Here is the complete, solved version of the 2018 English HSLC Examination Paper.
English HSLC Examination Paper – 2018 (Solved)
Full Marks: 80
Time: 3 hours
SECTION – A
1. (a) Choose the meaning of the underlined word in the following sentence from among the alternatives given in the brackets : (1)
This land of rolling hills is inhabited by a proud race of martial men, beautiful women and wild creatures.
( having to do with marriage / having to do with peace / having to do with war )
Answer: having to do with war
(b) State whether the following statements are True or False in the context of the text, Tea from Assam : (1+1=2)
(i) Tea came to Europe only in the sixteenth century and was drunk more as medicine than as beverage.
Answer: True
(ii) Tea came to Europe only in the eighteenth century and was drunk more as beverage than as medicine.
Answer: False
(c) Choose the correct answer from among the alternatives given and complete the sentence : (1)
No one really knows who discovered tea but ______.
(i) there are two legends
(ii) there is one legend
(iii) there are many legends
Answer: (iii) there are many legends
2. What did Lencho do throughout the morning? What did he see in the north-east? (1+1=2)
Answer: Throughout the morning, Lencho did nothing else but see the sky towards the north-east. He saw huge mountains of clouds approaching from the north-east.
3. What missions would Mandela like to achieve for the future of South Africa and her people on securing the political emancipation? (2)
Answer: On securing political emancipation, Mandela pledged to liberate all his people from the continuing bondage of poverty, deprivation, suffering, gender, and other discrimination. He also wished that his beautiful land would never again experience the oppression of one by another.
4. How is the water of the Kaveri river? Where does the river obtain its water from? (1+1=2)
Answer: The water of the Kaveri river is freshwater, and it abounds with a large freshwater fish called Mahaseer. The river obtains its water from the hills and forests of Coorg.
5. “Lencho’s soul was filled with sadness.” Why? (2)
Answer: Lencho’s soul was filled with sadness because a hailstorm had completely destroyed his field of ripe corn. The hail had left nothing, and he knew that his family would have no corn that year and might go hungry.
6. “The oppressed and the oppressor alike are robbed of their humanity.” What makes Mandela say this? (2)
Answer: Mandela says this because he believes that a man who takes away another man’s freedom is a prisoner of hatred, locked behind the bars of prejudice and narrow-mindedness. Just as the oppressed is robbed of his freedom and humanity, the oppressor is also robbed of his humanity by his hatred and prejudice.
7. What is the other name of Coorg? (1)
Answer: The other name of Coorg is Kodagu.
8. What was a source of unending joy for Valli? What was her overwhelming desire? (1+1=2)
Answer: The source of unending joy for Valli was the sight of the bus that travelled between her village and the nearest town, filled each time with a new set of passengers. Her overwhelming desire was to ride on that bus, even if just once.
SECTION – B
9. Choose from the box given below the words that rhyme with the following: (1×2=2)
feet, harbour
[bit, beat, sit, hour, honour, armour]
Answer:
- feet – beat
- harbour – armour
10. Choose the meaning of the underlined words from the alternatives given in the brackets : (1+1=2)
(a) I think I could turn and live with the animals, they are so placid and self-contained. ( angry / calm and peaceful / harmful )
Answer: calm and peaceful
(b) Not one is dissatisfied, not one is demented with the mania of owning things. ( feeling unhappy / feeling displeased / behaving crazily for being upset )
Answer: behaving crazily for being upset
11. What is a water hole? Why should the tiger be lurking near it? (1+1=2)
Answer: A water hole is a small pond or pool of water where animals come to drink. The tiger should be lurking near it to hunt for its prey, like a plump deer, that would come there to drink water.
12. Where does Amanda roam? What does she do with her bare feet? (1+1=2)
Answer: In her imagination, Amanda roams the street as an orphan. She makes patterns on the soft dust with her hushed, bare feet.
13. How was Custard dragon received after he had killed the Pirate? (2)
Answer: After he had killed the pirate, Custard was received with joy and praise. Belinda embraced him, Mustard licked him, and Ink and Blink danced around him in glee.
SECTION – C
14. (a) Who is Fowler? Give a description of his meeting with Ausable. (1+4=5)
Answer: Fowler is a young and romantic writer who wants to write a book about spies.
Fowler’s meeting with Ausable was disappointing at first. He had imagined a secret agent to be dashing and mysterious, but Ausable was fat and lived in a small, gloomy hotel room. Fowler felt let down. However, his perception changed when another man, Max, entered the room with a pistol. Fowler then witnessed Ausable’s incredible wit as he invented a story about a non-existent balcony, tricked Max into jumping out of the window, and got rid of the intruder without any violence. This thrilling experience gave Fowler the authentic thrill he had been looking for.
Or
(b) How did Horace Danby become an assistant librarian in the prison? (5)
Answer: Horace Danby was a locksmith who was passionate about rare and expensive books. After being tricked by the lady in red and arrested for the jewel robbery at Shotover Grange, he was sent to prison. In the prison, the authorities, knowing his love for books, made him an assistant librarian. This was ironic as he was a thief, but his punishment involved being surrounded by the very things he loved.
15. (a) Why did Griffin become a homeless wanderer? Why did he slip into the big London store and what did he do there? (2+1+2=5)
Answer:
- Why he became a homeless wanderer: Griffin became a homeless wanderer after he set fire to his landlord’s house in revenge and had to remove his clothes to become invisible and escape.
- Why he slipped into the store: He slipped into a big London store to find warmth from the bitter cold and to get clothes to wear.
- What he did there: Inside the store, he put on warm clothes, shoes, and a hat. He ate cold meat, had coffee, sweets, and wine from the grocery section. Finally, he slept on a pile of quilts.
Or
(b) Who was Bill? How did he befool the young lawyer? (1+4=5)
Answer: Bill Magnuson was the hack driver in New Mullion, but in reality, he was Oliver Lutkins himself.
He befooled the young lawyer with remarkable cleverness. When the lawyer came looking for Lutkins, Bill (Lutkins) pretended to be a simple hack driver. He gained the lawyer’s confidence and offered to help him find Lutkins. He then drove the lawyer all around the village for the entire day, taking him to his friends’ shops and even to his own mother’s house, all while pretending to search for himself. He made the lawyer pay for his time and for his lunch, all the while enjoying the elaborate prank with his fellow villagers.
SECTION – D
16. Fill in the blanks with the right determiners : (½×4=2)
(a) The rich are not always unkind.
(b) The Principal gave the students some sound advice.
(c) Every school has a union of the students.
(d) Is there any coffee left in the pot?
17. Fill in the blanks with the correct preposition from among the choices given in the brackets : (½×4=2)
(a) He always runs after money.
(b) Flour is made from wheat.
(c) Write your answers in black ink.
(d) The cow lives on grass.
18. Rewrite the following sentences putting the verbs in the brackets in their correct tense form : (1+1=2)
(a) If I (be) you, I would not have called him again.
Answer: If I were you, I would not have called him again.
(b) The Principal is not in his room. He (go) out.
Answer: The Principal is not in his room. He has gone out.
19. Change the form of narration of the following : (1+1=2)
(a) Rahim said to me, “Do you know the man standing at the gate?”
Answer: Rahim asked me if I knew the man standing at the gate.
(b) The young man told me that he had come from Jorhat to work in Guwahati.
Answer: The young man said to me, “I have come from Jorhat to work in Guwahati.”
20. Change the voice of the following : (1+1=2)
(a) The letters have been posted.
Answer: I have posted the letters.
(b) He did the work alone.
Answer: The work was done by him alone.
21. Combine each of the following pairs of sentences into a single sentence : (1+1=2)
(a) The boy is not brave. The boy is not intelligent.
Answer: The boy is neither brave nor intelligent.
(b) The man created the trouble. The man was arrested.
Answer: The man who created the trouble was arrested.
22. Choose the correct alternative from the choices given in the brackets: (1)
(a) Mr. John will come to Guwahati (recently / shortly).
Answer: Mr. John will come to Guwahati shortly.
Or
(b) Popular criticism has no (effect / affect) on the politicians.
Answer: Popular criticism has no effect on the politicians.
23. Make sentences to illustrate the meaning of any two of the following: (1×2=2)
run over, deal in, carry out, in order to
- run over: The old man was run over by a speeding car.
- deal in: My father deals in garments.
- carry out: The soldiers must carry out the orders of their commander.
- in order to: He worked hard in order to succeed in life.
24. Correct the errors in any two of the following sentences : (1×2=2)
(a) He took out his shoes.
Answer: He took off his shoes.
(b) I do not know who are you.
Answer: I do not know who you are.
(c) She said that she will arrive at 6 p.m.
Answer: She said that she would arrive at 6 p.m.
(d) She prefers milk than curd.
Answer: She prefers milk to curd.
SECTION – E
25. Translate into English (any one Group of the following): (1×5=5)
(Assamese Group)
(a) মীনা যেনেকুৱা বুধিয়ক, লীলাও তেনেকুৱা।
Answer: Lila is as intelligent as Mina.
(b) জোনে ৰাতিহে পোহৰ দিয়ে।
Answer: The moon shines only at night.
(c) তুমি কালি স্কুললৈ গৈছিলানে?
Answer: Did you go to school yesterday?
(d) সি ককায়েকক খুব ভাল পায়।
Answer: He loves his elder brother very much.
(e) ৰিণ্টুৱে কৈছিল, “এইটো কি সুন্দৰ পুতলা!”
Answer: Rintu said, “What a beautiful doll this is!”
OR
Give the substance of the following passage : (5)
Of all the amusements which can possibly be imagined…
Substance:
Reading an entertaining book is the best form of amusement for a hardworking person after a day’s labour. It requires no physical effort and relieves the dullness of home by transporting one to a more interesting world. A good book provides mental occupation, gives a taste for reading which leads to happiness, and connects a person with the greatest writers and minds of all ages, making him a citizen of the world.
26. Write in about 150 words an essay on any one of the following topics: (6)
(a) Benefits of physical exercise
Benefits of Physical Exercise
Physical exercise is a cornerstone of a healthy lifestyle, offering a wide range of benefits that are essential for both our body and mind. In today’s sedentary world, where technology often keeps us confined to our chairs, the importance of regular physical activity cannot be overstated.
The most well-known benefit of exercise is its positive impact on physical health. It strengthens our muscles and bones, improves cardiovascular health, and helps in maintaining a healthy weight, thereby reducing the risk of chronic diseases like diabetes, heart problems, and obesity. Regular exercise also boosts our immune system, making us less susceptible to illnesses.
Beyond the physical advantages, exercise is a powerful tool for mental well-being. It acts as a natural stress-reliever by releasing endorphins, which are often called ‘feel-good’ hormones. This helps in reducing anxiety, fighting depression, and improving overall mood. Furthermore, it enhances cognitive function, improves memory, and boosts concentration levels. Engaging in physical activity, especially outdoors, provides a refreshing break from daily routines and helps in clearing the mind. In essence, incorporating physical exercise into our daily routine is a vital investment in our long-term health and happiness.
Or
Write a story in about 150 words using the outlines given below and adding a title to it : (6)
Outlines: Twelve fools start on a journey—cross a river—count themselves—each one not counting himself—each time counts eleven—a passerby offers to produce the twelfth man—pays each fool a blow—counts twelve
The Twelfth Fool
Once, twelve foolish men set out on a long journey. On their way, they came across a wide river which they had to cross. After they all swam to the other side, their leader wanted to make sure everyone had crossed safely. He asked them to stand in a line and began to count, “One, two, three… ten, eleven.” He was shocked to find one man missing, as he had forgotten to count himself.
Another man from the group tried counting, but he too made the same mistake and counted only eleven. They all started to wail, believing one of their friends had drowned in the river.
Just then, a passerby saw them crying and asked them the reason. After hearing their foolish story, he understood their mistake. He said, “I can produce the twelfth man for you, but you must pay me.” The fools readily agreed. The clever passerby then gave each of the twelve fools a hard blow on the back and counted aloud with each blow, “One, two, three… ten, eleven, twelve!” The fools were overjoyed to find their twelfth companion and, thanking the passerby, happily continued their journey.
27. Answer either (a) or (b) : (5)
(a) Write a letter to your friend telling him what you intend to do after the HSLC Examination.
[City, PIN Code]
[Date]
My dear [Friend’s Name],
I hope you are doing well. Our HSLC examinations are finally over, and I feel so relieved! I hope your exams went as well as you had expected.
Now that we have a long break ahead of us, I have been thinking a lot about what I want to do next. I have decided to pursue the Science stream in Higher Secondary. My aim is to become an engineer, and I believe a strong foundation in science is crucial for that. I am planning to join [Name of College], as I have heard it has a very good science faculty.
During this vacation, I am also planning to take a short course in computer programming to improve my skills. What about you? What are your plans for the future? Please write back soon and tell me everything.
Give my regards to your parents.
Yours lovingly,
[Your Name]
(b) Write a report for a local daily on the basis of the information given below :
Majuli Devastated by Floods, Relief Inadequate
By a Staff Reporter
Majuli, August 12, 2017: The river island of Majuli is reeling under a severe wave of floods after an embankment of the Brahmaputra was breached yesterday. The situation was worsened as floodwaters from the hills of Arunachal Pradesh added to the fury of the river, inundating large areas and severely affecting several villages and vast tracts of paddy fields.
Thousands of people have been rendered homeless and have been forced to take shelter on highlands and in temporary relief camps. The destruction of paddy fields has caused immense loss to the farmers, who have lost their only source of livelihood.
Although the government has started relief operations, the affected people have complained that the relief provided is not enough to meet their needs. Many organizations and volunteers have come forward to help the affected people with relief materials like food, water, and medicines. However, a more coordinated and large-scale effort is urgently needed to tackle this humanitarian crisis.
28. (a) Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow :
(i) Why is paper a most essential thing for mankind? (2)
Answer: Paper is a most essential thing for mankind because our civilization’s progress depends on it. Great scientists, engineers, and thinkers first write their thoughts and plans on paper before carrying them out, and great thoughts are printed on paper for everyone to read.
(ii) What would have happened if there were no paper? (2)
Answer: If there were no paper, our civilization would not have progressed so fast. We would not have all the good books available in the world, and it would be difficult for people of one country to know about the people of another country.
(iii) Mention three uses of paper. (1)
Answer: Three uses of paper are: (i) for writing thoughts, (ii) for drawing plans, and (iii) for printing books.
(b) Read the following extract carefully and answer the questions that follow :
(i) Of which descent are the people of Coorg? (1)
Answer: The people of Coorg are possibly of Greek or Arabic descent.
(ii) What is the story about the Greek origin of the people of Coorg? (2)
Answer: The story is that a part of Alexander’s army moved south along the coast and settled in Coorg when their return became impractical. These people then married amongst the locals, and their culture is visible in their martial traditions.
(iii) What is the theory in support of the Arab origin of the Coorgi people? (2)
Answer: The theory in support of the Arab origin is the long, black coat with an embroidered waist-belt, known as ‘Kuppia’, worn by the Kodavus. It resembles the ‘Kuffia’ worn by the Arabs and the Kurds.