initiative. It is eco-friendly and uses wind energy.
17. What was the daily routine of Mr. Sanyal?
Answer: Mr. Sanyal's daily routine was to visit Nagen's Tea Shop, have tea and biscuits, and he always remembered to pay for them.
18. What kind of news was usually put up on the bulletin board?
Answer: For the last two years, all the bad news had come from the bulletin board—the lost battles, the draft, and the orders of the commanding officer.
SECTION - 2 (Poetry)
Read the following sets of poetic lines and answer any three of the following. (3 x 2 = 6)
19. What happened inside that house? I really don't know.
a) does the poet know what happened in the house?
b) what is the mystery about the house?
a) does the poet know what happened in the house?
b) what is the mystery about the house?
Answer:
a) No, the poet does not know what happened inside the house.
b) The mystery is that no one knows what happens inside the house; it remains a secret.
a) No, the poet does not know what happened inside the house.
b) The mystery is that no one knows what happens inside the house; it remains a secret.
20. She's a lioness; don't mess with her. She'll not spare you if you've a prankster.
a) Who is a lioness?
b) Who does the poetess warn?
a) Who is a lioness?
b) Who does the poetess warn?
Answer:
a) The modern woman (or the woman described in the poem) is compared to a lioness.
b) The poetess warns the pranksters or those who try to tease or harm women.
a) The modern woman (or the woman described in the poem) is compared to a lioness.
b) The poetess warns the pranksters or those who try to tease or harm women.
21. "Persistence is the key to everything , says she."
a) What is she strong about?
b) How does she deal with the advertise in life?
a) What is she strong about?
b) How does she deal with the advertise in life?
Answer:
a) She is strong in her faith and firm in her belief.
b) (Note: 'advertise' is likely a typo for 'adversity'). She deals with the adversities in life with persistence and determination.
a) She is strong in her faith and firm in her belief.
b) (Note: 'advertise' is likely a typo for 'adversity'). She deals with the adversities in life with persistence and determination.
22. "Beside the house sits a tree. It never grows leaves".
a) What is found near the house?
b) Why does it never grow leaves?
a) What is found near the house?
b) Why does it never grow leaves?
Answer:
a) A tree is found beside the house.
b) It never grows leaves because it is mysterious, lifeless, or perhaps represents the barren nature associated with the house (metaphorical interpretation varies by context, usually implies it's dead or stagnant).
a) A tree is found beside the house.
b) It never grows leaves because it is mysterious, lifeless, or perhaps represents the barren nature associated with the house (metaphorical interpretation varies by context, usually implies it's dead or stagnant).
SECTION - 3 (Grammar)
Answer any three of the following. (3 x 2 = 6)
23. Rewrite the following sentences in other voice;
Please assemble in the ground.
Please assemble in the ground.
Answer: You are requested to assemble in the ground.
24. Change into direct speech.
Seeman told Gawshick that he was going to a film that day.
Seeman told Gawshick that he was going to a film that day.
Answer: Seeman said to Gawshick, "I am going to a film today."
25. Punctuate the following sentence.
give the water please holmes groaned.
give the water please holmes groaned.
Answer: "Give the water, please," Holmes groaned.
26. Combine the following sentence into a simple sentence.
As soon as the children saw the teacher, they stood up.
As soon as the children saw the teacher, they stood up.
Answer: On seeing the teacher, the children stood up.
27. Rearrange the words in the correct order:
a) as / I / healthy / are / you / an / as
b) soup / cooks / to.o / the / many / spoil
a) as / I / healthy / are / you / an / as
b) soup / cooks / to.o / the / many / spoil
Answer:
a) I am as healthy as you are.
b) Too many cooks spoil the broth.
a) I am as healthy as you are.
b) Too many cooks spoil the broth.
SECTION - 4 (Road Map)
28. Answer the following questions. (1 X 2 = 2)
A stranger wants to visit the library. Write the steps to guide him to reach his destination.
[Image Placeholder: Road map showing Main Road, SBI Bank, Library, and Hospital]
Answer:
1. Go straight along the Main Road.
2. Pass the SBI Bank on your left.
3. Walk past the hospital.
4. The Library is adjacent to the SBI Bank (or opposite the hospital, depending on map details), on your left side.
1. Go straight along the Main Road.
2. Pass the SBI Bank on your left.
3. Walk past the hospital.
4. The Library is adjacent to the SBI Bank (or opposite the hospital, depending on map details), on your left side.
PART - III (SECTION - 1)
Answer any two of the following in a paragraph. (2 x 5 = 10)
29. Describe the struggles under: Went by the young Seagull to-overcome its fear of flying.
Answer Key Points: The young seagull was afraid to fly because he thought his wings would not support him. He was left alone on the ledge without food for 24 hours. He watched his parents teaching his siblings. Maddened by hunger, he dived at the fish in his mother's beak, fell into space, and his wings naturally opened, helping him fly.
30. Narrate the extensive search operation made by the police men in the house.
Answer Key Points: (From "The Night the Ghost Got In") The police arrived after the mother threw a shoe through the neighbor's window. They broke down the front door, searched downstairs, pulled open drawers, furniture, and closets. They went upstairs, heard the grandfather, and were attacked by him as he mistook them for deserters. The search was chaotic and destructive.
31. Give an account of the last day of M.Hamel in School.
Answer Key Points: M. Hamel wore his fine Sunday clothes. The villagers were sitting on the back benches. He announced it was the last French lesson. He taught with patience and dedication. He spoke about the beauty of the French language. Finally, overcome with emotion, he wrote "Vive La France!" on the blackboard and dismissed the class.
32. How did Watson help his friend to arrest the Criminal?
Answer Key Points: (From "The Dying Detective") Watson followed Holmes' instructions to fetch Culverton Smith. He pretended Holmes was dying of a contagious disease. He hid behind the bed headboard as a witness when Smith arrived and confessed to his crimes, allowing Holmes to signal the police for the arrest.
SECTION - 2 (Poetry Paragraphs)
Answer any two of the following in a paragraph. (2 x 5 = 10)
33. How are today's women portrayed by the poet?
Answer Key Points: (From "I am Every Woman") The poet portrays today's women as strong, confident, and self-reliant. They are innate with beauty and power. They are persistent, ready to sacrifice for loved ones, and can tackle life's adversities with faith and belief. They are not to be messed with.
34. Compare and contrast the attitude of the ant and the cricket.
Answer Key Points: The ant is hardworking, disciplined, and foresighted, saving for the winter. The cricket is lazy, carefree, and fun-loving, singing summer away without planning. The ant represents prudence, while the cricket represents negligence leading to suffering.
35. Let us learn to walk with a simple and a song
No matter if things do some things go wrong
No matter if things do some things go wrong
Answer Key Points: (Based on the poem "The Grumble Family") The poet advises us not to join the 'Grumble Family'. Instead of complaining about everything (weather, rain, sun), we should learn to walk through life with a smile and a song, maintaining a positive attitude even when things go wrong. We should avoid the habit of grumbling to lead a happy life.
SECTION - 3
And then the our station high or humble
We'll never belong to the family of Grumble.
We'll never belong to the family of Grumble.
36. Paraphrase the following Stanza. (1 x 5 = 5)
We can pull and haul and push and lift and drive.
We can print and plough and weave and heat and light.
We can run and race and swim and fly and dive
We can see and here and count and read and write!
We can pull and haul and push and lift and drive.
We can print and plough and weave and heat and light.
We can run and race and swim and fly and dive
We can see and here and count and read and write!
Questions based on the first stanza (High or humble...):
- a) Pick out the rhyming words from the given Stanza: humble - Grumble
- b) Pick out the alliterating words in the first line: high - humble
- c) Mention the figure of speech used in the third line: (Note: The provided text for Q36 mixes two poems. The questions a-b refer to 'The Grumble Family'. The paraphrase text is from 'The Secret of the Machines'. Assuming the question asks to paraphrase the 'Machines' stanza):
- d) Give the rhyme scheme for the given Stanza: aabb
Paraphrase of the Machines Stanza: The machines explain their capabilities. They can perform various physical tasks like pulling, hauling, pushing, lifting, and driving. They can do industrial work like printing, ploughing, weaving, heating, and lighting. They are capable of movement—running, racing, swimming, flying, and diving. They can even perform intellectual tasks like seeing, hearing, counting, reading, and writing.
37. Rearrange the following sentences in coherent order. (1 x 5 = 5)
- He gave an iron box to Tom.
- To unlock the iron box, Tom should believe his uncle.
- Uncle Phillip was a bachelor, cunning and malicious.
- On his death bed, he called Tom and declared him as his heir.
- Uncle Phillip told that the box contained precious stones.
Correct Order:
1. Uncle Phillip was a bachelor, cunning and malicious.
2. On his death bed, he called Tom and declared him as his heir.
3. He gave an iron box to Tom.
4. Uncle Phillip told that the box contained precious stones.
5. To unlock the iron box, Tom should believe his uncle.
1. Uncle Phillip was a bachelor, cunning and malicious.
2. On his death bed, he called Tom and declared him as his heir.
3. He gave an iron box to Tom.
4. Uncle Phillip told that the box contained precious stones.
5. To unlock the iron box, Tom should believe his uncle.
38. Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow ... (Reading Comprehension on Mulan)
Many years ago, China was in the middle of a great war. The Emperor said that one man from each Chinese family must leave his family to join the army. Mulan, a teenager girl who lived in a for away village of China, heard the news when she was outside, washing clothes. Mulan ran into the house. Her father was sitting in a chair, carving a piece of wood. "Father!" she said. "Did you hear what the emperor says each family must do?". "Yes", Said her old father, "I heard about it in town. Well, I may as well go pack up". He put down his carving, stood up and walked very slowly to his room.
Questions:
- a) What was the danger of China?
Answer: China was in the middle of a great war. - b) What was the order of the emperor?
Answer: The Emperor ordered that one man from each Chinese family must join the army. - c) Where did Mulan live?
Answer: Mulan lived in a far away village of China. - d) What was Mulan's father doing?
Answer: He was sitting in a chair, carving a piece of wood. - e) Where did the old father hear about the Emperor's order?
Answer: He heard about it in town.
SECTION - 4 (Writing)
Answer any four of the following. (4 x 5 = 20)
39. Prepare an attractive advertisement using the hints given below.
Grand look – Clothes shop – Aadi sale – 15% Discount – Gents’ /Ladies’/apparels.
(Student should draw a box, create a catchy title, list the offers, contact details, and illustrations.)
(Student should draw a box, create a catchy title, list the offers, contact details, and illustrations.)
40. Write a letter to the Headmaster/ Headmistress of your school requesting for a Bonafide Certificate.
(Formal letter format: From address, To address, Salutation, Subject: Request for Bonafide Certificate, Body of the letter stating the reason, Subscription, Signature.)
41. Your art the School monitor, of Mordern Matriculation School, Villupuram. Your School Principal has requested you to inform the students about the trip to Yercaud for 3 days. Prepare a notice giving the details such as date of journey, mode of transportation, amount , dress code etc.
(Notice format: Name of School, NOTICE, Date, Heading: TRIP TO YERCAUD, Body with details of Date, Time, Fee, Essentials to carry, Contact person.)
42. Look at the following picture and express your views on it in about five sentences.
[Image Placeholder: Sketch of a landscape with a river/path and trees]
Sample Answer: The picture depicts a serene natural landscape. It shows a winding river flowing through a rocky terrain. There are trees on either side, suggesting a forest area. The scene looks calm and untouched by urban pollution. It reminds us of the beauty of nature that we must preserve.
PART - IV
43. Make note or Write a summary of the following passage:
Elephant is the biggest and animal found on earth. It is a wild animal but after giving training it, becomes a useful animal for man... (Passage continues about elephant features, diet, and uses).
Title: The Elephant
Summary: The elephant is the largest animal on earth. Though wild, it can be trained to be useful to humans. It is grey, huge, with pillar-like legs, big ears, a small tail, and a trunk used to pick up things. They are vegetarians living in herds, eating grass and fruits. Historically, they were used in wars by kings; today, they are used for lifting logs and in circuses. Their tusks and bones are valuable, but hunting them is banned.
Summary: The elephant is the largest animal on earth. Though wild, it can be trained to be useful to humans. It is grey, huge, with pillar-like legs, big ears, a small tail, and a trunk used to pick up things. They are vegetarians living in herds, eating grass and fruits. Historically, they were used in wars by kings; today, they are used for lifting logs and in circuses. Their tusks and bones are valuable, but hunting them is banned.
44. Identify the errors in the following sentences and rewrite them correctly.
- a) He has grey hairs. -> He has grey hair.
- b) I am absent yesterday -> I was absent yesterday.
- c) My uncle is richest man in the village. -> My uncle is the richest man in the village.
- d) If you play well, you would win. -> If you play well, you will win.
- e) I prefer mangoes than grapes. -> I prefer mangoes to grapes.
SECTION - 5
45. Quote from memory. (1 X 5 = 5)
From : Remember, no men ........... To ................... and air 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.
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.
46. Write a paragraph of about 150 words by developing the following hints. (2 x 8 = 16)
a) 25th July 2889 - Francis Bennet - Managing Editor - Earth Herald - Wife - goes to France - Switched on phonotelephote - transmission - saw his wife - went to mechanized dressing room - without attendants help - washed - shaved - dressed went to reporter's room - enquired new from his astronomers - new planet - Gandhini - travelled to accumulate work - Niogara - got tired - touched a button - to take a bath. (OR)
b) Poor farmer - happy and peaceful - aged mother - shining governor - death of all aged - farmer - mother - mountain - little food - brought her back - kitchen - order - rope of ashes - twisted straws - Governor amazed - Mother's wit abolished law.
Note: Students should write a detailed paragraph based on the chosen story (a: The Techonology of the Future / In the Year 2889 OR b: The Aged Mother).
47. Read the following paragraph and answer the questions given below.
Tejaswini Sawant is an Indian shooter from the Maharashtrian city of Kolhapur. Her father Ravinder Sawant was an officer on the Indian Navy. Tejaswini represented India in 2004 at the 9th South Asian Sports Federation Games. She, in the 2006 Commonwealth Games Air Rifle Singles and women's 10m Air Rifle Pairs. In 2009, in the 50m Rifle 3 Positions she won a bronze and in 50m Rifle prone game held in Germany. In the year 2016 Common Wealth Games, she won one bronze and two silver medals in the women's 50m Rifle Prime Pairs, the women's 50m Rifle Prone Singles and two women's 50 Rifle 3 Positions respectively. Tejaswini was the first Indian shooter to win a gold medal at the World Championship in 50m Rifle Prone Game.
Questions:
- i) Who is Tejaswini Sawant?
Answer: Tejaswini Sawant is an Indian shooter from Kolhapur, Maharashtra. - ii) What did she represent?
Answer: She represented India in the 9th South Asian Sports Federation Games in 2004. - iii) Mention her achievement in the 2016 Common Wealth Games.
Answer: She won one bronze and two silver medals. - iv) Where did her father work?
Answer: Her father worked as an officer in the Indian Navy.
(OR)
Read the following poem and answer the questions given below.
The Sun descending in the west,
The evening star does shine,
The bird are silent in their nest,
And I must seek for mine,
The moon, like a flower
In heaven's high bower
With silent delight,
Sits and smiles on the night.
The evening star does shine,
The bird are silent in their nest,
And I must seek for mine,
The moon, like a flower
In heaven's high bower
With silent delight,
Sits and smiles on the night.
Questions:
- a) Where are the birds?
Answer: The birds are silent in their nest. - b) What is the time referred to here?
Answer: The time referred to is evening/night. - c) What is the compared to?
Answer: The moon is compared to a flower. - d) How is the moon during night?
Answer: The moon sits and smiles on the night with silent delight.
