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

Marriage gifts are meaningless without the sweet bread known as the bol, just as a party or a feast loses its charm without bread. Not enough can be said to show how important a baker can be for a village. The lady of the house must prepare sandwiches on the occasion of the daughter's engagement. Cakes and bolinhas are a must for Christmas as well as other festivals. Thus, the presence of the baker’s furnace in the village is absolutely essential.

(a) Why is the baker's furnace essential for the Goan people?

(b) On which occasions are the cakes and bolinhas necessary?

(c) Which word in the passage is the opposite in meaning of ‘absence’?

Look at the words and phrases given below. Rearrange them to form meaningful sentences as shown.

For example:

of all / the healthiest / ,swimming probably / is / general sports

Swimming probably is the healthiest of all general sports.

(a) lungs and muscles/ it trains heart, / equal extent / to an

(b) strain on / there is / and spine /bones, joints/ very little

(c) for / periods / it's better / to swim slowly/ longer

Give one example to show that Mijbil, the otter, was an intelligent pet.

Answer the following questions in 30-40 words each :

(a) How can you say, ‘bread-baking is still popular in Goa’ ?

(b) How did the Buddha teach Kisa Gotami the truth of life ?

(c) Give an example from the text to show that Mijbil is an intelligent animal.

(d) Why did Richard Ebright raise a Hock of butterflies ?

(e) Why was Matilda sad after the ball ?

(f) How did the book change Think-Tank’s opinion about the Earthlings ?

Look at the words and phrases given below. Rearrange them to form meaningful sentences as given in the example.

Example :

curse / a / illiteracy / is / .

Illiteracy is a curse.

A. illiterate / remain / the / and / backward / poor / people /.

B. easily / by / they / cheated / are / others.

C. our / it is / to help / moral duty / to become / literate / everyone /

Read the passage given below and complete the statements that follow choosing the most appropriate options from those given below.

Cheraw is the most colourful Mizo dance. Bamboos are used in this dance. Hence the dancer moves by stepping alternatively in and out from between and across a pair of horizontal bamboos, held against the ground by people sitting face to face at either side. They tap the bamboos open and close in rhythmic beats. Two bases support the bamboos, placed horizontally one at each end. The bamboos, when clapped, produce a shaip sound, which forms the rhythm of the dance. It indicates the timing of the dance as well. The dancers step in and out to the beats of the bamboos with ease and grace. The patterns and stepping of the dance have many variations. Sometimes the stepping are made in imitation of the movements of birds, sometimes the swaying of trees and so on.

Little is known about the origin of Cheraw. It may be possible that the forefathers of the Mizos brought it with them when they left home in far east- Asia. Cheraw is performed on any occasion these days. But so goes the legend. It used to be performed in earlier times only to ensure a safe passage for a dead child to paradise. Cheraw is, therefore, a dance of sanctification and redemption performed with great care, precision and elegance.

(a) According to the passage, Cheraw is:

(i) a form of art

(ii) a festival of lights

(iii) a form of dance

(iv) a Mizo animal

(b) Cheraw is performed:

(i) to show respect to the state

(ii) for sanctification and redemption

(iii) to please the goddess of dance

(iv) to earn money

(c) The dancers in Cheraw dance to:

(i) the beats of bamboos

(ii) the beats of drums

(iii) the clappings of the sing-

(iv) the sound of a whistle

(d) The statement - …….. is correct:

(i) Four bases support the bamboos

(ii) Cheraw is a solo dance

(iii) Cheraw is a dull stepping pattern

(iv) The sound of bamboos forms the rhythm of the dance

(e) The word 'redemption' in the passage means:

(i) performed with great care

(ii) solution

(iii) deliverance from evil ways

(iv) Compensation

You are Aryan I Anchal, a student of class Xth in your school. Write an article in about 120 words expressing your views on the 'Role of Computer' in the life of students nowadays, giving both its advantages and disadvantages.

Anne wrote, ‘One day we’re laughing at the comical side of hiding, and the next day we’re frightened, and the fear, tension, and despair can be read on our faces.’

Give two examples of each – laughter and fear from the diary entires of May 1944.

Describe the difference between Anne’s and Margot’s feelings for Peter.

Helen’s statement, “We worked hard and faithfully, yet we did not quite reach our goal” tells us about her failure to achieve the goal at the Wright-Humason School in New York City. What was the goal that she failed to achieve there?

Answer the following in 80-100 words.

“Never mind,” she said, “I can get on by myself.” “You don’t have to help me,” said Valli to the conductor. She shows extraordinary courage in making the bus journey all alone. Taking inspiration from Valli’s character, write how ability and courage to take risk are essential to fulfilling one’s dream.