SAM PLE PAPER 11

SECTION C – LITERATURE TEXTBOOK (40 Marks)

6. Read the given extracts and answer any one of the two questions. (5 marks)
A. (The Thief’s Story)
I found myself in the maidan and sat down on a bench. The night was chilly—it was early November—and a
light drizzle added to my discomfort. Soon it was raining quite heavily. My shirt and pyjamas stuck to my
skin, and a cold wind blew the rain across my face. I went back to the bazaar and sat down in the shelter of
the clock tower. The clock showed midnight. I felt for the notes. They were damp from the rain. Anil’s money.
In the morning he would probably have given me two or three rupees to go to the cinema, but now I had it
all.
i. What effect does the situation, as described in the lines below, have on the narrator?
 (A) relieves
 (B) frustrates
 (C) saddens
 (D) comforts
ii. How is Hari feeling in the given extract?
iii. State any one point for the following: What was Hari Singh thinking while sitting in the shelter of clock
tower?
iv. What study was done by Hari Singh? (Answer in about 40 words)
B. (Glimpses of India)
“Marriage gifts are meaningless without the sweet bread known as the ‘bol’ just as a party or a feast loses
its charm without bread. Not enough can be said to show how important a baker can be for a village. The
lady of the house must prepare sandwiches on the occasion of her daughter’s engagement. Cakes and ‘bor’
are a must for Christmas as well as other festivals. Thus, the presence of the baker in the village is
absolutely essential.”
i. Breads are a very important part of the culture of the people in Goa. Which of the given options does not
corroborate the statement?
 (A) Bols are central to marriage celebrations and festivals.
 (B) Festivals especially Christmas are incomplete without cakes.
 (C) Every house has their own furnace in Goa.
 (D) Special sandwiches are made on a daughter’s engagement.
ii. What makes the marriage gifts meaningless? (Answer in about 40 words)
iii. Fill in the blank: The word ‘essential’ indicates that the baker’s role in the village was _____
(indispensable/optional).
iv. What is the traditional name of bakers in Goa and what made them different from other people in
appearance?

7. Read the given extracts and answer any one of the two questions. (5 marks)
A. (Dust of Snow)
The way a crow
Shook down on me
The dust of snow
From a hemlock tree
Has given my heart
A change of mood
And saved some part
Of a day I had rued.
i. Fill the blank: The poet was out on the cold snowy day when the dust of snow fell on him and changed his
sad _____.
ii. The poetic device used in the line “And saved some part” is Alliteration. What effect does the poet wish
to create?
 (A) Emphasis
 (B) Comparison
 (C) Humour
 (D) Personification
iii. Of the many symbols the hemlock tree represents, state the one that Frost most likely drew upon for this
poem.
iv. Comment on the poet’s use of language in these lines.
B. (The Ball Poem)
What is the boy now, who has lost his ball,
What, what is he to do? I saw it go
Merrily bouncing, down the street, and then
Merrily over—there it is in the water!
i. In what way does the language used in this poem challenge traditional ideas of what poetry should be?
ii. What is the significance of the lack of punctuation after “What is the boy now, who has lost his ball,” and
the dash in “Merrily over—there it is in the water!”? (Answer in about 40 words)
iii. Complete the sentence: The poet seems to have indicated the merry bouncing of the ball to _____.
 (A) create a sense of rhythm in these lines
 (B) support the happiness of the experience of playing
 (C) contrast with the dejected feeling of the boy
 (D) indicate the cheerful mood of the boy
iv. Identify the use and purpose of repetitive sounds in the given lines of the poem.

8. Answer any four of the following five questions in about 40–50 words each. (12 marks)
i. What made the speaker term it as “an easy flight”? Did his prediction come true? (Two Stories About
Flying)
ii. Why does Chubukov call back Lomov even after driving him out of his house? (The Proposal)
iii. What message does the poet want to give through the poem Amanda?
iv. The poem The Trees presents a conflict between Man and Nature. Discuss.
v. How did ‘Bodhi Tree’ get its name? (The Sermon at Benares)

9. Answer any two of the following three questions in about 40–50 words each. (6 marks)
i. Who is ‘the artist’ in the story Bholi? What is ‘the masterpiece’?
ii. What made the thief come back to Anil? (The Thief’s Story)
iii. What was the ‘frightful disaster’? How did it change the Loisels’ lives? (The Necklace)

10. Answer any one of the following two questions in about 100–120 words. (6 marks)
i. “Faith can move mountains.” How can it be proven in the case of Lencho and Mandela (A Letter to God
and Nelson Mandela – Long Walk to Freedom)? Prepare a set of dialogues between Lencho and Mandela to
elaborate the point.
 Lencho: My faith in God will help me come out of this situation.
 Mandela: Faith has to be complete and unwavering …
ii. A teacher can influence a student’s character to grow and evolve in every way. Explain with reference to
Bholi and Diary of Anne Frank.

11. Answer any one of the following two questions in about 100–120 words. (6 marks)
i. The story The Necklace reveals that vanity is an evil. It may bring short-term joy but leads to ruin. Assess
how vanity may lead to ruin with reference to the character of Matilda.
ii. Concern and love for children can compel parents to take impulsive decisions that may not be good for
them. Explain with reference to The Proposal.

SAMPLE PAPER 12

SECTION C – LITERATURE TEXTBOOK (40 Marks)

6. Read the given extracts and answer any one of the two questions. (5 marks)
A. (A Triumph of Surgery)
All the while Mrs. Pumphrey hovered anxiously in the background, ringing a dozen times a day for the latest
bulletins. I dodged the questions about whether his cushions were being turned regularly or his correct coat
worn according to the weather, but I was able to tell her that the little fellow was out of danger and
convalescing rapidly. The word ‘convalescing’ seemed to do something to Mrs. Pumphrey. She started to
bring round fresh eggs, two dozen at a time, to build up Tricki’s strength. For a happy period, my partners
and I had two each for breakfast, but when the bottles of wine began to arrive, the real possibilities of the
situation began to dawn on the household.
i. State any one inference about Mrs. Pumphrey from the given context: Mrs. Pumphrey ‘hovered anxiously
in the background’.
ii. What effect does the news of Tricki’s recovery have on Mrs. Pumphrey?
  (A) comforts
 (B) worries
 (C) excites
 (D) frustrates
iii. The word convalescing seemed to do something to Mrs. Pumphrey. Elaborate in about 40 words
what her conduct portrays about her.
iv. Which phrase would correctly substitute ducked in the given sentence?
The batsman at the crease ducked and avoided a bouncer that came at him with lightning speed.

B. (A Letter to God)
“Now we’re really going to get some water, woman.” The woman who was preparing supper, replied, “Yes,
God willing.” The older boys were working in the field, while the smaller ones were playing near the house
until the woman called to them all, “Come for dinner.” It was during the meal that, just as Lencho had
predicted, big drops of rain began to fall. In the northeast, huge mountains of clouds could be seen
approaching. The air was fresh and sweet. The man went out for no other reason than to have the pleasure
of feeling the rain on his body, and when he returned, he exclaimed, “These aren’t raindrops falling from the
sky, they are new coins. The big drops are ten cent pieces and the little ones are fives.”
i. “These aren’t raindrops falling from the sky, they are new coins.” Which of the following uses the same
figure of speech?
 (A) She looked as fresh as morning dew.
 (B) Waves heaved heavily.
 (C) Glow worms are tiny lights floating around in the forest.
 (D) Break, break, break On thy cold gray stones, O Sea!
ii. How does Lencho’s mood progress along with the progress of the rain? (Answer in about 40 words)
iii. Fill in the blank: The word ‘pleasure’ indicates that Lencho enjoyed the rain _____
(deliberately/immensely).
iv. In the statement “The man went out for no other reason than to have the pleasure of feeling the rain on
his body”, replace the underlined part with one word.

7. Read the given extracts and answer any one of the two questions. (5 marks)
A. (Dust of Snow)
The way a crow
Shook down on me
The dust of snow
From a hemlock tree
Has given my heart
A change of mood
And saved some part
Of a day I had rued.
i. Fill in the blank: _____ figure of speech is used in the phrase dust of snow.
ii. What does the poet want to convey through the poem?
iii. Which of the following best describes the use of synecdoche by the poet?
 (A) A gun is only use
 (B) Has given my heart, A change of mood
 (C) And saved some part, Of a day I had rued
 (D) A crow, Shook down on me
iv. Comment on the poet’s use of symbolism in these lines.

B. (The Trees)
All night the roots work
to disengage themselves from the cracks
in the veranda floor.
The leaves strain toward the glass small
twigs stiff with exertion
long-cramped boughs shuffling under the roof
like newly discharged patients
half-dazed, moving
to the clinic doors.
i. What do the roots work upon all night?
ii. What does the poet mean by clinic doors? (Answer in about 40 words)
iii. Complete the sentence: The small twigs are stiff because _____.
 (A) they are made by nature this way
 (B) they are afraid of the owner
 (C) they are straining to break the glass
 (D) they are relaxing
iv. What does the poet compare the larger branches to?

8. Answer any four of the following five questions in about 40–50 words each. (12 marks)
i. The role of the crow is vital in transforming the poet’s vision. Justify. (Dust of Snow)
ii. God helps those who help themselves. Substantiate with reference to Black Aeroplane (Two Stories About
Flying).
iii. Can writing a diary be a way to vent out anxiety? Explain with reference to Anne’s habit. (From the
Diary of Anne Frank)
iv. What terrified the pirate? Who killed him and how? (The Tale of Custard the Dragon)
v. “Will you please look at me when I’m speaking to you?” Who is speaking to Amanda? (Amanda!)

9. Answer any two of the following three questions in about 40–50 words each. (6 marks)
i. How can you say that Horace Danby was good and respectable but not completely honest? (A Question of
Trust)
ii. Richard’s project on the twelve tiny gold spots on a monarch pupa was highly valuable in two ways. List
the two ways. (The Making of a Scientist)
iii. How does Think Tank compare the Earth and Earthlings with Mars and Martians? (The Book That Saved
the Earth)

10. Answer any one of the following two questions in about 100–120 words. (6 marks)
i. Imagine you are the air hostess of the flight on which Maxwell flew with his otter. Narrate the events on
board the plane. (Mijbil the Otter)
ii. Though the play revolves around three people, Russian society emerges as an important character through
their thoughts and interactions. Imagine yourself as a historian invited to speak about nineteenth-century
upper-class Russian society. How might you describe it? Support your answer with instances. (The
Proposal)

11. Answer any one of the following two questions in about 100–120 words. (6 marks)
i. Who was Anil? Give his character sketch. (The Thief’s Story)
ii. Sense of insecurity and not understanding true value can lead to destruction. What was the cause of
Matilda’s ruin? How could she have avoided it? (The Necklace)

SAMPLE PAPER 13
SECTION C – LITERATURE TEXTBOOK (40 Marks)
6. Read the given extracts and answer any one of the two questions. (5 marks)
A. (A Question of Trust)
But Horace found that the flowers were hindering him in his work. He buried his face in his handkerchief.
Then he heard a voice say from the doorway, “What is it? A cold or hay fever?” Before he could think,
Horace said, “Hay fever,” and found himself sneezing again. The voice went on, “You can cure it with a
special treatment, you know, if you find out just what plant gives you the disease. I think you’d better see a
doctor, if you’re serious about your work. I heard you from the top of the house just now.”
i. State any one inference about Danby from the given context: But Horace found that the flowers were
hindering him in his work.
ii. What effect does the conversation, as described in the lines below, have on Horace?
Before he could think, Horace said, “Hay fever,” and found himself sneezing again.
 (A) embarrasses
 (B) amuses
 (C) confuses
 (D) comforts
iii. What advice did the lady give Horace regarding his hay fever? Was she really interested in his health?
Elaborate in about 40 words.
iv. Which phrase would correctly substitute buried as used in the line: He buried his face in his
handkerchief.

B. (Glimpses of India)
Our elders are often heard reminiscing nostalgically about those good old Portuguese days, the Portuguese
and their famous loaves of bread. Those eaters of loaves might have vanished, but the makers are still there.
We still have amongst us the mixers, the moulders and those who bake the loaves. Those age-old, time-tested
furnaces still exist. The fire in the furnaces has not yet been extinguished. The thud and jingle of the
traditional baker’s bamboo, heralding his arrival in the morning, can still be heard in some places. Maybe
the father is not alive, but the son still carries on the family profession. These bakers are, even today, known
as pader in Goa.
i. What are elders often heard reminiscing nostalgically?
ii. The narrator says the furnaces were ‘time-tested’ because—
 (A) they had been thoroughly tested each time before being used.
 (B) they had proved the test of time and were working well.
 (C) they had been tested by modern-day experts.
 (D) they had the power to withstand inexperienced usage.
iii. What does “the fire in the furnaces has not yet been extinguished” imply?
iv. In the line “Those eaters of loaves might have vanished, but the makers are still there,” what is the tone
of the narrator and why? (Answer in about 40 words)
v. Fill in the blank: The word nostalgically indicates that the elders remembered the past _____
(fondly/critically).

7. Read the given extracts and answer any one of the two questions. (5 marks)
A. (The Ball Poem)
Now he senses first responsibility
In a world of possessions. People will take
Balls, balls will be lost always, little boy.
And no one buys a ball back. Money is external.
i. Complete the following suitably: In the given lines, the phrase “money is external” indicates that _____.
ii. The poet has used a poetic device in the line “Balls, balls will be lost always.” What effect does this
create?
 (A) emphasis
 (B) comparison
 (C) rhyme
 (D) humour
iii. “He senses first responsibility.” What responsibility is referred to here?
iv. What does the poet mean by the expression “Money is external”?
B. (Fog)
The fog comes
on little cat feet.
It sits looking
over harbour and city
on silent haunches
and then moves on.
i. The fog arrives and departs _____.
 (A) by announcing its arrival
 (B) silently
 (C) loudly
 (D) both (A) and (C)
ii. Which image does the poet give to the fog? What are the similarities between that image and fog?
(Answer in about 40 words)
iii. Identify the figure of speech prominent in the poem Fog.
iv. What is the fog doing?

8. Answer any four of the following five questions in about 40–50 words each. (12 marks)
i. Why did the postmaster want to help Lencho? How did he do that? (A Letter to God)
ii. What arguments did Anne give in her essay titled A Chatterbox? (From the Diary of Anne Frank)
iii. What was a source of unending joy for Valli? What was her strongest desire? (Madam Rides the Bus)
iv. What is the theme of the poem How to Tell Wild Animals?
v. What changes can be seen in the moon during the course of the poem The Trees?

9. Answer any two of the following three questions in about 40–50 words each. (6 marks)
i. Why was it difficult for Hari Singh to rob Anil? (The Thief’s Story)
ii. What lesson did Ebright learn when in the seventh grade he entered a country science fair? (The Making
of a Scientist)
iii. Why did Bishamber’s marriage with Bholi not take place? (Bholi)

10. Answer any one of the following two questions in about 100–120 words. (6 marks)
i. “Water must be kept on the move and made to do things; when static it is wasted and provoking.” Do you
think this statement was true in the case of Mijbil, the otter? (Mijbil the Otter)
ii. Imagine Anne Gregory grows up to be a motivational speaker. As Anne Gregory, write a short speech on
the importance of loving oneself.
 Begin like this:
Dear friends,
The importance of believing in oneself can never be overstated. It becomes most important,
therefore, to love oneself. I learnt this, as a young teen, the day a poet pointed out that … (For Anne
Gregory)
11. Answer any one of the following two questions in about 100–120 words. (6 marks)
i. Readers believe that Griffin was a man without a conscience. You have a class discussion on why our
conscience plays a vital role in shaping our character. Present a summary of your views. (Footprints Without
Feet)
ii. Attempt a character sketch of Great and Mighty Think-Tank. (The Book that Saved the Earth)

SAMPLE PAPER 14
SECTION C – LITERATURE TEXTBOOK (40 Marks)
6. Read the given extracts and answer any one of the two questions. (5 marks)
A. (Bholi)
He came with a big party of relations with him for the wedding. A brass-band playing a popular tune from
an Indian film headed the procession, with the bridegroom riding a decorated horse. Ramlal was overjoyed
to see such pomp and splendor. He had never dreamt that his.
i. The given extract depicts an Indian wedding about to happen. Whose wedding is it? Does the wedding
take place? Elaborate in about 40 words with reference to the extract.
ii. What had Ramlal never dreamt?
iii. What effect does the wedding procession, as described in the lines below, have on Ramlal?
Ramlal was overjoyed to see such pomp and splendor.
Choose the most suitable option.
 (A) surprises
 (B) excites
 (C) confuses
 (D) worries
iv. Which phrase would correctly substitute splendor in the given sentence?
Ramlal was overjoyed to see such pomp and splendor.

B. (A Letter to God)
“Now we’re really going to get some water, woman.” The woman who was preparing supper replied, “Yes,
God willing”. The older boys were working in the field, while the smaller ones were playing near the house
until the woman called to them all, “Come for dinner”. It was during the meal that, just as Lencho had
predicted, big drops of rain began to fall. In the north-east, huge mountains of clouds could be seen
approaching. The air was fresh and sweet. The man went out for no other reason than to have the pleasure
of feeling the rain on his body, and when he returned, he exclaimed, “These aren’t raindrops falling from the
sky, they are new coins. The big drops are ten cent pieces and the little ones are fives.”
i. “These aren’t raindrops falling from the sky, they are new coins…” In which of the following examples
has the same figure of speech been used?
 (A) She looked as fresh as morning dew.
 (B) Waves heaved heavily.
  (C) Glow worms are tiny lights floating around in the forest.
 (D) Break, break, break On thy cold gray stones, O Sea!
ii. How does Lencho’s mood progress along with the progress of the rain? (Answer in about 40 words)
iii. Fill in the blank with the correct word from the bracket.
The word pleasure in the line “The man went out for no other reason than to have the pleasure of feeling the
rain on his body” indicates that Lencho found the rain _____ (delightful / dreadful).
iv. In the statement “The man went out for no other reason than to have the pleasure of feeling the rain on
his body” use one word to replace the underlined part (for no other reason than to have the pleasure of).

7. Read the given extracts and answer any one of the two questions. (5 marks)
A. (Fire and Ice)
Some say the world will end in fire
Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favour fire
i. Fill the blank with one word. The poetic device used in the line “Some say the world will end in fire” is
_____.
ii. What is the speaker’s mood when he talks of “what I’ve tasted of desire”?
iii. State which of the terms given below can be applied to the statement taking into account the poet’s belief
system. The above stanza ponders over whether the world will end due to fire or ice.
 (A) It is a hypothesis.
 (B) It is an irrefutable belief.
 (C) It is a debatable issue.
 (D) It is a scientific theory.
iv. Comment on the poet’s use of language in these lines.

B. (A Tiger in the Zoo)

He should be lurking in shadow,
Sliding through long grass
Near the water hole
Where plump deer pass.
i. According to the extract, the poet wishes for the tiger to be ‘sliding’ through the foliage as this would —
 (A) assist in keeping the prey unsuspecting of the predator’s sound.
 (B) aid in camouflaging the presence of the predator before it rushes in.
 (C) help the predator pounce on the prey comfortably without getting tired.
 (D) support the predator’s vision as it eyes its prey.
ii. What would the tiger do in the forest? (Answer in about 40 words)
iii. Complete the following suitably. ‘Shadow’ here refers to the shadow of _____.
iv. It is clear that metaphor is the poetic device used for ‘pads of velvet’. Give evidence.

8. Answer any four of the following five questions, in about 40–50 words each. (12 marks)
i. Why did the postmaster want to help Lencho? And how did he do that? (A Letter to God)
ii. What arguments did Anne give in her essay titled A Chatterbox? (From the Diary of Anne Frank)
iii. What was a source of unending joy for Valli? What was her strongest desire? (Madam Rides the Bus)
iv. What is the theme of the poem How to Tell Wild Animals?
v. What changes can be seen in the moon during the course of the poem The Trees?

9. Answer any two of the following three questions, in about 40–50 words each. (6 marks)
i. How did the invisible man first become visible? (Footprints without Feet)
ii. Why did Ebright lose interest in tagging butterflies? (The Making of a Scientist)
iii. Why did Hari Singh change his name every month? (The Thief’s Story)

10. Answer any one of the following two questions, in about 100–120 words. (6 marks)
i. Carl Sandburg and Carolyn Wells happen to meet each other during a conference and discuss the treatment
of animals in their respective poems (Fog & How to Tell Wild Animals). Frame a conversation between
them, in your own words. (You may begin:
Carl: Hi, Carolyn, I really appreciated the poem How to Tell Wild Animals composed by you.
Carolyn: Same here, I think it is mutual admiration… )
ii. “How to Tell Wild Animals” and “The Tale of Custard the Dragon” both deal with ferocious animals from
different perspectives. Explain how humour appears in both poems even when the subject is fearsome.

11. Answer any one of the following two questions, in about 100–120 words. (6 marks)
i. Appearances are often deceptive; hence a book should not be judged by its cover. Analyse this in detail
with reference to the character Ausable of The Midnight Visitor.
ii. “Intentions do not always justify actions.” Analyse this quote with reference to A Question of Trust.

SAMPLE PAPER 15
SECTION C – LITERATURE TEXTBOOK (40 Marks)
6. Read the given extracts and answer any one of the two questions. (5 marks)
A. (Bholi)
He came with a big party of relations with him for the wedding. A brass-band playing a popular tune from
an Indian film headed the procession, with the bridegroom riding a decorated horse. Ramlal was overjoyed
to see such pomp and splendor. He had never dreamt that his.
i. The given extract depicts an Indian wedding about to happen. Whose wedding is it? Does the wedding
take place? Elaborate in about 40 words with reference to the extract.
ii. What had Ramlal never dreamt?
iii. What effect does the wedding procession, as described in the lines below, have on Ramlal?
Ramlal was overjoyed to see such pomp and splendor.
Choose the most suitable option.
 (A) surprises
 (B) excites
 (C) confuses
 (D) worries
iv. Which phrase would correctly substitute splendor in the given sentence?
Ramlal was overjoyed to see such pomp and splendor.

B. (A Letter to God)
“Now we’re really going to get some water, woman.” The woman who was preparing supper replied, “Yes,
God willing”. The older boys were working in the field, while the smaller ones were playing near the house
until the woman called to them all, “Come for dinner”. It was during the meal that, just as Lencho had
predicted, big drops of rain began to fall. In the north-east, huge mountains of clouds could be seen
approaching. The air was fresh and sweet. The man went out for no other reason than to have the pleasure
of feeling the rain on his body, and when he returned, he exclaimed, “These aren’t raindrops falling from the
sky, they are new coins. The big drops are ten cent pieces and the little ones are fives.”
i. “These aren’t raindrops falling from the sky, they are new coins…” In which of the following examples
has the same figure of speech been used?
 (A) She looked as fresh as morning dew.
 (B) Waves heaved heavily.
 (C) Glow worms are tiny lights floating around in the forest.
 (D) Break, break, break On thy cold gray stones, O Sea!
ii. How does Lencho’s mood progress along with the progress of the rain? (Answer in about 40 words)
iii. Fill in the blank with the correct word from the bracket.
The word pleasure in the line “The man went out for no other reason than to have the pleasure of feeling the
rain on his body” indicates that Lencho found the rain _____ (delightful / dreadful).
iv. In the statement “The man went out for no other reason than to have the pleasure of feeling the rain on
his body” use one word to replace the underlined part (for no other reason than to have the pleasure of).

7. Read the given extracts and answer any one of the two questions. (5 marks)
A. (Fire and Ice)
Some say the world will end in fire
Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favour fire
i. Fill the blank with one word. The poetic device used in the line “Some say the world will end in fire” is
_____.
ii. What is the speaker’s mood when he talks of “what I’ve tasted of desire”?
iii. State which of the terms given below can be applied to the statement taking into account the poet’s belief
system. The above stanza ponders over whether the world will end due to fire or ice.
 (A) It is a hypothesis.
 (B) It is an irrefutable belief.
 (C) It is a debatable issue.
 (D) It is a scientific theory.
iv. Comment on the poet’s use of language in these lines.

B. (A Tiger in the Zoo)

He should be lurking in shadow,
Sliding through long grass
Near the water hole
Where plump deer pass.
i. According to the extract, the poet wishes for the tiger to be ‘sliding’ through the foliage as this would —
 (A) assist in keeping the prey unsuspecting of the predator’s sound.
 (B) aid in camouflaging the presence of the predator before it rushes in.
 (C) help the predator pounce on the prey comfortably without getting tired.
 (D) support the predator’s vision as it eyes its prey.
ii. What would the tiger do in the forest? (Answer in about 40 words)
iii. Complete the following suitably. ‘Shadow’ here refers to the shadow of _____.
iv. It is clear that metaphor is the poetic device used for ‘pads of velvet’. Give evidence.

8. Answer any four of the following five questions, in about 40–50 words each. (12 marks)
i. Why did the postmaster want to help Lencho? And how did he do that? (A Letter to God)
ii. What arguments did Anne give in her essay titled A Chatterbox? (From the Diary of Anne Frank)
iii. What was a source of unending joy for Valli? What was her strongest desire? (Madam Rides the Bus)
iv. What is the theme of the poem How to Tell Wild Animals?
v. What changes can be seen in the moon during the course of the poem The Trees?

9. Answer any two of the following three questions, in about 40–50 words each. (6 marks)
i. How did the invisible man first become visible? (Footprints without Feet)
ii. Why did Ebright lose interest in tagging butterflies? (The Making of a Scientist)
iii. Why did Hari Singh change his name every month? (The Thief’s Story)

10. Answer any one of the following two questions, in about 100–120 words. (6 marks)
i. Carl Sandburg and Carolyn Wells happen to meet each other during a conference and discuss the treatment
of animals in their respective poems (Fog & How to Tell Wild Animals). Frame a conversation between
them, in your own words. (You may begin:
Carl: Hi, Carolyn, I really appreciated the poem How to Tell Wild Animals composed by you.
Carolyn: Same here, I think it is mutual admiration… )
ii. “How to Tell Wild Animals” and “The Tale of Custard the Dragon” both deal with ferocious animals from
different perspectives. Explain how humour appears in both poems even when the subject is fearsome.

11. Answer any one of the following two questions, in about 100–120 words. (6 marks)
i. Appearances are often deceptive; hence a book should not be judged by its cover. Analyse this in detail
with reference to the character Ausable of The Midnight Visitor.
ii. “Intentions do not always justify actions.” Analyse this quote with reference to A Question of Trust.
SAMPLE PAPER 16
6. Read the given extracts and answer any one of the two questions. (5 marks)
A. (Two Stories About Flying)
The moon was coming up in the east, behind me, and stars were shining in the clear sky above me. There
wasn’t a cloud in the sky. I was happy to be alone high up above the sleeping countryside.
i. What is the significance of not a single cloud in the sky?
ii. What was the pilot flying?
iii. How did the pilot feel after calling the Paris Control the first time? (Answer in about 40 words.)
iv. What effect does the scenery, as described in the lines below, have on the narrator?
I was happy to be alone high up above the sleeping countryside.
Choose the most suitable option:
 (A) excites
 (B) comforts
 (C) saddens
 (D) frightens

B. (The Sermon at Benares)

Poor Kisa Gotami now went from house to house, and the people pitied her and said, “Here is mustard-
seed; take it!” But when she asked, “Did a son or daughter, a father or mother, die in your family?” they
answered her, “Alas! the living are few, but the dead are many. Do not remind us of our deepest grief”. And
there was no house but some beloved one had died in it.
i. Kisa Gotami’s joy was short-lived because _____.
 (A) she was not assured any help by her neighbours
 (B) no physician could revive her son
 (C) she could not get mustard seed from each house
 (D) she realised that death could not be averted
ii. In sending Kisa Gotami from house to house, what was Buddha trying to teach her? (Answer in about 40
words.)
iii. Fill in the blank with the correct word from the bracket. The word ‘grief’ in the line “Do not remind us
of our deepest grief” indicates that the people were filled with _____ (sorrow / joy).
iv. Is it correct to say that had Buddha been alive today, he could have become either a counsellor or a
psychologist? Why?

7. Read the given extracts and answer any one of the two questions. (5 marks)
A. (A Tiger in the Zoo)
He stalks in his vivid stripes
The few steps of his cage,
On pads of velvet quiet,
In his quiet rage.
He should be lurking in shadow,
Sliding through long grass
Near the water hole
Where plump deer pass.
i. Fill the blank with one word. The tiger is in a ‘quiet rage’ because his _____ has been curtailed.
ii. The meaning of the line ‘in his quiet rage’ is _____.
 (A) The tiger is hungry
 (B) The tiger is sleepy
 (C) The tiger is unhappy and controlling his anger
 (D) The tiger is lazy
iii. How does the tiger show his presence?
iv. Why does a tiger express his rage quietly? (Answer in about 40 words.)
v. Complete suitably: ‘Shadow’ here refers to the shadow of _____.
vi. It is clear that metaphor is the poetic device used for ‘pads of velvet’. Give evidence.

8. Read the given extract and answer the questions. (5 marks)

(The Tale of Custard the Dragon)
“Ink trickled down to the bottom of the household,
And little mouse Blink strategically mouse-holed.
But up jumped Custard, snorting like an engine,
Clashed his tail like irons in a dungeon,
With a clatter and a clank and a jangling squirm,
He went at the pirate like a robin at a worm.”
i. What is the poet’s purpose in using onomatopoeic words in the extract?
ii. What does the poet want to convey through these lines? (Answer in about 40 words.)
iii. Select the appropriate option that supports the idea in the extract.
 (A) You get in life what you have the courage to ask for.
 (B) Fear has a large shadow, but he himself is strong.
  (C) Fear makes strangers of people who would be friends.
 (D) Courage doesn’t mean you don’t get afraid. Courage means you don’t let fear stop you.
iv. Complete the following suitably. The extract mentions ‘irons’ in dungeons. According to the extract,
‘irons’ refers to _____.

9. Answer any four of the following five questions in about 40–50 words each. (12 marks)
i. The poet in For Anne Gregory conveys that we should give importance to inner beauty rather than
physical appearance. Explain with reference to the poem.
ii. What do the roots do all night? (The Trees)
iii. Is bread-making still popular in Goa? How do you know? (Glimpses of India)
iv. What do the ‘Hemlock tree’ and ‘Crow’ represent? What does the dust of snow metaphorically stand for?
(Dust of Snow)
v. How does Natalya react when she comes to know that Lomov had come to propose for her hand? (The
Proposal)

10. Answer any two of the following three questions in about 40–50 words each. (6 marks)
i. What changes came into the life of the Loisels after the necklace was lost? (The Necklace)
ii. Scientists contribute to making the world a better place. Griffin is an antithesis to this statement. Justify.
(Footprints Without Feet)
iii. Elaborate on the quality of the book that saved the planet Earth. (The Book That Saved the Earth)

11. Answer any one of the following two questions in about 100–120 words. (6 marks)
i. Long answer (100–120 words): Valli and Anne Frank were independent souls who wished to be what
they are. Imagine they meet in town and have a conversation about their passion and curiosity. Write this
conversation using your understanding of From the Diary of Anne Frank and Madam Rides the Bus.
(You may begin:)
Anne: Hey, how are you here?
Valli: Just an adventure to town.
ii. Long answer (100–120 words): “Mandela mentions that every man has twin obligations. The first is to
his family — parents, wife and children; the second obligation is to his people, his community and his
country.” How is the first obligation well performed by the mother seagull in the story The First Flight?

12. Answer any one of the following two questions in about 100–120 words. (6 marks)
i. Horace Danby represents people who adopt wrong ways to fulfil their wishes. What values would you
recommend such people should imbibe to reform themselves? (A Question of Trust)
ii. With reference to The Midnight Visitor, do you think presence of mind should be developed? To what
advantage? Elaborate, highlighting the characteristics of Ausable.
SAMPLE PAPER 17
6. Read the given extracts and answer any one of the two questions. (5 marks)
A. (Two Stories About Flying – Black Aeroplane)
“He knows that I am lost”, I thought. “He’s trying to help me.” He turned his aeroplane slowly to the north,
in front of my Dakota, so that it would be easier for me to follow him. I was very happy to go behind the
strange aeroplane like an obedient child. After half an hour the strange black aeroplane was still there in
front of me in the clouds. Now, there was only enough fuel in the old Dakota’s last tank to fly for five or ten
minutes more. I was starting to feel frightened again. But then he started to go down and I followed through
the storm.
i. What effect does the presence of the strange black aeroplane, as described in the lines below, have on the
narrator?
“I was very happy to go behind the strange aeroplane like an obedient child.”
Choose the most suitable option:
 (A) reassures
 (B) frightens
 (C) confuses
 (D) frustrates
ii. The author says, “But then he started to go down and I followed through the storm.” What happened after
this? (Answer in about 40 words.)
iii. Which figure of speech has been used in the given statement: “I was very happy to go behind the strange
aeroplane like an obedient child”?
iv. If this extract were to be filmed, what would be required to bring out the dramatic effect of this moment?

B. (The Proposal)
NATALYA: No, you’re simply joking, or making fun of me. What a surprise! We’ve had the land for nearly
three hundred years, and then we’re suddenly told that it isn’t ours! Ivan Vassilevitch, I can hardly believe
my own ears. These Meadows aren’t worth much to me. They only come to five dessiatins, and are worth
perhaps 300 roubles, but I can’t stand unfairness. Say what you will, I can’t stand unfairness.
LOMOV: Hear me out, I implore you! The peasants of your father’s grandfather, as I have already had the
honour of explaining to you, used to make bricks for my aunt’s grandmother, wishing to make them a
pleasant …
i. Which of the facts given below is the most accurate explanation to complete the statement: Natalya told
Lomov that he was simply joking or making fun of her because _____.
 (A) Chubukovs’ land extended to Burnt Marsh which included Oxen Meadows
 (B) he claimed that Oxen Meadows was his ancestral property
 (C) he declared that his land extended to Burnt Marsh
 (D) Oxen Meadows had belonged to Natalya’s mother for generations
ii. Why were the Meadows not worth fighting or arguing over between the neighbours? (Answer in about 40
words.)
iii. Fill in the blank with the correct word from the bracket. The word ‘unfairness’ in the line “Say what you
will, I can’t stand unfairness” indicates that Natalya felt _____ (wronged / grateful).
iv. On the basis of your understanding of the extract, which common character traits are exhibited by both
Natalya and Lomov?
7. Read the given extracts and answer any one of the two questions. (5 marks)
A. (The Trees)
“Where no bird could sit
no insect hide
no sun bury its feet in shadow
the forest that was empty all these nights
will be full of trees by morning.”
i. Fill the blank with one word. When the speaker rattles off her thoughts in a run-on manner, she is using
this figure of speech _____.
ii. What is the symbolism in the ‘forest’ and why is the forest empty?
iii. Complete the statement with reference to the extract: The poet uses the trees as a symbol of _____.
 (A) the emancipation of women from their confinement
 (B) the fight of people for their civil rights
 (C) the emancipation of trees from the room
 (D) the fight of people for their political rights
iv. Comment on the poet’s use of poetic devices in these lines.

B. (For Anne Gregory)

“Never shall a young man,
Thrown into despair
By those great honey-coloured
Ramparts at your my;
Love you for yourself alone
And not your yellow hair.”
i. Complete the following suitably: Contextual meaning of the word ‘rampart’ is _____.
ii. Why does Anne want to change the colour of her hair? (Answer in about 40 words.)
iii. Choose the phrase that best represents “love you for yourself alone”:
 (A) one-sided love
 (B) mutual love
 (C) unconditional love
 (D) blind love
iv. What does the poet suggest about the young man’s love in For Anne Gregory?

8. Answer any four of the following five questions in about 40–50 words each. (12 marks)
i. “Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run.” How do you think this statement would work for the young
seagull? (Two Stories About Flying)
ii. Discuss what Frost wants to convey through the poem Fire and Ice.
iii. Valli’s venture to the town brings an alarm to the parents. Elucidate. (Madam Rides the Bus)
iv. Give the character sketch of the dragon. (The Tale of Custard the Dragon)
v. Chubukov’s attempt to appease Lomov is no strange act in context with today’s scenario where marriage
of Indian daughters is concerned. Comment. (The Proposal)

9. Answer any two of the following three questions in about 40–50 words each. (6 marks)
i. Do you think Mrs. Pumphrey’s overindulgence would not let Tricki lead a healthy lifestyle? Give reason
for your answer. (A Triumph of Surgery)
ii. Fowler was disappointed to see Ausable. Validate the statement. (The Midnight Visitor)
iii. All might have been well, had Griffin woken up on time in the store. Elucidate the statement. (Footprints
Without Feet)

10. Answer any one of the following two questions in about 100–120 words. (6 marks)
i. Imagine that you met Rajvir and discussed with him more about tea plantation. Develop the conversation.
(Glimpses of India)
ii. One should understand that human beings are mortal and no one can escape death. Revelations made by
Lord Buddha teach us so. Share two key opinions from what you learnt from the lesson The Sermon at
Benares.

11. Answer any one of the following two questions in about 100–120 words. (6 marks)
i. Hari Singh’s change of heart surprised everyone and a seasoned thief like him was forced to change his
ways. Show your acquaintance with the statement analysing the chapter A Question of Trust.
ii. Hari Singh (A Thief’s Story) and the lady in red (A Question of Trust) were alike. Validate the statement
by giving valid reasons.

SAMPLE PAPER 18
6. Read the given extracts and answer any one of the two questions given below. (5 Marks)
A. (From the Diary of Anne Frank)
Our entire class is quaking in its boots. The reason, of course, is the forthcoming meeting in which the
teachers decide who’ll move up to the next form and who’ll be kept back. Half the class is making bets. G.N.
and I laugh ourselves silly at the two boys behind us, C.N. and Jacques, who have staked their entire
holiday savings on their bet. From morning to night, it’s “You’re going to pass”, “No, I’m not”, “Yes, you
are”, “No, I’m not”. Even G.’s pleading glances and my angry outbursts can’t calm them down. If you ask
me, there are so many dummies that about a quarter of the class should be kept back, but teachers are the
most unpredictable creatures on earth.
i. What does the following imply?
C.N. and Jacques staking their entire holiday savings on their bet.
ii. Anne says that there were so many dummies in the class that about a quarter of them shouldn’t be
promoted. Is she being rude or brutally honest? Evaluate in about 40 words.
iii. What effect does the upcoming meeting, as described in the lines below, have on the class?
“Our entire class is quaking in its boots. The reason, of course, is the forthcoming meeting in which the
teachers decide who’ll move up to the next form and who’ll be kept back.”
Choose the most suitable option:
 (A) amuses
 (B) excites
 (C) frightens
 (D) confuses
iv. Which emotion is portrayed in the expression “quaking in their boots”?

B. (The Necklace)
She was not convinced. ‘No’, she replied, “there is nothing more humiliating than to have a shabby air in
the midst of rich women.” Then her husband cried out, “How stupid we are! Go and find your friend
Madame Forestier and ask her to lend you her jewels.” She uttered a cry of joy. ‘It is true!’ she said. “I had
not thought of that.”
i. Why did she need the jewels?
 (A) To go to a party of rich people
 (B) For a photoshoot
 (C) To get a replica made
 (D) For wearing them at home
ii. What did Matilda’s husband suggest her?
iii. Fill in the blank with the correct word from the bracket.
The word ‘joy’ in the line “She uttered a cry of joy” indicates that the woman felt _____ (elated /
disappointed).
iv. What kind of a person is Mme Loisel and why is she always unhappy? Answer in about 40 words.

7. Read the given extracts and answer any one of the two questions given below. (5 Marks)
A. (Amanda!)
I am an orphan, roaming the street,
I pattern soft dust with my hushed, bare feet.
The silence is golden, the freedom is sweet.
Don’t eat that chocolate, Amanda!
Remember your acne, Amanda!
Will you please look at me when I’m speaking to you.
i. Fill the blank with one word.
The extract shows that the speaker, Amanda’s mother, is _____ about Amanda’s acne and cares for her.
ii. How does the use of metaphor impact this extract?
iii. Why is Amanda imagining being an orphan? Answer in about 40 words.
iv. What is the poet estimating by making silence golden?
  (A) The worth of silence
 (B) The worth of beauty
 (C) The value of independence
 (D) The worth of privacy

B. (A Tiger in the Zoo)

He stalks in his vivid stripes
The few steps of his cage
On pads of velvet quiet
In his quiet rage
He should be lurking in shadow
Sliding through long grass
Near the water hole where plump deer pass.
i. Complete the following suitably.
The poetic device used in the first line of the given extract is personification because the poet _____.
ii. What is the significance of the use of the phrase “quiet rage” to describe the mood of the tiger in the
poem, and how does this word choice contribute to the overall mood and tone of the poem? (Answer in
about 40 words.)
iii. Complete the sentence with the appropriate option.
According to the extract, the poet wishes for the tiger to be ‘sliding’ through the foliage as this would _____.
 (A) keep the prey unsuspecting of the predator’s footsteps
 (B) aid in camouflaging the presence of the predator before it rushes in
 (C) help the predator pounce on the prey comfortably without getting tired
 (D) support the predator’s vision as it eyes its prey
iv. Where should the tiger be lurking according to the poem “A Tiger in the Zoo”?

8. Answer any four of the following five questions in about 40–50 words each. (12 Marks)
i. Why did the woman in the control centre give a strange look to the narrator? (Two Stories About Flying)
ii. When did the baker collect his bill usually? Where was his account recorded? (Glimpses of India)
iii. How can one obtain peace of mind after a dear one’s death? (The Sermon at Benares)
iv. How is divine love different from human love? (For Anne Gregory)
v. The ending of the poem indicates a celebration of victory. Discuss. (The Trees)

9. Answer any two of the following three questions in about 40–50 words each. (6 Marks)
i. Why was the narrator shocked at Tricki’s appearance? (A Triumph of Surgery)
ii. Who was Griffin? What did he want to prove through his repeated experiments? (Footprints without Feet)
iii. What subject did Richard Ebright choose for next year’s science fair? (The Making of a Scientist)
10. Answer any one of the following two questions in about 100–120 words. (6 Marks)
i. How does the character of Lencho inspire us to have faith in God? How did he react to the help offered by
the post office employees? What was his reaction towards them? (A Letter to God)
ii. Who was the real hero in The Tale of Custard the Dragon? How did he save the other animals? Was he
proud of his bravery? Justify your answer with instances from the poem.

11. Answer any one of the following two questions in about 100–120 words. (6 Marks)
i. Ausable knew Fowler was very disappointed on seeing him. What did Ausable say to him and how did he
console him? (The Midnight Visitor)
ii. Bholi has multiple handicaps. She is a girl, she has pock-marks, she stammers. How can we change the
social attitudes towards the differently abled? (Bholi)

SAMPLE PAPER 19
6. Read the given extracts and answer any one of the two questions given below. (5 Marks)
A. (Footprints Without Feet)
The village constable was secretly sent for. Instead of waiting for the constable, Mrs. Hall went to the
scientist, who had somehow mysteriously appeared from his empty bedroom. “I want to know what you have
been doing to my chair upstairs,” she demanded. “And I want to know how it is you came out of an empty
room and how you entered a locked room.” The scientist was always quick-tempered; now he became
furious. “You don’t understand who or what I am!” he shouted. “Very well — I’ll show you.”
i. Why did Mrs. Hall feel that the room was haunted by spirits?
ii. What effect does Mrs. Hall’s confrontation, as described in the lines below, have on the scientist?
“The scientist was always quick-tempered; now he became furious. ‘You don’t understand who or what I
am!’ he shouted.”
Choose the most suitable option:
 (A) confuses
 (B) frustrates
 (C) amuses
 (D) enrages
iii. Why was the village constable secretly sent for? (Answer in about 40 words.)
iv. What did the scientist do on becoming furious?

B. (A Letter to God)
The following Sunday Lencho came a bit earlier than usual to ask if there was a letter for him. It was the
postman himself who handed the letter to him while the postmaster, experiencing the contentment of a man
who has performed a good deed, looked on from his office. Lencho showed not the slightest surprise on
seeing the money; such was his confidence – but he became angry when he counted the money. God could
not have made a mistake, nor could he have denied Lencho what he had requested.
i. According to the extract, what was the belief of Lencho?
  (A) God couldn’t make a mistake in sending the money.
 (B) God couldn’t deny what he had requested.
 (C) Money was stolen.
 (D) Both (A) and (B)
ii. Why did Lencho go a bit early to the post office the following Sunday?
iii. Fill in the blank with the correct word from the bracket.
The word ‘confidence’ in the line “Lencho showed not the slightest surprise on seeing the money; such was
his confidence” indicates that Lencho was _____ (sure / doubtful) about receiving the money.
iv. How much money did Lencho receive?

7. Read the given extracts and answer any one of the two questions given below. (5 Marks)
A. (Dust of Snow)
The way a crow
Shook down on me
The dust of snow
From a hemlock tree
Has given my heart
A change of mood
And saved some part
Of a day I had rued.
i. Fill the blank with one word.
The poet was out on the cold snowy day when the dust of snow fell on him and changed his _____ mood.
ii. What is ‘dust of snow’?
iii. The crow and hemlock are usually used as negative references in literature. How is this different in this
poem?
iv. How does the use of “a crow” and “a hemlock tree” impact this extract?
 (A) It forces the beauty of nature
 (B) Represents prosperity
 (C) Sets a gloomy atmosphere
 (D) Tells about happy times

B. (For Anne Gregory)

I heard an old religious man
But yesternight declare
That he had found a text to prove
That only God, my dear,
Could love you for yourself alone
And not your yellow hair.
i. The above stanza strongly defies the idea of _____.
  (A) internal qualities
 (B) external beauty
 (C) spiritual self
 (D) divinity
ii. What does the poet mean by the word ‘yesternight’ in the extract?
iii. What wisdom was imparted to the poet and by whom? (Answer in about 40 words.)
iv. Complete the following suitably:
The religious man found it in a religious text that _____.

8. Answer any four of the following five questions in about 40–50 words each. (12 Marks)
i. Nelson Mandela speaks of twin obligations. What are they? (Nelson Mandela – Long Walk to Freedom)
ii. What does Anne write in the diary about herself and her sister? (From the Diary of Anne Frank)
iii. How did the Buddha teach Kisa Gotami the truth of life? (The Sermon at Benares)
iv. How did Belinda, Ink, Blink and Mustard react on seeing the pirate? (The Tale of Custard the Dragon)
v. The tiger in the poem A Tiger in the Zoo has some obvious limitations. Describe them in contrast to its
natural habitat.

9. Answer any two of the following three questions in about 40–50 words each. (6 Marks)
i. Why did Hari Singh think that Anil’s job was queer? (The Thief’s Story)
ii. Why did Horace Danby feel sure of his success in that year’s robbery? (A Question of Trust)
iii. Which character traits of Bholi have had an everlasting impression on you? Why? (Bholi)

10. Answer any one of the following two questions in about 100–120 words. (6 Marks)
i. One is known by one’s roots. The people of Coorg are also recognized for their values and traits in spite of
being thousands of miles away from their places of origin – Greece and Arabia. Describe their values and
traits. (Glimpses of India)
ii. If the Buddha were to summarise the life lessons of The Ball Poem, what would that sermon be? Think
and create this address for people of your age. (The Ball Poem)

11. Answer any one of the following two questions in about 100–120 words. (6 Marks)
i. Not to accept the limitations of our life makes us unhappy in our lives. Describe how Matilda Loisel
suffers in her life because she does not accept that she is not a rich person. (The Necklace)
ii. Give a brief character sketch of Fowler. What are the values reflected in his character? (The Midnight
Visitor)
SAMPLE PAPER 20
SECTION C – LITERATURE TEXTBOOK
6. Read the given extracts and answer any one of the two questions. (5 marks)
A. (Bholi)
The lady teacher who was in the class was saying something to the girls but Bholi could understand
nothing. She looked at the pictures on the wall. The colours fascinated her—the horse was brown just like
the horse on which the Tehsildar had come to visit their village; the goat was black like the goat of their
neighbour; the parrot was green like the parrots she had seen in the mango orchard; and the cow was just
like their Lakshmi. And suddenly Bholi noticed that the teacher was standing by her side, smiling at her.
i. State any one inference about Bholi from the given context.
ii. What effect do the pictures on the wall have on Bholi?
 (A) frightens
 (B) saddens
 (C) fascinates
 (D) confuses
iii. “And suddenly Bholi noticed that the teacher was standing by her side, smiling at her”—this
changed something in Bholi. Elaborate in about 40 words, with reference to the extract.
iv. Which word or phrase would correctly substitute orchard as given in the extract?

B. (A Question of Trust)
A small dog was lying in the kitchen. It stirred, made a noise, and moved its tail in a friendly way. “All right,
Sherry,” Horace said as he passed. All you had to do to keep dogs quiet was to call them by their right
names, and show them love.
i. Fill in the blank with the correct word from the bracket.
The word ‘friendly’ in the line “It stirred, made a noise, and moved its tail in a friendly way” indicates that
the dog was _____ (affectionate/aggressive) towards Horace.
ii. Which word in the passage means the same as cordial?
 (A) Friendly
 (B) Hurting
 (C) Ignorant
 (D) Distant
iii. Whom did Horace Danby see in the kitchen? How did they greet each other? What tact did
Horace apply there? (Answer in about 40 words)
iv. The kitchen referred to is located in _____.
7. Read the given extracts and answer any one of the two questions. (5 marks)
A. (The Tale of Custard the Dragon)
But up jumped Custard, snorting like an engine,
Clashed his tail like irons in a dungeon,
With a clatter and a clank and a jangling squirm
He went at the pirate like a robin at a worm.
i. What is the poet’s purpose of using the onomatopoeic words given in the extract?
 (A) To emphasise the might and boldness of Custard.
 (B) To introduce the character Custard to the readers.
 (C) To impress upon the readers that Custard was ready.
 (D) To make Custard bold enough to face the situation.
ii. Mention what the poet wants to convey through these lines. (Answer in about 40 words)
iii. What does Custard do to the pirate?
iv. Fill in the blank with one word.
Custard’s comparison to an engine shows a literary device of _____.

B. (The Trees)
My head is full of whispers
which tomorrow will be silent.
Listen. The glass is breaking.
The trees are stumbling forward
into the night. Winds rush to meet them.
The moon is broken like a mirror,
its pieces flash now in the crown
of the tallest oak.
i. Complete the following suitably:
In the line, “Listen. The glass is breaking,” the poet is addressing the readers to ____.
ii. What is the significance of the use of the words whispers and glass in the poem, and how does this word
choice contribute to the overall mood and tone? (Answer in about 40 words)
iii. Which of the following is the correct match between the poetic devices and their definitions?
1. The moon is broken like a mirror – _____
2. The glass is breaking – _____
3. The moon is broken like a mirror, its pieces flash now in the crown of the tallest oak – _____
4. The trees are stumbling forward – _____
o (A) 1-(D), 2-(C), 3-(B), 4-(A)

o (B) 1-(B), 2-(C), 3-(D), 4-(A)

o (C) 1-(D), 2-(B), 3-(C), 4-(A)

o (D) 1-(A), 2-(B), 3-(C), 4-(D)

iv. What happens to the moon in the poem The Trees?

8. Answer any four of the following five questions in about 40–50 words each. (12 marks)
i. What does the poet want to convey through the poem Dust of Snow?
ii. What was the young seagull’s experience during his first flight? (Two Stories About Flying)
iii. How does Rajvir describe the tea-garden at Dhekiabari? (Glimpses of India)
iv. Why does Amanda wish to be an orphan? (Amanda!)
v. What justification did Lomov give to Natalya and Chubukov to prove that he is the rightful owner of
Meadows? (The Proposal)

9. Answer any two of the following three questions in about 40–50 words each. (6 marks)
i. Why did Hari Singh decide to come back to Anil? (The Thief’s Story)
ii. Why did Griffin not get a suitable house to live in? (Footprints without Feet)
iii. Which project did Ebright submit in his eighth grade? Why did he win? (The Making of a Scientist)

10. Answer any one of the following two questions in about 100–120 words. (6 marks)
i. Life is about losses and wins. A man is the one who learns to take them in his stride and stand up brave in
the face of every situation. Summarise this quote with reference to The Ball Poem and Sermon at Benaras.
Prepare a set of dialogues between the boy and Kisa to elaborate the point.
 Kisa: It is difficult to hold yourself and impossible to accept losing a loved one.
 The Boy: Yes! True, …
ii. Whenever we want to achieve something, difficulties always come in our way. Justify this using examples
from Valli’s desire to go to the city alone (Madam Rides the Bus) and the young boy in The Ball Poem.
iii. If you had to use the message with reference to both Madam Rides the Bus and The Ball Poem, how
would you elaborate it? How is it relevant to both?

11. Answer any one of the following two questions in about 100–120 words. (6 marks)
i. “But to be a really big man, a clever and respected man was something else.” Hari Singh finally accepted
the importance of education and honest living. Explain with reference to The Thief’s Story.
ii. The Midnight Visitor highlights the theme that wisdom is more powerful than other weapons. Comment
with reference to the story.