KARNATAKA SCHOOL EXAMINATION AND ASSESSMENT BOARD,
MALLESHWARAM, BENGALURU – 560 003
MARCH/APRIL 2024 EXAMINATION – 1
Subject: First Language — ENGLISH
(Regular Fresh / Private Fresh /
Regular Repeater / Private Repeater / NSR / NSPR)
Date: 25. 03. 2024 Max. Marks: 100
I. Multiple choice questions: 6
× 1 = 6
1. We tried hard, .................... The
appropriate question tag to be added is
(A) did we? (B)
didn’t we?
(C) don’t we? (D) do we?
Ans: (B) didn’t we?
2. .................. Ganga is ..................
sacred river.
The appropriate articles to be filled in the
blanks are
(A) A, the
(B) An, the
(C) The, an (D)
The, a
Ans.: (D) The, a
3. Life is a dream. The figure of speech used here
is
(A) Simile (B)
Metaphor
(C) Personification (D) Alliteration
Ans.: (B) Metaphor
4. The word that takes ‘un’ as a negative prefix
is
(A) logical (B)
disciplined
(C) polite (D)
educated
Ans.: (D) educated
5. Give the noun form of the word ‘confuse’.
(A) confusingly (B)
confusion
(C) confused (D)
confusing
Ans.: (B) confusion
6. The plural of the word ‘photo’ is
(A) Photos (B)
Photoes
(C) Photo (D)
Photoess
Ans.: (A) Photos
II. Observe the relationship in the first pair of words
and complete the second pair accordingly in the following: 4
× 1 = 4
7. Eye diseases: Oculist:: Nose diseases: ............
Ans.: Rhinologist
8. Ransack: Search:: Chronicle:
...................... .
Ans. : Story
9. Mean : Meant :: Fight : .......................
.
Ans. : Fought
10. Hope : Hopeful :: Glory :
....................... .
Ans. : Glorious
III. Rewrite as directed: 3 ×
1 = 3
11. Change the voice of the sentence:
The mason is building the wall.
Ans. : The wall is being built by the mason
12. Frame a question to get the underlined word as
answer :
The milk turns sour by a thunderstorm.
Ans. : What turns the milk sour ?
13. Rewrite the following sentence using ‘so ...
that ...not’ :
The students were too tired to sit in the class.
Ans. : The students were so tired that they could not sit in the class.
IV. Answer the following questions in a sentence each
: 4 × 1 = 4
14. According to the narrator, which is the best
month to visit Mussoorie ?
Ans. : October
15. Where did both the teams spend the evening
after the cricket match ?
Ans. : Rem. The Three Horse-Shoes
16. Why was Pierre pinched the previous month ?
Ans. : For begging
17. What did Drona seek from Buttoo as recompense
?
Ans. : Buttoo’s right hand thumb
V. Answer the following questions in two to three sentences
each : 7 × 2 = 14
18. In the poem Sonnet 73, which are the four
stages of man’s life that the poet is speaking about ? Where does the poet
imagine himself ?
Ans. : The four stages of man’s life that the poet is speaking about are
childhood, youth, old age and death. The poet imagines himself as old age.
19. Why does Drona bless, that men will link
Butto’s name to Self-help, Truth and Modesty ?
Ans. : Self help : Learnt archery
himself.
Truth : Acknowledged that he had been inspired by
Drona as he received inspiration from him.
Modesty : Trusted / believed that his master would
not set a task too hard for him – kept his promise.
20. How do you know that the female crane was desperate
to bring the male bird back to life ?
Ans. : The female crane was desperate to bring the male bird back to
life: with her beak she kissed a few feathers, picked the ones that wind had
not taken away and sat to hatch the blood stained feathers into a toddling
chick.
21. According to Cheriyan Alexander, how can life
be made meaningful and sustainable ?
Ans. : One should turn to the ‘commodities’ of the spirit — the arts,
culture, community life. This is ultimately a spiritual and philosophical decision
for both individuals and communities to make.
22. Why was Ben left marooned on the island ?
Ans. : Ben left marooned on the island because Ben had been on Cap’n
Flint’s ship when the treasure was buried. Cap’n Flint had taken six men ashore
with him to hide the booty, and murdered them all so its location remained a
secret. Ben had returned on another ship to look for the treasure three years
back, when they could not find it, his ship-mates left him marooned on the
island.
23. Explain briefly to show that Cyclops were not civilized
in the art of cultivation.
Ans. : Cyclops were giant
shepherds that neither sow nor plough. The earth untilled produced for them
rich wheat, barley and grapes. Yet they had neither bread nor wine.
24. Why did the narrator remark that the girl had
an interesting face ?
Ans. : The narrator remarked that the girl had an interesting face
because the narrator had become quite daring. It was a safe remark. Few girls
can resist flattery.
VI. Rewrite as directed : 3 × 2 = 6
25. Change the following sentence to the other two
degrees of comparison :
Sumudra Gupta was one of the greatest Indian kings.
Ans. : Positive : Very few Indian
Kings were as great as Samudra Gupta.
Comparative : Samudra Gupta was greater than most other Indian Kings.
26. Change the following sentence into simple and complex
:
I saw a girl and she was very beautiful.
Ans. : Simple : I saw a beautiful girl.
Complex : I saw a girl who was very beautiful
27. Change the following sentence to reported
speech :
The Prince said, “It gives me great pleasure to be
here this evening.”
Ans. : The Prince said that it gave him great pleasure to be there that
evening.
VII. Answer the following questions in five to six
sentences each : 6 × 3 = 18
28. Summarise Basavanna’s opinion and message in the
poem ‘Vachana’.
Ans. : The rich people can build temples of gold. The poor man cannot do
what the rich man can do. His legs are compared to the pillars of the temple-body
the shrine-head is compared to a dome or gopura of the temple. Our body houses
the soul and is therefore the temple of God. All material things are subject to
destruction in the course of time. The, spiritual person who moves according to
God’s will be permanent.
29. How did the speaker and his neighbour mend the
wall ?
Ans. : They keep the wall between them as they go. To each the boulders
that have fallen to each, some are loaves and some are nearly balls. They have
to use a spell to make them balance. Their fingers become rough handling the stones,
just another outdoor game.
30. Explain how Lord Krishna recounts the acts of Karna
and the Kauravas which violated fair play and chivalry. ( Any three )
Ans. : When Duryodhana, Duhsasana and Sakuni dragged Draupadi to the
Assembly and insulted her. Persuaded Dharmaputra to gamble and cheated him. Refused
to give Yudhishthira his kingdom. Conspired with the wicked men who sought to poison
and kill Bhima. Acquiesced ( accepted without protest ) in the plot to burn the
Pandavas alive when sleeping in the palace of wax. When violent hands were laid
on Draupadi, Karna enjoyed the sight and mocked at her. When they slew young
Abhimanyu.
31. The narrator was haunted by a mysterious presence
within him after the stolen boat experience. Justify.
Ans. : The narrator left the boat and he went homeward in a serious
mood. After that spectacle, for many days his brain worked with a dim and
undetermined sense. Unknown mode of
being took over his thoughts. There hung a darkness – solitude or blank desertion.
No familiar shapes remained, no pleasant images of trees, sea or sky, no
colours of green fields. But he was troubled by huge and mighty forms, that did
not live, like living men moved slowly through his mind. During the day and his
dreams.
32. How did the young people and students respond
to a Hamburg student in March 1957 ?
Ans. : More than 2000 young
people eagerly answered his appeal. Hundreds peddled on bikes 120 kilometres in
lashing rain. Standing in front of one of the mass graves, a seventeen year old
school girl expressed what all felt. Anne Frank was younger than them when her life
so horribly ended. She had to die because others had decided to destroy her
race. Never again among them must such a diseased and inhuman hatred arise.
33. Louis Pasteur had a very busy and interesting
life. Explain.
Ans. : He not only made exciting discoveries about germs but he was able
to use his discoveries about germs. Used his discoveries in very practical
ways. Worked hard in his laboratory with test tubes. All the time working to help people who
suffered in some special way from disease. Helped brewers, breeders of
silk worms, and cow keepers, all of whom were trying to carry on important
industries in France. He was always very proud of being able to help his
country in this way.
OR
What was the attitude of men and women before the
entry of the wrong man in Workers’ Paradise ?
Ans: In Worker’s Paradise everything was found except leisure. Man
exclaimed that they hadn’t a moment to spare. Women whispered, let’s move on,
time’s a
flying. All exclaimed that time was precious. They complained that their
hands were full, they made use of every minute and yet those words made them
happy and exalted.
VIII. Explain with reference to the context : 5 × 3 = 15
34. “What do you want of me ?”
Ans. : Lesson : A Wrong Man in a Workers’ Paradise
Author : Rabindranath Tagore
Context: The girl of the silent torrent
to the idler /painter / wrong man. When the girl sets out for the torrent the following
day, her hurrying feet were a little less hurried than before. For a new sense
seemed to have awakened in her, a sense that seemed to have no meaning and no
purpose at all. She saw the painter standing and asked the above question in
confusion.
35. “Please God, make him think I am still
pretty.”
Ans. : Lesson — The Gift of Magi
Author — O’Henry
Context: Della whispered to herself.
As Della waited for Jim’s return, she heard his step on the stair away
down on the first flight, and she turned white for a moment. She had a habit of
saying little silent prayers about the simplest everyday things and whispered
the above sentence.
36. “Thief, dog, cut-purse, reptile, rapscallion, slubberdegullion
! What have you done with my pie ?”
Ans. : Lesson — The Pie and the Tart
Author — Hugh Chesterman.
Context: Gaultier asked Jean. After Pierre sent Jean
to fetch the tart. Jean informs Marion that Gaultier had sent him to get the
cranberry tart. Marion goes in to get it. When Gaultier hears Jean he runs out
from the shop, begins to cudgel him and says the above line.
37. “She is won ! We are gone, over bank, bush,
and scaur.”
Ans. : Poem — Lochinvar
Poet — Sir Walter Scott
Context: Lochinvar said this. Lochinvar manages to fool Helen’s parents
by saying that he had attended the wedding with the intention of only having a
dance with Helen and drinking a cup of wine. As they danced, they reached the
hall-door, he put Helen on the horse and rode away saying the above line.
38. “My mother’s life made me a man.”
Ans. : Poem — C.L.M.
Poet — John Masefield.
Context: The poet said this. He says that he was born at the cost of his
mother’s life. She destroyed a part of her life to make him a Man.
IX. Quote from memory : 4
39. My legs are
......................................
........................................................
........................................................
......................................... shall
stay.
Ans. :
My legs are pillars,
the body the shrine
The head a cupola
of gold.
Listen, O Lord of the meeting rivers
things standing shall fall,
but the moving ever shall stay
OR
And it grew ......................................
........................................................
........................................................
...................................... it was
mine.
Ans: And it grew both day and night,
Till it bore an apple bright ;
And my foe beheld it shine,
And he knew that it was mine.
X. Answer the following questions in seven to eight
sentences each : 3 × 4 = 12
40. List the values which the poet-father wants
the teacher to teach his son. ( Any eight )
Ans. : There
are both good and bad people in the world. It is better to be away from envy. Never
be afraid of bullies. It is better to fail than to cheat. Knowledge is gained
through books and through deep thoughts. To be gentle with gentle and tough
with tough. To have faith in his own ideas even if others do not agree. Not to
blindly follow the majority. Listen to all and be able to differentiate the truth
and falsehood. Not to be ashamed of tears. Stand to fight for right things. Not
to sell his strength and intelligence to the highest bidders. Teach him how to
laugh with cynics, and to be careful with the people, who show too much sweetness.
To have sublime faith in mankind.
41. “Water is the basis of all life.”
Substantiate.
Ans. : Water is the basis of all life, animals, plants
or human-beings. Water has the power to carry silt which is very necessary for agriculture.
C. V. Raman shows that water is the elixir of life. He gives us the example of
the Libyan desert where there is no vegetation and not a single living thing
visible. On the other hand in the immediate neighbourhood, the Nile valley is
teeming with vegetation and people. The water has shaped the history and civilization
of our earth. The presence of water makes the country side beautiful and it has
enabled agriculture to thrive. Water enriches soil and makes it fertile. If
water is used judiciously, it can improve our economy by generating
electricity.
OR
How did Pasteur show that air is full of dust
particles ?
Ans: Pasteur filled some bottles with soup. Took some to a hotel bedroom
where the air hardly ever changed. Broke their necks off so that air could
enter freely. Sealed them up again after a few minutes. Took some bottles into
a field and did the same. Result : Bottles opened in the bedroom — Completely mouldy
— Those opened in the field — mouldy but not that bad — those opened on the mountain
— no germs at all.
42. Gandhiji says that it is not enough for a
moral act to be done with a good intention, but it should have been done
without compulsion. Explain with examples.
Ans. : There is no morality in my act, if I rise early out of the fear
that, if I am late for my office, I may lose my situation. There is no morality
in my living a simple and unpretentious life if I have not the means to live
otherwise. But plain, simple living would be moral if, though wealthy, I think
of all the want and misery in the world about me and feel that I ought to live
a plain, simple life and not one of ease and luxury. It is only selfish, and
not moral, of an employer to sympathize with his employees or to pay them
higher wages lest they leave him. It would be moral if the employer wished well
of them and treated them kindly realizing how he owed his prosperity to them. This
means that for an act to be moral it has to be free from fear and compulsion.
OR
The approach of the Sexton, the Postman, the
Blacksmith and the Baker to the game is typical of their profession. Explain.
Ans: Sexton works for a Church, the postman, a Government official. A
Blacksmith a person who makes and repairs things made out of iron and baker is
someone who makes food by using an oven or another concentrated heat source. Sexton
and the Postman do not take risk as they are Government officials. These men
behave typical to their professions. They are not aggressive in taking runs or
bowling.
XI. Read the following passage carefully and
answer the questions given below : 1 × 4 = 4 (2 × 2)
43. Many of us believe that science is something ‘modern’, though the
truth is that man has been using science for a very very long time. However, it
has probably had a greater affect on human lives in the last 25 or 30 years
than in the hundreds of years since the invention of the plough or the wheel.
The marvellous gifts of science, which make modern life so comfortable as well
as exciting, are there for everyone to see. But what cannot always be clearly
seen are the problems that science has brought us, which were unknown to man a
few years ago. Science is certainly very modern if we consider some of the
problems it has created for us today. One of these problems, which may become worse
in the years to come, is that of ‘Jet lag’. With the coming of modern jets,
flying at more than 900 kilometres an hour, the world has become very small indeed. Today you can leave
New Delhi at 6.00 in the morning, eat an early breakfast in the sky, over Kabul
and be in London in time for lunch, by about 1.00 p.m.
Questions :
a) What is the false belief and truth about science
?
Ans: a) Many of us believe that science is something ‘modern’ though the
truth is that man has been using science for a very, very long time.
b) How has the world become very small ?
Ans. : b) With the coming of modern jets, flying at more than 900
kilometres an hour, the world has become very small indeed.
XII. Write an essay of about 18 – 20 sentences on any
one of the following topics : 1
× 5 = 5
44. a) Noise pollution — A growing concern.
Ans: The Unheard Threat: Noise
Pollution
While air and water pollution dominate environmental concerns, noise
pollution is a growing threat often underestimated. Unlike these visible
pollutants, noise pollution disrupts our lives as unwanted and excessive sound.
Traffic, construction, and industrial activities bombard us with a constant
din, exceeding safe decibel levels.
This cacophony has severe consequences. Prolonged exposure damages
hearing, leading to tinnitus and even permanent loss. It disrupts sleep
patterns, causing fatigue and impacting concentration. Furthermore, it elevates
stress levels, increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases. The impact
extends beyond humans. Animals rely on sound for communication and navigation.
Noise pollution disrupts their breeding patterns, hinders their ability to
locate prey, and can even drive them away from their habitats.
Combating noise pollution requires a multi-pronged approach. Urban
planning needs to prioritize sound reduction with noise barriers and green
spaces. Regulations on horn use and construction timings are crucial.
Additionally, individuals can adopt quieter practices and promote awareness. By
acknowledging the gravity of noise pollution and acting, we can create a
quieter, healthier environment for all.
b) Internet — Advantages and disadvantages.
Ans.: The
Double-Edged Sword: The Internet's Advantages and Disadvantages
The internet has
revolutionized our world. It offers a treasure trove of information at our
fingertips, from educational resources to breaking news. Communication leaps
across borders with email, messaging, and video calls, fostering connection and
collaboration. E-commerce simplifies shopping, while online entertainment keeps
us amused.
However,
this digital landscape is not without its thorns. Security breaches threaten
our personal information, and the constant barrage of content can be addictive,
leading to wasted time and neglecting real-world interactions. The spread of
misinformation flourishes online, challenging critical thinking and fueling
social division. Ultimately, the internet is a powerful tool. By harnessing its
advantages responsibly and being aware of its pitfalls, we can navigate this
digital age and reap its benefits while minimizing its drawbacks.
XIII. Imagine you are Abhin / Aditi of Government High
School, Kolar.
45. Write a letter to your father seeking
permission to go on a trip arranged by the school and informing him of the
expenditure involved. 1 × 5 = 5
Ans:
Abhin Kumar
Government High
School, Kolar
25th
March, 2024
Dear
Papa,
I hope
this letter finds you well. I am writing to you today with an exciting
opportunity! Our school, Government High School, Kolar, is organizing a trip to
Mysore from 28/03/2024 to 31/03/2024. I am very interested in going on this
trip and would love your permission to participate.
The trip
itinerary includes educational visits, sightseeing places, activities. It is a
great chance to learn more about history, culture, etc., experience a new
place, and bond with my classmates and teachers outside of school.
The
total cost for the trip is ₹ 10000. This includes travel, accommodation, meals,
entrance fees, etc. I understand this is a significant amount, and I am happy
to discuss ways I can contribute, like using some of my saved money or helping
with any household chores before and after the trip.
I have
attached the permission slip and a detailed brochure with the trip itinerary
and cost breakdown for your reference. Please let me know your decision as soon
as possible. I am really looking forward to hearing from you.
Yours
loving son,
Abhin
OR
Imagine you are Rimone / Rishona of Government
High School, Mandya.
Write a letter to the Editor of a newspaper, advocating
the establishment of a ‘Free Library’ in your town.
Ans. :
Rishona
Rai
Government
High School,
Mandya
25th
March, 2024
To
The
Editor,
Times of
India,
Mandya
A Beacon
of Knowledge: The Urgent Need for a Free Library in Mandya
I am
writing to express my ardent support for the establishment of a free library in
our town, Mandya. While Mandya boasts a rich culture and vibrant community, it
lacks a dedicated space for fostering a love for reading and learning. A free
library would be a transformative addition to our town, enriching the lives of
residents of all ages.
Currently,
access to books is limited to personal collections or expensive bookstores.
This disadvantages students and knowledge seekers who cannot afford to buy
books regularly. A free library would bridge this gap by providing a vast
collection of books on diverse topics, catering to students, professionals, and
leisure readers alike.
Beyond
access to books, a library offers a space for quiet study, group discussions,
and hosting educational events. It fosters a sense of community, allowing
people to connect through their shared love of reading. It can become a hub for
after-school activities, keeping children engaged and learning outside the
classroom.
The
benefits extend to the overall development of Mandya. A well-read population is
better equipped to think critically, solve problems, and participate actively
in society. Furthermore, a library can become a tourist attraction, promoting
Mandya as a town that values education and intellectual pursuits.
I urge
the concerned authorities, along with our community leaders, to take immediate
steps to establish a free library in Mandya. This investment in our future will
reap rich rewards for generations to come.
Thank
you for your time and consideration.
Yours sincerely,
Rishona