Class – 10
C.B.S.E.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE
UNSOLVED POWER TEST PAPER-1
(Based
on latest CBSE pattern and weightage )
Time : 3 hours.
General Instructions:
(i) The Question paper is divided into three sections:
Section A - Reading 20 marks
Section B - Writing Skills with Grammar 30 marks
Section C -Text Books arid Long Reading Text 30 marks
(ii) All questions are compulsory.
(iii) Marks are indicated against each question.
SECTION A :
READING [20 MARKS]
1. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that
follow : 1 x 8 = 8
Big, bold and beautiful, the Rafflesia arnoldii boasts the title
of the largest flower in the world and can grow to massive proportions, with a
flower diameter of up to one meter (three feet) and a hefty weight of up to 11
kilograms (24 lbs). It might seem like a great gift for that special someone
except that it's nicknamed the corpse flower and smells like rotting meat, so
may not be quite as endearing as expected. Resembling the coiled tentacles of
an octopus up close, the stinky flower leaves such a lasting impression that it
was once described by Swedish zoologist Eric Mjoberg in 1928 as having "a
penetrating smell more repulsive than any buffalo carcass in an advanced stage
of decomposition." Nice. Technically a plant, although it has no leaves,
stems or roots that the eye can see, the corpse flower relies on its strong
perfume to attract insects that help with pollination. The other not so
pleasant qualities of the flower are its parasitic tendencies; by living off
the \rater and nutrients from the hapless Tetrastigma vine, the corpse
flower is able to grow as large as it does. And whether it's considered a
beauty, beast, or both, the lure of this bewitching flower is hard to resist.
However, to be successful in a quest to find it, a few stars need to align.
Found only in the dwindling rainforests of Sumatra and Borneo, pollination is
rare and the bud death rate is h1gh at 80-90%. The few buds that actually bloom
take many months to do so, and when they do they last no more than a few days before
dying. The good news is that there are great conservation efforts in place to
protect the habitat of the Rafflesia species so future generations can
experience the sight and smell of the largest flower on Earth.
Questions :
1.
Why is Rafflesia called the largest flower in
the world? 1
2. What is
the nickname given to Rafflesia and why? 1
3.
Why cannot Rafflesiat be used as a gift for
someone? 1
4.
How is its smell useful for the flower? 1
5. Why is Rafflesia called a parasite? 1
6.
Where are the flowers Rafflesia generally
found? 1
7.
Why is a Rafflesia in full bloom a rare sight?
1
8.
What efforts are being done to protect the
flower and why? 1
2.
Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow [12 Marks]
According
to a survey, out of the world's hundred richest people today, 27 are heirs and
73
are
self-made. Of the self made 18 have no college degrees and 36 are children of
poor parents, but some billionaires had neither a degree nor wealthy parents.
In other words, super-achievers are not born, they are self- made people. It is
not external favour that makes one a super-achiever, but one's own struggle.
Super achievement is not got through inheritance, but is self- acquired
success.
No one is a born billionaire, but everyone is
a potential billionaire. It is the unfolding of one's own potential that makes
one a billionaire or super achiever. Nature does not discriminate between one
person and another. Nature's gifts come to everyone equally. It is
the
receiver himself who either utilizes them or not. So called deprived persons
are in fact privileged persons. Their state of deprivation serves as inner
motivation when they see others are progressing, it creates a strong incentive
in their mind. It is this incentive that makes a person super. It inculcates
strong urge in the individual to make something of his life.
Any state of deprivation brings about a kind
brainstorming which enhances inner spirit. They enter the world of competition
working to their full capacity. They develop the spirit of do or die. It is
this spirit that leads them to success.
There are numerous examples of one rising to a
high position through one's own struggle, while one's children might have
turned 'dull'. The reason is simple. The parent started his life with the
spirit of discontent; while his children started their lives with contentment. This
reason is responsible for the difference between parents and children.
One who is born· into a poor family and
achieves success by way of struggle achieves one more thing, which is more
important than wealth i.e. intellectual development. His circumstances
automatically develop an intellectual struggle in his mind. This struggle unfolds
his inner capacity, and consequently he emerges an intellectually developed
person. The laws of nature are greater than everything else. They are eternal
they cannot be changed. The law of nature in this regard says that it is not
ease but difficulty, effort not facility makes achievers out of ordinary
people. So the future is full of hope and opportunity!
Questions :
1.
How can deprived people become privileged
people? 2
2. How do
the children of some successful parents become 'dull' according to the writer
of
this
passage? 2
3. Why does
intellectual development take place faster in children of 'poorer parents? 2
4.
What is the message the author is trying to
give in this passage? 2
5.
Identify the meaning of the word 'potential'. (para
2) 1
(a)
Latent qualities (b) prospective (c) possible (d) probable
6.
Identify a word which means same as 'incentive'. (para 2) 1
(a)
motivation (b) enticement (c) consideration (d) temptation
7.
Identify a word which means the same as 'discontent'? (para 4) 1
(a)
struggle (b) dissatisfaction (c) deprivation (d) discrimination
8.
Identify a word which means the same as 'eternal'? (para 6) 1
(a)
intellectual (b) ephemeral (c) everlasting (d) incentive
SECTION B WRITING SKILLS WITH GRAMMAR [30 MARKS]
3. You are Varsha /Varun, In charge of
Excursion Club of B.V.P. School, Mathura Road,
Delhi. Write a letter to the General Manager, Northern
Railways, requesting reservation
of a bogie for 80 students from New Delhi to Chennai and
back by G.T. Express. 8
OR
Media has a strong hold on society. Write an article in 100-120
words on how media
influences public opinion. You are Sandhya/Sanjay.
4.
Develop the following into a readable story of 150-200 words : 10
A
wood cutter - cutting wood - dropped his axe in the pond - started weeping -
God appeared asked what the matter was - brought a golden axe from the pond -
wood cutter did not accept - brought a silver axe - not accepted - brought an
iron axe - accepted - pleased with the honesty.
OR
At the party, Sudhi was thrilled to notice that sitting
in a corner all alone, was her friend
whom she had not met for a long time
....................................... Complete
the story in
150-200 words in any suitable way.
5. Read the passage given below. Fill in the
blanks by choosing the most appropriate
word/words from the given options. 4
We all
drink coffee (a) _____ pleasure. It is an inspirational drink that
has become
aspirational.
Coffee (b) __ keep us alert and therefore (c) ____ us to perform better
(d) ___
reduce stress.
(a) (i)
for (ii) of (iii) but (iv) at.
(b) (i)
could ii) should (iii) can (iv) may.
(c) (i)
help (ii) helps (iii) helping (iv) helped.
(d) (i)
but (ii) and (iii) if (iv) so.
6. The following passage has not been edited.
There is an error in each line against
which a blank is given. Write the incorrect
word and the correction in your answer
sheet against the correct blank number as
given in the example. 4
Error Correction
The first national flage of India is said e.g. of in
to have been hoisted in August 1906 in the Parsee
Bafon Square in Kolkata
(a) ............ ............
The flag is composed of three horizontal
strips of Red, Yellow and Green (b) ............ ............
The second flag was hoisting in Paris by (c)
............ ............
Madam Cama and his band of exiled revolutionaries
in 1907. (d)
............ ............
7. Read the dialogue and complete the passage
given below. Write the correct answers
in your answer sheet against the correct
blank numbers. 4
Mother: Why are you looking so worried?
Daughter: My exams are approaching.
Mother: When will they start?
Daughter: Next month, mother.
Mother: asked her daughter (a) ___ . The daughter replied
that (b) __ . Mother further
asked (c) __ . The daughter told her mother
that they would be in (d) ___ month.
SECTION C LITERATURE & LONG READING TEXT [30 MARKS]
8. Read the extract given below and answer
the questions that follow : 4
There is some demon of contradiction in you
today. Ivan Vassilivitch. First you pretend that the meadows are yours; now,
that Guess is better than Squeezer. I don't like people who don't say what they
mean, because you know perfectly well that Squeezer is a hundred times better
than your silly Guess. Why do you want to say he is not?
(a) What do Squeezer and Guess refer to?
(b) What kind of people are not liked by the
speaker?
(c) Final the similar meaning word for
"opposing ideas" from the passage.
(d) Why did Ivan come to Chubukov's house?
OR
He stalks in his vivid stripes
The few steps of his cage
On pads of velvet quiet
In his quiet rage
(a) Where is the tiger in these lines?
(b) Why can he walk only few steps?
(c) What does the phrase 'quiet rage'
suggest?
(d) Describe the body features of the tiger
as mentioned in the above lines.
9. Answer the following questions in 30-40
words each: 8
(a) "I think I know a cure for
you." What was Dr. Herriot's 'cure' for Tricki?
(b) Why did Mr. Weiherer believe that Ebright
was competitive?
(c) Why did Valli stand at the door of her
house?
(d) Why did Anne Frank decide to maintain a
dairy?
10. Answer the fllowing questions in 100-120 words 8
"He who seeks peace should draw out the
arrow of lamentation and complaint, and grief".
How does Gautam Buddha make the human beings
realise that Death is common to all?
OR
Presence of mind and intelligence are more
powerful than a gun. How far is it true in case
of Ausable, the secret agent?
11. Answer the following question in 200-250
words : 10
Briefly describe Helen's trial before the
court at the Perkins' Institution.
OR
Give a brief character sketch of Anne
Sullivan.
OR
Bring out the importance of the diary in
Anne's life.
OR
Why does Anne call herself 'a bundle of
contradictions'?
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