CLASS X (40 MARKS)

Question 1Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:Nillie was a young and pretty girl, dreaming day and night of being married. Once she wassitting in her room, gazing with exhausted , half-closed eyes into the mirror. She was pale,tense, and as motionless as the mirror.Looking at Nellie’s motionless eyes and parted lips, one could hardly say whether she wasasleep or awake, but nevertheless she saw the outlines of a head, a face, eyebrows and beard.It was he, the destined one, the object of her dreams and hopes. The destined one was forNellie everything - the significance of life, personal happiness, career and fate. Outside him, ason the grey background of the looking-glass, all was dark, empty, meaningless. Then she sawherself living under the same roof with him, her life merged into his. Months and years flew byagainst the grey background.Now Nellie saw herself one winter night knocking at the door of Stepan Lukitch, the doctor andrushing headlong into his house. Stepan Lukitch was lying on his bed. Without uttering a word,Nellie sat down and began to cry.“My husband is ill;” she sobbed out. “For mercy’s sake come quickly. Make haste,”And pale, exhausted Nellie, gasping and sobbing, began describing to the doctor her husband’sillness.“But I implore you, doctor,” Nellie moaned in despair.“Go to the district hospital,” She heard the doctor’s voice.“That’s impossible; That is more than twenty miles from here, and time is precious. You areduty bound to come; you cannot refuse to come’ if you refuse, i will summon you before theCourt.” Nellie felt that she was uttering a false and undeserved insult, but for her husband’ssake she was capable of forgetting logic for others. In reply to her threats, the doctor gave wayand Nellie travelled in the carriage with the doctor.At last, she was at home. “Wait a moment, I will be back directly,” she said to the doctor. On herreturn from her husband, Nellie found the doctor lying down. And to her horror the doctor wasas delirious as her husband. “I must go for the district hospital,” she decided.She was suffering in body and soul, then she realised how her husband every year was in needof money to pay the interest for the mortgage to the bank. She saw her children, theeverlasting apprehension of colds, fever, and bad marks at school. And then Nellie saw herhusband dying. She saw the coffin, the candles and the wreath.“Why is it, what is it for?” she asked, looking blankly at her husband’s face.Something fell from Nellie’s hand and knocked on the floor. She jumped up and opened hereyes wide. One looking-glass she saw laying at her feet.She looked into the looking-glass and saw a pale, tearstained face. “I must have fallen asleep,”she thought with a sigh of relief.

(a) For each word given below choose the correct meaning (as used in the passage) from theoptions provided: [3]

(i) merged

Question 1 Read the given passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:

1. My favourite season has always been the monsoon. It is the time of refreshing, and all nature rejoices in it, and I rejoice in nature. During this season, in the halls of the white ants, there is eager excitement, for theyoung queens of the future, in their long and gauzy wings, like bridal veils,are crowding to the door, and each one starts on her long journey in the questof a new home. There is joy above ground, for the crow and the kite, thelizard, the little owl, have gathered to feast. No deduction need be made fromthe joy of the white ants on account of the joy of the birds which cometogether to feed on them, for those which escape know nothing about it, andthose which are eaten know less; so, happiness reigns everywhere.

2. Within a few days of the first rain, the roadside rivulets are full of little fish, arrived from I know not where, to grow fat on the earthworms. When night comes on, great moths fly past. The fireflies light their lamps and hold their silent concerts, the occupants of each tree flashing in unison and creating street lighting in the woods. At every turn, there is something new to see. Out of earth and rock, the magic touch of the monsoon has brought life and greenery. You can see the broad-leaved vines grow and thetwining creepers work their snaky way, linking tree to tree and binding branchto branch.

3. Nothing, however, lives for itself alone. All this luxuriance oftender foliage has scarcely appeared when the caterpillar is ready to eat it,for the butterfly has laid her eggs on the naked branch, before the leaves wereout. Green crickets with insatiable appetites, are under the leaves,trying not to be seen, and birds with hungry families are hunting for them.

4. The monsoon however, brings with it, some inconveniences; but theyare for the most part connected with our civilization. Books grow limpand their backs come off, leprosy attacks gloves and all manner of silk andsatin finery, a marvellous forest of mould, springs from the bodies ofthe tiniest butterflies in my collection, rats infest the house, and basins andsoup plates stand about on the carpet to catch the drops from the leaky roof.

5. During the monsoon, the fear of getting wet is universal – thegentleman runs because the rain will spoil his clothes, but the coolie runs asfast because he has none. And what you realize is that at this time, birds andbeasts sleep in the open air. You cannot help wondering how they manage. Whenthe pitiless rain is pouring, hour after hour, and the water is streaming downthe trees, I wonder where the poor monkeys are and what they are doing. Arethey all huddled together, with their heads buried in each other’s bosoms, andthe water dripping down their long tails?

6. Many birds lay their eggs during the heaviest month of rain, and sitin open nests, pelted with drops as big as their heads. It is true thatthe feathers of birds, oily and smooth and arranged one over another liketiles, with an underlayer of soft, warm down, form a costume for allweather, to which the art of man has never been able to make any approach. Buta bird or beast can be wet to the skin when the weatherman is registering teninches of rain in twenty-four hours.

(b) Choose thecorrect option for the questions given below: [10 ]

(ii)implore

Question 1 Read the given passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:

1. My favourite season has always been the monsoon. It is the time of refreshing, and all nature rejoices in it, and I rejoice in nature. During this season, in the halls of the white ants, there is eager excitement, for theyoung queens of the future, in their long and gauzy wings, like bridal veils,are crowding to the door, and each one starts on her long journey in the questof a new home. There is joy above ground, for the crow and the kite, thelizard, the little owl, have gathered to feast. No deduction need be made fromthe joy of the white ants on account of the joy of the birds which cometogether to feed on them, for those which escape know nothing about it, andthose which are eaten know less; so, happiness reigns everywhere.

2. Within a few days of the first rain, the roadside rivulets are full of little fish, arrived from I know not where, to grow fat on the earthworms. When night comes on, great moths fly past. The fireflies light their lamps and hold their silent concerts, the occupants of each tree flashing in unison and creating street lighting in the woods. At every turn, there is something new to see. Out of earth and rock, the magic touch of the monsoon has brought life and greenery. You can see the broad-leaved vines grow and thetwining creepers work their snaky way, linking tree to tree and binding branchto branch.

3. Nothing, however, lives for itself alone. All this luxuriance oftender foliage has scarcely appeared when the caterpillar is ready to eat it,for the butterfly has laid her eggs on the naked branch, before the leaves wereout. Green crickets with insatiable appetites, are under the leaves,trying not to be seen, and birds with hungry families are hunting for them.

4. The monsoon however, brings with it, some inconveniences; but theyare for the most part connected with our civilization. Books grow limpand their backs come off, leprosy attacks gloves and all manner of silk andsatin finery, a marvellous forest of mould, springs from the bodies ofthe tiniest butterflies in my collection, rats infest the house, and basins andsoup plates stand about on the carpet to catch the drops from the leaky roof.

5. During the monsoon, the fear of getting wet is universal – thegentleman runs because the rain will spoil his clothes, but the coolie runs asfast because he has none. And what you realize is that at this time, birds andbeasts sleep in the open air. You cannot help wondering how they manage. Whenthe pitiless rain is pouring, hour after hour, and the water is streaming downthe trees, I wonder where the poor monkeys are and what they are doing. Arethey all huddled together, with their heads buried in each other’s bosoms, andthe water dripping down their long tails?

6. Many birds lay their eggs during the heaviest month of rain, and sitin open nests, pelted with drops as big as their heads. It is true thatthe feathers of birds, oily and smooth and arranged one over another liketiles, with an underlayer of soft, warm down, form a costume for allweather, to which the art of man has never been able to make any approach. Buta bird or beast can be wet to the skin when the weatherman is registering teninches of rain in twenty-four hours.

(b) Choose thecorrect option for the questions given below: [10]

(iii) apprehensive

(b) (Question 1 Read the given passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:

1. My favourite season has always been the monsoon. It is the time of refreshing, and all nature rejoices in it, and I rejoice in nature. During this season, in the halls of the white ants, there is eager excitement, for theyoung queens of the future, in their long and gauzy wings, like bridal veils,are crowding to the door, and each one starts on her long journey in the questof a new home. There is joy above ground, for the crow and the kite, thelizard, the little owl, have gathered to feast. No deduction need be made fromthe joy of the white ants on account of the joy of the birds which cometogether to feed on them, for those which escape know nothing about it, andthose which are eaten know less; so, happiness reigns everywhere.

2. Within a few days of the first rain, the roadside rivulets are full of little fish, arrived from I know not where, to grow fat on the earthworms. When night comes on, great moths fly past. The fireflies light their lamps and hold their silent concerts, the occupants of each tree flashing in unison and creating street lighting in the woods. At every turn, there is something new to see. Out of earth and rock, the magic touch of the monsoon has brought life and greenery. You can see the broad-leaved vines grow and thetwining creepers work their snaky way, linking tree to tree and binding branchto branch.

3. Nothing, however, lives for itself alone. All this luxuriance oftender foliage has scarcely appeared when the caterpillar is ready to eat it,for the butterfly has laid her eggs on the naked branch, before the leaves wereout. Green crickets with insatiable appetites, are under the leaves,trying not to be seen, and birds with hungry families are hunting for them.

4. The monsoon however, brings with it, some inconveniences; but theyare for the most part connected with our civilization. Books grow limpand their backs come off, leprosy attacks gloves and all manner of silk andsatin finery, a marvellous forest of mould, springs from the bodies ofthe tiniest butterflies in my collection, rats infest the house, and basins andsoup plates stand about on the carpet to catch the drops from the leaky roof.

5. During the monsoon, the fear of getting wet is universal – thegentleman runs because the rain will spoil his clothes, but the coolie runs asfast because he has none. And what you realize is that at this time, birds andbeasts sleep in the open air. You cannot help wondering how they manage. Whenthe pitiless rain is pouring, hour after hour, and the water is streaming downthe trees, I wonder where the poor monkeys are and what they are doing. Arethey all huddled together, with their heads buried in each other’s bosoms, andthe water dripping down their long tails?

6. Many birds lay their eggs during the heaviest month of rain, and sitin open nests, pelted with drops as big as their heads. It is true thatthe feathers of birds, oily and smooth and arranged one over another liketiles, with an underlayer of soft, warm down, form a costume for allweather, to which the art of man has never been able to make any approach. Buta bird or beast can be wet to the skin when the weatherman is registering teninches of rain in twenty-four hours.

(b) Choose thecorrect option for the questions given below: [10])how did nellie look when she sat in her room?

Question 1 Read the given passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:

1. My favourite season has always been the monsoon. It is the time of refreshing, and all nature rejoices in it, and I rejoice in nature. During this season, in the halls of the white ants, there is eager excitement, for theyoung queens of the future, in their long and gauzy wings, like bridal veils,are crowding to the door, and each one starts on her long journey in the questof a new home. There is joy above ground, for the crow and the kite, thelizard, the little owl, have gathered to feast. No deduction need be made fromthe joy of the white ants on account of the joy of the birds which cometogether to feed on them, for those which escape know nothing about it, andthose which are eaten know less; so, happiness reigns everywhere.

2. Within a few days of the first rain, the roadside rivulets are full of little fish, arrived from I know not where, to grow fat on the earthworms. When night comes on, great moths fly past. The fireflies light their lamps and hold their silent concerts, the occupants of each tree flashing in unison and creating street lighting in the woods. At every turn, there is something new to see. Out of earth and rock, the magic touch of the monsoon has brought life and greenery. You can see the broad-leaved vines grow and thetwining creepers work their snaky way, linking tree to tree and binding branchto branch.

3. Nothing, however, lives for itself alone. All this luxuriance oftender foliage has scarcely appeared when the caterpillar is ready to eat it,for the butterfly has laid her eggs on the naked branch, before the leaves wereout. Green crickets with insatiable appetites, are under the leaves,trying not to be seen, and birds with hungry families are hunting for them.

4. The monsoon however, brings with it, some inconveniences; but theyare for the most part connected with our civilization. Books grow limpand their backs come off, leprosy attacks gloves and all manner of silk andsatin finery, a marvellous forest of mould, springs from the bodies ofthe tiniest butterflies in my collection, rats infest the house, and basins andsoup plates stand about on the carpet to catch the drops from the leaky roof.

5. During the monsoon, the fear of getting wet is universal – thegentleman runs because the rain will spoil his clothes, but the coolie runs asfast because he has none. And what you realize is that at this time, birds andbeasts sleep in the open air. You cannot help wondering how they manage. Whenthe pitiless rain is pouring, hour after hour, and the water is streaming downthe trees, I wonder where the poor monkeys are and what they are doing. Arethey all huddled together, with their heads buried in each other’s bosoms, andthe water dripping down their long tails?

6. Many birds lay their eggs during the heaviest month of rain, and sitin open nests, pelted with drops as big as their heads. It is true thatthe feathers of birds, oily and smooth and arranged one over another liketiles, with an underlayer of soft, warm down, form a costume for allweather, to which the art of man has never been able to make any approach. Buta bird or beast can be wet to the skin when the weatherman is registering teninches of rain in twenty-four hours.

(b) Choose thecorrect option for the questions given below: [10

](ii)How does Nellie see the object of her dreams achieved in the second paragraph of the passage?

Question 1 Read the given passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:

1. My favourite season has always been the monsoon. It is the time of refreshing, and all nature rejoices in it, and I rejoice in nature. During this season, in the halls of the white ants, there is eager excitement, for theyoung queens of the future, in their long and gauzy wings, like bridal veils,are crowding to the door, and each one starts on her long journey in the questof a new home. There is joy above ground, for the crow and the kite, thelizard, the little owl, have gathered to feast. No deduction need be made fromthe joy of the white ants on account of the joy of the birds which cometogether to feed on them, for those which escape know nothing about it, andthose which are eaten know less; so, happiness reigns everywhere.

2. Within a few days of the first rain, the roadside rivulets are full of little fish, arrived from I know not where, to grow fat on the earthworms. When night comes on, great moths fly past. The fireflies light their lamps and hold their silent concerts, the occupants of each tree flashing in unison and creating street lighting in the woods. At every turn, there is something new to see. Out of earth and rock, the magic touch of the monsoon has brought life and greenery. You can see the broad-leaved vines grow and thetwining creepers work their snaky way, linking tree to tree and binding branchto branch.

3. Nothing, however, lives for itself alone. All this luxuriance oftender foliage has scarcely appeared when the caterpillar is ready to eat it,for the butterfly has laid her eggs on the naked branch, before the leaves wereout. Green crickets with insatiable appetites, are under the leaves,trying not to be seen, and birds with hungry families are hunting for them.

4. The monsoon however, brings with it, some inconveniences; but theyare for the most part connected with our civilization. Books grow limpand their backs come off, leprosy attacks gloves and all manner of silk andsatin finery, a marvellous forest of mould, springs from the bodies ofthe tiniest butterflies in my collection, rats infest the house, and basins andsoup plates stand about on the carpet to catch the drops from the leaky roof.

5. During the monsoon, the fear of getting wet is universal – thegentleman runs because the rain will spoil his clothes, but the coolie runs asfast because he has none. And what you realize is that at this time, birds andbeasts sleep in the open air. You cannot help wondering how they manage. Whenthe pitiless rain is pouring, hour after hour, and the water is streaming downthe trees, I wonder where the poor monkeys are and what they are doing. Arethey all huddled together, with their heads buried in each other’s bosoms, andthe water dripping down their long tails?

6. Many birds lay their eggs during the heaviest month of rain, and sitin open nests, pelted with drops as big as their heads. It is true thatthe feathers of birds, oily and smooth and arranged one over another liketiles, with an underlayer of soft, warm down, form a costume for allweather, to which the art of man has never been able to make any approach. Buta bird or beast can be wet to the skin when the weatherman is registering teninches of rain in twenty-four hours.

(b) Choose thecorrect option for the questions given below: [10]

(iii)Why did Nellie rush to Dr. Lukitch’s house?

Question 1 Read the given passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:

1. My favourite season has always been the monsoon. It is the time of refreshing, and all nature rejoices in it, and I rejoice in nature. During this season, in the halls of the white ants, there is eager excitement, for theyoung queens of the future, in their long and gauzy wings, like bridal veils,are crowding to the door, and each one starts on her long journey in the questof a new home. There is joy above ground, for the crow and the kite, thelizard, the little owl, have gathered to feast. No deduction need be made fromthe joy of the white ants on account of the joy of the birds which cometogether to feed on them, for those which escape know nothing about it, andthose which are eaten know less; so, happiness reigns everywhere.

2. Within a few days of the first rain, the roadside rivulets are full of little fish, arrived from I know not where, to grow fat on the earthworms. When night comes on, great moths fly past. The fireflies light their lamps and hold their silent concerts, the occupants of each tree flashing in unison and creating street lighting in the woods. At every turn, there is something new to see. Out of earth and rock, the magic touch of the monsoon has brought life and greenery. You can see the broad-leaved vines grow and thetwining creepers work their snaky way, linking tree to tree and binding branchto branch.

3. Nothing, however, lives for itself alone. All this luxuriance oftender foliage has scarcely appeared when the caterpillar is ready to eat it,for the butterfly has laid her eggs on the naked branch, before the leaves wereout. Green crickets with insatiable appetites, are under the leaves,trying not to be seen, and birds with hungry families are hunting for them.

4. The monsoon however, brings with it, some inconveniences; but theyare for the most part connected with our civilization. Books grow limpand their backs come off, leprosy attacks gloves and all manner of silk andsatin finery, a marvellous forest of mould, springs from the bodies ofthe tiniest butterflies in my collection, rats infest the house, and basins andsoup plates stand about on the carpet to catch the drops from the leaky roof.

5. During the monsoon, the fear of getting wet is universal – thegentleman runs because the rain will spoil his clothes, but the coolie runs asfast because he has none. And what you realize is that at this time, birds andbeasts sleep in the open air. You cannot help wondering how they manage. Whenthe pitiless rain is pouring, hour after hour, and the water is streaming downthe trees, I wonder where the poor monkeys are and what they are doing. Arethey all huddled together, with their heads buried in each other’s bosoms, andthe water dripping down their long tails?

6. Many birds lay their eggs during the heaviest month of rain, and sitin open nests, pelted with drops as big as their heads. It is true thatthe feathers of birds, oily and smooth and arranged one over another liketiles, with an underlayer of soft, warm down, form a costume for allweather, to which the art of man has never been able to make any approach. Buta bird or beast can be wet to the skin when the weatherman is registering teninches of rain in twenty-four hours.

(b) Choose thecorrect option for the questions given below: [10]

(iv) How did Nellie justify her threats to the doctor?

Question 1 Read the given passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:

1. My favourite season has always been the monsoon. It is the time of refreshing, and all nature rejoices in it, and I rejoice in nature. During this season, in the halls of the white ants, there is eager excitement, for theyoung queens of the future, in their long and gauzy wings, like bridal veils,are crowding to the door, and each one starts on her long journey in the questof a new home. There is joy above ground, for the crow and the kite, thelizard, the little owl, have gathered to feast. No deduction need be made fromthe joy of the white ants on account of the joy of the birds which cometogether to feed on them, for those which escape know nothing about it, andthose which are eaten know less; so, happiness reigns everywhere.

2. Within a few days of the first rain, the roadside rivulets are full of little fish, arrived from I know not where, to grow fat on the earthworms. When night comes on, great moths fly past. The fireflies light their lamps and hold their silent concerts, the occupants of each tree flashing in unison and creating street lighting in the woods. At every turn, there is something new to see. Out of earth and rock, the magic touch of the monsoon has brought life and greenery. You can see the broad-leaved vines grow and thetwining creepers work their snaky way, linking tree to tree and binding branchto branch.

3. Nothing, however, lives for itself alone. All this luxuriance oftender foliage has scarcely appeared when the caterpillar is ready to eat it,for the butterfly has laid her eggs on the naked branch, before the leaves wereout. Green crickets with insatiable appetites, are under the leaves,trying not to be seen, and birds with hungry families are hunting for them.

4. The monsoon however, brings with it, some inconveniences; but theyare for the most part connected with our civilization. Books grow limpand their backs come off, leprosy attacks gloves and all manner of silk andsatin finery, a marvellous forest of mould, springs from the bodies ofthe tiniest butterflies in my collection, rats infest the house, and basins andsoup plates stand about on the carpet to catch the drops from the leaky roof.

5. During the monsoon, the fear of getting wet is universal – thegentleman runs because the rain will spoil his clothes, but the coolie runs asfast because he has none. And what you realize is that at this time, birds andbeasts sleep in the open air. You cannot help wondering how they manage. Whenthe pitiless rain is pouring, hour after hour, and the water is streaming downthe trees, I wonder where the poor monkeys are and what they are doing. Arethey all huddled together, with their heads buried in each other’s bosoms, andthe water dripping down their long tails?

6. Many birds lay their eggs during the heaviest month of rain, and sitin open nests, pelted with drops as big as their heads. It is true thatthe feathers of birds, oily and smooth and arranged one over another liketiles, with an underlayer of soft, warm down, form a costume for allweather, to which the art of man has never been able to make any approach. Buta bird or beast can be wet to the skin when the weatherman is registering teninches of rain in twenty-four hours.

(b) Choose thecorrect option for the questions given below: [10]

(v) How did the doctor react to Nellie?

Question 1 Read the given passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:

1. My favourite season has always been the monsoon. It is the time of refreshing, and all nature rejoices in it, and I rejoice in nature. During this season, in the halls of the white ants, there is eager excitement, for theyoung queens of the future, in their long and gauzy wings, like bridal veils,are crowding to the door, and each one starts on her long journey in the questof a new home. There is joy above ground, for the crow and the kite, thelizard, the little owl, have gathered to feast. No deduction need be made fromthe joy of the white ants on account of the joy of the birds which cometogether to feed on them, for those which escape know nothing about it, andthose which are eaten know less; so, happiness reigns everywhere.

2. Within a few days of the first rain, the roadside rivulets are full of little fish, arrived from I know not where, to grow fat on the earthworms. When night comes on, great moths fly past. The fireflies light their lamps and hold their silent concerts, the occupants of each tree flashing in unison and creating street lighting in the woods. At every turn, there is something new to see. Out of earth and rock, the magic touch of the monsoon has brought life and greenery. You can see the broad-leaved vines grow and thetwining creepers work their snaky way, linking tree to tree and binding branchto branch.

3. Nothing, however, lives for itself alone. All this luxuriance oftender foliage has scarcely appeared when the caterpillar is ready to eat it,for the butterfly has laid her eggs on the naked branch, before the leaves wereout. Green crickets with insatiable appetites, are under the leaves,trying not to be seen, and birds with hungry families are hunting for them.

4. The monsoon however, brings with it, some inconveniences; but theyare for the most part connected with our civilization. Books grow limpand their backs come off, leprosy attacks gloves and all manner of silk andsatin finery, a marvellous forest of mould, springs from the bodies ofthe tiniest butterflies in my collection, rats infest the house, and basins andsoup plates stand about on the carpet to catch the drops from the leaky roof.

5. During the monsoon, the fear of getting wet is universal – thegentleman runs because the rain will spoil his clothes, but the coolie runs asfast because he has none. And what you realize is that at this time, birds andbeasts sleep in the open air. You cannot help wondering how they manage. Whenthe pitiless rain is pouring, hour after hour, and the water is streaming downthe trees, I wonder where the poor monkeys are and what they are doing. Arethey all huddled together, with their heads buried in each other’s bosoms, andthe water dripping down their long tails?

6. Many birds lay their eggs during the heaviest month of rain, and sitin open nests, pelted with drops as big as their heads. It is true thatthe feathers of birds, oily and smooth and arranged one over another liketiles, with an underlayer of soft, warm down, form a costume for allweather, to which the art of man has never been able to make any approach. Buta bird or beast can be wet to the skin when the weatherman is registering teninches of rain in twenty-four hours.

(b) Choose thecorrect option for the questions given below: [10]

(vi) In what way was Stepan Lukitch similar to Nellie’s husband?

Question 1 Read the given passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:

1. My favourite season has always been the monsoon. It is the time of refreshing, and all nature rejoices in it, and I rejoice in nature. During this season, in the halls of the white ants, there is eager excitement, for theyoung queens of the future, in their long and gauzy wings, like bridal veils,are crowding to the door, and each one starts on her long journey in the questof a new home. There is joy above ground, for the crow and the kite, thelizard, the little owl, have gathered to feast. No deduction need be made fromthe joy of the white ants on account of the joy of the birds which cometogether to feed on them, for those which escape know nothing about it, andthose which are eaten know less; so, happiness reigns everywhere.

2. Within a few days of the first rain, the roadside rivulets are full of little fish, arrived from I know not where, to grow fat on the earthworms. When night comes on, great moths fly past. The fireflies light their lamps and hold their silent concerts, the occupants of each tree flashing in unison and creating street lighting in the woods. At every turn, there is something new to see. Out of earth and rock, the magic touch of the monsoon has brought life and greenery. You can see the broad-leaved vines grow and thetwining creepers work their snaky way, linking tree to tree and binding branchto branch.

3. Nothing, however, lives for itself alone. All this luxuriance oftender foliage has scarcely appeared when the caterpillar is ready to eat it,for the butterfly has laid her eggs on the naked branch, before the leaves wereout. Green crickets with insatiable appetites, are under the leaves,trying not to be seen, and birds with hungry families are hunting for them.

4. The monsoon however, brings with it, some inconveniences; but theyare for the most part connected with our civilization. Books grow limpand their backs come off, leprosy attacks gloves and all manner of silk andsatin finery, a marvellous forest of mould, springs from the bodies ofthe tiniest butterflies in my collection, rats infest the house, and basins andsoup plates stand about on the carpet to catch the drops from the leaky roof.

5. During the monsoon, the fear of getting wet is universal – thegentleman runs because the rain will spoil his clothes, but the coolie runs asfast because he has none. And what you realize is that at this time, birds andbeasts sleep in the open air. You cannot help wondering how they manage. Whenthe pitiless rain is pouring, hour after hour, and the water is streaming downthe trees, I wonder where the poor monkeys are and what they are doing. Arethey all huddled together, with their heads buried in each other’s bosoms, andthe water dripping down their long tails?

6. Many birds lay their eggs during the heaviest month of rain, and sitin open nests, pelted with drops as big as their heads. It is true thatthe feathers of birds, oily and smooth and arranged one over another liketiles, with an underlayer of soft, warm down, form a costume for allweather, to which the art of man has never been able to make any approach. Buta bird or beast can be wet to the skin when the weatherman is registering teninches of rain in twenty-four hours.

(b) Choose thecorrect option for the questions given below: [10]

(vii) What were Nellie’s feelings when she thought of going to the district hospital?

Question 1 Read the given passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:

1. My favourite season has always been the monsoon. It is the time of refreshing, and all nature rejoices in it, and I rejoice in nature. During this season, in the halls of the white ants, there is eager excitement, for theyoung queens of the future, in their long and gauzy wings, like bridal veils,are crowding to the door, and each one starts on her long journey in the questof a new home. There is joy above ground, for the crow and the kite, thelizard, the little owl, have gathered to feast. No deduction need be made fromthe joy of the white ants on account of the joy of the birds which cometogether to feed on them, for those which escape know nothing about it, andthose which are eaten know less; so, happiness reigns everywhere.

2. Within a few days of the first rain, the roadside rivulets are full of little fish, arrived from I know not where, to grow fat on the earthworms. When night comes on, great moths fly past. The fireflies light their lamps and hold their silent concerts, the occupants of each tree flashing in unison and creating street lighting in the woods. At every turn, there is something new to see. Out of earth and rock, the magic touch of the monsoon has brought life and greenery. You can see the broad-leaved vines grow and thetwining creepers work their snaky way, linking tree to tree and binding branchto branch.

3. Nothing, however, lives for itself alone. All this luxuriance oftender foliage has scarcely appeared when the caterpillar is ready to eat it,for the butterfly has laid her eggs on the naked branch, before the leaves wereout. Green crickets with insatiable appetites, are under the leaves,trying not to be seen, and birds with hungry families are hunting for them.

4. The monsoon however, brings with it, some inconveniences; but theyare for the most part connected with our civilization. Books grow limpand their backs come off, leprosy attacks gloves and all manner of silk andsatin finery, a marvellous forest of mould, springs from the bodies ofthe tiniest butterflies in my collection, rats infest the house, and basins andsoup plates stand about on the carpet to catch the drops from the leaky roof.

5. During the monsoon, the fear of getting wet is universal – thegentleman runs because the rain will spoil his clothes, but the coolie runs asfast because he has none. And what you realize is that at this time, birds andbeasts sleep in the open air. You cannot help wondering how they manage. Whenthe pitiless rain is pouring, hour after hour, and the water is streaming downthe trees, I wonder where the poor monkeys are and what they are doing. Arethey all huddled together, with their heads buried in each other’s bosoms, andthe water dripping down their long tails?

6. Many birds lay their eggs during the heaviest month of rain, and sitin open nests, pelted with drops as big as their heads. It is true thatthe feathers of birds, oily and smooth and arranged one over another liketiles, with an underlayer of soft, warm down, form a costume for allweather, to which the art of man has never been able to make any approach. Buta bird or beast can be wet to the skin when the weatherman is registering teninches of rain in twenty-four hours.

(b) Choose thecorrect option for the questions given below: [10

](viii) What made her jump from the seat? [1]

Question 1 Read the given passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:

1. My favourite season has always been the monsoon. It is the time of refreshing, and all nature rejoices in it, and I rejoice in nature. During this season, in the halls of the white ants, there is eager excitement, for theyoung queens of the future, in their long and gauzy wings, like bridal veils,are crowding to the door, and each one starts on her long journey in the questof a new home. There is joy above ground, for the crow and the kite, thelizard, the little owl, have gathered to feast. No deduction need be made fromthe joy of the white ants on account of the joy of the birds which cometogether to feed on them, for those which escape know nothing about it, andthose which are eaten know less; so, happiness reigns everywhere.

2. Within a few days of the first rain, the roadside rivulets are full of little fish, arrived from I know not where, to grow fat on the earthworms. When night comes on, great moths fly past. The fireflies light their lamps and hold their silent concerts, the occupants of each tree flashing in unison and creating street lighting in the woods. At every turn, there is something new to see. Out of earth and rock, the magic touch of the monsoon has brought life and greenery. You can see the broad-leaved vines grow and thetwining creepers work their snaky way, linking tree to tree and binding branchto branch.

3. Nothing, however, lives for itself alone. All this luxuriance oftender foliage has scarcely appeared when the caterpillar is ready to eat it,for the butterfly has laid her eggs on the naked branch, before the leaves wereout. Green crickets with insatiable appetites, are under the leaves,trying not to be seen, and birds with hungry families are hunting for them.

4. The monsoon however, brings with it, some inconveniences; but theyare for the most part connected with our civilization. Books grow limpand their backs come off, leprosy attacks gloves and all manner of silk andsatin finery, a marvellous forest of mould, springs from the bodies ofthe tiniest butterflies in my collection, rats infest the house, and basins andsoup plates stand about on the carpet to catch the drops from the leaky roof.

5. During the monsoon, the fear of getting wet is universal – thegentleman runs because the rain will spoil his clothes, but the coolie runs asfast because he has none. And what you realize is that at this time, birds andbeasts sleep in the open air. You cannot help wondering how they manage. Whenthe pitiless rain is pouring, hour after hour, and the water is streaming downthe trees, I wonder where the poor monkeys are and what they are doing. Arethey all huddled together, with their heads buried in each other’s bosoms, andthe water dripping down their long tails?

6. Many birds lay their eggs during the heaviest month of rain, and sitin open nests, pelted with drops as big as their heads. It is true thatthe feathers of birds, oily and smooth and arranged one over another liketiles, with an underlayer of soft, warm down, form a costume for allweather, to which the art of man has never been able to make any approach. Buta bird or beast can be wet to the skin when the weatherman is registering teninches of rain in twenty-four hours.

(b) Choose thecorrect option for the questions given below: [10

](ix) What was Nellie actually doing? [1]

Question 1 Read the given passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:

1. My favourite season has always been the monsoon. It is the time of refreshing, and all nature rejoices in it, and I rejoice in nature. During this season, in the halls of the white ants, there is eager excitement, for theyoung queens of the future, in their long and gauzy wings, like bridal veils,are crowding to the door, and each one starts on her long journey in the questof a new home. There is joy above ground, for the crow and the kite, thelizard, the little owl, have gathered to feast. No deduction need be made fromthe joy of the white ants on account of the joy of the birds which cometogether to feed on them, for those which escape know nothing about it, andthose which are eaten know less; so, happiness reigns everywhere.

2. Within a few days of the first rain, the roadside rivulets are full of little fish, arrived from I know not where, to grow fat on the earthworms. When night comes on, great moths fly past. The fireflies light their lamps and hold their silent concerts, the occupants of each tree flashing in unison and creating street lighting in the woods. At every turn, there is something new to see. Out of earth and rock, the magic touch of the monsoon has brought life and greenery. You can see the broad-leaved vines grow and thetwining creepers work their snaky way, linking tree to tree and binding branchto branch.

3. Nothing, however, lives for itself alone. All this luxuriance oftender foliage has scarcely appeared when the caterpillar is ready to eat it,for the butterfly has laid her eggs on the naked branch, before the leaves wereout. Green crickets with insatiable appetites, are under the leaves,trying not to be seen, and birds with hungry families are hunting for them.

4. The monsoon however, brings with it, some inconveniences; but theyare for the most part connected with our civilization. Books grow limpand their backs come off, leprosy attacks gloves and all manner of silk andsatin finery, a marvellous forest of mould, springs from the bodies ofthe tiniest butterflies in my collection, rats infest the house, and basins andsoup plates stand about on the carpet to catch the drops from the leaky roof.

5. During the monsoon, the fear of getting wet is universal – thegentleman runs because the rain will spoil his clothes, but the coolie runs asfast because he has none. And what you realize is that at this time, birds andbeasts sleep in the open air. You cannot help wondering how they manage. Whenthe pitiless rain is pouring, hour after hour, and the water is streaming downthe trees, I wonder where the poor monkeys are and what they are doing. Arethey all huddled together, with their heads buried in each other’s bosoms, andthe water dripping down their long tails?

6. Many birds lay their eggs during the heaviest month of rain, and sitin open nests, pelted with drops as big as their heads. It is true thatthe feathers of birds, oily and smooth and arranged one over another liketiles, with an underlayer of soft, warm down, form a costume for allweather, to which the art of man has never been able to make any approach. Buta bird or beast can be wet to the skin when the weatherman is registering teninches of rain in twenty-four hours.

(b) Choose thecorrect option for the questions given below: [10]

(x) What kind of a wife Nellie would be? [1]

Question 1 Read the given passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:

1. My favourite season has always been the monsoon. It is the time of refreshing, and all nature rejoices in it, and I rejoice in nature. During this season, in the halls of the white ants, there is eager excitement, for theyoung queens of the future, in their long and gauzy wings, like bridal veils,are crowding to the door, and each one starts on her long journey in the questof a new home. There is joy above ground, for the crow and the kite, thelizard, the little owl, have gathered to feast. No deduction need be made fromthe joy of the white ants on account of the joy of the birds which cometogether to feed on them, for those which escape know nothing about it, andthose which are eaten know less; so, happiness reigns everywhere.

2. Within a few days of the first rain, the roadside rivulets are full of little fish, arrived from I know not where, to grow fat on the earthworms. When night comes on, great moths fly past. The fireflies light their lamps and hold their silent concerts, the occupants of each tree flashing in unison and creating street lighting in the woods. At every turn, there is something new to see. Out of earth and rock, the magic touch of the monsoon has brought life and greenery. You can see the broad-leaved vines grow and thetwining creepers work their snaky way, linking tree to tree and binding branchto branch.

3. Nothing, however, lives for itself alone. All this luxuriance oftender foliage has scarcely appeared when the caterpillar is ready to eat it,for the butterfly has laid her eggs on the naked branch, before the leaves wereout. Green crickets with insatiable appetites, are under the leaves,trying not to be seen, and birds with hungry families are hunting for them.

4. The monsoon however, brings with it, some inconveniences; but theyare for the most part connected with our civilization. Books grow limpand their backs come off, leprosy attacks gloves and all manner of silk andsatin finery, a marvellous forest of mould, springs from the bodies ofthe tiniest butterflies in my collection, rats infest the house, and basins andsoup plates stand about on the carpet to catch the drops from the leaky roof.

5. During the monsoon, the fear of getting wet is universal – thegentleman runs because the rain will spoil his clothes, but the coolie runs asfast because he has none. And what you realize is that at this time, birds andbeasts sleep in the open air. You cannot help wondering how they manage. Whenthe pitiless rain is pouring, hour after hour, and the water is streaming downthe trees, I wonder where the poor monkeys are and what they are doing. Arethey all huddled together, with their heads buried in each other’s bosoms, andthe water dripping down their long tails?

6. Many birds lay their eggs during the heaviest month of rain, and sitin open nests, pelted with drops as big as their heads. It is true thatthe feathers of birds, oily and smooth and arranged one over another liketiles, with an underlayer of soft, warm down, form a costume for allweather, to which the art of man has never been able to make any approach. Buta bird or beast can be wet to the skin when the weatherman is registering teninches of rain in twenty-four hours.

(b) Choose thecorrect option for the questions given below: [10]

(xi) How did she react at the end? [1]

Question 1 Read the given passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:

1. My favourite season has always been the monsoon. It is the time of refreshing, and all nature rejoices in it, and I rejoice in nature. During this season, in the halls of the white ants, there is eager excitement, for theyoung queens of the future, in their long and gauzy wings, like bridal veils,are crowding to the door, and each one starts on her long journey in the questof a new home. There is joy above ground, for the crow and the kite, thelizard, the little owl, have gathered to feast. No deduction need be made fromthe joy of the white ants on account of the joy of the birds which cometogether to feed on them, for those which escape know nothing about it, andthose which are eaten know less; so, happiness reigns everywhere.

2. Within a few days of the first rain, the roadside rivulets are full of little fish, arrived from I know not where, to grow fat on the earthworms. When night comes on, great moths fly past. The fireflies light their lamps and hold their silent concerts, the occupants of each tree flashing in unison and creating street lighting in the woods. At every turn, there is something new to see. Out of earth and rock, the magic touch of the monsoon has brought life and greenery. You can see the broad-leaved vines grow and thetwining creepers work their snaky way, linking tree to tree and binding branchto branch.

3. Nothing, however, lives for itself alone. All this luxuriance oftender foliage has scarcely appeared when the caterpillar is ready to eat it,for the butterfly has laid her eggs on the naked branch, before the leaves wereout. Green crickets with insatiable appetites, are under the leaves,trying not to be seen, and birds with hungry families are hunting for them.

4. The monsoon however, brings with it, some inconveniences; but theyare for the most part connected with our civilization. Books grow limpand their backs come off, leprosy attacks gloves and all manner of silk andsatin finery, a marvellous forest of mould, springs from the bodies ofthe tiniest butterflies in my collection, rats infest the house, and basins andsoup plates stand about on the carpet to catch the drops from the leaky roof.

5. During the monsoon, the fear of getting wet is universal – thegentleman runs because the rain will spoil his clothes, but the coolie runs asfast because he has none. And what you realize is that at this time, birds andbeasts sleep in the open air. You cannot help wondering how they manage. Whenthe pitiless rain is pouring, hour after hour, and the water is streaming downthe trees, I wonder where the poor monkeys are and what they are doing. Arethey all huddled together, with their heads buried in each other’s bosoms, andthe water dripping down their long tails?

6. Many birds lay their eggs during the heaviest month of rain, and sitin open nests, pelted with drops as big as their heads. It is true thatthe feathers of birds, oily and smooth and arranged one over another liketiles, with an underlayer of soft, warm down, form a costume for allweather, to which the art of man has never been able to make any approach. Buta bird or beast can be wet to the skin when the weatherman is registering teninches of rain in twenty-four hours.

(b) Choose thecorrect option for the questions given below: [10](c) What did the suffering in her body and soul make her think? [6]

(i) First, she: