CBSE Sample Papers for Mid Term Exam Class 10 Communicative English – Paper 2

CBSE Sample Papers for Mid Term Exam Class 10 Communicative English – Paper 2

Sample Paper 2

Strictly based on the Remodelled Scheme of Assessment, the Latest Syllabus and Design of the Question Paper released by the Central Board of Secondary Education, New Delhi effective from academic year 2017-18.

SECTION A : READING (20 MARKS)

Question 1:
Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow : [8] Eight of the invited countries are in Eastern Europe. Until 1991, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania were part of the Soviet Union. Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Slovenia all had Communist governments. The E-U also offered membership to Malta and the Greek-ruled part of Cyprus.
The planned expansion would be the largest in the E-U’s history. It would create a community of more than 450 million people in twenty-five countries. The expansion also would create an economy of more than nine million dollars. Such an economy would be close to that of the United States.
Intense negotiations took place at the Copenhagen meeting about the financial terms under which new members will join. Candidates for E-U membership had demanded more aid. Most of them are poorer than the average country in Western Europe. They also have shorter histories as democracies and had problems with dishonest governments. Many people in the invited countries did not fully support efforts to join the E-U.
Poland is the largest of the ten candidate countries. It had threatened to sabotage the expansion plans if it did not receive more aid. The agreement calls for the E-U to provide more than forty thousand million dollars in aid to the new members.
The expansion is planned for May, 2004. But first, citizens in each candidate country must approve E-U membership in a series of votes expected next year. E-U members had hoped that a United Nations-negotiated agreement to end the division of Cyprus would be signed during the Copenhagen meeting. Cyprus has been divided between Greek and Turkish Cypriots since 1974. The E-U offered membership to the southern, Greek side of Cyprus. The Turkish north could enter later if it agreed on terms to end the island’s division. Now, only the internationally recognised Greek Cypriot government will receive E-U membership. In another development. Turkey accepted an E-U decision to delay considering the membership until December 2004, at the earliest. E-U leaders said Turkey must make the political and human rights reforms necessary to begin talks about membership.
(a) Where are the eight invited countries situated? [1]
(b) Which two other countries were offered membership by E-U? [1]
(c) Where did intense negotiations take place? [1]
(d) What had candidates for E-U demanded? [1]
(e) What had Poland threatened to do? [1] (f) What does the agreement call for the E-U to provide? [1]
(g) Mention the period for which expansion is planned. [1]
(h) Between which two countries has Cyprus been divided? [1]

Question 2:
Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow : [12] You seemed at first to take no notice of your school-fellows, or rather to set yourself against them because they were strangers to you. They knew as little of you as you did of them, so that this would have been the reason for their keeping alooffrom you as well, which you would have felt as a hardship. Learn never to conceive a prejudice against others because you know nothing of them. It is bad reasoning, and makes enemies of half the world. Do not think ill of them till they behave ill to you; and then strive to avoid the faults which you see in them. “Never despise anyone at all, ” for contempt implies a triumph over and pleasure in the ill of another. It means that you are glad and congratulate yourself on their failings or misfortunes. “You have hitherto been a spoilt child, and have been used to have your own way a good deal, both in the house and among your playfellows, with whom you were too fond of being a leader; but you have good nature and good sense, and will get the better of this in time. You have now got among other boys who are your equals, or bigger and stronger than yourself and who have some thing else to attend to besides humouring your whims and fancies, and you feel this as a repulse or piece of injustice. But the first lesson to learn is that there are other people in the world besides yourself. The more airs of childish self-importance you give yourself, you will only expose yourself to be the more thwarted and laughed at. True equality is the only true morality or wisdom. Remember always that you are but one among others and you can hardly mistake your place in society. In your father s house you might do as you pleased; in the world you.will find competitors at every turn. You are not born a king’s son, to destroy or dictate to millions; you can only expect to share their fate, or settle your differences amicably with them. You already find it so at school, and I wish you to be reconciled to your situation as soon and with as little pain as you can.

(a) What would you have felt as a hardship? [2]
(b) Why does the writer tell you not to despise anyone? [2]
(c) Give reasons why the writer thinks that you were a spoilt child till now. [2]
(d) What, according to the writer, is true morality or wisdom? [2]
(e) Why do you not take notice of your school-fellows in the beginning? [1]
(f) Give one difference of your position in your father’s house and in the world? [1]
(g) Which word in the first paragraph means ‘distant’? [1]
(h) Which word in the second paragraph means ‘a person who guides’? [1]

SECTION B : WRITING AND GRAMMAR (30 MARKS)

Question 3:
Nursery admissions have generated enough controversy since the past two years. Transparency, elimination of the system of interview, minimising the management’s discretion have been some of the suggestions. After the Delhi High Court order to bring out a comprehensive solution to nursery admissions, parents have heaved a sigh of relief. Write a letter to the Editor on the topic ‘Nursery Admissions: A Step in the Right Direction’. Refer to your M.C.B Unit-2 ‘Education’ and write the letter offering vital alternatives. [8]

Question 4:
Write an original short story in about 200-250 words on about how your disobedience of your parent’s advice led to very serious consequences. [10]

Hints : Advice not to stay out late — or go to a movie — went for an evening show — no transport when you come out — a man in a 3 wheeler offers lift — takes a wrong turn — ask to stop — run into the bungalow — inmates come to your rescue — parents come to fetch you at 12 midnight.

Question 5:
Fill in the blanks by choosing the most appropriate words from the given options. [4] I am sorry to tell you that mother (a) __________ been ill for the past three days. She has been suffering from cough; she has (b) __________ temperature and requires to lie (c) __________ . The doctor says she will be better (d) _____ a few days.

Question 6:
The following passage has not been edited. There is an error in each sentence. Underline the error and write the correct answer by choosing from the options.

Question 7:
Rearrange the following jumbled up’ words into meaningful sentences..
(a) is it / that / attracts / so many / to it / about / prayers / people / what?
(b) offer / peace / of hope / and / of / mind / a lot / prayers.
(c) anything / the faith / they give / to believe / can / that / happen / you.
(d) ought / with / honest / heart / offered / prayers / to / be.

SECTION C : LITERATURE TEXTBOOK AND EXTENDED READING TEXT (30 MARKS)

Question 8:
Read one of the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow : [4]
Curious how that idea for a plot had come to me out of nowhere after 1 had closed inspiration in vain for months! It is healthy to contradict Jenkins.
(a) What did the writer believe?
(b) Why did the writer find it curious?
(c) Why did the writer keep choosing plots?
(d) What do you mean by the phrase ‘in vain’?
OR
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed;
And on the pedestal, these words appear:
My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;
(a) What is the meaning of ‘stamped’?
(b) Whom does the hand and heart refer to?
(c) How did the king look after his people?
(d) What quality of Ozymandias is revealed in the last line?

Question 9:
Answer the following questions in about 30-40 words : [8] (a) What genre of stories does Jenkins want the narrator to write? Why?
(b) What message is conveyed through the poem, ‘Ozymandias’?
(c) Why does John want the ghost to disappear before his wife appears on the scene? What impression of his wife’s character do you form from his words?
(d) What is your impression of Ozymandias as a king?

Question 10:
Answer one of the following questions in about 100-120 words : [8] Many years have elapsed. Mr Abel Merryweather passed away some years back. Mrs Slater is old and she realises how greedily she had behaved with her father. She is grief-stricken and regrets her actions. She unburdens her self in a diary-entry. Compose this on her behalf.
OR
As the narrator, write an article on the lesson of love, faith and trust that you have learnt from the two young boys of Verona.

Question 11:
Answer one of the following questions in about 200-250 words : [10]
What is Anne’s cure for despair and unhappiness? Explain it fully and state the impression it creates on you.

OR

Compare and contrast Anne and Margot.

OR

Why did Helen regret the loss of Mr. Anagnos’ friendship? What was his stand on Helen’s innocence?

OR

How did the ‘terrible experience’ related to ‘The Frost King’ leave lasting impression on Helen’s mind? Discuss.