English Kumarbharati

Time: 3 hours

SPECIMEN PAPER - IV

Max. Marks: 80

SECTION A: READING, GRAMMAR AND VOCABULARY Q.1. (A) Read the following passage and answer the questions set below it: At bedtime, we put a camp cot in the childrens room for him. When I got up in the morning, the bed linens were neatly folded and the little man was out on the porch. He refused breakfast, but just before he left for his bus, haltingly, as if asking a great favour, he said. Could I please come back and stay the next time I have a treatment? Your children made me feel at home. Grown-ups are bothered by my face, but children dont seem to mind. I told him he was welcome to come again. And on his next trip he arrived a little after seven in the morning. As a gift, he brought a big fish and a quart of the largest oysters I had ever seen! He said he had shucked them that morning before he left so that theyd be nice and fresh. I know his bus left at 4 a.m. and I wondered what time he had to get up in order to do this for us. In the years he came to stay overnight with us, there was never a time that he did not bring us fish or oysters of vegetables from his garden. From him we learned what it was to accept the bad without complaint and the good with gratitude to God. Questions: (1) What gift did the writers guest give the writer? [1] (2) What did the writer notice when she woke up in the morning? [1] (3) Why, do you think, were the writers children not bothered about the guests face? [1] (4) Do as directed: (a) He refused breakfast. (Make it negative) [1] (b) At bed time, we put a camp cot in the childrens room for him. (Rewrite beginning with When . for him ) [1] (5) (a)Write two edible items (nouns) mentioned in this passage. [1] (b) Form adjectives from: God, face (6) Explain the idea contained in: .. to accept the bad without complain and the good with gratitude to God. [2] (B) Read the following passage and answer the questions set below it: Though the afternoon sun was bright, the cool wind was making us shiver. The river Brahmaputra flowed by timidly in contrast to its rapid gush in Assam. I felt the snow-clad mountains gazing at me in absolute silence. It was as if time had stood still. Though it was supposed to be a famous pilgrimage, I could hardly see a

handful of people. After looking around, I sat on the steps of the monastery, thats when I spotted an old lady, in her 90s. She was going around with a stick, her only support. Neither the cold wind nor her age seemed to bother her. After finishing her round, she came and sat next to a young boy on the steps sat opposite to me. Then she pointed at me and said something in Tibetan to the boy. It became embarrassing as I could make out they were talking about me. A little later, she walked up to me, taking both my hands and pressing them gently against her eyes, she said something in her language. While I was still wondering what was happening, she kissed them and walked away. I could see the happiness on her face, while my fingers felt moist. The young boy reluctantly came up to me and apologized. Madam, please pardon my grandmother. She is a villager and has hardly come out. I know you must have felt awkward about what she did to you. Im sorry, she was just thanking you. Questions: (1) Where did the writer spot the old lady? [1] (2) What was the writers experience with the old lady? [1] (3) Neither the cold wind nor her age seemed to bother her. What is your reaction about the old lady to this statement? [1] (4) Do as directed: (a) It was as if time had stood still. (Identify the subordinate clause and its kind) [1] (b) She was just thanking you. (Change the voice) [1] (5) (a) Write four adverbs from the passage. [1] (b) Which word in the passage refers to (i) a place of worship (ii) gesture of afternoon. [1] (6) Narrate a similar kind of strange/awkward experience you may have had. [2] Q.II. (A) Read the following passage and answer the questions set below it: I left my friends house shortly after seven. It was still too early for my evening meal, so I walked along the seafront for an hour until I began to feel hungry. By that time I was near a favourite restaurant of mine, I went into the restaurant, which was already crowded, and ordered my meal. While I was waiting for the soup to arrive, I looked around to see if I knew anyone in the restaurant. I noticed that a man sitting at a corner table near the door was looking in my direction, as if he knew me. I certainly did not for I never forget a face. The man had a newspaper open in front of him, which he was pretending to read, though all could see that he was keeping an eye on me. When the waited brought my soup, the man was clearly puzzled by the familiar way in which the waiter and I addressed each other. He became even more puzzled as time went on and it grew more and more obvious that I was well known in the restaurant. Eventually he got

up and went to the kitchen. After a few minutes he came out again, paid the left without another glance in my direction. When I had finished and was about to pay my bill, I called the owner of the restaurant over and asked him what the man had wanted. He followed you here as he thought you were a man he was looking for. the restaurant owner said. I was able to convince him that he had made a mistake. Its lucky I came to restaurant when I am known. I said, otherwise I might have been arrested. Questions: (1) Why did the writer go to a restaurant? [1] (2) What was the writers observation about the man? [1] (3) Who do you think the man was? Give reasons for your answer. [1] (4) Do as directed. (a) Otherwise I might have been arrested. (Identify the auxiliary verb and state its function). [1] (b) The man had a newspaper open in front of him. (Make interrogative) [1} (5) (a) Write one compound word from the passage and form a compound word with corner. [1] (b) Frame a suitable sentence with: as time goes on OR to look for [1] (6) What would you have done if you were in the writers place? [2] (B) Read the following passage and answer the questions set below it: When I got to the airport, I learnt that the plane from Cairo, on which my brother was travelling, had been delayed at Paris with engine trouble and was expected to be about an hour late. I decided, therefore, to walk around to make the time pass quickly. First of all I went back to the car park area where I had left my car to make sure that all the doors were locked. As I entered the main airport building again, I made my way to the restaurant, where I ordered a cup of black coffee. As I stood drinking this at the counter, I studied the faces of the people around me. Some passengers were obviously anxious about the time, and kept looking at their watches; others checked to see that they had tickets, passports and money. Where there was a group of people, it was easy to tell which one was about to leave. There was one woman who burst into tears as she said Goodbye to the relatives or friends who had come to see her off. When I had finished my coffee, I went along to the bookstall, where I bought a couple of magazines, both of them about travel, which would help to make the time pass pleasantly. Then I went into one of the waiting-rooms and made myself comfortable in a big armchair. I hardly had time to open one of my magazines when someone came up and put his hand on my shoulder. It was an old friend, who was just about to leave on a business trip to South America. Since we had

not seen each other for a long time, we found plenty to talk about until the arrival of my brothers place from Paris was announced. Questions: (1) Why did the writer go to the airport? [1] (2) Which place did the writer visit during his stay at the airport? [1] (3) What kind of a person, do you think, is the writer? [1] (4) Do as directed: (a) Others checked to see that they had tickets, passports and money. (Add a question tag). [1] (b) As I stood drinking this at the counter, I studied the faces of the people around me, (Identify the prepositions in the sentence). [1] (5) Match the following: [2] Car table Hand shelf Time shed Book bag (6) How would you feel if you had to pass time aimlessly? [2] Q.III. Do as directed: (1) Sameer sad to his cousin, Did you return this book to me yesterday? His cousin replied, No, I have not come here since last week. (Rewrite in the indirect form of narration) [2] (2) Few supermarkets are as cheap as Foodland. (Change to the comparative degree) [1] (3) The theatre is opposite to this bank. We did not know that. (Combine into a single sentence using a suitable subordinator) [1]

SECTION B: POETRY Q.IV. (A) Read the following poem and answer the questions given below it: And a merchant said, Speak to us of Buying and Selling And he answered and said: To you the earth yields her fruit, and you shall not want if you but know how to fill your hands. It is in exchanging the gifts of the earth that you shall find abundance and be satisfied. Yet unless the exchange be in love and kindly justice, it will but lead some to greed and others to hunger. When in the market place you toilers of the sea and fields and vineyards meet the weavers and the potters and the gatherers of spices. Invoke then the master spirit of the earth to come into your hands and sanctify the scales and the reckoning that weighs value against value.

Questions: (1) What is the result of exchanging the gifts of the earth? [1] (2) Name two traders who meet I the market place. [1] (3) When do you invoke the master spirit of the earth? [1] (4) Which words in the poem refer to: (a) a place where grapes are grown (b) to make holy or sacred. [1] (5) Name and explain the figure of speech in the line: It will but lead some to greed and others to hunger. [1] (B) Read the following poem and answer the questions given below it: Lean-flanked and hungry-eyed, the cat As stealthy as a wind-blown leaf, For careless vole or scurrying rat Lucks in the shadows like a thief. Beyond the town, in moon-washed grass, The rabbit and the field-mouse creep, While moon-white owls like phantoms pass Then who says nights the time for sleep? Questions: (1) Who is lurking in the shadows? [1] (2) Which two creatures creep through the grass? [1] (3) What does the poet imply by the last line? [1] (4) Write any two adjectives that are used to describe living creatures in this extract. [1] (5) Give the rhyme scheme of the first stanza. [1]

SECTION C: RAPID READING Q.V. Read the following passage and answer the questions set below it: Grandfather went in search of the Superintendent of the zoo, but found that he had gone home early; and so, after wandering about the zoo for a little while, he returned to Timothys cage to say goodbye. It was beginning to get dark. He had been stroking and slapping Timothy for about five minutes when he found another keeper observing him with some alarm. Grandfather recognized him s the keeper who had been there when Timothy had first come to the zoo.

You remember me, said Grandfather. Now why dont you transfer Timothy to another cage, away from this stupid leopard? But sir stammered the keeper, it is not your tiger. I know, I know, said Grandfather testily. I realize he is no longer mine. But you might at least take a suggestion or two from me. I remember your tiger very well, said the keeper. He died two months ago. Died! exclaimed Grandfather. Yes, sir, of pneumonia. This tiger was trapped in the hill only last month and he is very dangerous! Grandfather could think of nothing to say. The tiger was still licking his arm, with increasing relish. Grandfather took what seemed to him an age to withdraw his hand from the cage. With his face near the tigers he mumbled, Goodnight, Timothy, and giving the keeper a scornful look, walked briskly out of the zoo. Questions: (1) Where was the Superintendent of the zoo? (2) What had happened to Grandfathers tiger? (3) Why according to you, did Grandfather take an age to withdraws his hand? (4) State your opinion about Kindness to Animals.

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SECTION D: WRITING SKILLS Q.VI. (A) Write any one of the following letters: [5] (1) Write a letter to your cousin - who is living abroad since his birth describing our national culture. (2) Write a letter to the concerned authorities requesting them to get rid of the hawker menace in your vicinity. (B) Attempt any one of the following: [5] (1) Observe the following graph and write a paragraph explaining your interpretation. Graf - People in a Store

(2) Read the following passage and prepare a fact file, taking into account at least five points: Set 2100 metres above sea level, Kodaikanal is a popular hill station retreat in South India. The cool climes of Kodai after holiday makers respite from the steamy plains of Tamil Nadu and other neighbouring states. Encompassed by verdant slopes that are punctuated by waterfalls and cascades, Kodaikanal presents some awesome scenic views of the plains below. Visit Kodaikanal from April to June or August to September. This is when the weather is at its best temperatures stay in the region of a comfortable 20oC to a bracing 10oC. The months between October and March are wet and cold. Most visitors go to see the natural beauty of Kodai. There are organized walks through the eucalyptus and blue gum forests that are great for the heart, mind and lungs. The Kodai Lake, a man-made lake has a path encircling it off which has numerous cycle hire shops. Within Kodai, there are botanical gardens like Bryant and Chettiar Park that are a riot when the flowers are abloom. The nearest airport at Madurai (120 km) gets daily flights from Chennai, Bangalore, Trichy and Mumbai. From there on it is possible to reach Kodai by train and road. The nearest railway stations are Palani to the north and Kodai Road to the east. From these stations its a long 3 hour wind up by road. There are bus services to Bangalore, Chennai, Coimbatore, Kanyakumari, Madurai and Trichy. Q.VII. (A) Write any one of the following: [5] (1) Draft a speech that you would make on the occasion of International Womens Day. (2) A dialogue between an environmentalist and yourself about the measures needed to be adopted to keep the environment clear and free of pollution. (B) Write any one of the following: [5] (1) A report on the recent recession that has hit the city. (2) A set of ten questions that would form part of an interview between an actor who has won an Oscar award and yourself. Q.VIII. Expand any one of the ideas given below in about 80 to 100 words. [5] (1) Birds of feather flock together. (2) The future beckons to us Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. (3) My Parents My Pride and Joy, Mr. Hope and Inspiration, My Mentor and Guide.

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