Read the following passage carefully: |
Most of us take life for granted. We know that one day we must die, but usually we picture that one day as far in the future. When we are in buoyant health, death is all but unimaginable. We seldom think of it. So we go about our pretty task, hardly aware of our listless attitude towards life. |
The same lethargy, I am afraid, characterizes the use of all our faculties and senses. Only the deaf appreciate hearing, only the blind realize the manifold blessings that lie in sight. |
This observation applies to those who have never suffered impairment of sight or hearing. They seldom make the fullest use of these blessed faculties. Their eyes and ears take in all sights and sounds hazily, without concentration, and with little appreciation. It is the same old story of not being grateful for what we have until we lose it, of not being conscious of health until we are ill. |
I have often thought it would be a blessing if each human being were stricken blind and deaf for a few days at some time during his early adult life. Darkness would make him more appreciative of sight; silence would teach him the joys of sound. |
(i) On the basis of your reading of the above passage answer the following questions: |
(a) Death is unimaginable when ______ |
(b) We know that one day we must die, but_______ |
(c) Give the meaning of: (a) lethargy (b) buoyant |
(d) State the word class of' stricken'. |
Read the following passage carefully: |
Most of us take life for granted. We know that one day we must die, but usually we picture that one day as far in the future. When we are in buoyant health, death is all but unimaginable. We seldom think of it. So we go about our pretty task, hardly aware of our listless attitude towards life. |
The same lethargy, I am afraid, characterizes the use of all our faculties and senses. Only the deaf appreciate hearing, only the blind realize the manifold blessings that lie in sight. |
This observation applies to those who have never suffered impairment of sight or hearing. They seldom make the fullest use of these blessed faculties. Their eyes and ears take in all sights and sounds hazily, without concentration, and with little appreciation. It is the same old story of not being grateful for what we have until we lose it, of not being conscious of health until we are ill. |
I have often thought it would be a blessing if each human being were stricken blind and deaf for a few days at some time during his early adult life. Darkness would make him more appreciative of sight; silence would teach him the joys of sound. |
(ii) Change the voice: |
(a) We seldom think of it. |
(b) The same lethargy characterizes the use of all our faculties and senses. |
Read the following passage carefully: |
Most of us take life for granted. We know that one day we must die, but usually we picture that one day as far in the future. When we are in buoyant health, death is all but unimaginable. We seldom think of it. So we go about our pretty task, hardly aware of our listless attitude towards life. |
The same lethargy, I am afraid, characterizes the use of all our faculties and senses. Only the deaf appreciate hearing, only the blind realize the manifold blessings that lie in sight. |
This observation applies to those who have never suffered impairment of sight or hearing. They seldom make the fullest use of these blessed faculties. Their eyes and ears take in all sights and sounds hazily, without concentration, and with little appreciation. It is the same old story of not being grateful for what we have until we lose it, of not being conscious of health until we are ill. |
I have often thought it would be a blessing if each human being were stricken blind and deaf for a few days at some time during his early adult life. Darkness would make him more appreciative of sight; silence would teach him the joys of sound. |
(iii) What does the writer mean by 'most of us take life for granted? |
Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow: |
One of the greatest advances in modern technology has been the invention of computers. They are widely used in industries and in universities. Now there is hardly any sphere of human life where computers have not been pressed into service of man. We are heading fast towards the day when a computer will be as much part of man's daily life as a telephone or a calculator. |
Computers are capable of doing extremely complicated work in all branches of learning. They can solve the most complex mathematical problems or put thousands of unrelated facts in order. These machines can be put to varied uses. For instance, they can provide information on the best way to prevent traffic jams. This whole process by which machines can be used to work for us has been called 'automaton.' In the future, automation may enable human beings to enjoy more leisure than they do today. The coming of automation is bound to have important social consequences. Some years ago an expert in automation. Sir Leon Bagrit, pointed out that it was a mistake to believe that these machines could 'think.' There is no possibility that human beings will be "controlled by machines." |
Though computers are capable of learning from their mistakes and improving on their performance, they need detailed instructions from human beings to operate. They can never, as it were, lead independent lives or "rule of world" by making decisions of their own. Sir Leon said that in future, computers would be developed which would be small enough to carry in the pocket. Ordinary people would then be able to use them to obtain valuable information. Computers could be plugged into a national network and be used like radios. For instance, people going on holiday could be informed about weather conditions. Car drivers can be given alternative routes when there are traffic jams. It will also be possible to make tiny translating machines. This will enable people who do not share a common language to talk to each other without any difficulty or to read foreign publications. |
(i) Answer any four of the following questions: |
(a) Why can't computers lead independent lives or rule the world? |
(b) What complicated works are computers capable of doing? |
(c) Write one use of computer. |
(d) How would computers as translating machines help people? |
(ii) Find out the antonyms of the following from the passage: |
(a) ancient |
(b) impossible |
(iii) Pick the word from the passage which means the same as: |
(a) Example |
(b) Common |
Write a paragraph in about 100-200 words on the given topic : Fashion Among Students |
OR |
You are of Preeti St. Columbus School, Nainital. You have to speak on the topic 'Modernisation does not mean aping westernisation' Write the same in about 150 words. |
Read the outlines of a story given below. Write it in full using these outlines and your own ideas. |
Assign a suitable title to it: |
Outlines:-Two friends when small were very closely attached to each other ?one rich?one poor?after Class X?separate. Meet after 10 years?poor as boss and rich as employee. |
OR |
The following story had been left unfinished by its writer. Complete the same in about 150-200 words. |
A stag was proud of his horns but treated his legs inferior. "How ugly and thin they are", he often said. One day some hunters came to the forest. They wanted to kill the stag. He ran for life........... |
Complete the passage by choosing the most appropriate options from the ones give below: |
He (i) ?the session with a prayer, prolonging it (ii) _____the others join and the valley (iii) ______ with the chants, (iv) ___the cry of the jackals. Time was when he (v) ____his stories to the accompaniment of musical instruments, but now he (vi) _____only on himself. The films (vii) all the fiddlers and singers, who (viii) ___no time now-a-days to stand at the back of an old story teller and fill his pauses with music. |
(i) | (a) begins | (b) began | (c) has begun | (d) is beginning |
(ii) | (a) unless | (b) until | (c) till | (d) else |
(iii) | (a) echoed | (b) was echoing | (c) echoes | (d) is echoing |
(iv) | (a) drowned | (b) were drowned | (c) are drowning | (d) drowning |
(v) | (a) has narrated | (b) narrated | (c) had narrated | (d) was narrating |
(vi) | (a) depends | (b) depended | (c) has depended | (d) was depending |
(vii) | (a) took away | (b) have taken away | (c) are taking away | (d) took |
(viii) | (a) are having | (b) have | (c) had | (d) has |
Re-arrange the following words and phrases to make meaningful sentences: |
(i) are not/citizens/respected/senior/or cared for |
(ii) ill-equipped/are not only/insufficient/old age homes/also/but |
(iii) must/anyone else's/place them/the society/before/interest |
(iv) giving them/very much needed/is important/they are/an impression/that |
Poetry open our eyes to | eg. | Incorrect open | Correct opens |
new ways of looks at events | (i) | _______ | _______ |
and emotions. The poet took | (ii) | _______ | _______ |
the readers in voyages with | (iii) | _______ | _______ |
poetic device and shares | (iv) | _______ | _______ |
ideas of them. Poetry is | (v) | _______ | _______ |
often sees as a special | (vi) | _______ | _______ |
subject of an educated person, | (vii) | _______ | _______ |
poets, however, feel this poetry is for all. | (viii) | _______ | _______ |
Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow: |
When the jet reached ten thousand feet, |
It was clear why the country |
Had cities where the rivers ran |
And why the valleys were populated. |
The logic of geography |
That land and water attracted man? |
Was clearly delineated |
When the jet reached ten thousand feet. |
(i) At what height did the jet reach? |
(ii) What was clear from that height? |
(iii) What was the logic of geography? |
(iv) Name the Poem. |
Read the following extract and answer the question that follow : |
And yet the man knew a great deal about him. How? He even seemed to know some intimate details. |
The Bag of books, wife's death, brother's insanity................... The only mistake was about his having gone to Ranchi. Not a mistake, a deliberate lie. In '58, during the Pujas, he was in Kanpur at his friend Haridas Bagchi's place. |
(i) Who knew a great deal about whom? |
(ii) What intimate details did the man know? |
(iii) What was the only mistake the man was making? Why was it a mistake? |
(iv) Why was it a mistake? |
Answer any four of the following questions: |
(i) What massage dose the poet want to poet want to convey through the poem The School Bag?? |
(ii) On his return from the parish what two things did people notice about him? (When I set out for Lyonnesse) |
(iii) How can we say that animals have sixth sense? (The Tsunami) |
(iv) Mention the various ways in which the British and the German soldiers become friends and find things in common at Christmas. |
(v) Why did the poet himself say about his thoughts and poems? (The Create Stone Face II) |
Answer any four of the following questions: |
(i) Why did the interviewer say that "giftedness and learning disabilities go hand in hand". |
(ii) She is complaining and smiling. Why is she smiling? |
(iii) On one occasion the children said, "How happy we are here!" Later they said; "How happy we were there!" What are they referring to in both the cases? |
(iv) Describe the appearance of Jaya. |
(v) "I am not buying any Christmas presents till December 15." What did Sir John mean by that? |
Answer any one of the following: |
Do you think ours is a traditional society? What are some of the things we do to be called traditional? |
Do you find these things interesting or useful? |
OR |
Christy's mother played a vital role in making him a successful man. Explain. |
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