Instructions:- 1. Read the instructions thoroughly already given along with the

notes uploaded in the website.

WEEK 1 SYLLABUS BREAK UP (APRIL 01ST —06TH APRIL)

Section/Topic: (a) READING SKILL—NOTE MAKING PASSAGES.

(b) Follow the format/indentation given and complete the

practice exercise (Self-Attempt Assignment) in your writing skill registers.

CLASS 12

ENGLISH ASSIGNMENT

ASSIGNMENT COMPLETION DATE:

07TH APRIL, 2020

Read the following passage and answer the questions that

follow: (8 Marks) 1. The tests of life are its plus factors. Overcoming illness and suffering is a plus

factor for it moulds character. Steel is iron plus fire, soil is rock plus heat. So

let’s include the plus factor in our lives.

2. Sometimes the plus factor is more readily seen by the simple hearted. Myers

tells the story of a mother who brought into her home – as a companion to her

own son- a little boy who happened to have a hunch back. She had warned her

son to be careful, not to refer to his disability. The boys were playing and after a

few minutes she overheard her son say to his companion “Do you know what you

have got on your back?” The little boy was embarrassed, but before he could

reply, his playmate continued “ It is the box in which your wings are, and some

day God is going to cut it open and then you will fly away and be an angel.”

3. Often it takes a third eye or a change in focus, to see the plus factor. Walking

along the corridors of a hospital recently where patients were struggling with

fear of pain and tests, I was perturbed. What gave me a fresh perspective were

the sayings put up everywhere, intended to uplift. One saying made me

conscious of the beauty of the universe in the midst of pain, suffering and

struggle. The other saying assured me that God was with me when I was in deep

water and that no troubles would overwhelm me.

4. The import of those sayings also made me aware of the nether springs that flow

into people’s lives when they touch rock bottom or are lonely or guilt ridden. The

nether springs make recovery possible, and they bring peace and patience in the

midst of negative forces.

5. The forces of death and destruction are not so much physical as they are psychic

and psychological. When malice, hatred and hard heartedness prevail, they get

channeled as forces of destruction. Where openness, peace and good heartedness

prevail, the forces of life gush forth to regenerate hope and joy. The life force is

triumphant when love overcomes fear. Both fear and love are deep mysteries,

but the effect of love is to build, whereas fear tends to destroy. Love is generally

the plus factor that helps build character. It creates bonds and its reach is

infinite.

6. It is true there is no shortage of destructive elements – forces and people who

seek to destroy others and in the process destroy themselves – but at the same

time there are signs of love and life everywhere that are constantly enabling us

to overcome setbacks. So let’s not look at gloom and doom – let us seek positivity

SAMPLE NOTE MAKING PASSAGE

FOR REFERENCE PURPOSE ONLY

and happiness. For it is when you seek that you will find what is waiting to be

discovered

(a) On the basis of your reading of the above passage, make notes on it in points

only, using abbreviations, wherever necessary. Also suggest a suitable title.

(5 Marks)

(b) Write a summary of the passage in not more than 80 words, using the notes.

(3 Marks)

(a) TITLE: The Tests of Life- the Plus Factors

Notes

1. The Importance of the Tests of Life

a) Illness& Suffering build Char.

b) Simple hearted-View disability + vely.

2. Change of focus required

a) Sayings in hospital – awaken one to beauty of universe amidst

pain; presence of God

i) Give strength to overcome obstacles

ii) Realisation- underlying hum. strength in troubles

iii) Bring Peace &Patience

3. Forces of Destruction

a) Psychic & psychlgcal

b) Consist of malice, hatred &hard headedness

c) Fear destroys

4. Forces of Life

a) Openness, peace& good heartedness

b) Love overcomes fear. Love builds char.& bonds

c) Discover signs of love, defeat destrctve elmnts.

KEY-ABBREVIATIONS

1. Char.- Character

2. +vely-Positively

3. Hum.-Human

4. Psychlgcal-Psychological

5. Destrctve-Destructive

6. Elmnts- Elements

SUMMARY

The tests of life like illness, suffering, pain and disability build character. The

simple hearted have the ability to view them as signs of hope and the

presence of God. Even in the midst of suffering there is God. The belief that

amongst pain and suffering the universe is still beautiful and God present

gives strength to overcome obstacles. One must realize there is an underlying

human strength that emerges during troubles. This brings peace and

patience. The forces of destruction can be overcome by the power of love.

SELF ATTEMPT WORKSHEET

NOTE-MAKING PASSAGE-1 1. I remember my childhood as being generally happy and can recall

experiencing some of the most carefree times of my life. But I can also

remember, even more vividly, moments of being deeply frightened. As a

child, I was truly -terrified of the dark and getting lost. These fears were

very real and caused me some extremely uncomfortable moments.

2. Maybe it was the strange way things looked and sounded in my familiar

room at night that scared me so much. There was never total darkness, but a

street light or passing car lights made clothes hung over a chair take on the

shape of an unknown beast. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw curtains

move when there was no breeze. A tiny creak in the floor would sound a

hundred times louder than in the daylight and my imagination would take

over, creating burglars and monsters. Darkness always made me feel

helpless. My heart would pound and I would lie very still so that ‘the enemy’

wouldn’t discover me.

3. Another childhood fear of mine was that I would get lost, especially on the

way home from school. Every morning, I got on the school bus right near my

home—that was no problem. After school, though, when all the buses were

lined up along the curve, I was terrified that I would get on the wrong one

and be taken to some unfamiliar neighborhood. I would scan the bus for the

faces of my friends, make sure that the bus driver was the same one that

had been there in the morning, and even then ask the others over and over

again to be sure I was in the right bus. On school or family trips to an

amusement park or a museum, I wouldn’t let the leaders out of my sight.

And of course, I was never very adventurous when it came to taking walks

or hikes because I would go only where I was sure I would never get lost.

4. Perhaps, one of the worst fears I had as a child was that of not being liked

or accepted by others. First of all, I was quite shy. Secondly, I worried

constantly about my looks, thinking people wouldn’t like me because I was

too fat or wore braces. I tried to wear ‘the right clothes’ and had intense

arguments with my mother over the importance of wearing flats instead of

saddled shoes to school. Being popular was very important to me then and

the fear of not being liked was a powerful one.

5. One of the processes of evolving from a child to an adult is being able to

recognize and overcome our fears. I have learnt that darkness does not have

to take on a life of its own, that others can help me when I am lost and that

friendliness and sincerity will encourage people to like me. Understanding

the things that scared us as children helps to cope with our lives as adults.

Questions: 1. On the basis of your reading of the above passage, make notes using

headings and subheadings. Use recognizable abbreviations, wherever

necessary. 5

2. Write a summary of the passage in not more than 80 words using the

notes made and also suggest a suitable title. 3

NOTE-MAKING PASSAGE-2 1. If you live in a rapidly urbanizing India, especially in the North, and feel that things

are getting from bad to worse as far as civility, sensitivity and respect for law is

concerned, you are not alone. I go out cycling almost every morning, at the crack

of dawn. The total lawlessness that has come to grip the society scares me. As early

as 5 am, our cycling group notices people huddled around their cars, drinking

outside eateries or liquor joints, fighting, arguing loudly, or simply passing lewd

comments at the women riders in our group. The comments do not vary from a

Mercedes or a Maruti Swift. They are uniformly distasteful. We often see police

vehicles at these joints too, and they are certainly not there attending to an SOS

call.

2. Several of you would remember the horrific accident that took place in Gurgaon.

Forty seven year old Avinash Shah, driving his small car with his wife and daughter

was hit by a businessman test driving a powerful new Audi. Avinash died instantly

and his wife and daughter barely survived. The gent who rammed the big Audi into

the small car, is out on bail. According to eye-witnesses, soon after ramming into

Avinash’s car, this gent got out, made a few phone calls using his mobile, and got

picked up by his own driver in his car and vanished. The police said they did not

have his address for two days despite knowing that he was on a test drive and had

deposited his driving license at the car showroom before taking the car out. Two

days later, this gent reappeared, with a lawyer in toe and surrendered, only to be

bailed out in a jiffy.

3. Why it is that things are reaching such a pass? Sudden wealth, easy availability of

‘good things’ in life, general feeling that money can buy anything, or what else? Is it

just a North Indian phenomenon or nationwide? Why it is that uncouth, uncivil and

insensitive behavior is all pervasive? Why is the society so willing to circumvent,

indeed buy, law at will? Do you think the media is responsible having abdicated its

responsibilities by concentrating on flashy things alone while bypassing the real

issues that would positively impact the society?

4. Whatever the answer to those questions is, the solution lies with us alone. We need to

stop accepting being pushed around. An individual cannot take on those who

mock at our law, but together we can do wonders. The choice is ours, whether to

stare down the barrel of the gun as lawlessness gains ground faster than these guys

drive their fast cars, or start coming together to challenge the perpetrators of these

crimes. I have often heard the argument that our economy is growing rapidly and

this is just a brief side effect of such growth. I would rather have a slower growth rate

of economy, but a saner, civilized society to live in.

Questions:

1. On the basis of your reading make notes on the above passage. Use recognizable

abbreviations, wherever necessary. (5)

2. Write the summary of the passage in your own words. Also suggest a suitable title. (3)

WEEK 2 SYLLABUS BREAK UP

(APRIL 07TH— APRIL 13

TH)

Section/Topics:

L-1 P-1

THE LAST LESSON MY MOTHER AT 66

Open the links given below AND LEARN THE audio/video

explanations and THEN complete the respective Self-Attempt

Assignments & Questions Answers in your literature registers.

https://youtu.be/6Znb73VbGi4

https://youtu.be/eeU7UvVmmJU

https://www.successcds.net/cce-cbse/class-xii/english/the-

last-lesson.html

Do the work neatly and in sequence.

LITERATURE

(FLAMINGO)

ASSIGNMENT COMPLETION DATE:

14TH APRIL.2020

Short Answer Type Questions (2 Marks, 30-40 Words)

Q1. How does Kamala Das try to put away the thoughts of her ageing mother? Kamala Das finds the thoughts of her ageing mother very painful and disturbing. It is hard for her to accept the fact of her mother growing old, as it brings back to her mind her childhood fear of losing her mother. She makes a deliberate effort to drive or put away such thoughts by looking out of the moving car, at the trees ‘sprinting’ and the joyful young children rushing out of their homes.

Q2. What was the poet’s childhood fear? As a child Kamala Das was insecure about losing her mother just as all young children often are. The same feelings are evoked inside her while she is on the way to the airport, as she sees her mother’s pale face, which is a sign of her old age and impending death.

Q3. What do the parting words of Kamala Das and her smile signify? The poet’s parting words and her smile are a facade to hide her feelings of insecurity. The pale and senile appearance of her mother brings back her childhood fear of losing her mother. She can definitely experience the pangs of separation, yet she bids her farewell in a pleasant manner. She reassures her mother that all will be well and they would meet again. They also express the hope that her mother would survive till they meet again.

Q4. Why has the poet’s mother been compared to the ‚late winter’s moon‛? The poet has used this simile as ‘the late winter’s moon’ looks too hazy and lacks brightness and luster. Similarly, the mother, who is now sixty-six, is pale and has a shrunken and ashen face. She is devoid of the effervescence and exhilaration of youth.

POEM-1

MY MOTHER AT 66

Q5. Why are the young trees described as ‘sprinting’? The poet is travelling in a speeding car and the roadside trees seem speeding past or

sprinting in the opposite direction. The poet has contrasted the ‘young trees’ which are moving fast to her mother, who is old and slow.

Q6. What were the poet’s feelings at the airport? How did she hide them?

The poet was torn apart by the feeling whether she would see her mother alive the next time or not. She hid her feelings by smiling reassuringly at her mother.

Q8. Why has the poet brought in the image of the merry children spilling out of their homes?

The young children spilling out of their homes represent the exuberance and vigour of youth. They are in complete contrast to the poet’s mother. Perhaps the poet has used the image to bring out the pangs of old age.

FOR SELF-ATTEMPT

1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow. “““““.and felt that old

familiar ache, my childhood’s fear, but all I said was, see you soon, Amma, all I did was smile and smile and smile

(a) What was the childhood fear that now troubled the poet? (b) What do the poet’s parting words suggest? (c) Why did the poet smile and smile? (d) Explain, “that old familiar ache.”

2. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow. ““.and

looked but soon put that thought away and

looked out at young trees sprinting,

the merry children spilling out of their homes,“““..

(a) Name the poem and the poet. (b) What did the poet realise? How did she feel? (c) What did she do then? (d) What did she notice in the world outside?

(Short Answer Type Questions (2 Marks, 30-40 Words)

Q1. What was Franz expected to be prepared with for that day? Franz was expected to be prepared with the rules of participles for that day

given by M. Hamel as homework to be learnt. But, he did know the first word

of it. As a result he feared that M. Hamel would scold him.

Q2. What was Bulletin Board? What had been put on it? Bulletin Board was a kind of notice board that was famous for all the bad news

such as; draft, lost battle, order of commanding officers & other bad news. But the

latest information on the board was about the German rulers‟ order banning the

teaching of French in Alsace and Lorraine.

Q3. What was the order came from Berlin that day?

CH-1

THE LAST LESSON

The order that came from Berlin that day was about the banning of French

language in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. Now, French was going to be

replaced by German as a language.

Q4. What changes did the order from Berlin cause in school that day? Plenty of changes could be seen on that day in the school. On entering the school,

Franz noticed that the day was as silent as of Sunday‟s morning. There was no

noise of opening and closing of desks, lessons being repeated, students were sitting

silently in the class & the back benches which always remained vacant were

occupied by the villagers & his teachers was wearing his unusual clothes that were

green coat, frilled shirt and black silk cap.

Q5. Why had the villagers occupied the back benches of the class that day? The beck benches were occupied by the villagers to thank their master for his

forty years meritorious service. Moreover, they wanted to repent for their guilt for

not being regular and serious towards their mother tongue and country.

Q6.”We‟ve all a great deal to reproach ourselves with” what did M. Hamel mean by this statement?

According to M. Hamel, both parents and he himself were responsible for the

poor performance of the children. Parents wanted their children to work on the

fields or at sawmill just for the sake of little amount and he sent children for

watering his plants and for holidays when he had to go for fishing and outing. So

he wanted people and him to reproach their doings.

Q7. What did Franz wonder about when he entered the class that day? When Franz entered class that day, he was expecting a scolding from M Hamel

he spoke very kindly and asked him to sit. Franz also wondered at the presence

of senior villagers occupying back benches of the class

Q8. Why did M Hamel write „Vive La France!‟ on the backboard? M Hamel wrote „Vive La France!„ on the backboard to show his love for his

country as well as for the French language. In addition, he was displaying his

resistance to the German occupation of France.

Q9. What tempted Franz to stay away from school? Franz feared a scolding at school as he had not prepared his lesson on participles.

Besides, the warm, bright weather, the chirping of birds and the sight of the

marching Prussian soldiers also tempted him to stay away from school.

Q10. “What a thunderclap these words were to me!” (Franz). What were those words and what was their effect on Franz?

M Hamel told his students that it was their last French lesson as an order had

come from Berlin that henceforth only German was to be taught in the schools

of Alsace and Lorraine. This announcement seemed to be thunderclap to Franz

as he was surprised and shocked on hearing them.

Q11. Who were sitting on the back benches during M Hamel‟s last

lesson? Why? Some of the elderly people from the village were sitting on the back benches

during M Hamel‟s last lesson. The villagers had come there to attend his last

lesson as it was their way of paying respect to the master who had given forty

years of faithful service to the school.

Q12. What did M Hamel tell them about the French language? What did he ask them to do and why?

M Hamel told his students that the French language was the clearest, most logical and

most beautiful language in the world.

He asked them to safeguard the French language and never forget it because when

people are enslaved the only to unlock the key to their prison is by means of their

language.

Q13. How did Franz react to the declaration that it was their last French lesson? The French teacher M Hamel announced that he would be teaching his last

French lesson that day because the orders had come from Berlin to teach only

German in schools of Alsace and Lorraine. On hearing this, all the students as

well as Franz felt very sorry that they would not be learning their mother tongue

in future. Franz regretted not having learnt his lesson.

Long Answer Type Questions

(6 Marks) (120 – 150 Words)

Q14. How was M Hamel and different teacher while giving his last lesson? For a start M Hamel wore his formal suit on the day he was giving his last French

lesson. He did away with his dominating tone and spoke gently. Then assuming

the role of a mentor, he advised the villagers to change their priorities and pay

more attention to learning at school.

As a true patriot he displayed his love for his country and its language and called

upon the class to safeguard their language, French, which was the most beautiful

and logical language in the world. He did not even take Franz to task when the

latter got all mixed up when his turn to recite came. By the end of the class he

was chocked with emotions and could hardly speak, so he took a piece of chalk

and wrote on the blackboard in large, bold letters, „Vive La France„ (Long Live

France).

FOR SELF-ATTEMPT

1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

Poor man! It was in honour of this last lesson that he had put on his fine Sunday clothes, now I understand why the old man of the village were sitting there in the back of the room.

(a) Who referred to poor man and why?

(b) Describe the fine clothes of the man?

(c) Why were the old men sitting on the last benches?

(d) Name the narrator.

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