Students must start practicing the questions from CBSE Sample Papers for Class 12 English with Solutions Set 9 are designed as per the revised syllabus.
CBSE Sample Papers for Class 12 English Set 9 with Solutions
Time : 3 Hours
Maximum Marks : 80
General Instructions:
1. The Question Paper contains THREE section-READING, WRITING and LITERATURE.
2. Attempt questions based on specific instructions for each part.
Section – A
Reading Skills [22 Marks]
Reading Comprehension Through unseen Passages.
Question 1.
Read the following text. (12 Marks)
1. An urgent problem is now threatening libraries throughout the world. Their collections, which are crucial for diverse purposes as economic development, educational research and recreational pursuits are in danger of disintegration.
2. The problem is mainly due to one cause-the type of paper on which books have been printed for the past one and a half centuries. Until the 1850s, paper was produced from linen or cotton rags and proved to be relatively long-lasting. In the mid-19th century, however, the popular demand for paper and the commercial need for an economic method of production led to the use of mechanically ground wood pulp. Paper manufactured from wood pulp is highly acidic and therefore, inherently unstable. It contains lignin which causes paper to discolour and disintegrate.
3. Programmes are now being developed with two main aims in mind: on one hand, to improve the physical condition of library collections, especially by the process called ‘mass deacidification’ (to eliminate acid from the paper of published books and insert a buffer compound that will provide protection against future) and on the other, to transfer the contents of existing books to another medium.
4. Libraries will only be able to carry out these special tasks with the assistance of experts such as book conservators and high technology specialists. But, there is another group whose cooperation will be crucial, if the problem of decaying collections is to be arrested: the printing and publishing industries. The existing problem that of book collections already assembled in libraries is of vast proportions.
It is intensified by the continuing use of acid-based paper in book publishing. The key issue is, how to preserve the books of the future, not simply those of the past.
5. If the future dimensions of the conservation problem are to be curbed, there will be a necessity of widespread adoption of paper which is of archival quality.
6. This change does not relate to a narrowly perceived need because the long-term preservation of library collections is important both for the overall social benefits they bring as well as for the special advantages they bestow on the printing and publishing industries.
7. In the first place, libraries are of critical importance to the well-being of citizens, since they provide the knowledge base of society. They contain the record of humanity, the accumulation of ideas and insights and discoveries on which social effort and progress are possible. The destruction of libraries would represent an immense cultural loss, a form of amnesia, which would affect every member of society.
Answer following questions,based on the passage above.
(i) Comment on the importance of libraries referred to in the paragraph one. Answer in about 40 words. (2)
Answer:
Libraries are important because they act as a knowledge base of the society and guides people in
diverse situations including economic development and educational research.
(ii) The writer would agree with the given statements based on Paragraph 2 EXCEPT (1)
(a) the paper produced from wood pulp is not everlasting.
(b) the paper produced from wood pulp is acidic in nature.
(c) the paper produced from wood pulp is still being produced.
(d) the paper produced from wood pulp is prone to discolouring.
Answer:
(c) The paper produced from wood pulp is still being produced.
(iii) List the two ways in which a book by Robert Frost could be saved from deterioration and loss. Answer in about 40 words. (2)
Answer:
The two ways in which a book by Robert Frost could be saved from deterioration are
(a) Eliminating acid from the paper of the book and inserting a buffer compound that will provide further protection.
(b) Transferring the contents of existing book to another medium.
(iv) Complete the given sentence with an appropriate inference, with respect to the following:
The writer fond the printing and publishing industries to be crucial to cause of protecting libraries in order to ……………….. . (1)
Answer:
highlight that they need to use paper of archival quality so that books do not disintegrate in libraries and the knowledge base of our society sustains
(v) Select the option that conveys the opposite of ‘complicate’, from words used in Paragraph 4. (1)
(a) assembled
(b) arrested
(c) proportions
(d) intensified
Answer:
(b) arrested
(vi) Why did the need to produce mechanically ground wood pulp arise during the mid-nineteenth century? (1)
Answer:
There was a need to produce mechanically ground wood pulp during the mid-nineteenth century due to the growing demand for paper and the commercial need for an economic method of production of paper.
(vii) How can libraries save their collections? (1)
(a) Storing them in air-conditioned rooms
(b) Laminating the pages
(c) Creating a dust-free atmosphere in their premises
(d) Widespread adoption of paper of archival quality
Answer:
(d) Widespread adoption of paper of archival quality
(viii) According to the passage, linen or cotton rags were used as paper until the 1850’s. Based on your understanding of the passage, state whether you promote going to back to using them as paper. Give reason for your answer. Answer in about 40 words. (2)
Answer:
The use of linen or cotton rags can be suggested considering they were long-lasting. However, even they will disintegrate over long periods of time. Hence, I do not suggest going back to using them. I would prefer if we find other sustainable alternative for paper.
(ix) How can the tone of the passage be best described? (1)
(a) Informed concern
(b) Destructive criticism
(c) Derisive ridicule
(d) Helpless alarm
Answer:
(a) Informed concern
Question 2.
Read the following text. (10 Marks)
1. Graduates in India feel let down by the education system’s failure to equip them with the skills needed to become a success at work. A recent study from Hindustan Times drew conclusions about the state of the Indian Education System and its effect on employability and career success amongst recent graduates, with the youth feeling that their education did not significantly contribute to them landing their first jobs.
2. Young people are feeling out of their depth during the first few years of employment, crediting a deficit of industry links, lack of practical experience and inadequate career counselling at universities for the shortcomings in employability following graduation.
3. Aimed at assessing the efficacy of India’s education system, the survey connected with 1,680 young professionals, men and women aged between 21 and 27. Those surveyed have been employed for three years or less, pursuing new-age careers – digital entertainment, advertising and media, retail, e-commerce, social media and start-ups – in the six base metro areas: Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai.
4. Only 26 percent of those surveyed felt their education contributed highly to their interpersonal management skills – a key trait needed for interviews and employment. A problem with the relevance and timeliness of university curricula was also highlighted with respondents saying their college and university syllabus are not updated regularly.
5. An overwhelming majority of graduates felt that they lacked the necessary practical experience and blamed the deficiency on inadequate industry-academia linkages. A historical focus on rote learning still prevalent in much of India’s educational system can lead to graduates attaining good grades but failing to pick up the skills needed for innovation or out-of-the-box thinking that is so vital in today’s workplace. Where some may lack in skills, however, they make up for in character with 26 percent feeling they secured jobs through the sheer power of their personalities.
6. A case was also made for self-development and taking it upon oneself to bridge the gap inadequate education has left, with 24 percent of respondents believing personal initiatives to improve their skills paid off when it came to landing a job.
7. Despite the negative outcome of the survey, founder of global learning company XSEED Ashish Rajpal told Hindustan Times the future isn’t all bleak if the system can be overhauled at primary school level. By encouraging children at a young age to engage with the world around them, they learn more practical real world experience and bolster their communication skills and confidence to boot.
Answer the following questions, based on given passage.
(i) State True of False. (1)
According to youth, educational institutes need to update and revise their curriculum to meet the needs of the present.
Answer:
True
(ii) Do you think the researchers of the study aimed to highlight the changes required in the Indian Education System by pointing out the problems youth face in getting jobs? Answer in about 40 words. (2)
Answer:
Yes, I believe that the researchers of the study aimed to highlight the changes required in the Indian Education System. By pointing out the problems youth face in getting jobs, the study guides the education system about the aspects which needs to be modified and updated.
(iii) Select the option that displays one of the skills relevant to the present day employment. (1)
(a) Innovation
(b) Communication
(c) Collaboration
(d) All of these
Answer:
(d) All of these
(iv) Complete the sentence based on the following statement. (1)
According to the passage, professional education should be introduced at ………………. .
Answer:
primary level
(v) In which state education plays an important role in employability? (1)
(a) Mumbai
(b) Kolkata
(c) Delhi
(d) Bengaluru
Answer:
(c) Delhi
(vi) What do Indian youngsters find about the education system? (1)
(a) Provides wholesome factual knowledge
(b) Does not have any role in employability
(c) Does not promote professional skills
(d) The best system in the world
Answer:
(c) does not promote professional skills
(vii) Self development was also promoted to bridge the gap inadequate education has left. Give a reason for such a claim. (1)
Answer:
Self-development was also promoted to bridge the gap that inadequate education has left because many respondents in the survey found that personal initiatives to improve their skills paid off when it came to getting a job.
(viii) Based on the reading of the text, state a point to challenge the given statement. Answer in about 40 words. (2)
By focusing on industry links, practical experience and career counselling, individuals will be wasting their resources and fall back in their studies.
Answer:
The given statement is incorrect because while theoretical knowledge gained in studies is important, without industry links, practical experience and proper guidance, they become ineffective. By focusing on industry links, practical experience and career counselling, individuals will not be wasting their resources but will be preparing themselves for the future.
Section – B
Creative Writing Skills [18 Marks]
Note: All details presented in the questions are imaginary and created for assessment purpose.
Question 3.
Attempt ANY ONE of two, in about 50 words. (4)
A. You are Tanisha, the School Captain of Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya, Delhi. You wish to call a meeting of the students’ council to discuss the measures to be taken to check the bursting of crackers in the school premises during Diwali time. Draft a notice inventing details.
OR
B. You are Ravi/Rachna, President of the Cultural Forum of your Vidya Sheel School. Your school is hosting an inter-school dance competition on the occasion of its Silver Jubilee celebration. Write a notice informing the students of your school about the same.
Answer:
A.
Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya, Delhi 15th October, 20XX Strict No to Crackers All the members of the student council are requested to attend the meeting to discuss the measures taken to check the bursting of crackers in the school premises during Diwali time, The details for the meeting are as follows: |
OR
B.
Vidya Sheel School 12th April 20XX Inter-School Dance Competiton All the students are hereby informed that an inter-school dance competition is going to be held cri the 22nd of March in our school auditorium to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of the school. More than 5 schools from our district will be participating in this dance competition. Students who are interested to participate are requested to submit their names to their respective class teachers by the 20th March. |
Question 4.
Attempt ANY ONE of two, in about 50 words. (4)
A. M/s Shyam Lai & Sons are opening a new branch of their grocery store ‘Galaxy Novelties’ in Geetanjali Enclave, Dwarka, Delhi. The inauguration ceremony is fixed for Sunday, the 19th of October, 20XX at 11:00 a.m. Prepare a draft of formal invitation letter for the purpose.
OR
B. You are opening an exclusive parlour for ladies. Write an informal invitation, inviting your best friend for its inauguration.
Answer:
A.
M/S Shyam Lal & Sons RSVP |
OR
B.
23, Mall Road Nainital 5th June, 20XX Dear Josephine It is my utmost pleasure to inform you my, dream of opening an exclusive parlour for ladies has come true! Well, I have named it SNIP and do you know who’s coming for the inauguration? Deepika herself!The inauguration is on Saturday, 18th June, at 6:00 p.m. at Cafe Great Day waiting for presence. Yours affectionately Manya |
Question 5.
Attempt ANY ONE of two, in about 120-150 words. (5)
A. As the resident of 16 Shivpuri, Modinagar, write a letter to the Editor of a local daily regarding the long power cuts that your colony has to face every day and the resultant problems being faced by the residents. You can use the following clues.
Clues
• Long power cuts
• Disrupts working hours (manpower)
• Electrical appliances cannot be used
• Disrupts study hours
• Suffering due to heat and humidity
• Harmful for health (heat stroke)
OR
B. Draft an application for the post of an accountant in Pioneers (Pvt.) Ltd. Co., Hyderabad in response to their advertisement given below. Prepare a resume to be enclosed. You are Nipun/Aparna.
Answer:
A.
16, Shivpuri
Modinagar – 201204
18th June, 20XX
The Editor
Amar Ujala
Meerut
Subject : Problems due to long power cuts in Shivpuri, Modinagar
Sir/Ma’am
Through the columns of your esteemed newspaper, I wish to highlight the problems faced by residents of Shivpuri locality in Modinagar due to long power cuts.
Long power cuts disrupt the working hours as the manpower remains idle, with the machines and ] electrical appliances not working. These cuts also disrupt the studies of students especially if the power cut occurs after 7 p.m. Further, everybody suffers due to the heat and high humidity during the summer season when these cuts are frequent. They can be harmful for health also, as people can get a heat stroke if they do not take care and remain in a hot environment for long.
The Uttar Pradesh Vidyut Nigam should find out the reasons for these power cuts and resolve them urgently so that the residents do not suffer any further.
Thanking you
Yours sincerely
Manish Rastogi
0R
B. 7G Sonia Apartment
MG Road,
Hyderabad
24th February, 20XX
The Manager,
Pioneers (Pvt.) Ltd. Co.
Hyderabad
Subject : Application for the Post of Accountant
Sir/Ma’am
With reference to your advertisement for the post of accountant in The Times of India’ dated 23rd,February, 2010. I wish to apply for the same. I am a very energetic person with excellent communication skills. I am ready to face any target set by your esteemed company. I hold an M.Com degree from the University of Delhi and a Diploma in Cost Accountancy from Indira Gandhi Open University, New Delhi. I have also done computer courses like Basic Tally – 9 as well as programming languages like C, C++ from NIIT, Matunga. I have 2 year expnence as an Assistant Accountant in a company called M/s Mahim.
My resume is enclosed here with for your reference. I shall be much thankful to you, if you grant me an interview call at you convenient time. I am looking forward to join your esteemed company as early as possible.
Thanking You
Yours faithfully
XYZ
Enel: Resume
Resume
Name : XYZ
Father’s Name : Mr, Ravi
Date of Birth : 29th July, 19XX
Address : 7G, Sonia Apartments. MG Road, Hyderabad
Email id : [email protected]
Nationality : Indian
Educational Qualification
Name of Exam | College/Board/University | Year | Percentage |
Diploma in Cost Accountancy | IGNOU | 2017 | 65% |
M.Com. | Delhi University | 2016 | 73% |
B.Com. | Delhi University | 2014 | 75% |
Additional Skills : Basic, Tally – 9, C, C+ +
Hobbies : Music, Net Surfing, Photography, Sports
Languages Known : Hindi, English
Experience : Currently working as an Accountant at M/s Mahim
References : Mr. Ashok Kumar, Head Accountant, M/s Mahim
Question 6.
Attempt ANY ONE of two, in about 120 – 150 words. (5)
A. Last week on your way to school, you witnessed an incident of chain snatching near your school. A couple of senior students of your school chased the snatcher, caught him and handed him over to the police. Write a report on this daring act in 120-150 words for your school magazine. You are Amar/Amrita.
Clues
Incident of chain snatching….man on motorbike….lady walking with her daughter….raised an alarm…. Senior students chased the snatcher….Beat him up….Phoned the police thief was a well-known criminal…thanked the boys…appreciation.. .honour with certificates.
OR
B. Teenagers today are getting hooked on to the latest gadgets. Write an article on ‘The Advantages of Technology and its Adverse Effects’. You are Somya/Saurav Taneja. You can use the following clues.
Clues
• Gadgets : Mobiles, iPods, computers
• Greater affluence : Easy availability
• Improved communication : Easy connectivity, faster information exchange, global vision.
• Impact on health : Sedentary lifestyle, obesity, eating habits
• Impact on academic performance
• Social impact
Answer:
A. Bravery Knows No Age
by Amar
Lucknow, 10th August, 20XX
Last week on my way to school I witnessed an incident of chain snatching near the school gate.
A young man on a motorbike robbed a woman of her gold chain while she was walking with her daughter around 7:45 AM to drop her to school. The woman immediately raised an alarm by screaming very loudly. This caught the attention of some senior students of the school. These brave students of Class XII chased the snatcher, caught hold of him and beat him till he fell unconscious. Meanwhile the woman had phoned the police.
Soon two policemen in a patrol car arrived and handcuffed the thief. After taking a photo with the gold chain in the thief’s hand, they handed back the chain to the lady and took down her details so that she could be called for giving evidence. They informed the lady that this thief was a well-known criminal and had recently escaped from the local jail. They also thanked the boys who had helped them catch the criminal.
The daring act of these five boys won the appreciation of the police, our principal and teachers who applauded their act of courage. Our school authorities have decided to honour them with certificates in appreciation of their brave act.
B. The Advantages of Technology and Its Adverse Effects
by Saurav Taneja
Technology is developing very fast and it is no doubt that teenagers are already hooked to the innumerable gadgets and social media platforms. The latest smartphones, iPods and various forms of computers are the latest craze that affluence had brought in. And why not? There are many advantages that makes technology a fad. They have improved our communication so much that instant messaging is the ‘hot’ item much in use. We have easy connectivity with the rest of the world, we can exchange information faster and we also have a global vision. All these advantages of technology have improved our lives and made it more interesting.
However, technology also has adverse effects on our lives. As we are forced to spend more time on our gadgets, we start leading a sedentary lifestyle and neglecting outdoor sports and games. This leads to obesity, as our eating habits change to more consumption of snacks which mostly contains fat. This also impacts the academic performance of students, as they spend less time on studies. Further, people have stopped paying social visits to friends and relatives as now nobody has the time to talk to each other because of being busy with their gadgets.
Thus, it is time that we balance our time between our gadgets and other aspects of our lives so that we can benefit from the advantages of technology without suffering from its disadvantages.
Section – C
Literature Textbook and Supplementary Reading Text [40 Marks]
Question 7.
Read the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of the two, given. (6)
A.
Aunt Jennifer’s tigers prance across a screen.
Bright topaz denizens of a world of green.
They do not fear the men beneath the tree;
They pace in sleek chivalric certainty.
Aunt Jennifer’s fingers fluttering through her wool
Find even the ivory needle hard to pull.
The massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band
Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer’s hand. (Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers)
(i) What is the tone of the poet in the given lines? (1)
(a) Wondrous
(b) Sympathetic
(c) Sarcastic and tolerant
(d) None of these
Answer:
(b) Sympathetic
(ii) Identify the phrase from the extract that suggests the following (1)
The tigers are fearless, graceful and beautiful.
Answer:
The phrase which indicates that the tigers are fearless, graceful and beautiful is ‘sleek chivalric certainty’.
(iii) What quality of Aunt Jennifer can be inferred from the given lines? (1)
(a) Meek
(b) Artistic
(c) Old
(d) Both (a) and (b)
Answer:
(d) Both (a) and (b)
(iv) State whether the given statement is True of False, with reference to the extract. (1)
Aunt Jennifer’s fingers are shaking because of her old age.
Answer:
False
(v) What do Aunt Jennifer’s tigers not fear? (1)
Answer:
Aunt Jennifer’s tigers are not fearful of the men beneath the tree.
(vi) Fill in the blank with an appropriate word, with reference to the extract.’..Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer’s hand’ implies that Aunt Jennifer …………… .
Answer:
was oppressed in her marriage
OR
B.
Yes, in spite of all,
Some shape of beauty moves away the pall
From our dark spirits. Such the Sun, the Moon,
Trees old and young, sprouting a shady boon
For simple sheep; and such are daffodils.
With the green world they live in; and clear rills
That for themselves a cooling covert make
Gainst the hot season; the mid forest brake, (A Thing of Beauty)
(i) Choose the option that displays the same poetic device as used in ‘Some shape of beauty’. (1)
(a) What tale of terror, now, their turbulency tells!
(b) They can only shriek, shriek.
(c) Does it dry up like a raisin in the Sun?
(d) Mine is a long and a sad tale!
Answer:
(a) What tale of terror, now, their turbulency tells!
(ii) What does ‘all’ in line one refer to? (1)
Answer:
‘All’ in line one refers to things of beauty.
(iii) Why are our spirits dark? (1)
(a) Because of night
(b) Because of suffering
(c) Because of disappointments
(d) Both (b) and (c)
Answer:
(d) Both (b) and (c)
(iv) Complete the sentence with ONE word. (1)
When the poet says that “Some shape of beauty moves away the pall away from our dark spirits”, he refers to ………………. power of nature.
Answer:
healing
(v) State whether the given statement is True or False. (1)
Beauty can be found in all aspects of nature.
Answer:
True
(vi) Give an apt title for the above extract. (1)
Answer:
‘Life Full of Beauty and Hope’ is an apt title for the given extract.
Question 8.
Read the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of the two, given (4)
A. MR. LAMB: Like a bomb only blew up my leg. There’s worse things can happen. You can burn yourself away inside.
DERRY: After I’d come home, one person said, “He’d have been better off stopping in there. In the hospital. He’d be better off with others like himself.” She thinks blind people only ought to be with other blind people and idiot boys with idiot boys.
MR. LAMB: And people with no legs altogether?
DERRY: That’s right.
MR. LAMB: What kind of a world would that be? (On the Face of It)
(i) What do the given lines tell about the relationship between Mr. Lamb and Derry? (1)
Answer:
The given lines tell us that Mr. Lamb and Derry had become friends of sorts united by the fact that they both were suffering from a physical impairment.
(ii) Select the option that best describes the stranger’s belief regarding people like Derry? (1)
(a) That no one would love him and he would be alone forever.
(b) That he would not live for long and so should stay at home.
(c) That there should be a place where all people like him could stay together.
(d) That he should stop being a burden.
Answer:
(c) That there should be a place where all people like him could stay together.
(iii) The attitude shown by ‘she’ in the extract is ……………… . (1)
Answer:
discriminatory
(iv) What does ‘you can burn yourself away inside’ mean? (1)
Answer:
The given phrase indicates that negative mindset of an individual does much more damage to a person than the physical injuries.
OR
B. The Maharaja’s anxiety reached a fever pitch when there remained just one tiger to achieve his tally of a hundred. He had this one thought during the day and the same dream at night. By this time the tiger farms had run dry even in his father-in-law’s kingdom. It became impossible to locate tigers anywhere. Yet only one more was needed. If he could kill just that one single beast, the Maharaja would have no fears left. He could give up tiger hunting altogether. (The Tiger King)
(i) Complete the sentence appropriately, with reference to the extract. (1)
The writer refers to the dreams of the Tiger King to highlight ……………….. .
Answer:
the intensity of the king’s determination to kill 100 tigers .
(ii) What does NOT lead to a ‘fever pitch’? (1)
Answer:
Going for a visit to the museum does not lead to a ’fever pitch’.
(iii) Select the most suitable title for the given extract. (1)
(a) Maharaja’s Determination
(b) On the Way of Killing a Hundred Tigers
(c) The Selfish King
(d) Killing Other Creatures
Answer:
(a) Maharaja’s Determination
(iv) ‘By this time the tiger farms had run dry even in his father-in-law’s kingdom.’ What does this line tell us about the Maharaja? (1)
Answer:
The given line tells us the speed with which the Tiger King was killing tiger to disprove the astrologer’s prophesy that he would be killed by the 100th tiger. This also shows that the Maharaja was a relentless, insensitive person who could kill for his own benefit.
Question 9.
Read the given extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of the two given. (6)
A. Together they have imposed the baggage on the child that he cannot put down. Before he is aware, he accepts it as naturally as his father. To do anything else would mean to dare. And daring is not part of his growing up. When I sense a flash of it in Mukesh, I am cheered. “I want to be a motor mechanic,” he repeats. He will go to a garage and learn. But the garage is a long way from his home. (Lost Spring)
(i) Complete the given sentence appropriately. (1)
‘They’ in the given extract refers to ……………… .
Answer:
policemen, sahukars and middle men
(ii) What is not a part of ‘his’ growing up? (1)
Answer:
Daring is not a part of his’ growing up.
(iii) Select the correct option to fill in the blank. (1)
The ‘baggage’ in the extract refers to ………………. .
(a) the bag containing bangles
(b) the job of bangle making
(c) the blame of their crimes
(d) the job of selling bangles
Answer:
(b) the job of bangle making
(iv) Based on the above extract, choose the statement that is TRUE for ‘them’, q.)
(a) They are figures of authority.
(b) They are scared of government.
(c) They are suppressive.
(d) Both (a) and (c)
Answer:
(d) Both (a) and (c)
(v) Identify the textual clue that allows the reader to infer that Mukesh’s dream will require determination and sincerity. (1)
Answer:
‘But the garage is a long way from his home.’
(vi) Why does the writer state that the boy accepts bangle making as naturally as his father? (1)
Answer:
The writer states that the boy accepts bangle making as naturally as his father because the boy has no other option than doing so.
OR
B. When I saw who it was, I said, “Excuse me, but aren’t you Danny Casey?” And he looked sort of surprised. And he said, “Yes, that’s right. And I knew it must be him because he had the accent, you know, like when they interviewed him on the television. So I asked him for an autograph for little Derek but neither of us had any paper or a pen. So then we just talked a bit. About the clothes in Royce’s window. He seemed lonely. After all, it’s a long way from the West of Ireland.” (Going Places)
(i) How did Sophie know that it was Danny Casey? (1)
(a) As he had a football in his hands
(b) As he was moving his feet like a footballer
(c) As his accent matched Casey’s
(d) As he was wearing football dress
Answer:
(c) As his accent matched Casey’s
(ii) Rationalise to support the given opinion (1)
Sophie – the speaker is a very imaginative girl.
Answer:
The given opinion is true because Sophie did not meet Danny Casey in reality, rather just imagined it. However, the descriptions that she gave are so vivid that the readers can picture the meeting. This shows how imaginative she is.
(iii) What is the most likely reason that he was surprised?
Answer:
The most likely reason that he was surprised was that he had not expected anyone to recognise him.
(iv) For whom did Sophie ask Danny to give autograph? (1)
(a) For Geoff
(b) For Jansie
(c) For her mother
(d) For little Derek
Answer:
(d) For little Derek
(v) Do you think Geoff will believe in the speaker? (1)
Answer:
No, I do not think that Geoff will believe in his sister because he is aware of her active imagination.
(vi) Complete the sentence with an appropriate explanation, as per the extract, (1)
The speaker said “It was nothing like that, Geoff” because …………… .
Answer:
she wanted to rebuff Geoff’s claims that Danny Casey was messing around with her. The speaker, Sophie, defends Danny Casey’s character from Geoff’s belief that Casey was not a good boy.
Question 10.
Answer ANY FIVE of the following six questions, in about 40 – 50 words. (5 × 2 = 10)
(i) Why does the poet call the longing for money ‘a childish longing’ in the poem A Roadside Stand? (2)
Answer:
The poet calls the longing for money ‘a childish longing’ because the people of the roadside stand innocently hope that someone will give them money. However, all their longing is vain because hardly anyone visits them. People don’t even stop to ask for prices of things.
(ii) In the story The Rattrap, who was a keen observer – the ironmaster or his daughter Edla? Substantiate your answer with an example. (2)
Answer:
In the story The Rattrap’, the ironmaster’s daughter (Edla) is a keen observer. The ironmaster at first instance mistook the peddler to be one of his regimental comrades but Edla could recognise the fear in the eyes of the peddler at the very first sight. She then concluded that he was either a thief or a fugitive.
(iii) How does M. Hamel appreciate his mother tongue in The Last Lesson? (2)
Answer:
M. Hamel appreciated his mother tongue by saying that it is the clearest and the most logical language in the world. He also said that the French language must be guarded among us. He also told the villagers that their language is the key to their prison created by the Germans and hence, they must protect it.
(iv) Explain the significance of the title My Mother at Sixty Six. (2)
Answer:
The title of the poem ‘My Mother at Sixty Six’ is significant because it captures the central idea on which the poem rests. In the poem, the author is noticing how old and worn out her mother is by life, and is fearful that she might not meet her mother again even though she does not dare to voice it.
(v) ‘Garbage is gold for rag pickers’. Explain with reference to Lost Spring. (2)
Answer:
Garbage is gold to the rag pickers of Seemapuri because it provides them items which can be sold for cash, which can buy them food and is a means of survival. Moreover, it is gold also because the ragpickers can find stray coins and currency notes in it.
(vi) What do the symbols ‘tigers’, ‘fingers’ and ‘ring’ stand for in the poem Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers? (2)
Answer:
In the poem, Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers, the ‘tigers’ are symbols of bravery and courage and also of Aunt Jenifer’s desire for freedom. The ‘fingers’ are symbolic of the nervousness and fear exp erienced by Aunt Jennifer and the ring symbolises a binding marriage that is full of oppression and curtails one’s freedom.
Question 11.
Answer ANY TWO of the following three questions, in about 40 – 50 words. (2 × 2 = 4)
(i) Describe Galesburg of 1894 with reference to The Third Level. (2)
Answer:
Galesburg of 1894 is a quiet, simple and peaceful place with big old frame houses, huge lawns and tremendous trees. The summer evenings of Galesburg were rather long. People sat out on their , lawns in a peaceful world wherein men used to smoke cigars and women used to wave palm-leaf fans.
(ii) For the narrator, spending two weeks in Antarctica is a challenge not only for the body but also the mind Elaborate. (2)
Answer:
It is true that spending two weeks in Antarctica was a physical and a mental challenge for the narrator. She has never endured such harsh cold conditions. The lack of human habitation and the low temperatures along with the self reflection made by the narrator made the entire experience very enlightening but tiring.
(iii) What did Bama’s brother want her to do? Why? (Memories of Childhood) (2)
Answer:
Bama’s brother Annan told Bama that because they were born into a community which was , considered low caste, they were stripped of all honour, dignity and respect. But if she studied hard and made progress, then they could throw away all such indignities. He made her understand that only through education she could overcome racial discrimination prevalent in their society.
Question 12.
Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions, in about 120 – 150 words. (1 × 5 = 5)
A. ‘Bah! I’ve got plenty of time. I’ll learn it tomorrow.’ Franz was shocked when he heard that it was the last lesson and he hardly knew French, his mother tongue. The prose The Last Lesson presents that many of us find ourselves in similar situations and regret when all is over.
You have recently read the short story and are so deeply moved that you want to include it in your blog. (5)
OR
B. Migration often comes with a promise of a better life. However, the reality is very different.
In the poem The Roadside Stand we see a glimpse of what the reality of some of these migrations is.
Imagine yourself to be giving a lecture on the issue of migration and false promises. Write the composition for your lecture referring to the poem. Include what is expected to happen to the rural folk when they are relocated to live near the cities, as expected by the poet?
Migration has been existent in our civilisation since long. People
Answer:
A. Hello everyone!
You all know that I love reading and this passion of mine made me read the short story ‘The’Last Lesson’ by Alphonso Daudet. And I am moved! It presents the reality of our life. We often do not pay attention to the small things in our life for example- our language Hindi. We often postpone things with the view that we will get much more time later. We keep on postponing things and only when it is lost to us that we regret it. This is what exactly happened in the short story.
People of Alsace and Lorraine along with Franz do not respect their language. They don’t pay much ; importance to the native language and postpone learning it. Franz keeps on postponing his learning for tomorrow. He is not serious about learning his own mother tongue as he says “Bah, I’ve got plenty of time. I’ll learn it tomorrow”. Unfortunately that ‘tomorrow’ never comes .
The day Franz comes to know that his French teacher was leaving the village forever and there will be no teaching of French from now, he was shocked and surprised: He felt guilty that he has not bothered to learn French, his mother tongue, when M Hamel was trying to teach.
Many of us do the same thing and keep postponing our learning or action for some another day. But everyone must remember that it should be now or never. If we are reluctant to learn something new, we will continue our reluctance and one day the opportunity to do something or learn something will be no more.
OR
B. Migration has been existent’in our civilisation since long. People have travelled to distant lands for better opportunities and to live better lives. While it may have to true in our antiquity and it is not used today. Saying that people migrate for better lives if just a cover to many problems the nation is facing is today starting with lack of fulfillment of promises to go further to exploitation and ill treatment.
I have seldom found works of literature that present the blatant reality of this migration. And one of the best finds has been the poem The Roadside Stand’ by Robert Frost. The poem clearly reflects the maladies faced by many poor people in the new relocation plan which is in the news. Through
the pretence of giving them the comforts of urban life, these people will be forcefully uprooted from their land and made to live inside the urban limits, where they will have the theaters and malls for entertainment.
But no one has bothered to take their consent for this move, nor has studied how disoriented the villagers will feel in their new location. By sweet-talking the gullible rural, the land sharks will fleece them of their ancestral lands and condemn them to live in the urban centres. Such trickery will never be found out and the villagers will painfully struggle to adjust to the new methods of earning a living in an urban environment.
Undoubtedly, the change will bring them misery. Their simple lifestyle will be destroyed, and in their new surroundings, they will ‘lose sleep’, implying that life will become riddled with difficulties. On the other hand, the manipulators and the wolves in the garb of benefactors will enjoy their lives in more luxury.
Question 13.
Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions, in about 120 – 150 words. (1 × 5 = 5)
A. One must rise above narrow prejudices of race and country to help a human being in need. This is what you have learned from the lesson The Enemy that you just read now.
The thought of Dr. Sadao does not leave your mind and you decide to pen your feelings in your dairy. (5)
Write your dairy entry for the same in 120-150 words. You may begin like this- 28th September, 20XX Wednesday
9:30 pm
Dear Diary,
I have always heard about humanity being the biggest loyalty that we humans possess but have found that it is the very quality….
OR
B. Philately helps keep the past alive. Discuss other ways in which this is done. What do you think of the human tendency to constantly move between the past, the present and the future? (The Third Level)
Answer:
A.
28th September, 20XX
Wednesday
9:30 p.m.
Dear Diary,
I have always heard about humanity being the biggest loyalty that we humans possess but have found that it is the very quality that we are devoid of this humanity now. In this light. Dr. Sadao, the protagonist of the story ‘The Enemy that I had read today, shines bright. Dr. Sadao rose above the narrow prejudices of race and country by saving the life of the enemy prisoner of war An American prisoner of war was washed away at the beach near the Japanese doctor, Sadao’s doorstep.
Being a doctor, Sadao could not leave the heavily injured man and gives top priority to saving the life of a dying man despite the ongoing war between America and Japan. His duty was to save a dying man but saving an enemy would be an act of treachery.
However, the doctor not only saved him from dying but also did not hand him over to the police or got rid of him even though he had planned to do so. He rose above the narrow prejudices of race and country and helped the young soldier to escape. Basic human goodness overpowers Dr. Sadao and he helps the wounded soldier First by saving his life and then by arranging his escape, risking his own lite and reputation in the process.
His actions show that we humans are not devoid of this loyalty but are overpowered by some forces that undermine it. The need is for us to rise above these powers and retain our humanity.
XYZ.
OR
B. The time dimension is divided into the past, the present and the future. Our past shapes our present. Similarly, in the present, lie seeds of the future. Philately helps keep the past alive. In the same way, hobbies like coin collection, books on varied topics, archaeological excavations, monuments, relics from the bygone era, movies, paintings and even music prevent our glorious past from being lost.
The human tendency to constantly move between the past. the present and the future shows mans dissatisfaction with life and a need to rationalise. We hanker after something which we do not get. The present doeš not leave man satisfied. He longs for the past to come back and waits incessantly for something positive to turn up in the future.
While waiting for the future we torture ourselves continuously in the present. We aie anxious and insecure in the present, thinking about our future.