English Revision Question Bank - 2

 

SECTION A: READING

Read the following passage given below.

1. People travelling long distance frequently have to decide whether they would prefer to go by land, sea or air. Hardly anyone can positively enjoy sitting in a train for more than a few hours. Train compartments soon get cramped and stuffy. It is impossible to take your mind off the journey. Reading is only a partial solution for the monotonous rhythm of the wheels clicking on the rails soon lulls you to sleep. During the day, sleep comes in snatches. At night when you really wish to go to sleep, you rarely manage to do so. If you are lucky enough to get a place, you spend half the night staring at the small blue light on the ceiling. Inevitably, you arrive at your destination almost exhausted.

2. Long car journeys are even less pleasant for it is quite impossible even to read. On motor ways, you can at least travel fairly safely at high speeds, but more often than not, the greater part of the journey is spent on narrow, bumpy roads which are crowded with traffic. By comparison, trips by sea offer a great variety of civilised comforts. You can stretch your legs on the spacious decks, play games, swim, meet interesting people and enjoy good food- always assuming, of course, that the sea is calm. If it is not, and you are likely to get seasick, no form of transport could be worse.

3. Compared to other modes of transport, aeroplanes do have the reputation of being dangerous and even hardened travellers are intimidated by them. Aeroplanes have the great disadvantage of being the most expensive form of transport. But nothing can match for speed and comfort. Travelling at a height of 30,000 feet far above the clouds and at over 500 miles an hour is an experience. You do not have to devise ways of taking your mind off the journey for an aeroplane gets you to your destination rapidly. An aeroplane offers you an unusual breathtaking view of the world. You soar effortlessly over high mountains, hills and deep valleys. You really see the shape of the land.

Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given  below.     What according to the writer is a partial solution to taking your mind off the train journey?   a) conversing        with       fellow passengers b) reading   c) listening to music d) watching the scenes through the train window   The writer states Inevitably, you arrive at your destination almost exhausted.… State one reason to justify it. (paragraph 1)   the monotonous rhythm of the wheels clicking on the rails soon lulls you to sleep Long car journeys are even less pleasant for it is quite impossible even to read. What is the one disadvantage that the writer mentions in long journeys by car?   a) The cars are not designed for high speeds. b) It is not possible to converse with other passengers.   c) The car gets cramped and stuffy. d) A greater part of the journey is spent on roads with traffic.   Fill in the blank using a word from the extract. According to the writer, you can enjoy the trips by sea by assuming that sea is              .   calm     Choose the correct option that uses the word ‘deck’ as used in the extract. a)      Matt picked up the cards and shuffled the deck. b)     Damon wanted to deck the hall with streamers and balloons for the farewell party. c)      A poorly organized or dense slide deck can spoil a presentation. d)    I felt seasick, so I went up on deck for some fresh air.   According to the writer, which mode of transport offers a great variety of civilised comforts?   a) Air travel b) Rail travel   c) Road travel d) Sea travel   Select the option that displays what the writer projects, with reference to the following. Compared to other modes of transport, aeroplanes do have the reputation of being dangerous and even hardened travellers are intimidated by them. (paragraph 3)   a) doubt b) conviction   c) caution d) denial

State one reason to justify why air travel is favoured over means of travel?
Because of its speed and comfort
Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE?
a) Aeroplanes have the disadvantage of being the most inexpensive form of transport.	b) Travelling at a height of 30,000 is an extraordinary experience.
c) An aeroplane offers you an unusual breath-taking view of the world.	d) You can see the shape of the land forms from aeroplanes.
The journey that leaves you most exhausted is by           .
a) train	b) ship
c) car	d) aeroplane
Read the following passage given below.
1. For lovers of vintage fashion, this discovery is one of a lifetime. The world’s oldest shoe created more than 5500 years ago (which is at least a thousand years before the Great Pyramid of Giza of Egypt), was discovered in a cave in Armenia in June 2010. The shoe, along with a broken pot and some other objects, was found by Diana Zardaryan, an Armenian student of higher studies.
2. The size 4 was so well-preserved that even its lace was intact. Perhaps, the cool and dry conditions of the cave helped preserve the shoe and the artefacts. The floor of the cave was covered with a thick layer of sheep dung. Dr Ron Pinhasi of the University College, Cork said, “We initially thought that the shoe and other objects were about 600-700 old because they were in such good condition. It is not known for sure if the shoe belonged to a man or a woman. However, the small size makes it most likely that it belonged to a woman farmer.”
3. Archaeologists said that the shoe probably belonged to a woman who deliberately must have buried it in the cave during a mysterious ritual. The shoe was made from a single piece of animal hide and shaped to fit the wearer’s foot. It was laced using a strip of leather threaded through slits. The shoe was stuffed with grass but one doesn’t know whether this was to keep out the cold or maintain the shape of the shoe.
4. Armenia’s climate 5500 years ago was similar to today’s – hot in summer and cold and snowy in winter. The owner of the shoe perhaps wore woollen and leather clothes and relied on the shoes for protection as she walked around the rocky terrain. The previous oldest

known footwear was sandals made from plants, found in a cave in Missouri, USA.
From paragraph 1, we can infer that the discovery of the world’s oldest shoe is one of the most interesting discoveries for                     fashion lovers.
a) modern	b) traditional
c) antique	d) out-dated
The oldest shoe was found along with                  .
a) a broken silver jar and other objects	b) a golden pot and other objects
c) a broken pot and other objects	d) a broken cup and other objects
Why did Dr Ron Pinhasi think that the shoe and other objects were about 600-700 years old?
They were in a good condition.
What helped preserve the shoe for thousands of years?
a) the warm and dry conditions floor of the cave	b) cool and dry conditions of the cave
c) the quality of the cow hide from which it was made	d) the stuffing of grass in the shoe
What was the floor covered with?
a) mud	b) grass
c) cow dung	d) sheep dung
Why was the shoe stuffed with grass?
a) to either keep out the cold or maintain the shape of the shoe	b) to either keep out the cold or preserve the leather of the shoe
c) to protect against insects and keep out the cold	d) to preserve the leather of the shoe and maintain its shape
Complete the following analogy correctly with a word/phrase from paragraph 3. Palaeontologist: study of fossils ::                          : study of human artefacts
archaeologists
Highlight any two information details about Armenia, based on your understanding of paragraph 4.
Armenia’s climate has remained the same since 5500 years ago- hot in summer and cold in winter Armenia has a rocky terrain
The oldest known footwear was made from            .
a) animal hide	b) wool
c) plants	d) wood

III.	Do as directed.	1
1.	Identify the dependent clause and state its kind. I will meet you here after the meeting ends.
After the meeting ends- subordinate adverbial clause of time
2.	Fill in the blank with the correct subordinating conjunction. They will not start the meeting         (until/once) everyone arrives.
	until
3.	Identify the error and supply its correction in the given format. The girl which was sitting next to me is my neighbour.   Error                                                    Correction which                                                 who
4.	Punctuate the following sentence. on wednesday I am travelling to russia on the orient express
On Wednesday, I am travelling to Russia on the Orient Express.
5.	Identify the error and supply its correction in the given format. He bought the groceries; eggs, butter, jam, sugar and noodles.   Error                                                    Correction ;                                                            :
6.	Transform the sentence into a compound sentence. Mala is both a dancer and a painter.
	Mala is not only a dancer but also a painter.
7.	Transform the sentence into a complex sentence. The library has books by famous authors.
The library has books which are written by famous authors.
8.	Fill in the blank with the correct question tag. Radha has attended the dance classes,              ?
	hasn’t she
9.	Rewrite the statement in indirect speech. Sonia said, “Let us go to the library today.”
Sonia suggested that they should go to the library that day.
10.	Rewrite the statement in direct speech. She told me that she hadn’t known about the project the week before.
	She said to me, “I did not know about the project last week.”

11.	Rewrite the statement in indirect speech. The dentist said, “I have seen many patients today.”
	The dentist said that he had seen many patients that day.
12.	Rewrite the statement in indirect speech. Harry remarked, “I will go to Hogwarts tomorrow.”
	Harry remarked that he would go to Hogwarts the next day.
13.	Transform the sentence into passive voice. She will have cooked dal by this time tomorrow.
	By this time tomorrow, dal will have been cooked by her.
14.	Transform the sentence into active voice. We will be served by the waiter in a few minutes.
	The waiter will serve us in a few minutes.
15.	Identify the error in the passive voice and supply its correction in the given format. Active: The fire has destroyed most of the bamboos shoots. Passive: Most of the bamboo shoots is destroyed by the fire.   Error                                                    Correction is                                                          have been
	SECTION B: CREATIVE WRITING
IV.	Write a composition (100-120 words) on:
	Describe your visit to a village fair.
V.	Write a composition (150-200 words) on:
	Write a short story in 150-200 words using the beginning given. It had been over two hours waiting for the train. Ruhi was getting restless. Suddenly she…
	SECTION C: LITERATURE
V.	Reference to the Context.
	Attempt any ONE
1. A	Having just come out impoverishment—and with famine still affecting many parts of the country—the idea of a water pump now seemed incredibly necessary. He came up with the idea that would change his family’s life forever: He could build a wind turbine. (The Story of William Kamkwamba)

Who does ‘he’ refer to in the above extract?
i.      Riya	ii.      Rohan
iii.      William	iv.      Uncle Satish
Why did the idea of a water pump seem necessary to ‘him’?
i.      Floods affected many parts of the country.	ii.      Famine affected many parts of the country.
iii.      He had to utilise the scrap lying in his backyard.	iv.      He wanted to impress his teachers at school.
How would ‘he’ change his family’s life forever?
by building a wind turbine
Which business did ‘he’ and his friends start?
radio repair
Choose one option that is the synonym of the word ‘incredibly.’
i.          usually	ii.         indefinitely
iii.        normally	iv.        amazingly
	OR
When great trees fall in forests, small things recoil into silence, their senses eroded beyond fear. When great souls die, the air around us becomes light, rare, sterile. (When Great Trees fall)
What mood does the poetess highlight in the above extract?
i.          sadness	ii.         hope
iii.        power	iv.        conflict
What does the falling of a tree symbolise?
the loss of a great person
Complete the analogy by selecting the suitable word from the text. iron: heavy : : feather:
light
What does the poetess mean by ‘their senses eroded beyond fear’?
i.   numbness of the heart and soul after the loss of someone	ii. hide one’s emotions from others
iii. be fearless after the loss of someone	iv. withdraw     oneself      from     the surrounding
How do the lions react when the great trees fall?
They crouch and stay down.

Answer the following in about 30-40 words.

In the story ‘The Story of William Kamkwamba’, what was the occupation of the Malawians? How was their life in the village?

Most families in Malawi were farmers. Where they lived, there were no computers, very few televisions, and for most of their life, they didn’t have electricity—just oil lamps that spewed smoke.

In the story ‘The Mystery of the Cyber Friend’, how did the police catch the man? What other information did they find out about him?

A cyber-crime police officer checked the data in Shree’s computer. Within hours, the police found the man who had pretended to be Chaitra. They also found that he had been trying to befriend many young girls and boys through social media.

In the poem ‘When Great Trees Fall’, what feeling does the poetess explore in the line ‘Our memory, suddenly sharpened, examines, gnaws on kind words unsaid,’? Why?

In this line, the poetess explores the feeling of anger and regret as she highlights the baggage of having unexpressed feelings in the heart, that a person experiences. This loss has left her desperately longing for more time to express the love she felt in her heart for the person who was taken too soon.

In the poem The Unicorn, what were the unicorns doing? What was the result of their action?

The unicorns were hiding and playing a silly game. As Noah was taking in all the animals on board, the unicorns were nowhere to be seen. As a result, Noah sailed away without the unicorns and they were left stranded.

Answer the following in about 30-40 words.

In the story ‘The Lady or the Tiger?’ why was the young man on trial and why was it a momentous occasion?

When the king discovered the existence of the love between the princess and the youth, the youth was immediately cast into prison. The trial of the young man was a momentous occasion because never before had a subject dared to love the daughter of the king.

In the story ‘The Convict’, why was the man interested in the fact that Pip’s brother-in-law was a blacksmith?

The man had an iron leg. The leg may have been giving him trouble

and he had no means to rectify. So, when he heard that Pip’s brother- in-law was a blacksmith, he found a solution to what was troubling him.

In the story ‘The Lady or the Tiger?’ why did the princess hate the lady behind the door?

The princess had often seen, or imagined, the lady throwing glances of admiration upon her young man. Now and then she had seen them talking together; it was but for a moment or two, it may have been on most unimportant topics. The girl was lovely, but she had dared to raise her eyes to the loved one of the princess, she hated the woman who blushed behind that silent door.

Answer the following in 100-120 words.

In the story ‘The Story of William Kamkwamba’, how did the village library books play a key role in changing William’s life?

After quitting school, William did not lose hope. In order to catch up with his classmates, he started reading books from his village science books and came across the book ‘Explaining Physics’ which he found both amusing and educational. He taught himself the principles of electricity generation. He borrowed the book for a month and studied it daily. There were difficult words in the book which he could not understand therefore he needed a dictionary. So, he visited the library the next day. There he came across an American textbook called ‘Using Energy’, and that book changed his life.

In the story ‘The Mystery of the Cyber Friend’, what did the man do in order to trick Shree?

The man befriended Shree as Chaitra on FriendsNet. He used the film actress, Madhoo’s old photograph to pretend that he was the same age as Shree. He told her that he studied in a school near hers. He asked her to send him a selfie and her phone number. When he realised that Shree did not have a camera phone, he used that opportunity to trick Shree into meeting him by telling her that he would give her his old camera phone. When Shree complimented on the earrings on his profile picture and asked him to wear them the next day, he agreed only if she would come alone to the railway station.

In the poem ‘When Great Trees Fall’, how does the poet strike a comparison between nature and humans?

The poet opens the poem with the metaphor of the falling of great

trees. In the literal sense, it means when great trees fall the effect is felt for miles. Inanimate objects like rocks shudder. Animals big or small hunker and run for safety. Metaphorically, the poet draws a striking comparison between the falling of great trees to the loss of a person making it very symbolic. When a great soul departs, the effects are felt deep and far. Just like the lions hunker, people too react to the loss of life with fear and the pressing need to hide away to safety. The speaker’s use of nature and animals to create the image of the effects of death allows the reader to connect with the feeling through the visual imagery presented.

Answer the following in 80-100 words.

In the story ‘The Lady or the Tiger?’ who do you think came out of the door? Give reasons.

Student specific

In the story ‘The Convict’, what were Pip’s first impressions of his parents and where had he derived these from?

Pip did not see his father or his mother and never saw any likeness of either of them (for their days were long before the days of photographs). His first fancies regarding what they were like were unreasonably derived from their tombstones. The shape of the letters on his father's gave him an odd idea that he was a square, stout, dark man, with curly black hair. From the character, he drew a childish conclusion that his mother was freckled and sickly.