Maharashtra SSC English (First Language) Board Paper July 2024

Q.1 (A) A1. Do as directed (any four) : (4 marks)

(1) Make a meaningful sentence using the given phrase : ‘to be known as’

(2) Identify the kind of sentence : Don’t waste your time in living someone else’s life.

(3) State whether the underlined verb is finite/non-finite : The hermit was digging the ground.

(4) Punctuate the following sentence : perhaps you could frighten her sir

(5) Write two compound words beginning with “Black”.

Q.1 (A) A2. Do as directed (any two) : (4 marks)

(1) The king said to the hermit, “Who are the people I most need ?” (Rewrite the sentence in indirect speech.)

(2) The state parties are responsible for identifying and nominating new sites. (Rewrite the sentence using ‘not only........ but also’.)

(3) Pick out the modal auxiliary and state its function : We must keep our promises.

Q.1 (B) Do as directed (any one) : (2 marks)

(1) Make two different sentences to bring out the difference between homophones : wear, ware

(2) Identify the subordinate clause and state its type : When the train had gone, I found myself standing alone on the deserted platform.

Q.2 (A) Read the following passage and do the given activities : (10 marks)

A1. Complete the web : (2) [Web diagram: a rectangle on the left reads “Features of Hemingway’s writings”, with four blank boxes joined to it on the right.]

Hemingway’s language is simple and pithy. He mostly writes in short and straight-forward sentences and practises an extreme economy in his use of words. This simplicity is deceptive and a reader can read his work again and again and find new layers of meaning every time.

I first read this novel years ago, when I did not understand it at all and was left unimpressed. In spite of this a vivid image remained with me—an old man holding on to his fishing line with the last of his strength. Recently I read this book again and was extremely moved. The formidable strength of the old man’s character, the quiet devotion of the empathetic Manolin and the relationship between the two are heart-warming. Hemingway’s descriptions of the sea and the creatures of the water are beautiful. The marlin fights for its life desperately and it’s hard to know whether our sympathies should lie with the old man or with the marlin. But as the novel progresses the old man and the marlin are inseparably linked because both stand for the same ideals, that is, a noble struggle against destruction.

A2. Explain the qualities of the following characters : (2) (1) Old man (2) Manolin

A3. Find the suitable adverbs which modify the following words : (2) (1) linked (2) fights (3) moved (4) writes

A4. Do as directed : (2) (i) I did not understand it. (Make it affirmative) (ii) The Marlin fights for its life. (Change into Present Perfect Tense)

A5. Personal Response : (2) ‘Every hardworking person achieves success in life.’ Explain.

Q.2 (B) Read the given passage and do the activities : (10 marks)

B1. State whether the following statements are true/false : (2) (i) Kailash Satyarthi sees children growing freely with dignity. (ii) Let us march from morality to divinity. (iii) Today, beyond the darkness, Kailash Satyarthi sees the smiling faces of our children in the blinking stars. (iv) Let us march from ignorance to awakening.

As a child, I had a vision of tomorrow. A vision of that cobbler boy 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 to life, right to freedom, right to health, 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 stars. 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.

Friends, I want you to see and feel this TODAY inside you. My dear sisters and brothers, as I said many interesting things are happening today. May I please request you to put your hand close to your heart — close your eyes and feel the child inside you ? I am sure you can — Now, listen to that child. Listen please.

Today, I see thousands of Mahatma Gandhis, Nelson Mandelas and Martin Luther Kings calling on us.

Let us democratise knowledge. Let us universalise justice. Together, let us globalise 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 shared prosperity, a march from slavery to liberty, and a march from violence to peace.

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

Let us march !

B2. Complete the given diagram : (2) [Diagram: a rectangle at the bottom reads “Children’s Rights”; four arrows point upwards to four blank ovals.]

B3. (2) (1) Write the noun forms of the following : (i) democratise — (ii) universalise — (2) Write the adjective forms of the following : (i) prosperity — (ii) liberty —

B4. Do as directed : (2) (1) Today, I see thousands of Mahatma Gandhis, Nelson Mandelas and Martin Luther Kings. (Begin the sentence with : “Today, thousands of Mahatma Gandhis................”.) (2) Tomorrow has become TODAY. (Make it Yes/No Interrogative Sentence.)

B5. What measures would you take to prevent child labour ? (2)

Q.3 (A) Read the following poem and answer the questions : (5 marks)

A1. Read the words in the given cloud : (2) Match them with what they signify. [Two word-clouds: left — (i) players, (ii) exit, (iii) stage, (iv) entry; right — (a) birth, (b) characters, (c) death, (d) life.]

All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages, At first, the infant,
Mewling and puking in the nurse’s arms.
Then the whining schoolboy, with his satchel
And shining morning face, creeping like snail
Unwillingly to school. And then the lover,
Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad
Made to his mistress’ eyebrow. Then a soldier,
Full of strange oaths and bearded like the pard,
Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel,
Seeking the bubble reputation
Even in the cannon’s mouth. And then the justice,
In fair round belly with good capon lined,
With eyes severe and beard of formal cut,
Full of wise saws and modern instances;
And so he plays his part.

A2. Write down in your words the difference between the following stages of a man’s life : (2) (i) 3rd stage (ii) 5th stage

A3. Name the figure of speech : (1) ‘All the world’s a stage’.

Q.3 (B) Read the following poem and write an appreciation of it with the help of given points in paragraph : (5 marks)

The Will to Win

If you want a thing bad enough
to go out and fight for it,
work day and night for it,
give up your time and your peace and your sleep for it
If all that you dream
and scheme is about it and life
seems useless and worthless without it
If you gladly sweat for, fret for and plan for it and lose
all your terror of the opposition for it.
If you simply go after that thing that you want with all
of your capacity, strength and sagacity, faith, hope and
confidence and stern pertinacity.
If neither cold or poverty, famished or gaunt
or sickness or pain
of body and brain
can keep you away from the thing that you want,
If dogged and grim you besiege and beset it,
with the help of GOD you’ll get it !
— Berton Braley

Points : The title (½) • The poet (½) • Rhyme scheme (1) • Figures of speech (1) • Central Idea/Theme (2).

Q.4 (A) Read the following passage and do the given activities : (10 marks)

A1. Complete the following sentences : (2) (i) If you have type 2 diabetes .................... . (ii) Organic options are fine .................... . (iii) Different fruits and vegetables contain .................... . (iv) Peas, corns and potatoes were not associated with ............... .

Variety is key, because different fruits and vegetables contain different beneficial nutrients and antioxidants. Wang’s study showed that almost all fruits and vegetables, including leafy greens, citrus fruits and berries, were associated with lower mortality, but there were some exceptions. Fruit juices and starchy vegetables such as peas, corn and potatoes were not associated with reduced risk of death or chronic diseases. It may be due to their higher glycaemic load compared with other fruits and vegetables, which means they have a greater ability to raise blood sugar levels. While the sugar content in two servings of fruit isn’t a cause for concern in general, if you have Type 2 diabetes you should discuss your portions with a dietician.

Your five daily servings can be met from a variety of fresh, frozen or canned fruits and vegetables, whether conventional or organic. Whichever options are available, affordable and appealing are good choices.

Studies show that freezing and canning preserves nutrients, which often makes these foods even more nutrient–dense than their fresh counterparts. Plus, canned and frozen produce are good options for people whose barriers to consuming enough servings per day include the high cost, low access, poor quality and lack of fresh fruits and vegetables.

And what about organic options ? They’re fine if you can access and afford them, but it’s not necessary to purchase organically grown produce.

A2. How can you fulfil your five daily servings ? (2)

A3. Add a prefix to make opposites of the following : (2) (1) mortality × (2) ability × (3) affordable × (4) available ×

A4. Do as directed : (2) (i) They have a greater ability to raise blood sugar levels. (State the word class of the underlined words.) (ii) Studies show that freezing and canning preserves nutrients. (Rewrite the sentence adding a question tag.)

A5. ‘Eating fruits are good for health’. Do you agree/disagree ? Give reasons for your answer. (2)

Q.4 (B) Summary Writing : (5 marks) Read the above passage given in Q. No. 4 (A) and write a summary of it in a paragraph. Suggest a suitable title.

Variety is key, because different fruits and vegetables contain different beneficial nutrients and antioxidants. Wang’s study showed that almost all fruits and vegetables, including leafy greens, citrus fruits and berries, were associated with lower mortality, but there were some exceptions. Fruit juices and starchy vegetables such as peas, corn and potatoes were not associated with reduced risk of death or chronic diseases. It may be due to their higher glycaemic load compared with other fruits and vegetables, which means they have a greater ability to raise blood sugar levels. While the sugar content in two servings of fruit isn’t a cause for concern in general, if you have Type 2 diabetes you should discuss your portions with a dietician.

Your five daily servings can be met from a variety of fresh, frozen or canned fruits and vegetables, whether conventional or organic. Whichever options are available, affordable and appealing are good choices.

Studies show that freezing and canning preserves nutrients, which often makes these foods even more nutrient–dense than their fresh counterparts. Plus, canned and frozen produce are good options for people whose barriers to consuming enough servings per day include the high cost, low access, poor quality and lack of fresh fruits and vegetables.

And what about organic options ? They’re fine if you can access and afford them, but it’s not necessary to purchase organically grown produce.

Q.5 (A) A1. Formal Letter : (5 marks) (alternative to A2) The students’ committee of your school has decided to organize ‘A Music Festival’ in your school. You are Meet/Meeta Shinde, the students’ representative of New Vision High School, residing at B/102, Rambaag Colony, Nashik–422001. Points : Day, date and time of the festival • The reasons for arranging it — interest and love of the students for music; it is a good stress reliever • Your plan to manage the festival • You have decided to invite a famous singer as a chief guest.

Write a letter to the Principal of your school seeking permission to organize ‘A Music Festival’ in your school.

Q.5 (A) A2. Informal Letter : (5 marks) (alternative to A1) The students’ committee of your school has decided to organize ‘A Music Festival’ in your school. You are Meet/Meeta Shinde, the students’ representative of New Vision High School, residing at B/102, Rambaag Colony, Nashik–422001. Points : Day, date and time of the festival • The reasons for arranging it — interest and love of the students for music; it is a good stress reliever • Your plan to manage the festival • You have decided to invite a famous singer as a chief guest.

Write a letter to your friend Amit/Amita inviting him/her to attend the music festival and urge him/her to attend the festival.

Q.6 (A) A1. Information Transfer — Verbal to Non-Verbal : (5 marks) (alternative to A2)

Read the following paragraph. Transfer it into a tree diagram and give a suitable title :

A nation’s development depends on the nature of economic system. Every country has its economic system. Two different criteria are applied while classifying the economic system. According to the ownership of the means of production, the economies are classified into Capitalist, Socialist and Mixed economy. As well as according to the stage of economic development, they are classified into Developed, Developing and Underdeveloped economies. The nature of nations differ as per the system of economy.

Q.6 (A) A2. Non-Verbal to Verbal : (5 marks) (alternative to A1)

Read the following web diagram and transform it into a paragraph. Give a suitable title :

[Web diagram: the centre circle reads “Barriers to effective communication”; six circles around it read — Language, Noise, Distance, Discomfort with topic, Lack of interest, Distraction.]

Q.6 (B) B1. Drafting a speech : (5 marks) (alternative to B2)

Draft a speech to be delivered in your school assembly on the topic “What I can give for India”. Points : Taking care of the environment • Save every drop of water • Help maintaining a green cover • Supporting each other • Add your own suitable points.

Q.6 (B) B2. View/counterview : (5 marks) (alternative to B1)

Write your counterview in a paragraph on the topic : ‘E-books are better than real books’. You may refer to the following viewpoints to write your counterviews : It is available at much lower prices. • It can be accessed through mobile phones and laptops comfortably even while traveling. • Users can carry hundreds of books anywhere they go. • E-books are equipped with interactive elements for better reading experience. These contain audio, video and animations which are ideal for children. • E-book publishing is very easy, fast and less time consuming.

Q.7 (A) A1. Expand the theme : (5 marks) (alternative to A2)

Expand the following theme into a paragraph of 100 words : Go Green : Breath Clean

Q.7 (A) A2. News Report : (5 marks) (alternative to A1)

Write a news report based on the given headline : ‘Book Lovers’ Society organises a Book Fair’.

Q.7 (B) B1. Developing a story : (5 marks) (alternative to B2)

Develop a story with the given beginning. Give a suitable title. It was Sunday, Anuj/Anuja along with his/her friends were going for trekking. As soon as they reached.................

Q.7 (B) B2. Narrate an experience : (5 marks) (alternative to B1)

Narrate your experience with the following ending. Give a suitable title. .................................................................................................................... Thus, my friend helped me in my academic development.