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SSLC MODEL EXAMINATION, MARCH 2021
ENGLISH
Time: 2 1⁄2 hrs Maximum Score: 80
Instructions
• 20 minutes is given as cool-off time.
• Use cool-off time to read the questions and plan your answers.
• Attempt the questions according to the instructions.
• Keep in mind the score and the time while answering the questions.
• The maximum score for questions from 1 to 45 will be 80.
Questions 1-5 : Read the following excerpt from the memoir, ‘The Project Tiger’ and
answer the questions that follow:
Mr Thorat's men had fixed a five foot iron rod to the ground, about thirty feet from
the area where the tiger was supposed to take a walk. They took a thin, long wire and fixed
one end to the collar made of tiger-skin that the tiger was already wearing. The other end was
tied firmly to the visible portion of the iron rod. The door of one of the cages was unfastened
and Mr Thorat called out to the tiger. It responded almost at once and sprang out of its cage to
land on the open space outside. What followed was totally unexpected. One look at Mr
Thorat's startled and helpless face told us that he was as taken aback as the rest of us. Instead
of walking sedately in a dignified manner, the tiger started prancing around with tremendous
enthusiasm. It leapt, it jumped, and it rolled about, dragging its poor trainer who was
desperately clutching the wire tied to the tiger's collar in a futile attempt to bring it under
control. We stood around foolishly, watching a new and strange kind of circus which we
were getting to see for free! The camera was still standing on its three legs, staring into the
wood, but the tiger was showing no sign of making its way there.
1. Who was Mr. Thorat? (1 score)
2. How did the tiger respond when the door of the cage was unfastened? (1 score)
3. What might be the reason for the tiger’s unexpected behaviour? (1 score)
4. Identify the sentence from the passage which reveals Satyajith Ray’s sense of humour?
(1 score)
5. Pick out two words/phrases from the passage which means ‘shocked’? (2 score)
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Questions 6 – 9 : Read the lines from the poem, ‘Lines Written in Early Spring’ and
answer the questions that follow:
He rode now as he never rode,
By rocky lane and fen;
The sick man's wife opened the door,
'Father! you come again!'
'And is the poor man dead?'
he cried 'He died an hour ago.'
The old priest Peter Gilligan
In grief swayed to and fro.
'When you were gone, he turned and died,
As merry as a bird.'
The old priest Peter Gilligan
He knelt him at that word.
6. How did Father Gilligan ride through rocky lane and fen? Pick out the line which states so.
(2 score)
7. Why did the sick man’s wife ask, 'Father! you come again!'? (1 score)
8. 'And is the poor man dead?’ What does the word ‘poor’ mean? (1 score)
9. Pick out an instance of simile from the given lines. (1 score)
10. Read the 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 score)
The budding twigs spread out their fan,
To catch the breezy air;
And I must think, do all I can,
That there was pleasure there.
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If this belief from heaven be sent,
If such be Nature's holy plan,
Have I not reason to lament
What man has made of man?
11. Read the lines from the poem ‘Ballad of Father Gilligan’ and prepare a note of
appreciation focusing on its theme, imagery and other poetic devices. (6 score)
'When you were gone, he turned and died,
As merry as a bird.'
The old priest Peter Gilligan
He knelt him at that word.
'He Who hath made the night of stars
For souls who tire and bleed,
Sent one of this great angels down,
To help me in my need.
'He Who is wrapped in purple robes,
With planets in His care
Had pity on the least of things
Asleep upon a chair.'
Questions 12-17: Read the passage and answer the questions that follow: (1 score each)
Success in life depends largely on good health. Keep your body fit and strong by
being clean, inhaling fresh air and following regular habits and suitable entertainment. Avoid
anything that will weaken your strength. Smoking harms the body and clouds the brain.
Beware of drink. It is the deadly enemy of health and efficiency. Above all, remember that
your character is a precious possession. Be truthful in all things, courteous and considerate to
everybody, fair to your opponents, kind and helpful to all who are weak and suffering, and do
not be afraid to have the courage to stand up for what is good, pure and noble.
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12. What is the reason for success in life according to the given passage?
13. What is the key to attain good health?
14. What are the things we should avoid?
15. What are the qualities that make good character and the one supposed to be nurtured?
16. Find the word from the passage that means, 'showing concern for the rights and
feelings of others'
17. Give a suitable title to the passage.
Questions 18 – 22: Answer in about 120 words. (7 score each)
18. If I made a silly mistake and needed to run away, she should not be able to run after
me and catch me. The doctor in the story, ‘The Snake and the Mirror’ usually presents
things in a humorous manner. Analyse the humorous elements in the story and
prepare a write-up describing how the humour adds to the beauty of the story.
(Hints – the kind of person the doctor was – his important decisions – admirer of beauty –
bachelor – encounter with the snake – the snake taken by its own beauty – his thoughts – the
thief’s final insult)
19. The mynah in the story, ‘Adventures in a Banyan Tree’ narrates its experience of
watching the intense fight between the cobra and a mongoose and the death of his
friend, the crow. Write the likely narrative.
(Hints – cobra and mongoose face to face – mongoose superb fighter – cobra skilful –
swift – venomous fangs – deceptive movements – mesmerize the mongoose – crow
determined to participate – dived – cobra struck – crow flung – twenty feet away –
mongoose fearlessly dragged into the bushes)
20. ‘No animal is harmed in the production of this film.’ You might have noticed this
statement in the beginning of the films. Do you think that animals are harmed while
shooting? Prepare a speech in response to the statement.
(Hints – Movie making –statement at the beginning – modern technology – animals are
fellow beings – right to live – respect – movies with animals - no exploitation – love them –
let live)
21. Is the title, ’The Best Investment I Ever Made’ appropriate to the anecdote? Why do
you think so? Prepare a review of the story in the light of the above statement.
(Hints – ship – fellow voyager – man of forty – Mr John_S – solicitor – cares adolescents
from juvenile courts – reminds of a past event – gambling – ruins life – suicide attempt – help
from the sergeant – landlady and the doctor)
22. I could hardly believe my eyes. I spoke in a trembling rush. ‘Oh! Thank you, Sir.
Suddenly I felt great.’ These words of happiness show how much the scholarship jacket
meant to Martha. Briefly narrate her story in your own words. You may use the given hints.
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(Hints – Wishes to get the scholarship jacket – works hard – overhears the conversation
between Mr Boone and Schmidt – principal asks her to pay for the scholarship jacket –
grandpa refuses – finally awarded)
Questions 23 – 27: Answer in about 80 words (6 score each)
23. Imagine the news about the robbery that happened in the homeopath’s house gets
reported in a local daily. Write the likely news report.
24. The management decides to change the policy regarding the scholarship jacket. The
teachers feel unhappy about this change and the Principal writes a letter to the management
expressing his resentment. Write the likely letter.
25. The Grandfather in the story, Adventures in a Banyan Tree’ loves to live in harmony with
the nature. Prepare a character sketch of the Grandfather in your own words.
26. Imagine Alyakhin is in police custody and is enquired by the police for employing Vanka
as a child labourer. Frame a set of six questions he would use to enquire.
27. Prepare a profile of A. J Cronin from the given hints.
Name : Archibald Joseph Cronin
Born : 19 July 1896
Popular as : Scottish novelist and physician
Spouse : Agnes, Mary Gibson
Awards : National Book Award for Fiction
Education : Dumbarton Academy, University of Glasgow
Died : 6 January 1981
Questions 28 – 36: Answer in about 60 words. (5 score each)
28. The English Club of your school decides to conduct a seminar on the topic ’Rights of
Children’ in connection with the World Day against Child Labour. Prepare a notice to be
circulated among the students for the same with the details of the programme.
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29. The shooting at Notun Gram was an unsuccessful attempt yet a memorable experience
for Satyajith Ray. Imagine he decides to recollect his feelings in the form of a diary entry.
Write the likely diary.
30. Suppose the homeopath shares the terrible experience he had on that hot summer night
with one of his friends through a letter. Write the likely letter.
31. The boy was thrilled to watch the fight between the cobra and the mongoose. Imagine he
tells his grandfather about the fight. Write the possible conversation among them.
32. Mr John recognises the narrator when he sees him on the ship but feels reluctant to go and
speak to him. Imagine he writes his thoughts for the moment. Write the likely thoughts.
33. Satyajith Ray meets the manager of the Bharat Circus to arrange for a trained tiger that
was required in his movie, Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne. Write the likely conversation among
them.
34. Living a life on loans was not easy according to Aunt Jane in the one-act-play, Never
Never Nest. Write a short paragraph discussing the matter.
35. Martha is awarded the scholarship jacket by the Vice Chancellor of the University.
Prepare a news report that may appear in the newspaper, the next day.
36. Prepare of a short description of Mr John as mentioned in the story, The Best Investment
I Ever Made.
Questions 37-42: Study the table and answer the questions that follow. (1 score each)
37. Which hotel is in a walking distance to the town?
38. What is the similarity in North Sea Hotel and Hawah Beach Hotel?
39. What is the fare one has to pay for a night’s stay at Spellock Hotel?
40. Which hotel is supposed to be near the woods?
41. What is the offer to the airport given by North Sea Hotel?
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42. What is the name of a tourist spot mentioned in the table?
43. Complete the conversation. (6 score)
Villager : You look so terrified, ...................... (a) .....................?
Doctor : Yes, I had an encounter with a deadly snake.
Villager : .............................(b).........................?
Doctor : I didn’t do anything.
Villager : If the snake had bitten you, ........................ (c) ...................
Doctor : Yes. I would have died.
Villager : ............................... (d) .........................?
Doctor : No, I didn't kill the snake.
Villager : You had better ....................... (e) .......................
Doctor : I too feel the same.
Villager: Nobody should have such an experience ever.
Doctor: True indeed. The more I think of it .................................(f)......................
44. Replace the underlined words in the following passage with suitable phrasal verbs
given in brackets. (4 score)
Vanka wore (a) his cap and ran out. On the way he met (b) a man at the butcher's
shop. Vanka asked him about the way to the city. The man doubted whether Vanka would
succeed (c) to reach the city since snowfall was heavy. The man asked Vanka to postpone
(d) his journey for the next day.
(make it, put on, come across, put off, put out)
45. There are certain errors in the passage given below. They are underlined. Edit them.
(5 score)
Mr Thorat's men had fix (a) a five foot iron rod to the ground, about thirty feet from
the area whom (b) the tiger was supposed to take a walk. They took a thin, long wire and
fixed one end to the coller maid (c) of tiger-skin that the tiger was already wearing(d) the
other end were (e) tied firmly to the visible portion of the iron rod.