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प्रश्न
How are the earth's principal biological systems being depleted?
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उत्तर
According to Mr. Lester R. Brown, there are four principal biological systems of the earth. These systems are fisheries, forests, grasslands, and croplands. However, due to the increasing demand for human beings to such an ‘unsustainable’ extent, the productivity of these systems is being hampered. The excessive demand results in deterioration and depletion of these resources. A country where protein is consumed on a large scale, over-fishing is common, which leads to the collapse of fisheries in that area. Grasslands have been turned into deserts and the production of crops is decreasing. The forests are destroyed in large proportions to obtain firewood. The depletion of tropical forests has also led to the extinction of several species.
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संबंधित प्रश्न
Complete the table :

It is easy to advise others not to worry, but difficult for oneself to follow the same. Narrate an experience which made you realise the truth of this statement.
Does the poet use the literary devices in the poem?
Research the Battle of Blenheim. Then write an essay defending Wilhelmine’s position that the battle was a “wicked thing” or Kaspar’s position that it was a | “great victory.”
Who are ‘they’ referred to in the third line of the last stanza? When had the poet come across them?
What do ‘trade winds’ and ‘fat worms’ symbolise?
Why was Margot unhappy on Venus in “All Summer in a Day”?
Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:
For some time Mother had greatly envied us our swimming, both in the daytime and at night, but as she pointed out when we suggested she join us, she was far too old for that sort of thing. Eventually, however, under constant pressure from us, Mother paid a visit into town and returned to the villa coyly bearing a mysterious parcel. Opening this she astonished us all by holding up an extraordinary shapeless garment of black cloth, covered from top to bottom with hundreds of frills and pleats and tucks.
‘Well, what do you think of it?’ Mother asked.
We stared at the odd garment and wondered what it was for.
‘What is it?’ asked Larry at length.
‘It’s a bathing-costume, of course,’ said Mother. “What on earth did you think it was?’ ‘It looks to me like a badly-skinned whale,’ said Larry, peering at it closely.
You can’t possibly wear that, Mother,’ said Margo, horrified, Shy, it looks as though it was made in nineteen-twenty.’
‘What are all those frills and things for?’ asked Larry with interest.
‘Decoration, of course,’ said Mother indignantly.
‘What a jolly idea! Don’t forget to shake the fish out of them when you come out of the water.’
‘Well, I like it, anyway,’ Mother said firmly, wrapping the monstrosity up again, ‘and I’m going to wear it.’
‘You’ll have to be careful you don’t get waterlogged, with all that cloth around you,’ said Leslie seriously.
‘Mother, it’s awful; you can’t wear it,’ said Margo. ‘Why on earth didn’t you get something more up to date?’
‘ When you get to my age, dear, you can’t go around in a two-piece bathing suit… you don’t have the figure for it.’
‘I’d love to know what sort of figure that was designed for,’ remarked Larry.
‘You really are hopeless, Mother,’ said Margo despairingly.
‘But I like it… and I’m not asking you to wear it,’ Mother pointed out angrily.
‘That’s right, you do what you want to do,’ agreed Larry; ‘don’t be put off. It’ll probably suit you very well if you can grow another three or four legs to go with it.’
Mother snorted indignantly and swept upstairs to try on her costume. Presently she called to us to come and see the effect, and we all trooped up to the bedroom. Roger the dog, was the first to enter, and on being greeted by this strange apparition clad in its voluminous black costume rippling with frills, he retreated hurriedly through the door, backward, barking ferociously. It was some time before we could persuade him that it really was Mother, and even then he kept giving her vaguely uncertain looks from the corner of his eye. However, in spite of all opposition, Mother stuck to her tent-like bathing- suit, and in the end we gave up.
In order to celebrate her first entry into the sea we decided to have a moonlight picnic down at the bay, and sent an invitation to Theodore, who was the only stranger that Mother would tolerate on such a great occasion. The day for the great immersion arrived, food and wine were prepared, the boat was cleaned out and filled with cushions and everything was ready when Theodore turned up.
One word answers or short phrases will be accepted.
- peering
- ferociously
- immersion
(b) Answer the following questions briefly in your own words.
- Why did mother not join the swimming in the beginning?
- Briefly describe her swimming costume.
- What did Larry think it was?
- Which sentence tells you that Margo thought it was old fashioned?
- What was Leslie’s concern?
- Why did mother think it was suitable?
(c)
(i) In not more than 60 words describe what happened after mother went upstairs to try on her costume.
(ii) Give a title to your summary in 3 (c) (i). Give a reason to justify your choice.
Fill in each of the numbered blanks with the correct form of the word given in brackets. Do not copy the passage, but write in correct serial order the word or phrase appropriate to the blank space.
Example:
(0) He had been (0) ……… (sit) on the bank of a small irrigation canal.
Answer: sitting
He was (1) ………. (gaze) at a couple of herons (2) ……… (fish) in the muddy water, when he (3) ……… (feel) something bumps his elbow. (4) ……… (look) around, he (5) ………. (find) at his side a little goat, jet black and soft as velvet with lovely grey eyes. Neither her owner nor her mother (6) ……… (be) around. She continued to (7) ……… (nudge) Mukesh, so he (8) ……… (look) in his pocket for nourishment.
Fill in the blank with an appropriate word:
Joan jumped ………. the river to rescue the child.
You were a part of an organizing committee for an inter-school event that was very successful. You and the other committee members were congratulated and praised at the school assembly by the Principal. Write a letter to your grandmother telling her about the event and your feelings at being recognized and praised in front of the school.
We have had to respect for nature. Now we are suffering from the effects of global warming.
The constellation Orion is associated with the legend of Osiris, the god of the afterlife.
Find out the astronomical descriptions and legends associated with the following.
(i) Ursa Major (saptarishi mandala)
(ii) Polaris (Dhruva tara)
(iii) Pegasus (winged horse)
(iv) Sirius (The dog star)
(v) Gemini (Mithuna)
The following common words are used in more than one sense.
-
panel
studio
brush
essence
material
Examine the following sets of sentences to find out what the words, ‘panel’ and ‘essence’ mean in different contexts.
1. (i) The masks from Bawa village in Mali look like long panels of decorated wood.
(ii) Judge H. Hobart Grooms told the jury panel he had heard the reports.
(iii)The panel is laying the groundwork for an international treaty.
(iv)The glass panels of the window were broken.
(v) Through the many round tables, workshops and panel discussions, a consensus was reached.
(vi)The sink in the hinged panel above the bunk drains into the head.
2. (i) Their repetitive structure must have taught the people around the great composer the essence of music.
(ii) Part of the answer is in the proposition; but the essence is in the meaning.
(iii)The implications of these schools of thought are of practical essence for the teacher.
(iv) They had added vanilla essence to the pudding.
There are two voices in the poem. Who do they belong to? Which lines indicate this?
Explain the following phrase
Turned to dust
Use it in a sentence of your own.
What do you understand the character of Mrs. Croft from the story?
There are quite a few places where the author uses the expressions 'my heart sank', 'panic seized' etc. What was the reason for this?
Look at this cartoon by R.K. Laxman. Read the sentence given below the cartoon. Discuss the following questions with your partner.
- What is it about?
- Do you find it funny? If so, why?
- Do you think a cartoon is a serious drawing? Why or why not?

How did Kalpana Chawla meet her end? When did this tragedy in space take place?
The story of Kalpana Chawla has become an inspiration for millions of young Indians. How? What message did she send from the space shuttle to students of her college?
The extract deals with the atmosphere of two homes. Collect the words associated with - Home.
Use your imagination and extend the story in about 100 to 150 words.
You have just returned after your first experience of the kite - festival in Gujarat / Ahmedabad. You were thrilled with the festivities.
You have a friend who lives abroad. Write a letter to your friend describing how you enjoyed the kite-festival.
Compose four lines expressing the grief of having lost nature due to modernisation.
Mass media events often need comperes. Find out the area or sector in which a compere is a must. Write about the special skills needed to take up compering as a career and give some clues about how to acquire these skills.
Write what you think about the following thoughts and actions of Mathilde :
Mathilde despaired over the loss of her necklace.
The diagram below encircles the various features that make the script of a skit/ play. List the other words and mention the form of writing of which it is a feature.

Imagine Taffy comes to you for help to write a letter of apology, in the modern script we use. She wants to express her regret to the stranger-man for her mother’s action. Write that letter of apology (informal) on her behalf.
Interview
Prepare a set of 10-12 questions that you would ask at an interview of a person who has strongly acted against social injustice and has achieved success inspite of a long struggle against so many odds in his/her life. Write them down in your notebook.
Read the given slogans and match them appropriately with their theme.
| 1. | One for all and all for one | Junk food |
| 2. | Limit your fast food otherwise, it would be your last food | Save water |
| 3. | Restricting a woman restricts the growth of the family | Cleanliness |
| 4. | Clean and green makes perfect scene | Woman empowerment |
| 5. | It takes a lot of blue to stay green | Unity |
Describe the picture in 50 words and give a suitable title. Make use of the words given below.
modern world – left alone – busy – gadgets – cell phones – ignored – feels alone – lonely – sad feeling

Local Historians
- Ask students to collect stories about their town from older people.
- Ask them to find out how the streets were named.
- Are there any interesting people or legends to which the street names refer?
- Are there any local places in town about which people tell stories?
- Any haunted houses?
- Let students find out when the town was founded and by whom.
- Visit a local historical society to see old photographs or artifacts.
Let students create an original historical fiction:
Describe the town from the point of view of a fictitious citizen who might have lived in the town long ago. Include local issues of the time in the story. Write the story of the town from the fictionalized point of view of a resident who actually lived.
Create a pamphlet for the following:
Make an attractive pamphlet for your school’s Fair organised for raising funds for (any) relief (Specify the date, time, types of stalls, and the reasons for the fair).
Here are some answers about the given picture.

- The colour of the ant is black.
- It lives on land.
- It has two long antennae.
- It crawls on the ground.
- It eats sugar.
Now frame questions for the above answers.
Fill in the blank by choosing the preposition from the option.
The frogs jumped ______ the well.
Complete the paragraph with suitable words from the box.
| around, across, with, along, to, after, next to, into, from. |
One day, as I was walking ______ the bank of the river, I saw my friend running ______ the field. He was calling my name and waving ______ me. I stopped and waited. ______ sometime he reached where I was standing. He said, “I went all ______ the town looking for you. I have some exciting news to share ______ you. Do you remember the old house ______ the neem tree? Guess who is moving ______ that house? Janak Das, the great magician. Now we can learn lots of magic tricks ______ him.”
______ do you like best in the school – games, art or music?
Two stories got mixed up. Sort them out and write them in the appropriate boxes.
- We thought the lion had eaten someone.
- Suddenly the kite lifted him off the ground and took him over the treetops.
- He saw a shoe in the lion's cage.
- Finally, the kite brought him back to the park.
- Our class had gone to the zoo.
- Puran was flying the brand new kite in the park.
- Some children stood and screamed, and some ran to the Director of the zoo.
- Puran was frightened and excited.
- The lion had not eaten anyone, because the shoe was one of the lion's toys.
Use the option to fill in the blank.
Ram ______ a good football player.
Some words have similar sound, but different meaning. Choose the correct word from the option and fill in the blank.
The bird sits on a______.
Which country would you like to visit when you grow up?
Make a project by drawing or pasting.
- a map of that country, its national flag
- stamps of the country, its currency
- some famous monuments or landmarks
State whether the following statement are true or false
The cop suddenly slowed his walk, when he heard the barking of dogs.
Why didn’t Jimmy Wells, being a cop himself, arrest Bob?
What would you do in this situation, if you were Jimmy Wells? Substantiate your reason.
Describe Bertie’s problem.
One has to be cautious and not be carried away by stories. How did Sletherby exhibit caution?
Write conversation on the following situation.
Between a father and a son on choice of a career
What was the human side to the photographer?
“To me, it is but a worthless bauble.” Why did the photographer’s touch of technical expertise appear a worthless bauble to Leacock?
List six gadgets that you want to purchase. Write them according to your priorities and state the reasons.
| S.No. | Gadgets | Reasons |
Write a composition in approximately 350 – 400 words on the following subjects:
(You are reminded that you will be rewarded for orderly and coherent presentation of material, use of appropriate style and general accuracy of spelling, punctuation, and grammar.)
You have recently shifted to a new city. Describe the area where you live, your next-door neighbours, the difficulties you faced while shifting and why you like/dislike the place.
You have been given a small sum of money to buy a gift with for a friend. What gift would you choose (specify) and why would you choose this? Write a letter to your friend telling him/her about the gift and how it will benefit him/her.
Write a dialogue between a student and teacher on 'Importance of Yoga'.
Write an original short story in which two children and their school teacher are the main characters.
To whom does Portia compare Bassanio as he steps forward to take the casket test?
Write points and counterpoints on the following topic:
You should study all subjects in your mother tongue
Who is your favourite comedian?
Show how Carol Ann Duffy presents a disturbing picture of confinement and exploitation in the poem, The Dolphins. Write your answer in about 200-250 words.
Write a composition (in approximately 400 – 450 words) on the following subject.
You had to go on a train journey with your family. On reaching the railway station, you discovered that your train was delayed by two hours. Describe how you spent those two hours, detailing what you saw, the sounds you heard, and the interactions you had with the people around you. Express your feelings when you saw the train finally approaching the station.
