THE INDIAN HIGH SCHOOL DUBAI
MODEL EXAMINATION (2020-2021)
SUBJECT: ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE
Grade 10 Time : 3 Hours
Date: 18.03.2021 Total marks: 80
Instructions:
1. Thispaper is divided into two parts: A and B. All questions are compulsory.
2. Separate instructions are given with each section and question, wherever
necessary. Read these instructions very carefully and follow them.
3. Do not exceed the prescribed word limit while answering the questions.
PART A
READING (20 marks)
1. Read the following passage and answer ANY TEN questions that follow: 10 marks
When man first began to think, he asked himself the deepest of all questions — a question which
you have undoubtedly asked yourself many times. What is the meaning of life? What is it all
about? Where are we all going? What drives us ever forward to work and worry? And now
there's this other big question — a newer question which is beginning to force itself into our
notice. One that is not ages old... that has not been with us since man first began to think. It is
somewhere… is science taking us?
First, where is science taking us with regard to ethical and spiritual values? We know what it is
doing with regard to material things, for material things are its daily business, but what is it
doing with regard to non-material things? If the answer were ‘nothing at all', that would be bad
enough, but the actual answer is ‘less than nothing'. Here science is actually doing less than
nothing; for its material teachings have been so overemphasized that many people are
floundering and wondering whether after all man is but a machine animated by forces over
which he has no control.
Let's concentrate on material things, the things that form the very stronghold of science. Look at
the machine, for instance. This is the age of the machine. Machines are everywhere—in the
fields, in the factory, in the home, in the street, in the city, in the country. To fly, it is not
necessary to have wings; there are machines. To swim under the sea, it is not necessary to have
gills, there are machines. To kill our fellow men in overwhelming numbers, there are machines.
Page 1 of 15
Petrol machines alone provide ten times more powerful than all human beings in the world. In
the busiest countries, each individual has six hundred human slaves in his machines.
Science can lead to technological advances, as well as helping us learn about enormously
important and useful topics, such as our health, the environment, and natural hazards. Science
focuses exclusively on the natural world and does not deal with supernatural explanations.
i) Which questions did every person ask many times to himself according to the text?
A. What is the meaning of life?
B. Where are we all going?
C. What drives us to live happily?
D. Is the science of any use?
a. Only (A)
b. Only (A) and (B)
c. Only (A), (B) and (C)
d. All of the above
ii. How have machines become indispensable to human beings?
a. They are present everywhere
b. They are easy to repair
c. They are easy to work with
d. All of these
iii. What is the perception of many people regarding the contribution of science to their lives?
a. It is nothing at all
b. It is everything they ever wanted
c. It is less than nothing
d. It is more than anything
iv. What does the writer mean by ‘six hundred human slaves' in his machines?
a. The busiest countries have machines in their factories.
b. The busiest countries have 600 human slaves in their factories.
c. In the busiest countries each individual has 600 machines in his factory.
d. In the busiest countries, each individual has 600 labourers working in his factory.
v. What are the ‘non-material things' being referred to in the passage?
a. Ethical and Spiritual Values
b. Human Machines
c. Petrol Machines
d. Human Slaves
Page 2 of 15
vi. What do petrol machines provide?
a. Petrol to the world
b. Jobs to people
c. Better performance than human machines
d. 10 time bigger size
vii What does Science focus upon?
a. Supernatural Explanations
b. Values and Principles
c. Human Beings
d. Natural World
viii. Which according to you is an appropriate title of the passage?
a. Science and its impact on our world
b. Science of Machines
c. Natural World
d. What is life?
ix The word opposite in meaning to SPIRITUAL is:
a. Material
b. Non-material
c. Ethical
d. None of these
x. Science is actually doing less than nothing. Here the word ACTUALLY is:
a. Noun
b. Verb
c. Adjective
d. Adverb
xi After all man is but a machine. Here the meaning of BUT is:
a. Except
b. Only
c. However
d. Obviously
xii. The noun form of the word CONCENTRATE is
a. Concentration
b. Concentrated
c. Concentrating
d. Concentric
Page 3 of 15
2 . Read the passage given below.
The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) is an
environmental treaty under the aegis of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). A
conference of the parties to the convention was hosted by Gujarat in 2020. A report released
during the event demonstrates how valuable birds are as indicators of all-round degradation in
the environment. For example, sparrows have been recognised as an indicator of environmental
health and urban biodiversity.
Interestingly, an earlier analysis of the sparrow population showed the alarming decline in the
numbers of the humble house sparrow (Passer domesticus), especially since the late 1990s. It is
disturbing to note that a species that is so close to one’s heart and which has dominated our life
and culture for years – the common feisty, cheerful, perky avian visitor to every garden – is
disappearing the world over, especially from the urban landscape and rural areas where the use
of pesticides is high.
Page 4 of 15
The main reason for the decline of sparrow population is loss of habitat due to rapid
urbanization. Changes in housing styles, such as bungalows to high rises made of concrete and
glass, radiation from mobile towers, high levels of pollution and diminishing green cover are
seen as the main reasons for the disappearance of sparrows.
Another major reason is the threat by invasive pigeons. With greater survival instincts and
reproductive rates, they have pushed the sparrows out of the competition for diminished
resources. Hence, saving sparrows has become a matter of urgency.
On the basis of your understanding of the passage, attempt ANY TEN questions from the
twelve that follow. (1 × 10 = 10)
i. The report is important because it indicates
a. the migration of birds to other countries.
b. the United Nations is interested in preserving Indian wildlife.
c. how important birds are for the preservation of the environment.
d. that the environment of countries is getting degraded with the increase in bird’s population.
ii. Regarding the sparrows in Delhi, which of the following is NOT a correct statement?
a. Sparrows are found mostly in the outskirts of the city now.
b. Their numbers are threatened by blue-rock pigeons.
c. The sparrow was declared Delhi’s state bird in 2011.
d. It is a small bird, typically weighing between 25-40 grams.
iii. The graph indicates that
a. ‘survival of the fittest’ is prevalent in nature.
b. floods and fires do not affect the population of birds.
c. ‘Unknown’ and ‘Others’ combined causes the same amount of loss as ‘Habitat
loss/degradation’.
d. human beings are not the cause of bird extinction.
iv. A study of the graph shows that
a. the change in ecological dynamics is a major factor for the decline in bird populations.
b. almost 50% of bird species worldwide are now extinct.
c. all causes of bird extinction are known.
d. the number of species lost to exploitation and degradation is almost the same.
v. The alarming decline in the numbers of sparrows has been noted for almost
a. 10 years.
b. 20 years.
c. 30 years.
d. 40 years.
vi. If ‘feisty, cheerful, perky’ were to be replaced by one word, it would be
a. daring.
b. sprightly.
c. happy.
d. bold.
Page 5 of 15
vii. The population of sparrows is seen to be lessening in some rural areas because of
a. less cultivation of food crops.
b. farm animals that keep them away.
c. use of pesticides.
d. the greater population of pigeons in these areas.
viii. Which of the following statements is NOT true? Rapid urbanisation has led to
I. a decline in the population of the sparrow population.
II. construction of more bungalows.
III. destruction of green spaces.
IV. increase in nesting places
a. I, II and III
b. II and IV
c. IV only
d. III and IV
ix. Which of these is NOT a factor for the diminishing sparrow population in urban areas?
a. Use of pesticides
b. Growing population of pigeons
c. Mobile towers
d. Pollution
x. The sparrow is Delhi’s state bird. This means that
a. it has to be protected in the state only.
b. it is the emblem of the state.
c. maximum sparrows are found in Delhi.
d. it is being bred in Delhi to increase their numbers.
xi. We can say that the population of sparrows in Delhi is
a. extinct.
b. increasing.
c. stable.
d. diminishing.
xii. Which of these options is NOT true? Pigeons have pushed out the sparrows because pigeons
a. are preferred by people.
b. are aggressive by nature.
c. reproduce faster.
d. adapt easily.
Page 6 of 15
LITERATURE (10 marks)
3. Read the extracts given below and attempt ANY ONE, by answering the questions that
follow. (5 marks)
A. Let me put it more clearly, since no one will believe that a thirteen-year-old girl is
completely alone in the world. And I’m not. I have loving parents and a sixteen-year-old sister,
and there are about thirty people I can call friends. I have a family, loving aunts and a good
home. No, on the surface I seem to have everything, except my one true friend. All I think about
when I’m with friends is having a good time. I can’t bring myself to talk about anything but
ordinary everyday things. We don’t seem to be able to get any closer, and that’s the problem.
Maybe it’s my fault that we don’t confide in each other. In any case, that’s just how things are,
and unfortunately, they’re not liable to change. This is why I’ve started the diary.
i. In this excerpt, what is Anne Frank trying to put ‘more clearly’?
a. The fact that she does not have a friend
b. The fact that she has a loving family
c. The reason for starting a diary
d. Why she only talks about ordinary, everyday things with her friends
ii. ‘No, on the surface I seem to have everything.’ What does Anne mean when she says this?
a. In reality, I don’t have anything.
b. It appears that I have everything.
c. I have everything that I need.
d. I put on the appearance of having everything.
iii. Choose the option that lists the set of statements that are NOT true according to the given
extract.
1. Anne is a sixteen-year-old girl.
2. Anne can’t confide in her friends.
3. Anne misses having a loving family and a good home.
4. Anne wants to be close enough to her friends to be able to confide in them.
5. Her relationship with her friends is not likely to change.
6. The lack of a true friend has made Anne start writing a diary.
7. Anne can trust her friends enough to confide in them.
a. 2, 4, 6
b. 1, 3, 7
c. 3, 5, 7
d. 4, 5, 6
iv Pick the options below to classify Facts (F) and Opinions (O) of the people below
(3) Listen! Anne has (4) If you have
(1) I think Anne good time with a
(2) I feel Anne accepted the
is not alone in friend you can
should talk to situation. She knows
this world. she can do nothing to confide in her.
her parents
change it.
Page 7 of 15
a. F-1,3,4 and O- 2
b. F-1,3 and O- 2,4
c. F-1 and O- 2,3,4
d. F- 1,2 and O-3,4
v. Which of these words is NOT similar in meaning to ‘liable’?
a. responsible
b. likely
c. unlikely
d. prone
OR
B. So, in order not to shake the writer’s faith in God, the postmaster came up with an idea:
answer the letter. But when he opened it, it was evident that to answer it he needed something
more than goodwill, ink and paper. But he stuck to his resolution: he asked for money from his
employees, he himself gave part of his salary, and several friends of his were obliged to give
something ‘for an act of charity’.
i. Who decided to answer the letter?
a. The Postmaster
b. Lencho himself
c. A post office employee
d. God
ii. How did the postmaster help the writer of the letter?
a. by hiring him
b. by sending the letter to God
c. by collecting money and sending it to him
d. by guiding and motivating him to work hard
iii. Which word in the extract means the same as ‘firm decision’?
a. faith
b. evident
c. goodwill
d. resolution
iv. Which of the following word is NOT related to the word ‘unnoticeable’?
2.
evident
1. 3.
unnoticeable
hidden unknown
4. Page 8 of 15
vague
a. option 1
b. option 2
c. option 3
d. option 4
v. What kind of person was the postmaster?
a. collector
b. lethargic
c. considerate
d. haughty
4. Read the extracts given below and attempt ANY ONE, by answering the questions that
follow. (5 marks)
A.“Ink trickled down to the bottom of the household,
And little mouse Blink strategically mouseholed.
But up jumped Custard, snorting like an engine,
Clashed his tail like irons in a dungeon,
With a clatter and a clank and a jangling squirm,
He went at the pirate like a robin at a worm”
i. Which option lists the quotes that support the ideas in the extract?
1) Fear makes strangers of people who would be friends.
2) If you’re brave enough to start, you’re strong enough to finish.
3) Courage doesn’t mean you don’t get afraid. Courage means you don’t let fear stop you.
4) You get in life what you have the courage to ask for
5) Fear has a large shadow, but he himself is strong.
a) 1 and 5
b) 2, 3 and 4
c) 2 and 3
d) 1,3 and
ii. What is the poet’s purpose of using the onomatopoeic words given in the extract?
a. It is to emphasize on the might and boldness of Custard.
b. It is to introduce the character Custard to the readers.
c. It is to impress upon the readers that Custard was ready.
d. It is to make Custard bold enough to face the situation.
iii. ‘He went at the pirate like a robin at a worm. Why has this comparison been used here?
Just like the robin catches the worm,
a. Custard attacked the pirate after careful observation.
b. Custard attacked the pirate without delay.
c. Custard attacked the pirate valourously.
d. Custard attacked the pirate stealthily.
Page 9 of 15
iv. Pick the option that does NOT display a simile from the extract.
a. Clashed his tail like irons…
b. …at the pirate like a robin at a worm.
c. …Custard, snorting like an engine…
d. …trickled down to the bottom…
v. The extract mentions ‘irons’ in dungeons. According to this extract, ‘irons’ is a reference to
a. iron racks for scared books.
b. iron cases housing treasures.
c. iron chains holding the prisoners captive.
d. iron coffins for burying the royal dead.
OR
B. Not one is dissatisfied,
not one is demented with
the mania of owning things, Not one kneels to another, nor to his kind that
lived thousands of years ago,
Not one is respectable or unhappy over the whole earth.
i. The repetition of “not one” in the given extract signifies the poet’s
a) effort to create a sense of continuity.
b) attempt at musicality and rhythm.
c) sense of disappointment and frustration.
d) feelings of anger and vengeance.
ii. Which of the following set of qualities does the poet attribute to animals in the given extract?
a. discontented, furious, respectful
b. fearless, materialistic, reputable
c. contented, equal, non-acquisitive
d. happy, self-serving, intelligent
iii. ‘Not one kneels to another’. Here the word KNEEL symbolizes
a. bending down
b. stooping
c. praying
d. elbowing
iv. Choose the option that contains a statement which CANNOT be conclusively inferred from
the extract.
a) Man is miserable
b) Man is materialistic.
c) Man is power-hungry.
d) Man is curious.
Page 10 of 15
v. Which of the following characterises the poet’s attitude towards animals in the given extract?
a) admiration
b) nostalgia
c) jealousy
d) enthusiasm
GRAMMAR (10 marks)
5. Choose the correct option to fill in the blanks to complete the note about the members of
Bird watching Club. (1x3=3marks)
In the developing countries such as Britain, Germany, Japan and USA, one can see a number of
people of all age groups like pensioners, school going children etc., (i)_______ in the meadows,
forests and parks, on the river banks and sea shores with cameras and notebooks, (ii) _________
birds. Each member of a bird watching club (iii) _____a badge, identity card and a map of the
area. The main function of these organisations is to collect as much data on birds as possible.
This data is sent to the higher authorities for the verification of the research.
(i) a) moving about b) moved about c) move about d) moves about
(ii) a) jot down the names, colours and sizes of the different
b) jotting down the names, colours and sizes of the different
c) jotted down the names, colours and sizes of the different
d) had been jotting down the names, colours and sizes of the different
(iii) a) was provided with b)was provided in c) is provided with d) is provided in
6. Choose the correct options to fill in the blanks to complete the narration.(1X3=3 marks)
Master asked Suppandi (i)___________________________. The next day, Master informed
Suppandi that he (ii) _________________________________in all the four corners of the world.
Suppandi replied that it was impossible. Master inquired from Suppandi how he could say that.
Suppandi explained that it (iii) ________________________.
(i) a. if he knew that the world is round
b. if he knew that the world was round
c. if he knows that the world is round
d. if he knew that the world will be round
Page 11 of 15
(ii) a. is trying to invent something that would make him famous
b. was trying to invent something that would make him famous
c. was trying to invent something that will make him famous
d. was trying to invent something that made him famous
(iii)a. was because the world was round
b. is because the world is round
c. was because the world is round
d. is because the world was round
7. Choose the correct answer. Only one answer is correct. You may attempt ANY FOUR
out of the six given below. (1x4-4marks)
(i) ________ little knowledge is a dangerous thing,
a. The
b. A
c. Some
d. Much
(ii) One of my friends ________ to Canada.
a. have gone
b. has gone
c. were gone
d. has been gone
(iii) I am a slow reader but I remember ___________I read.
a. most of what
b. much of what
c. most of this
d. much of this
(iv) He ____ never do such things against his will.
a. could
b. can
c. would
d. may
(v) He works hard lest he______________ fail.
a. must
b. can
c. should
d. might
(vi)The villagers __________ the thief by the time the police ________.
a. were catching, came
b. had caught, came
Page 12 of 15
c. caught, came
d. would catch, came
PART B
WRITING (10 marks)
8. Attempt ANY ONE of the following in 100-120 words. (5 Marks)
(A)You are Neha/Nihal, Computer In-charge of Army Public School. Your school wishes to buy
20 computer and computer accessories from Apple Inc., Nehru Place, New Delhi. Draft a letter
for the same.
OR
(B)You have noticed that while travelling in the Metro, in spite of the strict vigilance, people try
to deface the Metro trains and stations.Write a letter to the Editor of a newspaper suggesting
DMRC, to start some awareness programmes at the school level in coordination with the
Directorate of Education, explaining how such programmes may help in bringing a positive
change in the people’s attitude. You are Sudheer/Sweety of 3-B, DDA Flats, Punjabi Bagh,
Delhi.
9. Attempt ANY ONE of the following in 100-120 words. (5 marks)
A. The graph shows Internet Usage in Taiwan by Age Group from 1998-2000.
Write an analytical paragraph by selecting and reporting the main features and making
comparisons where relevant in 100- 120 words.
From left to right
OR
(B) Read the following excerpt from an article that appeared in the magazine section of a local
daily:
To find out more about why people think homework is a good idea, Jenny spoke to Chris from
the campaign for Real Education. Chris told Newsround: "If you like learning, homework helps
to support your learning. It's really important to go back afterwards and think about what you're
Page 13 of 15
learning in class. Practice makes perfect. It helps to teach children how to work on their own and
be disciplined with themselves - both skills that are useful later in life.
Write a paragraph to analyse the given argument. You could think about what alternative
explanations might weaken the given conclusion and include rationale / evidence that would
strengthen / counter the given argument.
10. Answer ANY TWO questions in 20-30 words each, from (A) and (B) respectively.
(2x4=8)
(A) (any two) (2x2=4)
i. Simple moments can totally alter the course of your life. Explain the statement with reference
to ‘Dust of Snow’.
ii. What does the baker’s appearance tell us about his profession in ‘A Baker from Goa’?
iii. How can we say that the conductor in ‘Madam Rides a Bus’ was a good- natured fellow?
(B) (any two) (2x2=4)
i. Why did the young lawyer want to go to his country? What did he want to do there?
ii. Why did Matilda not want to see her rich friends? What does it tell about her character?
iii. What conditions did Anil put forward before appointing Hari Singh as his servant?
11. Answer ANY TWO questions in 40-50 words each from (A) and (B) respectively.
(3x4=12)
(A) (any two) (3x2=6)
i. Describe the health condition of Lomov. What good did it do in his life ?
ii. What shocked the narrator after landing safely? Why was he shocked?
iii. How life on a tower would be different from life anywhere else for Amanda?
(B) (any two) (3x2=6)
i. Cite examples from the text to prove that Griffin was a lawless man.
ii. Give examples from the text, that Bholi was a neglected child?
iii. Why do you think Mr. Weiherer was impressed with Richard Ebright?
12. Answer ANY ONE the following in 100-120 words. (5x1)
A. Read the extract given below and compare the loneliness of the characters, Wanda Petronski
and Anne Frank, in the lessons.
Page 14 of 15
She sat in the corner of the room where the rough boys who did not make good marks sat, the
corner of the room where there was most scuffling of feet, most roars of laughter when anything
funny was said, and most mud and dirt on the floor. Wanda did not sit there because she was
rough and noisy. On the contrary, she was very quiet and rarely said anything at all. And nobody
had ever heard her laugh out loud. Sometimes she twisted her mouth into a crooked sort of smile,
but that was all. (The Hundred Dresses)
‘Paper has more patience than people.’ I thought of this saying on one of those days when I was
feeling a little depressed and was sitting at home with my chin in my hands, bored and listless,
wondering whether to stay in or go out. I finally stayed where I was, brooding: Yes, paper does
have more patience, and since I’m not planning to let anyone else read this stiff-backed notebook
grandly referred to as a ‘diary’, unless I should ever find a real friend, it probably won’t make a
bit of difference. (From the diary of Anne Frank)
OR
B. Lencho had asked God for one hundred pesos. But he found only seventy pesos in the letter
that he had received. He thought the post office people had stolen his money and now he decides
to confront the post master where he finds out the truth. From here on, write a conversation
between him and the postmaster based on your understanding of their personality traits.
13. Answer ANY ONE of the following in 100-120 words. (5x1)
A. ‘Everything in excess is opposed to nature.’ Comment in the wake of Mrs Pumphrey’s love
for Tricki.
OR
B.Money can’t make a man as much as education can. Elucidate the statement in light of the
chapter The Thief’s Story.
Page 15 of 15
