WEST BENGAL BOARD OF SECONDARY EDUCATION
MADHYAMIK EXAMINATION 2020
ENGLISH (SECOND LANGUAGE)
Time: 3 Hours 15 Minutes
Full Marks: 90
READING COMPREHENSION (SEEN)
1. Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:
When the family has finished tea, and gathers round the fire, the cat casually goes out of the room. True life now begins for him. He saunters down his own backyard, springs to the top of the fence, drops lightly down to the other side. He trots across and keeps to the roof of an Empty shed. His movement becomes lithe and pantherlike. He looks keenly from side to side and moves noiselessly, for he has so many enemies- dogs and small boys with stones.
On the top of the shed, the cat arches his back and rakes his claws once or twice through the soft bark of the old roof. He Stretches himself a few times to see if every muscle is in full working order. Then, drooping his head nearly to his paws, hi sends across a call to his kindred. Before long they come, gliding, graceful shadows. No longer are they the meek creatures who an hour ago were mewing for fish and milk. They are now grim fighters.
Just think how much more he gets out of his life than you do out of yours! And the sports they have, too! As they get older they go in for sport to the surburban backyards. These backyards that are dull to us, are to them hunting grounds where they have more gallant adventure than King arthur’s Knights ever had.
A. Write the correct alternative in the given space to complete the following sentences:
(a) when the family gathers round the fire, the cat goes out of the room
(i) cautiously.
(ii) smartly.
(iii) casually.
(iv) noiselessly.
(b) Sauntering down his own backyard, the cat jumps to the top of the
(i) fence.
(ii) roof.
(iii) other side.
(iv) shed.
(c) The cat looks keenly from side to side and moves
(i) carefully.
(ii) anxiously.
(iii) fearfully.
(iv) noiselessly.
(d) On the top of the shed the cat
(i) mews.
(ii) arches his back.
(iii) goes to sleep.
(iv) fights.
(e) As the cats get older they go in for sport to the
(i) neighbouring house.
(ii) old roof.
(iii) empty shed.
(iv) surburban backyard.
B. Complete the following sentences with information from the text:
(i) The family gathers round the fire after_____________________.
(ii) the cat skips to the roof of an empty shed where his movement becomes ___.
(iii) The cat stretches himself a few times to feel if _____.
C. State whether the following statements are true or false. Write (T) for True and (F) for False in the boxes given on the right-hand side. Provide sentences/Phrases/words in support of your answer.
(i) The cat sends across a call to his kindred by stretching himself a few times.
(ii) The cat behave as gallantly as King Arthur’s Knights.
2. Read the poem and answer the questions that follow:
To grass, or leaf, or fruit, or Wall
The snail sticks close, nor fears to fall
As if he grew their, house and all,
Together.
Within that house secure he hides
When danger imminent betides
Of storm, or other harm besides
Of weather.
Give but his horns the slightest touch,
His self-collecting Pow’r is such,
He shrinks into his house with much
Displeasure.
Where’er he dwells, he dwells alone,
Except himself has chattels none,
Well satisfied to be his own
Whole treasure.
A. Write the correct alternative to complete the following sentences:
(a) The snail is not afraid to
(i) fight.
(ii) hide.
(iii) fall.
(iv) touch.
(b) The snail faces imminent danger when there is
(i) storm.
(ii) rain.
(iii) thunder.
(iv) lightning.
(c) With the slightest touch the snail shrinks into his house with much
(i) delight.
(ii) displeasure.
(iii) defiance.
(iv) pain.
(d) In the house the snail lives
(i) alone.
(ii) with others.
(iii) with chattels.
(iv) with family.
B. Answer the following questions:
(i) What does the snail stick close to?
(ii) What does the snail do when it faces danger?
READING COMPREHENSION (UNSEEN)
3. Read the following passage and answer the questions that follows:
Mother nature has been very generous to us by giving us so many resources of water- rainwater, rivers, lakes, melting glaciers and groundwater. The demand for water is ever increasing but the supply is far from adequate.
Given the lack of water in river, People have been resorting to pumping out ground water for personal consumption and for farming. As a result, groundwater table has fallen to alarming levels. Moreover, harmful fertilizers used for growing crops have contaminated groundwater so that in many places it is not fit for drinking.
It is time to wake up. Every drops of water is a source of life. It is high time we realise that water resources are not permanent. Soon, we as a family, society ad nation will be struggling to get a drop of clean potable water. We have to focus on water conservation and stop polluting our water resources.
Each one of us also needs to do our bit by avoiding use of plastic, recycling waste products and keeping our surroundings clean. Every town, every village should have an eco-friendly garbage sorting and disposal system. Every school and college should initiate programs educating youngsters about the importance of a natural resources, especially water and air. We have to train new generations to adapt and eco-friendly way of life.
[Adapted from an article published in The Times of India dated June 26, 2019]
A. Tick the right answer:
(i) The demand for water is increasing but the supply of water is
(a) adequate.
(b) surplus.
(c) inadequate.
(d) plentiful.
(ii) People have been resorting to pumping out ground water due to
(a) lack of water in the rivers.
(b) scanty rainfall.
(c) drying up of wells.
(d) melting glaciers.
(iii) The groundwater table has
(a) risen.
(b) dropped.
(c) increased.
(d) remained stable.
(iv) Groundwater is contaminated by
(a) irrigation.
(b) construction of roads.
(c) harmful fertilisers.
(d) pumping out of water.
(v) It is high time we realise that water resources are
(a) permanent.
(b) potable.
(c) impermanent.
(d) abundant.
(vi) Each one of us must avoid the use of
(a) copper.
(b) paper.
(c) Jute.
(d) plastic.
B. Each Of the following statements is either True or False. Write T for True and F for False in the boxes on the right hand side. Also pick out suitable lines or phrases from the passage in support of your answers:
(i) People have been resorting to pumping out groundwater for construction work.
(ii) Water is valuable because it is source of life.
(iii) Soon, it will be easy for us to get clean potable water.
C. Answer the following questions:
(i) How has mother nature been generous to us?
(ii) What should be our immediate focus regarding water?
(iii) What should every town and every Village have to keep the surroundings clean?
(iv) What kind of programs should every school and college initiate?
GRAMMAR AND VOCABULARY
4. Write the correct alternative to fill in the blanks:
Rina who________ (have been/ has been/ is being) ill for a month_______ (will visit/ visited/ had visited) the doctor last Monday. The doctor _ (advised/ had advised/ will advise) her complete bed rest.
5. Do as directed:
A. Fill in the blanks with appropriate articles and prepositions:
Wrestling is one of _ oldest sports in the world. Ancient cave drawings of people wrestling with one another have been found Europe. It is _ serious sport.
B.
(i) The authorities postponed the cricket match (Change the voice)
(ii) “Is there anybody there?” said the traveller. (Change into Indirect Speech)
(iii) We should not show cruelty to animals. (Rewrite using adjective form of the word underlined)
6.
A. Choose the correct phrasal verbs from the list given below to replace the words underlined. Write the correct phrasal verbs in the boxes on the right hand side changing the form where necessary. There is one extra phrasal verb in the list:
[take back, go through, give away, go after]
(i) The dog followed the thief.
(ii) Have you read this book?
(iii) The chief guest distributed the prizes.
B. Given below are meaning of four words which you will find in the passage in Questions number 3. Find out the words and write them in the appropriate boxes on the right-hand side:
(i) kind
(ii) disturbing
(iii) polluted
(iv) process of getting rid of something
WRITING SKILLS
7. Write a newspaper report (within 100 words) about an accident that took place yesterday. Write the report on the basis of the points given below:
[Date and time – place – cause of the accident – consequences – measures taken.]
8. Write a letter (within 100 words) to your friend describing a cultural programme you have attended recently. Your letter should include the following points:
[Name of the programme – venue – date – description of performance – your feelings.]
9. Write a paragraph (within 100 words) on The Most Memorable Day in Your Life, based on the following points:
[Date / Day – a description of the day- your role on that day – why is the day memorable to you?]
