Sample Question Paper
ENGLISH CORE
Class-XII
Time allowed: 3
Hrs. M.M.100
General Instructions:
1. This paper is divided into four Section A, B,
C and D. All the sections are compulsory.
2. Separate instructions are given with each
section and questions, wherever necessary. Read these instructions very
carefully and follow them faithfully.
3. Do not exceed the prescribed word limit while
answering the questions.
Section A: (Reading) 30 Marks
1. Read the passage
given below and answer the questions that follow: 12 Marks
1. Many of the
underdeveloped countries will promote the growth of their economies in one way
or the other, no matter whether they receive substantial outside aid in the
process or not. The character of that development, however, is likely to be
strongly influenced by the types of and amounts of aid available. The outcome
is much more likely to be favourable, from the' standpoint of the objectives
for successful development set up previously, if there is substantial
international aid than if there is not.
2. By substantial aid I
mean not only large amounts of technical assistance but also of capital.
Initially, the capacity of an underdeveloped country to use capital
productively may be surprisingly small, limited by lack of organisation,
trained personnel, and other social obstacles. At this stage technical
assistance is the main need from outside, with comparatively small amounts of
capital, much of which may have to be in the form of grants for
non-self-liquidating projects, in education, health, access to roads to rural
areas, and the like, if, at this stage, substantial capital is available from
outside to supplement what can be formed internally (and to simulate internal
capital formation, for it does that too) the rate of economic growth can be
consistently increased, and the strains and frustrations and political risks of
the development are likely to be considerably less.
3. It is possible for
underdeveloped economies to modernise themselves with very little capital from
outside. Japan imports of capital were small though some of it came at crucial
times. The contribution of foreign direct investments to the advancement of
technical know-how, also was greater than would be indicated merely by the size
of the investment. The Soviet Union industrialised its economy with practically
no aid from foreign investment capital except for the foreign owned
installations confiscated after the revolution, though it imported machinery in
the early days on short term or immediate term credits and hired services of
foreign experts.
4. Both Japan and Russia
achieved their development in an authoritarian political and social framework.
The outcome in both cases form standpoint of the peace of the world and
democratic ideals, was highly unfavourable.
5. In the absence of
outside aid, the only way to accumulate capital, is to increase production
without taking much of the benefit in more consumption or even while pushing consumption
standards down. Where the people are already near the subsistence level this
may mean extreme hardship. Somehow the people must be motivated to change their
accustomed ways quickly, to work hard, and to forgo present consumption so that
capital investment can be made.
A. Choose the most
appropriate option: 1 x 3 = 3
(a) The passage says
that
(i) without foreign aid
no underdeveloped country can grow.
(ii) underdeveloped
country must refrain from taking foreign aid.
(iii) the economies of
the underdeveloped countries are more likely to grow faster with substantial
foreign aid than without.
(iv) underdeveloped
countries are economically backward because their governments have not got
their priorities right.
(b) Substantial aid in
this context means
(i) technical assistance
in the form of trained personnel.
(ii) capital, in the
form of bank loans and overdrafts.
(iii) large amounts of
technical assistance and capital.
(iv) a cheap and
plentiful supply of labour.
(c) Which of the
following points or statements did the writer actually make?
(i) Japan and Russia
achieved their development in a democratic framework.
(ii) Japan and Russia
achieved their development in an authoritarian political and social framework.
(iii) Japan and Russia
would have developed faster if they had relied on democratic methods.
(iv) Japan and Russia
are still among the underdeveloped countries of the world.
B. Answer the following
questions briefly: 1 x 6 = 6
(a) How does the
availability of substantial capital help?
(b) How can a nation
accumulate capital if it does not get outside aid?
(c) How did Japan and
Russia become developed?
(d) What problems does
an underdeveloped country face?
(e) What should an
underdeveloped nation do to minimize risk?
(f) What was the
contribution of FDI in case of Japan?
C. Find words in the
passage similar in meaning as: 1 x 3 = 3
(a) substantial (Para 2)
(b) aid
(Para 2)
(c) gradually increase
in number or quantity (Para 5)
B. Read the poem given
below and answer the questions that follow: 10 Marks
To her fair works did
Nature link
The human soul that
through me ran;
And much it grieved my
heart to think
What man has made of
man.
Through primrose tufts,
in that green bower,
The periwinkle trailed
its wreaths;
And ’tis my faith that
every flower
Enjoys the air it
breathes.
The birds around me
hopped and played,
Their thoughts I cannot
measure:—
But the least motion
which they made
It seemed a thrill of
pleasure.
The budding twigs spread
out their fan,
To Catch the breezy air;
And I must think, do all
I can,
That there was pleasure
there.
If this belief from
heaven be sent,
If such be Nature’s holy
plan,
Have I not reason to
lament
What man has made of
man?
-- William Wordsworth
A. choose the most
appropriate option: 1x3 = 3
1. How does the poet
feel after seeing nature?
(i) happy
(ii) sad
(iii) mixed
feeling
(iv) philosophical
2. Which of the
following is correct as per the poem?
(i) pleasure is
everywhere
(ii) pleasure is everywhere
except in poet’s mind
(iii) humans do not
enjoy nature
(iv) humans enjoy nature
3. Why does the poet
seem to be sad?
(i) man is killing
man
(ii) man is not enjoying
nature
(iii) man has become
selfish
(iv) man is killing
nature
B. Answer the following
questions briefly: 1x5 = 5
(a) Where did the poet
hear the melodious music?
(b) Why did the poet
feel sad?
(c) What does the poet
justify in the last two lines of the first stanza?
(d) How did the birds
behave?
(e) What does the poet
think about Nature’s plan?
C. Find words in the
passage similar in meaning as: 1x2 = 2
(a)
regret
(b) jumped
Q2. Read the following
passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:
1. In a very short
period of time the internet has had a profound impact on the way we live.
Since the Internet was made operational in 1983, it has lowered both the costs
of communication and the barriers to creative expression. lt has challenged old
business models and enabled new ones. lt has provided access to information on
a scale never before achievable. lt succeeded because we designed it to be
flexible and open. These two features have allowed it to accommodate innovation
without massive changes to its infrastructure. An open, border less and
standardized platform means that barriers to entry are low competition is high,
interoperability is assured and innovation is rapid.
2. The beauty of an open
platform is that there are no gatekeepers. For centuries, access to and
creation of information was controlled by the few. The internet has changed
that and is rapidly becoming the platform for everyone, by everyone. Of course,
it still has a way to go. Today there are only about 2.3 billion internet
users, representing roughly 30% of the world's population. Much of the
information that they can access online is in English, but this is changing
rapidly.
3. The technological
progress of the internet has also set social change in motion. As with
other enabling inventions before it, from the telegraph to television, some
will worry about the effects of broader access to information -- the printing
press and the rise in literacy that it effected were, after all, long seen as
destabilising. Similar concerns about the internet are occasionally raised, but
if we take a long view, I’m confident that its benefits far outweigh the
discomforts of learning to integrate it into our lives. The internet and the
world wide web are what they are because literally millions of people have made
it so. It is a grand collaboration.
4. It would be foolish
not to acknowledge that the openness of the internet has had a price. Security
is an increasingly important issue and cannot be ignored. lf there is an area
of vital research and development for the internet, this is one of them. I am
increasingly confident, however, that techniques and practices exist to make
the internet safer and more secure while retaining its essentially open
quality.
5. After working on the
internet and its predecessors for over four decades, l'm more optimistic
about its promise than l have ever been. We are all free to innovate on the net
every day. The internet is a tool of the people, built by the people for the
people and it must stay that way.
(a) On the basis of your reading of the above
passage make notes
on it using recognizable abbreviations (minimum
four) wherever necessary.
Use a format you consider appropriate. Supply a
suitable title. (5 marks)
(b) Write a summary of the passage in about 80 words. (3 marks)
Section B: (Advanced Writing Skills)
30
Q3. Godrej Home Appliances, Ghaziabad requires a receptionist
for its newly constructed office in New Delhi. Draft a suitable advertisement
to be published in the Situation Vacant column of a national daily giving
necessary details. 4
OR
You are Sonal Ragini of
12-A, R.K. Puram, New Delhi. You have been invited by the principal of St. Joseph
Public School, Lajpat Nagar, New Delhi to act as one of the judges at a debate
Contest to be held on 29th Sep. 2014. But you are unable to
accept this invitation due to a previous engagement. Write an informal reply to
the Principal expressing your inability to accept the
invitation. 4
Q4. You are Prateek/ Pratiksha staying at 34-C, Modi Nagar, Ghaziabad.
Last month, you bought a Telephone Answering System with Facsimile from the
Royal Electronics, 56-N, Palika Bazar, New Delhi against a warranty of two
years. Now you discover that there is something wrong with the answering
machine. It does not record the caller’s message. Write a letter to the dealer
complaining about the problem. Also request him to replace it, if needed,
against the warranty that goes with it. 6
OR
You are Anita/ Arpan.
Librarian of Three Dots Public School, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi. Write a letter
to the Sales Manager of P.C.Publishers, Lajpat Nagar, New Delhi placing an
order for the books that you wish to purchase for your school library.
6
Q5. Mobile phones have become a necessity and are seen in the
hands of young and old alike. Write an article highlighting the crucial role of
mobile phones by way of communication and in promoting business and economy.
Also point out the difficulties and dangers in using mobile phones while
driving. You are Abhinav/ Alisha. 10
OR
Indian culture has
traditionally sustained a joint family system in which the old have always had
a very respectable place. There has been an erosion of these values in these times.
Write an article in about 150-200 words on the need for the young to take care
of their old instead of sending them to the old age homes.
10
Q6. You are Kiran/ Kailash. You have been selected to represent your
school in an All India School Debate Competition organized by the Lions Club,
New Delhi. The topic for the debate is: Education is the only remedy
for decreasing the crime rate amongst the educated folk.’ Write a speech in
not more than 200 words for or against the motion, giving arguments for your
stand. 10
OR
You are a student
volunteer of National Literacy Mission (NLM) Wing of your school involved in
the Adult Literacy Campaign ‘Each One Teach One’. Write out the
introductory talk you plan to give at each place you visit. (Word limit: 200
words) 10
Section C: (Text-Books) 40
Q7. Read the extract
given below and answer the questions that follow: 3
What I want should not
be confused
with total inactivity.
Life is what it is
about;
I want no truck with
death.
Questions:
1. What is it that
should not be confused with total inactivity? 1
2. What is the life
about? 2
OR
A thing of beauty is a
joy forever
Its loveliness
increases, it will never
Pass into nothingness;
but will keep
A bower quiet for us,
and a sleep
Full of sweet dreams,
and health, and quiet breathing.
Questions:
1. What can a beautiful
thing do for the human beings? 1
2. Explain: "It
will never pass into nothingness". 2
Q8. Answer any
four of the following in about 30-40 words each: 3x4 = 12
a. What kind of
host was the old crofter?
b. Why was Gandhiji
impressed with Rajkumar Shukla’s tenacity and determination?
c. Why does the
poet want us to keep quiet?
d. What does Jack
actually want Jo to know and understand in the story?
e. What had the
astrologers predicted about the tiger king?
Q9. Answer any
one of the following in about 125-150 words each: 6
a. Bring out the contrast in the ironmaster’s attitude and
behavior towards the stranger before and after he realizes his mistake.
b. Why does Jo want that the Wizard should hit the mommy? Does
her stand reflect a child’s perspective on life? What is your choice?
Q10. Answer any
one of the following in about 125-150 words each: 6
a. “All we have to fear is fear itself.” How do these words of
Roosevelt apply to the narrator of the lesson ‘Deep
Water’?
b. Generally persons suffering from a physical impairment feel
a sense of alienation and withdraw themselves from the world. What is the kind
of behaviour that the person expects from
others?
Q11. What did the common people of Iping think about the visitor?
Describe Mr. Cuss’s encounter with the
visitor. 6
OR
Describe the meeting
between Marvel and the Invisible Man. 6
Q12. Give a brief character sketch of Mr. Griffin. 6
OR
Discuss the character of
Dr. Kemp as a friend and as a citizen. 6
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