Hello friend!

7
ENGLISH
Ready for the test? Take a deep breath and relax. Don’t forget to read the questions very carefully
- some questions that look tough, will be quite easy after you have read them properly. Do not
spend too much time on any question - and do your best.
Have fun and best of luck !

Read the incident described below and answer questions 1 to 7.

Granpa's Fight
With
An Ostrich

1. While working with the East African Railways, Grandfather crossed an ostrich 'camp' on his trek home,
confident that his dog would protect him. But his dog ran after a hare paying no heed to his master's
protests.
2. Now read the rest of the account in Grandfather's words:
3. Suddenly I saw a big male bird emerge from a thicket about a hundred yards away. He stood still and
stared at me for a few moments. Then, expanding his wings and with his tail erect he came bounding
towards me.
4. Believing discretion to be the better part of valour, I turned and ran towards the fence but it was an
unequal race. What were my steps of two or three feet against the creature's great strides of sixteen to
twenty feet?
5. I rushed for the nearest clump of bushes and dodged this way and that, taking care not to get directly in
front of his deadly kick. The ostrich kicks forward, and with such terrific force that his great chisel like
nails can rip one open from head to foot.
6. Breathless, and quite helpless, I prayed wildly for help as I circled the bush, which was about twelve feet
in diameter. My strength was rapidly falling, and I was ready to drop from sheer exhaustion. As if aware of
my predicament, the infuriated bird suddenly doubled on his course and charged straight at me. How it
happened I don't know, but I found myself holding on to one of the creature's wings, close to its body.
7. It was now the bird's turn to be frightened, and he began to turn, or rather waltz, moving round and round
so quickly that my feet were soon swinging out almost horizontally. His beaks were snapping angrily. My
arms soon began to ache with the strain, and I felt dizzy. But I knew that if I relaxed my hold, I should be
promptly trampled to death by the spiteful bird.
8. Suddenly the bird went into reverse! This unexpected movement sent me sprawling to the ground. In an
instant, the ostrich was upon me. I thought the end had come. Instinctively I put up my hands to protect
my face. It stood with one foot raised, ready to rip me open! I waited. But, to my amazement, the great bird
did not strike. I saw him jump back, and run off as fast as he could. Dazed, I wondered what had happened.
9. I soon found out - to my great joy, I heard the bark of my truant dog, and the next moment he was jumping
around me, licking my face and hands.
Source: Panther's Moon and Other Stories- Ruskin Bond, Puffin Books, 1991
ASSET 17B 1
1 In this passage the author MAINLY
A. describes to the reader the ills of trekking home.
B. provides information about an ostrich family.
C. elaborates on the nature of his little dog friend.
D. creates a vivid description of the events in the story.

2 Which of these is suggested by the description in paragraph 6? ('Breathless ..... close to its body.')
A. uncertainty
B. rigidity
C. desperation
D. thrill

3 What probably made the bird start turning round and round at a great speed?
A. The realisation that its family was likely to be attacked by the intruder.
B. A desperate attempt to ward off the sudden danger it sensed.
C. The grandfather's quick escape behind the nearest clump of trees.
D. The faint bark of the dog, tired after its pursuit of the hare.

4 Which of these words is CLOSEST in meaning to 'instinctively', as used in the passage?

A. intuitively
B. mechanically
C. normally
D. consciously

5 Why does the author call the ostrich 'a spiteful bird'?
A. He was angry at the way it attacked him relentlessly.
B. He couldn't understand what the bird was really doing.
C. He watched the way it moved about from a distance.
D. It appeared to be too huge and dangerous to be liked.

6 How are paragraphs 3 and 4 organised? ('Suddenly I saw a big male bird….. twenty feet?')
A. They show comparison and contrast.
B. They present a difficult sequence.
C. They present a cause and effect.
D. They describe a spatial order.

7 The word 'valour' is OPPOSITE to

A. anxiety.
B. cowardice.
C. weakness.
D. shyness.

2 Class 7 English
 Given below is a part of a page of the Railway Time Table. Read the information carefully and answer
questions 8 to 11.

74 Bina Da
m
oh
J a balp
ur

Do not carry inflammable material ni Itarsi

BG K at
while travelling. It is not only dangerous
but also a punishable offence under the Bina Bhopal Rewa Itarsi
Itarsi Rewa Bhopal Bina
Indian Railways Act. Vindyachal Express TRAIN NAME Express Vindyachal
Express Express

1272 1265 Train Number 1266 1271

SL,II 2A Class of accommodation 2A SL,II

SL,II SL,II
From Table No. To

Daily Tu, Th, Su Dep. Days of Operation Arr. Tu, Th, Sa Daily

21.30 00.30 Km d Bina a 02.35 05.50

22.55 01.45 a Sagar d 00.35 04.10
23.05 01.50 75 d a 00.30 04.00
00.50 03.05 a d 23.20 01.20
01.00
152 d Damoh a
03.10 23.15 01.10
03.40 05.50 a Katni d 21.30 23.00
04.25 06.00 263 d a 21.20 22.30
06.45 380 a Jabalpur d 20.55
07.00 d a 20.40
11.50 598 a Itarsi d 16.20
Daily W, F, M Arr. Days of Operation Dep. M, W, F Daily

43 To Table No. From 43

Source: “Table 74” - Railway Time Table - Trains at a Glance

8 The 1265 Bhopal Rewa Express runs
A. everyday.
B. once a week.
C. twice a week.
D. thrice a week.

9 The word 'inflammable' in the picture shown, refers to things which

A. don't catch fire easily.
B. catch fire easily.
C. are too heavy to carry.
D. are used in the kitchen.

10 According to the information in the picture, carrying inflammable material while travelling is
A. illegal.
B. valid.
C. legitimate.
D. liable.

11 The letters 'SL' probably refer to

A. 'Slow'.
B. 'Sleeper'.
C. 'Safe Level'.
D. 'Stay Long'.

ASSET 17B 3
 Read the poem given here and answer questions 12 to 16.

My Computer
Ate My Homework
-Kenn Nesbitt

12 The poet's feeling towards his computer right

through the poem can be BEST described as
one of
A. gratitude.
B. impatience.
C. annoyance.
D. uncertainty.

13 The rhyme scheme in the poem is:

A. ABAC
B. ABCA
C. ABCB
D. ABAB
My computer ate my homework.
Yes, it's troublesome, but true. 14 Which of these lines is an example of
Though it didn't gnaw or nibble 'Personification'?
and it didn't chomp or chew. A. My computer ate my homework
B. I would guess it was a virus
It digested it completely. C. I suppose I might have pressed Escape
It consumed my homework whole, D. and it landed in the trash
when I pressed the Shift and Enter keys
instead of Shift-Control.
15 What confirmation was the poet looking for in
It devoured my hours of typing, the FOURTH stanza?
every picture, chart and graph, A. a confirmation that the file was infected by a
virus
and it left me most unsettled
B. a confirmation that the file could be deleted
when I thought I heard it laugh.
C. a confirmation that Escape had been pressed
D. a confirmation that the computer had
I would guess it was a virus, malfunctioned
or it could have been a worm,
that deleted every bit
but didn't prompt me to confirm. 16 The poem ends with a feeling of
A. peace.
I suppose I might have pressed Escape B. irritation.
instead of pressing Save, C. triumph.
but, regardless, my computer D. pain.
now will never misbehave.

For I found a good solution

and I smiled to hear the crash,
when I chucked it out the window
and it landed in the trash.
Source: http://www.nesbitt.com/poetry/poems/poem.cfm?PoemID=162

4 Class 7 English
 Read 'Beautiful Camouflage' and answer questions 17 to 22.

Beautiful Camouflage
It stands before me in the glowing dusk like a sentinel of nature,
tall and proud like a tribal woman. I have grown to love it - this
beautiful tree in my garden.
Initially, there was not a single leaf to clothe its nakedness, and
the inquisitive rays of the setting sun pierced and exposed its
every limb. But spring was not far behind. The world burst into
colour. The seeds we had sown in the flowerbeds erupted into
tiny leaves. From next door we heard the cry of a newborn calf
and watched it jumping playfully but unsteadily among the
haystacks. And my tree? Millions of pale green shoots sprouted
on every branch.
What joy it was watching them unfurl! It was like the first
uncurling of a baby's fist - the same soft, delicate and
vulnerable interior. The leaves soon were as big as my palm.
The flowers fell one evening after an aggressive gust of wind. I
hadn't realized that there were flowers until I found masses on
the ground, all coloured a cool lime green. I walked barefoot on
the carpet and my soles melted unto the flowers.
Soon the leaves assumed a deeper hue. Before long they began falling and I discovered the hidden fruits
behind them, globes of russet-coloured fruit, as big as table tennis balls and as decorative as miniature
pomegranates. I was curious about them and asked a botanist about their identity. Nux Vomica, I was told;
strychnine is extracted from the seeds.
Was I a little disappointed that my tree held poison? Maybe, but the balance had to be struck somewhere
and there couldn't have been a more beautiful example.
Source: “Beautiful Camouflage” by Reena Puri in Navhind Times - A Parent's Guide to Bringing up Kids
- A Reader's Digest Selection - RDI Print and Publishing Ltd.

17 Which two FIGURES OF SPEECH can be found in the opening sentence of this passage?
A. irony and personification
B. simile and metaphor
C. metaphor and alliteration
D. personification and simile

18 The CENTRAL IDEA of the SECOND paragraph is

A. the radiance of the rays of the sun.
B. the bare branches of the solitary tree.
C. the colour, joy and beauty of new life.
D. the unsteadiness of the new born.

19 Which of the following words is indicative of poison?

A. strychnine
B. russet
C. Nux Vomica
D. hue
ASSET 17B 5
20 ‘The bullies in the class always tend to tease the most ________ person present.’

Which of the following words from the passage can add meaning to the above sentence?
A. aggressive
B. glowing
C. inquisitive
D. vulnerable

21 The tone throughout the article is one of

A. innocence.
B. disappointment.
C. protection.
D. wonder.

22 Which of the following questions can be answered using the information from this passage?
A. How tall is the tree named Nux Vomica?
B. How long does the tree take to flower and bear fruit?
C. What is the cause of the writer's disappointment?
D. What is the writer's explanation for the balance in nature?

23 Choose the word that BEST completes the sentence given below:

She is a ______________active player rather than a skilful one.

A. skilled
B. physically
C. properly
D. vigorous

In questions 24 and 25, choose the sentence in which there is a SPELLING MISTAKE.

24 A. The assistant was sorry to leave the job so soon.

B. The doctor conducted his rounds with his attendant.
C. The student’s attendence was much below his teacher’s expectations.
D. The actor was disappointed with his performance.

25 A. The people of Gujarat were shaken by the occurrance of the earthquake.

B. It did not occur to me to ask you.
C. Traffic accidents are now occurring frequently in this area.
D. I cannot forget what occurred here yesterday.

26 Choose the word that BEST completes the sentence:

Washing machines and food mixers are useful household ___________.

A. tools
B. instruments
C. appliances
D. services

6 Class 7 English
 Read the passage below and answer questions 27 to 32.

Hot Spots : India's Western Ghats

By Geoffrey C. Ward

A delicate wild begonia and a shy lion-tailed macaque have known only one home, the dense rain forests of
the Western Ghats mountain range. That world is fragmenting fast, a victim of India's surging population
and headlong eagerness to modernise. Now concerned citizens are joining forces to save what is left before
it is too late - for forest dwellers and human beings alike.

Once linked by land, India's Western Ghats and the island nation of Sri Lanka together make up a
biodiversity hot spot a place with threatened natural habitats that are rich in species, especially plants, that
live nowhere else.

WESTERN GHATS FLAGSHIP SPECIES ENDEMIC SPECIES

UNDISTURBED FOREST Asian elephant 1,400 plants
5,000 square miles Indian tiger 23 mammals
down from 62,000 Lion-tailed macaque 17 birds
Nilgiri tahr 89 reptiles
90 amphibians

HABITAT TYPES PRINCIPAL THREATS

Evergreen and Forest fragmentation
deciduous forests Expanding agriculture
Grasslands Dams
Mines

Source: “Hot Spots: India's Western Ghats” - Geoffrey C. Ward - National Geographic

ASSET 17B 7
27 What, according to this passage, is the reason for the gradual destruction of natural habitats?
A. The presence of different kinds of wild animals.
B. Population growth and influence of modernisation.
C. The increase in hunting trips and expeditions.
D. The fragmentation of the world and its occupants.

28 The Western Ghats cover a substantial part of which state?

A. Andhra Pradesh
B. Tamilnadu
C. Kerala
D. Sri Lanka

29 In what way is the extinction of species in a biodiversity HOTSPOT even more disturbing than in other areas?
A. These regions have a greater diversity of wildlife.
B. Man is more affected by changes in these regions.
C. Many of the species here are not found elsewhere.
D. The climate is badly affected by the changes here.

30 According to the passage, destruction of natural habitats affects

A. plants and animals only.
B. plants, animals and humans.
C. forest dwellers only.
D. humans only.

31 What is the writer's possible intention in presenting this information ?

A. To create an awareness of the need for conservation of natural habitats.
B. To identify the reduction in the number of trees in the forests.
C. To document the number of dams, mines and agricultural projects.
D. To tell us about the different species of plants and animals in the forests.

32 The Kudremukh National Park is close to _______.

A. Bangalore
B. Mysore
C. Trichur
D. Munnar

33 For question 33, choose the sentence with NO ERROR.

A. He, asked had we taken our food.
B. He asked, had we taken our food.
C. He asked, if we had taken our food.
D. He asked if we had taken our food.

8 Class 7 English
 Read this information about carrier pigeons and answer questions 34 to 38.

DID YOU KNOW?

In this age of the telephone and telegrams, pigeons are still used as carriers of
messages!

Angul in Orissa is the only place in the world where the police
maintain a loft of 2000 pigeons and use them to carry messages to
police stations in the hilly terrain of the state.

From very early times, pigeons have been used to carry messages.
Although pigeons are mentioned in the Vedas, several rare breeds
were introduced into our country by the Afghans and Mughals who
brought them from Samarkand, Iran and Turkey. It is said that Akbar
had a big "Kabutar Khana" at Fatehpur Sikri where pigeons were trained
to carry messages.

Pigeons have an excellent sense of direction. Some pigeons are trained for a special kind of service called
boomerang service. In it, the pigeons are trained to fly to their destination with a message and then to
return the same day with a reply! The message is kept in a tiny capsule which is tied to the bird's leg.

34 Another word for 'rare' as it is used in the passage is

A. occasional.
B. uncommon.
C. seldom.
D. underdone.

35 In the third paragraph 'who' is used to refer to

A. the pigeons of Orissa.
B. policemen of Orissa.
C. the Vedas.
D. Afghans and the Mughals.

36 What suggests that the passage is not a very recently written one?
A. the reference to Angul
B. the reference to the Vedas
C. the reference to 'telegrams'
D. the reference to Fatehpur Sikri

37 How does the pigeon carry the message?

A. tied to its beak
B. tied to its wings
C. tied to its leg
D. tied to its back

ASSET 17B 9
38 What makes pigeons SUITABLE as carriers of messages?
A. their excellent sense of direction
B. their sincerity and dedication
C. their home in hilly regions
D. all of the above

Given below is a short passage with some bracketed numbers. Each number refers to a question number
below. Read the passage carefully and choose the correct option for each question, numbered 39 to 44.
One of them (Question 38A) has been done for you.

Why do we regard trees and plants as sacred?

From ancient times, Indians (38A) plants and trees and
regarded all flora and fauna as sacred. (39) modern man
often works to "conquer" Mother Nature, ancient Indians
"worshipped" her.

The plants and animals around us give us food, oxygen,

clothing, shelter, medicines, etc. They lend beauty (40) our
surroundings. They serve man without expectation and
sacrifice (41) to sustain us.

Presently, the world (42) by the destruction of forestlands

and the extinction of many species of vegetation due to
man's callous attitude toward them. But Indian scriptures (43) us to plant ten trees if, for any reason, we
have to cut one or use parts of (44) trees and plants only as much as is needed for food, fuel, shelter, etc.
Certain trees and plants like tulasi, peepal, etc., which have tremendous beneficial qualities, are
worshipped till today.
Source: “Why do we Regard Plants as Sacred?” Swami Vimalananda and
Radhika Krishnakumar Central Chinmaya Mission Trust
e.g. (38A)
A. has worshipped
B. have worshipped
C. is worshipped
D. are worshipped
Here the correct answer is B. have worshipped (From ancient times, Indians have worshipped plants ……. )

39 A. And 40 A. in 41 A. ourselves
B. When B. for B. themselves
C. Since C. to C. them
D. While D. of D. they

42 A. are seriously threatened 43 A. tell 44 A. a

B. is seriously threatened B. tells B. an
C. have seriously threatened C. told C. the
D. has seriously threatened D. telling D. (no article)

10 Class 7 English
 Direct to Home (DTH) is set to change television viewing forever. It may be expensive but as Anuradha
Raman writes, it's great technology and comes without a cable operator. Read 'Home Advantage' and
answer questions 45 to 48.

Home Advantage
A vision of a life uninterrupted by cable operators
HOW
demanding a subscription fee for poor transmission IT
is sheer bliss. Direct telecast of 28 state assemblies, WORKS These signals
movies on demand, a cricket match at the touch of a are transmitted
to consumers
remote… made possible by a tiny dish and a Broadcasters who receive
uplink their them through a
receiver is what Direct to Home (DTH) is all about. signals dish, the size
through of a pizza
It is the latest technology that will give not only a satellite
Consumer
picture perfect image to the viewer but also make requires a box
that decodes
real choices available if broadcasters choose to the signal
for him
provide good content.

What does the consumer have to invest in if he

opts for DTH?

Of course all this will come for a price, much higher than an ordinary cable. A consumer will be expected to
spend roughly Rs. 6000 for a dish and will have to keep aside anything between Rs. 400 and Rs. 600 per
month to watch channels of his choice. The items made available by the broadcaster will be a small pizza
sized dish and a small set-top box to decode the signals. The installation charges would be separate. If that
sounds expensive, then the consumer will have to learn to live with cable operators.
Source: “Home Advantage” Anuradha Raman The Times of India

45 Which of the following, according to the passage, is an ADVANTAGE of DTH?

A. It relieves the public of dependency on the cable operators.
B. It provides a much larger choice of high-quality, free channels.
C. The cost is much lower than that of the cable operator.
D. There will be no influence of foreign channels on Indian children.

46 The ADDITIONAL devices a current cable subscriber would need are

A. a television set and a small satellite dish.
B. a small satellite dish and a set-top box.
C. a satellite reflector and a small satellite.
D. a television set and a set-top box.

47 The word CLOSEST in meaning to decode is

A. simplify.
B. decipher.
C. programme.
D. demystify.
ASSET 17B 11
48 The words 'keep aside' refer to
A. preserving for later use.
B. not bothering about anything.
C. place it somewhere.
D. throwing away without using.

49 Choose the correct rewritten sentence for the sentence given below.
He said that he would find his missing bicycle someday, somehow and somewhere.

A. “Someday, somehow, somewhere,”he said I will find my missing bicycle.

B. “Someday, somehow, somewhere,” he said, “I will find my missing bicycle.”
C. Someday, somehow, somewhere he said, “I will find my missing bicycle.”
D. 'Someday, somehow, somewhere' he said, “I will find my missing bicycle.”

50 Which of these sentences has a word meaning 'arrange'?

A. I was asked to fix the small picture on to the chart.
B. The mechanic offered to fix the flat tyre.
C. If we misbehave in the class, we will be in a bad fix.
D. My mom said she would fix dinner for all my friends.

51 'Which of these sentences is most likely to be the CORRECT one?

A. I saw a puppy sitting on a stool with three legs.
B. I saw a puppy with three legs sitting on a stool.
C. Sitting on a stool, I saw a puppy with three legs.
D. With three legs, sitting on a stool, I saw a puppy.

52 It is wrong to look at every issue with a jaundiced eye.

Choose the words that convey the meaning of the underlined words in the above sentence.
A. with sore eyes
B. with anger
C. with prejudice
D. with disgust

53 Which of these sentences is grammatically CORRECT?

A. Anil is older to Shashi
B. My older brother is a doctor.
C. My elder brother is in Bangalore.
D. Ashish is elder to Amrita.

54 “Interviewer: You have been ranked Number One in films for nearly a decade now.”

This sentence can be reported as

A. The interviewer said Shah Rukh Khan had been ranked Number One in films for nearly a decade then.
B. The interviewer told Shah Rukh Khan that he had been ranked Number One in films for nearly a decade now.
C. The interviewer told Shah Rukh Khan that he had been ranked Number One in films for nearly a decade then.
D. The interviewer told Shah Rukh Khan that he has been ranked Number One in films for nearly a decade now.

55 Which part of this sentence contains AN ERROR? (Choose 'D' if there is no error.)

'Twenty kilometres are not a long distance these days.'

A B C
12 Class 7 English
56 To find out on the Internet about Susruta - the famous Indian surgeon who lived centuries ago - which of
the following would be the appropriate subject or search words?
A. medicines and cures
B. antiseptics and antibiotics
C. pharmacists and anaesthetics
D. ancient medical practices

For questions 57 and 58, choose the meaning that represents the underlined expression in the given
sentences.

57 Sunil has only six weeks before the exams start, so he is trying to keep his nose to the grindstone.
A. avoid getting into trouble
B. continue to work very hard
C. continue in the same direction
D. read a large number of books

58 Marina told her friend that she would like to pick her brains, as she was the only expert on the subject.

A. ask for information

B. start thinking clearly
C. think very hard
D. begin the activity

59 Choose the CORRECT expression to complete the sentence given below.

By the time the senior official arrived, the problem _____________

A. had already solved.

B. had solved.
C. has been solved.
D. had already been solved.

60 'Pull out the crumb tray and clean it with a brush or cloth.'
Which of the following statements means the same as the above sentence?

A. The crumb tray will be pulled out and cleaned with a brush or cloth.
B. The crumb tray is pulled out and cleaned with a brush or cloth.
C. The crumb tray should be pulled out and cleaned with a brush or cloth.
D. The crumb tray can be pulled out and cleaned with a brush or cloth.

ASSET 17B 13
14 Class 7 English