Class X - English Practice Paper - 2 - Answers

Subject: English

Grade: X

Time: 3 hours

Marks: 80

General Instructions:

This paper is divided into three parts: A, B and C. All questions are compulsory
Separate instructions are given with each section and question, wherever necessary. Read these instructions very carefully and follow them.
Do not exceed the prescribed word limit while answering the questions.

Section A (Reading) [20 Marks]

1. Read the following passage carefully:

1. In the early 1920s, settlers came to Alaska looking for gold. They travelled by boat to the coastal towns of Seward and Knik, and from there by land into the gold fields. The trail they used to travel inland is known today as the Iditarod Trail, one of the National Trails designated by the Congress of the United States. The Iditarod Trail quickly became a major thoroughfare in Alaska, as the mail and supplies were carried across this trail. People also used it to get from place to place, including the priests, ministers, and judges who had to travel between villages. In the winter, the settlers’ only means of travel down this trail was via dog sled.

2. Once the gold rush ended, many gold-seekers went back to where they had come from, and suddenly there was much less travel on the Iditarod Trail. The introduction of the airplane in the late 1920s meant dog teams were no longer the standard mode of transportation, and of course with the airplane carrying the mail and supplies, there was less need for land travel in general. The final blow to the use of the dog teams was the appearance of snowmobiles.

3. By the mid 1960’s, most Alaskans didn’t even know the Iditarod Trail existed, or that dog teams had played a crucial role in Alaska’s early settlements. Dorothy G. Page, a self-made historian, recognized how few people knew about the former use of sled dogs as working animals and about the Iditarod Trail’s role in Alaska’s colourful history. To raise awareness about this aspect of Alaskan history, she came up with the idea to have a dog sled race over the Iditarod Trail. She presented her idea to an enthusiastic musher, as dog sled drivers are known, named Joe Redington, Sr. Soon the Pages and the Redington were working together to promote the idea the Iditarod race. Many people worked to make the first Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race a reality in 1967.

4. the Aurora Dog Mushers Club, along with men from the Adult Camp in Sutton, helped clear years of overgrowth from the first nine miles of the Iditarod Trail. To raise interest in the race, a $25,000 purse was offered, with Joe Redington donating one acre of his land to help raise the funds. The short race, approximately 27 miles long, was put on a second time in 1969. After these first two successful races, the goal was to lengthen the race a little further to the ghost town of Iditarod by 1973.

On the basis of your understanding of the passage, answer the following questions (1 x 10 = 10)

(a) It can be inferred that all of the following contributed to the misuse of the Iditarod Trail except ___________

(i) more modern forms of transportation

(ii) depleted gold mines

(iii) highway routes to ghost towns

(iv) reduced demand for land travel

View Answer

Ans. (iii)

(b) As used in paragraph 2, which is the best definition for ‘mode’?

(i) formula

(ii) way

(iii) preference

(iv) option

View Answer

Ans. (ii)

(i) They travelled by boat

(ii) They travelled by aeroplane

(iii) They travelled by land

(iv) They travelled by bus

View Answer

Ans. (i)

(d) Fill in the blank in the following sentence.

The Iditarod Trail quickly became a major route in ____________

View Answer

Ans. Alaska

(e) In the winter, the settlers’ only means of travel down the trail was via __________

(i) ships

(ii) bullock carts

(iii) tongas

(iv) dog sleds

View Answer

Ans. (iv)

(f) The primary purpose of this passage is to _____________

(i) recount the history of the Iditarod Trail and the race that memorializes it.

(ii) describe the obstacles involved in founding the Iditarod race.

(iii) outline the circumstances that led to the establishment of the Iditarod Trail

(iv) re-establish the important place of the Iditarod Trail in Alaska’s history.

View Answer

Ans. (i)

(g) Dog teams played a crucial role in Alaskan’s ____________

(i) late settlements

(ii) settlements

(iii) early settlements

(iv) mid-settlements

View Answer

Ans. (iii)

(h) To raise awareness about the ____________ Dorothy G. Page came up with the idea to have a dog sled race.

(i) Alaskan history

(ii) sled dogs as working animals

(iii) standard mode of transportation

(iv) National Historic Trials

View Answer

Ans. (ii)

(i) Fill in the blank in the following sentence.

The phrase ‘a self-made historian’ in para 3 implies that Dorothy G. Page _________

Ans. had pursued the study of Alaska’s history out of her interest

(j) State whether the following statement is TRUE or FALSE

Dorothy G. Page and the Joe Redington promoted the idea of the Iditarod race.

View Answer

Ans. TRUE

2. Read the following passage carefully.

1. Food processing is defined as transforming agricultural products into food that are in consumable form or transforming one food item into another by adding value to it (Government of India, 2019). Based on physical properties of the final product, the Ministry of Food Processing Industries categorises food processing under two sub-categories, viz, (i) manufactured processes, whereby the original physical properties of the product undergo a change through a process involving employees, power, machines or money and the transformed product is edible and has a commercial value and (ii) other value-added processes where the product does not undergo any manufacturing process, but gains significant value addition like increased shelf life, shelled and ready for consumption, etc.

2. Depending on the type and extent of value addition, it is categorized as Primary and Secondary processing. Primary processing relates to conversion of raw commodity to one that is fit for consumption. It involves steps such as drying, threshing, cleaning, grading, sorting, packing, etc. Secondary processing involves creation of value-added products like bread, wine, sausages, etc.

3. The importance of processed food items in the consumer basket has increased globally over time. With higher income, urbanization, demographic shifts, improved transportation and changed consumer perceptions regarding quality and safety, food consumption patterns have changed over the years. Further, advertising through mass media/social media is also found to have resulted in a higher demand-led Food Processing Industry (FPI) growth in India.

4. The share of processed food in world especially Indian exports in value term, has remained stable over the years. In 2018, it accounted for 6.5 percent of total world processed export and 5.7 percent of total world exports.

5. With the increasing importance of processed food in consumers’ food basket, quality standards have also emerged as an important factor with new regulations. The food system is being regulated through a mix of private-public standards which provide the basis of competitive strategies and are proving to be the entry barriers. The implementation of quality standards has been an issue of contention between developed and developing countries.

(Reference: The Economic Times & RBI Bulletin)

On the basis of your understanding of the passage attempt the following questions. (1 x 10 = 10)

(a) The given passage talks majorly about the __________

(i) system of import and export

(ii) growing demand of processed food

(iii) food capacity of India

(iv) share of Indian exports in food market

View Answer

Ans. (ii)

(b) Food Processing involves ___________

(i) converting raw agricultural products into consumable food.

(ii) converting one food item into another.

(iii) increasing commercial value

(iv) all of the above

View Answer

Ans. (iv)

(i) tertiary processing

(ii) primary processing

(iii) secondary processing

(iv) value-added processing

View Answer

Ans. (ii)

(d) Food consumption pattern changes because of ____________

(i) urbanization

(ii) improved transportation

(iii) demographic shifts

(iv) all of these

View Answer

Ans. (iv)

(e) According to the pie chart the average percentage share for 2016-18 was lowest for _________

(i) sugar

(ii) starches

(iii) bakery products

(iv) prepared animal feed

View Answer

Ans (ii)

(f) The average percentage share for 2016-18 of Dairy Products compared to Meat and Meat Products was __________

(i) lesser

(ii) more

(iii) equal

(iv) variable

View Answer

Ans. (i)

(g) The synonym of ‘area’ as used in para 2 is ____________

View Answer

Ans. extent

(h) State whether the following statement is TRUE or FALSE

Globalisation helps in the growth of the FPI.

View Answer

Ans. FALSE

(i) Which of the following words from the passage means the same as ‘one’s own belief?

(i) Demographic

(ii) Threshing

(iii) Perception

(iv) Transformation

View Answer

Ans. (iii)

(j) Fill in the blank in the following sentence.

The main issue of contention between developed and developing countries is ___________

View Answer

Ans. implementation of quality standards

Section B (Grammar & Creative Writing Skills) [20 Marks]

Grammar (10 Marks)

3. Choose the most appropriate option to fill in any three blanks and complete the passage (1 x 3 = 3)

In developing countries such as Britain, Germany, Japan and the United States, one can see a number of people of all age groups like pensioners, school-going children, etc. (a) __________ in the meadows, forests and parks, on the river banks and sea shores with cameras and notebooks (b) _________ birds. Each member of a bird watching club (c) __________ a badge, identity card and a map of (d) _________ area. The main function of these organizations is to collect as much data on birds as possible. This data is sent to the higher authorities for the verification of the research.

(a) (i) moving about (ii) move about (iii) moved about (iv) movement

View Answer

Ans. (i)

(b) (i) jotting down the names, colours and sizes of the difference

(ii) jotting down the names, colours and sizes of the different

(iii) jotting down the names, colours and sizes

(iv) differentiate

View Answer

Ans. (ii)

View Answer

Ans. (i)

(d) (i) a (ii) an (iii) the (iv) one

View Answer

Ans. (iii)

4. 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 corrected word in your answer sheet. One has been done for you. Attempt any four of them. (1 x 4 = 4)

Error Correction

In the prisoner’s room a candle is e.g is was

burning dimly. A prisoner himself (a) ________ ________

sat by the table. Only him back, (b) ________ ________

the hair by his head, and his (c) ________ ________

hands are visible from outside (d) ________ ________

through any window. (e) ________ ________

View Answer

Ans. (a) A – The

(b) him – his

(d) are – were

5. Read the dialogue and complete the following passage by filling up the blanks. (1 x 3 = 3)

Choose the most appropriate options from the one’s given below to complete the passage. Covid-19 has become a cause of concern for very young children, who are not able to understand the talks about corona virus.

Vaayu, the superhero, explains to the children that the pandemic is nothing to do with the number of people affected or who die. It meant that the disease had spread in a large global area. The government and the public needed to take extra measures to prevent the infection. Little Aditi seemed to understand that (a) _________ for a few weeks. Young Aditya was worried and asked Vaayu about their exams and said that (b) ___________. He asked Vaayu if they would all remain in the same class. Vaayu asked them not to panic. He further informed them that (c) ___________ as soon as the disease subsided or they may be promoted to the next class based on their term-end exams.

View Answer

Ans. (a) that was the reason their schools are closed

(b) he had prepared hard

Creative Writing Skills (10 Marks)

6. Answer the following question in 100-120 words (5 Marks)

You are the Physical Education Instructor at St. Jesus and Mary School, Agra. You had placed an order for sports goods with Student Sports Enterprises. When the items arrived you found that some of them were defective. Write a letter to the Manager, Student Sports Enterprises, asking him to replace the defective items.

View Answer

Ans.

Physical Education Dept.

St. Jesus and Mary School

Agra XXXXXX

The Manager

Student Sports Enterprises

Sadar Bazar,

Agra XXXXXX

Dear Sir,

Subject: Replacement of damaged goods

Please refer to our order number 065/94/XX dated 19 December 20XX for some sports goods. The above consignment was delivered to us on 15 February 20XX. I regret to inform you that some of the items have been found defective and are not as per specification. It seems that this particular consignment has not undergone any inspection as not a single sports equipment is in good condition.

You are, therefore, requested to replace the defective items immediately. Please do ensure the quality of the items as also the specifications this time. An early response will be highly appreciated.

Thanking you

Yours faithfully

XYZ

You are Vinni/Sanjay living at S-453 Raghupura, New Delhi. Some women have been robbed of their gold chains and earrings in the main market of your block during rush hours by young boys of riding bike. You are very much worried about such incidents. Write a letter to the Editor of a local newspaper to draw attention of the authority concerned about it.

View Answer

Ans.

S-453, Raghupura

New Delhi

10 April 20XX

The Editor

The Times of India

K.G. Marg, New Delhi

Sir,

Subject: Chain snatching by young boys

I would like to draw the attention of the authorities concerned towards the increasing incidences of chain snatching in our area. The area has become quite unsafe. A gang of miscreants is very active in the area. These young boys follow women wearing gold jewellery on their bikes. Whenever they see the opportunity they snatch away the chains and speed off on their bikes.

Though several police complaints have been lodged, yet the criminals haven’t been caught. There is a need of a permanent PCR or police post. A beat constable can be posted in shift duties and the vigilance can be enhanced at the strategic points. It is important that the criminals are caught and punished. This will act as a deterrent to other criminals also.

You are requested to publish this letter and bring my complaint to the notice of the authorities concerned so that people may get some solace.

Thanking you

Yours faithfully

Sanjay

7. Answer the following question in 100-120 words.

Study the bar graphs given below and write an analytical report on the effects of pollution on the migration of exotic birds that visit our country every year. Do you think pollution affects the native bird population too? Could there be reasons other than pollution that have a bearing on migration of birds? Suggest some practical solutions to stop the declining number of birds. Your write-up should be in 100-120 words.

View Answer

Ans. Citizen, scientists and bird watcher groups have been warning about a direct correlation between the declining number of migratory birds in India and; air and noise pollution. The number of birds has steadily declined above 50% between 1990 and 2010. The number of Raptors, Shore birds, Leaf Warblers, Sandpipers, Pipits and Pacific Golden Plovers has considerably reduced. Those migrating from Siberia to escape the harsh winter get roasted in our hot climes made hotter by exhaust emissions, stubble burning, chemical fertilizers, vehicular gases, aerosols and HFCs. A large number die due to unbearable heat, outbreaks of disease or separation from their flocks due to noise. To this, add the loss of habitat and hunting – the birds have nowhere to go. Even native birds like the house sparrows and crows are disappearing from urban areas. CAF (Central Asian Flyway) and the UN have brought together 10 countries to help the winged guests migrate safely and return home.

Violence among young adults in rising. This has seriously alarmed both parents and teachers. But are teenagers solely responsible for this? Do family, friends and mentors at school have a role to play in checking this menace? Write your thoughts utilizing the data in the line graph given to you. Don’t forget to add a few solutions too. Your paragraph should not exceed 100-120 words.

View Answer

Ans. Last year in India, 40,000 juvenile crimes were reported in which 5000-6000 were serious transgressions. Violence among males is more common as compared to females. Incidents of violence have seen a steady rise from 10 in 2010 to 63 in 2016. Bullying, involving in petty crimes, fighting over money or opposite sex, verbal abuse, intimidation, harassment is common in teenagers prone to violence. Hormonal flare ups are natural but when parental guidance is not available and peers are bad company the damage is lasting. Exposure to violet content on media, poor grades, drugs, alcohol, abuse at home, too little or too much money or failure can push a teen to violence. Life skills, anger management, sports, counselling and therapy can help in serious cases; in lighter ones, parental support and positive peer groups can motivate a teen to be more tolerant.

8. Read the extracts given below and attempt the questions that follow. (1 x 5 = 5)

The young seagull was alone on his ledge. His two brothers and his sister had already flown away the day before. He had been afraid to fly with them. Somehow when he had taken a little run forward to the brink of the ledge and attempted to flap his wings, he became afraid. The great expanse of sea stretched down beneath, and it was such a long way down miles down. He felt certain that his wings would never support him; so he bent his head and ran away back to the little hole under the ledge where he slept at night.

(a) Why was the young seagull afraid?

(i) He was afraid of flying

(ii) He was waiting for somebody to accompany

(iii) He was afraid of eating food.

(iv) He had no experience.

View Answer

Ans. (i)

(b) What did the young seagull feel about his wings?

(i) He felt that his wings would not support him.

(ii) He felt that he had no wings.

(iii) He felt that he had only one wing

(iv) All of the above

View Answer

Ans. (i)

The seagull ran away back to the little hole.

View Answer

Ans. TRUE

(d) Pick out the word from the stanza which means ‘a narrow flat piece of rock that sticks out from a cliff”.

View Answer

Ans. ledge

(e) Give an antonym of the word ‘attempt’.

View Answer

Ans. unattempt

Lomov: He is old, but I wouldn’t take five Squeezers for him. Why, how can you? Guess is a dog; as for Squeezer, well, it’s too funny to argue. Anybody you like has a dog as good as Squeezer… you may find them under every bush almost. Twenty-five roubles would be a handsome price to pay for him.

Natalya: There’s some demon of contradiction in you today. Ivan Vassilevitch. 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 isn’t?

Lomov: I see, Natalya Stepanovna, that you consider me either blind or a fool. You must realise that Squeezer is overshot!

(a) According to Lomov the funny thing is that __________

(i) Squeezer is better than Guess.

(ii) Guess is better than Squeezer

(iii) Squeezer and Guess both are dogs

(iv) Squeezer and Guess hide under bushes.

View Answer

Ans. (i)

(b) Natalya feels that her dog is ____________

(i) hundred times handsome than Lomov’s dog

(ii) hundred times better than Lomov’s dog

(iii) hundred times silly than Lomov’s dog

(iv) hundred times smarter than Lomov’s dog

View Answer

Ans. (ii)

Lomov degrades Squeezer by commenting that dogs like him ___________

View Answer

Ans. can be found under every bush

(d) Lomov interprets Natalya’s accusation and thinks that she considers him _________

(i) blind and foolish

(ii) wealthy and selfish

(iii) foolish and wealthy

(iv) blind and wealthy

View Answer

Ans. (iii)

(e) Find a word from the passage which means ‘disagreement’.

View Answer

Ans. contradiction

9. Read the extracts given below and attempt the questions that follow.

An ultimate shaking grief fixes the boy.

As he stands rigid, trembling, staring down.

All his young days in to the harbor where

His ball went. I would not intrude on him;

A dime, another ball, is worthless, Now

He senses first responsibility

In a world of possession.

(a) The boy is in grief because his ball has been __________

(i) destroyed by the pet

(ii) taken forcibly

(iii) lost

(iv) given to the other boy

View Answer

Ans. (iii)

(b) The ball in the poem symbolizes __________

(i) a sense of adventure

(ii) innocence of the young boy

(iii) an ability to bounce back

(iv) an extended family

View Answer

Ans. (ii)

The poet does not offer the new ball to the child because he wants to teach him the value of responsibility.

View Answer

Ans. TRUE

(d) The name of the poet is ___________

(i) Robert Keith

(ii) John Berryman

(iii) Robert Frost

(iv) William Wordsworth

View Answer

Ans. (ii)

(e) Find the word from the stanza which means the same as ‘insignificant’.

View Answer

Ans. Worthless

Did you finish your home-work, Amanda

Did you tidy your mom, Amanda

I thought I told you to clean your shoes, Amanda

(a) What is first priority of the poet for Amanda?

(i) unclean the room

(ii) polish the shoes

(iii) finish the homework

(iv) bite the nails

View Answer

Ans. (iii)

(b) The poet thought that she had advised her ___________

(i) to clean her shoes

(ii) to finish the work

(iii) to learn the lesson

(iv) to swim like mermaid

View Answer

Ans. (i)

View Answer

Ans. Clean

(d) Fill in the blank in the following sentence.

___________ is making all the remarks at Amanda.

View Answer

Ans. Mother

(e) On hearing the above lines Amanda is ____________

(i) happy

(ii) sad

(iii) confused

(iv) excited.

View Answer

Ans. (ii)

10. Answer in 40-50 words of any four out of the five questions given.

(a) What did Lencho compare to new coins? Why?

View Answer

Ans. Lencho compared the raindrops to new coins. He does it so because it would help him in getting good harvest. He could make more money by selling his crop.

(b) What are the elders in Goa nostalgic about?

View Answer

Ans. The elders in Goa are nostalgic about the Portuguese and their famous loaves of bread.

View Answer

Ans. The poet was going somewhere in the snowy morning. A crow made some dust of snow fell on the poet. The poet took it as bad omen and came back to home. Thus his mood changed.

(d) Whose dog in the play ‘The Proposal’ turns out to be superior?

View Answer

Ans. Lomov and Natalya are not able to decide whose dog is superior as Natalya is proud of her dog. Squeezer who is young and belongs to a pedigree, whereas Lomov considers it to be uppershot and boasts of his pet ‘Guess’ who he thinks is a first-rate dog. But Natalya considers ‘Guess’ to be old and as ugly as a worn out cab horse.

(e) What happened when Griffin did not wake up in time?

View Answer

Ans. Griffin found that the pile of quilts was very comfortable in the store. He could not wake up in time. The helpers opened the store. Griffin get scared and began to run. They ran after him. He panicked and tried to escape.

11. Answer in 40-50 words of any two out of the three questions (3 x 2 = 6)

(a) Did the young lady expect Horace to be caught after the theft?

View Answer

Ans. Yes, the young lady knew that Horace would be caught. As he forgot to put on his gloves. Naturally his finger prints would lead the police towards him. Horace’s arrest would not let anyone think that she was the thief. So she was to be benefitted by his arrest.

(b) What happened at the ball? Was Matilda’s dream fulfilled?

View Answer

Ans. Matilda was very happy. She was the prettiest at the ball. Everyone appreciated her. Everyone wanted to be known to her. She danced very excitedly. Yes, her dream was fulfilled that evening.

View Answer

Ans. Anil knew about the theft but he did not show any sign any sign of anger. He gave him Rs 50 note and promised him to teach reading and writing sentences. This made Hari Singh realize that Anil had forgiven him.

12. Attempt the following question in 100-120 words (6 Marks)

Why did Kisa Gautami meet the Buddha? How did the Buddha change her life?

View Answer

Ans. Kisa Gotami had an only son who died. In her grief she carried the dead child from one house to another asking for some medicine for her son. Someone advised her to meet the Buddha. She went to him and prayed him to give her the medicine that would cure her son. The Buddha understood that she was suffering from ignorance. He asked her to get a handful of mustard seed from a house where no one had lost a child or husband, parent or friend. She went from house to house but could not find any such house. She realized her mistake and understood that death is common to all. There was no means by which those who have been born could avoid lying. This self-realization changed Gotami’s life. She gave up grieving and accepted her fate.

‘Appearances are deceptive’. Cite examples from the poem, ‘How to Tell Wild Animals’, to corroborate this statement.

View Answer

Ans. Encountering the Asian Lion will be by hearing its roar while dying. Meeting an animal with black stripes on a yellow ground he should ensure that he is not eaten, as he has encountered a Bengal Tiger. When a beast with skin peppered with spots leaps on the person that would be an encounter with leopard. Roaring in pain is futile, because the animal will ‘lep and lep’. Similarly, a hug in the dark, would be a bear. When confused between crocodile and a hyena, the former would emit a merry smile, while the latter would weep tears. Chameleons appear not like lizard-like creatures with no ears, but as nothing on a tree.

13. Answer the following question in 100-120 words (6 Marks)

“Love and sympathy can transform a thief”. How is it true in case of Hari Singh? Comment.

View Answer

Ans. Love and sympathy are positive qualities. If we have love and sympathy for a person, that person will try to win our trust and confidence. He will improve his behaviour. He will curb his basic instincts and try to prove worthy of our confidence in him. Sympathy is born out of compassion, which is a softer feeling. Compassion also leads us to love a person and be kind to him. Even a criminal can be reformed by love and sympathy. Anil treated the thief kindly and reposed faith him. The thief was tempted once. He ran away with money. But there was a change in his heart. He returned to Anil. He gave up stealing and decided to become a good person.

Contentment in one’s life is very important to lead a peaceful life. We should be happy with what we have and should not crave for what we don’t have. Matilda suffered in her life because she was not contented in her life. What do you learn from her mistake in life?

View Answer

Ans. It is true that contentment in one’s life is very important to lead a peaceful and happy life. We should be happy with what we have and should not crave for what we don’t have. Matilda suffered in her life because she was not contented in her life. She was a pretty lady and married an honest person. He was monetarily moderate. Matilda was not contented with his job and salary. She wanted to lead a luxurious life which he could not afford. Once she got an opportunity to attend a high profile party. She did not have a proper dress and jewels. She borrowed a necklace from her friend. She lost it in the party and had to suffer for a long period of time just to pay for it. Her over ambition and craze for luxury ruined her life.

Class X – English Practice Paper – 2 – Answers