Date: Class: VII

English (Set - A)
Time: 3 hrs. M. M: 70
General Instructions:
1. This paper consists of THREE sections :
Section A Reading 20 marks
Section B Writing & Grammar 25 marks
Section C Literature 25 marks
2. Attempt all questions.
3. Do not write anything on the question paper.
4. All the answers must be correctly numbered as in the question paper and written in the Answer
sheet provided to you.
5. Read each question carefully and follow the instructions.
6. Strictly adhere to the word limit given with each question. Marks will be deducted for exceeding
the word limit.

SECTION A – READING
1 Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below : 5

The most important thing is that we should have freedom of thought. It is not as easy as it
sounds. For everyone likes to have this freedom for himself. But is not ready to give it to
others when they express different opinions. It usually happens in a particular case when the
differences of opinion arise on such important matters as religion or politics. But if we refuse
to let other people hold their opinion on these matters and specially if we try to force them to
accept our own progress is impossible. If everyone went on thinking the same things as his
ancestors thought progress would come to an end because as the Buddha said “What a man
thinks, he becomes”. So if we think exactly what our forefathers thought, we shall remain in
the condition in which they were. Our thoughts depend a good deal upon what we read and
what we talk about. Therefore if we want to think new thoughts, we must try to study all sides
of the topic that comes before us and not to be content only with what we read in newspapers
or what others say.
a) We do not get easily ready to give freedom to those people who
i. express different opinion on religion or politics
ii. express same opinion on religion or politics
iii. want to spread hatred among different communities
iv. express personal opinion on great personalities

b) If all of us start thinking in the way our ancestors thought, our progress would
i. take speed
ii. come to an end
iii. be appreciated
iv. none of the above

c) Our thoughts are influenced by

i. what we read
ii. what we talk
iii. iii. both (a) & (b)
iv. neither (a) & (b)
d) Our thoughts should not be based upon mere
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 i. newspapers or what others say
ii. books we read
iii. what our family say
iv. personal opinion

e) The word ‘ancestors’ means

i. generation to come
ii. those who do good to others
iii. great persons
iv. forefathers
2. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below : 5
Once Akbar decided to hold a grand feast. He personally invited his courtiers and many
others. It was a feast to be remembered and talked about. Attending a grand feast was
worth walking even a hundred miles. Obviously, everybody flocked to the place.
It was indeed a feast fit for Gods. All kinds of dishes and food delicacies were served. All
the courtiers vied with one another to catch the emperor’s eye. As usual Akbar’s eye was
on his favourite Birbal. He made Birbal sit next to him. He enjoyed the meal thoroughly
as Birbal entertained him with his witty stories throughout the meal.
After the meal, different fruits were served. Akbar and Birbal sat conversing together
over a bowl of dates. While talking they kept throwing the date seeds under their chairs.
Noticing the piles of dates under Birbal’s chair Akbar got an idea and thought of having
fun at Birbal’s expense. He slowly pushed his heaps of seeds into that of Birbal’s with his
foot. Birbal did not notice Akbar doing that.
Suddenly, pretending to be surprised Akbar spoke loudly, “Birbal! I did not know you
were so greedy. Is it wise to eat so many dates?”
There was a hush. Everybody stopped talking and turned to look at Birbal. Birbal peeped
under his chair and saw a huge heap of date seeds while there was nothing under the
king’s chair. He understood it to be Akbar’s pranks. Akbar was waiting to see as to how
Birbal would tackle the embarrassing situation.
Unnerved, Birbal turned towards Akbar and answered loud enough for everyone to hear.
Your majesty, I admit I am a greedy man. But I have eaten only the fruit having thrown
away the seeds while you have eaten the seeds along with the fruits.
Now, it was Akbar’s turn to get embarrassed. As usual, Birbal had the last laugh.
a) Akbar invited his courtiers and many others to attend :
i. his son’s wedding ceremony
ii. the concert organized on the eve of Eid
iii. a grand feast organized by him
iv. his birthday party
b) The courtier’s only desire was to
i. catch the emperor’s eye
ii. talk with the emperor
iii. sit next to the emperor
iv. taste all the dishes

c) Akbar saw under Birbal’s chair:

i. a white cat
ii. a pile of dates
iii. a pile of date seeds
iv. a pile of different fruits

d) What was Akbar’s prank?

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 i. He put his heap of date seeds into Birbal’s plate
ii. He took away all date seeds from Birbal
iii. He put a few date seeds into Birbal’s pocket
iv. He pushed his heap of date seeds under Birbal’s chair.

e) The word ‘embarrassed’ means:

i. felt proud
ii. felt ashamed
iii. made fun
iv. Insulted
Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow :
3. 5
Trees are of importance not only to man but also to birds and animals. The branches of trees
give shelter to millions of birds and forests give shelter to numerous wild animals. We value
trees not only for their usefulness but also for their beauty. They have a way to refreshing the
eye and also refreshing the mind. Perhaps that is why the rishis of olden days were drawn to
the forests, and they and their people chose to going to forest homes in company of Nature. In
modern times when Rabindranath Tagore started a school, he too chose a place full of trees
and called it Shanti Niketan or the home of peace.
Once upon a time large areas of India were covered with forests full of numerous kinds of
trees. As the population grew, trees began to be cut down for man’s use. That is how the
wonderful forest described in our ancient poems came to be destroyed, and a great part of our
forest wealth was lost. Now we are trying to replace this loss, and our government wants trees
to be planted all over the country. A new festival called ‘Van Mahotsava’ has been started for
this purpose. Since trees are the country’s wealth we must consider it our sacred duty to
protect them. We should plant new trees wherever we can and look after them well.
ao.w aHre trees important for birds and animals?
b. Why did the rishis in olden days make forests their homes?
c. Mention the reason that became the cause for the destruction of the wonderful forest?
d. How can we replace the loss of forests?
e. What is meant by ‘Shanti Niketan’ ? Who started it?
Read the poem carefully and answer the questions that follow :
4. 5
THE ARROW AND THE SONG

I shot an arrow into the air,

It fell to Earth, I knew not where ;
For, so swiftly it flew, the sight
Could not follow it in its flight.

I breathed a song into the air,

It fell to earth, I knew not where ;
For who has sight so keen and strong,
That it can follow the flight of song?

Long, long afterward, in an oak

I found the arrow, still unbroken ;
And the song, from the beginning to end,
I found again in the heart of a friend.

- H.W.Longfellow

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 a. What did the poet shoot?
b. What does the phrase ‘breathed a song’ in the second stanza mean?
c. Why is it difficult to see the flight of the song?
d. In what position did the poet find the arrow after a long time?
e. Explain the meaning of the last line of the last stanza?

SECTION B – WRITING & GRAMMAR

5. Your cousin Amrit/Amrita lives in Bangalore. An International Book Fair is going on in your 6
city. Write an e-mail inviting him to come and stay with you and visit the Book Fair. You are
Pulkit/ Nikita. (Word Limit – 120-150 words)

Or

Write a letter to the editor of ‘The Times of India’ about misuse and poor maintenance of the
public park located in your area. (Word Limit – 120-150 words)

6. The world we are living in is lacking moral values. Write an article on the topic ‘Need for 5
Moral Education in Schools’. (Word Limit – 100-120 words)

Or

Write an article on the topic ‘Life in a crowded City’. Your article should not exceed 120
words. Take help from the following hints :

 City life not healthy

 A lot of pollution
 Self-centred people lacking touch with others
 Ample facilities of everything- joy, medical, entertainment etc.

7. You are the Head boy/girl of the school. Write a notice to invite the students to observe Tree 4
Plantation Day on Children’s Day. (Word Limit - 50 words)
Or
With the help of the given outline, develop a readable story in about 50 words.
A poor peasant…..gets a spectacular goose…..the goose lays a golden egg daily…..the
peasant’s joy knows no bound…..he becomes greedy…..wants to become rich within a
day…..cuts the goose to get all the golden eggs at once …..finds no gold…..repents. Moral

8. The following passage has not been edited. There is one error in each line. Write the 4
incorrect word and the correction in the given space. Don’t forget to underline the
incorrect word.
Incorrect Word Correct Word
Small deeds of kindness brings a.) _
fame, prosperity but popularity. b.)
One that teaches the poor boys c.)
and girls one hour the day renders d.) a great service of
humanity. A man e.)
who feed the ants with a few f.) _
pinch of flour everyday gains g.)
a lot by the passage of time. h.)

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9. Change the following sentences as directed. 3

a. My grandfather lives at his native place. (Change into Interrogative)

b. Tanay has done well in his IAS exam. (Change into Exclamatory)
c. Wow! What a beautiful piece of jewellery! (Change into Assertive)
10. Rearrange the words/phrases to form meaningful sentences. 3

a. taught / brother / am / I / by / English / your

b. flooded / the / a / heavy / area / entire / rain
c. e-mail/ was / sent / Sahil / an / being / by
SECTION C - LITERATURE

11. Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow: 3

He said, ‘You are far too selfish

To dwell in human form ;
To have both food and shelter
And fire to keep you warm.’
a. Name the poem and the poet.
b. Who is the speaker and who is selfish?
c. Why is he calling her selfish?

12. Answer the following questions briefly in about 30-40 words. 28×4=

a. Justify the title of the lesson ‘The Happy Prince’.

b. Is the end of the poem ‘A Legend of the Northland’ justified? Give reasons for your
answer.
c. Why did the narrator gulp down all the seventeen oranges with the pips and peels?
d. Why did the officer let Clem Jones go when he came out the second time with the
same box?

13. Answer any one of the following questions in about 100 -125 words. 4

a. Write a character sketch of the Happy Prince.

Or
b. Give a different ending to the story of ‘Seventeen Oranges’.

14. a) Write a brief character-sketch of Jim Hawkins. 5

Or
Write a brief character-sketch of Captain Bill Bones.
b) Briefly narrate the circumstances which led to the death of the Captain Bill
Bones.
Or

Give an account of Jim’s first meeting with Long John Silver.

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 SECTION A –READING

1.a. i.) express different opinion on religion and politics ANSWER KEY
b. ii.) come to an end
c. iii.) both (a) & (b)
d. i.) newspapers or what others say
e. iv.) forefathers
2.a. ii.) a grand feast organised by him
b. i.) catch the emperor’s eye
c. iii.) a pile of date seeds
d. iv.) He pushed his heap of date seeds under Birbal’s chair.
e. ii.) felt ashamed
3. a.) The branches of trees give shelter to birds and forests give shelter to wild animals.
b.) Forests are valuable for their beauty. They have a way to refresh the eye and mind.
The rishis therefore made forests their homes.
c.) With the growth of population, trees began to be cut down on a large scale. By
destroying forests man began to satisfy his various needs such as accommodation.
d.) By planting more and more trees we can replace the loss of forests.
e.) ‘Shanti Niketan’ means ‘the home of peace’. Rabindranath Tagore started it.
4. a.) The poet shot an arrow and it fell in an oak tree.
b.) The phrase means that the poet sang a song.
c.) Because it is something abstract.
d.) The poet found the arrow still broken.
e.) It means that the song was still fresh in the mind of the poet’s friend.
SECTION B – WRITING & GRAMMAR
INCORRECT WORD CORRECT WORD
5.a. ) brings bring
b.) but and
c.) that who
d.) the a
e.) of to
f .) feed feeds
g.) pinch pinches
h.) by with
6.a.) Where does your grandfather live?
b.) Hurray /bravo! Tanay has done well in his IAS exam.
c.) It is a beautiful piece of jewellery.
7. a.) I am taught English by your brother.
b.) A heavy rain flooded the entire area.
c.) An e-mail was being sent by Sahil.