“TOGETHER TOWARDS EXCELLENCE”

PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION ( DEC- 2024)

SUBJECT: ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE
GRADE:X Total Marks:40
Date:17.12.2024 Time:1 Hour 30 Minutes

Name of the candidate:

Signature of the candidate:

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS:
� Total number of pages in the question paper is 11.

� Fill in your Name (in CAPITALS), Class, Section, Roll no: etc., clearly in the columns provided.

� At the beginning of the exam, use the allocated reading time carefully to review all the
questions.

� Write answers with the correct question numbers as given in the question paper.

� For choice questions, answer only the required number of questions as specified.

� Write your answers neatly and legibly.

� Use blue or black ink only. Do not scribble or make unnecessary marks on the answer sheet.

� Draw diagrams with a pencil and label them clearly.

� Ensure that you have completed all required sections before submitting.

� The use of correction fluid, calculators, mobile phones, and electronic devices are NOT
permitted.
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 � Any form of cheating or malpractice will result in cancelling the examination.

� Allocate your time wisely to complete all questions within the given duration.

� Carefully review your answers before submitting the answer sheets.

� Remain seated until all answer sheets are collected.

� Please ensure that you follow these instructions carefully to avoid any issues during the
Examination. Good luck!

SECTION A : READING SKILLS (10)

1. Read the following text.

1. A 2021 report from UNICEF highlighted that approximately 100 million girls worldwide are
at risk of child marriage in the coming decade. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated this
issue by causing “school closures, economic strain, service disruptions, pregnancies, and
parental deaths,” which has left an additional 10 million girls vulnerable to the threat of child
marriage.
2. In Rajasthan, civil society organizations are actively combating the practice of child marriage
and empowering young girls. One such initiative, Naubat Baja, was launched on International
Women’s Day in 2019. The campaign capitalizes on the widespread use of mobile phones,
which have reached even the most remote areas of India, making it the preferred mode of
communication for the youth, especially in regions with limited access to television or the
internet.
3. The term “Naubat Baja” refers to an ancient ensemble of musical instruments used to capture
people’s attention. In the digital age, Naubat Baja has evolved into a campaign that broadcasts
messages against harmful traditions like child marriage and gender discrimination. Through
Naubat Baja Missed Call Radio, a cloud-based telephone radio service in Rajasthan, messages
against early marriage are spread. This initiative also addresses adolescent health, empowerment,
and well-being. Volunteers and leaders of adolescent groups who help with the campaign are
called champions.

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4. Girls can call the Naubat Baja number and receive a callback, offering a 15-minute recorded
session of free entertainment. This includes Hindi film songs, short stories, and audio dramas
that focus on social issues, often using humor and satire. Additionally, job opportunity updates,
general knowledge, and government welfare schemes are shared. The dramas deliver messages
on topics such as child marriage, domestic violence, health, menstrual hygiene, gender equality,
and financial awareness.
5. The programme is regularly updated and managed by UNFPA representatives. It is produced
in studios by a team of researchers and content creators, who work alongside professional audio
makers. The initiative is promoted through social media, graffiti, and awareness campaigns in
both rural and urban areas, supported by volunteers, community leaders, Panchayats (local
governing bodies), Anganwadi centers, and ASHA workers (community health workers).
6. Efforts are ongoing in Rajasthan to engage more partners, such as the Nehru Yuva Kendra
Sangathan (NYKS), one of the world’s largest youth networks, to help popularize Naubat Baja’s
messages. As these strategies take effect, countless ordinary girls will find the courage to dream
of a better future.
Answer the following questions, based on the passage above. (1x5=5)
i. In paragraph 1, what factors have increased the vulnerability of girls to child marriage
during the pandemic?
ii. Complete the following with the correct option :
Naubat Baja uses mobile phones to ________________
(a) Connect girls to television programs about child marriage.
(b) Spread messages against harmful practices like child marriage and gender
discrimination. (paragraph 2)
iii. How does Naubat Baja’s Missed Call Radio service convey important messages to
adolescent girls? (paragraph 4)

iv. The writer mentions that Naubat Baja is promoted through various channels. Which of
the following is not one of those channels?
(a) Social media
(b) Graffiti
(c) Printed newspapers
(d) Awareness campaigns
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v. List any two topics covered by Naubat Baja’s audio dramas that are aimed at educating
adolescent girls. (paragraph 4)

2.Read the following text.

1.The North-East of India is a melting pot of variegated cultural mosaic of people and races, an
ethnic tapestry of many hues and shades. Yet, these states are less explored as compared to the
rest of the country. The new generations of travellers who are ‘money rich and time poor are
increasingly looking for unique experiences --a phenomenon being called the emergence of the
‘experience economy’. For this new and growing breed of tourists, the North-East with its
variety and uniqueness holds immense attraction.

2.A study conducted in 2020 by Dr. Sherap Bhutia, revealed that the foreign tourist arrival in the
North-East increased from 37,380 persons in 2005 to 118,552 in 2014. The overall growth rate
of tourists (both domestic and foreign) in the North-East was as high as 26.44% during 2005-06.
A high and positive growth of 12.53% was registered in foreign tourist visits to North-East
States ofm India during 2012 from 2011, which further rose to register a growth of 27.93%
during 2013 from 2012. Foreign tourist arrivals in the North-East witnessed a growth of 39.77%
during 2014 from 2013, according to data provided from the Ministry of Tourism, Government
of India.

3.The study recommendations for tourism planners included the need to concentrate on some
key areas like enhancement of tourist facilities, tourism financing, focus on community
involvement and others for the formulation of a sustainable tourism strategy in the North-East
States of India.
(234 words)
Adapted – https://socialscienceresearch.org/index.php/GJHSS/article/view/3162

Answer the following questions, based on the passage above. (1x5=5)

i. Infer one reason for the following, based on information in paragraph .

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The rate of tourism in the North-East of India puzzles tourism officials.

ii .Select the appropriate option to fill in the blanks.

From paragraph 1, we can infer that the ________ and ____________of the
North-Eastern states aid attracting the ‘money rich and time poor’ tourists.

1. distinctiveness
2. conventionality
3. diversity
4. uniformity
5. modernity
(a) 1 & 3
(b) 2 & 4
(c) 2 & 5
(d) 1 & 4

iii. Complete the following analogy correctly with a word/ phrase from paragraph :
aroma: cooking:: : painting :_______________
(Clue: Just like aroma is integral to cooking, similarly is/ are integral to painting)

iv. Select the correct option to complete the following sentence:

Travellers advocating the ‘experience economy’ seek a holiday package with
(Paragraph 1)
(a) grand facilities, expensive hotels and excellent services to pamper them.
(b) a wholesome experience within the budget they have planned for.
(c) places and cities to buy things from and opportunities spend money.
(d) cost-effective services, affordable accommodation and many days of touring.

v.Fill in the blank by selecting the correct option.

The study of tourist travel statistics in the North-East, from 2005 to 2014 showed
results.
(a) expected
(b) encouraging
(c) inconsistent
(d) questionable
SECTION B: WRITING SKILLS & GRAMMAR (10)
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GRAMMAR (5)
3. Complete ANY FIVE of SIX of the following , as directed. (1x5= 5)
i. Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option to complete the sentence.
This time tomorrow, I _____ on the beaches of Hawaii away from the noise of
civilization.
(a) will lie
(b) will be lying
(c) will be lying
(d) would have lied
ii. Read the conversation between two friends. Complete the sentence by reporting their
conversation.
Herman said : ‘If I were a king, I would travel all over the world!’
Pulkit said : ‘You are just day dreaming, my friend.’
Herman said that if he had been a king, he would travel all over the world. Pulikt, on hearing his
friend commented that _____.

iii. Select the correct option to fill in the blank for the given line, from an environmental
magazine.
Over the past thirty years or so the quality of many people’s lives _____ in some
respect because of technological progress.
(a)had worsened
(b)) have suffered
(c) has deteriorated
(d) was worse

iv. Complete the given narrative, by filling in the blank with the correct option.
Worse still, much of our building effort _____ into the construction of more and more large
office blocks at the expense of much needed housing for the growing urban population.

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(a) has been channelized
(b) have been channelized
(c) are channelized
(d) were channelize

v. Select the correct option to complete the narration of the dialogue.

I said, ‘I am not going to school.’
Mother said, ‘OK, finish all the household chores today and I will rest.’
When I told mother that _____, she told me to finish all the household chores and
that _____.
(a) I am not going to school, she would rest.
(b) I was not going to school, she would rest.
(c) I will not be going to school, she will rest.
(d) I shall not be going to school, she planned to rest.
vi.change the sentence into reported speech.

Mimi said, “I have been writing this letter.”

WRITING (5)

Note : All details presented in the questions in writing section are imaginary and
created for assessment purpose. (5x1= 5)
4A. You are Tejas / Tejaswi resident of 111, Jai Hind colony, Mumbai – 400589, a student of
class 11 and want to take up a Summer course in Computer graphic design. Write a letter of
inquiry to the Director of NIIT Computech seeking details on the coruse content, eligibility, fees,
timings and future scope of the course.

OR
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4B. Read the following excerpt from an online post of a website on educational practices.Write a
paragraph in 100-120 words to analyse the given argument. You could think about what
alternative explanations might weaken the given conclusion and include rationale / evidence that
would strengthen / counter the given argument.

Kids who appreciate how much effort, time and care goes into growing food will
understand how important farmers are, and why it's important to take care of our Earth.
In the world of today, gardening needs to be given more importance than sports, music
and dance in all schools because it creates environmental stewards and outdoor
learning laboratories that help the child and community for years to come.

SECTION C - LITERATURE TEXTBOOK (20)

5.Read the given extracts and answer ANY ONE of the given below . (1x3=3)
A.

Suddenly she was startled by a voice. “Listen, child,” said the voice, “you shouldn’t
stand like that. Sit down.”Sitting down, she looked to see who had spoken. It was an
elderly man who had honestly been concerned for her, but she was annoyed by his
attention.“There’s nobody here who’s a child,” she said haughtily. “I’ve paid my thirty
paise like everyone else.”The conductor chimed in. “Oh, sir, but this is a very grown-
up madam. Do you think a mere girl could pay her own fare and travel to the city all
alone?”

Valli shot an angry glance at the conductor and said, “I am not a madam.
Please re-member that. And you’ve not yet given me my ticket.”
“I’ll remember,” the conductor said, mimicking her tone. Everyone
laughed, and
gradually Valli too joined in the laughter.

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i. How did Valli feel when the elderly man expressed concern that she was standing?
(a) Rather shocked
(b) Somewhat happy
(c) Fairly displeased
(d) Quite embarrassed

ii. Choose the option that lists the set of statements that are NOT TRUE according to the
given extract.
1. Valli was travelling without a guardian.
2. The conductor was bullying Valli.
3. Valli was nervous in her interactions.
4. Valli was a child passenger.
5. Valli followed the elderly man’s advice.
6. Valli’s response to the elderly man was respectful.
7. It took Valli some time to participate in the jocular conversations.

(a) 2, 3, 4
(b) 5, 6, 7
(c) 3, 5, 7
(d) 2, 3, 6

iii. Pick the option that correctly classifies fact/s(F) and opinion/s (O) of the students below.

(a) F - 1,2 and O - 3,4

(b) F - 2,3,4 and O - 1

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(c) F - 2,4 and O - 1,3
(d) F - 3 and O - 1,2,4

OR

B.
“But you can see from the documents, honoured Natalya Stepanovna. Oxen Meadows, it’s true,
were once the subject of dispute, but now everybody knows that they are mine.
There’s nothing to argue about. You see my aunt’s grandmother gave the free use
of these Meadows in perpetuity to the peasants of your father’s grandfather, in
return for whichthey were to make bricks for her. The peasants belonging to your
father’s grandfather had the free use of the Meadows for forty years, and had got
into the habit of regarding them as their own, when it happened that...

i. What was the dispute about?

(a) The dog.
(b) The Birches
(c) Oxen Meadows
(d) All the above

ii. Who gave the meadows?

(a) Aunt’s grandmother of Lomov gave to the grandfather of Natalya’s father.
(b) The grandfather of Natalya’s father gave to Aunt’s grandmother of Lomov.
(c) Natalya’s father gave to Lomov’s grandmother.
(d) Lomov’s grandmother gave to Natalya’s father.

iii.Which word in the passage means the same as ‘the state or quality of
lasting forever’?
(a) dispute
(b) perpetuity
(c) peasants
(d) meadows

6.Answer ANY FOUR of the following FIVE questions, in about 40-50 words. (3x4-12)
i. How does the fog spread over the harbour and the city? (Fog)
ii. What was Lomov’s opinion about Squeezer? (The Proposal)
iii. How did Monsieur Loisel manage to buy another necklace? (The Necklace)
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iv. How was Ebright as a student in the school? (The Making of a Scientist)
v. What lesson on death and suffering did the Buddha teach Kisa Gotami in the chapter, ‘The
Sermon at Benares’?
7.Answer the following questions in about 100-120 words. (5x1= 5)
A. People should always try to live within their means. Aspirations have no limits but one should
never forget the ground realities. Elaborate on the basis of chapter, “The Necklace”.
OR
B.’The influence of a good teacher can never be erased.” How did Bholi’s teacher help her to
overcome her fear of school and become a confident girl?

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