CBSE CBSE Class 12th English (Core) Solved Practice Paper Set II

7/25/2019 CBSE CBSE Class 12th English (Core) Solved Practice Paper Set II

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CBSE Class 12th

English (Core) Solved Practice Paper: Set-II

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Solved Practice Paper

Class XIISubject - English (Core)

Set - II

Time Allowed: 3 Hours Maximum Marks: 100

General instructions:

(a) This question paper consists of three parts: a,b and c. All are compulsory.

(b) Follow the instructions given with each question.

(c) Adhere to word limit.

Section A

Reading (30 Marks)

Question 1. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow: (12)

1. Nannuji, a middle-aged labourer from a New Delhi slum, lost the ration card that

provided his family cheap grain, cooking oil and kerosene through Indias public

distribution system (PDS). But when a duplicate card hed applied for didnt arrive, the

government officials Nannuji pleaded to were of no help. Slum dwellers are the innocent

victims of such oddities. Someone tactfully manages to escape; another falls prey to it.

Though stringent laws are there yet corrupt have their day.

2. A small bribe might have changed things for Nannuji. Instead, Nannuji approached a

local group known as Parivartan and was encouraged by the people there to file a

petition, under Delhis relatively new Right to Information laws, questioning why he was

being denied a ration card. Within days Nannuji, got his card.

3. Parivartan (which means change) is the brainchild of Arvind Kejriwal, 41. After

graduating as a mechanical engineer from Indias prestigious Indian Institute of

Technology in 1989, Arvind didnt emigrate to the United States like most of his

classmates. Rather, he joined the Indian Revenue Service (IRS) and rose to become an

Additional Commissioner of Income Tax. Arvind had his conscience pricked as he saw

his associates delightedly accepting favours flouting all norms. He watched with disgust

as his own colleagues took bribes to get papers and tax refunds moving.


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4. Arvind started Parivartan in 2000 to discuss such wrongs and ways to find systematic

solutions to them. Parivartan had taken the first step to set thing right. Parivartan also

campaigned for an effective Right to Information (RTI) Act, which was passed only in

2005. Arvind found it difficult to handle the situation owing to a suffocated routine,

which made him to take the drastic step.

5. Arvind Kejriwal recommended public interest ahead of contradictory rule of government

body. He fought against odds rooted in the government machinery to awaken the masses

against becoming innocent victims of baboos. His leniency proved prolific against

adamancy. There was a time when he and other Parivartan members stood outside the

Electricity Department in Delhi, exhorting citizens who came by to get problems fixed,

not to pay bribes, offering to facilitate their dealings with the Department for free.

6. Since then Parivartan has carried out Dont Pay Bribes! campaigns across India,

enabling thousands of citizens to challenge bribery' and get their grievances resolved

using RTI laws. He has earned the public applause from various quarters across India.

7. Arvind Kejriwal is a great inspiration, a truly creative reformer, says Kiran Bedi,

Magsaysay Award winner and noted former Indian Police Service officer.

8. Financial constraints are a big handicap in the success of a crusade but things can be

managed with popular support. And there is no lack of it for Kejriwalis movement.

Parivartan, which does not accept funding from any organisation, relies on its many

young volunteers. Staff salaries are paid by donations from well-wishers. There are even

government officials who send us donations, reveals Arvind. Many of them are honest

and live the idea of empowering the common man.

9. A firm resolution and innovative vision are the key to success which Mr. Kejriwal and his

colleagues have in plenty. Our work must directly impact peoples lives, He says, We

have to keep working hard to keep the idea of democracy alive.

(a) Answer the following questions briefly:

(i) Why did Nannuji approach Parivartan, a local group in Delhi? 1(ii) Describe the role played by Parivartan. 2

(iii) Who is Arvind Kejriwal and how is he connected with Parivartan? 2

(iv) Name the two campaigns started by Parivartan. 1

(v) What is the opinion of Kiran Bedi about Arvind Kejriwal? 1


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(vi) What is the purpose of a ration card? 1

(vii) How does Parivartan manage its funds? 1

(b) Find the words from the passage which mean the same as: 3

(i) Written request signed by many people (Para 2)

(ii) Strong disapproval (Para 8)

(iii) Cause for complaint (Para 6)

Answer:

(a) (i) Nannuji, when his duplicate card did not arrive after many pleadings, approached

Parivartan and got his ration card without paying any bribe.

(ii) Parivartan finds solution to the problems of people who dont want to pay bribes.

(iii) Arvind Kejariwal is a mechanical engineer from IIT. He joined Indian Revenue

Services (IRS) and became an Additional Commissioner of Income Tax. He started

Parivartan in 2000 and quit his IRS job in 2005 to work full-time activist of Parivartan.

(iv) Right to information and Dont Pay Bribes.

(v) In the opinion of Kiran Bedi, Aarvind Kejriwal is a great inspiration, a truly creative

reformer.

(vi) A ration card provides grain, cooking from oil and kerosene at cheap rates through

Indians Public Distribution System.

(vii) Parivartan does not accept funding from any organization. It relies its many young

volunteers. Many well-wishes also give donation which it uses to pay the staff salaries.

(b) (i) Petition

(ii) Disgust

(iii) Grievance


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1. I have lived in Rishikesh for 15 years and have seen the shift in the mindset of

Indias younger generation. While they are patriotic, prepared to join any

movement, march waving political flags, join Facebook groups, they are not, in

most cases, convinced by India's culture. In fact, they ask questions that evidence

their dissatisfaction with and disinterest in what we call culture, values and

sanskaras. "Why can't we date before marriage? Why do we live in a joint family?

I believe in God but not in temples or puja. Why can't my parents understand?

They are turning from vegetarians to non-vegetarians, from teetotaller to drinkers,

from obedient to rebellious young adults at alarming rates. And at the same time,

parents say: What's wrong with our children? They are going astray.

2. My academic background is psychology from Stanford University; hence I am

used to doing analysis. I came to India at the age of 25, having grown up in Los

Angeles, in the heart of American upper class modem culture and was so filled

with delight by the grace, the truth, the divinity, and the depth of traditional

Indian culture that - despite protests from people back homeI stayed. I have

seen both the worlds, up close-up American culture where acceptance is based un

now you look in a black mini-skirt; how many times a week youre seen drinking

coffee past 2 a.m. in the local hot spot; how many drug-filled dens you visit on

a Saturday night And I have seen the results. Fifteen- year-olds killed in drunken

driving accidents, night after night of sleeplessness stealing the minds of Ivy-

League students, third marriages by 25, a country where the most commonly

prescribed medicines are antidepressants, anti-anxiety medication and sleeping

pills.

3. There is much to be emulated about Western culture its commitment to

excellence and perfection, punctuality, reliability, fulfillment of promises,

adherence to contracts, integrity and honesty- attributes which other countries like

India would benefit by adopting. But, tragically, what is being adopted by

metropolitan Indian youth is the illusion of (not real) sophistication, allure of

glamour, myth of material enjoyment that is seeping into Indian culture.

4. India's culture, values, ethics and traditions form the foundation of a succe-

meaningful and fulfilling life. If you ask a person in Los Angeles, stepping out of

Mercedes, "How are you?" Chances are you will get in reply a list of complaints -

back is hurting; the housekeeper (maid) didn't show up; the store ran out of


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favourite cereal; too much traffic on the road," Put the same question to an I. -

Indian, and the chances are your question will be answered with "Sub Bhagwan ki

kripa hai. This is the fruit of culture: deep satisfaction despite ups and downs of

daily. Apparently, god's kripa seems to have showered abundantly more upon the

woman. Yet, she needs a pill to go to sleep, a pill to wake up, a pill to make it

through the day.

5. India's values have kept India strong and united despite thousands of years

invasions. They have kept their minds and hearts independent even when their

country was colonised and oppressed.

6. However, today what is needed is a new vocabulary. The youth of today has to be

raised differently from those in previous generations. Information is at theirfinger-tips. Modem science and technology have rendered the inexplicable and

impossible decade ago, child's play today. We cannot expect them to accept

"because I said so or "because God made it that way."

7. Most middle-aged Indians today would never have dared disobey or question their

parents. Therefore, their childrens continuous chant of why? seems insolent

and disrespectful. Todays youth have been raised to wonder; to question, to

investigate, to discover.

8. Give them scientific, rational pragmatic reasons to be vegetarian. Explain that the

meat industry is the single largest contributor to world hunger as well as

environmental destruction. India is the richest country in the world in its depth of

culture, values, ethics and tradition. The values and ethics of centuries ago are just

as valid and applicable today as then. We only have to explain them differently.

(a) Answer the following questions:

(i) What evidence does she give to prove this shift? 2

(ii) How is she qualified to pass judgement on them? 2

(iii) Describe the irony in the life of a typical rich American woman. 2

(iv) What argument does the author give in favour of being a vegetarian? 2

(b) Which words in the above passage mean the same as the following? 2

(i) Show/prove (Para 1)


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(ii) Copied/imitated (Para 3)

Answer:

(a) (i) The evidence she gives to prove this shift is that they are questioning Indias values

and culture. Questions like Why cant we date before marriage?, Why do we live in

a joint family?, Why cant my parents understand? all evidence this shift. The youth

are turning from vegetarians to non-vegetarians, from teetotalers to drinkers, from

obedient to rebellious young adults at alarming rates.

(ii) The author grew up in the West and came to India at the age of 25, so she has seen

both the worlds closely. She has an academic background in psychology from Stanford

University and is used to doing analysis. Hence she considers herself qualified to pass

judgment on them.

(iii) The irony in the life of a typical rich American woman is that despite having been

showered abundantly by gods kripa, she needs a pill to go to sleep, a pill to wake up

and a pill to make it through the day.

(iv) The author gives scientific, rational and pragmatic reasons to be a vegetarian

explaining that the meat industry is the single largest contributor to world hunger as

well as environmental destruction.

(b) (i) Evidence

(ii) Emulated


There are two problems which cause great worry to our educationists - the problem of

religious and moral instruction in a land of many faiths and the problem arising out of a

large variety of languages. Taking up the education of children, we see that they should

be trained to love one another, to be kind and helpful to all, to be tender to the loweranimals and to observe and think right. The task of teaching them how 'to read and write

and to count and calculate is important, but it should not make us lose sight of the

primary aim of moulding personality in the right way.

For this, it is necessary to call into aid, culture, tradition and religion. But in our country

we have, in the same school, to look after boys and girls born in different faiths and

belonging to families that live diverse ways of life and follow different forms of worship


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associated with different denominations of religion. It will not do to tread the easy path of

evading the difficulty by attending solely to physical culture and intellectual education.

We have to evolve, a suitable technique and method for serving the spiritual needs of

school children, professing different faiths. We would thereby promote an atmosphere of

mutual respect, a fuller under-standing and helpful co-operation among the different

communities in our society. Again, we must remain as one people and we have therefore

to give basic training in our schools to speak and understand more languages than one

and to appreciate and respect the different religions prevailing in India. It is not right for

us to be dissuaded from this by considerations as to overtaking the young mind. What is

necessary must be done. And it is not in fact too great a burden.

Any attempt to do away with or steamroll the differences through governmental coercion

and indirect pressure would be as futile as it would be unwise. Any imposition of a single

way of life and form of worship on all children or neglect of a section of the pupils in this

respect or barren secularisation will lead to a conflict between school and home life

which is harmful. On the other hand, if we give due recognition to the different prevailing

faiths in the educational institutions by organising suitable facilities for religious teaching

for boys and girls of all communities, this may itself serve as a broadening influence of

great national values.

(a) On the basis of your reading of the above passage, make notes using headings and

sub-headings. Use recognisable abbreviations, wherever necessary (minimum 4). Use a

format you consider suitable. Also supply an appropriate title to it. 5

(b) Write an abstract of the above passage. 3

Answer:

(a) Challenges Faced By Educationists

1. Problems faced by Educationists

(a) Religious & moral instr.

(b) Variety of langs.

2. Pr. Aim of edun

(a) Training to love another

(b) Be helpful and kind to animals

(c) Think right

3. Role of Schools

(a) Cultivate traditional & religious tolerance

(b) Mutual respect


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(c) Co-operation among different comm.

(d) Speak and read more langs.

4. Dos and donts

(a) Dos

(i) Promote mutual respect

(ii) Fuller understanding

(iii) Co-operation among comm.

(iv) Speak and understand different langs.

(b) Donts

(i) Do away the diff. by pressure

(ii) Impose single way of life

(iii) Neglect section of pupils

Key to the Abbreviations Used

Instr.- instructions langs.- language pr.- primary

Edun- education comm.- communities diff.- difference

(b) Summary

The primary aim of education is to bring up individuals who will love one another, be kind,

helpful and think right. Educationists face problems regarding moral and religious instructions

and language education. Schools need to cultivate tradition and religious tolerance through

mutual respect and co-operation among different communities. There should be no attempt to

iron out differences between pupils through pressure or by imposition of a single way of life on

them.

Section B

Writing (30 Marks)

Question 4. You are Smitha/Sunil, Secretary AVM Housing Society. You are going to organize

a blood donation camp. Write a notice in not more than 50 words, urging the members of

your society to come in large numbers for this noble cause. Invent all the necessary

details. (4)

OR


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You are General Manager, Hotel Dosa, Gurgaon. You need a lady Front Office Assistant

with sound knowledge of computers. She must be a graduate and good in communication

skills with pleasing manners. Draft an advertisement in not more than 50 words to be

published in Gurgaon Times.

Answer:

AVM HOUSING SOCIETY

25th

Dec., 20XX

NOTICE

BLOOD DONATION CAMP

This is to bring to the notice of the members of the society that a Blood Donation Camp

for the people suffering from blood cancer is being organized by the Red Cross Society in

the societys Community Hall. Residents aged between 18 and 50 and in good health are

requested to come in large numbers for this noble cause.

Date: 16th

Jan, 20XXTime: 9:30am onwards

Venue: Community Hall

We look forward to your whole hearted participation, especially by the societys youth.

SunilSecretary

OR

SITUATION VACANT

WANTED a smart, graduate, experienced lady Front Office Assistant who should

prossess sound knowledge of computers and good communication skills. She must

also have pleasing manners, salary negotiable. Desirous candidates may apply with

full bio-data to the General Manager, Hotel Dosa, Gurgaon-45. Phone: 09897655456

Question 5. As a regular commuter by bus from Noida to Delhi, you have been witnessing rash

driving by the bus drivers daily without an exception. Write a letter to the Editor, The

Times of India drawing the attention of the General Manager, Delhi Transport

Corporation to this problem. Your are Priti/Prakash, 15, Udyog Vihar, Noida. (6)


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OR

Write a letter to Lightways Sports, Amrapalli, Thane, placing an order for sports articles

(minimum 4) to be supplied to your school, ABC Matriculation School, Civil Lines,

Poona. Sign as Ravi/Raveena, Sports Secretary.

Answer:

15, Udyog Vihar

Noida

25th

Dec, 20XX

The Editor

The Times of IndiaNew Delhi-110001

Sir

Sub: Rash driving by the bus drivers

Through the column of your esteemed daily, I would like to bring to the kind notice of

the General Manager, Delhi Transport Corporation about the incessant rash driving by

the bus drivers en route Noida to Delhi. Almost every day the newspapers are flooded

with the reports of increasing accident rates on the roads. I am a regular commuter by bus

from Noida to Delhi. And every time I board a bus, I have no guarantee that I would

reach my destination alive. The drivers are so rash in their driving that all the commutersliterally hand on to their dear lives while commuting to and fro. Without exception, all

the drivers are rash and it is my duty to report about them. Also, they do not conform to

the traffic rules and ferry as many people as they can, not considering the fact that they

are merely holding on to a bar and flying with the wind; The other day, a school kid on

his way to school the school, slipped from an overcrowded bus and broke his hand. The

driver did not even bother to stop the bus. When the public interfered, the driver behaved

rudely in response, such incidents are on the rise and it is high time that it is put to an

end, lest we lose innocent lives on the road. Also, the bus drivers must be properly

trained in safe driving.

I hope the concerned authorities will take urgent steps to put an end to this rash driving

by the bus drivers.

Yours truly

Priti

OR


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ABC Matriculation SchoolCivil Lines

Poona23

rdDec, 20XX

The Manager

Light ways SportsAmrapali

Thane

Sir

Subject: Purchase Order for Sports articles

I would like to place an order for the following sports articles with your firm. These

equipments are urgently needed for the preparation of the various inter and intra schoolcompetitions. We require the following items:

S.No. Item Brand Quality

1. Cricket Bats BDM 10

2. Basket Balls Cosco 20

3. Cricket Balls(White colour) SVG 5 Boxes

4. Tennis Racquets Adidas 5

5. Tennis Balls Cosco 5 Boxes

Please find enclosed the draft of Rs.15000/- as an advance. The remaining amount will bepaid after the items have been delivered to us. You may send the equipment through any

local counter service within a week. I shall be obliged if you would give us the usual

discount you offer to the institutions. Please make sure the articles are properly packed

and reach us within a weeks time without any external damage in the transit. Damaged

equipment, if any, will be returned at your cost.

Yours truly

Raveena

Sports Secretary

Question 6. Your family has recently shifted from Kota in Rajasthan to Ernakulam in Kerala,

where your house is situated in the midst of beautiful flowering plants and fruit-yielding

trees. Every minute and every second, you are experiencing the joy of being in the lap of

nature. Write an article in 125-150 words on the diversity of nature that you have

experienced. You are Latha/Lalith of Class XII. (10)


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OR

Write an article in 125-150 words on the topic. Poverty is the cause of all evils, to bepublished in the Young World of The Hindu, Chennai.

Answer:

DIVERSITY OF NATURE

By Latha

Kerala is blessed with splendors of nature starting with idle beaches, backwaters, endless

paddy fields, coconut groves, plantation crops, spice gardens to tropical rain forests.

Sandwiched between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea, Kerala is set apart by

unmatched natural diversity. A physical quality of life comparable to developed nationsand almost fully literate population in this beautiful land are important factors that help

transform Kerala into an important international tourist destination also, Moderate

climate and the rich art and culture of Kerala and I was spellbound to hear the enchanting

sound of waterfall.

The landscape there is so awe-inspiring that one would never feel like leaving. Nature is

so different every-where. On one side it is barren desert land and on the other it has a rich

bounty of flora and fauna. If ever you are tired of living in an urban maze of high rise

buildings and flyovers, the best place to find some peace is Kerala. No wonder it is called

Gods own country.

OR

Poverty is the Cause of all Evils

By XYZ

Poverty and/or the fear of it, in one way or another, is the fundamental cause of all evils

that are experienced in the modern society. Poverty encourages hoarding which results in

the rich becoming richer, because they tend to hoard. But the poor, who have little also

tend to hoard what little they have, because it is scarce. Poverty fosters desperation whichin turn breeds crime. The poor neighborhoods generally produce more criminals than the

rich neighborhoods. The rich neighborhoods can be victimized by poverty because the

poor often break into rich peoples homes to steal their goods. Poverty also contributes to

poor health and early death. The poor have little or no access to health care and

preventive medicines and what health care they have is second rate. The poor cant afford

basic physical and health screenings. The poor get little or no education. Thus, they often


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are not aware of certain things that may help them improve their condition. This affects

their health since they dont have knowledge of how to protect themselves or prevent

common illnesses. Poverty breeds racism, classicism, ethnics because the society

stratifies itself to define classes to separate the rich from the poor. Poverty breeds anger,

fear and low self esteem. A person with little money feels inadequate and inferior to

other people because of ones inability to provide for ones own needs and for others.

Thus, poverty truly is the cause of all evils.

Question 7. A recent health check-up in your school revealed that many among your classmates

were suffering from weak eyesight. You feel concerned. Write a speech in 150-200

words to be delivered in the morning assembly on how to protect your eyesight. Makeuse of the following clues :

Reading in bad light bad posture

Wrong direction, from which light is coming

Excessive TV viewing

Regular washing of eyes

Eat more green vegetables

Enough sleep (10)

OR

Rising incomes of the middle class-families are leading to obesity among their children.

Poring over books for hours coupled with the lure of TV and the Internet has led to a

sedentary life-style. Addition to junk food is another cause of obesity. Write a speech in

150-200 words on obesity, its causes and how to prevent it.

Answer:

Never take your eyes for granted. But unfortunately most of us dont take care of our

eyesight unless something drastic happens. Respected Teachers and Dear Friends, I,

XYZ, have come before you all to remind you about the importance of protecting oureyesight. A recent health check-up in our school has revealed that many of our fellow

students are suffering from weak eyesight. It is high time we understand the imperative

need for protecting our eyes. It starts with the food on our plate. Eating a well-balanced

diet and including more of green vegetables in our diet is very essential. To improve our

vision is a matter of sitting in the direction from which proper light is coming. One must

avoid watching T.V. excessively and not spend a long time in front of the computer


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screen. Regular washing of eyes with filtered water keeps them fresh. By following these

simple but necessary steps we can protect our eyesight and thus show some respect for

the wonderful gift of sight which God has bestowed upon us.

Thank you

OR

Obesity among children has become a major concern in recent years. Rising income

levels of middle class families coupled with the sedentary life-style of children and

addiction to junk food have aggravated the problem of child obesity. Good morning

everyone, I, XYZ, have come before you to address the problem of obesity in children, its

causes and how it can be prevented. This trend of overweight among children is found in

the metro cities where kids spend most of their time indoor-in school, tuitions, watching

TV or sitting in front of the computer. To add to this their food intake includes a variety

of junk food. We need to take up steps to prevent children from leading this kind of

unhealthy lifestyle. It is very important for parents to cultivate healthy eating habits and

increase the physical activities of their children. Children should be encouraged to play

outdoor games and take up activities like yoga, dancing, karate etc. Along with an

increase in the physical activity levels, it is important to bring about a change in the diet

of children. Encourage them to eat a nutritious and healthy food so as to lead a disease-

free life.

Thank you

Section C

Literature (40 Marks)

Question 8. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: (4)

Perhaps the Earth can teach us

as when everything seems dead

and later proves to be alive.

Now Ill count upto twelve and you keep quiet and I will go.(a) What does the Earth teach us? 1

(b) What does the poet mean to achieve by counting upto twelve? 1

(c) What is the significance of keeping quiet? 1

(d) Why do you think the poet has used the capital letter E in Earth in the poem? 1

OR


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A flowery band to bind us to the Earth.

Spite of despondence, of the inhuman dearth

Of Noble natures, of the gloomy days,

Of all the unhealthy and oer-darkened Ways

Made for our searching.

(a) What are we doing everyday? 1

(b) Which evil things do we possess and suffer from? 1

(c) What are the circumstances that contribute towards making humans unhappy and

disillusioned with life? 1

(d) What removes the darkness from our lives? 1

Answer:

(a) The earth can teach us the best lesson in silence. It teaches us how to nurture life

under apparent quietude. According to the poet, we should all learn a lesson from the

earth, which appears to be dead on the surface. But beneath the surface is an amazing

life, which proves that there can be a life under apparent stillness.

(b) The poet means that keeping quiet will make us look within and understand our true

selves, our weaknesses and our strengths. It will give us some respite from the noise of

the world. It makes mankind understand the futility of their mindless words and actions.

(c) Keeping quiet shows the necessity of introspection. We are urged to take a break from

senseless activities which harm nature as well as other human beings.

(d) The poet has used the capital letter E in Earth in the poem because he has

personified the earth as a teacher. Like a teacher the earth teaches us the best lesson in

silence.

OR

(a) Every day we search for beauty. We look for lovely things around us and try to

establish a close bond with the earth and nature.

(b) We suffer from sadness, hopelessness, lack of nobility and our ways are over

darkened.

(c) Human being is unhappy and disillusioned with life because of the lack of nobility in

human beings.


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(d) A think of beauty removes the darkness from our lives. It enlivens our spirit and re-

energizes us.

Question 9. Answer any four of the following questions in 30-40 words each: (4 3= 12)

(a) How did Franz react to the declaration that it was their last French lesson?

(b) How did the instructor turn Douglas into a swimmer?

(c) Why did Sophie like her brother Geoff more than any other person?

(d) Mention the hazards of working in the glass bangles industry?

(e) What sort of hunts did the Maharaja offer to organise for the high-ranking British

officer? What trait of the officer does it reveal?

(f) What did Jo want the wizard to do when Mommy skunk approached him?

Answer:

(a) The announcement made by M. Hamel that it was their last lesson in French shocked

and surprised Franz. Though he never took his studies seriously the fact that it was going

to be the last class made him feel more attached to his mother tongue as well as the

teacher who taught him. He was suddenly filled with a lot of patriotic feelings.

(b) The instructor put a belt around him. A rope attached to the belt went through a pulley

that ran on an overhead cable. The instruction held on to the end of the rope. Thus they

went back and forth, across the pool hour after hour, day after day, week after week. It

took Douglas three months to see his tension slack. Then the instructor taught him to put

his face under water and exhale, and to raise his nose and inhale. He repeated the exercise

hundred times. Slowly, Douglas managed to shed the panic that seized him when his head

went under water. Next, the instructor held him at the side of the pool and had him kick

with his legs. For week he did just that. At first his legs refused to work. But they

gradually relaxed and finally he could command him. Thus, the instructor built a

swimmer out of Douglas.(c) Sophie liked her elder brother Geoff more than any other person in her family. It was

in him that she confided all her personal matters. Geoff was elder to her and was already

out of school. He was working as an apprentice mechanic. As compared to her, he

enjoyed a lot of freedom. He went to work riding his motor cycle. She was always jealous

of the freedom he enjoyed. She was very keen to roam around on his bike but her father

wouldnt let her do that.


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(d) The hazards of working in the glass bangles industry are numerous. The children are

forced to work in the glass furnaces with high temperatures, in the dingy cells without air

and light. They finally lose their eyesight. Many a times children suffer from burn

injuries due to extreme heat in the furnace.

(e) The Maharaja offered to organize any hunt other than a tiger hunt for the British

officer. He was willing to arrange a boar hunt, a mouse hunt or a mosquito hunt. The

officer was full of vanity. He only wanted to show off before others that he was

adventurous. He was a publicity-hungry man.

(f) Jo wanted wizard to hit mommy on her head with his magic wand and refuse to

change the smell of Roger skunk from rose to his original one.

Question 10. Mukesh was finally able to fulfill his dream and he became a motor mechanic. He

got a job with the most famous car makers Maruti that started a workshop in Firozabad.

He lives in a decent house with his Wife and children. He remembers his interaction that

he had with Anees Jung years ago. He decided to write a letter to her informing her about

his present status of life. Write this letter in about 100 to 125 words. (6)

OR

Yumi was angry with Hana when she asked her to wash the enemy soldier. She was also

afraid what might happen to the family if they were caught helping the American. She

was more concerned about the children. She wrote a page in her diary giving expression

to her feelings. Write what she wrote in about 100 to 125 Words.

Answer:

Kishan Ganj

M.G. Road, Firozabad, U.P.

25th Dec 20XX

Dear Madam

I hope you remember me. You had met me many years ago when I was a young boy and

even visited my home where I had shared my dream with you. I had always wanted to

become a motor mechanic. When I mentioned about my dream to you, you were a little

skeptical about it. But I am writing this letter to tell you, that finally I was able to fulfill


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my dream. After my work in the bangle factory I walked five miles to the Firozabad

town everyday to attend my classes.

There was a training institute run by the Christian missionaries. They gave me free

education and I completed my studies. Later, Maruti Company opened a workshop

in our place and I got a job there. A few years later we were able to buy a better house in

Firozabad. My father and my brother stopped working in the bangles factory too. Now

they run a shop next to our house. I got married and my wife too works in an office. We

have a decent income and our children are studying at St. Marys School, Firozabad. We

are a happy family now.

Thank you for your inspiring words. Please visit us the next time youre in town.

Yours lovingly

Mukesh

OR

25th

Dec, 20XX 10 pm

What a terrible moment it was, I have never disobeyed my mistress earlier even for a

moment. Today I had to turn down her request. She was very angry with me. But I cant

help it. How can I ever help an American? Why doesnt my master realize the

mistake he is committing? They are educated and yet make such foolish mistakes,

imagine what will happen to the family if they are caught helping the enemy. No police

could even arrest the servants too. We could all go to jail and these little children will be

orphaned. My master should have shown better wisdom.

Question 11. Answer the following in about 125 words: (6)

Exploitation is a universal phenomenon. The poor indigo farmers were exploited by the

British landlords to which Gandhiji objected. Even after our independence. We find

exploitation of unorganized labour. What values do we learn from Gandhijis campaign

to counter the present day problems of exploitation?

ORThe same situation can be viewed through two different perspectives. How Should

Wizard Hit Mommy? does establish this point through the views of Jack and Jo? (6)

Answer:

Indian peasants have been victims of exploitation for centuries. They were exploited

either by the Indian landlords or by tire British. Even today the story is not different.


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Now the politicians take advantage of them. Gandhiji always wanted to liberate these

oppressed farmers. In his first meeting with the Indian National Congress he urged all

the leaders to go into the villages and help the poor if they really wanted to liberate the

country. We learn many things from Gandhis campaign. He was selfless and devoted to

the cause of the poor. He had a lot of compassion for the poor and the suffering. In

today's society we need to inculcate this compassion for the downtrodden if we want to

give power to the powerless and voice to the voiceless. What the present day politicians

lack is this compassion and empathy for the poor. They lack Gandhi's sincerity; hence,

the poor remain poor. Gandhis campaign against the British will be relevant today if we

still want to fight against hunger and deprivation. We need such charismatic leaders to

alleviate the sufferings of millions in our country.

OR

Adults are mature, experienced and have a practical approach. Their responses are

tutored and their actions reflect their thoughts. But the children are spontaneous with

natural, untutored response. Jo, a four year old child prefers to live in her world of

dreams and fantasies. She would like to wreak vengeance on Roger Skunks mother and

is annoyed because her father refused to accept her suggestion. Jos father has a mature

perspective and so he views things beyond the face-value and delves into the

philosophical and moralistic aspect of the entire situation. The wizard, according to him,

had interfered with nature and so deserved to be punished. Jo completely disagrees with

her father. For her the baby Skunk was right and it made perfect sense if the wizard hit

the stupid mommy.

Question 12. What do we gather about Wells's attitude to science from the novel? (6)

Answer:

Wells creates a startling beginning by examining the idea of human invisibility at a

time when large strides had been taken on how X-rays had fired the imagination towards

possible human invisibility. Wells takes pains to prove that the pursuit of science without

adequate precautions or without taking counter measures to ensure safety, becomes a

diabolical pursue it. He therefore introduces Dr Kemp. a college mate of Griffin's who

too is pursuing research, but in a responsible and acceptable manner .The need for

scientists to publicise their findings rather than keeping them in a secret coded form is

brought home through Griffins diaries. As Marvel is unable to share its contents


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knowing their priceless worth, he keeps it hidden although he is unable to decipher its

contents.

Question 13. Can the story of the Invisible Man be classified as a modern horror story? (6)

Answer:

The initial parts of the book that relate to the reactions of other people to Griffin's

invisible state is more comical than horrifying. The villagers are not afraid of him and

Mrs Hail even tries to rationalize his deformities as the result of an accident. The

mysterious happenings, such as the moving of furniture are blamed on spirits or even rats.

Marvel befriends the Voice, without an iota of fear and because he sees an advantage indoing so. The villagers put down his outright unsocial nature to a maverick character

trait only. In the latter part of the story, where Griffin begins to relate horrifying

experiences after becoming invisible, the reader is told about the negative effects of

medication on him. This earns him the reader's sympathy instead of provoking fear. His

invisible hand, viewed as a tool of horror and instrument of torture is thus a device

invented by the author by way of explaining away his invisible state before visible eyes.

But these actions lose their chilling grip as they are attributed to a rational cause, the

dilemma of a cornered individual. The story needs to be taken at its race value. The

consequences attributed to futuristic scientific invention instead of being contrived needs

to be considered as a modem-day horror account.

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CBSE CBSE Class 12th English (Core) Solved Practice Paper Set II