CBSE Class 10 English Communicative Sample Paper 2014 Set 07

Section A (Reading)

Q 1. The Moon 

The moon is a quite life less world .At an average distance of 384000kms from the earth it is our nearest neighbour in space. The low gravity at its surface –about one sixth as strong as on the earth- is too small to hold an atmosphere around it. This is why photographs taken on the moon show a high contrast with little or no detail visible in the shadows. There is also a great contrast between the moon’s day and night temperatures. At mid-day, the surface temperature reaches 100 oC, but at night, it drops to 150 oC below zero (0). The moon travels around the earth once a month in an eliptical orbit, as it moves; the angle it makes with the sun and the earth, changes .This gives rise to its phases or changes in its appearance. When the moon is closest to the sun, the side facing us is in darkness. We call this a new Moon. As the moon continues its journey around the earth, the side facing us gradually becomes illuminated. The Moon passes through crescent, first quarter and the gibbous phases. Eventually, it appears as complete, bright yellow disc .We call this full moon. And the change from new Moon to full moon is called waxing. Once the moon is full, the reverse process called waning takes place. Each day, the illuminated area from the earth decreases and when the moon has become new, once more the whole process is repeated.

1.1 On the basis of your reading of the passage complete the following statements as briefly as possible against the correct blank no. in your answer sheet: -

(a) Our nearest neighbour in space i.e. Moon has …………………………….......………….. And is at ……………………………………

(b) Unlike the earth the moon has no atmosphere around it because……………………….. ………………………………………………

(c) The low gravity at the moon also results in …………………………………………. ………………………………………………………

(d)………………………………………………………………………………………………. brings phases in the shape of the moon .

(e) Before the full moon appears, it a passes through the following three phases.

    (i) …………………. (ii)……………………. (iii)…………………… 

(f) The change of new moon to full moon is called………………………………… while the change from full moon to new moon is called …………………………… 

Q 2. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:

1. Alfred Hitchcock was a man with a vivid imagination, strong creative skills and a passion for life. He has always been linked with humour and frightening suspense. With his unique style and Godgifted wit he produced and directed some of the most thrilling films that had the audience almost swooning with fright and falling off their seats with laughter. 

2. Alfred Hitchcock was born in 1899, in London. His father was in poultry business. Being a Roman Catholic, he went to Jesuit schools. It is believed that at the age of five, Alfred was once sent to the police station by his father. He carried along with him a note for the superintendent. On reading it, the latter locked the little boy in a cell and told him that his father wanted him to learn what happens to bad children. Alfred was so taken aback, rather shocked, that policeman and spies stayed in his mind till the end!

3. After school, Alfred studied science and engineering at London University. He was greatly influenced by American films and magazines. At the age of 20, he took up a job at the office of Paramount Studio, London. Using imagination, talent and dedication, he made each of his endeavours a success.

4. He took great pleasure in working in the studio and made all those around him feel his presence. While working on a film, Alfred often worked all seven days a week. He laboured with the script, plot construction and brought in dialogues, which probably only he could create. The plot used to be so well-knit that every detail had to be worked out in advance, leaving no room for any last minute changes. He won many hearts and was always welcomed with great affection. Once he reserved a table at Stockholm’s most exclusive restaurant. The management quickly prepared some confections in the shape of daggers, guns and poison bottles!

5. Fascinated by big money, Alfred moved to USA in 1939 and got his American citizenship in 1955 .Here, he produced more complex films. He also produced and hosted a weekly television show. No matter from where his ideas came , whether a magazine article, a mystery novel or incident, his films had the typical Hitchcock touch –where the agony of suspense was relieved by interludes of laughter ! Hitchcock was knighted in 1980. He died in the same year.

2.1 On the basis of your reading of above passage, complete the following sentences.

Write the answers in your answer sheet against the correct blank number.

(i) Besides writing thrilling stories Alfred Hitchcock also

   (a) …………………..and (b) …………………films. 

(ii) The typical Hitchcock style included

   (c)…………………...and (d)………………………. 

(iii) The two factors that influenced Hitchcock’s writings were

   (e) …………..in his childhood and (f) …………….in his youth

Please refer to attached file for CBSE Class 10 English Communicative Sample Paper 2014 Set G