WEEKLY PRACTICE PAPER -1 FOR CBSE XI
SECTION – A (READING)
1. Read the passage and answer the following questions:
AGE OF SCIENCE
We live in an age of wonders and miracles. It has been called the ‘Age of Science’, and different aspects of our life that changed in the preceding centuries have been attributed to science. This is completely true, but it is only one side of the coin. The flip side is that as we have advanced more in the field of technology, something fundamental to humanity has been left behind. Values such as empathy and concern for our fellow human beings are gradually being eroded due to the onslaught of our ever-evolving lifestyles, aided by the marvels of technological advancements.
Take the example of the Internet. On one hand, access to information and knowledge at the click of a button is a veritable boon to everyone (especially students) and this has made our lives much simpler. On the other hand, it has severely limited actual contact with teachers, friends and elders. Thus, the learning that a person gains is incomplete as he or she cannot easily take the advice that another person can give on the basis of knowledge and practical experience that is at his or her disposal.
Today, a small child can access and navigate the Internet with an ease that still astounds those from the older generation. But what is even more astounding is the neglect of the basic human traits of friendship, relationships and family values. Owing to all the technological advancements and the gadgets available today, children often miss out on the most enriching childhood experiences such as playing outdoor games with friends, which apart from being immensely enjoyable and physically exhilarating, also develop traits such as teamwork and discipline at an early age.
But now when the concept of friends is gradually being limited to virtual friends on social networking sites, one shudders to think of the implications for the personality development of a child because the time spent with computers or mobile phones for entertainment can never really substitute for the holistic benefits of outdoor play. Such examples can be found aplenty.
Now if we compare the hustle and bustle of modern city life and the peace and calm of a rustic village life, we can see that in cities, life is a race with a variety of factors. It is a race that everyone tries their level best to win, but nobody actually wins as it never ends.
As for me, I think this age of rapid development has created at least as many problems as it has solved, if not more. The reason is that the basic goal of life, which should be the pursuit of happiness has now been replaced by the pursuit of money. Money and happiness are considered analogous in our present society, but they actually are not so. In this mindless pursuit of money, nobody has time now to appreciate the beauty of life, which consists not of multi- billion dollar skyscrapers, but a simple act of kindness to someone in a time of need.
So there is an urgent need to stop for a moment and think about where we are actually heading- is it development or destruction? Do we have to wait until people have grown so much apart from each other that we cannot see the suffering of our own species due to our mindless greed, or can we still mend our ways?
To answer this question, I will take the help of that most magnificent of human feelings- hope. I sincerely wish that we, as the most intelligent species on earth, would take our fair share of responsibility and sincerely think about the path we should follow. Though mankind will possibly last for a long time thanks to its determination and sheer ingenuity, we have to make sure we do not lose our humanity somewhere along the way.
- Choose the most appropriate option.
- According to the passage, it is like one side of the coin to say that life has changed owing to science as
- age of science has brought wonders and miracles.
- different aspects of life have changed due to science.
- there is another side of the coin to look at.
- this side of coin is true and sufficient to look at.
- Which of the following is not true about the internet?
- Its an easy access to information and knowledge.
- It has made our lives simpler.
- It has limited actual contact with teachers and friends.
- It can easily give advice based on personal experience.
- Internet hampers the holistic growth of a child by
- encouraging human traits of friendship, society and family.
- enriching childhood experiences of outdoor games.
- providing virtual friends and gadgets.
- developing teamwork and discipline.
- According to the passage, true happiness lies in
- simple acts of kindness.
- rapid development.
- multi- billion dollar skyscrapers.
- pursuit of money.
- The word ‘veritable’ in para 2 means:
- Actual
- Big
- Latest
- Perfect
- Antonym of holistic is
- Agonistic
- Individualistic
- Optimistic
- Pessimistic
- Answer the following questions as briefly as possible.
- It has severely limited actual contact with ______________.
- Money and ______________ are considered analogous in our present society but they actually are not so.
- We cannot see the suffering of our own species due to our ______________ .
- I will take the help of that most magnificent of human feeling ______________ ?
- Pick out the words from the passage which mean the same as:
- trembles (para 4)
- similar (para 6)
2. Read the passage and answer the following questions:
SUCCESS IN LIFE
Everybody wants to succeed in life. For some, success means achieving whatever they desire or dream. For many it is the name, fame and social position. Whatever be the meaning of success, it is success which makes a man popular.
All great men have been successful. They are remembered for their great achievements. But it is certain that success comes to those who are sincere, hardworking, loyal and committed to their goals. Success has been man’s greatest motivation. It is very important for all. Success has a great effect on life. It brings pleasure and pride. It gives a sense of fulfillment. It means all-around development. Everybody hopes to be successful in life. But success smiles on those who have a proper approach, planning, vision and stamina. A proper and timely application of all these things is bound to bear fruit. One cannot be successful without cultivating these certain basic things in life. It is very difficult to set out on a journey without knowing one’s goals and purposes. Clarity of the objective is a must to succeed in life. A focused approach with proper planning is certain to bring success. Indecision and insincerity are big obstacles on the path to success.
One should have the capability, capacity and resources to turn one’s dreams into reality. Mere desire cannot bring you success. The desire should be weighed against factors like capability and resources. This is the basic requirement of success. The next important thing is the eagerness, seriousness and the urge to be successful. It is the driving force which decides the success. It is the first step on the ladder of success.
One needs to pursue one’s goals with all one’s sincerity and passion. One should always be in high spirit. Lack of such spirit leads to an inferiority complex which is a big obstruction on the path to success. Time is also a deciding factor . Only the punctual and committed have succeeded in life. Lives of great men are examples of this. They had all these qualities in plenty which helped them rise to the peak of success.
Hard labour is one of the basic requirements of success. There is no substitute for hard labour. It alone can take one to the peak of success. Every success has a ratio of five percent inspiration and ninety-five percent perspiration. It is the patience, persistence and perseverance which play a decisive role in achieving success. Failures are the pillars of success as they are our stepping-stones and we must get up and start again and be motivated.
- On the basis of your reading of the passage, answer the following questions:
- To whom does success come certainly?
- What are the basic things in life we need to achieve success ?
- What did great men have in plenty to rise to the peak of success ? Give any two examples.
- What is the one basic requirement of success ?
- Explain : “Failures are pillars of success.”
- On the basis of your reading of the passage, fill in any two of the following blanks with appropriate words/phrase:
- _________ plays a decisive role in achieving success.
- Goals have to be pursued with _________ and ________.
- Ratio of success is __________
- Find out the words from the passage that mean the same as the following:
- endurance (para 2)
- obstruction (para 4)
- motivation (para 5)
SECTION – B (GRAMMAR)
- There is an error in each of the following lines. Write the incorrect word and the correct word in the given space. The first one has been done as an example:
Incorrect Correct
Intelligence is praised to one and all. to by
We say that intelligence mean (a) _______ _______
being able to solve problems. Some animal (b) _______ _______
seem abled to do this. For ex. cats often (c) _______ _______
find her way home from long distances. (d) _______ _______
To do this they had to remember and think. (e) _______ _______
Young birds are also able to made long (f) _______ _______
journeys. They are borne with this ability. (g) _______ _______
This is not intelligence. We call these instinct. (h) _______ _______
- There is an error in each line. Write the incorrect word and the correction in the blank spaces. The first one has been done as an example. [NCT 2019]
Incorrect Correct
The next day during an break an the
when all the teacher and students (a) _______ _______
was eating their snacks, the mother (b) _______ _______
left the school building hurrily. (c) _______ _______
The boy saw him walking (d) _______ _______
quickly from of the school gate (e) _______ _______
when he was drank water after (f) _______ _______
his meal and wonder where (g) _______ _______
his mother is going. (h) _______ _______
- In the following passage, one word has been omitted in each line. Write the missing word along with the word that comes before and after it.
Before Word After
Since the magpie bird was most (a) _______ ________ ______
intelligent and clever birds at (b) _______ ________ ______
building nests, all the birds the (c) _______ ________ ______
Air kingdom came her and (d) _______ ________ ______
asked her to teach how to build (e) _______ ________ ______
their nests. So she all the (f) _______ ________ ______
birds to gather her and began (g) _______ ________ ______
to show them to go about it. (h) _______ ________ ______
- In the following passage, one word has been omitted in each line. Write the missing word along with the word that comes before and the word that comes after it. [NCT 2015]
Before Word After
The moment he switched the eg. switched off the
television there silence in (a) _______ ________ ______
the room, we all looked each (b) _______ ________ ______
other not knowing to react. (c) _______ ________ ______
He burst out laughing said, (d) _______ ________ ______
“How you like it?” We felt too (e) _______ ________ ______
scared open our mouths. (f) _______ ________ ______
SECTION – C (WRITING)
- Crimes against women are on the rise in the city. Write a letter to the editor of a leading newspaper suggesting steps which need to be immediately taken by the government to make our city a safer place for women. You are Renu/Rohit of F-15, Kamla Nagar, Delhi.
- Write a letter to Lightways Sports, Amrapalli, Thane, placing an order for sports articles (minimum 4) to be supplied to your school, ABC Matriculation School, Civil Lines, Pune. Sign as Ravi/Raveena, Sports Secretary.
