CBSE Class 10 English Communicative Sample Paper 2014 Set 08

Section A

(Reading)

Q1. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:

1. Nelson Mandela is one of the freedom fighters of last two decades who at heart is just like all of us an ordinary person. Yet he used his experiences, his sensitivity to fight for all that he believed in. Mandela was the foster son of a Jembu- African chief and he grew up in a two culture world – that of his traditional African family and the culture of the white man who was ruling his country.

2. He was trained to be a lawyer and could have lived a comfortable life. But he saw his people around him suffering. The poor who already lived in miserable circumstances were also constantly harassed. There was no dignity in being a black man; there was always some kind of injustice. Although, he lived a comfortable life, Mandela could not close his eyes to the suffering and injustice around him. He felt everything, an act of injustice or violence meted out to someone which caused them pain, was done to him too. An incident that took place with his friend Paul, who took a stand in front of a white magistrate made Mandela take a decision and that was to fight for freedom and dignity which was the right of every human being.

3. Thus, began the anti-apartheid defiance of the apartheid law. Mandela and his friends knew that the state was much more powerful than they were and that any show of violence on their part would crush them even before beginning. Greatly influenced by Gandhiji and the principle of non-violence in achieving freedom, Mandela chose to campaign against apartheid without any violence. In the six months of the campaign, there was not a single act of violence and the campaign was a success.

4. What qualities do freedom fighters need? To begin with, a discerning mind that hankers after the truth. The respect, trust and loyalty of fellow men and women depends not just on sweet inspiring words but on the transparency and sincerity that comes from inside.

5. Then one needs a strong belief in unity and solidarity and the ability to bring different kinds of people together for the same cause. A belief in the concept of brotherhood is essential too. They also have to be able to sacrifice something dear to their heart. In our country today, we too desperately need freedom fighters as we are oppressed by corruption, dishonesty, poverty, disease, injustice, inequality and communal violence.

6. If we think, what can I do? I am just an ordinary person. What difference can I make? In the fight for justice, equality, peace and freedom, every person has suffered indignities. And it is important to remember that every person who believes in freedom makes a difference.

1.1 Complete the following statements using information from the passage. Write your answer in the answer sheet against the correct blank numbers:

Nelson Mandela fought against (a) ____________ putting to use his (b) ___________ . The (c)________________ of people around him greatly (d) _________________ him and he could not (e) _________________ a comfort life. He openly (f) ________________________ against the apartheid laws. He was such a staunch believer of (g)………………………………………… Some of his qualities which a freedom fighter must possess are (h)……………………………….

1.2. Find words from the passage which mean the same as the following from the paragraphs indicated. 

Write the answers in your answer sheet. 

  (a) Contempt of opposition (Para 4)

  (b) Oneness of interest (para5)

  (c) Crushed / Treated harshly (para5)

  (d) With good judgement or understanding (para4)

Q. 2 Read the poem given below carefully:

            HOLY THURSDAY

1.               Is this a holy thing

                  In a rich and fruitful land,

                  Babes reduced to misery

                  Fed with cold and usurous hand?

2.               Is that trembling cry of song?

                 Can it be a song of joy?

                 And so many children poor?

                 It is land of poverty

3               And their sun does never shine,

                 And fields are bleak and bare

                 And their ways are filled with thorns

                 It is eternal winter there

4               For wherever the sun does shine,

                 And where the rain does fall,

                 Babe can never hunger there,

                 Nor poverty the mind appall

2.1 On the basis of your reading of the poem answer the following questions briefly. Write your Answers in the answer sheet against the correct blank numbers. 

   (a) In rich country like England the rich people………………………………………………..

   (b) England for the poet is a land of poverty and the poet wants to ………………………………..

   (c) The children are singing a song but……………………………

   (d) Their fields are bleak and bare (line10)

        symbolically this means that …………………………………….

   (e) It is eternal winter for the children because…………………………………………….

   (f) The main reason for the poet’s grief is ……………………………………

   (g) The rhyming words in the final verse, lines (13 to 16) are……………………………

   (h) Find another word in the poem which means ‘permanent’: ……………………………

SECTION B (Writing) 

Q.3 You are Nikita/Nakul, the Cultural Secretary of your School. The Principal has asked you to put up a notice on the school notice board informing the students about the forthcoming visit to the book fair which the school is organizing between 14 – 22 November 2008. Draft a notice, giving all relevant details in about 50 words. Put the notice in a box.

Q.4 Read the following telephonic conversation and write the message in not more than 50 words based on this. Put the message in message box. 

Vaibhav : May I talk to Saurabh Gupta? I am his brother from Jaipur.

Manish : No, he is not on his seat.

Vaibhav : Can you give him a message?

Manish : Yes, sure

Vaibhav : I am reaching Delhi tonight by Puja Express on some important official work. He should meet me at Nizamuddin

Manish : OK Anything else?

Vaibhav : Please tell him to confirm the train timings. Thank you

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