CBSE Board Class 10 English Core Sample Papers 2011

Q1. Read the following passage given below and answer the questions that follow:
Plant tissue culture (PTC) is the art and  science of multiplying plants or plant parts  (such as organs, tissues, cells, pollens, spores and embryos ) under controlled conditions of light, temperature or humidity in an optimal nutrient medium under aseptic conditions in a glass vessel..

 Even a single cell has the potency to perform all the metabolic activities to form an independent  plant.  This phenomenon is known as  totipotency. This is successfully used in tissue culture. Infinite number of plants can be produced from single explant in a short span of time, irrespective of  natural conditions.  The seedlings will be genetically true copies  of the mother plant. That means , genetic purity  can be maintained as far as required, in every seedling, which is almost impossible in conventional means  of propagation.

PTC has been successfully tried in almost all plant  varieties. Some plants like orchids produce millions of non-endospermous seeds in a single fruit, which cannot be cultivated in natural conditions. When grown through  PTC, they have more than 75%  germination. In the medium in which  plants are cultivated  all the required  micro and macro nutrients  and vitamins are added.  PTC has been commercialised and  is a lucrative business.

a)  Name the different parts of   a plant mentioned here .     1
b) What is totipotency ?                                                               2
c) What is the advantage of totipotency ?                                 2
d) What are the true copies of mother plant referred here ?  1
e) What is produced by orchid plants ?                                      1
f) What is plant tissue culture ?                                                     2
g) What happens when orchid plants are grown through  PTC ?  1
h) Find the  words from the passage which mean             2 x 1 = 2
         i)  making a large profit     
        ii)  growth

Q2.  Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow:
       What is a snake ?  A snake is a reptile without legs. A reptile usually has scales,lays eggs, breathes air and doesn’t spend much time taking care of its babies. It is also cold-blooded, which means that its body doesn’t stay in the same temperature all the time. Snakes get very cold on winter days and very hot in the summer.  Because of this,                                        
                                                                                 
This article is the property of BoardGuess.com. Any unauthorized use is strictly prohibited. for more information.snakes usually stay in burrows during very hot and cold weather. A burrow is a hole in the ground where they can live.  All snakes are carnivores or meat-eaters. Small snakes eat bugs and frogs.Longer ones eat fish, birds, mice and rabbits.  They use sharp teeth and strong muscles to catch the prey.  If the prey animal is bigger than its mouth, the snake can dislocate(unhinge) its bottom jaw to fit the big animal in.                     

 Venom is the poison that snake put into its prey through its fangs(teeth). This either kills the prey animal or make it paralysed so that the prey can’t move. Once venom gets into the prey, it is easy  for the snake to eat it. Some venomous
snakes have bright colours or patterns which can warn us. Rattle snakes have rattles to scare away animals or people that might hurt them.
a) Why do snakes usually stay in burrows during very hot and cold weather ?     2
b) How do the snakes use their venom ?                                                                 2
c) What is meant by ‘cold-blooded’ ?                                                                     1
d) What do you mean by ‘carnivores’ ?                                                                 1
e) How does a snake catch the prey bigger than its mouth ?                                   1
f) Find a word from the passage  which means ‘frighten or become frightened’1
                                 
SECTION - B    (WRITING)

Q3. You are Kiran / Kirmayi of Gandhi of Gandhi Park, Andhra Pradesh. Write a letter to the Govt of A.P. complaining to him about the lack of facilities malfunctioning of the
Government  Hospital in your area.                                                                                   8 M                          
             OR
Write a letter to the Commissioner of Chennai Corporation, complaining about the poor sanitary conditions and mosquito-menace in your locality. 

Q4. Majority of women and girls are facing  the problem of eve-teasing at the bus stop  It has become a common phenomenon in the vicinity of schools and colleges.  Write an article about the problem drawing the attention of the police and authorities.                              8  M
                                       OR
Write a paragraph with the hints given below in not more than 80 words: 
Fire in slum area-20 march, 2008.-Rampur in Guntur-weaker sections-small shops-gutteddeath of twenty people-voluntary club, President, Citizen’s Club-rescue operationstemporary shelter in Govt. Shool-issue of blankets, food packets etc.- arrival of local
magistrate- investigation by police –need of precautionary measures                                        

Q5.You are Surya / Nandita working for ‘India Today’.  Last week, you attended a seminar on ‘Pleasures of Eye-Donation’, organised by the Young Buzz of your district.  Write a report of this seminar in not more than 100 words for publication in India Today.            4
                            OR
You are Lingesh  / Lila. As a responsible citizen you have organised a campaign on ‘Say No to Polythene Bags’, in your locality.  Write a report in not more than 125 words for publication in a magazine.
 
                                                  SECTION – C ( GRAMMAR)                                

Q6.   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 after in your answer sheet.Ensure that the word forms your answer is underlined as shown. First one has been done for you.
                                                                               
     Ultrasonic sounds used to measure                            e.g.  sounds are used          
     the depth oceans and the principles                               a.  _____________
     behind is known sound navigations                               b.  _____________
     and ranging, sonar. Ultrasonic weaves  sent                  c   _____________
     from  transmitter from the surface of the sea,               d.   _____________
     from a ship.  sound waves are  reflected                       e.   _____________
     by the sea bottom are sensed  a receiver                        f   _____________
     system and recorded. the known value                          g   _____________
     of the speed of sound  water.                                         h  _____________

Q7) Write the correct form of the under lined word in the passage.                                   4
The process of 
a) educate is largely concerned with our inter-relations with our  fellow-beings. In fact, education is a process of
b) adjust and harmony with our social environment. The child begins to learn this with
c)refer to his home environment and then to the school environment and in later years to the environment of his professional and other fields of
d) operational. The attitude that good education gives man as a gift is the attitude of understanding and
e) interesting in our fellow beings, resulting in
f) tolerable and friendliness with them. This attitude of understanding and
g) appreciative others starts with understanding and appreciating ourselves. In this the
h) contribute of literature is invaluable.  

Q8,   Read the following the passage and  fill in the blanks with correct form of the words
      given in   brackets.                                                                                                        8 
     All know that (a) __________ [drink] is bad and is sure (b) ___________ [spoil] your
      health which is our duty (c) ___ _____________ [protect]. (d) _______________ [avoid]
      wine, tea and other such things  is easy (e)___________ [adopt] but it needs a man fully
      (f)___________ [determine] who is ready (g) _________ [bear] the pangs of pains if he
      decides  h.)_________ (remain) healthy.                                        
                                                                                 
Q9.  Rearrange the following words and phrases to form meaningful sentences
     The first has been done as an example.                                                          3 x.1= 3 
     Example :
     Just a slip of paper/to many people/that takes a letter/from one town to another/a stamp is.
     Ans : A stamp is, to many people just a slip of paper that takes a letter from one town to
               another
  .
a. vast and important / that is / knowledge  /stamps / contain
b. is a waste of time  /many people / think / that / stamp collection
c. pleasure/provides / stamp collection / as / they are /vast knowledge / and / a treasure of history.

Q10.Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow. Answer in one
or two lines only.                                                                                                                5 
The minute they entered the  class room, they stopped short and gasped. Thee were drawings all over the room, on every ledge and windowsill, dazzling  colours and brilliant lavish designs, all drawn on great sheets of wrapping paper. There must have been a hundred of them, all lined up.  These must be the drawings for the contest. They were ! Everybody stopped and whistled or murmured admiringly.As soon as the class had assembled, Miss Mason announced the winners. 
Jack Beggles had won for the boys, she said and his design for an outboard motor was on exhibition in Room Twelve, along  with the sketches by all other boys.
a) Why did they stop short and gasp ?                                                                     1
b) How did they react to the drawings ?                                                                  1
c) Who won the contest meant for girls ?                                                                1
d) Why  did Maddie think that Peggy  would win the  drawing contest
for girls ?                                                                                                             1
e) Find a word from the passage which means ‘lavish’.                                        1

Q11. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow. Asnwer in one
or two  lines only.                                                                                                             5  
      He wandered for seven  years and finally sat  down under a  fig  tree, where he vowed to stay until enlightenment came. Enlightened after seven day,  he renamed  the tree  the
      Bow Tree (Tree of Wisdom) and began to teach and to share his new understandings. 
     At that point he became known as the Buddha.(The Awakened or The Enlightened).  
     The Buddha preached his first sermon  at the city of Benares,  most holy of the  dipping
     places on the river Ganges.
    a) Who m does “he” refer to ? Why did he wander ?                                                   1
    b) Why was the fig tree  renamed ?                                                                              1                                        
                                                                                 
    c) Where did  he  give his first sermon ?                                                                      1
    d) What  is so special about Benares ?                                                                         1
    e)  Find from the passage w the word which means ‘religious or moral lecture’     1

Q12. Answer the following question in about 80 words:                                            6 
      Write the character sketch of  Natalya.
OR
      Illustrate the statement  that ‘Coorg is a piece of heaven on earth’.

Q13.  Answer the following questions  in 30-40 words                                                4 
       What are the freedoms Mandela  talks about  as a boy and as a student ?
                                               OR
        What do you know  about  Otters from the lesson ‘Mijbil the Otter’ ?  

Q14. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:                 4 
       I am Rapunzel,  I have not a care;
      Life in a tower is tranquil and rare;
      I’ll certainly never let down my bright hair !
         
     a) Where do you think is Rapunzel  found ?                                                          1
     b) What kind of life is she living?                                                                           1
     c) What kind of girl does she prove in the end ?                                                    1
     d) Whose  hair  is referred to here ?                                                                        1
     OR
      He should be snarling around houses
      At the jungle’s edge
      Baring his white fangs, his claws,
      Terrorising the village!
          a)  Why do you think he should be snarling around houses ?                                      1
          b)  What does he do while moving at jungle’s edge ?                                                  1
          c)   How do villagers feel and why ?                                                                            2

Q15. Answer any two of the following questions in 30 to 40 words each on the basis of
the lines  given below:                                                                                                       6 
    a) ‘It sits looking
          over harbour and sit
          on silent haunches
          and then moves on’.
       What does ‘it’ refer to here and how is it described by the poet ?               3                                     
                                                                                 

     b) “The forest that was empty all these days.”
        How does the poet depict the empty forest  ?                                              3
    c) ‘And stares with his brilliant eyes
         At the brilliant stars’.
        Who stares at the stars  and why does he  do so ?                                        3

Q16.  Answer the following question in 100 words:                                                         8 
‘How singular life is ? And how full of changes it is !’  Illustrate the character of Matilda   in the light of this statement. 
OR
        Describe the role played by Bholi’s  teacher in transforming her ?

Q17. Answer the following question in 30-40 words:                                                        4      
Why was the thief grateful  to Anil ?
OR
      Explain  the phrase ‘honour among thieves’ with reference  to the lesson ‘A Question of
      Trust’

Q18. Answer the following question in 20 - 30 words.                                                      3
     
     What do you think  about  Think-Tank in the play ‘The Book that Saved the Earth’. ?
                                                                         OR
      How was the young lawyer treated by Lutkins’ mother ?