G's Help Desk for English Core

Tuesday, 19 February 2013

Practice Paper - The Tale of Melon City

Bluebells School International

Practice Paper – The Tale of Melon City

Time: 60 minutes

Name: ____________________ Date: __________________

Class: ____________________ Teacher: Ms. Geetanjali Kumar

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Q.1. Please answer the following questions briefly: 2m x 20 = 40 m

i) Comment on the note ‘After Idries Shah’ left by the poet?

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ii) What did the king want in the beginning of the poem and why did he want the same?

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iii) Which incident perturbed the otherwise just and placid king?

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iv) Which poetic device has been used to call the king ‘just and placid’? Discuss.

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v) Trace the chain of blame from the beginning to just before the wise man was brought to counsel.

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vi) Why did the king ask for the wisest man in the city? What all do we come to know about this wise man?

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vii) Why did the king decide to hang any man who fit the noose? What was the outcome of this decision?

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viii) Discuss the irony in the line, ‘Long live the king! The King is dead.’

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ix) How did a melon become the next king?

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x) Did the people accept him as their ruler? Why or why not?

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xi) What do you understand by the term ‘satire’?

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xii) What do you think Seth is satirizing through this poem?

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xiii) What is meant by ‘Laissez Faire? Do you think it an effective governing system? Why or why not?

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xiv) This is a story narrated in verse. Comment on the style of the poet.

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xv) According to you, which are the ways to maintain peace and liberty through a nation’s governing body?

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Practice Paper - The Birth

Bluebells School International

Practice Paper – The Birth

Time: 30 minutes

Name: ____________________ Date: __________________

Class: ____________________ Teacher: Ms. Geetanjali Kumar

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Q.1. Please identify the following statements as true or false: ½ m x 4 = 2m

a) Dr. Andrew Manson was a qualified and experienced doctor. ________________

b) Dr. Andrew Manson had grown up in the mining town of Blaenelly ________________

c) Dr. Andrew Manson was a qualified doctor fresh out of medical school ________________

d) Dr. Andrew Manson was complacent about his status quo at the time ________________

our story opens.

Q.2. Justify Andrew’s thought at the story, in about 80-100 words.

Justify the title of the story in about 80-100 words 3m

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Q.3. Please answer the following questions in about 35-40 words: 2m x 10 = 20m

i) Why was the baby extraordinarily precious for the Morgan family?

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ii) What was Dr. Andrew Manson’s state of mind at the beginning of the story?

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iii) What was Andrew thinking of when waiting in the kitchen with Joe’s mother?

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iv) Why did Joe choose to wait outside while Dr. Manson helped his wife?

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v) Why did a ‘shiver of horror’ pass over Andrew as he gazed at the baby?

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vi) Whom did Andrew choose to save first? Did he make this decision after careful consideration?

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vii) Where did the midwife place the baby when Dr. Manson handed it to her and why?

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viii) Briefly describe the shock-method Dr. Manson tried at first?

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ix) Why did Andrew not heed the nurse during his attempts to help the baby?

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x) Why has the author described the baby’s mucus as ‘a joyful iridescent bubble’?

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