Madhyamik ABTA 2026 — English (Second Language) — Page 48 — Solved
1. Seen Passage — "Big Half Moon" (Full passage)
Passage (as in the book): It is always lovely on the Big Half Moon in summer. When it is fine, the harbour is blue and calm, with little wind and ripples. Every summer, we had some hobby. The last summer before Dick and Mimi came, we were crazy about kites. A boy on the mainland showed Claude how to make them. Back on the island, we made plenty of kites. Claude would go around to the other side of the island and we would play shipwrecked mariners signalling to each other with kites.
We had a kite that was big and covered with lovely red paper. We pasted gold tinsel stars all over it and had written our names full on it – Claude Leete and Philippa Leete, Big Half Moon lighthouse. One day there was a grand wind for kite-flying. I'm not sure how it happened, but as I was bringing the kite from the house, I tripped and fell over the rocks. My elbow went clear through the kite, making a big hole.
We had to hurry to fix the kite if we wanted to send it up before the wind fell. We rushed into the lighthouse to get some paper. We knew there was no more red paper. We took the first thing that came handy – an old letter lying on the bookcase in the sitting room. We patched the kite up with the letter, a sheet on each side, and dried it by the fire. We started out, and up went the kite like a bird.
A. Choose the correct alternatives:
(i) Who taught Claude how to make kites? — (d) a boy on the mainland
(ii) What was the kite made of originally? — (c) red paper with gold tinsel stars
(iii) How did the narrator damage the kite? — (b) by tripping over rocks
(iv) What did the children use to repair the kite? — (c) an old letter
(v) What did they write on the kite? — (c) names and lighthouse name
B. Complete the sentences (from the passage):
(i) The children were crazy about kites.
(ii) They hurried to fix the kite because they wanted to send it up before the wind fell.
(iii) They found an old letter on the bookcase to repair the kite.
C. True / False — give supporting quotes:
(i) Claude brought the kite from the mainland. — False
(ii) They flew the kite after repairing it. — True
2. Poem (Seen) — Excerpt about the snail
Poem excerpt: To grass, or leaf, or fruit, or wall, / The snail sticks close, nor fears to fall, / As if he grew there, house and all / Together. Within that house secure he hides, / When danger imminent betides / Of storm, or other harm besides / Of weather. Give but his horns the slightest touch, / His self-collecting pow'r is such, / He shrinks into his house with much Displeasure.
A. Choose the correct alternatives:
(i) The snail sticks close to — (c) grass/leaf/fruit/wall
(ii) What makes a snail retreat? — (b) touch on horns
(iii) The snail has no fear of — (d) falling
(iv) ‘House’ refers to — (c) snail's shell
B. Short answers:
(i) What does the poet suggest about the snail's attachment to its home?
Ans: The poet suggests the snail is firmly attached to where it lives, as if it and its shell are part of the surface it clings to — secure and settled.
(ii) Explain the meaning of “His self-collecting pow'r is such…”
Ans: It means the snail has the quick ability to withdraw into its shell (to collect itself) immediately when threatened.
3. Unseen Passage — Israel & Hamas (Early 2025 escalation)
Passage (summary): The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas escalated in early 2025 after a series of skirmishes and attacks. Hamas launched rockets at several Israeli cities (including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem). Israel responded with airstrikes on Gaza targeting Hamas infrastructure and military sites. Hundreds of casualties resulted, most from Gaza where civilian areas were heavily impacted. The Gaza Strip has been under Hamas control since 2007. The dispute has deep political and territorial roots. International reactions were mixed — some supported Israel’s right to defend itself while others called for a ceasefire. The UN warned the conflict could destabilize the region. Despite negotiations, a permanent solution remained elusive.
A. Tick the right answer:
(i) What triggered the latest escalation? — (b) Rocket attacks from Hamas
(ii) Israel responded by — (b) airstrikes
(iii) Who controls Gaza Strip? — (c) Hamas
(iv) International community called for — (b) ceasefire
(v) Why is peace difficult? — (b) territorial disputes
(vi) UN fears — (b) region destabilized
B. True / False with supporting quotes:
(i) Gaza has been under Hamas since 2017. — False
(ii) International community unanimously supports Israel. — False
(iii) Both military and civilian areas in Gaza were damaged. — True
C. Short answer questions:
(i) Why is Gaza Strip significant?
Ans: It is a small, densely populated territory at the heart of political and territorial disputes between Israel and Palestinian groups (Hamas).
(ii) What humanitarian concerns arise?
Ans: Heavy civilian casualties, damage to homes and infrastructure, shortages of medical care, food, water and displacement of people.
(iii) What is the main challenge for peace?
Ans: Deep-rooted political and territorial disagreements and mutual distrust between the parties.
(iv) How could the conflict affect the Middle East?
Ans: It may destabilize neighbouring areas, inflame regional tensions, and draw in other states or non-state actors through alliances and reactions.
4. Fill in the blanks (verbs)
By the time the train arrived, we had packed our bags and been waiting at the platform.
5. Do as directed
A. Articles / Prepositions
We stayed at a hotel that is just few steps away from the museum.
B. Rewrite (voice / narration / join):
(i) They made him the captain of the team inspite of his inexperience . — He was made the captain of the team by them inspite of his inexperience .
(ii) The teacher said, “Had you revised the chapter throughly, you wouldn't have faced any difficulty in the exam.” — The teacher asked whether I had revised the chapter throughly I wouldn't have faced any difficult in the exam.
(iii) I saw the train coming . Immediately I caught hold of the little boy. — No sooner had I seen the train coming than I caught hold of the little boy.
C. Replace with phrasal verbs (use the list: look after, come across, put off, run into)
(i) I met an old friend. — I came across / I ran into an old friend.
(ii) The match was postponed. — The match was put off.
(iii) She takes care of her brother. — She looks after her brother.
6. Find words from the passage (Q-3)
(i) intensified — escalated
(ii) difficult to find — elusive
(iii) related to land ownership — territorial
(iv) many — numerous
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