Royal Government of Bhutan

Tsimalakha Lower Secondary School

Tsimalakha, Chukha

Mid-Term * Examination, 2015

English Paper: I (language & Writing)                                                 Writing Time: 2 Hours

Class : VII                                                                                                 Total Marks  : 100

DO NOT forget to write your name and section on the Answer Sheet(s). IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, ASK THEM NOW!

English Paper I (language & Writing)                                                   Writing Time: 2 Hours

Class 8                                                                                                 Total Mark: 100

Section A – Writing

Question I – 40 Marks

Direction: Write a Descriptive Essay of about 300- 350 words on any ONE of the topics given below.

1)     Write about a book that you read to celebrate the “National Reading year.”

2)     The school Green Project has initiated Inter-class Competition in the school. Choose a program and write down how you have contributed to the success of the competition.

3)     The most Memorable Day of your life.

Question II – 20 Marks

Direction: You are Mr. Dorjee studying in class X at Logodama  Higher Secondary School in Punakha  

                  as a boarder. Write a letter on one of the following situations given below in three well written

                  paragraphs. Marks will be awarded for correct layout, especially appropriate language and

                  content.

1)     Request your principal for permission to organize a cultural program for the school and community. Mention detailed objectives and significance of the program.

2)     To your parents convincing them to let you join your club friends for a study tour to India during the summer vacation. Request your parents to send an authorization letter and cash for your expenditure.

Section B – Language

Question III – 15 Marks

Direction: Read the passage below carefully and write a short summary keeping in mind the following points:

§  Your summary should have five short sentences.

§  Your summary should make sense.

§  Remember to include the most important points.

§  All the unnecessary points should be left out.

§  Sometimes many words can be replaced by a single word.

Why to Read?

Reading has at all times and in all ages been a great source of knowledge. Today the ability to read is highly valued and very important for social and economic advancement. In today’s world with so much more to know and to learn and also the need for a conscious effort to conquer the divisive forces, the importance of reading has increased. In the olden days if reading was not cultivated or encouraged, there was a substitute for it in the religious sermon and in the oral tradition. In the nineteenth century, Victorian households used to get together for an hour or so in the evenings and listen to books being read aloud, But ,today we not only read, we also want to read more and more and catch up with the events taking place around us.

Reading skills are essential to succeed in society. Those who are good readers tend to exhibit progressive social skills. A person who is widely read is able to mix with others. He is a better conversationalist then those who do not read. He can stand his ground. Reading broadens the vision. It is in a way a substitute for travel. It is not possible to travel as much one would like to and reading can fill in the gap created by the lack of travel. Having confidence in reading only comes from the daily practice of reading. A good reader can interact with others in a far better way because reading has widened his vision and point of view. Thus a widely-read man is a better conversationalist and is able to see the other side point of view.

Educational researchers have found that there is a strong correlation between reading and academic success. A student who is a good reader is more likely to do well in school and pass exams than a student who is a weak reader. Good reader can understand the individual sentences and organizational structure of a piece of writing. They can comprehend ideas, follow arguments and detect implications. Good readers can extract from the writing what is important for the particular task they are employed in and they can do it quickly. Educational researchers have also found a strong correlation between reading and vocabulary knowledge. Students who have a large vocabulary are usually good readers. This is very surprising, since the best way to acquire large vocabulary is to read extensively and if you read extensively you’re likely to be or become a good reader.

Books are no doubt very faithful friend of a reader. They never betray but accompany the reader, either sitting alone or traveling. Those who are habitual of reading feel comforted with books. It soothes and relieves tension and loneliness. Medically it also plays a vital role to eradicate depression and unrest. Books are great assassins of boredom. It just kills the boring time.

We are the dwellers of this speedy advancing world. Everything is moving so fast just like a rocket. To keep the pace, we must also need to do things that benefit us. Reading is no doubt a stupendous habit. It can make a stagnant, barren mind rich and cultivatable. It pours rich thoughts in minds. It brings the best out of someone. Reading also helps one to see the present in relation to the past and the future and thus develops a historical perspective. But, care is needed to ensure that reading doesn’t become a substitute for the real life. The moment one ceases to enjoy the ordinary pleasures and happiness of life and is content to enjoy them vicariously through fictional and historical representation, one loses all the benefits of reading and loses contact with life.

As a result of reading books over a period of time, a learning process is formed. There are a great many benefits to be gained from reading books. It is proven that in this technological society the demands for higher levels of literacy are creating unfavorable consequences for those who fall short. This is even more of reason to get into the habit of reading books, but with the cinema and television taking up a great deal of attention of children, teenagers and even adults, the habit of serious reading is dying out. We must never let it die out.

Question IV – 25 Marks

Question I                                                                                                                 (1x10=10 Marks)

Direction: Read each sentence. Choose the answer that shows correct punctuation and

               capitalisation for the underlined words.

1.  While the television was broken we played a lot of board games. Broken, We broken we, broken, we Broken We Correct as is	2.  "He that loses wealth loses much," coined Miguel de Cervantes, "but he that loses courage loses all." cervantes, "but Cervantes "but Cervantes, "But, Correct as is
3.  My Father was born on June 16, 1949. My father, My father my father My Father, Correct as is	4.  "Are there enough pencils for everyone?" Dorji  asked. Everyone?" Dorji Everyone Dorji everyone?" dorji Correct as is
5.  "why did you bring that stray dog home," my mother asked, "when you know your father doesn't like animals in the house?" why "Why, "Why Why Correct as is	6.  Many centuries ago most people thought the worlds' surface was flat, not round. worlds worl'ds world's Correct as is
7.  “Do you think it’s alright” asked Sonam,”if I were this outfit to school tomorrow?” Alright? Alright,” alright,” Alright, Correct as is	8.  Please put a Band-Aid on Jonathan's cut. Jonatha'ns Jonathans Jonathans' Correct as is
9.  "You need to have your lines memorized by this Friday," said Mr. Nicholas, "so you'll be prepared for dress-rehearsal." friday Friday" Friday, Correct as is	10.  We are going to the carnival in Shippensburg Saturday, afternoon?  Saturday, Afternoon. Saturday afternoon. saturday afternoon? Saturday, afternoon Correct as is

Question 2                                                                                                                    (0.5x8=4 Marks)

Direction:  Choose the correct word to complete the sentences.

1. This book is (he’s/her/his).

2. The house across the road is (mine/mines/my one).

3.  The student will submit (their/their’s/they) projects on Monday.

4.  The hawk snatched up the rabbit with (it’s/its/it) powerful claws.

5. Prime minister is visiting (our/ours/us) town next week.

6. I don’t like (her’s/hers/his) way of behavior in front of the crowd.

8. His labours are more hardworking than (our/ours/our’s)

Question 3                                                                                                                    (0.5x10=5 Marks)

Direction: Choose the correct word from the table to complete the space and write it in the answer sheet.

were                                at                                 and                                    in                            by                    from                                a                                 with                                    of                              the

 

Schools in Bhutan by __1__ large enjoyed a fair degree of autonomy till __2__ nineties and principals being at the helm of affairs had ___3__lot of control over how schools were managed, including the control over finance and the staff. Secondary schools were provided __4__Letter of Limited Credit (LLC) over which schools had the control on its use. Similarly, principals could pick and choose teachers and transfer too, which in a way helped to build faculty __5__their choice.

Except the occasional monitoring visit __6__ the school inspectorate stationed __7__ the head office in Thimphu, schools functioned fairly independently. However, the autonomy and independence accorded was not a deliberate and conscious reform initiative undertaken but rather compelled __8__ circumstances. Schools were isolated and located __9__far flung places with no road and telecommunication connectivity which automatically led to function independently, though there __10__ no formalized structures and parameters established to operate as autonomous schools.

Question IV                                                                                                                  (1x6=6 Marks)

Direction: Make a sentence using the verbs in the indicated form given in the bracket.

1. Go               (past participle)

2. Hit              (Infinitive form)

3. Drive          (Past participle

4. Catch          (infinitive form)

5. Choose       (past tense)

6. Be              (past participle)