STATE
LEVEL SSLC PREPARATORY EXAMINATION – 1, 2026
Subject
: First Language — ENGLISH
Subject Code : 14-E Date
: 05. 01. 2026
Time : 10-00 A.M. to 1-15 P.M. Max. Marks :
100
General Instructions to the Candidate:
1. This Question Paper consists of 45 questions.
2. Follow the instructions given against the
questions.
3. Figures in the right hand margin indicate maximum
marks for the questions.
4. The maximum time to answer the paper is given at
the top of the question paper. It includes 15 minutes for reading the question
paper.
I. Four alternatives are given for each of the
following questions / incomplete statements. Choose the correct alternative and
write the complete answer along with its letter of alphabet: 6x1=6
1. Della leaped up like a little singed cat.
The figure of speech used here is
(A) Simile (B) Metaphor (C)
Personification (D) Alliteration
Ans: (A) Simile
2. .................... Taj Mahal is
..................... finest mausoleum in the world.
The appropriate articles to be filled in the blanks are
(A) The, a (B) The, the (C) A, the (D) A, an
Ans: (B) The, the
3. Their gifts were no doubt wise ones
...................... .
The appropriate question tag to be added here is
(A) were they ? (B) weren’t they ? (C) did they ? (D) didn’t they ?
Ans: (B) weren’t they?
4. The idea of a balanced diet is very difficult to
.................. to anyone who is illiterate.
The correct form of the phrasal verb to be filled.
(A) put through (B) put across (C)
put in (D) put up
Ans: (B) put across
5. He was struck .................... his enemies with a
heavy stick.
The suitable preposition to be filled in the blank is
(A) to (B) for (C) by (D) at
Ans: (C) by
6. Gandhiji, more than any other leader,
................... India’s struggle.
The correct form of the verb to be filled in the blank is
(A) symbol (B) symbolises (C) symbolized
(D) symbolising
Ans: (C) symbolised
II. Observe
the relationship and complete the pair 4x1=4
7.
Subsistence
: Existence :: Bewildered : ...................
8.
To
cut the infected part : Amputate :: To counteract poison : ..................
9.
Rode
: Road :: Night : ........................ .
10.
Literate
: Illiterate :: Perturbable : ................... .
Ans:
7. Subsistence : Existence :: Bewildered : Confused
8. To cut the infected part : Amputate :: To counteract
poison : Antidote
9. Rode : Road :: Night : Knight
10.
Literate
: Illiterate :: Perturbable : Imperturbable
III. Rewrite as directed 3x1=3
11.
Change
the voice of the sentence:
The engineers have built a new bridge.
Ans: A new bridge has been built by the engineers.
12.
Frame
a question to get the underlined words as an answer:
St. Francis Xavier passionately prayed that his mind might always remain
pure.
Ans: Who did passionately pray that his mind might
always remain pure?
13.
Change
the following Assertive into Exclamatory sentence:
You have really done a great thing.
Ans: What a great thing you have really done!
IV. Answer
in a sentence each 4x1=4
14.
Who
was Mr. Van Daan ?
Ans: Mr. Van Daan was one of the Jewish refugees who
hid with Anne Frank’s family during the Nazi period.
15.
How
are television and shopping connected ?
Ans: Television influences people’s shopping by
advertising products and creating a desire to buy them.
16.
Who
opens the door of the cake shop when Pierre knocks on it for the first time ?
Ans: M. Gaultier opens the door of the cake shop when
Pierre knocks on it for the first time.
17.
What
does the expression “picked up hand and jaws” suggest ?
Ans: It suggests a reaction of great shock, surprise,
and disbelief.
V. Answer in
two to three sentences each
18.
What
does the ball in the sky battling against the chief invention mean here ?
Ans: It means that
according to the theory of gravity, the ball had to crash down immediately. It
humorously describes the ball’s trajectory as it battles the force of nature
before falling.
19.
The
author is being critical regarding the present day buyers. Elucidate.
Ans: The author
criticses present day buyers for being easily influenced by advertisements.
They buy things they do not really need and waste money blindly.
20.
How
was the majestic neck humbled by the hunter ?
Ans: The majestic neck, symbolizing the proud Sarus
crane’s beauty and grace, was humbled by the hunter’s cruel act of shooting it,
reducing the once graceful bird to a lifeless body.
21.
What
comparison does the poet give to explain that he is approaching the night of
his life ?
Ans: The poet compares old age to the evening or night
of the day. This comparison shows that his life is nearing its end.
22.
Why
does the speaker resent the wall ? What does he want ?
Ans: The speaker resents the wall because it separates
people and creates misunderstanding. He wants the wall to be broken so that
people can live freely and peacefully.
23.
Why
had the doctor given the pirates the stockade and the treasure map?
Ans: The doctor gave the pirates the stockade and the
treasure map to confuse and trap them. His plan was to save Jim and protect the
treasure.
24.
How
does Ulysses help his men to escape from the cave ?
Ans: Ulysses makes his men cling to the bellies of
sheep. When the sheep go out of the cave, the Cyclops does not notice the men
and they escape safely.
VI. Rewrite
as directed 3x2=6
25.
Combine
the following sentences using:
a) As soon as
b) No sooner ............... than
She told him her story. He agreed to help her.
Ans:
a) As soon as she told him her story, he agreed to help
her.
b)
No
sooner had she told him her story than he agreed to help her.
26.
Change
the following sentence to the other two degrees of comparison:
Henry David Thoreau is one of the greatest philosophers in America.
Ans:
Comparative: Henry David Thoreau is greater than most
other philosophers in America.
Positive: Very few philosophers in America area as
great at Henry David Thoreau.
27.
Change
the following sentence to reported speech:
He said to us, “Are you going away today ?”
Ans: He asked us if/whether we were going away that
day.
VII. Answer
in five to six sentences each 6x3=18
28.
How
did Anne describe her life in Annexe ?
Ans: Anne described
life in the Annexe as very difficult and full of fear. The people living there
had to remain silent during the day to avoid being discovered. They suffered
from lack of freedom, fresh air, and privacy. Food was scarce and often
tasteless. In spite of these hardships, Anne tried to stay hopeful and
continued writing her diary. Her diary became her best friend in the lonely
Annexe.
29.
According
to Basavanna, how does a poor man and rich man express their devotion to God?
Ans: According to Basavanna, a poor man shows his devotion through sincere love and honest work. He cannot offer costly gifts, but his heart is pure. A rich man expresses devotion by building temples and offering gold and wealth. Basavanna believes that God values inner devotion more than outer show. True devotion comes from the heart, not from riches.
30.
Why
did Wordsworth say that moving the boat is an act of stealth ? Why was he
guilty of his act ?
Ans: Wordsworth says
moving the boat was an act of stealth because he took it secretly without
permission. He rowed quietly, feeling both excitement and fear. When a huge
mountain seemed to rise before him, he felt guilty and small. Nature appeared
powerful and threatening to him. His guilt came from realizing that he had
acted wrongly and disrespectfully toward nature.
31.
Explain
why and how Buttoo learnt archery by himself.
Ans: Buttoo was rejected by Dronacharya because he belonged to a lower caste. Though disappointed, he was determined to learn archery. He made a statue of Dronacharya and practised before it daily. Through hard work and self-discipline, he became an excellent archer. His dedication shows his strong will and respect for learning. Buttoo’s success came from self-effort, not formal teaching.
32.
How
does Chakravarthi Rajagopalachari justify the killing of Karna ?
Ans: Rajagopalachari justifies Karna’s killing by saying that war follows harsh rules. Karna had supported injustice by standing with Duryodhana. He had insulted Draupadi and encouraged cruel acts. Though Karna was brave and generous, his loyalty was to the wrong cause. Therefore, his death was necessary for the victory of justice. Rajagopalachari views it as tragic but unavoidable.
33.
What
are the different principles that make an act a moral one, as told by M. K.
Gandhi ?
Ans: According to Gandhiji, truth is the most important moral principle. Non-violence should guide all human actions. An act must be done with good intention and selflessness. Moral actions should serve society, not personal gain. Gandhiji also believed that inner voice or conscience guides moral behaviour. Thus, morality comes from truth, love, and service.
OR
How did Pasteur develop the idea of immunity ?
Ans: Pasteur observed
that people who recovered from certain diseases did not get them again. He experimented
with weakened germs on animals. These weakened germs did not cause disease but
protected the body. He concluded that the body develops resistance after
exposure. This led to the idea of vaccination. Pasteur’s discovery helped in
preventing many deadly diseases.
VIII.
Explain with reference to the context 5x3=15
34.
“Only
some more work from your hands.”
Ans:
Lesson: A wrong man in workers’ Paradise
Author:
Rabindranath Tagore
Context:
This line is spoken by an idler to a busy girl. The line signifies the girl’s
shift from being purely productive to appreciating art and beauty. When the
girl saw idler, she asked him whether he had a work to do. She asked him to
have a work. At that time idler asked this statement.
35.
“She
got her curling iron and lighted the gas.”
Ans: Lesson: The Gift of the Magi
Author:
O. Henry
Context: These words describe Della before she
cuts and sells her hair. She is preparing herself and gathering courage to
sacrifice her beautiful hair. Della does this to buy a gift for her husband
Jim. The line shows her love and readiness to sacrifice.
36.
“Can
you tell me did she keep her hair long or short.”
Ans:
Lesson: The Eyes Are Not Here
Author:
Ruskin Bond
Context: This
line is spoken by the narrator to a new passenger. The blind narrator asks this
after the girl he was travelling with departs, trying to visualize her hair
length, only to learn she was having hair long or short.
37.
“Love
swells like Solway, but ebbs like its tide.”
Ans:
Poem: Lochinvar
Poet: Sir
Walter Scott
Context:
The line is spoken by the Lochinvar, when he arrives at Netherby Hall to stop
his beloved Ellen from marrying another man. He encounters Ellen’s father, who
demands to know if he has come in peace, for war, or for a dance. In response
Lochinvar makes this statement regarding the nature of love and affection.
38.
“What
woman’s happier life repays
Her for those months of wretched days ?”
Ans:
Poem: CLM
Poet:
John Masefield
Context:
The poet recalls how his mother’s life made him a man. He remembers her pain
and sufferings that she underwent during child birth. Therefore he feels that
he is indebted to her and to woman-kind in general. But he regrets that he has
not repaid her sacrifice by doing anything to womankind.
IX. Quote
from memory 1x4=4
39.
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.
OR
My legs
............................................
........................................................
........................................................
.................................. ever 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.
X. Answer in
seven to eight sentences each 3x4=12
40.
What
ethical values does Abraham Lincoln want his son to learn in school while dealing
with different kinds of people in society ?
Ans: Abraham
Lincoln wants his son to learn honesty and courage in school. He asks the
teacher to teach him that not all people are fair, but there are good people
too. The boy should learn to work hard and earn honestly. He must learn to
listen to everyone but follow the truth. Lincoln wants him to be gentle with
gentle people and tough with tough people. He should learn to accept failure
and enjoy success with humility. The boy must have self-confidence and stand
for justice. Above all, he should become a good and responsible human being.
41.
What
agent is C. V. Raman talking about ? How does he bring out its contrasting
nature ?
Ans: C. V. Raman is
talking about the human spirit or the spirit of adventure. He says that this spirit encourages
people to explore and discover new things. It helps people to climb mountains,
cross oceans and make scientific inventions. At the same time, it can also be
dangerous if it is used carelessly. Raman explains that the same spirit can
create as well as destroy. It can lead to progress and development. But if it
is misused, it can cause harm and problems. Thus, he shows both the positive and
negative sides of the adventurous spirit.
OR
Why does Gandhi say that moral
act should be done without compulsion ?
Ans: Gandhi
says that a moral act should come from one’s own heart. If a person is forced
to do something, it loses its moral value. True morality means doing the right
thing willingly. Actions done out of fear or pressure are not truly good. A
person should act with honesty and self-discipline. Moral actions should be
based on inner conscience. When we choose good actions freely, they become
meaningful. Therefore, Gandhi believes that real morality comes from freedom
and self-realisation.
42.
What
was troubling the French wine growers ? How did Pasteur solve their problem ?
What is the name of the process which was the solution to the wine-growers ?
Ans: The
French wine growers were worried because their wine was getting spoiled
quickly. It was turning sour and causing great financial loss. They did not
know the reason behind this problem. Louis Pasteur studied the issue carefully
using experiments. He discovered that tiny germs were responsible for spoiling
the wine. He suggested heating the wine at a certain temperature to kill the
germs. This method prevented the wine from getting spoiled. The process is
called Pasteurization, named
after Louis Pasteur.
OR
Write a short note on the views
expressed by the writer on the tragic comedy of development. Why does he call
it tragic comedy ?
Ans: The author says it a deep irony as that our
country is heading towards private development as opposed to public
development. While pockets of private prosperity are growing, there is an
inexorable impoverishment of the resources that belong to the public. We come
across many sleek, expensive cars, but our roads are still in a sorry shape.
Luxurious resorts are springing up everywhere but lung spaces like playgrounds
and parks are shrinking. Essential services are rapidly becoming private and
common people have to pay high prices for them. Therfore it is really a
tragic-comedy that we are becoming consumers of increasingly expensive services
and goods. It leads to commercial exploitation.
XI. Read the
passage and answer the questions 1x4=4
(2x2)
43.
One of the most
famous monuments in the world, the Statue of Liberty, was presented to the
United States of America by the people of France. The great statue, which was
designed by the sculptor Auguste Bartholdi, took ten years to complete. The
actual figure was made of copper supported by a metal framework which had been
specially constructed by Eiffel. Before it could be transported to the United States,
a site had to be found for it and a pedestal had to be built. The site chosen was
an island at the entrance of the New York Harbour. By 1884, a statue which was
151 feet tall, had been erected in Paris. The following year, it was taken to pieces
and sent to America. By the end of October, 1886, the statue had been put together
again and it was officially presented to the American people by Bartholdi. Ever
since then, the great monument has been a symbol of liberty for the millions of
people who have passed through New York Harbour to make their homes in America
a) Of what has the great
monument been a symbol ever since its erection ?
Ans: Ever since its erection, the Statue of Liberty has been a symbol of
liberty (freedom) for millions of people who came to America through New York
Harbour.
b) How was the statue of Liberty made ?
Ans: The Statue of Liberty was made of copper and supported by a metal
framework specially constructed by Eiffel. It was designed by the sculptor
Auguste Bartholdi.
XII. Write
an essay of about 18-20 sentences on any one of the following topics
1x5=5
44.
a)
Growth of Science and Technology in India
Ans: Science and technology have developed
rapidly in India after independence. India has made great progress in space
research and satellite technology. ISRO has launched many successful missions
like Chandrayaan and Mangalyaan. Technology has improved communication through
mobile phones and the internet. Digital India has made many government services
available online. Science has also helped farmers through modern agricultural
methods. Medical science has improved healthcare and increased life expectancy.
Indian scientists have contributed to vaccines and new medicines. Technology
has created many job opportunities for young people. Online education has made
learning easy and accessible. Digital payment systems have made financial
transactions faster and safer. Transportation has improved with modern trains
and highways. Renewable energy projects like solar and wind power are growing
in India. Technology has helped during disasters through better warning systems.
Research institutions and universities are promoting innovation. Start-ups and
young entrepreneurs are using technology creatively. However, technology should
be used responsibly and ethically. Equal access to technology is important for
rural and urban people. The growth of science and technology is shaping India’s
bright future.
45.
b)
Influence of mass media on students.
Ans: Mass media plays
an important role in the lives of students today. Television, newspapers, radio
and the internet provide useful information. Social media helps students stay
connected with friends and teachers. Educational videos and online classes
support learning. News channels help students understand current affairs. Mass
media also spreads awareness about social issues. It encourages students to
develop opinions and critical thinking. Many students learn new skills through
online platforms. Motivational stories inspire students to work hard. However,
too much media exposure can distract students from studies. Excessive use of
mobile phones may reduce concentration. Some online content may not be suitable
for young minds. Fake news and misinformation can confuse students. Therefore,
students must learn to use media wisely. Parents and teachers should guide them
about responsible usage. Limiting screen time is also very important. Mass
media can improve knowledge when used positively. It should be a tool for
learning, not a source of addiction. Balanced use of mass media helps students
grow into informed citizens.
XIII. Letter
Writing 1x5=5
45.
Imagine
you are Prashant / Poorvi, studying in Government High School, Mangalore.
Write a letter to the Commissioner, Mangalore City Corporation, regarding the
water scarcity in your area.
Ans:
Prashant
/ Poorvi
Government High School
Mangalore
05 February 2026
To
The Commissioner
Mangalore City Corporation
Mangalore
Subject: Regarding water
scarcity in our area
Respected
Sir/Madam,
I am a student of Government
High School, Mangalore. I am writing this letter to bring to your kind notice
the serious problem of water scarcity in our locality. For the past few weeks,
the residents have been facing great difficulty due to irregular water supply.
Sometimes, we do not receive water even for basic needs like drinking, cooking and
cleaning.
Students,
elderly people and working families are suffering a lot. We are forced to
depend on private water tankers, which is expensive for many families. The
situation becomes worse during school days as we are unable to manage our daily
routine properly.
I kindly request you to look
into this issue immediately and take necessary steps to ensure regular and
sufficient water supply to our area. I hope you will take quick action to solve
this problem.
Thanking
you.
Yours
faithfully,
Prashant / Poorvi
Sd/-
Student, Government High School, Mangalore
OR
Imagine you are Pratham / Pratheema,
studying in Government High School, Magadi.
Write a letter to your younger brother, advising him to take part in sports and
games.
Ans:
Pratham
/ Pratheema
Government
High School
Magadi
05 February 2026
Dear Brother,
I
hope you are doing well and studying happily. I am writing this letter to give
you some advice. Along with studies, it is very important to take part in
sports and games. They keep our body fit and our mind fresh. When we play
games, we learn discipline, teamwork, patience and confidence. Sports also reduce
stress and make us active and energetic.
Do
not spend all your time only on books or mobile phones. Try to play outdoor
games like cricket, football, volleyball or any sport you like. Participate in
school competitions without fear. Winning is not important; learning and
enjoying are more important.
Balance
both studies and sports. I am sure you will become strong, healthy and
confident. Convey my regards to our parents. Write back soon.
Yours
lovingly,
Sd/-
Pratham / Pratheema
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