Time: 3hours 10 TH 2024-25 Marks: 80

Section I: Language Study

Q.1.(A)
A1. Do as Directed (Attempt any four): (4)

i Punctuate the following sentence/s.

marshal of the air force arjan singh an icon of indias military history will always be
remembered as a war hero who had successfully led a young iaf during the 1965 indo pak
war
Marshal of the Air Force, Arjan Singh, an icon of India’s military history, will always be
remembered as a war hero who had successfully led a young IAF during the 1965 Indo-Pak
war.
ii Use the given adverbs in your own sentences.
completely
Lekha was completely absorbed in the novel.
iii Arrange the following words in the alphabetical order:
apartment, auditorium, announcement, astonishment
announcement, apartment, astonishment, auditorium
iv Make meaningful sentence(s) by using the following phrase(s):
to get out of
He got out of bed and came down to the living room, to see whether the door was closed.
v Write the noun form of the following words:
pacify
pacification
A2. Do as Directed (Attempt any two): (4)
i Say whether the predicates in the following sentence(s) have an object/ a complement / an
adverbial.
Alexander Bell invented the telephone.
invented the telephone – object

ii Write the homophones of the given words and use them in sentences of your own.
some
sum
The neighbours bought her some food since she was starving.
Paresh gave her a sum of money to be saved for a rainy day.
iii Rewrite the sentence in Reported Speech.
“Follow my example,” she said as we shook hands.
As we shook hands, she told me to follow her example.
(B) Do as Directed (Attempt any one): (2)
i Use the given words in a single meaningful sentence.
information, modern
Modern technology makes it easier to access and share information.
ii Pick out the Modal Auxiliary and state its function.
Hawking previously argued that belief in a creator could be compatible with modern
scientific theories.
Modal Auxiliary: could
Function: possibility
Section II: Textual Passages (Reading Skills, Vocabulary and Grammar)
Q.2(A) Read the following passage and do the activities.
A1. i Complete the web-diagram. (2)

i. Stephen Hawking was a British scientist, professor and author.

ii. Hawking authored and co-authored a total of 15 books over the years,
iii. Hawking did ground-breaking work in Physics and Cosmology which have helped to
make science accessible to everyone.
iv. Hawking became world famous after the publication of ‘A Brief History of Time’

Stephen Hawking (born January 8, 1942) is a British scientist, professor and author who has
done groundbreaking work in physics and cosmology, and whose books have helped to make
science accessible to everyone. At the age of 21, while studying cosmology at the University
of Cambridge, he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Part of his life
story was depicted in the 2014 film ‘The Theory of Everything.’
Over the years, Stephen Hawking has written or co-written a total of 15 books. A few of the
most noteworthy include: The Grand Design, The Universe in a Nutshell, The Theory of
Everything.
In 1988, Hawking catapulted to international prominence with the publication of A Brief
History of Time. The short, informative book became an account of cosmology for the masses
and offered an overview of space and time, the existence of God and the future. The work was
an instant success, spending more than four years atop the ‘London Sunday Times’ best-seller
list. Since its publication, it has sold millions of copies worldwide and been translated into
more than 40 languages.

A2. i List the books mentioned in the passage. (2)

The books mentioned in the passage are: The Grand Design, The Universe in a Nutshell, The
Theory of Everything, A Brief History of Time.
A3. i Find the meaning of the given word and use it in a sentence of your own. (2)
launched
 Catapulted
Sonam’s win in the national dance competition catapulted her to international fame.

A4. Do as Directed:
i Hawking catapulted to international prominence with the publication of ‘A Brief (1)
History of Time’. (Pick out the Subject and the Predicate)
Hawking - Subject
catapulted to international prominence with the publication of ‘A Brief History of Time’ -
Predicate

ii Stephen Hawking has written or co-written a total of 15 books. (Change the Voice) (1)
A total of 15 books have been written or co-written by Stephen Hawking.
A5. i ‘Stephen Hawking was a versatile personality’. Justify. (2)
Stephen Hawking was a scientist, professor as well as a writer. His outstanding work in
Physics and Cosmology along with the books that he authored, have made science accessible
to all. Even though he was struggling with a rare disease that had left him paralysed and
wheel-chair bound, his achievements shot him to international fame and Hawking continued
to work despite his worsening medical condition. All these traits of Stephen Hawking make
him a truly versatile personality.

(B) Read the following passage and do the activities.

B1. i Complete the web-diagram. (2)

i. flowers
ii. majestic ocean
iii. rock
iv. grass

We have a hibiscus plant in our garden. Every fortnight a flower blooms on it - big, bright and
tender. Through the day it smiles with the sun and dances with the wind, but as evening
approaches, it starts wilting. The morning after, it withers completely and by evening it falls
and becomes one with the earth again. The flower comes to life only for a day, yet it does so
in full splendour. What if we too lived our life, however short, to its fullest?
We went to a rocky beach and saw the spread of the majestic ocean and the rocks alongside,
carved, sculpted and shaped by the water. Water is so gentle, rock so hard, yet, as the water
flows over it every day, for years, the rock gives in. It takes the shape that the water
commands. Our problems are so colossal and we are so small, yet if we persist...
We saw small bits of grass peeping through the
small cracks in a concrete pavement. It left us thinking: however impossible things may look,
there is always an opening...

B2. i The writer explains the contrasting features of ‘water’ and ‘rock’ in the extract. Write (2)
all the features of both water and rock in the table.
Water Rock
 i. _______________ __________________
ii. _______________ __________________
iii. _______________ __________________
iv. _______________ __________________

Water Rock
i. Water is gentle. Rock is hard.
It carves, sculpts and shapes the It is carved, sculpted and shaped by the
ii.
rock. water.
iii. Water persists. The rock gives in.
iv. Water has a commanding nature. The rock has a yielding nature.

B3. i Match the words with their antonyms. (2)

Column A Column B
i. long a. colossal
ii. hard b. gentle
iii. small c. persist
iv. quit d. short

(i – d), (ii – b), (iii – a), (iv – c)

B4. Do as Directed:

i It takes the shape of water. (1)

(Add a Question Tag)
It takes the shape of water, doesn’t it?

ii We went to a rocky beach and saw the spread of the majestic ocean. (1)
(Rewrite as a Simple Sentence)
Upon going to a rocky beach, we saw the spread of the majestic ocean.

B5. i What do you understand from the saying, ‘However impossible things may look, there (2)
is always an opening...’?
The saying suggests that even in the face of daunting challenges or seemingly
insurmountable obstacles, there is always a possibility for a solution or a way forward. Just
like the grass finds its way through small cracks in concrete or water shapes even the hardest
rocks over time, perseverance and resilience can lead to unexpected opportunities or paths
toward success.

Section III: Poetry

Q.3(A) Read the following extract and do the activities.

A1. i Match the columns. (2)
‘A’ ‘B’
 spectacles on nose and pouch
i. Middle age a.
on side
ii. Pantaloon b. formal-cut beard
Extreme old
iii. c. is too wide for his thin legs
age
iv. Youthful hose d. no teeth, no taste

(i – b), (ii – a), (iii – d), (iv – c)

And then the justice,

In fair round belly with good capon lined,
With eyes severe and beard of formal cut,
Full of wise saws and modern instances;
And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts
Into the lean and slippered pantaloon,
With spectacles on nose and pouch on side;
His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide
For his shrunk shank, and his big manly voice,
Turning again toward childish treble, pipes
And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
Is second childishness and mere oblivion,
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.

A2. i The last (7th) stage of life sounds very sad and miserable. State ways to make the old (2)
age also cheerful and happy.
Yes, the last stage of life seems very sad and miserable. It can, however, be made cheerful
and happy by reliving the pleasant experiences which a human has faced throughout his
journey of life. He can share those memories with his family, friends and neighbours. This
would make him feel happy and satisfied that he lived a fulfilling life.

A3. i Identify and explain the Figure of Speech used. (1)

“With eyes severe and beard of formal cut,”
Inversion – Changed order of words
“With severe eyes and formal cut beard,”
(B) Write an appreciation of the poem in about 12 to 15 sentences with the help of the following (5)
points:
Title, Poet, Rhyme Scheme, Figures of Speech, Theme/ Central Idea.
Appreciation of the poem ‘The Will to Win’
The poem, ‘The Will to Win’ has been written by Berton Braley. The title of the poem
suggests that it is about the preconditions for success.
The poem is written in a free-verse format which is the reason why the rhyme scheme is
irregular and does not have a fixed pattern. The figures of speech beautifying the poem are
Climax, Alliteration, Tautology, Consonance, Antithesis and Repetition. An example of
 Tautology from the extract is “seems useless and worthless without it” where two words
‘useless’ and ‘worthless’ having the same meaning i.e. ‘meaningless’ are used in the same
line.
The central idea of the poem highlights the criteria for achieving success. The poet believes
that success is the result of persistent struggle, relentless pursuit of one’s goal and unyielding
determination. One must toil without giving up and only then with the blessings of God, can
one succeed.

If you want a thing bad enough

to go out and fight for it,
work day and night for it,
give up your time and your peace and your sleep for it
If all that you dream and scheme is about it and life
seems useless and worthless without it
If you gladly sweat for, fret for and plan for it and lose all your terror of the opposition for it.
If you simply go after that thing that you want with all of your capacity, strength and sagacity,
faith, hope and confidence and stern pertinacity.
If neither cold or poverty, famished or gaunt
or sickness or pain
of body and brain
can keep you away from the thing that you want,
If dogged and grim you besiege and beset it,
with the help of GOD you’ll get it!
-Berton Braley

Section IV:Non-Textual Passage (Reading Skills, Vocabulary, Grammar and Summary)

Q.4(A) Read the following passage and do the activities.

A1. i Complete the following statements using the correct alternatives. (2)
i. Musical instrument with shrill unpleasant sound _______.
ii. The sound of shehnai began to be considered as _______.
iii. The credit for bringing this instrument onto the classical stage goes to _______.
iv. Till recently it was used only in _______.
i. pungi
ii. auspicious
iii. Ustad Bismillah Khan
iv. temples

A musical instrument called pungi, had a shrill unpleasant sound. A barber of a family of
professional musicians, who had access to the royal palace, decided to improve the tonal
quality of the pungi. He chose a pipe with a natural hollow stem that was longer and broader
than the pungi, and made seven holes on the body of the pipe. When he played on it, closing
and opening some of these holes, soft and melodious sounds were produced. He played the
instrument before royalty and everyone was impressed. The instrument so different from the
 pungi had to be given a new name. As the story goes, since it was first played in the Shah’s
chambers and was played by a nai (barber), the instrument was named the ‘shehnai’.
The sound of the shehnai began to be considered auspicious. And for this reason it is still
played in temples and is an indispensable component of any North Indian wedding. In the
past, the shehnai was part of the naubat or traditional ensemble of nine instruments found at
royal courts. Till recently it was used only in temples and weddings. The credit for bringing
this instrument onto the classical stage goes to Ustad Bismillah Khan.

A2. i Elaborate on how the barber modified the original instrument to create the shehnai. (2)
The barber modified the original instrument by choosing a longer and broader pipe with a
natural hollow stem, and making seven holes on the body of the pipe.
A3. i Pick out and write four adjectives from the extract: (2)
shrill, unpleasant, soft, melodious, traditional, classical, different, North Indian, royal
[Note: Students are expected to write any four adjectives from above.]
A4. Do as Directed:
i when he played on it closing and opening some of these holes soft and melodious sounds (1)
were produced
(Punctuate the sentence)
When he played on it, closing and opening some of these holes, soft and melodious sounds
were produced.
ii Fill in the blanks with the proper form of the verb as per the subject: (1)
The instrument so different from the pungi _______ to be given a new name.
had
A5. i Which is your favourite musical instrument and why? (2)
My favourite musical instrument is the guitar. I like that guitars are extremely versatile and
come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Also, unlike most instruments, guitars are portable,
can be played while sitting or standing and do not need electricity to make music.
(B) Read the passage given in question 4 (A) and write a summary of it in a paragraph. (5)

Suggest a suitable title.

The Origin of the Shehnai
A barber improved upon the pungi and played the new instrument before royalty, impressing
everyone. Since it was first played in the Shah’s chambers, by a nai (barber), the new
instrument was named ‘shehnai’. As its sound is considered auspicious, the shehnai is played in
temples and weddings. It used to be a part of the naubat at royal courts and was brought upon
the classical stage by Ustad Bismillah Khan.

Section V: Writing Skills

Q.5(A) Letter Writing: Attempt any one of the following activities:
You are Shantanu / Shanaya Sehgal of New Modern School, Acharya Atre Marg, (5)
Wadala, Mumbai – 400 031.
A1. Formal Letter A2. Informal Letter
 Write a letter to the OR Write a letter to your mother, telling her
Yogacharya at Yog Sansthan, about the inauguration ceremony of the
Dombivli (East), Mumbai – yoga club at your school. The address of
421201, inviting him to your hostel is Block C, 214, New Modern
inaugurate the ‘yoga club’ at School Campus, Acharya Atre Marg,
your school. Wadala, Mumbai – 400 031.

A1.
Shantanu Sehgal
New Modern School
Acharya Atre Marg
Wadala
Mumbai – 400 031
16th February, 2019
To
The Yogacharya
Yog Sansthan
Dombivli (East)
Mumbai – 421201
Subject : Invitation to inaugurate yoga club.
Respected Sir,
Your expertise as a yogacharya is known to all of us. You are an icon for today’s generation.
The way you have spread awareness about the necessity of yoga towards leading a healthy
and fit life is indeed admirable. Therefore, on behalf of our school, I would like to extend an
invitation to you to inaugurate our school’s new yoga club.
Your presence would be inspiring for all of us and your valuable advice on the great science
of Yoga would be a source of motivation. We are aware that you may be busy, but we
sincerely request you to take our invitation under consideration. The inauguration is
scheduled for 9:00 a.m. on 28th February, 2019 in the recreation hall of our school. Kindly
let the bearer of this letter know your response.
I truly hope that you grace the inauguration ceremony with your presence.
Yours sincerely,
Shantanu Sehgal
OR

A2.
Shanaya
Block C, 214
New Modern School Campus
Acharya Atre Marg
Wadala
Mumbai – 400 031
1st March, 2019
Dear Mom,
 I hope you are doing well. I’m sure you and Dad must be back from your vacation by now. I
can’t wait to hear stories about the trip.
Our school inaugurated a yoga club a couple of days ago. I assisted the management with
the preparations for the event. The ceremony was wonderful as we had invited a well-known
yogacharya from Yog Sansthan to inaugurate the yoga club. He spoke about the benefits of
yoga and how it is one of the most ancient forms of exercise. We were truly amazed to hear
him speak with such passion for yoga.
I cannot wait to start doing yoga. I’m sure by the time I come home for Diwali, I will have
learnt quite a few asanas. You and I could then do yoga every morning. Do write to me about
your trip.
Yours lovingly,
Shanaya
Q.6(A) Information Transfer: Attempt any one of the following activities:

A1. The pie chart shows sports watched by viewers across the country. Prepare a (5)
paragraph using the information.

Sports Watched by Viewers

The given pie chart gives a representation of sports watched by viewers across the country.
Cricket was watched by 50% of the viewers and was thus undoubtedly the most popular
sport. Football claimed the second spot and was watched by 30% of the viewers. Basketball
and Kabaddi tied for the third spot at 8% each. Badminton was the least watched sport as
only 4% of the viewers tuned in to watch games of badminton.
A2. Convert the following paragraph into a Dos and Don’ts table. (5)
During an earthquake, you must not panic. You should take cover under a table or a
bed and should move away from glass doors and windows. You should not move until
the tremors stop and should not rush to go outside your building. You must avoid using
elevators. Also, avoid using candles, matches or any other open flames. If you have any
pets or domestic animals, you should free them so they can save themselves. Finally,
you should turn on the television or radio to get information about possible
aftershocks.
During an Earthquake
Dos Don’ts
Take cover under a table or a
i. i. Panic.
bed.
Move away from glass doors
ii. ii. Move until the tremors stop.
and windows.
Free any pets or domestic
iii. iii. Rush to go outside your building.
animals.
 iv. Turn on the television or radio. iv. Use elevators.
Use candles, matches or any other
v.
open flames.

(B) Speech Writing / View-Counterview: Attempt any one of the following activities:

B1. Draft a speech on the topic ‘Advantages of Cashless Transactions’ with the help of the (5)
following points:

Advantages of Cashless Transactions

Good morning, respected Principal, teachers and my dear friends. I, Sharan Hegde, am here
to express my ideas on the topic ‘Advantages of Cashless Transactions’.
Before I begin I would like to define cashless transactions. All transactions that do not use
cash – paper and coin currency – are called cashless transactions. Instead of cash, such
transactions use debit or credit cards or other payment services.
The first, most significant advantage of cashless transactions is that they are convenient. One
does not have to carry cash and still has access to all the money in their bank account at all
times.
The second advantage of cashless transactions is that they offer protection against theft as
well as misplacement. Even if one’s debit or credit card or mobile phone is stolen or is
misplaced, it can be deactivated immediately, before any fraudulent transactions are made.
The third advantage is that, unlike cash transactions, cashless transactions leave a paper trail
which can be used to follow any sum of money to its source. This reduces money
laundering.
The fourth and final advantage is that, cashless transactions facilitate easier currency
exchange during international travel. If one travels to a country that accepts cashless
transactions, one does not need to keep calculating how much of their local currency they
would need to withdraw.
Thank you.
B2. Dog; Man’s Best Friend. (5)
Prepare a paragraph of counterviews on the given topic. Use the following viewpoints
to express your counterviews:
Viewpoints:
● Friendly and playful.
● Safeguard our homes.
● Stress busters.
● Honest and faithful to their masters.
● Create liveliness in the family.
● Add your own points.
Counterviews on ‘Dog; Man’s Best Friend’
While dogs are often considered to be ‘man’s best friend’, it is important to recognise that
they are not always friendly and playful. Some dogs may have aggressive tendencies or may
 not get along with other animals, making them unsuitable for households with children or
other pets. Dogs are also not always reliable at safeguarding the house, as their ability to
protect a home is dependent on their training and temperament. Although dogs are often
touted as stress-busters, they may also create stress for the owners who are unable to provide
them with adequate care or who struggle with behavioural issues. Additionally, dogs are not
always loyal as their behaviour is influenced by a variety of factors such as environment and
experiences. Furthermore, while some dogs certainly bring energy and excitement to a
family, they are not always able to create liveliness in every household. Some dogs may be
more laid back or have health issues that prevent them from engaging in energetic activities.
Ultimately, the idea of dog being a man’s best friend is not always true as dogs, like any
other animal, have their own personalities and needs.

Section VI: Creative Writing

Q.7(A) Expansion of Theme / News Report: Attempt any one of the following activities:

A1. Expand the following idea into a paragraph of 100 words: ‘Necessity is the mother of (5)
invention’
Necessity is the mother of invention
Sometimes, a problem seems to have no solution but the need to solve the problem is so
great that one is compelled to devise a solution.
Thus, one is moved enough so as to put in one’s own time, energy and resources in trying to
solve the problem. Also, one is forced to be creative, to experiment and to innovate. And the
result is an invention, a brand new solution the likes of which the world has never seen
before.
Hence, one must remember that it is not the complexity of a problem but the enormity of the
need to solve it which dictates whether it would be solved.
A2. Prepare a report on the recently concluded ‘Funfair Fiesta’ organised by a group of (5)
three schools in the locality for the nearby community from 12th to 14th April, 2019.
Use ‘Happiness Unlimited’ as the headline of your report.
Happiness Unlimited
- Tej Gandhi, Student Staff Reporter
Navi Mumbai, April 17, 2019

It was fun unlimited in the Tilak Nagar locality during the ‘Funfair Fiesta’ organised by the
Adarsh Group of Schools, Navi Mumbai for the citizens of the locality. The three-day fair
started on 12th April and ended on 14th April, 2019.
The schools staged skits on various social themes such as gender discrimination, care for
the senior citizens and opportunities in society for the differently-abled. Each day, a celebrity
was invited to speak in support of the theme of the day. Food as well as game stalls were put
up by the students and a few local residents. The students did a wonderful job of maintaining
discipline and cleanliness thereby ensuring the smooth execution of the event.
During the prize distribution ceremony, the unsung heroes of the locality were felicitated
for their contribution towards the locality. Mr. Raghuram Chavan bagged the prize for being
the ‘Good Samaritan’ of the community.
 “We have never witnessed an event so joyous and harmonious before,” were the comments
made by many people after the event.
(B) Developing a story / Narrating an experience: Attempt any one of the following activities:

B1. Develop a story in about 80-100 words with the following ending. Give a suitable title: (5)
‘…and on that day he realised that, ‘God helps those, who help themselves’.
God helps those who help themselves
Jagdish and Subhash were two farmers who lived in the Kiragaon village. In order to provide
for their families, they toiled in their fields all day. But the nature of farming was such that
even after all their hardwork, they had no control over the outcome. Everything depended on
when and how much it would rain. Unfortunately, that year it had not rained at all.
Jagdish prayed to God and said, “Dear God, please grant me the courage to solve all my
problems.” On the other hand, Subhash prayed, “Dear God, help me solve my problems.” As
days turned into weeks, Jagdish would pray to God in the morning and then go to his field to
figure out what he could do. Whereas, Subash started praying all day; hoping that God
would intervene and save his crop.
A month later, Jagdish had successfully completed digging a channel that allowed his field to
be watered by a nearby lake. Whereas Subhash’s field remained dry. Now, since he had done
nothing for an entire month, it was too late to even follow Jagdish’s example. On that day, he
realised that, ‘God helps those who help themselves’.
B2. Narrate an experience with the following ending. Give a suitable title: (5)
‘… and on that day I realised that my parents were making several sacrifices for me.’
My Thirteenth Birthday Party
It was my thirteenth birthday and I could not be more excited. Almost a month in advance,
I had given my parents a list of my demands for the big day. It included the venue I wanted
them to book, the names of the friends I wanted to invite, the outfit I wanted to wear etc. Of
course, I was also particular about my birthday cake and the gifts that would be given to all
at the end of the day. And they had not refused to meet a single demand.
When the day finally arrived, I was ecstatic because I could see that my friends would be
talking about how I had celebrated my birthday for weeks. After all the pile of gifts I had
received was almost as tall as I was. Just as I was getting ready to cut the cake, I overheard
my parents talking to each other. From what I heard, I understood that my father had to
borrow money to throw this grand birthday party but he was happy to do so.
My mother, on the other hand, was telling him to talk to me the next time I made such
demands. She said that she was sure that I would understand our expenses as a family. And
on that day I realised that my parents were making several sacrifices for me.