APEEJAY SCHOOL, PANCHSHEEL PARK

English – Class X
Holiday Homework Worksheet

Name of the student: Class & Sec: Date:

Reading Skill
I. Read the passage given below.
1. An ecosystem is a community of organisms that live and interact within a particular
environment. In an aquatic ecosystem, that environment is water and all the system’s plants
and animals live either in or on that water. The specific setting and type of water, such as a
freshwater lake or saltwater marsh, determines which animals and plants live there. Marine or
ocean systems cover about 70 per cent of the Earth’s surface and are identified by the
presence of dissolved salts in the water. The level of salinity averages about 35 parts per
thousand g of water, but it can vary in response to climate or a nearby source of freshwater.
Marine organisms must adapt to either a constantly changing or stable level of salt content
and cannot move successfully from one to the other. Saltwater ecosystems range from the
abundant life of coastal areas to the nearly barren ocean bottom. In marine habitats, the food
chain begins with plankton, micro-organisms that require sunlight for energy and growth, so
systems closest to the surface or in relatively shallow water support more life. These include
estuaries, salt marshes, coral reefs and other tropical habitats, and intertidal areas such as
lagoons and kelp beds.
2. Animal life in marine ecosystem ranges from microscopic zooplankton, fish of all sizes to
marine mammals, including seals, whales and manatees. Freshwater-water that is either
drinkable or has little or no salt content-supports its own aquatic ecosystem. These include
river and streams, lakes and ponds, wetlands and even groundwater. Each of these systems is
unique, any specific habitat is affected by altitude/temperature and humidity. For instance, a
plant native to warm shallow lake in the tropics could not survive on the steep banks of a
cold, fast-moving mountain stream Freshwater ecosystems provide homes for a wide variety
of animal life including insects, amphibians and fish. One estimate of fish species puts the
number that lives in freshwater at 40 per cent of the Earth’s total. Worms, molluscs, algae and
bacteria all live in freshwater systems, as do innumerable varieties of plants. In addition,
animals such as birds otters and bears use freshwater ecosystems as a food source.
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below.
i. Which of the following statement is true according to the passage?
(a) 70 per cent of the Earth’s surface is covered in oceans
(b) 70 per cent of the Earth’s surface are marine bodies only
(c) 70 per cent of the Earth’s surface is solid landmass
(d) 70 per cent of the Earth’s surface form the entire aquatic system
ii. Select the option that best captures the central idea of the passage from the given quotes.
(a) There is a deep interconnectedness of all life on earth, from the tiniest organisms, to the
largest ecosystems, and absolutely between each person.” - Bryant McGill
(b) “Where there is a smoke, there is an ecologist.” - Ljupka Cvetanova
(c) “When we reconnect with nature, we will restore ourselves.” - Lailah Gifty Akita
(d) “We can only predict the future ecological changes, by emergence of the past into the
present.” - Lailah Gifty Akita
iii. Select the option that corresponds to the following relation below:
Saltwater ecosystems range from the abundant life of coastal area to the nearly barren ocean
bottom.
(a) In the season of spring, plenty of fl owers grow while in the season of autumn, the leaves
wither and fall making it a barren season for the growth of plant.
(b) The distinct is the most barren and backward portion of the province.
(c) The room was austere, nearly barren of furniture and decoration.
(d) This zone has an abundant rainfall, dense forests and a fertile soil.
iv. Complete the following with a phrase from paragraph 1:
Opinion Reason
_______________ An ecosystem that lives and interacts within a particular environment.
v. The writer uses two contrasting words in the line:
Marine organisms must adopt to either a constantly changing or stable level of salt content.
(Paragraph 1)
State one point of difference between constantly changing and stable.
vi. Based on your reading of the text, list 2 reasons why the writer says that:
Shallow water relatively supports more aquatic life.
1. __________ 2. __________
vii. The writer says, “Freshwater supports its own aquatic ecosystems”.
Select the reason that appropriately justifies the statement.
(a) Freshwater has little or no salt content.
(b) Freshwater provides oxygen to support the growth of aquatic ecosystem.
(c) It helps to prevent erosion.
(d) It provides natural protection from fl ooding.
viii. Micro-organisms in the saltwater ecosystem grow in shallow water or near the surface
because:
(a) the content of salt is low (b) they get sunlight to grow
(c) they cannot breathe in deep water (d) Both (a) and (b)
ix. Supply 1 point to justify the following:
Micro-organisms in the saltwater ecosystem grow in shallow water or near the surface.
x. State whether the following statement is True or False :
Saltwater ecosystems range from the abundant life of coastal areas to the nearly barren ocean
bottom.
II. Read the passage given below.
1. Demonetisation refers to an economic policy where a certain currency unit ceases to be
used as a legal tender. It occurs whenever there is a change in the national currency. The
existing form or forms of money is pulled from circulation and retired, to be replaced with
new notes or coins. Sometimes, a country completely replaces the old currency with new
currency.
2. On 8 November, 2016, the Indian government decided to demonetise the 500- and 1000-
rupee notes, the two biggest denominations in its currency system. These notes accounted for
86% of the country’s circulating cash. With little warning, India’s Prime Minister Narendra
Modi announced to the citizens that these notes would be rendered immediately ineffective
with immediate effect. People were given time till the end of the year to deposit or exchange
them for newly introduced 2000 rupee and 500-rupee notes.
3. The government’s goal was to combat India’s thriving underground economy on several
fronts: eradicate counterfeit currency, fight tax evasion (only 1% of the population pays
taxes), eliminate black money accumulated from money laundering and terrorist-financing
activities, and to promote a cashless economy. Individuals and entities with huge sums of
black money acquired from parallel cash systems were forced to take their large
denomination notes to a bank, and account for them satisfactorily and submit proof if tax
paid. If the owner could not provide proof of making any tax payments on the cash, a penalty
of 200% on the tax due was imposed.
4. Demonetisation had a severe impact on the gold market. The extraordinary demand for the
yellow metal, made a stiff hike in the cost. However, the Government made it mandatory that
every buyer had to submit his/her PAN card details for purchases made. Erring jewellers were
brought to book.
5. Many Indians switched to alternative payment methods. The biggest gainers were mobile
wallet companies that offered easy transactions through a large network of partners. Alibaba-
backed Paytm saw a sevenfold increase in overall traffic. Prepaid cash cards were another
option that the customers found useful. Other alternatives were mobile payment systems
linked to e-commerce businesses like Ola Money, FreeCharge, Flipkart Wallet.
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below.
i. Infer one reason for demonetisation.
ii. Based on your understanding of the passage, choose the option that lists the objectives of
demonetisation.
1. In demonetisation, the existing form of money is pulled from circulation to be replaced
with new notes.
2. Demonetisation had a severe impact on the gold market.
3. Demonetisation eliminates black marketing.
4. Demonetisation eradicates money laundering.
5. Demonetisation helps to retain a cashless economy.
(a) 1 and 5 (b) 4 and 5 (c) 2 and 4 (d) 3 and 5
iii. Complete the following analogy correctly with a word from Paragraph 4.
awful : dreadful :: serious : _____
(Clue : Just like, awful is a synonym of dreadful, similarly serious is a synonym of...)
iv. Which of the following is not a mobile wallet company?
(a) Freecharge (b) Ola Money (c) Paytm (d) Samsung
v. Assertion (A): The biggest gainers were mobile wallet companies that offered easy
transactions.
Reason (R): Many Indians switched to alternative payment methods.
i. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
ii. Both A and R are true and R is not the correct explanation of A.
iii. A is true but R is false.
iv. A is false but R is true.

vi. Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option.

Government’s goal was to eradicate _____.
(a) Counterfeit currency (b) Black money
(c) Both (a) and (b) (d) None of these
vii. Substitute the word ‘combat’ with one word similar in meaning in the following sentence
from Paragraph 3.
The government’s goal was to combat Indians thriving underground economy.
viii. List any two points on which the Indian Government thrive to combat underground
economy.
1. __________ 2. __________
ix. List one reason why the government decided to demonetise the 500 and 1000 rupee notes
and not any other.
x. Complete the following analogy correctly with a word from Paragraph 3.
eradicate : remove :: punishment : _____
III. Read the passage given below.
1. If you are addicted to coffee, and doctors warn you to quit the habit, don’t worry and just
keep relishing the beverage, because it’s not that bad after all! In fact, according to a new
study, the steaming cup of Java can beat fruits and vegetables as the primary source of
antioxidants. Some studies state that coffee is the number one source of antioxidants in
American diet and both caffeinated and decaf versions appear to provide similar antioxidant
levels.
2. Antioxidants in general have been linked to a number of potential health benefits including
protection against heart diseases and cancer. But Sandra Vinson, a dietitian, said that their
benefits ultimately depend on how they are absorbed and utilised in the body. The research
says that coffee outranks popular antioxidant sources like tea, milk, chocolate and
cranberries. Of all the food and beverages studies, dates actually have the most antioxidants
based solely on serving size, but since dates are not consumed anywhere near the level of
coffee, the drink comes as the top source of antioxidants, Vinson said.
3. Besides keeping you alert and awake, coffee has been linked to an increasing number of
potential health benefits, including protection against liver and colon cancer, type 2 diabetes,
and Parkinson’s disease according to some recently published studies.
4. The researchers, however, advise that one should consume coffee in moderation, because it
can make you jittery and cause stomach pains.
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below.
i. Fill in the blank by selecting the correct option.
_____ have the most antioxidants among all the food and beverages.
(a) Dates (b) Cranberries (c) Tea and milk (d) Coffee
ii. What do doctors advise us about the habit of drinking coffee?
iii. According to dietitian Sandra Vinson, the benefits of coffee ultimately depend on:
(a) how it is relished
(b) how they are absorbed and utilised in the body
(c) how they are served and consumed
(d) whether it keeps us alert and awake
iv. State whether the following statement is TRUE or FALSE:
Coffee outranks popular antioxidant sources like tea, milk, chocolate and cranberries.
v. What is the correct order of the information given below?
I. Antioxidants are linked to a number of health benefits
II. One should consume coffee in moderation
III. Decaf versions of coffee provide antioxidants levels
IV. Dates have the most antioxidants based solely on serving size
(a) III, I, IV, II (b) III, IV, I, II (c) III, I, II, IV (d) II, I, IV, III
vi. Coffee provides a large number of health benefi ts including protection against:
(a) liver and colon cancer (b) type 2 diabetes
(c) Parkinson’s disease (d) All of the above
vii. Substitute the word ‘jittery’ with ONE WORD similar in meaning, in the following
sentence from paragraph 4:
One should consume coffee in moderation, because it can make you jittery and cause...
viii. List any 2 benefits of antioxidants.
1. __________ 2. __________
ix. What do researchers warn us about the excessive use of coffee?
x. Besides keeping us alert and awake, coffee provides us protection against:
I. liver and colon cancer
II. stomach ache
III. type 2 diabetes
IV. lung diseases
(a) I and II (b) II and III (c) I and IV (d) I and III