MBSE HSLC Sample Question Paper English

Total number of printed pages – 5 HS/001

ENGLISH
SAMPLE QUESTION PAPER
Full marks – 80
Time – 3 Hours

General Instructions :
(i) This question paper is divided into four sections – A, B, C and D.
(ii) All the sections are compulsory. Answer all the questions.
(iii) Write the number of the question before attempting it.
(iv) Marks for each question are indicated against it.

SECTION - A : Reading ( 10 marks)

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

Why does a person become overconfident? The reason lies in over assessment of his
capabilities. Sometimes people over assess their competence and jump into situations that are
beyond their control.

Napoleon Bonaparte who became Emperor of France would say that the word ‘impossible’
was common only amongst fools. The overconfident Napoleon invaded Russia in the winter of
1812. This proved to be a big disaster.

Overconfidence generally leads people into misadventures, endangering their chances
in life. It is wisely said that any achievement is a result of two factors – one’s personal planning
and support from the external world. People take into account only their planning, generally
ignoring external factors. As a result they are unable to foresee future developments.
Hence, the great risk of failure.

Then there is the question: how can one manage overconfidence? The formula is very
simple. Before taking a decision, discuss the matter with other informed people with an objective
mind and when it is proved that you are about to go off the path, accept reality and say without
delay, “I was wrong”.

Overconfidence is a flaw characterizing people who lack the virtue of modesty. Modesty
makes you a realist; you become a person who is cut down to size. People of this kind become very
cautious; before taking an action they assess the whole situation. They adopt a realistic approach.

Overconfident people live within their own thoughts. They know themselves but they are
unaware of others. Living inside their own cell they are unable to make use of the experiences of
others. This kind of habit is highly damaging to all concerned.

There is a saying that the young man sees the rule and the old man sees the exception, with a
slight change, I would like to say that the overconfident person sees the rule and the confident
person sees the exception. Overconfident people are always at risks. It is said that taking risk is
good but it must be well calculated otherwise it becomes very dangerous.

1. 1. On the basis of your reading of the above passage, answer the following questions briefly:
(3 X 2 = 6)
(a) Why does a person become overconfident?
(b) What does overconfidence generally lead people into?
(c) How can one manage overconfidence?

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1. 2. Choose the most suitable antonym from the options given :

(a) capabilities 1

(i) capacity (ii) power (iii) potentialities (iv) inabilities

(b) disaster 1

(i) calorie (ii) blessing (iii) catastrophe (iv) destruction

1. 3. Find words in the passage which mean the same as : (2 X 1 = 2)
i) Threatening (para 3)
ii) Predict (para 3)

SECTION - B : WRITING ( 15 marks )

2. (a) With COVID-19 on the rise, universal adoption of safety measures is imperative. Design
an attractive poster on COVID-19 to create awareness, highlighting the safety measures and
their importance in checking the spread of the infectious disease.
(Word limit: 50) 5

OR

(b)Your father, Mr. Lalthanga, is preparing to host a grand Christmas dinner at your
residence on 25th December 20xx at 5 o’clock. Draft an informal invitation on behalf of
your father to invite his friend Mr. Vanmawia to join your family at the dinner.
(Word limit: 50) 5

3. As advertised in the local newspapers,one post of a high school teacher is lying vacant at
Govt. Tlangmawi High School. Prepare a job application for the post with a detailed
Curriculum Vitae (CV). (Word limit :150 - 200 words) 10

SECTION - C : GRAMMAR (15 marks)

4. Identify and label each sentence as declarative, interrogative or exclamatory: (4 X 1 = 4)
(a) How well she sings!
(b) She is a successful writer.
(c) Who told you this?
(d) They will not be joining us for dinner.

5. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb from the alternatives given: (5 X 1 = 5)
(a) Puia fell ill because he___________ spicy food.
(eat/ has ate / have eaten / had eaten )
(b) Jane ______________ her blue jeans today, but usually she wears a dress.
(wears / wearing / wear / is wearing)
(c) Lala _______________ not been to Paris.
( is / has / have/ was )
(d) ______________ the moon a star?
(Has / Was / Is / Were)
(e) I _______________ football last Saturday.
(am playing / play / played / plays )

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6. Change the statements from direct to indirect speech and vice versa by choosing the correct
answer from the options given: (3 X 1 = 3)
(a) He said to Susan, “You have committed a mistake here.”
(i) He told Susan that she committed a mistake here.
(ii) He told Susan that she had committed a mistake there.
(iii) He told Susan that she would commit a mistake there.
(iv) He told Susan that she has committed a mistake here.

(b) The teacher said, “Are you preparing well for the exams?”
(i) The teacher said that they are preparing well for the exams.
(ii) The teacher asked if I am preparing well for the exams.
(iii) The teacher asked whether I have been preparing well for the exams.
(iv) The teacher said that we were preparing well for the exams.

(c) The students asked whether they could use the calculator.
(i) The students said, “Can we use the calculator?”
(ii) The students said, “Can they use the calculator?”
(iii) The students said, “Could we use the calculator?”
(iv) The students said, “Could they use the calculator?”

7. Change the voice : (3 X 1 = 3)
(a) Is he doing his assignment?
(b) She will write a letter.
(c) The train has been missed by him.

SECTION - D : TEXTBOOK ( 40 marks)

8. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :

I was grieving because I had lost a good friend. However, I could not dwell on
my grief alone.

(a) Who is the speaker? How did the speaker lose her good friend? 2
(b) How did they become best friends? 2

9. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :

Murray Halberg was almost killed in an accident while playing football.

(a) Who is Murray Halberg? How old was he when the accident happened? 2
(b) How bad was the accident ? 2

10. (a) Describe the situation that led the crocodile to attack Graham. (Word limit : 50-75) 4

OR

(b) Describe how Nicola and Jacopo sacrificed themselves to look after their sister.
(Word limit : 50-75) 4

11. Wangari Maathai was an environmentalist who believed that it is everyone’s responsibil-
ity to make our world greener. Explain how students can play major roles in promoting a
‘greener world’. (Word limit : 50-75) 4

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12. Read the extract and answer the questions that follow in one or two sentences only:

Till last by Philip’s farm I flow
To join the brimming river,
For men may come and men may go,
But I go on forever.

(a) Who is the speaker? 1
(b) What is the refrain in the poem? 1
(c) The poet of this poem is.... 1
i) Douglas Malloch iii) John Keats
ii) Alfred Tennyson iv) William Cowper

13. Read the extract and answer the questions that follow :

It isn’t by size that you win or you fail-
Be the best of whatever you are!

(a) How can we be the best in whatever we do? 2
(b) The speaker in the poem sounds .......... 1
i) proud iii) angry
ii) sad iv) positive
14. (a)Write what the poet wants to show through the poem The Poplar Field. What lesson do
you learn from the poem? (Word limit : 50-75) 4

OR

(b)The brook faced a number of ups and downs to reach its destination. Compare the
journey of the brook to that of men in our journey to reach our goal. (Word limit : 50-75) 4

15. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :

(a) Your visitor seems to have left traces in your bedroom as well as in your study,
Mr. Soames.

(i) Who is the speaker? What is he doing in Mr. Soames’ bedroom? 2
(ii) What traces were left behind by the visitor? 2

OR

(b) Pray continue your very interesting statement.

(i) Who is the speaker? To whom is he speaking? 2
(ii) What is the ‘interesting statement’? 2

16. (a) Write what you understand about the character of Antonio from the story The Merchant
of Venice in about 50- 75 words. 4

OR

(b) What was it about the old man that made the narrator of The Corner Shop feel so
uncomfortable? Give your answer in about 50 - 75 words. 4

4

17. (a) In the story The Merchant of Venice, what was inside the silver casket? 1
(i) Portia’s portrait (iii) fool’s head
(ii) gold (iv) precious stone
(b) What was the most important day of Helen Keller’s life? 1
(i) the day she met Anne Sullivan (iii) the day she broke her doll
(ii) the day she could walk (iv) the day she was named

18. (a) The author of the fiction The Paper Plague stated that people under the threat of famine
can behave like beasts. How far is the statement true about human nature, especially in the
times of pandemic or crises? (Word limit 50 - 75) 4

OR

(b) Education empowered Helen Keller who had overcome many obstacles in her life. Based
on your own experiences, describe how education has helped you to become a better
individual. (Word limit 50 - 75) 4

_____________________________

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