Secondary School
Term Examination Tested Sample Paper
English (Reading and Writing)
Time: 3 Hours Grade: X
Key Guidelines: Candidates are required to answer
the questions in their own words as far as practicable. Scribbling and
overwriting are strictly prohibited, and marks will be forfeited for untidy work. Statements/questions for true/false, matching, sentence
completion, cloze test, multiple choice, reordering, and grammar items MUST be
copied and the correct options should be distinctly underlined while answering.
Remember, answers without the correct question numbers are defunct and shall
not be graded. The figures in the margin indicate full marks.
1. Read the following text and do the
activities that follow. [5]
Leave this Chanting and Singing
Leave this chanting, singing, and telling of beads!
Whom
dost thou worship in this lonely dark corner of a temple with doors all shut?
Open
thine eyes and see thy God is not before thee!
He
is there where the tiller is tilling the hard ground
And
where the pathmaker is breaking stones.
He
is with them in sun and in shower,
And
his garment is covered with dust.
Put
off thy holy mantle and even like him come down on the dusty soil!
Deliverance?
Where
is this deliverance to be found?
Our
master himself has joyfully taken upon him the bonds of creation;
He
is bound with us all forever.
Come
out of thy meditations and leave aside thy flowers and incense!
What
harm is there if thy clothes become tattered and stained?
Meet him and stand by him in toil and in sweat of thy brow.
-Rabindranath Tagore
A. Complete the following
sentences choosing the best option from the given alternatives.
[5]
a.
The poem personifies ………………..in the poem.
i. devotees of God ii. common folk iii. God iv. work
b.
According to the speaker, God is not found……….
i. in temples ii. hard work iii. in sweat of brow iv. in the toil of common folk
c.
The speaker questions the concept of …………….
i. religion ii. humanity iii. salvation iv. reincarnation
d.
The speaker advises us not to be…………………………
i. indolent ii. proud iii. proactive iv.
diligent
e. The poem is
addressed to …………
i. God ii. the tiller iii. the pathmaker iii. seekers of God
2. Read the following text and do the
activities that follow. [10]
I recently
experienced a parent’s worst nightmare. One evening my nine-week-old baby
developed an extremely high fever. We rushed to our local community hospital
and were admitted through the emergency department to the pediatric unit. We
were discharged three days later. Thanks to the skilled doctors and nurses who
cared for our precious little one. While our infant’s care and health outcomes
were fantastic, our experience was less than satisfactory.
During my hospital
stay, many staff took the opportunity to bad-mouth their colleagues to me when
we were alone. I am not sure if this occurred because I looked rather
trustworthy or if they wanted to let me know they were more competent than their colleagues
were. The emergency nurses complained about the doctors' orders and the delay
in response of the pediatric nurses. The pediatric nurses complained about the
emergency room nurses! Inability to get an intravenous line. The pediatrician
complained about orders made by the emergency doctor. Once admitted, our pediatric
nurse complained about the pediatricians' approach to the care of my baby. Then
the pediatrician complained about the pediatric nurse’s lack of ability to
obtain a urine sample.
At every opportunity,
the parent in me wanted to scream at the top of my lungs, “Can everyone stop
complaining about each other and look after my sick baby?” From my vantage
point, it seemed that everyone was so focused on his or her own needs and
skills that they appeared completely insensible that there was a sick baby who
needed their help. In fact, it was downright disappointing. This did nothing
other than state to me that egos were taking priority over my daughter’s care.
I cannot tell you how often nurses told me, “I am so busy today.” I am not
sure if they were telling me to excuse the fact that my daughter’s medications
were not on time or maybe they were simply looking for support. Every time I
heard this statement, my head played my own version that sounded more like
“Your daughter is not a priority.”
Do not use patients
or their families as your personal confidante. I was in that hospital room to
care for my infant and see her condition improve, not to hear that staff were
not equipped to see this goal through. Patients and their families need to know
they are your priority and your job is to care for them in an effort to restore
health. Please take time to tell them this, and share positive news with them as if
you are happy too because I know you are.
A. Rewrite the following
events putting them in the correct order. [5]
a.
The
writer advised the hospital staff to prioritize patients in their care.
b.
The
writer revealed a lack of harmonious relationships among the hospital staff.
c.
The
writer’s child had developed a high fever and was rushed to a hospital.
d.
The
writer expressed her dissatisfaction with the service provided in the hospital.
e.
The
writer recalled a horrible experience she had recently had.
B. Answer the
following questions in short. [5]
a.
How
did the writer feel about her stay at a local hospital?
b.
What
did the nurses in the emergency department complain about?
c.
How
do you find dealing with the hospital staff on the basis of your reading of the
text? Why?
d.
What
prompted the writer to write this text?
e.
Do
you think the hospital staff will take her advice seriously? Why/ why not?
f.
3. Read the following text and do the
activities that follow. 15
A new study
published in the journal Science shows definitive evidence of organic matter on
the surface of Mars. NASA’s nuclear-powered rover Curiosity collected the data.
It confirms earlier findings that the Red Planet once contained carbon-based
compounds. These compounds – also called organic molecules – are essential
ingredients for life as scientists understand it.
The organic
molecules were found in Mars’s Gale Crater, a large area that may have been a
watery lake over three billion years ago. The rover encountered traces of the
molecule in rocks extracted from the area. The rocks also contain sulfur, which
scientists speculate helped preserve the organics even when the rocks were
exposed to the harsh radiation on the surface of the planet.
Scientists are
quick to state that the presence of these organic molecules is not sufficient
evidence for ancient life on Mars, as non-living processes could have formed
the molecules. But it’s still one of the most astonishing discoveries, which
could lead to future revelations. Especially when one considers the other
startling find, that Curiosity uncovered around five years ago.
The rover analyses
the air around it periodically, and in 2014, it found the air contained another
of the most basic organic molecules and a key ingredient of natural gas:
methane. One of the characteristics of methane is that it only survives a few
hundred years. This means that something, somewhere on Mars, is replenishing
the supply. According to NASA, Mars emits thousands of tons of methane at a
time. The level of methane rises and falls at seasonal intervals in the year,
almost as if the planet is breathing it.
NASA suspects the
methane comes from deep under the surface of the planet. The variations in
temperature on the surface of Mars cause the molecule to flow upwards at higher
or lower levels. For example, in the Martian winter, the gas could be trapped in
underground icy crystals. These crystals, called clathrates, melt in the summer
and release the gas. However, the source of the methane is still a complete
mystery.
The world of
astrobiology considers both of these studies as historical milestones.
According to this information, Mars is not a dead planet. On the contrary, it
is quite active and may be changing and becoming more habitable.
Of course, this
means further research is necessary. Scientists say they need to send new
equipment to Mars, equipment that can measure the air and soil with more
precision. There are already missions underway. The European Space Agency’s
ExoMars ship lands in 2020 and will be able to drill into the ground on Mars to
analyze what it finds. Additionally, NASA is sending another Mars rover in the
same year to collect samples of Martian soil and return them to Earth.
The possibility of
life on Mars has fascinated humans for generations. It has been the subject of
endless science-fiction novels and films. Are we alone in the universe or have
there been other life forms within our Solar System? If the current missions to
the Red Planet continue, it looks as if we may discover the answer very soon.
A. From the text, write
the words as indicated in the brackets. [5]
a.
contradicts
(antonym)
b.
restoring
(Synonym)
c.
drops
(antonym)
d.
the
scientific study of life on other planets (Vocabulary)
e.
accuracy
(Synonym)
B. Copy the following
statements and state whether they are True or False or Not Given. [5]
a.
This
is not the first study to suggest that life existed on Mars in the past.
b.
A
scientific vehicle found very small elements of an organic molecule within
water extracted from the planet.
c.
It
is believed that this conclusively proves that there was once life on the
planet.
d.
Methane
is a natural molecule that is a sign of life
e.
All
organic molecules have a limited lifespan.
C. Answer the
following questions in short. [5]
a.
What
are carbon-based compounds?
b.
What,
according to scientists, helped preserve the organics when the rocks were
exposed to the radiation on the surface of the planet?
c.
How
does the rover work?
d.
Why,
according to the information in the text, is Mars not a dead planet?
e.
Do
you think governments should spend money on space exploration? Why/why not?
4. Using the clues below
write a set of rules and regulations for the visitors of a national park
between five and eight points. [5]
Opening time---entry
fees---only 500 tickets/day---jeep safari---jungle walk--- littering
prohibited---no smoking
5. Using the given outlines write a short news report in
not less than 125 words with a suitable headline. [5]
Biratnagar|: 2 killed---27---missing---major
flooding and landslides---monsoon rains eastern Nepal---a worker at Hewa River
in Sankhuwasabha district was found dead---18 staff--Hewa Khola Hydropower
project--- missing--Saturday evening----local official---In Taplejung district
--- 1 died and 3 members same family swept away in a landslide---"Two
bodies have been recovered, but 29 people are missing," said Rishi Ram
Kandel, Nepali police—forecasters warned further heavy rain for days ---issued
alerts over river water levels.
6.
Write a letter to the Human Resource Manager of Microsoft Corporation, One
Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA-98052-6399, USA applying for the post of Marketing
Officer giving your details in not less than 150 words. [6]
7.
Brainstorm, plan, and write an essay on Lifestyle and Health in five or
more short paragraphs words. [8]
8. Reproduce the following sentences as
instructed in the brackets. [6]
a. The explosion at the airport
destroyed property worth millions of dollars, ...............? (Add a question
tag.)
b. She hardly ever tells lies. (Change into an
affirmative sentence.)
c. I paid $1500 to
purchase an iPhone 14 Pro. (Change into How
question)
d. Romeo believed that
Juliet …………… the poison out of frustration. (Use the correct tense of the verb 'take')
e. The bank is launching
a new product. (Change into passive
voice.)
f. He said, “Let’s play
inside as it’s raining outside.” (Change into indirect speech)
9. Complete the story by choosing the correct option from the brackets. (5)
Sir Arthur
Conan Doyle’s "A Case of Identity" ……1………. (is, was, were, be) a
detective story featuring the ………2………… (deceitful, legendary, idiosyncratic,
infamous) detective Sherlock Holmes ………3…….. (who, whom, what, which)
is known for his investigation
ingenuity across three continents. The
story revolves around Miss Mary Sutherland, a beautiful woman looking for
Holmes' help in solving the mysterious disappearance of her fiancé, Mr. Hosmer
Angel.
During the course
of his inquiry, Holmes said, “Miss Sutherland, please tell me more about your
connection with Mr. Angel. I'm intrigued by this mystery surrounding your
engagement.” Miss Sutherland replied ………………4……………. (it was quite an unusual
relationship that Mr. Angel was a very secretive man who insisted on keeping
our engagement a secret from everyone, it is quite an unusual relationship that
Mr. Angel is a very secretive man who insists on keeping our engagement a
secret from everyone, it had been quite an unusual relationship that Mr. Angel
was a very secretive man who had insisted on keeping our engagement a secret
from everyone, it would be quite an unusual relationship that Mr. Angel was a
very secretive man who insisted on keeping our engagement a secret from
everyone).
Mary Sutherland relates her unusual
relationship with Mr. Angel, a mysterious man who had insisted on keeping their
engagement a secret. She reveals that Mr. Angel would often disappear for long
periods, leaving her worried and confused. …………5………… (Eventually, Initially,
At the end, Concludingly) on the day they were supposed to be married, he
vanished completely.
Holmes, intrigued by……6……... (a,
the, an, X) case, digs into the details. He discovers that Mr. Angel never
truly existed. It turns out that Mr. Angel was a fabricated identity created by
Miss Sutherland's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, to prevent her from marrying, only
to enjoy her property.
Mr. Windibank keeps ………7………. Miss
Sutherland (been deceiving, deceived, was deceiving, deceiving) for
years, posing as Mr. Angel through correspondence while maintaining a secret
double life. His object was to retain control ………8………. (under, at, upon, over) of her inheritance, as her stepfather would lose financial support once she
married.
Holmes' tireless intervention gets the
truth exposed, and Miss Sutherland is devastated to learn the extent of her
stepfather's deceit, ………9……. (doesn’t he, isn’t it, wasn’t he, doesn’t it)
Holmes advises her to sever all ties with Mr. Windibank and move forward with
her life.
"A Case of
Identity" highlights Holmes' keen observational skills and his ability to
unravel complex deceptions. It serves as a reminder of the hidden motives and
manipulations that can occur within seemingly ordinary relationships. She would
have never learned the evil intention of Mr. Windibank ………10………… (if Ms.
Sutherland hadn’t sought if Ms. Sutherland didn’t seek if Ms. Sutherland
doesn’t seek if Ms. Sutherland would have sought) Holmes’ assistance)
***
