KENDRIYA VIDYALAYA SPG DWARKA

SUMMER VACATION HOLIDAY HOMEWORK (2024-25)

CLASS-10 SUB-ENGLISH

Read the following instructions very carefully.

 ALL THE QUESTIONS OF READING SKILLS,WRITING SKILLS& GRAMMAR TO BE DONE IN A SEPARATE

PRACTICE NOTEBOOK
 THE QUESTIONS OF PROSE AND POETRY TO BE DONE IN ENGLISH NOTEBOOK
 A SEPARATE FILE TO BE MADE FOR PORTFOLIO

Reading Skills : PASSAGE NO.1

I Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.

A. Dirshti was young woman who had always been fascinated by the supernatural. She had read
countless books and watched numerous documentaries about ghosts and otherworldly beings. So,
when she heard about an abandoned hotel on the outskirts of town that was said to be haunted, she
knew she had to investigate.

B. One night, Dirshti decided to sneak into the dilapidated hotel with a few of her friends. As they
made their way through the dark, eerie corridors, they heard strange noises and felt cold spots. They
were convinced that they were not alone.

C. Suddenly, they came across a room that was different from the rest. It was filled with old cooking
equipment and strange symbols etched into the walls. Drishti felt a chill run down her spine as she
entered the room. She knew that this was where the most paranormal activity occurred. As they
were examining the room, they heard a loud bang coming from the hallway. They froze in fear, not
knowing what was coming their way. They could hear footsteps approaching, and they knew they
had to hide.

D. They quickly ducked behind some old shelves as the footsteps grew louder. The sound of
breathing was getting closer and closer until finally, they saw a figure appear in the doorway. It was a
man wearing a chef’s hat, with a face that was twisted in a sinister smile. Drishti and her friends felt
their blood run cold as the man approached them. They could feel his cold breath on their faces as he
leaned in, whispering in a deep voice, "You shouldn't be here."

E. Dirshti and her friends were frozen with fear as they stared into the chef's eyes. But suddenly, the
lights flickered on and the figure disappeared. They looked around the room, and everything seemed
normal. They had been so scared that they hadn't realized they were in a room with faulty wiring.

F. Disappointed, they realized that their ghost hunt had been a bust. They left the hotel feeling
deflated and let down. They had hoped for an exciting, spine-tingling adventure, but all they got was
a scary moment caused by faulty wiring. As they drove home, they couldn't help but feel foolish for
getting so worked up over nothing. They had been so convinced that they would find evidence of the
paranormal that they had overlooked the simple explanation for the noises they had heard.
G. Dirshti learned an important lesson that night. Sometimes, the scariest things are the ones that we
create in our own minds. She realized that she didn't need to chase after the supernatural to
experience thrills and excitement. The world around her was full of mystery and wonder, and she
was content to experience it without the need for ghosts and ghouls.

Answer the following questions based on the passage above.

i How does the setting contribute to the overall mood and atmosphere of the story?

A. It creates a sense of nostalgia.

B. It provides a sense of false security.

C. It adds to the suspense in the story.

D. It presents a contrast with the real world.

ii List two ways, how the disappointment that Drishti and her friends felt after their ghost hunt, is
analogous to the feeling of waking up from a dream. Answer in 30 -40 words

iii What is the main flaw in Drishti's approach to investigating the haunted hotel?

A. She was too focused on finding evidence of the paranormal.

B. She was too skeptical and refused to believe in the possibility of ghosts.

C. She relied too heavily on other people's accounts of the supernatural.

D. She didn't take enough precautions to ensure her safety.

iv After which paragraph of the story, would the following paragraph most likely be placed?

They commenced walking through the hotel, Drishti’s torchlight barely illuminating the darkness
around her. Suddenly, they heard a loud creaking noise behind them. Drishti whipped around,
pointing her flashlight in the direction of the noise. Nothing . Shaken, they all quickened their pace.

v Briefly explain (in 30-40 words) any two elements that classify the story as scary.

vi Substitute the underlined word in the following sentence with a word/ phrase from paragraphs 4-
6, that means the same.

The sound of the footsteps outside the door left her petrified and the rasping breathing added to her
horror.

vii What is the most significant lesson that Drishti learns from her experience in the haunted hotel?

A. The importance of avoiding risk- taking.

B. The need to be more sceptical of the supernatural.

C. The value of evaluating your weaknesses

D. The power of imagination to create suspense.

viii Complete the following appropriately.

Based on the use of the word "dilapidated" to describe the hotel, in Paragraph 2, we can infer that its
condition was _______________.

ix Complete the sentence appropriately.

If the title, The Hotel Haunting is given to this passage, it would be an inappropriate title, as
compared to The Unsettling Encounter at the Abandoned Hotel because __________.

x State whether the given assertion is TRUE or FALSE.

The reason Drishti and her friends visited the abandoned hotel was to prove the existence of ghosts.

Reading Skills : PASSAGE NO.2

Read the following table displaying the details of five House Captains

Other
Participation Personal
Name Motto Achievements Awards Drawbacks notable
in activities Qualities
things
"Together
1 st prize in Sometimes
we can Diligent,
Debate club, English Best tends to be Volunteer at a
Rohit achieve confident,
Quiz club (Communicativ Student overly local NGO
greatness empathetic
e) Olympiad competitive
"
Can be Participated in
"Service Social service 1 st prize in Compassionat
overly a Model United
Sanya before club, Drama Debate Best Orator e, organized,
selfcritical Nations
self" club competition responsible
at times conference
"Never Can
2 nd position in Best Perseverant,
give up, Sports club, sometimes Plays in a local
Rajat Chess Sportsperso team player,
always Music club be band
competition n adaptable
rise up" indecisive

Built a working
"Success Photography Can model of a
1 st prize in Creative,
through club, English Budding sometimes wind turbine
Aryan Photography curious,
hard (Communicativ Innovator procrastinat for a English
competition detailoriented
work" e) club e (Communicativ
e) fair
"Strive for 1 st prize in Confident, Tends to Published her
Anany 1 st prize in Art Creative
excellence Photography hardworking, overthink own poetry
a competition Mind
" competition imaginative things collection
Answer the following questions, based on the table above.

i Identify the person who is likely to ask many "why" questions, and support your choice with one
reason.

ii Which house captain is most likely to struggle the most with handling stress during the school's
annual inter-house sports tournament? A. Rohit B. Sanya C. Rajat D. Ananya

iii Give two justifications for Sanya being the best fit to lead a school-wide initiative to promote
mental health and well-being among students.

iv Select the correct option to fill the blank and complete the analogy. _________ : paint brush ::
Rajat : tabla

A. Rohit

B. Sanya

C. Aryan

D. Ananya

v Based on the personal qualities of the House Captains, why is Rajat the most likely to be a
collaborative worker?

vi Complete the given sentence with the appropriate reason, with reference to the information in the
table. We can infer that Aryan’s overall performance may be negatively impacted by his weakness in
time management because ___________.

vii Explain briefly why situation (b), from the three situations given below, showcases Ananya's
motto, "Lead by example"?

(a) During a group project, Ananya assigns each team member specific tasks and sets a high standard
for the project's quality. She tells them to actively participate in the project and take it to fruition.

(b) During a house debate competition, Ananya notices that a few of her house members are
struggling to articulate their arguments effectively. Ananya takes the time to listen to their concerns
and provides constructive feedback and support.

(c) During a fundraising event, Ananya volunteers to be in charge of organizing and coordinating the
event but she frequently delegates tasks to others and attends to her school assignment while her
team completes the task successfully.

viii. Select the option that correctly matches the House Captains (a) -(c), to the trophies (i)-(v).
A. (a) - (ii) , (b) - (i) , (c) - (iii)

B. (a) - (i) , (b) - (v) , (c) - (iv)

C. (a) - (v) , (b) - (iii) , (c) - (ii)

D. (a) - (iii) , (b) - (iv) , (c) - (i)

Reading Skills: Passage No.3

1. I got posted in Srinagar in the 1980s. 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 that saw numerous tourists, Jibhi Valley remained clouded in anonymity. That’s when the
seed of starting tourism in Jibhi was planted.

2. I decided to leave my service in the Indian Army and follow the urge to return home. 2. 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 a guesthouse. When my
family finally relented, I renovated the house keeping its originality intact, just adding windows for
sunlight.

3. I still remember the summer of 1992 when I put 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 homestay scheme. People built homestays and with rapid tourism
growth, the region also changed rapidly. Villages turned into towns with many concrete buildings.
Local businesses and tourists continued putting a burden on nature.

4. 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 given us an opportunity to introspect, go back to our roots
and look for sustainable solutions.
5. For me, tourism has been my greatest teacher. It brought people from many countries and all
states of India to my guesthouse. It gave me exposure to different cultures and countless
opportunities to learn new things. Most people who stayed at my guesthouse became my repeat
clients and good friends. When I look back, I feel proud, yet humbled at the thought that I was not
only able to fulfill my dream despite all the challenges, but also to play a role in establishing tourism
in the beautiful valley that I call home.

Answer the following questions, based on the passage above.

(i) The writer mentions looking for sustainable solutions. He refers to the need for sustainable
solutions because he realises that
(a) even though all natural ecosystems are essential pillars of resilience, we need to focus on using
their resources to address the economic needs of mankind, as a priority.

(b) the exposures to pandemics are a reality and a big threat to the countries across the world.

(c) for an economic recovery to be durable and resilient, a turn to ‘business as usual’ and
environmentally destructive investment patterns and activities must be avoided.
(d) there is an increasing urgency in the climate movement and the need for collaborative action for
the future.

(ii) Give a reason (in 30-40 words) for the skepticism faced by the author from the village people.
(iii) What was the writer reminded of in Srinagar?
(a) Home in the Jibhi Valley
(b) Landscape of the Jibhi Valley
(c) Family in the Jibhi Valley
(d) None of these

(iv) What does the author feel at the end of the passage?

(v) How does the scenic beauty of Srinagar makes the writer feel? Answer in 30 – 40 words

(vi) The word is used in the passage in place of ‘doubtful’

(vii) Why did tourism become stagnant in the Jibhi Valley?

(a) The valley had no attractions
(b) The 2020-21 pandemic and the eventual lockdown
(c) The writer had no idea of what needed to be done
(d) Everyone there wanted to go back to their day job

(viii) Complete the sentence appropriately.

Jibhi valley was different from Srinagar ……………………
 Reading Skills : PASSAGE NO.4

1.India’s average temperature has already increased by around 0.7 degrees Celsius during the 1901-
2018 period due to Greenhouse gas emissions and by the end of 2100 it is expected to rise by
approximately 4.4 degrees Celsius warns the first-ever climate change assessment report by the
Indian government.

2. The report Assessment of Climate Change over the Indian Region prepared by the Union Ministry
of Earth Sciences (MoES) warned that the rapid changes in the temperature would mean increasing
stress on India’s “natural ecosystems, agricultural output and freshwater resources, while also
causing escalating damage to infrastructure.” This ultimately means a serious impact on the country’s
biodiversity, food, water, energy security and public health.

3. It said that several regions in India are global biodiversity hotspots with numerous endemic species
of plants and animals and with the “climate changing more rapidly than usual, they may face
increasing threats on account of these changes.”

4. The MoES report cautioned that by the end of 2100, the “frequency of summer (April-June) heat
waveover India is projected to be 3 to 4 times higher” and the “average duration of heat-wave events
is also projected to approximately double.” According to the report, the Sea Surface Temperature
(SST) of the Tropical Indian Ocean has also risen by one degree Celsius, on average, during 1951-
2015.

5. The rise in temperature is playing havoc with India’s rainfall which is significant for ‘India’s
agriculture sector. The report noted that the summer monsoon precipitation (June to September)
over India has declined by around six per cent from 1951 to 2015, with notable decreases over the
Indo-Gangetic Plains and the Western Ghats. It stressed that the overall decrease of seasonal
summer monsoon rainfall during the last 6-7 decades has led to an increased propensity for droughts
in India.

6. “In particular, areas over Central India, South-West coast, Southern peninsula and North-Eastern
India have experienced more than two droughts per decade. The area affected by drought has also
increased by 1.3 per cent per decade over the same period. Climate model projections indicate a high
likelihood of an increase in the frequency, intensity and area under drought conditions in India by the
end of the twenty-first century,” said the MoES report.
Answer the following questions, based on the passage above.

(i) Infer 3 reasons for the following, based on information in Paragraph 1

India’s average temperature has already increased by around 0.7 degrees Celsius during the 1901 –
2018 period.

(ii) Select the appropriate option to fill in the blanks.

From Paragraph 5 we can infer that the ……………… in temperature has wreaked havoc on the rainfall
pattern. The overall of seasonal summer monsoon rainfall during the last 6 – 7 decades has led to an
increased tendency of droughts.
1. decrease
2. sufficient
3. exaggerated
4. elaborate
5. significant
6. rise

Codes
(a) 6 and 1 (b) 2 and 4
(c) 3 and 2
(d) 1 and 6

(iii) List any two social and economic impacts of climate change.

(iv) Select the correct option to fill in the blank and compelete the following analogy
Rainfall : Monsoon : : : Summer
(a) Heatwave
(b) Temperature
(c) Endemic (d) Drought

(v) List any one point how the temperature rise will affect the summer heat waves.

(vi) Complete the following sentence appropriately

As per reports, an overall decrease in seasonal summer monsoon rainfall has lead to ………………

Writing Skills

1. Write an email to the Principal of your school requesting him for concession in fee.

2. As the school Head Girl, write an email, in about 50 words, to the Teacher Coordinator,

Student Enrichment Activities of your school, informing her/him of the need to schedule

transport for the participants of the inter-school dance competition, at the mandated venue.

Include a reason why you would need a smaller vehicle instead of the school bus.

3. You are Sativika/Satvik, class teacher of grade 6 section C. The air conditioner in your classroom is
malfunctioning. Report this to the Principal in an email.

You may copy the given template to write your email.

4.Describe a gift you have received that was important to you, in not more than 100 words.

Big and lavish Indian weddings have become a common sight. And with that we are used to the large scale
wastage of food in a country that hosts one of the biggest armies of starving people in the world. Write a
letter to the editor of a local daily on the colossal wastage of food in the lavish Indian weddings based on MCB
Unit: 4 Environment. You are Surbhi. (120 words)
5.Write a factual description, in not more than 100 words, of a potted plant that you and your sibling recently
chose, to gift your parent.

6. Write a letter to the librarian, City Library, in not more than 120 words, for purchase and addition of
popular fiction and non-fiction titles in Braille and also the intake of audio books, to promote inclusion. You
are an NGO employee, from the same city.

7. You are a sports scout*. Write a letter to the Governor of your region, drawing attention to the need for
creating and upgrading sport facilities and following practices to enable the local /indigenous sporting talent
from your city, to hone their skills. Include specific recommendations. Write the letter in not more than 120
words .

Grammar
 Prose and Poetry

Read the following chapters carefully. Write down the word meanings , theme and summary in your
English notebook.

 Mrs. Packletide’s Tiger

 The Letter
 A Shady Plot

Portfolio

Prepare a portfolio as per the template given .