CBSE Class 10

English (Communicative)
Previous Year Question Paper 2017
Series: HRK Set- 1

Code no. 1/1

● Please check that this question paper contains 8 printed pages.

● Code number given on the right hand side of the question paper should
be written on the title page of the answer-book by the candidate.
● Please check that this question paper contains 11 questions.

● Please write down the Serial Number of the question before

attempting it.

● 15 minute time has been allotted to read this question paper. The
question paper will be distributed at 10.15 a.m. From 10.15 a.m. to
10.30 a.m, the students will read the question paper only and will not
write any answer on the answer-book during this period

SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT-II

ENGLISH (COMMUNICATIVE)

Time Allowed: 3 hours Maximum Marks: 70

General Instructions:
1. The Question paper is divided into three sections :

Section A — Reading 20 marks

Section B — Writing and Grammar 25 marks

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 Section C — Literature 25 marks

2. All questions are compulsory.

3. You may attempt any section at a time.

4. All questions of that particular section must be attempted in the correct

order.

SECTION - A
(Reading) 20 Marks

1. Read the passage carefully : 8 Marks

I was born in the small but beautiful mountain village of Nakuri near
Uttarkashi in Garhwal, with the gurgling, playful Bhagirathi river flowing
nearby. My parents were a hard-working and extremely self-contained
couple. Even though our family was poor, barely managing the essentials,
my father taught us how to live and maintain dignity and self-respect — the
most treasured family values till today. At the same time my parents also
practised the creed, ‘‘Kindness is the essence of all religion.’’ They were
large-hearted, inviting village folk passing by to have tea at our home, and
gave grain to the sadhus and pandits who came to the house. This
characteristic has been ingrained in me so deeply that I am able to reach out
to others and make a difference in their lives — whether it is in my home, in
society or at the workplace.
I was the third child in the family — girl, boy, girl, girl and boy in that order
— and quite a rebel. I developed a tendency to ask questions and was not
satisfied with the customary way of life for a girl-child. When I found my
elder brother, Bachchan, encouraging our youngest brother, Raju, to take
up mountaineering I thought, why not me ? I found that my brothers were
always getting preferential treatment and all opportunities and options were
open to them. This made me even more determined to not only do what the
boys were doing, but to do it better.

The general thinking of mountain people was that mountaineering as a sport

was not for them. They considered themselves to be born mountaineers as
they had to go up and down mountain slopes for their daily livelihood and
even for routine work. On the other hand, as a student, I would look

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curiously at foreign backpackers passing by my village and wonder where
they were going. I would even invite them to my house and talk to them to
learn more about their travels. The full significance of this came to me later
when I started working. The foreigners took the trouble to come all the way
to the Himalayas in order to educate themselves on social, cultural and
scientific aspects of mountaineering, as well as to seek peace in nature’s
gigantic scheme of things.

1.1 Answer the following questions : 1×8= 8 Marks

a. What does the author tell us about the financial condition of her
parents?
Ans: The author tells that her parents were poor, and could barely manage the
essentials.
b. What is the most treasured value of the author’s family ?

Ans: To (live and ) maintain dignity and self respect is the most treasured
value of the author's family.
c. Give an example to show that the author’s parents were very
hospitable.
Ans: The author's parents invited passing village folk to tea at their home and
gave grain to sadhus and pandits who came to the house, demonstrating their
hospitality.

d. What kind of girl was the author ?

Ans: The author was a rebel; she developed a tendency to ask questions and
was not satisfied with the customary way of life for a girl child.
e. How do you know that the author’s parents discriminated between
sons and daughters ?

Ans: The author's brothers were always getting preferential treatment and all
opportunities and options were available to them, proving her parents
discriminated between sons and daughters.

f. Why do the mountain people consider themselves to be born

mountaineers?

Ans: Mountain people had to go up and down mountain slopes for their daily

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 livelihood and even for routine work- that's why they consider themselves to
be born mountaineers.

g. Why would the author invite foreign mountaineers to her house?

Ans: The author invited foreign mountaineers to her home for conversation
and to learn more about their adventures.

h. Why were foreigners drawn to the Himalayas ?

Ans: Foreigners were drawn to the Himalayas because they could learn about
the social, cultural, and scientific aspects of mountaineering while also
seeking peace in nature's vast scheme of things.

2. Read the passage carefully : 12 Marks

1. One would imagine that at the very sight of the panther, deer, antelopes,
and its other prey would just run for their lives. Nothing of the sort. They
all stand their ground and make such a loud noise that the panther is left
with no other choice except to leave quietly. I have seen a tiny chital baby
standing in the middle of an opening in the forest, stamping its feet on the
ground and shooing away a tiger. With the white of its erect tail showing, it
kept up its shrill call until the tiger made itself scarce. No tiger in its senses
would attempt to catch such an impertinent brat, just as you would not
dream of catching an offending crow cawing away in your verandah.
2. While the panther sticks to cover and hugs the edge of the forest, the
game animals, on the other hand, like to assemble right out in open vast
grazing grounds. Open spaces which the panther carefully avoids, are what
the game animals deliberately seek.

3. It is difficult to describe the pandemonium kicked up by various animals

when they spot or suspect a panther around. The chital strikes a shrill note,
the kakar emits a deafening bark and the sambar rings a bell. The
peacock on its perch, the jungle fowl on the ground, and the monkey on
treetops, all join in the chorus of condemnation of the panther. They curse
the panther in their own inimitable language. The resulting confusion of
sounds is so irritating to the sharp ears of the panther that it is left with no
other option except to go away.

4. The panther has thus to deal with its ever alert and watchful associates

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who show no mercy and expect none. It is a fight between finesse and flight,
between clever attack and skilful defence.

5. Contrary to the common belief, the panther never springs upon its prey.
It stalks as close to its victim as it can manage, and then makes the final
dash by rushing at it at a lightning speed.
2.1 Answer the following questions : 2×4= 8 Marks

(a) What strategy do animals like deer, antelopes, etc adopt to drive away
the panther ?

Ans: To drive away the panther, animals like deer, antelopes etc stand their
ground and make such a loud noise that the panther leaves quietly. It is left
with no other choice
(b) How do the panther and the game animals (deer, antelopes, etc) react
to open spaces ?

Ans: Panther carefully avoids the open spaces. Game animals (deer, antelopes,
etc) deliberately seek open spaces, and like to assemble right out in open vast
grazing grounds.
(c) What effect does the loud noise made by birds and animals have on
the panther ?
Ans: The loud noise made by birds and animals with the resulting confusion
of sounds is so irritating to the sharp ears of the panther, it is left with one
option only. It goes away.
(d) How does the panther kill its prey ?
Ans: The panther stalks its prey as closely as it can. It then makes a final dash
at its prey, rushing at it with lightning speed, and kills it.

2.2 Find the meanings of the words given below with the help of the options
that follow : 4 Marks

(a) shrill (Para 1)

(i) rude

(ii) high

(iii) offensive

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 (iv) terrible

Ans: (ii) High

(b) deliberately (Para 2)

(i) immediately

(ii) cleverly
(iii) intentionally

(iv) naughtily

Ans: (iii) Intentionally

(c) condemnation (Para 3)

(i) disapproval
(ii) dismissal
(iii) revenge
(iv) annoyance

Ans: (i) Disapproval

(d) associates (Para 4)

(i) rivals
(ii) neighbours

(iii) superiors

(iv) partners

Ans: (i) Rivals

SECTION - B
(Writing and Grammar) 20 Marks

3. Many students from different parts of the country come to Delhi to study.

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Finding affordable accommodation is the main problem faced by them.
Landlords charge exorbitant rents and in some cases refuse to rent rooms
to them because of their different food habits and culture. The hostel
facility provided by educational institutions is too inadequate to meet the
demand. Write a letter in 100 – 120 words to the editor of a local daily
drawing the attention of the authorities and requesting them to take
appropriate action. You are Raman / Raveena, 12, Station Road, Delhi.
5 Marks
Ans:

The Editor
The Times of India

Kasturba Gandhi Marg

New Delhi

Subject: Student’s smooth stay in the city

Sir,
I would be grateful if you could provide me with a small place in your prestigious
newspaper's column to convey my worry about the inadequate facilities for
students arriving in Delhi from all over the cities.
The importance of education cannot be overstated. Students in small cities do
not have as many options for education as those in Delhi. As a result, students
from all over the country flock to Delhi to study. However, finding a suitable
accommodation becomes difficult for them in this situation. Rents are
skyrocketing. Exorbitant rents are demanded by landlords. They are not
subjected to any form of verification or checks.
To make matters worse, the state of dorms in educational institutions is
appalling. They, too, lack appropriate resources. Authorities' indifference and
negligence rendered them ineffective. Other issues include unswept floors and
unsanitary environments. This problem is the need of most attention must be
addressed and corrected right away.

As a result, I urge the authorities to take quick action to resolve the problem so
that students can enjoy a safe and comfortable stay in the city.

Thank you

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Yours Truly

Raman/Raveena
Or

Accidents happen when people violate traffic rules. Careless drivers cause
suffering to themselves and to others. Write an article in 100 – 120 words
on ‘‘Safe Driving’’. 5 Marks

Ans: “Safe Driving”

by XYZ

When people break the laws of the road, accidents occur. And, unlike
applauding, it only takes one hand to rid the world of many lives. If someone is
driving in blatant disregard of traffic rules, he surely is a danger to himself-
though Sadly he poses a danger to all that find themselves on the same road as
he.

Traffic rules are regarded with distaste in the unruly Indian roads. For instance,
most people wear helmets only near traffic pickets- as if they are humoring the
police so as not to get a ticket and not for their safety. The underlying current
that is still relevant is the ignorance and twisted attitude wreaking havoc, day in
and day out on our roads. The driver assumes himself safe between international
safety standards and speeds through the lives of pedestrians and pavement
dwellers- succumbing to a heavier vehicle finally, perhaps.

Our roads are not racecourses, neither for ‘kicks’ nor for making up for lost time.
Jumping signals, not following speed limits, not wearing seat belts, driving under
the influence of alcohol, drugs, social media or phone conversation are common
crimes and commonly answered with lives too.

4. Write a story in 150 – 200 words based on the input given below:
10 Marks

Travelling in metro — tunnel — lights went out — general panic — pushing

and shoving — screams — phone flashlights switched on — an old man ........

Ans: Yesterday was the turning point and rather a very crucial and significant
day of my life. I came to the place of my friend because in Noida I had an
interview. I went out shopping with her after the interview. We were travelling

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in the metro and had just passed through a tunnel. Suddenly lights went out and
it was dark due to some technical fault. All of them were panic. People began to
push each other. Women and children screamed because it was pitch black
everywhere. Some people have turned on flashlight phones and attempted to help
the public. After a few minutes, I was relieved, but suddenly I found an old man
covered in a blanket. He didn't appear to be a nice guy in any way. He was
standing before me, I wasn't really comfortable seeing him. I realised he had
been a pickpocketer within seconds. When the next station arrived, I caught him
red handed, and we turned him over to the officer who was on the scene..
Everyone liked my presence, but I was very tired, as I needed to go to the police
station and have been waiting for the inquiry for nearly 2 hours.

Or

Mrs. Madhu alone in house — had lunch — watching favourite serial —

doorbell rang — opened door — a sadhu ........
Ans: In the month of June, it was a hot afternoon. Mrs. Madhu was alone in her
home. She had her lunch and sat down to watch her favourite show when the
doorbell rang. She got up sluggishly and opened the door, thinking it was her
maid. It was not, however, her maid. Instead, a sadhu stood outside. He was an
elderly gentleman with a grey beard. He was carrying a bag on his shoulders. He
requested a glass of water because he was extremely thirsty. Mrs. Madhu was at
a loss for what to do. Then she reasoned that an old sadhu couldn't hurt her. As
a result, she went inside to fetch a glass of water. The sadhu was not present
when she emerged. She went outside and looked around, but he was nowhere to
be found. She was taken aback, but she went inside, locked the door, and sat in
front of the TV to watch the serial again. But she didn't feel at ease. Something
was wrong. She couldn't make any sense of what was going on. She had the
impression that she was not alone. She turned around to find the sadhu standing
behind her, much to her surprise. She was frightened. She wished she could
scream and yell into oblivion, but she couldn't. The sadhu had a strange
expression on his face. He demanded that she hand over the keys. She was at a
loss for what to do. The doorbell rang once more. This was her opportunity to
save herself. She pushed the sadhu out, opened the door, and began yelling. She
was wondering where she had gotten the courage to hit a man. Soon after, the
neighbours gathered and apprehended the sadhu. Then they called the cops and
surrendered him to them. Mrs. Madhu made a vow to herself that she would
never trust a stranger. It was a terrible afternoon that haunted her for several days
after.

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5. Complete the following paragraph by filling in the blanks with the help
of the give options: 1×3= 3 Marks

During (a)_____________ hottest part of the year, many of our city streets
seem to be on fire (b)_________________ masses of Gulmohar flowers.
This (c) ______________ one of the most beautiful trees.

(a) (i) a (ii) the (iii) an (iv) some

(b) (i) from (ii) by (iii) with (iv) over

(c) (i) is (ii) was (iii)are (iv) be

Ans: (a) the

(b) with
(c) is

6. The following paragraph has not been edited. There is one error in
each line. Write the error and its correction as shown in the example.
1×4= 4 Marks
Error Correction

Neil Armstrong was the commander for Apollo 11 e.g. for of

He was the first to walk over (a) _______ ________

the moon. What many people do not knew (b) _______ ________

is that unlike most of their fellow (c) _______ ________

astronauts, he was the civilian (d) _______ ________

and not part of the military.

Ans: Error Correction

e.g. for of
(a) over on

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 (b) knew know

(c) their his

(d) the a

7. Rearrange the following words / phrases to form meaningful sentences.

The first one has been done as an example. 1×3= 3 Marks
poverty / the village people / from / most / suffer / of
Most of the village people suffer from poverty.

(a) in rural areas / is / employment opportunities / there / of / lack /

Ans: In rural areas there is lack of employment opportunities.
(b) come to cities / in / people / so / of work / search /

Ans: So in search of work people come to cities

(c) appalling conditions / cities / they / in / live / in /
Ans: They live in cities in appalling conditions.

SECTION – C
(Literature: Textbook and Long Reading Text) 25 Marks

8. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
1×3= 3 Marks
It all started a month ago. Dad and I had spent the entire Saturday
afternoon at the Computer Fair.
(a) Who is the speaker ?

Ans: The speaker was Michael Dawson, the narrator in ‘Virtually True’
written by Paul Stewart.

(b) Why had the speaker and his father gone to the Computer Fair ?

Class X English(C) www.vedantu.com 11

 Ans: The speaker and the father had gone to the computer fair because his
father was obsessed with new technology and gadgets or gizmos and wanted
to buy something new for his collection.
(c) What does the word ‘entire’ mean ?

Ans: ‘Entire’ refers to the whole time.

Or

Ah ! Well-a-day ! What evil looks

Had I from old and young !

Instead of the cross, the Albatross

About my neck was hung.

(a) Why did the speaker have evil looks from the mariners ?
Ans: The speaker had ever looks from the mariners because they held him
responsible for their suffering

(b) Why did they hang the Albatross around the speaker's neck?

Ans: They hung the Albatross around his neck as a mark of his sin and guilt.
They did so out of a sense of revenge.
(c) What does the word evil mean ?

Ans: The word evil means wicked or cruel.

9. Answer any four of the following questions in 30 – 40 words each:

2×4= 8 Marks

(a) How did Patol Babu initially react to the role allotted to him ?

Ans: Patol Babu was overjoyed and excited to be cast as a pedestrian in a film.
But when he got his dialogue 'Oh' written on paper, he felt a sudden throbbing
in his heart. He had anticipated a longer scene with more dialogue.
(b) What kind of woman is Lavinia ?
Ans: Lavinia was a sharp woman who devoured any new information that

Class X English(C) www.vedantu.com 12

 came her way. She bought a ouija board because she thought it was the luckiest
and most daring thing she'd ever done. She was a strong woman who
disregarded her husband's request not to use the ouija board. Her husband
thought she was extremely timid. As a result, he was concerned that she would
faint upon seeing the ghost. When she came face to face with the ghost, she
simply smiled, proving him wrong.

(c) What was the aim of the game Dragonquest ?

Ans: In the game Dragonquest, the player was tasked with rescuing the
beautiful princess Aurora and stealing the Dragon's treasure from his castle,
where she was imprisoned. In a twisted version of the game, though, it was
Sebastain Shulz who needed rescuing from the dragon’s lair and he was
dressed as a night himself (and knew his way around).

(d) How does Decius Brutus interpret Calpurnia’s dream ?

Ans: Calpurnia's dream was interpreted by Decius Brutus as a fortunate

vision. Caesar will be an inspiration to the Romans. Rome will be revitalised.
His blood stains would be preserved as a relic.
(e) What do the expressions on Ozymandias’ face reveal about him ?
Ans: The expressions on Ozymandias' face are frowning and sneering. They
made him appear powerful and absolute ruler-like. His facial expression
conveyed that he was arrogant and despised his subjects.

10. Answer the following question in 80 – 100 words : 4 Marks

Whenever we act against the voice of our conscience, the result is

suffering. Explain with reference to the poet’s action against the snake and
its consequences.

Ans: When we act against the voice of our conscience, we suffer as a result. Poet's
inner voice advised him to treat the snake as if it were a guest. He wished for
peaceful coexistence with other species. But, ignoring the voice of his conscience
and without thinking about the consequences of his actions, he struck the snake.
He quickly regretted his careless action. His conscience pricked him for killing
the snake unnecessarily, despite the fact that it had not harmed him in any way.
He was overcome by a sense of sin and guilt. He desired to make amends and beg
forgiveness.

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 Or

Dedication and hard work are essential for success. Explain how these
qualities enable Patol Babu to perform his small role to perfection.

Ans: Patol babu embodied dedication and hard work. He was able to get a single
monosyllabic word, 'Oh,' to speak, but he added numerous special touches to
make it more authentic. He requested a newspaper to read while walking in order
to appear as an absent-minded stranger. To make his line more effective, he
planned the ratio of emotions he would express. He even planned his steps so that
he would collide with the actor at the appropriate time. He went to such lengths
to deliver a flawless shot.

11. Answer the following question in 150 – 200 words : 10 Marks

What does Anne’s diary reveal about the steadily worsening economic and
social conditions during the war ?

Ans: Anne's diary reveals a lot about the economic and social conditions that
were deteriorating day by day during the war. Burglaries, thefts, and breaking
and entering were all common occurrences. There was a scarcity of food, so
people had to wait in long lines for vegetables and other items. Little kids would
break the windows and steal whatever they could get their hands on. People wore
ripped and worn-out clothes because they lacked proper clothing. Men were
being deported to Germany. People were becoming ill, but doctors were unable
to attend to them because their vehicles were stolen the moment they turned their
backs. In the absence of proper food, children were malnourished or sick. There
was chaos everywhere. Prices for a variety of items had risen. The black market
was in full swing. Due to scarcity, even police officers and night watchmen had
become involved in thefts and burglaries. Because wages had been frozen,
almost everyone had begun to deceive others. As a result, the combination was
deteriorating.
Or

What is your impression of Peter ?

Ans: Peter Van Daan was the Van Daans' adolescent son, whose real name was
Peter Van Pets. Anne initially thought Peter was obnoxious, lazy, and overly
sensitive, but they later became close friends. Peter was a quiet, timid, and honest
young man who was kind to Anne. Anne and Peter developed a romantic

Class X English(C) www.vedantu.com 14

attraction during their time in the Annexe, but he was unable to express his
feelings openly. He enjoyed reading books, especially those intended for adults.
He once hid in the loft to read one of these books and became so engrossed in it
that he forgot to come down for dinner. His father came up to him and smacked
him hard when he discovered him reading the book. That night, he was refused
dinner, which he resented. He didn't like his parents' domineering demeanour,
but because he was shy, he never told them. They provided him with emotional
relief. Later on, he expressed a desire to become a criminal. Anne was not a fan
of it. He wanted to be successful, but he didn't want to work hard for it, she
realised. He was forced to participate in the "death march" and died on May 5,
1945.

Or

Helen did not confine herself to acquiring knowledge, but also enjoyed
herself by taking part in outdoor activities. Elaborate.
Ans: Helen Keller wrote about her love of the country and outdoor sports like
sailing and canoeing in her 1903 autobiography, 'The Story of My Life.' She
preferred them in the moonlight. She had taken riding lessons as a student at
Wright-Humason School. Her favourite outdoor activities included camping
trips, walks in a fragrant garden, and tandem bicycle rides. But rowing in her
canoe was even more enjoyable for Keller. She learned to swim and row when
she was very young, and as an adult, she practically lived in her canoe during the
summers. Nothing gave her more pleasure than taking her friends out for a
row.Rowing by the scent of water grasses and lilies, as well as bushes growing
on the shore, gave her pleasure. When the oars were evenly poised, she could
feel the resistance of the water and tell when she would pull against the current.
She enjoyed battling the wind and waves. It was thrilling for her to go skimming,
lightly over glistening, tilting waves, and to feel the water's steady, imperious
surge.

Or
Which traits of Helen’s character appeal to you most ? Give a reasoned
answer.

Ans: Helen Keller's tenacity is without a doubt her most remarkable quality. We
see her showing that trait many times in her autobiography, ‘The Story of My
Life,' as she continues to learn, read, write, and finally talk to convey herself,
despite failure following her at every step. She never abandons her desire of
attending college, continues to see and hear girls her age, and, most significantly,

Class X English(C) www.vedantu.com 15

resumes writing after the humiliating accusation of plagiarism. Humanity is
another endearing trait. It shows in her love for fellow human beings
downtrodden by poverty and differently abled children- whose causes she
championed in later life. Her love of dogs and nature, as well as her lovely and
loving personality and rustic tendencies, are all manifestations of that trade. Her
obstinacy, on the other hand, shines brightly.. Her never say never spirit are what
drew the sympathies of her most illustrious admirers, men like Mark Twain and
Alexander Graham Bell. Her unwavering will to learn, speak, and attend college
despite her companions' criticism and laughter, and to complete her degree at the
Cambridge School in the time allotted three years, all point to this that she never
give up on becoming equal to normal people all manner of things is another
instance, and the fact that she succeeded is one solace to anyone who find himself
disadvantaged in life. Her unquenchable curiosity is one inspiring trait. All that
she learned and tried to learn are brazen examples. Her strength of will and
character shine in her successes. That iron will is Helen Keller’s relic for
humanity, a gift unto all that don't bow to their circumstances and challenge them.
I wish to be one.

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