Maharashtra Board Class 10 
SSC English Question Paper 2021-22

                            Maharashtra Board Class 10 SSC 

English Question Paper

Std: SSC (Xth)         English    Marks: 40 Marks        Time: 2 Hours

Q.1 (A) Do as directed.

A.1 Do as directed (Any 4)                    (04)

    1) Write down two compound word beginning with 'Book'.

Ans: 1. Bookshelf    2. Bookworm

    2) Punctuate the following. I do not know you and live nothing to forgive you for said the king 

Ans: "I do not know you and live. Nothing to forgive you for," said the king.

    3) Spot the error in the following sentence and rewrite it. Why doesn't you follow my example and            just eat one thing?

Ans: Error: The subject-verb agreement is incorrect. "doesn't" should be "don't" to match the subject "you."

Corrected sentence: "Why don't you follow my example and just eat one thing?"

    4) Write down two present principle in which last letter get doubled.

Ans: 1. Running    2. Sitting

    5) Identify the types of sentence.     Hemingway's novel is based on real events.

Ans: The given sentence is a declarative sentence.

A.2 Do as directed. (Any 2)                                (02)

    1) Complete the following word chain of objectives.

        Unbelievable e__________, __________, __________, ___________.

    2) Make your own sentence to show the difference in the given homophones:- "Peace and Piece".

Ans; "Despite the chaos, they managed to find peace in each other's presence, and together they created a beautiful piece of art."

    3) "I made some money yesterday," he explained. (Rewrite it in indirect speech)

Ans: He explained that he had made some money the day before.

B) Do as directed. (Any 1)                                (01)

    1) Pick out the model auxiliary and state its function.

        i) You should reach the venue on time.

        ii) We must work hard to achieve our aim in life.

Ans: i) The model auxiliary in the sentence is "should." Its function is to express advice, recommendation, or obligation.

ii) The model auxiliary in the sentence is "must." Its function is to express a strong necessity or obligation.

    2) Complete the following sentences with the help of the sentences given below.

        Ramnath is one of the most generous persons in Wadgaon village.

        i) Very few _________________________________________________

        ii) Ramnath is ________________________________________________

Ans: i) Very few people in Wadgaon village are as generous as Ramnath.

ii) Ramnath is renowned for being one of the most generous persons in Wadgaon village.

SECTION- II TEXTUAL PASSAGES

(Reading Skill. Vocabulary and Grammar) Q.2 (A) Read the following passage and do the activities.

Friend, we can do this Government must make child friendly policies, and invest in education and young people. Businesses must be more responsible. accountable and open to innovative partnerships. Intergovernmental agencies must work together to accelerate action. Global civil society must rise above the business-as=usual and fragmented agendas. Faith leaders and institutions, and all of us must stand with our children.

    We must be bold, we must be ambitious and we must have the will. We must keep our promises.

    Over fifty years ago, on the first day of my school, i met a cobbler boy my age sitting outside the gate of my school. I asked my teachers: "Why is he working outside? Why is he not with us in the school? My teachers had no answer. One day, I gathered the courage to ask the boy's father. He said: "Sir, I have never thought about it. we are born to work."

    His  answer made me angry. It still makes me angry.

    As a child, I had a vision of tomorrow. As vision of that cobbler boar sitting with me in my classroom. Now, that tomorrow has become TODAY.

    I am TODAY, and you are TODAY. TODAY it is time for every child to have a right life, right to freedom, right to education, right to safety, right to dignity, right to equality, and right to peace.

    TODAY, beyond the darkness, I see the smiling faces of our children in the  blinking star. TODAY, in every wave of every ocean, I see my children are playing  and dancing. TODAY, in every plant, in every tree, and mountain, I see our children growing freely with dignity.

Friend, I want you to see and feel this TODAY inside you.

I am sure you can - Now, listen to that child, Listen please. 

Today, I see thousand of Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandalas and Martin Luther King calling on us.

Let us democratize knowledge, Let us universalize justice. together, let us globalize compassion!

I call upon you in this room, and all across the world, I call for a march from exploitation to education, I call for a march from poverty to share prosperity. a march from slavery to liberty, and a march from violence to peace.

Let us march from ignorance to awaking. Let us march from darkness to light. Let us march from mortality to divinity.

Let us March!-

A.1. Who said to whom?

    i) "Why is he not with us in the school ?"

   ii) "Sir, I have never thought about it. We are born to work."

Ans: i) The speaker is asking the question "Why is he not with us in the school?" The recipient of this question is not explicitly mentioned in the given information.

ii) The speaker is addressing "Sir" and saying, "I have never thought about it. We are born to work."

A.2 Complete the following web with the help of the passage.

A.3 Find out the words form the passage which mean:

    a) Adapted for the benefit of the people at large -

    b) An act to victimize someone -

    c) The rate of deaths in an area to the population of that area -

    d) Producing something like nothing done or created before -

Ans: a) Adapted for the benefit of the people at large - The word that means "adapted for the benefit of the people at large" is "public-oriented" or "people-centric."

b) An act to victimize someone - The word that means "an act to victimize someone" is "persecution" or "oppression."

c) The rate of deaths in an area to the population of that area - The word that means "the rate of deaths in an area to the population of that area" is "mortality rate."

d) Producing something like nothing done or created before - The word that means "producing something like nothing done or created before" is "innovative" or "groundbreaking."

A.4 Change the Voice:

    a) I see the smiling faces of our children in the blinking stars. 

        (Being the sentence with "the smiling faces __________)

Ans: Being the sentence with "the smiling faces," I see the smiling faces of our children reflected in the blinking stars.

    b) His answer made me angry. (Begin the sentence with "I ..................)

Ans: I found myself becoming angry in response to his answer.

A.5 "Let us march ignorance to awakening. Let us march from darkness to light." Elaborate.

Ans: The quote "Let us march ignorance to awakening. Let us march from darkness to light" encapsulates a powerful call to action and represents a profound desire for progress and enlightenment. When we delve deeper into its meaning, we can interpret it in a few different ways.

Firstly, it emphasizes the importance of actively seeking knowledge and personal growth. By using the metaphor of marching, it suggests a collective effort, an organized movement towards awakening and enlightenment. Ignorance can be seen as a state of limited understanding, lack of awareness, or even prejudice. The quote encourages us to challenge and overcome our ignorance by actively seeking knowledge, learning, and expanding our perspectives.

Furthermore, the reference to darkness and light represents a stark contrast between knowledge and ignorance, understanding and confusion. Darkness symbolizes a state of obscurity, confusion, or lack of clarity, while light represents illumination, knowledge, and wisdom. The quote encourages us to move away from the darkness of ignorance and towards the light of knowledge and understanding.

Additionally, the word "march" suggests a sense of purpose, determination, and collective action. It implies that the journey towards awakening and enlightenment is not passive or complacent but requires active participation and effort. It highlights the need for individuals to come together, unite, and work collectively to overcome ignorance and move towards a more enlightened state.

Overall, the quote serves as a motivational reminder of the significance of knowledge, growth, and progress. It urges us to challenge our own ignorance, actively seek understanding, and work together to create a more enlightened and informed society.

Q.2 (B) Read the following passage and do the activities.

                       I caught sight of her at the play and in answer to her call. I went over during the interval and sat down beside her. It was long since I had last seen her and, if someone had not mentioned her name, I hardly think I would have recognized her, She addressed me brightly.

"Well, it's many years since we first met. How time does fly ! We're none of us getting any younger. Do you remember the first time I saw you? You asked me to luncheon."

    Did I remember? 

It was twenty years ago and I was living in Paris. I had a tiny apartment and I was earning barely enough money. She had read a book of mine and had written to me about it. I answered, thanking her, and presently, I received from her another letter saying she was passing through Paris and would like to have a chat with me. But her time was limited and the only free moment she had was on the following Thursday and would I give her a little luncheon at Fayol's afterwards ? Fayol's is a restaurant and it was so far beyond my means that I had never even thought of going there. I had eight francs (gold francs). 

    To last me the rest of the month and a modest luncheon should not cost more than fifteen. If I cut out coffee for the next two weeks. I could manage well enough. 

I answered that I would meet my friend at Fayol's on Thursday at half-past twelve. She was, in appearance, imposing rather than attractive and she gave me the impression having more teeth. while and large and even, than were necessary for any practical purpose. she was talkative, but since she seemed to want to talk about me.I was prepared to be an attentive listener. "I never eat anything for luncheon." She said.

"Oh,  don't say that!" I answered generously.

"I never eat more than one thing. I think people eat for too much nowadays. A little fish, perhaps. I wonder if they have any salmon."

    Well, It was early in the year for salmon and it was not on the menu, but I asked the waiter  if there was any, Yes, a beautiful salmon had just come in-it was the first they had. I ordered it for my guest. The waiter asked her if she would have something while it was being cooked. "No," she answered, "I never eat more than one thing. Unless you had a little caviar. I never mind caviar." 

    I knew I could not afford caviar, but I could not very well tell her that. For myself, I chose the cheapest dish on the menu and that was a mutton chop.

  

    "I think you're unwise to eat meat," she said. "I don't believe in overloading my stomach." 

B.1 State whether the following statements are true or false.

        a) Caviar was the cheapest dish on the menu.

        b) The writer met his friend at the play after twenty years.

        c) The writer was living in Paris twenty years ago.

        d) The writer's friend was an attentive listener.

Ans:

a) False - The statement suggests that caviar was the least expensive dish on the menu, which is unlikely as caviar is generally considered a luxury and expensive food item.

b) True - The statement indicates that the writer met his friend at the play after a gap of twenty years, implying that they had not seen each other for two decades.

c) False - The statement states that the writer was living in Paris twenty years ago, but it doesn't provide any information about the writer's current residence or whether they still live in Paris.

d) Insufficient information - The statement only mentions that the writer's friend was at the play, but it does not provide any details about the friend's behavior or listening skills, so we cannot determine whether they were an attentive listener or not.

B.2 Complete the following sentences with the help of the given passage.

        1) the writer's friend ordered __________ which was not on the menu.

        2) the writer met his friend in __________ after many years.

        3) The writer chose _________ beasure it was the cheapest dish on the menu.

        4) The writer had never even thought of going to __________ because it was not affordable for him.

Ans: 1) the writer's friend ordered a dish that was not on the menu.

Based on the given passage, there is no specific information provided about what dish the writer's friend ordered, except that it was not listed on the menu.

2) the writer met his friend in a play or at the play after many years.

The passage mentions that the writer met his friend at the play after a gap of twenty years, indicating that they reunited in the context of a theatrical performance.

3) The writer chose a dish called __________ because it was the cheapest dish on the menu.

The given passage does not provide any specific information about the name of the dish that the writer chose as the cheapest on the menu.

4) The writer had never even thought of going to a particular place because it was not affordable for him.

The passage does not mention any specific place that the writer had never considered visiting due to affordability issues. Therefore, the sentence remains incomplete based on the given passage.

B.3 Writer you own sentences by using the following phrases.[ to catch sign of, beyond one's means ]

Ans: 1) As I walked through the forest, I strained my eyes to catch a sign of any elusive wildlife hiding among the trees.

2) The luxurious vacation package was beyond my means, so I had to opt for a more budget-friendly option.

3) She meticulously observed the painting, trying to catch a sign of the artist's emotions hidden within the brushstrokes.

4) Despite her desire to attend the concert, the ticket prices were beyond her means, forcing her to miss out on the live performance.

B.4 1) I knew, I could not afford caviar. [ make it affirmative ]

       2) She was talkative. [ make it negative without changing its meaning ]

Ans:

1) I knew I could afford caviar.

2) She was not quiet.

B.5 If somebody is hosting you at restaurant, would you choose the most expensive dish on the menu? - Justify

ans: If someone is hosting you at a restaurant, it would generally be considered polite and respectful to exercise discretion and avoid choosing the most expensive dish on the menu. This is because the person hosting you is offering to cover the expenses, and it is courteous to be mindful of their generosity and not take advantage of their hospitality.

Choosing the most expensive dish on the menu could potentially create an awkward situation or make the host feel uncomfortable, especially if they were not expecting such a substantial expense. It may also give the impression that you are solely interested in taking advantage of their hospitality rather than appreciating the gesture.

Instead, it is generally recommended to select a reasonably priced dish that you genuinely enjoy, ensuring that the cost remains within a considerate range. By doing so, you demonstrate gratitude for the host's invitation while showing respect for their willingness to treat you to a meal.

Q.3 (A) Read the following extract and so the activities. 

Where the mind is without fear and the head is held  high

Where knowledge is free

Where the world has been broken up into fragments

By narrow domestic walls

Where words come out from the depth of truth

Where tireless striving of reason has not lost its way

Into the dreary desert sand of dead habit

Where the mind is led forward by Thee

Into ever-winding thought and action

Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.

-- Rabindranath Tagore