OMTEX CLASSES: SSC English Paper Two As per new syllabus

Q.1 (A) Read the following passage and do the activities: (10 marks)

A1. True or False

State whether the following statements are True or False. (2)

According to the narrator:

1. Yellappa Reddy went to his favourite Vishnu Temple. (False)

2. Pavitra Vana is at Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu. (False)

3. Bilva leaf is the favourite of Lord Shiva. (True)

4. Bilva leaf is easily found everywhere. (False)

If you want to find in one single garden all the trees / flowers/ fruits/ berries mentioned in our Vedas, you have to go to Pavitra Vana at Ramanagaram, 50 miles away from Bengaluru. The creation of this garden happened thus....

36 years ago, the then Conservator of Forests Karnataka Yellappa Reddy went to his favourite Shiva Temple at Gokarn to worship. But as he was giving flowers and garlands after puja, he was surprised to find that he was given only jasmine flowers and not the bilva leaf the favourite of Lord Shiva. On enquiring, the priest said that the temple found it difficult to get the bilva leaf, as it was not commercially economic to grow it and very few flower sellers were willing to provide bilva leaves.

In his words, "I determined that whoever originally had included these flowers as part of worship had done so with scientific insight. For example, I found that when we gently press petals of these flowers, the glands will burst and it will produce certain volatile oils. This will generate certain chemicals which enriches the atmosphere and becomes beneficial to humans, creating an environment that induces the mind to greater concentration. Additionally, these plants have various medicinal healing properties long established by Ayurveda. Reddy determined to grow this entire flora in a single garden.

A2 One word only!

Given below are the meanings of certain words. Work in pairs and write down appropriate word. (2)

1. substance that changes quickly into gases = Volatile

2. a place where a lot of people go on holidays = resort

3. main forest officer at district level = conservator

4. act of bending to show respect for = obeisance

A3. Collocations:

Match the following words with their meanings. (2)

A	B
i. scientific	a. economic
ii. Volatile	b. properties
iii. Commercially	c. insight
iv. healing	d. texts
	e. oils
	f. plants
	g. names

A4. Match tags

Match the following sentences with their tags. (2)

A	B
1. Yellappa Reddy went to his favourite Shiva Temple.	haven't they?
2. These plants have various medicinal healing properties.	hadn't they?
3. Their Sanskrit names had about then synonyms each.	wasn't he?
4. He was giving flowers and garlands after puja.	didn't he?

A5. Personal Response

What are the various qualities required for accomplishment of a task?

Ans. In order to complete a task one should have a qualities like determination, leadership, observation capacity, analyzing quality, willingness to work hard like Yellappa Reddy.

(B) Read the passage and complete the activities given. (10 marks)

B1. Find the correct alternative

Choose the correct alternatives from the following to complete the sentences. (2)

1. The water is a _____________

a. dietician

b. physician

c. environmentalist

2. Daily consumption of fruits _______

a. is a guarantee of getting nutrients.

b. is a guarantee of being healthy.

c. is not a guarantee of getting nutrients.

3. The colour – coded plan _________

a. appeals to the patients

b. does not appeal to the patients

c. suits the patients.

4. Tomato comes under the category of

a. White

b. Red

c. Green

d. Orange

Colour is the key to good nutrition. As a physician who has studies nutrition and cancer prevention for more than 20 years, I believe our careless diet accounts for most common diseases, including heart disease, cancer and "diabesity" – an epidemic of obesity and diabetes.

But here's a shocker: Eating fruits and vegetables everyday won't guarantee your'e getting enough essential nutrients. iceberg lettuce and your French fries, for instance, are hardly nutritious. A big clue: they lack colour. Produce that comes in vivid hues contains an arsenal of disease – fighting chemicals called phytonutrients.

To get enough of these vital ingredients, just add a single serving (a piece of fruit, cup of juice, one to two cups of vegetables) from each of these seven colour families to your usual whole grains, proteins and healthy fats. It couldn't be simpler.

Patients tell me this colour – coded plan doesn't feel like a diet – yet you'll probably drop a few kilos as fruits and vegetables naturally edge out higher – calorie breads and snacks. You'll also up your intake of vitamins, minerals and fibre.

B2. Coining new words (2)

Read the following word from the text:

diabesity

The above word is a mixed one. As you know it is formed with the combination of words 'obesity' and 'diabetes'.

Write any four such words and also find out the original words that form the words.

Ans. Internet = inter + network

Camcorder = camera + recorder

Medicare = medical + care

Edutainment = education + entertainment

B3. What do the following colours stand for? (2)

colour
Red
Green
White
Blue

Answer:

colour	stands for
Red	Iycopene, anthocyanin, antioxidant
Green	lutein, zeaxanthin
White	allicin
Blue	anthocyanin

B4. Look at the following signs/ marks used by the writer. Write the function of the signs. (2)

Signs/ Marks	Functions
1. :
2. –
3. ( )
4. ,

Answer:

Signs/ Marks	Functions
1. :	short pause compared to full stop.
2. –	precedes as explanation
3. ( )	used to enclose a phrase
4. ,	shortest pause compared to full stop.

B5. Think about your everyday meal. How will you make it more colourful and nutritious? (2)

Ans. Before reading this passage, I had no idea of a nutritious and colourful diet. But, now I'll make my everyday meal more colourful

and nutritive by including leafy vegetables, fruits, salad, soups, etc.

Q.2. (A) Read the following passage and do the following activities:(10 marks)

A1.Fill up: (2)

Fill in the blanks the following sentences by choosing the correct alternatives from the passage:

1. The author finds _____________ very interesting. (them)

2. When people are comfortable and talking, their ___________ become alert. (eyes)

3. The _____________ has been instrumental in author's life in making friends. (Camera)

4. Photography for him means that the camera freezes the ____________ of the time he has spent with that particular person. (fragment)

What inspires you?

People inspire me. I find them very interesting. They must have something to say and that is what stimulates me. Politicians don't really catch my attention. There has to be some correlation somewhere, I don't like to make people pose for me; I have never asked anyone to, either. I am very talkative and I love to talk to those who come to me. Since I have knowledge of quite and few things, I have never found it difficult to talk to anyone and break the ice. Once they ease out, only than can they converse and communicate to the camera. And these different faces keep inspiring me.

What does photography mean to you?

Some may call it an abstract way of self expression and all of that but for me, photography is my conversation with someone. If the subject is caught well, the photograph will communicate in the same way to the viewers as well. Photography for me means that the camera freezes the fragment of the time I have spent with that particular person. This may sound strange but I actually remember all my shoots. Like I remember this one time when Lata and Asha had come for a shoot and Lata cracked a joke on me and I captured the moment when both of the burst out laughing. It is wonderful photograph.

A2. Look at the photograph of a camera. Name its different parts and uses.

Answer.

Lens	To see through the picture
Screen	To see the captured / capturing picture
Zoom	To adjust focal length of the lens
Click button	To capture the picture

A3. Correct alternatives (2)

Choose the correct alternative and complete the following:

1. Capturing candid moment of the subject.

a. is interesting at all times.

b. boring at times

c. sometimes interesting

2. In every shoot I make an effort to take

a. the normal angle

b. an offbeat angle.

c. the best angle

A4. Frame Wh – questions for the following statements: (2)

1. I find them very interesting. (How)

Ans. How do I find them?

2. Photography is my conversation with someone. (What)

Ans. What is my conversation with someone.

A5. Personal Response

What do you think are the challenges for a photographer?

Ans. People nowadays expecting more from a photographer. Thus a good photographer should be technically sound and adopting the latest technology. But for doing so they need financial assistance. These are the challenges normally a photographer has to face.

Q.2 (B) Read the following passage and do the activities: (10 marks)

B1. Match books with types. (2)

A	B
Sci – fi	Narration of a travel
Travelogue	piece of writing performed by actors
play	long story having imaginary character
novel	science fiction

Answer:

A	B
Sci – fi	Narration of a travel
Travelogue	piece of writing performed by actors
play	long story having imaginary character
novel	science fiction

B2. Why is Sahyadri Adventure called a desi adventure? (2)

Ans. Sahyadri Adventure is set to be happen in Mumbai, Pune, Mahabaleshwar and nearby mountain ranges. Moreover, it is the combination of historical, cultural, natural and adventure. Thus It is called a desi adventure.

Sahyadri Adventure is a unique and perhaps the first of its kind adventure fiction in India. It is a part of a series of adventures across various locations in India. It is part of a series of adventures across various locations in India. Sahyadri adventure consists of two books, viz. Anirudh's Dream and Koleshwar's secret. The books are a welcome change in adventure fiction, whish till n ow was largely set in localities in US or Europe. The refreshing change which Indian readers can relate to is that all locations of the series are set in the jungles, swamps, grasslands, mountains and seas of India.

Sahyadri Adventure is set in the region of Mumbai, Pune and Mahableshwar with the imposing Sayhadri or Western Ghats spread out in between in all their glory. Thus, it is a desi adventure with desi atmosphere and background. It blends the natural world and its phenomenon like south – west monsoon with fiction. There is excitement in the situations in the story and it takes one close to nature, thus blending culture, history, nature and adventure.

In the book Anirudh's dream, the reader is transported to the mist – clad mountains surrounding Khadakvasla dam near Pune. The initial part of the adventure is set in the sprawling and green campus of National Defence Academy (NDA)

B3. Matching

Match the following collocations:

A	B
welcome	culture
largely	spirit
blending	conditions
environmental	personality

Answer:

A	B
welcome	culture
largely	spirit
blending	conditions
environmental	personality
	set

B4. Definite or Indefinite

Use 'a' 'an' or 'the' wherever essential. (2)

1. Its not easy to learn foreign language which is very different from your own language.

2. The police are looking for youn man aged about 23.

3. London is biggest city in Britain.

4. Agatha Christie was well known writer of detective stories. She was writer who invented Hercule Poirot.

Ans.

1. It is not easy to learn a foreign language which is very different from your own language.

2. The police are looking for the young man aged about 23.

3. London is the biggest city in Britain.

4. Agatha Christe a well known writer of the detective stories. She was the writer who invested Hercule Poirot.

B5. Personal Response

What according to you, add to the beauty of the prose text?

Answer. According to me, Sahayadri adventure is a desi adventure combined with historical, cultural, natural and adventures. Moreover, it is happening in India, which leads to the feeling of our own world which we can imaginatively read and enjoy.

(Section II: Poetry)

Q3 (A) Read the following extract of a poem and complete the activities. (5 marks)

A1. Point out any four advantages and disadvantages of the idiot box 'Television' (2)

Advantages	Disadvantages

Answer:

Advantages	Disadvantages
Entertainment	Timepass
Improves General knowledge	Makes sense dull
Guide lines for us	Leads to misguide.
Mass media to spread awareness	Spread of improper / inaccurate messages leads to a social problem.

The most important thing we've learned.

So far as children are concerned,

Is never, NEVER, NEVER let

Them near your television set –

Or better still, just don't install

The idiotic thing at all.

In almost every house we've been,

We've watched them gaping at the screen.

They loll and slop and lounge about,

And stare until their eyes pop out.

(Last week in someone's place we saw

A dozen eyeballs on the floor)

They sit and stare and stare and sit

Until they're hypnotised by it,

Until they're absolutely drunk

With all that shocking ghastly junk.

Oh yes, we know it keeps them still,

They don't climb out the window sill,

They never fight or kick or punch,

They leave you free to cook the lunch

And wash the dishes in the sink – 1

But did you ever stop to think,

To wonder just exactly what

This does to your beloved tot?

IT ROTS THE SENSE IN THE HEAD!

IT KILLS IMAGINATION DEAD!

IT CLOGS AND CLUTTERS UP THE MIND!

IT KAES A CHILD SO DULL AND BLIND

HE CAN NO LONGER UNDERSTAND

A FANTASY, A FAIRYLAND!

HIS BRAIN BECOMES AS SOFT AS CHEESE!

HIS POWERS OF THINKING RUST AND FREEZE!

HE CANNOT THINK – HE ONLY SEES!

A2. Read the poem and complete the words. (2)

1. This is what you watch when you switch on the T.V. = _ _ _ _ _ n

2. This is where we walk on = F _ _ _ _

3. This is where dishes are washed = _ i _ _

4. You often do this in the kitchen = _ _ _ k

Answer.

1. This is what you watch when you switch on the T.V. = _ _ _ _ _ n (Screen)

2. This is where we walk on = F _ _ _ _ (Floor)

3. This is where dishes are washed = _ i _ _ (Sink)

4. You often do this in the kitchen = _ _ _ k (Cook)

A3. Matching: Match the following: (1)

A	B
Is never, never never let -	Antithesis
They loll and slop and lounge about -	Repetition
	Tautology

Answers:

A	B
Is never, never never let -	Antithesis
They loll and slop and lounge about -	Repetition
	Tautology

B. Read the following lines and complete the activities. (5 marks)

B1. True or False

State whether the following sentences are true or false. (2)

i. It is the faith of the narrator that anything can be changed by prayer. (False)

ii. Indians have witnessed sights of unbearable human sufferings in the past. (True)

iii. The poet prays that every Indian’s heart may be free from fear. (True)

iv. The narrator advises people to support tyranny and exploitation. (False)

Republic Day! We grow aware

That nothing can be wrought by prayer

--Prop of the credulous – until

It is supported everywhere

By an all-powerful people’s will!

We have been witness in the past to sights impossible to bear:

Famine and drought and dread and doom

Continue still to spread the gloom

Of humans turned to skeletons, to shriveled bags of naked bones

Who have not even strength to vent their suffering through sobs and groans…

MAY EVERY Indian’s heart become

An unafraid announcing drum

Echoing and re-echoing a new hope and a new desire

To burn up rubbish-heaps of hate,

Once and for all. Time cannot wait!

Burn up all selfish aims and ends in a great nation’s cleansing fire!

Let India’s millions chant in chorus:

A mighty future stands before us –

Down with all ruthless tyranny, down with all exploitation which

Renders the poor the poorer –and renders the bloated rich, more rich!

B2. In the past

What were the effects of natural calamities on human beings in the past? (2)

In the past, Natural calamities like famine and drought and dread and doom continued to spread the gloom. They turned human beings into skeletons, to shrivelled bags of naked bones. They had not enough strength to withstand to vent their suffering through sobs and groans.

B3. Describing words

Find and write down from the extract the words that describe the following: (1)

i. people’s will ii. sights iii. skeletons iv. hate

(Section III: Rapid Reading)

Q4.Read the following extract and complete the activities given below: (5 marks)

A1. Compare the old and new house and complete the table. (1)

Points	Old House	New House
surroundings	razzle – dazzle
size of the house

Points	Old House	New House
surroundings	razzle – dazzle	quite, orderly, sleepy
size of the house	smaller	biggest

I was thirteen when we moved to Cantonment at Allahabad. In stark contrast to the raz-zle-dazzle of the city’s commercial areas like Katra and Chowk, the Cantonment was a quiet, ore-derly place with broad tree-lines roads that still carried the names of long-dead Britishers. Our bungalow was on a sleepy by-lane called MacPherson Road. When we first saw it, my brothers and I were delighted. It was by far the biggest house we had ever lived in. the task of furnishing those huge, echoing rooms daunted mother.

“Is a slightly smaller house not available?” she asked Father, “we do not have enough cur-tains for this place. And the furniture seems a little inadequate. Why did they have to plan the kitchen at such a distance from the dining room?It is like doing a route march. And who is going to help me keep this place clean and dusted?”

Her misgivings and objections were undoubtedly valid. But, seeing our crestfallen faces, she sighed and gave in. We made extravagant promises to help in the household chores.

A2. Complete

Complete the following list of objections that the mother had with the new house (2)

1. The house is very big.

2. . ........................................

3. . ........................................

4. . ........................................

Answer:

1. The house is very big.

2. Who would keep the place clean?

3. There is not enough curtains for the place.

4. The distance between the kitchen and the dining room was too large.

A3. Personal response

How do children generally feel when they move into a new house? (2)

The general feelings of children who moved into a new house are excitement about the surroundings, curious to know new things, nervous of being isolated, etc.

(Section IV: Writing skill)

Q.5 A1 or A2 Do any one of the following activities: (5 marks)

A1. Complaint letter

Write a complaint letter regarding overflow of drainage in your locality / village.

(Click here for answer)

A2. Letter to your friend explaining him about the importance of Joint family system.

(Click here for answer)

Q. 5 (B) Do anyone of the following activities. (5 marks)

B1. Report

Look at the following news. Imagine that the programme was held in your school. Prepare a report.

Adult literacyprogramme

(CLICK FOR ANSWER)

B2. Preparing a project

Develop a dialogue between you and a doctor. Regarding how to maintain general health.

(Click Here for Answer)

Q6. Do any one of the following activities. (5 marks)

A1. Write a paragraph of 100 words based on the information given in the following table.

The following is the information given in the form of a table. Write two paragraphs of about 70-80 words using the information given below.

	Maharashtra	Karnataka
Area	3,07,713 sq. km.	1,91,791 sq. km.
Population	7,89,37,187	4,49,77,209
Capital	Mumbai	Bangalore
Language	Marathi	Kannada
Rivers	Godavari, Krishna, Bhima, Koyana	Tungabhadra, Kaveri
Crops	Jawar, Bajra, Sugarcane	Jawar, Tea, Rubber
Major Cities	Mumbai, Nagpur, Aurangabad, Nasik	Manglore, Hubli, Dharwad

(Click here for answer)

A2. Read the following passage and draw a tree diagram to cover the main points.

Tree Diagram One

The word ‘Literature’ is really hard to define. Many interpretations are made about the word. But all are incomplete. Some opine that literature is the mirror of life, some others say that it is the criticism of life. Whatever may be the controversy about the word, we may say that literature is that which reflects life. The branches of literature are poetry, drama, novel and short stories. Poetry is of two kinds, imaginative and realistic. Drama is either a comedy or a tragedy. Novels are also of many kinds, historical, psychological, realistic, scientific and regional. Short story is that one which stands very close to life inspite of a little scope.

(Click Answer)

B. Do any one of the following activities B1 or B2 (5 marks)

B1. Debate on ‘Old persons are burden to the society”.

Proposition

Old persons have already formed a pattern of life and are unwilling to change or modify or adjust. They have fixed ideas and are not ready to accept any new ideas that does not fit into their mindset. Their experience cannot be applied to present day situations.

They lack knowledge of the changing lifestyle.

Writethe Opposition to the above topic.

B2. Speech

Prepare a speechregarding blood donation.

Q7. Develop a paragraph of about 100 words expanding any one of the following expressions.

(5 marks)

1. EMPTY VESSELS MAKE THE MOST SOUND.

2. FAILURES ARE STEPPING STONES TO SUCCESS.

3. CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME.

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