NAVODAYA VIDYALAYA SAMITI

PRE-BOARD - I - 2023-24
ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE (Code No. 184)
CLASS - X
TIME ALLOWED: 03 HRS. M.M.80
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GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS:
1. The Question Paper contains Three Sections – READING, GRAMMAR & WRITING and
LITERATURE.
2. Attempt questions based on specific instructions for each part.

Section A: Reading Skills - (20 Marks)

Reading Comprehension through Unseen Passages
1. Read the following text. 10
Renewable Energy: A Path to a Sustainable Future:
1 In the midst of the climate crisis, the world is turning its gaze towards renewable
energy sources as a beacon of hope. The relentless pursuit of sustainable
energy alternatives, such as solar, wind, and hydropower, represents a
monumental shift in how we power our world. This revolution is not just about
changing the way we generate electricity; it's about securing a livable planet for
future generations.
2 Solar energy, perhaps the most emblematic of renewables, has been making
impressive strides. Solar panels, strategically placed on rooftops, parking lots,
and even integrated into windows, harness the sun's energy to generate
electricity. The brilliance of solar power lies in its accessibility. Individuals,
businesses, and entire communities can participate in the renewable energy
transformation, converting their excess sunlight into power and even feeding it
back into the grid. The result is reduced reliance on fossil fuels, fewer
greenhouse gas emissions, and ultimately, a healthier planet.
3 Wind energy, too, has found its place in the renewable energy spectrum. Wind
turbines, with their massive blades gracefully spinning in the breeze, capture the
kinetic energy of the wind and transform it into electricity. Entire wind farms now
stretch across landscapes, tapping into the relentless energy of the atmosphere.
Wind power is scalable and versatile, making it a powerful contender in the fight
against climate change.
4 Hydropower, another sustainable energy source, harnesses the flow of water to
generate electricity. This ancient technology has been modernized to increase
efficiency and reduce environmental impact. Large dams, like the Hoover Dam,
have been pivotal in providing consistent power. The innovative use of micro-
hydropower systems in remote areas ensures energy access for communities
that were once off the grid.

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5 Yet, the transition to renewable is not without its challenges. One key obstacle is
the intermittent nature of renewable energy sources. The sun doesn't always
shine, and the wind doesn't always blow. Therefore, efficient energy storage and
distribution systems are critical to ensuring a steady power supply.
Advancements in battery technology are helping to bridge this gap, with lithium-
ion batteries becoming more efficient and cost-effective.
6 Moreover, as the world embraces renewable energy, it must also strike a
balance between energy generation and environmental conservation. Large-
scale renewable projects can have environmental impacts, affecting local
ecosystems and habitats. Careful planning and mitigation measures are vital to
minimize these effects and uphold the sustainability ethos of renewable energy.
7 The transition to renewable energy is more than a technological shift; it's a shift
in mindset and commitment to a sustainable future. It represents a collective
acknowledgment that we must adapt our energy practices to preserve our
planet. As governments, industries, and individuals increasingly invest in
renewable energy, they invest in a greener, more sustainable world for
generations to come.
8 In conclusion, the rise of renewable energy sources, whether through the sun's
rays, the wind's embrace, or the power of flowing water, offers a glimmer of hope
in the battle against climate change. These technologies are reshaping our
energy landscape, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and mitigating the
environmental impacts of traditional energy sources. With ongoing innovations
and a commitment to sustainability, renewable energy is a path towards a
cleaner, greener, and more prosperous future for all.
Answer the following questions, based on the passage above.

i Which renewable energy source mentioned in the paragraph is most affected by 1

intermittency?
a) Solar energy
b) Wind energy
c) Hydropower
d) All are equally affected

ii Fill in the Blanks: 1

The transition to renewable energy is not just about changing how we generate
electricity;
It’s also about securing a _________ for future generations.

iii State True/False: 1

Wind power is not scalable and lacks versatility.
iv What role can individuals play in influencing their communities and governments 2
to embrace renewable energy solutions? Provide examples of how individuals
can drive positive change in their energy consumption patterns.

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 v Which renewable energy source is most likely to impact local ecosystems and 1
habitats when implemented on a large scale?
a) Solar energy
b) Wind energy
c) Hydropower
d) All have similar environmental impacts.

vi Fill in the Blanks: 1

The transition to renewable energy requires a careful balance between energy
generation and ________________ conservation to minimize environmental
impacts.

vii State True/False: 1

The only challenge in the widespread adoption of renewable is the intermittency
of renewable energy sources.

viiiHow can communities work together to overcome the challenges of intermittency 2

in renewable energy sources like solar and wind? Consider collaborative efforts
and innovative solutions that promote reliable and sustainable energy
production.
2. Read the following text. 10

1 Conference series LLC Ltd organizes a conference series of 1000+ global

events inclusive of 300+ conferences, 900+ upcoming and previous
symposiums and workshops in USA, Europe and Asia with support from 1000
more scientific societies and publishes 700+ open access journals which contain
over 30000 eminent personalities, reputed scientists as Editorial board
members.
2 Recycling and Waste Management Convention 2018 proudly invites contributors
across the globe to 9th World Convention on Recycling and Waste Management
during October 22-23,2018 in Osaka, Japan, which includes prompt keynote
presentations, oral talks, poster presentations and exhibitions.
3 We are delighted to say that it is the 9th World Convention on Recycling and
Waste Management which will be held in a beautiful city of Osaka, Japan and
hence we invite you all to attend and register.
4 9th World Convention on Recycling and Waste Management is mainly based on
the theme “Advocating waste Disposal and Recycling Practices for Clean and
Green Environment.” We warmly welcome all the participants - leading scientists,
researchers and scholars of the world to attend the convention. We provide a
platform for young researchers and students to present their research through
oral presentations through which they can develop a foundation for collaboration
among young researchers.

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5 The organizing committee aims at setting a platform for all the budding scientists
and researchers to present their real-time work and share their views and
aspects related to the theme of the conference. The organising committee is
gearing up for an exciting and informative conference programme including
plenary lecture, symposia, workshops on a variety of topics, poster presentations
and various programmes for participants from all over the world.
Answer the following questions, based on the passage above.
i Select the appropriate option to fill in the blanks. 1
_____ has been considered as the second nature to us.

a) Sorting of waste
b) Recycling of waste
c) Waste management
d) Implementing steps framed and deployed in convention
ii Complete the following analogy correctly with a word/phrase from paragraph 2: 1
Delhi: India: Tokyo: _____
iii What theme is being highlighted in the given passage? 1
a) Efficient means of reducing garbage.
b) Various techniques to be employed to recycle the goods.
c) Efficient ways of waste disposal.
d) Both (b) and (c)
iv Which of the following notion in the conference has been emphasized to be 1
deployed?
a) Waste disposal management
b) Waste management
c) Recycling of goods
d) Reshaping Earth’s future

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 v Fill in the blank by selecting the correct option. 1
According to the pie chart, Branches & wood have been recycled at the rate of
_____.
a) 1%
b) 24%
c) 4%
d) 3%
vi Substitute the word ‘present’ with ONE WORD similar in meaning, in the 1
following sentence from paragraph 4:
We provide a platform for young researchers and students to present their
research……………………..

FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED CANDIDATES

Find the meaning of the word ‘Symposium’.

a) a journey
b) a meeting or conference
c) a party
d) a discussion
vii List any two points that the given data represents. 2

viii What has been considered as an efficient means to reduce landfill area? 2
a) Sorting of waste
b) Recycling or composting waste
c) Both (a) and (b)
d) None of these

SECTION B: WRITING SKILLS & GRAMMAR- (20 MARKS)

GRAMMAR
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3 1X10=10
Complete ANY TEN of twelve of the following task, as directed.

i Fill in the blank by using the correct form of the word in the bracket: 1
The water of rivers and seas ___________(pollute) all over the world as various
dangerous chemicals and biological wastes are poured into it.

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 1
ii Read the given sentence and identify the error supplying the correction in the
sentence:

Tom was asked what he is going to do if he becomes the Prime minister, to

which he replied- If he were the Prime Minister, he would have solved the
problems of the country.

Use the given format for your response.

Error Correction

Read the Conversation given below and complete the paragraph that follows: 1
iii Mother to me: Are you unwell today?
I to Mother: No, Mummy, Not at all.
My mother asked me (a) ____________.I replied to my mummy (b) _________.
iv Read the conversation given below and complete the paragraph that follows by 1
choosing the correct option.

Sujon: Hello Rajib, how are you?

Rajib: I am fine and what about you?
Sujon wished Rajib and asked how he was. Rajib said that (a)------------------
Sujon replied saying that he was fine too. Rajib asked Sujon about his career
plan. Sujon said that he wanted to be a doctor.

a) he is fine and asks how Sujon is

b) he was fine and asks how Sujon was
c) he was fine and asked how Sujon was
d) he were fine and asked how Sujon were
v Fill in the blank by choosing up the correct option, to complete the Sentence. 1

There aren't__________boys in the Park.(Some/any)

vi Identify the error and Supply correction for the given Sentence. 1
Physics is Rim's favourite subject. It comes as a shock to everyone in the class
seeing him fail in it.
Use the given format for your response.
Error Correction

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vii Select the option that identifies the error and supply the correction for the closing 1
line.
The Inspector asked Rahul to report for the police station as soon as he came
from the office.
Option No. Error Correction

A for to

B as soon as While

C Comes come

D —------ No error

viii Complete the given narrative by filling the blanks with the option: 1
You -------your admit card in the examination hall.

a) Have to carry
b) Must carry
c) Should see
d) Might read
ix Report the dialogue between a grandfather and grandson. 1

Grandson: Grandpa, Can you tell me what inspired you to set up a school in the
village?
Grandfather: Seeing the lack of adequate facilities and the children’s eagerness
to learn.
In response to the question about his reason for setting up of a village school,
the Grandfather said that _________________

x Fill in the blank by choosing the most appropriate option from the one given 1
below.
Dear Natasha,
I came to know from Times Pen Pal Corner that you wish to______ а pen friend
from Orissa.

a) have
b) has
c) be
d) had

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 xi Fill in the blanks by choosing the correct option, to complete the text message 1
below.
Let's meet another day since neither Kavi nor Samantha________free today as
they have tennis practice.

a) were
b) are
c) be
d) Is
xii Identify the error and supply correction for the following sentence: 1
God like qualities are planted with us at birth. They grow amid the thorns of our
faults.
Use the given format for your response.
Error Correction

WRITING SKILLS 10
Note : All details presented in the questions are imaginary and created for assessment purpose.

4.A You are Kartik Mohan of Eureka Forbes, Noida. You have received the reply to 5
your inquiry letter from Woodcutters Inc. You feel positive about the Company's
terms and conditions.
Write a letter to them, confirming the order for the items that you had mentioned
in the previous communication. (100-120 words)
OR
4 B. You are Toshi / Tushar of Safdarjung Development Area, New Delhi. You are
extremely disturbed about the attacks on old people living alone. Write a letter in
100-120 words to the Editor, The New Indian News making people sensitive to
the problem. Make suggestions to the people living alone and the authorities to
ensure that such attacks do not take place.
5.A. Below given are three pie charts showing the consumption habits of India, 5
China and World overall in 2008. Write an analytical paragraph describing the
pie charts (100-120 words).

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 OR
5. B The graph given shows estimated sales of gold in Dubai in 2002. Write an
analytical paragraph describing the line graph in around 120 words.

SECTION:C: LITERATURE TEXTBOOK AND SUPPLEMENTARY READING TEXT-(40 MARKS)

6 Read the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of the two given 5
A. ‘Paper has more patience than people,’ I thought of this saying on one of those
days when I was feeling a little depressed and was sitting at home with my chin
in my hands, bored and listless, wondering whether to stay in or go out. I finally
stayed where I was, brooding: Yes, paper does have more patience, and since
I'm not planning to let anyone else read this stiff-backed notebook grandly
referred to as a ‘diary', unless I should ever find a real friend, it probably won't
make a bit of difference.
i ‘Paper has more patience than people'. What does this imply? 1
ii Pick the option that is ODD one out with reference to the meaning of 'patience'. 1

1.indolence 2.perseverance

Patience

3.tolerance 4.grit

a) Option (1)
b) Option (2)
c) Option (3)
d) Option (4)

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iii If the diary were a ‘real friend', what qualities would Anne expect it to have? 2
iv Pick out the sentence that brings out the meaning of 'brooding', as used in the 1
extract
a) The mysterious house on the hill is still brooding above the village.
b) The people at the stock market always keep brooding about the
gains.
c) He was brooding over the matter and took a long time to decide.
d) Suspense and drama were brooding at the site of the investigation.
OR
B He escaped easily enough from the boys who followed his footprints in London.
But his adventures were by no means over. He had chosen a bad time to
wander about London without clothes. It was mid-winter. The air was bitterly
cold and he could not do without clothes. Instead of walking about the streets he
decided to slip into a big London store for warmth.
i Fill in the blanks:- 1
The boys followed the _____ in London.

ii Why was it the bad time of the year? 1

a) It was mid-winter
b) It was hot summer
c) It was raining
d) It was spring time
iii Why did he slip into a big London store? 2

iv Which word from the following means the same as ‘to move behind 1
someone/something’?
a) Escaped
b) Wander
c) Followed
d) Walking

7 Read the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of the 5
two, given
A
Some say the world will end in fire
Some say in ice.
From what I've tasted of desire
I hold with those who favour fire.

But if it had to perish twice,

I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.

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i Choose the CORRECT statement from the following about the given poem. 1
a) Fire and Ice are images - they help the readers visualise the power of
nature over man.
b) Fire and Ice are symbols - not of natural disasters, but of humanity's
ability to create disasters of its own.
c) Fire and Ice are elements - not of nature but man-made and possess
the ability to create havoc for mankind.
d) Fire and Ice are agents - they change the thinking of mankind from
negative to positive and bring harmony.

ii Select the option that correctly classifies the connotations for fire and ice 1
suggested in the poem.
(1) rage (2) violence (3) indifferences (4) hate (5) greed

a) Fire - (3),(4); Ice - (1),(2),(5)

b) Fire - (2),(5); Ice - (1),(3),(4)
c) Fire - (1),(3),(5); Ice - (2),(4)
d) Fire - (1),(2),(4); Ice - (3),(5)
iii How will the world perish twice? 2
iv The poet heard divided opinions about the way the world would end in 1
likelihood. (True/False)
OR
B He is learning, well behind his desperate eyes,
The epistemology of loss, how to stand up
Knowing what every man must one day know
And most know many days, how to stand up.

i What is the boy learning? 1

a) That losing things is normal

b) That we should not be attached with anything
c) To cope up with the loss
d) The value of money

ii What do you mean by ‘epistemology of loss'? 2

iii The boy is going to know the universal truth that: 1

a) almost all men lose something

b) they have to compromise with their loss
c) both of these
d) none of these

iv Which word from the stanza means the same as 'hopelessness'? 1

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 8 Answer ANY FOUR of the following five questions, in about 40-50 words. 4x3=12

‘No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his
i background or his religion’. Do you agree? Elaborate on the basis of the 3
Chapter ‘Nelson Mandela-Long Walk to Freedom’.

The crow and the hemlock are usually used as negative references in
ii literature. How is this different in this poem? 3

If you were the family member of Young Seagull, would you also decide not to
iii go near him? Elaborate with reason. 3

Do you think the tiger in the poem had lost its natural instinct due to captivity?
iv Support your response with evidence from the poem. 3

To what end does the playwright employ Lomov's palpitations in the play?
v 3
Answer ANY TWO of the following three questions, in about 40-50 words.
9. 2x3=6
i What do you think would happen to Tricki after he went back to Mrs.
Pumphrey? 3
"How foolish people are when they own valuable things?” Does this statement
ii hold truth for Horace Danby himself? Support your answer with instances from
"A Question of Trust.” 3
Griffin's unlawful activities devalue his scientific discovery. What are some of
iii the qualities that he should develop? 3
10 Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions, in about 100-120 words.
1x6=6
Valli’s journey to the city is also her induction into the mystery of life and death.
A Elaborate.

OR
The postmaster represents such people who still believe in helping others.
B Mention those values of the postmaster which you would like to emulate in
yourself.
Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions in about 100-120 words.
11 1x6=6
In What ways does Think-Tank misinterpret innocent nursery rhymes as a
A threat to the Martians?
OR
Pride before a fall befits Max, Who said: "I will get it back tonight?” Was he
B successful? What lesson can be learnt from this?

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