Yugantar Inter College

Surat Ganj Road, Fatehpur, Barabanki

Half yearly Examination
Class – XI Subject - English
Time: 03hrs. 15min M.M – 100
Note: This question paper is divided into four sections.

• Every question has its marks printed in front of it.

• Attempt every question in a neat handwriting after reading the question properly.

Section: A
Q.1. Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:
Mike and Morris lived in the same village. While Morris owned the largest jewelry shop, Mike
was a poor farmer. Both had large families with many sons, daughters-in-law and grandchildren.
One fine day, Mike, tired of not being able to feed his family, decided to leave the village and
move to the city where he was certain to earn enough to feed everyone. Along with his family,
he left the village for the city. At night, they stopped under a large tree. There was a stream
running nearby where they could freshen up themselves. He told his sons to clear the area
below the tree; he told his wife to fetch water, and he instructed his daughters-in-law to make
up the fire and started cutting wood from the tree himself. The didn’t know that in the branches
of the tree there was a thief hiding. He watched as Mike’s family work together and noticed that
they had nothing to cook. Mike’s wife also thought the same and asked her husband,
“Everything is ready but what shall we eat?” Mike raised his hands to heaven and said,” Don’t
worry. He is watching all of this from above and He will help us.” The thief got worried as he had
seen that the family was large and worked well together. Taking advantage of the fact that they
did not know he was hiding in the branches, he decided to make a quick escape. He climbed
down safely when they were not looking and ran for his life. But he left behind the bundle of
stolen jewels and money which dropped into Mike’s lap. Mike opened it and jumped with joy
when he saw the contents. The family gathered all their belongings and returned to the village.
There was great excitement when they told everyone how they got rich.
Morris thought that tree was miraculous, and this was a nice and quick way to earn some
money. He ordered his family to pack some clothes, and they set off as if on a journey. They also
stopped under the same tree and Morris started commanding everyone as Mike had done but
no one in his family was willing to obey his orders. Being a rich family, they were used to having
servants all around. So, the one who went to the river to fetch water enjoyed a nice bath. The
one who went to get wood for fire went off to sleep. Morris’ wife said,” Everything is ready but
what shall we eat?” Morris raised his hands and said,” Don’t worry. He is watching all of this
from above He will help us.” As soon as he finished saying, the thief jumped down from the tree
with a knife in hand. Seeing him, everyone started running around to save his life. The thief
stole everything they had, and Morris and his family had to return to the village empty handed.
Question:
1. Why did Mike and his family move from the village to the city?
3
2. How did Mike and his family get riches? 3
3. What happened with Morris and his family when they followed
Mike? 3
4. What do you learn from the story? 3
5(a). Find the word from the passage which means wealth. 1
(b). Which word in the passage is opposite to excitement? 1
(c). Which word in the passage is nearest to the meaning of
‘following’: 1
i. Obey ii. Escape iii. Decide iv. Fetch

Section: B
Q.2. Write an article on any one of the following topics in 200-250
words: (10)
(a). The Uplift of our Villages
(b). Science and Human Happiness
(c). Future of Democracy in India
Q.3. You are Aditya/ Aditi, a resident of 14/9, Dwarika Heights, Varanasi.
You are not satisfied with the facilities for tourists in Jaipur. Write a
letter to the editor of a local daily giving suggestions on ways to
improve the facilities for tourists. (10)
 Or
You are Kritika/Krishna. Write a letter to the editor of a leading
newspaper voicing your concern about increasing number of drugs
users in our country. Write your letter highlighting the danger of
this new age social evil.

Section: C
Q.4. Follow the instructions to answer the questions: (2x5=10)
a. “What are you doing, good old woman?” said the princess “I am
spinning my pretty child.” answered the woman. (Indirect speech)
b. The river is deep and swift. I am afraid to dive into it. (Simple
sentence)
c. No one can be expected to submit forever to injustice. (Question)
d. Lincoln emancipated four million African slaves. (Passive voice)
e. Everyone was running to get their meal. (correct the sentence)
Q.5.(a) Write the antonym of ‘confirm’ or ‘sanction’. (2)
(b) ’Pay off old scores’ – tell the meaning: (2)
(i) to settle debts (ii) to avenge someone’s death
(iii) to take revenge (iv) to prepare for the future
(c) The art of writing or solving codes: (2)
(i) polygraph (ii) anemograph
(iii) autograph (iv) cryptograph
(d) It is good to eat orange …………. also. (2)
(i) peal (ii) peels
(iii) peales (iv) pale
(e) Use any one of the following pair of words in sentences of your
own to bring out the differences in their meanings clearly: (2)
 (i) Eminent – imminent
(ii) Piece – peace
Q.6. Translate the following into English: (5)

भालू एक जंगली जानवर है। यह जंगल का राजा तो नहीं है ककन्तु शेर

की तरह ही खूंखार होता है। पेड़ों की घनी छाया मे नदी के ककनारे रहना

भालू को ज्यादा पसंद है । अपने रहने के ललए भालू जमीन मे मााँद

बनाता है। शरीर पर बहुत घने और लंबे बाल होने के कारण उसे बहुत

गमी लगती है। भालू पालने वाले को शासन से अनुमतत लेना आवश्यक

है। यह मांसाहार पे अधिक तनभभर रहता है। इसका नाच छोटे बच्चों को

बहुत आकर्षभत करता है। इसकी नाक और मुह से तनकलने वाली

आवाज बहुत डरावनी होती है ।

Section: D

Q.7. Answer the following questions in not more than 40 words

each (4x2=8)

(a) What are most of the bangle-makers ignorant of? What would happen if
laws were enforced strictly?

Or

What two things did Douglas disliked to do? Which one did

he have to do and why?

(b) “What a thunderclap these words were to me!” Which were the words that shocked
and surprised the narrator?
Or
Who was the boss of the Gemini studio?
Q.8. Answer any one of the following questions in not more than

80 words: (7)

(a) Do you think title of the story ‘The Rattrap’ is appropriate? Give
reasons to support your answer.
or
(b) Why is the Champaran episode considered to be the beginning of the Indian
struggle for independence?

Q.9. Read the following stanza carefully and answer the questions that follow :
“Such the sun, the moon,
Trees old, and young, sprouting a shady boon
For simple sheep; and such a daffodils
With the green world they live in; and clear rills
That for themselves a cooling covert make
‘gainst the hot season; the mid forest brake, rich with a sprinkling of fare musk-rose
blooms “
Questions:
(i) What sprouts a shady boon for sheep and how? (2)
(ii) How do daffodils and rills enrich the environment? (2)
(iii) Name the poem and poet. (2)
Q.10. write the central idea of any one of the following poems:
a. A Thing of Beauty b. Keeping Quiet c. A Roadside Stand (4)
Q.11. Answer the following questions in not more than 40 words:
(a) What does the third level refer to? (4)
Or
Who was the hero of the story ‘The Tiger King’? How may
he be identified?
(c) What are Goeff Green’s reasons for including high school students with Students on
ice expedition? (4)
Or
 Will Dr Sadao be arrested on the charge of harbouring an
enemy?
Q.12. Answer any one of the questions in not more than 80 words (7)
What was the General’s plan to get rid of the American
prisoner? Was it executed? What traits of the General’s character
are highlighted in the lesson ‘The Enemy’?
Or
Compare and contrast the characters of Mr. Lamb and Derry.