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 us believe
that “small” means “insignificant”. We believe that small actions and
choices do not have much impact on our lives. We think that it is only the
big things, the big actions and the big decisions that really count. But when
you look at the lives of all great people, you will see that they built
their character through small decisions, small choices and small actions
that they performed every day. They transformed their lives through a
step-by-step or dayby- day approach. They nurtured and nourished their
good habits and chipped away at their bad habits, one step at a time. It
was their small day-to-day decisions that added up to make tremendous
difference in the long run. Indeed, in matters of personal growth and
character building, there is no such thing as an overnight success.
2. Growth always occurs
through a sequential series of stages. There is an organic process to
growth. When we look at children growing up, we can see this process at
work: the child first learns to crawl, then to stand and walk, and finally to
run. The same is true in the natural world. The soil must first be tilled,
and then the seed must be sowed. Next, it must be nurtured with enough
water and sunlight, and only then will it grow, bear fruit and finally
ripen and be ready to eat.
3. Gandhi understood
this organic process and used this universal law of nature to his benefit.
Gandhi grew in small ways, in his day-to-day affairs. He did not wake up
one day and find himself to be the “Mahatma”. In fact, there was nothing
much in his early life that showed signs of greatness. But from his
midtwenties onwards, he deliberately and consistently attempted to change
himself, reform himself and grow in some small way every day. Day by day,
hour by hour, he risked failure, experimented and learnt from mistakes. In
small and large situations alike, he took up rather than avoid
responsibility.
4. People have always
marvelled at the effortless way in which Gandhi could accomplish the most
difficult tasks. He displayed great deal of self-mastery and discipline
that was amazing. These things did not come easily to him. Years
of practice and disciplined training went into making his successes
possible. Very few saw his struggles, fears, doubts and anxieties, or his
inner efforts to overcome them. They saw the victory, but not the
struggle.
5. This is a common
factor in the lives of all great people: they exercised their freedoms and
choices in small ways that made great impact on their lives and their
environment. Each of their small decisions and actions, added up to have
a profound impact in the long run. By understanding this principle, we can
move forward, with confidence, in the direction of our dreams. Often when
our “ideal goal” looks too far from us, we become easily discouraged,
disheartened and pessimistic. However, when we choose to grow in small
ways, taking small steps one at a time, performing it becomes easy.
(I) On the basis of your
understanding of the passage, answer the following questions by choosing
the most appropriate option. (1×4 = 4 Marks)
1. The main idea in the
first paragraph is that
a. Big things, big
actions and big decisions make a person great
b. Small actions and
decisions are important in one’s life
c. Overnight success is
possible for all of us
d. Personal changes are
not important
2. What does the
writer mean by saying ‘chipped away at their bad habits’?
a. Steadily gave up bad
habits
b. Slowly produced bad
habits
c. Gradually criticized
bad habits
d. Did not like bad
habits
3. Which of the following
statements is true in the context of the third paragraph?
a. Gandhi became great
overnight
b. Gandhi showed signs
of greatness in childhood itself
c. Every day Gandhi made
efforts to change himself in some small way
d. Gandhi never made
mistakes
4. What is done by great
people to transform their lives?
a. They approach life on
a day-by-day basis
b. They build character
in small ways
c. They believe in
performing everyday
d. All of these
(II) Answer the
following questions as briefly as possible. (1×6 = 6 Marks)
5. How do small actions and choices impact our lives?
6. Describe organic process of growth through an example from the
text.
7. What according to the author is the ‘universal law of nature’?
8. How did Gandhi accomplish the most difficult tasks effortlessly?
9. Which things about Gandhi’s life were not seen by most people?
10. How can we achieve our ‘ideal goals’?
(III) Pick out words
from the passage which are similar in meaning to the following: 2
a. intentionally /
purposely (Paragraph 3)
b. of deep significance;
far-reaching (Paragraph 5)
Q2. Read the following
passage carefully. (10 Marks)
1. South India is known
for its music and for its arts and rich literature. Madras or Chennai can
be called the cultural capital and the soul of Mother India. The city is
built low in pleasant contrast to the ghoulish tall structures of Mumbai
and Kolkata. It has vast open spaces and ample greenery. The majestic
spacious Mount Road looks like a river, wide and deep. A stroll on the
Marina beach in the evening with the sea glistening in your face is
refreshing. The breeze soothes the body, it refreshes the mind, sharpens
the tongue and brightens the intellect.
2. One can never feel
dull in Chennai. The intellectual and cultural life of the city
is something of a marvel. Every street corner of Chennai has a literary
forum, a debating society and music, dance and dramatic club. The
intelligent arguments, the sparkling wit and dashing irony enliven both
the political and the literary meetings. There is a young men’s
association which attracts brilliant speakers and equally brilliant
listeners to its meetings. It is a treat to watch the speakers use their
oratorical weapons. Chennai speakers are by and large sweet and urbane,
though the cantankerous, fire-eating variety is quite often witnessed
in political campaigning. The more urbane speakers weave their arguments
slowly like the unfolding of a leisurely Karnataka raga.
3. Music concerts and
dance performances draw packed houses. There is hardly any cultural family
in Chennai that does not learn and patronize music and dance in its
pristine purity. Rukmani Devi Arundale’s ‘Kalakshetra’ is a
renowned international centre. It has turned out hundreds of celebrated
maestros and dancers who have brought name and glory to our country.
Karnataka music has a peculiar charm of its own. It has the moon’s soft
beauty and moon’s soft pace. Thousands of people flock to the temple
‘maidans’ to get drunk with the mellifluous melodies of their favorite
singers. They sit out all night in the grueling heat, swaying to the
rhythm of ‘nadaswaram’ and rollicking with the measured beats of
‘mridangam’. M.S Subbulakshmi is considered to be the nightingale of the
South.
4. The Gods might
descend from heaven to see a South Indian damsel dancing. There are
several varieties of South Indian dance – Bharat Natyam, Mohini Attam,
Odissi, Kathakali etc. age cannot wither nor custom stale its
beautiful variety. Bharat Natyam is the most graceful and enchanting dance
form whereas Kathakali is most masculine and virile. South Indian dances
combine voluptuousness with purity. Here every muscle and fibre of the
body vibrates into life, and as the tempo increases, a divine flame-like
passion bodies forth as if making an assault on heaven.
5. South Indian dress,
particularly of the males, is puritanically simple. There you cannot
distinguish a judge from an ‘ardali’ by their dress. South Indian ladies
too look charming and graceful in their colourful Kanjeevaram and Mysore
silk saris.
6. South Indian cuisine,
especially ‘dosa’, ‘idli’ and ‘vada’ are so delicious that now we can
enjoy them almost everywhere in India as well as in some
foreign countries. The Madras ‘idli’, which was a favourite of Gandhiji is
served with ‘sambhar’ and coconut ‘chutney’.
(I) On the basis of your
understanding of the passage, answer the following questions by choosing
the most appropriate option. (2 Marks)
1. South India is known
mainly for its
(a) tasty food
(b) traditional music,
art, literature
(c) scenic beauty
(d) delicate and precise
ways
2. South Indian dances
are special because
(a) Gods come from
heaven to see them
(b) there aren’t many
varieties of dance
(c) they are pure as
well as sensuous
(d) they make an assault
on heaven
(II) Answer the
following questions as briefly as possible. (1×6 = 6 Marks)
3. How does the breeze
on Marina Beach affect the author?
4. How do we know that
music is very important for the people of South India?
5. What is the common
connection between language, music and dance of South India?
6. What makes Karnataka
music charming?
7. Enumerate the
features of Bharat Natyam and Kathakali form of dance.
8. What is Kalakshetra
renowned for?
(III) Find words from
the passage which are similar in meaning to the following. 2
(a) ill-tempered and
quarrelsome (Paragraph 2)
(b) smooth and sweet
(Paragraph 3)
Q3. Read the following
passage carefully. (8 Marks)
Whether work should be
placed among the causes of happiness or among the causes of unhappiness
may perhaps be regarded as a doubtful question. There is certainly much
work which is exceedingly irksome, and an excess of work is always
very painful. However, work is not, to most people, more painful than
idleness. There are, in work, all grades; from more relief of tedium up to
the profoundest delights, according to the nature of the work and the
abilities of the worker. Most of the work that most people have to do is
not interesting in itself, but even that work has certain great
advantages. To begin with, it fills a good many hours of the day without the
need of deciding what one shall do. Most people, when they are left free
to fill their own time according to their own choice, are at a loss to
think of anything sufficiently pleasant to be worth doing. And whatever
they decide on, they are troubled by the feeling that something else would
have been more pleasant here. To be able to fill leisure intelligently is
the last product of civilization and at present very few people have
reached this level. Moreover the exercise of choice is tiresome in itself.
Except, to people with unusual initiative, it is positively agreeable to
be told what to do at each hour of the day, provided the orders are not
too unpleasant. Most of the idle rich suffer unspeakable boredom. At times
they may find relief by hunting big game in Africa or by flying around the
world, but the number of such sensations is limited, especially after
youth is past. Accordingly, the more intelligent rich men work nearly as hard
as if they were poor. Work, therefore is desirable, first and
foremost as a preventive of boredom, although uninteresting work is as
boring as having nothing to do. With this advantage of work, another
associated advantage is that it makes holidays much more delicious when they come.
Provided that a man does not have to work so hard as to impair his vigour, he
is likely to find far more zest than an idle man would possibly
find. The second advantage of most paid work and some of unpaid work is
that it gives chances of success and opportunities for ambition. In most
work, success is measured by income and while our capitalistic society
continues, this is inevitable. However dull work too, becomes bearable, if
it is a means of building up a reputation. Continuity of purpose is one of the
most essential ingredients of happiness and that comes chiefly through
work.
A. On the basis of your
reading of the above passage make notes on it, using headings and
sub – headings. Use recognizable abbreviations
(wherever necessary – minimum 4) and a format you consider
suitable. Also supply an appropriate title to it. (5 Marks)
B. Write a summary of
the passage in about 80 words. (3 Marks)
SECTION
B – ADVANCE WRITING SKILLS (30 Marks)
Q4. Your school is organizing a Public Awareness Exhibition. In
connection with it, prepare a poster to bring home the importance of
conservation of electricity. Your school is A.K. Public School, Green
Park, Delhi. (4 Marks)
Or
Namita/ Namit has come
out successful in the XII class examination. She/he has decided to have a
party for her/his friends. Draft an invitation in about 50 words giving
details of venue, time and date.
Q5. You are Amit/Amita staying at Sunrise Apartments, Gymkhana Road,
Pune. The main road leading to this colony has three open manholes causing
frequent accidents at night. The streetlight is also not available. Write
a letter to the Editor of “The Times of India” expressing your concern
about the apathy of the authorities towards this situation. Also suggest
ways to mobilize city dwellers, with the help of school children, for the
cause for safe roads. (6 Marks)
Or
You are Shreya/Shreyas.
Write an application in response to the following advertisement in a
national daily. You consider yourself suitable and eligible for this
post. Applications are invited for the post of a Nursery teacher/PRT in
Y.K. International School, Ghaziabad, UP. The candidate must have a
minimum experience of 3 years of teaching at the primary and pre-primary
level. The applicant must have a pleasant and energetic personality.
She/he should be creative and adaptable. Attractive salary. Interested
candidates should apply to the Principal with a detailed resume.
Q6. You are an active member of the Animals Lovers Club of your school
which works for preventing cruelty to animals. Write an article in 150
-200 words for your school magazine emphasising the need to co-exist
peacefully with animals. You are Zaheeda/Zahir of P. K. Senior Secondary
School, Hyderabad.
Or
Over the past few years
there has been a constant rise in coaching institutes and private tuition
centers all over India. Write an article in about 150-200
words highlighting the exploitation of young minds that seek sincere
counselling and proper direction. You are Gurpreet, a student of class XII
of Indira Public School, Jamshedpur. (10 Marks)
Q7. You are Suraj/Sandhya of Gargi Senior Secondary School Delhi.
Games and Sports should be made compulsory in schools. Write a speech for
morning assembly on the Importance of Games and Sports in
Personality Development in about 150 -200 words. (10
Marks)
Or
You have been asked to
participate in a debate competition on the topic “Community service once a
week should be introduced in all schools and should be graded”. Write
the speech in about 200 words either for or against the motion.
SECTION – C (TEXT BOOKS & NOVEL) 40 Marks
Q8. Read the lines given
below and answer the questions that follow. (4 Marks)
I looked again at her,
wan pale
as a late winter’s moon
and felt that old
familiar ache, my
childhood’s fear,
but all I said was, see
you soon, Amma
and all I did was smile
and smile and smile…….
(a) Who looked pale and
wan and why? (1 Mark)
(b) What was the
speaker’s familiar ache? (1 Mark)
(c) Explain “as a late
winter’s moon”. (1 Mark)
(d) Name the poem and
the poet. (1 Mark)
Or
Surely, Shakespeare is
wicked, the map a bad example,
With ships and sun and
love tempting them to steal –
For lives that slyly
turn in their cramped holes
From fog to endless
night.
(a) Why is Shakespeare
wicked? (1 Mark)
(b) Why is the map a bad
example? (1 Mark)
(c) What is the
condition of these children as described in these lines? (1 Mark)
(d) Explain “From fog to
endless night”. (1 Mark)
Q9. Answer any
four of the following questions in about 30-40 words
each: (4×3=12 Marks)
(a) How does M. Hamel
prove to be an ideal teacher?
(b) Why did Edla still
entertain the peddler even after she knew the truth about him?
(c) Mention the hazards
of working in a bangle factory.
(d) Why does Dr. Sadao
mutter the words “My friend” while treating the American prisoner of war? What
is ironical about his words?
(e) What did Jo want
Roger Skunk’s mother to be punished for?
(f) Why did Zitala-Sa
not want her hair to be cut short?
Q.10. Answer the
following in about 120 – 150 words (6 marks)
Though Rajkumar Shukla
was an illiterate peasant; he was resolute and was able to bring a change
in the lives of the people of Champaran. Taking hints from the text, write
an article on the topic, “Grit and Determination can take you a long way”.
Or
A big boy pushed Douglas
into the deep end of the swimming pool which could have led to his death.
Concerns regarding bullying and ragging persists in many teenage groups.
Quoting examples from the text, discuss the problem of bullying and
its effects on the victims. Also suggest ways to deal with this problem.
Q11. Answer any one
of the following in about 120 – 150 words (6 marks)
(a) Do you think Sophie
is overambitious and Jansie is more practical? Discuss.
(b) How is Derry’s and
Mr. Lamb’s behavior and attitude different towards people because of their
physical impairment?
Q12. Answer any one
of the following in about 120 – 150 words (6 marks)
(a) How does the author
bring in natural elements into the novel “Silas Marner”
(b) Illustrate is the
ending of the novel “The Invisible Man” happy and just? What is
your reaction when Griffin gets killed and Marvel gets to keep all the
stolen money? Are you glad that the invisibility formula is hidden from Kemp,
who could use it?
Q13. Answer any one
of the following in about 120 – 150 words (6 marks)
(a) Eppie is a character
who remains highly predictable in her reactions. Prove this with reference
to her character traits.
(b) Why did Kemp turn
out differently than Griffin? After all they are both scientists. Is Kemp
less isolated than Griffin? Is it simply because Kemp has more money?
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