SAINT JOSEPH’S COLLEGE ENGLISH LANGUAGE CLASS 10

HALF YEARLY EXAMINATION ENGLISH Paper I

(Two hours) M.M 80

Q1. Write a composition (300-350 words) on any one of the following: (20)

(a) Write an original story in which two orphans and a social worker are the main characters.
(b) As the Co-curricular prefect of your school, you were to prepare for an inter school one-act
play competition. Write an account of how you prepared for it, how you organised your
school team for the event, the challenges you faced and what you learned from this
experience.
(c) There should be no School Uniform. Students must be allowed to wear what they please to
school. Give your views either for or against this statement.
(d) What, according to you, are the causes of indiscipline among students ? How can this issue
be tackled?
(e) Study the picture given below. Write a story or a description or an account of what it
suggests to you. Your composition may be about the subject of the picture or you may take
suggestions from it; however, there must be a clear connection between the picture and
your composition.

Q2. Select any one of the following: (10)

(a) As the Student Representative, write a letter to your Principal, seeking permission to start a
Nature Club, explain your role in it and give two reasons to prove that the club will be
beneficial for the students and the school.
(b) Your friend has recently lost a dear one. Write a letter to him/her expressing your grief and
concern. Give him/her some advice on how to deal with the loss and also suggest some ways
by which he/she can help the family in some way.

Q3. (a) Your school is organising a Social work Camp where essential items will be distributed to
needy people. Write out a notice to be displayed in your school giving all required details for the
event. (5)
 (c) Write an email to the Principal of a neighbouring school requesting him/her to send a team
of ten members to participate in the Social Work Camp. (5)

Q4. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:
A little girl went to her bedroom and pulled a glass jelly jar from its hiding place in the closet. She
poured the change out on the floor and counted carefully. Three times, even. The total had to be
exactly perfect. No chance here for mistakes. Carefully placing the coins back in the jar and
twisting on the cap, she slipped out the back door and made her way 6 blocks to Rexall’s Drug
Store with the big Red Indian Chief sign above the door. She waited patiently for the pharmacist to
give her some attention, but he was too busy at this moment.
Tess twisted her feet to make a scuffing noise. Nothing. She cleared her throat with the most
disgusting sound she could muster. No good. Finally she took a quarter from her jar and clanged it
on the glass counter. That did it!
‘And what do you want?’ the pharmacist asked in an annoyed tone of voice. I’m talking to my
brother from Chicago whom I haven’t seen in ages,’ he said without waiting for a reply to his
question.
‘Well, I want to talk to you about my brother,’ Tess answered back in the same annoyed tone.
‘He’s really, really sick… and I want to buy a miracle.’
‘I beg your pardon?’ said the pharmacist.
‘His name is Andrew and he has something bad growing inside his head and my Daddy says only a
miracle can save him now. So how much does a miracle cost?’
‘We don’t sell miracles here, little girl. I’m sorry but I can’t help you,’ the pharmacist said,
softening a little. ‘Listen, I have the money to pay for it. If it isn’t enough, I will get the rest. Just
tell me how much it costs.’
The pharmacist’s brother was a well-dressed man. He stooped down and asked the little girl,’
What kind of a miracle does your brother need?’
‘ I don’t know,’ Tess replied with her eyes welling up. I just know he’s really sick and Mommy says
he needs an operation. But my Daddy can’t pay for it, so I want to use my money.’
‘How much do you have?’ asked the man from Chicago. ‘One dollar and eleven cents,’ Tess
answered barely audibly.

‘And it’s all the money I have, but I can get some more if I need to.’
‘Well, what a coincidence,’ smiled the man. ‘A dollar and eleven cents—the exact price of a miracle
for little brothers.’ He took her money in one hand and with the other hand he grasped her mitten
and said, ‘Take me to where you live. I want to see your brother and meet your parents. Let’s see
if I have the miracle you need.’
That well-dressed man was Dr Carlton Armstrong, a surgeon, specializing in neuro-surgery. The
operation was completed free of charge and it wasn’t long until Andrew was home again and
doing well.
Mom and Dad were happily talking about the chain of events that had led them to this place.
‘That surgery,’ her Mom whispered. ‘was a real miracle. I wonder how much it would have cost?’
Tess smiled. She knew exactly how much a miracle cost.. one dollar and eleven cents….plus the
faith of a little child.

a) Give the meaning of the following words as used in the passage. [3]
1. Barely
2. Charge
3. Chain
b) Answer the following question briefly in your own words.
a. Where was the glass jelly jar? What did it contain? (2)

b. What were the efforts made by Tess to attract the attention of the pharmacist? (3)
c. Who was the man from Chicago? (2)
d. What miracle did the man from Chicago perform? (2)

c) Summarise the above passage in 50 words. [8]

Q5.

(a) Complete the paragraph given below with the correct form of the word given in brackets. There is
no need to write the whole passage; but do write the words in the correct order. [4]
The children ……1…… (stop) their chatter as Mrs. Hughes ……2……(enter). Then they
……3……(stand up) and ……4……(say) in a loud chorus, “Good Morning, teacher.”
Mrs. Hughes ……5……(smile) , ……6……(say) good morning too and……7……(tell) the class
……8…… (sit down). At a glance it seemed there were about thirty students in the class.

(b) Fill in the blanks with appropriate prepositions. [4]

1. We have been living ……this town ……eight years.
2. The ceremony is scheduled to take place …..Sunday ……6.p.m.
3. The farmer’s sons quarrelled …… themselves …… the share of profit.
4. The tiger was killed …… a stranger ….. a rifle.

[c] Join the following sentences to make one complete sentence without using and, but or so :

[4]
1. He was very upset. He did not book his flight.
2. You return from the conference. We will discuss the business plan.
3. Margaret followed her friend. It was foolish of her.
4. All the children were present for their evening dance class. It was raining heavily.

(d) Rewrite the sentences given below according to the instruction given after each and making other
changes that may be necessary, without changing the meaning of each
sentence. [8]

1. Why did you not attend the function last night?

(Change the voice.)
2. Sheena said,” Alas! How foolish of me to leave out one question!”
(Change into indirect speech)
3. The Taj Mahal is the grandest building in the world.
(Use: ‘grand’)
4. None but a fool would do such a thing.
(Begin: Only…………………)
5. As soon as he finished his work, he started singing in joy.
(Begin: No sooner…..)
6. You should open the door then only you will come to know what lies behind it.
(Rewrite using ‘Unless’)
7. The suit was so expensive that I could not buy it.
(Use: too)
8. He was late. He was admitted.
(Use ‘despite’)
 SAINT JOSEPH’S COLLEGE ENGLISH LITERATURE CLASS 9
HALF YEARLY EXAMINATION ENGLISH Paper II
(Two hours) M.M 80
Attempt 5 questions in all.
You must attempt at least one question from each section A, B, C and not
more than 2 other questions.
SECTION A: DRAMA
Question 1: Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
Shylock: Why, look you, how you storm!
I would be friends with you and have your love,
forget the shames that you have stain’d me with,
supply your present wants, and take no doit
Of usance for my monies, and you not hear me;
this is kind I offer.
A. Where is this scene set? Name the people who are present there? What are the ‘shames’
that stained Shylock? [1+1+1]
B. What is meant by ‘the present wants’? On what terms is the speaker willing to supply the
wants? [1+2]
C. How does Antonio storm Shylock? Why was Shylock willing to lend money without interest?
[2+1]
D. What did the speaker propose to do immediately after this? What is meant by Shylock when
he says, ‘this is kind I offer’? [1+2]
E. Why is Antonio confident that there is no danger in signing the bond? What aspect of
Antonio’s character is shown in this incident? [2+2]

Question 2: Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
Nerissa: Then is there the County Palatine.
Portia: He doth nothing but frown; as who would say,
“An you will not have me, choose”: he hears merry tales,
and smiles not: I fear he will prove
the weeping philosopher when he grows old, being so
full of unmannerly sadness in his youth.
I had rather be married to a death’s head
 with a bone in his mouth than to either of these:
God defend me from these two!
A. Where are Portia and Nerissa? What are they generally discussing about? In what mood is
Portia in the scene? [1+1+1]
B. Who is the County Palatine? Why has he come to Belmont? [1+2]
C. Who is the first prince described by Portia? What does she say about him? [1+2]
D. Give the meaning of [1.5+1.5]
I. An you will not have me, choose
II. A death’s head with a bone in his mouth
E. Name the six suitors in Act I, scene II. Give two characteristics of each suitor described by
Portia. [4]

QUESTION 3: Read the extract below and answer the questions that follow:

Salanio: Believe me, Sir, had I such venture forth,

The better part of my affections would
Be with my hopes abroad. I would be still
Plucking the grass, to know where sits the wind;
Peering in maps for ports and piers, and roads;
And every object that might make me fear
Misfortune to my ventures, out of doubt Would make me sad.
A. Who is ‘Sir’ in the extract? Where does the scene take place? Name the people present
there. [1+1+1]
B. Where would Salanio’s attention be if he had business ventures abroad? Why would he be
‘Plucking the grass’? What else would he be doing in that context? [1+1+1]
C. Give the meanings of: [1 ½+1 ½ ]
I. Peering in maps for ports, and piers, and roads
II. Plucking the grass to know where sits the wind
D. Inspite of the danger to his ships, why is the gentleman referred to as ‘Sir’, not worried
about his financial security? [3]
E. In the opening scene, the theme of romance and love is introduced. How is this scene linked
to the Bond story? Compare briefly the character of Antonio with that Bassanio in the
opening scene. [2+2]

SECTION B: PROSE
Question 4: Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
“Did you leave the dove cage unlocked?” I asked.
“Yes.”
“Then they’ll fly.”
“Yes, certainly they’ll fly. But the others. It’s better not to think about the others,” he said.
“If you are rested I would go,” I urged. “Get up and try to walk now.”
(i) Who is ‘I’ in the extract? What does “I’ symbolise? [3]
(ii) Who are the ‘others’ mentioned in the extract? Why does the speaker prefer not to
think about them? [3]
(iii) Why is ‘I’ urging the other speaker to move on? [3]
(iv) Give a brief description of the two speakers. [3]
(v) Identify the story from which this extract has been taken. What is the message in the
story? [4]

Question 5: Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
He later told his wife, ”That scoundrel would not give anything. So go out and sell the
drumsticks for what they are worth.”
He flung himself down in a corner to recoup from the fatigue of his visit to the shop. His wife
said, ”You are getting no sauce today, nor anything else. I can’t find anything to give you to
eat. Fast till the evening, it’ll do you good. Take the goats and be gone now,” she cried and
added, “Don’t come back before the sun is down.”
(i) Who is referred to as ‘the scoundrel’ and why wouldn’t he give anything to the speaker ?
[4]
(ii) What do you come to know about the wife from the extract? How did he manage to
make ends meet? [4]
(iii) Identify the story, name the writer. [8]
Bring out two humorous incidents in the story.
What contrast does the story throw out to the readers?
Write what you know about the ‘He’.

Question 6: Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
“I had to do something. Money has a way of taking wings unto itself, and you know it takes
money to keep step with our crowd in Washington. I saw this opening in the west and well ~,
a marshal ship isn’t quite as high a position as that of ambassador, but ~ ”
(i) Identify the speaker. Where is he and why ? [3]
(ii) ‘Money has a way of taking wings unto itself’, explain this. [3]
(iii) What does the speaker mean when he says, ’it takes money to keep step with our crowd
in Washington’? [3]
(iv) What ironical twist is revealed by the other passenger in the end? [3]
(v) Discuss the conflict and twist in the story. [4]

SECTION C: POETRY
Question 7: Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
What does he plant who plants a tree?
 He plants a friend of sun and sky;
He plants the flag of breezes free;
The shaft of beauty, towering high;
He plants a home to heaven anigh;
For song and mother-croon of bird
In hushed and happy twilight heard—
The treble of heaven's harmony—
These things he plants who plants a tree.
(i) Why does the poet call the tree a friend of sun and sky? [3]
(ii) Explain, ‘the treble of heaven’s harmony? [3]
(iii) Pick out two examples of alliteration from the above extract. [3]
(iv) Mention three ecological benefits of planting a tree, that the poet refers to in the
poem.
[3]
(v) What is the message in the poem? [4]

Question 8: Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :

Their dying fire in need of logs

The first man held his back
For of the faces round the fire
He noticed one was black.

The next man looking ‘cross the way

Saw one not of his church
And couldn’t bring himself to give
The fire his stick of birch.

The third one sat in tattered clothes.

He gave his coat a hitch.
Why should his log be put to use
To warm the idle rich?

(i) In the second stanza above, why did the man refuse to use his stick of wood?[3]
(ii) Why did the ‘third one’ refuse to use his stick of wood? [3]
(iii) What eventually happens to the six humans? Why ? [3]
(iv) What did the black man see in his piece of wood? [3]
(v) Explain ‘The Cold Within’. [4]
Question 9: Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
Bangle sellers are we who bear
Our shining loads to the temple fair…
Who will buy these delicate, bright
Rainbow-tinted circles of light?
Lustrous tokens of radiant lives,
For happy daughters and happy wives.

Some are meet for a maiden’s wrist,

Silver and blue as the mountain mist,
Some are flushed like the buds that dream
On the tranquil brow of a woodland stream,
Some are aglow with the bloom that cleaves
To the limpid glory of new born leaves

(i) Why do bangle sellers choose to sell their bangles at the temple fair ? [3]
(ii) What is the role of bangle sellers in a traditional Indian setup ? [3]
(iii) Explain: tranquil, limpid, radiant. [3]
(iv) What are ‘new born leaves’ symbolic of? [3]
(v) Comment on the changes in the life of a woman with the colour of her
bangles. [4]
 SAINT JOSEPH’S COLLEGE ENGLISH LANGUAGE CLASS 11
U.T.I ENGLISH Paper I M.M 20

Q1.