Question 1
(a) Rewrite the following sentences after making necessary corrections.
i) My son is going to study in United States.
Corrected: My son is going to study in the United States.
Reasoning: The names of countries with plural form require the definite article “the.”
ii) Sindhu selected the furniture for her mother.
Corrected: Sindhu selected some furniture for her mother.
Reasoning: “Furniture” is an uncountable noun; we use “some” rather than the definite article when speaking generally.
iii) Rana has known Sumit since three years.
Corrected: Rana has known Sumit for three years.
Reasoning: “Since” is used with a specific point in time; “for” is used with a period or duration.
iv) By the time Thomas found an umbrella, it stopped raining.
Corrected: By the time Thomas found an umbrella, it had stopped raining.
Reasoning: The past perfect tense (“had stopped”) indicates the earlier action completed before the later past action (“found”).
v) I am a student here, isn’t it?
Corrected: I am a student here, aren’t I?
Reasoning: Question tags must agree with the subject; for “I am,” the correct tag is “aren’t I.”
(b) Do as directed.
i) “Are you coming home with me today?” he asked her. (Convert to indirect speech)
Answer: He asked her if she was coming home with him that day.
Reasoning: Change to indirect speech by shifting tense back (present continuous → past continuous) and adjusting pronouns and time adverb.
ii) He could write it in a day. (Turn into passive)
Answer: It could be written by him in a day.
Reasoning: In passive voice, the object becomes subject; the modal “could” remains, followed by passive structure “be written.”
iii) Meera has a sick cat. It was the reason she was late. (Rewrite beginning with ‘That’)
Answer: That Meera has a sick cat was the reason she was late.
Reasoning: Combine two clauses into a noun clause subject introduced by “That.”
iv) Joy fell off a horse last year and broke his arm. He goes riding every day. (Rewrite beginning with ‘Although’)
Answer: Although Joy fell off a horse last year and broke his arm, he goes riding every day.
Reasoning: “Although” introduces the concessive subordinate clause expressing contrast.
v) Yes, I like homemade desserts. (Write a negative question)
Answer: Don’t you like homemade desserts?
Reasoning: Negative question tag flips positive statement into a negative query.
vi) Pia took a walk in the park. Twenty minutes later, she took a nap. (Rewrite using ‘Not long after’ at the beginning)
Answer: Not long after Pia took a walk in the park, she took a nap.
Reasoning: “Not long after” replaces the time sequence expression to begin the combined sentence.
vii) I wish I ————– the house five minutes earlier. I missed my bus. (leave)
Answer: I wish I had left the house five minutes earlier.
Reasoning: Past perfect (“had left”) is required in a “wish” sentence referring to a past regret.
viii) Did you enjoy the opera? ———————- wasn’t very good, but I loved the costumes. (Complete using reflexive pronoun)
Answer: It wasn’t very good, but I loved the costumes.
Reasoning: “It” refers back to “the opera”; no reflexive pronoun is needed here—“it” completes the answer.
ix) One of the two is mine and (another/the other) is yours.
Answer: the other
Reasoning: When two items are contrasted, “the other” refers to the remaining one.
x) There are several flocks of (goose/geese) flying in the sky.
Answer: geese
Reasoning: The plural of “goose” is “geese.”
(c) Fill in the blanks.
i) Savita is the ————– of all my friends. (Childish)
Answer: most childish
Reasoning: Superlative form “most childish” for comparison among three or more.
ii) Keshav repaired the clock, —————–? (question tag)
Answer: didn’t he?
Reasoning: Positive statement takes a negative tag; “did” matches simple past tense “repaired.”
iii) His —————— words helped me a lot. (encourage)
Answer: encouraging
Reasoning: Present participle “encouraging” converts verb into adjective modifying “words.”
iv) Asha loves mangoes. ——————— we take some for her? (Shall/Will)
Answer: Shall
Reasoning: “Shall we …?” is the appropriate polite suggestion form.
v) He has —————– a wonderful idea for the picnic. (come into/come by/come up with)
Answer: come up with
Reasoning: “Come up with” means to produce or devise an idea.
Question 2
(a) Give synonym for each and use in a sentence.
i) Exorbitant → excessive
Sentence: The hotel charged excessive rates during the festival season.
ii) Abominable → detestable
Sentence: The criminal’s detestable behavior shocked the community.
iii) Pragmatic → practical
Sentence: She took a practical approach to solving the budget crisis.
iv) Solitude → isolation
Sentence: He enjoyed the peaceful isolation of his mountain cabin.
(b) Give antonym for each and use in a sentence.
i) Trivial → significant
Sentence: The discovery of the new medicine was significant for humanity.
ii) Serene → turbulent
Sentence: The turbulent waters made sailing dangerous.
iii) Perennial → temporary
Sentence: The temporary arrangement lasted only a few months.
iv) Frugal → extravagant
Sentence: His extravagant lifestyle led to financial difficulties.
(c) Use the following expressions to make sentences.
i) Fall out
Sentence: The two friends had a fall out over money matters.
ii) Look into
Sentence: The police will look into the matter thoroughly.
iii) Ins and outs
Sentence: She knows all the ins and outs of the computer system.
iv) Bury the hatchet
Sentence: After years of rivalry, the two companies decided to bury the hatchet.
(d) Give one-word substitutions and use in a sentence.
i) A person who pretends to be someone he is not → impostor
Sentence: The impostor was caught using fake credentials.
ii) That which is not in use any more → obsolete
Sentence: Typewriters have become obsolete in the digital age.
iii) A detailed plan of a journey → itinerary
Sentence: Our travel agent prepared a detailed itinerary for Europe.
iv) One who is never wrong → infallible
Sentence: No human being is infallible; everyone makes mistakes.
(e) Use the given pairs of words in a single sentence.
i) Adapt, adept
Sentence: She was adept at helping new employees adapt to the company culture.
ii) Elicit, illicit
Sentence: The detective tried to elicit information about the illicit activities.
iii) Imminent, eminent
Sentence: The eminent scientist warned about the imminent danger of climate change.
iv) Jest, zest
Sentence: He spoke in jest, but his zest for life was clear to everyone.
Question 3
(a) Change of Residence (Letter)
130 Park Apartments
Kasturba Nagar
Ahmedabad – 700007
17 August 2025
The Branch Manager
Bank of Baroda
25 Circle Street
Ahmedabad – 700004
Subject: Change of Address and Contact Number for Savings Account
Dear Madam,
I am Sukanya Patel, holder of Savings Account No. 4759687227 at your branch. I have recently moved from 52 West Enclave, Pitampura, New Delhi – 110028 to the above address. My new contact number is 7131748475. Kindly update your records accordingly and send me written confirmation once the change is effected.
Thank you for your prompt assistance.
Yours faithfully,
(Sukanya Patel)
OR
(b) Request for Catalogue and Distributorship (Letter)
Diamond Book Store
123, College Road
Chennai – 600005
17 August 2025
The Sales Manager
New Science Tech Publications
45, Industry Road
Mumbai – 400001
Subject: Request for Catalogue and Enquiry Regarding Southern Zone Distributorship
Dear Sir,
I am Ashok Kumar of Diamond Book Store, Chennai, which specialises in college and university science and technology books. Kindly send us your latest catalogue of publications. We are interested in becoming your authorised distributor for the southern zone and would appreciate details regarding terms, pricing, and minimum order quantities.
We look forward to establishing a mutually beneficial partnership.
Yours sincerely,
(Ashok Kumar)
Question 4
(a) Complaint About Defective Modem (Letter)
Dr. Prakash Tripathy
123, College Enclave
Delhi University Campus
Delhi – 110007
20 August 2025
The Manager
Asia Electronics
45 Nehru Market
New Delhi – 110002
Subject: Replacement Request for Defective Modem (Model XZ-500, Invoice AE/2025/786)
Dear Sir,
I purchased a Model XZ-500 modem from your Delhi outlet two weeks ago (Invoice AE/2025/786). From day one, it fails to maintain a stable internet connection despite following all troubleshooting steps in the manual. As the modem is under warranty, please arrange for its replacement at the earliest. You may contact me at 9876543210 to schedule delivery.
Thank you for your prompt attention.
Yours faithfully,
(Dr. Prakash Tripathy)
OR
(b) Application for PGT (English) (Letter)
Sunita Yadav
45, Vivekananda Street
Mandi – 175001
20 August 2025
The Principal
National Public School
School Road
Mandi – 175001
Subject: Application for the Post of PGT (English)
Dear Sir/Madam,
I wish to apply for the PGT (English) position advertised by your school. I hold an M.A. in English, B.Ed., and have five years of teaching experience at the senior secondary level. My expertise in curriculum development, student mentoring, and extracurricular literary activities makes me a strong candidate. I am confident that my skills and dedication will contribute greatly to your institution.
Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to an opportunity for an interview.
Yours sincerely,
(Sunita Yadav)
Question 5
Passage on Social Media
i) Three significant roles social media play in the lives of the youth today:
- Connecting with friends and acquaintances, strengthening relationships and creating new ones.
- Self-expression and popularity, where users share personal updates, photos, and creative work.
- Engagement with current issues, from debates to awareness campaigns, fostering social participation.
ii) Two possible disadvantages of social media:
- Privacy risks, due to oversharing of personal information.
- Distraction from academics and real-world interactions, leading to reduced focus and social skills.
iii) Role of language in social media; edge of English:
Language determines accessibility and audience reach. English offers a wider global audience and access to international content, while Indian languages improve regional inclusivity.
iv) Synonym of “aplomb” and sentence:
Synonym: poise
Sentence: She handled the unexpected questions with great poise.
v) Antonym of “pervasive” and sentence:
Antonym: limited
Sentence: Their influence was limited to the local community.
vi) Two sentences with “accessible with”:
- The museum is now accessible with the new wheelchair ramp.
- All digital textbooks are accessible with a valid university login.
Question 6
Passage on Sunday Market
i) Why the author loves the marketplace (three examples):
- The vibrant sensory experience: bleating goats, fragrant vegetables, and bustling activity.
- Unexpected dramas: children trampling tomatoes and an unruly goat causing chaos.
- The ever-changing sights: farmers unloading mint bales, bargaining scenes, colorful produce.
ii) Two features likening it to a mini-city:
- Tents and pens rise overnight, forming temporary streets and stalls.
- A diverse population of vendors and shoppers interacting like city inhabitants.
iii) Why the elderly lady shrieks and acts like a fiend:
An unruly goat escaped and began snacking on her basket of greens, startling her.
iv) Synonym of “incessant” and sentence:
Synonym: relentless
Sentence: The relentless drumming of rain kept me awake all night.
v) Antonym of “boisterous” and sentence:
Antonym: quiet
Sentence: The quiet crowd waited patiently for the speaker.
vi) Two sentences with “spill out”:
- When the train doors opened, commuters spill out onto the platform.
- As I untied the sack, coins spill out all over the floor.
Question 7
Title: Western Influence and India’s New Dawn
Précis (≈145 words):
Foreign rule in India relied on less principled elements, as idealists refused submission. Yet contact with Western ideas awakened Indians to strive for a new nation. Reformers like Swamy Dayanand sought to purify Hinduism; others embraced modernization through Western science. Some advocated gradual change via education in newspapers and schools. All drew inspiration from Western visitors—first traders, then rulers—realizing Western knowledge was essential for self-rule. In independent India, this legacy continues: the nation leverages new knowledge, infrastructure, and technology to shed outdated customs and assume a leading global role. New India exemplifies advancement in sports, science, economy, health, social and legal spheres, and foreign relations, showcasing self-sufficiency and innovation on the world stage.