SEBA | HSLC | ENGLISH 2018
SECTION – A
(1)(a) Choose the meaning of the underlined word in the following sentences from among the alternatives given in brackets: 1
(a) This land of rolling hills is inhabited by a proud race of martial men, beautiful women and wild creatures.
(having to do with marriage/ having to do with peace/ having to do with war)
Answer: Martial – having to do with war.
(b) State whether the following are true or false: 1+1=2
(i) Tea came to Europe only in the eighteen century and as used as a medicine more than as beverage.
Answer: False.
(ii) Tea came to Europe only in the sixteen century and was used as a medicine more than as beverage.
Answer: True.
(c) Choose the correct answer from among the alternatives given and complete the sentence: 1
No one really knows who discovered tea but______
(i) There are two legends
(ii) There is one legend
(iii) There are many legends.
(2) What did Lencho do throughout the morning? What did he see in the morning? 1+1=2
Answer: Lencho was seeing the sky towards the North East throughout the morning.
He saw mountains of clouds towards the north east in the morning.
(3) What mission would Mandela like to achieve for the future of South Africa and her people on securing the political emancipation? 2
Answer: Mandela pledged that he would never put the land to experience the oppression of one by another. He was determined to liberate all the people from the continuing bondage of poverty, deprivation, suffering, gender and other discrimination.
(4) How is the water of the Kaveri River? Where does the river obtain its water from? 1+1=2
Answer: The water of the Kaveri River is fresh and clear.The river obtains its water from the hills of Coorg.
(5) “Lencho’s soul was filled with sadness,” Why? 2
Answer: Lencho’s soul was filled with sadness because the hailstorm completely damaged Lencho’s field. The field was covered with snow. All the flowers were gone and the corns were destroyed.
(6) “The oppressed and the oppressor alike are robbed of their humanity.” What makes Mandela say this? 2
Answer: Both of the oppressed and the oppressors are not free because a man who takes away another man’s freedom is a prisoner of hatred. The oppressor is locked behind the bars of prejudice and narrow-mindedness.
(7) What is the other name of Coorg? 1
Answer: The other name of Coorg is Kodagu, the smallestdistrict of Karnataka.
(8) What was a source of unending joy for Valli? What was her overwhelming desire? 1+1=2
Answer: There was a street in front of Valli’s house through which a bus used to run. The sight of the bus filled with a new set of passengers was a source of unending joy for Valli.
Valli’s overwhelming desire was to ride on the bus taking a journey to the town.
SECTION – B
(9) Choose from the box given below the words that rhyme with the following: 1X2=2
feet, harbour
bit, beat, sit, hour, honour, armour
Answer: feet – beat
harbor - armour
(10) Choose the meaning of the Underlined words from the alternatives given in the brackets: 1+1=2
(a) I think I could turn and live with the animals; they are so placid and self-contained.
(angry/ calm and peaceful/ having to do with war)
Answer: placid– calm and peaceful.
(b) Not one is dissatisfied, not one is demented with the mania of owning things.
(feeling unhappy /feeling displeased /behaving crazily for being upset)
Answer: demented– behaving crazily for being upset.
(11) What is a water hole? Why should the tiger be lurking near it?1+1=2
Answer: A water hole is a naturally formed depression in the land where water gets collected and animals use to drink water from it. The tiger should be lurking near it because fat deer pass near the water wholes and the tiger can hunt them.
(12) Where does Amanda roam? What does she do with her bare feet?1+1=2
Answer: Amanda roams around the streets. Shemakes patterns in the dust with her bare feet.
(13) How was Custard the dragon received after he had killed the Pirate? 2
Answer: Everyone was happy to see the pirate die. Belinda embraced Custard, the dragon. Mustard, the dog licked him. Ink, the cat and Blink, the mouse gyrate around him cheering his victory over the pirate.
SECTION – C
(14) (a)Who was Fowler? Give a description of his meeting with Ausable. 1+4=5
Answer: Fowler was a writer who was writing a novel on detectives. Fowler wanted to study the life of a spy. So, he accompanied on Ausable in one of his detective missions.
Fowler found the meeting so distasteful because he did not see any adventurous moment at first. They had a dull evening in a French music hall and came to a French hotel. Fowler imagined mysterious figures around Ausable, message slipped into his pocket. But nothing of that sort happened. But Fowler met real thrill when they saw Max in Ausable’s room. Max was another secret agent who tried to steal a report from Ausable at gun point. But Ausable told an imaginary story about a balcony so as to befool Max. Ausable behaved mysteriously and also told him that police had knocked at his door. Max then jumped out of the window but actually there was no balcony. Max might have died jumping out from there. Fowler was very surprised to see the cleverness of Ausable.
OR
(C) How did Horace Danby become an assistant librarian in the prison? 5
Answer: Horace Danby was a good and respectable citizen. He was about fifty years. However, he was not completely honest. He dealt in locks and was successful in his trade. He had a hobby of reading rare and expensive books but not his own cost. He would rather execute a robbery in any rich house and used the money to buy the books through an agent. In a particular year he tried to steal from a rich family in Shotover Grange and he could not succeed. Danby was arrested for the theft in Shotover Grange. He conducted the theft for buying books as he used to love books. So, in the jail, he was awarded with the job of an Assistant Librarian. Now he could read as many books as he could.
(15)(a) Why did Griffin become a homeless wanderer? Why did he slip into the big London store and what did he do there?2+1+2=5
Answer: Griffin was a brilliant scientist but a lawless person. He lived as a tenant. But the landlord wanted to throw him out of the house. So, in anger, he set fire to the landlord’s house and became a homeless wanderer.
When he was wandering in London it was bitterly cold. So., he slipped into the big London store to comfort himself with cloth and foods.
Griffin broke open the boxes of the store and took the cash with him. He got rid of his hunger with meat, wine and coffee. Then he had a dreamy sleep on a pile of quilt.
OR
(b) Who was Bill? How did he befool the lawyer? 1+4=5
Answer: Bill was a hack driver in New Mullion. Actually, he was Oliver Lutkins himself.
At the station Bill introduced himself as Bill but notasLutkins. If he wished he could do that at the very first instance. Then he made lawyer to hire his hack for two dollars an hour. Bill took him to every possible location where Lutkin could possibly be. He moved him around the city for six hours and pocketed the fare but did not reveal his real identity. Bill did not allow the lawyer to enter the shop where Lutkins could be and asked them all by himself if they had seen Lutkins. Thus, he managed his locals to act as if they had not seen Lutkins and Lutkins might be at a different place. So, they had to follow him to a different location, and they missed him just by a few minutes. Actually, his confident behavior, support from his local friends and his cleverness made the lawyer a fool. It was quite interesting that he was such a foolish lawyer that he took an unknown man into his confidence so easily and got victimized.
SECTION – D
(16) Fill in the blanks with the right determiners: 1/2X4=2
(a) The rich are not always unkind.
(b) The principal gave the students much sound advice.
(c) Every school has a union of the students.
(d) Is there any coffee left in the pot?
(17) Fill in the blanks with the correct preposition from among the choices given in the brackets: 1/2X4=2
(a) He always runs after money. (at/for/after)
(b) Flour is made from wheat. (of/from/with)
(c) Write your answers in black ink. (with/in/by)
(d) The cow lives on grass. (on/upon/with)
(18) Rewrite the following sentences putting the verbs in the brackets in their correct tense form: 1+1
(a) If I had been you, I would not have called him again. (be)
(b) The principal is not in his room. He has gone out. (go)
(19) Change the form of narration of the followings: 1+1
(a) Rahim said to me, “Do you know the man standing at the gate?
Answer: Rahim asked me if I knew the man standing at the gate.
(b) The young man told me that he had come from Jorhat to work in Guwahati.
Answer: The young man said to me, “I have come from Jorhat towork in Guwahati.”
(20) Change the voice of the followings: 1+1
(a) The letters have been posted.
Answer:They have posted the letters.
(b) He did the work alone.
Answer: The work has been done by him alone.
(21) Combine each of the following pairs of sentences into a single sentence: 1+1
(a) The boy is not brave. The boy is not intelligent.
Answer: The boy is neither brave nor intelligent.
(b) The man created the trouble. The man was arrested.
Answer: The man who created the trouble was arrested.
(22) Choose the correct alternative from the choices given in the brackets: 1
(a) Mr. John will come to Guwahati shortly. (recently/shortly).
OR
(b) Popular criticism has no effect (effect/ affect) on the politicians.
(23) Make sentences to illustrate the meaning of any two of the following: 1x2=2
(a) Run over: - The car ran over the old man.
(b) Deal in: - Rahul deals in cosmetics.
(c) Carry out: - The students must carry out the school disciplines.
(d) In order to: - The police had to leak tear gas in order to control the mob.
(24) Correct the errors in any two of the following sentences:1X2=2
(a) He took out his shoes.
Answer: He took off his shoes.
(b) I do not know who are you.
Answer: do not know who you are.
(c) She said that she will arrive at 6 p.m.
Answer: She said that she would arrive at 6 p.m.
(d) She prefers milk than curd.
Answer: She prefers milk to curd.
SECTION – E
(25) Translate into English: (Group-From Assamese to English) 1X5=5
(a)মীনা যেনেকুৱা বুধিয়ক, লীনাও তেনেকুৱা।
Answer: Lila is also as intelligent as Mina.
(b)জোনে ৰাতিহে পোহৰ দিয়ে।
Answer: The moon shines at night only.
(c)তুমি কালি স্কুললৈ গৈছিলানে?
Answer: Did you go to school yesterday?
(d)সি ককায়েকক খুব ভাল পায় ।
Answer: He loves his brother very much.
(e)ৰিন্টুৱে কৈছিল, “এইটো কি সুন্দৰ পুতলা।”
Answer: Rintu said, “What a beautiful doll this is!”
OR
Give the substance of the following passage: 5
Of all the amusements which can possibly be imagined for a hardworking man after his daily labour there is nothing like reading an entertaining book. It calls for no bodily exertion, of which he has had enough. It relives his home of dullness. It transports him to as livelier and more interesting scene. While he enjoys himself there, he may forget the evils of the present moment. Nay, it accompanies him to his next day’s work and if the book is an interesting one, it gives him something to think of besides the drudgery of his everyday occupation. If I were to pray for a taste it would be a taste for reading. Give a man this taste and the means of gratifying it, you will find a happy man. You place him in contact with the best writers of every age recorded in history and then you will find him like a citizen of all nations and a contemporary of all ages.
Answer: Benefit of Reading
Reading an entertainment book is perhaps the best refreshment after the daylong hardship of a hardworking man. It transforms all the dullness into liveliness and an interesting scenario. The book’s refreshing content helps him to forget the curtness of the present moment. The interesting books re-energize the man for his next day and also give him a chance to think beyond his narrow working environment. So, every man should be given the taste of reading an interesting book. And it will in turn create happy people. By giving a chance to the people to meet the great authors, they may be accustomed to live as a contemporary citizen of all world.
(26) Write in about 150 words on any one of the following topics: 6
(a)Benefits of physical Exercise
Health is the most precious gift which is the key to a pleasant and joyous life. Every person desire to lead a happy life. When most of the people think that wealth is the root of all happiness, they forget that no other wealth is as precious as health. If health is lost a person cannot enjoy the earthen pleasures. Every minute of such a sick person’s life has to be spent miserably. Perhaps there is a no better option to preserve health than doing physical exercises.
Physical exercise includes physical activities like jogging, yoga, aerobics, gym, sports etc. Physical exercise has emerged as a core need of the modern civilization where physical activities are less, resulting in growth of diseases like high blood pressure, weight gain, diabetes, depression, heart stroke. For an elegant health, one needs good circulation of blood. The physical exercise can only ensure that. Physical exercise re-energizes our body ensuring an increase in stamina, stable mental growth and improved anti body. In the modern era, people are putting their brain into work whereas the body sits all the day in front of a computer. So physical exercise can ensure that we utilize the bodily fat too thereby decreasing the risk of getting ill.
If health is lost then it may be concluded that the person has lost everything. As prevention is always better than cure, one must focus to fight for good health rather than fighting against diseases.
OR
Your last day at school
School as always is a learning temple. It converts the human body of flesh and blood into a body of knowledge. What makes a man different from other living creature is the brain with knowledge. I began my school life in XYZ school some twelve years ago. The horrific idea of parting with my parents brought tears to my eyes in my childhood days.
In India’s ancient philosophy teachers were placed right after the parents. And a school is nothing but a family, where the teachers are the replica of our parents. Thus, we students enjoy another extension of our family in school.
But time is harsh, it finally brought the day when we had to leave our beloved family, our respected teachers. To make the moment livelier and more memorable our junior students organized a welfare function. We were gathered in the auditorium and our dearest Principal addressed us and also blessed us mostly with a choking voice. Others teachers also blessed us with a melting heart. We took the blessings of our teachers. All the students of our class started crying and a shade of sadness subdued the auditorium. We were gifted by our juniors and the teachers and perhaps these gifts were the most precious gifts ever.
With a heavy heart, we stepped out of the school building. I wondered why I was crying when I was leaving because one day I cried while I was entering. My friends walked along the road behind; I saw them until they disappeared. The sun was setting to indicate that the day was over, but for me it was an end of a decade.
OR
Write a story in about 150 words using the outlines given below and adding a title to it: 6
Outline: Twelve fools start on a journey – cross a river – count themselves – each one not counting himself - each time counts eleven – passerby offers to produce the twelfth man – pays each fool a blow – counts twelve
Answer: Mystery of Twelfth Fool
There lived an old man in a village. He had twelve sons, but they were very foolish and idle. The old man was very upset and worried. He advised them to get some work. Finally, they decided that they would travel along the country to find some profitable work.
Accordingly, they set out on a journey to hunt some profitable work for them. For many a day, they kept on walking and left behind many villages and cities. One day they reached on the bank of a river. They had to swim across the river in order to go ahead. When they reached the other side, they thought that one of their brothers might be left behind and they should check it. The eldest brother counted but found eleven. He was horrified. Each one of them tried to find their lost brother, but could not. How could it be?
Actually, each time they were counting, they were omitting the one who was trying to make the tally. Thus skipped, the counting resulted a total of eleven. Then a passerby saw their trouble and understood their foolishness. He, in order to rescue them, gave a blow to each one of them and thus he made a tally of twelve. The brothers were happy to see their brother back. They, then thanked the stranger and happily restarted their journey.
(27) Answer either (a) or (b) 5
(a) Write a letter to your friend telling him what you intend to do after the HSLC Examination.
Answer:
Jhalukpara
Dibrugarh-786001
March 01, 2018
My dear friend Riku,
How are you? I am fine here. Our examination is going on gracefully and it will be over by Monday next. I will breathe to relax when the examination will finally finish. I have a good plan regarding how I will spend my holidays until results are declared.
After finishing the examination, I will have some outings. I will visit my maternal uncle’s home in Guwahati. I have a cousin named Harish. We two will wander about the city with my uncle or aunt. We will visit the zoo, the Kalakshetra, the science park and many more other places. We will have fun in Accoland too. However, I will not spend the entire vacation there. I am thinking that after a week’s visit I will return home. Here I will take a computer coaching class, and join a career counseling programme. You know, how beneficial they are in the modern competitive career world!
Please write a few words about yours. Convey my regards to your parents and your brother also.
Your loving friend
Ravi
OR
(b) Write a report for a local daily on the basis of the information given below: 5
(i) 12-08-2018
(ii) Majuli
(iii) Embankment of the of the Brahmaputra breached
(iv) Flood water from Arunachal hills added to the fury ofthe flood caused by the breach
(v) Large areas inundated by the flood water andseveral villages and paddy fields severely affected
(vi) Government relief not enough for the flood-affected people
(vi) Many organizations came forward to help the affected people with relief materials
Answer:
Severe flood condition in Majuli, many villages under water
Staff Reporter, Majuli, 13th Aug; Many villages are drastically affected in the recent flood situation in Majuli causing numerous loss of lives and assets. Reportedly the flood occurred due to the breach of the embankment of the Brahmaputra due to a heavy current triggered by the flood water from Arunachal hills. Acers of land are drowned in water including villages and paddy fields. Government has directed the district administration to do speedy rescue operations and to provide relief materials. However due to the adversity of the flood, the government aid seems insufficient. Private NGOs are playing active roles to meet the shortfall and providing all sorts of possible supports.
(29) (a) Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:
Paper is one of the most important articles that we use in our day to day life. If there had been no paper our civilization would not have progressed so fast. Great scientists write their thoughts on paper first and then they carry out their experiments. Great engineers draw their plans on paper first and then build houses, bridges, dams, and so on. Great thoughts are written or printed on paper for everyone to read. If there were no paper, we would not have all the good books that are available in the world. Without paper it would be difficult for the people of one country to know about the people of another country.
(i) Why is paper the most essential thing for mankind? 2
Answer: It is the paper on which great thoughts are first written or printed. From scientists to engineers, they put their workings first onto the paper. Our civilization has progressed greatly because of paper as thoughts of one generation to the next can be transferred through paper. In fact, paper writes the fate of the mankind, so paper is the most essential thing for the mankind.
(ii) What would have happened if there were no paper? 2
Answer: If there were no paper, great books could not be made available to the people. One country could never know about the people of another country. Even great thoughts could never be brought into reality. It also had hampered the works of scientists and engineers and other thought makers.
(iii) Mention three uses of paper. 1
Answer: Paper has great uses for the civilization. Scientists work out their new inventions, engineers draw their plans and great thoughts are either written or printed on paper.
(b) Read the following extract carefully and answer the questions that follow:
The fiercely independent people of Coorg are possibly of Greek or Arabic descent. As story goes, a part of Alexander’s army moved south along the coast and settled here when return became impractical. These people married amongst the locals and their culture is apparent in the martial traditions, marriage and religious rites, which are distinct from the Hindu mainstream. The theory of Arab origin draws support from the long, black coat with embroidered waist-belt worn by the Kodavus, known as Kuppia; it resembles the Kuffia worn by the Arabs and the Kurds.
(i) Of which descent are the people of Coorg? 1
Answer: The people of Coorg are of Greek or Arabic descent.
(ii)What is the story about the Greek origin of the people of Coorg?2
Answer: There are two different opinions of the historians regarding the descendants of Kodagu people. One theory draws that the corgi people are descendants of Greek people, whereas the other theory supported that they were of Arabic descent. As per a story, a part of Alexander’s army moved south along the coast and got settled there when return became impossible.
(iii)What is the theory in support of the Arab origin of the Coorgi people? 2
Answer: The theory of Arab origin draws support from the long black coat with an embroidered waist belt worn by the Kodavus which is similar to Kuffia worn by the Arabs.
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