ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE (CODE NO. 184) …

1 ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE (CODE NO. 184) SAMPLE paper ( class X 2017-18) TIME 3 HOURS MAXIMUM MARKS- 80 SECTION A READING 20 marks Q1. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow: 1. Science is not only beautiful but it is also the fulcrum on which the strong crowbar of national missions, security and our future can rest, allowing modest investments to lift huge loads. This fulcrum must be strong and correctly placed, but today it is poorly positioned and not strong enough. 2. Many citizens say scientists must engage and solve our problems. Scientists respond that this could happen if there is more investment in education and research and less bureaucracy.

2 But such debates generate more heat than light. In an imperfect society, one component cannot demand perfection from another as a prerequisite for action. Each needs to help the other to improve. 3. Whether it is the rejuvenation of rivers, sanitation or dealing with plastic waste, there are many ongoing State programmes where the involvement of scientists must increase. Such involvement in national priorities happened in the West during World War II. Today, rescuing our environment and health should be seen by scientists as a battle where our best needs to pay attention. 4. So by principally relying on the admirable inventiveness and innovation of the West to fuel the needs of a large and diverse country such as ours, we have had economic growth.

3 This approach has had negative consequences on our environment, economy, people, and security. GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS I. The question paper is divided into three sections: SECTION A : Reading 20 MARKS SECTION B : Writing and Grammar 30 MARKS SECTION C : LITERATURE 30 MARKS II. All questions are compulsory. III. You may attempt any section at a time. IV. All questions of that particular section must be attempted in the correct order. 5. It is never easy to invest in future -science . Of the 100 potential game-changers in science, only 10 may succeed.

4 Risk is integral to investment, but we are in a better position today to assess and have significant resources to invest. So what needs to be done? 6. First, our university students must get opportunities for learning as well as problem solving. Second, India s senior scientists must lead and be part of all national missions to ensure their success within the stipulated time frame. Third, each ministry must create a science-for-the-future division in collaboration with the ministry of science and technology. (Adapted from 1, 2018, K Vijayaraghavan is secretary, department of biotechnology, ministry of science and technology) Attempt any eight of the following questions on the basis of the passage you have read (1X8=8 Marks) i.

5 What is science, according to the passage, para-1? ii. What kind of fulcrum should science be? (Para-1) iii. What do citizens want from scientists? (Para-2) iv. What do scientists want from society? (Para-2) v. In what kind of programmes should scientists be involved? (Para-3) vi. How should the scientists see issues like rescue of our environment? (Para-3) vii. What is the success rate of the game-changers in science? (Para-5) viii. State any one possible solution by which we can involve science in solving the problems of our country? (Para-6) ix. Give one word for original, creative and new idea . (Para-4) Q2. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow: What makes someone good at their job?

6 Talent or skill? 1. According to research by Stanford professor Carol Dweck and her colleagues many people believe that people s performance reflects either their innate talent for that activity or the amount of work they have done to acquire a skill. 2. In reality, of course, any performance reflects a combination of talent and skill. You can improve on just about any task with a lot of practice, though if your goal is to be the absolute best in the world at something it is also helpful to have some talent for it. 3. In order to put in the hard work to acquire a skill, you need to believe that the activity really is a skill you can learn. When you believe the activity is a talent then you don t bother to work hard at it, because you attribute any limitations in your performance to your lack of talent.

7 4. Rethinking Creativity As A Skill This way of thinking about talents and skills is particularly important when it comes to thinking about creativity. But for mental skills like creativity, few people know enough about the way their minds work to be able to treat it like a a result, most people tend to look at those people who develop creative ideas consistently with a kind of reverence. And people who do seem blessed with a talent for creativity live in fear that talent will run out some day and they will be just like everybody else. 5. In order to enhance your creativity, here are three things you can do to practice. First, become an explainer. In order to maximize the quality of your knowledge, you have to develop the habit to explain things back to yourself.

8 Think about what happens when you sit down to watch a TED talk. Second, practice openness. One of the five core personality dimensions is openness. It reflects how much you are motivated to consider new ideas, concepts, and experiences. Third, keep asking new questions. A third critical aspect of creativity is to remember that any idea you have is something that you pulled out of your memory. How do you get information from memory? All you do is ask your memory a question, and it pulls out information related to that question. Allow each of these perspectives to bring new information to mind that might help you solve the problem you face. (Adapted from , article by Art Markman, PhD is a professor of Psychology and Marketing at the University of Texas) On the basis of your reading of the passage, answer any four of the following questions in about 30-40 words each.

9 (2X4=8 Marks) i. According to the passage, what does people s performance reflect? ii. How is performance a combination of talent and skill? iii. Why is it good to believe that every activity is a skill? iv. Why are creative people looked at with reverence? v. How asking questions is helpful in fostering creativity? On the basis of your reading of the passage, answer any four of the following: (1X4=4) i. You can improve on just about any task with _____ . a. a lot of food. b. a little humour. c. a lot of practice. d. great expectations. ii. If you want to be best at something, you need to have some: a.

10 Talent for it. b. fruit for it. c. thought of it. d. time for it. iii. A good explainer, explains things to _____ . a. No one. b. Leaders. c. Yourself. d. People. iv. One of the five core personality dimensions is _____ . a. Happiness. b. Openness. c. Oneness. d. None. v. Give a word from the passage, that means same as inborn _____ . a. Acquired b. Learnt c. Innate d. None SECTION-B WRITING AND GRAMMAR - 30 marks Q3. You areDhruv/Dhriti of Ramesh Nagar, Delhi. You had recently bought a Samsung mobile phone from Zambo Electronics, Naraina, Delhi. The hand set is continuously giving you trouble. Write a letter of complaint explaining your plight and asking for a replacement/refund.