Section A: Reading
Q.1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions:
On February 17, 1920, a group of Indian revolutionaries met in Kabul to pass a resolution. The resolution directed at the Russian Communist revolutionary, Vladimir Lenin, expressed deep admiration of Soviet Russia’s working class struggle that was led by him. “The Indian revolutionaries express their deep gratitude and their admiration of the great struggle carried on by soviet Russia for the liberation of all oppressed classes and peoples, and especially for the liberation of India,” said the statement. Just about a couple of months later, Lenin responded to the Indian call, “I am glad to hear that the principles of self-determination and the liberation of oppressed nations from exploitation by foreign and native capitalism, proclaimed by the Workers’ and Peasants’ Republic, have met with such a ready response among progressive Indians, who are waging a heroic fight for freedom,” said he. For the revolutionary leader, an Indian free from an oppressive British rule was a necessary prerequisite for a decisive defeat of an exploitative capitalist system.
Lenin was sure that the Russian revolution would be incomplete unless it was followed by a similar uprising of workers and peasants across Europe and Asia. The anti-colonial struggle in this regard was a necessity, an essential step in that direction, and Lenin did everything in his capacity to motivate and support a revolution against imperialist rules.
On Tuesday, the legacy of the Soviet leader in Indian received a disturbing jolt when a statue of his in Belonia town of Tripura was brought down by an enthusiastic crowd of BJP supporters amid cries of “Bharat Mata ki Jai.” The demolition was on one had justified by the BJP as a reaction by those being ‘oppressed’ by the Left. On the other hand, the CPI-M explained the act as the manifestation of ‘Communism Phobia’. “Even if it was a statue of former CPI(M) chief minister Nripen Chakraborthy, nobody would have touched it – he was one of us and belonged to the country. But what does this foreigner Lenin have to do with our people?” remarked BJP south district secretary Raju Nath in response to the incident.
Questions:
1. What was the intention of Indian revolutionaries for passing the revolution in Kabul? (2 Marks)
2. How did Lenin praise the Indian spirit of fight against oppressions? (2 Marks)
3. Why did Lenin want India free from oppressive colonist rule? (2 Marks)
4. How did BJP justify the demolishing of Lenin’s statue? (2 Marks)
5. Find the words from the passage which mean:
a. Freedom (para 1)
b. Utilization in the form of mistreat (Para 1)
c. Mutiny (Para 2)
d. Pulling down (Para 3)
Q.2. Read the extract given below and answer the questions:
There is a minor celebrity hood that comes with occasionally appearing on Arnab's show. In the oddest of places, strangers will walk up to me and ask, 'Don't I Know you from somewhere? ' There was a time when I would seriously consider the possibility, but I've come to realise that many people are really at home only in front of their TV watching Arnab, and in that sense I am an old acquaintance.
I had little inkling of this fate when I first started appearing on television to defend Open magazine's decision to publish the Radia tapes After that memorable television encounter where Barkha Dutt and Manu Joseph replayed the same conversation 20 times over, I was left to fend for the magazine on other channels. Initially, I agreed to continue appearing on Arnab's channel because the magazine's publisher insisted this was good publicity; it was only later that I saw some journalistic sense in doing so.
I say this despite harbouring no illusions about the nature of the show. It is a performance with Arnab as the director and the main character, and an audience swept along by the drama of what transpires. The form is defined by Arnab, the substance born out of the audience. This is an audience that comprises the section of middle class which is comfortable watching news on television in English. It is socially liberal, hence the anger against gharwapasi or those opposing Valentine's Day, but it is xenophobic in its nationalism, hence the noise about Pakistan or Greenpeace. If NDTV was the product of the scions of a particular elite telling the rest of the English- speaking class what to think, Times Now gives voice to what this class actually thinks, which is why this Prime Time clash was never much of contest.
In this theatre, journalists like me have a prescribed role: to endorse Arnab's opinion. Journalists perceived to be affiliated with a political party can't carry this off with any conviction. Those who remain are likely to endorse Arnab only when they genuinely agree with him, forcing the channel to cherry pick. I know I won't be asked to appear on a show about offloading a Greenpeace activist, because I'd then be at odds with Arnab.
What does this role offer those who accept it? The increased visibility lends their work greater value at a time personal branding is increasingly defining value in journalism. But I also see it as an opportunity to point out to a largely apathetic country that in 1984, Kamal Nath was at the head of a mob that burned two Sikhs to death a few 100 metres from Parliament. Or voice my apprehensions about Narendra Modi to a mass audience at a time the country seemed besotted with him. This is possible because Arnab's sole interest is his play, he is not a participant in the games most other anchors play out in Delhi. Interestingly, the roles come with no strings attached. No one's ever asked me not to be critical of Arnab, as I have been, or Samir Jain, as I continue to be.
Questions:
1) What did the writer realize about the TV watching habit of his countrymen? (1 Mark)
2) Why did the writer continue appearing on Arnab's Channel? (1 Mark)
3) Which section of society watches Arnab's show ? (1 Mark)
4) Who is 'xenophobic' in its nationalism ? (1 Mark)
5) Why do people appear on Arnab's show? (1 Mark)
6) On which news channel does Arnab appear? (1 Mark)
7) Find words from the passage which mean the same as: (2 Mark)
a) An erroneous mental representation. (b) A descendant or heir
Section B: Writing and Grammar
Q.3. You are Suman/Sumit Shinde from M.G. Road, Nagpur. Write a letter to the editor of a local daily mentioning your concern over improper implementation of inclusive education and RTE in the schools in your locality. (8 Marks)
Q.4. Write a story on the basis of following points: (12 Marks)
Three friends – decide to play a prank on fourth friend – midnight – ghost prank – fourth friend disappears – nowhere to be seen – three friends see a ghost – get scared and run away – fourth friend is the ghost – prank failed
Q.5. Rearrange the following jumbled words to make meaningful sentences: (3 Marks)
free/ is /not born / a man / a slave /but / a / to be /soul/to be
Ans: A man is not born to be a slave but to be a free soul.
ruling /always /sure /amongst / the /make /of /classes /commoners /illiteracy.
rebels /person /slavery /the /of /the /against /ruling /classes /aware.
is /a /day /to /live /it /like /a /hundred /tiger /for /than /a /better /goat /for /days.
Q.6. Read the given conversation and complete the following sentences: (4 Marks)
Ajay: Are we not going for a movie?
Kavita: Why should I go with you?
Ajay: I know you are angry at me since last night.
Kavita: I am not coming with you. Take someone else for a movie.
Ajay: You started the fight first last night.
Kavita: But why did you comment on my family?
Ajay asked Kavita (a) ………………………………… She replied saying (b) ……………………… To that Ajay said that he knew that she was angry at him since the previous night. To that Kavita told him that she was not coming with him and also told him (c) ……………………. Ajay mentioned that it was Kavita who had started the fight first the previous night. To that Kavita questions Ajay (d) ……………………..
Q.7. Read the given paragraph. In each line (except the second line) there is word missing. Find the missing word and write it as it is given in sample answer: (3 Marks)
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Word Before
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Missing word
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Word after
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Days after India reached out China and
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out
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to
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China
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advised Indian officials skip events organised
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by the Tibetan government-in-exile, Beijing
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a) …………….
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…………….
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…………….
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Thursday New Delhi to shed “mental inhibitions”
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b) …………….
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…………….
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…………….
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“mutual suspicion” to improve bilateral ties.
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c) …………….
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…………….
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…………….
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Using one of the most oft-repeated metaphors
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d) …………….
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…………….
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…………….
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India and China, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi
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said it time for the Chinese dragon and Indian
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e) …………….
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…………….
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…………….
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elephant to dance together rather fight each other.
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f) …………….
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…………….
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…………….
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Section C: Literature
Q.8. Read the following extract and answer the questions given below: (4 Marks)
“My credit now stands on such slippery grounds”.
a) Who said this and to whom?
b) Why does the speaker say so?
c) What does the phrase ‘such slippery ground’ refer to here?
d) Is the speaker honest to say so? Why do you think so?
OR
Q.8. Read the following extract and answer the questions given below: (4 Marks)
“But you shall shine more bright in these contents
Than unswept stone, besmear'd with sluttish time.”
a) Identify and explain the figures of speech given in these lines.
b) Why does the poet call the time ‘sluttish’?
c) What is the main theme of this poem?
d) What do you mean by the lines ‘unswept stones besmeared with sluttish time’?
Q.9. Answer any four of the following questions in 50 to 60 words: (2 x 4 = 8 Marks)
a) ‘Mrs. Packetide’s Tiger’ is an environmental satire. Explain.
b) The law of Karma is one of the major themes of Dhumketu’s ‘The Letter’. Discuss.
c) How does John Hallock’s promise to Helen fail miserably?
d) Patol Babu doesn’t wait to take money after his shoot get over. Why?
e) Discuss the themes common between ‘The Rime of Ancient Mariner’ and ‘Snake’.
f) How has the poet described the snake?
Q.10. ‘The Dear Departed’ is the writer’s take on modern isolated families and that is what makes it a and ironical social satire. Explain with reference to the play. (8 Marks)
Q.11. How the personality of young Anne keeps on changing due to the various incidence that happened in her family and society around her. (10 Marks)
