CBSE Board Class 10 English Core Previous Year Question Papers 2007

ENGLISH CORE
CLASS 10
PREVIOUS PAPER 2007

Time allowed : 3 hours Maximum Marks: 100
General Instructions :
(i) This paper is divided into  four  Sections : A, B, C and D.
(ii) All questions are compulsory.
(iii) Marks are indicated against each question.

SECTION A
(Reading) 20

1. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow : 6
Dance is a skilful art. It is an effective means of expression. Facial
expressions and hand gestures are the essence of dance. A dancer can express such
feelings as joy, anger, or helplessness without saying a word. People have been dancing
since time immemorial. Pre-historic people probably made up dances to gain favour of
their gods. Many Indian tribes danced while appealing for rain and good crops. But
most people these days, dance simply to have fun or entertain others. Dance is not
merely a fun social activity, it is also an ideal exercise. Twenty minutes of dancing can
burn as many calories as twenty minutes of swimming or biking. Half-an-hour of
dancing can burn as many as 200 to 400 calories. Dancing can reduce stress, tension,
anxiety and even depression. Dance, like music, knows no boundaries — geographic,
linguistic or racial. It is a great  unifying  force. (150 words)
1.1 Answer the following questions briefly :
(a) What constitutes the essence of dance ? 1
(b) Mention any two feelings which can be expressed by a dancer without saying a
word. 1
(c) Why did pre-historic people perform dances ? 1
(d) What did the Indian tribes appeal for through their dances ? 1
(e) How many calories are approximately burnt by half-an-hour of dancing ? 1
(f) How is dance a unifying force ? 1

2. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow : 6
Ladakh is a desert in the mountains in the Eastern part of Jammu and
Kashmir. This region does not receive any rain and is covered in snow for most of the
year. Very little agriculture is possible in this region and very few trees can grow. For
drinking water, people depend on the melting snow during the summer months. The
people eat meat and milk products like cheese and butter. Each family owns some,
goats, cows and dzos (yak-cows). The sheep in this region are very special. They
produce Pashmina wool which is prized. The people of Ladakh carefully collect the wool
and sell it to traders from Kashmir where costly Pashmina shawls are chiefly woven.
Though a desert Ladakh always attracted its share of traders. It was considered a good
trade route due to its many passes through which caravans with merchandise travelled
to what is today called Tibet. (150 words)
2.1 Answer the following questions briefly :
(a) Why is Ladakh a desert region ? 2
(b) How do the people of Ladakh obtain drinking water in summer ? 1
(c) Which cattle do they tend ? 1
(d) Why are the sheep of this region special ? 1
(e) Why was Ladakh considered a good trade route in olden times ? 1

3. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow : 8
There is only one natural satellite — the Moon. But there are many
man-made or artificial satellites revolving around the Earth. Aryabhatta, IRS-IB and
INSAT-2A are some Indian artificial satellites. They are more than 300 km away from
the Earth. At this height, the Earth’s gravity and atmosphere do not affect them.2/2/1 3 P.T.O.
Artificial satellites are of many kinds. Of them, weather satellites send
information and pictures of clouds, storms and ocean currents. They are used to predict
the weather. This information is also used to warn people about storms, floods, forest
fires, etc. Communication satellites are used to transmit telephone conversation and TV
programmes across the Earth. They are helpful in sending messages through fax
machines, using mobile phones and the internet. Science satellites send information
about outer space. Astronomers study this data and get to know more about things in
space. These satellites are launched into space by rockets. Once beyond the Earth’s
gravity and atmosphere, they are sent circling around the Earth by the force of another
rocket. There is nothing in space to obstruct the path or speed of these satellites. So
they continue to keep going around the Earth, just like the Moon. (198 words)
3.1 Answer the following questions briefly :
(a) Name any two of the Indian artificial satellites. 1
(b) Why are artificial satellites kept at a distance of more than 300 km away from
the Earth ? 1
(c) Mention any two kinds of man-made satellites. 1
(d) How is the information sent by weather satellites used ? 2
3.2 Find words/phrases from the passage which mean the same as the following :
(a) force of attraction between an object and the Earth 1
(b) body of water or air in motion 1
(c) block up/put something in the way of 1

SECTION B
(Writing) 20

4. In your town there are no public toilets in an area of about two kilometres. The misuse
of open spaces causes unhygienic conditions. Write a letter to the Health Officer of your
town requesting him to provide this facility in the interest of the residents. You are
Yash / Yashika living at 28, Khel Gaon, Warangal. Do not exceed 100 words. 6
OR
You went to visit an International Book Fair along with your family. You specially
liked the collection of Indian books on yoga, art of living, religion, etc. Write a letter to
your friend in Delhi describing your visit. You are Lovish / Lalita living at 5/E/29,
Liberty Lane, Tokyo, Japan. Do not exceed 100 words.2/2/1 4

5. Read the passage given below : 8
The bicycle is a wonderful invention indeed. It enables speedy travel using
your energy, whereas almost all other vehicles depend on external sources of energy.
Every school-boy knows who invented the first bicycle. It was a Scotsman
named Kirkpatrick Macmillan who in 1839 just fitted two wheels to a frame and
attached pedals to the back wheel. He then’ embarked on the first bicycle ride in
history. It was like nothing they had eVer seen. He covered 112 kilometers in a mere
10 hours. It was a great feat considering the speed of travel in those days.
Macmillan’s design of the bicycle was improved over the years. Handlebars
became curved, tyres were made thin, and multiple gears were introduced. John Boyd
Dunlop, thereafter revolutionized road transport by introducing pneumatic tyres.
Racing bicycles became common by 1970. They were very good on smooth
roads and climbed slopes comfortably. But on the mountain terrain where the roads
were rough they flopped. It was at this juncture that Joe Breeze came along with the
mountain bike. He made the tyres thick and introduced a new gear system, a flat
handlebar and efficient hand brakes. It was fine on smooth highways as well as rough
mountain roads.
5.1 On the basis of your reading of the above passage, make notes on it in points only, using
headings and sub-headings. Also use recognizable abbreviations, wherever
necessary. Supply a suitable title to it. 4
5.2 Write a summary of the above passage in about 50 words. 4

6. One of your class-fellows is very naughty. He creates trouble for students as well as
teachers. Write a paragraph in not more than 80 words about this naughty class-fellow. 6
OR
Acute shortage of drinking water during the summer season is reported every year in
your city. During your visit to the city you found great misuse of water. Using the
hints given below, write a report in not more than 80 words for your newspaper. You
are Arvind / Anshu, the reporter of a national daily.
misuse of water - water leaks from tanks installed on roofs of colonies -
public taps often broken - water pipes broken at places - not repaired -
water   f lowing endlessly-more water   f lows  than used-ser ious ef for ts
needed.

SECTION C
(Grammar) 15

7. In the passage given below, one word has been omitted in each line. Write the missing
word along with the word that comes before and the word that comes after it in your
answer sheet.  Ensure that the word that forms your answer is underlined as shown below.
½×8=4
Thieves broke into well-known         into  a well-known
jeweller’s shop the city through the (a)
back part of the shop Tuesday night. They (b)
made away with gold jewellery diamonds. (c)
Guards posted at the entrance the shop (d)
came know of it only after the shop (e)
was opened in morning. According to (f)
the police the thieves came from adjacent (g)
building was under construction. (h)

8. Read the following passage and fill in the blanks with the correct form of the words given
in brackets. Correctly number and write the answers in your answer sheet. ½×8=4
Sixteen year old Saina Nehwal (a) ___________ (become) the first Indian
woman (b) ___________ (win) a   major   international   badminton   tournament.    She
(c) _________ (beat) Julia Wong of Malaysia in Manila on 28th
May 2006. On being
asked she (d) _________ (say) that she (e)___________ (be)    confident    because she
(f) ___________ (defeat) Wong   before. She   just    (g) ____________ (concentrate) on
(h) ___________  (play).

9. Read the dialogue and complete the passage given below. Write the correct answer in
your answer sheet against the correct blank number. Do not copy the whole sentence. 1×4=4
Salesman : A young man snatched my briefcase.
Inspector : What did the young man look like ?
Salesman : He was tall, dark and thin. He had a long scar on his left cheek.
Inspector : It’s an important clue.
The salesman told the Inspector (a)_________________ . The Inspector enquired of him
(b)______________. The salesman told him (c)___________________. He specifically
pointed out that the young man had a long scar on his left cheek. The Inspector remarked
(d)__________ .2/2/1 6

10. Look  at  the  words   and  phrases  given  below.   Rearrange  them   to  form  meaningful
sentences. The first one has been done as an example. Write the correct sentences
in your answer sheet. Remember to number the answers correctly. 1×3=3
Example :
seeds / in / the month / sowed / the farmers / of July
The farmers sowed seeds in the month of July.
(a) cleverer / the / is / brother / the younger / than / elder brother
(b) elected / the / he / was / President / people / by
(c) me /the noise / traffic / of / kept / awake

SECTION D
(Literature) 45

11. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow. Write the answers in
your answer sheet in  one or two lines only.  Number the answers correctly. 5
I thought and thought, and suddenly I had an idea. I wrote the three pages
Mr. Keesing had assigned me and was satisfied. I argued that talking is a student’s
trait and that I would do my best to keep it under control, but that I would never be
able to cure myself of the habit, since my mother talked as much as I did, if not more,
and that there’s not much you can do about inherited traits.
(a) What made Anne think so deeply ? 1
(b) How much did she write ? 1
(c) What, according to Anne, is a student’s trait ? 1
(d) Why would she not be able to cure of her habit ? 1
(e) Which word in the passage means the same as ‘derived from parents’ ? 1

12. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow. Write the answers in
your answer sheet in  one or two lines only.  Number the answers correctly. 5
The overarching challenge of our times is to make globalization mean more
than bigger markets. To make a success of this great upheaval we must learn how to
govern better, and, above all, how to govern better together.
(a) What, according to Kofi Annan, is the greatest challenge of our times ? 1
(b) Why does he call it ‘a great upheaval’ ? 1
(c) What suggestions does he give to make globalisation a success ? 2
(d) Which word in the passage means the same as ‘great and sudden change’ ? 12/2/1 7 P.T.O.

13. What was the mystery in the story, ‘The Trunk of Ganesha’ ? How was it solved ? Write
your answer in about 80 words. 6
OR
Does Nehru feel that working only for India’s political freedom is not enough ? Give
reasons for your answer in about 80 words.

14. Did the surgeon allow the policeman to arrest the wounded Dan ? Why did he do so ?
Write your answer in 30 - 40 words. 4
OR
“ ’Tis an unjust world, Your Honour,” says Reuben to the Surgeon. Why does he
say so ? What does he mean by it ? Write your answer in 30 - 40 words.

15. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow. Write the answers in
your answer sheets. Remember to number the answers correctly. 3
Teach me to listen, Lord
To myself
Help me to be less afraid
To trust the voice inside
In the deepest part of me.
(a) Who is the poet addressing ? 1
(b) Why does the poet pray for help to be less afraid ? 1
(c) What is the ‘voice inside’ ? 1
                           OR
The sun in heaven was shining gay,
All things were joyful on that day;
The sea-birds screamed as they wheeled round,
And there was joyance in their sound.
(a) Name the two objects of nature mentioned in the stanza. 1
(b) What is the mood of nature on that day ? 1
(c) Which words in the stanza rhyme together ? 1

16. How is the stormy night compared to a dog ? Explain in 30 - 40 words. 3
OR
Why is the Spring described as “a new comer” in the poem, ‘Nothing Will Die’ ? Write
your answer in 30 - 40 words.

17. When people talk, what, according to the poet, is the universal message they give ? 22/2/1 8

18. “As you sow so shall you reap.” How is this statement applicable in case of Sir Ralph, the
Rover ? 2
  OR
Which places does the wind visit ?

19. What impression  does  Hari  Singh  form  of Anil  ?  Substantiate  your  answer  giving
examples from the text. Write your answer in about 100 words. 7
                                               OR
How did the lady in red manage to rob the safe without leaving a single fingerprint ?
Write your answer in about 100 words,

20. Who knocked at Ausable’s door ? Why did he do it ? 2

21. Why were the landlord and his wife surprised to see the scientist’s door wide open ? 2
   OR
Why did Jeanne not recognize her friend Matilda ?

22. Why was Ram Lal worried about Bholi and not about his other children ? 2

23. Why was the narrator happy to go to New MuUion ? Why did he go there ? 2
                                     OR
Why did Sulekha talk very little when she was a child ?