| Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow: |
| 1. Air pollution is an issue which concerns us all alike. One can willingly choose or reject a food, a drink or a life comfort, but unfortunately there is little choice for the air we breathe. All, is there in the air is inhaled by one and all living in those surroundings. |
| 2. Air pollutant is defined as a substance which is present in an amount exceeding the normal concentrations. It could either be gaseous or a particulate matter. The important and harmful polluting gases are carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, ozone and oxides of sulphur and nitrogen. The common particulate pollutants are the dusts of various inorganic or organic origins. Although we often talk of the outdoor air pollution caused by industrial and vehicular exhausts, the indoor pollution may prove to be as or a more important cause of health problems. |
| 3. Recognition of air pollution is relatively recent. It is not uncommon to experience a feeling of 'suffocation' in a closed environment. It is often ascribed to the lack of oxygen. Fortunately, however, the composition of air is remarkably constant all over the world. There is about 79 percent nitrogen and 21 percent oxygen in the air ' the other gases forming a very small fraction. It is true that carbon dioxide exhaled out of lungs may accumulate in a closed and over-crowded place. But such an increase is usually small and temporary unless the room is really air-tight. Exposure to poisonous gases such as carbon monoxide may occur in a closed room, heated by burning coal inside. This may also prove to be fatal. |
| 4. What is more common in a poorly ventilated home is a vague constellation of symptoms described as the sick-building syndrome. It is characterised by a general feeling of malaise, head-ache, dizziness and irritation of mucous membranes. It may also be accompanied by nausea, itching, aches, pains and depression. Sick building syndrome is getting commoner in big cities with the small houses, which are generally over- furnished. Some of the important pollutants whose indoor concentrations exceed to those of the outdoors include gases such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, oxides of nitrogen and organic substances like spores, formaldehydes, hydrocarbon aerosols and allergens. The sources are attributed to a variety of construction materials, insulations, furnishings, adhesives, cosmetics, house dusts, fungi and other indoor products. |
| 5. By-products of fuel combustion are important in houses with indoor kitchens. It is not only the burning of dried dung and fuelwood which is responsible, but also kerosene and liquid petroleum gas. Oxides of both nitrogen and sulphur are released from their combustion. |
| 6. Smoking of tobacco in a closed environment is an important source of indoor pollution. It may not be high quantitatively but significantly hazardous for health. It is because of the fact that there are over 3000 chemical constituents in tobacco smoke, which have been identified. These are harmful for human health. |
| 7. Micro-organisms and allergens are of special significance in the causation and spread of diseases. Most of the infective illnesses may involve more persons of a family living in common indoor environment. These include viral and bacterial diseases like tuberculosis. |
| 8. Besides infections, allergic and hypersensitivity disorders are spreading fast. Although asthma is the most common form of respiratory allergic disorders, pneumonias are common, but more persistent and serious. These are attributed to exposures to allergens from various fungi, molds, hay and other organic materials. Indoor air ventilation systems, coolers, air- conditioners, dampness, decay, pet animals, production or handling of the causative items are responsible for these hypersensitivity - diseases. |
| 9. Obviously, the spectrum of pollution is very wide and our options are limited. Indoor pollution may be handled relatively easily by an individual. Moreover, the good work must start from one's own house, |
| (a) (i) What is an air pollutant? |
| (ii) In what forms are the air pollutants present? |
| (iii) Why do we feel suffocated in a closed environment? |
| (iv) What is sick building syndrome? How is it increasing? |
| (v) How is indoor smoking hazardous? |
| (vi) How can one overcome the dangers of indoor air pollution? |
| (b) Find the words from the above passage which mean the same as the following: [3] |
| (i) Giddiness (para 4) |
| (ii) Constant (para 8) |
| (iii) Humidity (para 8) |
| Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow: |
| The term dietary fibres refers collectively to indigestible carbohydrates present in plant foods. The importance of these dietary fibres came into the picture when it was observed that the people having diet rich in these fibres, had low incidence of coronary heart disease, irritable bowel syndrome, dental caries and gall stones. The foodstuffs rich in these dietary fibres are cereals and grains, legumes, fruits with seeds, citrus fruits, carrots, cabbage, green leafy vegetables, apples, melons, peaches, pears, etc. These dietary fibres are not digested by the enzymes of the stomach and the small intestine whereas, most of the other carbohydrates like starch and sugar are digested and absorbed. The dietary fibres have the property of holding water and because of it, these get swollen and behave like a sponge as these pass through the gastrointestinal tract. The fibres add bulk to the diet and increase transit time in the gut. Some of these fibres may undergo fermentation in the colon. In recent years, it has been considered essential to have some amount of fibres in the diet. Their beneficial effects help in preventing coronary heart disease, and decreasing cholesterol levels. The fibres like gums and pectin are reported to decrease postprandial (after meals) glucose level in blood. These types of dietary fibres are recommended for the management of certain types of diabetes. Recent studies have shown that the fenugreek (Methi) seeds, which contain 40 percent gum, are effective in decreasing blood glucose and cholesterol levels as compared to other gum containing vegetables. Some dietary fibres increase transit time and decrease the time of release of ingested food in colon. The diet having less fibres is associated with colon cancer and the dietary fibres may play a role in decreasing the risk of it. The dietary fibres hold water so that stools are soft, bulky and readily eliminared. Therefore, high fibre intake prevents or relieves constipation. The fibres increase motility of the small intestine and me colon and by decreasing the transit time there Is less time for exposure of the rnucosa to harmful toxic substances, Therefore, there Is less desire to eat and the energy intake can be maintained within the range of requirement. This phenomenon helps in keeping a check on obesity. Another reason in helping to decrease obesity is that the high-fibres diets have somewhat lower coefficients of digestibility. The dietary fibres may have some adverse effects on nutrition by binding some trace metals like calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc and others and 'therefore' preventing their proper absorption. This may pose a possibility of nutritional deficiency especially when diets contain marginal levels of mineral elements. This may become an important constraint on increasing dietary fibres. It is suggested that an intake of 40 grams dietary fibres per day is desirable. |
| (a) On the basis of your reading of the above passage, make notes in points only, using abbreviations wherever necessary. Supply a suitable title. |
| (b) Write a summary of the above in about 80 words. |
| You are Vineeta/Vikram, School pupil leader of Rani Laxmi Bai Senior Secondary School, Gwalior. Draft a notice for your school notice board in not more than 50 words inviting the names of the students who want to participate in the cultural programme organised in aid of the victims of the recent Assam floods. |
| Or |
| You have a three bedroom flat in Dwarka, which you want to let out on rent. Draft an advertisement in not more than 50 words to be published in "The Times of India" under classified columns, Contact 2758902. |
| Maxim Gorky School, Kodaikanal celebrated "Nutrition Week" from 1st September to 7th September by arranging inter-school cookery contests, oratorical, painting and poster competition, basides talks by eminent nutritionists and medical professionals. There was an overwhelming response from students and parents. Prepare a report in 100-125 words to be published in your school magazine. You are Arjun/Anita, School pupil leader. |
| Or |
| You are Roshan/Rohini, School Pupil Leader of Meerut Public School, Meerut, Your school joined a campaign organised by various agencies of your city to create awareness among people to conserve water. Write a report in 100-125 words highlighting the activities such as rain water harvesting etc. |
| Write a letter to your cousin, Raj Prakash who is currently staying in Dubai explaining the process of CCE, being used by CBSE for the secondary school examination in its affiliated schools. Also mention how you and your classmate have reacted to this scheme. You are Narain/Nisha, 20 Fort Road, Mumbai. |
| Or |
| Recently you travelled from Bangalore city to Vasco Express. To your dismay, you found that the coach was infested with cockroaches. Write a letter to the editor "The Hindu" drawing the attention of the General Manager, Southern Railways, to the prevailing unhygienic conditions and asking for remedial action. You are Saroj/Saran, 5/31 Bangalore Cant., Bangalore. |
| Write an article in 150-200 words for your school magazine on the topic. 'Obesity among School Children,' You are Mohini/Mohit. |
| Or |
| You are Ramesh/Ruchika. Write an article in 150-200 words for your school magazine on the topic, 'Life without Modern Gadgets'. |
| Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: |
| The stunted, unlucky heir Of twisted bones, reciting a father's gnarled disease, His lesson, from his desk. At the back of the dim class One unnoted, sweet and young. |
| (i) Who is this 'unlucky heir' and what has he inherited? |
| (ii) What is the stunted boy reciting? |
| (iii) Who is sitting at the back of the dim class? |
| Or |
| Driving from my parents Home to Cochin last Friday Morning, I saw my mother, beside me, Doze, open mouthed, her face ashen like that Of a corpse and realised with pain That she was as old as she looked... |
| (i) Where was the poet driving to? |
| (ii) Why was her mother's face looking like that of a corpse? |
| (iii) What did the poet notice about her mother? |
| Answer any three of the following in 30-40 words each: |
| (a) What does Keats consider an endless fountain of immortal drink and why does he call its drink immortal? |
| (b) What are the different kinds of wars mentioned in the poem? What is Neruda's attitude towards these wars? |
| (c) What lies heavily on Aunt Jennifer's hand? How is it associated with her husband? |
| Answer any three of the following in 30-40 words each: |
| (a) What was the order from Berlin and what changes did it cause in the school? |
| (b) How did Douglas make sure that he conquered the old terror? |
| (c) Why was Sophie jealous of Geoff's silence? |
| Answer the following in 125-150 words: |
| Or |
| Why did Gandhiji agree to a settlement of 25 percent refund to the farmers? How did it influence the peasnant-landlord relationship in Champaran? |
| Answer the following in 30-40 words: |
| Or |
| Give a character-sketch of the Governor of Oxford Prison based on your understanding of the story 'Evans Tries an O-level'. |
| Answer the following in about 100 words: |
| There is a saying 'kindness pays, rudeness never'. In the story 'The Rattrap' Edla's attitude towards men and matters is different from her father's attitude. How are the values of concern and compassion brought out in the story, 'The Rattrap'? |
| Answer the following in 30-40 words; |
| (a) What forced Dr. Sadao to be impatient and irritable with his patient? |
| (b) Why does Jo insist that her father should tell her the story with a different ending? |
| (c) If you were to give a different ending to the story 'On the face of it' how would you end it? |
| (d) What were the articles in the stalls and shops that fascinated Bama on her way back from school? |
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