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.

a) (i) Given below are five words from the passage along with four optionsfor each. Choose the option which has a similar meaning in the passage:

1. account

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.

a) (i) Given below are five words from the passage along with four optionsfor each. Choose the option which has a similar meaning in the passage:2. turn

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.

a) (i) Given below are five words from the passage along with four optionsfor each. Choose the option which has a similar meaning in the passage:3. leaves

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.

a) (i) Given below are five words from the passage along with four optionsfor each. Choose the option which has a similar meaning in the passage:4. springs

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.

a) (i) Given below are five words from the passage along with four optionsfor each. Choose the option which has a similar meaning in the passage:5. pelted

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.

(ii) With each of the five words given below, choose the correct sentence that uses the word in a different meaning from that which it carries in the passage. [5]

1. past

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.

(ii) With each of the five words given below, choose the correct sentence that uses the word in a different meaning from that which it carries in the passage. [5]2. branch

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.

(ii) With each of the five words given below, choose the correct sentence that uses the word in a different meaning from that which it carries in the passage. [5]3. limp

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.

(ii) With each of the five words given below, choose the correct sentence that uses the word in a different meaning from that which it carries in the passage. [5]4. streaming

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.

(ii) With each of the five words given below, choose the correct sentence that uses the word in a different meaning from that which it carries in the passage. [5]             5. form

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]

1.    What does the narrator say about the joy of white ants duringthe rainy season?

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]        

2. What does the narrator mean by saying, ‘Nothing, however,lives for itself alone’?

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]3.    ________________________ are the inconveniences caused by themonsoon.

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 the correct option for the questions given below: [10]

4. What is considered universal during the monsoon?

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 the correct option for the questions given below: [10]5.    What is the adaptation that birds have to protect them from heavy rain?

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 the correct option for the questions given below: [10]

6. What does the narrator mean by –  ‘the gentleman runs because the rain will spoil his clothes, but the coolie runs as fast because he has none.’

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 sit in open nests, pelted with drops as big as their heads. It is true that the feathers of birds, oily and smooth and arranged one over another like tiles, with an underlayer of soft, warm down, form a costume for all weather, 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 the correct option for the questions given below: [10]

7.In the last paragraph – ‘the art of man’, translates to --

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 the correct option for the questions given below: [10]8.‘Wet to the skin’ in the last paragraph of the passage is closest in meaning to -

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 the young 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 quest of a new home. There is joy above ground, for the crow and the kite, the lizard, the little owl, have gathered to feast. No deduction need be made from the joy of the white ants on account of the joy of the birds which come together to feed on them, for those which escape know nothing about it, and those 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 the correct option for the questions given below: [10]

9.The peak season for the laying of eggs, in many birds, is just before the heaviest month of rain. This could be due to -

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 the correct option for the questions given below: [10]

10.Arrange the sequence of events as they occur in the passage.

(i) One realizes that during the monsoon, birds and beasts sleep in the open air.

(ii) The young, future queen white ants, are busy preparing to leave their ant-hills.

(iii) All manner of creatures are completely soaked if there is ten inches of rain in twenty-four hours.

(iv) The monsoon, brings with it, some inconveniences.

Answer sections (a), (b) and (c). In each of the following items, a sentence is given. Select the most

appropriate transformation of the given sentence out of the given options:  [10]

1.    People know more about her novels than her plays.

2.    Sam is not as good at tennis as you are.

3.    We should leave for the trip now.

4.    They will take up the issue next week.

5.    My ambition is to serve my country.

6.    The stray dog is being chased by the boys.

7.    You should not reply in that manner.

8.    The weather has not improved yet, and no planes will take offuntil then.

9.    He understood the problem, but refused to solve it.

   10. He was being taken to prison by thepolicemen.

(b) Choose the most appropriate word to fill in the blank in the givensentences [15]

1. He is not cut ______________ for pharmacy.

2. Try to look _____________ the word in the dictionary.

3. Word went ______________ that the famous actor had died.

4. We walked ____________ the edge of the desert.

5. It is another three weeks ___________ the holidays.

6. Are you wearing anything ___________ your sweater?

7. She often complains ____________ bullying.

8. I am afraid ____________ losing my smartphone.

9. He hasn’t smoked _________ ages.

10. She had problems __________ reading the instructions.