8

Dictation

Question: I

Read the passage once. Then close your books. Your teacher will dictate the story to you. Write it down with the correct punctuati on and paragraphing.

The Raincoat

After four years of drought in a small town in the Northeast, the Vicar gathered everyone together for a pilgrimage to the mountain, where they would pray together and ask for the rain to return.

The priest noticed a boy in the group wearing a raincoat.

"Have you gone mad?" he asked. "It hasn't rained in this region for five years, the heat wi ll kill you climbing the mountain."

"I have a cold, father. I f we are going to ask God for rain, can you imagine the way back from the mountain?  It's going to be such a downpour that I need to be prepa red."

At that m oment a great crash was heard in the sky and the first drops began to fall. A boy's faith was enough to bring about a miracle that not even those most prepa red truly believed in.

 Answer: I

It should be done by the help of your English teacher.

(translated by JAM ES MU LHOLLAN D)

Question: II

Speaking

Imagine that you are Santosh Yadav, or Maria Sharapova. You have been invited to speak at an All India Girls' Athletic Meet, as chief guest. Prepare a short speech to motivate the girls to think and dream big and make an effort to fulfil their dreams, not allowing difficulties or defeat to discourage them. The following words and phrases may help you.

•        self confident/confidence/sure of yourself

•        self assured/assurance/belief in yourself

•        morale/boost morale/ raise morale

•        giving somebody a boost/fillip/lift

•        demoralising/ unsure of yourself/insecu re/lack confidence

Answer: II

Respected teachers, management and dear girl students, you know that All India Girl's Athletic Meet is winding up today with great enthusiasm.

All  the  participa nts  have  shown  their  performance  at  their  level  best  in  various  events.  I

congratulate both the participants as well as supporters who have encouraged their morale. As we know that sports are n ot only indispensable for our life but help us keeping our mind and body healthy also.

Most of the students presented the best results and some of them have been honou red with money award and medals. Some of them also selected at the world level. I hope they will do their best in their field and bring name and fame not only to the concerned players but also to the country also. You all know that I was a village student and I proceeded to Delhi for High School though my pa rents were traditional in nature. At one time they refused to pay me school dues. When I asked them to work part-time, they agreed to pay. All this has created a sense of confidence in me. Then I enrolled in Jaipur and watched the mountai neers climbing over the Aravali Hills. I met them to join in the expedition. With the help of strong will power, I went to Uttarkashi N ehru Institute of Mountaineering. Later on, in 1992, I was successful in climbing up the Mount Everest. This expedition bought name and fame for Country. The Indian Government honou red me with 'Padmashri'.

So, you also can have a great success if you have a dream. Be sure, you have to be honest as well as determined efforts to fulfil your dreams. It is high time for all of you to show your talent not only in games but in some other fields also. We should put in use different resources, modes and progra mmes running by Prime Minister 'Narend ra Modi' without lacking any confidence and demoralising views.

I hope all of you will try to perform your best and show you capability before the nation. Thanks.

Question: III

Working in pairs,go through the table bel ow that gives you informati on about the top women tennis players since 1975. Write a short article for your school magazine comparing and contrasting the players in terms of their duration at the top. Mention some qualities that you think may be responsible for thei r brief or long stay at th e top spot.

Top-Ranked Women Players

I. The roll of honou r of women who enjoyed life at the summit since everybody' s favourite player, Chris Evert, took her place in 1975.

Name	18-Oct-75	Weeks as No. 1
Maria Sharapova (Russia)	19-Oct-75	1
Lin dsay Daven port (U.S.)	20-Oct-75	82
Amelie Mauresmo (France)	21-Oct-75	5
Justine  Henin-Hardenne  (Belgium)	22-Oct-75	45
Kim Clijsters (Belgium)	23-Oct-75	12
Serena Williams  (U.S.)	24-Oct-75	57
Venus Williams (U.S.)	25-Oct-75	11
Jenn ifer Capriati (U.S.)	26-Oct-75	17
Lindsay Davenport (U.S.)	27-Oct-75	82
Martina Hingis  (Switzerland)	28-Oct-75	209
Arantxa Sanchez-Vica rio (Spain)	29-Oct-75	12
Mon ica Seles (U.S.)	30-Oct-75	178
Steffi Graf (Germany)	31-Oct-75	377
Tracy Austin (U.S.)	1-Nov-75	22
Martina Navratilova (U.S.)	2-Nov-75	331
Chris Evert (U.S.)	3-Nov-75	362

II. Which of these words woul d you use to describe Santosh Yadav? Fin d reasons in the text to support your choices, and write a couple of paragraphs describing Santosh's character.

Answer: III

I. Tennis is one of the selective games and ladies have set records in this game praiseworthy. Since Novem ber 3, 1975 to August 22, 2005 near about sixteen women from different countries have rank high. Achieving a landmark is just because of their endurance, skill and constant desire to participate and play tennis whole heartedly. For example, Maria Sharaopova of Russia has the shortest stay of one week in 1987, Steffi Graf of Germany broke all the records and showed their long stay of 377 weeks. Martina Hingis of Switzerland has also shown good scoring capability. Prior to Maria of Russia, Amelie Mauresmo of French stayed for 5 weeks. Though each player has a keen desire to show their talent yet th ey fall to set the world record. It should be our endeavour to try again and again without any negative feeling.

II. The following words in the box can be used to describe Santosh Yadav, the conqueror of the Mount Everest:

I contented  determined  polite adventurous considerate  independent persevering  I

Padmashri Santosh Yadav was born in Joinyawas in Haryana. From the very begin ning she was determined to choose the right path and change the orthodox outlook of the people of her village. U nlike the other girls of her village, she refused to marry early and was determi ned to get proper education even if she had to earn to pay for her schooling. She went to Delhi on her own and joined a school th ere.

Santosh Yadav was fascinated to see people climbing the Aravalli H ills. She liked it and tried to climb herself. She saved money and joined a course in climbing without asking for her father's permission. She got the honou r of climbing Everest twice at early age. Her concern for others is praiseworthy. She shared her oxygen to have a dying fellow climber. She collected garbage and bough t at down to keep the Himalayas pollu tion free.