8 cbse question bank english · 2019. 11. 8. · 4 n question bank english-viii 8. the state of...

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Question Bank

englishteacher’s Manual

cbse

8

contents

(ii)

Section AReading Comprehension

Type-I: Factual Passages ................................................................................3

Type-II: Discursive Passages .......................................................................10

Section BWriting & Grammar

Part-I : Writing ...........................................................................................16

1. Letter Writing .......................................................................................16

2. Article Writing ......................................................................................26

3. Diary Entry ...........................................................................................34

4. Story Writing .......................................................................................41

Part-II : Grammar .....................................................................................46

1. Tenses ...................................................................................................46

2. Agreement of the verb with Subject .....................................................47

3. Verbs .....................................................................................................47

4. Punctuation ...........................................................................................48

5. Articles .................................................................................................48

6. Active and Passive................................................................................48

7. Direct and Indirect Speech ...................................................................49

•PracticeTestPaper–1 .........................................................................50





Teacher’s Manual n 3

Section A Reading Comprehension

Type-I: Factual PassagesPassage-1 1. Mr Narendra Modi, the Prime

Minister of India, launched the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

2. This programme was launched on October 2, 2014.

3. The mission of this programme is to make India clean by cleaning the roads, streets and infrastructure of the country.

4. The expected cost of this mission is ̀ 62000 crore (US $9.7 billion).

5. The mission will cover 4041 towns. 6. The expenditure will be met

through fund sharing between the Central Government and the State Government and Urban Local Bodies in the ratio of 75% : 25% (90% : 10% for North Eastern and special category states).

7. This programme is said to be “beyond politics” and “inspired by patriotism”.

8. Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary will be celebrated on October 2, 2019.

Passage-2 1. Shrikant is a social worker. 2. He got his education from IIM-

Kozhikode. 3. He undertook a training in bee-

keeping from a government institute in Pune.

4. Bees play an important role in cross pollination which maintains eco-system.

5. The name of Shrikant’s organiza-tion is ‘Bee the Change’.

6. Shrikant’s organization meets farmers in rural areas and provides them with bee boxes and free training. Then, once they start bee-keeping, the organization buys back the honey at a pre-determined price.

7. Pesticides kill the bees. 8. Bee keeping is a challenging

business because it requires investments.

Passage-3 1. The Patna High Court is the sixth

oldest high court in the country. 2. The Patna University is the

seventh oldest university in the country.

3. The Patna University was started on October 1, 1917.

4. The Patna University was inaugurated on February 3, 1916.

5. The judges at that time were robed in red gowns, wigs, black knee breeches, black silk stockings and buckled patent leather shoes.

6. Maulana Mazharul Haq was the Barrister-at-Law and a great freedomfighter.

7.The first Chief Justice of PatnaHigh Court was the Barrister-at-Law Sir Edward Maynard Des Champs Chamier.

4 n QuesTion Bank english-Viii

8.ThestateofJharkhandwascarvedout from the state of Bihar on November 15, 2000.

Passage-4 1. Sania Mirza is an Indian tennis

player. 2. She has recently won the world’s

great Grand Slam title. 3. She has won three such titles. 4. She had got her wrist injured. 5. She got married in 2010. 6. Ankita Raina is also an Indian

tennis player. 7. She prefers partnership with

Martina Hingis. 8. Roger Federer is a great Swiss

tennis player.Passage-5 1. The tenth Sikh Guru, Gobind

Singh created ‘Khalsa’. 2.Itwascreatedonthefirstdayof

Baishakhi in 1699. 3. The purpose of ‘Khalsa Panth’

was to set right the previous ideas whereby religion was treated as one whole, each being claimed as superior to the other and involved conversion and accompanying coercion and tyranny, breaking all the norms of dharma.

4. Guru Nanak was the founder of Sikhism.

5.AllthetenGurussacrificedalotfor a noble purpose.

6. Guru Gobind Singh was the 10th guru of Sikhs.

7. Guru Gobind Singh abolished caste system and brought the high and low to a status of equality. He vested the leadership in the community, i.e., Guru Panth.

It was a trial of democracy practised in the realm of religion.

8. The main objective of Khalsa is to drive out evil, suffering and darkness of falsehood and bring about the light of dharma, love and brotherhood in mankind.

Passage-6 1. On, 25th April, 2015, a powerful

earthquake struck Nepal Killing thousands of people.

2. It was 7.9 at Richter scale. 3. The epicenter was 50 miles far

from Pokhra, the second largest town of Nepal.

4. Around 300,000 foreign tourists were estimated to have been stranded in Nepal.

5. The number of casualties as reported in 1934 earthquake in Nepal was 8,500.

6. The Dharara Tower was built in 1832.

7. Nepal is a landlocked nation sandwiched between India and China.

8. Dharara Tower was completely devastated.

Passage-7 1.Jean Nidetch was the founder

of an international Weight Watcher’s Company.

2. Weight Watcher’s Company is concerned with the obesity and weight problem.

3. Her own obesity prompted her to start her company.

4. She suggested her customers to be responsible, take exercise regularlyandeatalotoffish.

5. The company was sold to Heinz in 1978.


6.When she first attended anobesity clinic sponsored by the New York City Board of Health in 1961, she was 5ft 7in and 214lbs.

7. The clinic advised her not to skip meals, to have more fruit and vegetables,fishfivetimesaweek,and two pieces of bread and two glasses of skimmed milk a day.

8.ThenewbusinessfirstconqueredNew York and then the globe. For its 10th birthday, Bob Hope was on stage entertaining 16,000 people in Madison Square Garden.

Passage-8 1. Indira Gandhi International

Airport has been adjudged to be the world’s best airport in 2014.

2. It has achieved this position under the category of handling 25 to 40 million passengers per annum.

3. Airport Council International (ACI) has given this award.

4. IGIA handles 40 million passengers annually during the assessment period.

5. It has earned 4.90 out of 5 points. 6. Prabhakar Rao is the CEO of

Delhi International Airport Pvt Limited, which manages IGIA.

7. IGIA hosts six domestic carriers, 56 international carriers and also has the capacity to handle the gigantic Airbus A380 aircraft.

8. ACI is a trade association of the world’s airports. It was founded in 1991.

Passage-9 1. The survey report reveals that

Delhi’s children have the weakest

lung as compared to those of other metros.

2. The Breathe Blue and Heal Foundation conducted this survey.

3. This report was released on the occasion of World Asthma Day.

4. It is alarming for the Delhi kids that four out of every 10 kids in the Capital suffer from severe lung problem.

5. The survey report says that Mumbai’s children fared the best with 73% of the surveyed children having good lung function. Of the remaining, 13% children have poor and 14% have poor lung function.

6. The survey covered around 2000 children in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru and Kolkata in the age group of 8-14 years.

7. In Bengaluru, the affected children percentage stood at 36%, whereas in Kolkata, about 35% of children have been affected.

8. The poor air quality is the major cause for it.

Passage 10 1.ThefirstMaruticarwassoldon

December 14,1983. 2.Maruti800wasthefirstmodelof

the Maruti car. 3. Harpal Singh, an Indian Airline

employee,wasthefirstownerofthe Maruti car.

4.Theowner’sfirsttripintheMaruticar was to Meerut from Delhi.

5. Five persons were accommodated in the car.

6. Maruti car was sold through a lottery system in the beginning.


7. The actual cost of Maruti car in the beginning was ` 47500.

8. Harpal Singh died in 2010.Passage-11 1. Social service to the Indian social

reformers was a religious duty. 2. Mahatma Gandhi equated social

service with religious duties. 3. Since Gandhi was much

influencedbytheWesternideas,it will be unjust to say that he was an epitome of Hindu tradition.

4. Gandhi inculcated in him passionate love of the downtrodden and aversion to caste under the influence of theEuropean 19th century liberalism.

5. Gandhi was indebted to the Sermon on the Mount and to Tolstoyforhispacifism.

6. National self-denigration and fanatical cultural chauvinism are gradually disappearing from India.

7. Indian culture has the ability to adapt and digest elements of different cultures. It is performing the most astonishing thing, synthesis or assimilation of the Western culture.

8. The preaching of the holy book of the Bhagvad Gita, the Upanishads shall never miss their significance. The Indiansshallalwaysbeinfluencedbytheheroes of the Mahabharata, the Ramayana and so on.

Passage-12 1. A religious man rises above all

the particular group loyalties and becomes a universal man.

2. The author refers to the Hindus’ principles of Abhaya and Ahimsa, fearlessness and non-violence; the Buddhists’ doctrines of Prajna and Karuna, wisdom and compassion; the Christians’ ideals of truth and freedom and also the Muslims’ belief in one God and one family.

3. Gandhi was a man of prophetic nature who lived in accordance with his preaching. An ordinary man also talks about high ideals but never acts according to them.

4. The greatest contribution of Gandhi to the world is to enable the people to realise that even in this world of narrow loyalties, if they wish, they can embody the high ideals of Truth and Love.

5. Non-violence was the greatest weapon that Gandhi employed for winning the political freedom of India.

6. Gandhi believed in universalism. He says that if today we are in conflict with the Englishmen,we should not hate them because Indians as well as the English are the children of same God.

7. No, Gandhi was not prejudiced with any religion. He respected all religions and adopted in his life the precepts of all religions.

8. The common people who want to live peacefully in a society need a world organisation, world court etc. in order to maintain internal order.

Passage-13 1. According to Bacon studies serve

for delight, for ornament and for ability.


2. When we are lonely, without any company, at such time books give us delight.

3. A person who studies books excessively is completely guided by the rules mentioned in a book.

4. Bacon compares the natural abilities with the natural plants which should be pruned from time to time.

5. Crafty men condemn studies. They have no taste for reading good books. They hide their ignorance under the cover of their hatred or disliking for studies.

6. As per the author ‘taste’ means to read unimportant books in part and hurriedly just as ordinary food need to be simply tasted and ‘digest’ means to read important books carefully and with concentration as tasty and nutritive food should be properly chewed and digested.

7. The study of mathematics inculcates in young people the power of concentration. They learn to pick up a subtle outlook towards life.

8. Conversation makes a person quick witted and quick tongued.

Passage-14 1. A genuine artist in the early

thirties was one who started with somewhat simple thoughts and then proceeded to a complex style.

2. Priestley like the writers of the early thirties did not believe in complex style. He did not regard art synonymous with introversion.

3. Priestley aimed at simplicity and not at complexity in his writings.

4. Priestley aims at simplicity style because he wants that very ordinary people like people who work in factories, shops and pubs can also enjoy his writing.

5. Priestley regards simplicity in writing a source of delight because it provides a satisfaction to the writer that he has intelligibly conveyed his message to the public.

6. Priestley was asked to pay tribute, on the air, to C.G. Jung in histhirteen and a half minutes talk.

7. The author got success in paying tributetoC.G.Junginhisthirteenand a half minutes talk. The listeners as well as the author were satisfiedwiththeprogramme.

8. Priestley’s views are that literature must be simple and understandable.

Passage-15 1. Virginia Woolf’s essay How

Should One Read a Book ? is an extract from her long essay, bearing the same title.

2. An advice which a person can give to another regarding reading is to give no advice and let him follow his own tastes, likings and dislikings while choosing a book for himself.

3. Hamlet is a play by William Shakespeare.

4. The library shelves are full of books of various types. The problem for a reader is with which book he should begin. The author rightly called a library as a huddle of confusion or conglomeration.


5. The author means to say it that a reader should not be rigid and critical of the writer of a book but to come upon a book with open mind to get a great from the book.

6. If a reader begins to criticize a book, he prevents himself from getting the fullest possible value from what he reads.

7. The reader should separate the books on the basis of their types suchasfiction,poetry,biographyand so on.

8. Conglomeration means a mix-ture of different things that are found all together.

Passage-16 1. ‘The blackest thoughts’ means

the bitter thoughts of the author. It shows Narayan’s disliking for those who borrow books from others but forget to return them.

2. A book-pirate is one who fails to return a book he has taken from others.

3. When a borrowers of a book does not return the book to the lender even after a long lapse of time.

4. A number of excuses made by a borrower for not returning the book to the lender for a long time, makes one think that there should be provision of punishment for ‘Book-Pirates’.

5. The author decides to make the lender sign a ledger and if the book is lost, ask the borrower to replace the book with a new copy of it.

6. The author wants from the political party to eliminate book-borrowing from the society.

7. A lover of books who is somewhat rude can retain his library in shape.

8. A strict fellow tells the borrower to replace the book with a new copy of it, when his book is lost by the borrower.

Passage -17 1. Law plays a vital role in a

civilized society. It brings order and safety. Law protects man from burglary and violence. If ever a quarrel arises between two men, law decides the controversy and safeguards the interest of the weaker persons.

2. In the absence of safety, the people of our society would be uncivilized, our society would not progress due to the lack of congenial atmosphere for the inventors to invent, the scientist to conductscientificresearches,etc.

3. Without law and safety, civilization would be impossible.

4. In a democratic country, people are equal before the law and theirs is a government of the people, for the people and by the people.

5. Being civilized actually means being able to make and like beautiful things. In a civilized society, people enjoy the birth right of thinking freely and also living highly. In such a society, all men, rich or poor, are treated equally by law.

6. A great achievement of civilization is that today man lives free from the fear of violence since he knows that


there is law to protect him and punish the criminals.

7. Democratic countries have failed in the sharing out of money. There is a wide gulf between haves and have-nots. Some people, on the one hand, roll in luxury, others, on the other hand, do not have sufficient to eat,drink and wear.

8. The author means that science endowed man with a lot of power. But unfortunately he does not know what to do with this power just like a child who in the possession of a valuable thing does not know what to do with it.

Passage-18 1.Della,atfirst,hadwithheronly

one dollar and eighty-seven cents with which she could not purchaseasuitablegiftforJim.

2. Della is the young beautiful wife ofJim.

3.JimisthehusbandofDella.Hisfull name is James DillinghamYoung.

4.Jim and Della are husband andwife. They love each other passionately.

5.JimhadagoldwatchandDellahad her beautiful hair as their proud possessions.

6. Della had long beautiful hair, rippling and shining like a cascade of brown waters, reached below her knees.

7. Della reached home, got out here curling irons and lighted the gas and curled her hair. Her head was

full of tiny, close lying curls that made her look wonderfully like a truant schoolboy.

8. The word Magi literally means the three wise men from the East who made their offerings to infantJesus.

Passage-19 1.At the inception, we find a

mention of the month of phalgun. It is the month of spring when sweet breeze laden with the fragrance of mango blossoms is blowing. The papiya is producing some melodious notes.

2. The reason of her restlessness was her own secret of belonging to a lower caste than that of Hemanta which she kept concealed from her husband.

3. Peari Shankar’s Son-in-law ran away to England after stealing the jewels of Peari’s daughter. Afterfiveyears,whenhereturnedHarihar, the then head of the community denied to take him back into the community. So for the sake of his daughter, he had to leave the village with his daughter and son-in-law.

4. To Kusum it was a painful experience to relate her husband hence she felt as if she waded barefootedthroughfire.

5. The social problems of the rampant orthodoxy and narrow casteism have been highlighted by the writer in the story.

6. Kusum admitted that before marriage, she had tried to tell Hemanta that she was from a


Kayastha family several times but she never succeeded.

7.Onthefifthnightof thewaningmoon Kusum was clasping her husband’s feet with both her arms in a posture of complete surrender. At this time Harihar Hemanta’s father told him to turn the girl out of the house. But, he denied it and told that he did’t care for caste.

8. Kusum was a truthful lady. She never tried to hide any secret from her husband. She was quite faithful and loyal.

Passage-20 1.Mr.Woodifieldadmiredtheboss

for maintaining his office andimparting it a new look.

2. Because his only son had died six years ago.

3. A new carpet, new furniture, the massive bookcase and a new

table with ‘legs like twisted treacle’ were some of the proud possessionsoftheboss’office.

4. The whisky offered by the boss brought him back to his senses and thus his memory was revived.

5. He tasted the whisky and at once cried, “It’s nutty !”

6.The boss noticed a fly in hisinkpot.

7.The boss noticed a fly in hisinkpot. He picked it up with a pen and took it on a piece of blotting paper. Then he took a drop of ink of his pen and he dropped it ontheflywithmuchcruelty.Herepeatedly went on dropping the inkontheflytillitdied.

8. The boss took a drop of ink of his pen and with much cruelty dropped it on the fly. The fly struggled again but the boss repeatedly went ondroppingittilltheflydied.

Type-II: Discursive PassagesPassage-1 I. 1. TB is a bacterial infection. It

can spread through the lymph nodes and bloodstream to any organ in one’s body.

2. The TB bacteria spread through the lymph nodes and bloodstream to any organ in one’s body.

3. There are two prominent forms ofTB–(1).multidrug-resistantTB and (2). extensively drug-resistant TB.

4. TB can be controlled only through regular medication.

II. 1. (b) open 2. (b) traits 3. (c) inactive 4. (b) rejectPassage 2 I. 1. Child Sex Ratio means the

number of girls per 1000 of boys between 0-6 years of age.

2. Its trend is declining in India. The rate of decline is from 945 in 1991 to 927 in 2001 and further to 918 in 2011.

3.CSR reflects both pre- birth discrimination manifested through gender biased sex selection, and post birth discrimination against girls.


4. Beti Bachao Beti Padhao is an initiative announced by the NDA government to save girl child and promote their education and welfare. The objectives of this initiative are:

(i) Prevention of gender biased sex selective elimination,

(ii) Ensuring survival and protection of the girl child, and

(iii) Ensuring education and participation of the girl child.

II. 1. (b) trend 2. (c) empower 3. (b) preventive 4. (b) encouragePassage-3 I. 1. Richie Benaud was a former

Australian Cricket Captain. He was suffering from skin cancer.

2. He was considered to be a national treasure. After Don Bradman, there has been no Australian player more famous ormoreinfluentialthanRichieBenaud.

3. After leaving cricket, he started the profession of a cricket commentator.

4. His country paid homage to Benaud by flying the Flagsat half-mast at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Flowers were laid at his statue at the venue. His family was offered a state funeral by the country’s Prime Minister Tony Abbott.

II. 1. (d) former 2. (b) celebration 3. (c) adjective 4. (c) celebrate

Passage-4 I. 1. The extract discusses the

e-cigarette and its pros and cons. Its findings say thatsmokers who used e-cigarettes were 49 per cent less likely to decrease cigarette use and 59 per cent less likely to quit smoking compared to smokers who never used e-cigarettes.

2. The research has been conducted by the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine researchers.

3. Wael Al-Delaimy is the professor and chief of the Division of Global Public Health in the Department of Family Medicine and Public Health.

4. Ron Chapman advises the Californians to avoid the use of e-cigarettes and keep them away from children of all ages.

II. 1. (c) increase 2. (a) leave 3. (b) assertion 4. (a) Simple Past Passage-5 I. 1. Pablo Piccaso was a spoilt child

because he was the only son in the family and very good-looking. His parents loved him more than anything in the world and ignored his faults.

2. His passion was drawing and playing with his father’s pet pigeon.

3. He often watched his father paint and sometimes was allowed to help.

4. One evening Picasso’s father was painting a picture of his


pigeons, in the meantime he had to leave the room for a while. When he returned, he found that Pablo had completed the picture, and it was so amazingly beautiful and lifelike. He was so impressed and stunned that he gave his son his own palette and brushes and never painted again.

II. 1. (d) mum/silent 2. (a) permitted 3. (b) greatness 4. (d) leftPassage-6 I. 1. Mr Narendra Modi laments for

the loss of reading culture which impedes our understanding of the past and presents from effectively dealing with contemporary challenges.

2. Mr Modi was speaking on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee celebrations of theJnanpithAward.Booksplayanimportant role in our life.

They are the treasure troves of knowledge. They give us the strength to face life.

3.Writers reflect our deepest,most human desires and frailties. They also serve as our conscience-keepers.

4. The Vedas had discussed the problems of the environment as well as their solutions.

II. 1. obstructs/stops 2. enslave 3. exploit 4. wisePoem-7 I. 1. The poet speaks about a dove

that died. The poet loved the dove very much.

2. The main feelings are melancholy, sadness.

3. The poet describes the dove as “sweet” or “pretty”.

4. The dove died because of grief. II. 1. death 2. sweetly 3. prettier 4. oftenPoem-8 I.1.Thepoetfloatshispaperboats

in the running stream. 2. He writes his name and the

name of his village on the paper boats.

3. He puts shiuli—a name of flowers—intohisboat.

4.He gets the flowers from hisgarden.

II. 1. hopeful 2. strangely 3. morning 4. known Poem-9 I. 1. The clarity begins at home. 2. A gathering of people especially

one that may become violent or cause trouble is called a mob.

3. Here the term ‘value of tear gas’ is used for an unlawful assembly which has more sorrows than joys.

4. Mobs need to be dispersed because they should go back to their homes and start their daily chores.

II. 1. convent 2. gather 3. dispersal 4. contract/collectPoem-10 I. 1. Top leaves represent the rich

class of people. 2. The lower leaves represent the

poor class of people.


3. The poet says that both the classes exist in the same environment and civilization. Despite being so closed, they are so widely apart.

4. The sun comes out from the veil of clouds.

II. 1. (i) Take only two drops of this syrup (Noun).

(ii) Please drop this letter in the letter box (Verb).

2. above 3. close 4. greeneryPassage-11 I. 1. The loss of his only son Kuzma

shattered the personality of Iona Potapov.

2.Iona wants to tell the officerabout the death of his son but he does not pay heed to it because he is in a hurry to reach his destination. He repeatedly asks Iona to make haste. As Iona tries to relate his story, he gets confused and loses his control on the horse.

3. It means that death is not something peculiar to his son. It is a universal truth. One who has born must die one day.

4. There is no doubt in it that animal is more faithful than man. Iona wants to tell someone the sad story of his son’s death butfindsnofellowman,readytolisten to him. But his little horse patiently listens to him. It shows that the beasts are more kind and humane that human beings.

II. 1. (c) pitiful 2. ( ) ghost 3. (b) abuse 4. (a) to eat continuously

Passage -12 I. 1. The story has been told in the

first person. The protagonistin the story is Chandu, the barber’s son, one of the makers of modern India.

2. The narrator always appreciated Chandu’s skill in catching wasps and making and flyingpaper kites.

3. Chandu conceived a new idea. Like the shop of Nringan Das, the barber of the town, he also thought of opening a shop on the wayside at the head of the bazaar in partnership with the barber of Verka who was his cousin and also Dhunoo and some other barbers of the neighbouring villages.

4. Chandu bought a second hand Japanese bicycle from thegambling son of Lalla Hukam Chandforfiverupees.

II. 1. (c) resentful 2. (b)confident 3. (c) distressed 4. (c) spoilPassage-13 I. 1. The passage is about two blind

persons in a compartment of a train who thought about each other that he or she had normal eyesight.

2. The blind man was very much concernedabouthisdeficiency.So he wanted to conceal it from the girl.

3. The girl was going to Saharanpur to meet her aunt.

4. The girl appreciated the man for being a gallant but showed her concern for being serious.


II. 1. (a) brave 2. (b) alluring 3. (a)spokewithdifficulty 4. (a) interesting Passage-14 I. 1. Paul’s mother had her birthday

in November. Paul gave fivethousand pounds to a lawyer and told him to say to his mother that she would be paid a sum of one thousand pounds onherbirthdayforfiveyears.Paul was very anxious to see the happy expression on her face but he was disappointed to note that her face became more hard and expressionless.

2. Hester is the only female character in the story who is blessed with three children—one boy and two girls. She married for love but that love turned to dust as she wants a lot of money.

3. Hester spent the whole amount in buying some necessary but many luxury items.

4. Hester heard some noise, entered the room, switched on the light and saw her son madly riding his rocking-horse. The boy suddenly cried, “It’s Malabar!” Then he fell with a crash to the ground and became unconscious.

II. 1. (d) cursed 2. (c) disturb 3. (a) shine 4. (a) adjectivePassage-15 I. 1. The scene of the action of the

present story is Madrid, the capital of Spain, Madrid was, at that time, known for bull-fighting.Madridwas a lovelyplace.

2. Paco was one of the three waiters who served at table. He loved his work and also life at the Luarca.

3. Hemingway begins with the description of three matadors living at the Luarca. One of the three matadors was ill and trying to conceal it. Other one had always been serious while the third one was a coward. The coward once had received a horn wound in the lower abdomen and since then he had become a coward.

4. Enrique and paco played mock bull-sighting game. Suddenly the knife slipped inside Paco’s body and he died.

II. 1. (a) lovelier 2. (c) a woman who cleans bed-

rooms and bathrooms in a hotel.

3. (a) man whose task is to kill the bull in the sport of bull-fighting.

4. (a) man (mounted on a horse) who uses a lance to incite and weaken bulls in the sport of bull-fighting.

Passage-16 I. 1. The phrase “might is right”

means the persons who have power of money. Support of people, etc. are always considered to be right though in reality they may be wrong.

2. The weak are herded like sheep and used as tools in the hands of the strong to serve the latter’s ends whether it be in politics, economics, warfare or social transactions.


3. Russia and America are two superpowers that keep the world on the edge of precipice by their warlike postures and nuclear armament.

4. Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, and the United States have the power of veto in the United Nations to turn down any resolution supported by a majority of the weak or the third world countries.

II. 1. (b) beyond memory or record 2. (a) appeals 3. (c) refuse to take notice of 4. (a) view suspiciously Passage-17 I. 1. Gandhiji’s non-cooperation

campaigns of 1921, his Salt Satyagraha in 1930 and finally his ‘Quit India’movement in 1942 along with the developments back home forced the British to grant us independence, and sovereignty to India.

2. The splinter groups in the Indian National Congress who did not agree on Gandhiji method of achieving independence and thought violence to be the only method leading to the country’s freedom broke away from Gandhiji and the Congress.

3. Gandhiji was basically a social reformer who spiritualised the arena of politics. He fought hard to uplift the downtrodden masses of India. The under-privileged, the Harijans and members of

other scheduled and backward classes were equal to Gandhiji. He championed the movement to remove untouchability and exploitation from the country.

4. The Light has indeed gone out of Indian politics after Mahatma’s death.‘Thelivingflames’ofhisideals which Nehru said, in his funeral oration, have long been dead in our hearts.

II. 1. (a) general killing 2. (b) organised course of action

to arouse public interest. 3. (a) quoted 4. (a) a place or scene of activity

orconflictPassage-18 I. 1. Everyone wants to be

happy, and yet few are able to experience happiness. Happiness seems to be the pursuit of mankind and yet it eludes human beings.

2. Some people concentrate their energies and spend most of their time to earn money and piling up a fortune, hoping that this will give them happiness.

3. The heap of wealth does not give happiness, rather it adds to their tension. Because people became mad in gaining money and become restless. Such people wants to earn money to the cost of their health and family.

4. If there is love between neighbours, peace will reign in the neighbourhood. People will willingly come forward to help each other and share each


other’s joys and sorrows. Love between friends makes the bond of friendship stronger. None of the friends ever think of betraying the other.

II. 1. ( ) escapes 2. ( ) to bring under power 3. ( ) place where anything is laid

for safe keeping 4. (a) excites to actionPassage-19 I. 1. The sticks of wood impregnated

with spices and resins give off irritants, suspected carcinogens and proven carcinogens.

2. Because burning incense on a daily basis is harmful to our health.

3. The cheaper incenses contain chemically synthesised perfumes that often leave a person with a headache.

4. A pleasant aroma is found to be capable of lowering blood pressure and heart rates.

II. 1. (b) full of 2. ( ) poisonous 3. ( ) particular things of a

mixture of a thing 4. (a) burning

Section B Writing & Grammar

Part-I : Writing

1. Letter WritingExErcIsE

1. A-15 Vasant Vihar, New Delhi 15th October, 20XX

The Editor The Times of India Sub: Indiscriminate use of

loudspeakers Dear Sir,

Passage-20 I. 1. The university is an important

institution because it brings advancement in the life of the people.

2. The traditional view of a university was regarded as a place where students would carry on their scholarly activities and build themselves as intellectuals, as isolated from rest of the society.

3. Universities in India have been functioning under several pres-sures, viz excessive speciali-sation, overcrowding, highly expensive organisation, con-flictingpoliticalinterference.

4.Thestudentnowfindshimselfa victim of sudden breaking of social ties—family, village and culture. He finds that hisstudies have no roots in his own culture and his university education, based on foreign standards, is cracking.

II. 1. ( ) separated 2. (d) both (a) and (b) 3. ( ) opposing 4. (c) person who changes


Through the column of your esteemed newspaper, I wish to draw the kind attention of the concerned authorities towards indiscriminate use of loudspeakers. Nowadays religious celebrations are no more a private affair. People use loudspeakers indiscriminately. When there is a marriage or any night religious celebration, it is very difficult to sleepeven during the nights. The organisers don’t care whether there are students preparing for their examinations or any patient suffering from any disease or senior citizens and children being disturbed. So concerned, authorities should put necessary restrictions on the misuse of loudspeakers. They should use the loudspeaker as and when highly necessary without causing inconvenience to anybody else.

Thanking you Yours sincerely Mohit Gaur 2. F-90 Karol Bagh, New Delhi 22nd November, 20XX The Editor The Indian Exress Sub: Dog is Man’s best Friend Dear Sir, Through the column of your

esteemed newspaper, I want to highlight the importance of dog in our life. The dog is man’s best friend. Everyone knows this to

be true. Yet we have no holiday to honour the dog and all that he contributes to families and society. The contribution of dogs can no longer be ignored! A national holiday for dogs should be declared. It could be called DOG’S DAY (just as we have Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Valentine’s Day). Children would have this very important holiday as a vacation day from school, and parents and children could stay at home to honour their dogs. Don’t let the family dog be taken for granted any longer!

Thanking you Yours truly Rahim 3. D-105 Hauz Khas, New Delhi 17thJuly,20XX The Editor The Times of India Sub: Soldiers’ Rights regarding

OROP Dear Sir, Through the column of your

esteemed newspaper, I would like to raise the issue of soldiers’ Rights regarding OROP in response to ‘In fight for OROP,war heroes boycott felicitation ceremony’ (May 29). The boycott of the Sainik Samman Samaroh in Pune was undoubtedly a slap on the face of the entire political class, including the Modi government. The erstwhile UPA dispensation and the present government may trade charges


and blame each other on the long-pending issue of “one rank one pension”, but it is clear that they have never been serious about it. During the long years OROP has been pending, legislators have enhanced their own salaries several times. India may perhaps be the only country that doesn’t give its soldiers what is their right and what they richly deserve.

Thanking you Yours sincerely Chandramohan 4. H.N. 108, Ramjas Road Karol Bagh, New Delhi 16thJuly,20XX The Editor The Times of India Sub: Awareness of plastic waste Sir, Through the column of your

esteemed newspaper, I want to highlight the need for awareness regarding the plastic waste. Plastic waste in Delhi is playing havoc with people’s lives, as 2,51,850 tonnes of plastic waste are generated every year, which cause disease and choke the drainage system. Plastic is poisoning the Yamuna’s water and Delhi’s groundwater. It results in the deaths of animals like cows. Plastic waste is damaging Delhi’s ecology by destroying its greens. It’s an environmental hazard as it takes a long time to degrade. Commodities are sold in plastic bags, as are ready-to-eat food items. Tea is often served in

plastic cups. Magazines are sealed in plastic envelopes. People must be warned about the health risks. It’s best to put a blanket ban on the manufacture of plastic bags.

Thanking you Yours sincerely Piyush 5. K-10 Vasant Vihar, New Delhi 25thJuly,20XX The Editor The Indian Express Sub: Improvement in facilities

for tourists in Bihar Sir, Through the column of your

esteemed daily, I want to highlight the tremendous potentiality for tourists in Bihar. It is quite unfortunate that India has not been able to exploit its rich cultural diversity and heritage to its advantage. Even small countries like Thailand and Malaysia attract more international tourists than India. Our state Bihar is a major attraction for the international tourists. But the lack of basic infrastructure and facilities hamper the promotion of tourism in the state on a large scale.

Bihar has a rich cultural heritage and history. Its forts, historical sites, Gautam Buddha and national parks have lots of potentialities and attractions for all kinds of tourists. Every tourist wants a pleasant and comfortable stay. No doubt, Patna and Gaya can boast


of some hotels that match with the best in the world. But their number is too small. More hotels are required to cater to the needs of the budget-tourists. Touts and greedy travel agents bring a bad name to the state.

Safety and freedom are the basic requirements for the promotion of tourism in the state. I hope the concerned department will take necessary steps to attract more and more tourists to our beautiful and wonderful state.

Thanking you Yours faithfully Ramesh Sharma 6.Q-102 Civil Lines, Amritsar 25th October, 20XX The Editor The Times of India Sub: Lawlessness and Crimes in

Civil Lines, Amritsar Sir, Through the column of your

prestigious daily, I want to highlight the lawlessness and chaos prevailing in Civil Lines, Amritsar. Amritsar has witnessed some unholy activities like thefts, dacoities, robberies and even murders in recent months. This has made life quite unsafe and miserable in the city. I am a resident of Civil Lines. It is an area inhabited by important government officials, rich andpowerful citizens. However, of late it has earned the notoriety

of being the most criminal-prone area in the city. Everyday we hear thefts and robberies committed in one part of the locality or the other. The murder of a senior citizen last month has resulted in the total loss of faith in the local police. Cases of chain snatching have become the common feature of life in the area. Women rarely move out of their houses after dark.

There should be extensive police patrolling after sunset to ensure safety to young girls and women. Exemplary punishment should be given to the law breakers and criminals.

I hope the local police will take immediate and effective steps to restore peace, law and order in the area. The earlier, the better.

Thanking you Yours faithfully Rahul Gaur 7. M-5 Vishal Enclave, New Delhi 20th August, 20XX The Editor The Punjab Kesri Sub: More ‘University Specials’

Buses for Students Sir, Through the column of your

esteemed daily, I want to remind the concerned authorities the urgent need of adding more University Specials’ buses for students. Delhi University and its affiliatedcollegeshavethousands


of new students on their rolls in recent years. These students come from different parts of the city. They face a lot of inconvenience to reach their respective colleges. The authorities have arranged some ‘University Specials’ buses for the students. However, their number is too small to meet the growing demand of students. The buses are overcrowded. Many students have to stand on the footboards. They frequently hurt themselves and sometimes they meet with serious accidents. The number of ‘University Specials’ buses should be increased to meet the requirements of students on different routes. The authorities can hire additional buses to meet the requirements on ad-hoc basis.

Thanking you Yours faithfully Mandeep Singh 8. 12, Lajpat Nagar Main Market New Delhi 20thJune,20XX The Editor The Times Of India Sub: CO2 and Global Warming Sir, Through the column of your

esteemed daily, I want to highlight the increase in the carbon dioxide content in the atmosphere. This has resulted in global warming and rise in global temperature.

We are condemned to pay a very high price of development

and progress. Over the last decade our environment and atmosphere have suffered a severe degradation.

The content of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has been steadily on the rise.

The larger the content of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, the greater is the global warming. Nothing has caused so much havoc as the deforestation done on a very large scale.

Trees are the main source of oxygen.Burningoffirewood,coaland LPG increases CO2 level in the atmosphere. Vehicular smoke is another cause of enhancing the CO2 level. If effective and prompt steps are not taken to minimise CO2 level, the whole atmosphere will turn into a gas chamber. We have to strike a balance between the progress and survival. All factories, vehicles and devices that produce more than the required level of CO2, must be banned. Reforestation must be launched on a big scale to counter the rise of CO2 in the atmosphere.

Thanking you Yours faithfully Suman 9. F-20 Hauz Khas, New Delhi 10th March, 20XX The Editor The Indian Express Sub: Health Hazards Caused by

Junk Food


Sir, Through the column of your

esteemed daily, I want to highlight the issue of health hazards being caused by eating the so called ‘fast or junk food’.

Theglobalizationisnotconfinedtothe economy only. Even our food habits have been globalised. The craze for fast foods like burgers, pizzas and pasta has increased in recent years. The youth have developed special liking for them. McDonalds, KFCS, Pizza Huts are leading multinationals that promote junk foods.

The junk food, no doubt, tingles our taste buds. But it has little or no nutritional value. The general public, particularly, the youth must know the health hazards caused by the regular eating of junk food. It causes obesity. Habitual eaters suffer from many other diseases of liver, digestion and kidneys. Let us remember that fresh food cooked in our kitchen with a liberal use of vegetables and fruits is really tasty as well as nutritious.

Thanking you Yours faithfully Himanshu 10. l2, Kailash Colony

New Delhi 18thJanuary,20XX The Editor The Hindustan Times Sub: Proposal to allocate an 80-

acre green belt for housing colony

Sir, The recent decision of Delhi

Development Authority to allot 80 acre green belt in Kailash Colony for building a housing colony is quite unfortunate. As expected, the proposed project is meeting a stiff opposition from the environmentalists and the residents of Kailash Colony. The green belts and forests are the support line and lungs of Delhi. This project will lead to felling of innumerable trees. lt will degrade the environment and the landscape. It is in the interest of residents and the environment to drop this project for good. I hope the Authority will never entertain the idea of spoiling peace, tranquillity, landscape and the environment of the place and the city.

Thanking you Yours faithfully Rahul 11. 24, Guru Nanak Colony Nangloi, New Delhi 25th Nov, 20XX The Editor The Indian Express Sub: Sharp rise in crimes against

women Sir, Through the column of your

esteemed daily, I want to highlight the rise in crimes against women in the locality of Nangloi.

Nowadays crime against women has been increasing at an alarming rate. Women do not feel themselves


secure. Every day, we see the incidents of chain snatching, eve-teasing and the incident of murder in the area. The local goondas commit all these things. The women of the area feel no longer safe. Even the school going girls arealsothevictimsofthis.Officegoing women can’t walk safely at night. After 8 o’clock goondas become active and commit crime against women. Even after lodging complaints against the anti-social elements, the police don’t pay heed to it. The goondas are so aggressive and dominating that the police can’t take stern action against them. Even after the protest of women organizations, nothing concrete has been done so far in this direction.

To check crime against the women, the extensive police patrolling should be carried out in the locality. The criminals should be punished stringently. The woman should also be warned to avoid moving out alone at night.

Thanking you Yours faithfully Ramesh Kumar 12. 59, Ramesh colony Sarita Vihar, New Delhi 10thJune,20XX The Editor The Hindustan Times Sub: Regarding ill-treatment of

domestic helps Sir, Through your esteemed daily, I

would like to draw the attention of the concerned authorities towards ill-treatment of domestic helps, especially young children. Nowadays, young children do work as domestic helps in the houses of the people. For this, they are paid. But the owner of the house gives ill-treatment to them. Even at silly mistakes, they are beaten severely and sent into the police custody. The owner lodge cases of theft and stealing against them and put behind the bar. In few cases, it has also been seen that they are beaten harshly.

So, I would like to request the concerned authorities to look into the matter and take proper action against the owners.

Thanking you Yours sincerely Rajat Kumar 13. 39, Sai Apartment Sector-4, Dwarka, New Delhi 10thJanuary,20XX The Editor The Times of India Sub: Corruption in government

Hospitals Sir, Through your esteemed daily, I

would like to draw the attention of the concerned authorities towards the rampant corruption in govt. hospitals. In Delhi, there are a few govt. hospitals where the functionary is not proper. The patients wonder from hither and thither but nobody takes cognizance of that patient. They


are not attended properly. They are given neither medicine nor proper diet. Corruption is quite rampant. If somebody goes to take medicines that is given free of cost by the govt., the department does not give it to them. They say that it is out of stock and if someone greases their palms, only then they give such medicine. Corruption must be dealt with strongly. The govt. must make the system proper. The director of the hospital should be held responsible for such things. PRO system should be strengthened.

So, if proper action is taken by thegovt.officials, thendaysarenot far away when patients will feel comfortable.

Thanking you Yours sincerely Ranjan Kishor 14. D-15, Pankha Road Janakpuri,NewDelhi 11thJune,20XX The Editor The Indian Express Sub: Control of hoarding and

black marketing Sir, Through your daily, I would

like to express my resentment against the steep rise in the prices of vegetables and essential commodities.

Nowadays the prices of vegetables and essential commodities are increasing at an alarming rate. The tomato ` 60/kg, potato ` 25/

kg, pulse ` 200/kg, Sugar ` 35/kg. Now it has become a distant dream for the common man to take full square meal. While it is a hay day for the hoarders. They make hoarding of onions, pulses and other commodities and it is but natural that there is scarcity of such things in the market. The common men have to buy such items at exorbitant prices. So, the govt. must take tough action against the hoarders and the availability of such things must be made smooth. Then the common people must do their duties against the hoarders properly.

Thanking you Your sincerely Rupesh kumar 15. D-59, Rajendra Nagar New Delhi 20thJanuary,20XX The Editor The Tribune Sub: Decline in the number of

foreign tourists Sir, Through your esteemed daily, I

would like to draw the attention of the concerned authorities towards the decline in the number of foreign tourists in our country. As we know, India is culturally rich. It has a rich cultural heritage. There are a lot of tourist places in this country. In Agra, the Taj Mahal is the most popular tourist destination. In Delhi, J&K,Rajasthan, Gujarat, Bihar, UP,


Madhya Pradesh, there are a lot of things to visit. Through the visit of tourists, the govt. earns a lot of revenue. The tourists also enjoy the beauty and splendour of these places. But for the last few years, there has been a decline in the number of foreign tourists. Terrorism is one of the major reasons behind it. Even at some places, they are kidnapped and looted.

That is why they feel themselves insecure and don’t want to come to India. For promoting tourism, govt. should provide them proper security. They must be given the facility of communication. I would like to request the govt. to look into the matter and take appropriate action. So that the number of foreign tourists in India may increase.

Thanking you Yours sincerely Atul Kumar 16. D-19, Bharat Colony Muradabad 12thJune,20XX The Editor The Times of India Sub: Regarding handling of an

epidemiclikebirdflu Sir, Through your esteemed daily, I

would like to draw the attention of the concerned authorities towards the problem of bird flu in Indiathat is increasing alarmingly. Recently it had created a lot of

problem in China. Thousands of birds became the victims of this flu.Nowadaysithasalsospreadin India. Thousands of birds in different aviaries at different places became the victim of it. A lot of chickens died in poultry farms. It brought huge losses to the owners. To deal with this epidemic, the govt. should take some major steps. Medical teams should be sent up at different places to take stock of the situation. Birds should be meted out proper treatment. Proper medicines should be given to them. Adequate sanitation should be provided. Through these methods, the govt. may be able to handlebirdfluinproperway.

Thanking you Yours sincerely Kapil 17. B-79, Desu colony Janakpuri,NewDelhi 30thJuly,20XX The Editor The Times of India Sub: Concern at the death of

farmers Sir, Through your esteemed daily, I

would like to draw the attention of the concerned authorities towards the death of farmers in different states. India is an agricultural dominated country. Farmers are the backbone of Indian economy. They play a major role in the development


of the country. But for the last few years, a lot of farmers have been committing suicide. They do agricultural work taking loans from govt. banks. But due to poor yield, they don’t have money to pay off their loan. Even then they don’t get proper irrigation facilities, high variety yields. That is why they do not get proper food grains. Sometimes drought and deluge create such sort of problem. In frustration, they commit suicide. So, the govt. must take proper action to control such things.

Thanking you Yours sincerely Kishan Kumar 18. C-58, Krishna Colony Gorakhpur 30th August, 20XX The Editor The Evening Times Sub: Disappearance of green

belts and parks in the town. Sir, Through your daily I would

like to draw the attention of the concerned authorities towards the disappearance of green belts and parks in the town. The parks and green belts of the town are wearing a deserted look. Neither the public nor the govt. authorities are much concerned about them. There are less number of parks in the town but they are not properly maintained. Plants are neither properly irrigated nor given proper

manure on time. The fence of the park is not in order. The goats and cows enter the park and crush the plants with their feet. These is no greenery in the park. That is why the people can’t walk either in the morning or in the evening.

Environment is not user friendly. So, I would like to request the concerned authorities to look into the matter seriously. They must supple some plants. Public must come into the front and supple some trees to maintain green belts and parks on the town.

Thanking you Yours sincerely Kusum 19. 101, X-Block, Ram Bagh, Patna 20th August, 20XX The Editor The Hindustan Times Sub: Disturbing trend and concern

about women Sir, Through your esteemed daily, I

would like to draw the attention of the concerned authorities towards the disturbing trend against women. Nowadays the daily newspapers are filled withthe news of dowry death. Dowry related cases are on rise in the country. The bridegroom’s parents and relatives put a heavy demand before the bride’s parents. They somehow manage it. But even after marriage, their greed is not fulfilled.Their demand list is so


long thatnobodycan fulfill that.In lieu of that, they harass the girls and always complain for the dowry. It is just a matter of great shame for the society like ours. Either the brides are burnt to death or they commit suicide themselves. So, I would like to request the concerned authorities to look into the matter and make laws on it and also take stern action against the culprit.

Thanking you Yours sincerely Rahul Sharma 20.29,JaiPrakashNagar D-Block, Ludhiana 20th October, 20XX The Editor The Times of India Sub: Regarding increase of

female foeticide in India. Sir, I would like to draw the attention

of the concerned authorities towards the problem of female foeticide in India. This trend is not only shocking but also inhuman. Even in the modern age, the mentality of people has not changed. It is the desire of every parent to have a male child.Iftheyfindthattheinbornbaby is a girl, they become sad. So they just want to kill her. Thus the problem of female foeticide increases. This practice must be stopped at all costs. For this, the following remedial measures must be taken.

(i) The parents must be made aware about the equality of male and female child.

(ii) The govt. must take stern action against the people who do such sort of crime.

So, this sort of practice is just like a sin. It must be stopped.

Thanking you Yours sincerely Pravesh Shukla

2. Article WritingExErcIsE

1. Mid-Day Meals in Schools’—Karan Gupta

In India everything is reduced to an hoax or to a complete shame. The government introduced the much hyped and publicised scheme of Mid-day Meals in schools with great fanfare. The authorities claimed to provide free hot and nutritious mid-day meals to students in public schools. The concept was universally welcomed. It was expected that the move would encourage the weaker and poor sections to send their children to schools. Soon the whole scheme degenerated into the mire of corruption. The state governments and the centre provided the worst quality of foodgrains and rice to schools. They were not suitable for consumption by human beings. Moreover, the nexus between the contractors and the staff made the whole project a tool for minting easy money. The deaths of so many students in Bihar revealed that even ordinary precautions were


not used to cook food for students. Adulterated cooking oil, infested foodgrains and stale vegetables were used. It is difficult to imaginethat the concerned authorities were unaware of such heinous, immoral and corrupt practices. Crores of rupees changed hands and the lives of million of innocent children were left to their fate. It is crying shame that we don’t spare even innocent children when it comes to mint money. Such immoral and corrupt practices must be stopped. The headmasters and the Principals of school must be made directly responsible and involved in the scheme. The ring of the meals must be made obligatory even for the staff. The government can win the shakenconfidenceoftheparentsandthe masses only by implementing the scheme effectively and honestly.2. Our Class Teacher

—Tarun SharmaI am a student of Class VIII. There are seven teachers in our school. One of them is our class teacher. The name of our class teacher is Mr. Naveed Jain.He isa trained teacher.He iswell versed in English and History. He is very regular in his work. His voice is clear. His handwriting is very good. Mr. Naveed has a tall figure. Heisaboutfivefeettall.Hehasfaircomplexion. He is about fifty-five now. He wears a suit of pant and coat. He puts on shoes and stockings. He does not use neck tie. Mr. Naveed comes to my class every day in the first period. He makes the roll-call. He mark us present. The absentees are marked absent. The latecomers are

marked late. On the fee-collection day he takes the school fees, instead, he gives us receipts. He knows each of us by name. On every Saturday we have a debating class. He presides over our meetings for the debate.As a class teacher, Mr. Naveed is quite good. He is never rude to us. He never gets angry. He never loses his temper. He is liked by everyone in our class.3. Kids on a Visit to a Historical

Place —Rajiv ShuklaFor the last three months, the kids of our school were wishing to visit a historical place. Finally, the last Sunday our school arranged a visit to Agra to see the world famous Taj Mahal. It is one of the wonders of the world. It is called the Mughal Marvel. We reached the station early in the morning to catch the Shatabdi Express. The train started at 6.15 a.m. We reached Agra at 8.05 a.m. The train did not take much time to reach Agra. Agra is also known as the “City of Taj”.The great Mughal Emperor Shahjahan built it in memory of his belovedQueenMumtazMahal.After her death, Mumtaz was laid to rest here. It stands on the banks of the river Yamuna. It took about twenty years and was built by as many as 20,000 labourers. Over ` 20 crores were spent on it at that time.It was a full moon night. We held our breath as we watched the splendid piece of magic and wonder. It was a thing of beauty providing everlasting joy. We saw its image in the Yamuna water.


Besides the grave of Mumtaz there is another grave. It is that of Shahjahan. We wandered here and there eagerly and visited every place. The Taj has four tall minarets at each corner of the tomb. All around the Taj, there are lush green lawns and blooming flowers. We spent a few hours enjoying the beauty of the monuments. We came back to the station in the evening. The Taj richly deserves all the honour and distinction that it has been showered with.4. Kids on the School Annual Day

—Riya GuptaWe all await the arrival of our annual day every year. We love our school Annual Day very much. Last Sunday was our school Annual Day. We had been preparing for it since a long time. We had arranged a military band to play the music for the March Past. Parents were invited to the annual day and thus caused a great deal of excitement on our hearts. Races were also organized. Every student hoped that he/she may be able to win the first prize at theseevents. Some students performed the Tamasha of Maharashtra, the Garbha of Gujarat, the Bhangara of Punjab and the western dance of Goa.Another highlight of the Annual Day was the flag hoisting by the Chief Guest. After the speech of the Chief Guest, our Principal also delivered his speech. The Chief Guest gave away the prizes.Iwontheprizeforcomingfirstin the race. The Principal then thanked the Chief Guest and other guests.5. A Visit to a Hill Station

—Yash Kumar

In the summer vacation, I went to Mussoorie with my friends. It took seven hours from Delhi to reach Dehradun by train. Then we hired a car and reached Mussoorie. Mussoorie is a beautiful hill station. The scenery on the way was very charming. First we went to see Kempty Falls. We spent the night in a hotel. All the hotels, coffee houses and restaurants were full of tourists.Next day we went to see the Gun Hill and Company Garden. We spent two hours in the Company Garden. After lunch we roamed through the market. Lastly, we went to see Mussoorie Public School. Its compound was very beautiful. We saw all the important places there. All of us were very happy. We decided to go back home. Soon we were travelling back and we reached home late at night. The memories of the visit still linger in my mind.6. Autobiography of a Sweeper

—Aryan JainNo matter how much people talk from rostrums and housetops, about equality, the dent once put on the existence of my class, I feel, can never really go. My personal view is that, birth does make a lot of differences to an individual’s life, lifestyle, and future. I am a sweeper working in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. My salary is not too bad, it is about ` 25,000, but the stigma of being a sweeper never gets eliminated from my personality. Born in a family of sweepers I remember how my grandparents suffered at the hands of people of the upper caste. They were


so ill-treated that even I sometimes wondered whether we were human beings like all the others or, belonged to some other unearthly planet.The abuses they got to hear, the treatment meted out to them and the status they held in the society were just deplorable. Though, today things have changed a lot, yet the discrimination is more felt than seen. But for all those happening with us, were (our caste) ourselves are responsible. We still hesitate to sit among the higher class people. We should not have any inferiority complex for belonging to this caste. All citizens of our country have equal rights to get education, progress, etc.We should also get higher education andtrytobecomeIASofficers.Ifwedo so, people will treat us with respect.7. Presence of Mind

—Pankaj VermaIn answer to the question “What is better than presence of mind in an accident?” a wag said, “Absence of body.” This is certainly true but as we cannot always escape accidents so easily, it is well to have, or to cultivate, what is called presence of mind. “Presence of mind” means keeping cool and collected in an emergency of any kind. It is not the opposite of absent-mindedness, but of “losing one’s head”. The words mind and head in these phrases mean reason; and so one who has presence of mind in danger is one who has such control over his nerves that his reason is not upset, but still directs his actions.People who, as we say, “lose their heads” in an emergency, are so

overcome by such strong feelings as fear, anxiety or excitement that their reason is for the time in abeyance, or “absent”. In consequence they do and say silly things in their fright and haste. It is generally some sudden danger, or threat of danger, that causes people to losetheirheads.Anofficermaylosehis head in a sudden attack; if so, he is notfitforhispost.Adrivermaylosehis head in the traffic of a crowded street, and cause a serious accident.A business man may lose his head in a commercial panic, and rashly buy or sell shares to his loss or ruin. A mother may lose her head when an accident happens to her child and sit down and scream, and lose her little one. But in all these cases, people who keep cool, and have presence of mind, may avert the danger and save the situation. Presence of mind is, to some extent, a gift; that is, some people have it naturally. Such people are very fortunate; for their presence of mind in an emergency may save them from taking a false step which might ruin them or others. But all are not so fortunate. It is, however, possible for nervous and excitable people to cultivate presence of mind. The great thing is to practise constantly controlling the emotions. We must deliberately check and restrain ourselves from being carried away by our feelings, such as, anger, fear, anxiety, excessive grief or excessive joy. We must keep a tight rein on those fierysteeds,thepassions.Ifwethusdevelop a habit of self-restraint, we shall be all the better able to keep cool and calm in the face of danger.


8. Cow: Our Mother—Saurabh Saxena

The cow is a very useful animal. It is a domestic as well as religious animal. It gives us milk. The people worship it. The cow is given “mother’s” status in our religion. It is a pious animal. The cow has a large body. It is found everywhere in the world.Cows differ in shape and size. They are of different colours. The cow eats green grass and fodder. It grazes in the fields. It likes green grass verymuch. The cow gives us milk. We can make several things from cow’s milk. We prepare curd and cheese from the milk. Cow’s milk is very useful for the children and patients. The milk makes them strong and healthy. The cow gives birth to calves. Calves grow into strong oxen. Oxen are usedforploughingfields.Theoxenare the real wealth of the farmers. Theyploughthefieldsanddrawthecarts. We must love and respect the cow. We should be kind to it.9. If I were the Principal of My

School —HarshitIf I were the Principal of my school, I would make it very good and more disciplined as discipline is very important for every school. The classrooms would be well-furnished.I would keep all types of books in my school I would well-equip the laboratories. I would create a good atmosphere in the school. I would give more importance to co-curricular activities.I would help develop the all-round personality of the students. I would

make physical education compulsory for all the students. I would have friendly relations with all the teachers. I would listen to the complaints of the students.Iwouldsolvethedifficultiesof the teachers and students.10. The Challenge before

Television in India—Ramesh

Televis ion has a t remendous attraction and impact on viewers. We have witnessed a stupendous spread and reach of this medium in the past few years. The beaming of the Gulf War by the CNN-Courtesy Star TV during the 1990s probably has proved a turning point. There was a proliferation of cable operators and news, views and entertainment channels overnight in the years ahead.It is worthwhile to ponder: what the Indian viewer could watch. There is no clear-cut data available from authentic or reliable source, but if one goes from the sounds coming from the houses in the neighbour, it is films, film-based nuggets, whichscore over others.Next in popularity are the serials, sports, pop and rock, crime and espionage, travel and adventure and some consumer goods related skits. We have failed to use television for education for the children, as well as infinancingthepublictelevisionwithproper infrastructure. Public interest doesnotfigurehighontheprioritylistof the government. Good programme requires sound business management and a grasp of technology. Both require the adoption of correct policy


measures in its entirety.India’s policy makers believe that the broadcasting sector has no teaching and preaching role. To a large extent, it is the government that is to be blamed. Indian television has been usedforthebenefitofthegovernmentand the ruling party. Propagandist, pedantic, conformists and dull news as well as insipid pictures have to be revamped.11. Choosing a Career

—NikhilThe problem of choosing a career comes before every student in life. And this state is quite decisive. When somebody takes good decision, he/she will be at the pinnacle of success in life and the one who takes wrong decision, will be at the nadir. So the decision must be taken wisely, cautiously and of course, as per one’s ability. Nowadays there are a lot of job opportunities before the youth. They may enter into thefieldoftheirchoiceanddoquitewell. IT industries are doing quite well. Students are getting there a lot of avenues. They are also getting good jobs and lucrative packages. Engineering, medical, banking, insurance, call centres, education, mobile industry and other sectors are providing numerous opportunities to the students. A few youths are inclined towards civil services for power. Someone is interested in doing businesses. So the main thing is that whatever career do you choose, be dedicated to that and it will certainly give fruitful results. Don’t take emotional decision. Never try to see what others are doing. Only

you will have to recognize your inner potential and work accordingly.12. Virtues of being a

Vegetarian —SanchitIn modern world, people lead a stressful life. For this sort of life good environment, diet, living conditions, etc. play a decisive role. A lot of people take non-vegetarian food and become the victims of hypertension, cardiac problem, insomnia, etc. Such diet must be avoided. If we have to lead a stressfree life, then we will have to follow the path of vegetarianism. If you take sattvic diet, it will not only make us stressfree but also diseasefree. It will make our life disciplined. Our forefathers and saints have also laid emphasis on vegetarianism. A vegetarian man is quite cool and calm. He does any work with cool and positive mind. He takes decision quickly and implements it emphatically. So, be a vegetarian. It will bring peace and prosperity in your life.13. Ban on Vulgar and

Indecent Reality Shows—Shalini

Today television has become the necessity of mankind. Undoubtedly, its innovation has brought a sea change in the life of mankind. Now we don’t have to go outside but can watch all the things happening across the world sitting in our drawing rooms only. On the one hand, it has given many things to us that are worthwhile but on the other hand, it has negative aspects too. We can watch news, entertainment programme, educational programme


and other things on it. But, it also shows vulgar and indecent reality shows. While watching with parents and elders of the family, these types of shows really make us embarrassed.Many vulgar and adult shows really leave bad impression on the mind of the young children. They just catch these types of shows easily and try to follow the same in their daily lives. For this, they take the help of illegal means and often go out of track to get it. It also gives a wrong message to the society. Indecent and vulgar reality shows distort the mental state of the youth.Such vulgar and indecent reality shows must be banned. It is the need of the hour.14. Sex and Violence in Films

—ReemaFilm is a means of entertainment. Each film gives a positive messageto the society. It gives some didactic lesson to the viewers. But nowadays, we get the dominance of sex and violenceinfilms.Filmproducersanddirectors show more sex and violence infilms.Itisdoneonlytoearnmoreand more money. If the budding kids and young children watch movies and see sex and violence related scenes in films, then they behave accordinglyin their real life. They just use violent means to achieve things. They use these means without caring of their result. Through them, they just want to create panic in the society. Sex related scenes have much importance. That is whywefindthecasesofeve-teasing,rape etc. are increasing immensely. If

girls go outside their house, they feel themselves insecure. We read the news of violence and sex in newspapers and watch on television to a great extent. Even the government is not in a position to control such things. So in filmssexandviolencerelatedscenesmust be censored by the censor board. Directors and producers must make suchfilmwhichcanmakeadeepandpositive impact upon the children.15. Future of IT in India

—PrernaIndia is a leading country in information technology. It could be possible only due to the success of India’s software industry. The IT industry in the country has increased at an incredible rate of 35% per year. There are a lot of avenues for the youth in this sector. Handsome salary packages and perks are given to the employees who belong to this sector. Engineering graduates, BBAs, MCAs and others want to go into this industry. The importance of IT industry in the Indian economy can be gauged from the fact that its contribution to the GDP was 7.5% in 2012.The sector aggregated revenues of US$ 147 billion in 2015. IT sector in India is generating 2.5 million direct employment. India is one of the biggest IT capitals of the modern world. Bengaluru is considered to be the hub of IT sector in India. Gurgaon, Noida, Pune, Hyderabad, Chennai, etc. are some of the places where IT industry is growing well. So, the future of IT sector in India is quite bright.


16. Role of Youth in National Development

—KanikaYouth plays an invaluable role in national development. If government makes development pol ic ies , the youths are one of the major instruments of that process. Recently, a lot of people died due to severe cold in Bihar, UP and Odisha. The youth brigades did a lot for their help. The people of these states died due to poor facilities. They did not have proper home, woollen clothes, theavailabilityoffire,etc.Theyjuststayed at roadside. That is why, cold severely affected them. The labourer, rickshaw pullers and beggars were the worst sufferers. The youth brigades of these states made available blankets, food, fire, etc. to those who were homeless and leading this sort of life. Medical facilities were also provided to them in abundance. So the role of youth in national development can’t be underestimated. The future of the country lies upon the shoulders of the youth.17. Importance of Creativity in

Human Life—Ritvik

Human beings are creative by birth. Creativity means the ability to create creatively. Creativity has much importance in human life. Creativepeoplefindtheirwaysevenin obstacles. Creativity expands our perception. Creative people make their immediate surroundings more beautiful. Sometimes going to new places excite their mind and senses. Criticism should not be an obstacle

in the life of creative people. Something special should be done in a new way if you are creative. If you have to be creative, try to observe your surroundings with curiosity and keen eyes. Criticism is one of the parts of creativity. If you have done something wrong, criticise yourself but don’t overcriticise. Dancing, drawing, painting, music, etc can make you more creative and active.Be creative in life. It has to be sustained. Skills must be developed. It should be functional. So, we can say that creativity sharpens the personality of human life.18. Ill-effects of Deforestation

—GeetaDeforestation means the act of cutting down or burning the trees in an area. As we know that forests are gift of nature given to human beings for their sustenance. Forests bring us rain and also maintain ecological balance. But nowadays the cutting down of forests and trees at large scale have affected the human life. For the purpose of development and setting up of industries, forests are being cut down. Deforestation has a lot of ill-effects on the environment. The most important impact is loss of habitat for millions of species.Nearly 75% of the earth’s land animals and plants live in forests. Due to deforestation, they get homeless. Deforestation also causes climate change. So the best and easiest solution of deforestation is to stop cutting down trees. If the cutting of trees is minimised, it will maintain ecological balance and we will lead a pollutionfree life.


3. Diary EntryExErcIsE

1. Lucknow 10th April, 20XX Friday, 8 pm Dear Diary, It is said that Indian weddings

are matchless in glory, grandeur and glamour. In comparison, weddings in Europe and America pale into significance. Theother side of the story is that Indian marriages are matchless in wastage, extravagance and display of money and wealth. Recently I happened to attend one such big marriage. About fivethousandguestswereinvitedin the barat or the wedding party. A number of stalls serving hundreds of dishes, drinks and sweets had come up on the sprawling lawns of a five starhotel. The ceremony lasted till midnight. Even by a conservative estimate it was a show worth in crores. Surely this amount would have been sufficient to feed allthe beggars and orphans of the city for months.

Raman 2. Chandigarh 20th March, 20XX Monday, 8 pm Dear Diary, The Crafts Mela at Suraj Kund was

much more impressive and grand than what I had imagined. This year the ‘Theme State’ was Rajasthan. The whole campus was painted with the visuals of Ranthambore,

Chittor, Jodhpur and Jaisalmer.It was mini India assembled on a few hundred acres of land. All the awarded artisans from different states had set up their workshops and stalls there. Bangles, jewellery decoration pieces, wall-hangings, purses, shoes, sarees, garments and cosmetics found thousands of buyers. Every evening there were cultural shows at the ‘Chaupal’ and the ‘Rangmanch’. The ‘Food Court’ provided all kinds of delicacies for food-lovers. Basically, it was India in all its colours and tastes scattered on the Aravalli hills.

Rupesh 3. Noida 25th February, 20XX Monday, 7 pm Dear Diary, With the disintegration of the joint

family system, the old people feel themselves deserted. The concept of ‘Old Home’ is for such old people. I made it a point to visit the ‘Old Home’ at Bhiwadi. The Home was situated at a peaceful place. The building was simple but spacious and clean. A doctor visits the Home daily to check up the senior citizens. There is a permanent nurse employed to look after and give them medicine on time. When I visited the Home, all the old people showered their parental love by insisting on having lunch with them. What a satisfying and rewarding visit it was to meet our grand paas and grannies!

Himanshu


4. Ghaziabad 12thJune,20XX Saturday, 6 pm Dear Diary, I like the circus show very much.

Last month the Gemini Circus came to our town. It had actors, acrobats and performers from various parts of the country. They performed tricks that attracted everybody and people liked to visit the circus again and again. We reached the circus gate at 4.00 pm and purchased our tickets for the entrance. We sat down comfortably with our packets of chips and pop-corn, when all of a sudden we heard the loud trumpeting of an elephant. An acrobat sat on the elephant’s back. She suddenly began to perform on his back; she would turn around and sometimes stand on her head or on one hand. A horse was trotting around on the ring. The jokers cheered us all up a lot. They were dressed in colourful clothes and their faces were painted with beautiful colours which made them look very funny.

The gymnasts performed for an hour. The bodies of these gymnasts were very supple and it was amazing to see them moving their body as though it were rubber. There were lions that were so docile that even I felt like going and giving them a pat on their back. They were gentle and their trainer had full control over them.

Ritesh 5. Ajmer 6th April, 20XX Monday, 7 pm

Dear Diary, My father accompanied me to

school on the first day. Otherparents accompanied their children as well. We all waited in front of the school office. Soona teacher came and led us to some classrooms. There we were put into four separate classes. This was when some children had inhibition as their parents left them but I didn’t show any inhibition. Actually my father went home soon after for he knew I would be all right.

It was an enjoyable time for me as I got to know my new classmates. The teacher was very busy writing down our particulars so we had plenty of time to ourselves.

Soon recess came. Some of us headed for the tuck-shop. I bought a drink with the money my father gave me. Getting to know my new friends had made me thirsty.

After recess we went back to our classroom and my new friends and I managed to coax two boys feel happy and confident. Infact, soon we were laughing and playing together. Once in a while the teacher had to tell us to keep quiet as we were making too much noise.

Finally the bell rang for us to go home. Some of us were very relieved for we felt very nervous. I had made many friends. It had been a wonderful first day atschool.

Chaman


6. Agra 28thJanuary,20XX Saturday, 7 pm Dear Diary, Everyday many people are

involved in road accidents. Some are killed. Many more are injured or maimed. So it is important for us to learn to use the roads properly and safely. Sane person would seldom meet with an accident.

As the roads are very busy nowadays, we should be very careful while crossing one. It is safer to use a pedestrian crossing or an overhead bridge whenever one is available. Never cross a road by dashing across it. That is inviting trouble. If there are no crossings, then we must look carefully right and left and cross only when it is safe to do so.

Some of us take the bus to school. It is important that we do not try to get on or off a bus while it is still moving. I tried to get on a moving bus once. Unfortunately, I fell down the bus. It dragged me a short distance and nearly ran over me. I was lucky to escape with only some scratches on my legs. Also we must not fool around while in the bus. A sudden lurch can send us knocking our heads against something hard.

Using a bicycle can be dangerous too. We must pay attention on the road and never cycle too far out to the middle of the road. We must obey all traffic rules.Also we must make sure that our bicycles are in good condition with working brakes, lights, etc.

These are some things we can do to avoid accidents. However there is no guarantee that we will never meet with an accident. The important thing is to stay alert at all times while using the roads. We must know what is happening around us. In that way we can take necessary action to avoid danger whenever we see one. Road safety is very much up to us how we use the roads. Use them carefully and we may be able to use them for a long time. Use them carelessly and we may never be able to use them again.

Kapil 7. Kolkata 10th August, 20XX Sunday, 6 pm Dear Diary, Black clouds gathered above

us, but we were too intent on playing football. We hoped that the clouds would go away so that we could continue playing.

Our hopes were dashed when suddenly heavy rain began to pour. In a few seconds we all were soaked to the skin. To make matters worst, lightning flasheddangerously close to us. The deafening thunder and howling wind did not help either.

We ran towards a large tree under which we had parked our bicycles. The tree provided safe shelter from the rain and we were tempted to remain under it. However we knew that it was dangerous to stay under a tree during a thunderstorm. So we got on our bicycles and pedalled off.


There was no other shelter available nearby. So I, for one, decided to go home. Since I was already completely wet, it was wise to go home instead of seeking another shelter.

It was just about the fierceststorm I had ever been in. The driving rain made cycling difficultasIcouldnotseemorethat a couple of metres in front of me. A car flashed past me.Perhaps the driver did not even see me. So I thought it was better to stop somewhere before I got hit by another car. Luckily I found a bus-stop with a roof. I hurried gladly under the roof even though I had to share it with a dozen other people who were also soaked to the skin. It was a bit of a squeeze but no one complained. For an hour the storm lashed everything around us. We were silent spectators to an awesome display of power by nature. I felt very small and vulnerable, even afraid; but I could do nothing but watch.

Finally the rain slowed down to a drizzle and the wind died down. I could still hear distant thunder but the worst of the storm was over. So happily I got on my bicycle and pedalled home.

Rehan 8. Tagore Garden 15th May, 20XX Tuesday, 8 pm Dear Diary, I am feeling very excited tonight.

I am going on a picnic tomorrow with my classmates. Some of our

teachers will also accompany us. We have been planning for this trip ever since our principal informed us about it a month ago. We are going to Nehru Park. It has a large ground where children can run around and play freely. I have packed some food items including potato chips and chewing gum. My mother has made a dozen sandwiches and a cake. My friends will also be bringing some food, and we shall all share and eat. I am also carrying my cricket bat with me. If we get time, we will play cricket too. I feel I just cannot go to sleep tonight. I keep imagining all the fun that we are going to have tomorrow. But my mother came into the room just now and warned me that if I do not go to sleep now, I might fall asleep at the picnic! As if that is ever going to happen! But may be she’s right. So, good night!

Ankit 9. Lucknow 20th March, 20XX Monday, 9 pm Dear Diary, A beggar is a common figure in

India. He can be seen everywhere in metros, cities, towns and villages. He is seen at a cinema hall, near religious places, at bus stand and at railway station. A beggar moves from street to street, village to village and locality to locality. He begs for money, food, etc. Sometimes, he asks for clothes. He accepts happily whatever he is offered. Some beggars insist for


more money and cause irritation to people. He even goes on to pursue themantofulfillhisdemands.

People generally give alms to the beggars to ward off their distress. They do not give alms to them out of pity but to ward off their troubles. Generally, women have sympathetic attitude for them. In fact, most of the beggars thrive due to the generosity of the women. Sometimes anti-social elements disguise themselves as beggars and go out for begging. They have a pot and a stick in their hands. Begging is a social evil. It needs to be banned. It is a cause of concern for our society. A legislation should be enacted to check begging. People should be made aware not to give charity to those who are able-bodied. However, those who deserve to be helped should be properly assisted. They should be provided some sort of employment to become self-reliant.

Bhavesh 10. Kaushambi 12thJune,20XX Tuesday, 8 pm Dear Diary, Now the time has come when my

holiday begins, I am very glad. Today I planned and prepared my holiday’s time-table so that my vacationgoesperfectlyandIfillup this precious time in working hard on studies but for your kind information I want to tell you that my total time of today has gone as normal but I am happy have that the time-table I

prepared, will be helpful to me in my coming days and help me to achieve my goals successfully.

Deepak 11. Indirapuram 10th August, 20XX Wednesday, 8:30 pm Dear Diary, Recently a charity show was

organized in our school for the flood victims of AndhraPradesh. It brought destruction to the state at a large scale. So many people lost their lives and became homeless. A herd of cattlewereflushed away.Cropsdestroyed and the life became shook still. This natural calamity took the state few years back. In the charity show, a large number of students along with their parents, the MP of the area and the District Magistrate also participated. Some paintings were also sold at the high prices. A group of students sang and danced and people donated as per their capacity. The fund raised by the show was sent to the relief fund of the state by the principal.

Mayank 12. Chandigarh 10thJune,20XX Thursday, 9 pm Dear Diary, It was really an exciting moment

for me when I got selected in IIT examination. My name appeared in the newspaper. It was really a dream come true for me. My parents and relatives were much excited. A few friends


and teachers congratulated me on my success. I passed this exam in my maiden attempt. It was the result of my hard work. After passing class–12 exams, Idedicated8–10hoursseriouslytomystudiesdaily.Duetofinancialcrunch, I could not take tuitions and coaching. But my teachers and friends cooperated with me immensely. That is why I got success in this prestigious exam.

Prabhat 13. Kanpur 10th December, 20XX Friday, 7 pm Dear Diary, Last week, an Inter-School Debate

competition was organized in our school. From my childhood, I avoid much gathering. I did not mix up even with my friends. I was really shy. It was my habit to always remain indoors and study only. But this time, my name was also given in the list of Debate Competition. Initially, I was in anxiety and fear. Last night, I could not take sound sleep. In the debate competition, there were 10 debaters. The topic was ‘Terrorism–AGlobalThreat’.Allthe candidates opined differently. I had some sort of hesitation in the initial stage but later on I dominated all. I put my points emphatically and properly. At last, every one agrees with my opinion. I was declared the winner of the competition. Now, I don’t suffer from stage fright but I like debates, discussion and audience.

Kritika

14.Jaipur 21th April, 20XX Monday, 7 pm Dear Diary, I had never been a good speaker

in my life. Because I had much hesitation before speaking to somebody. I had been selected for the speech competition held at my school. A lot of speakers had to speak. It was my turn. The topic was ‘Science–ABoon or Bane’.When I came to the symposium, I got nervous and sweat was coming on my head. I was depressed. But one of my English teachers told me to remain calm and express views. I came up on the stage and expressed my views. Whatever points I had to tell, I forgot that. I just expressed my views poorly. It was really a miserable experience for me. In the mid of the speech, I left the stage. It was really a nightmare for me.

Neha 15. Patna 20thJanuary,20XX Saturday, 8 pm Dear Diary, I along with my friends had gone

tovisit theQutubMinar,oneofthe famous historical monuments. It was really a pleasant moment forallofus.Forthefirsttime,wehad gone without any teacher or parents.WewatchedtheQutubMinar. There was a huge gathering. A number of foreign tourists were also there. It was constructed in 1192byQutub-ud-din-Aibakandlater completed by his successor Iltutmish. It is a world heritage site.


It is located in Delhi. It was built to celebrate Muslim dominance in Delhi. Initially we enjoyed it much. But at evening, a few anti-social elements came there and started abusing us without any reason. We did not speak anything to them. But later on they started beating one of our friends, Rupesh. When we asked them the reason, they also slapped us. Later on we dialled the number 100. The police came immediately and after knowing the veracity, they took them into custody. We were freed. Thus it was a miserable moment for us. We departed from that site quickly and reached home at 10 pm.

Heena 16. Bhopal 15thJanuary,20XX Sunday, 6 pm Dear Diary, Rupesh is my close friend we lived

together in our school days because we belonged to the same village. He succeeded in IIT examination. He had a sound background. His father was a government servant. After completing his 1st semester, he came into the village. After hearing this news, I went to meet him. Although he was absolutely fine, he told somebody that hewas not feeling well. So he would meet me later. Next day, when I met him I hugged him. Then he felt some sort of uneasiness. He told me that within three years He would become software engineer. He would go to the US and earn huge money, name and fame. But what do you have? You are just

giving tuitions to a few village boys. There is a wide gap between you and me. So it is better for you to live within your limit. After hearing it, I felt depressed.

Manpreet 17. Noida 19thJune,20XX Tuesday, 8 pm Dear Diary, Last month, I went along with

my colleagues to Agra to see the Taj Mahal. It is one of the seven wonders of the world. It was built byShahJahan in thememoryofhis beloved, Mumtaz Mahal. We went there by bus from ISBT. We enjoyed in bus for the whole night. We sang, dance and ate a lot of things. After reaching there, I saw a number of tourists were taking photographs of the Taj and were enjoying it very much. We also enjoyed a lot. After seeing the entire thing, we took a lunch. After taking lunch, we slept in the hotel. Again at night we saw the Taj and its beauty. We also visited many shops and took a few cameras and photos. After that we returned. On the way also, we enjoyed a lot. It was really an exciting and memorable journey. It will ever remain etched in our memory.

Amit 18. Tagore Garden 10th November, 20XX Sunday , 9 pm Dear Diary, Cricket is my favourite game.

I like it very much. I watch all the matches of cricket including


IPL. But I am more interested in 50–50 over game.This gamereally shows the talent of the players. If international matches start, I watch it very carefully. I am the fan of Virat Kholi, one of the best batting sensations. One day I was watching One Day International match of 50–50overs at Firozshah Kotla Stadium. It was a match against Australia. Australian team won the toss and elected to bat. They scored runs very fast. Indian seamers and spinners both, failed. Then the captain, MS Dhoni brought Yuvraj Singh into bowling. He took two wickets in an over. In another over, Harbhajan Singh took one wicket. Later on Yuvraj Singh took more wickets. At last the Australian team put a target of 250 runs before the Indian team. Initially, two wickets of India fell at quick succession. But later on Yuvraj and Virat Kohli hit a few sixes and fours and brought India back into the game. At last, Virat Kholi hit a six and won the match. He made 103 runs. He was declared Man of the Match. I enjoyed this match very much with my friends. It was really an exhilarating moment for us.

Sumit

4. story Writing ExErcIsE

1. Help Others to Get Other’s Help

Once there was a small boy named Shankar. He belonged to a poor family. One day, he was crossing

through the forest carrying some woods. He saw an old man who was very hungry. Shankar wanted to give him some food, but he did not have food for his own. So he continued on his way. On his way he saw a deer who was very thirsty. He wanted to give him some water, but he did not have water for himself. So he went on his way ahead. Then he saw a man who wanted to make a camp but he did not have woods. Shankar asked his problem and gave some woods to him. In return, he gave him some food and water. Now he went back to the old man and gave him some food and gave some water to the deer. The old man and the deer were very happy. Shankar than happily went on his way.However, one day Shankar fell down the hill. He was in pain and hence he couldn’t move and no one was there to help him. But, the old man whom he had helped earlier saw him. He quickly came and pulled him up the hill. He had many wounds on his legs. The deer whom Shankar had given water, saw his wounds and quickly went to forest and brought some herbs. After sometime his wounds were covered. All were very happy that they were able to help each other.2. The Three Types of PeopleA teacher shows three toys to a student andasks the student tofindout the differences. All the three toys seem to be identical in their shape, size and material. After keen observation, the student observes holes in the toys. First toy has holes in both the ears, second toy has holes in ear and mouth and third toy has only one hole in one ear.


Then the student puts a needle into the ear of first toy.The needlecomes out from the other ear. When the needle is put into the ear of the second toy, the needle comes out of mouth. When the needle is put into the ear of third toy, the needle does not come out.First toy represents those people around you who gives an impression that they are listening to you, all your things and care for you. But they just pretend to do so. After listening, as the needle comes out from the next ear, the things you said to them by counting on them are gone. So be careful while you are speaking to this type of people around you, who does not care for you.Second toy represents those people who listens to you all your things and gives an impression that they care for you. But as in the toy, the needle comes out from the mouth. These people will use your things and the words you tell them against you by telling it to others andbringingouttheconfidentialissuesfor their own purpose.The needle does not come out from the third toy. These kinds of people will keep the trust you have in them. They are the ones who you can count on.3. God Helps Those who Help

ThemselvesThe rain gods had been smiling the whole night. The roads were muddy and the potholes were filled to thebrim. It was the day for the market and Raju, the farmer was riding his cart along the country road. He had to reach the market early so that he could sell his hay. It was very difficult for the horses to drag the

load through the deep mud. On his journey suddenly the wheels of the horse cart sank into the mire.The more the horses pulled, the deeper the wheel sank. Raju climbed down from his seat and stood beside his cart. He searched all around but could not findanyonetohelphim.Cursinghisluck, he looked dejected and defeated. He didn’t make the slightest effort to get down on the wheel and lift it up by himself. Instead he started cursing his luck for what happened. Looking up at the sky, he started shouting at God, “I am so unlucky! Why has this happened to me? Oh God, come down to help me.”After a long wait, God finallyappeared before Raju. He asked Raju, “Do you think you can move the chariot by simply looking at it and whining about it? Nobody will help you unless you make some effort to help yourself. Did you try to get the wheel out of the pothole by yourself? Get up and put your shoulder to wheel and you will soon findthewayout.”Raju was ashamed of himself. He bent down and put his shoulder to the wheel and urged on the horses. In no time the wheel was out of the mire. Raju learnt his lesson. He thanked God and carried on his journey happily.4. Crows in the KingdomOne day Emperor Akbar and Birbal were taking a walk in the palace gardens. It was a nice summer morning and there were plenty of crows happily playing around the pond. While watching the crows, a question came into Akbar’s head. He wondered how many crows there


were in his kingdom.Since Birbal was accompanying him, he asked Birbal this question. After a moment’s thought, Birbal replied, “Thereareninety-fivethousandfourhundred and sixty-three crows in the kingdom”.Being amazed by his quick response, Akbar tried to test him again, “What if there are more crows than you answered?” Birbal replied without hesitating, “If there are more crows than my answer, then some crows are visiting from other neighbouring kingdoms”. “And what if there are less crows”, Akbar asked. “Then some crows from our kingdom have gone on holidays to other places”.5. The Monkey and CatsIt was the aftermath of a big festival. Two cats were prowling together. One of the cats saw a big cake and mewed. The other jumped up and picked it.Thefirstcatsaid,“Givemethecake.ItisIwhosawitfirst.”The other cat said “Keep away from it. It is I who picked it up.”They were fighting and fighting.Buttherewasnosolution.Justthen,a monkey passed by. He thought “What foolish cats they must be! Let me make use of this chance.”He came to the cats and said in a loud voice. “Don’t fight. Letme equallyshare the cake among you both”. The cake was handed over to the monkey.The monkey split the cake into two parts. He shook his head and said, “Oho! One is bigger. One is smaller”. He had a bit of the bigger and now said “Oho! This has become smaller now”. He ate from the other. And thus,

he went on eating from part to part andfinally finished thewhole cake.The poor cats were disappointed.6. The Devoted Mother DuckOnce a mother duck and her little ducklings were on their way to a lake. The ducklings were very happy following their mother and quack-quacking along the way.All of a sudden the mother duck saw a fox at some distance. She was frightened and shouted, “Children, hurry to the lake. There’s a fox!”The ducklings hurried towards the lake. The mother duck wondered what to do. She began to walk back and forth dragging one wing on the ground.When the fox saw her he became happy. He said to himself, “It seems that she’s hurt and can’t fly! I caneasily catch and eat her!” Then he ran towards her.The mother duck ran, leading the fox away from the lake. The fox followed her. The mother duck looked towards her ducklings and saw that they had reached the lake. Now he wouldn’t be able to harm her ducklings. She was relieved, so she stopped and took a deep breath.The fox thought she was tired and he came closer, but the mother duck quickly spread her wings and rose up in the air. She landed in the middle of the lake and her ducklings swam to her.The fox stared in disbelief at the mother duck and her ducklings. He could not reach them because they were in the middle of the lake.7. The Greedy MouseA greedy mouse saw a basket full of corn. He wanted to eat it. So he


made a small hole in the basket. He squeezed in through the hole. He ate a lot of corn. He felt full. He was very happy. Now he wanted to come out. He tried to come out through the small hole. But he could not. His belly was full. He tried again. But it was of no use.The mouse started crying. A rabbit was passing by. It heard the mouse’s cry and asked: “Why are you crying my friend?” The mouse explained: “I made a small hole and came into the basket to eat some corn. Now I am not able to get out through that hole.” The rabbit said: “It is because you ate too much. Wait till your belly shrinks.” The rabbit laughed and went away.The mouse fell asleep in the basket. Next morning his belly had shrunk. But the mouse again wanted to eat some corn. So he ate and ate. His belly was full once again. He thought: “Oh! Now I will go out tomorrow”.The cat was the next passerby. He smelt the mouse in the basket. He lifted its lid and ate the mouse.8. Believing in PeopleA business tycoon in a small town hung hoardings at various public places. One day he announced that if any person in the town, who owed debts, wouldcometohisofficeonacertainday between nine and twelve, he would pay off those debts. Naturally, that promise became the talk of the town. But it was an incredible promise. So, a few believed it. People suspected his integrity. The day came. The businessmansat inhisofficeatnine.By ten, no one had come. At eleven, a man was seen walking up and down

outside, occasionally looking up at the officedoor.Finallyheseemedtotakecourage and open it. He put his head in and asked, “Is it true that you will pay off any person’s debt?” That’s right,” the rich man replied. “Are you in debt?” “I certainly am,” the man answered. “Do you possess the bills and statements to prove it?” The visitor produced the documents and the businessman wrote out a check covering all of them. Before twelve o’clock, two other men came and had their debts paid. People outside could not believe it. But now there was no time left to have their bills paid.If people don’t believe in the goodness of man, how can they believe in the goodness of God?9. The Monkey and the DolphinLong ago, some sailors set out to sea in their sailing ship. One of them brought his pet monkey along for the long journey. When they were far out at sea, a terrible storm overturned their ship. Everyone fell into the sea, and the monkey was sure that he would drown. Suddenly a dolphin appeared and picked him up.They soon reached the island and the monkey came down from the dolphin’s back. The dolphin asked the monkey, “Do you know this place?”The monkey replied, “Yes, I do. In fact, the king of the island is my best friend. Do you know that I am actually a prince?”Knowing that no one lived on the island, the dolphin said, “Well, well, so you are a prince! Now you can be a king!” The monkey asked, “How can I be a king?”


As the dolphin started swimming away, he answered, “That is easy. As you are the only creature on this island, you will naturally be the king!”10. Honesty Always Yields

Good ResultRahul was a very poor boy. To earn his livelihood he walked hither and thither. While he was walking on road,hefoundapursecontainingfivehundred rupees. He took the bag and saw the address of the owner. After knowing the address, he went straight to the owner’s house and handed over the bag to him. After getting it, he was very much pleased and impressed with him. Because there were some important documents in it. He was very happy to see his honesty. He was eager to know what he was doing. Rahul told that he is an unemployed youth. Due to financial crisis, heleft his studies after doing his 10th. Seeing his honesty and sincerity he offered him the job of a supervisor in his factory. He gladly accepted it and started living happily there after.11. The Faithful Dog and the

Ungrateful ManOnce an old man lived with a baby and a dog in his house. There were no other person in his family except for the baby and the dog. He had great faith in his dog. One day he decided to go out for hunting. So he told the dog to guard his baby till he come back from the hunting. Then he went for hunting. Meanwhile, a wolf came to the house and wanted to take the baby with him. When the dog saw the wolf, he pounced on the

wolf. They fought for some time. At last, the dog killed the wolf. Thus he saved the life of the baby.In the evening, the hunter returned to his home. Then he saw that his dog’s mouth was covered with blood. He was anxious to know why the mouth of the dog was covered with the blood. Soonhesawawolf lyingflatontheground. He went close to the wolf and found him to be dead. He understood that the dog killed the wolf. Instead of being grateful to the dog for saving the life of his baby. He kills the dog. He thought that the dog was not faithful to him. Today he killed the wolf, tomorrow he could kill anybody.12. The Greedy DogOnce a dog was crossing a stream with a bone in his mouth. In water, he sawhisownreflection.Hemistookitto be another dog with a larger bone in his mouth. The dog became greedy. He just wanted to get that bone also. So he opened his mouth to snatch it. But no sooner had he opened his mouth, the bone slipped from his mouth and went into the stream. Now the dog got dumb founded. It was all due to his greed. Had the dog not aspired for another, he would not have fallen in such a trap. 13. Nip Your Bad Habits in the

BudOnce there was a wealthy man. He had a son who had some bad habits. The man was worried because of his son’s bad habits. So, he requested an old scholar to wean his son off the bad habits. The scholar told the man that he would try to make his son give


up bad habits. One day the scholar was passing through a garden. Coincidentally, the boy was also passing through the same garden. The scholar stopped and asked the boy to pull out a tiny plant that was growing there. The boy pulled out the plant without any hitch. Then the old man asked him to pull out a guava tree. The boy grasped the trunk of the tree and used all his strength to pull it out. But it could not budge even an inch. Now the boy told the scholar that it was a herculean task for him to pull out such a huge tree. The scholar said, “Similar is the case with our bad habits. Our bad habits, in the beginning, are like tiny plants, which can easily be given up. But after a certain period of time, when they become stronger, it is verydifficult togivethemup.”Theboy understood that the scholar was talking about his bad habits. He gave up all his bad habits. Now his father was very happy.

14. The Foolish DonkeyBhola has a donkey called Khandya. Bhola is a tolerant and kind master. The donkey is lazy and always findsways to avoidwork.One dayKhandya carries some sacks of salt on his back. On the way, Khandya has to pass through a knee-deep river. He deliberately falls down in the river so that the salt should dissolve in the water and weight of the load decreases. He does so everyday, On the other side, Bhola is unhappy at the way Khandya behaves because he has to bear loss. One day he decides to teach Khandya a lesson. He packs cotton into the sacks instead of salt and loads on the back of Khandya. As usual, Khandya falls down in the river. But to his dismay, this time weight of the sacks increases. He has to carry the sacks with much more weight than real. Now he understands that one cannot befool others always. Thereafter, he never falls in the river.

Part-II : Grammar

1. TensesExErcIsE

I. 1. make 2. fly 3. plays 4. go 5. Do, obey 6. Does, come 7. tell 8. love 9. writes 10. sets II. 1. jumped 2. met 3. did, find 4. posted 5. Did, sink 6. did, search 7. Did, go 8. hung 9. saw 10. ran

III. 1. is selling 2. is sleeping 3. are skipping 4. are learning 5. is teaching 6. is count 7. is cleaning 8. are buying 9. is eating 10. swimming IV. 1. have been building 2. have been dancing 3. have been waiting 4. have been taking 5. has been weeping 6. have been making 7. has been raining 8. he has been helping


9. have been living 10. have been working. V. 1. (b), 2. (c), 3. (c), 4. (b), 5. (b).

2. Agreement of the verb with subject

I. 1. Gold and diamond are found in India.

2. The Orator and the Statesman have arrived.

3. Neither praise nor blame seems to affect her.

4. Which one of these pens is yours?

5. The scholar and writer is dead.

6. ‘Tales of Charles Lamb’ is a good book.

7. Many a soldier has given his life for the country.

8. Either of the gift looks fine. 9. None of the students is stand-

ing. 10. The herd of cows was very

healthy. 11. One of these two comes here

daily. 12. Either you or he is telling a

lie. 13. The commander, with all his

soldiers, was killed. 14. The multitude was scared at

the sight of the lion. 15. Two thirds of the country

was ruined in the war. II. 1. is 2. were 3. is 4. stand 5. has 6. is 7. has 8. tastes 9. is 10. are III. 1. (a), 2. (c), 3. (a), 4. (a), 5. (b)

3. Verbs I. 3. He is too tall to bend. 4. She is too tired to pick her

bags. 5. She has a huge family to feed. 6. We were too tense to think

logically. 7. The child is too scared to go

to his school alone. 8. The car is too costly to buy. 9. The subject is too easy to

understand. 10. My father has promised to

take us for the movie. II. 1. to read 2. to defeat 3. to assimilate 4. to do 5. to go 6. to do 7. to go 8. to 9. to walk 10. to work hard III. 2. Putting the glass on the table

he stood up to go. 3. Meeting my friend, I shall

come home. 4. Being not aware of the way, I

asked a traffic policeman 5. Being paralyzed, he was

unable to walk. IV. 1. moving 2. completed 3. interesting 4. speedy 5. Catching V. 1. Participating 2. Driving 3. Massaging 4. scoring 5. singing 6. Exercising 7. reading 8. tiring 9. Travelling 10. being success VI. 1. I 2. P 3. P 4. G 5. G 6. I 7. G


4. Punctuation I. 1. The II World War nearly

destroyed the world. 2. No, I didn’t call you; must

have been someone else. 3. If you are not wrong, who is

wrong? 4. Have you read the Cindrella

stories, the famous ones. 5. Alas! The poor man is

suffering so much. 6. May God help all those who

are pious! 7. Will you drop me at the New

Delhi Railway Station? 8. U.S.A., U.K. are very rich

countries. 9. That articles ‘Impact of

Recession on India’ was very informative.

10. Would that I were a King! II. “Where did you fall?” asked

the doctor. I fell in the play-ground where I was playing. You are a bit careless. I guess this is the third time you are coming to me in a month with injuries.

Yes, doctor yes. Everyone says that including myself. I will try to be careful now. Thanks.

III. 1. (c) 2. (c) 3. (a) 4. (d) 5. (b) 6. (d)

5. Articles I. 1. an 2. A 3. An, a 4. an 5. a II. 1. a 2. the 3. The 4. An, the 5. the 6. the, the 7. A, the, an

8. An, the 9. a, a 10. An, the 11. The, the, the 12. a III. 1. a, an, a, the, the, the 2. a, the, a, the, An, the, the, an ,

a, the IV. 1. This is an apple. 2. A few men are honest. 3. Man is mortal. 4. The beas flows in Punjab. 5. Delhi is the city of garden. 6. The Himalayas are the highest

mountains. 7. The Golden Temple is a

beautiful building. 8. He is the eldest boy in the class. 9. Do not make a noise. 10. There is a man at the door.

6. Active and Passive I. 1. We were woken by the alarm. 2. Many people have been bitten

by this dog. 3. His officers were displeased

by his conduct. 4. A notice was given to her by

the Principal. 5. The protestors were stopped

by the police. 6. Much harm was not done by

the fire. 7. A letter of apology had been

given by him. 8. A photograph is being taken

by Rekha. 9. The train has been missed by

him. 10. The jewels were stolen by the

thief. 11. The garden is watered by him

everyday.


12. Wheat had been grown by farmers.

13. My bags have been packed by me.

14. All her work is done by Bela. II. 1. use, employ, are learnt,

remember, were kept, grew, made, does not, cannot, copy, is brought, be initiated

2. are surrounded, did not, were shown, loaded, were picked, collected, was covered, liked, has, been, opted, understood

III. 1. (a) 2. (a) 3. (a) 4. (b)

7. Direct and Indirect speech

I. 1. I told her that she could not touch the phone

2. She told her friends that her brother was an excellent dancer and had won many competitions.

3. He says that he is not keeping good health.

4. Mother told me that I had to take the dog for a walk.

5. The teacher told us that we were to submit five projects in that term.

6. The Principal told the student that he wanted the student to bring his school diary here and then.

7. She told me that she had not seen him for months.

8. The coach told the team if they did not win that match, they would not qualify.

9. Mother told me that I had take out time for studies and sports every day.

10. Father told mechanic that he would leave his car with him the next day for repair.

II. 2. My mother said to me, “You can go for the school trip if the weather is pleasant.”

3. Mr. Verma said to his wife, “We cannot depend on our children.”

4. Hari said to Ram, “Have you read the letter?”

5. The teacher informed Sohan’s parents, “He will fail this year.”

6. Father said to us, “Have trust in God and do the right thing.”

III. 1. Harshit exclaimed with joy that he had won a lottery ticket.

2. Ratnakar asked where I was going.

3. Bharati requested Mamta to come to her home and play with her that day.

4. The Principal tells the students that they all have to follow the school rules and regulations.

5. The little girl said that she was not going to listen to that again.

6. The saint will say that we should serve all.

7. The great scientist Einstein once said that all our moral actions come back to us as fortunes.

8. The manager told the workers that they had a successful profitable year so they allwould get a special bonus.

IV. 1. (b) 2. (b) 3. (a) 4. (a) 5. (b) 6. (a) 7. (c)


Practice Test Paper–1section-A: reading

1. 1. Alexander moved the hill to make his commerce with the rest of the world easy.

2. The hill moved steadily. 3. The people of the valley were

delighted to see the hill move because they were facing a lot of problems due to it.

4. The people of the valley unani-mously elected Alexander their chief.

5. Alexander realised that he hadnotyetacquiredsufficientpower to stop it when it was set in motion.

6. The moving hill disappeared into the sea and caused the highest tide ever reported on those shores.

7. Shown, delighted. 8. Frantic: He made frantic

attempts to rescue somebody. Rendered: He was rendered homeless.

2. I. 1. The narrator was a barrister by profession. He could not afford a life of luxury. Because he began to cut down expenses.

2. The bill of washerman and the collars had to be changed daily and shirts every alternate day. This meant double expense to the narrator that he tried to cut down.

3. He bought a book on washing and studied its art.

4. 1. He used more starch then necessary.

2. The iron had not been made hot enough for fear of burning.

II. 1. (d) 2. (b) 3. (a) 4. (d)

section-B: Writing and Grammar

3. Nowadays teenagers spend their free time in extra curricular activities. Somebody plays cricket, chess or badminton, somebody watches TV and somebody has the hobby of reading novels.

Through these activities, they not only keep themselves released butalsofitandhealthy. Internethas also become one of the hobbies of teenagers nowadays. They devote much of their time on Internet and learn a lot of things. Through Internet, they had become too close to the world.Somebodywatchesfilmsor entertainment programmes on TV during free time, somebody takes the training of professional and vocational courses to sharpen their skills. Through it, they not only gain knowledge but also earn. They also contribute a lot in the development of the country. So spending their free time in suchaway isverybeneficial tothem.

4. There is a busy bazaar adjacent to my home. There is one of the largest buildings here. There is hectic activity of the people all around. All sorts of goods are sold here. Many salesmen work here. Owners of shop sit at their


cash counter and deal with the customers. They are polite and honest. There are a few mega showrooms for sarees, leather goods, readymade clothes, toys, etc. Parents of the kids come here to purchase attractive toys for their children. This market is also a tourist hub. A number of tourists come here to visit and purchase things. There are a lot of restaurants where a number of visitors come and enjoy sweets and fast food.

5. (a) is (b) in (c) to (d) on (e) when (f) are 6. (i) grew–grow (ii) in–at (iii) thorn–thorns (iv) such–that (v) of-to, a-the (vi) died-dies (vii) ever-never (viii) does–do7. (i) Airstrips have become an

essential part of any develop-ing city.

(ii) Air taxi services will boost tourism in the state.

(iii) Such services will surely promote our tourism sector.

Practice Test Paper–2

section-A: reading 1. 1. Nivedita was an Anglo-Irish

social worker. 2. The word ‘nivedita’ refers to

someone highly dedicated to the almighty.

3. Nivedita’s father’s name was Samuel Richmond Nobel and her mother’s name was Mary Isabel.

4. She learnt from her father that service to mankind is the true service to God.

5. Her childhood passion was to serve the mankind.

6. Vivekananda taught Nivedita that ignorance, selfishnessand greed pave way for our sufferings.

7. One being the search for enlightenment by realising the eternal truth. The other was the welfare of the world.

8. Nivedita’s aim was to bring about an improvement in the lives of Indian women

belonging to different social classes and castes.

2. I. 1. Manoj Bhargava is an Indian origin American billionaire. He revealed a bicycle, the free electric bicycle which produces electricity when pedalled.

2. He revealed that an hour of pedalling can produce so much electricity that it will run a rural household for 24 hours by running lights, small fan and charging a cell phone.

3. The idea of making such a bicycle came to him while watching NASCAR on TV, the most popular American car racing event.

4. This cycle has the power to take the electricity to millions of home in rural India where there was no electricity.

II. 1. (a) 2. (b) 3. (a) 4. (b)



3. Make in India ‘Make in India’ campaign is

the brain child of Mr. Narendra Modi, the PM of India. The main vision behind this campaign is to make India self-dependent. Its main aim is to promote industries of India. If industries develop, then our country will certainly develop. There will be more employment opportunities in India. The country’s economy will get strengthened. Our GDP will grow. Youth will not have to go to other countries to seek employment. India will improve its trade relations with other countries. It will make country economically sound and vibrant. It will also bring other countries closer to India.

4. Yesterday evening I had gone to market to take some domestic i tems. Suddenly we heard something burst. Someone shouted it was a bomb explosion. People

started running hither and thither. The shutters of all the shops were closed. Within a minute all the people dispersed. Someone dialled the number 100 to call the police. The police came on the spot. It was really a bomb expolosion. Some anti-social elements had done such an act. Two bombs were also kept at the corner. The bomb squad came and destroyed the bomb. The police started a search operation. Later on two people were caught in this connection.

5. (a) a (b) with (c) has been (d) their (e) such (f) it 6. (i)an–the (ii)dedicate–dedicated (iii)played–play (iv)loves–love (v)its–her (vi)with–to(vii)rounded–round

(viii)times–time 7. (i) The poet is highly philo-

sophical in this poem. (ii) Herehesignifiestheultimate

peace of life. (iii) The poet believes in the life

of rebirth after death.


section-A: reading 1. 1. IRCTC has cropped up as the

biggest online market place in India.

2. The revenue share of the IRCTC from online market sale is $ 3 billion.

3. Sandip Dutta is the Public RelationsOfficerofIRCTC.

4. The IRCTC has set a record by recording 1.34 million ticket reservations in a single day.

5. Flipkart and Snapdeal have faced huge losses.

6. Amazon has tied up with the IRCTC.

7. Indian Railways Catering and Tourism corporation (IRCTC).

8. It is run by Indian Railways.


2. I. 1. Swachhata Abhiyan was initiated by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. It was lauched on 2nd October, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

2. Truth, simplicity, honesty of purpose and Ahimsa.

3. It talks about the original activities that drive innocent adolescents away from schools, replace toys and books with stones, bombs and guns. Kashmir is famous for its pure water streams, unpolluted air, suficultureandsimplenon-violent population.

4. The passage focuses on the problems of pollution in our country. It needs cleaning of the homes streets and the countryside.

II. 1. (a) 2. (c) 3. (a) 4. (b)


3. Rajouri Garden 10th February, 20XX Monday, 8 pm Dear Diary, Today a seminar on traffic

management system in Kamani Auditorium was organized by Delhi Traffic Police. It wasattended by a number of senior officials, representatives andministers. They expressed their views on traffic managementsystem. A few people expressed their opinion in favour of odd-

even formula, while others opposed it. Somebody said that private vehicles must be out of the road during office hours.Only public transport should be used. The seminar concluded without any unanimous decision.

4. Today I was going to my school. I saw a biker driving zig-zag crossing all the vehicles. Public were awestruck to see him. Suddenly he lost control over his bike and bumped into the road divider. He became unconscious. Traffic police came and tookhim to the hospital. He was diagnosed in the hospital. The doctors revealed that he was suffering from frustration. He was actually a college student and had failed in his semester exam. The police informed his parents. They came and took him home. After a few days when he got well, his parents advised him never to drive his bike in a rash manner. Moreover, they told him, “Failure tell us to become hard working person one should never get frustrated if one has to meet with failure. Instead he/she should work hard.” He realised his mistake and was determined not do so again.

5. (a) an (b) of (c) and (d) proves (e) can (f) counsel 6. (i) stopped in the (ii) near a dam (iii) in the rest (iv) there were several (v) boys and girls


(vi)waterwasflowing (vii) They saw the (viii) there was lightning 7. (i) The poet asked the bird to

teach him its secret song.

(ii) The poet has never heard such a sweet song.

(iii) The poet guesses that there is the hidden secret of some bird’s song.


section-A: reading1. 1. There has been deterioration in

our environmental condition. 2. The WHO report puts Delhi

among the worst polluted cities in the world.

3. There are 13 Indian cities in the world’s top 20 list of polluted cities.

4. Filth, garbage smoke, industrial pollution, etc. are the basic reasons of Indian pollution.

5. The govt. has been involved in curbing environmental pollution by announcing policies and progammes such as the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and Clean Ganga Mission. Another initiative is the Air QualityIndex(AQI).

6.The major pollutants are–PM10, PM2.5, ozone, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides.

7. The pollution level is coded as ‘Good’, ‘Satisfactory’, ‘Moderately Polluted’, ‘Poor’, ‘Very Poor’ and ‘Severe.’

8. We must participate in reducing pollution because it is a global problem and not a single nation’s concern.

2.I. 1. Nalanda is famous for Buddhist

learning in ancient times. 2. Nalanda University was

founded in the 5th century by the Gupta rulers. Buddhist scriptures, Vedas, Logic, Shabda Vidya, Chikitsa Vidya etc. were taught there.

3.TheGreatStupa isflankedbyflights of steps and terrances.Many of the Stupas were two or even three times built one over the other on the same spot.

4. The monasteries consisted of a number of monk’s cells with wide verandas in front.

II. 1. (c) 2. (c) 3. (c) 4. (b)


3. 104, D-Block Ram Bagh Colony, Gujarat 10th February, 20XX The Editor The Times of India Sub: Make an Effort to make

India a clean country Sir, Through your esteemed daily,

I would like to draw your kind attention towards making India a clean country. Last year, on the birth anniversary of Mahatma


Gandhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. Its main mission is to make India a clean country. Pollution level has gone too high in the country. Delhi has become one of the most polluted cities of the world. Environmental pollution has become so acute. It is dangerous to health. Only the govt. policies and programmes are not enough to deal with this problem. Public participation and public awareness is a must. If all people of our country participate in it, only then this programme will be a great success.

If the govt. adopt and implements this policy and public follow it, then this problem can be minimised to a great extent.

Thanking you Yours sincerely Raghav Kishan 4. My brother was going to his

college. While crossing the market, he saw two unfamiliar young men standing aside. Their faces were half covered. My brother stopped at a distance. The youngmen were anti-social

elements. They had just looted the shop of a big jeweller. They had taken gold and diamond worth ` 1 croreandfiredrapidly.Theyhadkidnapped the security guards at gun point. The owner of the shop was also kept under house arrest. Hearing the sound of the gun, the crowd of the town dispersed. The police came on the spot in no time. There was panic among the people. The entire market was closed. Seeing this situation my brother returned home without any more delay.

5. (a) wears (b) of (c) acquired (d) an (e) belongs (f) requested 6. (i)deserves–deserved (ii)is–was (iii)at–of (iv)is–was (v)subject–subjected (vi)examine–examined (vii)think–thought (viii)every–each 7. (i) Attendance is obligatory in

school. (ii) Your behaviour must be

above suspicion. (iii) Non-violence should be

practised in letter and spirit.


section-A: reading 1. 1. Socrates was funny looking.

He had a high, bald, dome shaped head, a round upturned nose and a long wavy beard.

2. His ugliness was a standing joke among his friends.

3. He loved above all things to be away from home.

4. His friend said, “The oracle choose me as the wisest Athenian because I am the only one who knows that he does not know anything.”

5. Delphi said this.


6. The city of Athens has been described here.

7. Socrates was the evangelist of clear thinking.

8. He ate a hasty breakfast of bread dipped in wine, slip on a tunic and throw a coarse mantle over it.

2. (See answers on page 11, passage 5)


3. Patel Nagar 10th May, 20XX Monday, 8 pm Dear Diary, The Minister for Human Resource

Development visited our school yesterday. He delivered a speech on new education policy. The teachers and Principal expressed their views on this. Students also participated in this discussion. Fortunately, I was the part of this discussion. I shared my views on it. It was really an exiciting moment for me. The minister told that education must be linked with professional courses. Skill development must be part of this policy.

Piyush 4. Today I had gone to the park for

a morning walk. When I reached

there I saw some trees were falling down. Some elderly people were also discussing it. These trees had been cut down by the miscreants. They had taken 10,000 rupees for it. They were caught by the town people and were handed over to the police. These people are the enemies of environment. They have nothing to do with the welfare of the people. They have some vested interest. They must be taught about the ill-effects of the cutting of trees.

5. (a) of (b) is (c) and (d)reflect (e) those (f) of 6. (i)faster–fasterthan (ii)temperature–thetemperature (iii)ocean currents–these ocean

currents (iv)those differences–by those

differences (v)new–anew (vi)climate–theclimate (vii)also–willalso

willmore–willgetmore (viii)get–wilget 7. (i) Children listen to the stories

of love about their elders. (ii) When I was a child, I

enjoyed stories too. (iii) Do you remember any of

the stories listened during childhood?

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8 cbse question bank english · 2019. 11. 8. · 4 n question bank english-viii 8. the state of...

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