GOVT. MODEL SR. SEC.

SCHOOL, BHAGSAR
SA-2, 2015
CLASS XI
SUB : English (Core)
Time- 3 Hrs. M.M.=80

General Instructions:
1) This paper is divided into four sections- A, B, C & D.
2) All questions are compulsory.
3) Word limit wherever prescribed, must be strictly adhered to.

SECTION A READING (20)

Q1. Read the following passage carefully & do as directed : 12

1 You know that the earth goes round the sun and the moon goes round the earth. You know also perhaps that
there are several other bodies which, like the earth, go round the sun. They are Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn,
Uranus and Neptune. All these, including our earth, are called planets of the sun. The moon is called a satellite of the
earth because it keeps going round the earth. The other planets have also got their satellites.
2 The sun and the planets with their satellites form a happy family, called the solar system. Solar means
belonging to the sun. The sun is the father of all the planets, so the whole group is called the solar system.
3 At night you see thousands of stars in the sky. Only a few of them are planets. We can easily distinguish
between a planet and a star. Compared to the stars, the planets are really very tiny, like our earth. But they look
bigger than stars because they are much nearer to us. Compared to a star, the moon is really quite like a baby. It
looks so big because it is very near to us. The real way to distinguish a star from a planet is to see whether it twinkles
or not. Stars twinkle, planets don't. Planets shine only because they get the light of the sun. It is merely the sunshine
on the planets or the moon that we see.
4 Stars are like the sun. They shine of themselves because they are very hot and burning. In fact, the sun itself
is a star. It looks bigger than stars because it is much nearer. We see it as a great ball of fire in the sky.
5 Thus our earth belongs to the family of the sun. We think the earth is very big. Compared to our tiny selves,
it is truly very big. It takes weeks and months in a fast train or ship to go from one part of the earth to another. But
although it seems so big, it is just like a speck of dust hanging in the air. The sun is millions of miles away and the
other stars are even further away. That is why they look so small to us.

Answer the following questions briefly (1 - 6)

1. What is a planet ?
2. What makes the moon shine
3. What makes the planets shine ?
4. What is meant by the solar system
5. Which word in the passage means 'to tell the difference'?
6. Which word in the passage means 'a tiny particle' ?
Choose the correct option to answer each question (7 - 12)
7. Is the earth stationary ?
(a) Yes, it is stationary.
(b) No, it is not stationary.
(c) No, it moves round the moon.
(d) No, it moves round the other planets.
8. What makes the sun shine ?
(a) The sun shines because it is very big.
(b) The sun shines because it gets the light of the moon.
(c) The sun shines because it is very hot and burning.
(d) The sun shines because we see it during the day.
9. What makes the moon shine ?
(a) The light of the sun falling on it.
(b) The light of the earth falling on it.
(c) The light of the stars falling on it.
(d) The light of the satellites falling on it.
 10. How big is the earth as compared to the sun
(a) It is a little smaller than the sun.
(b) It is bigger than the sun.
(c) It is as big as the sun.
(d) It is only a speck of dust.
11. What is a satellite ?
(a) A natural body that moves round a planet .
(b) A natural body that moves round the sun.
(c) A natural body that moves in the sky.
(d) A natural body that shines in the sky.
12. A million means
(a) one lac.
(b) ten lac.
(c) hundred lac.
(d) one thousand lac.

Q2. Read the following passage carefully : 8

1 The first Olympics were held at Olympia in Greece in 776 Be. The prestige glory of the Olympics spread far
and wide. With the advent of Christianity, the lost their importance, as it was believed that they encouraged pagan
worship in temples built to honour the Greek gods. It was Theodosius-I who ordered the destruction of the Olympia
sanctuary's' temples and other structures in the year AD, which ended the era of the ancient Olympic games.
2 It was due to the efforts of Baron de Coubertin that the Olympics of the era began in 1896 and were held
every four years except during the two World Wars.
3 The International Olympic Committee (IOC) was constituted in 1894. It had 15 representatives including
Coubertin. The first Olympic medal was won by James Connolly in triple jump. The marathon was the most
important event was won by a Greek named Spiridon Louis.
4 Olympia is a small village situated near the west coast of the Peloponnese of Greece. It is noted for its
archaeological ruins which are related to the Olympic stadium and the temples dedicated to Greek gods.
5 The visitor is impressed by the grandiose ruins, which show temple foundations of the temple of Zeus, the
tall columns, the altars and art objects that dot the site. Some of these objects are placed in the Archaeological
museum. Another museum displays objects like stamps, photographs, documents, flags, maps trophies belonging to
the modern Olympics.
6 The games sought to bring various warring groups together in an atmosphere friendly rivalry and
competition. So a sacred truce would be called for the of the games that had assumed pan-Hellenic importance.
7 Some of the events included in the games were foot-racing, wrestling, chariot-racing and horse-racing. The
names of the victors along with the names of events would be recorded for posterity 13. For the victors, it was the
laurel wreath that was important as it signified their superior performance.
8 At the modern Olympics, the sacred flame is lit at Olympia using sun power, by Greek maidens dressed in
white. The event is presided over by a Greek priestess. The flame is then carried in a torch that travels across nations.
The importance of the Olympic movement has been recognised over centuries as it brings people together in a spirit
of friendly competition.

a. Make notes on the above passage in a suitable format. You should use recognizable abbreviations wherever
necessary. Give a suitable title to your passage. 5
b. Write a summary of the passage based on your reading. 3

SECTION B WRITING SKILLS (20)

B-1 You are the sports captain of King's Public School. Write a notice in about 50 words for the school notice-board
informing the students about the Inter-school Basketball match to be played on the school grounds. 5
OR
You want to dispose of your old car. Prepare an advertisement to be published in the For Sale column of a
newspaper.

B-2 Give an eye-witness account of a bus accident in which you were involved, using the following verbal input:
Travelling from Panipat to Delhi - scooterist coming from side road - suddenly in front of the bus - driver tried to save
him - lost control - ran against a tree - many injured - taken to hospital. 8
 OR
Express your views on Environmental Pollution in the form of an article to be published in a newspaper. Write your
article in 150-200 words using the following verbal input:
Development of science and technology, good as well as bad effects, migration to cities, overcrowding, pollution of
air, earth and water, trees and forests cut down, wildlife endangered, danger to human life also, must be checked

B-3 Ravi Sundram of 28, Civil Lines, Gwalior, bought a colour TV set from Messrs Ram Electronics, 14, Bazaar
Marg, Gwalior, a month ago. Now he finds that the sound is not clear and the picture changes to black and white from
time to time. He writes a letter to the dealer complaining about the same and requesting him to attend to it at the
earliest. Write the letter. 7
OR
You are Anita / Gautam, staying at the 'Ankur Apartments', Mayur Vihar, Delhi. There is no bus stop within a radius of
2 km from the apartments, causing a lot of inconvenience to the residents. Write a letter to the editor of 'The Times of
India' drawing attention of the government to this problem.

SECTION C GRAMMAR (10)

C-1. Correct the following sentences: 4
(a) He is my older brother.
(b) Alms was given to the poor.
(c) I have many works to do.
(d) We enjoyed our summer vacations.

C-2. The following passage has not been edited. There is one error in each of the indicated lines. Rewrite the
passage correctly: 3

It has rightly been said that Health

Is Wealth. Without better health, there a) _______________
Can be none pleasure in life. A man b) _______________
May be very rich and have much servants c) _______________
But all this is useless unless he doesnt d) _______________
Have good health. We can work hardly e) _______________
Only if we are health. Thus the real f) _______________
Secret of successful is good health. If g) _______________
We have good health, ours mind will also h) _______________
Be healthy.

C-3. Re-arrange the following words/phrases into meaningful sentences. 2

(a) her studies / very regular / she / in / is.
(b) to forgive / the boys / the teacher / them / requested.

SECTION D LITERATURE (30)

D-1. Read the following extract carefully and answer the questions that follow briefly.

He speaks: I cannot Understand myself,

Why anger grows from grief.
We each put out an empty hand,
longing for something to forgive.

1. Name the poem and its composer. 1

2. Who are he and I? 1
3. What are they both trying? 1
OR

When did my childhood go?

Was it the day I ceased to be eleven,
Was it the time I realized that Hell and Heaven
 Could not be found in Geography
And therefore could not be
Was that the day !

1. Name the poem and its composer. 1

2. What was the poets childhood belief about Hell and Heaven? 1
3. What is the poets mood in these lines? 1

D-2 Answer any three of the following questions in 30-40 words each: 9
a. List the steps taken by the captain to check the flooding of water into the ship.
b. How did Carter separate Tuts mummy from its coffin?
c. How was a melon crowned as the king of the country?
d. Who were Aram and Mourad?
e. What were Rangas views about marriage?

D-3. Answer the following in 100-125 words. 6

Draw a character-sketch of Khushwant Singhs grandmother as portrayed by him in The Portrait of a Lady.
OR
Discuss the theme of the play Mothers Day

D-4. Give a brief account of the Otis family. 6

OR
Narrate briefly Mr. Otiss first encounter with the ghost.

D-5. Give a brief character sketch of Virginia 6

OR
Discuss the theme of The Canterville Ghost.