English Communicative Delhi Set 1 2013-2014 English Medium Class 10 Question Paper Solution

The Perfect Dog
In the summer of 1967, when I was ten years old, my father caved into my persistent pleas and took me to get my own dog. Together we drove in the family station wagon far into the Michigan countryside to a farm run by a rough-hewn woman and her ancient mother. The farm produced just one commodity—dogs. Dogs of every imaginable size and shape and age and temperament. They had only two things in common: each was a mongrel of unknown and distinct ancestry, and each was free to a good home.
I quickly decided the older dogs were somebody else’s charity case. I immediately raced to the puppy cage. “You want to pick one that’s not timid,” my father coached. “Try rattling the cage and see which ones aren’t afraid.”

I grabbed the chain-link gate and yanked on it with a loud clang. The dozen or so puppies reeled backward, collapsing on top of one another in a squiggling heap of fur. Just one remained. He was gold with a white blaze on his chest, and he charged at the gate, yapping fearlessly. He jumped up and excitedly licked my fingers through the fencing. It was love at first sight.
I brought him home in a cardboard box and named him Shaun. He was one of those dogs that give dogs a good name. He effortlessly mastered every command I taught him and was naturally well-behaved. I could drop a crust on the floor and he would not touch it until I gave the okay.
Relatives would visit for the weekend and returned home determined to buy a dog of their own, so impressed were they with Shaun – or “Saint Shaun”, as I came to call him. Born with the curse of an uncertain lineage, he was one of the tens of thousands of unwanted dogs in America. Yet by some stroke of almost providential good fortune, he became wanted. He came into my life and I into his – and in the process, he gave me the childhood every kid deserves.

The love affair lasted fourteen years, and by the time he died I was no longer the little boy who had brought him home on that summer day. I was a man, out of college and working across the state in my first real job. Saint Shaun had stayed behind when I moved on. It was where he belonged. My parents, by then retired, called to break the news to me. My mother would later tell me, “In fifty years of marriage, I’ve only seen your father cry twice. The first time was when we lost Mary Ann” – my sister, who was still-born. “The second time was the day Shaun died.”

Saint Shaun of my childhood. He was a perfect dog. At least that’s how I will always remember him. It was Shaun who set the standard by which I would judge all other dogs to come.
(Marley and Me by John Grogan)

1.1 Based on your reading of the passage, complete the following statements. 

(a) The dog farm was run by ________________________________.

(b) The author did not want an old dog because ______________________________.

(c) He fell in love with the dog the moment the latter _______________________.

(d) Shaun became so obedient that he ______________________ until the author allowed him.

(e) After visiting them, their relatives wanted ________________________.

(f) When Shaun died even _______________________.

1.2 Find words from the passage which mean the same as the following. 

(a) urgent requests (para 1)

(b) falling (para 3)

Read the following passage:

In India, eating organic food is more of a style statement than due to health worries because the stuff is expensive. But people who can, do indulge in not only organic vegetables but even organic eggs laid by 'happy hens', who are allowed to roam around freely whereas 'unhappy hens' are kept in coops. Then there are companies that have installed music channels in their cowsheds and the milk from those sheds are sold at a marked up price since it has more nutritional value because the animals are happy thanks to lilting 24×7 music. We don't know yet any farmer using music to improve his crop quality, but then you never know : plants are known to respond to music.

Why such pickiness about food ? These days, the huge number of TV shows and articles that we see and read on food provide bread and butter for the specialist. But instead of decoding food, its sources and what has gone into growing it, isn't it much better to enjoy what's on the plate ?

Complete the statements given below by choosing the correct options from those that follow:

(a) According to a Stanford University study, organic food in relation to conventional food is________.
  (i) less nutritious
  (ii) more nutritious
  (iii) very conventional
  (iv) as nutritious

(b) The study will not be welcomed by _________.
  (i) farmers of conventional food
  (ii) makers of pesticides
  (iii) all sectors
  (iv) exporters of organic food

(c) We can save some hard cash by _________.
  (i) buying organic food
  (ii) not buying organic food
  (iii) going to the shop
  (iv) not buying food with pesticides

(d) Music channels are installed in the cowshed because the _________.
  (i) cows then give more milk
  (ii) milk is sold at a higher price
  (iii) milk becomes more pure
  (iv) workers becomes happy

(e) In the second paragraph, the author's attitude to the people who eat food sourced from 'happy' animals is that he _________.
  (i) is happy with them
  (ii) is unhappy with them
  (iii) is laughing at them
  (iv) wants crops to be grown similarly

(f) One benefit of organic food is that __________.
  (i) it is fashionable to eat
  (ii) only rich people can afford it
  (iii) it is less contaminated with pesticides
  (iv) even poor people can afford it

(g) The word 'contaminated' means ________.
  (i) adulterated
  (ii) for adults
  (iii) containing
  (iv) not healthy

You are Geet / Geeta, Head Boy / Head Girl, Vanskriti School, Shimla. Your school is going to organise a trip to Leh-Ladakh during the summer vacation. Write a notice in 50‒60 words for the school notice board giving the details of the trip. Imagine all the details.

You are Sumit, a student of class X. Your father has been transferred to another city resulting in a change of school for you. You have been attending your new school for a week now. Write a diary entry in 50‒60 words on your thoughts and feelings about your old school and new school.

Given below are notes on the life of Ustad Rahi Khan. Write a biographical sketch of his in about 100 words:
    Born – March 21^st, 1926 in Sitapur, U.P.
    His ancestors – famous musicians
    At the age six – moved to Varanasi
    Received training  – under Ustad Amir Ali Khan – a sitar player
    Started performing at the age of 14
    Performed in India and abroad
    Awarded Padam Shri in 1967
    ​Established a music school at Varanasi
    Died – August 21^st, 2004
    One of the best examples of Hindu–Muslim Unity

You are Ankita. You recently attended a seminar on 'Effective Listening Skills' and found it to be of great value. Write an email to your friend, Anita, in 120–150 words, giving details of the seminar and sharing what you learnt in the seminar. You can use the points given below:

  * Venue and participants
  * Listening is as important as speaking
  * Listening – a tool in good communication
  * Builds concentration
  * Important for a student

Write an article in about 120 words on 'River pollution.' You may use the clues given below:

  * rivers, biggest source of water
  * victims of pollution
  * industrial waste
  * city waste drained into them
  * religious ceremonies–idol immersion
  * garlands and flowers
  * ashes after cremation poured into rivers

Complete the paragraph given below by filling in each of the blanks with one word only with the help of options that follow:

While peeling the sweet lime and oranges (a) .................... careful so that the segments are not mashed. The lettuce leaves are (b) .................... into pieces. They are kept in ice-cold water (c) .................... ten minutes.
 

Complete the paragraph given below by filling in the blanks with the help of options that follow:

The rapid changes that India (a) .................... over the last few decades have been welcomed by (b) .................... . It is an enthusiasm which (c) .................... .

(a) (i) is enduring
     (ii) was endured
     (iii) has been enduring
     (iv) will endure

(b) (i) most of us
     (ii) many of them
     (iii) few of people
     (iv) the lot of people

(c) (i) should be kept alive
     (ii) have been kept alive
     (iii) will be keeping alive
     (iv) will be enlivened 

Rearrange the following words / phrases to form meaningful sentences:

(a) more than / are child workers / the Indian population / five per cent of /

(b) engaged / in agriculture / tens of thousands / are chiefly /

(c) work / in urban areas / many / of industries / in a variety /

In the passage given below there is an error in each line. Write the error and the correction in your answer sheet.

Read the conversation given below and complete the paragraph that follows:
 

 
Jatin asked David if he could (a) ........................ . David replied that he would have but he needed to (b) ........................ . Jatin then asked (c) ........................ .

Read the extract given below and answer briefly the questions that follow:

".................. its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed.

(a) What do "lifeless things" refer to?
(b) How do we know that he was a good sculptor?
(c) How did the heart feed the passions?

Read the extract given below and answer briefly the questions that follow:

"I hadn't the shade of an idea, but at the time that didn't worry me in the least. You see, I had often been like that before...."

(i) Who is 'I' ? What did he not have an idea about?
(ii) Why was he not worried?
(iii) What had actually happened earlier to make things right for him?

Read the extract given below and answer briefly the questions that follow:

"The noble Brutus
Hath told you Caesar was ambitious:
If it were so, it was a grievous fault,
And grievously hath Caesar answered it."

(a) Who is the speaker? Who are 'you'?
(b) How did Caesar pay for being ambitious?
(c) What argument did the speaker give to show that Brutus was wrong in his judgement of Caesar?

How did Sebastian Shultz communicate with Michael? What did he say in his last message?

What is the dilemma that the poet faces when he sees the snake?

Why does Calpurnia try to stop Caesar from going to the senate?

'Not that I loved Caesar less, but I loved Rome more.'

Brutus says this as he justifies to the Romans why Caesar was assassinated by them. Do you agree with Brutus? Justify your answer in 120‒150 words by giving examples from the play.

Why values does Brutus display as he says this line to the Romans ?

Describe in 120‒150 words Margot and Anne's relationship with their parents.

Write a character sketch of Mrs. Van Dann in 120‒150 words.

Attempt a character sketch of Peter in 120‒150 words.

How did Helen Keller enjoy her visit to the World fair? (120‒150 words)

Attempt in 120‒150 words a character sketch of Miss Sullivan.

What role did Mr. Gilman play in Helen Keller's life? (120‒150 words)