RUCHIKA HIGH SCHOOL, Class: X FIRST TERMINAL EXAMINATION 2026–27 ENGLISH LANGUAGE

 

RUCHIKA HIGH SCHOOL, Class: X

FIRST TERMINAL EXAMINATION 2026–27

ENGLISH LANGUAGE (Paper 1)

Class: X
Maximum Marks: 80
Time Allowed: Two Hours

Instructions

·       Answers to this paper must be written on the answer sheet provided separately.

·       You will not be allowed to write during the first 15 minutes.

·       This time is to be spent 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 on Question 1 and 20 minutes on Question 2.

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Question 1 [20]

Write a composition (in about 350 words) on any one of the following:

(a) Complete the following story which outlines the contradiction in the two proverbs:

"The pen is mightier than the sword, but actions speak louder than words."

(b) Traffic jams are a common sight nowadays. You must also have experienced one. Narrate your experience of being stuck in a traffic jam. Also give a clear description of the scene around you while you were stranded.

(c) "Peace is secured by readiness for war." Express your views either for or against the statement.

Question 2 [10]

Select any one of the following:

(a) You have lost your ATM Card. Write an application to the Manager of your bank requesting him/her to deactivate your ATM Card and issue you a new ATM Card.

OR

(b) You wish to study abroad at a prestigious university after passing your school finals. Write a letter to your elder brother/sister telling him/her where you wish to study, and why. Also write how you are preparing yourself to get through it, and in what ways the education there is better than in India.

Question 3 [10]

(a) Notice Writing [5]

An Inter-School Cultural Fiesta is going to be held at Mount Herman School, Lucknow. The events include competitions in the field of Music, Dance and Dramatics. As the Cultural Secretary of your school, write a notice for the school notice board inviting the interested students to register their names for participation.

(b) E-mail Writing [5]

Write an e-mail to the Teacher-in-Charge of the Cultural Club requesting him/her to assist in the selection of students for the Inter-School Cultural Fiesta.

Question 4 [20]

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:

The Indian must have had that nice window seat from London. He looked under forty, of medium height and slim, wearing a blazer. I boarded the Emirates flight at Dubai in October 2003 and got a seat next to him. I looked at him and smiled as I sat down. His face was blank. He had a distant look that made me stop mid-smile.

Whenever I take a flight, I try to chat with a fellow passenger. Most people are responsive when they are alone at 40,000 feet. There are some who barely nod; that's when I keep to myself. Flying has helped me get to know perfect strangers. To a journalist, this could be the seed of an unexpected story or a chance to hear something different. In good company, time flies too. I've met all types; you never know who you'll meet next, and they are usually interesting once you've broken the ice.

The man on my left, wearing a blazer, on that three-hour Dubai–Mumbai flight, was a puzzle. I glanced his way and he looked through me. One of the snooty non-resident Indians, I thought. What does one lose if you smile at a fellow human being? He just stared fixedly at the seat in front of him. Why are some people so full of themselves?

When the stewardess brought lunch, the unfriendly man had his eyes shut. She gave me a Should-I-wake-him-up look. I didn't say anything, and he didn't get his lunch. Serves him right, I thought.

He soon got up and saw me eating, but he didn't say anything or ask for his meal. He only had to press a button. That's his problem, I thought.

We still had almost two hours of the flight left. I read a magazine, tried to play a video game and listened to music. He did nothing.

At times our eyes met, but he isn't all there, I thought. He's unlike any other passenger I've ever sat next to. By the time our jet landed in Mumbai, I found his presence almost unbearable and very uncomfortable.

As we taxied down the runway, the intercom announced the usual closing message. It ended with a request to keep all cell phones switched off for a little longer. That's when I heard the man speaking on his cell phone. The cheek!

He was discussing his connecting flight and someone who would receive him. It sounded as though special arrangements had been made. I had half a mind to tell him to switch off his phone.

Just before the aircraft came to a halt, he was the first passenger to stand up.

"Excuse me. May I leave? I can't miss my connecting flight."

Hmm! I got up to make way when he went on mechanically,

"My wife and child died in a road accident in Delhi."

"Oh!" I exclaimed inadequately. "I'm so sorry."

As I watch him rushing out before the other passengers could block the aisle, I’m shell-shocked by the revelation. Suddenly everything falls into place. The tables have turned:  I’m the bad guy for having judged him so hastily—and so wrongly.

I could have spoken first! Despite his terrible loss and the torment he was enduring, he was so calm, controlled and dignified. May be in his soul-crushing sorrow, he did not want to burden a stranger with his pain.

That was a brave fellow traveller from whom I learned an invaluable lesson: To look beyond the façade and to never assume anything until you have walked in the other person's shoes.

 

(i) For each of the words given below, choose the correct meaning as used in the passage. From the options provided. [2]

(1) Snooty
(a) low-spirited
(b) showing contempt towards others
(c) faulty
(d) appealing

(2) Aisle
(a) gap
(b) corridor
(c) passage between rows of seats
(d) trench

(ii) Which word in the passage means the opposite of 'genuineness'? [1]

(a) mechanically
(b) façade
(c) assume
(d) distant

(iii) Answer the following questions briefly in your own words.

(a) Describe the author's neighbour on the plane. [2]

(b) Quote the sentence that states the nature of the author's work. [1]

(c) How did the neighbour miss his lunch? [2]

(d) What did the author do to pass the time during the flight? [2]

(e) What shocked the author in the end? What lesson did he learn from the incident? [2]

(iv) In not more than 50 words, describe how the author learnt not to judge a book by its cover. [8]

Question 5

(a) Fill in each of the numbered blanks with the correct form of the word given in brackets. Do not copy the passage. Write only the correct answers in serial order. [4]

Another course that I didn't like but somehow (1) ________ (manage) to pass was Economics. I (2) ________ (go) to that class straight from the Botany class, which didn't help me in understanding either subject. I used to get them (3) ________ (mix) up. But not as much as another student in my Economics class who (4) ________ (come) there as a footballer. He (5) ________ (be) a tackle on the football team, (6) ________ (name) Bolenciecwcz. In order to be eligible to play, it (7) ________ (be) necessary for him to keep up his studies, a very difficult matter, for while he (8) ________ (be) not dumber than an ox, he was not any smarter.

(b) Fill in the blanks with appropriate words. [4]

1.     I correspond ________ James regularly.

2.     Rising early is beneficial ________ health.

3.     She is not blind ________ her own faults.

4.     Can a doctor cure me ________ my headache?

5.     Hari does not agree ________ your proposal.

6.     The seat in front of me was occupied ________ a tall lady.

7.     One should not be irritable ________ a small baby.

8.     As anticipated, Parliament came ________ with a bill ________ inheritance rights for women.

(c) Join the following sentences to make one complete sentence without using 'and', 'but' or 'so'. Choose the correct option. [4]

1. Sheila found the keys. They were in her bag.

(a) Sheila found the keys which were in her bag.
(b) The keys were in Sheila's bag.
(c) Sheila found the keys, which were in her bag.
(d) Sheila found the keys in her bag.

2. Jane received the news late. She could not meet her mother.

(a) As Jane received the news late, she cannot meet her mother.
(b) As Jane received the news late, she could not meet her mother.
(c) Jane received the news late as she could not meet her mother.
(d) Jane, receiving the news late, could not meet her mother.

3. Sharad was a fast runner. He sprained his ankle. He lost the race.

(a) Being a fast runner, Sharad sprained his ankle and therefore lost the race.
(b) Sharad sprained his ankle because he was a fast runner and lost the race.
(c) Although Sharad was a fast runner, he lost the race because he had sprained his ankle.
(d) Though Sharad was a fast runner, he sprained his ankle because he lost the race.

4. Tanmay was quiet. The boys bullied him.

(a) The boys bullied Tanmay because he was quiet.
(b) The boys bullied Tanmay, the quiet boy.
(c) The boy, Tanmay, who was bullied, was quiet.
(d) The boys bullied Tanmay, who had been quiet.

(d) Rewrite the following sentences according to the instructions given. Choose the correct option. [8]

1. Mt. Everest is the highest mountain in the world.
(Use: higher)

(a) No other mountain can be higher in the world than Mt. Everest.
(b) No other mountain is higher than Mt. Everest.
(c) Mt. Everest is the higher mountain in the world.
(d) No other mountain in the world is higher than Mt. Everest.

2. If the movie is interesting, I will watch it.
(Begin: Unless …)

(a) Unless the movie is interesting, I will not watch it.
(b) Unless the movie is interesting, I will watch it.
(c) Unless the movie is not interesting, I will watch it.
(d) I will watch the movie unless it is not interesting.

3. Mohan was the cause of Ravi's downfall.
(Begin: Ravi's …)

(a) Ravi's downfall caused by Mohan.
(b) Ravi's downfall was being caused by Mohan.
(c) Ravi's downfall was caused by Mohan.
(d) Ravi's cause led to Mohan's downfall.

4. "Please leave your luggage here, Sir," said the servant.
(Begin: The servant requested …)

(a) The servant requested to the guest to please leave the luggage there.
(b) The servant requested the guest to leave the luggage here.
(c) The servant requested the guest to please leave the luggage there.
(d) The servant requested the guest to leave the luggage there.

5. As soon as the office closes, he returns home.
(Begin: No sooner …)

(a) No sooner does the office close than he returns home.
(b) No sooner does the office closes than he returns home.
(c) No sooner does the office close than he return home.
(d) No sooner do the office close than he returns home.

6. Though he is diligent, he is not appreciated.
(Begin: Despite …)

(a) Despite of being diligent, he is not appreciated.
(b) Despite being diligent, he is not appreciated.
(c) Despite he is diligent, he is not appreciated.
(d) Despite the diligence, he is not appreciated.

7. Shalu has no friends because she is proud.
(Use: pride)

(a) As a result of pride, Shalu has no friends.
(b) Shalu has pride, so she has no friends.
(c) As for her pride, Shalu has no friends.
(d) Shalu has no friends because of her pride.

8. Only the brave deserve the award.
(Begin: None …)

(a) None deserve the award except the brave.
(b) None but the brave deserve the award.
(c) None other than the brave deserves the award.
(d) None except for the brave deserves the award.