STATE LEVEL SSLC PREPARATORY EXAMINATION–1, 2026
Subject : Second Language — ENGLISH
31-E Subject Code :31-E
[Date : 07. 01. 2026 Time : 10-00 A.M. to 1-00 P.M. Max. Marks : 80
General Instructions to the Candidate :
1. This Question Paper consists of 38 questions.
2. Follow the instructions given against the questions.
3. Figures in the right hand margin indicate maximum marks for the questions.
4. The maximum time to answer the paper is given at the top of the question paper.
It includes 15 minutes for reading the question paper.
I. Four alternatives are given for each of the following questions / incomplete
statements. Choose the correct alternative and write the complete answer
along
with its letter of alphabet. 4×1=4
1. Choose the appropriate question tag for the following statement :
They are good people, ...................
(A) are they ? (B) aren’t they ? (C) weren’t they ? (D) were they ?
Ans : (B) aren’t they ?
2. Read the given following conversation and choose the infinitive :
Prateeksha : Laxmi, why do you prefer to eat nutrient food ?
Laxmi : Because I want to grow well.
(A) do (B) want (C) to grow (D) prefer
Ans : (c) to grow
3. Read the given conversation and choose the language function for the
underlined sentence :
Teacher : I’m going to conduct a test for you. Keep all your belongings
likebag, books, paper etc. out of the room.
Students : Okay Sir.
(A) Making request (B) Seeking help
(C) Giving warning (D) Giving instruction
Ans : (D) Giving instruction
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4. Read the following conversation and fill in the blank choosing the most
appropriate words :
Mother : Swati, did you complete reading the novel ?
Swati : No, mom. I didn’t complete yet. I had no time. If I had got it
earlier, I .................... read it.
(A) will have (B) shall have (C) wouldn’t have (D) would have
Ans : (D) would have
II. Do as directed : 12 × 1 = 12
5. Which one of the following words has two syllables ?
ago, school, general, good. Ans : ago
6. Combine the following sentences using ‘so ..... that’ : He is very young. He
cannot drive a [Link] : He is so young that he can not drive a car.
7. Fill in the blank using the correct article : Cow is ......................... useful animal.
Ans : a
8. Identify the part of speech of the underlined word : Strength is life ;
weakness is [Link] : Noun
9. Fill in the blank with appropriate linker :
I respect both farmers .................... soldiers. Ans : and
10. Fill in the blank with appropriate preposition :
I have been learning music ...................... 2022. Ans : since
11. Fill in the blank with appropriate tense form of the verb given in brackets
: When I came home, I saw that mother .................. ( be + cook ) ans : was
cooking
12. Write the correct form of the word given in brackets :
The computer is a wonderful ......................... ( invent ) of Charles Babbage.
Ans : invention
13. Use the word ‘call’ as verb in your own sentence.
Ans : I call. She called her friend. I called you.
14. Change the following sentence into comparative degree : No other artist in
India is as great as Satish.
Ans : Satish is greater than any other artist in India
15. Change the following sentence into passive voice :
Gopi is preparing [Link] : Tea is being prepared by Gopi.
16. Read the following conversation and change the underlined sentence into
reported speech :
Mother : Rajesh, will you do this work now ?
Rajesh : I’m sorry, mom. I’ll do it tomorrow.
Mother asked Rajesh if he would do that work then.
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III. The following sentence has two errors. Edit the sentence and rewrite it in
the answer book : 1 × 2 = 2 17. Pandit Ravi Shankar and Ustad Allah
Rakha knocked soft on the door of Aunt Susheelas apartment.
a) Adverbial mistake to be corrected b) Apostrophe to be used.
Ans : a) soft – softly. b) susheelas. - Susheela's
[Link] the following questions in 2 – 3 sentences each : 7 × 2 = 14
18. Don Anselmo was passionate for his land and children of his village.
Justify.
Ans: He tilled the same his ancestors tilled. He planted trees in the name of
every children born on that village.
19. How did Gandhiji and Ambedkar try to wipe out the caste
discrimination in India ?
Ans: Gandhiji reminded the higher castes of their duty towards the
depressed classes. Ambedkar reminded the depressed classes of their
reserved inherent rights to equality with the higher castes. Gandhiji put
stress on duty. Ambedkar put stress on rights
20. “Anant was a talented boy.” What makes you to appreciate him ?
Ans: Anant was the best table tennis player in the school and the fastest
runner. He was learning to play sitar with his sister. He was able to compose
his own tunes.
21. Why did three super powers meet in Geneva ?
Ans: The scientists met at Geneva to discuss the problem of nuclear weapons.
Since the tremor caused by an earthquake was the same as the tremor caused
by a nuclear explosion, if countries which signed the treaty violated the terms, it
would be difficult to know the violation. So the technical experts from the Soviet
Union, United States and United Kingdom – three powers possessing nuclear
weapons – met to come up with suggestions.
22. What are the activities being done by the man on the land ?
Ans: We own, buy, dig, plough and fence the land. We also shout, fight and
kill for the land. Children dance and play on land.
23. How was the march led by the students ?
Ans : The students had been marching to give notice to the British
collector to quit India. It was an unusual march because the students
marched in complete silence. There were no slogans, no shouts. Just the
shuffle of feet, the drip of rain and a low murmur from the watching
crowd.
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OR
What hardships did Dicky Dolma face in her early life ?
Ans 1: Dicky Dolma was born in a poor family. When she was only 11 years,
she lost her mother and lost her elder brother also. She had experienced
hardships of life at an early stage. She suffered a lot.
24. In what way, did the absence of mother make Haneef and his brothers
responsible ?
Ans: The absence of mother from home taught the children something that
made the children to become very responsible, getting up and getting ready
for school without having to tell them. It gave the children a message that
one’s duty is the most important thing in life.
OR
How did the second monster make Wangjia suffer ?
Ans:The second monster blew through his beard, Wangjia’s bread bag flew into the
air. The land turned into a desert with no food. Wangjia felt intense hunger and
pain in his stomach as if it was being cut with a knife.
V. Answer the following questions in 5 - 6 sentences each : 2×3=6
25. What desperate attempts did Swami make to escape from sleeping
alone in the office room ?
Ans: Swami’s father challenged him to seep alone in the office room that
night. Swami was filled with fear and tried desperately to make his father
change his mind. He changed the subject by talking about cricket. He told
his father that he would sleep alone from the first of the next month. He rose
silently and tiptoed to the bed. He made wild gesticulation to silence his
granny and did not want to listen to a story. He pulled the blanket over his
face and pretended to be fast asleep. He looked at his granny and mother
with a look of appeal. He told his father that his office room was dusty and
there might be scorpions behind his law books. He requested his father to
allow him to sleep in the hall. Swami’s attempts were failed because his
father did not want to change his mind and he wanted Swami to sleep alone
in the office room to prove that he had courage.
26. How does the poet describe the Jazz player in the poem ‘Jazz Poem
Two’ ?
Ans: The Jazz player is like an Ancient Mariner. He has a wrinkled face,
closed eyes with full of wearies. His collar frayed, faded blue old shirt
turned dark due to sweat. Old necktie undone drops, old jacket holding his
sagging stomach. He had a rundown shoe having paper in them. His
CLICK HERE[Link]
unshaven face shows pain. Across his chest lies an old alto saxophone. He
feels, he has a message for the people of the world.
[Link] the following extracts and answer the questions that follow : 4 × 3 = 12
27. “Chacha, can I borrow your mobile ?”
a) Who made this request ? ans : Baleshwar Mishra
b) Who does ‘Chacha’ refer to ? ans : Truck driver
c) Why did he ask for the mobile ? ask : To call Dinesh about accident
28. “I don’t speak to them. I hate them.”
a) Who does ‘I’ refer to ? ans : Pepe
b) Who does ‘them’ refer to ? ans: Seamen
c) Why did the speaker hate them ? ans : seamen were against to
Colombus
29. “We will have to look for a new school.”
a) Who is the speaker ? ans : Avatar Narrain Satish father
b) Why was it needed to look for a new school ? ans : the school he was
attending refused his admission.
c) What does ‘to look for’ mean in the context ? ans : search
30. “You can cross out my name from the telephone book.”
a) Who is the speaker ? Ans: the poet
b) Why did the speaker say so ? Ans : not sure about his return
c) When did the speaker say so ? Ans: when he was ready to go to outer
space next moorning.
VII. Given below is a profile. Write a paragraph using the clues given below : 1 ×
3=3
31. Name : Rabindranath Tagore
Known in Bengal as : Gurudev
Birth : 7th May, 1861
Parents : Debendranath Tagore and Sarala Devi
Occupation : Writer, painter, singer
Notable works : Gitanjali, Jana GanaMana, RabindraSangeet,
Amar Sonar Bangla etc.
Award : Nobel prize for literature in 1913
Death : 7th August, 1941
Ans: This is the profile of Rabindranath Tagore. He was known as Gurudeva in
Bengal. He was born on 7th May 1861. His parents were Debendranath Tagore
and Sarala Devi. He was a writer, a painter and singer. His notable works are
CLICK HERE[Link]
Gitanjali, Jana Gana Mana, Rabindra Sangeet, Amara Sonar Bangla etc. He was
awarded with the highest honour Nobel Prize for literature in 1913. He passed
away on 7th August, 1941.
VIII. Develop the story using the clues given below : 1×3=3
32. Once a lion — was asleep — mouse — running up and down — awakened
the lion — caught the mouse — “Pardon, O King !” — cried — little
mouse — kind lion — lifted his paw — let him go — after few days —
hunters captured — lion net — little mouse — passed by — ran to him
— chewed the ropes — net — king of the jungle — freed — lion thanked.
Ans: Once, a lion was asleep in the forest. A little mouse began running up and
down on the lion's body, awakening him. The lion caught the mouse and was about
to eat it when the mouse cried, "Pardon, O King!" The lion, being kind, lifted his
paw and let the mouse go. Sometime later, a few hunters captured the lion and tied
him to a tree. The little mouse happened to pass by and saw the lion's predicament.
The mouse gnawed through the ropes, freeing the lion. The lion was grateful to the
mouse for saving his life. The moral of this story is one should never underestimate
others based on their size or strength. Kindness and gratitude can lead to
unexpected friendships and assistance in times of need.
IX. Study the picture given below : 1×3=3
33. Write a description or an account of what the picture suggests to you
in a paragraph.
This is an informative picture. A picture is worthier than a housand words.
This picture is about village life. There are huts. There is a hand pump. There
is a man bathing near the hand pump. There are dogs. There is a woman
with a baby. The women are engaged in their works.
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X. Quote from memory : 1×4=4
34.
The quality of mercy is not strain’d;
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest:
It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes.
OR
My day or night myself I make,
When’ver I sleep or play;
And could I ever keep awake
With me ‘twere always day.
[Link] the following passage and answer the questions that follow :
1×4=4(2+2)
35. Gandhiji had to travel by train from Durban to Pretoria in connection with his
job. Once while travelling by train, he was asked by the white passengers to
leave the first class compartment. He refused to do so. Thereafter he was
pushed forcibly out of the compartment and his luggage was thrown on the
platform. It was winter and he kept shivering all night. He did not go to the
waiting room because the white men sleeping there might insult him
further. This event was a turning point in the life of Gandhiji and he decided
to stay back in South Africa and fight against this blatant injustice.
a) Why was Gandhiji thrown out of the compartment ?
Ans : he was travelling in first class compartment.
b) Why did Gandhiji not go to the waiting room ?
Ans : He did not go to the waiting room because the white men
sleeping there might insult him further.
XII. Answer the following question in about 8 – 10 sentences : 1 × 4 = 4
36. The behaviour of Ruskin Bond’s grandmother is unusual. Explain.
The poet Ruskin Bond calls his grandmother ‘genius’ as she could climb trees
even at the age of 62. She was passionate to climb a tree. She could climb any
type of tree may it be spread or high. Everyone feared that granny would fall
from the tree one day. Neighbours and friends advised her to stop that
practise, she laughed and said she would not stop. Once it so happened that
she climbed a tree but couldn’t come down. After the rescue, the doctor
recommended a week’s bed rest. But for granny it was like a brief season in
hell. Once she recovered she demanded a house to be built on a tree. The
poet’s father was dutiful, fulfilled his mother’s wish, so that granny could live
in a tree house, upholding her right to live in a tree.
CLICK HERE[Link]
OR
Write the summary of the poem ‘The Song of India’.
Ans: The poem “ Thesong of india” is written by [Link]. It is in the form of
dialogue between the poet and the Mother India. The poet asks her if he could
sing about the Himalayas, three seas, rock-cut temples, soldiers, seers and
prophets, dams and lakes, steel mills, ship building yards, modern technology
and atomic age. Then she wishes him to sing about beggar, leper, dirt and filth,
old people, helpless children, hard workers and class war. Finally the poem ends
with optimistic view, motherland sitting on the waves, writing the book of the
Morrow in which she wants a glorious India where people do not suffer, where
they are literate and secular. She wants an India which is free from darkness of
ignorance and which is full of the light of knowledge.
OR
Narrate the situation in which the crewmates kiss the little maiden and
spoke in better cheer.
Ans: The Ballad of the Tempest” poem is written by James T Fields. In this poem, it
was dark, stormy night in winter a ship was out at sea. Huge waves dashed against
the ship and the roar of the sea filled the sailors with fear. They crowded together
in one cabin. Even the bravest among them could not sleep. They just sat in the
darkness and prayed. As the storm continued, the captain too gave up hope and
said that nothing could save them. At that point, the captain’s little daughter held
his hand and quietly asked if God protected them on sea. Her faith in God filled the
sailors with a new hope. By morning, the storm cleared and they reached harbour
safely.
XIII. Write an essay on any one of the following : 1 × 4 = 4
37. a) Air pollution
• Adding harmful things to air is called air pollution. It is harmful to people,
plants and animals. It is very big problem.
• Reasons
- Cutting trees
- Vehicles.
- Plastic
- Industries
- Garbage
- Chemicals
- Pesticides
• Effects
- Breathing problems
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- Heart problems
- Skin problems
- Fever
- Death
• Solutions
- Stop cutting trees
- Plant more tress
- Save forests
- Stop vehicles
- Stop plastic
- Stop industries
- Stop garbage
- Stop chemicals
- Stop pesticides
• We should stop air water environment pollution. save the people and living
beings for the future.
b) Mobile phones
“The Mobile is the global village of tomorrow” -
INTRODUCTION:
It is worldwide network of computers and electronic devices. We cannot imagine
our lives without internet. We are very much dependent on the internet. Even
our day starts with internet. We wake up by the alarms in the mobile.
EXPLANATION: Uses of Mobile:
1. It is a source of Entertainment 2. It is used for communication.
3. It is used to send media 4. It is used to apply the
applications.
5. It is used to store the information. 6. It is used in daily transaction like personal
banking.
7. It is used to pay bills and book tickets.
Demerits of Mobile:
1. It is expensive. The poor can’t afford it.2. All the common ignorant people can’t
use it.
3. The children get addicted. 4. Waste of time in making and watching the reels
and unwanted videos.
5. Lack of physical activity. 6. Leak of personal information.
7. Chances of losing money. 8. Addiction to video games.
Remedies to overcome the problems:
1. Providing free wi-fi in the public places. 2. Educating the ignorant people.
3. Supervising the children. 4. Banning the making and watching the reels and
unwanted videos.
CLICK HERE[Link]
5. Engaging the students in the physical activity.
6. Securing the personal information.
7. We should not share OTP with anyone.
8. Using child locks to stop video games.
CONCLUSION:
We should use the internet for good use. We should not completely depend on
internet. Let us make good use of the Mobile.
c) Importance of Yoga.
Essay on 'Importance of Yoga'
Quote:
"Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self." – Bhagavad
GitaIntroduction:
Yoga is an ancient practice that originated in India thousands of years ago. It
combines physical postures, breathing exercises, and meditation to promote
harmony between the mind, body, and spirit. In today's fastpaced world, where
stress, anxiety, and health problems are common, yoga offers a natural and
holistic way to improve overall well-being.
Explanation:
The importance of yoga lies in its ability to benefit both physical and mental
health. Regular yoga practice improves flexibility, strength, balance, and posture.
It helps in reducing chronic pain, managing weight, and improving heart health.
On the mental level, yoga promotes relaxation, reduces stress, and improves
focus and emotional stability.
Yoga also encourages mindfulness and self-awareness, helping people become
more connected with their inner selves. It teaches discipline, patience, and self-
control, which are essential in daily life. In schools and workplaces, yoga is
increasingly being introduced as a tool for better performance and reduced
burnout. Moreover, yoga is for everyone—young or old, healthy or struggling
with health conditions. It requires no fancy equipment and can be practiced
anywhere, making it an accessible and sustainable wellness solution.
Conclusion:
Yoga is more than just exercise; it is a lifestyle that promotes physical health, mental
clarity, and spiritual growth. In a world full of distractions and health challenges,
practicing yoga can lead to a more peaceful, balanced, and fulfilling life.
Embracing yoga not only improves individual lives but also contributes to a
healthier and more conscious society.
XIV. Write a letter using the information given below : 5
38. Imagine you are Akash / Akshata, studying in Government Pre-
University College, Thekkatte.
Write a letter to your father about your progress in studies.
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From
Akash
Government Pre-University College,
Thekkatte.
Date : 07/01/2026
Dear father,
Hi! I hope you are doing well and everything is fine at home. I am writing this
letter to tell you about my progress in studies.
My studies are going well. I have been paying full attention in class and
completing all my homework on time. Recently, we had a class test in Maths,
Science, and English. I scored 92% in Maths, 88% in Science, and 90% in
English. My teachers are happy with my performance and they have
encouraged me to keep working hard.
I have also joined a special coaching class after school to prepare better for the
SSLC exams. I am finding it very helpful. I spend at least two hours every
evening revising what is taught in school.
Please do not worry about me. I am taking good care of my health and eating
properly in the hostel. I miss you, Amma, and little Anu a lot. I will try my best
to make you all proud.
Yours lovelingly
Akash
To
ABC
Mandya
OR
Write a letter to your headmaster requesting him to help your friend
to pay the school fees as he / she is poor.
From
Akash
10th Standard
GPUC Thekkatte
Date: 07/01/2026
To
The Head Master
GPUC Thekkatte
Respected Sir,
CLICK HERE[Link]
Subject: Requesting fee concession.
As reference to the subject, my friend Naveen is very poor. He doesn’t have
parents. He is living with his uncle. He can’t pay the school fees. I kindly request
you to grant him concession in the school fees.
Thank you.
Yours faithfully
Akash
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