English Core: 2016: CBSE: [Delhi]: Set - I

Read the passage given below:                       12

1. Maharana Pratap ruled over Mewar only for 25 years. However, he accomplished so much grandeur during his reign that his glory surpassed the boundaries of countries and time turning him into an immortal personality. He along with his kingdom became a synonym for valour, sacrifice and patriotism. Mewar had been a leading Rajput kingdom even before Maharana Pratap occupied the throne. Kings of Mewar, with the cooperation of their nobles and subjects, had established such traditions in the kingdom, as augmented their magnificence despite the hurdles of having a smaller area under their command and less population. There did come a few thorny occasions when the flag of the kingdom seemed sliding down. Their flag once again heaved high in the sky thanks to the gallantry and brilliance of thepeople of Mewar.

2. The destiny of Mewar was good in the sense that barring a few kings, most of the rulers were competent and patriotic. This glorious tradition of the kingdom almost continued for 1500 years since its establishment, right from the reign of Bappa Rawal. In fact only 60 years before Maharana Pratap, Rana Sanga drove the kingdom to the pinnacle of fame. His reputation went beyond Rajasthan and reached Delhi. Two generations before him, Rana Kumbha had given a new stature to the kingdom through victories and developmental work. During his reign, literature and art also progressed extraordinarily. Rana himself was inclined towards writing and his works are read with reverence even today. The ambience of his kingdom was conducive to the creation of high quality work of art and literature. These accomplishments were the outcome of a longstanding tradition sustained by several generations.

3. The life of the people of Mewar must have been peaceful and prosperous during the long span of time; otherwise such extraordinary accomplishment in these fields would not have been possible. This is reflected in their art and literature as well as their loving nature. They compensate for lack of admirable physique by their firm and pleasant nature. The ambience of Mewar remains lovely thanks to the cheerful and liberal character of its people.

4. One may observe astonishing pieces of workmanship not only in the forts and palaces of Mewar but also in public utility buildings. Ruins of many structures which are still standing tall in their grandeur are testimony to the fact that Mewar was not only the land of the brave but also a seat of art and culture. Amidst aggression and bloodshed, literature and art flourished and creative pursuits of literature and artists did not suffer. Imagine, how glorious the period must have been when the Vijaya Stambha which is the sample of our great ancient architecture even today, was constructed. In the same fort, Kirti Stambha is standing high, reflecting how liberal the then administration was which allowed people from other communities and kingdoms to come and carry out construction work. It is useless to indulge in the debate whether the Vijaya Stambha was constructed first or the Kirti Stambha. The fact is that both the capitals are standing side by side and reveal the proximity between the king and the subjects of Mewar.

5. The cycle of time does not remain the same. Whereas the reign of Rana Sanga was crucial in raising the kingdom to the acme of glory, it also proved to be his nemesis. History took a turn. The fortune of Mewar – the land of the brave, started waning. Rana tried to save the day with his acumen which was running against the stream and the glorious traditions for sometime.

On the basis of your understanding of the above passage answer each of the question given below with the help of options that follow:                                    (1 x 4 = 4)

(a) Maharana Pratap became immortal because:
(i) he ruled Mewar for 25 years.
(ii) he added a lot of grandeur to Mewar.
(iii) of his valour, sacrifice and patriotism.
(iv) Both (ii) and (iii)

(b) Difficulties in the way of Mewar were:
(i) lack of cooperation of the nobility.
(ii) Ancient tradition of the kingdom.
(iii) its small area and small population.
(iv) the poverty of the subjects.

(c) During thorny occasions:
(i) The flag of Mewar seemed to be lowered.
(ii) The flag of Mewar was hoisted high.
(iii) The people of Mewar showed gallantry.

(iv) Most of the rulers heaved a sigh of relief.

(d) Mewar was lucky because:
(i) All of its rulers were competent.
(ii) Most of its people were competent.
(iii) Most of its rulers were competent.
(iv) Only a few of its people were incompetent.

Answer the following questions briefly:   (1 x 6 = 6)
(a) Who is the earliest king of Mewar mentioned in the passage?
(b) What was Rana Kumbha’s contribution to the glory of Mewar?
(c) What does the writer find worth admiration in the people of Mewar?
(d) How could art and literature flourish in Mewar?
(e) How did the rulers show that they cared for their subjects?
(f) What does the erection of Vijaya Stambha and Kirti Stambha in the same fort signify?
(g) Find words from the passage which mean the same as each of the following:
(i) Surprising (para 4)
(ii) Evidence (para 4)

Read the passage given below:

1. To ensure its perpetuity, the ground is well held by the panther both in space and in time. It enjoys a much wider distribution over the globe than its bigger cousins, and procreates sufficiently profusely to ensure its continuity for all time to come.

2. There seems to be no particular breeding season of the panther, although its sawing and caterwauling is more frequently heard during winter and summer. The gestation period is about ninety to hundred days (Whipsnade, ninety-two days). The litter normally consists of four cubs, rarely five. Of these, generally two survive and not more than one reaches maturity. I have never come across more than two cubs and the heels of the mother. Likewise, graziers in the forest have generally found only two cubs hidden away among rocks, hollows of trees, and other impossible places.

3. Panther cubs are generally in evidence in March. They are born blind. This is a provision of Nature against their drifting away from the place of safety in which  they are lodged by their mother, and exposing themselves to the danger of their being devoured by hyenas, jackals, and other predators. They generally open their eyes in about three to four weeks.

4. The mother alone rears its cubs in seclusion. It keeps them out of the reach of the impulsive and impatient male. As a matter of fact the mother separates from the male soon after mating and forgets all about their tumultuous union. The story that the male often looks in to find out how the mother is progressing with her cubs has no foundation except in what we wish it should do at least.

5. The mother carries its cubs about by holding them by the scruff of their neck in its mouth. It trains them to stalk, and teaches them how to deliver the bite of death to the prey. The cubs learn to treat all and sundry with suspicion at their mother’s heels. Instinctively the cubs seek seclusion, keep to cover and protect their flanks by walking along the edge of the forest

6. I have never had an opportunity to watch mother panther train its cubs. But in Pilibhit forests, I once saw a tigress teach some lessons to its little ones. I was sitting over its kill at Mala. As the sun set, the tigress materialized in the twilight behind my machan. For about an hour, it scanned and surveyed the entire area looking and listening with gravest concern. It even went to the road where my elephant was awaiting my signal. The mahout spotted it from a distance and drove the elephant away.

7. When darkness descended upon the scene and all was well and safe, the tigress called its cubs by emitting a low haa - oon. The cubs, two in number and bigger than a full-grown cat, soon responded. They came trotting up to their mother and hurried straight to the kill in indecent haste. The mother spitted at them so furiously that they doubled back to its heels immediately. Thereafter, the mother and its cubs sat under cover about 50 feet (15 m) away from the kill to watch, wait, look, and listen. After about half an hour’s patient and fidgetless vigil the mother seemed ‘paid for’. At this signal, the cubs cautiously advanced, covering their flanks, towards the kill. No longer did they make beeline for it, as they had done before.

8. The mother sat watching its cubs eat, and mounted guard on them. She did not partake of the meal.

On the basis of your understanding of the above passage complete the statements give below with the help of options that follow:

(a) To protect its cubs the mother panther hides them:
i. Among rocks
ii. In the branches of the trees
iii. Behind the tree trunks
iv. At its heels

(a) The male panther:

i. Is protective of its cubs
ii. Trains its cubs
iii. Watches the progress of the mother
iv. Is impulsive and impatient

Answer the following questions briefly:

(a) How many cubs does the mother panther rarely deliver?
(b) What may happen if the panther cubs are not born blind?
(c) Why did the mahout drive his elephant away?

(d) Why did the tigress spit at its cubs?
(e) From the narrator’s observation, what do we learn about the nature of the tigress?
(f) Why does the panther not face the risk of extinction?
(g) Find words from the passage which mean the same as each of the following:
(i) moving aimlessly (para 3)
(ii) came down/fell (para 7)

Read the passage given below:

People tend to amass possessions, sometimes without being aware of doing so. They can have a delightful surprise when they find something useful which they did not know they owned. Those who never have to change house become indiscriminate collectors of what can only be described as clutter. They leave unwanted object in drawers, cupboards and attics for years in the belief that they may one day need them. Old people also accumulate belongings for two other reasons, lack of physical and mental energy, and sentiment. Things owned for a long time are full of associations with the past, perhaps with the relatives who are dead, and so they gradually acquire a sentimental value.

       Some things are collected deliberately in an attempt to avoid wastage. Among these are string and brown paper, kept by thrifty people when a parcel has been opened. Collecting small items can be a mania. A lady cuts out from newspapers sketches of model clothes that she would like to buy if she had money. As she is not rich, the chances are that she will never be able to afford such purchases. It is a harmless habit, but it litters up her desk.

       Collecting as a serious hobby is quite different and has many advantages. It provides relaxation for leisure hours, as just looking at one’s treasure is always a joy. One doesn’t have to go out for amusement as the collection is housed at home. Whatever it consists of – stamps, records, first editions of books, china – there is always something to do in connection with it, from finding the right place for the latest addition to verifying facts in reference books. This hobby educates one not only in the chosen subject, but also in general matters which have some bearing on it.

       There are other benefits also. One gets to meet like-minded collectors to get advice, compare notes, exchange articles, to show off one’s latest find. So one’s circle of friends grows. Soon the hobby leads to travelling, perhaps a meeting in another town, possibly a trip abroad in search of a rare specimen, for collectors are not confined to one country. Over the years one may well become an authority on one’s hobby and will probably be asked to give informal talks to little gatherings and then, if successful, to larger audiences.

(a) One the basis of your understanding of the above passage make notes on it using headings and sub-headings. Use recognizable abbreviations (wherever necessary-minimum four) and a format you consider suitable. Also supply an appropriate title to it.                                                           (5)

(b) Write a summary of the passage in about 80 words.                                                          (3)

Principal, Sunrise Global School, Agra requires a receptionist for her school. Draft a suitable advertisement in about 50 words to be published in the classified columns of a national newspaper giving all the necessary details of qualifications and experiences required in the receptionist.

Or

Water supply will be suspended for eight hours (10 am to 6 pm) on 6^th of March for cleaning of the water tank. Write a notice in about 50 words advising the residents to store water for a day. You are Karan Kumar/Karuna Bajaj, Secretary, Janata Group Housing Society, Palam Vihar, Kurnool.

Yesterday you went to Sunrise Hospital, Market Road, New Delhi talking with you the victim of a hit and run accident. There were chaotic conditions in the casualty department. The injured was attended to after a lot of precious time had been lost.

Write a letter of complaint in 120-150 words to the Medical Superintendent. You are Karan/Karuna, M114, Mall Road, Delhi.                                      6

Or

Lack of job opportunities in the rural areas is forcing people to migrate to cities. Every big city thus has a number of slums in it. Life in these slums is miserable.

Write a letter in 12-150 words to the editor of a national newspaper on how we can improve the living conditions in these slums. You are Karak/Karuna, M114, Mall Road, Delhi.

‘The policy of reservation of seat for admission to the professional courses is good for the deprived sections of society.’

Write a debate in 150-200 words either for or against the motion.                                          10

Or

Write a speech in 150-200 words on ‘Benefits of early rising’ to be delivered by you in the morning assembly of your school. You are Karuna/Karan, Head Girl/Head Boy.

India is a land of diversity. One way in which it makes us feel proud of it is the number of festivals we enjoy. Write an article in 150-200 words on ‘Festivals of India’. You are Karuna/Karan.

Or

Rising pollution, fast and competitive lifestyle, lack of nutritious food etc. have caused health woes for a large section of our population. Providing health care used to be a charitable and ethical activity. Today it has become commercialized, a money spinning business. Write an article in 150-200 words on ‘How to provide proper health care to the common man’. You are Karan/Karuna.

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follows:                                   4

Its loveliness increases, it will never

Pass into nothingness; but will keep

A bower quiet for us, and a sleep

Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.

(a) Whose loveliness will keep on increasing?

(b) Identify the phrase which says that ‘it’ is immortal.
(c) What is a ‘bower’?
(d) Why do we need sweet dreams, health and quiet breathing in our lives?

Or

Old

familiar ache, my childhood’s fear,

but all I said was, see you soon,

Amma,

all I did was smile and smile and

smile……………….

(a)  What does the phrase, ‘familiar ache’ mean?

(b)  What was the poet’s childhood fear?

(c)  What do the first two lines till us about the poet’s feelings for her mother?

(d)  What does the repeated use of the word, ‘smile’ mean?

Answer any four of the following in 30 -40 words each:

(a)  Describe the irony in Saheb’s name.

(b)  Why was Gandhiji opposed to C.F. Andrews helping him in Champaran?

(c)  Aunt Jennifer’s efforts to get rid of her fear proved to be futile. Comment.

(d)  What does Stephen Spender want to be done for the children of the school in a slum?

(e)  When he was only ten days old, a prediction was made about the future of the Tiger King. What was ironic about it?

(f)  What was his father’s chief concern about Dr. Sadao.

Answer the following question in 120-150 words:

Our language is part of our culture and we are proud of it. Describe how regretful M. Hamel and the village elders are for having neglected their native language, French.                                           6

Or

Teachers always advise their students to dream big. Yet, the same teachers in your classrooms find fault with Sophie when she dreams. What is wrong with Sophie’s dreams?