Unit Test No. 1
Std. XI (English)
Marks: 25
Time: 1 Hour 30 Min.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.1. Read the extract and complete the activities given below.(13)
The next thing Moru Dada wanted to do was spray some pesticide on the plants. He claimed that it would give a higher yield. This was something we did not want to do. We were clear that we would not use any chemicals and tried to explain it to him. He reacted as if we had suggested hara-kiri. It took a lot of convincing to ensure that Moru Dada and his friends did not use any chemicals on the farm. They refused to understand how crops could grow without sprays. Contrary to what everyone had told us, nature did her job and she needed no bribes to get the work done. Soon it was harvest time and we managed a respectable 300 kilograms. An awful lot of moong and with it a lot of confidence. Now I was certain the land was fertile and that it was possible to grow crops without chemicals. It was a major morale booster. The Scent of Rice The first year I was late for the rice-sowing season and had to resort to growing the GR4 variety that was short term and recommended by the agricultural officers at Kosbad. The next year we decided that we would start early and try to find some good traditional variety of rice to grow. We had read about traditional varieties of rice and knew that they did not require very high inputs of fertilizers. These varieties were also quite strong and resisted pests. We were sure that it was this type of rice that would grow well in our farm where we did not use any chemicals at all. Our previous year’s experience and low yield had taught us a lesson and we were sure we would not plant hybrids this year. In April 2005, we started to look for a good variety of traditional rice. It was one of our neighbours in the village, a businessman from Mumbai who owned land, who suggested that we plant a local scented variety of rice. Most of the farmers in and around the village of Peth had switched over to hybrids. The younger generation of farmers thought I was crazy to ask for the ‘desi’ variety, as they called it. My regular visits to the villages around searching for a good traditional variety also did not yield any results and we were almost giving up hope. |
A1. True or False (2)
Rewrite the following statements and state whether they are true or false.
1) Most of the farmers used hybrid variety in their farm.
2) The writer needed traditional variety of rice.
3) The land of the narrator was not fertile.
4) The writer agreed to spray pesticides on the crop.
A2. Give reasons (2)
The writer wanted to grow the traditional variety of rice because------
A3. Guess (2)
The writer almost gave up hope of finding the desi variety of rice. Guess its reasons.
A4. Personal response. (2)
Note down any two problems faced by the farmer nowadays in your locality.
A5. Language Study (2)
Do as directed.
1) This was something we did not want to do.
(Make simple sentence)
2) In April 2005, we started to look for a good variety of traditional rice.
( Frame a wh- type question to get the underlined words as answer)
3) Most of the farmers in and around the village of Peth had switched over to hybrids.
(Identify the tense)
A6. Vocabulary. (2)
Match word given under ‘A’ with their meaning under ‘B’.
A | B |
1) morale | a) try to prevent |
2) resisted | b) capable of producing crops |
3) traditional | c) confidence |
4) fertile | d) conventional |
Q.2. Read the extract and complete the activities given below. (08)
Eight years have passed Since I placed my cherry seed in the grass. “Must have a tree of my own,” I said, And watered it once and went to bed And forgot; but cherries have a way of growing, Though no one's caring very much or knowing. And suddenly that summer near the end of May, I found a tree had come to stay. It was very small, five months child, Lost in the tall grass running wild. Goats ate the leaves, the grass cutter scythe Split it apart and a monsoon blight Shrivelled the slender stem...... Even so, Next spring I watched three new shoots grow, The young tree struggle, upward thrust Its arms in a fresh fierce lust For light and air and sun. |
A1. Complete (2)
1) The thought which prompted the poet to plant the cherry seed is --
2) The threats for the cherry tree are---- 1) ----------- 2) ----------3) ------
A2. Explain (2)
The young tree struggle, upward thrust. Its arms in a fresh fierce lust.
(Explain these lines)
A3. Personal Response (2)
Give your experience of planting or caring a tree in few words.
A4. Poetic device (2)
Find out one example from the extract for the following figures of speech:
1) Alliteration
2) Antithesis
Q.3. Write any one of the following. (04)
1) E- Mail Writing
Write an e mail with proper format to the Divisional Officer, Satpuda Mountain Ranges, Nagpur, seeking permission for the mountaineering expedition to be organized by your college.
Use the following points:
E - mail address: satpuda@gmail.com Give number of persons ready for mountaineering, give assurance to follow rules and regulations, give dates of expedition etc. |
OR
2) Letter Writing
You want a bona fide certificate in order to get concession in MSRTC bus monthly pass fare. Write a letter of application to the principal of your junior college requesting him/her to issue you the same.
Use the following points:
Name: XYZ, Class- XI (A), Register No. 4212, Give date of birth. Need to get bona fide certificate to get concession in travelling. |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seen Prose: 13 Marks
Seen Poetry: 08 Marks
Writing Skill: 04 Marks
Total: 25 Marks
----------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------
