SRI SRI ACADEMY

FIRST TERMINAL EXAMINATION 2024-25

ENGLISH LANGUAGE
CLASS X
Time: 2 hours Full Marks-80
Answers to this paper must be written on the paper provided separately.
You will not be allowed to write during the first 15 minutes.
This time is to be spent in reading the question paper.
The time given at the head of this paper is the time allowed for writing the answers.
Attempt all five questions.
The intended marks for questions or parts of questions are given in brackets [ ].
You are advised to spend not more than 30 minutes in answering
Question 1 and 20 minutes in answering Question 2.
Question 1:
(Do not spend more than 30 minutes on this question.)
Write a composition (300-350 words) on any one of the following:
(i) Write an original story that begins with the words: “It was late at night. Anjali was about to switch
off the light and go to bed when she saw a light outside the window….”
(ii) You participated in an inter-school cooking competition as a part of a two- member team. Narrate your
experience of planning, prepping, cooking and finally presenting the food. How did you feel about this
team effort? What did you learn from this experience?
(iii) The joint family system has lost its significance in the modern world. Express your views either for or
against this statement.
(iv) Describe an area in your city or hometown which is famous for its street food. Give details of the
familiar sights and sounds you would experience on this street.
(v) Study the picture given below. Write a short story or description or an account of what the picture
suggests to you. Your composition may be about the subject of the picture or you may take suggestions
from it; however, your composition must have a clear connection with the picture.

Question 2
(Do not spend more than 20 minutes on the question)
Select any one of the following:
(a) Write a letter to a friend who was absent from school on a day when a really comical incident took place.
Describe the incident, say what was so funny about it and what you learnt from it.
(b) Write a letter to the local municipal corporation complaining about the malaria and dengue epidemic in
your city. State the causes and suggest ways to deal with the problem.
Question 3
(i) The Literary Club of your school is hosting an Inter-school Extempore Competition. Write a notice
to be put up in the school notice board informing the students of Classes IX to XII about the
upcoming event. [5]
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(ii) Write an email to the Principal of a neighbouring school informing him/her about the Inter-school
Extempore Competition being held at your school and requesting
him/her to send a team of students to participate in the Competition. [5]
Question 4
Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow: [20]
Once I found a fat female scorpion on the wall, wearing what at first glance appeared to be a pale fawn fur
coat. Closer inspection proved that this strange garment was made up of a mass of tiny babies clinging onto
the mother's back.
With infinite care, I manoeuvred the scorpion into a matchbox and then hurried home. Unfortunately, just as
I entered, lunch was served; however, I placed the matchbox carefully on the mantlepiece in the drawing
room and joined the family for the meal. Dawdling over my food, and feeding Roger surreptitiously under
the table I completely forgot about my exciting new capture. At last, Larry having finished, fetched the
cigarettes from the drawing-room, put one in his mouth and picked up the matchbox he had brought. I
watched him as, still talking, he opened the matchbox.
Now I maintain to this day that the female scorpion meant no harm. She was annoyed at being shut up in a
matchbox for so long and so seized the first opportunity to escape. She hoisted herself out of the box with
great rapidity, her babies clinging on desperately, and scuttled onto the back of Larry's hand. Larry,
feeling the movement of her claws glanced down to see what it was, and from that moment things got
increasingly confused.
He uttered a roar of fright, and with a flick of his hand sent the unfortunate scorpion flying down the table,
and she landed between Margo and Leslie. Thoroughly enraged, the creature sped towards Leslie, who leapt
to his feet, and flicked out with his napkin, sending the scorpion rolling towards Margo, who promptly let
out a loud scream. Mother, completely bewildered by this chaos, put on her glasses and peered down the
table to see what was causing the pandemonium, and at that moment Margo, in a vain attempt to stop the
scorpion's advance, hurled a glass of water at it. The shower missed the creature completely, but drenched
Mother, who, not being able to stand cold water, promptly lost her breath and sat gasping at the end of the
table. The scorpion had now hidden under Larry's plate, while her babies swarmed wildly all over the table.
Roger, mystified by the panic, ran round the room barking hysterically.
"It's that boy again..........." bellowed Leslie.
"Look out! Look out! They're coming!" screamed Margo.
"What on earth's the matter with you all?" Mother kept imploring, mopping her glasses. "That bloody
boy............ Every matchbox in the house is a death-trap ….” shouted Larry.
Since no one had bothered to explain things to him, Roger assumed that the family was being attacked. As
Lucy was the only stranger in the room, he concluded that she must be the
responsible party, so he bit her in the ankle.

(i) For each word given below choose the correct meaning (as used in the passage) from the options
provided: [3]

1. infinite
(a) cosmic
(b) countable
(c) vast
(d) invaluable

2. surreptitiously
(a) lazily
(b) hurriedly
(c) secretly
(d) noisily
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3. Which word in the passage means the opposite of the word harmony?
(a) unfortunate
(b) drenched
(c) pandemonium
(d) bewildered
(ii) Answer the following questions briefly in your own words.
(a) Why do you think the narrator manoeuvred the scorpion into a match box? [2]
(b) How did Larry react when he saw what had landed on his hand? [2]
(c) Why did Margo hurl a glass of water at the scorpion? What was the outcome? [2]
(d) Why did the dog bite Lucy? [2]
(e) Which line tells us that the narrator did not ecognize the baby scorpions when he first saw
them? [1]
(iii) In not more than 50 words, describe what happened when Larry opened the match box. [8]
Question 5
(d) Fill in each of the numbered blanks with the correct form of the word given in brackets. Do not copy
the passage but write in correct serial order the word or phrase appropriate to the blank space. [4]
Last weekend, my family and I decided to go on a trip to the beach. We ___1___(pack) our bags
and _____2_____ (leave) early in the morning. The sun ____3____ (shine) brightly, and the weather
____4____ (look) perfect for a day by the sea.
As soon as we ____5____ (arrive) at the beach, we ____6___ (rush) to set up our umbrella and beach chairs.
The waves _____7____ (crash) on the shore, and the seagulls _____8_____ (fly) overhead, searching for
food.
(ii) Fill in the blanks with appropriate words: [4]
1. This shop doesn’t have the toys I was looking __________.
2. The teacher divided the sweets ________ all the children.
3. He lacks the maturity to take _________ responsibilities.
4. Birds __________ a feather flock together.
5. Smokers must abstain __________ smoking in public places.
6. He opted ________ of the race.
7. Vikrant was ________ the impression that his mother would return from office by 7:00 p.m.
8. Their path was beset ____________ difficulties yet they succeeded.
(iii) Join the following sentences to make one complete sentence without using and, but or so. Choose the
correct option. [4]
1. He plays cricket. He plays tennis.
a. He plays not only cricket but also tennis.
b. He plays either cricket or tennis.
c. He plays cricket as well as tennis.
d. He plays neither cricket nor tennis.
2. Submit your project. Only then can you appear for the test.
a. Until you submit your project you can appear for the test.
b. Until you appear for the test you cannot submit your project.
c. Unless you submit your project you can appear for the test.
d. Unless you submit your project you cannot appear for the test.
3. The sun had set. Still the birds chirped loudly.
a. Although the sun had set, the birds chirped loudly.
b. Despite of the sun having set, the birds chirped loudly.
c. Though the sun had set, but still the birds chirped loudly.
d. In spite of the sun being set, still the birds chirped loudly.
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4. She is very stubborn. She will not listen to anyone.
a. On being very stubborn, she will not listen to anyone.
b. Being very stubborn, she will not listen to anyone.
c. She is very stubborn so she will not listen to anyone.
d. She will not listen to anyone as she is stubborn.
(iv) Choose the correct option to rewrite the following according to the instructions given after each
sentence. [8]
1. As soon as he finishes his work, he starts playing. (Begin: Hardly…)
a. Hardly his work is finished, he starts playing.
b. Hardly he finishes his work than he starts playing.
c. Hardly he has finished his work then he starts playing.
d. Hardly does he finish his work when he starts playing.
2. In spite of the terrible heat, people walked miles to pay respect to the monk. (Begin: Despite…)
a. Despite the people walking miles to pay respect to the monk, the heat was terrible.
b. Despite miles of walking in the terrible heat, the people paid respect to the monk.
c. Despite the terrible heat, people walked miles to pay respect to the monk.
d. Despite of the terrible heat, people walked miles to pay respect to the monk.
3. Gold is the most expensive metal. (Begin: No other…)
a. No other metal is as expensive as gold.
b. No other metal is more expensive than gold.
c. No other metal is most expensive but gold.
d. No other metal is expensive like gold.
4. His inheritance was taken away. (Begin: He was …)
a. He was to be deprived of his inheritance.
b. He was being deprived of his inheritance.
c. He was been deprived of his inheritance.
d. He was deprived of his inheritance.
5. Everyone will agree that Hari studies hard. (Rewrite using deny)
a. All will deny that Hari studies hard.
b. No one will deny that Hari studies hard.
c. Anyone will not deny that Hari studies hard.
d. Everyone will deny that Hari studies hard.
6. If you give me your book, I will lend you my stamp collection. (Begin: Unless…)
a. Unless you give me your book, I will lend you my stamp collection.
b. Unless you give me your stamp collection, I will not lend my book.
c. Unless you give me your book, I will not lend you my stamp collection.
d. Unless you do not give me your book, I will not lend you my stamp collection.
7. He is kind and generous. (Begin: Not only …)
a. Not only is he kind but also generous.
b. Not only was he kind but also generous.
c. Not only he is kind but also generous.
d. Not only he was kind but also generous.
8. She said, “If you cannot face the music, I will have to.” (Begin: She told him that …)
a. She told him that if he does not face the music, then she would have to.
b. She told him that if he could not face the music, she would have to.
c. She told him that if he did not face the music, then she would have to.
d. She told him that if she could not face the music, then he will have to do so.
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