| Total No. of Questions : 12 | SS 2326 |
ANNUAL EXAMINATION SYSTEM
GENERAL ENGLISH
001/A
[Total No. of Printed Pages: 7
(Common for All Groups and Vocational Stream)
| Time Allowed: 3 Hours | Maximum Marks: 80 |
Note:
(i) You must write the subject-code/paper-code 001 in the box provided on the title page of your answer-book.
(ii) Make sure that the answer-book contains 28 pages (including title page) and are properly serialized as soon as you receive it.
(iii) Question/s attempted after leaving blank page/s in the answer-book would not be evaluated.
(iv) No extra sheet will be provided. Answer the questions to the point.
(v) Draw a line at the end of the answer to each question.
(vi) Do not write on the backside of the title page.
(vii) While writing answers, the question numbers should be written correctly.
(viii) All questions are compulsory. Attempted questions should be done continuously and in proper sequence.
Section - A
16 marks
1. (Reading Comprehension)
(A) Read the given passage and answer the questions given below: 10x1=10
Every morning, heaps of garbage can be seen piled up on the streets of many cities. Plastic bags, food waste and broken items lie scattered, giving out a foul smell. Stray animals often tear open the bags, making the situation worse. While authorities are blamed for poor management, we often forget that the problem begins with us. People throw waste carelessly, without thinking about its effect on the environment or public health. Improper waste disposal can have both immediate and delayed consequences. No sooner is garbage burned than poisonous gases are released, polluting the air and harming human health. Other effects, which appear over time, include blocked drains, water logging, spread of diseases, foul smell from decaying garbage, and harm to animals that ingest plastic or other non-biodegradable waste. These consequences may develop gradually, but they have long-term impacts on health, hygiene and the ecosystem. Despite awareness campaigns, many continue to treat cleanliness as the government's duty alone.
Change can happen only if every citizen takes responsibility. Segregating waste into biodegradable and non-biodegradable at home is the first step. Reusing and recycling materials can greatly reduce the volume of garbage. Small actions, like carrying cloth bags instead of plastic ones, or refusing unnecessary packaging, also make a big difference. Mahatma Gandhi once said, "Sanitation is more important than independence." His words remind us that freedom has little value if we cannot live in a clean and healthy environment. The solution to the waste crisis lies not only in better systems but also in our habits.
(i) In what way do stray animals worsen the garbage problem?
(ii) Enumerate any two delayed consequences of improper waste disposal.
(iii) Why is burning garbage harmful, according to the passage?
(iv) Four neighbourhoods face improper waste disposal; Neighbourhood A dumps garbage in large drums, that are emptied once a week; Neighbourhood B burns garbage regularly; Neighbourhood C segregates waste but leaves non-biodegradable waste in open bins and Neighbourhood D dumps garbage in an open landfill. Which neighbourhood is at the greatest immediate risk to human health?
(A) Neighbourhood A (B) Neighbourhood B
(C) Neighbourhood C (D) Neighbourhood D
(v) According to the passage, which is the first step towards responsible waste management at home?
(A) Segregating waste into biodegradable and non-biodegradable.
(B) Reusing materials to reduce waste.
(C) Refusing unnecessary packaging.
(D) Carrying cloth bags instead of plastic.
(vi) What kinds of waste are commonly seen lying on city streets ?
(vii) Find the word in the third paragraph of the passage which means 'Separating things into different groups or categories'.
(viii) Explain Gandhi's statement, "Sanitation is more important than independence", in the context of the passage.
(ix) Which attitude of people is criticised in the passage?
(x) Mention any two simple actions suggested in the passage that can help minimise the amount of garbage.
(B) Read the following passage and answer the questions given below: 6x1=6
Brain drain, also referred to as human capital flight, is the action of having highly skilled and educated people leaving their country to work abroad. It has actually become one of the serious concerns for the developing nations. While many people believe that immigration is a personal choice that must be understood and respected, others look at this phenomenon from a different perspective. What makes those people leave their country, their own people, should be seriously considered and a distinction between pull and push factors must be made. The push factors include low wages and lack of satisfactory working and living conditions. Social unrest, political conflicts and wars may also be the determining causes. The pull factors, however, include intellectual freedom and substantial funds for research. Brain drain has negative impact on the economic prospects and competitiveness of sender countries. It reduces the number of dynamic and creative people who can contribute to the development of their country. Likewise, with more entrepreneurs taking their investments abroad, developing countries are missing opportunities of wealth creations.
(i) Enumerate the push factors that lead to Brain drain.
(ii) Fill in the blank with a suitable word from the passage.
Every citizen must ________ to the development of the nation wholeheartedly.
(iii) Match the words in Column 'A' with their meanings in Column 'B' :
| Column A | Column B |
| conflicts | decrease |
| reduce | disputes |
| increase |
(iv) The term 'brain drain' is also referred to as ______
(A) capital flight (B) human capital flight
(C) pull factors (D) push factors
(v) Brain drain has terrible consequences on the economic development of the ______
(A) sending countries (B) receiving countries
(C) developed countries (D) undeveloped countries
(vi) What do you mean by the term 'Brain drain' ?
Section - B
(Writing skills, Grammar and Translation)
27 marks
2. Write a Precis of the following paragraph in your own words: 4
An activity or interest pursued for pleasure or relaxation is a hobby. It is an activity which is performed during one's own time. Your hobby is something that you do for fun, not for money. If it earns you money, it's all the more beneficial. Hobbies can be classified as indoor hobbies or outdoor hobbies, and collection hobbies or completion hobbies. Usually, hobbies need devotion. It is something that has to be done systematically, e.g., stamp collection or playing a musical instrument or playing an outdoor/indoor game. Hobbies require an active pursuit of an interest that could involve collecting, building or creating something. The latest mantra is 'Do what you love'. What is better than doing what pleases you? If your hobby is gardening, why not acquire skills for starting a nursery or growing flowers in pots or preparing seeds for sale. Having good communication skills, with interest in meeting people and visiting new places, can help you earn money as a tourist guide or become an event manager. If you love reading books and have good command over different languages, you can be a good story-teller or even become a Radio Jockey. A fitness enthusiast or a yoga enthusiast can become a fitness trainer after acquiring the requisite qualification. Other popular hobbies that could become careers include music and singing, disc jockeying, writing, editing, acting, modelling or making videos for 'YouTube', etc. A Radio Jockey, a photographer for social events, still photography or videography can also be very productive hobbies. Passion for cooking can help you start cooking classes as well as enjoy variety of dishes. The idea of a hobby is to derive pleasure first and financial gain later.
3. Attempt any one of the following: 6
You are Babita, living at # 283, New Sarabha Bazaar, Fazilka. Write a letter to the Deputy Commissioner of your district describing the flood situation in your area, its impact on people's lives, and suggesting urgent measures to control it.
OR
You are Santosh Kumar, living at # 312, Green Park, Mohali. Write a letter to the Editor of a newspaper highlighting the problems of eve-teasing and chain-snatching in your city and suggesting ways to prevent them. Give useful ideas that can really help.
4. Attempt any one of the following: 3
You are Rajeev Sharma studying at Sunrise Public School, Dehradun. Write an e-mail to the Principal of your school requesting the issuance of your school leaving certificate.
OR
Explain the following Newspaper Headline in 15-20 words.
PNB RAISES DEPOSIT RATE BY 0.5%
5. (A) Translate the following sentences into English. (Any two) 2x1=2
(i) ਉਹ ਉਮਰ ਵਿੱਚ ਮੇਰੇ ਤੋਂ ਵੱਡੀ ਹੈ । / वह मुझसे उम्र में बड़ी है।
(ii) ਬਕਵਾਸ ਨਾ ਕਰੋ । / बकवास मत करो।
(iii) ਉਹ ਸ਼ੀਸ਼ੇ ਸਾਹਮਣੇ ਆਪਣੇ ਵਾਲ ਵਾਹ ਰਹੀ ਸੀ।
PSEB Guess Papers 2026 – Class 10 & 12 Question Papers | PB.JOBSOFTODAY.IN
(B) Translate the following sentences into Punjabi/Hindi. (Any two) 2x1=2
(i) Ranveer clicked a beautiful photograph.
(ii) We have not realised our mistakes.
(iii) English is my favourite subject.
6. Do as directed. 10 marks
(A) Fill in the blanks as directed: 2x1=2
(i) Some people are fond of ________ (talk). (Use the gerund form of the word in bracket.)
(ii) He made me ________ (laugh) a lot. (Use the infinitive form of the word in bracket.)
(B) Rewrite the given sentences as directed. (Any two) 2x1=2
(i) He is too proud to learn. (Rewrite the given sentence after removing 'too'.)
(ii) No sooner did he start his bike than the petrol finished in the fuel tank. (Rewrite the given sentence after removing 'No sooner than'.)
(iii) If you study, you will pass. (Rewrite the given sentence using 'unless'.)
(C) Change the given sentences into Passive Voice. (Any two) 2x1=2
(i) He will not harm you.
(ii) The hunter has shot the animal.
(iii) Learn your lessons.
(D) Change any one of the following sentences, into Indirect Speech. 1x1=1
(i) My sister said to me, "I don't like mangoes."
(ii) Tarun will say, "I was sleeping."
(E) Fill in the blanks with suitable determiners. 3x1=3
(i) ________ students were absent today.
(ii) ________ Geeta and Seeta ran the race.
(iii) How ________ butter do you need?
Section - C
(Literature Textbook)
37 marks
7. Objective type questions: 10x1=10
(i) ________ is the writer of 'The Gold Frame'.
(A) K.A. Abbas (B) Anton Chekhov (C) R.K. Laxman (D) Kulwant Singh Virk
(ii) ________ is the protagonist of the story, 'The Barber's Trade Union'.
(iii) Which of the following statements about Bholi is not true?
(A) Bholi was the youngest daughter of Ramlal.
(B) Bholi was the fourth daughter of Ramlal.
(C) Bholi's real name was Sulekha.
(D) At birth, Bholi was fair but ugly.
(iv) Were the children playing on the ground really physically handicapped? (The School for Sympathy)
(v) The name of the General's brother was ________ (A Chameleon)
(A) Squinteye (B) General Zhigalov (C) Vladimir Ivanitch (D) Mitry Mitritch
(vi) ________ is the writer of the chapter, 'Ghadari Babas in Kalapani Jail'.
(vii) "What shall I do? I can't play without a clean shirt." Who is 'I' in the above lines? (The March King)
(viii) Which sense did Helen use first to understand words? (The Story of My Life)
(A) sight (B) touch (C) hearing (D) smell
(ix) What did Lucia aspire to be? (Two Gentlemen of Verona)
(x) Hassan was very arrogant. (True or False) (Hassan's Attendance Problem)
8. (A) Give the central idea of one of the poems: 3
(i) On Friendship (ii) On His Blindness
(B) Read the lines given below and answer any four questions: 4x1=4
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less travelled by,
And that has made all the difference.
(i) Name the poem. (ii) Name the poet. (iii) Which path did the poet choose to travel? (iv) Write the rhyme scheme. (v) What does 'difference' mean here?
9. Answer the following questions in about 20 to 30 words. (Any three) 3x2=6
(i) How could the liftman have avoided the trouble? (ii) What did the narrator learn at the well-house? (iii) Why was the narrator deeply moved? (iv) What made the driver and the mechanic choose their roles? (v) Why couldn't Philip work at the bakery?
11. Answer any two of the following questions in 20 to 30 words: 2x2=4
(i) What does the author tell us about Miss Beam? (ii) Why was Chandu not good at doing sums at school? (iii) Why did Bholi refuse to marry Bishamber?
1. Answer any one of the following questions in 100 to 120 words: 7
Draw a brief character sketch of Sudha Murthy. (Hassan's Attendance Problem)
OR
Write, in brief, what do you know about the Ghadar Party. (Ghadari Babas in Kalapani Jail)
2. Answer any one of the following questions in 100 to 120 words: 7
Datta found a solution to his problem. Did it really work for him? Justify your answer. (The Gold Frame)
OR
Draw a brief character sketch of Otchumyelov. (A Chameleon)