HS IIYEAR PREFINAL EXAMINATION 2023

SUB: ENGLISH
Full Marks : 100 Time:3 Hrs.
SECTION -A
(Reading Skill : 10Marks)

1. Read the following passage carefully :

Igot posted in Srinagar in the 1980. Its rugged mountains,
gushing rivers, and vast meadows reminded me of the
landscapes of my native place - the Jibhi Valley in Himachal
Pradesh. Unlike Srinagar which saw numerous tourists, Jibhi
Valley remained clouded in anonymity. That's when the seed of
starting tourism in Jibhi was planted. Eventually, I decided to
leave my job and follow the urge to return home.
We had two houses -a family house and a traditional house, which
we often rented out. I pleaded with my father to ask the tenant to
vacate the house so that I could convert it into aguesthouse. When
my family finally relented, I renovated the house keeping its
originality intact, just adding windows for sunlight.
I stillremember the summer of 1992 when Iput a signboard
outside my first guesthouse in Jibhi Valley! The village residents,
however, were sceptical about my success. My business kept
growing but it took years for tourism to take off in Jibhi Valley.
Things changed significantly after 2008 when the government
launched a homsetay scheme. People built homestays and with
rapid tourism growth, the region changed rapidly. Villages
turned into towns with many concrete buildings. Local business
and tourists continued putting a burden on nature.
Then, with the 2020-21 pandemic and lockdown, tourism came
to a complete standstill in Jibhi Valley. Local people, who were
employed at over a hundred homestays and guesthouses, returned
to their villages. Some went back to farming; some took up
pottery and some got involved in government work schemes.
Now, all ardently hope that normalcy and tourism will return
to the valley soon. In a way, the pandemic has allowed us to
go back to our roots and look for sustainable
introspect,
solutions.
For me, tourism has been my greatest teacher. It brought people
from many countries and all states of India to my guesthouse. It
and countless
gave me exposure to different cultures
opportunities to leam new things. Most people who stayed at
my guesthouse became my repeat clients and good friends. When
Ilook back, I feel proud, yet humbled at the thought that Iwas
not only able to fulfill my dream despite all the challenges but
also playa role in establishing tourism in the beautiful valley
that Icall home.
On the basis of reading of the passage, answer the following
questions :
(a) What reminded the writer of his/her native place? 1 in your locality.
(b) Find out the word from the passage which means 'doubtful'.1
(c) Why did the writer renovate his/her traditional house? 1
(d) Why does the speaker feel proud and humbled? 2
(e) How did the pandemic aftect the business of tourism? 2
() In which year did the government launch the homestay
scheme? 1
(g) What was the dream of the writer? Has the writer been
able to fulfil his dream? 1+1-2
SECTION -B
(Advanced Writing Skill : 25 Marks)
2. You are Rupam/Rupalim, General Secretary of the Student's
Union of your college Your college is organizing an exciting
"Inter-College Debate Competition" by the end of next month.
[2]
Write a notice for the college notice board
of the participants and the audicnce. drawing the attention
Or
5
Design a poster in not more than 50 words on road
awareness to makeyour state accident-free. safety
3. You've enjoyed a street play on the
theme of mental health
organized by a group of your classmates. Write a detailed
account of the event in 100-125 words to be published in a
newspaper.
10
Or
Your school/college has recently organized a
poetry and tiny tale reading event. Prepare a reportself-composed
on that event
in 100-125 words to be uploaded on the official
website of
your institution. You are Ayan/Aquiba. 10
4. You are Melody/Maxwell. Write a letter to the Editor of
The Sentinel drawing attention to the issue of monkey member
10
Or
You're Pragyan/Prakriti. Draft an application for the post of content
writer in English in response to the advertisement published in The
Assam Tribune dated 5th December 2023. Prepare a biodata to
be enclosed. You are Manab/Maneshi. 10
SECTION -C
(Grammer: 20 Marks)
5. Change the form of the narration of any two of the
following sentences :
(a) The traveler said to the peasant, "Can you show me the
nearest homestay?"m Yes", said the peasant.
(b) Rizwan suggested to his friends that they should go and
help the flood-affected people.
(c) "Hercules", said the Goddess of virtue, "l ofler myself to (d) No sooner did he sec me that he
began to
youbecause Iknow you are described from the gods and that into affirmative). quarrel. (Change
you have been given proof of that by your love of virtue". (e) The employee handled the job
Change the voice of any three of the following of 'sincerely'). sincerely. (Use the noun fom
6. lx3=3
sentences:
SECTION-D
(a) The pandemic has turned the world upside down. (Textbooks : 45 Marks)
(b) Promises should be kept. 10. Read the following extracts and
answer the questions that follow :
(c) The old lady is looking after this little girl. (a) "Those who prepare green wars,
() Drive the car slowly. wars with gas, wars with fire.
would put on clean clothes
7. Rewrite any five of the following sentences using the
lx5=5 and walk about with their brothers
verbs given in brackets in their correct forms: in the shade, doing nothing."
(a) You (attend) the conference yesterday? Questions :
(b) We already (have) breakfast. (i) What are the different kinds of war
mentioned by the poet
(c) They (watch) the film since five O' clock. in the passage"
(d> Julie (not drink) coffee very often. (ii) What kind of victory-do they achieve?
(e) IfIweren't so tired, I (go) for a walk with you. (iii) What should the warmongers do? 1
(iv) Find words in the passage that mean those left alive" and
(O He behaved as though he (be) a king. <"win".
8. Rewrite any four of the follewing sentences filling in Or
lx4-4
the blanks with appropriate prepositions : (b) But soon
(a) We are not interested your story. put that thought away and looked out at
(b) Icongratulate you your success. Young Trees sprinting the merry children spilling out of
your conduct. the homes.
(c) Iam astonished
Questions:
(d) The boy parted his parents in tears.
i) Who looked out at the young trecs?
(e) She prefers novelsl short stories.
ii) Which thought did the speaker put away?
(9. Rewrite any four of the following sentences as directed: ii) What does young sprinting tree signify ?
lx4=4
iv) What did the speaker see the children doing?
(a) A stone that is rolling gathers no moss. (Make it a simple
sentence) 1) Answer any three of the following questions in 30-40
words. 2x3=6
(b) Ishall ncver forget the story. (Change into interrogative) () What makes human beings love life despite troubles and
(c) Dr. Bhupen Hazarika Setu is the longest bridge in India.
(Change into positive degree). suflerings?
(4)
 'sprinting'? 15. Answer any one of the following questions in 125-130
() Why are the young trecs described as words.
lesson can the 7x1=7
(i) According to Pablo Nenuda, what important
Earth teach us? (a) What kind of discrimination does Zitkala-Sa's
experience
depict? What are her responses to her respective situation?
(iv) What increascs continuously in "A thing of bcauty"?
the poem? (b) Give an elaborate account of the celebration associated
(v) What is the 'sadness that the poet refcrs to in
lx5-5 with Uruka, the important part of Magh Bihu.
12. Answer any five of the following:
16. Answer any four of the following questions in 30-40
(a Where does Mukesh live? words :
2x4-8
(b) What does Saheb look for in the garbage dump? (a) What did astrologers foretell when Tiger King was bon?
() What is the meaning ofVive La France? (b) What is the significance of Bhelaghar?
(d) In which year did Saheb's family come from Bangladesh? (c) What will the Maharaja do to find the required
What makes the city of Firozabad famous? tigers to kill?
number of
(e)
) What did the peasants pay the British landlords as rent? (d) Why was Zitkala so terrified when Judewin told her
that
2x5-10 her hair would be cut short?
13. Answer any five in 30-40 words :
(e) How did Annan explain the elder man's
(a) Who was John Rowntree? action to Bama?
(b) Was Sahib happy with his job at the tea stall?
(c) Why did Gandhi agree to a settlement of a 25 percent
refund to the farmers?
* * *
(d) What kind of person was Geoff?
(e) How does Sophie include her brother Geoff in the fantasy
of her future?
() What was Franz expected to be prepared with for school
that day?
14. Answer any one of the following questions in 80-100
words. 5x1=5

(a) How different from usual was the atmosphere at school

on the day of the last lesson?
(b) What forces conspire to keep the workers in the bangle
industry in Firozabad in poverty?

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