COUNCIL OF HIGHER SECONDARY EDUCATION, MANIPUR

SAMPLE QUESTION, 1999

ENGLISH

 

Full Mark - 100

Pass Mark - 33

Time : 3  hours

The figures in the margin indicate full marks for the questions

Answer in your own wards as far as practicable

SECTION-A

(PROSE)

1. (A)

  Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow :
Mahmood was like the banyan, his hands gnarled and twisted like the roots of the ancient tree. Ali was like the young mimosa planted at the end of the courtyard. In two years both he and the tree would acquire the strength and confidence that are characteristic of youth.

The voice in the street grew fainter, and Mahmood wondered if he was going to fall asleep and dream, as he often did, of a beautiful, powerful kite resembling the great white bird of the Hindus. Garuda, God Vishnu's famous steed.
He would like to make a beautiful new kite for little Ali
He had nothing else to leave the boy.

  
(i) Why was Mahmood compared to a banyan ? 1
(ii) What was Ali like ? 1
(iii) What did old Mahmood often dream of ? 1
(iv) Strength and confidence- characterise--.
(Supply the missing word)		 1
(v) Find out the words in the passage which mean
  1.  twisted and rough
  2.  horse.
 1+1=2
(vi) Choose the correct answer from the alternatives given and write it out. Mahmood wanted to make a beautiful kite for Ali because
  1. he could never make an ugly one
  2. he promised to make a beautiful kite for the boy
  3. Ali was very special to him
  4. Ali would accept nothing but a beautiful kite.
 1
OR
  (B)

The fateful night of 15 April was bitterly cold. Not the slightest puff of breeze, however, ruffled a flat sea. The Titanic was doing between twenty-one and twenty-two knots without vibration.
   There was every indication, on her performance, that she was easily capable of setting up an Atlantic record, though no a tempt was being made to do so. This was the time, not for record breaking, but for testing and observation. Already. from captain to deck-boy, the crew of the Titanic were satisfied that their ship was supreme, So, too was Mr. Joseph Bruce Ismay, Chairman and managing director of the White star Line, who was among the passengers.
   The passengers themselves, after four days at sea, were in high spirits. They had indulged in all the many joys afforded by the wonder ship and now they were anticipating the thrill of New York's welcome. There was music and dancing, card playing, mild flirtations and all the social whirligig of the luxury liner.

  
(i) Why was the night of 15 April called fateful ? 1
(ii) How was the sea that night ? 1
(iii) What was the reason for the Titanic not trying to set a record ? 1
(iv) What was the impression of the crew about the performance of the Titanic ? 1
(v) How were the passengers after four days at sea ? 1
(vi) Point out the word in the passage which means
(a) disturbed.		 1
    (vii) "Social whirligig" means
  1. members of a higher social order
  2.  mixture of all kinds of people
  3. continuous round of socialisation.
  4. different kinds of social entertainment.
 1
2.    Answer in about 100 words :
Write how William Hazlit advises his son about reading.
OR
Describe how Mr. Abel Merry weather decides to teach his daughters a lesson at the end of the play.		 8
3.   Answer the following questions in 20-25 words each :  
(i) How was agriculture practised in primitive times ? 2
(ii) How has science affected war today ? 2
(iii) Why was kite-flying the sport of kings ? 2
(iv) "Be British !" Why did the captain say so ? 2
(v) "Ill names beget ill blood" Explain the statement. 2

SECTION-B

(POETRY)

4.

 Read the extract and answer the questions that follow in single sentences :
(A) My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still, My father does not feel my arm, he had no pulse nor will, The ship is anchored safe and sound, its voyage closed and done.
From fearful trip the victor ship comes with the object won.

  
(i) Why was Lincoln called a captain ? 1
(ii) Why did he have 'no pulse nor will’? 1
(iii) What do you understand by the phrase, 'victor ship' ? 1
(iv) Choose the correct answer from the four alternatives and write it. The poet says that the captain did not answer because :
  1.  he was tired on account of the voyage.
  2. he was just dead.
  3. he did not hear the call of the poet.
  4. He was absorbed in serious thoughts.
1
  OR  
  (B) Ethereal minstrd! Pilgrim of the sky !
Does thou despise the earth where cares abound? Or while the wings aspire, are heart and eye Both with thy nest upon the dewy ground ?		  
(i) Why is the skylark called ‘ethereal’? 1
(ii) Why does the poet ask the bird if it despises the earth ? 1
(iii) What does the poet mean by the expression ‘The wings aspire’? 1
(iv) Choose the correct answer from the four alternatives and write it again.
The poet says that the bird will return to earth because :
  1.  it will get tired after some time
  2.  it cannot enjoy the beauty of the sky for long
  3.  it cannot forget its relationship with the earth
  4.  it wants to start a new life on earth again.
 1
  OR  
  (C) O Youth ! for years so many and sweet
‘Tis known that Thou and I were one
I’ll think it but a fond conceit
It cannot be, that Thou art gone!
(i) What does ‘thou’ refer to ? 		1
(ii) How does the poet speak about his relation with Youth ?  1
(iii) Why does the poet say ‘thou art gone’ ? 1
(iv) Choose the correct answer from the alternatives given and write it.
The poet says that youth is gone because :
  1.  it cannot be his sole possession
  2.  no man can remain young for ever
  3.  youth favours the rich
  4.  he welcome old age better.
1
5.

Answer the following in about 100 words :Why does the soldier think so highly of England. his mother.land ?
OR
How does the poet depict a magic atmosphere in "A Light Exists in Spring" ?

 8
6.  Answer the following questions in about 20-25 words each :  
  (i) How did the highwayman take leave of Bess in their last meeting? 2
  (ii) How do You explain the title of the poem "Rumination" ? 2
  (iii) 8 What makes Lawrence feel so. honoured ? 2
  (iv) “Leave to the nightingale her shady wood" why does the poet say this? 2


SECTION-C

(SUPPLEMENTARY READER)

7.  Answer the following question in about 100 words How did Jim and Della plan to buy presents for each other ?
OR
How did Quinquart dupe Robichon and win Suyanne Brouette ?		 8
8.  Answer the following questions in about 20-30 words :
(i) How do you explain the title of the story "LoveAcross The Salt Desert" ? 		2

(ii) "When night came an ominous silence brooded over the whole area-no movement and no sound anywhere." Why was It so?

 3

(iii) Why did Goldsmith say that the man in black was the only man he knew "who seemed ashamed of his natural benevolence”?

 3

(iv) How did the man in black help the woman in rags, win one child in her arms, and another on her back ?

2
(v) Describe Najab's first meeting with Fatimah. 2


SECTION-D

(WRITING SKILL)

9.

 Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow:
A fox once became very hungry. He was making a frantic search for food and came across a vineyard where clusters of luscious and aromatic grapes were hanging up. The fox was much elated and thought of satisfying his hunger. Then he tried to reach them standing on his hind legs but failed twice. Then he paused for a moment and started leaping as high as he could. But all his attempts came to nothing. The much-coveted grapes were beyond his reach. He became fatigued and sat looking wistfully at the grapes. At last, thinking that all his attempts to have them would be futile, the fox went away with the consolation that grapes were sour to taste.
(i) Make notes of the passage.
(ii) Develop the points into a summary.

3+3
=6
10.

 Mr. Kumar Singh of Uripok Polem Leikai, Imphal writes a letter to the Principal of Presidency College, Calcutta seeking information about admission of his son into Degree Course there. Reproduce the Probable form of the letter
.OR
Mr. Gopal Singh of Thoubal Higher Secondary School writes a letter to his friend Mr. John Gangte of Modern School, Imphal describing a science exhibition held at his school. Reproduce the probable form of the letter.

7
 11.

 Mr. Sunil Sharama of IMPHAL NEWS visits a village to investigate outbreak of malaria. He sends a report to his Editor. Reproduce the probable form of the report.
OR
Give a description of a traffic policeman.

 7
12.

The Principal of Government School for Girls wants to call a meeting of guardians and teachers to discuss important academic problems of his school. Prepare a notice to this effect in about 25-30 words.

3
13.

Write an essay on one of the following topics in about 150-200 words :
(a) Manipur as a tourist spot.
Outline: Natural beauty of Manipur-possibility of developing various places to attract tourists-tourism
as an important source of income.

 12
  (b) Social Service and Students.
Outline : Need for social service-ways in which students can do social service-conclusion. 		12
  (c) Failures Are The Pillars of Success.
Outline: Meaning of the proverb-failures make people wiser -failures common in our lives-conclusion.		 12

Model Answer