Section - A : Reading Comprehension (Seen)
1. Read the following text and answer the following questions: (Gandhiji's funeral...)
A. Choose the correct alternatives and complete the sentences:
i) The last walk with Bapu was
a) pleasant
b) painful
c) strange
d) delightful
Answer: b) painful
ii) To the narrator, walking with Bapu was
a) boring
b) extraordinary
c) usual affair
d) meaningless
Answer: b) extraordinary
iii) Bapu lay on an open truck covered with
a) national flag
b) white cloth
c) flowers
d) leaves
Answer: c) flowers
iv) While walking, Bapu used to carry a
a) flag
b) bag
c) book
d) staff
Answer: d) staff
B. Complete the following sentences with information from the text:
i) Thousands of people were eager to ______
Answer: ...touch Bapu's feet.
ii) Gandhiji's funeral was to take place on ______
Answer: ...the day after his death.
iii) As the narrator moved forward, she realized ______
Answer: ...that she hadn't been merely in the midst of grieving people.
iv) India's recent history was both ______
Answer: ...rough and smooth.
C. Answer the questions briefly:
i) What did Padmasi propose?
Answer: Padmasi proposed that they would walk with Bapu's funeral procession as it was the last time they would be walking with Bapu.
ii) Why was it impossible to move?
Answer: It was impossible to move because the crowd was thick.
2. Read the following poem and answer the questions below:
(Give but his horns the slightest touch...)
A. Choose the correct alternatives and complete the sentences:
i) The house of a snail is made of
a) bone
b) mud
c) hard shell
d) brick
Answer: c) hard shell
ii) The snail dwells with
a) friends
b) parents
c) relatives
d) none
Answer: d) none
iii) In his house the snail feels
a) secure
b) suffocated
c) uncertain
d) sad
Answer: a) secure
iv) Apparently the snail is
a) Self-centred
b) fearless
c) joyful
d) social
Answer: a) Self-centred
B. Answer the following questions:
i) Why was the snail displeased?
Answer: The slightest touch from anything or anyone makes the snail displeased.
ii) What does the expression, 'whole treasure' mean in the poem?
Answer: The term 'whole treasure' means that the snail has no other belonging except himself, and he is contented to be his own treasure.
Reading Comprehension (Unseen)
3. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions: (At least 23 people were killed in Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri...)
A. Tick the correct answer:
i) The disaster struck the districts of North Bengal at the night of
a) Sunday
b) Monday
c) Friday
d) Saturday
Answer: d) Saturday
ii) Death of 11 people is recorded at
a) Siliguri
b) Mirik
c) Bijan bari
d) Kurseong
Answer: b) Mirik
iii) Sukhiapokhri is a block of
a) Darjeeling
b) Jalpaiguri
c) Kalimpong
d) Siliguri
Answer: a) Darjeeling
iv) The bridge at Dudhia was washed away by the river
a) Teesta
b) Tursa
c) Balason
d) Diana
Answer: c) Balason
v) The chief executive of GTA is
a) Anit Thapa
b) Subhash Ghising
c) Praween Prakash
d) Umesh Ganpat
Answer: a) Anit Thapa
vi) More than 370mm rainfall is recorded in some places of
a) Mirik
b) Sukhiapokhri
c) Jalpaiguri
d) Sikkim
Answer: c) Jalpaiguri
B. Write T for true and F for False statements. Give the supporting statements:
i) The landslides and flash floods struck in the morning.
Answer: False.
S.S: ...to unleash extremely heavy rainfall since Saturday night.
ii) Death of people recorded till the report is 18.
Answer: False.
S.S: At least 23 people were killed.
iii) Rohini road connects Siliguri and Kurseong.
Answer: True.
S.S: The Subhash Ghisingh Marg (Rohini Road)- a key link between Siliguri and Kurseong...
C. Answer the following questions in brief:
i) What is the cause of the disaster that hit the districts of North Bengal?
Answer: A vigorous southwest monsoon joined forces with a cyclonic air circulation to cause the disaster in North Bengal.
ii) Where and when such a disaster struck Sikkim in recent past?
Answer: On October 3, 2023, a glacial lake outburst caused flood in Sikkim, when the south Lhonak lake burst its banks, leaving over 100 people dead or missing.
iii) According to Thapa, what is the condition of the roads in the affected area?
Answer: According to Thapa, 8 motorable roads were washed away and 5 roads are currently blocked because of landslides.
iv) What is the condition of the animals in the national park after the flood situation?
Answer: As the Gorumara and Jaldapara National Park got inundated, reports said that animals including rhinos and deer were swept away from the forest areas by the swirling waters.
Section - B : Grammar & Vocabulary
4. A. Fill in the blanks with appropriate articles and prepositions:
What is most dreadful menace facing India today is ______ rise ______ Communalism. We all should fight ______ it collectively.
Answer: the, of, against
4. B. Fill in the blanks with proper form of verbs:
"Here comes someone ______ (Run)', said the hermit, The king ______ (turn) round and saw a bearded man running towards them. His hands pressed against his stomach from which blood ______ (flow).
Answer: running, turned, was flowing
5. A. Do as directed:
1. They fought the battle. (Change the voice)
Answer: The battle was fought by them.
2. I said to her, "Where were you?" (Change the narration)
Answer: I asked her where she had been.
3. She is as fair as a Rose. (Comparative)
Answer: A rose is not fairer than her.
5. B. Choose the correct phrasal verbs:
List: Look into, Come by, Look for, Give up
- Gandhiji sacrificed his life for his motherland.
- Police is investigating the case.
- She is trying to find a job.
Answer:
i) gave up
ii) looking into
iii) looking for
6. Find out the meanings of words from Question No. 3:
1. Calamity
Answer: disaster
2. Release
Answer: unleash
3. Bring back
Answer: revive
4. Increased
Answer: swollen
Section - C : Writing Skill
7. Write a story using the given hints:
[Three children collecting green mangoes near railway track - one sees a crack on rails - hears a train coming - senses danger - tears his red shirt - three pieces waves like flag - driver stops accident avoided - children rewarded]
The Brave Saviours
It was a sunny afternoon. Three young friends—Raju, Bimal, and Samir—were happily collecting green mangoes near the railway tracks on the outskirts of their village. Suddenly, Raju's eyes fell upon the railway line. To his horror, he noticed a large crack on one of the rails. Just then, they heard the distant whistle of an approaching train. The boys realized the imminent danger; if the train passed over that broken rail, a terrible accident would occur.
Thinking quickly, Bimal, who was wearing a red shirt, tore it off. The three boys tore the shirt into three pieces. As the train came closer, they stood on the track and started waving the red cloth pieces frantically like flags. The train driver, noticing the red signal from a distance, sensed something was wrong and applied the emergency brakes. The train screeched to a halt just a few meters away from the broken rail. The passengers and the driver got down and saw the crack. Everyone praised the quick thinking and bravery of the three boys. Later, they were rewarded by the railway authorities for saving hundreds of lives.
8. Write a report on fire in a factory on the following points:
[Time-Friday at night, Place - Plastic factory in central Kolkata, Causes - Not known yet, Result Factory destroyed and godown gutted, No casualties, Fire controlled by 8 fire engines].
DEVASTATING FIRE GUTTED PLASTIC FACTORY IN KOLKATA
By a Staff Reporter
Kolkata, January 10: A massive fire broke out at a plastic factory in Central Kolkata late last night, reducing the entire structure to ashes. The incident occurred around 11:30 PM on Friday. According to local residents, thick black smoke and high flames were seen billowing from the factory premises. Within moments, the fire spread to the adjacent godown, destroying stored goods worth lakhs.
Eight fire engines were rushed to the spot immediately. Firefighters fought for nearly four hours to bring the blaze under control. The presence of inflammable plastic materials made the operation difficult. Fortunately, since the factory was closed for the night, there were no casualties or injuries reported. The exact cause of the fire is not yet known, but a short circuit is suspected. Police and fire department officials have started an investigation to ascertain the cause and estimate the total loss.
9. Write a paragraph on A Visit to a Village Fair.
[Introduction - place - time - temporary stalls - various articles-sweetmeat shops - other stalls merry go round - circus show- people from distant villages - a festival]
A Visit to a Village Fair
Fairs are an integral part of village life in Bengal, bringing joy and color to the daily monotony. Last winter, I had the opportunity to visit a village fair held at our neighboring village, Raspur, on the occasion of 'Poush Mela'. The fairground was a large open field decorated with colorful flags and lights. It was bustling with life. There were numerous temporary stalls selling a variety of articles like clay dolls, bamboo crafts, household utensils, and toys. The sweetmeat shops were the most crowded, displaying mouth-watering delicacies like Jalebi, Rasogolla, and Pitha. I bought some clay toys for my younger sister. The main attraction of the fair was the merry-go-round and a small circus show, where children were shouting in excitement. People from distant villages gathered there, dressed in their best attires. It was not just a market, but a grand festival where people met, laughed, and enjoyed themselves forgetting their daily toils. The memory of the fair remains fresh in my mind.