WEST CHENNAI SAHODAYA CLUSTER SCHOOLS - 2023

CLASS X
ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE
SUB CODE: 184
SET 1
TIME: 3 hrs MAXIMUM MARKS: 80

General instructions:
1. 15-minute prior reading time allotted for Question paper reading.
2. The question paper contains three sections- READING, GRAMMAR& WRITING and
LITERATURE
3. Attempt questions based on specific instructions for each part

Section A- Reading skills (20 marks)

Reading Comprehension
I. Read the following text 10 marks.
(1) In the early 1920s, settlers came to Alaska looking for gold. They travelled by boat to the coastal
towns of Seaward and Knik, and from there by land into the gold fields. The trail they used to travel
inland is known today as the Iditarod Trail, one of the National Historic Trails designated by the
Congress of the United States. The Iditarod Trail quickly became a major thoroughfare in Alaska,
as the mail and supplies were carried across this trail. People also used it to get from place to place,
including the priests, ministers and judges who had to travel between villages. In the winter, the
settlers 's only means of travel down this trail was via dog sled.
(2) Once the gold rush ended, many gold- seekers went back to where they had come from, and suddenly
there was much less travel on the Iditarod Trail. The introduction of the airplane in the late 1920s
meant dog teams were no longer the standard mode of transportation, and of course with the airplane
carrying the mail and supplies, there was less need for land travel in general. The final blow to the
use of the dog teams was the appearance of snowmobiles.
(3) By the mid1960s, most Alaskans didn't even know the Iditarod Trail existed, or that dog teams had
played a crucial role in Alaska's early settlement. Dorothy G Page, a self-made historian, recognized
how few people knew about the former use of sled dogs as working animals and about the Iditarod
Trail’s role in Alaska’s colourful history. To raise awareness about this aspect of Alaskan history,
she came up with the idea to have a dog sled race over the Iditarod Trail. She presented her idea to
an enthusiastic musher, as dog sled drivers are known, named Joe Redington. Soon the Pages and
Redingtons were working together to promote the idea of the Iditarod race. Many people worked to
make the first Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race a reality in 1967.
(4) The Aurora Dog Mushers Club, along with men from the Adult camp in Sutton, helped clear years
of overgrowth from the first nine miles of the Iditarod Trail. To raise interest in the race a $25,000
prize was offered, with Joe Redington donating one acre of his land to help raise the funds. The short
race, approximately 27 miles long, was put on a second time in 1969. After these first two successful
races, the goal was to lengthen the race a little further to the ghost town of Iditarod by 1973.

Answer the following questions based on the passage above.

i. Why does the writer say that the need for land travel in general reduced after the 1920s? (1)
A. The Iditarod trail closed down.
B. Dog sleds could be used only in winter.
C. Airplanes became the standard mode of transportation.
D. People suddenly left Alaska for good.
ii. What is the tone of the writer in the given lines from paragraph 3? Rationalize your response in about
40 words. (2)
Soon the Pages and the Redingtons were working together to promote the idea of the Iditarod race.
iii. Complete the sentence appropriately. (1)
The author’s use of vivid imagery in paragraph 4,” After these first two successful races, the goal was
to lengthen the race a little further to the ghost town of Iditarod by 1973.” is done to--------------------
--------
iv. The given text includes some words that are pairs of nouns used by the author in the passage. From
the sets1- 5 below, identify two sets of proper nouns. (1)
1. The mail and supplies. 2. Ministers and judges.
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 3. Place to place. 4. The Pages and the Redingtons.
5. The Aurora Dog Mushers Club and the Adult Camp.
i. 4 and 5 ii. 1 and 2 iii. 3 and 4 iv. 2 and 4
v. Complete the sentence appropriately. (1)
To raise awareness about the----------------- Dorothy G Page came up with the idea to have a dog sled
race.
vi. If you were in America and came across a musher, who would that be by profession and from where
exactly in America? Answer in 40 words. (2)
vii. Choose from the given options to complete the statement. (1)
The primary purpose of this passage is to-----------------------
A. Recount the history of the Iditarod trail and the race that memorializes it.
B. Describe the obstacles involved in founding the Iditarod race.
C. Outline the circumstances that led to the establishment of the Iditarod trail.
D. Re-establish the important place of the Iditarod Trail in Alaska's history.
viii. Based on the reading of the passage examine why Dorothy G Page calls herself a ‘self-made
historian’. (1)

2. Read the following passage. 10 marks.

1. Your burger or pizza could be cooked anywhere by anyone-which is what makes the ghost kitchen
concept so lucrative to both owners and investors.
2. The goal of these virtual restaurants (for the franchisor and the franchisee) is no different from any
other business; to maximize profit and minimize overhead. Why operate one restaurant in your
kitchen when you can operate many? The space, the equipment and the cooks are there. Never
mind if they suddenly have to execute all those extra menus. Does their pay increase? Will ghost
kitchens add more staff to accommodate the increasing volume? These questions are danced
around.
3. An owner says,” I want the franchisee to make money, so we need to optimize the cost to optimize
the revenue. So if the franchisee needs a new chef or new equipment or more tools for prep, then
for sure they should invest to grow their revenue. But usually my approach and the company's
approach is to optimize the current need and the current team. We are not here to invest in more
space or in bigger teams.

A smartphone that stands between the diners and the cooks, make the workforce invisible (before
anyone knew what a ghost kitchen was) and hides its exploitation in the form of low wages, long
hours and various forms of abuse. This was exacerbated during COVID, especially for non -whites.
According to a study, Hispanic and Latino cooks and service workers in Massachusetts died of
COVID-19 at a rate eight times higher than white workers. Add to that the well documented
exploitation of the countless drivers who work for the delivery apps. The apps invested $200
million into a ballot measure to deny drivers employment protections. Then there are robotic
companies that are trying to straight up replace workers in ghost kitchens entirely in the future.
Answer the following questions based on the passage above
i. Complete the following analogy appropriately based on your understanding of paragraphs 1 and 2.
(1)
We can say that the staff of a ghost or a virtual kitchen are invisible to their customers like customer
care executives who resolve your issues or complaints for you and the kitchen where your order is
executed is like a----------------
ii. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate option from those given in brackets based on your understanding

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 of paragraph 2. (1)
The statement that a smartphone that stands between the diners and the cooks makes the workforce
engaged in the virtual kitchens invisible is a------------ (Fact/Opinion) because it is a /an ------
------------ ( Subjective judgment/ Objective detail)
iii. Justify the following in about 40 words. (2)
The onus of running or expanding their business professionally and smoothly is completely on the
shoulders of the franchisee of a ghost kitchen brand with no inputs or participation by the owner or
investor.
iv. Based on the passage list two examples to showcase the advantages of owning or investing in a ghost
kitchen. (1)
v. Mention one reason why the author talks about the owners of the food delivery apps having unethical
intentions as regards their employees. (1)
Add to that the well -documented exploitation of the countless drivers who work for the delivery
apps.
vi. Select the option that correctly displays what Ghost or Virtual Kitchen signifies. (1)

i. A and C ii. Band D iii. A, C and E iv. C and E

vii. Infer one benefit and one drawback of virtual kitchens, where anything can be cooked and delivered
by anyone. Answer in about 40 words. (2)
viii. Select the correct option to complete the following sentence about the main takeaway from the study
mentioned in the passage. (1)
Typically, a franchise owner and the company that owns the franchise work on the principle of-----
---------------------
a. Maximize the cost to minimize the revenue.
b. Maximize the cost to maximize their revenue.
c. Minimize the cost to minimize the revenue.
d. Minimize the cost to maximize the revenue.

Section B – Writing Skills and Grammar (20 Marks)

GRAMMAR
3. Attempt ANY TEN of the following questions.
i. Fill in the blanks by choosing the correct option to complete the statement.
Mr. Ankit _________ (live) in this city since 2000.
A. is living B. was living
C. has been living D. had been living

B. Identify the error in the advertisement given below and supply the correction for the same. (1)
Looking out to buy a violin?
The brand-new violin is for sale. It comes with a wooden velvet lined violin case.
If interested, contact me at 9889xxxxxx.
Use the given format for your response.

error correction

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 C. Mrs. Rita had a conversation with Mr. Sharma, the counsellor. Report Mrs. Rita’s question given
below to the counsellor. (1)
Could you please give me some advice on how I can handle my teenaged daughter?

D. Report the dialogue between a customer at a bank and a peon by completing the sentence below.
(1)
Customer : When will the clerk come back to his seat?
Peon : In another 10 minutes.
When a customer at a bank asked the peon on duty ________, he replied that the clerk would
return in another 10 minutes
E. Fill in the blanks by choosing the correct option. (1)
We could buy this expensive book as we had ________ money with us.
A. less B. enough C. a little D. little
F. Identify the error on a shop’s hoarding and supply the correction for the following: (1)
Contact Sona Caterers on personal and office events.
Use the given format for your response.
Error Correction

G. Select the option that identifies the error and supplies the correction for the following line from a
news report.
A female giraffe knows that the only chance of survival for her baby in the jungle is to kick it
until it gets on its feet, otherwise it shall be eaten up by wild cats.
Option error correction
No.
survival surviving
B. gets will get
C. Shall be eaten will be eaten
D. become becomes

H. Complete the following motivational quote with the correct option. (1)
Umbrella can’t stop the rain but it _________ protect us from rain.
A. might B. can C. would D. need to
ix. Read the conversation between a lawyer and his client. Complete the sentence by reporting the
lawyer’s reply correctly. (1)
Client : I am worried, this is a very complicated case.
Lawyer : Don’t worry. I’ve never lost a case in my life.
The client was worried as it was a very complicated case, but his lawyer told him ____________.
x. Fill in the blanks by choosing the correct option to complete this statement. (1)
____________ of the tourists could see ________ tiger in the reserve.
A. none, some B. some, any C. none, any D. some, none

xi. Select the correct option to complete the narration of the dialogue between a mother and her
daughter. (1)
Mother : Turn off the TV and help me in cleaning your room.
Moksha : Ma, I will do it later.
On ______ in cleaning her (the daughter’s) room, the daughter replied that she would do it later.
A. being asked to turn off the TV and help her
B. being requested to turn off the TV and help her
C. being instructed to turn off the TV and help her
D. being suggested to turn on the TV and help her

xii. Fill in the blanks with appropriate option :

Cross border terrorism ___________ increase if there is no check now.
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 A. could B. will C. might D. would

WRITING

4. Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below. (5)

A. Write a letter to the Municipal Commissioner, Faridabad, complaining about improper disposal
of garbage in your locality. You are Kusum/Kanishq and you live in 50-R, Nanda colony, RV
Nagar, Faridabad.
OR
B. You had bought a mobile phone from a reputable showroom in Mumbai, but after a week it
developed a technical snag. Write a complaint letter to the Manager, Sharp Mobiles, Church
Street, Bandra, Mumbai asking for immediate repair or replacement of the same. You are
Shradha/Sharath from 123 Suryanagar, Andheri East, Mumbai.

5. Attempt ANY ONE from A and B given below. (5)

A. As the dynamics of healthcare system in India evolve, it calls for a careful examination of the
system's strengths and weaknesses.. Write an analytical paragraph that elucidates whether the
merits overshadow the demerits or vice versa.

Strengths Challenges
- affordable – promoting medical - Disparities ( Rich and Poor)
tourism - Doctor-Patient Ratio
- Traditional Medicine Integration in - Quality Disparities (Urban vs Rural)
treatment
- Skilled Healthcare Professionals

You may begin like this:

The healthcare scenario in India is complex, exhibiting both positive attributes and shortcomings.
However, I believe that the merits surpass the drawbacks / demerits overshadow the merits.
You may end like this: For these reasons, I am of the opinion…
OR
B. "In an age where smartphones have become ubiquitous companions, their influence on our daily
lives is undeniable. The question lingers: Are these pocket-sized devices a boon or a bane for
society? Write an analytical paragraph examining whether you think the benefits outweigh the
drawbacks or vice versa.
Merits Demerits
- helps in communication - causes distraction
- enables information access - becomes an addiction
- aids in navigation and maps - Privacy concerns
- provides entertainment - results in health problems
- enables capturing memories by - social isolation in the real scenario
taking photos. - Environmental impact
- aids in contacting emergency services
You may begin like this: In an age of advanced technology, mobile phones are a
boon/bane…………………………….
You may end like this: Due to these factors, I am of the opinion that the benefits outweigh/do
not outweigh the drawbacks.
Section D – Literature (40 marks)
6. Read the given extract and answer the question for ANY ONE of the two given. (5)
A. Let me put it more clearly, since no one will believe that a thirteen-year-old girl is completely alone
in the world. And I’m not. I have loving parents and a sixteen-year-old sister, and there are about
thirty people I can call friends. I have a family, loving aunts and a good home. No, on the surface I
seem to have everything, except my one true friend. All I think about when I’m with friends is having
a good time. I can’t bring myself to talk about anything but ordinary everyday things. We don’t seem
to be able to get any closer, and that’s the problem. Maybe it’s my fault that we don’t confide in each
other. In any case, that’s just how things are, and unfortunately, they’re not liable to change. This is
why I’ve started the diary. To enhance the image of this long-awaited friend in my imagination, I
don’t want to jot down the facts in this diary the way most people would do, but I want the diary to
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 be my friend, and I’m going to call this friend ‘Kitty’.
(From the Diary of Anne Frank)

i. What does the following statement tell us about Anne Frank? (1)
‘Maybe it’s my fault that we don’t confide in each other’
ii. According to the passage which of the statements are TRUE (1)
1. Anne had no friends
2. Anne had no real friends
3. Anne’s family was not supportive
4. Anne had a close-knit family
5. Anne desperately wanted a close friend
6. Anne started writing a diary because she had no hobbies
7. Anne’s classmates were very close to her
A. 1, 2 and 3 B. 4,5, and 6 C. 5,6, and 7 D. 2, 4 and 5
iii. Why does Anne say she is completely alone even though she has a family, loving aunts, and a
good home? Answer in about 40 words. (2)
iv. Find one word to substitute the phrase ‘on the surface’. (1)
OR
B. I think he knew I made a little money this way but he did not seem to mind. Anil made money by fits
and starts. He would borrow one week, lend the next. He kept worrying about his next cheque, but as
soon as it arrived, he would go out and celebrate. It seems he wrote for magazines-a queer way to
make a living! (The Thief’s Story)
i. What do you infer about Anil’s profession from the extract? (1)
ii. State which of the options from (a) to (d) can be applied to the given context? (1)
“As soon as Anil received a cheque, he would go out and celebrate.”
A. He did so, not because he was careless but because he was kind hearted.
B. He did so, because he valued money too much to spend it recklessly.
C. He did so , because he was bad at saving money.
D. He did so, not because he was careless but because he lived in the moment.
iii. What does the narrator mean when he says ‘I made a little money this way’? Answer in about
40 words. (2)
iv. Mention one word / phrase that can correctly replace the phrase ‘by fits and starts’. (1)

7. Read the given extract and answer the question for ANY ONE of the two given. (5 marks)

A. But I can get a hair-dye

And set such colour there,
Brown, or black, or carrot,
That young men in despair
May love me for myself alone
And not my yellow hair.
(For Anne Gregory)
i. The tone of the given stanza is a part of (1)
A. Acknowledgement B. An argument C. A suggestion D. A conversation
ii. Find a synonym for ‘dejection’. (1)
iii. Why does Anne want to colour her hair? Answer in about 40 words. (2)
iv. Read the statements 1 and 2 given below and choose the option that correctly assesses these
statements. (1)
1. The speaker wants to change her hair colour so that it may appeal to young men
2. The speaker’s appearance due to her gorgeous yellow hair is largely the reason young men hope
to get her attention.
A. 1 is false, 2 is true and clearly inferred from the poem
B. 1 is true, 2 cannot be clearly inferred from the poem.
C. 2 is false, 1 cannot be clearly inferred from the poem,
D. 1 is true, and 2 can be inferred from the poem,

OR
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B. The pirate gaped at Belinda’s dragon,
And gulped some grog from his pocket flagon,
He fired two bullets, but they didn’t hit,
And Custard gobbled him, every bit.
(The Tale of Custard the Dragon)
i. Who is a ‘pirate’? (1)
ii. Pick out the line from the above stanza which is in contrast to the line ‘but Custard cried for a
nice safe cage’. (1)

iii. What is the significance of the words ‘gaped’ and ‘gulped’ used to describe the pirate’s reactions
in the extract and how does this choice of words justify the fate of the pirate? Answer in about 40
words. (2)
iv. What is the rhyme scheme of the given extract? (1)
A. aabb B. abab C. abba D. abaa
8. Answer ANY FOUR of the following five questions in about 40-50 words each. (4x3=12)

i. ‘These are not raindrops falling from the sky, they are new coins’. Why did Lencho make this
statement? (A letter to God) (3)
ii. ‘Money is external’. What does the poet mean by this expression? (The Ball Poem) (3)
iii. Do you think the tiger in the poem has lost its natural instincts, strength and courage? Elucidate.
(A Tiger in the Zoo) (3)
iv. Compare and contrast what Anne from the poem ‘For Anne Gregory’ looks for in a life partner as
compared to Natalya from the play ‘The Proposal’. (3)
v. What is the significance of the Buddha’s request for a handful of mustard seeds and the addition
of a condition to it? (The Sermon at Benares) (3)

9. Answer ANY TWO of the following three questions in about 40-50 words each.
(2x3=6 )
i. Based on ‘The Book that Saved the Earth’, state how jumping to conclusions had an unintended
consequence for the Martians. (3)
ii. Matilda’s husband is kind and loving. Do you agree? Mention two instances from the story to
support your answer. (The Necklace) (3)
iii. ‘Love and encouragement makes the impossible possible’. Elucidate this statement on the basis
of the story ‘Bholi’. (3)

10. Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions in 100 -120 words. (1x6=6 marks)
i. Imagine yourself to be Ronith / Rajitha. You have been asked to give a speech on ‘Courage is
not the absence of fear but the triumph over it’. Using ideas from Nelson Mandela: A Long
Walk to Freedom and First Flight, write the speech in 100-120 words.
OR
ii. Pranjol and Rajveer went on a vacation to Coorg. Imagine yourself to be Rajveer and write a
diary entry on what you experienced. (Glimpses of India) (6)

11. Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions in 100-120 words. (1x6=6)
i. Horace Danby was good and respectable – but not completely honest. Do you think this is a fair
assessment of Horace? Give reasons. (Question of Trust) (6)
OR
ii. Describe the twist in the plot ‘The Midnight Visitor’. Analyse how Fowler’s opinion of Ausable
must have undergone a change after the twist in the plot. (6)

“End of paper”

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