Section - A : Reading Comprehension (Seen)
1. Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:
(Excerpt: "Swami went to school feeling that he was the worst boy on earth...")
A. Write the correct alternatives to complete the following sentences: (1×5=5)
i) Swami went to school feeling that on earth he was the
a) good boy
b) bad boy
c) best boy
d) worst boy
Ans: d) worst boy
ii) Swami's description of Samuel was
a) correct
b) inaccurate
c) fanciful
d) Confusing
Ans: c) fanciful
iii) Personally Samuel was much more friendly than-
a) Swami's classmates
b) Swami's father
c) the headmaster
d) the other teachers
Ans: d) the other teachers
iv) To make up his mind about Samuel, Swami stopped on the
a) roadside
b) riverside
c) backside
d) school gate side
Ans: a) roadside
v) Samuel's moustache was
a) thick
b) medium
c) very thick
d) thin
Ans: d) thin
B. Complete the following sentences with information from the text: (1×3=3)
i) While describing Samuel, Swami felt he had put together...
ii) Swami thought that Samuel had...
iii) Swami could not decide if his teacher...
i) the real and the imagined
ii) a dark face, his thin moustache, unshaven cheek and yellow coat
iii) really deserved the allegations made against him in the letter
C. State whether true or False. Provide sentence(s)/phrase(s) in support: (2×2=4)
i) Swami was repentant for what he had done.
Ans: True (T)
S.S: The more he thought of Samuel, the more Swami grieved for him.
ii) Samuel was cleanly shaved.
Ans: False (F)
S.S: To recall Samuel's dark face, his thin moustache, unshaven cheek and yellow coat...
2. Read the following poem and answer the questions that follow:
(Excerpt: "They said: We are the oak-trees and your own true family...")
A. Write the correct alternative to complete the following sentences: (1×4=4)
i) The oak trees would root the poet among
a) the oak trees
b) human beings
c) tribes
d) animals
Ans: a) the oak trees
ii) When an oak tree is felled, the poet must
a) One oak tree
b) two oak trees
c) three oak trees
d) four oak trees
Ans: b) two oak trees (Note: the question asks "must plant" which completes the sense)
iii) The oak trees wanted the poet to
a) cry
b) promise
c) shout
d) laugh
Ans: b) promise
iv) Human being are indifferent towards
a) family
b) friends
c) colleagues
d) oak trees
Ans: d) oak trees
B. Answer the following questions: (2×2=4)
i) What cruel activities are carried out on oak trees?
Ans: According to the text, the oak trees are chopped down and torn up by human beings, but they never blink an eye to the trees' sufferings.
ii) How will the poet be punished if he does not swear?
Ans: If the poet does not make a promise, the black oak bark will wrinkle over him and root him among the oaks where he was born but never grew.
3. Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow: (Unseen)
(Excerpt: "For the second year in a row, tiger population in the Indian Sundarbans has shown an increase...")
A. Choose the correct alternative to complete the following sentences: (1×6=6)
i) For two successive years the numbers of tigers in the Indian Sundarbans has -
a) decreased
b) increased
c) remained the same
d) has not been assessed
Ans: b) increased
ii) 87 unique photographs of tigers were captured by
a) a forester
b) the camera traps
c) officials
d) hunters
Ans: b) the camera traps
iii) The mangroves was shelter to
a) 87 tigers
b) 81 tigers
c) 25 tigers
d) more than 87 tigers
Ans: a) 87 tigers
iv) Ravikant Sinha is
a) the chief wildlife warden
b) a photographer
c) a journalist
d) a minor forest official
Ans: a) the chief wildlife warden
v) The number of tigers photographed last year was
a) 81
b) 90
c) 55
d) 62
Ans: a) 81
vi) The camera-trap exercise was conducted for the first time in
a) 2016
b) 2012
c) 2017
d) 1986
Ans: b) 2012
B. State whether the following sentences are True or False. Also pick out suitable line(s) or phrases in support of your answer: (2×3=6)
i) The camera-traps were laid only in the forest division of South 24 Parganas.
Ans: False (F)
S.S: ...the mangroves including the tiger reserve area and the South 24 Pgs forest division.
ii) According to a forester, it is impossible to photograph all the tigers in the forest.
Ans: True (T)
S.S: He further added, "It is not possible to photograph all the tigers in a forest."
iii) The average number of tigers has not yet been calculated.
Ans: True (T)
S.S: While the average figure is yet to be analysed...
C. Answer the following questions: (2×4=8)
i) Which trend according to the reporter is positive?
Ans: The trend which is positive is that officials expect the number of tigers to be around 90 this time, compared to last year's 81.
ii) What is the observation of the chief wildlife warden regarding the increase in tiger population?
Ans: The observation of the chief wildlife warden Ravikant Sinha is that although the average figure is yet to be analysed, the number of tigers should be increased to 90 compared to last year's 81. He also added that the cubs which were camera trapped last year have grown up and have probably been photographed again this year.
iii) How many tigers were clicked in the tiger reserve area and how many in the forests, outside the core area?
Ans: Sources revealed that, while 62 tigers were photographed in the tiger reserve area, 25 were clicked in the South 24 Parganas division, the forests outside the core area.
iv) State the number of tigers added to the tiger population in the last five years in the South 24 Parganas forest division.
Ans: The number of tigers added to the tiger population in the last five years in the South 24 Parganas forest division is at least 8.
Section - B : Grammar and Vocabulary
4. Write the correct alternative to fill in the blanks: (1×3=3)
Swami Vivekananda ____ (travel/travelled/travelling) on foot from place to place ____ (spread/spreaded/spreading) noble thought to thousands of people to ____ (awaken/awakening/will awaken) their souls.
Ans: travelled, spreading, awaken
5. A. Fill in the blanks with appropriate articles and prepositions: (1×3=3)
I take this opportunity ____ thank you from ____ bottom of my heart ____ all that you have done.
Ans: to, the, for
5. B. Do as directed: (1×3=3)
i) Ajoy said, "can you come tomorrow?" (Change the narration)
Ans: Ajay asked if he could come the following day.
ii) I organised a blood donation camp with everybody's help. (voice change)
Ans: A blood donation camp with everybody's help was organized by me.
iii) Do not read the letter. It is confidential (join in a simple sentence)
Ans: Do not read the confidential letter.
5. C. Choose the correct phrasal verbs: (1×3=3)
i) The workers have withdrawn the strike.
ii) The man abandoned evil company.
iii) Let the police come and investigate.
[List: give up, call in, call off, look into]
i) called off
ii) gave up
iii) look into
6. Find out the words from the Unseen passage (Q.3): (2×4=8)
a) recorded in camera
b) studied and explained
c) a general direction in which something is developing or changing
d) a person in charge of a particular place
a) captured
b) analysed
c) trend
d) warden
Section - C : Writing
7. Suppose you are the Captain of your school, write a notice for all students of your school asking them to participate in all educational excursion. (10 marks)
[Points: Date - time - place - things to be taken - consent letter - charges]
BASIRHAT P.C.M. GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOL
NOTICE
Educational Excursion
Date: 25th February, 2026
All the students are hereby informed that our school is going to organize an educational excursion to the historical city of Murshidabad on 15th March, 2026. This trip aims to provide students with historical insights beyond the classroom.
Details of the Trip:
* Date & Time: 15th March, 2026 at 6:00 AM.
* Place: Murshidabad (Hazarduari Palace, Katra Mosque, etc.).
* Things to carry: Water bottle, dry food, notebook, pen, and necessary personal items.
* Charges: ₹500 per head (includes transport and lunch).
Students must submit a consent letter signed by their guardians along with the charges to their respective class teachers on or before 10th March, 2026. For any further details, please contact the undersigned. Active participation is highly encouraged.
Sd/-
Countersigned by
Headmistress
(Your Name)
School Captain
Basirhat P.C.M. Girls' High School
8. Write a paragraph (within 100 words) using the given points on "Students and Social Service". (10 marks)
[Points: Society gives everything - students should do for society - duty for illiterate - night class - help the sick - create fellow feelings]
Students and Social Service
Man is a social being, and society provides us with security, culture, and resources for our growth. Therefore, students, who are the future of the nation, have a significant duty towards society. It is not enough to just acquire bookish knowledge; they must pay back their debt to society through social service. Students can play a vital role in eradicating illiteracy by organizing night classes or weekend schools for the poor and uneducated. During vacations, they can form groups to clean their neighborhoods or plant trees. In times of natural calamities like floods or earthquakes, students are often the first to volunteer and help the affected people. They can also visit hospitals to help the sick and suffering. Such activities not only benefit society but also create a sense of fellow feeling, empathy, and responsibility in the minds of the students, making them better citizens of tomorrow.
9. Write a letter to your friend advising him/her not to use mobile phone on road and follow traffic rules. (10 marks)
Basirhat, North 24 Parganas
Date: 25.02.2026
My Dear Riya,
I hope this letter finds you in good health and high spirits. I am writing to you today with a serious concern that I have observed recently. Last week, I saw you crossing the busy market road while talking on your mobile phone, completely unaware of the traffic around you.
I cannot emphasize enough how dangerous this habit is. Using a mobile phone while walking on the road distracts your attention from the traffic signals and moving vehicles. Accidents happen in a split second, and "distracted walking" is becoming a major cause of road accidents nowadays. Please remember that nothing is more urgent than your safety.
I earnestly advise you to always follow traffic rules. Use zebra crossings, look both ways before crossing, and never use headphones or mobile phones while on the road. If you must take a call, please stop at a safe place on the footpath. Your life is precious to your family and friends.
Take care and be a responsible pedestrian.
Your loving friend,
Sujata
[Stamp]
To,
Riya Das
C/O: S. Das
12, Station Road,
Barasat, Kolkata - 700124