ST.

PAUL’S ACADEMY
P UR B A B A R D H AM AN
Selection Examination (2021-22)
Literature in English
English Paper – 2
Maximum Marks: 40
(Time allowed : One and a half hours)
Class – X Time – 1 ½ hrs.
You will not be allowed to write during the first 10 minutes.
This time is to be spent in reading the question paper.
The time given at the head of the paper is the time allowed for writing the answers.
This paper has four sections.
Section – A is compulsory – All questions in Section – A must be answered.
You must attempt ONLY ONE question from each of the Sections – B, C and D.
The intended marks for questions or parts of questions are given in brackets [ ].

Section – A

Question 1
Choose the correct answers to the questions from the given options. (Do not copy the question, write the correct
answer only): [10x1=10]
i) In the poem Nine Gold Medals who are referred to as ‘young women and men’?
a) The spectators from all over the world.
b) The announcers who had come from different countries.
c) The differently-abled athletes who had come from different countries.
d) The readers of the poem.

ii) In the poem Abou Ben Adhem, what does the poet refer to by using the word ‘tribe’?
a) The tribal people of India.
b) The particular tribal community for which Abou Ben Adhem prayed to God.
c) People, like Abou Ben Adhem, who love others spreading fraternity and brotherhood in the world.
d) The people of this world.

iii) Why did Jesse Owens dislike Adolf Hitler?

a) Because Hitler had organised the Olympics in Berlin.
b) Because Hitler advocated the theory of Aryan supremacy.
c) Because Hitler had patronised Lutz Long.
d) Because Jesse Owens disliked the Germans.

iv) Why did Owens not want Luz Long to win?

a) Because Owens wanted to retain the world record he had set.
b) Because that would have added some new support to the Nazis’ Aryan supremacy theory.
c) Because it would have disappointed Owens after long years of training.
d) Because Owens was angry with Luz Long.

v) In the story All Summer in a Day, why don’t the other students like Margot?
a) Margot dislikes William.
b) Margot thinks she is better than the others.
c) Margot always stands quietly near the window in order to see the lovely rain.
d) Margot’s experiences are very different from the experiences of the other students.

vi) In the story All Summer in a Day, how old are the children who were waiting for the appearance of the Sun?
a) Eight years old.
b) Five years old.
c) Ten years old.
d) Nine years old.
 vii) As Shylock is about to cut the pound of flesh from Antonio, what does Portia warn Shylock?
a) He will be damned if he proceeds.
b) He should make sure his knife is sharp.
c) The bond does not allow him to shed any blood.
d) The Christians will surely take revenge.

viii) How does the Duke show mercy?

a) He pardons Shylock’s life.
b) Shylock is allowed to tear up the bond and leave.
c) Both Shylock and Antonio will be put in jail.
d) Antonio and Shylock must not do business again.

ix) According to Portia when does the crow sing as sweetly as the lark?
a) Early in the morning.
b) Late at night.
c) When everybody is listening to.
d) When nobody is listening to.

x) What were the words inscribed on the ring which Nerissa had given to Gratiano?
a) “Forget me not.”
b) “Miss me not.”
c) “Love me not.”
d) “Love me, and leave me not.”

Section – B (Drama)
(The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare – Acts 4 and 5)

Question 2
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
Duke : “Glancing an eye of pity on his losses
That have of late so huddled on his back,
Enow to press a royal merchant down,
And pluck commiseration of his state
From brassy bosoms and rough hearts of flint
From stubborn Turks and Tartars never trained
To offices of tender courtesy.”

i) Where does this scene take place? To whom are these words addressed? [2]
ii) Who has suffered losses? What does the word ‘commiseration’ mean? [2]
iii) How are the Turks and Tartars, according to the speaker? [3]
iv) According to the speaker, how immense are the losses? [3]

Question 3
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
Lorenzo : “For do but note a wild and wanton herd
Or race of youthful and unhandled colts
Fetching mad bounds, bellowing and neighing loud,
Which is the hot condition of their blood –
If they but hear perchance a trumpet sound,
Or any air of music touch their ears,
You shall perceive them make a mutual stand,
Their savage eyes turned into a modest gaze,
By the sweet power of music, therefore the poet
Did feign that Orpheus drew trees, stones and floods,”

i) Whom does Lorenzo speak to and in what context? [2]

ii) According to Lorenzo how will animals behave when they hear music? [2]
iii) Whom does Lorenzo refer to when he uses the word ‘poet’? What power did Orpheus have? [3]
iv) What is Lorenzo’s opinion about people who are not affected by music? [3]
 Section – C (PROSE – Short Stories)
(Treasure Trove – A Collection of ICSE Poems and Short Stories)

Question 4
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
Suddenly all the tension seemed to ebb out of my body as the truth of what he said hit me. Confidently, I drew a
line a full foot in back of the board and proceeded to jump from there. I qualified with almost a foot to spare.
That night I walked over to Luz Long’s room in the Olympic Village to thank him. I knew that if it hadn’t been for
him I probably wouldn’t be jumping in the finals the following day.
[My Greatest Olympic Prize : Jesse Owens]
i) Why had the speaker been tensed? [2]
ii) Why did all the tension seem to ebb out? [2]
iii) What happened on the ‘following day’? [3]
iv) What message does the speaker or the protagonist want to convey through this story? [3]

Question 5
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
“Ready?”
“Ready.”
“Now?”
“Soon.”
“Do the scientists really know? Will it happen today, will it?”
“Look, look; see for yourself.” The children pressed to each other like so many roses, so many weeds, intermixed,
peering out for a look at the hidden sun.
It rained.
[All Summer in a Day : Ray Douglas Bradbury]
i) Where is the story “All Summer in A Day” set? Who are these ‘children’? [2]
ii) The story opens with the question: ‘Ready?’ What were the characters getting ready for? [2]
iii) What do the lines: “Do the scientists really know? Will it happen today, will it?” suggest? [3]
iv) How has the rain affected Margot? [3]

Section D (POETRY)
(Treasure Trove – A Collection of ICSE Poems and Short Stories)

Question 6
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
“And is mine one?” said Abou.
“Nay, not so,”
Replied the angel. Abou spoke more low,
But cheerly still; and said, “I pray thee, then,
Write me as one that loves his fellow men.”
[Abou Ben Adhem : Leigh Hunt]
i) What was the angel doing? [2]
ii) When did Abou see the angel? [2]
iii) What did Abou request the angel at the end? What did the angel do then? [3]
iv) What did the angel do in the next night? What amazing thing did Abou see? [3]

Question 7
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
“The signal was given, the pistol exploded
And so did the runners on hearing the sound
But the youngest among them stumbled and staggered
And he fell on his knees to the ground.”
[Nine Gold Medals : David Roth]
i) What does the poet mean by – “....And so did the runners ....”? [2]
ii) How did the youngest of them react on falling down? [2]
iii) What was the ‘strange’ thing that happened after this? [3]
iv) What message does the poem convey? [3]
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