You are Neetu / Neelansh of Angel Public school, Delhi. You are concerned about the cleanliness in your school, as the students waste a lot of paper and do not use dust-bins properly .Write a letter to the Principal of your school, highlighting the possibility of diseases and the dire ṣneed for creating awareness about the prevention of such diseases through informative posters in the morning assembly and giving suggestions to maintain cleanliness in the school in about 120 words.

OR

You are Jaya /Ajay .After the recent earthquake, you feel that there is need to be aware and alert about natural disasters. You are sad to know that Man is responsible for these disasters due to his greed and carelessness. Write an article on 'Natural Disasters ' (about 100 -120 words)

Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow –

Fish keeping has benefits that make it an attractive hobby for millions of people. Aquariums can bring a bit of nature, a living ecosystem, into any home, including apartments that do not allow other pets, like tending a furry animal, helping to maintain a fish tank can teach a child the responsibility of caring for other living creatures.

As pets fish have distinct advantages: they are quiet, they do not chew or scratch the furniture, and with a few slow -release feeders in their tank, they can safely be left alone for a week or two.

But it is likely the documented benefit to human health that has helped make aquariums so popular .like petting a dog or cat, gazing at an aquarium at the end of a long, hard day can reduce stress and lower blood pressure. Likewise, research shows that people waiting to see a doctor or undergo medical procedure were less anxious after watching fish swimming in a tank. Watching fish also has a significant calming effect on children with attention deficit as well as on elderly people with Alzheimer's disease.

Today, home aquariums became popular as commercial fish breeding operations and air transport made it easy and affordable. More durable tanks and improved filtration system enabled hobbyists to sustain fish for longer periods.

Today, home aquariums range from a child's goldfish bowl to elaborate tanks holding several hundred gallons of water and dozens of exotic fish. More adventurous hobbyists opt for saltwater tanks ,which take more work and equipment to maintain a stable environment .saltwater fish are more costly and more susceptible to changes in temperature and water quality than freshwater species .on the positive side ,they are spectacularly colorful and turn a tank into a dramatic focal point.

Modern aquariums have evolved far beyond the boring rectangular tank. Today's models come in almost any shape imaginable -round hexagonal, bow front. Concave, free form and flat to hang on the wall .they also have become key elements in home and office decor .they are built into walls and incorporated into tables, lamps, desks and even bath tubs. Almost any object it seems can be turned into a fish tank.

On the basis of your reading of the passage answer the following questions:

(a) Why do people prefer keeping fish as a pet?

(b) What are the special advantages of petting fish?

(c) How does fish-keeping control high blood pressure?

(d) Why is salt water tank used sometimes for keeping fish?

(e) What is the main reason for the popularity of aquariums?

(f) Why are aquariums available in different shapes?

(g) Find a word from the passage which means the same as

(i) A disease of the brain that affects memory

(ii) Different/unusual

Read the passage given below:

Tourism is travel for recreation, leisure, religious, family or business purposes, normally for a limited duration. Tourism is generally associated with International travel, but may also refer to travel to another place within the same country. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people “travelling to and staying at places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes.”

1. Tourism has become a popular global leisure activity. Tourism can either be domestic or international and international tourism can be classified as either inbound or outbound tourism. Today inbound tourism is a major source of income for many countries. Especially in terms of foreign exchange earned by the country as a whole. It also has a substantial impact on the local economy and employment of a place frequently visited by tourists.

2. India is a country with a rich cultural heritage which has always fascinated travelers. It is a unique land of diversities where all kinds of natural beauty including desert, sea, forests, mountains, flowers, wildlife is present within a single geographical boundary of a country. Anybody visiting India will have experience of different dresses, culture, flora and fauna in different states. Thus India has always been a destination for tourists who want to enjoy this combination of culture, tradition and rich heritage. Not only this, foreign tourist’s act as “Ambassadors of Indian Culture” and take the message further across the world.

3. Indian government has made various efforts to take advantage of these unique possessions to promote tourism. One such big initiative is the scheme of e-Tourist Visa. The measure has been introduced to make travelling to India easier and simpler for foreign tourists.

4. The entire scheme began with the demand by the tourism industry to liberalize the visa regime for foreign tourists to give a boost to tourism in the country. In response, “Visa-On Arrival” was initiated by the government and is now made available to forty-four countries. “Visa On-Arrival” means that you need a visa to enter but it is possible to apply for and receive the visa only when you show up in the country of visit itself.

2.1 On the basis of your reading of the passage, answer the following questions:

i. What do you understand by ‘tourism’?

ii. How is the economy of a country affected by tourism?

iii. Can India be a popular tourist destination? Give 2 reasons.

iv. Give any two factors that help boost tourism in India.

2.2 Choose the right option from the given alternatives: i. Identify the word which means the same as “consecutive”

a. Period of time one after the other without interruption

b. Period of time with some interruption

c. Period of an event with some interruption

d. Period of an event with no interruption at all

ii. Identify the word which is the synonym of “frequently”.

a. Daily

b. Habitual

c. Sometimes

d. Always

iii. Identify the word which is the antonym of “simpler”

a. Complicated

b. Plane

c. Possible

d. Foolish

iv. Identify the word which means the same as “liberalize”. It allows:

a. People more freedom.

b. People more opportunity.

c. Selected people some opportunity.

d. Only limited freedom

Complete the following story in 150 to 200 words. Given below is the beginning of a story. Continue from this point and complete the story in about 150-200 words.

On a warm Sunday afternoon ,when even the bees look sleepy, Ramesh was looking for his grandfather without finding him anywhere . Then he looked out of the window, he was surprised to see his grandfather…………………….

Read the passage given below and fill in the blanks by choosing the most appropriate word from the given options.

It is not possible even for the greatest optimist (a) -------------- (on, for, of, to) smile all the time and feel good throughout the day. Every one (b) ----------- (had, have, had having) a tension now or then, when everything seems dark. But once you develop a positive attitude (c) ________ (so, but, and, or 0, realize that life is a roller coaster ride, a series of ups and downs