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Register Number
Common Quarterly Examination - 2026-27
Villupuram District | ENGLISH
Instructions:
(1)
Check the question paper for fairness of printing. If there is any lack of fairness, inform the Hall Supervisor immediately.
(2)
Use Blue or Black ink to write and underline.
PART - I
Note:
(i)
Answer all the questions.
14 x 1 = 14
(ii)
Choose the most appropriate answer from the given four alternatives and write the option code and the corresponding answer.
Choose the appropriate synonyms for the italicised words.
1.
The hungry seagull began to gnaw at a scrap of dried fish.
2.
The footsteps raised a hullabaloo of misunderstandings in the house.
3.
The historic voyage was skippered by Lt. Cdr. Vartika Joshi.
Choose the appropriate antonyms for the italicised words.
4.
The sun was soothing.
5.
Herman looked at the narrator in some alarm.
6.
Vartika Joshi completed the voyage with absolute honesty.
7.
Choose the correct plural form of the word 'shelf'.
8.
Form a derivative by adding the right suffix to the word 'wide' to make a noun.
9.
Choose the correct expansion of the abbreviation 'IMD'.
10.
Complete the sentence with the most appropriate idiom given below.
When she heard she had passed with distinction, she was ______.
When she heard she had passed with distinction, she was ______.
11.
Choose the option which does NOT pair with the word 'sun' to form a compound word.
12.
Fill in the blank with the most appropriate preposition.
The young seagull was alone ______ his ledge.
The young seagull was alone ______ his ledge.
13.
Complete the sentence using the most appropriate tense form of the verb given.
By the time they reached Goa, the crew ______ (sail) around the globe for 254 days.
By the time they reached Goa, the crew ______ (sail) around the globe for 254 days.
14.
Choose the appropriate linker from the given alternatives.
______ the storm was fierce, the crew never lost courage.
______ the storm was fierce, the crew never lost courage.
PART - II (20 Marks)
SECTION - 1
Answer any three of the following questions in a sentence or two.
3 x 2 = 6
15.
What happened to the young seagull when it landed on the green sea?
16.
How did the cops manage to enter the locked house?
17.
What challenging tasks did the team face during their voyage?
18.
What did Aditya offer Sanyal?
SECTION - 2
Read the following set of poetic lines and answer any three of the following.
3 x 2 = 6
19.
Let me but live my life from year to year,
With forward face and unreluctant soul;
With forward face and unreluctant soul;
(a) Whom does the word 'me' refer to ?
(b) What kind of life does the poet want to lead ?
(b) What kind of life does the poet want to lead ?
20.
The worst thing is that if anyone stays
Among them too long, he will learn their ways;
Among them too long, he will learn their ways;
(a) Which family is referred to in these lines ?
(b) What do these lines suggest about the family's nature ?
(b) What do these lines suggest about the family's nature ?
21.
Strong is she in her faith and beliefs.
"Persistence is the key to everything,"
"Persistence is the key to everything,"
(a) What is she strong about ?
(b) How does she deal with the adversities in life ?
(b) How does she deal with the adversities in life ?
22.
At last by starvation and famine made bold,
All dripping with wet, and all trembling with cold,
All dripping with wet, and all trembling with cold,
(a) What made the cricket bold ?
(b) Why did the cricket drip and tremble ?
(b) Why did the cricket drip and tremble ?
SECTION - 3
Answer any three of the following.
3 x 2 = 6
23.
Rewrite the following sentence into the passive voice.
Nobody should violate the rules.
Nobody should violate the rules.
24.
Rewrite into indirect speech.
Miranda asked her father, "Why did they not destroy us?"
Miranda asked her father, "Why did they not destroy us?"
25.
Punctuate the following.
ill stay with mother he said
ill stay with mother he said
26.
Rewrite the following sentence into a complex sentence.
Hearing the ghost's footsteps, the brothers slammed their doors.
Hearing the ghost's footsteps, the brothers slammed their doors.
27.
Rearrange the words in the correct order to make meaningful sentences.
a) discriminate / sea / not / gender / the / does / between
b) important / most / teamwork / crisis / is / the / of / the / middle / in
a) discriminate / sea / not / gender / the / does / between
b) important / most / teamwork / crisis / is / the / of / the / middle / in
SECTION - 4
Answer the following question.
1 x 2 = 2
28.
You are near the school. A visitor asks you to direct him to the Bus Stand. Guide him with your directions to reach his destination.
PART - III (50 Marks)
SECTION - 1 (10 Marks)
Answer any two of the following in utmost ten lines.
2 x 5 = 10
29.
Give a detailed account of how the young seagull's parents helped it overcome its fear of flying.
30.
Give a character sketch of the narrator's grandfather in 'The Night the Ghost Got In'.
31.
Narrate the challenges faced by the Indian Navy's all-women crew during their voyage and how they overcame them.
32.
Give a detailed account of the narrator's thoughts as he accompanied Aditya from the tea shop to Sanyal's house.
SECTION - 2 (10 Marks)
Answer any two of the following in utmost ten lines.
2 x 5 = 10
33.
Describe the poet's attitude towards life's journey as depicted in the poem 'Life'.
34.
Justify the title 'I am Every Woman' with reference to the poem.
35.
Read the following poetic lines and answer the questions given below.
They growl at the rain and they growl at the sun;
In fact, their growling is never done.
And if everything pleased them, there isn't a doubt
They'd growl that they'd nothing to grumble about!
In fact, their growling is never done.
And if everything pleased them, there isn't a doubt
They'd growl that they'd nothing to grumble about!
i) Pick out the rhyming words from the above lines.
ii) Write the rhyme scheme of the given lines.
iii) Identify the figure of speech employed in the first two lines.
iv) Pick out the alliterating words in the fourth line.
ii) Write the rhyme scheme of the given lines.
iii) Identify the figure of speech employed in the first two lines.
iv) Pick out the alliterating words in the fourth line.
36.
Paraphrase the following stanza.
"Oh! what will become," says cricket, "of me?"
At last by starvation and famine made bold,
All dripping with wet, and all trembling with cold,
Away he set off to a miserly ant,
At last by starvation and famine made bold,
All dripping with wet, and all trembling with cold,
Away he set off to a miserly ant,
SECTION - 3 (5 Marks)
Answer any one of the following.
1 x 5 = 5
37.
Rearrange the following sentences in coherent order.
(i) Ariel, as a harpy, makes a banquet vanish before the terrified king and Antonio.
(ii) Prospero raises a violent storm to bring his enemies to the island.
(iii) Prospero forgives them, regains his dukedom, and frees Ariel.
(iv) Ferdinand meets Miranda and is set the trial of piling heavy logs.
(v) The King of Naples and Antonio repent their cruelty to Prospero.
(i) Ariel, as a harpy, makes a banquet vanish before the terrified king and Antonio.
(ii) Prospero raises a violent storm to bring his enemies to the island.
(iii) Prospero forgives them, regains his dukedom, and frees Ariel.
(iv) Ferdinand meets Miranda and is set the trial of piling heavy logs.
(v) The King of Naples and Antonio repent their cruelty to Prospero.
SECTION - 4
38.
Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.
b) What did Mulan say to her father ?
c) How did her father react ?
d) Why did Mulan want to take her father's place ?
e) What does this incident reveal about Mulan's character ?
Mulan went into her room. With her sword, she cut off her long, black hair. She put on her father's robe. Going back to her father, Mulan said, "Look at me. I am your son now. I will go in your place. I will do my part for China." "No, my daughter!" said the old man. "You cannot do this!"
Questions :
a) What did Mulan do to disguise herself ?b) What did Mulan say to her father ?
c) How did her father react ?
d) Why did Mulan want to take her father's place ?
e) What does this incident reveal about Mulan's character ?
Answer any four of the following.
4 x 5 = 20
39.
Prepare an attractive advertisement using the hints given below.
Books & Stationery – School Textbooks, Notebooks & Art Supplies – Wide Range of Story Books – Back-to-School Offers – Flat 20% Off on School Bags – Free Gift on Purchase Above ₹500 – Open Daily 9 AM to 8 PM – Visit Vidya Book House, Anna Salai, Villupuram.
Books & Stationery – School Textbooks, Notebooks & Art Supplies – Wide Range of Story Books – Back-to-School Offers – Flat 20% Off on School Bags – Free Gift on Purchase Above ₹500 – Open Daily 9 AM to 8 PM – Visit Vidya Book House, Anna Salai, Villupuram.
40.
Imagine that mosquitoes have become a serious menace in your locality due to stagnant water nearby. Write a letter to the Health Officer of your Municipality requesting immediate action.
41.
You are Karthik/Kavya, Secretary of the Eco Club of your school. Write a notice for the school notice board informing students about a 'Tree Plantation Drive' to be held in the school campus on the coming Saturday.
42.
Look at the following picture and describe what you think is happening in it in about five sentences.
43.
Make notes or write a summary of the following passage.
Good sleep is as essential to health as food and exercise. During sleep, the body repairs tissues, strengthens the immune system, and consolidates memories formed during the day. Adults are generally advised to sleep for seven to eight hours every night, while teenagers require even more. Poor sleep habits, such as staying up late with mobile phones, can lead to tiredness, poor concentration, and long-term health problems. Maintaining a fixed bedtime, avoiding screens before sleep, and keeping the bedroom dark and quiet are simple ways to improve sleep quality. Good sleep, therefore, is a habit worth building carefully.
44.
Identify and correct the errors in the following sentences.
a) Neither of the two roads lead to the temple.
b) She is one of the best player in the team.
c) He is fond in playing chess.
d) The news of his success were welcomed by all.
e) I am living in this town since 2015.
a) Neither of the two roads lead to the temple.
b) She is one of the best player in the team.
c) He is fond in playing chess.
d) The news of his success were welcomed by all.
e) I am living in this town since 2015.
SECTION - 5
45.
Quote from memory.
1 x 5 = 5
So let the way .............................................................
................................................................. will be the best.
................................................................. will be the best.
PART - IV (16 Marks)
46.
Write a paragraph of about 150 words by developing any ONE of the following hints.
1 x 8 = 8
a) Dr. Krishnan's friend Somu - leaves for Alaska - sends his pet bird Zigzag to stay - children guess wildly, a beetle, a snake - father explains it is a rare talking bird - mother recalls Somu's past troublesome gifts - Zigzag arrives, refuses to speak - falls asleep, snores thunderously - chaos for six days, a painting spoiled - neighbours complain constantly - Somu's e-mail reveals the truth - the bird is merely bored - next morning at the clinic - Zigzag turns alert and speaks commandingly - calms the crying patients - family realises their mistake - happily agrees to keep him.
OR
b) Despotic governor - country Shining - cruel proclamation to kill all aged people - poor farmer - aged widowed mother - carried her up the mountain Obatsuyama - mother secretly dropped twigs to mark the path - reached the summit - made her a cushion of pine needles - said farewell - moved by her love, refused to leave her - carried her back home - hid her beneath the kitchen floor - governor next demanded a rope of ashes - mother's clever idea - twisted straw burnt on flat stones on a windless night - governor amazed, asked the truth - farmer confessed - governor realised the wisdom of age - cruel law abolished.
47.
2. What facilities do modern libraries offer besides printed books ?
3. What role do public libraries play in society ?
4. How does reading in a library help a person ?
2. What happens to the leaves when the wind passes through ?
3. What happens to the trees when the wind passes by ?
4. What is the central idea of the poem ?
Read the following and answer the questions given below.
4 x 2 = 8
a) Read the following passage and answer the questions given below.
Libraries have long been regarded as the treasure houses of knowledge. A good library not only stores books but also provides a quiet space for reading, research and reflection. Modern libraries have moved beyond printed books to include digital catalogues, e-books and online journals, making information accessible to a wider audience. Public libraries, in particular, play an important role in promoting literacy among children and adults alike, often free of cost. Regular reading in a library environment helps improve concentration, vocabulary and imagination. In an age dominated by screens, libraries continue to offer a calm and reliable space for genuine learning.
Questions :
1. Why are libraries regarded as treasure houses of knowledge ?2. What facilities do modern libraries offer besides printed books ?
3. What role do public libraries play in society ?
4. How does reading in a library help a person ?
OR
b) Read the following poem and answer the questions given below.
Who has seen the wind?
Neither I nor you:
But when the leaves hang trembling,
The wind is passing through.
Who has seen the wind?
Neither you nor I:
But when the trees bow down their heads,
The wind is passing by.
Neither I nor you:
But when the leaves hang trembling,
The wind is passing through.
Who has seen the wind?
Neither you nor I:
But when the trees bow down their heads,
The wind is passing by.
Questions :
1. Has the speaker ever seen the wind ?2. What happens to the leaves when the wind passes through ?
3. What happens to the trees when the wind passes by ?
4. What is the central idea of the poem ?
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