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Kerala Syllabus Class 10 English Board Model Paper March 2021 with Answers
Time: 1½ Hours
Total Score: 40
Questions 1 – 5. Read the lines from the “Ballad of Father Gilligan” and answer the questions that follow.
‘I have no rest, nor joy, nor peace,
For people die and die;
And after cried he, ‘God forgive!
My body spake not I!’
He knelt and leaned on the chair
He prayed and fell asleep;
And the moth-hour went from the fields,
And stars began to peep.
Question 1.
Who is the ‘I’ referred to in the first line? (1)
Answer:
The old priest Peter Gilligan.
Question 2.
Pick out the line that shows the speaker’s physical weakness. (1)
Answer:
“My body spake not I!”
Question 3.
What happened while he knelt for prayer? (1)
Answer:
While he knelt for prayer, he fell asleep.
Question 4.
When did the moths disappear from the fields? (1)
Answer:
The moths disappeared from the fields when the stars began to peep.
Question 5.
Write the rhyme scheme followed here. (1)
Answer:
ABCB
Question 6.
Read the following lines from the poem ‘Lines Written in Early Spring’ and prepare a note of appreciation focusing on its theme, imagery, and other poetic devices. (6)
I heard a thousand blended notes,
While in a grove I sate reclined,
In that sweet mood when pleasant thoughts
Bring sad thoughts to the mind.
To her fair works did Nature link
The human soul that through me ran;
And much it grieved my heart to think
What man has made of man?
Answer:
The poet says that while sitting reclined on a woodland grove, his mind was filled with several thoughts. While he finds solace in nature’s beauty, the same beauty also reminds him of sad thoughts. The speaker appreciates nature for her god-like abilities of linking a human soul to herself but he also feels grief while thinking about how cruelly man has separated himself from mother nature. The poet is highly appreciative of nature’s beauty. He finds delight in the green bowers and has faith that the beautiful flowers enjoy every ounce of the air they 9. breathe and they are thankful for living beside nature.
The speaker observes the birds that sing and hop around him. He is in awe of these creatures. Though the speaker does not understand their language and ways, he does recognize that the birds are creating all these movements out of sheer pleasure and joy. The breeze blowing is sweet and light, the twigs are spreading out as if to catch the sweet air and all the poet can do is gather pleasure in their existence. The speaker questions that if this is heaven and this is the holy plan of nature then what man has done to himself is bad. Man has separated himself from such joy and is spending his time hating one another and fighting wars. The poem has 6 quatrains and the rhyming scheme is abab. There are examples of personification. There is fine visual and auditory imagery. We too feel like the poet reclining in the grove watching the flowers and listening to the music of the birds. Nature is really beautiful.
Question 7.
Read the following lines from the poem ‘The Ballad of Father Gilligan’ and prepare a note of appreciation focusing on its theme, imagery, and other poetic devices. (6)
The old priest Peter Gilligan
Was weary night and day
For half his flock were in their beds
Or under green sods lay.
Once, while he nodded in a chair
At the moth-hour of the eve
Another poor man sent for him,
And he began to grieve.
Answer:
“The Ballad of Father Gilligan” is by the famous Irish poet William Butler Yeats. The central idea of the poem is to show that God is merciful. God sends help to those in need of it and at times they need it most. The poem also shows the Irish countryside and its poverty. The tone of the poem is sad and depressing at first. Father Gilligan asks for forgiveness for his outburst. Then the poem becomes hurried and full of suspense as he rides quickly to the sick man’s house. There he finds that God had sent help to the dying man. So it ends on a note of hope.
The poem has fine imagery. We see the old priest Fr. Gilligan tired because of the hard work he is doing as many of his flock are dying because of the plague. He sits on the chair as he is very tired but then somebody calls him to take him to another dying person. We see powerful images-sick people in their beds, green sods, stars, moths, leaves shaking in the wind, Fr. Gilligan riding the horse, a rocky lane, a sick man’s wife opening the door, and even God in his purple robes. There is alliteration “was-weary”. “The moth-hour of the eve” is a beautiful phrase. The poem has a fine rhythm. It has a ballad-like quality. There is repetition and also dialogue. The rhyming scheme of the poem is ABCB.
Questions 8 – 12. Read the passage from ‘The Project Tiger’ and answer the questions that follow:
When we returned to Calcutta and looked at the scenes with the tiger, we realized that the camera had failed to work properly. The shots were too dark, so much so that the tiger was merging almost completely with the background of the trees and leaves. We had to shoot the scenes all over again. We spoke to Mr. Thorat and he agreed to give it another go. We found another bamboo grove closer to Calcutta in a village called Boral. The lorry arrived once more, with Mr. Thorat, the tiger, the steel wire, the special collar, and the iron rod. And with the lorry came the whole village. We told the villagers that they should stand at a distance of seventy feet. No one paid any attention to what they were told. The entire crowd moved as close to the camera as they could. We could not afford to waste any more time explaining and arguing. So we got the camera ready and signaled to Mr. Thorat. He opened the door of the cage. The instant the door opened with the clang, our tiger emerged with a roar, and charged straight at t the villagers gathered behind the camera. The crowd, consisting of about a hundred and fifty people, melted away as if by magic.
Question 8.
What happened to the scenes that were shot in the first attempt? (1)
Answer:
The scenes that were shot in the first attempt were very dark. The tiger was indistinct as it was merging almost completely with the background of the trees and leaves.
Question 9.
How did Mr. Thorat respond when Ray and his team approached him again? (1)
Answer:
Mr. Thorat responded positively and agreed to take the shots again.
Question 10.
Where was the location of the shoot on the second attempt? (1)
Answer:
The location of the shoot at the second attempt was a bamboo grove closer to Calcutta in a village called Boral.
Question 11.
“The crowd melted away as if by magic.” Why did he say so? (1)
Answer:
He said so because when the tiger charged at them the villagers ran away, as if melted by some kind of magic.
Question 12.
Pick out a word from the passage that means ‘manage to bear’. (1)
Answer:
Afford
Questions 13 – 17. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:
At twelve I was an avid reader of comic books – ‘Super Girl’ being my favorite. I had a stack of comic books in my bedroom that was as tall as I. I had a recurring dream in those days that I had long golden hair and could fly. In my dream, I climbed the stairs to the top of our apartment building. Then my legs would grow long, my arms harden into steel, and my hair would magically go straight. “Super Girl” had to be aerodynamic. Sleek and hard as a supersonic missile. Once on the roof, when my parents were safely asleep in their beds, I would get on top-toe, arms outstretched in the position for flight, and jump out my fifty-story-high window into the black lake of the sky.
From up there, over the rooftops, I could see everything. Once I saw our house owner. He sat on the floor counting his money. I played a trick on him. Going up to this building’s chimney, I blew a little puff of my super-breath into his fireplace, scattering his stacks of money so that he had to start counting all over again. I could more or less programme my ‘Super Girl’ dreams in those days by focusing on the object of my current obsession. This way I could visit my neighbors, friends, and teachers. Visiting their houses unnoticed by anyone is the funniest and most exciting experience in this ‘dream programme’.
Question 13.
What type of books does the narrator wish to read? (1)
Answer:
The narrator wishes to read comic books.
Question 14.
What are the physical changes that would happen to the narrator in her dream? (2)
Answer:
She would have long golden hair, her legs would grow long, her arms would harden into steel and her hair would go straight. She would be aerodynamic, sleek, and hard as a supersonic missile.
Question 15.
What, in her dream, was the house owner doing? (1)
Answer:
He was counting his money.
Question 16.
How did the narrator play a trick on the house owner? (1)
Answer:
She blew a little of her super breath into his fireplace scattering the stacks of money and so the house owner had to count it again.
Question 17.
According to the narrator the funniest and the most exciting experience is ___________ (1)
Answer:
Visiting the houses of tier neighbors, friends, and teachers unnoticed by anyone.
Questions 18 – 23. Given below are the details of four books. Study them carefully and answer the questions that follow. (1 × 6 = 6)
| The World’s Greatest Short Stories |
| Publisher |
Jaico |
| First Edition |
1989 |
| 31st Edition |
2015 |
| Price |
₹ 275 |
| Country |
India |
| The Stone Raft |
| Author |
Jose Saramago |
| Publisher |
Harvill Panther |
| Genre |
Novel |
| First Edition |
1994 |
| Harvill Edition |
2000 |
| Price |
$ 11.90 |
| Country |
Portugal |
|
Practical English Usage
International Student’s Edition
|
| Author |
Michael Swan |
| Publisher |
Oxford University Press |
| First Edition |
1980 |
| Second Edition |
1995 |
| Price |
£ 8.5 |
| Country |
UK |
| White, I Write |
| Author |
K. Satchidanandan |
| Publisher |
Harper Collins |
| Genre |
Poetry |
| First Edition |
2011 |
| Price |
₹ 399 |
| Country |
India |
Question 18.
Identify the only novel from the above ones.
Answer:
The Stone Raft
Question 19.
If you wish to buy a grammar book from the above ones, which one will you buy?
Answer:
Practical English Usage
Question 20.
Who is the only poet listed above?
Answer:
K. Satchidanandan
Question 21.
Which book listed above has the latest edition?
Answer:
The World’s Greatest Short Stories
Question 22.
The book that has a student edition is ___________
Answer:
Practical English Usage
Question 23.
Identify the publisher of Jose Saramago’s novel.
Answer:
Harvill Panther
Questions 24 – 28. Answer in about 120 words.
Question 24.
The story ‘Adventures in a Banyan Tree’ narrates two memorable experiences of a boy. Narrate in your own words the boy’s experiences in the banyan tree.
(Hints: the banyan tree in Grandfather’s house – the boy spends his time on the tree – once he witnesses a fight between a mongoose and a cobra while sitting on the tree – the strange case of the grey squirrel and the white rat) (7)
Answer:
There is a banyan tree near the house of the boy’s grandfather. The boy spends his time on the tree very often. Once he witnesses a fight between a mongoose and a cobra. The cobra hissed and his tongue darted in and out. It raised its broad bespectacled hood. The mongoose was ready to fight. Its hair stood on the spine like bristles. A myna and a jungle crow were watching the fight. The mongoose killed the cobra and dragged it into the bush. A squirrel lived on the banyan tree. Once, the grandfather brought a white rat from the bazaar. Soon the squirrel and the white rat became friends. They mated and had three baby squirrels. Grandfather said that squirrels and rats were related and if they mated they could have babies.
Question 25.
The story ‘The Snake and the Mirror narrates the homeopath’s encounter with the snake. Narrate the incidents in the story in your own words. (7)
(Hints: The homeopath lives alone in a rented house – his thoughts after having dinner one night – decides to marry – a snake falls from the roof – coils around his left arm above the elbow – the snake looks into the mirror and moves towards the mirror – the homeopath runs out of the room)
Answer:
The homeopath lives alone in a rented room. It is not a very good room and it has even rats in them. There was a table and mirror and a comb on it. One day around 10 in the night, after taking his dinner, the homeopath returns to his room. He sits in front of the mirror and looks at himself. He thinks it is time for him to marry. He dreams of his future wife. Suddenly a snake falls from the roof. It coils around his left arm above the elbow. He is terrified. Fortunately for him, the snake looks into the mirror and sees its reflection there. It thinks it is another snake and moves towards the mirror. The homeopath then runs out of the room and goes to his friend’s house. When he returns the next day he finds that all his belongings, except his dirty vest, were stolen.
Question 26.
“No one can beat Hollywood when it comes to making films with animals in them”, states Satyajit Ray in ‘Project Tiger’. Prepare a write-up on the relevance of this statement. (7)
(Hints: Ray’s childhood memories – Ray’s visit to Disney studio – a dwarf as dog’s Stand-in-Ray’s plan to shoot a scene with a tiger for his film Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne – visits Bharat Circus – shooting in Shiuri – reshoot in a village called Boral)
Answer:
Satyajit Ray went to the Disney Studio in America. He had seen many films in which there was an Alsatian named Rin-tin-tin. It acted even better than humans. He even saw a dwarf acting as a stand-in for a dog. He then wanted to shoot a scene with a tiger for his film “Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne”. He visited the Bharat Circus and made arrangements for a tiger for the shooting. They found a suitable bamboo grove in Notun Gram. Some shots were taken, but they were later found to be dark owing to poor light. The tiger was undistinguishable among the trees and leaves. Then the scenes had to be shot again. Thorat from the Bharat Circus readily agreed. This time Ray found a bamboo grove closer to Calcutta in a village called Boral. There were some problems with the crowd, but when the tiger jumped out of the lorry and ran towards the crowd, the people ran away. The scenes were then shot properly.
Question 27.
In the story, ‘The Best Investment I Ever Made’, A.J. Cronin narrates the events that prompted him to give seven pounds ten shillings to a young man twenty-five years ago. Narrate the events of the story in your own words. (7)
(Hints: On board the ship Cronin meets a young man and his wife – can’t recognize who the man is – the man whispers something in Cronin’s ear – Cronin recalls an incident that happened 25 years ago – the arrival of the sergeant – the attempts to save a man who tried to commit suicide – the changes that happened in the life of the young man.)
Answer:
Cronin was traveling on a ship from New York. On the second day, he realized that someone named John and his wife were eager to meet him. When they meet, John tells his story. John’s parents were dead. His uncle helped him to get a job as a clerk in a London Lawyer’s office. John had no friends and he fell into bad company. He started betting on horses. He lost all his savings. He then stole some money from the office safe to make a final bet. But again he lost. He wanted to commit suicide. He went to the room and turned on the gas.
Cronin, who was a doctor, was called to attend to John who was found unconscious. There was also a policeman and the landlady of John. When John was revived, he told the three people why he stole the money. They felt pity for him. The doctor gave him the money to place it back in the safe from where he had taken it. The policeman would not report any case against John. The landlady would give him a month’s freeboard. John now changed completely. He worked hard and became a success. Now he and his wife are helping the backward, maladjusted, and delinquent youth to return to normal life. Cronin feels that the money he gave John was the best investment he has ever made.
Question 28.
Life in the lap of nature is always an exciting experience. Prepare a write-up on the close-knit relationship of the boy with Nature in the story ‘Adventures in a Banyan Tree’.
(Hints: the banyan tree – as old as the town of Dehra, at the foot of the Himalayas – the boy’s first friend is a small grey squirrel – birds of all kinds flock on the tree during summer – the boy builds a platform on the tree reading and observing things around by sitting on it – the fight between the mongoose and the cobra – the strange case of the grey squirrel and the white rat). (7)
Answer:
“Adventures in Banyan Tree” tells us that life in the lap of nature is always exciting. The boy in the story lives in his grandfather’s house in the town of Dehra, at the foot of the Himalayas. Near the house, there is an old banyan tree. The boy made a platform in the tree where he used to sit and watch nature and the happenings around him. A squirrel is living on the tree and the boy and the squirrel become quite friendly. He even feeds it from his hand. He also spends time reading books, and enjoying fresh air and sweet smells.
Two instances are very special. One is the fight between a cobra and a mongoose. There were two other spectators – a myna and a crow. The fight ends in the death of the cobra. Then there is the instance of 3 white baby squirrels born to the union of the squirrel and a white rat. The rat was brought from the bazaar by the boy’s grandfather. The squirrel and white rat become close friends and they mate. The squirrel builds a nest in the tree using wool from the grandmother’s knitting kit. Grandfather said that squirrels and rats were related and if they mated they could have babies.
Questions 29 – 33. Answer in about 80 words.
Question 29.
The boy in the story ‘Adventures in a Banyan Tree’ writes a letter to one of his friends describing his statement with the banyan tree. Draft the likely letter. (6)
Answer:
Jobhaven
Azad Road, Ijk.
25 March 2021
Dearest Praveen,
Thanks for your letter. Good to know that you are progressing well in your studies.
You wanted to know how I spend my days. I live in my grandfather’s house in a town called Dehra, at the foot of the Himalayas. The place is blessed with scenic beauty. Near our house, there is an old banyan tree. I have made a platform in the tree. I often sit there and watch nature and the happenings around me. I also read my lessons and some storybooks sitting there, enjoying the cool breeze and the smell of fresh flowers and leaves. A squirrel is living in the tree and I am quite friendly with it. Once I saw a fight between a mongoose and a snake. The snake was hissing, its tongue darting in and out and its bespectacled hood spread wide. The mongoose was strong. Its hair on the spine stood like bristles. There were two other spectators – a myna and a crow. The fight ended in the death of the cobra.
Then there was the strange instance of 3 white baby squirrels born to the union of the squirrel and a white rat. The rat was brought from the bazaar by my grandfather. The squirrel and white rat become close friends and they mated. The squirrel built a nest in the tree using wool from my grandmother’s knitting kit. I was very much surprised to see a white rat giving birth to baby squirrels. Then my grandfather told me that squirrels and rats were related and if they mated they could have babies.
Say ‘Hi’ to your parents and sister. I will come there one of these days to enjoy the fine chicken biriyani your mom makes.
With a lot of love,
Your bosom friend,
(Rahul)
Question 30.
The homeopath in the story, ‘The Snake and the Mirror’ is an interesting character with a good sense of humor. Prepare a character sketch of the homeopath.
Answer:
The homeopath is a poor man. His earnings are meager. He has only Rs. 60 with him. He lives in a small rented room which is infested with rats. There is no electricity in the room. He is concerned with his appearance and he spends a lot of time in front of the mirror. He is conscious he is a doctor. He wants to appear smart and handsome. For that he will keep a thin moustache and keep smiling. He wants to be a successful and rich man. He wants to marry a lady doctor with money and also good practice. He wants her to be very fat so that she does not catch up with him if he makes a mistake and wants to run away from her. But he ends up marrying a thin and slender woman who could run like a sprinter. He is proud of his looks. He is feeling very happy when suddenly from the beam a cobra falls on him and coils itself around his arm. All his dreams about making himself more handsome and getting married vanish like mist in the sunshine. He has no medicine with him against snake poison. So he prays to God to save him. When the snake moves out of his hand, seeing its reflection in the mirror, he flees for his dear life. When he returns the next day, he finds that even his small belongings, except his dirty vest, are gone. Poor doctor loses even the little he had. He is a very interesting character.
Question 31.
Imagine that you are a news reporter of an English daily. Prepare a news report of the first attempt at shooting the scenes with a tiger for Satyajit Ray’s film Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne at Notun Gram.
Answer:
Shooting with a Tiger
The famous Indian Film Director Satyajit Ray is getting ready to take his shots with a tiger for his film “Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne”. The tiger is from Bharat Circus. The shooting is taking place in a bamboo grove at Notun Gram. Thorat from Bharat Circus comes to the location with the tiger. Some 25 people are there to watch the shooting. The tiger is in a cage. Thorat’s men fix a five-foot iron rod to the ground. They take a thin long wire and fix one end to the tiger’s skin collar. The other end is tied to the rod. The door of the cage is opened and what followed was utter confusion. The tiger jumped and rolled about dragging the trainer with it. When the tiger calmed down, some shots were taken. But they found that the shots were not good enough. The shots were so dark that the tiger could not be seen distinctly from the trees and leaves. The scenes had to be shot again at a later date.
Question 32.
Imagine that you are Martha and you are asked to deliver the valedictory speech at the farewell party. Prepare the text of the speech.
Answer:
Respected Principal, my dear teachers and friends, It is with joy and sorrow that I stand here. Joy because I have passed the 8th grade and received the scholarship jacket. I am sorrowful because I have to leave this school and my beloved teachers who have made me grow wiser and my friends with whom I have spent 8 years of my childhood. I thank the Principal my teachers and my classmates who have helped me in getting this scholarship jacket. My sister earned it a few years ago and now I am getting it and I am sure my family members will be proud of me.
I take this opportunity to especially thank my History Teacher, Mr. Schmidt, who has helped me in different ways. I will always remember him with gratitude. Before I conclude, I would like to make a suggestion. This year the Board had decided to charge 15 dollars for the jacket. Fortunately for me, the Principal was kind to make an exception and that is why I am getting this jacket. I want to say to everyone concerned that a scholarship jacket will not remain a scholarship jacket if one has to pay for it even a single dollar. I once again thank everyone for making my stay in this school a memorable one. I wish all my classmates a successful future.
Question 33.
Prepare a profile of William Wordsworth, one of the greatest poets of the Romantic period, using the hints given below:
Born: 7 April 1770, Cockermouth, United Kingdom
Education: St. John’s College, Cambridge
Famous: As a poet
Major Works: Lyrical Ballads, The Prelude, The Solitary Reaper
Honors and Awards: Honorary Doctorate from the University of Durham (1837), Honorary Degree from the University of Oxford (1838), Poet Laureate of United Kingdom (1843)
Death: 23 April, 1850, Westmorland, England
Answer:
William Wordsworth, one of the greatest Romantic poets of England, was born at Cockermouth, United Kingdom, on 7 April 1770. He was educated at St. John’s College, Cambridge. He was famous as one of the greatest Romantic Poets, the others being Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and John Keats. He wrote the “Lyrical Ballads” with Coleridge in 1798. Its publication inaugurated the Romantic Era in English literature. Some of his other major works are “The Prelude”, “The Solitary Reaper” and “The Daffodils”. He has received many Honours and Awards. In 1837 he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of the University of Durham. In 1838 he was awarded an Honorary Degree of the University of Oxford. He was made the Poet Laureate of England in 1843. He died on 23 April 1850, at Westmoreland, England. William Wordsworth is a name that will never be forgotten by lovers of poetry.
Questions 34 – 41. Answer in about 60 words.
Question 34.
The boy in the story ‘Adventures in a Banyan Tree’ talks to his Grandfather about the fight between the mongoose and the cobra. Write the conversation between the boy and Grandfather, (at least 5 exchanges). (5)
Answer:
Boy: Grandpa, today I saw a big fight between a mongoose and a cobra.
Grandpa: Where were you then? Were you not afraid?
Boy: I was sitting on the platform in the banyan tree. So I was not afraid, as the fight was taking place on the ground.
Grandpa: How did it begin?
Boy: I saw a huge cobra gliding out of a clump of cactus and making for some cooler part of the garden. At the same time, a mongoose came out of the bushes and went straight for the cobra.
Grandfather: And then?
Boy: Hissing in defiance, the cobra raised nearly half of his body above the ground himself. His forked tongue was darting in and out. He spread his broad spectacled hood. The mongoose bushed his tail. The long hair on his spine stood up like bristles.
Grandfather: Interesting. Continue.
Boy: A myna and a crow also were observing the mongoose and the cobra. The cobra was trying to mesmerize the mongoose into making a false move. As the mongoose moved nearer, the cobra struck. But the mongoose jumped neatly to one side. Then he bit the snake on the neck. There was blood on the cobra. The crow dived to attack the cobra, but the cobra struck it and it died a little later.
Grandfather: What about the myna?
Boy: The myna flew away. At the end of the fight, the cobra was killed by the mongoose, which dragged the dead snake into the bush.
Grandfather: You must have been very brave to watch this fight sitting on the tree!
Question 35.
Imagine that the homeopath writes about his encounter with the snake in his diary. Write the likely diary entry. (5)
Answer:
I lived in a small rented room because I had only Rs. 60 with me. It was 10 o’clock on a hot summer night. I had my meal at a restaurant and then I returned to my room. I heard a noise when I opened the door. There were rats in my room. There was no electricity in my room. So I lit the kerosene lamp on the table.
I took off my black coat, white shirt, and vest and hung them up. I opened the two windows. I then took out a book “The Materia Medica” sat near the table which also had a mirror and a comb on it. I saw myself in the mirror and I wanted to make myself more handsome. I was unmarried. I combed my hair and adjusted the parting to look straight and neat. I decided to shave daily and grow a small mustache.
I would keep smiling. I lit a beedi and paced up and down the room. Then I thought about marriage. I thought I would marry a woman doctor with a lot of money and good practice. I wanted her to be fat so that if I ran after making some mistakes she would not be able to catch me. I then sat on the chair near the table and was thinking of these things when suddenly a cobra fell from a beam and it crawled onto my shoulder. I was turned into a stone because of fear.
I thought about God then. Soon the snake saw itself in the mirror and it thought it was another snake. It slowly moved away from me to the table. I ran for my life. The next day when I returned to the room I found all my things, except my dirty vest, were stolen.
Question 36.
The English Club of your school has decided to organize a two-day Satyajit Ray Film Festival. Ray’s films like ‘Pather Panchali’, ‘Aparajito’, ‘Apur Sansar’, and ‘Charulata’ will be screened at the festival. Renowned filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan has consented to inaugurate the festival. Draft a notice showing the details of the festival. (5)
Answer:
ST. GEORGE’S HIGH SCHOOL, EDPPALLY
ENGLISH CLUB
20.3.2021
NOTICE
The English Club is organizing a two-day Satyajit Ray Film Festival from 30 to 31 March 2021. The renowned Malayalam Film Director Adoor Gopalakrishnan has very kindly agreed to preside over the inaugural function which will take place at 10.00 a.m. on the 30th of March. The meeting will be in our school auditorium.
After the meeting, the Film “Pather Panchali” will be screened. The title means “Song of the Little Road”. It is a 1955 Bengali-language drama film. In the afternoon, the film “Aparajito” will be shown. Aparajito means “The Unvanquished”. It is a 1956 film.
On the 31st morning, at 10.00 a.m., “Apur Sansar” will be screened. The title means “The World of Apu”. It is a 1959 film. In the afternoon the film “Charulata” will be shown. The film is also called “The Lonely Wife” and it is a 1964 film by the Indian Maestro. It is a rare chance for you to see the most important films of Satyajit Ray. Entry is free. So do come and enjoy.
Riya B. Francis
Secretary, English Club
Question 37.
Write a brief paragraph describing how Ali lost his sister’s shoes and how he tried to prevent his sister from reporting the incident to Father. (5)
Answer:
Ali is the brother of Zahra. He gets her school shoes repaired by the cobbler. The shoes are then placed in a black bag. Ali then goes to the bakery and buys some nan. Later he goes to a vegetable shop to buy some potatoes. Before entering the shop he places the bundle of nan on a pile of boxes of vegetables stacked in front of the shop. He places the bag of shoes in the small gap between the two boxes. As Ali is busy buying the potatoes, a junk collector comes and picks up the bag of shoes puts it in his cart, and goes away. Thus Ali loses the bag containing his sister’s shoes. The parents of Ali and Zahra are poor. They can’t afford to buy new shoes. When Zahra says she will report the loss to the father, Ali is worried. They are now in the presence of their parents so they can’t talk openly. So they exchange notes. Ali writes to tell her that she can wear his sneakers to school. She agrees to the suggestion. This way Ali prevents Zahra from reporting the loss of her shoes to her father.
Question 38.
Mr. John has become a social activist who works to rehabilitate delinquent youth. Prepare a set of five questions you would like to ask him in the light of the story. The Best Investment I Ever Made. (5)
Answer:
- Mr. John, how did you become a successful man after the incident of attempted suicide?
- Did you meet the policeman and the landlady who helped you?
- What efforts did you make to locate the doctor who paid you the money to return to the safe?
- How do you help the delinquent youth?
- Do you get any support from the government in your rehabilitation activities?
Question 39.
Alyakhin is the cruel shoemaker in the story ‘Vanka’. Attempt a brief character sketch of Alyakhin. (5)
Answer:
Alyakhin is a shoemaker. Vanka Zhukov is a nine-year-old orphan. He is apprenticed to Alyakhin. Alyhakhin is a very cruel person who punishes Vanka severely. Vanka is given a lot of beating by Alyakhin. He takes Vanka by the hair drags him into the yard and beats him badly with a stirrup-strap. A stirrup strap is a belt used to connect the footrest of the rider to the saddle. The mistake Vanka made was he had gone to sleep while rocking the baby of Alyakhin. The mistress of Alyakhin is a worse woman.
One day she asked Vanka to clean a herring. He began cleaning it from the tail. She took it and rubbed its head on Vanka’s face. Alyakhin does not give Vanka enough to eat. He is given bread in the morning, gruel for dinner, and again bread for supper. He never gets tea or cabbage soup. Alyakhin makes Vanka sleep in the passage. Whenever the baby gets up in the night, Vanka has to rock him. Even the other apprentices mistreat Vanka. They send him to buy vodka and make him steal the master’s cucumbers. Vanka suffered a lot under Alyakhin.
Question 40.
Imagine that you meet the homeopath of the story ‘The Snake and the Mirror’. You enquire him about his encounter with the snake. Write the likely conversation between you and the homeopath.
Answer:
I: Good morning, doctor. I heard you had a narrow escape from an encounter with a snake.
Homeopath: Don’t remind me of that. It was the worst experience in my life.
I: What happened?
Homeopath: I did not have much money with me. So I took a small room on rent. The room had no electricity. It was full of rats. It had a chair and a table with a mirror and comb on it. One night around 10, I took my meal in a nearby restaurant and returned to my room. I lit a kerosene lamp and sat on the chair near the table.
I: How did the snake come?
Homeopath: That is the strange part. I was looking into the mirror and was planning how to make myself more handsome. I wanted to get married. I imagined I would marry a lady doctor with a lot of practice. I was immersed in such thoughts when suddenly I heard a thud. A snake had fallen from the beam above and it crawled onto my shoulder.
I: Oh my God! Weren’t you scared?
Homeopath: What a question? Not scared with a cobra coiling on your arm? I was stunned with fear and I became a stone!
I: Terrible! And then?
Homeopath: I prayed in my mind asking for God’s help. Fortunately for me, the snake saw its image in the mirror. It thought there was another snake. It slowly uncoiled itself from my arm and moved onto the table. I ran for my life.
I: What happened next?
Homeopath: I spent the night in the house of my friend, When I returned to the room the following day, I found all my belongings were stolen!
I: Really a terrible tale. Anyway, thank God that your life is safe!
Question 41.
Satyajit Ray writes about his experience of visiting Disney Studio in Hollywood in his diary. Write the likely diary entry.
Answer:
I visited Disney Studio in Hollywood and the things I saw there really surprised me. One can beat Hollywood when it comes to making films with animals in them. I had seen many films in which an Alsatian named Rin-tin-tin acted. It acted even better than humans. I also saw some films with a collie called Lassie. It looked as if the director could make Lassie act the way he wanted it to act. These dogs were like stars and they were paid like any other big actor. Their owners could easily get one lakh rupees for just one film. I also saw these animal actors were reverently treated in the Disney Studio. The main character in this particular film I watched while shooting was a large dog.
The cameraman was getting the lights ready. It is usual for the actors to be present when the lights are arranged. This is to show the cameraman how they will walk or where they will stand in a particular shot. In the case of big stars, this job is done by their stand-ins. A sand-in is usually physically similar to a star. The stars come when the lights are ready to take the shots. I saw some actors moving about on the set. On one side there was a large dog. The cameraman shouted to everyone to take their positions. The dog stayed where it was. This puzzled me. Was it not required in the next shot? Before I could ask someone, something strange happened.
From nowhere, there appeared a little dwarf, followed by another man carrying a hairy dog skin. Then to my surprise, the dwarf went down on all the fours on a chalk mark on the floor. The dog’s skin was draped over him. Then he crawled from one mark to another. The cameraman got busy with the lights. The dwarf was the dog’s stand-in! Every animal in a Hollywood film is well-trained. There are even trained ravens in Hollywood.
Question 42.
The sergeant in the story ‘The Best Investment I Ever Made’ rushes to Cronin’s house seeking his help to save a young man who has attempted suicide at a nearby house. Write a brief paragraph on the efforts taken by the sergeant, Cronin, and the landlady in bringing the young man back to life.
Answer:
John’s parents were dead. His uncle helped him to get a job as a clerk in a London Lawyer’s office. John had no friends and he fell into bad company. He started betting on horses. He lost all his savings. He then stole some money from the office safe to make a final bet. But again he lost. He wanted to commit suicide. He went to the room and turned on the gas. The sergeant then rushed to Cronin, who was a doctor, to attend to John who was found unconscious. The landlady of John was also there.
When John was revived, he told the three people why he stole the money. They felt pity for him. The doctor gave him the money to place it back in the safe from where he had taken it. The sergeant would not report any case against John. The landlady would give him a month’s freeboard. All these acts of charity from Cronin, the sergeant, and the landlady transformed John completely. He worked hard and became a success. Now he and his wife are helping the backward, maladjusted, and delinquent youth to return to normal life.
Question 43.
Complete the conversation suitably.
Friend: You are my room-mate ___________(a)___________?
Adichie: Yes, I’m
Friend: ___________(b)___________?
Adichie: I arrived here this morning.
Friend: ___________(c)___________
Adichie: I can speak English fluently as English is our official language.
Friend: ___________(d)___________?
Adichie: No, I don’t have any tribal music collection with me.
If you want to listen to music I ___________(e)___________ my tape of Mariah Carey.
Friend: Oh! I see. Anyway you had better ___________(f)___________ as you have travelled for long hours.
Answer:
Friend: You are my roommate aren’t you?
Adichie: Yes, I’m
Friend: When did you arrive?
Adichie: I arrived here this morning.
Friend: Can you speak English?
Adichie: I can speak English fluently as English is our official language.
Friend: Have you got any tribal music collection with you?
Adichie: No, I don’t have any tribal music collection with me.
If you want to listen to music I have my tape of Mariah Carey.
Friend: Oh! I see. Anyway, you had better take a rest as you have traveled for long hours.
Question 44.
Complete the following passage choosing the right phrases from those given in the box.
Before I could ___________(a)___________ anything a strange thing happened. A dwarf ___________(b)___________ from nowhere. He had ___________(c)___________ a hairy dog-skin. I have never ___________(d)___________ such a scene in my life.
| turn up, put on, come across, make out, give away |
Answer:
Before I could make out anything a strange thing happened. A dwarf turned up from nowhere. He had put on a hairy dog skin. I have never come across such a scene in my life.
Question 45.
Read the passage given below. There are certain errors in it. They are underlined. Edit them.
On the second day, out from New York, while (a) makes the round of the promenade deck, I suddenly (b) become aware that one of the (c) passenger was watching me (d) close, following me (e) at his gaze every time I passed.
Answer:
On the second day, out from New York, while (a) making the round of the promenade deck, I suddenly (b) became aware that one of the (c) passengers was watching me (d) closely, following me (e) with his gaze every time I passed.
