Grammar and Creative Writing Skills English Core - Grammar and Creative Writing Skills

Computers are capable of doing extremely complicated work in all branches of learning. They can solve the most complex mathematical problems or put thousands of unrelated data in order. These machines can be put to varied uses. For instance, they can provide information on the best way to prevent traffic accidents.

They work accurately and at high speed. They save research workers’ years of hard work. This whole process by which machines can be used to work for us has been called ‘automation’. In future, automation may enable human beings to enjoy more leisure than they do today.

The coming of automation is bound to have important social consequences. Some years ago, an expert on automation, Sir Leon Bagrit pointed out that it was a mistake to believe that these machines could think. There is no possibility that human beings will be controlled by machines. Though computers are capable of learning from their mistakes and improving on their performances, they need detailed instructions from human beings to be able to operate.

They can never lead independent lives or rule the world by taking decisions of their own. Sir Leon said that in future, computers would be developed which would be small enough to be carried in one’s pocket. Ordinary people would then be able to use them to obtain valuable information. Computers could be plugged into a wireless network and can be used like radios. For instance, people going on holidays, could be informed about weather conditions.

Car drivers can be given an alternative route, when there is a traffic jam. It will also be possible to make tiny translating machines. This will enable people, who do not share a common language, to talk to each other without any difficulty or to read foreign publications. It is impossible to assess the importance of a machine of this sort, for many international misunderstandings are caused simply due to our failure to understand each other. Computers will also be used in ordinary public hospitals. By providing a machine with a patient’s system, a doctor will be able to diagnose the nature of his illness. Similarly, machines could be used to keep a check on a patient’s health record and bring it up- to-date.

Doctors will, therefore, have immediate access to many facts which will help them in their work. Bookkeepers and accountants too could be relieved of dull clerical work. For the tedious task of compiling, and checking lists or figures could be done entirely by machines. Computers are the most efficient servant man has ever had and there is no limit to the ways they can be used to improve our lives.
A. Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the following questions by choosing the most appropriate option.  
1.Tick the correct option :
(A) There is no possibility that human beings can be on their own with no need of machines.
(B) Human beings are likely to be controlled by machines one day.
(C) There is no possibility that human beings will ever be controlled by machines.
(D) Machines can replace humans.

 2.Tick the correct option :
(A) Computers can solve only certain mathematical problems.
(B) Computers can’t solve any mathematical problems.
(C) Computers can solve the most complex mathematical problems.
(D) Computers can solve only simple mathematical problems.

 3.Computers can be used :
(A) to find treatment for the patient’s illness.
(B) to prescribe a medicine for the patient.
(C) to diagnose the nature of patient’s illness.
(D) to keep the patient in good mood.

4.Many international misunderstandings are caused due to our failure to understand
(A) ourselves.
(B) other nations.
(C) our friends.
(D) each other.

5.The antonym of the word ‘complicated’ is ……………….
(A) difficult
(B) simple
(C) easy
(D) strange

6.The verb form of the word ‘alternative’ is ……………….
(A) alternate
(B) alter
(C) late
(D) elate

B. Complete the following sentences as briefly as possible : (Do any 4) 
1. Computers are capable of doing extremely complicated work in all branches of ………………..
2. The whole process by which machines can be used to work for us has been called ………………..
3. Computers can be plugged into ………………..
4. Find the synonyms of the following words from the passage : (i) results (ii) monotonous
5. Bookkeepers and accountants feel relieved of dull clerical work while assessing the ……………….

1. Life on our planet earth began with the sea; it is the birth place of life on the earth. The earth is the only planet of our solar system so far known which contains plenty of water and this water has made our earth colourful, pulsating with life of a vast variety.

2. At present sea occupies about 70 per cent of the earth’s surface. In the southern hemisphere it occupies more area than that in the northern. About 97% of the total water on the surface of the earth is found in the seas and the remaining three per cent, which is generally fresh, in lakes, rivers, ponds, etc.

3. Sea has given food and shelter to countless creatures. It is a potential source of protein. In 1900 the world was only 150 crore, now it is more than 560 crore and is increasing at a very fast rate. As a result, there is a terrible hunger in many parts of the world. In Africa, Asia and South America, millions of people do not get enough to eat. Many die of malnutrition. Sea, if used scientifically and judiciously, can meet most of our demands.

4. Plankton or algae mostly constitutes the plant life. Like plant plankton there are also animal plankton; the smallest living creature in the sea. These animal plankton feed on plant plankton and small fish. Thus, there is an unbroken chain of life in the sea.

5. Arctic and Antarctic seas abound in plankton and algae and so in fish also. Blue whales, the largest living creatures of the world, are also found here in great number.

6. Some countries have developed sea farming to a great extent. The Japanese and the Hawaiians relish eating sea plants but it is not so in other countries though some use them to feed their cattle or as manure in their fields. The fact is that sea plants contain rich nutrients not found in other vegetarian food. It is good that even in our country some scientists have developed some recipes for curries, jams, etc. to be made from algae.

7. But we must remember one thing that sea is not to be exploited immediately. For example, man in his greed has hunted whales and some other sea creatures so recklessly that some of their species have either become extinct or are on the verge of extinction. Now, nations of the world have realised their folly and have taken some joint decisions. For example, one such decision is that the size of the holes in fishing nets should be big enough to let baby fish escape through. Otherwise, killing of large quantities of very young fish would have an adverse effect on the fish population. In the same way another decision is for the protection of the blue whales.

(A) Answer the following questions by choosing the most appropriate options:

(1) Write out the correct option:
(i) Sky is the birth place of life on the earth.
(ii) Moon is the birth place of life on the earth.
(iii) Sea is the birth place of life on the earth.
(iv) Land is the birth place of life on the earth.

(2) Plankton or algae mostly constitutes:
(i) the wild life
(ii) the human life
(iii) the sea life
(iv) the plant life

(3) The size of the holes in fishing nets should be big enough to let:
(i) big fish stay in
(ii) water flow out
(iii) baby fish escape through
(iv) more fish and water enter

(4) Sea plants contain rich nutrient not found in:
(i) other plants
(ii) other vegetarian food
(iii) non-vegetarian food
(iv) milk and milk products

(5) The antonym of ‘plenty’ is:
(i) little
(ii) inadequate
(iii) scarcity
(iv) minimal

(6) The antonym of ‘active’ is .............
(i) plant plankton
(ii) vegetarian food
(iii) blue whales
(iv) extinct

(B) Complete the following sentences as briefly as possible : (Do any 4)
(i) The sea, covering 70% of the Earth's surface, serves as the birthplace of life and provides food and shelter to ............. 
(ii) Plankton, consisting of plant and animal varieties, forms the basis of the marine food chain, sustaining life in  .............
(iii) Arctic and Antarctic seas are rich in plankton and algae, supporting diverse marine life, including blue whales, the largest animals on .............
(iv) Some countries, like Japan and Hawaii, have developed sea farming practices, utilizing sea plants for various purposes, including human consumption and .............
(v) It's crucial to manage sea resources responsibly, as overexploitation, such as reckless hunting of whales, can lead to species extinction and .............

1. Delhi has grown into a city that shuns children. It is now an urban sprawl, its development model skewed in favour of motorised traffic and commercial capitalization. This has snatched play fields from kids. With vehicles both stationary and on the move occupying every inch of space available, the roads and even lanes and bylanes are out of bounds for the little ones unlike in American and European cities, there are few public spaces where one can hang out. No wonder, our children spend a lot of time indoors, glued to the TV, PC or mobile screens. ‘It’s time,’ urban planning experts say, ‘to reconsider Delhi’s growth with the welfare of its children in mind.’

2. Supreme Court Judge Kurian Joseph expressed his anguish at the shrinking playing space for children in Delhi. The condition of the parks in the city, he said in the letter, was a “serious violation of human rights of children” as it was “their right in their tender times to have a decent environment to play and frolic around.”

3. Kuldeep Singh, an architect and urban planner, who worked with DDA during 1956-57 to bring out Delhi’s first master plan, explained how initially children’s needs were the town planner’s priority. “Space standards were set very rationally, and in every neighbourhood, a huge open space was reserved for children which we called ‘tot-lots’. “This was the place where we thought children would get a space to play and mingle with each other and we kept it away from roads,” recalled Singh. However, due to administrative reasons, the idea of ‘tot-lots’ had to be dropped and regrettably, was never entertained again.

4. “Over the years, circumstances have changed and people are reluctant to let their children go out without some kind of security, as a result of which the children are now suffering.” says Mr. Singh. Before it’s too late, Mr. Singh hopes the few open spaces for kids are restored and protected from vehicles looking for parking lots. Another urban planning expert says the first rectification Delhi’s development model needs to carry out is to ensure mobility of children.

5. “Two thousand pedestrians die on Delhi’s roads every year of which several are children. There may not be a dearth of green spaces in Delhi, the city has a unique advantage on that front but kids have no safe means to reach their places independently,” says Manjit Rastogi, founder of architecture firm Morphogenesis. “It is catastrophic to learn about child mortality on Delhi’s roads, but, on the other hand, you have the tragedy of kids being confined to their homes,” points out Mr. Rastogi. “From a city of cars, Delhi needs to become a city of pedes trians where children can enjoy and identify themselves with their surroundings,” he adds.

6. Developing public spaces with colourful street furniture, swings, art instalations, etc., could draw in kids and bring them out of their homes. DDA officials say their focus is on balanced development of the city, which takes into account children’s recreational needs. “DDA is working on new policies like Transit Oriented Development which have sufficient provisions for taking care of pedestrians and movement of children and women safely. Their policies will guide the future development of the city,” said Neemo Dhar, Spokesperson, DDA

(A) Answer the following questions by choosing the most appropriate options:

(1) The verb form of ‘priority’ is
(i) prior
(ii) priosy
(iii) prioritize
(iv) None

(2) The phrasal verb ‘draw in’ means
(i) put in
(ii) draw a picture
(iii) draw a match
(iv) to persuade to join or entice

(3) The passage suggests that
(i) Delhi kids enjoy sitting in front of TV
(ii) Delhi has taken care of recreational needs of the kids
(iii) seveval children die on roads in Delhi
(iv) motorists are not favoured by the city planners

(4) Which of the following does not support the statement ‘Delhi shuns children’?
(i) Delhi’s development model is skewed in favour of motorised traffic.
(ii) Delhi kids have been deprived of play fields.
(iii) The few public places where children can hang out are not safe to reach.
(iv) DDA is working on Transit Oriented Development.

(5) Which of the following statements is true?
(i) In past, children’s needs were a priority for city planners.
(ii) Delhi has an acute shortage of green spaces.
(iii) It is surprising that children spend much of their time in front of TV.
(iv) American and European cities don’t have many public spaces where children can hang out.

(6) Which of the following statements accurately reflects the perspective expressed in the passage regarding children's recreational spaces in Delhi?
(i) Urban planning experts emphasize the need for more commercial capitalization to enhance children's recreational activities.
(ii) Supreme Court Judge Kurian Joseph suggests that shrinking playing spaces in Delhi violate children's human rights.
(iii) Kuldeep Singh, an architect and urban planner, advocates for increased motorized traffic to ensure children's safety.
(iv) DDA officials prioritize vehicle parking over the restoration and protection of open spaces for children.

(B) Complete the following sentences as briefly as possible : (Do any 4)
(i) Delhi's urban sprawl and emphasis on motorized traffic have limited children's access to play spaces, leading to ............. 
(ii) Supreme Court Judge Kurian Joseph condemns the inadequate playing space for children in Delhi as a violation of .............
(iii) Initially, Delhi's town planners prioritized children's needs by reserving large open spaces called 'tot-lots' in every neighborhood, but this idea was eventually abandoned due to .............
(iv) Architect Kuldeep Singh highlights the reluctance of parents to allow their children outside without security measures, resulting in limited outdoor activities for.............
(v) Manjit Rastogi underscores the dual tragedy of child mortality on Delhi's roads and children being confined to their homes, advocating for a shift towards pedestrian-friendly .............

1. Computers are capable of doing extremely complicated work in all branches of learning. They can solve the most complex mathematical problems or put thousand unrelated data in order. These machines can be put to varied uses. For instance, they can provide information on the best way to prevent traffic accidents. They work accurately and at high speed.

2. They save research workers’ years of hard work. This whole process by which machines can be used to work for us has been called ‘automation’. In future automation may enable human beings to enjoy more leisure than they do today. The coming of automation is bound to have important social consequences.

3. Some years ago, an expert on automation, Sir Leon Bagrit pointed out that it was a mistake to believe that these machines could think. There is no possibility that human beings will be controlled by machines. Though computers are capable of learning from their mistakes and improving on their performances, they need detailed instructions from human beings to be able to operate. They can never lead independent lives or rule the world by taking decisions of their own.

4. Sir Leon said that in future, computers would be developed which would be small enough to be carried in one’s pocket. Ordinary people would then be able to use them to obtain valuable information. Computers could be plugged into a wireless network and can be used like radios. For instance, people, going on holiday, could be informed about weather conditions. Car drivers can be given an alternative route, when there is a traffic jam. It will also be possible to make tiny translating machines. This will enable people, who do not share a common language, to talk to each other without any difficulty or to read foreign publications.

5. It is impossible to assess the importance of a machine of this sort, for many international misunderstandings are caused simply due to our failure to understand each other. Computers will also be used in ordinary public hospitals. By providing a machine with a patient’s systems, a doctor will be able to diagnose the nature of his illness. Similarly, machines could be used to keep a check on a patient’s health record and bring it up to date. Doctors will, therefore, have immediate access to great many facts which will help them in their work. Bookkeepers and accountants too could be relieved of dull clerical work. For the tedious task of compiling and checking lists of figures could be done entirely by machines. Computers are the most efficient servant man has ever had and there is no limit to the way they can be used to improve our lives.

(A) Answer the following questions by choosing the most appropriate options:

(1) Write out the correct option:
(i) There is no possibility that human beings can be on their own with no need of machines.
(ii) Human beings are likely to be controlled by machines one day.
(iii) There is no possibility that human beings will ever be controlled by machines.
(iv) Machines can replace humans.

(2) Write out the correct option:
(i) Computers can solve only certain mathematical problems.
(ii) Computers can’t solve any mathematical problems.
(iii) Computers can solve the most complex mathematical problems.
(iv) Computers can solve only simple mathematical problems.

(3)Computers can be used to
(i) to find treatment for the pateint’s illness.
(ii) to prescribe a medicine for the patient.
(iii) to diagnose the nature of patient’s illness.
(iv) to keep the patient in good mood.

(4)Many international misunderstandings are caused due to our failure to understand
(i) ourselves.
(ii) other nations.
(iii) our friends.
(iv) each other.

(5)The antonym of the word ‘complicated’ is
(i) difficult
(ii) simple
(iii) easy
(iv) strange

(6) The verb form of the word ‘alternative’ is 
(i) alternate
(ii) alter
(iii) late
(iv) elate

(B) Complete the following sentences as briefly as possible : (Do any 4)
(i) Computers are versatile, capable of solving complex problems and organizing vast amounts of ............. 
(ii) Automation saves researchers significant time and may lead to increased leisure for humans, with.............
(iii) Computers do not possess the capacity for independent thought; they require detailed human instructions to.............
(iv) Future developments may lead to pocket-sized computers accessible to the general population, providing valuable information and .............
(v) Computers will revolutionize various sectors, including healthcare, by aiding in diagnosis, record-keeping, and relieving professionals of .............

1. Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, the eleventh president of India, was a great scientist, teacher and writer. He had written many books like ‘Ignited Minds,’ ‘India 2020,’ ‘Mission India’ and ‘Wings of Fire’. He was a source of inspiration for the young and old alike. Here is an extract from ‘Wings of Fire’ which depicts his early life in his own words.

2. My parents, Jainulabdeen and Ashiamma were widely regarded as an ideal couple. My mother’s lineage was the more distinguished, one of her forebears having been bestowed the title of ‘BAHUDUR’ by the British. I normally ate with my mother, sitting on the floor of the kitchen. She would place a banana leaf before me, on which she had ladled rice and aromatic sambhar, a variety of sharp home-made pickles and a dollop of fresh coconut chutney.

3. The famous Shiva temple, which made Rameshwaram so sacred to pilgrims was about a ten- minute walk from our house. Our locality was predominantly Muslim, but there were quite a few Hindu families too, living amicably with their Muslim neighbours. There was a very old mosque in our locality where my father would take me for evening prayers. I had not the faintest idea of the meaning of the Arabic prayers chanted, but I was totally convinced that they reached God. When my father came out of the mosque after the prayers, people of different religions would be sitting outside, waiting for him. Many of them offered bowls of water to my father who would dip his fingers in them and say a prayer. This water was then carried home for invalids. I also remember people visiting our home to offer thanks after being cured. My father always smiled and asked them to thank Allah, the benevolent and merciful.

4. The high priest of Rameswaram Temple, Pakshi Lakshmana, was a very ‘close friend of my father. One of the most vivid memories of my childhood is of the two men, each in his traditional attire, discussing spiritual matters.

5. When I was old enough to ask questions I asked my father about the relevance of prayer. “When you pray” he said “you transcend your body and become a part of the cosmos which knows no division of wealth, age, caste or creed”.

A. Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the following questions by choosing the most appropriate option.

(1) In early childhood, Abdul Kalam sang Arabic prayers because he
(i) had no idea about their message
(ii) his father would take him to old mosque
(iii) was sure that prayers reached God
(iv) was keen to learn them by heart

(2) Abdul Kalam lived in an area where
(i) Muslims were in minority
(ii) Hindus were in a majority
(iii) Muslims and Hindus has hostility for one another
(iv) Muslims and Hindus lived in a friendly manner

(3) ………………… in traditional dress discussed spiritual matters with Pakshi Lakshmana.
(i) The high priest of Rameswaram Temple
(ii) Abdul Kalam’s father
(iii) Abdul Kalam
(iv) A very close friend of Kalam’s father

(4) Why, according to Jainulabdeen, were prayers important?
(i) Made one free from division of wealth.
(ii) Made one aware about one’s body and its limitation.
(iii) Made one wise enough to discuss spiritual matters.
(iv) They are recited in an old mosque.

(5)‘Convinced’ in para 3 means …………………
(i) undoubtedly
(ii) completely sure
(iii) sacred
(iv) amicably

(6) ‘Attire’ in para 4 means …………………
(i) cosmos
(ii) clothes
(iii) creed
(iv) caste

B. Complete the following sentences as briefly as possible : (Do any 4)
(i) Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam was renowned as a scientist, teacher, and writer, authoring inspiring books like "Wings of Fire" and .............
(ii) Dr. Kalam's parents, Jainulabdeen and Ashiamma, were esteemed as an ideal couple, and his mother's lineage boasted a  .............
(iii) Despite residing in a predominantly Muslim locality, Dr. Kalam's family harmoniously coexisted with Hindu neighbors, reflecting the spirit of  .............
(iv)Dr. Kalam's childhood memories include visits to the sacred Shiva temple in Rameshwaram and discussions on spiritual matters with .............
(v) According to Dr. Kalam's father, prayer enables one to transcend bodily limitations and connect with the cosmic realm, devoid of divisions based on wealth,.............

I. The ocean is one of the most unexplored parts of our planet, with a large magnitude of undiscovered species and mysteries. It turns out from the studies conducted over the last few decades, this magnificent environment is under serious threat from human intervention, with plastics set to outnumber fish by 2050.
II. Marine life, as we know it, is suffering irreparable damage from the chemical pollution of the water bodies and the millions of tons of mismanaged waste dumped into the oceans every year. The result is a planetary crisis with over 100 million marine animals losing their lives every year, and the decay of the ocean’s ecosystem. Shocking Ocean Pollution Statistics

• 100 million marine animals die each year from plastic waste alone.
• 1,00,000 marine animals die from getting entangled in plastic yearly – this is just the creatures we find.
• 1 out of 3 marine mammal species get found entangled in litter, 12-14,000 tons of plastic are ingested by North Pacific fish yearly.
• In the past 10 years, we’ve made more plastics than the last century. By 2050, the death pollution of fish will be outnumbers by our dumped plastic.
• The largest trash site on the planet is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, twice the surface area of Texas, it out numbered sea life there from 6 to 1.
• China is ranked #1 from mismanaged waste and plastics. However, the US is in the top 20 with a more significant waste per person contribution.
• 300 million tons of plastic gets created yearly, and this weighs the same as the entire human population, and 50% one time used plastic.
• There are 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic waste estimated to be in our oceans; 2,69,000 tons float, 4 billion microfibres per km2 dwell below the surface.
• 70% of our debris sinks into the ocean’s ecosystem, 15% floats and 15% lands on our beaches.
• In terms of plastic, 8.3 million tons are discarded in the sea yearly. Of which, 2,36,000 are ingestible microplastics that marine creatures mistake for food.
• Plastics take 500-1000 years to degrade; currently 79% is sent to lands or the oceans, while only 9% is recycled, and 12% gets incinerated.
• 1950-1998 over 100 nuclear blast tests occurred in our oceans.
• 500 marine locations are now recorded as dead zones globally currently the size of the United Kingdom’s surface (2,45,000 km2)
• 80% of global marine pollution comes from agriculture runoff, untreated sewage, discharge of nutrients and pesticides.
• 90% of the worldwide ocean debris comes from 10 rivers alone.

III. Almost 1,000 species of marine animals get impacted by ocean pollution, and we now have over 500 locations recorded as dead zones where marine life cannot exist. How did this happen, what is causing the most damage, find out everything above in the marine pollution statistics round-up.
IV. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a floating island of debris, accumulated in the North Pacific Ocean by an extensive system of currents called gyres. It is built up from two other waste patches, the western garbage patch near Japan and the eastern garbage patch near America’s west coast near California and Hawaii.
V. The North Pacific Subtropical Convergence Zone links the eastern and the western garbage patches, acting as a highway for waste to move from one to the other. Because of this, a small item of debris dropped near California can travel across to Japan, then eventually get sucked up by these swirling garbage patch vortexes.
VI. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch size is quite shocking. These patches of trash are said to be twice the size of Texas and float on the surface but do drop several meters into the ocean in places, which makes the correct size challenging to measure. The world’s largest garbage site is mainly made up of microplastics creating a vast cloud, with newer items of debris that haven’t broken down as much floating around like chunks in a soup. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch effects on marine life are extremely significant.

Based ony our understanding of the passage, answer the questions by choosing the correct option.

 1.According to the passage, what is going to outnumber the fish in the ocean by the year 2050?
(A) Pollution
(B) Garbage
(C) Plastics
(D) Human waste

2.Marine life is suffering from irreparable damage because of:
I. the chemical pollution of the waters.
II. the rising global warming which is increasing the death rate of the ocean ecosystems.
III. the millions of tons of mismanaged waste dumped in the oceans each year.
(A) I and II
(B) II and III
(C) I and III
(D) I, II and III

 3.locations are recorded as dead zones where marine life cannot exist.
(A) 200
(B) 350
(C) 500
(D) 700

 4.The largest trash site on the planet, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, is twice the size of which city?
(A) Arizona
(B) Florida
(C) Colorado
(D) Texas

5.Which country is ranked number one for mismanaged waste and plastics?
(A) Germany
(B) China
(C) USA
(D) India

 6.Which of the following statements is not true in the context of the passage?
(A) 90% of the worldwide ocean debris comes from 10 rivers alone.
(B) 700 marine locations are now recorded as dead zones globally.
(C) 70% of our debris sinks into the ocean’s ecosystem, 15% floats, and 15 % lands on our beaches.
(D) 100 million marine animals die each year from plastic waste alone.

 7.An extensive system of currents in the North Pacific Ocean is called …………..
(A) debris
(B) vortex
(C) convergence
(D) gyres

 8.A small item of debris dropped near California can travel across to Japan because of
(A) the North Pacific Subtropical Convergence Zone
(B) the Great Pacific Garbage Patch
(C) the gyres
(D) the vortexes

1. Right from childhood, a human being starts enjoying the pleasure of reading. As a child, he learns the ways of life through reading and writing. He is thrilled by going through new little –
things and learning through them.

2. The pleasure one derives from reading, is indeed recreative as well as instructive. The mental effects of reading create a strange sense of pleasure. Reading provides an ecstasy and intellectual exertion. Reading of novels or interesting literature makes a person forget the worries and cares of life. The reading of a newspaper, periodical, journal, etc. which is light reading, gives the reader knowledge about human life around and solves his curiosity for knowledge about the world. Newspapers and journals give information about the events taking place in the world and happenings in the state and the locality a person lives in. The newspapers also publish important news and views in the fields of economics, politics and science. Reading of newspaper is indispensable for even a little educated citizen in modern society.

3 The reading of novels is the most popular pastime of a large number of people. The attraction of novel lies in its ability to create interest, to sustain it and take the reader to the heights of imagination and luxurious fiction. All fiction is somewhat connected with life and gives in words the pictures drawn from real life or from imagination.

4. Next, we come to the books of travel and adventure. The spirit of adventure is in the very blood of man. A man wants glamour and romantic life, full of adventure and the material spirit. Books of travel and adventure infuse a spirit of fearlessness which the travellers, who are heroes of the books, may inspire in us.

5. Whatever type of books one reads, reading is always a source of pleasure and enjoyment. The habit of reading is a sign of good culture. It is a source of knowledge and the best means of making use of one’s leisure. Books are, after all, a gold mine of knowledge, art, literature and science. Books are not only useful, instructive but also entertaining and recreative.

Answer the following questions by choosing the most appropriate options:

(1) How does a child leam the ways of his life?
(i) by imitating his elders
(ii) by observing
(iii) through reading and writing
(iv) through school education

(2) What are the two salient features of reading?
(i) recreative and instructive
(ii) pleasure and intellectual exertion
(iii) information and views
(iv) all of these

(3) Which kind of reading can be called ‘recreativeV
(i) newspapers
(ii) journals
(iii) novels
(iv) periodicals

(4) Reading of newspapers is absolutely essential for the common man because
(i) it gives local news
(ii) it gives news of economics and science
(iii) it gives political news
(iv) all of these

(5) Exertion in paragraph 2 means
(i) interest
(ii) exercise
(iii) stimulation
(iv) physical effort

(6) Indispensable in paragraph 2 means
(i) important
(ii) primary
(iii) necessary
(iv) principal

(7) What is one of the main benefits of reading novels or interesting literature?
(i) It increases worries and stress.
(ii) It provides knowledge about human life.
(iii) It creates fearfulness.
(iv) It diminishes curiosity.

(8) What does the passage suggest about the habit of reading?
(i) It is a sign of bad culture.
(ii) It is a waste of time.
(iii) It is useful and instructive.
(iv) It is only for intellectuals.

1. The therapeutic value and healing powers of plants were demonstrated to me when I was a boy of about ten. I had developed an acute persistent abdominal pain that did not respond readily to hospital medication. In total desperation she took me to Egya Mensa, a well-known herbalist in my hometown in the Western province of Ghana.

2. After a brief interview, he went out to the field. He returned with several leaves and the bark of a tree and one of his attendants immediately prepared a decoction. I was given a glass of this preparation, it tasted extremely bitter, but within an hour or so I began to feel relieved. Within about three days, the frequent abdominal pain stopped and I recall gaining a good appetite. I have appreciated the healing powers of medicinal plants ever since.

3. In fact, demographic studies by various national governments and inter-governmental organisations such as the World Health Organisation (WHO) indicate that for 75 to 90 per cent of the rural populations of the world, the herbalist is the only person who handles their medical problems.

4. In African culture, traditional medical practitioners are always considered to be influential, spiritual leaders as well, using magic and religion along with medicines. Illness is handled with the individual’s hidden spiritual powers and with application of plants that have been found especially to contain healing powers.

5. Over the years I have come to distinguish three types of medicinal practitioners in African societies and to classify the extent to which each uses medicinal plants. The first is the herbalist, who generally enjoys the prestige and reputation of being the real traditional medical professional. The second group represents the divine healers. They are fetish priests whose practice depends upon their purported supernatural powers of diagnosis. Thirdly, the witch doctor, the practitioner who is credited with ability to intercept the evil deeds of a witch.

6. From the drugstores in New Delhi, I picked up some well-packaged bark and roots of Rauwolfia Serpentina, a plant that was very well known in ancient Asiatic medicine. The storekeeper said that it cures hypertension.

7. For health, social and economic reasons, it seems clear that developing countries should begin an extensive programme aimed at an examination and research into the properties of the most important medicinal plants. In most countries, the information on such plants is dispersed and unorganised. Much of it is in the heads of aging herbalists, who represent a dying breed.

Answer the following questions by choosing the most appropriate options:

(1) What did Egya Mensa do to the author when his mother took him there?
(i) did not attend to them
(ii) gave him a concoction of leaves and bark
(iii) tested his appetite
(iv) advised the child not to take Western medicine

(2) What do the WHO demographic studies indicate?
(i) the most of the rural populations depend on herbalists for health care
(ii) 75 to 90 per cent of rural populations were in poor health
(iii) urban population should also use herbal medicine
(iv) none of the above

(3) The author appreciates the healing powers of medicinal plants because ………………….
(i) he is an African
(ii) he did not believe in European medicines
(iii) he had been cured by herbal medicines
(iv) his friends had recommended herbal medicines to him

(4) Traditional medical practitioners have influence on their communities because………………
(i) they successfully cure the sick
(ii) they control epidemics
(iii) they are inexpensive
(iv) they handle the patient’s sickness with his hidden spiritual powers

(5) Divine healers in paragraph 5 means ……………….
(i) holy men
(ii) doctors
(iii) those who treat on the basis of faith
(iv) quacks

(6) Hypertension in paragraph 6 means
(i) high stress
(ii) high blood pressure
(iii) hyper activity
(iv) high fever

(7) What event led the author to appreciate the healing powers of medicinal plants?
(i) A visit to a hospital
(ii) Developing acute abdominal pain
(iii) Meeting a herbalist in the city
(iv) Drinking a bitter decoction

(8)According to demographic studies mentioned in the passage, who handles the medical problems of the rural populations in many parts of the world?
(i) Trained doctors
(ii) Traditional medical practitioners
(iii) Nurses
(iv) Pharmacists

1. Unfortunately, of late, we have not been able to recognise the concept of respecting, caring and helping older generations in a systematic way as some of the countries in the West have done. This is not to suggest that our culture and history do not recognize this phase of life. There have been many practices of caring and helping old people in our system. But, with the dismantling of the joint family system, the problem has assumed newer and complicated proportions. Although we have started recognising the needs of the young but when it comes to the old, we have blissfully chosen to ignore them and have left them to fend for themselves.

2. There are old age homes, residential units for lower income groups in particular districts where there is a.part-time medical officer to attend to the inmates. Then there are day-care centres and mobile medicare services besides other NGOs (Non-Governmental Organisations).

3. Old age homes in the country are not only insufficient but are also ill-equipped to cater to old people. This should be the responsibility of the state since it needs close and regular monitoring. The social welfare departments in the Government have very little to boast when it comes to caring for older generation.

4. Society, too, has an important role to play. It must begin by respecting the aged and placing them before anyone else’s interest. In the West, if an old person is climbing down the stairs, he or she is helped. It is this kind of mindset, that is the need of the hour. Offering seats to the old, helping them cross the roads, assisting them carry their bags, fetching them water, etc. are some gestures which increase acceptability of old people.

5. In the family, senior citizens deserve a better deal. They have given everything to their families and have the right to be recognised as important members. Sending old parents to deposit electricity bills, asking them to fetch children from schools and to guard the house while the rest of the family is away, are some of the many tasks which are thrust upon them. These become nothing short of enslaving the weakest class of people.

6. Old people are not too demanding except in cases where there may be genuine reasons of health or constraints of family environments.

Answer the following questions by choosing the most appropriate options:

(1) What is the general attitude of the people of our country towards senior citizens?
(i) of indifference
(ii) of love and respect
(iii) of hostility
(iv) none of these

(2) What has added to the problems of older generations in Indian social background?
(i) retirement of old people from their jobs
(ii) growing population of the young
(iii) breaking up of the joint family system
(iv) increasing financial tensions

(3) The dismantling of the joint family system has brought about ………………..
(i) the rise of ego in the young people
(ii) nuclear families
(iii) conflict and discord
(iv) neglect of the elderly

(4) The care of the old people should be the responsibility of the state because …………………..
(i) it is quite expensive
(ii) it needs regular and close monitoring
(iii) it needs manpower
(iv) it should be made a law

(5) Blissfully in paragraph 1 means ……………………
(i) blindly
(ii) foolishly
(iii) happily
(iv) selfishly

(6) Inmates in paragraph 2 means …………………..
(i) residents
(ii) insiders
(iii) invaders
(iv) inner group

(7) What is highlighted as a challenge regarding the care of older generations in the passage?
(i)  Lack of old age homes
(ii) Insufficient state support
(iii) Excessive dependence on NGOs
(iv) Inadequate medical facilities

(8) According to the passage, what role does society play in caring for the elderly?
(i) Providing medical services
(ii) Offering financial assistance
(iii) Respecting and assisting them
(iv) Offering employment opportunities

1. Each day is a chance to invest in life; a chance to renew yourself, to shed yesterday’s skin, to unburden yourself to get rid of yesterday’s hurt. Be glad of life each day as it gives you a chance to work, love and play, and to look at the sun. And then when the sun sets, don’t cry-the tears will make you miss the beauty of the stars.

2. Life moves, on and if you don’t stop and look at the wonders already present in your life, you will miss life altogether.

3. Think of big thoughts but relish the small joys life offers you each day. Maybe it’s as simple as smiling at someone. For, that could be the last day of life-for you or for the other person.

4. A small genuine act from you will cost you nothing but it could mean everything to somebody that day. Life is a succession of moments. Live each moment. Life has no romance without risk. All actions carry some amount of risk, may be less or more, but the element of risk is always present.

5. If there is no wind, row. Make things happen rather than let things happen. One can give nothing whatsoever without giving oneself, risking oneself. The most important thing in life is not what you get but what you give.

6. Once a preacher called at the home of a very poor family. When he came out, he found one son admiring his new car, so the preacher explained that he had received it as a gift from his brother.

7 Most lads would say, “I wish I had a brother like that,” But this one said, “Mister, I wish I
could be a brother like that.”

8. If you are not enjoying this journey, for sure you won’t enjoy the destination. It will become a moment to dread, not a moment you can actually look forward to. It’s not what happens that determines our future, but what you do about what happens that counts.

9. Conquer the mind and you conquer the world. Looking back strains your neck muscles. Similarly, living in the past strains your life. Don’t dwell on the past. Have faith in yourself and you will have faith in others. Fulfil your destiny. Remember, no one can make you unhappy without your consent.

10. The way you cope with life, is what makes the difference. Even peace of mind is not the absence of conflict but the ability to cope with it. You have to reach out to other people. That will teach you to forgive people and also forgive yourself.

11. Forgiveness means letting go of the past. Compassion is about stepping outside yourself. A kind compassionate act is often its own reward. Live your life without complaining, just like the tree.

Answer the following questions by choosing the most appropriate options:

(1) Why should we be glad of each day?
(i) Because we are more mature each new day.
(ii) Because we have more energy.
(iii) Because we are free of yesterday.
(iv) Because we can live life, work and enjoy each new day.

(2) What is meant by make things happen?
(i) Take initiative, take risks, start things.
(ii) If you are in a boat, you must row.
(iii) Give whatever you wish to give.
(iv) Do not try to get things.

(3) A small genuine act (para 5) could mean
(i) an act of kindness and love
(ii) a heroic act
(iii) a good piece of acting
(iv) a short scene in a play

(4) We should not dwell on the past because
(i) we should learn from our mistakes in the past
(ii) the past does not allow us to progress
(iii) our mistakes and failures in the past can depress us
(iv) the past will never come back

(5) Succession in para 5 means
(i) achievement
(ii) inheritance
(iii) happiness
(iv) series

(6) Romance in para 5 means
(i) a love affair
(ii) charm
(iii) an imaginative temperament
(iv) danger

(7) According to the passage, what is emphasized as essential for living each day?
(i) Accumulating wealth and possessions
(ii) Renewing oneself and letting go of past burdens
(iii) Constantly seeking new adventures and challenges
(iv) Dwelling on past mistakes and regrets

(8) What does the passage suggest about the importance of small acts of kindness?
(i) They require significant effort and resources.
(ii) They have little impact on others' lives.
(iii) They can mean a lot to someone and cost nothing.
(iv) They are often overlooked and undervalued.

1. Flexibility and mobility are essential not only to reduce the risk of injuries but to generally feel better. Living a nine to five desk life can be demanding on health and wellness. Here is how you can keep the most common problems at bay.

2. Even if you are not exercising you need to make sure that you maintain correct posture and sit at your desk in the right way. It is important that your chair is placed correctly and your legs are not left hanging. Proper alignment ensures that your neck and back are not strained. Exercises and abdominal crunches two to three times a week can strengthen the core. It will help take the pressure off your back and will make it easier to maintain good posture. Chairs with a back that support your upper back are preferable for those who work long hours in front of screens.

3. Constant typing, writing reports, and answering e-mails can exert your wrists leading to long-term damage. The frequency of your use and how you position your wrists at your keyboard can be a reason. The telltale signs of exertion would be a tingling sensation or numbness. One should not ignore initial signs. Make sure that you rest your wrist at regular intervals. To relieve tension quickly fold your hands in a NAMASTE in front of your chest with elbows moving out and lower your hands till you feel a good stretch in your wrists. Also rotating your fists inside and outside provides much relief to strained wrists.

4. Since those who work on desks spend a lot of time looking at a computer screen, they are at a risk of straining their eyes. This may also lead to dry eyes and fatigue. Poor eyesight is the result of continued and improper exposure to screens. Keeping the computer screen at an optimal distance helps a lot in minimising strain to eyes. The screen shouldn’t be too close or too far. To ease eye strain use good lighting and make it a point to look at a distance away from your screen every twenty to thirty minutes.
Questions:
(a) On the basis of your reading of the above passage make notes on it using headings and subheadings.
Use recognisable abbreviations and a format you consider suitable. Also, supply a title to it.
(b) Write a summary of the passage in not more than 80 words using the notes made.

1. Jahangir was born on 30 August 1569, to Akbar, the Mughal Emperor, and his Hindu wife, Jodha Bai. He was crowned on 24 October 1605. In the twenty-two years, he was Emperor, till his death on 28 October 1627, he had many battles to fight and many rebellions to suppress. But he always found time for his greatest hobby-the study of animals and plants. He was an avid bird watcher or an ornithologist as he would be called now, and a keen naturalist. The care and accuracy with which Jahangir described various characteristics of animals and birds, their geographical distribution and behaviour, would have done credit to a full-time naturalist. His observations are recorded in his memoirs, the Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri.

2. Jahangir had a small zoo and he would spend hours-sometimes days and nights together-on his observations. For the first time in the history- of ornithology, he noted how sarus cranes mate brood over their eggs in turn, and how chicks are hatched and taken care of. He also observed one human quality in this bird: the parents love not only their eggs and chicks but also each other.

3. The Emperor had several famous painters in his court. When he came across a rare animal, bird or plant, he would instruct an artist to draw it. The painter who excelled in this art was Ustad Mansur. For modern ornithologists, Jahangir’s collection of paintings provides a strikingly accurate description of the natural history of the day. Unfortunately, most of these paintings are no longer to be found in India. With the disintegration of the Mughal Empire, foreign adventures looted this treasure. Most of the paintings were thus lost.

4. In 1958, a Russian researcher, A Ivanoc, created a sensation when he discovered, a rare portrait of the dodo, a large non-flying pigeon-like bird, which became extinct about three centuries ago. This portrait was found in a collection of paintings at the Institute of Orientalists of Soviet Academy of Sciences. There was no way of identifying the painter, but the style, without doubt was that of Ustad Mansur. Now there is evidence to show that it was the portrait of Mauritian dodo that was presented to Emperor Jahangir around 1624. Over three centuries after their death, Jahangir and his dodo made a dramatic reappearance in the world of ornithology!

5. Jahangir also loved gardens, but his dissertations in botany and horticulture were mostly confined to how a lotus traps hornets or how saffron sprouts from soil. However, he was responsible for the cultivation of high altitude trees such as the cypress, juniper, pine and Javanse sandal in plains.

6. Jahangir had many other scientific interests. He once conducted an experiment to show that the air of Mahmudabad (in Gujrat) was healthier than that of Ahmedabad. He was fascinated by the movement of the stars and the planets and used to regularly record the occurrence of solar and lunar eclipses. When a comet made its appearance, he recorded the growth and decay of its tail.
Questions:
(a) On the basis of your reading of the above passage, make notes on it in points. Also, suggest a suitable title.
(b) Write a summary of the passage in not more than 80 words using the notes made.

Effective speaking depends on effective listening. It takes energy to concentrate on hearing and to concentrate on understanding what has been heard. Incompetent listeners fail in a number of ways. First, they may drift. Their attention drifts from what the speaker is saying. Second, they may counter. They find counter-arguments to whatever a speaker may be saying. Third, they compete. Then, they filter. They exclude from their understanding those parts of the message which do not readily fit with their own frame of reference. Finally, they react. They let personal feelings about the speaker or subject overside the significance of the message which is being sent.

What can a listener do to be more effective. The first key to effective listening is the art of concentration. If a listener positively wishes to concentrate on receiving a message, his chances of success are high!

It may need determination. Some speakers are difficult to follow either because of voice problems or because of the form in which they send a message. There is then a particular need for the determination of a listener to concentrate on what is being said.

Concentration is helped by alertness. Mental alertness is helped by physical alertness. It is not simply physical fitness but also positioning of the body, the limbs, and the head. Some people also find it helpful to their concentration if they hold the head slightly to one side. One useful way for achieving this is intensive notetaking, by trying to capture the critical headings and subheadings the speaker is referring to.

Note-taking has been recommended as an aid to the listener. It also helps the speaker. It gives him confidence when he sees that listeners are sufficiently interested to take notes, the patterns of eye contact when the note taker looks up can be very positive; and the speaker’s timing is aided he can see when a note-taker is writing hard and can then make effective use of pauses.

Posture too is important. Consider the impact made by a less competent listener who pushes his chair backward and slouches. An upright posture helps a listener’s concentration. At the same time, it is seen by the speaker to be a positive feature amongst his listeners. Effective listening skills . have an impact on both the listener and the speaker.
Questions:
(a) On the basis of your reading of the above passage make notes on it using headings and subheadings. Use recognizable abbreviations wherever necessary and also suggest a suitable title.
(b) Write a summary of the passage in not more than 80 words using the notes.

1. Twenty-one-year-old Jyoti Amge, the smallest woman in the world, laughs easily and often. Perhaps, from a height of twenty-three inches, the world does look a bit funny.

Afflicted with achondroplasia, a form of pituitary dwarfism, 21-year-old Amge is a bit shorter than her two-year-old nephew and a lad taller than her framed Guinness certificate. In fact, Amge, the youngest of five, wasn’t even visible in her mother’s womb. The doctors thought she wasn’t alive and her mother Ranjana, who underwent a two-hour caesarian operation in her tenth month to birth her, welcomed her youngest as a blessing. In all of Amge’s birthday pictures in the album, her height is the same from age three to twenty-one. Kitted out in custom made frocks and bright red lipstick; with fancy beads lining her permed hair, the tiny Amge turned heads in Nagpur and became a hit with Hindi news channel crews that approached her for bytes, any excuse would do, even the elections. Apart from a cameo in a Mika Singh video, she appeared briefly on the reality show Big Boss 6.

“I have always wanted to be an actor,” says Amge. Amge was quick to say yes when the producers of ‘American Horror Story’ Freak Show contacted her. “They had seen my interview in a New York daily,” says Amge, who readily agreed to play the role of Ma Petite, the miniature sari- and-bindi-clad assistant of a woman.

“In spite of the name the show was not about freaks it was about compassion,” says Amge. “What makes the world so interesting in that we are different and some folks a little bit odd,” she said. Sadly, Amge’s own home country does not seem to respect differences. Amge’s brother complained that unlike the West where “people ask permission before clicking a photo,” Indians take her privacy for granted. People look at her like she’s a wonder, an ajooba and try to get too close to her.I have to shelter her like a body guard, adds Satish.

Amge’s family members now make up her entourage. They help Amge, who suffered an accident in Kashmir that severely fractured her left leg, with everything from braiding her hair to carrying her to the washbasin. Be it the nearby mall or a trip to China, one or more of them always accompany her.
Questions:
(a) On the basis of your reading make notes on the above passage. Using abbreviations where necessary. Give a suitable title to your notes.
(b) Write the summary of the passage in your words. Don’t forget to write the title.

1. Everyone needs a holiday, both to relax and to have a change of environment. The holidaymakers feel relaxed and refreshed at the end of the holiday and look forward to the resumption of their duties, be it at school, office, or factories, with renewed vigour. This is the reason why all establishments grant their employees annual leave. With the end of the academic year, the schools and universities grant their pupils a long holiday during mid-summer. This lasts until early September when the new school term starts. Of course, the parents will like to take advantage of this and take their leave to coincide with the children’s vacations. This has become a traditional holiday season in most European countries, particularly in England.

With the coming of August, the traditional holiday season in Britain reaches its peak point and most of the holiday resorts are packed to capacity. In order to avoid the crowd, some prefer to take their holiday a little earlier if facilities so warrant. Those who have already taken their holidays can console themselves not only with reflections on the happy days spent in the country, at the seaside or abroad but also with the thought that holiday expenses are over for the year and that by taking an earlier holiday they have missed the August rush.

The main thing, of course, is the weather and that would be hazardous to prophesy. But whatever the weather is like, the essence of a holiday for most is the carefree atmosphere in which it can be enjoyed. “Take all you need but leave your worries behind” is the sound advice for the holidaymaker. Private worries are not always easy to escape from. However, even the pessimist would admit that for the moment things appear brighter than they have been.

Holiday time is surely a time for shedding serious pre-occupations and seeking the pleasures that appeal to us. It is true that we may not always succeed in finding them, indeed there are people who maintain that the great thing about the holiday is that it gives you an ampler appreciation of home comforts – a view no doubt more widely held among the elderly than you.
Questions:
(a) On the basis of your reading the above passage, make notes using headings and subheadings. Use recognizable abbreviations, wherever necessary. And also suggest a suitable title for it.
(b) Write a summary of the above passage in not more than 80 words using the notes made by you.

Pampore, a small town (i) …………….. the banks of the river Jhelum, near Srinagar, is the main centre (ii) …………….. saffron cultivation in India. The best saffron (iii)…………….. from Spain, which is the world’s largest producer. Saffron, the (iv) …………….. spice in the world, is known as ‘kesar’ in (v) …………….. parts of India. It adds a golden colour to food and gives it (vi) …………….. unique flavour. Moreover, (vii) saffron goes a long way — for example, (viii)…………….. half a teaspoon is sufficient to flavour a litre of kheer,
(i) (a) in (b) on (c) from (d) between
(ii) (a) for (b) from (c) in (d) to
(iii) (a) is coming (b) will come (c) comes (d) came
(iv) (a) much expensive (b) more expensive (c) most expensive (d) expensive
(v) (a) other (b) another (c) every (d) each
(vi) (a) the (b) a (c) an (d) any
(vii) (a) a few (b) the few (c) a little (d) the little
(viii) (a) lesser than (b) less than (c) least than (d) lesser

I (i) ……. him here yesterday. He (ii)…………..
till today. No one (iii) what has happened to him. I am (iv) about him. I hope he is safe.
(i) (a) expects (b) expected (c) will be expecting (d) was expected
(ii) (a) was not coming (b) is not coming (c) has not come (d) will not come
(iii) (a) know (b) knows (c) knew (d) is knowing
(iv) (a) worrying (b) worried (c) will be worrying (d) have worried

In the last hundred years, travelling (i) ……………. much easier and very comfortable. In the 19th century, it used to (ii) ……………. two or three days to cross North America by a covered wagon. The trip (iii) ……………. very rough and often dangerous. Things (iv) ……………. a great deal in the last hundred and fifty years. Now, you (v)……… fly from New York to Los Angeles in a matter of hours.
(i) (a) becomes (b) became (c) have become (d) has become
(ii) (a) take (b) takes (c) took (d) was taking
(iii) (a) is (b) was (c) will be (d) has been
(iv) (a) changed (b) is changing (c) has changed (d) have changed
(v) (a) could (b) can (c) shall (d) would

Driving (i)………………. big fun. However, obedience to traffic rules (ii)……………… it more enjoyable and safer. While driving, it must be (iii) ……………… that you are responsible for yourself as well as the life of other road users. With alarming rise in the number of road mishaps, the need for road safety (iv) ……………… a lot of importance across the globe. By practicing a few golden rules, you (v)……………… a responsible citizen who will believe in safe driving and the safety of others.
(i) (a) is (b) was (c) will be (d) being
(ii) (a) makes (b) made (c) will make (d) make
(iii) (a) remembers (b) remembered (c) was remembered (d) will remember
(iv) (a) gains (b) has gained (c) gained (d) will be gained
(v) (a) become (b) becomes (c) became (d) will become

Growth gets retarded if the environment in which we live (i) ……………… polluted. The pollution (ii) ……………… us today. We (iii) ……………… the environment that (iv) ……………… us. Slowly we (v) ……………… towards an unhealthy environment.
(i) (a) is (b) being (c) was (d) was being
(ii) (a) threatens (b) threatened (c) is threatening (d) was threatened
(iii) (a) pollute (b) polluted (c) is polluting (d) was polluted
(iv) (a) sustain (b) sustains (c) sustained (d) is sustaining
(v) (a) are gliding (b) were gliding (c) is gliding(d) have been gliding

(a) the/Indian/English/exploited/the/farmers
(b) pay/the/had to/poor farmers/high taxes/very
(c) the class/at once/ordered/you/are/to leave
(d) is/as/Firozabad/bangle/known/town/the

(a) providence / Vivekananda / in / of / believed / the / God
(b) world / country / finest / is / the / in / the / India / our
(c) baking / powder / dough / with / flour / make / butter / eggs / and / soft.
(d) knead / well / and / keep / with / it / in / water / the / fridge / after / this / for / one / warm / hour.

(a) oil / was found / in the 1960s / north sea / the / under
(b) designed/as a result/new rigs/were
(c) where / a / for / and / reading / are / a library / stored / place / books / is / kept
(d) a / books / of / good / all kinds / library / found/ are / in

(a) has a / range / Hyde Park / wide / of / facilities
(b) lake / is / for / the / popular / boating / and swimming
(c) fear / farmers / displacement / from / economic zones / special / large-scale
(d) carefully / walk / lest / fall / should / you

(a) they / in the hall / for / two hours / watching / had been / television
(b) blessings / you / all / on / may / showered / be
(c) the / had / crying / been / child / the / hours / two / last / for
(d) fly / to escape / south / starvation / to / chill / and / they

You are looking for a second-hand car. Draft an advertisement for the classified column of a newspaper, specifying your requirements in 50 words. You are Sumit/Sunita of A-40, Vinod Enclave Delhi.

Abha/Abhay has a very good knowledge of all the tourist attractions in Delhi. (S)He wants to work as a Tourist Guide. Draft a suitable advertisement for publication in the classified columns of a local daily.

You are the General Manager of a leading company. You need a Chartered Accountant for your office. Draft an advertisement in not more than 50 words to be published in the Times of India, New Delhi, under the classified columns.

You are Suyashi/Utkarsh, living at M-48, Wajirpur, Delhi. You want to sell off your mobile phone. Draft an advertisement for the classified columns of a national daily giving its details and the price expected.

You want to sell your car as you are going abroad. Draft a suitable advertisement in not more than 50 words to be published in classified columns of ‘The Times of India’. Give necessary details of the car. You are Amit/Amita residing in Karol Bagh, New Delhi.

Draft a Poster on ‘Say No to Plastic Bags’.

‘Draft a poster on ‘Respect Women’.

Prepare a poster on behalf of the police advising people to protect themselves against burglars and robbers.

Prepare a poster on behalf of the Municipal Authority of your city advising citizens on ways to save water.

Prepare a poster on behalf of an NGO to be placed in various parts of the city urging the people to save trees.

Human activities are leading to serious environmental changes globally. It is going to cause much trouble to the future generation, write a speech to be delivered in the morning assembly. Do not exceed the word limit of 120-150 words.

Teachers and students are exploring various online learning tools. Write a speech to be delivered in the morning assembly in about 120-150 words on the benefits of online learning tools.

Yoga is beneficial. Speak about the benefits of yoga in the morning assembly.

You are Rajini/Rajat Gaur. After seeing some obese children in your school, you are worried about
the craze for junk food and electronic gadgets in students. Write a speech to be read out in the morning assembly highlighting the need to have good eating habits and the benefits of outdoor activities.

You are the Class Representative, Class XI of Gandhi Memorial School, Pushp Vihar. You have been asked to prepare a speech on the need to imbibe principles of truthfulness, gentleness and cooperation to counter the growing violence in today’s world. Write this speech in 150-200 words.

You are Mukul Mahima of Alps Public School. Your school has organised a debate on “Social Media and Its Effects” and you will be participating from your school. Prepare your views against or in favour of the motion. – (150-200 words)

‘Aggression and sledging are an essential part of sports.’ Write a debate in 150-200 words either for or against the motion. You are Shivam/Shivani.

You, a student of class 10th, were given 10 days to think over the topic “Beauty Over Brains”, for which the teacher will hold a debate in class. Present your views in 150-200 words.

Your school is organising a debate event on the topic “Should Video Games be Banned?”. Write a debate on the given topic, presenting your views in 150-200 words.

You are a NEET aspirant. Your institution is organising a debate competition on the topic “Are entrance exams advantageous?”. You wish to present your views on the topic. Write a debate on the given topic in 150-200 words.