SSC ENGLISH JULY 2015 BOARD PAPER WITH SOLUTION

SSC ENGLISH JULY 2015 BOARD PAPER WITH SOLUTION.

Reading Skills, Grammar and Vocabulary (Prose)

Q.I. (A) Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow : (10 marks)

A.1. True or False:

State whether the following statements are true or false and rewrite them: [2]

1. The first thought that entered the writer’s mind was that it was a ghost.
2. The sound of the footsteps began at quarter past one o’clock.
3. The grandmother was in the kitchen.
4. The narrator was in a bed when he heard the steps.

The ghost that got into our house on the night of November 17, 1915, raised such a hullabaloo of misunderstandings that I am sorry I didn't just let it keep on walking, and go to bed. Its advent caused my mother to throw a shoe through a window of the house next door and ended up with my grandfather shooting a patrolman. I am sorry, therefore, as I have said, that I ever paid by any attention to the footsteps.

They began about a quarter past one o'clock in the morning, a rhythmic, quick-cadenced walking around the dining-room table. My mother was asleep in one room upstairs, my brother Herman in another, grandfather was in the attic, in the old walnut bed which, as you will remember, once fell on my father. I had just stepped out of the bathtub and was busily rubbing myself with a towel when I heard the steps. They were the steps of a man walking rapidly around the dining-table downstairs. The light from the bathroom shone down the back-steps, which dropped directly in the dining-room; I could see the faint shine of plates on the plate-rail; I couldn't see the table. The steps kept going round and round the table; at regular intervals a board creaked, when it was trod upon. I supposed at first that it was my father or my brother Roy, who had gone to Indianapolis but were expected home at any time. I suspected next that it was a burglar. It did not enter my mind until later that it was a ghost.

A2. Table:

State the action of characters in the passage:  [2]

Character	Action
Mother
Herman
Roy
The narrator

A 3 .Matching:

Match the words given in Column A with their appropriate meaning from Column B. [2]

Column A	Column B
(a) hullabaloo	(1) arrival or coming
(b) advent	(2) Sadly
(c) attic	(3) thief
(d) burglar	(4) room just below the roof of a building
	(5) lot of loud noise.

A 4. Language study: [2]

1. They were expected home at any time. [Begin your sentence with ‘We ........’]
2. I heard the footsteps, ....... [Choose the correct tag and rewrite the sentence]

A 5 . Personal Response.

How would you react on the dark night if you hear any sound in your kitchen? Support your answer with appropriate reasons. [2]

Answers:

A. 1. False: The first thought that entered the writer’s mind was not the ghost but was either his father or his brother.

2. True

3. False: Actually Grandmother was not mentioned in this passage.

4. False: The given statement is incorrect because the narrator had just stepped out of the bath tub and busily rubbing himself when he heard the footsteps.

A. 2. Table:

Character	Action
Mother	asleep in one room upstairs
Herman	asleep in another room
Roy	had gone to Indianapolis
The narrator	stepped out of the bathtub and rubbing himself with a towel.

A. 3. (a) hullabaloo - lot of loud noise

(b) advent - arrival or coming

(c) attic - room just below the roof of a building

(d) burglar - thief.

A. 4. (1) We expected them home at any time.

(2) I heard the footsteps, didn’t I?

A. 5. If I heard any sound in my kitchen on a dark night, I would wake up my parents first. Then we would call our neighbours to assist us in this difficult situation. Also I would call my friends through phone. I am very sure that they would come immediately and help us like Chota Bheem.

(B) Read the passage and complete the activities given below:

B. 1. Complete:

Each crowd had a language of its own and spoke among themselves without the fear of being overheard. Something as ubiquitous as dal tasted like sambar in the South, gaining its dalness as we climbed up to Orissa; tea was called, chya, chai and sa, while coffee was kafi, kaapi, and koffee. For a person with limited skills when it comes to learning and understanding new languages, this was my Train of Babel.

But I was clearly in a minority. The train had in it soldiers from the south going back to patrol borders far away from home, and workers from the east going back home on a much - need break - both serving as the connection between various parts of the country. These were the polyglots, speaking in tongues that had no relation with their own, at times in functional, curt phrases, or with flourish.

On the train, it was soon clear how important this was for those from South and Northeast. Every second passenger was a defence personnel, a majority of them belonging to the oldest regiment of Indian Army, the Madras regiment, and the Assam Rifles. The other half was made up of labourers from the east and further east - the seven sisters of the Northeast. The former protects, the latter serves.

The third kind of passengers were those from the North and Northeast, forced to come down thousands of kilometres for quality medical care. P. Gupta, the patriarch of a family from Dimapur, Nagaland, had come to the CMC Hospital in Vellore, where he underwent check - ups for his various ailments.

B2. Give reasons: (2)

Complete the following sentences by giving reasons: (2)

(1) The soldiers from the South were going back because ___________

(2) The crowd spoke without fear because _____________________

(3) The narrator was in minority because _________

(4) The writer calls the train as “Train of Babel” because ___________

B. 3 . Find words: (2)

Find words from the passage that mean:

(1) very common = _ b _ _ _ _ t _ _ _.

(2) knowing or using many languages = _ _ _ y _ _ _ _ s.

(3) Small number of persons = m _ _ _ _ _ _ _.

(4) common illness = _ _ _ _ _ _ t.

B. 4. Language study:  (2)

Frame a wh - question for the following statements with the help of the wh - words given in the brackets:

(a) The other half was made up of labourers from the east. (What)

(b) The third kind of passengers were forced to come down thousands of kilometres for quality medical care. (Why)

B5. Personal Response:

How does the extract signify that ‘India is a country of unity in diversity’ ?

Answers:

B1.

B2. (1) The soldiers from the south were going back because their job is to patrol borders.

(2) The crowd spoke without fear because each crowd had a language of its own that the others did not know.

(3) The narrator was in minority because the majority of passengers were either soldiers or workers.

(4) The writer calls the train as “Train of Babel” because the passengers in the train were talking in many languages at a time.

B. 3. Find Words

Find words from the passage that mean:

(i) Very common ----> ___ b ___  ____  ___  ___ t _____  _____  ____

Ans. ubiquitous

(ii) Knowing or using many languages ----> ___  ___  ___  y ___  ___  ___  ___ s.

Ans. polyglots

(iii) Small number of people ---> m ___  ___  ___  ___  ___  ___  ___

Ans. minority

(iv) Common illness ---> ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ t

Ans. ailment

B4. Language Study

Frame a Wh-question for the following statements with the help of the Wh-words given in the brackets: (2)

(i) The other half was made up of labourers from the east. (What)

Ans. What was the other half made up of?

(ii) The third kind of passengers was forced to come down thousands of kilometres for quality medical care. (Why)

Ans. Why was the third kind of passengers forced to come down thousands of kilometers?

B5. Personal Response (2)

How does the extract signify that ‘India is a country of unity in diversity’?

Ans. In this extract, various people from different community, state, language, culture, origin, etc have come across. But they all are know that they are Indians and belonging to a vast country. This signifies that there is a unity in diversity in India.

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

A1. Order Arrange the following sentences in chronological order: (2)

(i) The father noticed the son playing with the wood scrap on the floor.

(ii) The words of the little boy so struck the parents that they were speechless.

(iii) The son and the daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess.

(iv) The husband and wife set a small table in the corner of the room for the old man.

Ans.

(i) The son and the daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess.

(ii) The husband and wife set a small table in the corner of the room for the old man.

(iii) The father noticed the son playing with the wood scrap on the floor.

(iv) The words of the little boy so struck the parents that they were speechless.

A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law and their four-year-old son. The old man’s hands trembled, his eyesight was bad and his step faltered. Every night the family ate together at the dinner table. But the elderly grandfather’s shaky hands and failing sight made eating rather difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When he grasped his glass, often water spilled on the table cloth. The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess. ‘We must do something about grandfather’, said the son. ‘I’ve had enough of his spilled water, noisy eating and food on the floor.’ So the husband and wife set a small table in a corner of the room. There, the old man was made to eat alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner at the table. Since he had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl. Sometimes, when the family glanced in his direction, he had a tear in his eye as he ate alone. Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a spoon or spilled food. Their four-year-old son watched it all in silence.

He asked the child sweetly, ‘What are you making?’ Just as sweetly, the boy responded, ‘Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and mama to eat your food for when I grow up.’ The four-year-old smiled and went back to work. The words so struck the parents that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done. That evening the husband took his father’s hand and gently led him back to the family table.

A2. Find Proof

Write the lines from the extract in proof of the following statements: (2)

(i) The son and the daughter-in-law were irritated.

(ii) The grandfather was sorry for the action of his son.

(iii) The grandson taught a lesson to his parents.

(iv) The parents repented for their action

Ans.

(i) The son and daughter -  in - law were irritated.

(ii) He had a tear in his eye as he ate alone.

(iii) The words so struck the parents that they were speechless.

(iv) Though no word was spoken, they knew what must be done.

A3. Antonyms

Find the opposite meaning words from the extract for the following (2)

(i) strong

Ans. weak

(ii) praises

Ans. admonitions

(iii) rare

Ans. often

(iv) rudely

Ans. gently.

A4. Language Study (2)   

(i) He took his father’s hand and led him back to the table. (Begin the sentence with  ‘Taking his …’)

Ans. Taking his father’s hand, he led him back to the table.

(ii) He asked the child sweetly, “What are you making?” He asked the child sweetly what … (Complete it in indirect form)

Ans. He asked the child sweetly what he was making.

A5. Personal response (2)

Does this story appeal to you? Why? Support your answer with reasons.

Ans. There is a famous proverb, ‘What we do unto others, comes back to us’. It is a universal true, so this story appeals not only to me but also everyone in the world. It also explains the scenario, the younger generation learns and picks up values from their seniors hence, their future actions will be determined by the past habitual actions of our old generations.

(B) Read the following passage and do the given activities: [10 marks]

B1. Advantages (2)

Mention any Four advantages of cycling as given in the passage:

Ans.

Motor Transport is killing us! So says, Dr Anuradha Lal of DHI (Doctors of a Healthy India) which met in Delhi yesterday. Thousands of people die every year in traffic accidents. Even more people die because they breathe polluted air from motor vehicles. (Delhi is one of the most polluted cities in the world.) So what is the answer? DHI says, we should make cycling easier. Dr Lal outlined six reasons why:

(1) Most Indian cities are very polluted because every motor vehicle produces dirty fumes. Doctor says that city air is so dirty that thousands of people die every year of chest illnesses. Cycling is clean because it produces no fumes.

(2) Cyclists don’t have to spend on petrol, so bicycles are cheap to run. Cycle repairs are cheaper than motor repairs too because bicycles are quite simple machines.

(3) Bicycles save money for our country too. All motor vehicles need petrol which comes from oil. India does not produce much oil, so we have to buy it from other countries. But we don’t need to buy anything from foreign countries to ride bicycles.

(4) If we get exercise every day, we become healthy. Cycling keeps us fit. Driving motor vehicles does not!

(5) In cities sometimes, traffic doesn’t move at all as there is not enough space on the roads. Bicycles are too small to take up much road space.

(6) Motor traffic is very noisy. In contrast, bicycles are quiet  except for the gentle ‘tring, tring’ of their bells.

B2. Finding difference

Point out the difference between cycle and other vehicles: (2)

Point of difference	Pollution	Price	Health of a rider	Space on road
Cycle	Clean	----	Keeps healthy	-----
Other Vehicles	------	Costly	------	Cover major space

Ans.

Point of difference	Pollution	Price	Health of a rider	Space on road
Cycle	Clean	Cheap	Keeps healthy	Does not cover much space on the road
Other Vehicles	Pollution making	Costly	Makes comparatively less healthy as bicycle.	Cover major space

B3. Vocabulary Point out the difference of meaning of the underlined words: (2)

(i) Bicycles save money for the country too.

Ans. Here, the word ‘too’ implies ‘also’ or ‘additionally’.

(ii) Bicycles are too small to take up much road space.

Ans. In this sentence, ‘too’ refers to the ‘extent’ of smallness.

B4. Language Study (2)

(i) Delhi is one of the most polluted cities in the world. (Begin your sentence with ‘Very few…’)

Ans. Very few cities in the world are as polluted as Delhi.

(ii) Cycle repairs are cheaper than motor repairs. (Begin your sentence with ‘Motor repairs…’)

Ans. Motor repairs are not as cheap as cycle repairs.

B5. Personal Response (2)

How, according to you, will be cycling safer and easier in cities?  

Ans. In cities, majority of the vehicles creates the problem of pollution and traffic jams. But if most of the people prefer Cycling for short distance travel then there will be safer and easier in cicite. Government should also implement proper laws and construct additional Separate space on the road to encourage cycling in the cities.

(SECTION  II : Poetry)

Q.3. (A) Read the following extract and do the given activities: [5 marks]

A1. Find Out Find how the poet describes the following: (2)

(i) The birds _______

(ii) The rain _______

(iii) The sky _______

(iv) The grass _______

Ans.

(i) The birds are singing in the distant woods.

(ii) The rain is heavy and incessant to the point of flooding.

(iii) The sky is brightened as the morning dawns making it rejoice as if it were human.

(iv) The grass is bright with the raindrops.

There was a roaring in the wind all night;

The rain came heavily and fell in floods;

But now the Sun is rising calm and bright,

The birds are singing in the distant woods;

Over his own sweet voice the stock-dove broods;

The Jay makes answer as the Magpie chatters;

And all the air is filled with pleasant noise of waters.

All things that love the sun are out of doors;

The sky rejoices in the morning’s birth;

The grass is bright with raindrops  on the moors

The hare is running races in her mirth;

And with her feet, she from the plashy Earth

Raises a mist; that, glittering in the Sun,

Runs with her all the way, wherever she doth run.

A2. Difference

Compare night and morning as described in the poem and write: (2)

Night: _______

Morning: _______

Ans.

Night	Morning
The wind was roaring. It was raining heavily, thus causing floods.	The sun is rising. It is bright The birds are chirping. The hare is running races mirthfully.

A3. ‘The sky rejoices in the morning’s birth’  The figure of speech is _______ because _______. (Complete the given sentence). (1)

Ans. The figure of speech is Personification because the sky and the morning are given human qualities of the ability to rejoice and to give birth to.

(B) Read the following lines and do the activities: [5 marks]

B1. Web

Complete the web with any four activities performed by mother as given in the stanzas: (2)

Ans.

My hands were busy through the day;

I didn’t have much time to play

The little games you asked me to.

I didn’t have much time for you.

I’d wash your clothes, I’d sew and cook

But when you’d bring your picture book

And ask me please to share your fun

I’d say: “A little later, son.”

I’d tuck you in all safe at night

And hear your prayers, turn out the lights,

Then tiptoe softly to the door….

I wish I’d stayed a minute more.

B2. Complete (2)

Expectations of the son	Reactions of the mother
(i) _______	(i) _______
(ii) _______	(ii) _______

Ans.

Expectations of the son	Reaction of the mother
(i) To play games with his mother	(i) Did not have time for playing games
(ii) To share in the fun of the son	(ii) _______

B3. Write any 2 pairs of rhyming words from the first eight lines. (1)

Ans. (i) day - play (ii) cook - book

(SECTION  III : Rapid Reading)

Q.4. (A) Read the following passage and do the given activities: [5 marks]

A1. Fill in the blanks by selecting proper word/words from the given passage: (1)

(i) The last destination where the writer’s father posted was _______.

Ans. Allahabad

(ii) The age of the writer when the story took place was _______.

Ans. Thirteen

One of the advantages of growing up in an Army household was the frequency with which we move. ‘Postings’ came with predictable regularity every three years. What was unpredictable and therefore exciting was the suspense. Where would we go this time? Ambala, Pune, Dehradun, Allahabad, Tejpur, Bangalore, Yo! … In my short span of thirteen years we had moved lock, stock and barrel eleven times!

Every move meant a change. New journeys, new schools, my new books, new uniforms, new friends and new houses. We lived in tents, bashas, Nissen huts, flats and bungalows. No matter what the shape and size of the dwelling, mother soon put her own special stamps on it and transformed it into a familiar place  our home  complete with bright yellow curtains, coffee-brown carpet, assorted pictures, hanging ferns and potted palms  providing a comforting sense of continuity in our essentially nomadic life.

I was thirteen, the year we moved to the Cantonment at Allahabad. In stark contrast to the razzle-dazzle of the city’s commercial areas like Katra and Chowk, the cantonment was a quiet, orderly place with broad tree-lined 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.

A2. Compare (2)

Point out the difference:

Cantonment area: _______

Commercial area of a city: _______

Ans.

Cantonment area	Commercial area of a city
Quiet, broad tree-lined roads, orderly	Razzle-dazzle

A3. How does a mother convert a house into a home? (2)

Ans. Mom’s love and affection towards family members converts a house into a beautiful home. Her hardworks in the fields of decor, cleanliness, hygiene, comfort, providing all basic amenities is the foundation of making a house into home. We can build a huge house with bricks and cements, but it is mom, who makes it a living home.

(SECTION  IV : Writing Skills)

Q.5. (A) Letter Writing Attempt any one of the following letters with the help of the following leaflet: [5 marks]

Visit Coorg (1) Coorg ======> Situated in Karnataka. (2) Sanctuaries nearby Coorg =====>  Pushpagiri and Brahmagiri. (3) Spices of Coorg =======>  Pepper, Cardamom, Nutmeg, Turmeric, Lemon grass. (4) Name of a fort ======>  Madikeri Fort (5) Major river ========> Cauveri. (6) Type of trees ========>  Bamboo, Sandalwood and Rosewood. Karnataka Tourism Development Corporation

A1. Letter You are planning to visit Coorg with your family. Invite your friend to join and suggest your plan using the leaflet.

Ans.

7G, Rainbow Colony,

M.G. Road,

Dharavi,

Mumbai - 400017.

1st March, 2017.

Dear Sonia,

Hi dear, please upgrade yourself and use the modern technologies of mobile phone, Whatsapp, facebook messenger. As you know nowadays, nobody is interested in writing a letter to invite their best friend for an outing. It's ok, I just come to matter, I am writing particularly to invite you on a tour to Coorg.

Yesterday, during supper time, My parents have organized a week visit to Coorg. We would be happy if you join us in this tour. There we can visit places like, Pushpagiri and Brahmagiri sanctuaries in Coorg. Cauveri river, tree plantations such as bamboo, sandalwood and rosewood, etc. Not only this much, we shall shop, especially the aromatic spices of Coorg is never to be missed.

Hope, you will take my advice seriously. Next time we will meet in skype and imo to have face to face conversation with your parents. Anyhow, do convey my regards to them and I expect a favourable reply on tour matter.

Your loving friend,

ABC.

OR

A2. Letter You are planning to visit Coorg with your family. Write to Karnataka Tourism Development Corporation asking whether bookings are available and enquire about the information given in the leaflet.

7G, Rainbow Colony,

M.G. Road,

Dharavi,

Mumbai - 400017.

1st March, 2017.

The Manager,

Karnataka Tourism Development Corporation,

Dr. D.N. Road,

Mumbai.

Subject: Inquiry about a proposed visit to Coorg.

Reference: Your advertisement, in TOI, tourist leaflet, ‘Visit Coorg’

Dear Sir,

I wish to make enquiries for a package tour for a week for a family of 6 persons to Coorg.

We would like to visit Coorg in month of April, during annual examination holidays. We would like to avail of a budget accommodation. Further, let me know the details of how to visit the two sanctuaries in Coorg, the Madikeri fort and the Cauvery river.

We eagerly awaiting for your valuable reply. An early reply will be greatly appreciated as it will help us to confirm our decision and proceed with the bookings.

Thank you,

Yours faithfully,

ABC.

(B) Report Writing Attempt any one of the following: [5 marks]

Nirmal Old Age Home

(1) Number of residents/inmates: 100

(2) Their age group: Above 75 years

(3) Their financial background: Alone

(4) Reasons for their stay there: Alone

(5) Their physical condition: Good

(6) Recreational facilities available to them.

B1. Your school visited ‘Nirmal Old Age Home’. Based on the information given on the Notice Board, prepare a report to be published in your school magazine.

Answer:

VISIT TO A HOME FOR THE AGED

March 5: Students of Std. X B visited the 'Nirmal Old - Age Home' on 3rd March, 2016 and spent two days there.

        Our visit there was an unforgettable lesson. There we learnt more about true life and sharing and caring. There are hundred inmates in the Home. All of them were above the age of seventy five. They all financially dependent on their families or on charity. Their physical condition is good. There are many recreational facilities available to them and these facilities were properly used by them. However, all of them were lonely and carving for love and affections. We spoke to them, shared our love and we sang songs for them some of our friends were danced for them. They shared their sadness and personal stories with us. However, the care shown to them by the workers at the Home was indeed inspiring. Finally we left with a heavy heart from them.

OR

B2. You visited ‘Nirmal Old Age Home’ with your friend. Write a dialogue between you and your friend discussing the problems faced by old people. Use the points on the Notice Board.

Ans. The following is a dialogue between my friend and myself during a visit to an old age home.

Friend: Wow! What a greenery place. I like this old age home very much.

Myself: I am also loving this place very much.

Friend: How many old people are there in here?

Myself : There are about hundred people, all are lonely and sad.

Friend: Why are they very sad?

Myself: They feel that no one cares for them. It is difficult to digest us that, many of them have families, but they have abandoned them.

Friend: But, why we are here?

Myself: We try to comfort them, we entertaine them with songs, dances, and skit.

Friend: I am sure, this would make them happy. How old are they?

Myself: They are all above the age of 70 years.

Friend: It's getting late. I want to go to home.

Myself: Ok, we will go.

Q.6. (A) Information Transfer

Attempt any one of the following: [5 marks]

A1. Observe the following web-diagram carefully and convert the following into a paragraph. Add few more points to the given information:

Ans. Sources of Energy.

The given web diagram explains about sources of energy and their kind. There are various sources of energy like sun, rain, wind, coal and electricity. From the sun we get light and heat. Solar panel are set up all over the world to produce electrical energy. Rain, wind and Coal being oldest form of known energy sources are widely used in our country. In India, the contribution of total electrical energy consumption from solar energy is very less as compared to other sources of energy.

OR

A2. Read the given extract carefully and complete the following:

The River Nile was the life of ancient Egypt. It still is. Every spring, when the snow melted in the mountains, the Nile rose in flood and spilled across the fields, not only watering them, but leaving fertile coat of mud.

The pharaohs or kings of ancient Egypt left many wonderful monuments which we can still see today. The pyramids and the sphinx are the most famous of these. There are three large pyramids at Giza. The biggest, built for Khufu, was about 147 metres tall and was made from 2.3 million blocks of stone! Each pyramid took about 20 years to build.

The ancient Egyptians believed that when a person was alive, he or she had three souls. When the person died, the three souls would die too and not go to the next world if the body was not kept as it was. That is why they tried to keep the bodies of the pharaohs by ‘embalming’ them with oil and salt and wrapping them with bandages to create a ‘mummy’

Life in Egypt

River Nile : ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Pyramids and Sphinx: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Mummy: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Ans.

River Nile : It is the river of Egypt overflowed during spring and made the banks fertile.

The Pyramids and Sphinx: Very famous all over the world, three pyramids at Giza, took 20 years to build. The biggest is 147 metres tall and contains 2.3 million blocks of stone.

The Mummy: The bodies of the pharaohs were embalmed with oil and salt and wrapped in bandages to keep them in tact, so that their souls could go to the next world.

(B) Attempt any one of the following: [5 marks]

B1. Speech

The Health Club has organised an inter-school competition on “Importance of Healthy Life”. With the help of the given proverbs, prepare a speech to be delivered on this occasion.

Ans.

Honorable Principal, respected teachers and my dear friends, We have all gathered here to discuss the issue of good health and exercise. Very often, we all wonder if a balanced diet alone can give us good health. Or, if exercise alone is a determining factor, in maintaining our good health ?

Everyone here will agree with me that a balanced diet plays a major role in maintaining good health. But that alone is not enough. We need to keep our body supple and our mussels flexible. Only exercise can do this and if we exercise regularly our bodies seem to be slim and trim.

The moment we say exercise, today’s youngsters think of the gym. Man has invented so many machines to keep us slim and trim and if you have the money for it, they can work wonders on you.

But tell me dear friends, what did man do before the invention of these slimming machines ? Weren’t our ancestor whole and hearty, just by walking, working and slogging? Modern man hardly walks. He has vehicles and machines at his beak and call and to serve his every need.

I think it is high time we realize the importance of natural and traditional methods of keeping ourselves in shape. They don’t require any money. Besides, pollution can be reduced to a great extent if we all walk briskly to over school or work place.

So friends, forget money and machines. Old us gold. Let’s take to busk walking, natural methods of machineless exercise and even yoga. Let’s live a longer and healthier life by sticking to a balanced diet and a strict regimen of walking, exercise or yoga. Always remember these three wonderful proverbs, “Health is wealth” , “Laughter is the best medicine”, and “An apple a day keeps the doctor away”.

Thank you for your keen interest and rapt attention.

OR

B2. Counterviews

Write a paragraph on the basis of the counterviews given below:

Add a few more points of your own.

Stop Over-viewing Tv Programmes

(1) Wastage of time.

(2) Kills imagination.

(3) Destroys thinking power.

(4) Creates physical problems.

Ans.

‘Stop over - viewing television programmes’

I strongly uphold the view that we should stop over - viewing television programmes as, with an exception of a few programmes, the rest are a clear waste of time. Most of the programs do not have any educational value. They are mostly based on entertainment factors. Some programmes are kill our imagination. Some children act irrationally after watching cartoons program so many times. If we sit a lot of time in front of television then it will create severe health issues. So, I strongly recommend that television viewing must be curtailed to minimum time so that we can maintain good mental and physical health.

Q.7. A1. Expand any one of the given two ideas in about 80-100 words: [5 marks]

(i) Perseverance is the key to success.

Perseverance means to continue steadfastly, especially in something that is difficult or tedious. It requires regular practice to develop the quality of perseverance. Only a patient person with strong determination can achieve his goal by perseverance. When a child learns to stand up and tries to walk, he is found to fall down again and again. And by nature and instinct, he gets up, and again tries to step forward, although again he falls down. But ultimately, he succeeds in walking. The same thing had once happened with each one of us, when we were children. Perseverance is the secret of success. Without it, no great achievement is possible. Even if a person is not very talented, not highly knowledgeable, but of an average merit, still he can succeed in life simply by his perseverance.

In human life, perseverance plays a very important role. Modern science, architecture, literature, music - in every sphere of life - perseverance is the root cause of success and glory. Shakespeare did not compose such voluminous works just in a day. He had to work hard during days and nights with tremendous perseverance to create such great masterpieces. Therefore, perseverance must be practiced from he very childhood so that the noble habit becomes a part and parcel of one's life. With that great asset or goodwill, a man can walk easily on the hazardous road of his life's journey; and success will be his and his only.

(ii) Man is known by the company he keeps.

The companions of a man indicate his character. As a social being a man needs people with whom he can mix and converse freely, exchanging thoughts and ideas, hopes and fears. But a person whose tastes and inclinations are different from ours cannot give us the delight which we expect from friends. So a man naturally seeks the society of those who are like himself in their taste and inclination. We can, therefore, very easily say of what sort a man is from the nature and character of his friends. Moreover, friends exert a great influence upon our character. If we mix with the bad, we shall get their bad habits and gradually become bad ourselves. If, on the other hand, we mix with the good and the noble, it will ennoble us too. Our character can thus be judged from that of our companions. Therefore, we should be good and noble in life, we should carefully avoid evil company. When we may be taking to evil ways, a true companion will try his best to correct us. Thus it is well said that a man is known by the company he keeps.

OR

A2. Develop a story, with the following ending. Give a suitable title and a moral, in about 80-100 words:

…the two friends realized their mistakes and decided to become good friends once again.

“Touching Friendship”

A story tells that two friends were walking through the desert. During some point of the journey they had an argument, and one friend slapped the other one in the face. The one who got slapped was hurt, but without saying anything, wrote in the sand: “TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SLAPPED ME IN THE FACE.”

They kept on walking until they found an oasis, where they decided to take a bath. The one, who had been slapped, got stuck in the mire and started drowning, but the friend saved him. After the friend recovered from the near drowning, he wrote on a stone: “TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SAVED MY LIFE.”

The friend who had slapped and saved his best friend asked him, “After I hurt you, you wrote in the sand and now, you write on a stone, why?”

The other friend replied: “When someone hurts us, we should write it down in sand where winds of forgiveness can erase it away. But, when someone does something good for us, we must engrave it in stone where no wind can ever erase it.”

LEARN TO WRITE YOUR HURTS IN THE SAND, AND TO CARVE YOUR BENEFITS IN STONE

From that moment onwards, both of them realized their mistake and embraced each other and became good friends once again.

Moral: Do not value what you have in your life.

But value who you have in your life.