CBSE Sample Papers for Mid Term Exam Class 10 Communicative English – Paper 1

CBSE Sample Papers for Mid Term Exam Class 10 Communicative English – Paper 1

Periodic Assessment 2
[Periodic Assessment 2 is based on the main points of the syllabus of Periodic Assessment 1 and the following syllabus.]

Suggested Syllabus

Reading Skills

Question 1:
A factual passage of 300-350 words with 8 very short answer type questions.

Question 2:
A discursive passage of 350-400 words with 4 short answer type questions and 4 very short type questions (2 for vocabulary and 2 for comprehension)

Writing Skills with Grammar
Question 3:
Formal letters: placing an order and letter to the editor

Question 4:
Writing a short story

Question 5:
Gap filling

Question 6:
Editing and omission

Question 7:
Sentence reordering or sentence transformation

Literature Textbook and Extended Reading Text

Question 8:
One out of two extracts from prose and poetry with 4 very short answer type questions.

Question 9:
Four short answer type questions (The Letter, A Shady Plot, Not Marble, Nor the Gilded Monuments and Ozymandias)

Question 10:
One out of two long answer type questions (The Dear Departed)

Question 11:
One out of two very long answer type questions
Diary of a Young Girl – Chapter 8 to 13
The Story of My Life – Chapter 9 to 16

Sample Paper 1

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]

Whales are normally gentle. Jacques Cousteau in his book, ‘The Whale: Mighty Monarch of the Sea ’, testified to the whale s self-control. In all his years of diving, he says, “not a single man has been hurt during our sometimes hazardous whale encounters. Indeed, whales show every sign of wishing to spare man from harm. ”

Many whales exhibit strong family ties. The young ones remain with their parents for up to 15 years or more. Like reindeer and other nomadic land mammals, such migrating species as humpbacks and grey whales live in herds, or pods, and travel seasonally between feeding and breeding grounds.

In times of stress, whales look after one another. A group migrates at the speed of the slowest baby. When a member is wounded or sick, the others refuse to abandon it. They may cradle it between them or support it on their backs, so it can breathe. A whole loyal group could easily be killed off by whalers.

Maternal instincts are also highly developed. Because a calf is born underwater, the mother must get it to the surface before it drowns. Often another whale will help. The mother nudges it gently until the baby is confident with its swimming usually after about 30 minutes. If the calf is stillborn, she may support it on her back until it literally rots away.

Mother whales behave like human beings. They have been seen fondling their babies. Their flippers are used like hands to clasp, coax and discipline. Jacques Cousteau describes in his book an incident in which a mother swam after her calf and pushed it away from a ship. She then struck it several times with her flippers. “The blows had every appearance of being slaps and were obviously administered to teach the baby not to confuse a ship s hull with a mother s stomach ”.

(a) How are whales regarded as by Jacques Cousteau? [1]

(b) To what does the writer testify his book? [1]

(c) What do whales always show in every encounter with them? [1]

(d) How do they exhibit their strong family ties? [1]

(e) How do they behave in times of stress? [1]

(f) What happens when a member is wounded or sick? [1]

(g) What happens when a calf is born? [1]

(h) Why are mother whales compared to human beings? [1]

Question 2:
Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow :

1. Slowly, but surely, two Indian rockets were bom at Thumba. They were christened Rohini and Menaka, after the two mythological dancers in the court of Indra, the king of the sky. The Indian payloads no longer needed to be launched by French rockets. Could this have been done but for the atmosphere of trust and commitment which Prof. Sarabhai had created? He made every man feel directly involved in problem solving. By the very fact of the team members’ participation, the solutions becante genuine and earned the trust of the entire team resulting in total commitment towards implementation.
2. Sarabhai was matter-of-fact. He used to talk with us in an honest and objective manner. Sometimes I found him making things look more positive than they actually were, and then charming us by his almost magical powers of persuasion. When we were at the drawing board, he would bring someone from the developed world for a technical collaboration. That was his subtle way of challenging each one of us to stretch our capabilities.
3. At the same time, even if we failed to meet certain objectives, he would praise whatever we had accomplished. Whenever he found any one of us attempting a task for which he did not have the capability or skill, Prof. Sarabhai would reassign activity in such a way so as to lower pressure and permit better quality work to be performed. By the time the first Rohini-75 rocket was launched from TERLS on 20 November 1967, almost each one of us was in his own groove.
4. Early next year, Prof. Sarabhai called me urgently in Delhi. By now I was accustomed to Prof. Sarabhai’s working methods. He was always full of enthusiasm and optimism. In such a state of mind, sudden flashes of inspiration were almost natural. On reaching Delhi, I contacted Prof. Sarabhai’s secretary and was asked to meet him at 3.30 a.m. at Hotel Ashoka. Delhi being a slightly unfamiliar place, with an unfriendly climate for someone like me, conditioned to the warm and humid climate of South India, I decided to wait in the hotel lounge after finishing my dinner.
5. I have always been a religious person and I maintain a working partnership with God. I was aware that the best work required more ability than I possessed and therefore I needed help only God could give me. I made a true estimate of my ability, raised it by 50 per cent and put myself in God’s hands. In this partnership, I always received all the power I needed, and have actually felt it flowing through me. Today, I can affirm that the kingdom of God is within you in the form of this power, to help achieve your goals and realise your dreams.
   (a) After whom were the two rockets at Thumba named? [2]
   (b) What kind of atmosphere had Prof. Sarabhai created at work to achieve his aim? [2]
   (c) What special qualities did Prof. Sarabhai possess? [2]
   (d) What was the writer’s relation with God? [2]
   (e) Why was Delhi an unfamiliar place for the writer? [1] (f) How did Prof. Sarabhai react to people who failed to achieve the target? [1]
   (g) Which word in the passage means ‘enchanting’? [1]
   (h) Which word in the passage means ‘to start to send’? [1]

SECTION B : WRITING AND GRAMMAR (30 MARKS)

Question 3:
You are Saira Banu, the librarian of your school, AMU Girls’ High School, Aligarh. You have been asked to place an order for some books for the school library. Write a letter to the Sales Manager, Pratham Book House, Main Road, Noida, placing an order for the books that you need. [8]

Question 4:
One night you were sleeping soundly when a touch woke you up. Rubbing your eyes in surprise, you saw an alien near your bed. Write a short story in about 200-250 words regarding your visit to their planet in a spaceship. [10]

Question 5:
Fill in the blanks by choosing the most appropriate words from the given options. [4] Today is (a)___________ Independence Day of our country, but there is no independence in my life. My entire life revolves (b)___________ pleasing all other and doing (c)__________ work. There is no time for myself. I have forgotten (d)____________ it means to sit, relax and
have a cup of tea.

CBSE Sample Papers for Mid Team Exam Class 10 Communicative English – Paper 1-5

Question 6:
The following passage has not been edited. There is an error in each line. Write the incorrect word and the correct word in the answer sheet against the correct blank Number. [4]

CBSE Sample Papers for Mid Team Exam Class 10 Communicative English – Paper 1-6

Question 7:
Rearrange the following jumbled up words into meaningful sentences. [4] (a) star / anywhere / a rarity / another star / it is / near / for a / to come
(b) thieves / postman / catch / a / letters / policemen / the / and / brings
(c) uniforms / postman / blue / wears / policemen / a / the / khaki / a / uniform / and / wear
(d) carry / letters / carries / policemen / a / canes / the / postman / a bag / while / in

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] The postmaster didn’t receive his own letter all that day. He worried all night and getting up at three, went to sit in the office. “When Ali comes at 4 o’clock, ” he mused, “I will give him the letter myself. ”
(a) Why was the postmaster waiting for Ali after turning him away earlier?
(b) Which letter is the postmaster waiting for?
(c) What does he ultimately realize?
(d) How did he spend the night?

OR

So till the judgement, that yourself arise
You live in this and dwell in lover’s eyes
(a) What is ‘judgement’? Who delivers it?
(b) Who will survive? How?
(c) Explain — “dwell in lover’s eyes.”
(d) Who is ‘you’ in the above lives?

Question 9:
Answer the following questions in about 30-40 words : [8] (a) “Ali displays qualities of love and patience.” Give evidence from the story to support the statement.
(b) Why does the poet refer to Time as being sluttish?
(c) What impression do you form of the postmaster after reading the story, ‘The Letter’?
(d) Describe how the monuments and statues brave the ravages of time.

Question 10:
Answer one of the following questions in about 100-120 words : [8]

Bring out the irony in the title of the play ‘The Dear Departed’?

OR

Compare and contrast Henry’s character with that of his wife. Support your answer with evidence from the play?

Question 11:
Answer one of the following questions in about 200-250 words : [10]

Why do you think Anne feels distant from her mother? Is her mother entirely to blame? Give reasons.

OR

Mr. van Daan’s behaviour revealed his inflated ego at the dinner table. Discuss the activities which annoyed Anne and other inmates.

OR

How did the visit to Baltimore change Helen’s life in a great way?

OR

What was the significance of the role played by Helen’s mother in her life?