HS English Question – 2023, WBCHSE -

The questions related to MCQ and SAQ should be answered in the specific printed TABLE accordingly in the Answer Script.

(Multiple Choice Type Questions)

1. Complete each of the following sentences, choosing the correct option from the alternatives provided: [1 x 12 = 12]

PROSE

(i) The co-passenger, who boarded the train at Saharanpur noticed the girl’s

(a) hair (b) beautiful eyes

(ii) After reading the namaz before dawn, Abdul Kalam’s father used to

(a) meet people of different religions

(b) go to the mosque

(d) go to the coconut grove.

(iii) The bearded man wanted to

(a) meet the Tsar

(b) meet the hermit

(d) hunt in the wood.

(iv) The lady picked the boy up holding his

(a) shirt (b) trousers

POETRY

(v) The stream flows through the valley

(a) in a zigzag course (b) at a slow pace

(vi) Green twigs that rise from close to the ground are

(a) curled (b) crooked

(vii) The ‘eye of heaven’ refers to the

(a) sun (b) clouds

(viii) The grasshopper presents live

(a) music of spring (b) music of winter

DRAMA

(Either 4 from THE PROPOSAL or 4 from CHARANDAS CHOR)

(ix) Lomov bought his dog, Guess, from

(a) Chiranova (b) Mironov

(x) Natalya claimed that Guess was like a

(a) stallion (b) buffalo

(xi) Chubukov tells Natalya that someone has come in their drawing room who is

(a) a farmer (b) a land owner

(xii) “What a weight off my shoulders.” – The weight refers to

(a) Lomov (b) Guess

(xiii) As his gurudakshina, the guru takes from the smoker

(a) rupee (b) gamchha

(xiv) Charandas is alleged of being too rude by the

(a) priest (b) minister

(xv) Charandas wore everything that the minister wore except

(a) a kurta (b) shoes

(xvi) The last thing that Charandas steals from the temple is

(a) a gold idol (b) gold ornaments

(Short Answer Type Questions)

2. Answer any four questions from PROSE and four questions from POETRY, of the following questions, each in a complete sentence: [1×8=8]

PROSE

(i) Who wounded the bearded man?

(ii) How did the narrator come to know that the girl wore slippers?

(iii) What is the full name of Mrs Jones?

(iv) What were the necessary things Kalam’s father provided to his family?

(v)What could the narrator see in his mind’s eye?

(vi) In which language were the prayers chanted in the mosque?

(vii) Where did Mrs Jones work?

(viii) Where did the hermit live?

POETRY

(ix) What does Keats celebrate in the poem The Poetry of Earth’?

(x) What causes the bark of the tree to bleed?

(xi) What do the rough winds do?

(xii) What do the birds do when they are faint with the hot sun?

(xiii) Which insect’s song can be heard on a lone winter evening?

(xiv) What does the poet compare his friend to?

(xv) Where does the strength of the tree lie?

(xvi) What is seen on the side of the soldier?

(Subjective / Descriptive Type Questions)

3. Answer any two questions from PROSE, two questions from POETRY and one question from DRAMA of the following questions, each in about 100 words: [6 x 5 = 30]

PROSE

(i) “One of the most vivid memories of my early childhood is of the two men …”

(a) Whose childhood memories are referred to?

(b) Who were the two men?

(d) What answer did the narrator get regarding his answer on prayer? [1+2+1+2]

(ii) “Can you tell me – did she keep her hair long or short ?”

(a) Who is the speaker? To whom is he speaking?

(b)Who is being referred to? Where did the girl get down?

(iii) What were the three questions the Tsar wanted to get answers of? Why did he need the answers? Why was he not satisfied with the answers of the learned men? Whom did the Tsar finally decide to consult? [3+1+1+1]

(iv) “Eat some more, son,”

Who is the speaker? Who is been spoken to? What food was offered by the speaker? What feature of the speaker’s character is revealed here? [1+1+2+2]

POETRY

(v) “It takes much time to kill a tree.” Why does it take much time to kill a tree? How is a tree finally killed? [3+3]

(vi) “A soldier, very young, lies open-mouthed.” Describe the place where the soldier lies. Why does he lie ‘open- mouthed’? Who takes care of him and how? [2 +1+3]

(vii) What type of a poem is “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day ?” Who is the poet ? Whom does the poet speak of? What does the poet say about the person referred to? [1+1+1+3]

(viii) “He rests at ease beneath some pleasant weed…” From which poem is the line quoted? Who is the poet? Who ‘rests at ease’ and when? Describe his activities. [1 + 1 + 2 + 2]

DRAMA

(ix) (a) “I’ve come to you, honoured Stepan Stepanovitch, to trouble you with a request.” Who has come to Chubukov with a request? What does Chubukov assume about the purpose of his visit? What was the request? How does Chubukov react to that request? [1+2+1+2]

(b) What were the promises Charandas made to his Guru? [6]

(x) (a) “Oxen Meadows, it’s true, were once the subject of dispute, but now everybody knows that they are mine.” Who is the speaker? Who is spoken to? What information did the speaker give to establish the ownership of Oxen Meadows? What did the person speak to say in response to the speaker’s argument? [1 + 1 + 2 + 2]

(b) “Am I under obligation to save everyone’s sons and daughters ?” Who is the speaker? What prompted him to make such a remark? What is your impression of the man who made this remark? [1+ 2+ 3]

(xi) (a) Sketch the character of Natalya Stepanovna. [6]

(b )”Sadhu maharaj ! Did you see a thief run past?”

Who made this query? What answer did he get from the person spoken to? What did the person notice when he was about to quit the place? [1+ 3+2]

4. (a) Do as directed : [1 x 6 = 6]

(i) “Was I bothering you when I turned that corner ?” asked the woman (Change into indirect speech)

(ii) The hills are covered with wild dahlias. (Change the voice)

(iii) The poetry of earth is never dead. (Turn into an affirmative sentence)

(iv) It’s not true. I’ll prove it. (Join into a single sentence using noun clause)

(v) Having taken leave of the wounded man, the Tsar went out into the porch and looked around for the hermit. (Split into simple sentences)

(vi) The door was open. (Turn into a negative sentence)

(b) Fill in the blanks with appropriate articles and/or prepositions : [1/2 x 6 = 3]

They called their goodbyes and………..(i)……………train pulled out……….(ii)…………the station. As I was totally blind…….(iii)……. the time, my eyes sensitive only……………(iv)………… light and darkness, I was unable………(v)………..tell what ……..(vi)………girl looked like.

(c) Correct the error in the following sentence by replacing the underlined word with the right one from the options given below: [1×1 = 1]

In fact, I would say mine was a very securely childhood, materially and emotionally.

[Options: secured, secure, security]

5. Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow:

The Sunderbans can, no doubt, boast about its tigers. It is home to the largest number of tigers in India, and perhaps in the world.

Behaviourally, the Sunderban tigers differ from the tigers of other Indian forests. Daily tides and ebbs have made the topography of the Sunderbans hostile.

During high tides, a large portion of the Sunderbans get submerged and during ebbs, thick alluvium is left behind. This makes the terrain slushy. It becomes very difficult for tigers to hunt. Therefore sometimes, the tigers of the Sunderbans have to depend on fish and crabs for food. Due to the hostile ecosystem, tigers here are expert swimmers and are often seen crossing even broad rivers. The other characteristic of the tigers of the Sunderbans is that due to their estuarine habitat, they drink saline water.

The Project Tiger is headed by the Field Director who is a Conservator. His team includes a Deputy Field Director who is of the rank of a Divisional Forest Officer, an Assistant Field Director who is of the rank of Additional Divisional Forest Officer and twelve Range Officers.

(a) State whether the following statements are True or False. Write ‘T’ for True and ‘F’ for False. (You need not write the sentences, write the numbers only) [1 x 4 = 4]

(i) The behaviour of Sunderban Tigers is different from the tigers of other Indian Forests.

(ii) Daily tides and ebbs help Sunderbans to have a friendly topography.

(iii) The slushy land of Sunderbans helps tigers to hunt.

(iv) Tigers of Sunderbans drink saline water.

(b) Answer each of the following questions in about 30 words: [2 x 3= 6]

(i) When does it become very difficult for tigers to hunt?

(ii) What has made the tigers expert swimmers?

(iii) Who are the members of Project Tiger?

6. (a) Write a report on how the 75th year of Independence Day was celebrated in your school. The report is to be published in your school magazine. (Word limit: 150 words) [2 + 8 = 10]

(b) Write a letter to the Editor of an English Daily, sharing your concern on the overwhelming effect of social media on young minds. (Word limit: 150 words) [2 + 8 =10]

All learners, from babies to grandmothers learn better with stories. Stories are energizers. When someone says, “Let me tell you a story,” listeners perk up their ears and smile. Even hard truths can be taught easily through stories. Stories told and read at home and school, both educate and entertain. Using stories in the classroom is fun, but the activity should not be considered trivial or frivolous. Indeed, there is strong support for storytelling in the method of teaching. Stories – whether they are fairy tales, folk tales, fables or others, based on real-life incidents, experienced by students themselves – can help learners appreciate and respect the culture and values of various groups of people. Stories can also lead to harmony and understanding. Stories from around the world are excellent to use in the classroom, but teachers also need to use stories from the students’ own culture and heritage. Using local or national stories ensures that the students know the background and culture, or may even know the story already. This familiarity helps the students reduce stress and anxiety in the classroom.

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