Time: 2.15 Hrs. English
Examination Full Marks: 75
Grade: 10 (Reading and Writing) Pass Mark: 30
Candidates are required to answer the
questions in their own words as far as possible.You must copy statements for true/false,
sentence completion, cloze test, reordering, and grammar items.The figures in
the margin indicate full marks.
1.Read the given review carefully and
do the activities that follow. [10]
If a film critic awards four stars to a movie
directed by Roland Emmerich, will the world come to an end? That’s a question
the ancient Mayans never asked, but it’s the one facing me after the enormously
satisfying, amazingly accomplished, reprehensible yet irresistible “2012”, the greatest achievement in Emmerich’s long, profitable career as a
destroyer of the world.
Starting with the long-held misapprehension that the Mayan
calendar picks “2012” as the date of humanity’s doom, Emmerich fleshes out that bit of pseudohistory with some pseudo-science.
“2012” takes the disaster movie once content simply to threaten the Earth with
a comet, or blow up the White House to its natural conclusion, the literal end
of the world. Other movies have explosions; “2012” has an atom bomb size
detonation that wipes Yellowstone off the map. Other movies have earthquakes;
“2012” sends California sinking, in flames into the sea. Other movies kill
thousands; “2012” kills zillions without breaking a sweat.
So what makes “2012” a four-star movie? It gets everything
right. The actors are right: John Cusack as a protagonist, Amanda Peet as his
wife, Chiwetel Ejiofor as a scientist. The storytelling is right. You will never
be bored. And the dialogue is right: a rich blend of wisecrack and cheese,
with a few moist-eyed goodbyes sprinkled here and there for good measure. Most
importantly, the special effects are so right. In fact, they are incredible.
Emmerich is an expert on a panoramic disaster. Power lines snapping in an
earthquake, sparks flashing like distant fireworks; Honolulu on fire; mournful giraffes in slings, airlifted by helicopters through the snowy Himalayas.
Is “2012” art? Absolutely not! It reminds us that cinema exists
not only to mark art but also to expertly create a sensation like no other
medium. It is certainly the best movie of its kind ever made. This is the way
the world ends: with a bang.
(Credit Source: http://www,washingtonpost.com/we-dyn/orient/article/2009/11AR2009111207930.html)
A. Find
the words from the text that are closest in meaning to the following words. [4]
i. lucrative
ii. deserving
very strong criticism
iii. misunderstanding
iv. explosion
B. Read
the text and write True or False against these statements. [4]
i.The
movie ‘2012’ is Roland Emmerich’s magnum opus in the film industry.
ii. There
is an incredible blend of pseudo-history and natural science in the movie.
iii. Wisecrack and cheese refer to the jokes and laughter the movie employs.
iv. Art
does not create sensation but ‘2012’ does, therefore it is not a work of art.
C.Answer
these questions in a sentence only. [2]
i.What
misconception is captured at the beginning of the movie?
ii. In
what sense is 2012 the best movie of its kind?
2.Go through the poem carefully and
complete the tasks below. [5]
The Road Not Taken
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveller, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear,
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence.
Two roads diverged in a wood, and, I
I took the one less travelled by,
And that has made all the difference.
-Robert Frost
A. Rewrite
these statements choosing the correct alternatives. [3]
1.
The two roads might symbolize……….
a)
different
ways out of the woods.
b)
different
ways to return home.
c)
different
ways to get to town.
d)
different
choices in life.
2. The
expression, “grassy and wanted wear” in the 8th line of the poem means…
a)
Many
people had walked the grassy road.
b)
The
grass needed cutting.
c)
Not
many people had walked this road.
d)
The
grass was too high for anyone to walk through it.
3.
The
speaker in the poem is………………that he could realize his dream.
a)
happy
b)
resentful
c)
grateful
d)
regretful
B.
Answer
these questions in a sentence only. 2]
a)
Why
do you think the speaker is going to tell the tale of his journey?
b)
What is the main message of the poem?
3.
Read the following text and do the activities that follow. [15]
At first glance
it’s the usual Cambridge scene: the fight for places to park the bicycle, the
hasty greetings called across the courtyard, the scramble for decent seats next
to your friends, the silence before the lecture begins. The difference here is
that the greetings are a little cheerier, the scramble a little more intense,
the silence a little more avid, and, though you may not notice it, there are
more grey hairs. The students at the new Cambridge University are all aged 50
or over.
The Wednesday afternoon lecture is the main event of
the week for members of the University of the Third Age, or ‘U3A’ as they call
it. But every day there are classes going on all over town ranging from Chinese
to computers. Founded only three years ago, the new university now has more
than 700 members. It was the first of its kind in Britain, but the idea caught
on quickly and Third Age universities have started up all over the country.
Although Shakespeare chronicled Seven Ages of Man, the new university makes do
with four. The Third Age comes when the First Age of childhood and the Second
Age of earning a living and bringing up a family are over. It may well last as
long as 30 years, beginning in the fifties and going on into the sixties,
seventies, and eighties. The belief and hope is that an active Third Age can
postpone the Fourth Age of weakness and death, squeezing that into the shortest
period possible.
Thirty years is a long time to feel bored, lonely, and
useless; it’s not nearly long enough for the members of the University of the
Third Age to do all the things they want to do. Barbara Taptiklis is a case in
point. A widow and grandmother, her life is still as busy and active as ever.
‘We dash to classes and then we meet up for coffee. I am learning French. I
never had the time before. People say you cannot learn a new language when
you’re old, but that’s nonsense. It just depends on your drive and willingness
to do it. The difference with u3A is that we feel we’re using our brains. We’re
not superior, not at all. We’re just extending our knowledge, starting again
really and it’s fun.’
(Credit Source: New Cambridge Advanced English Student's Book, Leo Jones, 1998)
A. Rewrite the following choosing
the appropriate meaning used in the above text. [5]
a) To
‘postpone’ is to ………………………… (call off/ put off/ withdraw).
b)The
word ‘squeezing’ means……………….(crowding/ extracting/ compressing).
c)The
word ‘living’ is closer to…….………….(way of life/ livelihood/ alive).
d)The
word ‘scramble’ is similar in meaning to the word…… ….(struggle/ clamber/
mess).
e)The
phrase ‘makes do’ means……………………….(survives/ manages/ falls apart).
a. The
period after earning a living is…………………………………
b. As
opposed to Shakespeare, the new university chronicles………………………
c.The
Third Age students…………………………. to occupy seats.
d. The
Third Age students are……………………………………...
e.The
Fourth Age is characterized by…………………………………….
D. Briefly answer these questions. [5]
a. What
does U3A stand for?
b. What
makes the usual Cambridge scene different?
c. What
is the peculiar thing about the students at the new Cambridge University?
d. What
is the hope regarding an active Third Age?
e. Do
you agree with Barbara Taptiklis’ view about learning a new language in old
age?Why?
4.
Read the following advertisement and answer the questions given below. [10]
THE WORLD BANK
Procurement
Specialist
The
World Bank Office, Kathmandu, Nepal seeks to recruit a dynamic professional as
Procurement Specialist for the World Bank’s South Asia Region’s Procurement
Service Unit (SARPS). This is a 2-year term appointment. The interested
candidate should have a Master’s Degree with a major in a relevant discipline
(e.g. Engineering, Law, Procurement, Finance, and Business Administration) plus
a minimum of five years of experience in procurement and implementation of
projects.
This
is a country office position in Nepal subject to local recruitment under the
Nepal compensation plan.
The
World Bank offers a locally competitive package.
Details
(vacancy # 120565) are available on the World Bank Careers website:
www.worldbank.org/careers.
All
applications must be submitted through this website. The World Bank Group is
committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, nationality, culture, and
educational background. Individuals with disabilities are equally encouraged to
apply.
Closing
date: August 19, 2019. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for an interview.
Working for a World
Free of Poverty
(Credit Source: https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2020/06/30/)
A. State whether the following
statements are True or False. [5]
a.
The vacant post is a permanent job position.
b.
A candidate with a BBA can apply.
c.
This
vacancy is exclusively for Nepali citizens.
d.
One can submit the application by post.
e.
The World Bank is not biased for or against
any gender.
B.Answer the following questions in
short. [5]
a. How long will be the tenure of the
incumbent?
b. Who is eligible for the advertised
post?
c. How can one apply for the vacant
post?
d. What is the remuneration offered
for the successful candidate?
e. What is the advertiser’s commitment?
5. Draft an invitation card for Mr.
and Mrs. Byanjankar’s daughter, Jyoti’s marriage with Mr. and Mrs. Shrestha’s
son, Sanjay at Radisson Hotel, Lazimpat, Kathmandu on September 19, 2019, 11
am. onwards. [5]
6. Prepare a brief news story using
the given outlines. [5]
In
109 years—Nepal—self-sufficient in electricity—no more power outage—start to
sell— “It was a Herculean task for me to discipline the NEA personnel and lobby
Nepal Government to honestly work for the growth and progress of the
undertaking.” said Kulman Ghising—deplorable status of the NEA— he took over
the undertaking—now the NEA has 1650MW — Upper Tamakoshi’s 456MW alone—Stop
import of 380MW from India— sell over 500MW power instead.
7. Write a dialogue between any two friends who are discussing the issue of Climate change and its impact on biodiversity. [6]
8.
Write a letter to the editor of a national daily discussing the issue of
climate change and its effects on the economy. [8]
9.
Reproduce the following sentences as indicated in brackets. [6]
a. Nobody
has me do anything against my will, …………………….? (Add a suitable question tag)
b. He laid
his life for the cause of freedom. (Into interrogative)
c. He has
already had his photograph taken. (Into negative)
d. I wish
I………................a millionaire. (Use the appropriate form of the verb ‘be’)
e.
She asked me whether I had taken my lunch on time the day before. (Into direct
speech)
f.
No one has ever stared at her. (Into passive voice)
10.
Choose the correct answers and complete the following passage. [5]
Nabina was ……… (a/ an/ the) only child. Her parents
were well-educated. ………………… (Despite/ Though/ However) being educated, they
hardly helped her with her studies. One day Nabina, along with her parents,
………. (was/ were/ have been) invited to a party by her friend who had topped the
class. At the party, Nabina congratulated her friend Sabina……… (for/ in/ on)
standing first in the class. Nobody was as happy as Sabina, ………? (weren’t they/
were they/ was she). Nabina asked Sabina how ……. (she had got/ she got/ did she
get) such a result. Sabina said, “………. (But for/ Unless/ If) my parents’ proper
guidance, I would not have been able to achieve this success.” This made her
parents ……… (to feel/ feel/ felt) happy. On the other hand, Nabina’s parents ……….
(are/ was/ were) ashamed of their failure to do so. “I wish I ……….(did not
neglect/ had not neglected/ should not have neglected) my daughter’s studies,”
regretted her father.
