Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:

Perhaps it is the strong positive thought process of man; which reaches out to people and creates a magnetic whirlpool, as it were, attracting positive conditions – which in turn yield positive results.

It’s not as mystical as it sounds. Your thoughts do shape the world you perceive around you. To a depressed man, the silent presence of a plant will only add to his sense of isolation; but for a positive thinker the same plant would hold a promise in its lush greenery, making him happy to belong to a world full of beautiful creations. And so, it is – fill your mind with energetic, happy, enthusiastic and creative thoughts and watch yourself turn into a new person. Make-belief works. If you tell yourself that you are a dynamo of energy, a powerhouse of creativity and act enthusiastic, your brain will miraculously absorb the new thought process and you will begin to live it. It is no longer a delusion but a return to what nature meant us to be. It is difficult to feel positive if you feel physically sluggish. Regular exercise sets in motion the wheels of the positive process. As circulation revs up, muscles tauten, one feels more in control of oneself and as a result, optimism surges. The message, “It’s a great life.” in turn starts a healthy-mind-and-body cycle.

Mind-altering drugs, that levitate one from depression, maybe effective, but they are also toxic. Jean Paul Sartre might have written his last book after drugging himself with amphetamines because they gave him that extra ‘high’ of inspiration, but genius is an innate quality and we need to look into ourselves to raise that ‘extraness’ without affecting our health adversely. Positive thoughts have a wonderful companion – peace. It’s amazing how productive a peaceful mind tuned into positive thinking can be. Solutions crop up. New creative ideas flow in. It happens because when one is in perfect harmony with the self, all those tremendous potential gifts within ourself get activated. As Saifee says, “When I am spiritually at peace, I can see things around me clearly.

Positive thinking can be tuned into by simple methods: by occasionally spending time close to Nature. The sighing of the sea, the hush in the air, the rustle of the wind through the leaves balance your bio-rhythm and restore your mental processes back to their natural wavelength. Back home, you can let the same image flash through your mind’s eye.

Sometimes, the mind slips back to its worries, its tears and its pessimism. But that is no cause to worry, since the positive ideas have already taken root and will ultimately grow into a strong tree.

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

(i) isolation

(ii) delusion

(iii) tremendous

(b) What do your thoughts do?

(c) How will a depressed man react to the silence presence of a plant?

(d) How will a positive thinker respond to the same plant?

(e) What should you fill your mind with?

(f) What is difficult to think if you feel physically sluggish?

(g) What does the message, “It’s a great life” state?

(h) Mind altering drugs maybe effective, but they are_______.

(i) Who is the wonderful companion of positive thoughts?

(j) What has the author said about thoughts?

QUESTION 2Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the words provided after the passage. [8]

Example: (0) roamed

Once upon a time, in the days when genies and giants(0) ______(roam) the land, there (1) _____ (live) a farmer (2) ______(name)Baba Ayub. He lived with his family in a little village by the name of Maidan Sabj. Because he had a large family to feed, Baba Ayub (3) _______ (see) his days (4) _____(consume) by hard work. Every day, he (5) ______(labour) from dawn to sundown, (6) ______(plough) his field and (7) _______(turn) the soil and (8) _______ (tend) to his meagre pistachio trees.

(i) live

(ii) name

(iii) see

(iv) consume

(v) labour

(vi) plough

(vii) turn

(viii) tend

(b) Choose the correct option to fill in the blanks. [8]

(i) It has been raining ____ two hours.

(ii) He just managed to run ______ the fields. 

(iii) Mrs Kapoor was bent _____ attending the meeting.

(iv) She is proud and looks ____ on her colleagues.

(v) Rahul plays football ____ his grandfather.

(vi) The mother was sitting ____ the sick child.

(vii) Monika is leaning ______ the wall.

(viii) Risa is very good _____ art and craft.

(c) Choose the correct options to join the following sentences without using and, but or so. [4]

(i) John gave me a novel. John wanted me to review it.

(ii) Her mother warned her not to talk to strangers. She told her not to accept gifts from unknown people.

(iii) The trekkers got lost due to the heavy fog. They had misplaced their map as well.

(iv) I wear this expensive outfit sparingly. I bought it last month.

(d) Read each sentence with its instructions. Choose the correct answer from the options provided beneath each. [8]

(i) I prefer playing a game to watching television. (Begin: I would rather............)

(ii) Priya said, “We have had no rain since January.” (Begin: Priya said that.......)

(iii) Her father was ill. She postponed her birthday party. (Use: put instead of postponed)

(iv) I would advise you to take permission from the Principal before you go out. (Begin: You had...)

(v) The five terrorists were arrested by the police. (Use: custody instead of arrested)

(vi) He is inviting all his friends. (Begin: Each........)

(vii) It is a pity that it is too late to do anything. (Begin: I wish.....)

(viii) I will stop now unless you have any further questions. (Begin: I will stop now, provided .......)