I was born in the small but beautiful mountain village of Nakuri near Uttarkashi in Garhwal, with the gurgling, playful Bhagirathi river flowing nearby. My parents were a hard-working and extremely self-contained couple. Even though our family was poor, barely managing the essentials, my father taught us how to live and maintain dignity andself respect–the most treasured family value till today. At the sametime my parents alsopractised the creed, “Kindness is the essence of all religion.” They were large-hearted, inviting village folk passing by to have tea at our home, and gave grain to the sadhus and pandits who came to the house. This characteristic has been ingrained in me so deeply that I am able to reach out to others and make a difference in their lives – whether it is in my home, in society oratthework place. I was the third child in the family–girl, boy, girl,girl and boy in that order–and quite a rebel. I developed a tendency to ask questions and was not satisfied with the customary way of life for a girl-child. When I found my elder brother, Bachchan, encouraging our youngest brother, Raju, to take up mountaineering I thought, why not me ? I found that my brothers were always getting preferential treatment and all opportunities and options were open to them. This made me even more determined to not only do what the boys were doing, but to do it better. The general thinking of mountain people was that mountaineering as a sport was not for them. They considered themselves to be born mountaineers as they had to go up and down mountain slopes for their daily livelihood and even for routine work. On the other hand, as a student, I would look curiously at foreign backpackers passing by my village and wonder where they were going. I would even invite them to my house and talk to them to learn more about their travels. The full significance of this came to me later when I started working. The foreigners took the trouble to come all the way to the Himalayas in order to educate themselves on social, cultural and scientific aspects of mountaineering, as well as to seek peace in nature’s gigantic scheme of things.

Why were foreigners drawn to the Himalayas ?

The youth of different states should be given a chance to meet one another through national meets and other programmes. Taking ideas from the MCB unit, National Integration and your own ideas write an article in 100-120 words on the topic, Youth and National Integration You are Ram/Rama.

Write a short story in 150-200 words on the basis of the hints provided.

Ratan was in Goa on a school trip. The teacher asked everyone to play and remain on the seashore..............

Write a short story in 150-200 words on the basis of the hints provided.

Hari drove fast. He was already late for office. He had got up late and it was his first day of work.......

Read the passage given below: 

The Perfect Dog
1. In the summer of 1967, when I was 10 years old, my father caved into my persistent pleas and took me to get my own dog. Together we drove in the family station wagon far into the Michigan countryside to a farm run by a rough-hewn women and her ancient mother. The farm produced just one commodity-dog. Dogs of every imaginable size and  shape and age and temperament. They had only two things in common: each was a mongrel of unknown and distinct ancestry, and each was free to a good home.

2. I quickly decided the older dogs were somebody else's charity case. I immediately raced to the puppy cage. 'You want to pick one that's not timid,' my father coached. 'Try rattling the cage and see which ones aren't afraid.'

3. I grabbed the chain-link gate and yanked on it with a loud clang. The dozen or so puppies reeled backward, collapsing on top of one another in a squiggling heap of fur. Just one remained. He was gold with a white blaze on his chest, and he charged at the gate, yapping fearlessly. He jumped up and excitedly licked my fingers through the fencing. It was love at first sight.

4. I brought him home in a cardboard box and named him Shaun. He was one of those dogs that gives dogs a good name. He effortlessly mastered every command I taught him and was naturally well behaved. I could drop a crust on the floor and he would not touch it until I gave the okay.

5. Relatives would visit for the weekend and returned home determined to buy a dog of their own, so impressed were they with Shaun-or 'Saint Shaun,' as I came to call him. Born with the curse of an uncertain lineage, he was one of the tens of thousands of unwanted dogs in America. Yet by some stroke of almost providential good fortune, he became wanted. He came into my life and I into his-and in the process, he gave me the childhood every kid deserves.

6. The love affair lasted fourteen years, and by the time he died I was no longer the little boy who had brought him along on that summer day. I was a man, out of college and working across the state in my first real job. Saint Shaun had stayed behind when I moved on. It was where he belonged. My parents, by then retired, called to break the news to me. My mother would later tell me, 'In fifty years of marriage, I've only seen your father cry twice. “The first time was when we lost Mary Ann'-my sister, who was stillborn. 'The second time was the day Shaun died.'

7. Saint Shaun of my childhood. He was perfect dog. At least that's how I will always remember him. It was Shaun who set the standard by which I would judge all other dogs to come.

(Marley and Me by John Groan)

1.1 Complete the following statements:
(a) The dog farm was run by .................... .
(b) The author did not want an old dog because.................... .
(c) He fell in love with the dog the moment the latter.................... .
(d) Shaun became so obedient that he.................... until the author allowed him.
(e) After visiting them their relatives wanted.................... .
(f) When Shaun died even.................... .

1.2 Find words from the passage which mean the same as the following:
(a) urgent request (para 1)
(b) falling (para 3)

Read the following passage:
It's Beginning to Bite
In these trying times, when buying ordinary food stuff can burn a hole in your pockets, comes the news that can actually help us save some hard cash when we go out to shop the next time. According to a Stanford University study, the first of its kind in the world, there is no evidence to suggest that there are more nutritional benefits from expensive organic food than those grown by conventional methods. The researchers add that there is no difference in protein and fat content between organic and conventional milk and the vitamin count is similar in both types. The only benefit is that organic foods are not contaminated with pesticides but then before you chew on the plate of organic okra with roti made from organic wheat, they are not 100% pesticide free either. In India, organic food has been growing at 20-22% and the export market is valued at Rs. 1,000 crore. Obviously, the study is not good news for that sector and for people who are big on organic food.

In India, eating organic food is more of a style statement than due to health worries because the stuff is expensive. But people who can, do indulge in not only organic vegetables but even organic eggs laid by 'happy hens', who are allowed to roam around freely whereas 'unhappy hens' are kept in coops. Then there are companies that have installed music channels in their cowsheds and the milk from those sheds are sold at a marked up price since it has more nutritional value because the animals are happy thanks to lilting 24×7 music. We don't know yet any farmer using music to improve his crop quality, but then you never know: plants are known to respond to music.

Why such pickiness about food? These days, the huge number of TV shows and articles that we see and read on food provide bread and butter for the specialist. But instead of decoding food, its sources and what has gone into growing it, isn't it much better to enjoy what's on the plate?
(Adapted from The Hindustan Times)

2.1 Complete the statements given below by choosing the correct options from those that follow:
(a) According to a Stanford University study, organic food in relation to conventional food is________.
  (i) less nutritious
  (ii) more nutritious
  (iii) very conventional
  (iv) as nutritious
(b) The study will not be welcomed by _________.
  (i) farmers of conventional food
  (ii) makers of pesticides
  (iii) all sectors
  (iv) exporters of organic food
(c) We can save some hard cash by _________.
  (i) buying organic food
  (ii) not buying organic food
  (iii) going to the shop
  (iv) not buying food with pesticides
(d) Music channels are installed in the cowshed because the _________.
  (i) cows then give more milk
  (ii) milk is sold at a higher price
  (iii) milk becomes more pure
  (iv) workers becomes happy
(e) In the second paragraph, the author's attitude to the people who eat food sourced from 'happy' animals is that he _________.
  (i) is happy with them
  (ii) is unhappy with them
  (iii) is laughing at them
  (iv) wants crops to be grown similarly
(f) One benefit of organic food is that __________.
  (i) it is fashionable to eat
  (ii) only rich people can afford it
  (iii) it is less contaminated with pesticides
  (iv) even poor people can afford it
(g) The word 'contaminated' means ________.
  (i) adulterated
  (ii) for adults
  (iii) containing
  (iv) not healthy

Imagine you are Gitika. Road the following conversation and write a suitable message for your mother in 50-60 words:
Ankita  : Hi, didi ! I'm Ankita on the line. Is aunty at home?
Gitika   : No, she has gone to visit my grandparents. Is there any problem?
Ankita: No, I just wanted to inform her that we have a special havan tomorrow at 9 a.m. at our place. My mother has specially invited all of you.
Gitika   : Okay, Thanks! I'll inform her and we will definitely come.

Your maid has 4 children ‒ 3 daughters and 1 son. All her daughters work as maids to earn money, while the son goes to a school and gets everything he desires. You feel pity for the girls and sad at the way our society treats girls. Write a diary entry in 50‒60 words.

Last year your school appointed a new T.G.T. who came to teach you English in class 9. You are very impressed with her. Write a description of your T.G.T. (English) in about 100 words. You may use the clues given below:
• qualification, college/university
• personality
• attitude towards students
• manner of teaching
• problem solving
• course punctuality
• weak students

Your city was inundated by the recent rains causing extensive waterlogging, traffic snarls and ugly jams. The life of the common man was completely disrupted. You have decided to write an email to the editor of a local daily describing the condition of the city. Make suggestions for improvement. As Renu/Rohit, write this email in 120-150 words.

You are Amit/Anita, Head Boy/Head Girl of your school. You have been asked by your principal to deliver a speech in the morning assembly on 'Importance of Punctuality in a student's life'. Write your speech in about 120 words.