CBSE Question Paper 2016 class 10 English Communicative

General Instructions:

• This question paper is divided into three sections.
• Section A: Reading 20marks
• Section B: Writing & Grammar 25 marks
• Section C: Literature & Long Reading Text 25 marks

SECTION A
(READING: 20 marks)

1. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow (1×8)

Of all penguin species, the Galapagos ones mostly inhabit the western part of the Galapagos Islands. Compared with other penguin species, the population is small, numbering no more than a few thousand individuals. Galapagos penguins are among the smallest of all penguin species. They average about 53 cm (about 21 inches) in length and weight from 1.7 to 2.6 kg (about 4–6 pounds). Males are slightly larger than females. Juveniles, in contrast, have age head and black and white underside. They also possess white patches of feathers on their cheeks. the chicks are covered in a fluff of light gray downy feathers.

These penguins often below. Adults and juveniles are food for sharks and Galapagos fur seals in the water. On land, all age classes are vulnerable to the native Galapagos hawk and to predators –such as dogs, cats, rats and other birds of prey.

Most of the penguins breed on the islands of Isabella, Fernandina, and Santa Cruz on the western end of the Galapagos archipelago. The young are produced throughout the year, and nests are built with rocks and twigs or within lava rock depressions within about 50 meters (about 165 feet of the shoreline. Most breeding pairs are monogamous for life, and prolific pairs can produce up to three clutched of eggs per year, with females often laying two eggs per clutch. The eggs are deposited in the nest within four days of one another and incubation is shared equally between the parents. The incubation period lasts 38–42 days, after which both parents provide for their chicks by alternating feeding and guarding duties in a daily basis until the chicks are 30 days old. The chicks continue to remain in the nest when they are between 30 and 60 days of age, sustained by periodic feedings by their parents.

Unlike most other penguin species, Galapagos penguin chicks do not join ‘creches’(groups).
The fledgling period continues until the chicks are 60–65 days old, and they become completely independent at age 3–6 months. Galapagos penguins can live as long as 15-20 years, but most succumb to predation or food shortages caused by the periodic, but dramatic, changes in nearby ocean currents.

(a) How are Galapagos penguins different from other species of penguins?
(b) How is a male penguin different from a female penguin?
(c) How can a juvenile penguin be identified?
(d) How do the Galapagos penguins hunt
(e) What makes the penguins vulnerable?
(f) Where and with what di they build their nests?
(g) What dangers do they face on land?
(h) How do their chicks grow up?

2. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:

On a cloudy day, the clouds hide the sun, but the sun is always there. Happiness is like the sun, it is often hidden by the clouds of thoughts, worries, and desires. We have to scatter and dissolve them experience happiness.

You don’t have to create happiness. All you have to do is calm down your mind because when there is a quiet mind and inner peace, there is happiness, Happiness is not something far away and unattainable. happiness does not depend on circumstances, objects or events. It is an inseparable part of our consciousness, of our essence, but hidden and covered from sight, by our thoughts desires and worries.

The mid is always in a constant race from one thought to another, from one worry to another.
It constantly moves from one object or task to another, never standing still. This restlessness hinds the happiness that is within you. It is looked a choppy sea that hinds the bottom. When the sea gets clam you can see the bottom. In the same way, when the mind gets quiet you sense the happiness that is within you.

You cannot see a treasure at the bottom of a stormy and muddy lake, though it is there. However, when the wind stops, the water becomes still, and the mud sinks, you can see the treasure .the treasure is there, whether you see it or not. So is happiness. It is always there, only hidden by thoughts, desired and worries.

You can experience more and more happiness in your life. Only your thoughts stand in your way of experiencing it. Next time you feel happy, stop for a moment and watch the state of your mind. You will be surprised to discover that it is calm and there are almost no thoughts in your mind. Since the mind is not accustomed to stay in this peaceful state for long, it soon becomes active again and the sense of happiness disappears.

2.1 On the basis of your understanding of the above passage answer the questions that follow (2×4)
(a) Why has happiness been compared to the sun?
(b) That wares the requisites for experiencing happiness?
(c) What does not allow us to sense happiness that is within us?
(d) When can one see a treasure at the bottom of a stormy and muddy lake?

2.2 Answer the following questions by selecting the correct options (1×4) (a) What is meant by the word ‘scatter’? (para1)
(i) separate
(ii) detach
(iii) remove
(iv) disperse

(b) what is meant by the word ‘hidden’? (para4)
(i) revealed
(ii) avoided
(iii) defined
(iv) concealed

(c) What is the antonym of the word ‘unattainable’? (para2)
(i) probable
(ii) achievble
(iii) inaccessible
(iv) reasonable

(d) What is the antonym of the word ‘sinks’? (para4)
(i) raise
(ii) lift
(iii) drowns
(iv) floats

SECTION B
(WRITING & GRAMMAR: 25 marks)

3. Brain drain is a major problem in developing nations. India has provided some great minds to the world. Write an article in about 100–120 words, to encourage Indians to serve their nation and nature it.

4. You are Jyoti /jaydeep. Your younger brother was hurt badly in the evening of Diwali and had to be hospitalized. Nature your experience in the form of a story, in about 150-200 word, with an appropriate title.

5. Read the paragraph given below. Fill in the blank by choosing the most appropriate words/phrases from the given option.
Thoughtlessly, (a) ________ without meaning any harm, some people any throw banana peels on the road or the sidewalk. When a person, walking briskly, steps on it, he or she will slip ending in a fractured bone (b) ________ even some more dangerous eventualities. (c) ________ people must take care to throw the peel in a dustbin.

6. The following paragraph has not been edited. There is one error in each line. Write the error and the correction in your answer sheet against the correct blank number. The first one has dine as an example.
Error correction Finally, one day, Sunita ran out in patience. E.g in of Enough was enough. she decide to confront (a) ________ Suruchi. she asked her why she was been nasty (b) ________ To her. She had dine nothing to offend you. she (c) ________ Knew the confrontation will mean the end of their (d) ________ Relationship.

7. Rearrange the following words /phrases to make meaningful sentences.
(a) Gold /one day/Mohan das/piece/stile/a/of
(b) Great/knew/had/he/a/crime/that/committed/he
(c) Decided/never/his life/he/again/to steal/in

SECTION C
(LITERATURE & LONG READING TEXT: 25 Marks)

8. Read one of the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow:
The old man, shivering at times but fixed of purpose, plodded on till he came out of the town fate on to a straight road. Along this he now went at a somewhat slower pace, supporting himself in his old staff.
(a) Who was the old man and why was he shivering? (b) Where was he going so early?
(c) What does the phrase, plodded on mean?

Or

I’m not satisfied but it’s the best we can do till our new black’s nearby, ben and Elizabeth will never have thought about mourning yet so we’ll outshine them there-
(a) Who is not satisfied and with what?
(b) How does the speaker hope to outshine ‘them’? (c) Give a synonym for ‘mourning’?

9. Answer the following questions in about 30-40 words.
a) What brought about a shift in the postmaster’s attitude towards Ali?
b) What message does the poet wish to give in the poem,’ the Frog and the Nightingale
c) What are the three things that the grandfather planned to do in Monday?
d) How didi the creature in the bog react to the frog’s voice?

10. Answer one of the following questions in about 80-100 words.
The story Mrs. Packletude’s Tiger revolves around big time shooting. Though hunting is banned now-a-days, animals are still being hunted. Article for ‘Earth Today’s magazine voicing your concern over the killing of animals and its impact on the environment.

Or

The Nightingale placed her blind trust in the Frog but he expoited her. With reference to the poem elaborate the statement”’Betrayal always comes from those whom you trust.

11. Answer one of the following questions in about 150-200 words.
How did Anne pass her time in hiding? Discuss in detail.

Or

Write a detailed character-sketch of Peter Van Daan.

Or

What was the fate of Helen’s doll and what were Helen’s feelings towards the incident?

Or

Comment on the controversy related to ‘Frost King’ what does it indicate about the character of Helen?

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