English (Compulsory) — HSSC-I Practice

A naming word — a person, place, thing or idea. Types: common (city), proper (Lahore), material (gold), abstract (honesty), collective (team).

Honesty is the best policy.

A word used in place of a noun. Types: personal (he, they), demonstrative (this, those), reflexive (himself — receives the action), emphatic (himself — only stresses the subject), relative (who, which), interrogative (who? what?), possessive (mine, ours).

He could manage it all by himself. (reflexive)

A word showing action or state. Transitive verbs take an object (She wrote a letter); intransitive verbs do not (He slept). A finite verb agrees with its subject; non-finite forms are verbals (see below).

• Gerund / verbal noun — -ing form used as a noun. Playing under such conditions was not easy.
• Participle / verbal adjective — describes a noun. The running water; a broken cup.
• Infinitive — "to + verb" used as noun/adj/adverb. I want to learn.

Describes a noun. Types: quality (a beautiful garden), quantity (enough space, much), number/numeric (three boys), demonstrative (this book), interrogative (Which pen?), possessive (my).

Modifies a verb, adjective or another adverb — tells how, when, where, how much. She sang beautifully. He came yesterday. Note: Why / How / When at the start of a question are interrogative adverbs.

Shows the relation of a noun/pronoun to another word (in, on, at, beside, near, between). Compound prepositions: according to, in spite of, because of, instead of.

• Coordinating (FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) join equals.
• Subordinating (because, although, when, if, so that) join a dependent clause to a main clause. He could not attend because he was sick.
• Correlative pairs: both/and, either/or, neither/nor, not only/but also.

A word expressing sudden emotion. Alas! Hurrah! Oh!

• Noun phrase — acts as a noun: a house near the canal
• Adjective(al) phrase — describes a noun: The cabin beside the lake was occupied.
• Adverb(ial) phrase — modifies a verb: She left in a hurry.
• Prepositional phrase — begins with a preposition: on the table

• Independent / main clause — stands alone as a sentence.
• Noun clause — works as a noun: She hopes that she will travel the world.
• Adjective clause — describes a noun (who, which, that).
• Adverbial clause — gives reason/time/condition: Laws were passed so that abuse could be checked.

• Simple — one independent clause. The dog is black and brown.
• Compound — two independent clauses joined by a coordinator. I daydream and I plan.
• Complex — one independent + one (or more) dependent clause. I can't go back to school until I recover.
• Compound-complex — two independents + at least one dependent.

a/an = indefinite (any one). Use a before a consonant sound, an before a vowel sound. the = definite (a specific one). Zero article with most proper/abstract nouns. Gulrukh loves us like a mother and guides us like an able teacher.

• Present: simple (writes), continuous (is writing), perfect (has written), perfect continuous (has been writing).
• Past: wrote, was writing, had written, had been writing.
• Future: will write, will be writing, will have written, will have been writing.

Tip: "since/for" → perfect tenses; "now/at the moment" → continuous.

Active: subject does the action. Passive: subject receives it (object + form of be + past participle + by + doer).

Active: She wrote a letter. → Passive: A letter was written by her.

• Remove inverted commas; use a connector (that / if / wh-word).
• Back-shift the tense (is→was, will→would, has→had).
• Change pronouns to suit the reporter.
• Change time/place words: now→then, today→that day, here→there.

He said, "I am tired." → He said that he was tired.

• Capital letters: start of sentence, proper nouns, "I".
• Full stop (.) ends a statement; ? ! for questions/exclamations.
• Comma (,) separates items, clauses, addresses.
• Apostrophe (') for possession (Ali's) and contractions (don't).
• Quotation marks (" ") for direct speech; colon (:) introduces a list.

• Synonym — same meaning (happy = glad).
• Antonym — opposite (tardiness ↔ punctuality).
• Idiom — figurative phrase (a piece of cake = very easy).
• Connotation = implied/emotional meaning; denotation = literal dictionary meaning.

• Alliteration — same initial consonant sound. The fair breeze blew, the white foam flew.
• Anaphora — same word/phrase repeated at the start of lines.
• Refrain — a line repeated throughout a poem.
• Consonance / Assonance — repeated consonant / vowel sounds within words.
• Rhyme scheme — pattern of end sounds (abab, aabb).

• Simile — comparison using like/as (brave as a lion).
• Metaphor — direct comparison (Time is money).
• Personification — human traits to non-humans. The waves winked in the sunlight.
• Hyperbole — exaggeration. I could eat a horse.
• Oxymoron — contradictory pair (bitter-sweet).
• Synecdoche — part stands for whole.
• Apostrophe — addressing an absent person/thing.
• Allusion — reference to a known person/event/text.

• Exposition — opening that sets scene & characters.
• Climax — turning point of highest tension.
• Denouement — the resolution/final outcome of the main complication.
• Setting, plot, characterization, conflict, tone, theme — the building blocks examined in Q3(b).

Title: "The Power of Managing Time."

Summary: The passage explains that time management means planning how to divide time among tasks so we work smarter, not harder. Poor time management lowers effectiveness and increases stress, while good management raises productivity, improves reputation and opens opportunities. Many students wrongly equate long hours with dedication, but unfocused effort wastes time. By setting goals, prioritising by urgency and importance, avoiding multitasking and taking short breaks, a person becomes more productive and gains a calmer, more deliberate mind.

It means using planning and focus to achieve more in less time, rather than simply spending long, unfocused hours on work.

It damages effectiveness and productivity and causes stress.

Greater productivity, a better professional reputation, less stress, more chances of advancement, and a higher likelihood of reaching life and career goals (any three).

Because long hours without focus waste time; effort, not duration, must be directed wisely. Unfocused work wastes the very resource it tries to save.

Make a daily priority list ranking tasks by urgency and importance; switch off distractions and work on one task at a time with short scheduled breaks.

(a) "productivity" / "effectiveness" (b) "benefits" / "opportunities".

• Name the poetic device in line 1 ("fair breeze blew… white foam flew"). Alliteration (and assonance).
• What atmosphere do the first two lines create? A swift, joyful, smooth-sailing mood as the ship moves freely.
• What does "that silent sea" suggest? An unexplored, eerie stillness — the ship is the first to enter untouched waters.

Q. Define climax and denouement with reference to any story you have read.
Model points: The climax is the turning point of greatest tension where the main conflict reaches its peak. The denouement is the resolution that follows, in which the complication is settled and loose ends are tied. Support with a brief reference to a studied story's plot.

The Principal, [College name], [City] — Subject: Application for the post of English Teacher. Body: open by stating where you saw the advertisement and that you wish to apply; in the objective state your qualifications, experience and suitability; close by requesting an interview. End with "Yours faithfully," and your name.

• a piece of cake — The test was a piece of cake for the well-prepared students.
• burn the midnight oil — She burnt the midnight oil before the exams.
• break the ice — A small joke helped him break the ice with the new class.
• let the cat out of the bag — He let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party.
• turn a deaf ear — The manager turned a deaf ear to the complaints.
• a bolt from the blue — The news of his transfer came as a bolt from the blue.

• He said, "I am writing a letter." → He said that he was writing a letter.
• She said to me, "Where are you going?" → She asked me where I was going.
• "Work hard," said the teacher. → The teacher advised (us) to work hard.
• He said, "I will help you tomorrow." → He said that he would help me the next day.
• "Do you know the answer?" she asked. → She asked whether I knew the answer.
• "What a beautiful scene!" he said. → He exclaimed with joy that it was a very beautiful scene.

Unpunctuated: when ali reached lahore he said to his friend i have never seen such a beautiful city

Corrected: When Ali reached Lahore, he said to his friend, "I have never seen such a beautiful city."

(½ mark per correction: capital W, capital A-Ali, capital L-Lahore, comma after Lahore, comma after friend, opening quotes, capital I, full stop + closing quotes.)

Head with Date, To (the Editor/Principal), From (your name & class), Subject. Introduction: when and where the debate was held and who organised it. Body: number of participating colleges, the topic, notable speakers, the audience response and the winners. Ending: the prize distribution and a closing remark on the event's success.

(a) "Books are a person's truest friends and silent teachers. Reading widens our knowledge, sharpens our imagination and improves our language…" (b) "Every successful person begins with a clear aim. My aim in life is to become a doctor so that I can serve the poor of my country…" — then develop with reasons, examples and a concluding sentence.

Title: "The Cost of Cutting Forests."

Summary: Deforestation is the large-scale clearing of forests, driven by agriculture, logging and the spread of cities. Its effects are serious: trees absorb carbon dioxide and harmful gases, so their loss raises global temperatures; their roots hold the soil, so without them rain causes erosion, floods and landslides, and many species lose their habitat. However, the damage can be slowed through reforestation, stricter laws against illegal cutting, and the careful use of wood and paper. Every tree planted helps defend against a warming world.

It is the cutting down or clearing of forests on a large scale, which harms the land and environment.

They absorb carbon dioxide and other harmful gases; without them these gases build up and global temperatures rise.

Tree roots hold the soil together; once the trees are gone, rain washes away the topsoil, leading to erosion, floods and landslides.

Agriculture, logging for timber and paper, and the expansion of cities.

Launch tree-planting (reforestation) drives and enforce strict laws against illegal cutting; also reduce wasteful use of paper and wood.

(a) "swathes" (b) "defence".

• Identify the figure of speech in line 1. Simile — the poet compares himself to a lonely cloud using "as".
• What is personified, and how? The daffodils are pictured as a lively "crowd / host," given human, social qualities.
• What mood do the lines convey? A mood of solitude that turns into sudden delight at the sight of the daffodils.

Q. What is meant by setting and conflict in a story? Explain with reference to a text you have studied.
Model points: The setting is the time and place in which events occur and it shapes mood and character. Conflict is the central struggle — external (character vs character/society/nature) or internal (within a character) — that drives the plot. Illustrate briefly from a studied story.

Write your address and the date, then "The Editor, [Newspaper], [City]". Salutation: "Dear Sir,". Body — opening: request space in the columns; objective: describe the long, frequent power cuts and their effect on students, patients and businesses; conclusion: appeal to the authorities to act. Close with "Yours faithfully," and your name.

• a white elephant — The huge new stadium proved to be a white elephant for the small town.
• to make ends meet — With prices rising, many families struggle to make ends meet.
• to add fuel to the fire — His rude reply only added fuel to the fire.
• to call it a day — After hours of work, they decided to call it a day.
• at the eleventh hour — He submitted the form at the eleventh hour.
• to smell a rat — When the deal seemed too easy, she began to smell a rat.

• She said, "I have finished my work." → She said that she had finished her work.
• He said to her, "Please open the window." → He requested her to open the window.
• The teacher said, "Honesty is the best policy." → The teacher said that honesty is the best policy.
• "Where do you live?" asked the stranger. → The stranger asked where I lived.
• "Hurrah! We have won the match," they said. → They exclaimed with joy that they had won the match.
• He said, "I bought this book yesterday." → He said that he had bought that book the previous day.

Unpunctuated: my brother asked me have you read this novel by charles dickens

Corrected: My brother asked me, "Have you read this novel by Charles Dickens?"

(½ mark each: capital M, comma after "me", opening quotes, capital H, capital C & D for Charles Dickens, question mark, closing quotes.)

Head with Date, To (Editor/Principal), From (name & class), Subject. Introduction: when and where the drive was held and who arranged it. Body: number of saplings planted, participation of students and teachers, guest speaker's message on the environment, and the enthusiasm shown. Ending: a note of thanks and the resolve to care for the new trees.

(a) "The Internet is one of the greatest inventions of our age. Used wisely it brings the world to our fingertips; misused, it wastes time and harms the mind…" (b) "Last summer my family visited Murree, a beautiful hill station in the north. The cool air and green slopes refreshed us after the heat of the plains…" — then develop with details and a closing sentence.