Max Marks: 40

Read these instructions very carefully and follow them.

1. There are seven questions in this paper. All questions are compulsory.

2. Separate instructions are given with each section and question, wherever necessary.

3. Do not exceed the prescribed word limit while answering the questions.

4. For MCQs, write the option number along with the answer.

PART A

READING SECTION (10 MARKS)

THE BATTLE OF BAGELS

1. In the summer of 1995, a bakery opened in Montreal, Canada and began to serve
warm, New York style bagels. Other cities across the world had been thrilled when New
York bagels finally came to town, but the Montrealers were outraged. Bagelville, the new
shop, went out of business and closed its doors in less than a year.

2. Montreal has a unique bagel tradition that dates back to at least 1919. The Montreal
bagel is chewier, smaller, and less dense, but has a much bigger hole than its American
cousin. Boiled in honey water and then baked in a wood-burning oven, it's a little sweet and
has a harder exterior. It is hand-rolled in the shape of an oval hoop; you can wear one around
your wrist like a bracelet.

3. People in both cities feel very strongly about their bagels, and there is something of an
ongoing competition between them. Residents of Montreal insist their brand of bagel is better
than the famous New York kind. New Yorkers, however, think the Montreal bagel is too
sweet-more like a doughnut than a genuine bagel should be. They complain that Montreal
bagels turn dry and hard less than a day after they're baked. Vince Morena, a co-owner of
Montreal's famous St. Viateur Bagel bakery says, "New Yorkers love New York bagels as
they are much fluffier than the ones in Montreal and about double the size."

4. St. Viateur Bagel is an extremely popular tourist destination. The doughy rings are
arranged in two rows on a long wooden plank and then shoved into a brick, wood-burning
oven. Halfway through the 20-minute cooking process, the bagels are flipped over. Forty
dozen bagels are produced every hour.

5. "You have to be an artist to bake in a wood-burning oven," said Irwin Shlafman,

owner of Fairmount Bagel, one of Montreal's very first bagel bakeries. "The temperature in
the oven is set by the guy who's putting the wood in and moving it around. It's terribly
difficult." The training process at the shop is extremely tough. "It takes a year at least before
I'll let anybody bake," said Shlafman firmly. "No one comes in here and says, 'I want to be a
baker.” Shlafman added, "New Yorkers come here and reluctantly try our bagel and enjoy it
somewhat, but when they get back, they feel better about the fact that they're home and can
get what they call a real bagel." Most of New York City's bagels are machine-made and
companies are capable of churning 400 dozen an hour.

6. So which bagel is better? The bagel wars are impossible to settle. In truth, there is no
"superior bagel," just citizens attached to the cultures and traditions of their own cities.

Q1. On the basis of your reading of the passage, answer the following questions: (1X10=10)

(i) Why did Bagelville go out of business?

a. The Montrealers thought the bagels were too sweet.

b. The Montrealers were thrilled about having New York-style bagels in town.

c. The Montrealers did not like the New York-style bagels.

d. The Montrealers like bagels that are larger.

(ii) Read the following sentence:

"Other cities across the world had been thrilled when New York bagels finally came to town,
but the Montrealers were outraged. Bagelville, the new shop, went out of business and closed
its doors in less than a year.

" As used in the passage, what does the word "outraged" mean?

a. furious b. excited c. unresponsive d. competitive

(iii). The word ‘unique’ has NOT been used correctly in which of the following sentences?

a. His style of singing is rather unique

b. The unique field mouse can be found in every country in the world.

c. Each person’s fingerprints are unique

d. These flowers have a unique smell.

(iv) Identify the figure of speech used in the sentence, “ you can wear one around your
wrist like a bracelet.”

a. personification b. simile c. metaphor d. Oxymoron

(v) According to Americans, which of the following is NOT TRUE about the Montreal
bagels?

a. It is sweet like a doughnut b. It turns dry and hard

c. It tastes like honey d. It is smaller in size

(vi) Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below.

At St. Viateur Bagel bakery, the workers can produce 40 dozen bagels in an hour; most New
York City bagel bakeries use machines that can produce about 400 dozen an hour.

a. for instance b. primarily c. as a result d. on the other hand

(vii) Irwin Shlafman of Fairmount Bagels describes the training process at his bagel shop.
Based on his description, how does he feel about his work?

a. competitive b.tired c. ashamed d. proud

(viii) Read the following sentence from the passage:

"Shlafman added, 'New Yorkers come [to Montreal] and reluctantly try our bagel and enjoy it
somewhat, but when they get back, they feel better about the fact that they're home and can
get what they call a real bagel."

What conclusion does this sentence best support?

a. People tend to prefer the food-related traditions of their own cities.

b. Shlafman believes New Yorkers are experts when it comes to making great bagels.

c. People from different parts of the world have different opinions about New York City
bagels.

d. The author does not believe that there is a "superior bagel."

(ix) How does the author compare the two different types of bagels?

a. Montreal bagels are more popular worldwide, while New York bagels are only
popular in New York.

b. Montreal bagels are smaller and sweeter, while New York bagels are larger and
fluffier.

c. Montreal bagels are machine-made, while New York bagels are cooked in a wood
burning oven.

d. Montreal bagels have very small holes in the middle, while New York bagels have
large holes in the middle.
(x) What is the main idea of this passage?

a. New Yorkers insist that their bagels are better than those made in Montreal, even
though their bagels are machine-made.

b. Bagel shops will continue to put each other out of business until they can determine
which style of bagel is superior.

c. There is no "superior bagel," but people from New York and Montreal are proud of
their cultures and are attached to their city's bagel style.

d. The Montreal bagel is sweeter and chewier than the New York-style bagel, which is
larger and fluffier.

Read the following passage given below and answer the questions that follow:

The family of snakes called vipers includes some of the deadliest poisonous snakes in the world.
These snakes live mostly in the rain forests, wet places and also in mountains inside small caves.
Some examples of the snakes in this fearsome group are the water moccasin, rattlesnake, and
copperhead- all of which are found in the United States of America; the bushmaster and the fer-de-
lance of South America, and the puff-adder of Africa.

Vipers have thick bodies, short tails and triangular heads. The fangs in their upper jaws inject poison
into their victims' bodies almost like a hypodermic needle. When the snakes bite, they contract the
muscles around their poison sacks. These sacks are located behind the eyes. The poison squirts out
through the hollow fangs. Almost half a teaspoon of poison is put into a victim at one time. They
mainly eat amphibians,smallmammals,lizards and small nestlings. The venom of viper snake is not
used for predators meaning they don't fight with the venom, but they use the venom only for the prey
so that the viper snake can eat it. Their venom has more than a dozen toxic components. Fortunately,
many of these snakes are small, so their bite is not fatal. One interesting fact is that these snakes can
stay upto one year without eating. According to an ancient myth or folklore, the touch of the tongue of
the viper snake had the property of healing a person.

The viper snake can have a lot of babies. In the month of August the female snake gives birth to 20
live young snakes. The eggs stay inside the mouth of the female viper. They are fed there by the
mother till they are old enough to take care of themselves. When the young are ready to come out they
are set free in the wild.

There are actually two main types of vipers- the true viper and the pit vipers. The pit vipers live in
Asia and Americas. The name comes from a small hollow in the side of the snake's head just below
the eye. This small hollow or pit has a special nerve or a temperature- sensing organism. This nerve
helps the pit viper to find its warm blooded prey. Their organs have the same function as a mammal's
organ. True vipers don't have this special nerve and must rely on their keen sense of smell to find their
food. Vipers don't usually strike unless they are disturbed or are looking for food. Still, it is a good
idea to stay away from them.

A1.1 Answer the following questions and write the and answer in the answer sheet.

Why is the family of snakes called vipers?What are two main types of vipers?
Why is the viper's bite compared to an injection?

How does the mother viper protect her young ones?

The nerve helps the pit viper to

A1.2 Find words/phrases from the passage which mean the same as the following:

1. young birds (para 2) 2.depend (para 4) 9

GRAMMAR (5 MARKS)

Q2. Fill in the blanks by choosing the correct option: (1X5=5 Marks)

(i) My parents are on holiday. They totally _______.

(a) had gone (b) have gone (c) went (d) are going

(ii) I _______ learning Spanish since December.

(a) am learning (b) had been learning (c) have been learning(d) was learning

(iii) I ______ German at school, but I most of it now.

(a) studied, have forgotten (b) have studied, forgot

(c) studied, forgot (d) have studied, have forgotten

(iv) Please don’t make so much noise, I to work.

(a) Have been trying (b) am trying (c) tried (d) was trying

(v) I have a car, but I it much.

(a) am not using (b) was not using (c) did not use (d) do not use

LITERATURE (5 MARKS)

Q3. Read the extract given below and attempt the following questions by choosing the right
option. (1X5=5)
She never looked back from that point onwards. She toured the United Kingdom with a youth
orchestra and by the time she was sixteen, she had decided to make music her life. She
auditioned for the Royal Academy of Music and scored one of the highest marks in the
history of the academy. She gradually moved from orchestral work to solo performances.
1. What did Evelyn decide when she was sixteen years old ?
2. How did Evelyn get right to the top ?
3. Which word in the passage means the same as “gave a short performance so
that the director could decide whether she was good enough” 

a) When Evelyn was sixteen years old, she decided to make music her life.
b) Evelyn got to the top by hard work, motivation and determination.
c) Auditioned.

4. “A teacher has to be adjusted to fit the mind of each boy and girl he teaches….”
This means that

(a) every individual has his own abilities and qualities.

(b) each boy and girl should be taught separately.

(c) a teacher should teach according to the ability of the child.

(d) a teacher should fit into the mind of the learner.

5. When Margie was reminded of her school by her mother, why did she say, 'Not yet,
Mamma'?

(a) She wanted to read the book some more.

(b) She wanted to complete her home work.

(c) She wanted to rest.

(d) She wanted to go out with Tommy.

3. 'Can I read the book some more with you after school?' This shows that

(a) Margie wanted to show the book to her friends.

(b) Margie was eager to know more about the schools in the olden time.

(c) reading a printed book was fun.

(d) Margie wanted to use the book to complete her homework.

4. Where was Margie's school room?

(a) near her house

(b) in her house, right next to her bedroom

(c) in the school building

(d) right Next to the kitchen.

Wind, come softly

Don’t break the shutters of the windows.
Don’t scatter the papers
Don’t throw down the books on the shelf
There, look what you did – you threw them all down.
You tore the pages of the books.
You brought rain again.
You’re very clever at poking fun at weaklings.
1. Write about any two destructive activities of the wind.
2. How can we make friends with the wind ?
3. Find the word from the extract which is an antonym of “foolish”.
Trace a word from the extract which means “thrown in different directions”.
4. What does “You ” stands for?
Answer:
1. Two destructive activities of the winds are –
(a)Breaks the shutters of windows.
(b)Scatters the papers.
(c)Throws down the books.
(d)Tears the pages of books. (Any two)
2. We can make friends with the winds byjbuilding strong homes and strong
body and heart.
3. Clever.

PART B

WRITING (5 MARKS)

Q4. You are Purnima /Pavan , living at 3244, Sarita Colony, Mumbai-32. Your friend Sunitha /
Sanjeev has gone to Chennai due to the transfer of her/ his father. Recollecting the sweet memories of
old times, write a letter in about 100 words inviting her /him to stay with you during the vacation.
Also mention the programme you have planned according to her/his liking.

OR
During the outbreak of the COVID–19 pandemic you were quite impressed by many people
who performed their duties unrelentingly. The person who impressed you the most is your
family doctor. Write a descriptive paragraph about him/her in 100-120 words.

Write a diary entry on one of your nightmares you had one night.

OR

Write a short story in 200 – 250 words using the following clues. Provide your story with a title.
(5m)

Travelling to Mumbai by bus to attend the marriage of a friend …… got stuck in a traffic jam …….
reached the railway station late …… boarded a wrong train …… realized after two hours ……. now
you ………

LITERATURE (15 MARKS)

Q5. Answer any four of the following questions in 20-30 words each. (4X2=8 Marks)

i. Why did Margie feel that children in the old days had fun while studying in
schools?
ii. Why did emperor Aurangzeb ban pungi? Who revived it and how?
iii. How did Evelyn hear music despite being deaf?
iv. Describe the two roads that Robert Frost finds in the poem ‘The Road Not
Taken’. Which road does he choose?
v. Who was Ron Forbes and what did he do?
vi. Why should the earthly people build strong houses?

Q6. Answer the following questions in 40-50 words each. (2X4=12 Marks)

i. What challenges are posed by wind in the life of the poet and the common man?

ii. Why did the County Inspector’s visit disappoint Margie?

iii. In spite of her towering success, Evelyn Glennie does not accept any hint of heroic
achievement. Explain.
iv. How did young Bismillah develop his interest in Shehnai?
v. How did the mother distract the child from the toy seller?
vi. Describe how grandfather took Toto to Sharampur?

Q7. Answer ANY ONE the following in 100-120 words. (5X1=5 Marks)

i) Bismillah Khan on receiving Bharat Ratna remarked, Teach your children music
Hindustan’s richest tradition, eve west is now coming to learn our music. What
does it reveal about his sentiments towards India?

OR

ii) In what ways Kezia's grandmother encourage her to know her father better?
 Answer ANY ONE the following in 100-120 words. (5X1=5 Marks)

iii) The child only sobbed, “I want my mother, I want my father!” Discuss why does
the lost child lose interest in all the things that he had wanted earlier?
OR
iv) Grandfather was a great lover of animals. Describe