SAMPLE PAPER

Section A- Reading

SECTION A: READING SKILLS

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

It is common knowledge that school children are under great pressure to perform well in all fields,
study ten subjects, play games and develop an impressive image. How do they manage? The skills,
techniques and principles which they pick up while still young help them cope.

2. Two of twentieth century’s finest minds have lamented that schools are not teaching the basics of
personal excellence or the science of success. Edward De Bono : “Almost all of what a child learns at
school after the age often is totally irrelevant to his need in later life. Most schools do not teach
thinking at all.” The serious thesis of this article is that management must be taught as a school
subject. The weightiest argument is that children are managers.

3. Many of children are called upon to play directly three of the interpersonal roles: “Figurehead”,
“Leader” and “Liaison Officer”. They do this while assisting teachers as monitors or class
representatives or group leaders during educational tours and field work; while captaining teams on
playgrounds; and while leading teams in quiz, debating and other competitions. Many more play
these roles as surrogates.

4. The decision role of “Entrepreneur” and “Resource Allocator” may only occasionally be assigned
to children. However, it is worth noting that, according to a recent survey in Delhi, a monthly
allocation of up to Rs. 1000 is available as pocket money to school children. Therefore, school
children too need to have control over money and to develop a sense of budget. If we add to these
financial resources, the resources of time, information and intellect available to children, the first
two decision roles are not irrelevant to them.

5. Children play the other two decision roles: “Disturbance Handler” and “Negotiator” more often.
True, the international roles of “monitor”, “disseminator” and “spokesman” are not so frequently
and formally engaged in by children as by CEOs, MDs, Vice Presidents and other adult managers.

6. If you cannot see children as managers, they are managers in the making: Many of the
management habits (e.g., using a to-do list), management skills (e.g. Sensitive listening),
management attitudes and values are formed early in life. Personality theorists believe that it is
extremely difficult to change personality traits, styles of thinking and habits of behavior once they
are formed.

7. As in language learning, where basic aspects of language like pronunciation and rhythm are
extremely resistant to learning after puberty, good management habits, attitudes and values are
difficult to acquire in adulthood. In the fifties, even in the educationally advanced countries such as
the U.S, Algebra was thought to be too abstract to be taught even in senior schools. Now it is taught
from upper primary classes onwards in both educationally progressive and developing countries.
Computer skills, lateral thinking and swimming, often felt to be forbidden by adults are easily learnt
by children. In fact, both research evidence and specialists’ beliefs strongly support the view that
children’s ability to learn skills like swimming and creative thinking is much more developed than
adults. Equally important, complex organisms (a) learn what is necessary or pleasurable and (b)
adapt themselves in ways that will serve their needs and interests with amazing enthusiasm, ease
and effectiveness.

Q.1. On the basis of your reading of the above passage, answer the following questions by choosing
the correct option given below: (6 × 1 = 6)

1.1 The reason of pressure on children is:

(a) Common knowledge

(b) Absence of skills

(c) Choice between studies and games

(d) Performance demand in all fields

1.2 What according to few educationists, is lacking in school teaching?

(e) Basics of personal excellence

(f) Science of success

(g) Thinking

(h) All f the above

1.3 The sense of budget among children is an indication towards their capability of erforming:

(i) Interpersonal role

(j) Decision role

(k) Leading role

(I) Informational role

1.4 The article advocates teaching __________ as a subject in school.

(m) Management

(n) Creative Thinking (o) Computer skills (p) Swimming

1.5 Which word is opposite in meaning of “concrete”?

(q) Algebra (r) Acquire (s) Resistant (t) Abstract

1.6 The terms used for a detailed critical inspection/study is:

(u) Intellect (v) Resource Allocator (w) Survey (x) Budget

2.1. How the interpersonal roles are performed by students? (Any One)

2.2 What are the attributes of good management?

2.3 Why is it difficult to acquire good management habits in adulthood?

2.4 Which roles according to the author are occasionally performed by the students?

1.5 Which word in the above passage means the same as-Regretted’

1.6 Which word in the above passage means the same as-‘officially’

2. Read the following passage carefully

In life, you’ll always come across situations where there will be someone else who’s better than you,
especially there is no one quality or standard that people can be judged on. There will always be
someone who looks better, has more money or is more intelligent than you. How you choose to
approach these situations, of course, depends on the perspective you take. People in themselves
aren’t intimidating, it’s the opinions you form about them that make you feel so. Rather than judging
people on a single attribute and getting intimidated, be comfortable with who you are and approach
other people as complete individuals rather than a bundle of good or bad attributes.

The key to not letting others intimidate you is to know your own worth. Don’t let your sense of if be
defined by what others think of you or how you compare yourself to them. Know what you are, and
be comfortable in your skin. Instead of feeling threatened and letting your ego in the way, you could
benefit a great deal by being around people who might be better than you in some ways. Respect
others for what they are and use these opportunities to learn from the strengths and virtues of
others. Don’t get bogged down by what you don’t have or can’t do. We all have limitations. Learn to
accept them and focus on your strengths. A lot of times, we come under

pressure from what people we believe to be more popular and influential than us, in a bid to fit in
with them. However, at times like these, it’s important for you to stay true to yourself and say ‘no’
when you’re expected to do something that makes you uncomfortable. Your first response to an
intimidating person or situation would probably be to avoid them altogether. However, avoidance
only goes on to increase your anxiety.

Confront these situations head on, with more and more practice, you’ll start finding these situations
easier to deal with. Always keep in mind that everybody has flaws and everyone has his/her own
share of struggles, even if you aren’t able to spot them. Our self-esteem gets lowered when we focus
too much on our weaknesses and neglect what we get right. Change this pattern and start giving
yourself credit for your strengths and success.

(A) On the basis of your reading of the passage make notes on it, using headings and sub-headings.
Use recognizable abbreviations (wherever necessary-minimum 4) and a format you consider
suitable. Also supply an appropriate title to it.
(B) Write a summary of the above passage in about 80 words.

Section — B : WRITING

3. You are Raman/Ramnya the head boy girl of R.P.V.V. Lajpat Nagar. Your school has decided to
celebrate the coming Wednesday as Green Day. It will be a no garbage generation day and junk food
will not be allowed in the tiffin box. To promote the awareness a painting competition will be
organised in the school auditorium. Write a notice informing the students about it.

OR

Ajay Arora wishes to let out a portion of his newly built house. Draft an advertisement for
publication in” To Let” column of HT, giving all the necessary details.

4. The government has banned the use of loud speakers, but this nuisance continues and disturbs
you in your studies. Make a complaint to the SHO of local police station?

OR

Terrorism is no more a local issue. It has spread globally and is a universal concern now. Write a
letter to the Editor of a leading national newspaper voicing your concern and the need to combat
terrorism globally and suggesting remedial measures also

5. As the student reporter of your school magazine, write a report in about 150-200 words on the
Institution Day Celebrations that took place in your school recently?

OR

Your School is organising ‘Senior Citizen Day’ to make people aware about the importance and
contribution of the elderly people to society and Nation. Write a speech to be delivered in your
morning assembly showing your concern on the issue of Care of our Elders’.

GRAMMAR
6. Rearrange the following jumbled words to make meaningful sentences. (1 × 4 = 4)

(a) Below/ not/ must/age/ of/ eighteen/ years/ drive/ the/ children.

(b) Their/room/boys/the/are/ revising/the/ lesson /in

(c) USA/ tomorrow / along/ will/leave/ musicians/director/ the/ with/their/the/for

(d) The / complaint/from/ principal/ one/school/ a/ received/ of/ our/ parents/ today/the /of.

7. Fill in the blanks using the correct form of the verb given in the bracket. (1/2 × 4 = 2)

An elephant (i)-(excel) other animals in intelligence. Whenever is (ii)-(face) with difficulty, it (iii) (find)
a way out. Thus ____ (be) one of the most difficult animals in the world to tame.

8. The following passage has not been edited. There is one mistake in each line. Underline the
mistake and write the correction in the opposite blank.

(1/2 × 8 = 4)

(a) Most of the Indian craftsmen which ____________

(b) exquisite crafts has helped India ____________

(c) earn an high status, are unfortunately, ____________

(d) among those who are living with basic ____________

(e) facilities they leave below the poverty ____________

(f) line they are forceful to take loan at ____________

(g) high rate of interest or get trapped in ____________

(h) eternal debut. ____________