English (Core)

Notice writing (about 50 words): A severe sea storm is likely to strike the East Coast states within the next 72 hours. You are Rohit/Reema, Director General, Coast Guard, Odisha. Draft a notice warning fishermen, tourists and the general public to stay away from the sea and take all safety measures. Add the relevant details.

Notice writing (about 50 words): You are Anuj/Anu, Secretary of the Resident Welfare Association, Saket Kunj, Saket, Navi Mumbai. Draft a notice for all residents telling them that the colony will have no water supply for two days because of essential repair and maintenance work. Give the dates and the hours when water tankers will be available in the RWA premises.

Formal invitation (about 50 words): You are Amita/Amit, Secretary of the Student Council, Holy Mother Convent School, Barakhamba Road, New Delhi. The school is holding a Diwali Mela. Write a formal letter of invitation to the Chairman of the school requesting him to inaugurate the Mela. Mention the day, date, time and venue.

Reply to an invitation (about 50 words): You are Vineeta/Vinay Sharma. Major J.P. Gautam has invited you to a dinner on 28th February at the Army Parade Grounds. Write a formal reply declining the invitation. Mention the day, date, time and venue.

Letter to the editor (120–150 words): A survey shows that people of all ages are attracted by advertisements — by big discounts and by the promises made by manufacturers. You are Carol/Philip. Write a letter to the editor of a national daily giving your views on how advertisements can mislead consumers and suggesting how buyers can make informed choices. Cues: read with care; inaccurate facts; exaggerated features; heavy discounts; products of unproven value; distracting visuals.

Job application (120–150 words): Mansi/Manu of Viewside Road, Kanpur, sees an advertisement from India Book House, Mall Road, Kanpur, for a Marketing Executive. Requirements: graduate in Marketing and Sales, 3–5 years' experience, fluency in English and the local language, basic computer skills; the job involves setting targets and timelines and supervising sales. Write a letter of application with biodata to the Personnel Manager.

Report writing (120–150 words): The primary wing of Global Public School held a special assembly to mark National Integration Day, with Mr. Gopal Chand, Secretary, Education Department, as Guest of Honour. You are Mira/Majid, student reporter. Write a report for the school magazine. Cues: welcome; Guest of Honour's speech; cultural items – play and dance; inauguration of an art exhibition; vote of thanks.

Article writing (120–150 words): After a Pollution Awareness Drive in your school, where students presented causes and remedies, you, Bela/Bharat, President of the Environment Club, made notes. Using them and your own ideas, write an article for an e-magazine. Notes – causes: vehicle exhaust, loss of green cover, high-rise construction, open sewage, poor drainage, industrial emissions; remedies: effort of every citizen, government measures, media's role in spreading awareness.

Extract from 'My Mother at Sixty-Six' (Kamala Das): the poet, at the airport, looks once more at her pale, tired mother, feels her childhood fear of losing her, but only says goodbye and keeps smiling.
(i) The poem captures the ____ of the narrator. I. happiness II. fear III. dismay IV. anxiety — (a) Only I (b) I and IV (c) II and IV (d) Only III
(ii) Which phrase in the extract shows that the poet was overcome by emotion and could say very little?
(iii) The word 'wan' here most nearly means (a) pale (b) old (c) unwell (d) anxious
(iv) Complete the analogy (do not repeat the example): Trees sprinting : personification :: ____ : simile
(v) Statement I: The poet accepts the reality of her mother's failing health and old age. Statement II: She is nostalgic about childhood days spent with her mother. (a) I is true, but II is false (b) Both I and II are true (c) II is the reason for I (d) II cannot be inferred from the extract
(vi) Explain the line about the poet only smiling again and again.

Extract from 'Keeping Quiet' (Pablo Neruda): the poet asks everyone to count to twelve and stay still, not speak any language or move their arms for a moment, imagining a rare moment free of hurry and machines when all would be together.
(i) The poet counts to twelve as a countdown to (a) lift arms (b) speak in different languages (c) stop all activities (d) be without engines
(ii) The poet appeals to people to I. keep quiet II. not move III. celebrate festivals IV. not hibernate — (a) Only II (b) I and II (c) Only I (d) I and IV
(iii) Which option shows the same poetic device as the line 'For once on the face of the Earth'? (a) lightning danced across the sky (b) greedy good doers (c) children spilling out of their homes (d) fight like cats and dogs
(iv) The benefits of 'Keeping Quiet' include I. harmony II. non-violence III. brotherhood IV. meditation — (a) I and II (b) II and IV (c) I, II and III (d) I, II, III and IV
(v) Complete: The poet suggests we will all be together when ____.
(vi) The word 'exotic' in the extract most nearly means (a) unique (b) luxurious (c) rich (d) illusive

Extract from 'Memories of Childhood' (part II, Bama – 'We Too are Human Beings'): an elder member of the family advises Bama that people of their community are denied dignity, and that only by studying hard and staying ahead can they throw off this humiliation and win people's respect.
(i) Who is the speaker and who is being addressed? (a) Appa; Bama (b) Bama; Amma (c) Bama; the Zamindar (d) Annan; Bama
(ii) Which words best describe the speaker? I. marginalized II. practical III. idealistic IV. curious V. aggressive — (a) I and II (b) III and IV (c) II and IV (d) IV and V
(iii) Complete: The treatment given to the community was ____.
(iv) Which option sums up the author's opinion about studying? (a) Childhood should be spent in experiential learning (b) Studying is better than playing (c) Studying is essential to the nation's development (d) Studying leads to social reforms and progress

Extract from 'On the Face of It' (Susan Hill): Derry tells Mr. Lamb that people who see his burnt face first think it is the ugliest thing and pity him, but underneath they are scared — and that he himself is scared when he sees his face in the mirror.
(i) Who is the speaker and who is he speaking to? (a) Derry; his mother (b) Derry; Mr. Lamb (c) Derry; ladies at the bus stop (d) Mother; Mr. Lamb
(ii) According to the speaker, how do people feel about him? (a) They are empathetic (b) They are repulsed by his appearance (c) They are annoyed by his presence (d) They dislike his association with neighbours
(iii) Complete: When I look in the mirror and see it, I'm afraid of me ____.
(iv) Explain, with reference to the extract, Derry's remark that people pity him but he is not 'poor'.

Extract from 'Poets and Pancakes' (Asokamitran): the author describes the make-up department of Gemini Studios, whose staff came from many regions of India, and who used huge amounts of 'pancake' and local lotions to turn ordinary faces into ugly, crimson monsters.
(i) How did the make-up department show national integration long before A.I.R. and Doordarshan? (a) Its staff came from many regions – Bengali, Maharashtrian, Kannadiga, Andhra, Madras Christian, Anglo-Burmese and Tamils (b) They recited slogans of national integration (c) They studied make-up techniques of various states (d) Their clients came from various states
(ii) Pick a word from the extract: front : rear :: ravishing : ____
(iii) Fill in: The make-up artists could turn ____ looking people into ____ looking men and women. (a) ordinary; pleasant (b) ugly; good (c) pleasant; ugly (d) monstrous; beautiful
(iv) The word 'pancake' in the extract most nearly means (a) brand name (b) lemon cake (c) savoury (d) preservative
(v) Which statement is true of the make-up department? (a) Actors welcomed the artists (b) The artists were poorly paid (c) Their work was not appreciated (d) The department exhibited national integration
(vi) Bring out the irony in the extract.

Extract from 'The Interview' (Part II – Mukund Padmanabhan's interview with Umberto Eco): Eco explains that life has many small empty gaps, which he calls interstices – for example while waiting for a visitor's lift to come up – and that he works in these gaps, even writing an article in that time.
(i) Umberto Eco was (a) a professor of semiotics, an author (b) an interviewer, a novelist (c) a journalist, a professor (d) a publisher, an author
(ii) Give a reason that supports Eco's claim that our lives have many empty spaces.
(iii) Rewrite 'I call them interstices', replacing 'interstices' with what it means.
(iv) Statement I: Eco works even in the spare time between activities. Statement II: Eco does not like to be interviewed. (a) I can be inferred, but II cannot (b) I cannot be inferred, but II can (c) I and II are true (d) II is the reason for I
(v) Replace the underlined word with its antonym from the extract: Eco does not waste time; he writes an article while he is 'proceeding' to the elevator.
(vi) Eco's views on his way of working are based on ____ (a) facts (b) an interview (c) his blog (d) hypothesis

The Enemy: Show how Dr. Sadao is caught between his duty as a doctor and his loyalty as a patriotic Japanese citizen.

Journey to the End of the Earth: How has human civilisation affected the environment? Comment with reference to the lesson.

Indigo: 'Civil disobedience had triumphed for the first time in modern India.' When and how did this happen?

Poets and Pancakes: The author uses gentle humour to expose human weaknesses. Give examples and show how this makes the lesson engaging.