Answer of English Question of Madhyamik Examination - 2020 : WBBSE

Answer of English Question of Madhyamik Examination - 2020 : WBBSE 

BY PKG SIR 

ENGLISH (Second Language)

[QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE ANSWERS & SOLUTIONS]

Section – A

  Reading Comprehension (Seen)

1. Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow :

When the family has finished tea, and gathers round the fire, the cat casually goes out of the room. True life now begins for him. He saunters down his own backyard, springs to the top of the fence, drops lightly down to the other side. He trots across and skips to the roof of an empty shed. His movement becomes lithe and pantherlike. He looks keenly from side to side and moves noiselessly, for he has so many enemies — dogs and small boys with stones.

On top of the shed, the cat arches his back and rakes his claws once or twice through the soft bark of the old roof. He stretches himself a few times to see if every muscle is in full working order. Then, drooping his head nearly to his paws, he sends across a call to his kindred. Before long they come, gliding, graceful shadows. No longer are they the meek creatures who an hour ago were mewing for fish and milk. They are now grim fighters.

Just think how much more he gets out of his life than you do out of yours! And the sports they have, too! As they get older they go in for sport to the suburban backyards. These backyards that are dull to us, are to them hunting grounds where they have more gallant adventure than King Arthur's knights ever had.

A. Write the correct alternative to complete the following sentences : 1×5=5

(a) When the family gathers round the fire, the cat goes out of the room —

(i) cautiously,  (ii) smartly,  (iii) casually,  (iv) noiselessly.

Ans: (iii) casually

(b) Sauntering down his own backyard, the cat jumps to the top of the —

 (i) fence,  (ii) roof,  (iii) other side,  (iv) shed.

Ans: (i) fence

(c) The cat looks keenly from side to side and moves —

 (i) carefully,  (ii) anxiously,  (iii) fearfully,  (iv) noiselessly.

Ans: (iv) noiselessly

(d) On top of the shed the cat —

   (i) mews,  (ii) arches his back,  (iii) goes to sleep,  (iv) fights.

Ans: (ii) arches his back

(e) As the cats get older they go in for sport to the —

  (i) neighbouring house,  (ii) old roof,  (iii) empty shed,  (iv) suburban backyard.

Ans: (iv) suburban backyard

B. Complete the following sentences with information from the text : 1×3=3

(i) The family gathers round the fire after ...

Ans: (i) The family gathers round the fire after having finished tea.

(ii) The cat skips to the roof of an empty shed where his movement becomes ...

Ans: (ii) The cat skips to the roof of an empty shed where his movement becomes lithe and pantherlike.

(iii) The cat stretches himself a few times to feel if ...

Ans: (iii) The cat stretches himself a few times to feel if every muscle is in full working order.

C. State whether the following statements are true or false. Write 'T' for 'True' and 'F' for 'False' in the boxes given on the right-hand side. Provide sentences/phrases/words in support of your answer : 2×2=4

(i) The cat sends across a call to his kindred by stretching himself a few times.

Ans: [False (F)]

Supporting sentence: "Then, drooping his head nearly to his paws, he sends across a call to his kindred."

(ii) The cats behave as gallantly as King Arthur's knights.

Ans: [True (T)]

Supporting sentence: "These backyards that are dull to us, are to them hunting grounds where they have more gallant adventure than King Arthur's knights ever had."

2. Read the poem and answer the questions that follow :

To grass, or leaf, or fruit, or wall

The snail sticks close, nor fears to fall

As if he grew there, house and all,

                                      Together.

Within that house secure he hides

When danger imminent betides

Of storm, or other harm besides

                                      Of weather.

Give but his horns the slightest touch,

His self-collecting pow'r is such,

He shrinks into his house with much

                                      Displeasure.

Where'er he dwells, he dwells alone,

Except himself has chatells none,

Well satisfied to be his own

                                      Whole treasure.

A. Write the correct alternative to complete the following sentences : 1×4=4

(a) The snail is not afraid to —

  (i) fight,  (ii) hide,  (iii) fall,  (iv) touch.

Ans: (iii) fall

(b) The snail faces imminent danger when there is —

   (i) storm,  (ii) rain,  (iii) thunder,  (iv) lightning.

Ans: (i) storm

(c) With the slightest touch the snail shrinks into his house with much —

 (i) delight,  (ii) displeasure,  (iii) defiance,  (iv) pain.

Ans: (ii) displeasure

(d) In the house the snail lives —

   (i) alone,  (ii) with others,  (iii) with chattels,  (iv) with family.

Ans: (i) alone

B. Answer the following questions : 2×2=4

(i) What does the snail stick close to ?

Ans: The snail sticks close to grass, leaf, fruit, or wall.

(ii) What does the snail do when it faces danger ?

Ans: When the snail faces danger of storm or other harm of weather betides, it secures and hides himself within his house (his shell).

 

Reading Comprehension (Unseen)

3. Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow :

Mother nature has been very generous to us by giving us so many resources of water — rain water, rivers, lakes, melting glaciers and ground water. The demand for water is ever increasing but the supply is far from adequate.

Given the lack of water in rivers, people have been resorting to pumping out ground water for personal consumption and for farming. As a result, ground water table has fallen to alarming levels. Moreover, harmful fertilisers used for growing crops have contaminated ground water so that in many places it is not fit for drinking.

It is time to wake up. Every drop of water is a source of life. It is high time we realise that water resources are not permanent. Soon, we as a family, society and nation will be struggling to get a drop of clean potable water. We have to focus on water conservation and stop polluting our water resources.

Each one of us also needs to do our bit by avoiding use of plastic, recycling waste products and keeping our surroundings clean. Every town, every village should have an eco-friendly garbage sorting and disposal system. Every school and college should initiate programmes educating youngsters about the importance of our natural resources, especially water and air. We have to train new generations to adopt an eco-friendly way of life.

— Adapted from an article published in The Times of India dated June 26, 2019

A. Tick the right answer : 1×6=6

(i) The demand for water is increasing but the supply of water is —

   (a) adequate,  (b) surplus,  (c) inadequate,  (d) plentiful.

Ans: (c) inadequate

(ii) People have been resorting to pumping out ground water due to —

   (a) lack of water in the rivers,  (b) scanty rainfall,  (c) drying up of wells,  (d) melting glaciers.

Ans: (a) lack of water in the rivers

(iii) The ground water table has —

   (a) risen,  (b) dropped,  (c) increased,  (d) remained stable.

Ans: (b) dropped

(iv) Ground water is contaminated by —

   (a) irrigation,  (b) construction of roads,  (c) harmful fertilisers,  (d) pumping out of water.

Ans: (c) harmful fertilisers

(v) It is high time we realize that water resources are —

   (a) permanent,  (b) potable,  (c) impermanent,  (d) abundant.

Ans: (c) impermanent

(vi) Each one of us must avoid the use of —

   (a) copper,  (b) paper,  (c) jute,  (d) plastic.

Ans: (d) plastic

B. Each of the following statements is either 'True' or 'False'. Write 'T' for 'True' and 'F' for 'False' in the boxes on the right-hand side. Also pick out suitable line(s) or phrase(s) from the passage in support of your answers : (1+1)×3=6

(i) People have been resorting to pumping out ground water for construction work.

Ans: [False (F)]

Supporting sentence: "Given the lack of water in rivers, people have been resorting to pumping out ground water for personal consumption and for farming."

(ii) Water is valuable because it is a source of life.

Ans: [True (T)]

Supporting sentence: "Every drop of water is a source of life."

(iii) Soon, it will be easy for us to get clean potable water.

Ans: [False (F)]

Supporting sentence: "Soon, we as a family, society and nation will be struggling to get a drop of clean potable water."

C. Answer the following questions : 2×4=8

(i) How has mother nature been generous to us ?

Ans: Mother nature has been generous to us by giving us numerous resources of water such as rain water, rivers, lakes, melting glaciers, and ground water.

(ii) What should be our immediate focus regarding water ?

Ans: Our immediate focus should be on water conservation and stopping the pollution of our water resources.

(iii) What should every town and every village have to keep the surroundings clean ?

Ans: Every town and village should have an eco-friendly garbage sorting and disposal system to keep the surroundings clean.

(iv) What kind of programmes should every school and college initiate ?

Ans: Every school and college should initiate educational programmes that teach youngsters about the importance of natural resources, especially water and air, and train them to adopt an eco-friendly lifestyle.

Section – B

  Grammar and Vocabulary

4. Write the correct alternative to fill in the blanks : 1×3=3

Rina who ____________ (have been / has been / is being) ill for a month ____________ (will visit / visited / had visited) the doctor last Monday. The doctor ____________ (advised / had advised / will advise) her complete bed rest.

Ans: has been ; visited ; advised

"Rina who has been ill for a month visited the doctor last Monday. The doctor advised her complete bed rest."

5. Do as directed :

A. Fill in the blanks with appropriate articles and prepositions : 1×3=3

Wrestling is one of ________ oldest sports in the world. Ancient cave drawings of people wrestling with one another have been found ________ Europe. It is ________ serious sport.

Ans: the ; in ; a

 "Wrestling is one of the oldest sports in the world. Ancient cave drawings of people wrestling with one another have been found in Europe. It is a serious sport."

B. Rewrite the following sentences according to the instructions given in brackets : 1×3=3

(i) The authorities postponed the cricket match.  (Change the voice)

Ans: The cricket match was postponed by the authorities.

(ii) "Is there anybody there ?" said the traveller.  (Change into Indirect Speech)

Ans: The traveller asked if/whether there was anybody there.

(iii) We should not show cruelty to animals.  (Rewrite using adjective form of the word underlined: cruelty)

Ans: We should not be cruel to animals.

C. Choose the correct phrasal verbs from the list given below to replace the words underlined. Write the correct phrasal verbs in the boxes on the right-hand side changing the form where necessary. There is one extra phrasal verb in the list : 1×3=3

[ List: take back, go through, give away, go after ]

(i) The dog followed the thief. (underlined: followed)

Ans: went after

(ii) Have you read this book ? (underlined: read)

Ans: gone through

(iii) The chief guest distributed the prizes. (underlined: distributed)

Ans: gave away

6. Given below are the meanings of four words which you will find in the passage in Question No. 3. Find out the words and write them in the appropriate boxes on the right-hand side : 2×4=8

(i) kind

Ans: generous

(ii) disturbing

Ans: alarming

(iii) polluted

Ans: contaminated

(iv) process of getting rid of something

Ans: disposal