CBSE ENGLISH CORE: 2013 [Outside Delhi ] Set I

Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:  

The term dietary fibers refer collectively to indigestible carbohydrates present in plant foods. The importance of these dietary fibres came into the picture when it was observed that the people having diet rich in fibres had low incidence of coronary heart disease irritable bowel syndrome dental caries and gall stones.

The foodstuffs rich in these dietary fibres are cereals and grains, legumes, fruits with seeds, citrus fruits, carrots, cabbage, green leafy vegetables, apples, melons, peaches, pears, etc.

These dietary fibres are not digested by the enzymes of the stomach and the small intestine whereas most of other carbohydrates like starch and sugar are digested and absorbed. The dietary fibres have the property of holding water, and because of it these get swollen and behave like a sponge as these pass through the gastrointestinal tract. The fibres add bulk to the diet and increase transit time in gut. Some of these fibres may undergo fermentation in the colon.

In recent years, it has been considered essential to have some amount of fibres in the diet. Their beneficial effects lie in preventing coronary heart disease and decreasing cholesterol level. The fibres like gums and pectin are reported to decrease post-prandial (after meals) glucose level in blood. These types of dietary fibres are recommended for the management of certain types of diabetes. Recent studies have shown that the fenugreek (methi) seeds which contain 40 per cent gum are effective in decreasing blood glucose and cholesterol levels as compared to other gum containing vegetables.

Some dietary fibres increase transit time and decrease the time of release of ingested food in colon. The diet having less fibres is associated with colon cancer and the dietary fibres may play a role in decreasing the risk of it.

The dietary fibres hold water so that stools are soft bulky and readily eliminated. Therefore high fibre intake prevents or relieves constipation.

The fibres increase motility of the small intestine and colon, and by decreasing the transit time there is less time for exposure of the mucosa to harmful toxic substances. Therefore there is a less desire to eat and the energy intake can be maintained within the range of requirement. This phenomenon helps in keeping a check on obesity. Another reason in helping to decrease obesity is that the high-fibre diets have somewhat lower coefficients of digestibility.

The dietary fibres may have some adverse effects on nutrition by binding some trace metals like calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc and other, and therefore preventing their proper absorption. This may pose a possibility of nutritional deficiency especially when diets contain marginal levels of mineral suggested that an intake of 40 grams dietary per day is desirable.

(Extracted from ‘The Tribune’)

(a) On the basis of your reading of the above passage make notes on it in points only using recognizable abbreviations wherever necessary. Also suggest a suitable title.  [5 mark]

(b) Write a summary of the above in about 80 words.   [3 mark]

1. Read the passage given below and the question that follow:                                   12

1. Air pollution is an issue which concerns us all alike. One can willingly choose or reject a food, a drink or a life comfort but unfortunately there is little choice for the air we breathe. All what is there in air is inhaled by one and all living in those surroundings.

2. Air pollutant is defined as a substance which is present while normally it is not there or present in an amount exceeding the normal concentrations. It could either be gaseous or a particulate matter. The important and harmful polluting gases are carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide ozone and oxides of sulphur and nitrogen. The common particulate pollutants are the dusts of various inorganic or organic origins. Although we often talk of the outdoor air pollution caused by industrial and vehicular exhausts, the indoor pollution may prove to be as or a more important cause of health problems.

3. Recognition of air pollution is relatively recent. It is not uncommon to experience a feeling of suffocation in a closed environment. It is often ascribed to the lack of oxygen. Fortunately however the composition of air is remarkably constant all over the world. There is about 79 per cent nitrogen and 21 per cent oxygen in the air, the other gases form a very small fraction. It is true that carbon dioxide exhaled out of lungs may accumulate in a closed and over-crowded place. But such an increase is usually small and temporary unless the room is really air-tight. Exposure to poisonous gases such as carbon monoxide may occur in a closed room heated by burning coal inside. This may also prove to be fatal.

4. What is more common in a poorly ventilated home is a vague constellation of symptoms described as the sick-building syndrome. It is characterized by a general feeling of malaise headache dizziness and irritation of mucous membranes. It may also be accompanied by nausea, itching aches, pains and depression. Sick building syndrome is getting commoner in big cities with the small houses which are generally over-famished. Some of the important pollutants whose indoor concentrations exceed those of the outdoors include gases such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, oxides of nitrogen and organic substances like spores, formaldehydes, hydrocarbon aerosols and allergens. The sources are attributed to a variety of construction materials, insulations, furnishings, adhesives, cosmetics, house dusts, fungi and other indoor products.

5. By-products of fuel combustion are important in houses with indoor kitchens. It is not only the burning of dried dung and fuel wood which is responsible but also kerosene and liquid petroleum gas. Oxides of nitrogen and sulphur are released from their combustion.

6. Smoking of tobacco in the closed environment is an important source of indoor pollution. It may not be high quantitatively hazardous for health. There are over 3000 chemical constituents in tobacco smoke which have been identified. These are harmful for human health.

7. Micro-organisms and allergens are of special significance in the causation and spread of diseases. Most of the infective illnesses may involve more persons of a family living in common indoor environment. These include viral and bacterial diseases like tuberculosis.

8. Besides infections, allergic and hypersensitivity disorders are spreading fast. Although asthma is the most common form of respiratory allergic disorders, pneumonias are not uncommon to allergens from various fungi molds, hay and other organic materials. Indoor air ventilation systems, coolers, air-conditioners, dampness, decay of pet animals, production or handling of the causative items are responsible for these hypersensitivity-diseases.

9. Obviously the spectrum of pollution is very wide and our options are limited. Indoor pollution may be handled relatively easily by an individual. Moreover the good work must start from one's own house.

(Extracted from ‘The Tribune’)

(a) (i) What is an air pollutant?

(ii) In what forms are the air pollutants present?                                          (1)

(iii) Why do we feel suffocated in a closed environment?                                   (1)

(iv) What is sick building syndrome? How is it increasing?                                 (2)

(v) How is indoor smoking very hazardous?                                            (1)

(vi) How can one overcome the dangers of indoor air pollution?                                   (2)

(b) Find the words from the above passage which the same as the following:                  (3)

(i) giddiness (para 4)

(ii) constant (para 8)

(iii) humidity (para 8)

You are Vineeta/Vikram, School Pupil Leader of Rani Laxmi Bai Senior Secondary School, Gwalior. Draft a notice for your school notice board in not more than 50 words inviting the names of the students who want to participate in the cultural programme organized in aid of the victims of the recent Assam floods.

You have a three bedroom flat in Dwarka, which you want to let out on rent. Draft an advertisement in not more than 50 words to be published in ‘The Times of India’, under classified columns. Contact 2758902.

You attended a meeting organized by the Education Society running your school on 5^th September, the birthday of Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, the former President of India, to felicitate the best teachers of the area. Mentioning the contribution of teachers to the society and the awards given to them, write a report in 100 – 125 words for your school magazine. You are Bina/Babu, Head Girl/Boy of A.B.C School, Coimbatore.

Keeping in view the frequent occurrence of earthquakes, floods and torrential rains in different parts of the country, your school arranged a talk on disaster management. The speaker explained the precautionary measures to be taken by the public and the government in case of emergency. As a student reporter, Ravi/Rani, prepare a report on the talk in 100 – 125 words, to be published in your local news paper.              

Gyan Deep Education Society felicitates the best teachers

Bina Sharma (Head Girl)

After passing the secondary school examination, a candidate has to make a very difficult choice from a number of streams available to him for further study at the senior school level. There is no valid mechanism to assess the suitability of a candidate for a particular stream. Write a letter to the editor of a national daily emphasizing the need of educational counselors for guidance in this matter in each school. You are Vinita/Viney, 48, Agra Fort, Agra.

Due to insanitary conditions in the colony, the population of rodents has been multiplying exposing the residents to multiple diseases. Write a letter to the Municipal Commissioner bringing the problem to his notice and urging him to take urgent action in the matter. You are Suraj/Supriya, 12, M.G. Road, Chennai.

Write an article in 150 – 200 words for your school magazine on the topic, ‘Obesity among School Children’. You are Mohini/Mohit.

You are Raman/Ruchika. Write an article in 150 – 200 words for your school magazine on the topic, ‘Life without Modern Gadgets’.