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Kerala SSLC English Model Question Paper 1
Time: 2½ Hours
Maximum: 80 Scores
Instructions:
- The first fifteen minutes is cool-off time. You may use the time to read the questions and plan the answers.
- Read the questions carefully before answering.
- Certain Sections of the questions have choices. Follow the instructions.
Questions 1 – 6: Read the excerpt “Adventures in a Banyan Tree” and answer the questions that follow. Each question carries one score. (1 × 6 = 6)
It was an April afternoon. And the warm breezes of approaching summer had sent everyone, including Grandfather, indoors. I was feeling drowsy myself and was wondering if I should go to the pond behind the house for a swim, when I saw a huge black cobra gliding out of a clump of cactus and making for some cooler part of the garden.
At the same time a mongoose, which I had often seen, emerged from the bushes and went straight for the cobra. In a clearing beneath the tree, in bright sunshine, they came face to face. The cobra knew only too well that the grey mongoose, three feet long, was a superb fighter, clever and aggressive.
Question 1.
Why had everyone gone indoors?
Answer:
Everyone had gone indoors because of the warm breezes.
Question 2.
Who saw the cobra – the narrator or his Grandfather?
Answer:
The writer.
Question 3.
Was it the first time that the narrator saw the mongoose?
Answer:
No, it wasn’t. He had seen if often before.
Question 4.
How long was the mongoose?
Answer:
Three feet.
Question 5.
What did the cobra think about the mongoose?
Answer:
The cobra thought about the mongoose as a superb fighter, clever and aggressive.
Question 6.
Find out a word which means “came out” from the passage.
Answer:
emerged
Questions 7 – 10: Read the lines from “Lines Written in Early Spring” and answer the questions that follow. Each question carries one score. (1 × 4 = 4)
Through primrose tufts, in the green bower,
The periwinkle trailed its wreaths;
And it’s my faith that every flower
Enjoys the air it breathes.
The birds around me hopped and played,
Their thoughts I cannot measure:-
But the least motion which they made
It seemed a thrill of pleasure.
Question 7.
What is the faith of the, poet?
Answer:
The faith of the poet is that every flower enjoys the air it breathes.
Question 8.
“Their thoughts”- Whose thoughts?
Answer:
The birds.
Question 9.
‘Motion’ means:
a) dance
b) song
c) noise
d) movement
Choose one.
Answer:
d) movement
Question 10.
What does the hopping and playing of the birds indicate?
Answer:
The hopping and playing of the birds indicate that they were happy.
Question 11. Read the poem “Mother to Son” and attempt a brief appreciation, point out the theme(s) and poetic devices used. (1 × 5 = 5)
Well, son, I’ll tell you:
Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.
It’s had tacks in it, ks
And splinters splinters, splinters
And boards torn up
And places with no carpet on the floor —
Bare.
But all the time
I’se been a-climbin’ on,
And reachin’ landin’s,
And turnin’ corners,
And sometimes goin’ in the dark
Where there ain’t been no light.
So, boy, don’t you turn back.
Don’t you set down on the steps.
Cause you finds it’s kinder hard.
Don’t you fall now —
For I’se still goin’, honey,
I’se still climbin’,
And life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.
Answer:
In the poem “Mother to Son” by Langston Hughes, the mother is telling her son how hard her life had been. For her, life was not a crystal stair. It had tacks and splinters in it. The boards were tom up and at places there was no carpet. But in spite of all these problems she has been climbing on and reaching landings.
She has been turning corners and sometimes she had to move in the dark without any light. So she is asking the boy not to turn back but continue on his life’s journey in spite of all the hardships that might confront him.
The poem has a fine theme. Its theme is the importance of hard work without getting tired of the problems in life. The poem has fine imagery of a mother climbing stairs. The stairs are not smooth. It has tacks and splinters. Some places are bare without any carpet.
But she manages and reaches where she wants to reach. It is a symbolic poem which treats life as a journey. The journey is not easy, So many problems will come up in life. The tacks, splinters and bare places symbolize problems of life. The poem is in simple language.
But there are many Americanisms in it. Examples are ain’t, climbin’, reachin’, landin’s, ‘goin’ etc. There are double negatives like ‘ain’t been no crystal stair’, ‘ain’t been no light’ These are quite okay in the English spoken by the Blacks of America. Americans are fond of dropping the ‘final ‘g’ in words ending with ‘ing’. The poem has fine rhythm but no rhyme.
Questions 12 – 16: Read the following passage from “The Vest Investment I ever Made” and answer the questions that follow. Each question carries one score. (1 × 5 = 5)
On the following forenoon, I again observed my fellow voyager watching me earnestly from his deck chair. Now a lady was with him, obviously his wife. The situation by this time had begun to intrigue intrigue intrigue me. I discovered from my steward that – they were Mr. and Mrs. John S_from a small suburb of London.
When another day passed without event, I began to feel certain that Mr. S_ would remain too shy to carry out his obvious desire to approach me. However, on our final evening at sea Mrs. S_ decided the matter. With a firm pressure on his hand and a whispered word in his ear, she urged her husband towards me as I passed along the deck.
‘Excuse me, Doctor, I wonder if I might introduce myself.’ He spoke almost breathlessly, offering me the visiting card he held in his hand and studying my face to see if the name meant anything tome. Then, as it plainly did not, he went on with the same awkwardness. ‘If you could spare a few minutes… my wife and I would like to have a word with you.’
Question 12.
Why was the writer intrigued?
Answer:
The writer was intrigued because he observed a fellow voyager watching him earnestly from his deckchair.
Question 13.
Where did Mr and Mrs John S. come from?
Answer:
They came from a small suburb of London.
Question 14.
“Excuse me, Doctor, I wonder if I might introduce myself.” Who is the speaker of these words?
Answer:
Mr. John.
Question 15.
“I would like to have a word with you.” using some other words explain the meaning of this sentence.
Answer:
It means “I would like to talk to you briefly.”
Question 16.
Who gave the visiting card, and to whom was it given?
Answer:
Mr John gave the visiting card to the author
Questions 17 – 21: The details of some authors given below. Study the table and answer the questions that follow. Each question carries on score. (1 × 5 = 5)
Question 17.
How many of the above authors were born in the 19th century?
Answer:
Two
Question 18.
Who is the only film director in the list?
Answer:
Satyajit Ray
Question 19.
A poem by Langston Hughes is in your syllabus. Name it.
Answer:
Mother to Son
Question 20.
Write down the name of the writer from the erstwhile Soviet Union, given in the list.
Answer:
Anton Chekhov
Question 21.
of all the five, who is born first in the 20th century?
Answer:
Langston Hughes
Questions 22 – 23: Answer any ONE of the following in about 120 words. (7 × 1 = 7)
Question 22.
Imagine that Kiran meets Nilkanta after many years of his disappearance. She asks Nilkanta why he took the inkstand of Satish and hid it in his box. Write down the possible reply of Nilkanta.
Answer:
After my escape from my cruel master, I had come to your house and you offered me shelter. I was very happy. I loved you very much and you too loved me. You fed me lovingly and played games with me making my Life a very happy one in this family. I was hoping things are going to be fine for me when Satish came to this house.
Then I realised that you started caring for him more and neglecting me and this made me very sad. Sometimes I refused to eat, thinking that you would persuade me to eat my food. But you did not do that. After the arrival of Satish, my life here was becoming bad. So I developed some kind of vengeance towards him. I thought he did some magic to separate you from me.
That is what prompted me to take his precious inkstand and’hide it in my box. -1 just wanted to throw it in the river to make him feel bad because it was he who brought misery to my life. Sister Kiran please, forgive me for what I did. It was my love and respect for you that made me do it. I still love you.
Question 23.
The Modern man wants to live beyond his means and this often leads to tragedies. We even hear people committing suicide because of the debts they can’t repay. Prepare a review of the drama “The Never- Never Nest” showing how the dramatist brings out the modern man’s desire for extravagant living.
Answer:
“The Never-Never Nest” is a one-act Play by Cedric Mount. It exposes the shams of contemporary society which tries to live beyond its means. It warns the people against the modern “Buy Now Pay Later” scheme which tempts people to buy things which are not essential for them.
Since they don’t have to pay immediately, they are tempted to buy things that are available on instalments. In the play we see Jack and Jill, a young couple with a baby. Jack earns only 6 Pounds a week. Jill is a housewife. But they go on getting all kinds of luxury items on instalments. The monthly instalments come to more than 7 Pounds.
To make up the deficit they will take a loan which will further increase their financial burden. In their lounge in the villa, they have fine furniture, a radiogram and a piano. They also have a refrigerator and a car. But all these and the villa itself are bought on installments. So nothing is their own, even their baby, as they owed money to the doctor.
They have to finish the installments to make the baby fully their own. Their Aunt comes and pays them 10 Pounds and Jill pays it to the doctor hoping that at the least the baby in the house will be their own. The play is a warning to those who live beyond their means and go on buying things on instalments.
Questions 24 – 26: Answer any TWO of the questions. Each question carries 5 score.
Question 24.
Attempt a character sketch of the Grandfather in the story “Vanka”.
Answer:
Vanka’s grandfather was a night watchman on the estate of a rich family. He was a small, lean old man about 65. But he was lively and agile. He had a smiling face but his eyes were bleary with drink. During daytime he slept in the dark kitchen or spent time joking with the cook and the kitchen maids.
In the night he wore a sheepskin coat and walked around the estate making sounds with his rattle. With him there used to be two dogs. One was old Kashtanka. The other was Eel.
His rattle would be tied to his belt. He liked to laugh and playfully pinch maids and cooks. He would show his snuff box and ask the women to take a nip. The women would take some snuff and put into their nostrils. They would sneeze. Grandad would be shouting and laughing with joy, saying, “Good for frozen noses.” He even gave snuff to the dogs. He was a fun-loving old man. He sent Vanka to a shoemaker in Moscow as an apprentice.
This action can be interpreted in two ways. Maybe, he wanted the orphaned boy to learn a trade to make a living for himself when he grew up. But some may think that he was running away from the responsibility of looking after his orphaned grandson. Whatever is the case, grandfather is a fun-loving fellow that makes us laugh with his antics.
Question 25.
The management decides to change the policy regarding the scholarship jacket. The Principal feels uncomfortable and unhappy about this change. He expresses his unhappiness in a letter to the management. Write the likely letter.
Answer:
The Chairman
Management of the Texas Rural School
Texas
16 June 2016
Dear Sir,
Sub: Charging Fee for the Scholarship Jacket
I am much grieved at the decision of the Management to charge a fee of 15 dollars from the student who is eligible to get the scholarship jacket. Our school has been in existence for 80 years and all these years the jacket was given free. Now, making a sudden change in the policy is not advisable for many reasons.
The biggest reason is that the eligible student may – be from a poor family and he/she may not be able to make the payment. Thereby the student will lose his/her chance to get the jacket. This is injustice. Money should not become a criterion for receiving such honors.
Secondly charging a fee for the scholarship jacket will reduce the significance of the scholarship jacket. If one has to pay a fee for that jacket, it will be like any other jacket bought in the market.
Many of the teachers are against the decision of the Management to charge a fee for the jacket. It breaks an honorable tradition set by this school and also it prevents poor students from having the reward for their continuous hard work. So please reconsider the matter and once again make the scholarship jacket what it actually is – a scholarship jacket.
Thank you,
Yours sincerely,
Sd/-
(Selina Job)
Principal
Question 26.
In “Adventures in a Banyan Tree”, the boy was thrilled at seeing the fight between th’e cobra and the mongoose. Narrate the fight in your own words.
Answer:
The boy was sitting on the platform half way up the tree. It was an April afternoon. Warm breezes had sent everyone indoors. The boy was thinking of going for a swim, when he saw a black cobra coming out of a group of cactus. It was looking for a cooler place in the garden. A mongoose also came out and went towards the cobra. They came face to face.
The Cobra knew that the 3 feet long mongoose is a fine fighter, clever and aggressive. But the cobra was also an experienced fighter. He could move with great speed and strike the mongoose. His sharp teeth were full of poison. It was a battle of champions. The cobra hissed. His tongue darted in and out. It was 6 feet long. It raised its three feet high and raised its broad, spectacled hood. The mongoose was also ready to fight. Its hair on the spine stood up like bristles.
They would help him to prevent his body from getting bitten. A myna ana a junf ie crow were watching the fight. At one stage they dived towards the cobra, but they missed it. The myna went back. The crow was trying to turn around when it was struck by the cobra. It died soon. The mongoose proved too clever for the cobra and finally it was killed by the mongoose which dragged it into the bush.
Questions 27 – 31: Answer any three of the following. Each question carries six scores.
Question 27.
“Nature has forged a strong connection between itself and the soul of mankind, but man has repaid the favour by making a mess of the Nature in which he lives.” Give your views on thjs statement with reference to the poem “Lines Written in Early Spring” by William Wordsworth.
Answer:
The poet says that while sitting reclined on a woodland grove, his mind was filled with several thoughts. While he finds solace in the nature’s beauty, the same beauty also reminds him of sad thoughts. The speaker appreciates the nature for her god like abilities of linking a human soul to herself but he also feels grief while thinking about how cruelly man has separated himself from mother nature. The poet is highly appreciative of nature’s beauty.
He finds delight in the green bowers and has faith that the beautiful flovyers enjoy every ounce of the air they breathe and they are thankful for living beside the nature. The speaker observes the birds which sing and hop around him. He is in awe of these creatures. Though the speaker does not understand their language and ways, he does recognize that the birds are creating all these movements out of sheer pleasure and joy.
The breeze blowing is sweet and light, the twigs are spreading out as if to catch the sweet air and all the poet can do is gather pleasure in their existence. The speaker questions that if this is heaven and this is the holy plan of nature then what man has done to himself is really bad. Man has separated himself from such joy and is spending his time hating one another and fighting wars.
Question 28.
“Amongst the wool were the three baby squirrels – all of them white!” The boy could not stop wondering about the white squirrels, If the boy wrote his impressions about this unforgettable sight in his diary, how would it be?
Answer:
When I saw the glint from the nest of the squirrel I went to investigate. To my utter surprise What do I see there? Among the wool, which was actually my Grandmother’s knitting, there were three white baby squirrels. I had never seen another squirrel in that area. Then how can the baby squirrels appear in the nest? I was puzzled.
I decided to tell my Grandfather about it. Grandfather was also puzzled as he had never seen white squirrels. Then he said that rats and squirrels were of the same family group and they could cross-breed. The squirrel was the father and the white rat was the mother of the white babies. This world is full of wonders, isn’t it?
Question 29.
Here are some details about Bob Dylan. Write his short profile.
Birth – 1941
Nationality – American
Career – singer, song-writer, artist and writer
Famous songs – “Blowin’ in the Wind” and “The Times They Are a-Changin” – these . became anthems for the American Civil Rights and anti-war movements.
Award – Nobel Prize for Literature, 2016
Answer:
Bob Dylan was born in the-year 1941. He is an American singer, song-writer, artist and writer. He is a versatile genius who has excelled in different fields. He is especially known as a great singer, who writes his own songs. His two most famous songs are “Blowin’ in the Wind” and “The Times They Are a- Changin”.
These songs became anthems for the American Civil Rights and anti-war movements. They were very popular mot only in America but all over the world where English is spoken. Bob Dylan was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature, 2016. It is the first time in the history of the Nobel Prize when a singer is awarded the Prize for Literature.
Question 30.
Read the following lines from the poem “The Ballad of Father Gilligan” and prepare a brief note of appreciation.
‘Mavrone, mavrone! The man has died While I slept on the chair’;
He roused his horse out of its sleep And rode with little care.
He rode now as he’never rode,
By rocky lane and fen;
The sick man’s wife opened the door,
‘Father! you come again!’
‘And is the poor man dead?’ he cried ‘He died an hour ago’.
The old priest Peter Gilligan
In grief swayed to and fro.
Answer:
Fr. Gilligan is an old priest. He is working very hard day and night because half of parishioners are either dick or dead. One evening he Was sitting in a chair quite tired and sleepy. But he is called to go and administer the sacrament of anointing the sick to a poor sick man. Fr. Gilligan is not happy because he is already too tired.
He said he has no rest, joy or peace as people are going on dying. Soon he was sorry that he thought like that and he kneels down and prays seeking forgiveness from God. He soon fell asleep. Only when he heard the sparrows chirping he got up from his sleep. He suddenly thought that the man may have died as he was sleeping. He then took his horse and rushed to the place of the sick man.
He rode very fast over the rocky paths and wetlands. The sick man’s wife opened the door and she was surprised 16 see him ‘again’. On enquiring about the sick man she says he died an hour ago. Fr. Gilligan was shocked to hear the news. Later we learn that God had sent an angel in the guise of Fr. Gilligan and the sick man was administered the sacrament.
Question 31.
Vanka writes a letter to his grandfather detailing his sufferings at the shoemaker’s house. Imagine you meet Vanka after he posted he letter.
Write the likely ‘conversation between Vanka and you. Write at least 5 exchanges.
Answer:
I: Good Morning, Vanka!
Vanka: Good Morning!
I: Why are you looking so sad?
Vanka: I am suffering here with this cruel man Alyakhin. He makes me do a lot of things I don’t like. He does not feed me properly.
I: What are the bad things he does to you?
Vanka: He makes me work hard the whole day. He does not allow me even to sleep at night because I am supposed to rock his child whenever it gets up in the night. The senior boys ridicule me and make me buy them vodka and steel the master’s cucumbers. Alyakhin does not scold them or stop them from molesting me.
I: Did you write all these things to your grandfather?
Vanka: Yes, I did. I also’ told him I would help him in his tasks if he takes me to his house. Here I am suffering too much and I don’t want to continue here.
I: Do you think your grandfather will come to take you?
Vanka: I’m sure he will come. He is very kind to me. If he had known Alyakhin would treat me so badly, he would not leave me with him.
I: Okay Vanka, let’s hope your grandfather will come and free you from your misery.
Vanka: Thank you, thank you very much.
I: It is Okay. Bye!
Question 32.
Complete the following conversation between Martha and her Grandpa. (5)
Martha: You have some time to talk with me, ……………. (a), Grandpa?
Grandpa: Yes, I have. Go ahead.
Martha: This year I have to pay $15 for the scholarship jacket.
Grandpa: Who told you that?
Martha: The Principal.
Grandpa: ……………(b)…………….
Martha: You have to believe me. It is a new rule.
Grandpa: If you pay $15, it won’t be s scholarship jacket, ……………… (c)
Martha: I know. But what can I do?
Grandpa: I am not ………….(d)……….. $15. Tell the Principal you don’t want the …………….(e)………… if you are to pay for it.
Answer:
a) haven’t you
b) I don’t believe you
c) will it?
d) giving you
e) scholarship jacket
Question 33.
Report the following dialogue. (2)
John: Dr. Cronin, you helped me when I was in need.
Dr. Cronin: I don’t remember helping you. When was it?
Answer:
John told Dr. Gronin that he helped him when he was in need.
Dr. Cronin replied saying that he didn’t remember helping him and wanted to know when it was.
Question 34.
Complete the passage choosing the right words from the ones given in brackets. (5)
Aunt Jane: Now, I am sorry ……………. (a) I sounded rude, ……………. (b) really shocked to find the way you are living. I’ve never owed a penny in my life. I want you …………….. (c) do the same. Here is a little cheque. You take it and pay …………….(d) just one of your bills so …………….(e) you can say one thing at least really belongs to you. (to, if, that, but, off)
Answer:
a) if
b) but
c) to
d) off
e) that
Question 35.
There are a few mistakes in the following passage. The mistakes are underlined. Correct them. (4)
You must not loose faith in humanity. Humanity is a ocean, if a few drop are dirties, the ocean does not becomes dirty.
Answer:
lose, an, drops, dirty, become
Question 36.
Replace the underlined words in the passage choosing appropriate phrasal verbs from the ones given in brackets. (4)
Adichie could not understand
(a) why her roommate asked her such a foolish question. She became angry
(b) because of the complex of her mate. Why should she tolerate
(c) such nonsense? She almost wanted to beat her up. (break her bones, lost her temper, make out, put up with)
Answer:
a) make out,
b) lost her temper,
c) put up with,
d) break her bones